century and tithing or if he could not should expect the severity of the laws But if any one standing thus accused should make his escape either before or after the bail was given that whole Hundred and Tithing was liable to be fined by the King By this project he settled peace in the Kingdom so that even upon the high-roads where four ways met he commanded golden bracelets to be hung up which might expose the avarice of travellers whil'st there was none durst venture to take them away Wappentacks Tithings and Laths These Centuries are in some parts of the Kingdom called Wappentaches if you desire to know the reason I will give it you out of Edward the Confessor's Laws When any one received the government of a Wappentach on a set day and in the place where the meeting used to be held all the elder sort met him and when he was got off his horse rose up to him Then he held up his spear and took security of all there according to custom for whoever came touched his spear with theirs and this touching of armour confirmed them in one common interest and was a publick league In English arms are called wepun and taccare is to confirm as if this were a confirmation of weapons or to speak more agreeably to the English tongue b See Sir Henry Spelman's Glossary under the word Wapentachium Wepentac is a touching of armour for wepun signifies armour and tac is touching There were also other Jurisdictions above those of Wapentaches which they called Ãrihingas including the third part of the Province and those who were Lords over them were termed Ãrihingerefas To these were appeals made in such causes as could not be determined in the Wapentaches So that what the English named a Hundred these called a Wapentach and what was in English three or four hundreds they called c Of which the Ridings in Yorkshire are a corruption Ãrihinge But in some Provinces what they called Trihing was in English term'd Lew and what could not be determined in the Ãrihinge was carried into the Shire These Counties which if you would express in proper Latin Shirâ may be term'd either Conventus or Pagi we call by the peculiar name of Shyres from the Saxon word Scyre signifying to branch and divide By the first division there were only 32. for in the year 1016. in the Reign of Aethelred Malmsbury assures us there were no more In the life of Aethelred he writes thus At this time the Danes invaded 16 Counties whereas there are but 32 in all England And in those days these Counties were divided according to the variety of the laws Div'faâ Englaââ acc râââ to Laâ For the Laws of England were threefold those of the West-Saxons called West-saxenlage those of the Danes called Denelage and those of the Mercians called Merchenlage Under the West-Saxon-Law were comprehended nine Counties Kent Sussex Surrey Berkshire Hamshire Wiltshire Somersetshire Dorsetshire and Devââshire To the Dane-Laws belonged fifteen Counties Yorkshire Derbyshire Nottinghamshire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire Hertfordshire Essex Middlesex Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgeshire Huntingdonshire The other eight were judged after the Mercian-Law Lib. â S. Eââ di those were Glocestershire Worcestershire Herefordshire Warwickshire Oxfordshire Cheshire Shropshire and Staffordshire But when William the first made his Survey of this Kingdom Domâ book there were reckoned 36 Counties as the Polychronicon tells us But the publick records wherein he registred that Survey reckon up no more than 34. For Durham Lancashire Northumberland Westmorland and Cumberland did not come into the number the three last as some wouâd have it being then under the Scots and the other two either exempt from taxes or included under Yorkshire But all these being afterwards added to the number made it as it is to this day 39. Besides which there are 13 moâe in Wales d But thâ Statute of 34 and 35 of Hen. 8. Cap. 26. tells us That eight Shires were of ancient and long time to wit those of Glemorgaâ Caeâmâ then Pembroke Cardigan Flint Caernarvon Anglesey and Merioneth and other foâr were made by the Statute of 27 Hen 8. Cap. 26. beâdes Monmouthshire namely Radnor Brecknock Montgomery and Denbigh So that in Edward's time there seem to have been eight whereof six were in Edward the first 's time Walâ ãâ¦ã Câââ the rest Henry the eighth settled by Act of Parliament In each of these Counties in troublesome times especially there is appointed a Deputy under the King by the name of Lieutenant who is to take care that the State suffer no damage The first institution hereof seems to be fetch'd from King Alfred who settled in every County the Custodes regni or keepers of the kingdom These afterward were restored by Henry the third under the title of Capitanei For in the fiftieth year of his Reign he as John of London has it held a Parliament wherein this wholsome Law was enacted That in every County there should be one Capânâââ Captain maintained by the King who by the assistance of the Sheriff should restrain the insolence of robbers Upon which many were so affrighted that they left that trade and the Royal power began to revive This was wisely enough ordered but whether Canutus the Dane when he made a Tetrarchy in a Monarchy 89 ãâã Wââ did not act more prudently let our Politicians determine For he as Hermand the Archdeacon says being an exceeding sagacious man so contriv'd the government of the Kingdom He ãâ¦ã that it should fall under Tetrarchs such as he had found faithful to him The government of the West-Saxons which was the greatest he took to himself ârcha Mercia the second part he committed to one Edrick the third called Northumbre to Yrtus and Earl Turkille had the fourth i.e. East Anglia a very plentiful country This account I owe to the diligence of Fr. Thinne who hath prosecuted this study of Antiquities with great honour and particularly communicated this to me ãâã of Shire But every year some one inhabitant of the Lesser Nobility is set over the County and stil'd Vice-Comes i.e. a deputy of the Comes or Earl and in our language he is called Shiriff i.e. one set over the County and may very well be term'd the Quaestor of the County or Province For 't is his business to get up the publick revenues of the County to gather into the Exchequer all Fines even by destraining to attend the Judges and to execute their orders to empannel twelve men ââelve ãâã who are to judge of matters of fact and bring in their Verdict to the Judges who are with us only Judges of law and not of fact to take care that such as are condemned be duly executed and to give judgment in petty causes There are also in every County certain Eirenarchae or Justices of the Peace settled by King Edward III. and those
before the See was remov'd to Lincoln It was rebuilt by Remigius the first Bishop of Lincoln and in Stow-park a little mile from the Church there was an Abby re-edified by the same Bishop but the Monks were soon remov'd from it by Robert Bloett the second Bishop of Lincoln to the Abbey of Eynsham near Oxford It was afterwards made a Bishop's seat but there is little of the ancient ruins now to be seen In the parish of Stow is a village call'd Stretton from the old causey running that way as if one should say the Street-town and in a field belonging to that place are a great many Ophites or stones roll'd up like serpents ee From hence we come to Gainesburrow Gainesborrow wherein as * Itin. p. 24. Leland says upon the south part of the town is an old chapel of stone in which 't is reported by the inhabitants that many Danes were bury'd that there is also the remains of another chapel of wood on the side of Trent now quite demolish'd At present the right honourable Baptist Noel has his title of Earl from this place A little above Gainesburrow through the end of a Country town call'd Marton Marton Mr. Foxcroft has observ'd that a Roman way goes into this County It comes from Danum i.e. Doncaster to Agelocum now Littleburrow from whence it goes to Lindum Lincoln 'T is a great road for pack-horses which travel from the west of Yorkshire to Lincoln Lyn and Norwich The ferry upon the river Trent is one side in Nottinghamshire and the other in Lincolnshire A quarter of a mile from Marton abovemention'd there are yet remaining two or three considerable pieces of Roman pavement or Causeway which may be easily observ'd by travellers of ordinary curiosity ff In this part of the County it is that Mr. Camden has in general settl'd the ancient Sidnacester but without determining it to any particular place If one should take the liberty of a conjecture and settle it at Stow there would not want several probabilities to warrant it That the See now at Lincoln was once at Dorchester near Oxford is agreed upon by all that likewise Eadhed was made Bishop of Sidnacester in the year 678. and that he was succeeded by several other Bishops under the same title is as plain But after Eadulf's death when it had been vacant about 80 years it was by Leofwin united to Dorchester as that of Leicester had been before it The sixth from Leofwin was Eadnoth who as the intermediate Bishops had done enjoy'd the title of Dorchester and under that of Sidnacester and Leicester This was that Eadnoth who built the Church of our Lady in Stow and died An. 1050. Now where can we imagine a Bishop of Sidnacester should so probably build a Church as at Sidnacester And whence would he sooner take his pattern or platform than from his own Cathedral of Dorchester But it appears by the enquiries of an ingenious Gentleman in those parts that there is a very near resemblance between the two Churches of Dorchester and Stow. And if they have been since rebuilt we may probably conclude that the same form notwithstanding was still kept The See of Legecester or Leicester is concluded to have been where St. Margaret's now stands and as that is a Peculiar a Prebend and I think an Archdeaconry so is Stow too Besides the present Privileges of this place are greater than any hereabouts except Lincoln and they have formerly exceeded even that For that it was famous before Lincoln was a Bishop's See is beyond dispute and 't is a common notion in those parts both of learned and unlearned that Stow was anciently the mother-Church to Lincoln The steeple of the Church tho' large has been much greater than it is and Alfrick Puttock Archbishop of York An. 1023. when he gave two great Bells to Beverley-steeple which he had built and two others of the same mold to Southwell bestow'd two upon this Stow. Here is likewise a place call'd yet by the name of Gallow-dale suppos'd to have been the place of execution for malefactors which among other marks of antiquity tho' it have no relation to the affairs of the Church is yet a testimony to the eminence of the place But there is one thing still lies in our way for in the * Anglââ Sacra Pâ 2. p. 411 Lives of the Bishops of Lincoln written by Giraldus we meet with these words Remigius sedem suam Cathedralem à loco nimis incongruo obscuro ad urbem praeclaram locum competentem sc Lincolniam transferre curavit nec non hoc quoque quod Lyndeseiam totam ab Humbro marino ad Withemam fluvium qui Lincolniam permeat penetrat per tanta terrarum spatia contra adversarium tantum tamque potentem Metropolitanum sc Eboracensem innata quadam prudentiâ praeditus gratia quoque desuper divinitus adjutus tam provinciae Cantuariensi quam Dioecesi Lincolniensi stabiliter aeque potenter adjecit Now if all Lindsey belong'd to the Archbishop of York till Remigius's time who liv'd since the Conquest the old Sidnacester united afterwards to Dorchester perhaps can hardly be plac'd reasonably within the compass of that Division NOTTINGHAM SHIRE by Robt. Morden Continuation of the EARLS After Henry Fiennes son of Edward Lord High Admiral of England the title of Earl of Lincoln was successively enjoy'd by Thomas and Theophilus of the same name The latter of these was succeeded by Edward Lord Clinton his grandchild by his eldest son Edward At present the right honourable Henry Clinton is in possession of this title More rare Plants growing wild in Lincolnshire Atriplex maritima Halimus dicta humilis erecta semine folliculis membranaceis bivalvibus in latitudinem expansis utrinque recurvis longo pediculo insidentibus clauso Near Sairbeck a village about a mile distant from Boston plentifully Dr. Plukenet Alsine Polygonoides tenuifolia flosculis ad longitudinem caulis velut in spicam dispositis Polygonum angustissimo gramineo folio erectum Bot. Monsp Chickweed-Knottgrass with very narrow leaves and flowers set along the stalks as it were in spikes Carum vulgare Park Caraways In the marshes and fenny grounds plentifully Cannabis spuria flore amplo labio purpureo Fair-flower'd Nettle-Hemp About Spalding plentifully Cochlearia major rotundifolia Garden Scurvy-grass In the marshes in Holland and in many other places near the sea-side Oenanthe Staphylini folio aliquatenus accedens J. B. In the marsh ditches and slow streams of water in the parish of Quaplod near Spalding Lapathum folio acuto flore aureo C. B. Golden Dock About Crowland and in other places of the Fens Pneumonanthe Ger. Gentianella Autumnalis Pneumonanthe dicta Park Gentiana palustris angustifolia C. B. Gentianae species Calathina quibusdam radice perpetua seu palustris J. B. Marsh Gentian or Calathian Violet In a Park at Tattershall and on the heathy grounds thereabout also on a
The Church of York was by the Princes of that time endow'd with many large possessions especially by Ulphus the son âf Toraldus which I the rather note from an old bâok that a strange way of endowing heretofore may be took notice of This Ulphus govern'd in the west parts of Deira and by reason of a difference like to happen between his eldest son and his youngest about the Lordships after his death he presently took this course to make them equal Without delay he went to York and taking the horn wherein he was wont to drink with him he fill'd it with wine and kneeling upon his knees before the Altar bestow'd upon God and the blessed S. Peter Prince of the Apostles all his Lands and Tenements This horn was kept there to the last age as I have been informed It would seem to reflect upon the Clergy if I should relate the emulations and scuffles which ambition has raised between the two Sees of York and Canterbury whilst with great expence of money but more of reputation they warmly contended for pre-eminence T. ãâã r This Controversie was determin'd in Arch-bishop Thoresby's time A. D. 1353. at the special solicitation of King Edward â qui corpoâum animarum pericula considerans ac pacem quietem populi sui affectans dictos Archiepiscopos ad pacis concordiam invitavit Yet so as that the Arch-bishops of York might legally write themselves Primate of England Anglia Sacra par 1. p. 74. For as one relates it the See of York was equal in dignity tho' it was the younger and the poorer sister and this being raised to the same power that the See of Canterbury was and endowed with the same Apostolical privileges took it very heinously to be made subject by the decree of P. Alexander declaring that the Arch-bishoprick of York ought to yield to that of Canterbury and pay an obedience to her as Primate of all Britain in all her Constitutions relating to the Christian Religion It falls not within the compass of my design to treat of the Arch-bishops of this See many of whom have been men of great virtue and holiness 'T is enough for me to observe that from the year 625. when Paulinus the first Arch-bishop was consecrated there have succeeded in it threescore and five Arch-bishops The ãâã sixth Aââbishâp to the year 1606. in which D. Tobias Matthews Venerable for his virtue and piety for his learned eloquence and for his indefatigable industry in teaching was translated hither from the Bishoprick of Durham mm This City very much flourish'd for some time under the Saxon Government till the Danish storms from the North began to rush on and spoil'd its beauty again by great ruins and dismal slaughter Which Alcuin in his Epistle to Egelred King of the Northumbrians seems to have foretold For he says What can be the meaning of that shower of blood which in Lent we saw at York the Metropolis of the Kingdom near St. Peter's Church descending with great horrour from the roof of the North part of the House in a clear day May not one imagine that this forebodes destruction and blood among us from that quarter For in the following age when the Danes laid every thing they came at waste and desolate this City was destroy'd with continual sufferings In the year 867. the walls of it were so shaken by the many assaults made upon them that Osbright and Ella Kings of Northumberland as they pursued the Danes in these parts easily broke into the City and after a bloody conflict in the midst of it were both slain leaving the victory to the Danes who had retired hither Hence that of William of Malmesbury York ever most obnoxious to the fury of the northern nations hath sustained the barbarous assaults of the Danes and groaned under the miseries it hath suffered But as the same author informs us King Athelstan took it from the Danes and demolish'd that castle wherewith they had fortified it Nor in after-ages was it quite rid of those wars in that especially which was so fatal for the subversion of Cities But the Normans as they put an end to these miseries so they almost brought destruction to York For when the sons of Sueno the Dane arrived here with a fleet of two hundred and forty sail Aâfâââ ãâã the ãâã of the ãâã Burleââ Treasââ of Eâgâ and landed hard by the Normans who kept garrison in two castles in the city fearing lest the houses in the suburbs might be serviceable to the enemy in filling up the trenches set them on fire which was so encreased and dispersed by the wind that it presently spread about the whole city and set it all on fire In this disorder and hurry the Danes took the town putting the Townsmen and the Normans to the sword with great slaughter yet sparing William Mallet and Gilbert Gant the principal men among them for a Decimation Deciââââon among the soldiers afterwards For every tenth prisoner of the Normans on whom the lot fell was executed Which so exasperated William the Conquerour that as if the citizeâs had sided with the Danes he cut them all off and set the City again on fire and as Malmesbury says so spoiled all the adjacent territory that a fruitful Province was quite disabled and useless that the country for sixty miles together lay so much neglected that a stranger would have lamented at the sight of it considering that formerly here had been fine cities high towers and rich pastures and that no former inhabitant would so much as know it The ancient greatness of the place may appear from Domesday In the time of Edward the Confessor the City of York contained six Shires or Divisions besides the Shire of the Archbishop One was wasted for the castles in the five remaining Shires there were 1428 houses inhabited and in the Shire of the Archbishop two hundred houses inhabited After all these overthrows Necham sings thus of it Visito quam foelix Ebraucus condidit urbem Petro se debet Pontificalis apex Civibus haec toties viduata novisque repleta Diruta prospexit moenia saepe sua Quid manus hostilis queat est experta frequenter Sed quid nunc pacis otia longa fovent There happy Ebrauk's lofty towers appear Which owe their mitre to St. Peter's care How oft in dust the hapless town hath lain How oft it's walls hath chang'd how oft it's men How oft the rage of sword and flames hath mourn'd But now long peace and lasting joy 's return'd For in his days these troublesome times being followed with a long and happy peace this city began to revive and continued flourishing notwithstanding it was often marked out for destruction by our own Rebels and the Scotch Yet in King Stephen's time it was most sadly ruined again by a casual fire which burnt down the Cathedral St. Mary's Monastery and other Religious houses and also as 't is supposed that
57 And this Rory his succâssor practising new treason against King James his advancer upon the terrour of a guilty conscience fled the Realm in the year 1607 and died at Rome The Scots The antient inhabitants of this Ulster as likewise of all other parts of the Kingdom went formerly by the name of Scots and from hence they brought that name into the Northern part of Britain For as Giraldus says the six sons of Mured King of Ulster possest themselves of the North of Britain about 400 years after Christ from which time it has been called by the name of Scotia Yet the Annals of that Kingdom shew us that it has had this name much earlier And moreover Fergus the second who re-established the Kingdom of the Scots in Britain came from hence Patrick âxâife of â Patrick having foretold That though he seemed mean and contemptible to his brethren at that time it would shortly came to pass thas he should be Prince and Lord over them all To make this the more probable the same writer adds farther That not long after Fergus according to the prediction of this holy man obtained the soveraignty in these parts and that his posterity continued in the throne for many generations From him was descended the most valiant King Edan son of Gabrain who conquer'd Scotland called Albania where his offspring reign to this day 58 Sir John John Curcy in the reign of Henry the second was the first Englishman that attempted the conquest of this County who having taken Down and Armagh made himself master of the whole Province either by force or surrender and was the first that had the title of Earl of Ulster â's of ââer At last his success and fortune made him so envied that for his own worth and the unworthiness of others he was banish'd and by King John's appointment succeeded by Hugh de Lacy second son of Hugh Lacy Lord of Meth who was made Earl of Ulster by a sword with orders to carry on a war against him Yet he was deprived of this honour by the same King ãâã âo upon his insolence and popular practices but received again into favour In confirmation of this I will here give you word for word what I find in the Records of Ireland Hugh de Lacy formerly Earl of Ulster held all Ulster exempt and separate from any other County whatsoever in capite of the Kings of England by the service of three Knights when ever the Royal service was ordered by proclamation And he migââ try in his own Court all pleas whatsoever belonging to the Sheriff and the Chief Justice and held a Court of Chancery c. After this all Ulster was forfeited to our Lord King John from the said Hugh who had it afterwards granted him for term of life by King Henry the third After Hugh's decease Walter de Burgo did these services to our Lord Edward King Henry's son Lord of Ireland before he was King This same Lord Edward infeoff'd the aforesaid Walter with the lands of Ulster to have and to hold to him and his heirs by the service aforesaid as well and freely as the said Hugh de Lacy did excepting the advowsons of the Cathedral Churches and the demesns of the same as also the Pleas of the Crown Rapes Forstalls Arsonyes and Treasure-trouves which our soveraign Lord King Edward retaineth to himself and his heirs This Walter de Burgo who was Lord of Conaught and Earl of Ulster had by the only daughter of Hugh de Lacy Richard Earl of Ulster who put an end to an uneasie life in the year 1326. This Richard had a son John de Burgo who died in his life time after he had had a son William by his wife Elizabeth the sister and co-heir of Gilbert Clare Earl of Gloucester who succeeded his Grandfather William was murder'd by his own men in his youth leaving a little daughter Elizabeth See Raânorshire and Yorkshire north-riding afterwards married to Leonel Duke of Clarence by whom she had likewise an only daughter married to Edmund Mortimer Earl of March and by her the Earldom of Ulster and Seigniory of Conaught came to the Mortimers from whom together with the Kingdom of England it fell to the house of York and then by King Edward the fourth was annexed to the Crown or the King 's demesn lands as they express it A civil war breaking out at that time and the Nation falling into faction and parties so that these English then in Ulster were induced to return into England to support their several sides and parties these Countreys were seiz'd upon by O-Neal and others of the Irish so that the Province grew as wild and barbarous as could be and whereas it formerly yielded a considerable revenue to the Earl in money it has hardly since that time paid any to the Kings of England And if I may be allowed to make remarks of this nature the piety and wisdom of the Kings of England has been more defective in no one thing than in the due administration of this Province and all Ireland either in respect of propagating Religion modelling the State or civilizing the Inhabitants Whether this neglect is to be imputed to a careless oversight or a design of parsimony and unseasonable providence I am not able to determine But one would think an Island so great and so near us where there 's so much good soil and rich pasture so many woods so much good mettal for digging up so many fine rivers and commodious harbours on all sides convenient for navigation into the richest parts of the world upon which account great imposts might be probably expected and lastly an Island so very fruitful of inhabitants and the people both in respect of minds and bodies capable of all the employments of peace or war should of right challenge and deserve our care for the future 59 If they were wrought and conform'd to orderly civility I Did but just now intimate That I would give some account of these O-Neals who pretend to be Lords of Ulster and therefore I promised to an excellent friend of mine the history of the Rebellions they rais'd this last age Though that Gentleman is now happy in a better world yet I had so much esteem for him that I cannot now but perform my promise to his very memory Thus much I thought necessary to premise As for the following History the materials are not drawn from uncertain reports or other weak authorities but from those very authântick papers that came from the Generals themselves or such as were eye-witnesses and had a share in the transactions and that so sincerely that I cannot but flatter my self with hopes of favour from the Reader if he desires a true information or would understand the late affairs in Ireland which are so much a secret to most of us and also of escaping all manner of reprehension except from such as are conscious and gall'd
as were design'd for a march and imagining that this had won the favour of the Gods they immediately set to sea and fell to their oars There was another way the Danes had of appealing their Gods or rather of running into most detestable superstition which Ditmarus a Bishop and an author of somewhat greater antiquity than Dudo thus describes Lib. 1. But because I have heard strange things of the ancient sacrifices of the * North-mannâ Normans and Danes I would not willingly pass them over There is a place in those parts the capital city of that Kingdom call'd Lederun in the province of Selon There they meet once every nine years in January a little after our Twelfth-day and offer to their Gods 99 men and as many horses with dogs and cocks for hawks being fully perswaded as I observ'd before that these things were most acceptable to them About the time of King Egbert The Danish pâââders in the 800 year of Christ they first disturb'd our coasts afterwards making havock of every thing and plundering over all England they destroy'd Cities burnt Churches wasted the lands and with a most barbarous cruelty drove all before them ransacking and over-turning every thing They murder'd the Kings of the Mercians and East-Angels and then took possession of their kingdoms with a great part of that of Northumberland To put a stop to these outrages a heavy tax was impos'd upon the miserable Inhabitants called b i.e. a certain sum paid to the Danes from the Saxon Gyldan to pay and thence our Yield Dangelt Dangelt the nature whereof this passage taken out of our old Laws does fully discover The Pirates gave first occasion to the paying Danigeld For they made such havock of this nation that they seem'd to aim at nothing but its utter ruine And to suppress their insolence it was enacted that Danigeld should yearly be paid which was twelve pence for every hide of land in the whole nation to maintain so many forces as might withstand the Incursions of the Pirates All Churches were exempt from this Danigeld nor did any land in the immediate possession of the Church contribute any thing because they put more confidence in the prayers of the Church than the defence of arms But when they came to dispute the cause with Alfred King of the West-Saxons he what by retreats and what by attacks did not only by force of arms drive them out of his own territories but likewise slew the Deputy-Governor of the Mercians and in a manner clear'd all Mercia of them And his son Edward the Elder prosecuting his Father's conquests recover'd the Country of the East-Angles from the Danes as Athelstan his spurious son to crown their victories after a great slaughter of them subdu'd the Kingdom of Northumberland and by his vigorous pursuit put the Danes into such a fright that part of them quitted the kingdom and the rest surrendred themselves By the courage of those Princes was England deliver'd out of that gulph of miseries and had a respite of 50 years from that bloody war But after Aethelred a man of a cowardly spirit came to the Crown the Danes raising fresh hopes out of his dullness renew'd the war and made havock of the nation till the English were forc'd to purchase a Peace with annual contributions And so insolently did they behave themselves that the English form'd a Plot and in one night slew all the Danes through the whole nation to a man imagining that so much blood would quench the flaming fury of that people and yet as it happen'd it did but add more fuel to it For Sueno King of the Danes incens'd by that general massacre invaded England with a powerful army and push'd forwards by an enraged spirit put Ethelred to flight conquer'd the whole nation and left it to his son * Cnut in the Coins Canutus He after a long war with Ethelred who was then return'd and his son Edmond sirnam'd Ironside but without any decisive battle The Danes infested England 200 years reign'd about 20. was succeeded by his two sons Harald his spurious one and Canutus the Bold After the death of these the Danish yoke was shaken off and the government return'd to the English For Edward whose sanctity gain'd him the name of Confessor Edward the Confessor the son of Ethelred by a second wife recover'd the Regal Dignity England now began to revive but presently as the Poet says Mores rebus cessêre secundis The loads of Fortune sunk them into vice The Clergy were idle drousie and ignorant the Laity gave themselves over to luxury and a loose way of living all discipline was laid aside the State like a distemper'd body was consum'd with all sorts of vice but Pride that forerunner of destruction had of all others made the greatest progress And as Gervasius Dorobernensis observes of those times They ran so headlong upon wickedness that 't was look'd upon as a crime to be ignorant of crimes All these things plainly tended to ruine The English at that time says William of Malmesbury us'd cloaths that did not reach beyond the middle of the knee their heads were shorn their beards shaven only the upper lip was always let grow to its full length Their arms were even loaded with golden bracelets and their skin all set with painted marks The Clergy were content with a superficial sort of learning and had much ado to hammer cut the words of the Sacraments The NORMANS AS in former ages the Franks first and afterwards the Saxons coming out of that East-Coast of Germany as it lies from us I mean the more Northerly parts of it plagu'd France and Britain with their Piracies and at last became masters the Franks of France and the Saxons of Britain so in succeeding times the Danes first and then the Normans follow'd the same method came from the same Coast and had the same success As if providence had so order'd it that those parts should constantly produce and send out a set of men to make havock of France and Britain and establish new kingdoms in them They had their name from the Northern parts from whence they came âd ânt for Nordmanni signifies no more than Northern men in which sense they are likewise term'd c From the Saxon Leod a people or nation Nordleudi âdââi âmolâ i.e. Northern people as being the flower of the Norwegians Suedes and Danes In the time of Charles the Great they carry'd on their trade of Piracies in such a barbarous manner both in Friseland England Holland Ireland and France that that Prince when he saw their vessels in the Mediterranean cry'd out with a deep sigh and tears in his eyes How am I troubl'd that they should venture upon this coast âr Sanâ de Geâ Caroââagni even while I am living I plainly foresee what a plague they are like to prove to my successors And in the publick Prayers and
Litanies of the Church there was afterwards inserted From the fury of the Danes Good Lord deliver us They brought the French to such extremities that Carolus Calvus was forc'd to buy a truce of Hasting the commander of the Norman Pirates with the Earldom of Chartres and Carolus Crassus gave Godfrid the Norman part of Neustria with his daughter At last by force of arms they fix'd near the mouth of the Seine in those parts which formerly by a corruption had been call'd Neustria Neustria as being part of Westrasia for so the middle-age writers term it the Germans stil'd it Westenriich i.e. the Western kingdom it contains all between the Loyre and the Seine to the sea-ward They afterwards call'd it Normannia i.e. the Country of the Northern men so soon as Carolus Simplex had made a grant of it in Fee to their Prince Rollo whose Godfather he was and had given him his daughter to wife When Rollo as we are inform'd by an old Manuscript belonging to the Monastery of Angiers had Normandy made over to him by Carolus Stultus with his daughter Gisla he would not submit to kiss Charles's foot And when his friends urg'd him by all means to kiss the King's foot in gratitude for so great a favour he made answer in the English tongue NE SE BY GOD that is No by God Upon which the King and his Courtiers deriding him and corruptly repeating his answer call'd him Bigod Bigod from whence the Normans are to this day term'd Bigodi For the same reason 't is possible the French call hypocrites and your superstitious sort of men Bigods This Rollo who at his Baptism was named Robert is by some thought to have turn'd Christian out of design only but by others not without deliberation and piety These latter add that he was mov'd to it by God in a Dream which tho' Dreams are a thing I do not give much heed to I hope I may relate without the imputation of vanity as I find it attested by the writers of that age The story goes that as he was a sleep in the ship he saw himself deeply infâcted with the leprosie but washing in a clear spring at the bottom of a high hill he recover'd and afterwards went up to the hilâ's top This he told a Christian captive in the same ship who gave him the following interpretation of it That the Leprâsie was the abominable worship of Idols with which he was defiâ'd the Spring was the holy laver of regeneration wherewith being once cleans'd he might climb the mountain that is attain to great honour and heaven it self Dukes of No mandy This Rollo had a son call'd William but sirnam'd Longa Spata from a long sword he us'd to wear William's son was Richard the first of that name who was succeeded by his son and grand-child both Richards But Richard the third dying without issue his brother Robert came to the Dukedom and had a son by his concubine nam'd William who is commonly called the Conqueror and Bastard All these were Princes very eminent for their atchievements both at home and abroad Whilst William come to man's estate was Duke of Normandy Edward the Holy sirnam'd Confessâr King of England and last of the Saxon Line to the great grief of his subjects departed this life He was son of Emma a Cousin of William's as being daughter to Richard the first Duke of Normandy and whilst he liv'd under banishment in Normandy had made William a promise of the next reversion of the Crown of England But Harold the son of Godwin and Steward of the Houshold under Edward got possession of the Crown upon which his brother Tosto on one hand and the Normans Normans on the other lay out their utmost endeavours to dethrone him After he had slain his brother Tosto and Harald King of Norwey whom Tosto had drawn in to his assistance in a set-battle near Stamford-bridge in Yorkshire and so tho' not without great damage had gain'd the victory within less than nine days William sirnam'd Bastard Duke of Normandy building upon the promises of Edward lately deceas'd as also upon his adoption and relation to Edward rais'd a powerful army and landed in England in Sussex Harold presently advanc'd towards him tho' his soldiers were harrass'd and his army very much weaken'd by the late fight Not far from Hastings they engag'd where Harold putting himself forward into the heat of the battle and showing great courage lost his life Abundance of the English were slain tho' it would be almost impossible to find out the exact number William after he had won the day march'd through Walingford with a barbarous army towards London where he was receiv'd and inaugurated Charter of William the Conqueror The kingdom as himself expresses it being by divine Providence design'd for him and granted by the favour of his Lord and Cousin the glorious King Edward And a little after he adds That the bounteous King Edward had by adoption made him heir to the Crown of England Tho' if the history of S. Stephen of Caen may be credited these were the last words he spoke upon his death-bed History of St. Stephen's Monastery at Caen in Normandy The Regal Diadem which none of my Predecessors wore I gain'd not by any hereditary title but by the favour of Almighty God And a little after I name no heir to the crown of England but commend it wholly to the eternal Creator whose I am and in whose hands are all things 'T was not an hereditary right that put me in possession of this honour but by a desperate engagement and much blood-shed I wrested it from that perjur'd King Harold and having slain or put to flight all his abettors made my self Master of it But why am I thus short upon so considerable a revolution of the British State If you can but have the patience to read it take what I drew up 't is possible with little accuracy or thought but however with the exactness of an history when raw and young very unfit for such an undertaking I had a design to write the history of our nation in Latin The Norman Conquest EDward the Confessor's dying without issue put the Nobility and Commonalty into a great distraction about naming the new King Edgar commonly called Aetheling Edmund Ironside's * * Abnâpos ex fââio great great grandchild by his son was the only person left of the Saxon Line and as such had an hereditary title to the Crown But his tender years were thought altogether uncapable of government and besides his temper had in it a mixture of foreign humours as being born in Hungary the son of Agatha daughter to the Emperor Henry the third who was at too great a distance to bear out the young boy either with assistance or advice Upon these accounts he was not much respected by the English who valu'd themselves upon nothing more than to have a
King chose as it were out of their own body The general inclination was towards Harold Godwin's son much fam'd for his admirable conduct both in Peace and war For tho' the nobleness of his Birth lay but on one side his father having by treason and plunder render'd himself eternally infamous yet what by his courteous language and easie humour his liberal temper and warlike courage he strangely insinuated himself into the affections of the people As no one threw himself into danger with more chearfulness so in the greatest extremities no man was so ready with advice He had so signaliz'd his courage and success in the Welsh wars which he had some time before happily brought to an end that he was look'd upon as a most accomplish'd General and seem'd to be born on purpose to settle the English Government Moreover 't was hop'd the Danes who were at that time the only dread of this nation would be more favourable to him as being the son of Githa Sister to Sueno King of Denmark From what âther parts soever attempts whether foreign or domestick might be made upon him he seem'd sufficiently secur'd against them by the affections of the Commonalty and his relation to the Nobility He married the sister of Morcar and Edwin who at that time bore by much the greatest sway and Edric sirnam'd the Wild a man of an high spirit and great authority was his near kinsman It fell out too very luckily that at the same time Sueno the Dane should be engag'd in the Suedish wars and there was an ill understanding between William the Norman and Philip King of France For Edward the Confessor while he lived under banishment in Normandy had made this William an express promise of the Crown in case himself died without issue And Harold who was then kept prisoner in Normandy was bound under a strict oath to see it perform'd and made this one part of the conditon that he might marry the Duke's daughter For these reasons a great many thought it most advisable to make a present of the Crown to the Duke of Normandy that by discharging the promise they might prevent both the war that then threatned them and destruction the certain punishment of perjury as also that by the accession of Normandy to England the government might be established in the hands of so great a Prince and the interest of the nation very much advanc'd But Harold quickly cut off all debates that look'd that way for finding that delays would be dangerous the very day Edward was bury'd contrary to all mens expectation he possessed himself of the government and with the applause of those about him who proclaimed him King without all ceremony of inauguration put on the diadem with his own hands This action of his very much disgusted the Clergy who looked upon it as a breach of Religion But as he was sensible how difficult it was for a young Prince to establish his government without the reputation of piety and virtue to cancel that crime and to settle himself on the throne he bent all his thoughts towards promoting the interest of the Church and the dignity of Monasteries He show'd Edgar Aetheling Earl of Oxford and the rest of the Nobility all the favour imaginable he eas'd the people of a great part of their taxes he bestowed vast sums of money upon the poor and in short what by the smoothness of his discourse patience in hearing others and equity in all causes he gained himself a wonderful love and authority So soon as William Duke of Normandy had certain intelligence of those matters he pretended to be infinitely afflicted for the death of Edward when all the while the thing that lay upon his stomach was his being disappointed of England which he had so long promised himself Without more ado by advice of his Council he sends over Embassadors to remind Harold of his promise and engagement and to demand the Crown Harold after mature deliberation returned him this answer That as to Edward's promise the Crown of England could not be disposed of by promise nor was he obliged to take notice of it since he governed by right of election and not any hereditary claim And for what concerned his engagement that was plainly extorted by force treachery and the fear of perpetual imprisonment did likewise tend to the manifest damage of the Nation and infringe the privileges of the Nobility and therefore he look'd upon it as null in it self That if he could make good his promise he ought not or if he would that it was not in his power being made without the knowledge of the King or concurrence of the People That the demand seem'd highly unreasonable for him to surrender the government to a Norman Prince who was altogether a stranger when he had been invested with it by the unanimous consent of all Orders The Norman Duke did not very well relish this answer but plainly perceived that Harold was seeking out ways to avoid the perjury Upon which he sent over another Embassy on the same errand to put him in mind of the strictness of his Oath and that damnation from God and disgrace among men are the certain rewards of perjury But because William's daughter who as betroth'd to Harold was a tye upon him for the discharge of his promise was now dead they were entertained with so much the more coldness and returned with the same answer as the first In all appearance there was nothing like to ensue but open war Harold prepares a fleet levies soldiers places garisons upon the sea-coasts as he sees convenient in short omits nothing which may any way contribute towards repelling the Normans In the mean time what was never before so much as thought of the first storm of the War comes from Tosto Harold's own brother He was a man of a high spirit and cruel temper and had for some time presided over the Kingdom of Northumberland with great insolence till at last for his barbarous dealings with inferiors impudent carriage towards his Prince and a mortal hatred to his own brethren he was cashiered by Edward the Confessor and went over into France And at this juncture push'd forward in all probability by Baldwin Earl of Flanders drawn in by William Duke of Normandy for Tosto and William had married two of Earl Baldwin's daughters he declares open war against his brother whom he had for a long time mortally hated He set out from Flanders with 60 sail of Pirate-vessels wasted the Isle of Wight and very much infested the Kentish coast but being frighted at the approach of the Royal Navy he set sail and steered his course towards the more remote parts of England landed in Lincolnshire and plundered that County There he was engaged by Edgar and Morcar and defeated then made for Scotland with a design to renew the war Now were all thoughts in suspence with the expectation of a double assault one from Scotland another from
Normandy and their jealousies were heighten'd by the dreadful appearance of a Comet Comet at Easter for about seven days together This as it commonly does in troublesome times set the distracted brains of the people a working to presage what miseries would follow upon it But Harold after he had curiously viewed every part of the Kingdom fortified the South-coasts with garisons He was not apprehensive of much danger from Scotland and Tosto because Malcolââs Mil-Columbus King of Scots was diverted with civil wars In the mean time William was continually thinking of a descent into England He now and then advis'd with his Officers and found them cheerful and full of hopes but all the difficulty was how to procure money to carry on so important a war For upon a proposal made at a publick meeting of the States of Normandy about raising a subsidy it was urg'd That the Nation was so exhausted by their former wars with France that if they should engage in a new war they should have much ado even to act defensively that their business was rather to secure their own than to invade another's dominions that how just soever the war might be there was no great necessity for it and that in all probability it would prove of dangerous consequence And lastly that the Normans were not bound by their allegiance to serve in foreign wars No considerations could bring them to raise a supply of money though William * * Filius âberti Fitzosbert a man generally beloved both by Duke and people promoted it with the utmost zeal and to encourage others engaged to build 40 ships at his own charge for the service of the war The Duke finding himself disappointed in a publick meeting tries other methods and sending for the wealthiest of them one by one speaks them fair and desires that each would contribute something towards the war This drove them to a sort of emulation who should be most assisting to his Prince and made them promise largely and an account being taken of all the contributions a sum beyond what could reasonably be expected was rais'd almost in an instant After matters were thus far dispatched he sollicites his neighbouring Princes for aids the Earl of Anjou Poictou Mayne and Bulloigne with this encouragement that they should have their share of lands in England Next he applies himself to Philip King of France and promises that in case he contributes his assistance he will take an oath of fealty and hold England under him But considering that it was not by any means the interest of France that the neighbouring Norman who already did not seem much to value them should be strengthned by the addition of England as Princes are always jealous of the growing power of their neighbours Philip was so far from encouraging the design that he us'd all means to divert him from invading of England But nothing could draw him off his resolution wherein he was now confirmed and justified by the authority of Pope Alexander This Pope about that time begun to usurp a jurisdiction over Princes and he approved the cause sent him a consecrated banner as a token of his victory and empire and excommunicated all that should oppose him Vpon this he raised what forces he could and got together a vast fleet to S. Valeric's a town at the mouth of the river Some where he lay windbound for some time and in order to have a fair wind he spar'd neither prayers nor offerings to S. Valeric the Saint of that place Harold after he had a long time watched his coming had resolved to disband his army lay up his ships and leave the sea-coasts partly because provisions began to fail him and partly because the Earl of Flanders had assured him that William had no design upon England that year Which he the rather believ'd because at that time of year putting to sea would be very dangerous when the Aequinox was just at hand While he was settling these matters all on a sudden an unexpected invasion puts him under a necessity of getting his army together For Harold sirnam'd Durus and Harfager King of Norwey who had for a long time prey'd upon the northern parts of Britain and possess'd himself of the Isles of Orkney was drawn over by Tosto out of a prospect of the Kingdom of England and entered the river Tine with about 500 rovers where he was joined by Tosto After they had for some time been making havock of those parts they weighed anchor and sailing along the coasts of Yorkshire came into Humber where they plundered all round them with the utmost cruelty of an enemy But to stop their progress Edwin and Morcar two Earls attacked them with a confused undisciplined army which being overpowered by the Norwegians ran away A good many amongst whom were the two Earls made a shift to get off but the greatest number was drowned in their passage over the river Ouse The Norwegians without more ado resolve to lay siege to York but upon hostages given on both sides the place was surrendered Not long after Harold having got his whole army in a body marches towards York and from thence towards the Norwegians who had encamped in a very advantageous place Behind they were secured by the sea on the left by the river Humber where their fleet rid at anchor on the right and front by the river Derwent Notwithstanding all this Harold attacked them very vigorously and the first skirmish was at a * * Stanford bridge near York bridge over the river Derwent where 't is said one single Norwegian bore up for some time against the whole English army till at last he was shot dead Next the battle was removed to the camp where the advantages on both sides were equal for a while At last on the Norwegians side the ranks were broken and Harold King of Norwey with Tosto and the greatest part of their army was slain The booty which Harold got by this victory was very considerable gold and silver in great plenty and every ship of that large fleet except twenty small vessels which he gave Paul Earl of the Orcades and Olavus son of Harold who was slain to carry off their wounded first taking an oath of them that they should never again disturb England Harold was exceedingly heartened with the victory and begun to hope that he should be a terrour to the Normans though his own subjects began to hate him for not distributing the spoil amongst the souldiers All his thoughts were spent in the settlement of the nation which especially in those parts was in a miserable condition In the mean time William the Norman got a favourable wind he set sail about the end of September and having a gentle gale landed with his whole fleet at Pemsey in Sussex He found the coast clear and to cut off all encouragement for running away fir'd the Ships After he had built a castle there for retreat he went forwards
these the two Archbishops and all the Bishops of England ââhops ârons are also Barons of the Kingdom or Parliamentary Barons as also were in the memory of our grandfathers several belonging to Monasteries whereof this is a List Abbots of âbots ârliaântary ârons Glassenbury St. Austin's Canterbury St. Peter's Westminster St. Albans St. Edmundsbury Peterburgh St. John's of Colchester Evesham Winchelcomb Crowland Battaile Reding Abingdon Waltham S. Cross Shrewsbury Cirencester St. Peter's at Glocester Bardney S. Benedict of Hulm Thorney Ramsey Hyde Malmesbury St. Marie's at York Selbey Prior of Coventry The Order of St. John of Jerusalem commonly stil'd Master of the Knights of St. John and would be counted the first Baron of England To these as to this day to the Bishops it belong'd by right and custom in every Parliament as the Publick Records word it to be present in person as Peers of the Realm along with the rest of the Peers to consult treat order decree and define by virtue of their Baronies held of the King For King William the first as the Ecclesiasticks of that age complain'd though those of the next look'd upon it as their greatest glory put the Bishopricks and Abbies holding Baronies in Frank almoigne Matth. Paris and so free from all secular services under military service enrolling every Bishoprick and Abbey according to the number of souldiers he and his successors might demand in times of war Since that the Ecclesiastical Barons enjoy all the immunities which the other Barons of the Realm do except that they are not judged by their Peers For as they by the Canons of the Church are not to be present at sanguinary causes so in the same causes they themselves are to be judged in matters of fact by twelve Jury-men But whether this be agreeable to the strict rules of the Law let the Lawyers determine Vavasors Vavasors or Valvasors formerly took place next the Barons derived by Lawyers from Valvae folding-doors a dignity that seems to have come to us from the French Sigonius For whilst their dominion in Italy lasted they call'd those Valvasors who govern'd the common people or part of them under the Duke Marquiss Earl or Chieftain and as Butler the Lawyer words it Had a full power of punishing but not the right of fairs and markets This is a piece of honour never much in vogue among us or how much soever it was it is now long since by degrees quite disused In Chaucer's age it was not very considerable as appears from what he says of his Frankelin or free-holder A Sheriff had he been and a contour Was no where soch a worthy Vavasour The Lesser Noblemen are the Knights Esquires Lesser Noblemen Knights and those which we commonly call Gentlemen Knights call'd by our English Lawyers in Latin Milites have almost in all Nations had their name from horses Thus they are called Cavelliers by the Italians Chevalier by the French Reuter by the Germans Marchog by the Welsh all with respect to riding They are called Knights only by the English a word in the ancient English as also German tongue signifying promiscuously servant or one that does service and a young man Upon which in the old Saxon Gospels the Disciples are call'd Leornung cnyhts and in another place we read Incnyht for a Client and our Common Lawyer Bracton mentions the Radcnihtes i.e. Serving horsemen who held lands upon this condition that they should furnish their Lord with horses from whence by shortning the name as we English love contractions I was perswaded long since that Knights remains now in use with us But for what reason the Laws of our own Country Knights why call'd Milites and all the Writers since the Norman Conquest should term them in Latin Milites I do not well apprehend Not but I know that in the decline of the Roman Empire the name of Milites was transferr'd to such as were always about the King's body and had the more considerable employments in the Prince's retinue But if I know any thing of this matter the first who were call'd so among us were they that held beneficiary lands or in fee for their service in the wars For those fees were called Militarie and they that in other places are term'd Feudataries were with us stil'd Milites souldiers as the Milites or souldiers of the King of the Archbishop of Canterbury of Earl Roger of Earl Hugh c. because they had by these persons lands bestowed upon them on this condition that they should fight for them and pay them fealty and homage whereas others who served in the wars â Pro solidis Solidarii for so much in money were call'd Solidarii and Servientes However these Milites or Equites which you please are fourfold with us The most honourable are those of the Order of S. George's Garter the second the Bannerets the third of the Bath and the fourth such as we call in English simply Knights and in Latin Equites aurati or Milites without any addition Of the Knights of the Order of S. George I will speak in their proper place when I come to Windsor Of the rest in this place briefly Banerett Banerets otherwise but falsly call'd Baronets have their name from a banner for they were allowed upon the account of their military bravery to use a square banner as well as the Barons and from thence they are by some truly call'd Equites Vexillarii and by the Germans Banner-heires I cannot trace their antiquity beyond the times of Edward the third when England was at it's height for martial discipline so that till time sets this matter in a clearer light I must believe that this honorary title was then first invented as a reward to warlike courage In the publick Records of that age among the military titles of Banerets there is mention also made of Homines ad vexillum Purs 2. Pat. 15. E. 3. M. 22 23. men at the banner and of homines ad arma men attending in arms which last seem to be the same with that other And I have read a Charter of King Edward the Third's whereby he advanced John Coupland for taking David second King of Scots in a battle at Durham to the honour of a Baneret in these words Desiring so to reward the said John who took David de Bruis and cheerfully delivered him up to us and to set such a mark upon his loyalty and valour as may give others example to serve us faithfully for the future we have advanced the said John to the Quality of a Baneret and to support that title have for us and our heirs granted to the same John the sum of 500 l. yearly to him and his heirs c. Nor may it be improper to mention out of Frossardus the form by which John Chandos a celebrated souldier in his time was made Baneret When Edward Prince of Wales was ready to engage
more fees to give away For nothing could be more effectual to excite brave men and lay an obligation upon their best and most deserving Subjects such as were nobly descended and men of great estates than as an istance of their good will and favour to bestow the honourable title of Knights upon them which before was always a name of great dignity For when the Prince conferr'd advisedly upon merit it was thought a great reward and favour and look'd upon as a badge of honour Those that were thus Knighted esteem'd this as the price of Virtue as an encomium upon their family a memorial of their race and the glory of their name So that it is said by our Lawyers Miles a name of dignity that Miles is a name of dignity and not Baro. For a Baron in ancient times if he was not a Knight was written barely by his Christian name and the proper name of his family without any addition unless of Dominus which is likewise applicâble to Knights But the name Knight seems to have been an additional title of honour in the greatest dignities seeing Kings Dukes Marquesses Earls and Barons were ambitious both of the name and dignity And here I cannot but insert what Matth. Florilegus writes concerning the creation of Knights in Edward the first 's time For the sake of his expedition into Scotland the King publish'd a Proclamation lately throughout England to the end that whoever were by hereditary succession to be Knights and had wherewithall to support that dignity should be present in Westminster at the feast of Whitsontide there to receive all Knightly accoutrements save Equipage or Horse-furniture out of the King's Wardrobe Accordingly there assembled thither 300 young Gentlemen the sons of Earls Barons and Knights and had purple liveries silk-scarves and robes richly embroided with gold bestow'd upon them according to their several qualities And because the King's Palace though very large was too little to receive this concourse they cut down the apple-trees about the â Novum Tempium new Temple in London ras'd the walls and set up Pavilions and tents wherein these young Gentlemen might dress themselves in garments embroider'd with gold and all that night as many of them as the Temple would hold watch'd and pray'd in it But the Prince of Wales by his father's order with the chief of them watch'd in the Church of Westminster And so great was the sound of trumpets minstrels and acclamations of joy there that the chaunting of the Convent could not be heard from one side of the Quire to the other The day following the King knighted his Son in his palace and gave him the Dukedom of Aquitain The Prince therefore being thus knighted went to the Church of Westminster that he might likewise confer the same honour upon them And such was the press and throng about the high Altar that two Knights were kill'd and many fainted though every Knight had at least three or four Soldiers to conduct and defend them The Prince himself the throng was so great was forc'd to knight them upon the high altar having made his way thither * Per dextrarios bellicosos by his war-horses At present he that is knighted kneels down and in that posture is lightly struck upon the Shoulder with a naked sword by the Prince saying thus in French Sois Chevalier au nom de Dieu i.e. Be thou a Knight in the name of God and then he adds avancez Chevalier i.e. Rise up Sir Knight What relates farther to this order how famous how glorious and how brave a reward this dignity was look'd upon by men of honour among our Forefathers with what exactness they practis'd fidelity and plain-dealing when it was sufficient surety if they promis'd as Knights or upon their Honour lastly how far they were above the sordid humour of scraping and how they contributed upon the account of their fees when the King 's eldest son was honour'd with this dignity these things I leave to other Writers Degradations of Knights As also when they had committed any crime that was capital how they were strip'd of their ornaments had their military belt took from them were depriv'd of their sword had their spurs cut off with a hatchet their glove took away â Clypâo gentilitio in verso and their arms inverted just as it is in degrading those who have listed themselves in the Spiritual warefare the Ecclesiastical ornaments the book chalice and such like are taken from them I leave it likewise to be consider'd by them whether these Knights have been by some rightly term'd Knights Bacchallers and whether Bacchallers were not a middle order between Knights and Esquires For some Records run Nomina Militum Baccalaureorum Valectorum Comitis Glocestriae In dââ so Pat. 51. H. 3. Hence some will have Bachallers to be so call'd quasi Bas Chevaliers though others derive the same from Battailer a French word which signifies to fight Let them farther examine whether these dignities which formerly when very rare were so mighty glorious and the establish'd rewards of virtue became not vile as they grew common and prostitute to every one that had the vanity to desire them Aemilius Probus formerly complain'd of the same thing in a like case among the Romans Next in order to these Knights were the Armigeri Eââ 2. Esquires call'd also Scutiferi Homines ad arma and among the Goths Schilpor from bearing the Shield as heretofore Scutarii among the Romans Who had that name either from their coats of Arms which they bore as badges of their nobility or because they really carry'd the armour of the Princes and great men For every Knight was serv'd by two of these formerly they carry'd his helmet and buckler and as his inseparable companions adher'd to him For they held lands of the Knight their Lord in Escuage as he did of the King by Knights-service Esquires are at this day of five sorts for those I but now treated of are at present out of use The chief are they who are chosen to attend the King's person Next them are the eldest sons of Knights and their eldest sons likewise successively In the third place are counted the eldest sons of the youngest sons of Barons and others of greater quality and when such heir-male fails the title dies likewise The fourth in order are those to whom the King himself together with a title gives arms or makes Esquires adorning them with a collar of S. S. of a white silver colour and a pair of silver spurs whence at this day in the west parts of the Kingdom they are call'd White-spurs to distinguish them from Knights or Equites Aurati who have spurs of gold of these the eldest sons only can bear the title In the fifth place are to be reputed and look'd upon as Esquires all such as are in any great office in the Government or serve the King in any honourable station But
Marshal is in the first of King John and hath also a reference to the time of King Henry the first in this Charter where King John confirmeth the office of Marshal unto William Marshal Earl of Pembroke in these words Johannes Dei gratiâ c. Sciatis nos concessisse presenti nostrâ carta confirmasse dilecto fideli nostro Willielmo Marescallo Com. de Pembroco haeredibus suis Magistratum Marescalciae curiae nostrae quem Magistratum Gilbertus Marescallus Henrici Regis avi Patris nostri Joannes filius ipsius Gilberti disrationaverunt coram praedicto Rege Henrico in Curiâ suâ contra Robertum de Venoiz contra Willielmum de Hastings qui ipsum magistratum calumniabantur hoc judicio quia defecerunt se à recto ad diem quem eis constituerat praedictus Rex Henricus in Curiâ suâ sicut carta ipsius Regis quam vidimus testatur Here is to be noted out of these authentick Records there were Marshals in the time of King Henry the first answerable in time to the first Marshals of France that there were more Marshals than one and that William Marshal Earl of Pembroke had only Magistratum Marescalciae Curiae that is Marshal of the King's House which office was so long invested in that family that it gave them a sirname as also to other families which have been Marshals in great houses And lastly that it was given to William Marshall and his heirs and so it was chalenged by them as hereditary Nevertheless it is certain that the next succeeding King Henry the third took away that office from Richard Marshall the son of the said William for among the grievances of the said Richard he complained as appeareth in the History of Thomas Rudborne that the King in these terms spoliavit me officio Marescalciae quod haereditariò ad me pertinet possedi nec aliquo ad illud me restituere voluit requisitus Happily upon this ground which Rigordus the French Historian writeth in this age of the Marshalship of France Haereditaria successio in talibus officiis locum non habet And after he was dead and his brethren his five sisters and coheirs which as appeareth by the partition had every one a thousand five hundred and twenty pounds yearly rent began to contend about the office of the Marshalship and the Mannor of Hamsted-Marshal in the county of Berkshire belonging to the same but Roger Bigod son of the eldest daughter with great difficulty obtained the same For as Matthew Paris writeth 1246. Multiplicatis intercessionibus concessa est Marescalcia cum officio honore Comiti Rogero Bigod ratione Comitissae filiae Comitis magni Willielmi Marescalli primogenitae matris suae His nephew Roger Bigod Earl of Norfolk was enforced to surrender to King Edward the first this office with all his inheritance in England Ireland and Wales for certain insolencies against the King and this Roger or his Unkle Roger was he which first stiled himself as pride is highest when downfall nearest Marescallus Angliae whereas all his Predecessors used no other stiles than the simple addition of Marescallus as Gulielmus Richardus Gilbertus Marescallus Comes Pembrociae And no doubt but as the greatness of William Marshall the elder called the Great Earl which he had gotten in the minority of King Henry the third gave the first greatness to this office so there was a far greater access of dignity thereunto when King Edward the second granted to Thomas of Brotherton his half Brother a Prince of the blood the lands of Bigod and shortly after the office of Marshalship with the rights thereunto belonging and performing the service accordingly After the death of Thomas of Brotherton we find William Montacute Earl of Sarum Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Henry Lord Piercy John Fitz-Alane Lord Matravers Thomas Holland Earl of Kent and then Thomas Mowbray right heir unto Brotherton had the office of Marshall of England with the name stile title state and honour granted unto him in the 20th year of King Richard the second de assensu Parliamenti sibi haeredibus suis masculis de corpore Yet nevertheless the next year after he being banished it was granted to Thomas Holland Duke of Surrey as amply as it was to him that he might as well bear in the presence and absence of the King a Rod of Gold enameled at both ends with the King's Arms in the upper end and his own in the lower end Afterwards according to the alteration of times sometimes to the Mowbrays and the Howards descended from them sometimes others by interruptions upon sundry occasions enjoyed the same dignity What belonged to that office anciently I have read nothing but that at a coronation of King Richard the first William Marshal Earl of Pembroke carried the Royal Scepter which had the Cross on the top and at the coronation of Queen Eleanor Wife to King Henry the third the Marshal carried a Rod before the King made way both in Church and Court and ordered the Feast as Matthew Paris writeth There is a Treatise carried about the Office of the Earl Marshall in the time of King Henry the second and another of the time of Thomas of Brotherton where I find confusedly what belonged to them in court and camp as in court that at the Coronation the Marshall should have the King's horse and harness and the Queen's palfrey that he should hold the Crown at the Coronation that he should have upon high feasts as the high Usher the tablecloths and cloth of state for that day that he keep the hall in quiet that he should bring offenders within the Verge before the high Steward that he should assign lodgings and when the King passed the sea each man to his ship that he should have for his livery three winter robes at Christmas and three summer robes at Whitsuntide that he should allow but twelve common women to follow the Court in which service I suppose he had Hamo de Gaynton his substitute which was called Marescallus meretricum by which service he held the mannor of Cateshall in the County of Surrey that he should have a Deputy in the Kings-Bench that he should keep Vagabonds from the Court. In Camp that he should lead the forward that the Constable with him should hold courts in camp that he should have certain special forfeitures as armour and weapons of Prisoners to appoint lodgings to be abroad till all be lodged to have fees of armourers and victuallers of the camp to have all the armour and whole cloth of towns taken by composition to have ransom of Prisoners escaped if they be taken again with many such like too long here to be specified and in peace and war the Marshal should execute the Constables commandments in Arrests and Attachments and that appeareth by the process between Grey and Hastings In the second statute of Westminster held 13 Ed. I. when many grievances of the
Marshall were complained of it was ordained in these words Marescallus de quolibet Comite Barone integram Baroniam tenente de uno palfrido sit contentus vel de pretio quale antiquitus percipere consuevit ita quod si ad homagium quod fecit palfridum vel pretium in formâ praedictâ ceperit ad militiam suam nihil capiat Et si fortè ad homagium nihil ceperit ad militiam suam capiat De Abbatibus Prioribus integram baroniam tenentibus cum homagium aut fidelitatem pro Baroniis suis fecerunt capiat palfridum vel pretium ut praedictium est Hoc idem de Archiepiscopis Episcopis observandum est De his autem qui partem Baroniae tenent sive sint Religiosi sive Seculares capiat secundum portionem partis Baroniae quam tenent De Religiosis tenentibus in liberam elymosynam non per Baroniam vel partem nihil de caetero exigat Marescallus And about that time were set down all the Droites belonging to the Earl Marshall in a Roll which was laid up in the Wardrobe but that vanished shortly after For as it appeareth by Record in the 18th of Edward the third the Kind directed a brief to the Barons of the Exchequer of the fees and all things else belonging to the office of Earl Marshal and they returned in their certificate annexed to the Brief nothing but certain petty allowances of money wine candles for the Marshal and Magister Marescallus and for the four Marshals for every day qua faciant herbergeriam And out of the red book of the Exchequer they certifie in these words De officio Marescalciae survivit Gilbertus Mareschal Comes de Strigal cujus est officium tumultus sedare in domo Regis liberationes hospitiorum facere ostia aulae Regis custodire Accipit autem de quolibet Barone facto Milite à Rege quolibet Comite eâ die palfredum cum sella And by an inquisition taken about the 11th of Henry the fifth it appeareth that there belongeth to the Earls Marshals disposing the office of the Marshal in the King's-Bench the Marshal of the Exchequer with the office of the Cryer before the Marshal and the Marshal of the Hall of the King's House and some other such places But the greatest encrease of the authority of this Office hath been since there were no Constables for the Kings since that time have referred many matters to them which in former times were proper to the Constable Neither had the Marshal any precedency in respect of his place until King Henry the eighth in the 31st year of his reign by Parliament assigned him place next to the Lord Constable and before the Lord Admiral William Camden The Original and Dignity of the Earl Marshal of England By the same Hand SOme learned men which have discoursed of offices and magistracies in respect of some conveniencies in military matters have thought the office of Marshal in our age to be answerable to that of the Tribuni militum in the ancient Roman Estate and of the Protostrator in the late state of the Greek or Eastern Empire But this name of Marshall now in use which in process of time hath ascended unto so high a dignity began at such time as the Goths Vandals Franks and other Northern people overflowed Europe who setling themselves in the provinces of the Romans liking well their policy and government began not only to imitate the same but also to translate their titles of civil and military dignities into their own tongues so they translated retaining the signification Limitanei Duces into Marche-graffes Scutati into Shield-Knights Praefectus Palatii into Seneschalk Comes Stabuli into Mar-staller Minister Dei into Gods-schalke Praefectus Equitum into Mar-schalk For all they who have lately traced out Etymologies do consent that as Mar and Mark signifie a horse so Schalk signifieth a ruler an officer or Provost But the French mollified this harsh concurrence of consonants and have made of Seneschalk Marschalk c. Senschal and Marshall This name albeit happily the office might be was not in use in this realm in the Saxon government only they had their Staller which by signification and authority of Historians doth seem to be all one with the Constable But as this name came out of Germany with the Franks into France so out of France first arrived here with the Normans and Roger de Montgomery which was Marshall of the Norman army at the Conquest is accounted the first Marshal of England For some years after there is in Histories no mention of this office until in the confusion under King Stephen when as Maud Fitz-Empress for strengthening of her part made Milo Earl of Hereford and Constable of England so he for assuring his faction made Gilbert Clare Earl of Pembroke and Marshal of England with the state of inheritance who in respect of his usual habitation at Stryghall was commonly called Earl of Stryghall in which office his son Richard sirnamed Strongbow succeeded who first opened the way to the English for the conquest of Ireland by whose only daughter and heir it descended to William Marshall who had by her five sons which died all without issue and five daughters the eldest of them named Maud to whom in the partition was assigned the office of Marshal of England with the Mannor of Hempsted Marshal which as it is in old records the Marshals held in Marescaugiâ per virgam Mareschalliae This Maud was married to Hugh Bigot Earl of Norfolk whose son Roger in right of his mother was Marshal of England and after him Roger Bigot his nephew by the brother who incurring the displeasure of King Edward the first by denying to serve him in Guienne practising to hinder the King's expedition into Flanders and dissuading the Commons to pay subsidies imposed by Parliament in that respect for recovery of the King's favour surrendred up to the King for ever both his Earldom of Norfolk and office of Marshal of England which King Edward the second granted to his brother Thomas of Brotherton from whom it came inheritably to Thomas Mowbray Earl of Nottingham whom King Richard the second created Earl Marshal of England whereas in former time they were stiled only Marshals of England and so from the Mowbrayes to Howards late Dukes of Norfolk yet this office hath not so descended without interruption in the aforesaid families but that upon disfavours and attainders it hath been oftentimes conferred upon others as appeareth by this Catalogue of them wherein they are set down successively The Marshals of England Roger de Montgomery Earl of Shrewsbury Walter Giffard Earl of Buckingham Robert Fitz-Ede base son of King Henry the first Gilbert de Clare Earl of Pembroke Richard his son Earl of Pembroke William Marshall the elder Earl of Pembroke William his son Earl of Pembroke Richard his brother Earl of Pembroke Gilbert his brother Earl of Pembroke
West by Devonshire 1 And some part of Somersetshire on the East by Hantshire and Southward which way it extends the farthest 't is all Sea-coast lying for about 50 miles together as I said before upon the British Ocean But the soil is fruitful and in the Northern parts of it there are woods and forests scatter'd here and there whence with several green hills that feed great flocks of sheep pleasant pastures and fruitful valleys it comes quite down to the sea-shore which I shall keep close to in my description having no better method to take a At the very entrance into this County from Devonshire the first place that appears upon the sea-shore is Lyme Lyme a little town standing upon a steep hill so call'd from a rivulet of that name gliding by it which can scarcely be reputed a sea-port town or haven tho' it be frequented by fishermen and hath a kind of an harbour below it which they call the Cobbe well secur'd from tempestuous winds by rocks and lofty trees We scarce meet with it's name in ancient books only I have read that King Kinwulf in the year of our Lord 774. gave in these words the land of one mansion to the Church of Scireburn near the western banks of the river Lim and not far from the place where it falls into the sea so long as for the said Church salt should be boil'd there for the supplying of various wants b Hard by the river Carr empties it self where stands a It is now call'd Charmouth Carmouth Carmouth a little village where the bold pirating Danes had the good fortune to beat the English in two engagements first conquering King Egbert in the year of our Lord 831 and then King Aethelwulf in the eighth year after Next is Burtport Burport famous for hemp or rather b Call'd also Bridport and Britport says Leland of some written Bruteport Birtport seated between two small rivers which meet there the soil whereof produceth the best hemp In this town an hundred and twenty houses were computed in Edward the Confessor's time but in William the Conqueror's reign as appears by Domesday-book there were no more than an hundred 'T was heretofore so famous for making ropes and cables for ships that 't was provided by a special statute for a set time that such sort of tackle for the use of the English Navy should be made no where else Nor can this maintain the name of a Port though at the mouth of the river that runs by it which is enclos'd with hills on both sides Nature seems purposely to have projected a commodious place for an harbour as an inducement for Art and Industry to finish it c DORSET SHIRE By Rob Morden From thence the shore lies strait along by the Island Purbeck âââbeck as they call it which is full of heath woods and forests well stock'd with Fallow-deer and stags and containing under ground here and there some veins of marble d In the middle of it stood formerly an old Castle call'd Corffe 3 Seated upon a great stately hill ãâ¦ã a very ancient ruin but at last fallen quite to shatters 4 Until of late it hath been repair'd which nevertheless is a notable memorial of the spite of Mothers-in-law ãâã will epââthers For Aelfrith that she might make way for her own son Etheldred to the Throne when her son-in-law Edward King of England made her a visit here as he came from hunting set some Ruffians upon him who slew him whilst his impious step-mother glutted her eyes with the Scene of his murder Which impiety she afterwards by a late repentance us'd her utmost endeavours to expiate assuming the habit of a Nun and building Religious houses e This Purbeck is call'd an Island though it be but a Peninsula being every way wash'd by the sea k To the west also the river Frome and another little river almost make it an Island but westward for towards the East the banks of the sea wind very much inward which having a strait and narrow inlet or passage opposite to which within is an Island with l It is now gone to decay a blockhouse call'd Brenksey widens and expands it self to a bay of a great breadth To the north of which in a peninsula hard by is Poole a small town so situated that the waters surround it every way but northward where 't is joyn'd to the continent and has only one gate It is not unlikely that it took its name from that bay below it which in a calm seems as it were a standing water and such as we in our Language call a Pool This in the last age was improv'd from a Sedgeplat with a few Fishermens huts to m Leland attributes the rise of this to the decay of Warham imagining that while the ships could go up so far and there unload it was in a prosperous condition but when for want of depth of water they lost that road 't is probable they took up at Poole and so by little and little enrich'd it a well frequented market-town and grew very wealthy being adorn'd with fair buildings f K. Hen. 6. by Act of Parliament transferr'd the franchises of the port of Melcombe which he had disfranchis'd to this place and gave leave to the Mayor to enclose it with walls which were afterwards begun at the haven by that Rich. 3. who deservedly bears the character of one of the worst of men and best of Kings But from that time by I know not what ill destiny or rather negligence of the towns-men it has been decaying so that now the houses for want of inhabitants are quite out of repair âe râver ãâã Into the west corner of this bay Frome a famous river of this county dischargeth it self for so 't is commonly call'd tho' the Saxons as we learn from Asserius nam'd it Frau from whence perhaps because this bay was formerly call'd Fraumouth latter ages imagin'd that the river was call'd Frome It has its rise at Evarshot near the western bounds of the shire from whence it runs Eastward by Frompton Frompton to which it has given it's name and is joyn'd by a rivulet from the north that flows by Cerne Abby Cerne Abby n Malmesb. de Gestis Pontificum fol. 142. b. which was built by Austin the English Apostle when he had dash'd to pieces the Idol of the Pagan Saxons there call'd Heil and had reform'd their superstitious ignorance 5 Here was first bred among the Religious men as I have read John Morton Cardinal and Archbishop of Canterbury born at S. Andrews Milborne worthily advanc'd to so high places for his good service in working England's happiness by the union of the two Houses of Lancaster and York and of this family there hath issued both Robert Bishop of Worcester and many Gentlemen of very good note in this Country and elsewhere More
the Stoure receives a small river call'd Alen upon which stands S. Giles Winburn the dwelling-place of the honourable and ancient family of h Ashley is the name It came by descent to the present E. of Shaftsbury from Sir Anthony Ashley who was in several publick Employments in the reign of Qu. Elizabeth he having given his only daughter and heiress in marriage to Sir John Cooper of Rockbourn in Hampshire who had issue by her Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper who in the year 1661. was made a Peer by the title of Baron Ashley of Wimborne St. Giles having chosen that title pursuant to an Article in the aforesaid marriage That if Sir John Coopor or heirs should come to be honoured with the degree of Peerage they should take that for their title In the year 1672. Lord Ashley was created Earl of Shaftsbury to whom succeeded his son the present Earl with whom this Estate and Seat remains Astely Knights Ashleys Knights and Wickhampton the patrimonial estate heretofore of the Barons of Maltravers Maltravers the last of whom in the reign of Edw. 3. left two daughters only one of which was marry'd to John de Arundel the grandfather of John Earl of Arundel who left to his heirs the title of Barons of Maltravers the other was the wife of Robert le Rous and afterwards of John Keynes Knight From hence the Stoure flows on by Canford Canford below which not long since James Baron of Montjoy who particularly search'd into the nature of metals began to make Chalcanthum that is Coperas Coperas as we call it and boil alum From hence formerly John Earl of Warren forcibly as it were ravish'd and took away Alice Lacy the wife of Thomas Earl of Lancaster with much injury to his reputation and no small damage to England as appears by our Chronicles Here the river Stoure leaves Dorsetshire and running through some parts of Hantshire disembogues it self into the Ocean having first receiv'd a little river which flows to Cranborne Cranborne a town well watered where in the year of our Lord 930. Aeilward a nobleman sirnam'd Meaw from his fair complexion founded a little monastery which Robert Fitz-Haimon a Norman transferr'd to Tewkesbury leaving a Monk or two here for to him the possessions of Aeilward sell From whom by succession it came by the Clares Earls of Glocester and Burbs Earls of Ulster Viscount Cranborne to Lionel Duke of Clarence and by him to the Crown But now Robert Cecil 24 Now Earl of Salisbury is Viscount of Cranborne whom King James deservedly for his most approv'd wisdom first dignify'd with the title of Baron Cecil of Essendon and the year after with that of Viscount Cranborne 25 South from hence lyeth Woodland empark'd sometime the seat of the worshipful family of the Filioll the heirs whereof are marry'd to Edward Seymor after Duke of Somerset and Willâughby of Wallaton It should be Woelaton Farls and Marquesses of Dorset The life of Osmund MS. Touching the Earls and Marquesses of this Shire William the Conquerour after he had got the Crown of England i Matth. Paris Hist Min. An. 1189. made Osmund who was Earl of Seez in Normandy Bishop of Salisbury first then Earl of Dorset and Lord Chancellour having a great opinion of his wisdom and excellent learning A long time after See the Dukes of Somerset Richard 2. in the 21 year of his reign preferr'd John de Beaufort the son of John of Gaunt and Earl of Somerset to be Marquess of Dorset from which honour he was afterwards degraded by Hen. 4. out of ill will to Richard 2. And when in full Parliament the house of Commons with whom he was much in favour did earnestly intercede that his dignity of Marquess might be restor'd him he utterly refus'd to accept it professing a great aversion to such a novel and upstart title unknown before those times and his younger brother Thomas de Beaufort was created Earl of Dorset who afterwards for his valour was by Hen. 5. made Duke of Exeter and had the County of Harcourt given him For he gallantly defended Harflew in Normandy against the French and bravely put to flight the Earl of Armeniâc in a pitch'd battel After his decease without issue Hen. 6. nominated Edmund of the same house of Lancaster first Earl then Marquess of Dorset and at last Duke of Somerset whose sons being all taken off in the Civil wars and the house of Lancaster as it were quite routed Edw. 4. created Thomas Grey of the family of Ruthin who was his son-in-law for the King marry'd Grey's mother Marquess of Dorset when he came to the great estate of the Bonvils in this County and those adjoyning in the right of his wife Thomas his son and Henry his grandson by the said Thomas succeeded him who was created Duke of Suffolk by Edw. 6. upon his marriage with Francis the daughter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and neice to King Hen. 8. by his sister He suffer'd for high-treason in Queen Mary's reign and too late experimented of what dangerous consequence it is to marry into the Royal Family and to soar too high in ambitious hopes From his time the title of Dorset was conferr'd on no one till K. James in the beginning of his reign advanc'd Thomas Sackvill Baron of Buckhurst Lord High Treasurer of England to the Earldom of Dorset for his most exact diligence and singular wisdom as an ornamental honour justly due to his true virtue and the good service he had done his country 26 Who ended his life with sudden death An. 1608. and left Robert his son his successor who deceasing within the year left the said honour again to Richard his hopeful son whom he beâat of the Lady Margaret Howard daughter to the late Duke of Norfolk There are in this County 248 Parishes ADDITIONS to DORSETSHIRE a THE County of Dorset as it is observ'd by our Author to be adorn'd with woods pastures and fruitful valleys so is it principally enrich'd by the sea which supplies it with great plenty of the best fish and gives it an opportunity of improving it self by trading 'T is very much for the honour of it that K. Charles 2. declar'd he never saw a finer Country either in England or out of it Lime b The Town of Lime seems to have been much improv'd since Mr. Camden's time for it is now a Burrough consisting of 16 Capital Burgesses and a Recorder whereof there is a Mayor and two Justices The Mayor is the next year after his Mayoralty a Justice of the Peace and the year following Justice and Coroner The Peer there for the nature and largeness of it hath scarce it 's like in England and requires great cost yearly to maintain it The place is so much encreas'd that whereas our Author observes it could hardly be term'd a port on any other account than as frequented by
Dorset brought him a large estate Notwithstanding this man's memory was as it were restor'd to him by Act of Parliament declaring him innocent i 1 Edw. â Under Mendipp-hills to the north is the little village Congersbury so call'd from one Congarus a person of singular sanctity Capgrave tells us he was the son of an Emperour of Constantinople who here led the life of an hermit and Harpetre Harpetre formerly a castle belonging to a family of the same name which descended hereditarily to the Gornaies and from them to the Ab-Adams who as I have read restor'd it to the Gornaies p It now belongs to Sir John Newton who is related to the Gornaies Southward not far from the famous Cave at the bottom of Mendipp-hills is a little city upon a rocky soil and formerly a Bishop's See Leland tells us upon what grounds I know not that it was formerly call'd Theodorodunum the name of it now is Welles Welles so call'd from the Wells which spring up in all parts of it so Susa in Persia Stephanus in his Booâ De Urbâ and Barletius Croia in Dalmatia and Pegase in Macedonia had their names from wells or fountains from hence also this Church is call'd The Church of Wells It may justly challenge the pre-eminence in this County both for populousness and stateliness of the buildings It has a Church and a College built by King Ina to the honour of S. Andrew which was presently endow'd with large revenues by several great men Amongst the rest King Kinewulph gave to it a great many neighbouring places in the year 766. For thus his Charter runs I Kinewulph King of the West-Saxons for the love of God and which shall not be here mention'd some vexations of our Cornish enemies by the consent of my Bishops and Noble-men humbly make over by gift a certain parcel of ground to the Apostle and servant of God and S. Andrew i.e. of xi Mansions near the river call'd Welwe towards the increase of the Monastery situate near the great fountain call'd Wielea Which I set down both upon the account of it's Antiquity and because some are of opinion that the place took it's name from this river 30 Verily near the Church there is a spring call'd S. Andrew's well the fairest deepest and most plentiful that I have seen by and by making a swift brook The Church indeed is exceeding beautiful and nothing can be finer than it's frontispiece towards the West which is one entire pile of statues curiously wrought out of stone and of great antiquity 31 And the Cloysters adjoyning very fair and spacious The Bishop's palace is very splendid and towards the south looks like a Castle as it is fortify'd with walls and a ditch and the Prebendaries houses on 'tother side are exceeding neat For there are 27 Prebends with 19 petty-Canons besides a Dean a Precentor a Chancellor and 3 Arch-deacons that belong to this Church A Bishop's See was settl'd here in the time of Edward the Elder For when the Pope had excommunicated this Edward upon pretence that the discipline of the Church was quite neglected in this westerly part of his kingdom he knowing himself notwithstanding to be a nursing father of the Church erected three new Bishopricks Kirton Cornwall and this of Wells where he made Eadulph first Bishop Not many years after History ãâã Bath Giso was set over this Diocese whom Harold Earl of the West-Saxons and of Kent gaping after the revenues of the Church did so persecute that this See was almost quite destroy'd But William the first after he had conquer'd Harold lent a helping hand to Giso then in exile and to this distressed Church at which time as is evident from Domesday-book the Bishop held the town it self which gelded for 50 hides Afterwards in the reign of Henry 1. John de Villula a Frenchman of Tours was elected Bishop and translated the See to Bath by which means these two grew into one and the Bishop has his title from both so that the same person is styl'd Bishop of Bath and Wells k Which occasion'd a hot dispute between the Monks of Bath and the Canons of Wells about the election of the Bishops See iâ ãâã Decâ agaââââ maâ ãâã noâ ãâã whâ ãâã Sââââ caââ In the mean time q His right name is Savaricus Savanaricus Bishop of Bath being also Abbot of Glassenbury translated this See thither and was styl'd Bishop of Glassenbury but that title dy'd with him and the difference between the Monks and the Canons was at last compos'd by that Robert who divided the revenues of his Church into so many Prebends and settl'd a Dean a Sub-dean c. Bishop Jocelin also about the same time augmented the Church with new buildings and in the memory of our grandfathers Ralph de Shrowsbery as some call him built a very neat College for the Vicars and singing-men near the north part of the Church and also enclos'd the Bishop's palace with a wall l 32 But this rich Church was despoil'd of many fair possessions in the time of Edward the 6th when England felt all miscries which happen under a Child-King But in the way from the palace to the market Th. Bekington Bishop built a very beautiful gate and 12 stately stone houses of the same height hard by in the market-place In the middle whereof is a market-house supported by seven outer pillars and a curious arch built by Bishop William Knighte and Dean Woollman for the use of the market-people m All these are in the east part of the town In the west is a Parish-Church dedicated to S. Cuthberht and near it a Hospital built by Nicholas Bubwith Bishop for 24 poor people Out of those Mineral-mountains arises the river Frome which hastens eastward by these pits of coal made use of by smiths as most proper to soften iron and before it has run any great way wheeling towards the north it is the boundary between this County and Gloucestershire âââley and washes Farley a castle upon a hill belonging not many years since 33 To the Lord Hungerford to the Hungerfords where formerly Humphrey Bohun built a monastery âââl ps-âoâton at a little distance from Philips-Norton a famous market-town taking it's name from the Church dedicated to S. Philip. âwood Lower down is Selwood before mention'd a wood that spreads it self out a long way both in length and breadth and is well set with trees From this as Ethelwerd tells us the Country was call'd r Sealwudscire Episcopatus Shireburnensis Ethelwerd l. 2. c. 11. Selwoodshire and a town near it is to this day nam'd Frome-Selwood supported mostly by the woollen manufacture Scarce two miles from hence to the west is a small but pretty neat castle 34 Consisting of four round turrets built by the De la Mares and thence call'd Nonney de la Mare âânney de Mare which
their weapons might be examin'd unexpectedly came a Mandate from the King that the cause should not then be decided lest the King should lose his right In the mean time they compounded the Earl agreeing to surrender up all his right in the castle to the Bishop and his successors for ever upon the receit of 2500 Marks aa âârls of âlisbury Salisbury had Earls very early whose pedigree I will not only draw faithfully but i They may be carry'd yet higher for Knighton stiles Edric Duke of Mercia Earl of Salisbury higher also out of the history of Lacock âistory of ââcock Walter de Euereux Earl of Rosmar in Normandy had by the munificence of William the Conqueror very large possessions in this shire which he bequeathed to his younger son Edward sirnamed of Salisbury who was born in England leaving his other lands in Normandy with the title of Earl of Rosmar to k The eldest son of this Walter that succeeded him in the Earldom was called Gerold Walter his eldest son whose line not long after failed This Edward of Salisbury was very eminent in the twentieth year of William the Conqueror and is often mention'd in Domesday book but without the title of Earl His son Walter founded a small monastery at Bradenstok and there in his old age after he had got a son call'd Patric who was the first Earl of Salisbury by Sibilla de Cadurcis or Chaworth assum'd the habit of a black Canon This Patric the first Earl was slain by Guy of Lusignian A. D. 1169. in his return from a pilgrimage to S. James of Compostella and was succeeded by his son William who died at Paris in the reign of Richard 1. Ela his only daughter by the favour of the said K. Richard was married to William Longspee so sirnamed from the long sword he usually wore who was a natural son of K. Henry 2. to whom upon this marriage with Ela accrued the title of Earl âââs of the ãâã of Saâ and her Coat of Arms viz. Az. 6 Lioncells Rampant Or. His son was also called William Longspee with whom Henry 3. being offended because being signed with the Cross he went to the Holy War without his leave took from him the title of Earl and castle of Sarum He notwithstanding being resolv'd on his design went into Egypt with S. Lewis King of France âh Paâ 973. â051 and fighting valiantly in the midst of his enemies near Damiata which the Christians had taken died in the bed of honour not long before that holy King was unfortunately made prisoner He had a son call'd also William who did not enjoy the title of Earl and had only one daughter named Margaret âââg â p. â4 who was notwithstanding call'd Countess of Salisbury and married to Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln by whom she had but one daughter viz. Alice the wife of Thomas Earl of Lancaster who being outlawed K. Edw. 2. seized upon the lands which she had made over to her husband some of which viz. Troubridge Winterbourn Ambresbury and other manours King Edw. 3. gave to William de Montacute in as full and ample manner as ever the Predecessors of Margaret Countess of Sarum held them âds of Patent And at the same time he made the said William de Montacute Earl of Sarum and by the girding on of a sword the said Earldom was invested in him and his heirs for ever This William was King of the Isle of Man and had two sons William who succeeded his father in his honours and died without issue 22 Having unhappily slain his own Son while he train'd him at tilting and John a Knight who died before his brother leaving by Margaret his wife daughter and heiress of Thomas de Monthermer John Earl of Salisbury * De monte Hermerti who being a time-server and conspiring against King Henry 4. was slain at l It should be Cirencester in Comitar Glocestr Chichester A.D. 1400 and afterwards attainted of High Treason Notwithstanding which his son Thomas was restored to his blood and estate one of the greatest Generals of his age whether we consider his pains in all matters of moment his unwearied constancy in all undertakings and his quickness in putting his designs in execution who whilst he besieged Orleans in France was wounded by a Dart from a * è tormento majori Balist of which he died A. D. 1428. Alice his only daughter was married to Richard Nevil Pat. 20 Hen. 6. 1461. to whom she brought the title of Earl of Sarum who following the York-party was taken Prisoner in a battel at Wakefield and beheaded he was succeeded by Richard his son Earl of Warwick and Salisbury who taking delight in dangers engaged his Country in a fresh Civil War in which he lost his own life Isabella one of his daughters married George Duke of Clarence brother to K. Edw. 4. by whom he had a son call'd Edward 23 Earl of Warwick who was unjustly beheaded in his childhood by K. Henry 7. and his sister Margaret to whom the title of Countess of Salisbury was restor'd 24 By Henry 8. in a full Parliament about the fifth year of his reign suffer'd the same fate at 70 years of age by the command of Henry 8. For it is an usual practice among Princes to put to death or perpetually to imprison their kindred upon slight surmizes which are never wanting that they and their posterity may be the better established in the Throne Ann the other daughter of Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick and Salisbury was wife to Richard 3 25 Duke of Glocester and Brother to K. Edw. 4. to whom after she had born Edward * Whom his Unkle K. Edward in the 17th of his reign created Earl of Salisbury and Richard his father usurping the Kingdom made c. Prince of Wales who dy'd young she her self dy'd not without suspicion of poyson From that time this honorary title ceased until A. D. 1605. the most potent K. James dignify'd therewith Robert Cecil second son to our Nestor Wil. Cecil for his prudence and good service to his King and Country whom as I have said he had before honour'd with the titles of Baron Cecil of Essenden and Viscount Cranburn for his great merits and industry in promoting the good of the Kingdom So much concerning the Earls of Salisbury bb Below this City upon the Avon is seated Duncton Duncton or Donketon which is reported to be a very ancient Corporation Bogo commonly Beavois and famous for the seat of Beavois of Southampton who for his valour much celebrated by the Bards is commonly accounted one of the great Worthies Salisbury is every way encompass'd with the open plains unless it be toward the east Clarendon on which side it hath the neighbourhood of the large Park of Clarendon very commodious for keeping and breeding Deer and once beautified with a royal palace
Shirburn by Herman the eighth Bishop Wil. Malmesb of Bishops was at last as I have said before translated to Salisbury and carried with it all the reputation from this place because at Ramesbery there was neither a Chapter of the Clergy nor any thing for their maintenance On the other side the river more toward the East is 30 Not long since the seat of the Darels Littlecot Littlecot which is to be mention'd upon the account of John Popham Lord of it who being Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench discharges his Office with great applause as I have said before 31 And hereby runneth the limit between this shire and Berkshire Hitherto I have surveyed the County of Wilts which as it is in Domesday-book for I do not think it improper to be taken notice of paid the King 10 l. for an Hawk 20 s. for a Sumpter-horse one hundred shillings and five Ores for Hay I am wholly ignorant what sort of Money these Ores were Ore what only thus much I have noted out of the register of Burton-Abbey that 20 Ores p Of these Ores see Mr. Walker's Dissertation prefix'd to the Life of K. Alfred were worth 2 marks of silver Earls of Wiltshire The Earls of this Shire have been but few tho' of divers Families besides those of Salisbury which I have mention'd before For excepting Weolsthan before the Norman Conquest q There was also in the Saxon times one Ethelhelm that was Earl of this County sc about 886. it had none that I know of till Richard 2.'s time who preferred William le Scrope to that honour but this man's grandeur continu'd and fell with his Prince for when that King was dethron'd this Earl was beheaded Not many years after he was succeeded by James Butler Earl of Ormond who was raised to this dignity by King Henry 6. But when the House of Lancaster was in a declining condition he was attainted and King Edward 4. conferred this title on John Stafford younger son of Humphrey Duke of Buckingham to whom succeeded his son Edward who died without issue King Henry 8. afterward dignified with this honour Henry Stafford descended from the Buckingham-family who not long enjoying his title dyed without issue At last it came to the family of the Bollens by the favour of the same King who made Thomas Bollen Viscount Rochford descended from an Heiress of Th. Butler Earl of Ormond Earl of Wiltshire whose daughter Ann the King married which match was unfortunate to her self her Brother and her Parents but lucky for England because she it was that gave birth to that excellent Princess Queen Elizabeth Queen Eââzabeth who doth merit eternal honour for her excellent management of the Kingdom and is highly to be admired for many great virtues much above her sex But when this Thomas Bollen died without issue male of grief occasion'd by the unhappy fate of his Children this title lay dormant until King Edward 6. qualified therewith William Powlet Lord S. John of Basing See Biâ in Hââshire whom afterwards he raised to be Marquess of Winchester and Lord High Treasurer of England in whose posterity it yet remaineth There are in this County 304 Parishes ADDITIONS to WILTSHIRE a WILTSHIRE in Saxon Wiltunscyre and by the Historians of succeeding ages melted by degrees into our Wiltshire call'd also Provincia Semerana and Severnia or Provincia Severorum is the largest mid-land County of any in England as may be easily observed by the * Appendix to the 2. Tome of âhe English âtorians ancient computation of it's Hides For we find that in Wiltysire as 't is there term'd were 4800 hides which is more by 2000 than any Shire mention'd by that Author The 39 miles in length and 29 in breadth which Spede assigns to it will be found too little both ways upon an accurate survey a Our Author observes among other advantages that this County is watered with the Isis which afterwards takes the name of Thamisis Thamisis not from a conjunction of Thame and Isis An error with which the world is so possess'd that 't will be a hard matter to make them part with it notwithstanding it plainly appears that this river was always call'd Thames or Tems before ever it came near Thame For instance in an ancient Charter granted to Abbot Aldhelm there is particular mention made of certain lands upon the east part of the river cujus vocabulum Temis juxta vadum qui appellatur Summerford and this ford is in Wiltshire The same thing appears from several other Charters granted to the Abby of Malmsbury as well as that of Enesham and from the old Deeds relating to Cricklade And perhaps it may safely be affirmed that in any Charter or authentick History it does not ever occur under the name of Isis which indeed is not so much as ever heard of but among scholars the common people all along from the head of it down to Oxford calling it by no other name but that of Thames So also the Saxon Temese from whence our Tems immediately comes is a plain evidence that that people never dreamt of any such conjunction But farther all our Historians that mention the Incursions of Aethelwold into Wiltshire A. D. 905. or of Canute A. D. 1016. tell us that they pass'd over the Thames at Cricklade For the original of the word it plainly seems to be British because one may observe several rivers in several parts of England of almost the same name with it as Tame in Staffordshire Teme in Herefordshire Tamar in Cornwall c. And the learned Mr. Llwyd affirms it to be the same with their Tâf which is the name of many rivers in Wales the Romans changing the pronunciation of the British f into m as the Latin word Demetia is in Welsh Dyfed b As for Wansditch Wansââ the course whereof is trac'd in the Map it seems to be so far from having been drawn for a boundary between the West-Saxons and Mercians as our Author would have it that it was probably made long before the settlement of the Mercian Kingdom viz. by Cerdick the first King of the West-Saxons or by Kenric his son against the incursions of the Britains who even in K. Ceaulin's time as Malmsbury tells us made frequent inroads into this County from their garrisons at Bath Glocester and Cirencester And the same Historian informs us that Ceaulin was routed by the Britains not as other writers at Wodensburgh but at Wodenesdic which seems to intimate that it was made before that time and was then a boundary between the two people The rampire and graff of this Wansditch are very large the rampire on the south-side And besides this ditch there are several others of less note still visible upon the plains especially about Stone-henge and in the â Moâ Angâââ Saxon-Charter of lands belonging to Wilton-Abbey there is mention made of no less than 13 distinct
aforesaid but by suppression of 5 dissolution of 2 and alienation of two more they were reduc'd to this number There were 5 more alienated but 5 others were erected in their stead of which Mr. Camden himself had that of Ilfarcomb for above 30 years aa The other ornaments of this place in short are the Cloyster said by Leland to be the most magnificent in England the Library built by Bishop Jewel with the Chapter-house of a large octagonal figure and sustain'd only by a small marble pillar in the middle as also the College built and endow'd by Bishop Ward for 10 Minister's widows In that part of the Suburbs of Salisbury call'd Harnham stood the College de Vaulx which was built by Giles de Bridport Bishop of this place An. Dom. 1260. for the entertainment of several Scholars who retir'd hither upon account of some disturbances at Oxford Here they study'd University-Learning and having a testimonial from their Chancellour of their progress in Learning frequently went to Oxford and took their Degrees And so they continu'd even till Leland's time who speaking of it has these words That part of these Scholars remain in the College in Saresbyri and have two Chaplains to serve the Church there dedicated to S. Nicholas the residue study at Oxford c. Beyond this is the great Bridge call'd Harnhambridge Harnhambridge which was built by virtue of a privilege that Richard Poor obtain'd of Henry 3. when New-Sarum was incorporated viz. Quod ad emendationem ejusdem civitatis vias pontes ad eam ducentes mutent transferant faciant sicut viderint expedire salvo jure cujuslibet In pursuance of which power Robert Bingham his next successor built this stately Bridge An. 1245. which I the rather take notice of because it made such a considerable alteration in Wilton and this place for by bringing the great Western road this way the first presently decay'd and the latter which by the by â Vid. p. 200. Monast Angl. t. 1. p. 197. Matthew Westminster reckons as a County of it self distinct from Wiltshire dayly improv'd bb The Earldom of this place which was bestow'd upon the Cecils in the reign of James 1. has continu'd in that family ever since and is now possess'd by James of that name Not far from this place is West-Deane West-Dean the seat of Sir John Evelyn Knight of the Surrey-family and now devolv'd to a daughter is in the possession of the Right honorable Evelyn Earl of Kingston cc Going along with the Avon we pass by Langford Langford the stately seat of the honorable Henry Hare Viscount Colerain in Ireland a great admirer of Antiquities then by Clarendon Clarendââ in the Park whereof are the footsteps of two Royal Palaces King-manour and Queen-manour Besides the famous Parliament held here temp Hen. 2. there was another summon'd to meet here by King Edw. 2. Anno 1317. but the differences at that time between the King and the Barons were so high that nothing of any moment was transacted This place was honour'd in the time of Charles 2. by giving the title of Earl to Edward Hide Baron of Hindon Viscount Cornbury and Lord Chancellor of England who dying at Roan in Normandy was succeeded by his eldest son Henry Not far from Clarendon is Farle Farle where Sir Stephen Fox one of their Majesties Commissioners of the Treasury out of a respect to his native place has founded a Hospital for 6 old men and as many old women with a Master who is to teach a Free-school here and to officiate in the Church which he also built from the ground a new in room of an old ruin'd Chappel and made it Parochial Northward of this is Frippsbury Frippsââââ a very great entrenchment of a rude circular form it 's Diameter containing 300 large paces it is single-trench'd but the ditch is deep and the rampire high Only about 80 paces within the outer circumvallation is a deep trench without a rampire It has only two entrances one by east and the other on the west and there is some probability of it's being Saxon. dd About 7 miles north of New-Salisbury is Stone-henge Stone-henge a piece of Antiquity so famous as to have gain'd the admiration of all ages and engag'd the pens of some very considerable Authors 'T is of it self so singular and receives so little light from history that almost every one has advanc'd a new notion To give the several conjectures with some short remarks is as much as the narrow compass of our design will allow But not to hunt after such uncertainties and in the mean time pass over what lays before our eyes we will premise a description of the place as it now stands much more distinct than what Mr. Camden has left us It is situated on a rising ground Stone-henge âscribâe environ'd with a deep trench still appearing and about 30 foot broad From the plain it has had three entrances the most considerable lying north-east at each of which was rais'd on the out-side of the trench two huge stones gate-wise parallel whereunto on the inside were two others of less proportion After one has pass'd this ditch he ascends 35 yards before he comes at the Work it self which consists of 4 Circles of Stones The outward Circle is about 100 foot diameter the stones whereof are very large 4 yards in height 2 in breadth and 1 in thickness Two yards and a half within this great Circle is a range of lesser stones Three yards farther is the principal part of the work call'd by Mr. Jones The Cell of an irregular figure made up of two rows of stones the outer of which consists of great upright stones in height 20 foot in breadth 2 yards and in thickness one yard These are coupl'd at the top by large transome stones like Architraves which are 7 foot long and about three and a half thick Within this was also another range of lesser Pyramidal stones of about 6 foot in height In the inmost part of the Cell Mr. Jones observ'd a stone which is now gone appearing not much above the surface of the earth and lying toward the east 4 foot broad and sixteen foot long which was his suppos'd Altar-stone And so much for the structure and dimensions of the Monument only it may in general be observ'd that the stones are not artificial as Mr. Camden and some others would perswade us but purely natural as Mr. Jones p. 35. has asserted The opinions about it may be reduc'd to these 7 heads 1. That it is a work of the Phoenicians as Mr. Sammes in his Britannia conceits a conjecture that has met with so little approbation that I shall not stay to confute it 2. That it was a Temple of the Druids long before the coming in of the Romans which Mr. John Aubrey Fellow of the Royal Society endeavours to prove in his Manuscript Treatise entitl'd Monumenta
Derby the second to Alan de la Zouch the youngest to Comine Earl of Buchan in Scotland A long time after this Hugh le Despencer was honour'd with the title during life only by King Edward 2. who made him his most familiar friend and confident but he and his son had too late an experiment how fatal it often proves to be the favourites of a Prince for popular fury put both of them to an ignominious death A pretty while after this by the bounty of King Edward 4. Lewis de Bruges a Belgian Lord of Gruthuse and Prince of Steinhuse who had entertain'd this Prince in Flanders when he fled thither for refuge obtain'd this title with Arms not much differing from those of Roger de Quincy 6 In these words Azur a dix Mascles D'or en orm d'un Canton de nostre propre Armes d'Engleterre cest savour de Goul un Leopard passant d'or armeé d'azur which after the death of K. Edward he surrendred up to K. Henry 7. Within our own memory â Sir William William Powlett Lord Treasurer of England 7 Earl of Wiltshire and Lord St. John of Basing was honour'd by Edward 6. with a new title of Marquess of Winchester 8 A man prudently pliable to times raised not suddenly but by degrees in Court excessive in vast informous buildings temperate in all other things full of years for he lived 97 years and fruitful in his generation for he saw 103 issued from him by Elizabeth his wife daughter to Sir William Capel Knight And now his grandchild William enjoys the said honours which his Posterity now enjoys Winchester stands in the longitude of 22 and the latitude of 51 degrees according to the observation of later ages o From Winchester more Eastward the river Hamble Hamble out at a large mouth runs into the sea Bede calls it Homelea and says it runs through the country of the Jutes and falls into the Solente Solente for so he calls the chanel between Britain and the Isle of Wight into which at certain hours two opposite tides coming up with great violence from the Ocean and meeting here rais'd so great an admiration in our fore fathers that they reckon'd it one of the wonders of Britain Of which take Bede's own words Two tides which flow round the British Island out of the vast northern Ocean do daily meet together and encounter each other beyond the mouth of the river Homelea and when the waves have ended their conflict they retire into the sea from whence they came Into this chanel another small river empties it self which rising near Warnford runs between the forest of Waltham where is a m It was ruin'd in the late Civil Wars stately seat of the Bishops of Winchester and that of Bere 9 Whereby is Wickham a mansion of that ancient family of Vuedal Hol. It is come by marriage to the E. of Carlisle along by Tichfield Tichfield where was formerly a small Monastery built by Peter de Rupibus Bishop of Winchester 10 Where the marriage was solemnized between King Henry 6. and Margaret of Anjou and is now the chief n The Earl of Southampton dying without Issue male this estate came to Edward first Earl of Gainsburrow by marriage with Elizabeth daughter and coheiress of the said Earl whose son dying without issue-male it is now fallen to his two daughters who are at present Minors seat of the Wriotheslys Earls of Southampton Hence the shore turning and winding in the Island call'd Portesey makes a creek at the upper part of which flourish'd formerly Port-peris where tradition says Vespasian first arriv'd Our Ancestors gave it the new name of Portchester not from Porta a Saxon but from portus a harbour For Ptolemy from it's largeness calls it ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã i.e. the spacious harbour and so a place in Africa was call'd Portus magnus Portus magnus as we learn from Pliny There is a large Castle still remaining which commands a free prospect of all the harbour below But when the sea retiring from this shore by degrees made the harbour less commodious they remov'd hence to Portsey an adjoyning Island which is about 14 miles round At high tide it is encompass'd with sea-water of which they make salt and is joyn'd to the continent by a bridge which had a small castle to defend it Athelfled wife of King Edgar gave this Island to New-Minster in Winchester and here at the entrance or mouth of the creek our Ancestors built a town which from thence they call'd Portsmouth Portsmouth This in time of war is populous but not so in time of peace and seems more inclin'd to the Arts of Mars and Neptune than of Mercury It has a Church of good ancient work and an Hospital which they call God's-house founded by Peter de Rupibus Bishop of Winchester It was fortify'd with a wall made of timber and well lined with mud with a high mount toward the north-east near the gate and with two sorts of free-stone at the entrance of the harbour which the inhabitants say were begun by K. Edward 4. and finish'd by Henry 7. who they add settled a garrison in this town But within our memory Queen Elizabeth at great expence has so well secured it by new Works that nothing seems now wanting to make it a most complete fortification And of the garrison some keep guard night and day at the Town-gates and others upon the top of the Church-tower where by ringing of a Bell they give notice what Horse and Foot advance toward the Town and by waving of Colours show from what quarter they come p Hence from Portes-bridge upon a little turning of the shore I saw Havant Havant a small market-town and near it Warblington formerly a beautiful seat of the Earls of Salisbury now of the family of Cottons Knights Before these there lie two Islands the larger is call'd Haling the less Thorney from the thorns and each of them has it's Parish-Church In several places along this shore out of sea-water that comes up they make salt which at first is of a sort of pale and green colour but by an art they have 't is afterwards boil'd into a pure white And 't is of this sea-salt not of the other which is made in our English pits British Salt that St. Ambrose is to be understood Let us look upon those things which are common Hexameron lib. 4. cap. 11. and withal full of kindness how water is turned into such firm and solid salt that 't is often cut with instruments of iron which is usual in the British salts that are crusted into a substance as hard and white as marble and are very wholsom At a greater distance from the sea live the Meanvari Meanvari whose Country along with the Isle of Wight Edilwalch King of the South-Saxons received from Wlpher King of the Mercians
who was his Godfather See Bede lib. 4. c. 13. and upon Baptism gave him this token of adoption Their Country is now divided into three Hundreds with a very little change of the name Meansborow Eastmean o Weastmean is only a Tithing and not a Hundred as the other two Weastmean within which there is a rais'd hill surrounded at the top with a large trench and call'd Old Winchester where tradition tells us there was an ancient City but there is now not the least mark or sign of it so that one may easily imagine it to have been only a Roman Summer-Camp Below this lies Warnford Warnford where Adam de Portu a man of great wealth in those parts under William the Conqueror rebuilt the Church as we are taught by a rude distich fixed on the wall Addae hic portu benedicat solis ab ortu Gens Deo dicata per quem sic sum renovata Good folks in your devotions ev'ry day For Adam Port who thus repair'd me pray q More inward there border upon these the Segontiaci Segontiaci who submitted themselves to Caesar and inhabited the Northern limits of this County living in the Hundred of Holeshot in which we meet with Aulton a Market-town that King Alfred by will left to the Keeper of Leodre and Basingstoke Basingstoke that has a well-frequented market and a very neat Chapel dedicated to the Holy Ghost built by William the first Lord Sands who there lies bury'd Upon the roof of it the history of the Prophets Apostles and Disciples of Christ is very artificially describ d. Below this place Eastward lies Basing Baâing famous for it's Lords of that Sirname St. Johns St. Johns Poinings and Powlets For when Adam de Portu Lord of Basing marry d the daughter and heir of Roger de Aurevall whose wife was the daughter and heir of the noble family of the St. Johns Out of ãâã old m ãâ¦ã this ãâã then William son of the said Adam took the honorary title of St. John which was retain'd by his successors in a right line But when Edmund de St. John in the time of Edward 3. died without issue Margaret his sister marrying John de St. Philibert brought to him the whole estate of the Lords St. John She likewise dying without issue Isabel her other sister wife of * Sir Luke Hol. Luke Poynings had by him Thomas Lord of Basing whose grandchild Constantia by his son Hugh became heir to this part of the estate and being marry'd into the family of the Powlets was the great grandmother of that William Powlet Powlet who by K. Henr. 8. was made Baron St. John of Basing and by King Edward 6. Earl of Wiltshire and Marquess of Winchester and being Lord High Treasurer of England after he had in most troublesome times run through a course of the highest honours He lived ââ years dy'd in a good old age a happiness that rarely attends Courtiers He built here a seat both for largeness and beauty wonderfully magnificent but which was so overpower'd by it's own weight that his posterity have been forc'd to pull down a part of it r Nigh this place we see The Vine Vines ãâã brought ãâã to Engâaâd a very neat house of the Barons of Sandes and so call'd from Vines which we have had in Britain more for shade indeed than fruit Vopiscus ever since the time of Probus the Emperor For 't was he that gave liberty to the Britains and some other nations to have Vines The first Baron of this family was â Sir William Hol. William Sandes Barons ãâã Sandes whom King Henry 8. advanc'd to that honour when he was his Chamberlain and had encreas'd his estate by marriage with Margery Bray daughter and heir of John Bray and Cousin of Reginald Bray Knight of the Garter and a most eminent Baneret To him was born Thomas Lord Sandes grandfather to William now living Nigh this place to the south-east lies Odiam Odiam now proud of a Palace of the King 's and once known for the prison of David 2. King of Scots It was formerly a free burrough of the Bishop of Winchester's Matth ââris the Castle whereof in the reign of K. John was defended by 13 English for 15 days together against Lewis Dauphine of France who straitly besieged it with a great Army Higher up among the Segontiaci upon the Northern edge of the County lay the City of these Segontiaci Vindonum which losing it's old name Vindâââ took that of it's inhabitants as Lutetia in France borrow'd it's name from the Parisians For this place was call'd by the Britains Caer Segonte that is the City of the Segontians and so Ninnius terms it in his Catalogue of Cities we at this day call it Silcester Silcester and Higden seems to give it the name of Britenden from the Britains I am induc'd to call this place the Vindonum because it agrees with the distances of Vindonum from Gallena or Guallenford and from Vinta or Winchester in the Itinerary of Antoninus and the rather too because there is a military way still visible between this Silcester and Winchester Ninnius tells us this City was built by Constantius son of Constantine the Great and that it was once call'd Murimintum perhaps for Muri-vindun that is the Walls of Vindonum for the Britains retain the word Mure borrow'd from the Provincial language and the V consonant they often change into M in their pronunciation On the ground whereon this City was built I deliver Ninnius's words the Emperâr Constantius sow'd 3 grains of Corn that no poor person might ever inhabit there So Dinocrates at the building of Alexandria in Egypt as Ammianus Marcellinus has it strowed all the out-lines with â Farioâ Wheat by which Omen he foretold that that City should always be supplied with plenty of provisions The same Author also reports that Constantius dy'd here and that his sepulchre was to be seen at the gate of the City as appear'd by the inscription But in these matters let Ninnius vindicate his own credit who indeed has stuff'd that little history with a great many trifling lies But thus much I dare affirm that this city was in great repute in that age and I myself have here found several coins of Constantine Junior son of Constantine the Great which on their reverse have the figure of a building and this inscription PROVIDENTIAE CAESS But all writers agree that Constantius whom Ninnius makes the builder of this city dy'd at Mopsuestia or Mebsete in Cilicia and was thence carry'd to the sepulchre of his Ancestors at Constantinople ãâ¦ã I deny not but that a â sepulchre or honorary grave might be here made for the Emperor for such like â Barrows of earth were often made in memory of the dead âmulâ âorary ãâã or âows round which the souldiers had yearly their solemn exercises in
to Winchester so is there another that passes westward thro' Pamber a thick and woody forest then by some places that are now uninhabited it runs near Litchfield that is the field of carcasses and so to the forest of Chute pleasant for its shady trees and the diversions of hunting where the huntsmen and foresters admire it 's pav'd rising ridge which is plainly visible tho' now and then broken off Now northward in the very limits almost of this County I saw Kings-cleare Kingscleare formerly a seat of the Saxon Kings now a well-frequented market town 11 By it Fremantle in a Park where King John much hunted Sidmanton Sidmanton the seat of the family of Kingsmils Knights and Burgh-cleare Bu gh-cleare that lies under a high hill on the top of which there is a military camp such as our ancestors call'd Burgh surrounded with a large trench and there being a commanding prospect from hence all the country round a Beacon is here fix'd which by fire gives notice to all neighbouring parts of the advance of an enemy These kind of watch-towers we call in our language Beacons from the old word Beacnian i.e. to becken they have been in use here in England for several ages sometimes made of a high pile of wood and sometimes of little barrels fill'd with pitch set on the top of a large pole in places that are most expos'd to view where some always keep watch in the night and formerly also the horsemen call'd Hobelers by our Ancestors were settled in several places to signifie the approach of the enemy by day s This County as well as all the rest we have thus far describ'd belong'd to the West-Saxon Kings and as Marianus tells us when Sigebert was depos'd for his tyrannical oppression of the subject he had this County assign'd him that he might not seem intirely depriv'd of his government But for his repeated crimes they afterward expell'd him out of those parts too and the miserable condition of this depos'd Prince was so far from moving any one's pity that he was forc'd to conceal himself in the wood Anderida and was there killed by a Swine-herd This County has had very few Earls besides those of Winchester which I have before spoken of At the coming in of the Normans one Bogo or Beavose a Saxon had this title who in the battel at Cardiff in Wales fought against the Normans He was a man of great military courage and conduct and while the Monks endeavour'd to extol him by false and legendary tales they have drown'd his valiant exploits in a sort of deep mist From this time we read of no other Earl of this County till the reign of Henry 8. who advanc'd William Fitz-Williams descended from the daughter of the Marquess of Montacute in his elder years to the honours of Earl of Southampton and Lord High Admiral of England But he soon after dying without issue King Edward 6. in the first year of his reign conferr'd that honour upon Thomas Wriotheosley Lord Chancellour of England and his grandson Henry by Henry his son now enjoys that title who in his younger years has arm'd the nobility of his birth with the ornaments of learning and military arts that in his riper age he may employ them in the service of his King and Country There are in this County 253 Parishes and 18 Market Towns ISLE of WIGHT TO this County of Southamton belongs an Island which lies southward in length opposite to it by the Romans formerly call'd Vecta Vectis and Victesis by Ptolemy ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã by the Britains Guith by the Saxons Wuitland and Wicþ-ea for they call'd an Island Ea we now call it the Isle of Wight and Whight 'T is separated from the Continent of Britain by so small a rapid channel which they formerly call'd Solent that it seems to have been joyn'd to it whence as Ninnius observes the Britains call'd it Guith which signifies a Separation t For the same reason the learned Julius Scaliger is of opinion that Sicily had it's name from the Latin word Seco because it was broken off and as it were dissected from Italy Whence with submission always to the Criticks I would read that passage in the sixth of Seneca's Natural Quaest. Ab Italia Sicilia resecta and not rejecta as 't is commonly read From the nearness of it's situation and the likeness of it's name we may guess this Vecta to be that Icta which as Diodorus Siculus has it at every tide seem'd to be an Island but at the time of the ebb the ground between this Island and the Continent was so dry that the old Britains us'd to carry their tinn over thither in Carts in order to transport it into France But I cannot think this to be Pliny's Mictis tho' Vecta come very near the name for in that Island there was white lead whereas in this there is not any one vein of metal that I know of This Island from east to west is like a Lentil or of an oval form in length 20 miles and in the middle where 't is broadest 12 miles over the sides lying north and south To say nothing of the abundance of fish in this sea the soil is very fruitful and answers the husbandman's expectation even so far as to yield him corn to export There is every where plenty of rabbets hares partridge and pheasants and it has besides a forest and two parks which are well stock'd with deer for the pleasures of hunting Through the middle of the Island runs a long ridge of hills where is plenty of pasture for sheep whose wool next to that of Lemster and Cotteswold is reckon'd the best and is in so much request with the Clothiers that the inhabitants make a great advantage of it In the northern part there is very good pasturage meadow-ground and wood the southern part is in a manner all a corn country enclos'd with ditches and hedges At each end the sea does so insinuate and thrust in it self from the north that it makes almost two Islands which indeed are call'd so by the inhabitants that on the west side Fresh-water Isle the other on the east Binbridge Isle Bede reckon'd in it in his time 1200 families now it has 36 towns villages and castles and as to its Ecclesiastical Government is under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Winchester but as to it 's Civil under the County of South-hamton The inhabitants facetiously boast how much happier they are than other people since they never had either p 'T is strange why they should add Monks since S. Mary's in Caresbrooke particularly was a Cell of Black Monks belonging first to Lyra in Normandy afterwards to the Abbey of Montgrace in Yorkshire and then to the Cistercians of Sheen Besides this there were in the Island three Priories * Cu ãâ¦ã tos ãâã cââos Newpoââ Monks Lawyers or Foxes The places of greatest note are these Newport
they had built here a wooden bridge upon piles it began to have inns and to be so frequented as to outvie its neighbouring mother Bray a much more ancient place as having given name to the whole Hundred I have long been of the opinion that the Bibroci Bibroci who submitted themselves to Caesar's protection held these parts and why shou'd I not think so There are very clear and plain remains of the name Bibracte likewise in France is now contracted into Bray and not far from hence Caesar cross'd the Thames with his army as I shall shew in its proper place when these parts submitted themselves to him Certainly shou'd one seek for the Bibroci elsewhere he wou'd I believe hardly find them ââdior Among these Bibroci stands Windesore in Saxon perhaps from the winding shore Wyndleshora for so it is term'd in K. Edw. the Confessor's Charter who in these very words made a Grant of it to Westminster To the praise of Almighty God I have granted as an endowment and perpetual inheritance to the use of those that serve the Lord Windleshore with its appurtenances And I have read nothing more ancient concerning Windsor Windsor But the Monks had not long held it in possession when William the Norman by exchange brought it back to the crown For thus his Charter runs With the consent and favour of the venerable Abbot of Westminster I have enter'd into a composition about Windsor's being in the possession of the Crown because that place seems commodious by the nearness of the river the forest fit for hunting and many other particulars therein convenient for Kings being likewise a place fit for the King's entertainment in lieu whereof I have granted them Wokendune and Ferings Scarce any Royal Seat can certainly have a more pleasant situation For from an high hill rising with a gentle ascent it hath an admirable prospect round about It s front overlooks a long and wide valley chequer'd with corn-fields and green meadows clothed on each side with groves and water'd with the calm and gentle Thames Behind it arise hills every where neither craggy nor over-high adorn'd with woods and as it were consecrated by nature it self to Hunting The pleasantness of it hath drawn many of our Princes hither as to a retiring place and here was K. Edw. 3. that potent Prince born to conquer France who built new from the ground a Castle in bigness equal to a little City strengthen'd with ditches and towers of square-stone and having presently after subdu'd the French and the Scots kept at the same time John King of France and David King of Scots Prisoners here This Castle is divided into two Courts The inner which looks towards the East contains in it the King's palace than which if you consider the contrivance of the buildings nothing can be more stately and magnificent On the north-side where it looks down to the river Queen Elizabeth added a most pleasant Terrace-Walk The outer Court hath at it's entrance a stately Chapel consecrated by K. Edw. 3. to the blessed Virgin Mary and St. George of Cappadocia but brought to it's present magnificence by K. Edw. 4. 12 And Sir Reginald Bray Here K. Edw. 3. â35â for the encouraging military virtue and the adorning it with honours rewards and glory instituted the most noble society of Knights which as some report from his own Garter given for the Word in a battel that prov'd successful he stiled Knights of the Garter ãâã of Gârââr They wear on their left leg a little below the knee a blue Garter carrying this Motto embroider'd in letters of gold and in French HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE and fasten the same with a buckle of gold as a token of Concord and a tye of the strictest Amity to the end there might be amongst them a certain Consociation and community of Virtues Others attribute it to the Garter of the Queen or rather of Joan Countess of Salisbury a Lady of incomparable beauty that fell from her as she was a dancing and the King took up from the floor at which the Nobles that stood about him fell a laughing whereupon the King told them That the time should shortly come when the greatest honour imaginable should be paid to that Garter This is the common report neither need it seem to be a mean original considering that as one saith Nobilitas sub amore jacet i.e. Nobility lies under love There are some too that make the invention of this order much ancienter fathering it upon K. Rich. 1. and persuading themselves that K. Edward only reviv'd it but how truly I know not Yet in the very book of the first Institution which William Dethick Garter Principal King at Arms a Gentleman very studious in every thing relating to Honour and the Nobility gave me a sight of we read thus When K. Richard led his Army against the Turks and * Saracens âââânos Cyprus and Acon and was weary of such lingring delay while the siege was carried on with a wonderful deal of trouble at length upon a divine inspiration by the apparition as it was thought of St. George it came into his mind to draw upon the legs of certain chosen Knights of his a certain tach of leather such as he had then ready at hand whereby being minded of that future glory was then promised them if they conquer'd it might be an incitement to push them on to the behaving themselves with courage and resolution in imitation of the Romans that had such variety of crowns with which upon several accounts they presented and honour'd their soldiers that as it were by instigations of this kind cowardise might be shaken off and valour and bravery might arise and start out with more vigour and resolution However the mightiest Princes of Christendom have reputed it a very great honour to be chosen and since it 's first institution there have been already admitted into this Order which consists of 26 Knights 22 Kings or thereabouts besides our Kings of England who are term'd Sovereigns Sovereigns thereof not to mention a great many Dukes and other persons of the greatest quality And here Founders of the Order I think it will not be amiss to set down the names of those who were first admitted into this Order and are commonly call'd the Founders of the Order for their glory can never be obliterated who in those days for military valour and bravery had very few Equals and were upon that account advanced to this honour Edward 3. King of England Edward his eldest son Prince of Wales Henry Duke of Lancaster Thomas Earl of Warwick Capdall de Buche Ralph Earl of Stafford William Montacute Earl of Salisbury Roger Mortimer Earl of March John L'isle Bartholomew Burgwash John Beauchamp John de Mohun Hugh Courtney Thomas Holland John Grey Richard Fitz-Simon Miles Stapleton Thomas Walle Hugh Wrothesley Niel Loring John Chandos James de Awdeley
monastery in the infancy of the English Church which was for some time the burying-place of that most Religious King Henry 6. âenry 6. whom the York-family after they had dethron'd him cut off to make themselves more secure of the Crown and bury'd him here without the least mark of honour But King Henry 7. removing him to Windsor bury'd him in a New Tomb with the solemnity becoming a King and was such an admirer of his Religion and Virtues for he was an exact pattern of Christian piety and patience that he apply'd himself to Pope Julius to have him put in the kalendar of the Saints âtory of âanterbury And this had certainly been done if the Pope's avarice had not stood in the way who demanded too large a summ for the King's Apotheosis or Canonization which would have made it look as if that honour had not been pay'd so much to the sanctity of the Prince as to gold Below this place the little river Wey empties it self into the Thames a which running out of Hamshire at it's first coming into Surrey visits Feornham commonly Farnham Farnham so nam'd as being a bed of ferns given by Aethelbald King of the West-Saxons to the Bishop and Congregation of the Church of Winchester In this place it was that about the year 893. King Alfred worsted the plundering Danes with a handful of men and afterwards when K. Stephen had granted licence to all those who sided with him to build Castles Henry of Blois brother to Stephen and Bishop of Winchester built a castle upon the hill that hangs over the town which because it was a harbour for sedition K. Henry 3. demolish'd but after a long time the Bishops of Winchester to whom it belongs to this day rebuilt it Not far from hence at Waverley Waverley William Gifford Bishop of Winchester built a little monastery for Cistercian Monks 1 Commonly called White-Monks which Abbey being a Grandchild as they term'd it from Cisterce in Burgundy was so fruitful here in England that it was nother to the Abbies of Gerondon Ford Tame Cumb and Grandmother to Bordesley Bidlesdon Bruer Bindon and Dunkeswell For so Religious Orders were wont to keep in Pedigree-manner the propagation of their Orders as a deduction of Colonies out of them From thence the Wey running by Godelminge which King Alfred gave by Will to Aethelwald his brother's son and not far from Catteshull-mannour Catteshull which Hamo de Catton held to be Marshal of the whores when the King should come into those parts and at a little distance from Loseley where within a park I saw a delicate seat of the family of the Mores by these I say it comes to Guilford Guilford in Saxon Gulde-ford and in some Copies Gegldford It is now a market-town of great resort and well stor'd with good Inns but was formerly a Village of the English-Saxon Kings and given by Will to Athelwald by his foresaid Uncle There is now a house of the King 's tho' gone much to decay and not far from the river the ruinous walls of an old castle which has been pretty large In the middle of the town is a Church the east end whereof being arch'd with stone seems to be very ancient Here as we learn by Domesday book the King had 75 Hagae i.e. houses Haga wherein 175 men dwelt But 't is famous for nothing so much as the treachery and inhumanity of Godwin Earl of Kent who in the year of our Lord 1036. when Alfred King Ethelred's son and heir to the Crown of England came out of Normandy to demand his right receiv'd him with an assurance of safety but treated him contrary to his promise For surprizing at a dead time of night the six hundred men which were the retinue of the Royal youth he punish'd them as our Writers word it by a Decimation Military Decimation Which was not according to the ancient Rules of War by drawing out every tenth man by lot and then killing him but dispatching nine dismissed every tenth and afterwards with the most extream cruelty * redecimavit retith'd those tenths he had sav'd And as to Aelfred himself he deliver'd him to Harold the Dane who first put out his eyes then clapt him in chains and kept him in prison to his dying day b From hence the Wey is carry'd towards the north for a long way together and meets with nothing worth mentioning except Sutton the seat of the Westons Knights 2 Better'd by an heir of T. Camel Woking a royal seat 3 Where K. Hen. 7. repair'd and enlarg'd the Maneur-house being the inheritance of the Lady Margaret Countess of Richmond his mother who liv'd there in her later time Newark sometime a small Priory environ'd with divided streams and Pyriford where in our memory Edward Earl of Lincoln and Baron Clinton 4 And Admiral of England built him a house and in the neighbourhood Ockham William Ockham where William de Ockham that great Philosopher and Founder of the Nominals was born and had his name from the place 5 As of the next village Ripley G. de Ripley a Ring-leader of our Alchimists and a mystical Impostor So Holland This Sir George after 20 years study in Italy c. after the Philosopher's stone is said to have found it An. 1470. and well he might if he gave as a Record in the Isle of Malta declares an hundred thousand pound yearly to the Knights of Rhodes for carrying on the war againct the Turks See Full. Wor. p. 204. Com. Ebor. But where it comes to empty it self out at a double mouth into the Thames we see Otelandes c a pretty handsome seat of the King 's built within a park near which Caesar pass'd the Thames Where Caesar pass'd the Thames and enter'd the territories of Cassivelan For this was the only place in the Thames formerly fordable and that too not without great difficulty which the Britains in a manner pointed out to him For on the other side of the river a strong body of the British had planted themselves and the bank it self was senc'd with sharp stakes and some of the same sort fasten'd under water The footsteps whereof says Bede are seen at this day and it appears upon the view that each of them is as thick as a man's thigh and that soder'd with lead they stick in the bottom of the river immoveable But the Romans enter'd the river with so much vigour and resolution that tho' they had only their heads above water the Britains were not able to bear up against them but were forc'd to quit the bank and fly for it 'T is impossible I should be mistaken in the place because here the river is scarce six foot deep and the place at this day from those stakes is call'd Coway-stakes Câwaystakes to which add that Caesar makes the bounds of Cassivelan where he settles this passage of
his to be about 80 miles distant from that sea which washes the east part of Kent where he landed Now this ford we mention is at the same distance from the sea and I am the first that I know of that has mention'd and settl'd it in it's proper place Some few miles from hence towards the east the little river Mole hastens into the sea Mole riv after it has cross'd the County from the southern bound but stop'd at last in it's way by the opposition of hills b See several instances of this kind as they are reckon'd up by the learned Selden in his Notes upon Drayton's âolyelbion p. 267. with their several Authorities like that noble river of Spain Anas Anas a river in Spain it forces open a passage under ground as if it were some mole from whence it has it's name that subterraneous animal being call'd in English a Mole But there is nothing famous upon this river only at some distance from it's head near the old military way of the Romans call'd Stanystreat is the town Aclea commonly nam'd Ockley Ockley from the Oaks Here Aethelwolph son of Egbert who notwithstanding he had enter'd in to Holy Orders yet by a dispensation from the Pope succeeded his father hereditarily in the kingdom engag'd the Danish army with good success for he kill'd most of their brave men tho' with no great advantage to his country that Danish Hydra still sprouting up a-new d A little from the head of this river stands Gatton Gatton now hardly a village tho' formerly a famous town As an argument of it's antiquity it shews Roman coins dug up there and sends two Burgesses to Parliament Lower is Rhie-gat Rhie-gat i.e. according to our ancient language the course or chanel of a small river in a vale running out a great way eastward call'd c The Holm-trees abound very much through all this tract Holmesdale Holmesdale the inhabitants whereof because once or twice they defeated the plundering Danes have this rhime in their own commendation The vale of Holmesdall Never wonne ne never shall This Rhie-gate is more considerable for it's largeness than buildings on the south-side of it is a park growing thick with little groves and in this the most noble Charles Earl of Nottingham Baron of Effingham and Lord High Admiral of England has his seat where formerly the Earls of Warren and Surrey built a small Monastery On the east-side is a Castle standing upon a high-ground now neglected and decay'd with age it was built by the same Earls and is commonly call'd Holmes-castle from the vale in which it stands Under this there is a wonderful vault under-ground of arched work made of free-stone the same with that of the hill it self and hollow'd with great labour The Earls of Warren as it is in the book of Inquisitions held it in chief of the King in his Barony from the Conquest of England In Barâââ sua de Câquesta Anglia From thence it runs by Bechworth's-castle for which 6 Sir Thomas Thomas Brown procur'd the privilege of a Fair from Henry the 6th For it is the seat of the family of the Browns Bâowns Knights of which in the memory of our grandfathers after 7 Sir Anthony Anthony Brown had marry'd Lucy fourth daughter of John Nevil Marquess of Montacute with whom he had a pretty great fortune Queen Mary honour'd his grandchild by a son with the title of Viscount Montacute A few miles hence to the west we see Effingham formerly the possession of William Howard that Conquerour of the Scots son to Thomas Duke of Norfolk who was created Baron Howard of Effingham Effinghaâ by Queen Mary and being made Lord High Admiral of England was first Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory and afterwards Keeper of the Privy Seal His son Charles is now in a flourishing condition and is Lord High Admiral of England whom the same Elizabeth in the year 1597. for his valour and great services advanced to the dignity of Earl of Nottingham 8 Of whom more in my Annals But to return to the River The Mole coming to Whitehill upon which box-tree grows in great abundance hides it self or is rather swallow'd up at the foot of it and for that reason the place is call'd Swallow The Swaâlow but after about the space of two miles it bubbles up and rises again f so that the inhabitants of this tract no less than the Spaniards A bridge upon whiâ flocks of sheep ãâã may boast of having a bridge that feeds several flocks of sheep For the Spaniard has made this a common proverb in relation to the place where the river d Seld. Comment in Polyolb p. 267. Anas now call'd Guadiana hides it self for ten miles together Our river Mole thus recovering it self from under ground goes with a slow current 9 By Stoke Dabernoun so nam'd of the ancient Possessors the Dabernouns Gentlemen of great note Afterwards by inheritance from them the possession of the Lord Bray And by Aâsher sometimes a retiring place belonging to the Bishops of Winchester towards the Thames and enters it hard by Molesey to which it communicates the name After our Thames has receiv'd the Mole it posts forward directly to the North Kingstââ Matth. Pâris running by Kingstone formerly call'd Moreford as some would have it a little market-town of very great resort and once famous for the castle of the Clares Earls of Glocester having it's rise out of the ruins of a more ancient little town of the same name situate in a level ground and much expos'd to inundations In this town when the Danish wars had almost quite blown up England Athelstan Edwin and Ethelred the Kings were inaugurated 10 Upon an open stage in the market-place whereupon from the Kings it came to be call'd Kingston i.e. a Royal Town g In this neighbourhood also the Kings of England e By this means it was an usual Nursery for our late Princes and Princesses when children upon account of the wholesomness of its air chose them a seat which from its shining or splendour they call'd Shene Richmonâ the pâace and vââââ call'd Shâ before Hen. â Edward but now it has the name of Richmond Here it was that the most powerful Prince K. Edward 3. after he had liv'd enough both to glory and nature dy'd of grief for the loss of his warlike son whose death was so great an affliction both to him and all England as made the methods of consolation altogether ineffectual And indeed if ever England had a just occasion for sorrow then it was For in the space of one year it was entirely bereav'd of it's ornaments of true military discipline and untainted courage Both of these carry'd their conquering swords through France and put such a terrour into that Kingdom as might deservedly give the father with Anticchus the
of his being seized of the Castle Honour and Lordships of Arundel in his own demesn as of Fee in regard of this his possession of the same Castle Honour and Lordships and without any other consideration or creation to be an Earl was Earl of Arundel Parl. 11. H. 6. and the Name State and Honour of the Earl of Arundel c. peaceably enjoy'd as appears by a definitive Judgment in Parliament in favour of John Fitz-Alan challenging the Castle and Title of Arundel 5 By virtue of an entail against John Mowbray Duke of Norfolk the right heir by his mother in the nearest degree From whence we gather That the Name State and Dignity of an Earl was annex'd to the Castle Honour and Lordship of Arundel as may be seen in the Parliament-Rolls An. 27 Hen. 6. out of which I have copy'd these notes word for word Of these Fitz-Alans 6 Edmund second Earl son to Richard marry'd the heir of the Earl of Surrey and was beheaded through the malicious fury of Q. Isabel not lawfully convicted for that he oppos'd himself in King Edw. the 2d's behalf against her wicked practices His son Richard petition'd in Parliament to be restor'd to blood lands and goods for that his father was put to death not try'd by his Peers according to the Law and Great Charter of England Nevertheless whereas the Attainder of him was confirm'd by Parliament he was forc'd to amend his Petition and upon the amendment thereof he was restor'd by the King 's meer grace Richard his son as his grandfather died for his Sovereign 4 Edw. 3. lost his life for banding against his Sovereign K. Richard 2. But Thomas his son more honourably ended his life serving King Henry 5. valorously in France and leaving his sisters his heirs general Sir John of Arundel Lord Maltravers his next Cousin and Heir Male obtain'd of K. Henr. 6. the Earldom of Arundel as we even now declared See before the Earls of Surrey and also was by the said King for his good service created Duke of Touraine Of the succeeding Earls I find nothing memorable the 11th liv'd in our time and dying without issue male was succeeded by Philip Howard his grandson by his daughter who not being able to digest wrongs and hard measure put upon him by the cunning tricks of some invidious persons fell into the snare they had laid for him and being brought into the utmost danger of his life dy'd But his son Thomas a most honourable young Gentleman ennobled with a fervent desire and pursuit after virtue and glory worthy his great birth and of an affable obliging temper was restor'd by King James and had all his father's honours return'd him by Act of Parliament Except the Castle and it's Earls Arundel hath nothing memorable for the College that there flourish'd and had the Earls for it's founders it's revenues being alienated now falls to decay Nevertheless there are some monuments of the Earls in the Church amongst the rest one of Alabaster very fair and noble in which in the middle of the Quire lie Earl Thomas and Beatrix his Wife 2d Daughter of John King of Portugal Neither must I pass by this Inscription very beautifully gilt set up here to the honour of Henry Fitz-Alan the last Earl of this Line since some possibly may be pleas'd with it VIRTUTI ET HONORI SACRUM MAGNANIMUS HEROS CUJUS HIC CERNITUR EFFIGIES CUJUSQUE HIC SUBTER SITA SUNT OSSA HUJUS TERRITORII COMES FUIT SUI GENERIS AB ALANI FILIO COGNOMINATUS A MALATRAVERSO CLUNENSI ET OSWALDESTRENSI HONORIBUS EXIMIIS DOMINUS INSUPER AC BARO NUNCUPATUS GARTERIANI ORDINIS EQUESTRIS SANE NOBILISSIMI SODALIS DUM VIXIT ANTIQUISSIMUS ARUNDELIAE COMITIS GUILIELMI FILIUS UNICUS ET SUCCESSOR OMNIUMQUE VIRTUTUM PARTICEPS QUI HENRICO VIII EDWARDO VI. MARIAE ET ELIZABETHAE ANGLIAE REGIBUS A SECRETIS CONSILIIS VILLAE QUOQUE CALESIAE PRAEFECTURAM GESSIT ET CUM HENRICUS REX BOLONIAM IN MORINIS OBSIDIONE CINXERAT EXERCITUS SUI MARESCALLUS PRIMARIUS DEINDE REGIS FUIT CAMERARIUS EJUSQUE FILIO EDWARDO DUM CORONARETUR MARESCALLI REGNI OFFICIUM GEREBAT EIQUE SICUT ANTEA PATRI CAMERARIUS FACTUS REGNANTE VERO MARIA REGINA CORONATIONIS SOLENNI TEMPORE SUMMUS CONSTITUITUR CONSTABULARIUS DOMUSQUE REGIAE POSTMODUM PRAEFECTUS AC CONSILII PRAESES SICUT ET ELIZABETHAE REGINAE CUJUS SIMILITER HOSPITII SENESCALLUS FUIT ITA VIR ISTE GENERE CLARUS PUBLICIS BENE FUNCTIS MAGISTRATIBUS CLARIOR DOMI AC FORIS CLARISSIMUS HONORE FLORENS LABORE FRACTUS AETATE CONFECTUS POSTQUAM AETATIS SUAE ANNUM LXVIII ATTIGISSET LONDINI XXV DIE FEBRUARII ANNO NOSTRAE SALUTIS A CHRISTO MDLXXIX PIE ET SUAVITER IN DOMINO OBDORMIVIT JOANNES LUMLEY BARO DE LUMLEY GENER PIENTISSIMUS SUPREMAE VOLUNTATIS SUAE VINDEX SOCERO SUAVISSIMO ET PATRONO OPTIMO MAGNIFICENTISSIME FUNERATO NON MEMORIAE QUAM IMMORTALEM SIBI MULTIFARIIS VIRTUTIBUS COMPARAVIT SED CORPORIS MORTALIS ERGO IN SPEM FELICIS RESURRECTIONIS RECONDITI HANC ILLI EX PROPRIIS ARMATURIS STATUAM EQUESTREM PRO MUNERE EXTREMO UBERIBUS CUM LACHRYMIS DEVOTISSIME CONSECRAVIT That is Sacred to Virtue and Honour The Valiant Heroe whose Effigies you here see and whose Bones are buried underneath was Earl of these parts he had his Sirname by being the son of Alan and moreover took the honourable titles of Lord and Baron from Maltravers Clun and Oswaldestre he was Knight of the Garter and liv'd to be the Senior of that Noble Order only Son to William Earl of Arundel and heir both of his Estate and Virtues He was Privy Counsellor to Henry 8. Edward 6. Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Kings and Queens of England Governour of Calais and when Bologne a town of the old Morini was besieg'd by that King Henry was Marshal of the Army He was afterwards Lord Chamberlain to the said King and at the Coronation of his son Edward exercis'd the Office of Marshal of England to which King he was Lord Chamberlain as he had been to his Father Upon Queen Mary's coming to the Crown he was made High-Constable of England for the Coronation afterwards Steward of her Houshold and President of the Council which honour he had under Queen Elizabeth to whom he was likewise Steward of the Houshold Thus this person noble by birth by the honourable discharge of Offices more noble and most of all so by his great Exploits at home and abroad with his honour untainted his body broken and worn out with age in the 68. year of his life dy'd in the Lord devoutly and comfortably at London on the 25. of February in the year of our Lord 1579. John Lumley Baron of Lumley his most dutiful and disconsolate son in Law and Executor with the utmost respect put up this Statue with his own Armour after he had been buried in great pomp for the kindest of Fathers-in-Law and the best of Patrons as the
Dissolution the plate and jewels thereof fill'd two great chests each whereof requir'd eight men to carry them out of the Church Monast Angl. vol. 1. p. 18. So that the name of Christ to whom it was dedicated was almost quite laid aside for that of S. Thomas Nor was it so much fam'd for any other thing as the memory and burial of this man tho' it has some other tombs that may deservedly be boasted of particularly Edward Prince of Wales sirnam'd the Black a heroe for his valour in war a downright miracle and Henry 4. that potent King of England But King Henry 8. dispers'd all this wealth that had been so long in gathering and drove out the Monks in lieu whereof this Christ-Church has a Dean Archdeacon 12 Prebendaries and 6 Preachers whose business it is to sow the word of God in the neighbouring places It had another Church below the city to the East which disputed preeminence with this St. Augustine's commonly St. Austen's known by the name of S. Austin's because S. Austin himself and K. Ethelbert by his advice founded it to the honour of S. Peter and S. Paul for a burying place both to the Kings of Kent and the Archbishops for it was not then lawful to bury in Cities it was richly endow'd and the Abbot there had a Mint granted him and the Privilege of coyning money Now as the greatest part of it lyes in its own ruines and the rest is turn'd into a house for the King any one that beholds it may easily apprehend what it has been Austin himself was bury'd in the Porch of it and as Thomas Spot has told us with this Epitaph Inclytus Anglorum praesul pius decus altum Hic Augustinus requiescit corpore sanctus The Kingdom 's honour and the Church's grace Here Austin England's blest Apostle lays But Bede o Tho' Bede may be otherwise very good authority yet here he certainly fails for the title Archiepiscopus occurring in it is a plain evidence that 't is of later date since that title could not be then in the Western Church nor was it allow'd commonly to Metropolitans as Mabillon and others have observ'd till about the ninth age See Stillingfleet 's Origin Britan. p. 21 22. who is better authority assures us that he had over him this much more ancient Inscription HIC REQVIESCIT DOMINVS AVGVSTINVS DOROVERNENSIS ARCHIEPISCOPVS PRIMVS QVI OLIM HVC A BEATO GREGORIO ROMANAE VRBIS PONTIFICE DIRECTVS ET A DEO OPERATIONE MIRACVLORVM SVFFVLTVS ET ETHELBERTHVM REGEM AC GENTEM ILLIVS AB IDOLORVM CVLTV AD FIDEM CHRISTI PERDVXIT ET COMPLETIS IN PACE DIEBVS OFFICII SVI DEFVNCTVS EST SEPTIMO KALENDAS IVNIAS EODEM REGE REGNANTE That is Here resteth S. Augustine the first Archbishop of Canterbury who being formerly dispatch'd hither by the blessed Gregory Bishop of Rome and supported of God by the working of miracles both drew Ethelberht with his kingdom from the worship of Idols to the faith of Christ and also having fulfill'd the days of his Office dy'd on the 7th of the Kalends of June in the same King's reign With him there were bury'd in the same porch the six Archbishops that immediately succeeded and in honour of the whole seven namely Austin Laurentius Mellitus Justus Honorius Deus-dedit and Theodosius were those verses engraven in marble SEPTEM SUNT ANGLI PRIMATES ET PROTOPATRES SEPTEM RECTORES SEPTEM COELOQVE TRIONES SEPTEM CISTERNAE VITAE SEPTEMQVE LVCERNAE ET SEPTEM PALMAE REGNI SEPTEMQVE CORONAE SEPTEM SVNT STELLAE QUAS HAEC TENET AREA CELLAE Seven Patriarchs of England Primates seven Seven Rectors and seven Labourers in heaven Seven Cisterns pure of life seven Lamps of light Seven Palms and of this Realm seven Crowns full bright Seven Stars are here bestow'd in vault below It will not be very material to take notice of another Church near this which as Bede has it was built by the Romans and dedicated to S. Martin and in which before the coming of Austin Bertha of the blood Royal of the Franks and wife of Ethelbert was us'd to have divine Service celebrated according to the Christian Religion As to the Castle which appears on the south-side of the City with it's decay'd bulwarks since it does not seem to be of any great Antiquity I have nothing memorable to say of it but only that it was built by the Normans Of the dignity of the See of Canterbury which was formerly very great I shall only say thus much that as in former ages under the Hierarchy of the Church of Rome the Archbishops of Canterbury were Primates of all England Legates of the Pope and as Pope Urban 2. express'd it as it were Patriarchs of another world so when the Pope's Authority was thrown off it was decreed by a Synod held in the year 1534. that laying aside that title Primate and Metropolitan of all England they should be stil'd Primates and Metropolitans of all England This dignity was lately possess'd by the most reverend Father in God John Whitgift who having consecrated his whole life to God and his utmost endeavours to the service of the Church dy'd in the year 1604. extremely lamented by all good men He was succeeded by Richard Bancroft a man of singular courage and prudence in matters relating to the establishment of the Church Canterbury is 51 degrees 16 minutes in Latitude and 24 degrees 51 minutes in Longitude xx After Stour has gather'd it's waters into one chanel it runs by Hackington Hackington where Lora Countess of Leicester a very honorable Lady in her time quitting the pleasures of the world sequester'd her self from all commerce with it to have her time entire for the service of God At which time Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury began a Church in this place to the honour of S. Stephen and Thomas of Canterbury but the Authority of the Pope prohibiting it for fear it should tend to the prejudice of the Monks of Canterbury he let his design fall However from that time the place has kept the name of S. Stephens S. Stephens and Sir Roger Manwood Knight Lord chief Baron of the Exchequer a person of great knowledge in our Common Law to whose munificence the poor inhabitants are very much indebted was lately it's greatest ornament nor is his son Sir Peter Manwood Knight of the Bath a less honour to it at this day whom I could not but mention with this respect and deference since he is an encourager of virtue learning and learned men From hence the Stour by Fordich Fordich which in Domesday-book is call'd the little burrough of Forewich famous for it's excellent trouts passes on to Sturemouth 69 Which it hath now forsaken a mile and more yet left and bequeathed his name to it But now by Stoure-mouth runneth a brook which issuing out of S. Eadburgh's Well at Liming where the daughter to K. Ethelbert first of our
remov'd the Rother which formerly empty'd it self here into the sea out of it's chanel stopping up it's mouth and opening for it a nearer passage into the sea by Rhie then it began by little and little to forsake this town which has decay'd by degrees ever since and has lost much of it's ancient populousness and dignity Below this the land shoots forth a long way eastward we call it Nesse as resembling a nose 93 Before which lieth a dangerous flat in the sea upon which stands Lid Lid. a pretty populous town whither the inhabitants of Prom-hill betook themselves after that inundation And in the very utmost Promontory call'd Denge-nesse Denge-nesse where is nothing but beech and pebles there grow * Ilices Holme-trees with sharp pricky leaves always green representing a low wood for a mile together and more Among those pebles near Stone-end is a heap of larger stones which the neighbouring people call the monument of S. Crispin and S. Crispinian who they say were cast upon this shore by shipwrack and call d from hence into an heavenly Country From hence the shore turning it's course goes directly westward and has a sort of pease which grows in great plenty and naturally amongst the pebles in large bunches like grapes in taste differing very little from field-pease and so runs forward to the mouth of the Rother which for some time divides Kent from Sussex The course of this river as to Sussex-side we have briefly spoken to before On Kent-side it has Newenden which I am almost perswaded was that haven I have long sought after call'd by the Notitia Anderida Anderida by the Britains Caer Andred and by the Saxons Andredsceaster Andredsceaster First because the inhabitants affirm it to have been a town and haven of very great Antiquity 94 Whereof they shew the plott next from its situation by the wood Andredswald to which it gave that name and lastly because the Saxons seem'd to have call'd it Brittenden i.e. a valley of the Britains as they call'd also Segontium of which before from whence Selbrittenden is the name of the whole Hundred adjoyning The Romans to defend this coast against the Saxon Pirats plac'd here a band of the Abulci with their Captain Afterwards it was quite destroy'd by the outrages of the Saxons For Hengist having a design to drive the Britains entirely out of Kent and finding it his interest to strengthen his party by fresh supplies 95 Of his own nation sent for Aella out of Germany with great numbers of the Saxons Then making a vigorous assault upon this Anderida the Britains that lay in ambuscade in the next wood did disturb him to such a degree that when at last after much blood-shed on both sides by dividing his forces he had defeated the Britains in the woods and at the same time broke into the town his barbarous heart was so inflam'd with a desire of revenge that he put the inhabitants to the sword and demolish'd the place For many ages after as Huntingdon tells us there appeared nothing but ruins to those that travell'd that way till under Edward the first the Friers Carmelites just come from Mount Carmel in Palestine and above all desiring solitary places had a little Monastery built them at the charge of â Sir Thomas Albuger Knight upon which a town presently sprung up and with respect to the more ancient one that had been demolish'd began to be call d Newenden i.e. a new town in a valley 96 I saw nothing there now but a mean village with a poor Church and a wooden bridge to no great purpose for a ferry is in most use since that the river Rother not containing himself in his Chanel hath overlaid and is like to endanger and surround the level of rich lands thereby Whereupon the inhabitants of Rhie complain that their haven is not scour'd by the stream of Rother as heretofore and the owners here suffer great loss which their neighbours in Oxeney do fear if it were remedy'd would fall upon them This is a river-Isle ten miles about encompass't with the river Rother dividing his streams and now brackish having his name either of mire which our Ancestors called Hox or of Oxen which it feedeth plentifully with rank grass Opposite to this is c. Lower down the river Rother divides it's waters and surrounds Oxney Oxâey an Island abounding with grass and near its mouth has Apuldore Apuâdâââ where that infectious rout of Danish and Norman pirates after they had been preying upon the French-coasts under Hasting their Commander landed with their large spoils and built a castle but King Alfred by his great courage forced them to accept conditions of peace d d d Near in a woody part are Cranbroke Tenderden Benenden and other neighbouring towns 97 Sisingherst a fair house of the family of Bakers advanced by Sir John Baker not long since Chancellour of the Exchequer and his marriage with a daughter and heir of Dingley Bengebury an habitation of the ancient family of Colepepper and near adjoyning Hemsted a mansion of thâ Guildfords an old family but most eminent since Sir John Guildford was Controuler of the House to King Edward 4. For his son and heir Sir Richard Guildford was by King Henry 7. made Knight of the Garter Of his sons again Sir Edward Guildford was Marshal of Calais Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Master of the Ordnance Father to Jane Dutchess of Northumberland Wife to Sir J. Dudley Duke of Northumberland Mother to the late Earls of Warwick and Leicester and Sir Henry was chosen Knight of the Garter by King Henry 8. and had his Arms enabled with a Canton of Granado by Ferdinand King of Spain for his worthy service in that Kingdom when it was recover'd from the Moors and Edward liv'd in great esteem at home To be brief from the said Sir John are issued by Females immediately the Darels of Cale-hill Gages Brownes of Beechworth Walsinghams Cromers Isaacs and Iseleies families of prime and principal note in these parts But now I digress and therefore crave pardon wherein the * The Cloathing of Kent is very much decay'd cloath-trade has been very much encourag'd ever since the time of Edward 3. who in the tenth year of his reign invited over into England some of the Flemings by promises of large rewards and grants of several immunities The Câ Manâââ ãâã Englââ to teach the English the cloath-manufacture which is now one of the pillars of the kingdom 98 Thus much of Kent which to conclude summarily hath this part last spoken of for Drapery the Isle of Tenet and the east parts for the Granary the Weald for the Wood Rumney-marsh for the meadow-plot the north Downs towards the The Thames for the Cony-garthe Tenham and thereabout for an Orchard and Head-corne for the brood and poultrey of fat big and commended Capons Now
Order though out of the world q Hence the Medway passing by Halling Halling where Mr. Lambard the first Historiographer of this County sometime liv'd in the Bishop's house comes at length to Rochester Rochester which is so certainly the Durobrovis of Antonin that I need add no more than what our Author hath written already concerning it only that it was sack't by the Danes in the days of King Ethelred An. 839. and besieg'd by them again in An. 885. when they cast up works round it but was reliev'd by King Alfred and that all the lands of the Bishoprick were laid waste by King Ethelred An. 986. Of late years it gave an additional title to the Lord Wilmot of Adderbury in Com. Oxon. who in consideration of his great and many signal services done to the Crown at home and abroad was created Earl of Rochester by Letters Patents bearing date at Paris Dec. 13. 1652. 4 Car. 2. who dying An. 1659. was succeeded in his Honour by his only son John a person of extraordinary wit and learning He dying without issue July 26. 1680. the right honourable Lawrence Hyde second son to Edward Earl of Clarendon Viscount Hyde of Kenelworth and Baron of Wootton Basset was created Earl of Rochester Nov. 29. 1682. 34 Car. 2. r The river Medway having past Rochester-bridge which is one of the finest if not the best in England glideth on to Chatham Chatham famous for the station of the Navy-Royal which hath been so far advanc'd by the Kings Charles and James 2. beyond what it was in our Authors days with the large additions of new Docks and Storehouses wherein are many conveniencies unknown till of late and all these so well fenced with new Forts such as those at Gillingham Cockham-wood the Swomp c. that perhaps there may not be a more compleat Arsenal than this in the world To which add the Royal Fort of Shireness Shireness in the Isle of Shepey built at the mouth of this river by King Charles 2. which stands much more commodiously for the security of the River than the Castle of Queenborough ever did which was built there for that purpose by King Edward 3. but is now demolish't Of this see more at the end of the County Which is all I have to say more than our Author has done concerning this fruitful Island but that of late years the right honourable Lady Elizabeth Lady Dacres mother to Thomas Earl of Sussex was enobled with the title of Countess of Shepey during life Sept. 6. 1680. the 32 of Car. 2. since whose death in consideration of many eminent services done the Crown by the honourable Henry Sidney Esq fourth son of Robert Earl of Leicester the titles of Viscount Shepey and Baron of Milton near Sittingbourn were both conferr'd on him by his present Majesty King William 3. Apr. 9. 1689. 1 Gul. Mar. who hath also been since successively made Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Master of the Ordnance s Near this Town of Milton Milton alià s Middleton now erected into a Barony Hasting the Dane as our Author tells us built him a Castle to annoy the Town the footsteps whereof yet remain at Kemsley-downs beyond the Church This they now call being overgrown with bushes the Castle ruff whither King Alfred coming against him fortified himself on the other side the water the ditches of which fortification and some small matter of the stone-work also still remain by the name of Bavord-Castle â Aelfredi vita p. 44 45 46. secus fontes Cantianos near unto Sittingbourn t This Sittingbourn Sittingbourn was once both a Mayor and Market town now through disuse enjoying neither But the Dane never did the town of Milton so much real mischief as Godwin Earl of Kent who being in rebellion against Edward the Confessor in the year 1052. enter'd the King's Town of Middleton and burnt it to the ground â Chron. Sax. An. 1052. which in all probability stood in those days near the Church near a mile from the Town that now is and was upon the rebuilding remov'd to the head of the Creek where it now stands u Eastward from hence lyes the Town of Feversham Fevershaâ where King Stephen saith our Author founded an Abbey for the Monks of Clugny which appears to be true by his Foundation-Charter printed in the * Vol. 1. p. 683. Monasticon taking his first Abbot and Monks out of the Abbey of Bermondsey of the same order yet â Hist oâ Cant. p. ââ Mr. Somner and â Monââtâcon Feveâ shamiense p. 7 8. Mr. Southouse from the absolutory Letters of Peter Abbot of Bermondsey and of the Prior and Monks of S. Mary de Caritate finding Clarembaldus the first Abbot of Feversham and his Monks releas'd from all obedience and subjection to the Church of Clugny and to the Abbot and Prior aforesaid * Monast Angl. p. 3â are inclin'd to believe Mr. Camden mistaken and that the Abbot and Monks of Feversham pursuant to their absolution presently took upon them the rule and habit of S. Bennet notwithstanding it is clear they were still esteem'd of the order of Clugny for several years after as farther appears by the Confirmation-Charters of King Henry 2. King John and Henry 3. all printed in the â Ibid. p. 687 688 689. Monasticon and by the Bulls of Pope Innocent 3. Gregory 10. and Boniface 9. all in a â MS. imâ Munimerâ Eccles Christi Cantuar. MS. book in Christ-Church Canterbury So that I guess the mistake must rather lye on Mr. Somner's and Mr. Southouse's side than our Author's the absolutory Letters in all probability tending only to their absolution from those particular Houses making any claim upon them and not from the order it self though it cannot be deny'd * Monaââ Angl. ãâã p. 417. but that the Abbot and Monks of Reading were at first Cluniacs and after became Benedictines as perhaps these might do some years after their first foundation And thus much for the Ecclesiastical state of this Town As for Secular matters it has been lately honour'd by giving title to Sir George Sands of Lees Court in this County Knight of the Bath who in consideration of his faithful services to King Charles 1. was by King Charles 2. advanced to the degree and dignity of a Baron of this Realm by the title of Baron of Throwley as also of Viscount Sands of Lees Court and Earl of Feversham by Letters Patents bearing date at Westminster April 8. 28 Car. 2. which he was only to enjoy for term of life with remainder to Lewis Lord Duras Marquess of Blanquefort in France and Baron of Holdenby in England who marrying the Lady Mary eldest daughter of the said George Earl of Feversham who dyed Apr. 16. 1677. the said Lord Duras being naturalized by Act of Parliament An. 1665. succeeded his Father-in-law in all his titles and
of the Mercians adorned it with a noble Church in which her self lyes intomb'd Not long after when the whole County was ravaged by the Danes these sacred Virgins were forc'd to depart and the Danes as Aethelwerd that ancient Author writeth after many turns and changes of war set up their tents at Gleuu-cester Now those ancient Churches having been ruin'd in these calamitous times Aldred Archbishop of York and Bishop of Worcester erected a new one for Monks which is the present Cathedral and hath a Dean and six Prebendaries belonging to it Which Church in former ages receiv'd great additions and ornaments from several Benefactors for J. Hanly and T. Farley Abbots added the V. Mary's Chapel Nicholas Morwent built the western front from the ground very beautiful b Thomas G. Horton Abbot joyned to it the northern cross Isle Abbot c Frowcester Trowcester built the curious neat Cloysters and Abbot Sebrook the great and stately Tower The south Isle was rebuilt with the offerings that devout people made at the shrine of King Edward 2. who lyes here interr'd in an Alabaster tomb And not far from him lyes in the middle of the Quire the unfortunate Robert Curt-hose the eldest son of William the Conqueror Duke of Normandy in a wooden monument 7 Who was bereft of the Kingdom of England for that he was born before his Father was King depriv'd of his two s ns the one by strange death in the N. Forest the other despoiled of the Earldom of Flanders his inheritance and slain he himself dispossessed of the Dukedom of Normandy by his Brother K. Henry 1. his eyes pluck'd out and kept close Prisoner 26 years without contumelious indignities until through extream anguish he ended his life Beyond the Quire in an Arch of the Church there is a wall built with so great artifice in the form of a semicircle with corners that if any one whisper very low at one end and another lay his ear to the other end he may easily hear each distinct syllable k In the reign of William the Conqueror and before the chief trade of the city was forging of Iron for as it is mention'd in Doomsday book there was scace any other tribute requir'd by the King than certain d A Dicar of Iron contain'd to barrs Blunt's Tenures Icres of Iron and Iron bars for the use of the Royal Navy and a few pints of Honey After the coming in of the Normans it suffer'd some calamities when England was all in a flame by the Barons wars being plunder'd by Edward the son of Henry 3. and after almost laid in ashes by a casual fire But now by the blessing of a continued peace it doth prosper and reflourish and having the two adjacent hundreds added to it is made a County of it self and is call'd The County of the City of Glocester l And Henry 8. in the memory of our Fathers augmented the state thereof by erecting an Episcopal See with which dignity as Geoffry of Monmouth saith it was formerly honour'd and I have reason not to question the truth of this assertion m since the Bishop of * Câosis Cluve is reckon'd among the British Prelates which name being deriv'd from Clevum or Glow doth in part confirm my conjecture that this is the Glevum mention'd by Antoninus n The river Severne having now left Glocester o and uniting its divided streams 8 Windeth it self by Elmore a Mansion House of the Gises ancient by their own lineal discent being in elder times owners of Apseley-Gise near Brickhill and from the Beauchamps of Holt who acknowledge Hubert de Burgo Earl of Kent whom I lately mentioned benâficious to them and testifie the same by their Armories Lower upon the same side Stroud a pretty river slideth into Severne out of Coteswold by Stroud a Market-town sometimes better peopled with Clothiers and not far from Minching-Hampton which anciently had a Nunnery or belonged to Nuns whom our Ancestors named Minchings waxeth broader and deeper by the ebbing and flowing of the tyde it rages like the aestuation of the sea towards which it hastens with frequent turnings and windings But in its course toucheth upon nothing memorable except Cambridge Cambridg a e It has only five or six houses small Country-hamlet where Cam a little river runs into it f Where this action is mention'd by the Saxon-Annals it is said to have been at Cambridge which is prov'd rather to be Bridgnorth in Shropshire See the County under that title at which bridge as Aethelwerd writeth when the Danes passed over by filing off laden with rich spoils the west Saxons and Mercians receiv'd them with a bloody encounter in Woodnesfield in which Healfden Cinuil and Inguar three of their Princes were slain On the same side of the river not much lower standeth Berkley Berkeys in the Saxon tongue Beorkenlau eminent for a strong Castle and its Mayor who is the chief Magistrate as also for the Lords thereof the Barons of Barkley of an ancient and noble family 9 Descended from Robert Fitz-Harding to whom King Henry 2. gave this place and Barkley Hearnes Out of this house descended many Knights and Gentlemen of signal note of which was William Baron of Barkley 10 Who was honoured by King Edward 4. with the style of Viscount Barkley by King Richard the 3. with the Honour of Earl of Nottingham in regard of his mother daughter of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk and Earl of Nottingham and by King Henry 7. with the office of Marshal of England and dingity of Marquess Barkley who in the reign of Henry 7. was made Viscount and Marquess Barkley E. of Nottingham and Marshal of England but because he died without issue those titles ceased with him p If you would know by what stratagem Godwyn Earl of Kent Earl G dwyn's ãâã a man fit and prepar'd for any wicked design got the possession of this place take this short account of Walter Mapes who lived 400 years since for it is not unworthy the Reader 's perusal Berkley is a village near Severne of the yearly value of 500 l. in which was a Nunnery govern'd by an Abbess that was both noble and beautiful Earl Godwin a notable subtle man not desiring her but hers as he pass'd by left his nephew a young * That this is not the original of the name is plain from the Saxon Bricgstow which plainly points out to us a bridge or passage over the river proper handsom spark as if seized with sickness till he should return back thither and instructed him to counterfeit an indisposition till he had gotten all who came to visit him both Lady Abbess and Nuns with child And to carry on the intreague more plausibly and more effectually to obtain the favour of their visits the Earl furnish'd him with rings and girdles that by those presents he might the more easily corrupt and gain their inclinations There needed
entertain'd a design to depose him For which after he was dead he was attainted of High Treason by Act of Parliament He being thus taken off the same King gave the title of Earl of Glocester to Thomas De-Spencer 38 In the right of his great Grandmother who a little while after met with no better fate than his great Grandfather 39 Sir Hugh Hugh had before him for he was prosecuted by Henry 4 and ignominiously degraded and beheaded at Bristol 40 By the Peoples fury Henry 5. created his brother Humphry the second Duke of Glocester who us'd to stile himself 41 In the first year of King Henry 6. as I have seen in an Instrument of his Humphrey by the Grace of God Son Brother and Uncie to Kings Luke of Glocester Earl of Hainault Holland Zeeland and Pembroke Lord of Friseland Great Chamberlain of the Kingdom of England Protector and Defender of the same Kingdom and Church of England Son Brother and Uncle of Kings Duke of Glocester Earl of Pembroke and Lord high Chamberlain of England He was a great Friend and Patron both of his Country and Learning but by the contrivance 42 Of a Woman of a woman he was taken off at St. Edmunds-Bury The third and last Duke was Richard the third brother to King Edward 4. who having inhumanly murther'd his Nephews usurp'd the Throne which within the space of two years he lost with his life in a pitcht battle and found by sad experience That an unsurped power unjustly gain'd is never lasting Richard 3. Concerning this last Duke of Glocester and his first entrance upon the Crown give me leave to act the part of an Historian for a while which I shall presently lay aside again as not being sufficiently qualify'd for such an undertaking When he was declared Protector of the Kingdom and had his two young nephews Edward 5. King of England and Richard Duke of York in his power he began to aim at the Crown and by a profuse liberality great gravity mixed with singular affability deep wisdom impartial Justice to all people joyned with other subtle devices he procured the affections of all and particularly gained the Lawyers on his side and so managed the matter that there was an humble Petition in the name of the Estates of the realm offer'd him in which they earnestly pray'd him That for the publick good of the Kingdom and safety of the People he would accept the Crown and thereby support his tottering Country and not suffer it to fall into utter ruin which without respect to the laws of Nature and those of the establish'd Government had been harrassed and perplexed with civil wars rapines murders and all other sorts of miseries ever since Edward 4. his brother being enchanted with love potions had contracted that unhappy march with Elizabeth Grey widow without the consent of Nobles or publication of Banns in a clandestine manner and not in the face of the Congregation contrary to the laudable custom of the Church of England And what was worse when he had pre-contracted himself to the Lady Eleanor Butler daughter to the Earl of Shrewsbury from whence it was apparent that his marriage was undoubtedly unlawful and that the issue proceeding thence must be illegitimate and not capable of inheriting the Crown Moreover since George Duke of Clarence second brother of Edward 4. was by Act of Parliament attainted of High Treason and his children excluded from all right of succession none could be ignorant that Richard remained the sole and undoubted heir of the kingdom who being born in England they well knew would seriously consult the good of his native Country and of whose birth and legitimacy there was not the least question or dispute whose wisdom also justice gallantry of mind and warlike exploits valiantly performed for the good of the Nation and the splendor of his noble extract as descended from the royal race of England France and Spain they were very well acquainted with and fully understood Wherefore having seriously considered again and again of these and many other reasons they did freely and voluntarily with an unanimous consent according to their Petition elect him to be their King and with prayers and tears out of the great confidence they had in him humbly besought him to accept of the Kingdom of England France and Ireland which were doubly his both by right of inheritance and election and that for the love which he bore to his native Country he would stretch forth his helping hand to save and protect it from impendent ruin Which if he performed they largely promis'd him all faith duty and allegiance otherwise they were resolv'd to endure the utmost extremity rather than suffer themselves to be brought into the bonds of a disgraceful slavery from which at present they were freed This humble Petition was presented to him before he accepted the Crown afterwards it was also offered in the great Council of the Nation and approved of and by their authority it was enacted and declared in a heap of words as the custom is That by the Laws of God Nature and of England and by a most laudable Custom Richard after a lawful Election Inauguration and Coronation was and is the true and undoubted King of England c. and that the inheritance of these Kingdoms rightfully belongs to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten and to use the very words as they are penned in the original Records It was enacted decreed and declar'd by authority of Parliament that all and singular the Contents in the aforesaid Bill are true and undoubted and that the same our Lord the King with the assent of the three Estates of the Realm and the authority aforesaid doth pronounce decree and declare the same to be true and undoubted I have more largely explained these matters that it may be understood how far the power of a Prince pretended godliness subtle arguings of Lawyers flattering hope cowardly fear desire of new changes and specious pretences may prevail against all right and justice even upon the great and wise assembly of the Nation But the same cannot be said of this Richard as was of Galba That he had been thought fit for Empire had he not reigned for he seated in the Empire deceived all mens expectations but this had been most worthy of a Kingdom had he not aspired thereunto by wicked ways and means so that in the opinion of the wise he is to be reckon'd in the number of bad men but of good Princes But I must not forget that I am a Chorographer and so must lay aside the Historian There are in this County 280 Parishes ADDITIONS to GLOCESTERSHIRE a GLocestershire in Saxon Gleaƿceastre-scyre and Gleaƿcestre-scyre is said to be in length 60 miles in breadth 26 and in circumference 190. The Vineyards mention'd by our Author have nothing left in this County but the places nam'd from them one near Tewkesbury at present
publick spirit For this reason the present Chancellor of the University at the same time providing for the memorial of himself has in this Library erected a Statue of Sir Thomas Bodley that great friend and patron of Learning with this Inscription THOMAS SACKVILLUS DORSETTIAE COMES SUMMUS ANGLIAE THESAURARIUS ET HUJUS ACADEMIAE CANCELLARIUS THOMAE BODLEIO EQUITI AURATO QUI BIBLIOTHECAM HANC INSTITUIT HONORIS CAUSSA PIE POSUIT That is THOMAS SACKVIL EARL OF DORSET LORD HIGH TREASURER OF ENGLAND AND CHANCELLOR OF THIS UNIVERSITY PIOUSLY ERECTED THIS MONUMENT TO THE HONOUR OF SIR THOMAS BODLEY KNIGHT WHO INSTITUTED THIS LIBRARY In the Reign of Henry the Seventh for the better advancement of Learning William Smith Bishop of Lincoln built new out of the Ground Brazen-Nose-College ff which was b With Exhibitions for 13 Scholars An. 1572. well endow'd by the pious and good old man Alexander Nowell Dean of St. Pauls About the same time Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester founded Corpus-Christi-College gg After these Cardinal Wolsey Arch-bishop of York on the site of the Monastery of St. Frideswide began the most noble and ample Foundation of all others 15 For Professors and two hundred Students which King Henry 8. with addition of Canterbury-College did richly endow and gave it the name of Christ-Church Christ-Church hh 16 Assign'd to a Dean Prebends and Students The same mighty Prince at the expence of his own Exchequer honored the City with an Episcopal See and the University with publick Professors And in our own age that the Muses might still be courted with greater favours Sir Thomas Pope Kt. and Sir Thomas White Kt. Citizen and Alderman of London have repair'd Durham and Bernard Colleges which lay almost buried in their own dust have enlarg'd their buildings endow'd them with lands and given them new names dedicating the former to the Holy Trinity ii this latter to St. John Baptist kk Queen Mary c The publick Schools at the time of Mr. Camden's writing ow'd their restitution to the piety and bounty of Queen Mary An. 1554. but the present fabrick in form of a stately Quadrangle was rais'd by the contribution of Sir Thomas Bodley and other Benefactors An. 1613. built from the ground the publick Schools And lately Hugh Price Dr. of Laws has happily laid a new foundation 17 With good speed and happy success as I wish call'd in honour of our Saviour Jesus-College ll These Colleges in number sixteen beside eight Halls mm all fairly built and well endow'd together with their excellent and useful Libraries do so raise the credit and esteem of Oxford that it may be justly thought to exceed all other Universities in the world nn Nor does it yield the precedence to any in Living Libraries for so with Eunapius I may term the men of profound learning nor in the admirable method of teaching all Arts and Sciences nor in excellent discipline and most regular government of the whole body But why this digression Oxford is very far from standing in need of a Panegyric having already gain'd the universal esteem and admiration of the world Nor would I by any means seem extravagant in the commendation of my mother University Let it suffice to say of Oxford what Pomponius said of Athens It is so eminent that there needs no pointing at it But by way of conclusion take this passage which begins the history of Oxford from the Proctor's book Chronicles and Histories do assure us that several places in different parts of the world have been famous for the studies of Arts and Sciences But of all such places of study among the Latins Oxford appears to be of the most ancient foundation to profess a greater variety of knowledge to be more firm in adhering to the Catholick Religion and to enjoy more good customs and greater privileges The Astronomers observe this City to be in twenty two degrees of longitude or distance from the fortunate Islands and in the northern latitude of fifty one degrees and fifty minutes 18 And thus much briefly of my dear Nurse-Mother Oxford As soon as Isis and Cherwell have joyn'd their * Besides this number valu'd at more than a thousand pound he gave 126 Volumes more in the year 1440. an in 1443. a much greater number with considerable additions at his death An. 1446. streams below Oxford the Isis with a swift and deeper current passes on to the south to find out the Tame River Tame which it seems long to have sought for Nor does it run many miles before the said Tame rising in the County of Bucks comes and joyns with it which river upon entrance into this County gives its own name to a Market-town of pleasant situation among rivers for the river Tame washes the north part of the town and two little brooks slide by it on the east and west sides This place has been in a flourishing condition ever since Henry Bishop of Lincoln in the reign of Henry 3. Claus 3 Hen. 3. brought the great road which lay before upon one side of the town through the middle of it Alexander that munificent Bishop of Lincoln Lord of this Manour to alleviate the publick odium he had contracted by his extravagant expences in building of Castles founded here a small Monastery And many years after the Quatremans a Family in former times of great repute in these parts built here an Hospital for the maintenance of poor people But neither of these foundations are at present to be seen though instead of them Sir John Williams Lord Williams of Tame Kt. advanced to the dignity of a Peer of this Realm by Queen Mary under the title of Baron Williams of Tame has here founded a beautiful School and an Alms-house oo 19 But this title soon determined when he left but daughters married into thâ families of Norris aâd Wenman From hence the Tame runs near Ricot Ricot a neat seat which belong'd formerly to the Quatermans upon whose failure of issue male it was sold away by the Fowlers and Hernes till it came at last into the hands of the Lord Williams before-mention'd and by his daughter to the Lord Henry Norris Lord Norris whom Queen Elizabeth advanc'd to the dignity of a Peer by the title of Baron Norris of Ricot pp a person as well eminent for his honourable descent being deriv'd from the d Sir Edward Norris Knight marry'd Tridesaide younger daughter of Francis Viscount Lovel Lovels who were allied to most of the great families in England as more especially for his stout and martial sons whose valour and conduct are sufficiently known in Holland Portugal Bretagne and Ireland The next place visited by the Tame 20 Huseley where sometimes the names of Burentines flâurished as at Chalgrave is e The same place we find in the Catalogue of the British-Cities call'd by Ninnius and Huntingdon Cair Dauri by Alfred of Beverley
to John Backwell Esq p In the account of the Earls Mr. Camden tells us that Henry Duke of Buckingham's reason for plotting against Richard 3. was that King 's detaining from him the estate of the Bohuns But this cannot be the cause â Dudg Bar. T. 1. p. 168. for after that Tyrant's advancement he sign'd a bill for Livery of all those Lands unto him whereunto he pretended a right by descent from Humphrey de Bohun sometime Earl of Hereford and Constable of England Mr. Dugdale has given us an abstract of it and is of opinion that the cause of this his carrriage was either remorse of conscience for raising that King to the throne by the barbarous murther of his nephews or else his observing himself neglected by him Continuation of the DUKES After the attainder and execution of Edward the title lay vacant till the 14th of Jac. 1. when George Viscount Villers was created Earl of Buckingham the next year Marquess of Buckingham and by a Patent bearing date 18 Maii 21 Jac. 1. Duke of Buckingham This George being kill'd by one Felton at Portsmouth Aug. 23. An. 1628. was succeeded by George his son who dying Apr. 16. 1687. left the title vacant More rare Plants growing wild in Buckinghamshire I have not had opportunity of searching this County for Plants neither have any singular local or uncommon species growing there as yet come to my knowledge save only Sphondylium montanum minus angustifolium tenuiter laciniatum observed by Dr. Plukenet near St. Giles Chalfont in the mountainous meadows BEDFORDSHIRE THE County of Bedford commonly Bedfordshire is one of the three Counties which we observ'd before to have been inhabited by the Cattieuchlani On the east and south it is joyn'd to Cambridgshire and Hertfordshire on the west to Buckinghamshire on the north to Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire and is divided into two parts by the Ouse running through it In the north part it is more fruitful and woody in the south where 't is much larger the soil is more poor though it makes a tolerable return For it abounds with barley which is plump white and strong In the middle it is something thick-set with woods but eastward is more dry and wants wood The Ouse at its first entrance into this County first visits Trury the seat of Baron Mordant âââoâs âârdant which family is indebted to Henry 8. for this dignity For he it was that created John Mordant Baron Mordant a prudent person who had married the daughter and coheir of H. Vere of Addington Next it glides by Hare-wood a little village call'd formerly Hareles-wood where Sampson sirnam'd The Strong built a Nunnery and where in the year of our Lord 1399. a little before the breaking out of those Commotions and Civil wars wherewith England was for a long time embroil'd the Hyâgma ãâã 153. the river stood still and the water retiring both ways did wonderfully leave a passage on foot through the chanel for three miles together a 1 They who saw it took it as a plain presage of the division ensuing Afterwards it runs under Odil or Woodhill formerly Wahull which had also its Barons of Wahull eminent for their ancient Nobility 2 Whose Barony consisted of 300 Knights-fees in divers Countries and a Castle 3 Which is now hereditarily descended to Sir R. Chetwood Knight as the inheritance of the Chetwoods came formerly to the Wahuls which is now come by inheritance to the Chetwoods b From hence the Ouse with no less windings than those of the Meander it self is carry'd through Bletnesho commonly Bletso ââso formerly the seat of the Pateshuls afterwards of the Beauchamps ãâã St. ãâã of ãâã sho and now of the famous family of St. John who formerly by their valour became Masters of a great estate in Wales 4 In Glamorganshire and in our age had the honour of Barons conferr'd upon them by Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory 5 When she created Sir Oliver the second Baron of her Creation Lord St. John of âletnesho unto whom it came by c. To them it came by Margaret de Beauchamp an heiress marry'd first to Oliver de St. John from whom those Barons are descended and afterward to John Duke of Somerset by whom she had the famous Margaret Countess of Richmond a Woman whose merit is above the reach of the highest Commendation and from whom the Royal Family of England is descended From hence the Ouse hastens 6 By Brumham a seat of the Dives of very ancient parentage in these parts to Bedford Bedford in Saxon Bedanford the County-town and which gives name to the whole and so cuts it that one would imagine it two towns but that it is joyn'd by a Stone-bridge c 'T is more eminent for the pleasantness of its situation and antiquity than any thing of beauty or stateliness though it has indeed five Churches I dare not assent to those who think it to be the Lactodorum of Antoninus for neither is it situate upon a military way which is the surest guide in our search after stations and mansions mention'd by Antoninus nor were there ever any Roman Coins dug up here I have read that it was call'd in British Liswider or Lettidur but this seems to be turn'd out of the English name For Lettuy signifies in British publick Inns and Lettidur innes upon a river and our English Bedford implies Beds and Inns at a Ford. Below this Town in the year 572. Cuthwulph the Saxon did so shatter the Britains in a set-battel that he was ever after too hard for them and had several towns surrender'd Nor does it seem to have been neglected by the Saxons since Offa that powerful Prince of the Mercians made choice of this place as Florilegus tells us for his Burial but the Ouse being once more rapid and rising higher than ordinary swept away his Monument The town was repaird by Edward the elder after it had been destroy'd in the Danish wars which King did likewise add a little city on the south side of the river call'd by that age to follow the best Copâ of Hoveden Mikesgate In the time of Edward the Confessor as we find it in that Book wherein William the first took his Survey of England it defended it self for the half of an Hundred in expedition and ships The land of this village never hided But under the Normans it was a much greater sufferer for after Pagan de Beauchamp the third that was call'd Baron of Bedford had built a Castle theâe never a civil commotion arose in the kingdom but what had a stroke at it while standing Stephen in the first place when he had possess'd himself of the Kingdom of England against his solemn oath took this Castle with great loss on both sides afterwards when the Barons took up arms against King John William de Beauchamp Lord of it and one of the headers of that Faction
and was not wholly laid aside till the Reign of King Edward 3. g Betwixt these two towns Ware and Hertford which are scarce two miles asunder Lea is augmented by two small rivers that fall into it from the north Asser names them b These two rivers are call'd by the Saxon Chronicle Memera and Benefica Mimera and Beneficia I should guess that to be the Beneficia upon which stands Bennington where the Bensteds a noted family had formerly a small Castle 12 And also Woedhall an habitation of the Bâtlers who being branch'd from Sir Ralph Butler Baron of Wem in Shropshire and his wife heir to William Pantulfe Lord of Wem were Lords of Pulre-bach and enrich'd much by an heir of Sir Richard Gobion and another of Peletot Lord of this place in the time of K. Edw. 3. And that to be the Mimera which passeth by Pukerich a place that obtain'd the privilege of a Fair and Market by the Grant of Edward 1. procured by the interest of William le Bland 13 Whereupon also neighboureth Standon with a seemly house built by Sir Ralph Sadleir Chancellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster Privy-Counsâllor to three Princes and the last Knight Banneret of England a man so advanc'd for his great Services and stay'd wisdom Behind Puckerich Munden Furnivall presents it self which deserves mention on this account 14 That Geffrey Earl of Britain gave it to Gerard c. that it had for its Lord Gerard de Furnivall Furnivall from whom also it took it's name a younger son of Gerard Furnivall of Sheffield But now let us return to the river Lea and the town of Ware as far as which place the Danes came up the river in their light Pinnaces as Asser relateth it and there built a Fort which when King Alfred could not take by force he digged three new Chanels and so turned the waters of the Lea out of their old course to cut off their fleet from returning that from that time the river was of no great use to the neighbourhood untill it was not long since restored to it 's ancient Chanel and made more commodious for the conveyance of wares corn c. The Lea soon after it hath left Ware takes into it from the east a small river named Stort which first runneth by Bishops Stortford Bishâps Stortford a little town fortified formerly with a small Castle standing upon an hill raised by art within a little island h Castle of Waymore Which Castle William the Conquerour gave to the Bishops of London whence it came to be called Bishops Stortford But King John out of hatred to Bishop c William de S. Maria made Bishop An. 1199. the same year that King came to the Crown W. demolish'd it 15 From thence it maketh his way by Sabridgworth a parcel of the honour of Earl William Mandevile and sometime the possâssion of Geffry Say near Shingle-hall honested by the owners the Leventhorpes of ancient Gântry So on not far from Honsdon c. From thence it passeth on to Hunsdon which place by the favour of Queen Elizabeth Baron of Hunsdon gave the title of Baron to Sir Henry Cary then Lord Chamberlain For besides that he was descended from that family of the Dukes of Somerset which was of the Blood Royal he also was by his mother Mary Bolen Cousin-German to Qu. Elizabeth The Lea having now receiv'd this small river hast'neth on with a more full and briâk current toward the Thames 16 Under Hodsdon a fair through-fair to which H. Bourchier Earl of Essex having a fair house at Baise thereby wâile it stood procur'd a market and in it's passage thither as it were chearfully salutes Theobald-house Theobalds commonly called Tibauld's a place than which as to the Fabrick nothing can be more neat and as to the Gardens the Walks and Wildernesses nothing can be more pleasant i This House was built by that Nestor of Britain the right honorable Baron Burleigh Lord Treasurer of England to whom more particularly this river owns it self obliged for the recovery of it's ancient Chanel But now let us return to the heart of the County where are places more ancient Twelve miles westward from Hertford stood Verolanium in old time a very famous City Tacitus calls it Verulamium Verolamiuâ Ptolemy Urolanium and Verolamium The situation of this place is very well known to have been close by the town of St. Albans St. Albans in Caisho Hundred which Hundred was without doubt in old time inhabited by those Cassii of whom Caesar makes mention The Saxons call'd it Watlinga-cester from the famous high-way named Watlingstreat and Werlam-ceaster Neither hath it as yet lost it's ancient name for it is still commonly call'd Verulam altho' nothing of it now remains but ruins of walls checquer'd pavements and Roman Coins now and then digg'd up there k It was seated upon the side of an easie hill which faced the east and was fortified with very strong walls a double rampire and deep trenches toward the south And on the east part it had a small rivulet which formerly made on that side a large Mere or standing water whereupon it has been conjectur'd that this was the town of Cassibelinus Cassâbelinus his town so well defended by the woods and marshes which was taken by Caesar For there is not that I know of any other Mere hereabouts In Nero's time it was esteemed a Municipium which occasion'd Ninius in his catalogue of Cities to call it Caer-Municip So that there is no doubt but this was that Caer Municipium which Hubert Goltzius found in an old Inscription These Municipia Mâniâipâa were Towns whose inhabitants enjoyed the rights and privileges of Roman citizens And the name was framed à muneribus capiendis i.e. from their capacity to bear publick Offices in the Commonwealth These Municipia as to orders and degrees had their Decuriones their Equites or Gentlemen and their Commons as to their publick Council a Senate and People as to their Magistrates and Priests their Duumviri and Triumviri to administer justice and also their Censors Aedils Quaestors and Flamins But whether this our Verulam was a Municipium with Suffrages or without is not easie to determine A Municipium with Suffrages they call'd that which was capable of publick honours as they called the other which was uncapable a Municipium without Suffrages In the reign of the same Nero when Bunduica or Boadicia Queen of the Iceni out of an inveterate hatred had raised a bloody war against the Romans this town as Tacitus writeth was by the Britains entirely ruined Of which Suetonius makes mention in these words These miseries which were the effects of that Prince's inhumanity were attended with a massacre in Britain where â Verulam and Maldân two of the chiefest towns in that Island were taken and sack'd with a dreadful slaughter both of Roman Citizens and their
â Full. Wor. p. 17. That they who buy a house in Hertfordshire pay two years purchase for the air of it But as for the pastures Norden tells us there are but few to be met withall and that their meadows tho' here and there dispers'd are many of them cold and mossy And as to the soil in general he adds That in respect of some other Shires it is but a barren Country without the great toil and charge of the husbandman b In the north-west part of the Shire is Hitching Hitching which according to Mr. Norden had it's name from lying at the end of a wood call'd Hitch that formerly came up to it so that it 's true name must be Hitchend The main business of the inhabitants is Maulting and their market chiefly noted for Corn. c Going from hence to the south-east we find the Barrows âarrows mention'd by our Author which I am not willing to imagine were either Roman burying-places or bounds but am apt to think they had some relation to the Danes For the Hundred at a little distance call'd Dacorum-Hundred and the place within it Dane-end seem to be an evidence of some remarkable thing or other the Danes either did or suffer'd in this place And Norden tells us but upon what grounds I know not that the incursions of the Danes were stop'd in this place where they receiv'd a signal overthrow which if true and built upon good authority makes the conjecture so much the more plausible d Near the river Lea lies Hatfield Hatââââd now neither a Royal nor Bishop's seat but â Bâ p. 1â belongs to the Right Honorable the Earl of Salisbury being a place of great pleasure upon the account of it's Parks and other conveniences For situation contrivance building prospect and other necessaries to make a compleat seat it gives way to few in England From this place most of our Historians affirm that William de Hatfeld son to King Edw. 3. took his name tho' 't was really from Hatfield in Yorkshire where to the neighbouring Abbot of Roch Qu. Philippa gave 5 marks and 5 nobles per An. to the Monks to pray for the soul of this her son and the sums being transferr'd to the Church of York are now paid by the Earl of Devonshire See the Additions to Yorkshire e Next the river runs to Hertford Heâââârd call'd in Saxon Heortford a name no doubt took from a Hart with which one may easily imagine such a woody County to have formerly abounded What our Author says of the Rubrum vadum would indeed agree well enough to the south and west parts of the County where the soil is a red earth mix'd with gravel but the Hartingford adjoyning makes for the former opinion and the Arms of the Town which if rightly represented by â ãâã Mâps Spede are a Hart couchant in the water put it beyond dispute There is a very fair School founded by Richard Hale Esq a native of this County who endow'd it with 40 l. per An. f From hence the river runs to Ware Ware the denomination whereof from the Weares and not as some imagine from Wares or merchandise as it is confirm'd by the abundance of waters thereabouts which might put them under a necessity of such contrivances so particularly from the inundation in the year 1408. when it was almost all drown'd since which time says Norden and before there was great provision made by wayres and sluces for the better preservation of the town and the grounds belonging to the same The plenty of waters hereabouts gave occasion to that useful project of cutting the chanel from thence to London and conveying the New-river to the great advantage and convenience of that City g North from hence is Burnt-Pelham Burnt-Pââham from some great fire or other that has happen'd there * Nârd pâ There were some fragments and foundations of old buildings which appear'd plainly to have been consum'd by fire and so to have given name to the place In the walls of the Church was a very ancient monument namely a man figur'd in a stone and about him an eagle a lion and a bull all winged and a fourth of the shape of an angel possibly contriv'd to represent the four Evangelists Under the feet of the man a cross-flowry and under the Cross a serpent but whether the monument be still there I cannot certainly tell h Next is Stortford ââortfârd since our Author's age grown into a considerable place well stock'd with inns and a good market-town The castle there seems to have been of great strength having within it a dark and deep Dungeon call'd the Convict's prison but whether that name denotes some great privileges formerly belonging to it I dare not with a late Author affirm i But to return to the Lea Tybaulds âybaulds in our Author's time seems to have been one of the most beautiful seats in the County As it was built by Sir William Cecil so was it very much improv'd by his son Sir Robert who exchang'd it with King James 1. for Hatfield house Fail Wor. ãâã 1â In the year 1651. it was quite defac'd and the plunder of it shar'd amongst the soldiers ãâã Albans k But to go from hence toward the west the ancient Verolamium first offers it self the Antiquities whereof are so accurately describ'd by our Author that little can be added ãâã Aâbr MS. Some ruins of the walls are still to be seen and some of the Roman bricks still appear The great Church here was built out of the ruins of old Verulam and tho' time and weather have made the out-side of it look like stone yet if you break one of them or go up to the tower the redness of a brick presently appears About 1666. there was found a copper coin which had on one side Romulus and Remus sucking the Wolf on the other Rome but much defac'd l The brazen Font mention'd by Camden to have been brought out of Scotland ãâã Full. Wor. â 32. is now taken away in the late civil wars as it seems by those hands which let nothing stand that could be converted into money m In the middle of this town K. Edw. 1. erected a very stately Cross about the year 1290. in memory of Qu. Eleanor who dâing in Lincolnshire was carry'd to Westminster The same he did in several other places thro' which they pass'd some whereof are mention'd by our Author under their proper heads Viscounts âarls and Marquesses The place hath given Title to several persons of quality that of Viscount to the famous Francis Bacon Lord Verulam and Lord Chancellour of England created Viscount of this place Jan. 18. 1620. Afterwards Richard de Burgh Earl of Clanrikard in the kingdom of Ireland was created Earl of St. Albans by K. Charles 1. and was succeeded in that honour by Ulick his son with whom that title dy'd for want of
means they gain'd great esteem and respect from all hands by the bounty of Princes 27 Devout people had large possessions and much wealth and flourisht in great reputation for their piety 28 Yea and in the opinion both of the holiness of the men and of the place King Henry 3. c. Upon one of those Monuments the characters whereof are obscure I read Comes Pembrochiae and on the side Mâ eram âââtis Mâ multoâ vâcerat armâs The Statute concerning the Templars lands 17 Edw. 2. Many Noble-men were bury'd among them whose Images are to be seen in this Temple with their leggs across for so all those in that age were bury'd who had devoted themselves to the service of the Holy War or as those times worded it had taken up the Cross Among the rest were William 29 Marshal the elder a most powerful man in his time the father William and Gilbert the sons all Marshals of England and Earls of Pembroke 30 Upon William the elder his Tomb I some years since read in the upper part Comes Pembrochiae and upon the side this Verse Miles eram Martis Mars multos vicerat armis But 31 But in process of time when with insatiable greediness they had hoarded great wealth by withdrawing Tithes from Churches appropriating spiritual livings to themselves and other hard means their riches turned to their ruin For thereby their former piety was after a manner stiflâd they fell at jarr with other Religious Orders their professed Obedience to the Patriarch of Jerusalem was rejected envy among the common sort was prâcured which hope of gain among the better sort so enkindled that in the year of our Lord 1312. this Order was condemn'd for Impiety and by authority of the Pope utterly abolisht However their revenues by Act of Parliament went to the Knights-Hospitalers of St. John of Jerusalem lest what was given upon a Religious design contrary to the Will of the Doners should be turn'd to other uses Notwithstanding it appears plainly by ancient Records that after the Templars were driven out this place was the seat of Thomas Earl of Lancaster and of that 32 Sir Hugh Spencer Spenser who was a great favourite of King Edward the second as afterwards of 33 Sir Aimer de Valentia or Valence Audomar de Valentia Earl of Pembroke and at last it was turn'd into two â Collegia Inns for Lawyers Concerning the other two I have met with nothing upon record only there is a Tradition that one of them was the habitation of the Lords Grey 34 Of Wilton the other of the Earls of Lincoln Near these between the New and Old Temple King Henry the third built a House of Converts for the maintenance of those who turn'd from Judaism to Christianity which afterwards King Edward 3. made a place for the Rolls and Records upon which account it is at this day call'd the Rowles The Rowles o These Suburbs run along in a continu'd set of buildings and the stately houses of some of the Nobility upon the Thames as far as Westminster The most considerable of them are â âride-well St. Bridgid's-Well where King Henry 8. built a Palace for the reception of the Emperour Charles the fifth but now it is a house of Correction Buckhurst-house 35 Or Salisbury Court belonging sometimes to the Bishops of Salisbury 36 The White Friers or c. the house of the Carmelites the Temples before-mention'd 37 Then without the Barrs Essex-house built by the Lord Paget Arundel-house 38 Before call'd Hampton-Place Somerset-house built by Seimor Duke of Somerset Next to pass by the rest the Savoy so call'd from Peter Earl of Savoy who liv'd in it which Eleanor wife of Henry 3. bought of the Fraternity of * Montis Joââs Montjoy and gave to her son Edmund Earl of Lancaster whose posterity had it for a seat a good while till Henry the seventh made it a â Pauperibââ sacraâ Hospital for the Poor 39 Worcester-house late Bedford-house Salisbury-house Durham-house built by Anthony Bec Bishop of Durham and Patriarch of Jerusalem 40 And thereby the only ornament of this part the Britain Burse built by the Earl of Salisbury and so nam'd of King James 1. York-house for so it has been call'd of late formerly 41 And Northampton-house now begun by Henry Earl of Northampton Bath house But what do I giving particular names to these â ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã which do not belong to any one but as Fortune disposes of them Westminster Wââtminââer formerly above a mile distant is now by these Suburbs joyn'd so close to London that it seems to be part of it notwithstanding 't is a distinct City of it self and enjoys its own Magistrates and Privileges Once it was call'd Thorney from the thorns now Westminster from its westerly situation and the minster For 't is particularly eminent for that Church for its Hall of Justice and the King's Palace The Church's greatest honour is deriv'd from the inauguration and burial of our Kings in it Sulcardus affirms that there once stood in that place a Temple of Apollo and that it was thrown down by an Earth-quake in the time of Antoninus Pius Out of the ruins whereof Sebert King of the East-Saxons built another to St. Peter which being destroy'd by the Danes was re-edify'd and granted to a few Monks by Bishop Dunstan But afterwards King Edward sirnam'd the Confessor built it anew out of the tenth peny of all his revenues for a burying place to himself and a Monastery to the Benedictine Monks endowing it with lands dispers'd here and there through all England But hear a cotemporary Historian The devout and pious King has dedicated that place to God both for its nearness to the famous and wealthy city for its pleasant situation among fruitful grounds and green fields and for the nearness of that principal river which from all parts of the world conveys whatever is necessary to the adjoyning City But above all for the love he bore to the Prince of the Apostles whom he always reverenc'd with a singular zeal and veneration he made choice of that for the place of his sepulchre Then he order'd a noble structure to be begun and built out of the tenths of his whole revenue such a one as might become the Prince of the Apostles that after the transitory course of this life he might find a propitious God both upon account of his piety and his free offering of those lands and ornaments with which he designs to enrich it Whereupon the work thus nobly begun is successfully carry'd on without sparing for either present or future charges so it may be made worthy of and acceptable to God and the Blessed Apostle Peter Please also to take the form of this ancient building out of an old Manuscript The * Principaâ area body of
the Church is roof'd with lofty Arches of square work â Pari commissura the joints answering one another but on both sides it is enclos'd with a double Arch of stones firmly cemented and knit together Moreover the Cross of the Church made to encompass the middle Quire of the â Canentium Domino Singers and by its double supporter on each side to bear up the lofty top of the middle tower first rises singly with a low and strong arch then mounts higher with several winding stairs artificially ascending and last of all with a single wall reaches to the wooden roof well cover'd with lead But 160 years after Henry the third demolish'd this Fabrick of Edward's and erected a new one of curious workmanship supported by several rows of marble Pillars and leaded over which was fifty years in building This the Abbots very much enlarg'd towards the west and Henry the seventh for the burial of himself and * Suorum his children added to the east part of it a Chapel of a most neat and admirable contrivance call'd by Leland the miracle of the world for you 'd say that all the Art in the world is crowded into this one work wherein is to be seen his own most splendid and magnificent Monument made of solid brass q After the expulsion of the Monks it had several revolutions first it had a Dean and Prebendaâies next one single Bishop Thomas Thurlbey who after he had squander'd away the revenues of the Church gave it up and surrender'd it 42 Surrender'd it to the spoil of Courtiers to the Dean Presently after the Monks and their Abbot were restor'd by Queen Mary but they being quickly ejected by Authority of Parliament Queen Elizabeth converted it into a Collegiate Church nay I may say a Nursery of the Church For she settl'd twelve Prebendaries as many old Souldiers past service forty Scholars calld King's Scholars sent successively to the Universities and thence transplanted into Church and State c. Over all these she constituted a Dean 43 Over these she plac'd Dr. Bill Dean whose Successor was which dignity not long since was honourably bore by Dr. Gabriel Goodman a person of singular worth and integrity and a particular Patron both to me and my studies There were bury'd in this Church to run over those likewise in order Princes bury'd in Westminster-Abbey and according to their Dignity and the time when they dy'd Sebert first 44 And first Christian King of the East-Angles Harold bastard-son of Canutus the Dane King of England St. Edward King and Confessor with his Queen Editha Maud wife to King Henry the first and daughter to Malcolm King of Scots Henry the third Edward the first his son with Eleanor his wife daughter to Ferdinand third King of Castile and Leon. King Edward the third and Philippa of Hanault his wife Richard the second and Anne his wife sister of the Emperour Wenzelaus Henry the fifth with his wife Catharine daughter of Charles the sixth King of France Anne wife of Richard the third and daughter of Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick Henry the seventh with his wife Elizabeth 45 Daughter to King Edward 4. and his mother Margaret Countess of Richmond K. Edward the sixth Anne of Cleve fourth wife to K. Henry 8. Queen Mary and one not to be mention'd without the highest expressions both of respect and sorrow I mean our late most serene Lady Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory the darling of England a Princess endow'd with heroick Vertues Wisdom and a greatness of Mind much beyond her Sex and incomparably skill'd both in Things and Languages Here she lyes bury'd in a stately Monument erected for her out of a pious veneration by King James But alas how inconsiderable is that Monument in comparison of the noble qualities of so great a Lady She her self is her own Monument and a more magnificent and sumptuous one too than any other For let those noble actions recommend her to the praise and admiration of Posterity RELIGION REFORM'D PEACE ESTABLISHT MONEY REDUC'T TO ITS TRUE VALUE A MOST COMPLEAT FLEET BUILT NAVAL GLORY RESTOR'D REBELLION SUPPRESS'D ENGLAND FOR XLIIII YEARS TOGETHER MOST PRUDENTLY GOVERN'D ENRICHT AND STRENGTHEN'D SCOTLAND FREED FROM THE FRENCH FRANCE IT SELF RELIEV'D THE NETHERLANDS SUPPORTED SPAIN AW'D IRELAND QUIETED AND THE WHOLE WORLD TWICE SAIL'D ROUND The Dukes and Lords that have been bury'd here are Edmund Earl of Lancaster younger son to King Hen. 3. Avelina de Fortibus Countess of Albemarle his wife William and Audomar de Valentia of the family of Lusignia Earls of Pembroke Alphonse John and other Children of K. Edward 1. John de Eltham Earl of Cornwall son of K. Edward 2. Thomas de Woodstock Duke of Glocester youngest son of Edw. 3. with others of his children Eleanor daughter and heir of Humfrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex wife to Thomas de Woodstock the young daughters of Edw. 4. and Hen. 7. Henry young son of Hen. 8. who dy'd at 2 months old Sophia daughter of K. James 1. who dy'd â Primo aetatis diluculo almost assoon as born Philippa Dutchess of York Lewis Viscount Robsert of Hanault in right of his wife Lord Bourchier Anne the young daughter and heir of John Moubray D. of Norfolk betroth'd to Rich. D. of York younger son to K. Edw. 4. 46 Sir Giles Daubeney Giles Daubeney Lord Chamberlain to K. Hen. 7. and his wife of the family of the Arundels in Cornwall Viscount Welles Frances Brandon Dutchess of Suffolk Mary her daughter Margaret Douglas Countess of Lenox grand-mother to James K. of Great Britain with Charles her son Winefrid Bruges Marchioness of Winchester Anne Stanhop Dutchess of Somerset and Jane her daughter Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford daughter of Baron Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England with her mother Mildred Burghley Elizabeth Berkley Countess of Ormond Frances Sidney Countess of Sussex 47 James Butler instead of Thomas Butler Thomas Butler Viscount Thurles son and heir of the Earl of Ormond Besides Humfrey Bourchier Lord Cromwell another 48 Sir Humfrey Bourchier Humfrey Bourchier son and heir of the Lord Berners both slain in Barnet-fight 49 Sir Nicholas Carew Baron Carew instead of Nicholas Baron Carew Nicholas Baron Carew the Baroness of Powis Thomas Baron Wentworth Thomas Baron Wharton John Lord Russel Thomas Bromley Lord Chancellour of England Douglasia 50 H. Howard Howard daughter and heir of Viscount Bindon wife of 51 Sir Arthur Gorges Arthur Gorge Elizabeth daughter and heir of Edward Earl of Rutland wife of William Cecil 52 Sir John Puckering John Puckering Keeper of the Great Seal of England Frances Howard Countess of Hertford Henry and George Cary father and son Barons of Hunsdon and Lord Chamberlains to Q. Elizabeth the heart of Anne Sophia the young daughter of Christopher Harley Count de Beaumont Embassador in England from
the French King put in a golden little Urn upon a Pyramid 53 Sir Charles Blunt Earl c. instead of Charles Earl of Devon c. Charles Earl of Devonshire Lord Deputy of Ireland and Geoffrey Chaucer who being Prince of the English Poets ought not to be pass'd by as neither Edmund Spencer who of all the English Poets came nearest him in a happy genius and a rich vein of Poetry There are also several others both Clergy and Gentlemen of quality r Hard by there was another College 54 Of a Dean and c. of 12 Canons dedicated to S. Stephen which King Edw. 3. rais'd to such a royal magnificence and endow'd with such large possessions after he had carry'd his victories thro' France that he seems rather to have been Founder than only the Repairer devoutly considering as the Foundation-Charter has it the great benefits of Christ whereby out of his rich mercy we have been prevented upon all occasions delivering us altho' unworthy of it from divers perils and by the right hand of his power mightily defending us and giving us the victory in all the assaults of our enemies as also comforting us with unexpected remedies in the other tribulations and difficulties we have labour'd under Near this was a Palace the ancient habitation of the Kings of England from the time of S. Edward the Confessor which in the reign of K. Hen. 8. was burnt down by a casual fire This Palace was really large and magnificent Fitz-Steph a building not to be equall'd in that age having a * Anteâârale vawmure and bulwarks For the remains of this are the Chamber wherein the King the Nobility and great Ministers of State meet in Parliament and that next to it wherein our Forefathers us'd to begin their Parliaments call'd the painted Chamber of S. Edward 55 Because the Tradition holds that the said King Edward therein died How bloody black hainous and horrible how odious to God and man that act was whereby certain brutes in the shape of men under that Arch-traitor Fr. Catesby by undermining Fr. Catesby's Plot and placing a vast quantity of gun-powder under those buildings lately contriv'd the destruction of their Prince Country and all the Estates of the Kingdom out of a specious pretence of Religion my very heart quakes to consider and I cannot reflect without the greatest horrour and astonishment into what an inevitable darkness and lamentable ruin they would have thrown this most flourishing Kingdom in a moment But what an old Poet said in a matter of less concern we may mournfully apply to our case Excidat illa dies aevo ne postera credant Secula nos certè taceamus obruta multa Nocte tegi propriae patiamur crimina gentis May that black day ' scape the record of fate And after-ages never know 't has been Or us at least let us the time forget And hide in endless night our guilty nation's sin Near these is the White-hall wherein is at this day the Court of Requests Below which is that Hall larger than any of the rest Westminster-Hall the Praetorium and Hall of Justice for all England s In this there are held Courts of Justice namely King's-Bench Common-Pleas Chancery and in places round it The Star-Chamber the Exchequer Court of Wards Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster c. In these are heard Causes at the set seasons or Terms of the year whereas before the reign of Hen. 3. the General Court of Justice was moveable and always follow'd the King's Court. Guil Lââbard But he in his Magna Charta made a law in these words The Common-Pleas shall not follow our Court but be held in some one certain place Tho' there are some who understand only by this that the Common-Pleas should from that time forward be held in a distinct Court and not in the Kings-bench as formerly The * Praetorium Hall which we now have was built by K. Rich. 2. as we learn from his Arms in the stone-work and the â Lacunaribus beams which having pull'd down that more ancient Hall built in the place by William Rufus he made his own habitation For then the Kings us'd to hear causes themselves as being the ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã or Judges Prov. c. 1â whose mouth as the Royal Pen-man has it shall not err in judgment But this Palace being burn'd down in the year 1512. lay desolate and a little after Henry 8. remov'd the Royal Seat to a neighbouring house that not long since was Cardinal Wolsey's which they now call White-hall This is a truly Royal Palace enclos'd on one side with a Park reaching to another house of the King 's 56 Robert Catesby built by K. Henry 8. and call'd S. James's 57 Where anciently was a Spittle for Maiden Lepeus on the other with the Thames A certain Poet from it's Whiteness has term'd it Leucaeum Regale subintrant Leucaeum Reges dederant memorabile quondam Atria quae niveo candebant marmore nomen Quod Tamisis prima est cui gloria pascere cygnos Ledaeos rauco pronus subterluit aestu To the Leuceum now the Princes came Which to it's own white marble owes it's name Here Thames whose silver swans are all his pride Runs roaring by with an impetuous tide Hard by near the Mues The Mââs so call'd because 't was formerly a place for keeping of Hawks but is now a beautiful stable for the King's horses there stands a monument which King Edw. 1. erected in memory of Queen Eleanor Châring-cross the dearest husband to the most loving wife The tenderness oâ wife whose tender affection will stand upon record to all posterity She was daughter to Ferdinand 3. King of Castile and marry'd to Edward 1. King of England with whom she went into the Holy Land When her husband was treacherously wounded by a Moor with a poyson'd sword and rather grew worse than receiv'd any ease by what the Physicians apply'd to it Rodâricus Tâââtanus lâb 1. she found out a remedy as new and unheard of as full of love and endearment For by reason of the malignity of the poyson her husband's wounds could not possibly be clos'd but she lick'd them dayly with her own tongue and suck'd out the venomous humour thinking it a most delicious liquor By the power whereof or rather by the virtue of a wife's tenderness she so drew out the poysonous matter that he was entirely cur'd of his wound and she escap'd without catching any harm What then can be more rare than this woman's expression of love or what can be more admirable The tongue of a wife anointed if I may so say with duty and love to her husband draws from her beloved those poysons which could not be drawn by the most approv'd Physician and what many and most exquisite medicines could not do is effected purely by the love of a wife And thus
Willen where his estate lyes at Wells he has built a Library and is at this time repairing the Church of Lutton r In the Church and Chapel our Author numbers many other Kings Queens Persons buried in Westminster-Abbey and Princes that have been there bury'd before and since King Hen. 7. To the Catalogue whereof we must needs add King Edward the fifth and his Brother Richard Duke of York who were most barbarously smother'd to death with Pillows in the Tower of London Anno 1483. by order of their unnatural Uncle Richard Duke of Glocester Their bodies though â Continueâ of Harding's Chron. some have written they were put into a leaden Coffin and cast into the black deeps near the Thames mouth by Sir Robert Brackenburies Priest were found July 17. 1674. by some workmen who were employed to take up the steps leading into the Chapel of the white Tower which in all probability was the first and only place they were deposited in Thence their bones except some few of them sent to the Museum at Oxford * Catalogâ MS. Musâ Ashââlea oâ Oxon. were commanded Anno 1678. by King Charles 2. to be translated thence and decently interr'd here under a curious Altar of black and white marble with the following Epitaph engraven on the Pedestal H. S. S. Reliquiae Edwardi 5. Regis Angliae Richardi Ducis Eboracensis Hos germanos fratres Turri Londinensi conclusos injectisque culcitris suffocatos abdite inhoneste tumulari jussit Patruus Richardus perfidus Regni praedo Ossa desideratorum diu multum quaesita post annos 190 c. Scalarum in ruderibus scalae istae ad sacellum Turris albae nuper ducebant alte defossa indiciis certissimis reperta 17 die Julii Anno Dom. 1674. Carolus secundus Rex clementissimus acerbam sortem miseratus inter avita monumenta Principibus infoelicissimis justa perselvit Anno Dom. 1678. Annoque Regni sui 30. That is Here under lye interr'd the Remains of Edward 5. King of England and of Richard Duke of York Which two Brothers their Uncle Richard who usurpt the Crown shut up in the Tower of London smother'd them with Pillows and order'd them to be dishonourably and secretly buried Whose long desired and much sought for bones after above an hundred and ninety years were found by most certain tokens deep interr'd under the rubbish of the stairs that led up into the Chapel of the white Tower on the 17th of July in the year of our Lord 1674. Charles the second a most merciful Prince having compassion upon their hard fortune performed the funeral rites of these unhappy Princes amongst the Tombs of their Ancestors Anno Dom. 1678. being the 30th of his reign To whom add King James the first Queen Ann Queen of Bohemia and others of their Children The Lady Elizabeth Princess of Orange King Charles the second and several of the Children of him and of King James the second Henry Duke of Glocester Lodowick Duke of Richmond and Lenox George Duke of Albemarle William Duke of Newcastle and George Duke of Buckingham Lionel Earl of Middlesex Edward Earl of Sandwich and James Earl of Ossory And amongst the Poets we must not forget the famous Ben. Johnson and the ingenious Mr. Cowley to whom I wish I could have added Mr. Butler who equal if not exceed the best of their Predecessors s Near to the Church stands Westminster-hall Westminster-hall first founded by William Rufus about the year of Christ 1097. wherein as * P. 44. Edit Wââs Matthew Paris tells us upon his return out of Normandy Anno 1099. he Most royally kept the Feast of Whitsuntide The length of it was 270 foot and 74 the breadth which when he heard some say was too great he answer'd That it was not big enough by one half and was but a Bed-chamber in comparison of what he intended to make The foundations as we are told were to be seen in the days of Matthew Paris stretching themselves from the river to the common high-way whence we may gather 't was intended to have pointed in length East and West and not North and South as it now does Charter-house t Next our Author proceeds to the Northern and Eastern Suburbs wherein amongst others he takes notice of the opulent house of Carthusian Monks founded about 1370. 45 Edw. 3. by Sir Walter de Many which after the dissolution being bestow'd upon Sir Thomas Audley Speaker of the House of Commons past from him with his sole daughter Margaret by marriage to Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk and so by descent to Thomas Earl of Suffolk Of him it was purchased since our Author's time under the name of Howard-house otherwise call'd the late dissolved Charter-house near Smithfield in Middlesex by Thomas Sutton of Camps-castle in the County of Cambridge for the sum of thirteen thousand pounds He erected it into an Hospital by the name of the Hospital of King James founded in Charter-house in the County of Middlesex at the humble petition and only cost and charges of Thomas Sutton Esq endowing it with divers Manours and other Lands to the value of 4493 l. 19 s. 10 d. for the maintenance of a Master or Governour a Preacher Physician Register Receiver c. 80 poor Brothers or Pensioners which are to be either Gentlemen by descent and in poverty Merchants decay'd by pyracy or shipwrack or superannuated Soldiers by sea or land and none of these to be under the age of 50 years at the time of their admission Except Soldiers maim'd in the wars and not in private quarrels which in regard of their misfortune are capable ten years sooner Beside 6 l. 6 s. 8 d. wages they are all allow'd meat drink lodging gowns and other cloaths And so are 40 poor Scholars who are only capable of admission between the years of 10 and 15 and not to continue in the School above 8 years at most Before the expiration whereof they are either transplanted to one of the Universities where since the increase of the Revenue which now amounts to 5500 l. per Annum there are no less than 29 always maintain'd with the allowance of 20 l. per Annum each to be paid quarterly for 8 years time or they are put forth to be Apprentices the House now giving no less than 40 l. with them The government is in the hands of the most honourable Grandees of the State and most reverend Prelates of the Church beside the King and Queen who put in both the Pensioners and Children in their courses only the King first puts in two the Queen one and then the 16 Governours one each in their respective turns as the places become vacant * S. Hern's Domus Carthusiana u In the more Eastern Suburbs where he tells us many Roman Urns and other Antiquities were found we can only add Roman Antiquities that the place he mentions was Spittle-fields They were dugg up in
pastures exceeding good for fatting cattel they make also vast numbers of Cheese Cheese which to the great advantage of the inhabitants are bought up through all England nay in Germany also with France and Spain as Pantaleon Medicus has told us who scruples not to set them against those of Placentia both in colour and taste But he was not one of Apicius's nice-palated scholars Nor do they want woods and parks of the latter several are joyn'd to Noblemen's houses and well-stock'd with Deer The County according to it 's political Division is branch'd into three parts the first is call'd the Geldable because it pays geld or tribute the second the Liberty of S. Edmund because it belong'd to his Monastery the third the Liberty of S. Etheldred because it belong'd to Ely-Monastery to which our Kings formerly granted several parcels of ground with Sach and Soch as the Ely-book expresses it without any reserve either of ecclesiastical or secular jurisdiction b But now let us take a survey of the particulars and beginning at the west give an account of it's more noted places On the west where it joyns Cambridgeshire and in the very limit lies Ixning a place formerly of more note than 't is at present For it was made eminent by the death of Etheldred the Virgin daughter of K. Anna who was canoniz'd then by the conspiracy of Ralph Earl of the East-Angles against William the Conquerour and by the way which Harvey first Bishop of Ely made between this place and Ely But now it goes to decay by the nearness of Newmarket Newmarket whither all commodities are carried in great abundance That this town is of late date the name it self witnesses it is so situated that the south part of it belongs to Cambridgeshire and the north to Suffolk each whereof has a small Church of it's own the latter belonging to Ixning and the former to Ditton or Dichton as the Mother-Churches I have met with nothing about it in my reading but that under Hen. 3. Robert de Insula or L'isle gave one half of it to Richard de Argenton from whom the Alingtons are descended in Frank-marriage with his daughter Cassandra c All round hereabouts is a large plain call'd from the town Newmarket-heath Newmarket heath the soil whereof is sandy and barren but the surface green Along this runs that wonderful Ditch which the vulgar as if it had been drawn by the Devil call Devil's-dike Devil's-dike whereas 't is plain it was one of those wherewith as Abbo informs us the inhabitants fenc'd themselves against the incursions of the enemy But of this we will speak more at large when we come to Cambridgeshire Only here let the Reader take notice of thus much that the least of all these Fosses or Ditches is to be seen within two miles of this place between Snail-well and Moulton SUFâOLK Roââen Near this S. Edmundsbury we see Rushbrok the seat of the famous and Knightly family of the Jermins and at a little distance from thence Ikesworth Ikesworth where was an old Priory founded by Gilbert Blund Bâund a person of great Nobility and Lord of Ikesworth his issue-male in a right line fail'd in William slain in Hen. 3.'s time at the battel of Lewes who left his two sisters Agnes wife of William de Creketot and Roisia of Robert de Valoniis his heirs d 5 Afterward both here at Haulsted near Rougham and elsewhere the family of Drury which signifies in old English a precious jewel hath been of great reputation more especially since they were marry'd with the heiress of Frelil of Saxham More to the north is Fernham Fernham S. Genovefae memorable upon this account that Richard Lucy Lord Chief Justice of England did here engage Robert Earl of Leicester in a pitch'd battel and slew above ten thousand Flemings whom he had invited over for the destruction of his Country In this neighbourhood I observ'd two very neat seats the one built by the Kitsons Knights at Hengrave Hengrave formerly the possession of Edmund de Hengrave a famous Lawyer under Edward 1. and the other of late at Culfurth Câlfurth by Sir Nicholas Bacon N Bacon Kt. son of that Nicholas Bacon Keeper of the Great Seal of England who for his singular prudence and solid judgment was whilst he liv'd deservedly accounted â Altera è cestinis one of the two Supporters of this Kingdom Not far from hence is Lidgate Lidgate a small village but not to be omitted because it gave birth to John Lidgate John Lidgate the Monk whose Wit seems to have been form'd and modell'd by the very Muses all the beauties and elegancies are so lively express'd in his English Poetry And these are the places of note on the west-side of Suffolk On the south I saw the river Stour immediately after it's rise enlarge it's self into a great Fen call d Stourmere but presently gathering it's waters within the banks it runs first by Clare a noble village which beside it's demolish'd Castle has given the name of Clare Stoke Clare to a very honourable family descended from Gislebert a Norman Earl and the title of Duke to Leonel son of Edward 3. who having marry'd into this family had the title of Duke of Clarence bestow'd upon him by his father For from this place he was call'd Duke of Clarence 6 With a fuller sound than that of Clare as formerly the posterity of Gislebert were stil'd Earls of Clare and dying at â Alba Pompeia Longuevill in Italy after he had took for his second wife the daughter of Galeacius Viscount of Milan lies bury'd here in the Collegiate Church as does also Joanna de Acres daughter of Edw. 1. wife to Gilbert the second de Clare that was Earl of Glocester 'T is possible the Reader may expect that I should here give an account of the Earls of Clare Earls of Clare and Dukes of Clarence considering they have always made an honourable figure in this kingdom and I will do it in short for fear any one should seek it in vain Richard son of Gislebert Earl of * Aucensiâ Ewe in Normandy Augy was a soldier under William the Conquerour when he came over into England by whom he had the villages of Clare and Tunbridge bestow'd upon him He had four sons Gislebert Roger Walter and Robert from whom the Fitz-Walters are descended Gislebert Guil. Gemeric l. 7. c. 37. by the daughter of the Earl of Clermont had Richard who succeeded him Gislebert from whom was descended the famous Richard Earl of Pembroke and Conquerour of Ireland and Walter Richard the eldest being slain by the Welsh left two sons Rob. Montensis Gilbert and Roger. Gilbert under King Stephen was Earl of Hertford notwithstanding which both he and his successors from this their chief seat were commonly stil'd and wrote themselves de Clare He dying
as one expresses it will make you split your sides with laughing I know not whether I should here take notice into what vain groundless hopes of finding gold at Norton Norton hard by King Henry the eighth was drawn by an itching credulous Avarice But the diggings speak for me Between the Gipping and Wulpett upon a high hill are the remains of an old Castle call'd Hawghlee in compass about two acres Some will have this to have been call'd Hagoneth-Castle Hâgââeâh which belong'd to Ralph de Broc and was in the year 1173. taken and demolisht by Robert Earl of Leicester 13 During the intestine war between King Henry 2. and his disloyal son Upon the same river are seen Stow and Needham small Market-towns and not far from the bank Hemingston wherein Baldwin le Pettour observe the name held Lands by Serjeanty thus an ancient Book expresses it for which he was oblig'd every Christmas-day to perform before our Lord the King of England A merry Tenure one Saltus one Suffletus and one Bumbulus or as 't is read in another place he held it by a Saltus a Sufflus and Pettus that is if I apprehend it aright he was to dance make a noise with his cheeks puff'd out and to let a fart Such was the plain jolly mirth of those times 'T is also observ'd that the Manour of Langhall belong'd to this Fee Nearer the mouth I saw Ipswich Ipswââ formerly Gippewich a little City lowly seated and as it were the eye of this County It has a pretty commodious harbour has been fortify'd with a ditch and rampire has a great trade and is very populous being adorn'd with fourteen Churches and large stately private buildings g I pass by the four Religious Houses now demolisht and the magnificent College begun by Cardinal Wolsey a butcher's son and born in this place whose vast thoughts were always took up with extravagant projects The Body Politick of it as I have been told consists of 12 Burgesses whom they call Portmen and out of them two Bailiffs are annually chosen for their chief Magistrates and as many Justices out of 24 more As to its Antiquity so far as my observation has carry'd me we hear nothing of its name before the Danish Invasion which it felt sufficiently In the year of our Lord 991. the Danes plunder'd this place and all along the sea-coast with so much cruelty and barbarity that Siricius Archbishop of Canterbury and the Nobility of England thought it most advisable to purchase a Peace of them for ten thousand pound But for all that before nine years were at an end they plunder'd this town a second time whereupon the English presently engaged them with a great deal of resolution but as Henry of Huntingdon has it by the cowardly fear of one single man Turkil our men were put to flight and the victory as it were dropt out of our hands Thus small accidents give a strange turn in the affairs of war In Edward the Confessor's reign as we find it in Domesday-book Queen Edeva had two parts of this town and Earl Guert a third and there were in it 800 Burgesses that paid Custom to the King But when the Normans had possess'd themselves of England they built here a Castle which Hugh Bigod held for some time against Stephen the usurping King of England but at last surrender'd it Now 't is so entirely gone to decay that there is not so much as the rubbish left Some are of opinion that it stood in the adjoyning parish of Westfeld where appear the remains âf a Castle and tell you that was the site of old Gippwic I fancy it was demolisht when Henry the second levell'd Waleton Waletââ a neighbouring Castle with the ground For this was a harbour for the Rebels and here the three thousand Flemings landed who were invited over by the Nobility to assist them against him when he had fell upon that unlucky design of making his son Henry an equal sharer with him in the Government and when the young man who knew not how to stay at the top without running headlong out of a mad restless desire of reigning declar'd a most unnatural war against his own father Though these Castles are now quite gone yet the shore is very well defended by a vast ridge they call it Langerston Langerston which for about two miles as one observes lays all along out of the Sea not without great danger and terrour to Mariners 'T is however of use to the Fishermen for drying of their fish and does in a manner fence the spacious harbour Orwell And thus much of the south part of this County From hence a crooked shore for all this Eastern part lyes upon the Sea running northward presently opens it self to the little river * Oâhers calâ it âââaâââg Deben It rises near Mendlesham to which the Lord of the place H. Fitz-Otho or the son of Otho â ââlpâoiâ ãâã the Mint-master procur'd the privilege of a Market and Fair of Edward the first By his heirs a considerable estate came to the Boutetorts Bâutâtort Lords of Wily in Worcestershire and from them afterwards in the reign of Richard the scond to Frevil 14 Barkley of Stoke Burnel and others From hence the river Deben continues its course and gives name to Debenham a small Market-town which others will have call'd more rightly Depenham because the soil being moist and clayie the roads all round about it are deep and troublesome From thence it runs by Ufford formerly the seat of Robert de Ufford Earl of Suffolk and on the opposite bank is Rendilis-ham Rendilis-ham i.e. as Bede interprets it the home or mansion of Rendilus where Redwald King of the East-Angles commonly kept his Court. He was the first of all that People that was baptiz'd and receiv'd Christianity but afterwards seduc'd by his wife he had as Bede expresses it in the self same Church one Altar for the Religion of Christ and another for the Sacrifices to Devils Suidhelmus also King of the East-Angles was afterwards baptiz'd in this place by Cedda the Bishop From hence the river Deben runs on to Woodbridge a little town beautify'd with neat buildings where at certain set times is the Meeting for the Liberty of S. Etheldred and after the course of a few miles is receiv'd by the Sea at Bawdsey-haven Then the shore steals on by little and little towards the East By others câââ'd Wincââââ to the mouth of the river Ore which runs by Framlingham Fâamlingham formerly a Castle of the Bigods 15 Through the bounty of King Henry 1. and presently upon the west side of it spreads it self into a sort of Lake This is a very beautiful Castle fortify'd with a rampire a ditch and a wall of great thickness with thirteen towers within it has very convenient Lodgings From this place it was that in the year of our Lord
in the publick Records of the kingdom they must excuse me if I suspend my assent till they convince me upon better grounds Not but I own the family of the Glanvils to have made a very great figure in these parts But before Edward the third's time I could never yet find it vouch'd by good authority that any one was honour'd with the title of Earl of this County But that King made Robert de Ufford a person of great exploits both at home and abroad son of Robert Steward of the King's house under Edward the second by Cecilia de Valoniis Lady of Orford Earl of Suffolk To him succeeded his son William whose four sons were snatcht away by an untimely death in his life time and himself just as he was a going to report the opinion of the House of Commons in Parliament fell down dead Robert Willoughby Roger Lord of Scales Inq. 5. Rich. 2. and Henry de Ferrariis of Grooby as next heirs at Law divided the estate Lel. Com. in Cygnaam Cant. Wallingham p. 35â Regist Mân de Melsa And Richard the second advanc'd Michael de la Pole from a Merchant to this honour and to the dignity of Lord Chancellour of England Who as Tho. Walsingham tells us was better vers'd in merchandize as a Merchant himself and the Son of a Merchant than in martial matters For he was the son of William de la Pole the first Mayor of Kingston upon Hull See Hull in Yorkshire i See Brook's Catalogue p. 305. and Discovery of Errours p. 46. 57 58 59. who upon account of his great wealth had the dignity of a Banerett conferr'd upon him by Edward the third But wanting a spirit fit to receive those crowds of prosperity he was forc'd to quit his Country and dy'd in banishment However his being a Merchant does not by any means detract from his honour for who knows not that even our Noblemen's sons have been Merchants Nor will I deny that he was nobly descended though a Merchant 20 Michael his son being restor'd dy'd at the siege of Harslew and within the space of one month his son Michael was in like manner slain in the battel of Agincourt leaving daughters only Michael his son being restor'd had a son Michael slain in the battel of Agincourt and William whom Henry the sixth from Earl of Suffolk first created Marquiss of Suffolk 21 As also Earl of Pembroke to him and the heirs male of his body and that he and his heirs male on the Coronation-day of the Kings of England carry a golden Verge with a dove on the top of it and such another Verge of Ivory at the Coronation of the Queens of England Afterwards he advanc'd the same person for his great deserts to the honour and title of Duke of Suffolk And indeed he was a man truly great and eminent For when his father and three brothers had lost their life in the service of their Country in the French wars he as we read in the Parliament-Rolls of the 28th of Henry 6. spent thirty whole years in the same war For seventeen years together he never came home once he was taken while but a Knight and paid twenty thousand pound * Nostrae monetae sterling for his ransom Fifteen years he was Privy-Councellor and Knight of the Garter thirty By this means as he gain'd the entire favour of his Prince so did he raise the envy of the people 22 Insomuch that being vehemently accus'd of treason and misprisions and on that account summon'd to appear before the King and Lords in Parliament assembled after having answer'd the Articles objected he referr'd himself to the King's Order Whereupon the Chancellor by his Majesty's special command pronounc'd That whereas the Duke did not put himself on his Peers the King as for what related to the Articles of Treason would remain doubtful and with respect to those of Misprision not as a Judge by advice of the Lords but as a person to whose order the Duke had voluntarily submitted himself did banish him from the Realms and all other his Dominions for five years But he was surpriz'd c. and so for some slight misdemeanours and those too not plainly prov'd upon him he was banish'd and in his passage over into France was intercepted by the enemy and beheaded He left a son John who marry'd Edward the fourth's sister and had by her John Earl of Lincoln This Earl John being declar'd heir apparent to the Crown by Richard the third could not suppress his ambition but presently broke out against King Henry the seventh to his own destruction for he was quickly cut off 23 In the battel at Stoke in the Civil war to his father 's also who dy'd of grief and to the ruine of the whole family which expir'd with him For his brother Edmund styl'd Earl of Suffolk making his escape into Flanders began to raise a Rebellion against King Henry the seventh who better satisfy'd with repentance than punishment had pardon'd him for some heinous Crimes But a little after he was by Philip of Austria Duke of Burgundy against the Laws of Hospitality as they then worded it deliver'd up to Henry who solemnly promis'd him his life but clap'd him in prison Henry the eighth not thinking himself oblig'd to a promise of his father's when he had thoughts of going for France cut him off for fear there might be some insurrections in his absence But Richard his younger brother living under banishment in France made use of the title of Duke of Suffolk who was the last male of the family that I know of and dy'd bravely in the thick of the enemies troops An. 1524. in the battel of Pavie wherein Francis the first King of France was taken prisoner For his singular valour his very enemy the Duke of Bourbon bestow'd upon him a splendid Funeral â Atratúsque interâuit and was himself one of the Mourners Afterwards King Henry 8. conferr'd the title of Duke of Suffolk upon 24 Sir Charles Charles Brandon to whom he had given Mary his sister widow of Lewis the 12th King of France in marriage 25 And granted to him all the Hmours and Manours which Edmund Earl of Suffolk had forfeited He was succeeded by his young son Henry and Henry by his brother Charles but both dying of the â Sudore Britannico Sweating-sickness 26 On one day in the year 1551. Edward the sixth dignify'd Henry Grey Marquiss of Dorchester who had marry'd Frances their sister with that title But he did not enjoy it long till he was beheaded by Queen Mary for endeavouring to advance his daughter to the Throne and was the last Duke of Suffolk From that time the title of Suffolk lay dead till of late King James in the first year of his reign created Thomas Lord Howard of Walden second son of Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk Earl of Suffolk
sea-coast entire More inward upon the west-side of the County there are also several towns but because they are but of late standing I will just only touch upon them Near Linne is Rising-Castle Rising seated on a high hill and vying with that at Norwich It was formerly the seat of the Albinies afterwards of Robert de Mont-hault by marriage with the sister and coheir of Hugh de Albiney Earl of Arundel and lastly of the Mowbrays descended as I have been told from the same stock with the Albinies But now it is ruinated and as it were expiring for age z Below is Castle-acre Castle-acre where formerly the Earls of Warren dwelt in a Castle now ruinous that stood upon a little river aa The river is anonymous rising not far from Godwicke Godwick a lucky name where is a small seat but made great by the ornament it receives from the famous Sir Edward Cooke Knight a person of admirable parts than whom as no one ever apply'd himself closer to the study of the Common-Law so never any understood it better Whereof he convinc'd England by his discreet management for many years together whilst Attorney-General and still does by executing the office of Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas with the greatest prudence Nor has he given less proof of his abilities in his Commentaries upon our Laws whereby he has highly oblig'd both his own Age and Posterity This little river glides on gently westward to Linne by Neirford Neirford which gave name to the famous family of Neirfords and by Neirborrough where near the seat of the Spilmans Knights there is a strong and ancient military entrenchment upon a high hill very conveniently seated for the defence of the neighbouring field bb Next Penteney is plac'd upon the same rivulet which was formerly a common burying-place for the Nobility of those parts Neighbour to this is Wormegay Wormegay commonly Wrongey which Reginald de Warren brother of William de Warren second Earl of Surrey had with his wife of whom as I have read the said Earl had the donation or Maritage as they worded it in that age By his grand-daughter by a son it presently went to the Bardolphs âarâns âââdââph noble and honourable Barons who flourish'd for a long time and bore three Cinque-foils Or in a field azure A great part of their estate along with the title came to 19 Sir William William Phellips and by his daughter to the Viscount Beaumont More to the east we see Swaffham ââaffham a famous market-town formerly the possession of the Earl of Richmond Ashele-manour ââheâe in right whereof the Hastings and the Greys Lords of Ruthun âân prâcâââââ â had formerly the oversight of the Table cloaths and Napkins made use of at the Coronation of the Kings of England ââââe de ââââaâyre North-Elmham where the Bishops had their seat for some time when this Diocese was divided into two cc Dereham Dââeham where was bury'd Withburga daughter of King Anna who divorcing her self entirely from all luxury and levity and being a Virgin of great sanctity was by our Ancestors canoniz'd a Saint dd Next to this is Gressenhall âreââenhall with its neighbour Elsing both the possessions formerly of the Folliots âoââot persons of great honour in their time By the daughter of Richard Folliot they came to 20 Sir Hugh Hugh de Hastings of the family of Abergeuenny and at length by the daughters and heirs of Hugh Hasting the last Gressenhal came to 21 Sir Hamon Hamon le Strange of Hunstanston and Elsing âââing to William Brown brother of 22 Sir Anthony Anthony Brown first Viscount Montacute In this Quarter also is Iâ-borough ââhborough which Talbot takes to be the Iciani mention'd by Antoninus ãâã Nor need I say any more about these matters I have now nothing to do but to reckon up the Earls and Dukes of Norfolk and so go on to Cambridgeshire ee ââââs and ââkes of âârfââk William the Conquerour set one Ralph over the Country of the East-Angles that is the Counties of Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgeshire But he was quickly depriv'd as I observ'd before for endeavouring innovations in the State Some years after in the reign of K. Stephen Hugh Bigod was Earl of Norfolk For when a Peace was concluded between Stephen and Henry of Anjou afterwards Henry 2. it was expresly provided that William son of Stephen âââeement âââween K. âââpâen and ââây D. of ââpe should have the whole County of Norfolk except among other things the third penny of which Hugo Bigod was Earl Whom notwithstanding King Hen. 2. afterwards made Earl of the third penny of Norfolk and Norwic. A Monââs In the 27th of Henry 2. upon his death his son Roger succeeded him who for I know not what reason procur'd a new Creation-Charter of Rich. 1. Roger was succeeded by his son Hugh who marry'd Mawd eldest daughter and coheir of William Marshal Earl of Pembroke By her he had Roger Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England Luxatis ââporis arââlis who * wresting and straining his joynts in a Tournament dy'd without issue and Hugh Bigod Lord Chief Justice of England slain in the battel of Lewes whose son Roger succeeded his Uncle in the dignity of Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England But when his insolent and stubborn behaviour had thrown him under the displeasure of Edw. 1. he was forc'd to pass over his honours and almost his whole estate to the King for the use of Thomas de Brotherton the King's son by Margaret sister to Philip the Fair King of France For so a History has told us out of the Library of St. Augustin's in Canterbury In the year 1301. Roger Bigod Earl of Norfolk made King Edward his heir and deliver'd up to him the Marshal's rod upon this condition That if his wife bore him any children all should be return'd and he should hold it peaceably without any contradiction on the King's part And the King gave him a thousand pound in money and a thousand â Librataâ pound in lands for life along with the Titles of Marshal and Earl But he dying without issue King Edw. 2. by virtue of the surrender above-mention'd honour'd his brother Thomas Brotherton with the titles of Marshal and Earl of Norfolk But his daughter Margaret Parl. 21. Rich. 2. call'd Lady Marshal and Countess of Norfolk and marry'd to John Lord Segrave was created Dutchess of Norfolk for life by K. Rich. 2. who at the same time created Thomas Mowbray Earl of Nottingham and grandchild to Margaret by a daughter first Duke of Norfolk to him and his heirs males having before granted him the dignity and stile of Earl Marshal of England 23 This is he that before the King was challeng'd and accus'd by Henry of Lancaster Duke of Hereford This is he who accus'd Henry of
I cannot tell The Saxon Annals call it Lygeanburh except Laud's Copy which calls it Lygeanbyrig and Florence of Worcester confirms the reading when he terms it Liganburh the later writers call it Lienberig Lienberi The placing it at Loughburrow seems to draw Cuthwulf too far out of his road for the next town he took was Ailesbury and 't is strange that in such a great distance he should not make an attempt upon some other The manner of his progress seems to favour Leighton in Bedfordshire See that County That this Loughborrow was that royal Vill in the Saxon tongue calld Lieganburge which Marianus says Cuthulfus took from the Britains in the year of Christ 572 the affinity of the names does in some sort evince At present it is justly esteem'd the second town of all this County next to Leicester as well in respect of its bigness and buildings as the pleasant woods about it For near the side of this town the forest of Charnwood Charnwood Forest or Charley q The forest of Charley is 20 miles in compass Lel. Itin. p 14. See a larger description of it in Burton's Leicestersh pag. 69. spreads it self a long way Within the bounds whereof is Beaumanour Park which the Lords Beaumonts enclos'd as I have heard with a stone-wall 17 These Beaumonts descended from a younger son of John Count of Brene in France who for his high honour and true valour was preferr'd to marry the heir of the kingdom of Jerusalem and with great pomp crown'd King of Jerusalem in the year of our Lord 1248. Hence it is that we see the Arms of Jerusalem so often quarter'd with those of Beaumont in sundry places of England Sir Hân Beaumont was the first that planted himself in England about the year 1308. Which Lords were descended as is commonly believ'd of a French family certain it is that they come from John de Brenne King of Jerusalem and that they first settled in England about the reign of Edw. 1. And by marriage with the daughter of Alexander Comyn Earl of Boghan in Scotland whose mother was one of the heirs of Roger de Quincy Earl of Winchester they got a very plentiful inheritance and became a great family Of which family Viscounts Beaumont in the reign of King Edward 3. Henry was for several years summoned to Parliament by the name of Earl of Boghan and in the reign of Hen. 6. John was for a time Constable of England and the first in England The first honorary Viscount in England that I know of whom the King advanc'd to the honour of a Viscount But when William the last Viscount dy'd without issue his sister became the wife of the Lord Lovel and the whole inheritance which was large was afterwards confiscated for High Treason 18 By attainder of Loved it fell into the hands of King Henry 7. In this north part nothing else occurs worth mentioning unless it be a small Nunnery founded by Roifia de Verdon and call'd Grace-dieu 19 Now belonging to a younger house of the Beaumonts that is God's grace and not far from thence by the stream of Trent Dunnington Dunnington an ancient Castle built by the first Earls of Leicester which afterwards came to John Lacy Earl of Lincoln who procur'd it the privilege of a Market and Fairs from Edw. 1. But when in the proscription of the Barons under Ed. 2. the possessions of the proscribed were sequester'd and alienated the King gave this manour to Hugh le Despenser the younger 20 The hereditaments of Thomas Earl of Lancaster and Alice Lacy his wife were seiz'd into the King's hands and alienated in divers sorts the King enforc'd her to release this manour to Hugh le Dispenser the younger h The east part of this County which is hilly and feedeth a vast number of sheep was heretofore adorned with two principal places of great note Vernometum or Verometum mention'd by Antoninus and Burton-Lazers of great account in former ages Vernometum Vernometum ââârometââ the name whereof is lost at this day seems to me to have been situated in that place which is now call'd Burrow-hill and Erdburrow for between Verometum and Ratae according to Antoninus were twelve miles and there is almost so much between this place and Leicester The present name also of Burrows which signify'd among the Saxons a fortify'd place comes from Burgh 21 And under it a town call'd Burrough belonging to an old family of Gentlemen so sirnam'd But the most considerable proof is that the ground is a steep hill on all sides but the south-east on the top of which remains the manifest appearance of a town destroy'd a double trench and the track where the walls went which enclosed about 18 acres of land At this day it is * Resâââ arable ground and noted on this account chiefly that the youth of the neighbouring parts meet here yearly for wrestling and such like exercises i One may conjecture from the name that some great Temple of the Heathen Gods hath formerly stood in this place For in the ancient Language of the Gauls which was the same with that of the Britains Vernometum Vernometum what it signâââs in the oâd Gâulish signifies a great and spacious Temple as Venantius Fortunatus plainly tells us of Vernometum a town in France in these verses in his first book of Poems Nomine Vernometum voluit vocitare vetustas Quod quasi fanum ingens Gallica lingua sonat The Gauls when Vernomet they call'd the place Did a great Temple by the word express As for Burton call'd for distinction Lazers Burton-lazers from Lazers so they nam'd the Elephantiaci or Lepers it was a rich Hospital to the Master of which all the lesser Lazer-houses in England were in some sort subject as he himself was to the Master of the Lazers of Jerusalem r It was founded about the time of K. Hen. 1. and as Leland saith Tom. 1. p. 69. by the Lord Mowbray for a Master and 8 brethren which did profess the Order of St. Austin See Burton's Leicestersh p. 63. It is said to have been built in the beginning of the Normans by a general collection throughout England but chiefly by the assistance of the Mowbrays About which time the Leprosie Leprosie in England by some call'd Elephantiasis 22 Because the skins of Lepers are like to those of Elephants did run by infection over all England And it is believ'd that the disease did then first come into this Island out of Egypt which more than once had spread it self into Europe first in the days of Pompey the Great afterwards under Heraclius and at other times as may be seen in History 23 Whether by celestial influence or other hidden causes I leave to the learned but never so far as I read did it before that time appear in England Besides these places of greater note and fame we
said village to Richard de Huméz or Humetz who was Constable to our Lord the King to hold of him by homage and other service And afterwards the same was held by William Earl of Warren by the favour of King John f University of Stanford In Edw. 3.'s reign an University for liberal Arts and Sciences was begun here which the inhabitants look upon as their greatest glory for when the hot contests at Oxford broke out between the Students of the north and south a great number of them withdrew and settled here However a little after they return'd to Oxford 3 Upon the King's Proclamation and thus soon put an end to this new University they had so lately began and from thence forward it was provided by an oath that no Oxford-man should profess at Stanford g Notwithstanding trade it self supported the town till in the heat of the Civil war betwixt the houses of Lancaster and York it was took by the Northern Soldiers who utterly destroy'd it with fire and sword Since that it could never perfectly recover and come up to its former glory tho' 't is pretty well at this time It is govern'd by an Alderman and 24 Burgesses h contains about 7 Parish-Churches and a very fair old Hospital founded by William Brown a citizen besides a new one on this side the bridge lately built by that Nestor of Britain 4 Sir William William Cecil Baron of Burghley after he had finish'd that stately house at Burghley of which I have already spoke in Northamptonshire He lyes buried here in a splendid tomb in St. George's Parish-Church i a man to say no more of him that lived long enough to nature and long enough to glory but not long enough to his country k Tho' there are in this place some remains of antiquity and the Roman Highway out of this town into the north clearly shews that there was formerly a Ferry here yet they do not prove that this was that Gausennae which Antoninus places at some small distance from hence High ãâã Gaââââ But since the little village Brigcasterton Bââdgcasteâââ which by its very name appears to be ancient is situated but a mile off where the river Gwash or Wash crosses the highway the nearness of the name Gwash to Gausennae and the distance being not inconsistent makes me apt to believe till time shall bring the truth to light that Gausennae is at present call'd Brigcasterton If I should think Stanford sprang from the ruins of this town and that this part of the County is call'd Kesteven from Gausennae as the other part is nam'd Lindsey from the city Lindum I would have the reader take it as a bare opinion and pass what judgment he thinks fit 'T is the current belief that this Gausennae was demolish'd as Henry Archdeacon of Huntingdon relates when the Picts and Scots ravag'd this whole County as far as Stanford where our Hengist and his Saxons with great pains and gallantry stopt their progress and forc'd them to fly in gâeat disorder leaving many dead and far more prisoners behind them l But to proceed In the east part of Kesteven which lies towards Hoiland as we travel northwards Depââg there succeeds in order first Deping that is as Ingulphus says a deep meadow Depââg fens where Richard de Rulos Chamberlain to William the Conquerour by throwing up of a great bank excluded the river Wailand which us'd often to overflow built on the said bank many houses which in all made a large village This Deping or deep meadow is indeed very properly so call'd for the plain which lies beneath it of many miles in compass is the deepest in all this marshy Country and the rendezvous of many waters and what is very strange the chanel of the river Glen which is pent in by its banks and runs from the west lyes much higher than this plain m Next Burn Burn. remarkable for the Inauguration of King Edmund and a castle of the Wakes who got a grant of King Edw. 1. for this to be a market town n More to the east stands Irnham heretofore the Barony of 5 Sir Andrew Andrew Lutterell And then Sempringham Lutterel now famous for a very fine house built by Edward Baron Clinton afterwards Earl of Lincoln Sempââham but heretofore for the holy order of the Gilbertines instituted by one Gilbert Lord of the place For he Fryers âbertines as they write being a man very much admired and of singular reputation for educating women by the authority of Eugenius the 3d. Pope of Rome in the year of our Lord 1148 altho' contrary to the constitutions of Justinian who forbad all double Monasteries that is of men and women promiscuously introduced an order of men and women which encreased to that degree that he himself founded 13 Convents out of it and liv'd to see in them 700 Gilbertine Fryers and 1100 Sisters but their modesty was not to be bragg'd of if we may believe Nigellus a Satyrist of that age who thus upbraids them Harum sunt quaedam steriles quaedam parientes Virgineoque tamen nomine cuncta tegunt Quae pastoralis baculi dotatur honore Illa quidem meliùs fertiliusque parit Vix etiam quaevis sterilis reperitur in illis Donec eis aetas talia posse neget Some are good breeders here and others fail But all is hid beneath the sacred veil She that with pastoral staff commands the rest As with more zeal so with more fruit is blest Nor any one the courtesie denies Till age steals on and robs them of their joys Next is Folkingham a Barony likewise of the Clintons Lords oâ Fââkingham but once of the Gaunts descended from Gilbert de Gandavo or Gaunt â Nâpâââ grandson to Baldwin Earl of Flanders on whom William the Conquerour very liberally bestow'd great possessions for thus an old Manuscript has it Memorandum That there came in with William the Conquerour one Gilbert de Gaunt to whom the said William having dispossest a woman nam'd Dunmock granted the Manour of Folkingham with the appurtenances thereto belonging and the honour annex'd to it The said Gilbert had Walter de Gaunt his son and heir who had Gilbert de Gaunt his son and heir and Robert de Gaunt his younger son and the said Gilbert the son and heir had Alice his daughter and heiress who was married to Earl Simon and gave many tenements to Religious men but dyed without issue by her The Inheritance then descended to the aforesaid Robert de Gaunt her uncle who had Gilbert his son and heir who had another Gilbert his son and heir who had also another Gilbert his son and heir by whom the Manour of Folkingham with its appurtenances was given to Edward the son of Henry King of England This Gilbert â H. 3. ãâ¦ã as it is in the Plea-rolls out of which this Genealogy is prov'd su'd for service against William
William de Fortibus Earl of Albemarle Mat. Par. like a rebel fortify'd it and plunder'd the whole neighbourhood laid almost level with the ground Afterwards this became the seat and as it were the head of the Barony of the Colvills Colvill who lived for a long time in very great honour but failed in Ed. 3.'s time so that the Gernons and those Bassets of Sapcot had this inheritance in right of their wives A little way from the head of the river Witham stands Paunton Paunton that boasteth very much of its antiquity chequer'd pavements of the Romans are very often dug up in it and there was here formerly a bridge over the river For both the name Paunton and its distance not only from Margidunum but also from Croco-calana Pontes do evince that this is that Ad pontem which Antoninus places 7 miles from Margidunum For Antoninus calls that town Croco-calana which we name Ancaster being at this time only one direct street along the military way one part of which not long since belong'd to the Vescies the other to the Cromwells In the entrance on the South I saw a trench and 't is very evident 't was a castle formerly as also on the other side towards the West are to be seen certain summer camps of the Romans It seems to have had that British name from its situation for it lies under a hill and we read in Giraldus Cambrensis and in Ninnius that among the Britains Cruc maur signify'd a great hill and Cruc-occhidient a mount in the west but I leave others to find out the meaning of the word Colana The antiquity of this town appears by Roman coins by the Vaults that are often discover'd by its situation on the high-way and by the fourteen miles distance between this and Lincoln the road lying through a green plain call'd Ancaster-heath for just so many Antoninus makes it to be between Croco-calana and Lindum But let us follow the river p Next to Paunton q is to be seen Grantham Grantham a town of no small resort adorn'd with a School built by Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester and with a fair Church having a very high spire steeple remarkable for the many stories that are told of it Beneath this town near the little village Herlaxton in the last age was a brazen vessel plow'd up in which they found an old fashion'd gold helmet A golden Hâlmât studded with jewels which was presented to Katharine of Spain Queen Dowager to Henry the eighth From hence Witham after a long course northwards runs near Somerton-castle Somârton Lib. Dunelmensis built by Anthony Bec Bp. of Durham by whom 't was given to Edward the first but a little after to 10 Sir William William de Bellomont Lords of Bâllomont who about that time came into England of him is descended the family of the Viscounts de Bellomonte which in the last age was almost extinct the sister and heiress of the last Viscount being married to John Lord Lovel de Tichmersh but we have spoken already of this family in Leicestershire From hence the river winds towards the South east through a fenny country and discharges it self into the German-sea a little below Boston after it has bounded Kesteven on the North. Altho' this river falls from a steep descent and large chanel into the sea yet by the great floods in the winter it overflows the fenns on each side with no small loss to the Country however these waters are drain'd in the spring by the sluces call'd by them Gotes On the other side of Witham lyes the third part of this County call'd Lindsey Lindsey by Bede Lindissi from the chief city of this shire 't is bigger than Hoiland or Kesleven jetting out into the ocean with a large front which has the sea continually plying upon its East and North shores on the West lyes the river Trent on the South 't is parted from Kesteven by the Witham and the Foss-dike Foss-dike seven miles in length cut by Henry the first between the Witham and the Trent Hoveden for the conveniency of carriage from Lincoln At the entrance of this Dike into the Trent stands Torksey Torkesey in Saxon Turcesig now a little mean town but heretofore very noted for there were in it before the Norman times as 't is in Domesday-book Domesday-book two hundred Burgesses who enjoy'd many privileges on condition that they should carry the King's Ambassadors as often as they came that way down the river Trent in their own barges and conduct them as far as York r At the joyning of this Dike to Witham s stands the Metropolis of this County call'd by Ptolemy and Antoninus Lindum Lindum by the Britains Lindcoit from the woods instead whereof 't is in some places falsly written Luitcoit Lincoln Bede calls it Lindecollinum and the city Lindecollina but whether it be from its situation on a hill or because 't was formerly a Colony I will not undertake to determine the Saxons call it Lindo-collyne Lind-cyllanceaster the Normans Nichol we Lincoln the Latins Lincolnia From whence Alexander Necham in his Treatise de Divina Sapientia Lindisiae columen Lincolnia sive columna Munifica foelix gente repleta bonis Her pillar thee great Lincoln Lindsey owns Fam'd for thy store of goods and bounteous sons Others believe it had its name from the river Witham which say they was formerly call'd Lindis but they have no authority so this is a bare conjecture For my part I cannot agree with them for Necham himself who wrote four hundred years ago contradicts them and calls this river Witham in these verses Trenta tibi pisces mittit Lincolnia sâd te Nec dedigneris Withama parvus adit Trent Lincoln sends the fish that load thy halls And little Witham creeps along thy walls And waits on thee himself ah be not proud Nor scorn the visit of the humble flood I should rather derive it from the British word Lhin which with them signifies a Lake for I have been inform'd by the citizens that Witham was wider formerly at Swanpole below the city altho' 't is at this day very broad I need take no notice of Lindaw in Germany standing by the Lake Acronius to confirm it nor of Linternum in Italy situated upon a Lake since Tall-hin Glan-lhin Linlithquo are towns in our Country of Britain standing upon Lakes The city it self is very large and much resorted to being built on the side of a noted hill where the Witham winds about towards the East and being divided into three chanels watereth the lower part of it That the ancient Lindum of the Britains stood on the very top of the hill of a very difficult ascent and lay much farther extended in length Northward than the gate Newport is evident by the plain signs of a rampire and deep ditches still visible Vortimer that warlike Britain who had very often routed
the Saxons died in this City and was here interr'd altho' he left commands to the contrary for he as 't is related by Ninnius Eluodugus's disciple hop'd and was fully perswaded that his Ghost would defend Britain from the Saxons if he should be buried on the Sea-shore But yet the Saxons after they had demolish'd this old Lindum first inhabited the South-side of the hill 11 At the foot whereof they built as it seemeth the gate yet standing compiled of vast stones and fortified it with the ruins of the former town afterwards they went down near the river built in a place call'd Wickanforde and wall'd it on that side where it was not guarded by the water At which time Paulinus as Bede Bede affirms preach'd the word of God in the Province of Lindesey and first of all converted the Governour of the city Lindcolnia whose name was Blecca with his whole family He built in this city a curious Church of stone the roof whereof is either fall'n down for want of repairing or beat down by force of some enemy for the walls are yet to be seen standing Afterwards the Danes won it twice by assault first when those pillaging troops took it from whom Edmund Ironside wrested it by force secondly when Canutus took it from whom 't was retaken by Aetheldred who on his return out of Normandy valiantly drove Canutus out of this town and beyond all expectation recover'd England which was very nigh lost In Edward the Confessor's reign there was in it as 't is set down in Domesday-book one thousand and seventy Inns for entertainment and twelve Lagemen having their Sac and Soc. 'T was indeed in the Norman times as Malmsbury relates one of the most populous cities of England and a mart for all goods coming by land and water for at that time there were taxed in it as 't is in the said Domesday-book Nine hundred Burgesses and many dwelling houses to the number of one hundred sixty and six were destroy'd for the castle with 74 more without the limits of the castle not by the oppression of the Sheriff and his Ministers but by misfortune poverty and fire William the first to strengthen it and to keep the Citizens in awe built a very large and strong castle on the ridge of the hill and about the same time Remigius Bishop of Dorchester to grace it transferr'd hither from Dorchester a little town in the farthest part of his Diocese his Bishop's See And when the Church erected by Paulinus was utterly decay'd The aforesaid Râmigius bought in the very highest part of the city several houses with the ground thereto belonging near the castle that overtops all as Henry of Huntingdon notes with its mighty towers and built in a strong place a strong and fine Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and endow'd it with 44 Prebends at which the Arch-bishop of York was very angry for he claim'd for himself the property of the ground This Church being disfigur'd by fire was afterwards repair'd as the said Henry mentions with very great art by Alexander that bountiful Bishop of Lincoln of whom the aforesaid William of Malmsbury speaks thus Seeing he was lookt upon as a prodigy by reason of his small body his mind strove to excel and be the more famous in the world and among other things a Poet of that age wrote thus Qui dare festinans gratis ne danda rogentur Quod nondum dederat nondum se credit habere Still with frank gifts preventing each request What is not yet bestow'd he thinks not yet possest And not only these two but Robert Bloet who was predecessor to Alexander and R. de Beaumeis Hugo Burgundus and their successors contributed to advance this work which was too much for one Bishop to its present state and grandeur The whole pile is not only very costly but indeed very beautiful and excellent for its workmanship especially that porch on the West-side which attracts and delights every beholders eye Altho' there be many tombs of Bishops and others in this Church yet the only ones worth our notice are that of brass in which the entrails of the most excellent Queen Eleanor wife to Edward the first 12 Who dy'd at Hardby in this Shire are interr'd and that of 13 Sir Nicholas Nicholas de Cantelupo with one or two belonging to the family of Burghersh also that of Katharine Swinford third wife to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and mother of the Somerset-family with whom lyes buried her daughter Joan second wife to Ralph Nevill the first Earl of Westmorland who had many children by her The Diocese of the Bishops of Lincoln being of a far greater extent than that of the Bishops of Sidnacester who in the primitive Saxon Church presided in this County contain'd under it so many Counties that its greatness was a burden to it and altho' Henry the second took out of it the Diocese of Ely and Henry the eighth those of Peterborough and Oxford yet 't is still counted the largest Bishoprick in England both for jurisdiction and number of shires and contains no less than 1247 Parish-Churches Many excellent Bishops have govern'd this See since Remigius but to be particular in reckoning them is beyond my design And therefore make no mention of Robert Bloet on whom King William Rufus set an amercement of 50000 pounds alledging that the Bishop's title to the city of Lincoln was defective ââeden nor of that bountiful Alexander who was ever extravagantly fond of prodigious buildings nor yet of Hugo Burgundus who being canoniz'd had his corps carry'd to the grave as my Author says on the shoulders of King John and his Nobles out of respect and duty to God and the sainted Prelate I must not however omit mentioning two persons ãâã diâd â â233 the one Robert Grostest a better Scholar and Linguist than could be expected from the age he liv'd in âatth Paris âd an ânymous âtârian an awe to the Pope a Monitor to the King a Lover of Truth a Corrector of Prelates a Director of Priests an Instructor of the Clergy a Maintainer of Scholars a Preacher to the People and a diligent Searcher of Scripture a Mallet to the Romanists c. The other is the most reverend Father Thomas Cooper very deserving both from the Common-wealth of Learning and from the Church whom I am bound always to honour for that he was the Master in whose School I must graetfully own I had my education The city it self also flourish'd for a long time being made by Edward the third a Staple âhe Staple as they call it that is a Mart for Wooll Leather Lead c. Tho' it cannot have reason to complain of great misfortunes yet it has been once burnt once besieged and that in vain by King Stephen who was there overthrown and taken prisoner and once taken by Henry the third defended then against him by his rebellious Barons who
I always thought came from the ancient Castilion family of the Earls of St. Paul â Paul in France but the Coat of Arms of Luxemburgh that they bear is a sign that they came out of France since that Castilion family of St. Paul was by marriage ingrafted into that of Luxemburgh which was about two hundred years ago Above this the Trent the Idell and the Dan as they play along in their several streams thus Frontinus expresses it make a river Island Axelholme in Saxon Eaxelholme which is part of Lincolnshire in length from south to north 10 miles ââsholm but not past half so broad The lower part near the rivers is marshy and produces an odoriferous shrub call'd Gall 22 It yieldeth also Pets in the mores and dead roots of fir-wood which in burning give a rank sweet savour There also have been found great and long fir-trees while they digg'd for Pet both within the isle and also without at Laughton upon Trent bank the old habitation of the family of Dalanson now contractly call'd Dalison The middle has a small ascent and is both rich and fruitful yielding flax in great abundance and also Alabaster ãâã which being not very solid is more proper for lime and plaisterwork than for other uses âââaster The chief town was formerly call'd Axel now Axey from whence by adding the Saxon word Holme which among them signified a river-island the name without question was compounded It hardly deserves to be call'd a town 't is so thinly inhabited nevertheless there is to be seen a platform of a castle that was demolish'd in the Barons war and belonged to the Mowbrays who at that time had a great part of the island in their possession In the year 1173. Roger de Mowbray as the Author of an old Chronicle has it forsaking his allegiance to the Hââry â ãâã reââ to his ãâã be ââgâr Elder King repair'd a Castle formerly demolish'd in the Isle Axelholme near Kinard ferry which Castle a great number of Lincolnshire-men passing over in boats besieged and compell'd the Constable and all the soldiers to surrender and laid it level with the ground A little higher lies Botterwic the owner whereof 23 Sir Edmund Sheffeld Edmund Sheffeld was the first Baron of that family created by Edward the sixth and lost his life for his Country against the Norfolk rebels having by Anne Vere a daughter of the Earl of Oxford John the second Baron father to Edmund who is now Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter 24 President of the Council establish'd in the north More northward on the other side of Trent is Burton Stather of which I have not as yet read any thing remarkable Since Egga who liv'd in the year 710 and Morcar both Saxons that were only Officiary Earls this County has given the title of Earl to William de Romara a Norman Earls of Lincoln after whose death for this title was never enjoy'd by his son who died before him nor by his grandson King Stephen conferr'd it on Gilbert de Gaunt who succeeded him but he dying Simon de St. Licius the younger son of Earl Simon you have the very words of Robert Montensis who lived about that time when he wanted lands 2 Hen. 2. receiv'd from King Henry 2. his only daughter to wife together with his honour Afterwards Lewis of France who was call'd into England by the rebellious Barons created another Gilbert of the de Gaunts family Earl of Lincoln but as soon as Lewis was forc'd away and he found himself acknowledg'd Earl by no man he quitted the title of his own accord Then Ralph the sixth Earl of Chester had this honour granted him by King Henry 3. and a little before his death gave by Charter to Hawise his sister wife of Robert de Quincy the Earldom of Lincoln so far forth as it appertain'd to him that she might be Countess thereof for so are the veây words of the Charter She in like manner bestow'd it on John de Lacy Constable of Chester and the heirs he should beget on Margaret her daughter This John begat Edmund who dying before his mother left this honour to be enjoy'd by Henry his son the last Earl of this family For when he lost his sons by untimely deaths he contracted his only daughter Alice when but nine years old to Edmund Earl of Lancaster on condition that if he should dye without issue of his body or if they should dye without heirs of their bodies his Castles Lordships L iger-bâok of Stanlow c. should come in the remainder to Edmund Earl of Lancaster and his heirs for ever But this Alice having no children by her husband Thomas who was beheaded lost her reputation by her light behaviour for that she without the K.'s consent was married to 25 Sir Eubul Eubulo Le-Strange Edw. 2. with whom she had been formerly somewhat too intimate for which reason the offended King seiz'd her estate 26 Yet both Sir Eubul Strange and Sir Hugh Frene her third husband are in some Records nam'd Earls of Lincoln But Alice being very old and dying without issue Henry Earl of Lancaster grandchild to Edmund by his second son had this her large patrimony by virtue of the aforesaid conveyance and from this time it became the inheritance of the house of Lancaster Nevertheless the Kings of England have conferr'd on several the title of Earl of Lincoln as Edward 4. on 27 Sir John John De-la-pole and Henry 8. on Henry Brandon who were both sons of the Dukes of Suffolk and died without issue Then Qu. Eliz. promoted to this honour See Dukes of Suffolk Edward Baron Clinton Lord High Admiral of England by whose very honourable son Henry 't is at present enjoy'd There are in this County about 630 Parishes ADDITIONS to LINCOLNSHIRE a THE corner of this County where Mr. Camden begins his survey seems formerly to have been a very inconsiderable or rather no part of it For as he observes from the banks there that the sea must once have come something farther so Mr. Dugdale putting Holland in the same number with Marshland in Norfolk and some other maritime places plainly proves that they have been long ago by great industry gain'd from the sea and were for many ages nothing but a vast and deep fen affording little benefit to the nation besides fish or fowl b As to the original of the name I shall not make the least scruple to joyn this and Holland ââlland in the Netherlands together agreeing so exactly in their situation soil and most other circumstances setting aside the difference of improvements which no doubt are much more considerable in one than the other but are nothing to our purpose so long as the primitive state of both was much the same Mr. Butler's conjecture drawn from the Saxon holt a wood and Ingulphus's Hoilandia which has given
Canutus founded for Nuns who being expell'd within a little time in the year 1040. Leofrick Earl of Mercia enlarg'd it and in a manner built it a-new with so great a show of gold and silver to use Malmesbury's words that the walls of the Church seem'd too strait to contain the treasures of it It was very prodigious to behold for from one beam were scrap'd w Five hundred marks Malmesb. See Dugdale's Warwickshire 50 marks of silver And he endow'd it with so great revenues that Robert de Limsey Bishop of Lichfield and Chester remov'd his See hither as to the golden sands of Lydia that as the same Malmesbury hath it he might steal from the treasures of the Church wherewithall to fill the King's Coffers to cheat the Pope of his provisions and gratifie the Roman avarice However this See after a few years return'd back to Lichfield but upon these terms that one and the same Bishop should be stil'd Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield The first Lord of this City that I know of ãâã of âââtry was Leofrick who being incens'd against the Citizens laid upon them very heavy taxes these he would by no means remit notwithstanding the great intercession of his Lady Godiva unless she would consent to âide naked thro' the most frequented parts of the city ââ50 which if credit may be given to tradition she perform'd âegus having cover'd her body with her long dangling hair without being seen by any one and so freed her Citizens from many heavy impositions From Leofrick this City by Lucia his son Algar's daughter came into the possession of the Earls of Chester for she had marry'd Ranulph the first Earl of that name and the third of the family who granted the same Liberties to Coventry that Lincoln enjoy'd and gave a great part of the City to the Monks the residue of it and Chilmore their manour-house near the City he reserv'd to him and his heirs who dying and the inheritance for want of issue-male coming to be divided amongst the sisters Coventry by the death of the Earls of Arundel fell to Roger de Monte alto De monte Alto. or Monthault whose grandson Robert granted all his right for want of issue-male to Queen Isabel Mother of King Edw. 3. to hold during her life after her decease the remainder to John de Eltham brother of the King and to the heirs of his body begotten In default of such the remainder to Edward King of England and his heirs for ever For so you have it in a Fine the second year of Edward 3. But John of Eltham was afterwards created Earl of Cornwall and this place became annex'd to the Earldom of Cornwall from which time it hath flourish'd very much Several Kings gave it divers immunities and privileges especially Edward 3. who granted them the electing of a Mayor and two Bayliffs 11 And to build and embattle a wall about it and Henry 6. who having laid to it some of the neighbouring villages granted by his Charter For so are the very words of it That it should be an entire County incorporate by it self in deed and name distinct from the County of Warwick At which time in lieu of two Bayliffs he constituted two Sheriffs and the Citizens began to enclose it with very strong walls In these are very noble and beautiful gates at that which goes by the name of Gofford is to be seen a vast shield-bone of a Boar which you may believe that Guy of Warwick or Diana of the Groves which you please kill'd in hunting after he had with his shout turn'd up the pit or pond that is now called Swansewell-pool but in ancient Charters Swineswell As to the Longitude of this City it lies in 25 degrees and 52 scruples the Latitude in 52 degrees and 25 scruples Thus much of Coventry which yet that I may ingenuously acknowledge the person who furnish'd me with it you must know you have not from me but from Henry Ferrars of Badsley a person to be respected as for his birth so for his great knowledge in Antiquity and my very good friend who in this and other places courteously directed me and as it were gave me leave to light my candle at his s Near Coventry to the North are situated Ausley Ausley a castle heretofore of the Hastings Lords of Abergavenny and ww Brandon Brand Brand. of old a seat of the Verdons To the East is placed Caloughdon vulgarly call'd Caledon Caledon an ancient seat of the Barons Segrave Barons Segrave from whom it descended to the Barons de Berkley by one of the daughters of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk These Segraves from the time that Stephen de Segrave was Lord Chief Justice of England were Barons of this Realm and enjoy'd the inheritance of the Chaucumbs whose Arms from that time they assumed viz. Arms of the Segraves A Lion rampant Argent crowned Or in a shield Sable John the last of this family marry'd Margaret Dutchess of Norfolk daughter of Thomas de Brotherton and had issue Elizabeth who carry'd the honour of Marshal of England and title of Duke of Norfolk into the family of the Mowbrays Not far from hence is Brinkle Brinkle-castle where was an ancient castle of the Mowbrays to which belong'd many fair possessions lying round it but time hath swept away the very ruins of it t as also of the Monastery of Combe Combe-Abbey which the Camvils and the Mowbrays endow'd Out of whose ashes the fair structure of the Harringtons arose in this place As you go Eastward x Anciently writ Thester Over as being seated castward of Monks-kirby and call'd but lately Cester-over by the inhabitants Dugd. Warwicksh p. 60. Cester-over presents it self the possession of the Grevils of whom I have before made mention Near which Watling street a Military way of the Romans dividing this County to the North from Leicestershire passes by High-cross of which we have already spoken near Nonn-eaton which of old was call'd Eaton but Amicia the wise of Robert Bossu Earl of Leicester as Henry Knighton writes having founded a Monastery of Nuns here in which she her self was profess'd of that number from those Nuns it got the name of Non-Eaton And formerly it was of great fame for the piety of its holy virgins who being constant in their devotions gave a good example of holy living to all about them Near this stood heretofore Asteley-castle Asteley the chief seat of the family of the Asteleys 12 Out of which flourish'd Barons in the time of King Edward the first second and third Baron Asteâey the heiress of which was the second wife of Reginald Grey Lord of Ruthin From him sprang the Greys Marquisses of Dorset some of whom lye interr'd 13 In a most fine and fair Collegiate Church which Thomas Lord Astley founded with a Dean and Secular Canons in the neat
river rises near Healy castle built by the Barons of Aldelegh or Audley Barons Audley to whom this place was given by Harvy de Stafford as likewise Aldelegh it self by Theobald de Verdon and from these spring the family of the Stanleys Earls of Derby 8 Strange it is to read what Lands King Henry 3. confirm'd to Henry Audeley which were bestow'd on him through the bounty of the Peers and even of private Gentlemen not only in England but also in Ireland where Hugh Lacy Earl of Ulster gave him Lands together with the Constablish of Ulster so that without doubt he was either a person of singular virtue or a very great Favourite or an able Lawyer or perhaps was endu'd with all these qualifications His posterity were all ââd in marriage with the heirs of the Lord Giffard of Brimsfield of Baron Martin Lord of Keimeis and Barstaple as also a younger brother of this house with one of the heirs of the Earl of Glocester who was by King Edward 3. created Earl of Glocester About which time James Lord Aualey acquir'd a very great reputation on the account of his valour and skill in war-like affairs who as it is related by French Historians being dangerously wounded in the battel of Poitiers when the Black Prince with many high commendations had given to him a pension of 400 marks per annum bestow'd it immediately on his four Esquires that always valiantly attended him and satisfy'd the Prince doubting that his gift might be too little for so great service with this answer gratefully acknowledging his bounty These my Esquires sav'd my life amidst my enemies and God be think'd my Ancestors have left me sufficient Revenues to maintain me in your Service Whereupon the Prince approving this prudent Liberality both confirm'd his Donation to his Esquires and besides assign'd to him Lands to the value of 600 marks yearly But by his daughter one of the co-heirs to her brother the title of Lord Audley came afterward to the Touchets and in them continueth but the inheritance and name descended to the Touchetts in whose posterity and name that family is still remaining i I must not go on here without taking notice of that house call'd Gerards Bromley both upon the account of its magnificence and also because 't is the chief seat of Thomas Gerard whom King James in the first of his reign created Baron Gerard of Gerards Bromley The Sow keeps like a parallel line at equal distance from the Trent and runs by Chebsey which formerly belong'd to the Lords Hastings 9 Reckon'd among the principal Noble-men in the time of King Edward the first and then not far from Eccleshal the residence of the Bishop of Lichfield k and Ellenhall which formerly was the seat of the Noels Noel a famous family who founded a Monastery here at Raunton from them it descended hereditarily to the Harcourts who are of an ancient and noble Norman race and flourish'd for a long time in great dignity Of the male-line of these Noels is Andrew Noel of Dalby an eminent Knight and the Noels of Wellesborow in the County of Leicester and others remaining at this day l From hence the Sow runs by Stafford Stafford heretofore Statford and first of all Betheney where Bertelin with the reputation of great sanctity liv'd formerly an Hermite Edward the elder in the year 914. built a Tower upon the North-side of the river here When William the first took his Survey of England as it is said in Domesday-book the King had only eighteen Burgesses here belonging to him and twenty mansion houses of the Honour of the Earl it paid in gross for all customs nine pounds in deniers 10 And had 13 Canons-Prebendaries who held in Frank-Almoin In another place The King commanded a castle to be made there which was lately demolish'd But at that time as it is at this day Stafford was the chief Town of this County which owes its greatest glory to Stafford a castle adjoyning to it 11 Which the Barons of Stafford of whose Progeny were the Dukes of Buckingham built for their own seat who prevail'd with King John to erect it into a Burrough with ample liberties and priviledges caus'd to be partly enclos'd with a wall and founded a Priory of Black-Canons in honour of St. Thomas of Canterbury built by the Barons of Stafford for a seat m Below this the Sow is joyn'd by a little river call'd Penke which gives name to Pennocrucium an ancient town of which we have already made mention Near the confluence of the Sow and the Trent stands Ticks-hall where the family of the Astons dwell which for antiquity and kindred is one of the best families in these parts n With these waters the Trent glides gently through the middle of the County to the Eastward having Chartley Chartley. castle at two miles distance on the left of it which from Ranulph Earl of Chester who built it fell to the Ferrars by Agnes his sister who was married to William de Ferrars Earl of Derby from whom descended and flourish'd the Lords Ferrars of Chartley Lords Ferrars of Chartley. and Anne the daughter of the last of them brought this Honour with her as a portion to Walter D'eureux her husband from whom is Robert D'eureux Earl of Essex and Lord Ferrars of Chartley. On the right side of this river almost at the same distance stands Beaudesert Beaudesert most delicately seated among the woods formerly the house of the Bishops of Lichfield but afterwards of the Barons Pagets Barons Paget For William Paget who for his great prudence and knowledge of the world being eminent both at home and abroad was in great favour with Henry the eighth and King Edward the sixth having got a large estate was created Baron Paget of Beaudesert by Edward the sixth 12 He was as it may be collected from his Epitaph Secretary and Privy Counsellor to King Henry 8. and constituted by his Testament Counsellor and Adjutant to King Edward the sixth during his minority to whom he was Chancellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster Comptroller of the Houshold and by him created as I have already intimated Baron and Knight of the Garter as also by Queen Mary Lord Privy-Seal Whose grandson William is now the fourth Baron Pagett His grandson Thomas the fourth Baron flourishes now at this day who by his virtue and progress in the best kinds of learning is a grace and ornament to his whole family and in this respect but justly distinguisht by an honourable mention here From hence the Trent visits Lichfield Lââhfieâd scarce four miles distant from the right side of it Bede calls it Licidfeld which Rous of Warwick renders a field of carcasses and tells us that many Christians suffer'd martyrdom there under Dioclesian The city stands low is pretty large and neat and divided into two parts by a kind of lough or clear water
land beyond this towards the west and north call'd by the natives Melienydh âââieâydh from the yellowish mountains is for the most part a barren and hungry soil Which notwithstanding shews the ruins of divers Castles âân y ââs âââminââââ but especially of Kevn Lhys and Tinbod standing â on the summit of a cop'd hill and was destroy'd by Lhewelyn Prince of Wales in the year 1260. This Country of Melienydh reaches to the river Wye b which crosses the western angle of the County and having it 's rapid course somewhat abated by the rocks it meets with and it's channel discontinued it suddenly falls headlong over a steep precipice Whence the place is call'd Rhà iadr Gŵy Rhaiadr Gwy which implies as much as the Cataract or fall of the river Wye c And I know not whether the English might not from that word Rhà iadr impose the name of Radnor first on the County and afterwards on the chief town therein By this Cataract there was a Castle which as we find it recorded was repair'd by RhÅ·s Prince of South-Wales in the reign of King Richard the first Near this place there is a vast Wilderness dismal to behold by reason of many crooked ways and high mountains into which as a safe place of refuge that bane of his native Country King Vortigern Vortigern whose very memory the Britains curse withdrew himself when he had at last seriously repented of his abominable wickedness in calling in the English-Saxons and incestuously marrying his own daughter But God's vengeance pursuing him he was consumed by Lightning together with his City Kaer-Gwortigern which he had built for his refuge Nor was it far from hence as if the place were fatal that not only this Vortigern the last British Monarch of the race of the Britains but also Lhewelyn Lhewelyn the last Prince of Wales of the British line being betray'd in the year of our Lord 1282. ended his life From this Vortigern Ninnius calls that small region Gwortiger mawr nor is the name yet lost but of the city there is not any memorial but what we have from Authors Some are of opinion that the Castle of Gwthrènion Gwerthrynion arose out of the ruins of it which the Welshmen for their hatred to Roger Mortimer laid even with the ground An. 1201. This part of the Country hath been also call'd Gwarth Ennion as we are inform'd by Ninnius who writes that the foremention'd Vortigern when he was publickly and sharply reproved by St. German did not only persist in his obstinacy and wicked practices but also cast false and malicious reproaches on that godly Saint Wherefore saith Ninnius Vortimer the son of Vortigern ordain'd that the Land where the Bishop had receiv'd so great an indignity should be his own for ever Guarth in British Calumny and Eniawn Just Upon which and in memory of St. German it has been call'd Gwarth Enian which in English signifies a slander justly requited The Mortimers descended from the Niece of Gonora wife of Rich. 1. Duke of Normandy Earls of March G. Gemet l. ult c. 10. were the first of the Normans who having overcome Edric * Weald or Wild. Sylvaticus a Saxon gain'd a considerable part of this small Territory And having continued for a long time the leading-men of the County at length Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore was created Earl of March by Edw. 3. about 1328. who soon after was sentenced to death having been accused of insolence to the State of favouring the Scots to the prejudice of England of conversing over-familiarly with the King's mother and contriving the death of his father King Edward 2. He had by his wife Jane Jenevil Lâb Monast Lanthony 29 Ed. 3. who brought him large revenues as well in Ireland as England a son call'd Edmund who suffer'd for his father's crimes and was depriv'd both of his inheritance and the title of Earl But his son Roger was received into favour and had not only the title of Earl of March restored but was also created Knight of the Garter at the first institution of that noble Order This Roger married Philippa Mountague by whom he had Edmund Earl of March who marry'd Philippa the only daughter of Leonel Duke of Clarence the third son of King Edward 3. whereby he obtained the Earldom of Ulster in Ireland and the Lordship of Clare After his decease in Ireland where he had govern'd with general applause his son Roger succeeded being both Earl of March and Ulster whom King Richard design'd his successor to the crown as being in right of his mother the next heir but he dying before King Richard left issue Edmund and Anne King Henry 4. who had usurp'd the Government suspecting Edmund's Interest and Title to the Crown exposed him to many hazards insomuch that being taken by the Rebel Owen Glyn-Dwr he died of grief and discontent leaving his sister Anne to inherit She was married to Richard Plantagenet Earl of Cambridge whose Posterity in her right became afterwards Earls of March and laid claim to the Crown See in Yâââshire towards ââe end of ââe Coânty which in the end as we shall shew elsewhere they obtain'd and Edward the fourth's eldest son who was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall c. had also conferr'd on him as an additional honour the title of Earl of March As for the title of Radnor a It was conferr'd upon John Roberts Lord Roberts of Truro 23 Jul. 1679. no man ever boâe it separately that I know of In this County are 52 Parishes ADDITIONS to RADNORSHIRE a THE first place of considerable Antiquity we meet with in this Country is Clawdh Offa Extent of Clawdh Offa. the tracing whereof gives us the exact bounds of the Britains and Saxons It may be seen on Brachy-hill and near RÅ·hd ar Helig and Lanterden in Herefordshire and is continued Northwards from Knighton over a part of Shropshire into Mongomeryshire and may be traced over the long Mountain call'd in Welsh Kevn Digolh to Harden castle cross the Severn and Lhan Drinio-Common From whence it passes the Vyrnwy again into Shropshire not far from Oswaldstry where there is also a small village call'd Trevyrclawdh In Denbighshire 't is visible along the road between Rhywabon and Wrexham fâom whence being continued through Flintshire it ends a little below Holywell where that water falls into Dee at a place formerly the site of the castle of Basingwerk This limit seems not afterwards well maintain'd by the English for although we find that the British tongue decreases daily on the borders of Wales yet not only that language but also the ancient British customs and names of men and places remain still for some space on the English side almost the whole length of it b The word Gwy or Wy Gwy or Wy what it signifieth though it be here the name of a river seems to have been anciently an appellative word either for
Karneu with the addition of the English termination don signifying Mountain or Hill as in Snowdon Huntingdon c. which conjecture is much confirm'd when we consider there are many hills in Wales denominated from such heaps of stones as Karn Lhechart in Glamorganshire Karnedh Dhavidh Karnedh Higin and Karnedh Lhewelyn in Caernarvonshire with many more in other Counties d Tralhwn from Tre'r Lhyn is an Etymology ââymology ãâã the word ââalhwn agreeable enough with the situation of this place otherwise I should be apt to suspect the word Tralhwn might be the name of a place near this pool before the town was built and that the town afterwards took its name from it For in some parts of Wales 't is a common appellative for such soft places on the Roads or elsewhere as travellers may be apt to sink into as I have observ'd particularly in the Mountains of Glamorganshire And that a great deal of the ground near this place is such is also very well known As for the Etymon of the appellative Tralhwn I suppose it only an abbreviation of Traeth lyn i.e. a Quagmire e Concerning the situation of the old Mediolanum âedâolaââm our Author seems to discourse with that judgment and modesty as becomes the character he justly bears in the world and since his time I cannot learn that any Roman Monuments have been discover'd at either of the places he mentions that might remove his scruples and fully determine the position of that City His arguments for the agreeableness of the names of Mediolanum and Mylhin though he writes it Methlin are so valid that I know not what can be objected to them However it seems observable that we do not find it was customary among the Britains to prefix the word Lhan i.e. Church to the name of Roman Cities but if any word was prefixt 't was generally Kaer i.e. a Fort or Fence as Caer Lheion Kaer Went Kaer Vyrdhin c. And tho' we should allow the invalidity of this objection and suppose the word Lhan might be introduced in latter times yet considering that a learned and inquisitive Gentleman of this Town who amongst his other studies has always had a particular regard to the Antiquities of his Country has not in the space of forty years met with any Coyns here or other tokens of a place inhabited by the Romans nor yet discover'd the least signs that this town was anciently of any considerable note I think we cannot safely barely on account of its name and vicinity to the situation requir'd conclude it the old Mediolanum Therefore it seems convenient to have recourse to the situation assign'd this City by Dr. Powel before our Author writ his Britannia who in his learned Annotations on Giraldus's Itinerary * â L 2. c. 4. assures us 't was not only the opinion of some Antiquaries that the ancient Mediolanum was seated where the village of Meivod stands at present but also that the same village and places adjoyning afforded in his time several such remarkable Monuments as made it evident there had been formerly a considerable town at that place This Meivod is seated about a mile below Mathraval on the North-side of the river Myrnwy and three miles Southward of Lhan Vylhin at the situation our Author requires At present there remains only a Church and a small village but several yet living have seen there the ruins of two other Churches I am inform'd that about a mile from the Church there 's a place call'd Erw'r Porth i.e. the Gate-acre which is supposed to have taken its name from one of the Gates of the old City and that in the grounds adjoyning to this village Cawsways Foundations of Buildings Floors and Harths are often discover'd by Labourers but whether any such Monuments as we may safely conclude Roman as Coyns Urns Inscriptions c. are found at this place I must leave to farther enquiry Meivod as Bishop Usher supposes is call'd by Nennius Cair Meguid and in other copies Cair Metguod but what the word Meguid or Metguod or yet Meivod or Mediolanum might signifie is hardly intelligible at present at leastwise I cannot discern that the modern British affords us any information concerning the origin of these names Mathraval mention'd here as formerly the seat of the Princes of Powys shews at present no remains of its ancient splendour there being only a small Farm-house where the Castle stood Lhan Vylhin is a market-town of considerable note first incorporated by Lhewelyn ap Grufydh Lord of Mechain and Mochnant in the time of Edward the second It 's govern'd by two Bailiffs chosen annually who besides other Privileges granted to the town by King Charles the second bearing date March 28. Anno Reg. 25. were made Justices of the Peace within the Corporation during the time of their being Bailiffs f The Lordship of Powys was afterwards purchased by Sir Edward Herbert second son of William Earl of Penbroke to whom succeeded his eldest son Sir William Herbert created Lord Powys by King James the first whom his son Percy succeeded in the same title But his son William was first made Earl of Powys by King Charles the second and afterwards Marquiss of Powys by King James Since Philip Herbert second son of Henry Earl of Penbroke was created Earl of Montgomery Earls of Montgomery 3 Jac. 1. May 4 the same persons have enjoy'd the titles of Penbroke and Montgomery and at present both are joyn'd in the right honourable Thomas Baron Herbert of Cardiff c. MEIRIONYDHSHIRE BEyond the County of Montgomery lies Meirionydhshire which the Britains call Sîr Veirionydh in Latin Mervinia and by Giraldus Terra filiorum Conani It reaches to the crooked bay I mention'd and is wash'd by the main Ocean on the west-side with such violence that it may be thought to have carried off some part of it On the south for some miles 't is divided from Cardiganshire by the river Dyvy and on the north borders on Caernarvon and Denbighshire Mountains exâeeding high This County hath such heaps of mountains that as Giraldus observes 't is the roughest and most unpleasant County of all Wales 1 And Wales For the hills are extraordinary high and yet very narrow and terminating in sharp peaks nor are they thin scatter'd but placed very close and so eaven in height that the shepherds frequently converse from the tops of them who yet in case they should wrangle and appoint a meeting can scarce come together from morning till night a Innumerable flocks of sheep graze on these mountains nor are they in any danger of Wolves Wolves in England destroy'd which are thought to have been then destroy'd throughout all England when King Edgar impos'd a yearly tribute of three hundred wolves skins on â No Prince of this name in Wales An leg Idwal See Derbyshire and Yorkshire Ludwal Prince of these Countries For as we find in William of Malmesbury When he had
performed this for three years he desisted the fourth alledging he could not find one more However that there remain'd some long after is manifest from unquestionable Records The inhabitants who apply themselves wholly to the breeding of cattel and who feed on milk-meats viz. butter cheese c. notwithstanding that Strabo formerly derided our Britains as ignorant of the art of making cheese are scarce inferiour to any people of Britain in stature clear complexion comeliness and due proportion of limbs but have an ill character amongst their neighbours for Incontinency and Idleness It hath but few towns On the east where Dyvy runs Kwmmwd Mowdhwy Mowdhwy is a place well known which was formerly the inheritance of William otherwise call'd Wilkok Mowdhwy a younger son of Grufydh ap Gwenwynwyn and by his son's daughter it descended to 2 Sir Hugh Burgh Hugo Burgh and again by daughters of that house to the honourable families of Newport Leighton Lingen and Mitton Where the river â Dôl Gelheu Avon runs more westerly lies Dôl Gelheu a small market-town so call'd from the valley wherein 't is seated b And close by the sea in the small Country of Ardudwy stands the castle of Ar-lech Harlech call'd heretofore Kaer Kolhwyn on a steep rock which as the inhabitants report was built by Edward 1. and took it's name from the situation for Ar-lech in the British signifies on a rock though some call it Harlech â Quasi Hardh-lech and interpret it A rock pleasantly situated When England was embroil d in civil wars Davidh ap Jenkin ap Enion a British Nobleman who sided with the house of Lancaster defended this castle stoutly for a long time against Edward 4. until 3 Sir William William Herbert Earl of Penbâoke forcing his way thorough the midst of the Alps of Wales though a very toilsome journey storm'd it with that vigour that it was surrender'd into his hands It 's almost incredible what great difficulties he struggl'd with in this troublesome journey when in some places whilst he ascended the mountains he was forced to creep and elsewhere in descending to tumble down in a manner together with his soldiers whence that way is call'd by the neighbours at this day Lhé Herbert Herbeââ way c Higher up in the confines of this County and Caernarvonshire two notable arms of the sea encroach on the land call'd Y Traeth mawr and Traeth bychan that is the Greater Wash or Frith and the Lesser And not far from hence near a small village call'd Festineog Festâââ there is a high road or military way of pitch'd stones which leads thorough these difficult and almost unpassable mountains and seeing it is call'd in British Sarn Helen or Helen's way Heleââ way it is but reasonable that we suppose it made by Helena the mother of Constantine the Great whose works were many and magnificent throughout the Roman Empire d Nor is Kaer Gai i.e. Caius's castle far from this place built by one Caius a Roman of whom the common people of that neighbourhood report great things and scarce credible In the east part of the County The ââtains oâ Dee the river Dee springs from two fountains whence 't is supposed it deriv'd it's name for they call it Dŵy which also signifies the number two though others contend it took the name from the word Duw as if a sacred river This âiââ is calââ Weâsh Dowââ Sâe ãâã shire ãâã not r Pimble Meaâ and some from Dû which denotes black from the colour of the water This river after a very short course passes entirely and unmix'd through a large lake call'd Lhyn Tegid in English Pimble Mear and â Crââ for iâ Meâ Guiâââ Fish Plenlyn Mear carrying out the same quantity of water it brought in For neither are the Gwiniad e which are a fish peculiar to this lake found in the Dee nor any Salmons taken in the lake tho' commonly in the river but if you please take here an accurate description of this lake by an Antiquarian Poet. Hispida qua tellus Mervinia respicit Eurum Est lacus antiquo Penlinum nomine dictus Hic lacus illimeis in valle Tegeius altâ Latè expandit aquas vastum conficit orbem Excipiens gremio latices qui fonte perenni Vicinis recidunt de montibus atque sonoris Illecebris captas demulcent suaviter aures Illud habet certè lacus admirabile dictu Quantumvis magnâ pluviâ non aestuat atqui Aëre turbato si ventus murmura tollat Excrescit subito rapidis violentior undis Et tumido superat contemptas flumine ripas Where eastern storms disturb the peaceful skies In Merioneth famous Penlin lies Here a vast Lake which deepest vales surround His watry globe rowls on the yielding ground Encreas'd with constant springs that gently run From the rough hills with pleasing murmurs down This wondrous property the waters boast The greatest rains are in it's chanels lost Nor raise the flood but when loud tempests roar The rising waves with sudden rage boyl ore And conqu'ring billows scorn th' unequal shore On the brow of this Lake lies Bala Bala a small priviledg'd town having but few inhabitants and the houses rudely built which yet is the chief market of these mountaneers f Hugh Earl of Chester was the first Norman that seiz'd this Country and planted garrisons in it whilst Grufydh ap * Coââ Kynan was his prisoner but he afterwards recovering this land with the rest of his Principality left it to his posterity who possess'd it till their fatal period in Prince Lhewelyn There are in this County 37 Parishes ADDITIONS to MEIRIONYDHSHIRE a THis Country as Giraldus observes generally consider'd is the most mountainous of all the Welsh Counties though it's mountains are not the highest those of Snowdon in Caernarvonshire exceeding them in height and being at least equal to them in rocky precipices But whereas Giraldus calls it the roughest and most unpleasant country in all Wales it may be answer'd if that be worth notice that for the pleasing prospect of a Country there is hardly any standard most men taking their measures herein either from the place of their own nativity and education or from the profit they suppose a Country may yield But if as some hold variety of objects make a Country appear delightful this may contend with most as affording besides a sea-prospect not only exceeding high mountains and inaccessible rocks with an incredible number of rivers cataracts and lakes but also variety of lower hills woods and plains and some fruitful valleys Their highest mountains are Kader Idris Aren Voudhwy Aren Benlhyn Arennig Moelwyn Mannod c. These maintain innumerable herds of cattel sheep and goats and are in regard they are frequently fed with clouds and rains and harbour much snow considerably more fertil though the grass be coarse than the hills and ridges of lower Countries Kader
thought it prudence to engage them with so great an honour when it seem'd most convenient Mary Elizabeth and Edward the children of Henry the eighth although they receiv'd not the Investiture and Patent were yet successively stil'd Princes of Wales For at that time Wales was by Act of Parliament so united and incorporated with England 26 Heâ that they enjoy'd the same Laws and Privileges 4 Or that you may read it abridg'd out of the Act of Parliament The Kings Country or Dominion of Wales shall stand and continue for ever incorporated united and annex'd to and with the Realm of England and all and singular person and persons born and to be born in the said Principality Country or Dominion of Wales shall have enjoy and inherit all and singular Freedoms Liberties Rights Privileges and Laws within this Realm and other the King's Dominions as other the King's Subjects naturally born within the same have enjoy and inherit and the Laws Ordinances and Statutes of the Realm of England for ever and none other shall be had used practised and executed in the said Country or Dominion of Wales and every part thereof in like manner form and order as they be and shall be in this Realm and in such like manner and form as hereafter shall be fârther establish'd and ordain'd This Act and the calm Command of King Henry 7. preparing way for it effected that in a short time which the violent power of other King's arms and especially of Henry the fourth with extream rigour also of laws could not draw on in many years For ever since the British Nation hath continued as faithful and dutiful in their loyal allegiance to the Crown of England as any other part of the Reâlm But now let us return out of Wales into England and proceed to the Country of the Brigantes An INDEX of the Curiosities represented in the TABLE Fig. 1. 2. THE carv'd pillar or monument call'd Maen y Chwyvan in Flintshire Fig. 3. 4. The pillars describ'd in the Hall at Kaer-phyli Castle in Glamorganshire Fig. 5. The Alabaster Statue found near Porth Shini Krân in Monmouthshire Fig. 6. Maen y Morynnion at Gaer near Brecknock Fig. 7. The chequer'd Pavement discover'd Anno 1692. at Kaer Lheion in Monmouthshire Fig. 8. A hollow Brick out of a Roman Hypocaust at KaerhÅ·n in Caernarvonshire Fig. 9. The Phiala or Bowl describ'd at Kaer Lheion in Monmouthshire Fig. 10. One of the leaden Boxes mention'd at Lhan Boydy in Caermardhinshire Fig. 11. 12. The same open'd Fig. 13. A brass-axe found at Moel yr Henhlys in the Parish of Deròwen in Montgomeryshire Fig. 14. Part of one of the brass Daggers if we may so call them found at Karreg Dhiwin in Meirionydhshire with the nails that fasten'd it to the handle Fig. 15. The point of such a Dagger found at the same place Fig. 16. 17. The Roman Fibula describ'd at Kaer Lheion in Monmouthshire Fig. 18. A brass Amulet dug out of a Well somewhere in Denbighshire The other side differ'd not from that which is engraven Fig. 19. A cake of Copper describ'd at Kaer RhÅ·n in Caernarvonshire Fig. 20. A gold Medal of Julius Constantius found at Trevarthin in Anglesey Fig. 21. A British gold coyn such as they used before the Roman Conquest found at Penbryn Parish in Cardiganshire Fig. 22. 23. 24. Other British coyns of gold kept in the Ashmolean Repository at Oxford Fig. 25. 26. The Coyns describ'd at Kaer-Phyli Castle in Glamorganshire Fig. 27. 28. 29. Mock Plants out of a Cole-pit near Neath in Glamorganshire See a description of them in Flintshire On the left-hand of the Table a. An Adder-bead or Glain Neidr of green glass found at Abèr-Fraw in Anglesey b. Another of earth enamell'd with blue found near Dôl Gèlheu in Meirionydhshire c. A third of glass undulated with white red and blue found near Maes y Pandy in the same County d. Represents one end of the same Of these Adder-beads which are supposed to have been Druid-Amulets some account is given in Denbighshire Annot. on Kerig y Drudion Page 697 More rare Plants growing in Wales Acetola Cambro-britannica montana Park rotundifolia repens Eboracensis foliis in medio âeliquium patientibus Moris hist Mounâain round âaved Sorrels of Wales On moist high rocks and by rivulââs about Snowdon in Caernarvonshire almost every where as also by rivulets among the broken rocks of Caderâidris is above a certain lake called Llin y cau Argemone lutea Cambro-britannica Park Papaver luteum perenne laciniato folio Cambro britannicum Yellow wild bastard Poppy About a mile from a small village called Abbar and in the midway from Denbigh to Guidar also near a wooden bridge over the river Dee near to a village called Bala also going up the hill that leads to Bangor near to Anglesey Park p. 270. But more certainly to be found on Clogwyn y Garnedh yscolion duon Trigvylche as you ascend the Glydâr from Lhanberies and several other places about Snowdon most commonly by rivulets or on moist rocks also beyond Pontvawr very near the bridge among the stones Mr. Lhwyd Alsine myosotis lanuginosa Alpina grandiflora seu Auricula muris villosa flore amplo membranaceo An Caryophyllus holosteus Alpinus angustifolius C. B. prod Hairy mountain Mouse-ear Chickweed with a large flower On the rock called Clogwyn y Garnedh the highest of all Wales near Lhanberys in Caernarvonshire plentifully Adiantum nigrum pinnulis Cicuturiae divisurâ An Ad album tenuifolium Rutae murariae aecedens J. B. Fine-leaved white Mayden-hair divided like bastard Hemlock On Snowdon hill Bistorta minima Alpina foliis imis subrotundis minutissimè ferratis D. Lhwyd Alpina pumila varia Park pumila foliis variis rotundis longis Moris The leaââ mountain Bisbort with round and long leaves In the steep pastures of ãâã high rock called Grîb Gôch above the lake or pool called Phynon brech near Llanberys Whether this be specifically different from the Westmorland Bistorta minor I leave to others upon comparing the plants to determine Bugula caerulea Alpina Park Consolida media caerulea Alpina C. B. Mountain Bugle or Sicklewort Found oâ Carnedh Lhewellin in Caernarvonshire by Dr. Johnson Caryophyllata montana purpurea Ger. emac. montana seu palustris purpurea Park aquatica nutante fâore C. B. aquatica flore rubro striato J. B. Purple Mountain-Avens or Water-Avens On Snowdon and other mountains Cirsium Britannicum Glusii repens J. B. aliud Anglicum Park singulari capitulo magno vel incanum alterum C. B. The great English soft or gentle Thistle or âelancholy Thistle As you ascend the Glyder from Lhanberys and in many other mountainous pastures about Snowdon Cirsium montanum humile Cynoglossi folio polyâuthemum An Carduus mollis Helenii folio Park On Clogwyn y Garnedh and most other high rocks in Caerâââvonshire about Snowdon Cirsium montanum polyanthemum Salicis folio angusto denticulato By a rivulet
which is large but barely surrounded with a single wall and by a huge mount with a round tower upon the top of it It was of such dignity heretofore that all the manours hereabouts appertaining to it were stiled the Honour of Tickhill In Henry the first 's reign it was held by Roger Busty but afterwards King Stephen made the Earls of Ewe in Normandy Lords of it Next King Richard 1. gave it to his brother John Plac. An. 3. Joan. Plac. M. 4. H. 3 In the Barons war Robert de * Veteri ponte Vipont took and detained it till Henry the thiâd deliver'd to him the castle of Carlisle and that County upon condition he would restore it to the Earl of Ewe But upon the King of France's refusal to restore the English to the estates they had in France the King dispossest him again John Earl of Ewe still demanding restitution of it from King Edward the first in right of Alice his great grandmother Lastly Richard the second King of England gave it to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Now the Dan which here begins to rise and frequently overflows its banks re-unites its scatter'd streams and after it hath run on in one entire chanel by Hatfield Chase where there is special good Deer-hunting i it divides it self again one stream running towards the river Idel which comes out of Nottinghamshire the other towards the river Are in both which they continue till they meet again and fall into the aestuary of Humber k Within the Island or that piece of ground encompassed by the branches of these two rivers are Diche-march and Marshland Marshland fenny tracts or rather River-islands about fifteen miles round which produce a very green rank grass good for cattel and are as it were set round with little villages Some of the inhabitants imagine the whole Island floats upon the water and that sometimes when the waters are encreased 't is rais'd higher just like what Pomponius Mela tells us of the Isle of Antrum in Gaul Among other brooks which water this place I must not forget to mention the Went because it arises from a pool near Nosthill Nosthill where formerly stood a monastery dedicated to that royal Saint Oswald St. Oswald which was repaired by A. Confessor to King Henry the first and at this day is the seat of the famous family of the Gargraves Knights l b Now the Seat of Sir Edmund Win Baronââ Calder riv The river Calder which flows along the borders between this and Lancashire among other inconsiderable little places runs by Gretland situated on the very top of a hill and accessible but on one side where was digged up this Votive Altar sacred as it seems to the tutelar God of the city of the Brigantes It is to be seen at Bradley in the house of the famous Sir John Savil Kt. Baron of the Exchequer m 4 But now among Sir Robert Cotton's Antiquities DVI CI. BRIG ET NVM GG T. AVR. AVRELIAN VS DD PRO SE ET SVIS S. M. A. G. S. On the other side ANTONINO Aâ ãâã â0â III. ET GET COSS. Which is to be read Dui Civitatis Brigantum numinibus Augustorum Titus Aurelius Aurelianus dedicavit prose suis i.e. To the God of the City of the Brigantes and to the Deities of the Emperours Titus Aurelius Aurelianus hath dedicated this in behalf of himself and his As for the last remaining letters I cannot tell what they mean The Inscription on the other side is Antonino tertiùm Getae Consulibus Whether this Dui be that God which the Britains call'd Diw Dâi Gââââf places or the peculiar and local Genius of that Ciây may be decided by those who are better Judges But as Symmachus has it Lib ãâã As the souls are distributed among those that are born even so are the fatal Genii among Nations God does appoint every Kingdom its respective Guardians This was the perswasion and belief of the Ancients in those matters For to say nothing of foreign Nations whose Histories are fruff'd with such local Deities the Britains themselves had their Andates in Essex Dio. their Bello-tucadrus in Cumberland their Viterinus and Mogontus in Northumberland as will be more manifest from the Inscriptions I shall insert in their proper places And lastly 't is rightly observ'd by Servius Honoratus that these local Gods were never transitory or shifted from one Country to another But to return to the Calder Which with supplies from other currents is now become larger and therefore made passable by a very fine bridge at Eland not far distant from Grimscar where bricks have been dug up with this Inscription COH IIII. BRE For the Romans Vâpisââ Probo who were excellent Masters in the arts of Discipline and War wisely took care to preserve their Souldiers from effeminacy and sloth by exercising them in times of peace either in draining the Country by casting ditches mending the high-way making of bricks building bridges or the like From hence the river Calder passes through the Mountains on the left by Halifax Halifax a very famous town situated from West to East upon the gentle descent of an hill This name is of no great antiquity not many ages since it was call'd Horton Some ãâã it was fârmerly câââ The Cââââ in the Grove as some of the Inhabitants say who tell us this story concerning the change of it A certain Clergy-man of this town being passionately in love with a young woman and by no means able to move her to comply with his lust grew stark mad and in that condition villanously cut off her head Her head was afterward hung upon an Ew-tree where it was reputed holy by the vulgar till quite rotten and was often visited in Pilgrimage by them every one plucking off a branch of the tree as a holy relique By this means the tree became at last a meer trunk but still retain'd its reputation of sanctity among the people who even perswaded themselves that those little veins which are spread out like hair in the rind between the bark and the body of the tree were indeed the very hair of the Virgin This occasion'd such resort of Pilgrims to it that Horton from a little village grew up soon to a large town assuming the new name of Halig-fax or Halifax which signifies holy hair Fax whââ signifies For fax is used by the English on the other side Trent to signifie hair And that noble family of the Fairfax in these parts are so denominated from their fair hair And therefore whoever from the affinity of their names would have this to be what Ptolemy calls Olicana are certainly out This town is no less famous among the Commonalty for a By-law Halifax Law whereby they behead any one instantly that 's found stealing nor among the Learned who will have John de sacro Bosco Author of the Treatise De
* Herbeââ Hen. 8. p. 484. above a thousand prisoners for which good service he receiv'd several marks of honour At Kirkby-Stephen he founded and endow'd a Free-school ee Lower down upon the river is Tadcaster Tadcaâter where Dr. Owen Oglethorp a native of Newton-Kime Bishop of Carlisle who crown'd Queen Elizabeth the See of Canterbury being then void and York refusing it founded a Free-school and endow'd it with 40 l. per An. as also an Hospital for twelve poor people with good revenues Here our Antiquary settles the Roman Calcaria â MS ââs in the hands of Mr. Toââby of Leeâ tho' Mr. Dodsworth places it at Newton-Kime in the Water-fields near S. Helen's-ford for many Roman coyns have been plow'd up there particularly of Constantius Helena and Constantine also an urn or box of Alabaster with only ashes in it melted lead Rings one whereof had a Key of the same piece joyn'd with it Dr. Johnston agrees with him and Mr. Henry Fairfax a very learned Antiquary was of the same opinion who among many other coyns dug up here was possest of one with this Inscription DOMITIANVS CALCARAVCI and on the Reverse He is on horse-back subscrib'd COS. VI. which he imagin'd might be coyn'd here by Julius Agricola about the year of Christ 85. when he was Propraetor in Britain Add to this that the Inhabitants call them Langborrow-pennies which should seem to point out to us some large Town or Burrow And as the Coyns so the Roman High way makes for this opinion For it goes directly to Roadgate and crosses the river Wharfe at St. Helensford undoubtedly so call'd from Helena mother of Constantine the Great And the passage from that to York is firmer ground by much than that from Tadcaster which would hardly be passable were it not for the Causey made over the Common between Tadcaster and Bilburgh Now this Ford dividing the Roman Agger may give one just reason to expect a Roman City or Station rather near this than any other place Nor ought it to be objected that there is at present no passage for it had formerly a bridge of wood the sills whereof yet remain but when that was broken down and the Wharf was not fordable they found a way by Wetherby Nor is there any thing our Author has said in favour of Tadcaster but what is equally if not more applicable to Newton-Kyme The distance holds more exactly the hill call'd Kelc-bar is at Smawe which is nearer Newton than Tadcaster And as to Heina who remov'd to Calca-cester 't is possible enough there might in those early times be a Religious House consecrated to the memory of the pious Helena about St. Helen's-ford At Calcaria liv'd also Adaman who was afterward Abbot of Hue or Huensis and dy'd Oct. 23. An. 704. of whose name there seem to be some remains in that place at Newton-Kyme call'd Adaman-grove The present name which carries in it something of modern ought not to be any prejudice to it For since it is back'd with such infallible proofs of Antiquity this conclusion is very natural that it was call'd New-town when new buildings began to be erected upon the foundations of the old town ff Let us next betake our seves to the river Nid upon which stands Ripley Ripley the birth-place of Sir George Ripley famous for his study after the Philosopher's stone whom I the rather mention because by Dr. Holland in an unwarrantable interpolation he is falsly plac'd at Ripley in Surrey gg From hence the Nid carries us to Knaresbrough Knaresbrough the Castle whereof is now demolish'd so that 't is chiefly famous for four medicinal Springs nigh unto it and possibly all England cannot produce a place that may truly boast of four so near in situation and yet of a very different operation 1. The Sweet-spaw or Vitrioline-well discover'd by Mr. Slingsby about the year 1620. 2. The Stinking or Sulphur-well said to cure the Dropsie Spleen Scurvy Gout c. so that what formerly was call'd Dedecus Medicinae may be call'd Decus Fontis Knaresburgensis the late way of bathing being esteem'd very soveraign 3. St. Mongahs not Magnus amangus mungus or mugnus as frequently miscall'd or Kentigern's a Scotish Saint much honour'd in these parts whom his Tutor Servanus Bishop of Orkney lov'd beyond others and us'd to call him Mongah â Spââsââod's âist of âhe Church of âcotland ââ in the Norish tongue a dear friend In the Church there i.e. at Copgrave is a memorable Epitaph for John Wincupp Rector thereof for 54 years ââpgrave pious charitable and peaceable never su'd any nor was su'd liv'd 52 years with his wife had six children and a numerous family boarding and teaching many of the Gentry out of which not one dy'd in all that time himself was the first 8 July A. D. 1637. aetat 86. In the first particular he was far out-done by his Country-man Mr. Moore the good old Puritanical Minister who was Rector of Guiseley 63 years Two miles Northward Sir Edward Blacket has built a most noble Hall with delicate Gardens adorn'd with statues The fourth Medicinal Spring is call'd the Dropping-well Dr. Witâe's Answ â Dr. Tonâal p. 54. the most famous of all the petrifying Wells in England and the ground upon which it drops from the spungy porous rock above twelve yards long is all become a solid Rock from whence it runs into Nid where the spring-water has made a rock that stretches some yards into the river Yet it must be confess'd to fall short of that stupendous Spring at Clarmont in Auverne a Province in France where the Lapidescent is so strong that it turns all its substance into stone and being put into a glass will turn presently into a stone of the same form And Hydâegr pag. l. â â14 âârtle ibid. â52 Petrus Joannes Faber a French Physician reports that they make bridges of it to pass into their gardens over the rivulet that comes from it for by placing timber and then pumping up the water upon it they have a complete stone-bridge in 24 hours Nor must Robert's Chapel âr Roâert's Chapel be forgot being a Cell hewn out of an entire Rock part of which is form'd into an Altar which yet remains and three heads which according to the devotion of that age might be design'd for the Holy Trinity The said Robert Founder of the Order of the Robertines was the son of one Flower who was twice Mayor of York â Legend âf the lâfe ââd death â S. Robârt where he was born and forsaking his fair Lands betook himself to a solitary life among the Rocks here where he dy'd about the year 1216. Upon the adjoyning Forest was lately found a large stately Medal inscrib'd JO. KENDAL RHODI TVRCVPELLERIVS Rev. TEMPORE OBSIDIONIS TVRCHORVM MCCCCLXXX â Which is the more remarkable because it expresseth the presence of our Country-man Kendall with his image and arms in that famous siege of
as his right in Parliament against Henry the sixth Rolls â 6. as being son of Ann Mortimer sister and heir to Edmund Earl of March descended in a right line from Philippa the daughter and sole heir of Leonel Duke of Clarence third son of King Edward the third and therefore in all justice to be preferred in the succession to the Crown before the children of John of Gaunt the fourth son of the said Edward the third When it was answer'd him That the Barons of the Kingdom and the Duke himself had sworn Allegiance to the King that the Kingdom by Act of Parliament was conferr'd and entail'd upon Henry the fourth and his heirs that the Duke deriving his title from the Duke of Clarence never took the Arms of the said Duke and that Henry the fourth was possess'd of the Crown by the right he had from Henry the third All this he easily evaded by replying that the said Oath sworn to the King being barely a human Constitution was not binding because it was inconsistent with truth and justice which are of Divine appointment That there had been no need of an Act of Parliament to settle the Kingdom in the line of Lancaster neither would they have desired it if they could have rely'd upon any just title and as for the Arms of the Duke of Clarence which in right belonged to him he had in prudence declin'd the using them as he had done challenging the Kingdom till that moment and that the title derived from Henry the third was a ridiculous pretext to cloak the injustice and exploded by every body Tho' these things pleaded in favour of the Duke of York shew'd his title to be clear and evident yet by a wise foresight to prevent the dangers that might ensue upon it the matter was so adjusted That Henry the sixth should possess and enjoy the Kingdom for life and that Richard Duke of York should be appointed his heir and successor in the Kingdom 10 He and his heirs to succeed after him with this proviso that neither of them should contrive any thing to the prejudice of the other However this heady Duke was quickly so far transported with ambition that by endeavouring to anticipate his hopes he raised that pernicious war between the Houses of York and Lancaster Wars between the House of York and Lancaster or between the Red-rose and the white distinguish'd by the white and the red Roses Which in a short time prov'd fatal to himself at Wakefield King Henry the sixth was four times taken prisoner and at last deprived of his Kingdom and his Life Edward Earl of March son of Richard then obtain'd the Crown and tho' he was deposed yet he recover'd it thus Fortune inconstant and freakish made her sport with the rise and fall of Princes many of the Blood-royal and of the greatest of the Nobility being cut off those hereditary and rich Provinces of the Kings of England in France being lost Ireland neglected and relapsed to their old wildness the wealth of the Nation wasted and the harass'd people oppress'd with all sorts of misery Edward being now settled in his Throne the fourth King of that name bestow'd the title of Duke of York upon Richard his second son who with the King his brother was destroy'd very young by that Tyrant Richard their Uncle Next Henry the seventh conferr'd it upon his younger son who was afterwards by the name of Henry the eighth crown'd King of England And now very lately King James invested his second son Charles whom he had before in Scotland made Duke of Albany Marquis of Ormond Earl of Ross and Baron Ardmanoch 11 A little child not full four years of age tho' but a child Duke of York by girding him with a Sword to use the words of the form putting a Cap and Coronet of Gold upon his head and by delivering him a Verge of Gold after he had the day before according to the usual manner created both him and eleven others of noble families Knights of the Bath There are in this County 459 Parishes with very many Chapels under them which for number of Inhabitants are comparable to great Parishes RICHMONDSHIRE THE rest of this County which lyes towards the North-west and is of large extent is call'd Richmondshire or Richmountshire The name is taken from a Castle built by Alan Earl of Bretagne in Armorica to whom William the Norman Conquerour gave this shire which belong'd to Edwin an English-man by this short Charter I William sirnam'd Bastard King of England do give and grant to you my Nephew Alan Earl of Bretagne and to your heirs for ever all the villages and lands which of late belong'd to Earl Eadwin in Yorkshire with the Knights-fees and other Liberties and Customs as freely and honourably as the same Eadwin held them Dated from our Siege before York With craggy Rocks and vast Mountains this shire lyes almost all high the sides of them here and there yield pretty rank grass the bottoms and valleys are not altogether unfruitful The hills afford great store of Lead Pit-Coal and also Brass Brass Lead and Pit-coal In a Charter of Edward the fourth's there is mention'd a Mineral or Mine of Coper near the very City of Richmond But covetousness which carries men even to Hell has not induced them to sink into these Mountains diverted perhaps by the difficulties of carriage On the tops of these Mountains Stone-cockles as likewise in other places there have sometimes been found stones resembling Sea cokcles and other Water-animals which if they are not the Miracles of Nature I cannot but think with Orosius a Christian Historian tâat they are the certain signs of an universal deluge in the times of Noah The Sea as he says being in Noah's time spread over all the earth and a deluge pour'd forth upon it so that this whole world was overfloated and the Sea as heaven surrounded the earth all mankind was destroyed but only those few saved in the ark for their faith to propagate posterity as is evidently taught by the most faithful Writers That this was so they have also been witnesses who knowing neither past times nor the Author of them yet from the signs and import of those stones which we often find on mountains distant from the sea but overspread with cockles and oysters yea oftentimes hollow'd by the water have learn'd it by conjecture and inference k Where this Shire touches upon the County of Lancaster the prospect among the hills is so wild solitary so unsightly and all things so still that the borderers have call'd some brooks that run here Hell becks Hell beâks that is to say Hell or Stygian rivulets especially that at the head of the river Ure which with a bridge over it of one entire stone falls so deep that it strikes a horror upon one to look down to it Here is safe living in this tract for goats deer and stags which
and all the North over M. Lilium convallium Ger. Lilly convally or May-lilly On Ingleborough and other hills Lunaria minor Ger. Park botrytis J. B. racemosa minor vel vulgaris C. B. Moonwort Though this grows somewhere or other in most Counties of England yet have I not found it any where in that plenty and so rank and large as on the tops of some mountains near Settle Lysimachia Chamaenerion dicta latifolia C. B. Chamaenerion Ger. Chamaenerion flore Delphinii Park minùs recté Rose-bay Willow-herb In the meadows near Sheffield and in divers other places Lysimachia lutea flore globoso Ger. Park bifolia flore globoso luteo C. B. altera lutea Lobelii flore quasi spicato J. B. Yellow loose strife with a globular spike or tuft of flowers Found by Mr. Dodsworth in the East-Riding of this County M. Muscus clavatus sive Lycopodium Ger. Park Club-moss or Wolfs-claw Muscus clavatus foliis Cupressi C. B. Ger. emac. clavatus cupressiformis Park terrestris ramosus pulcher J. B. Sabina sylvestris Trag. Selaginis Plinianae prima species Thal. Cypress moss or Heath-cypress Muscus terrestris repens clavis singularibus foliosis erectis Smaller creeping Club-moss with erect heads Muscus erectus Abietiformis nobis terrestris rectus J. B. Selago 3. Thalii Upright fir-moss Muscus terrestris rectus minor polyspermos Seeding mountain mosse All these sorts are found upon Ingleborough hill The last about springs and watery places The first and third are common to most of the moores and fells in the north of England Ornithogalum luteum C. B. Park luteum seu Cepe agraria Ger. Bulbus sylvestris Fuchsii flore luteo seu Ornithogalum luteum J. B. Yellow Star of Bethlehem In the woods in the northern part of Yorkshire by the Tees side near Greta bridge and Brignall Pentaphylloides fructicosa Shrub-Cinquefoil On the south bank of the river Tees below a village called Thorp as also below Eggleston Abbey At Mickle Force in Teesdale there are thousands of these plants Pentaphyllum parvum hirsutum J. B. Small rough Cinquefoil In the pastures about Kippax a village three miles distant from Pontefraict Pyrola Ger. J. B. nostras vulgaris Park Common Winter-green We found it near Halifax by the way leading to Kighley but most plentifully on the moors south of Heptenstall in the way to Burnley for near a mile's riding Pyrola folio mucronato serrato C. B. serrato J. B. tenerior Park Secunda tenerior Clusii Ger. Sharp-pointed Winter-green with serrate leaves In Haselwood-woods near Sir Walter Vavasor's park Polygonatum floribus ex singularibus pediculis J. B. latifolium flore majore odoro C. B. majus flore majore Park latifolium 2. Clusii Ger. Sweet smelling Solomon's seal with flowers on single foot-stalks On the ledges of the scars or cliffs near Settle and Wharf Primula veris flore rubro Ger. Clus Paralysis minor flore rubro Park-parad Verbasculum umbellatum Alpinum minus C. B Birds-eyn In the mountainous meadows about Ingleborough and elsewhere in moist and watery places Pyrola Alsines flore Europaea C. B. Park Herba trientalis J. B. Winter green with Chickweed flowers At the east end of Rumbles-mear near Helwick Pyrola Alsines flore Brasiliana C. B. prod Winter green Chickweed of Brasil Found near Gisburgh in Cleveland as was attested to me by Mr. Lawson Ranunculus globosus Ger. Park parad flore globoso quibusdam Trollius flos J. B. montanus Aconiti folio flore globoso C. B. Indeed it ought rather to be entitled an Aconite or Wolfsbane with a Crowfoot flower The Globe-flower or Locker gowlons In the mountainous meadows and by the sides of the mountains and near water-courses plentifully Ribes vulgaris fructu rubro Ger. vulgaris acidus ruber J. B. fructu rubro Park Grossularia sylvestris rubra C. B. Red Currans In the woods in the northern part of this County about Greta-bridge c. Ribes Alpinus dulcis J. B. Sweet Mountain-Currans Found in this County by Mr. Dodsworth Rhodia radix omnium Autorum Telephium roseum rectius Rosewort On the rocks on the north-side of Ingleborough hill plentifully Rosa sylvestris pomifera major nostras Rosa pomifera major Park parad The greater English Apple-Rose In the mountainous parts of this County it is very frequent Rosmarinum sylvestre minus nostras Park Ledum palustre potiùs dicendum Wild Rosemary or Marsh Holy Rose On Mosses and moorish grounds Rubus saxatilis Ger. Alpinus saxatilis Park Alpinus humilis J. B. Chamaerubus saxatilis C. B. The stone-Bramble or Raspis On the sides of Ingleborough hill and other hills in the West-Riding Salix folio laureo seu lato glabro odorato Bay-leav'd sweet Willow In the mountainous parts of the West-Riding by the rivers and rivulets Salix pumila montana folio rotundo J. B. Round-leaved mountainous dwarf Willow On the rocks upon the top of Ingleborough hill on the north-side and on an hill called Whernside over against Ingleborough on the other side of the subterraneous river Sedum Alpinum ericoides caeruleum C. B. J. B. Mountain Sengreen with Heath-like leaves and large purple flowers On the uppermost rocks on the north-side of Ingleborough Sedum minus Alpinum luteum nostras Small yellow mountain-Sengreen On the sides of Ingleborough-hill about the rivers and springing waters on the north-side of the hill plentifully Sedum Alpinum trifido folio C. B. Alpinum laciniatis Ajugae foliis Park Sedis affinis trisulca Alpina flore albo J. B. Small mountain-Sengreen with jagged leaves On Ingleborough and many other hills in the north part of this County Sedum purpureum pratense J. B. minus palustre Ger arvense seu palustre flore rubente Park palustre subhirsutum purpureum C. B. Small Marsh-Sengreen On the moist Rocks about Ingleborough-hill as you go from the hill to Horton in Ribbles-dale in a ground where Peat is got in great plenty Sideritis arvensis latifolia hirsuta flore luteo Broad-leav'd rough Field-Ironwort with a large flower In the West-riding of Yorkshire about Sheffield Darfield Wakefield c. among the Corn plentifully Trachelium majus Belgarum Giant Throatwort Every where among the Mountains Thalictrum minus Ger. Park C. B. The lesser Meadow-rue Nothing more common on the Rocks about Malham and Wharfe Thlaspi foliis Globulariae J. B. montanum Glasti folio minus Park C. B. opp In the mountainous pastures going from Settle to Malham plentifully Thlaspi vel potiùs Leucoium sive Lunaria vasculo sublongo intorto Lunar Violet with an oblong wreathen cod On the sides of the Mountains Ingleborough and Hinckel-haugh in moist places and where waters spring Vaccinia Nubis Ger. Chamaemorus Clus Anglica Park item Cambro-britannica ejusdem Rubo Idaeo minori affinis Chamaemorus J. B. Chamaemorus folio Ribes Anglica C. B. Cloud-berries Knot-berries or Knout-berries This I found plentifully growing and bearing fruit on Hinckel-haugh near Settle I have found it also in Ingleborough and Pendle hills but not in
flower and fruit Both Gerard and Parkinson make two Plants of it Valeriana Graeca Ger. Park Graeca quorundam colore caeruleo albo J. B. caerulea C. B. Greek Valerian which the vulgar call Ladder to Heaven and Jacob's Ladder Found by Dr. Lister in Carleton beck in the falling of it into the river Are but more plentifully both with a blue flower and a white about Malham-cove in the Wood on the left hand of the water as you go to the Cove plentifully as also at Cordill or the Whern a remarkable Cove where there comes out a great stream of water near the said Malham To these I shall add a Plant which tho' perchance it be not originally native of this County yet is planted and cultivated in large Gardens at Pontefraict for sale and hath been taken notic of by Camden and Speed that is Glycyrrhiza vulgaris Ger. emac. vulg siliquosa Park siliquosa vel Germanica C. B. radice repente vulgaris Germanica J. B. Common Liquorice The quality of this Plant in taking away the sence of hunger and thirst we have taken notice of in Cambridgeshire-Catalogue The BISHOPRICK of DVRHAM THE Bishoprick of Durham or Duresme bordering upon Yorkshire on the North is shap d like a Triangle the utmost Angle whereof lies to the Westward made there by a contact of the North boundary and the Tees's head That side of it towards the South is bounded all along by the course of the river Tees The other which lyes Northward is at first mark'd out by a short line from the outmost point to the river Derwent and thence by the Derwent it self until it receives the little river Chopwell and after that by the river Tine The basis of this triangle which lyes Eastward is made by the Sea-shore which is wash'd by the German Ocean with great rage and violence In that part where it contracts it self into an angle the fields are naked the woods very thin and the hills bald but not without veins of Iron in them but the vales produce grass pretty well for the Appennine of England which I have already spoke of cuts it at this angle But on the East part or the basis of this triangle as also at the sides of it the ground is made very f uitful by tillage and the return of it answerable to the pains of the husbandman being enamell'd with Meadows Pastures and Corn-fields thick set with Towns in all parts of it and very productive of Sea-coal which we use for fewel in many places Some would have this Sea-coal to be a black earthy bitumen others to be Jeat and others the Lapis Thracius Sea-coal all which that great Master of Mineral learning Georgius Agricola proves to be the very same For certain this of ours is nothing but bitumen harden'd and concocted by heat under ground for it casts the same smell that bitumen does and if water be sprinkled on it it burns the hotter and the clearer but whether or no it is quench'd with oyl I have not yet try'd If the Lapis Obsidianus be in England I should take it for that which is found in other parts of this Kingdom and commonly goes by the name of Canole Coal for that is hard shining light and apt to cleave into thin flakes and to burn out as soon as it is kindled But let us leave these points to men that pry into the secrets of nature more narrowly EPJSCOPAIUS DUNELMENSIS Vulgo The Bishoprick of DURHAM By Robt. Morden âees âââis The river that bounds the South part of this County is call'd by the Latins Teisis and Teisa commonly Tees by Polydore an Italian who was certainly then thinking of Athesis in his own Country without any grounds Athesis by Ptolemy it seems to be call'd a 'T is very likely that in the Câpies we have of Ptolemy's Tables ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã and ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã or ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã as some Books have it ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã are transplac'd the former being further north and as the learned Sir George Mackenzy has well noted Defence of the Royal Line c. p. 79 is now known by the name of the March of Angus being the Frith or Oat let of the river Tay. So that this is still to be left in Scotland however the other be dispos'd ãâ¦ã ΤÎÎ¥ÎΣÎΣ and Tuesis yet I am of opinion that by the heedlessness of Transcribers it is misplac'd in him For whereas he makes the Tuesis or Tina to be in âhe remoter parts of Britain now inhabited by the Scots and the Tesis or Tina is the boundary to this County if I durst criticise upon this ancient Geographer I would recall it back hither to its proper place and that as I hope without offence to the Scots who have no rivers to which they can rightly apply these names The Tees rises in that stony ground call'd Stanemore and with the many currents which joyn it on both sides flows through rocks out of which at Egleston where C. Earl of Britain and Richmond built a Monastery they hew Marble and first it runs by Bernard-castle âernard-âastle built by Bernard Balliol great grand-father to John Balliol King of Scots and denominated from him But John Balliol whom Edward the first had declar'd King of Scots lost this with other possessions in England for falling from the Allegiance he had sworn to King Edward At which time the King being displeas'd with Anthony Bishop of Durham as the History of that place tells us took this Castle with all its appurtenances from him and conferr'd it upon the Earl of Warwick Herks and Hertnes he bestow'd upon Robert Clifford Kewerston upon Galfrid de Hertlpole which the Bishop had as forfeited by J. de Balliol R. de Brus and Christopher de Seton But some few years after Ludovicus de Bellomonte the Bishop descended from the Royal Line of France who as it is written of him was but ignorant and a meer stranger to matters of Learning went to law for this Castle and other Possessions and carry'd the Cause Sentence being given in these words The Bishop of Durham ought to have the forfeitures in war within the liberties of his Bishoprick as the King has them without Near this stands Stretlham Stretlham for a long time the Seat of the famous and knightly family of the Bowes Bââes or De Arcubus who have often done great service to their King and Country in times of extremity Their pedigree is from W. de Arcubus to whom as I have read Alanus Niger Earl of Britain and Richmond gave it in these words that he should bear for his Arms the Scutcheon of Britain with three bent Bowes in it At less than five miles distance from hence and somewhat farther from the Tees is Standrope Standrope which is also call'd Stainthorp that is to say A stony village a small market-town where stood a Collegiate Church built by the Nevills which
some parts they find great store of Marle to manure their grounds whereby that soil which was deem'd unfit for Corn is so kindly improv'd that we may reasonably think Mankind rather to blame for their idleness heretofore than the Earth for her ingratitude But as for the goodness of this County we may see it in the complexion of the Natives who are particularly well favour'd and comely nay and if we will Lancashire Oxen. in the Cattle of it too For in the Oxen which have huge horns and â Compositio corpore proportionable bodies you shall find nothing of that perfection wanting that Mago the Carthaginian in Columella requir'd On the South part it is divided from Cheshire by the river Mersey which springeth in the middle of the Mountains becomes the boundary as soon as it has gone a little from the rise of it and runs with a gentle stream towards the West inviting as it were other rivers to use the words of the Poet into his azure lap and forthwith receives the Irwell from the North and with it all the rivers of this Eastern part The most memorable of them is the river Roch upon which in the valley stands Rochdale Rochdale a market-town of no small resort as also Bury upon the Irwell it self a market-town no way inferiour to the other And near this whilst I carefully sought up and down for Coccium mention'd by Antoninus I saw Cockley Cockley a wooden Chapel beset round with Trees Turton-Chapel situated in a dirty steep place Turton-tower Turton and Entweissel a fair built house The latter of which formerly belong'd to certain noble persons of that name the former is the seat of that famous family the Orells at this day Where the Irk runs into the Irwell on the left bank rising in a kind of reddish stone scarce three miles from the Mersey flourishes that ancient Town read according to different copies Mancunium Maâââum and Manutium in Antoninus which old name it has not quite lost at this day being now call'd Manchester Manââ This surpasses all the Towns hereabouts in building populousness woollen-manufacture market-place Church and its College a This stately stone building is now wholly employ'd for the use of the Hospital and Library founded in the reign of Henry the fifth by Thomas Lord La-Ware 1 Bâing summon'd to Parliament among the Lords Temporal by the name of Magister Thomas de la Ware who was in Orders and was the last heir-male of this family He was descended from the Greleys who were by report the ancient Lords of the Town 2 And by Joânna sister of tâe ãâã Sir Thâmas it came to the Wests now Lords de la Ware But in the last age it was much more eminent for the credit of its Woolen-cloth or Manchester-Cottons Maâchâ Câttââ as they call them and also for the privilege of a Sanctuary in it which by Act of Parliament in Henry the eighth's time was transferr'd to Chester a In a Park adjoyning to the County of Deâby call'd Alparc I saw the marks of an old square Fort just where the river Medloc joyns the Irwell which they call Mancastle I will not say that this was the ancient Mancunium the compass of it is so little but rather that it has been some Roman station here I saw an old stone with this Inscription * O CANDIDI FIDES XX. _____ IIII. This other was taken for me by the famous Mathematician J. Dee Warden of Manchester-College who view'd it COHO I. FRISIN O MASAVONIS P. _____ XXIII They may seem erected to the memory of those Centurions for their approv'd faith and loyalty for so many years together b In the year 920. Edward the elder as Marianus says sent an Army of the Mercians into Northumberland for then this belong'd to the Kings of Northumberland that they should repair the City of Manchester and put a Garison in it c For it seems to have been destroy'd in the Danish wars and because the Inhabitants behav'd themselves bravely against them they will have their Town call'd Manchester that is as they explain it a city of men and of this opinion they are strangely fond as seeming to contribute much to their glory But these honest men are not sensible that Mancunium was the name of it in the British times so that the original of it as 't is derived from our English tongue will by no means hold And therefore I had rather fetch it from the British word Main which signifies a stone For it stands upon a stony hill and beneath the Town at Colyhurst Câlâ there are noble and very famous quarries THE COUNTY PALATINE OF LANCASTER By Robt. Morden ãâ¦ã After Chatmoss we see Holcroft which gave both seat and name to the famouâ family of the Holcrofts formerly enrich'd by marriage with the Coheir of Culchit For that place stands hard by which Gilbert de Culchit held in fee of Almarick Butler as Almarick did of the Earl de Ferrariis in Henry the third's time Whose eldest daugher and heir being married to Richard the son of Hugh de Hinley he took the name of Culchith as Thomas his brother who married the second daughter was call'd from the estate Holcroft the other for the same reason Peasfalong and the fourth de Riseley ãâ¦ã Now I note this that the Reader may see that our Ancestors as they were grave and settl'd in other things so in rejecting old and taking new names from their possessions were light and changeable And this was a thing commonly practis'd heretofore in other parts of England Here are little Towns quite round as also throughout this whole County Cheshire and other Northern parts which have given names to famous families and continue in the hands of those of the same name to this very day As Aston of Aston Atherton of Atherton Tillesley of Tillesley Standish of Standish Bold of Bold Hesket of Hesket Worthington of Worthington Torbeck of Torbeck c. It would be endless to reckon up all neither is it my design to give an account of eminent families but to survey such places as are of Antiquity Yet these and such like families in the Northern Counties that I may once for all observe it as they rose by their bravery and grew up more and more by their frugality and the ancient self-contented simplicity so in the South parts of England Luxury Usury Debaucheries and Cheating have undone the most flourishing families in a short time insomuch that many complain how the old race of our Nobility fades and decays ãâ¦ã Let us however go on with the Mersey which runs by Warrington remarkable for its Lords the Butlers who obtain'd for it the privilege of a Market from Edward the first Hence northward at no great distance ãâ¦ã stands Winwick very famous for being one of the best ãâ¦ã Benefices in England Here in the uppermost part of the Church
they destroy'd every thing they could meet with burnt to the ground From that time they began to build nearer a green hill by the river upon which stands a castle not very great nor ancient but fair built and strong and upon the very hill stands a Church the only one in the town where the Monks aliens had a cell heretofore 7 Founded by Roger of Poictiers Below this at a very fine bridge over the Lone on the stoâpest side of the hill there hangs a piece of a very ancient wall which is Roman they call it Wery-wall probably from the later British name of the town for they nam'd this town Caer Werid that is a green ãâã from the green hill perhaps but I leave the fârâher discovery of this to others John Lord of Moâiton and Lancaste who was afterwards King of ângâand confirmed by charter all the liberties which he âad granted to the Burgesses of Bristow Edward the third in the 36th year of his reign granted to the Mâyor and Bailiffs of the village of Lancaster that Pleas and Sessions should be held no where else but there The latitude of this place not to omit it is 54 degrees 5 minutes and the longitude 20 degrees 48 minutes From the top of this hill while I look'd all round to see the mouth of the Lone which empties it self not much lower I saw Forness âournesse the other part of this County on the west which is almost sever'd from it by the sea for whereas the shore lay out a great way from hence westward into the ocean the sea as if it were enrag'd at it ceased not to slash and mangle it Nay it swallow'd it quite up at some boisterous tide or other and theâeby has made three large bays namely Kentsand which receives the river Ken Levensand Duddensand between which the land shoots oât so much like a promontory into the sea that this ãâã oâ the county takes its name from it ãâ¦ã and Foreland signifie the same with us that proââââtortââ anterius that is a fore-promontory does in latiâ l The whole tract except by the Sea-side is all high mountains and great rocks they call them Fornâss-fâlls âârnâsâe-Fells among which the Britains liv'd securely for a long time relying upon the fortifications wherewith nature had guarded them tho' nothing prov'd impregnable to the Saxon Conquerors For in the 228th year after the coming in of the Saxons we may from hence infer that the Britains lived here because at that time Egfrid King of the Northumbrians gave to S. Cuthbert the land called Carthmell Carthmell and all the Britains in it for so it is related in his life Now Carthmell every one knows was a part of this County near Kentsand and a little town in it keeps that very name to this day wherein William Mareschal the elder Earl of Pembroke built a Priory and endow'd it If in Ptolemy one might read Setantiorum Sâtâââââruâ Lacus ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a lake as some books have it and not Sâtantiorum ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a haven I would venture to affirm that the Britains in these parts were the Setantii for among those mountains lies the greatest lake in England now call'd Winander-mere Winamâârmere in Saxon WinÆ¿adremer perhaps from the windings in it about ten miles in length the bottom pav'd as it were with a continued rock wonderful deep in some places as the neighbouring Inhabitants tell you and well stor'd with a sort of fish no where else bred See the Aâdââââns tâ Wââtmââland Câare a fiâh Hiâtâry âf Maâââ which they call Chare m Upon this lake stands a little town of the same name where in the year 792. Eathred King of the Northumbrians slew the sons of King Elfwold after he had taken them from York that by his own wickedness and their blood he might secure himself in the Kingdom Between this lake and the river Dudden is the promontory we commonly call Forness with the Island Walney like a Counterscarp lying along by it and a small arm of the sea between The entry to it is d This fort is quite ruinated defended by a Fort call'd The Pile of Fouldrey Piâe ãâã Fâuldâeâ situate upon a rock in the middle of the water and built by the Abbot of Forness in the first year of King Edward the third Upon the promontory there is nothing to be seen but the ruins of Forness-Abbey 8 Of Câstercian Monks Lâb F ââsâânâ which Stephen Earl of Bullen afterwards K. of England built in the year 1127. in a place formerly call'd Bekensgill or translated it rather from Tulket in Anderness Out of the Monks of this place and no where else as they themselves have related the Bishops of the Isle of Man which lyes over against it were wont by an ancient custom to be chosen this being the mother as it were of several Monasteries both in that Island and in Ireland n More to the East stands Aldingham Aldââghââ the ancient estate of the family of the Harringtons Hââââgtââs to whom it came from the Flemmings by the Cancefelds and whose inheritance by a daughter went to William Bonvill 9 Of Somersetshire of Devonshire and by him at last to the Greys Marquisses of Dorset Somewhat higher lyes Ulverston Ulââââ to be mention'd upon this account that Edward the third gave a moiety of it to John Coupland one of the most warlike men of that age whom he also advanc'd to the honour of a Banneret for taking David the second King of Scots prisoner in a battel at Durham After his death the said King gave it with other great estates in these parts and with the title of Earl of Bedford to Ingleram Lord Coucy a Frenchman he having married his daughter Isabel and his Ancestors having been possess'd of great Revenues in England in right of Christian de Lindsey âo As for those of the Nobility who have bore the title of Lancaster ãâ¦ã there were three in the beginning of the Norman Government who had the title of Lords of the Honour of Lancaster namely Roger of Poictou the son of Roger Montgomery sirnam'd Pictavensis as William of Malmesbury says because his wife came out of Poictou in France But he being depriv'd of this honour for his disloyalty King Stephen conferr'd it upon his own son William Earl of Moriton and Warren Upon whose death King Richard the first bestow'd it upon John his brother who was afterwards King of England For thus we find it in an ancient History ãâ¦ã King Richard shew'd great affection for his brother John For besides Ireland and the Earldom of Moriton in Normandy he bestow'd upon him such great preferments in England that he was in a manner a Tetrarch there For he gave him Cornwal Lancaster Nottingham Derby with the adjacent Country and many other things A pretty while after King Henry the third son of King John
of Parliament annex'd a very great estate to this Dutchy which had fall'n to him in right of his mother 13 Dame Mary who was the daughter and coheir of Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford And in this state and condition it remain'd from that time saving that Edward the fourth in the first of his reign when he had attainted Henry the sixth in Parliament for Treason appropriated it as they term it to the Crown that is to say to him and his heirs Kings of England However Henry the seventh soon broke this entail and so at this day it has its particular Officers namely a Chancellor Attorney Receiver Clerk of the Court six Assessors a Messenger two Auditors three and twenty Receivers and three Supervisors There are reckon'd in this Shire besides several Chapels only 36 Parishes but those very populous and such as for number of Parishioners far exceed the greatest Parishes anywhere else ADDITIONS to LANCASHIRE a THo' Lancaster has given the name to this County yet Manchester âââââeââer whether one consider Antiquity number of inhabitants or growth seems to be more considerable And yet for all that it is neither a Corporation nor does it send Burgesses to Parliament tho' perhaps of an in-land town it has the best trade of any one in the north of England It is water'd with the rivers Irke and Irwell but there is no such river about it as Spolden upon which the late Historical and Geographical Dictionary has falsly plac'd it as it hath also it's distance from London which is really 147 miles The Fustian-Manufacture call'd Manchester-Cottons still continues there and is of late very much improv'd by some modern inventions of dying and printing and this with the great variety of other manufactures known by the name of Manchester-Wares renders not only the town it self but also the parish about it rich populous and industrious Sixty years ago there were computed near 2 000 Communicants in the town and Parish since which time the inhabitants are much more numerous proportionable to the increase of trade The Collegiate Church which was built in the year 1422. is a very large beautiful and stately edifice and the Quire is particularly remarkable for it's neat and curious carv d work It is likewise beautify'd with three remarkable Foundations a College a Hospital and a Publick School the following account whereof we owe to the worthy Warden of this place The College was first founded A. D. 1421. by Thomas De la Ware at first Rector of the said Parish-Church and brother to the Lord De la Ware whom he succeeded in the estate and honour and then founded a College there consisting of one Master or Keeper eight Fellow-Chaplains four Clerks and six Choristers in honour of St. Mary to whom the said Parish-Church was formerly dedicated St. Dennis of France and St. George of England This foundation was dissolved 1547. in the first year of King Edward 6. the lands and revenues of it taken into the King's hands and by him demised to the Earl of Derby and the College-house and some lands sold to the said Eaâl The College was re-founded by Queen Mary who restored most of the lands and revenues only the College it self and some of its revenues remain'd still in the hands of the Earl of Derby It was also founded a-new by Queen Elizabeth A. D. 1578. by the name of Christ's College in Manchester consisting of one Warden four Fellows two Chaplains four Singing-men and four Choristers the number being lessen'd because the revenues were so chieflâ by the covetousness and false-dealing of Thomas Herle then Warden and his Fellows who sold away or made such long leases of the revenues as could never yet some of them be retrieved It was last of all re-founded by King Charles 1. A. D. 1636 constituting therein one Warden four Fellows two Chaplains four Singing men and four Choiristers and incorporating them by the name of the Warden and Fellows of Christ's College in Manchester the Statutes for the same being drawn up by Archbishop Laud. The Hospital was founded by Humphrey Cheetham Esquire and incorporated by King Charles 2. designed by the said bountiful Benefactor for the maintânance of 40 poor boys out of the Town and Parish of Manchester and some other neighbouring Parishes But since 't is enlarged to the number of 60 by the Governours of the said Hospital to be taken in between the age of 6 and 10 and there maintained with meat drink lodging and cloaths to the age of 14 and then to be bound Apprentices to some honest trade or calling at the charge of the said Hospital For the maintenance of which he endowed the same with the yearly revenue of 420 l. which is since improved by the care and good husbandry of the Feoffees or Governours to the yearly sum of 517 l. 8 s. 4 d. they having laid out in the purchace of lands the sum of 1825 l. which was saved out of the yearly income over and above the maintenance of the poor children and others belonging to the said Hospital wherein there are annually near 70 persons provided for Within the Hospital and by the bounty of the said Founder is also erected a very fair and spacious Library already furnished with a competent stock of choice and valuable books to the number of near 4000 and daily encreasing with the income of 116 l. per an setled upon the same by the said worthy benefactor to buy Books for ever and to afford a competent salary for a Library-keeper Theâe is also a large School for the Hospital-boys where they are daily instructed and taught to write and read The Publick School was founded A. D. 1519 by Hugh Oldham D. D. and Bishop of Exeter who bought the Lands on which the School stands and took the Mills there in lease of the Lord De la Ware for 60 years Afterwards with the Bishop's money Hugh Bexwick and Joan his sister purchased of the Lord De la Ware his Lands in Ancoates and the Mills upon lâk and left them in Feoffment to the said Free school for ever Which Revenues are of late very much encreas'd by the Feoffees of the School who out of the improvements have as well considerably augmented the Masters salaries as the Exhibitions annually allowed to the maintenance of such scholars at the University as the Warden of the College and the high Master shall think requisite and have besides for some years past added a third Master for whom they have lately erected a new and convenient School at the end of the other Besides these publick Benefactions and Endowments there have been several other considerable sums of money and annual revenues left and bequeathed to the Poor of the said Town who are thereby with the kindness and Charity of the present inhabitants competently provided for without starving at home or being forced to seek relief abroad The Town gives title to an honourable family Henry Mountague being
dedicated his Books of the Ecclesiastical History of England and who afterwards Rog. Hoveden renouncing the World took upon him the habit of a Monk in the Church of Lindisfern and listed himself a Souldier of the Kingdom of Heaven his body being afterwards translated to the Church of Northam When also the Danes had miserably wasted the Holy Issand wherein S. Cuthbert so much magnified by Bede was Bishop and lay buried some endeavour'd by a religious stealth to convey his body beyond Sea but the winds standing contrary they with all due reverence deposited the sacred Body at * The printed Books have corruptly Bulbeford Will. Malmesb de Gest Pont. lib. 1. Ubbanford whether a Bishop's See or no is uncertain near the river Twede where it lay for many years till the coming of King Ethelred This and other matters were taught me for I shall always own my Instructors by George Carlton born at this place being son to the Keeper of Norham-Castle whom for his excellent Proficiency in Divinity whereof he is Professor and other polite Learning I love and am lov'd by him and I were unworthy of that love if I should not acknowledge his Friendship The old people told us that at Killey Killay a little neighbouring Village below Norham were found within the memory of our Grandfathers the studds of a Knight's Belt A golden Hilt and the hilt of a Sword of massie Gold which were presented to T. Ruthall Bishop of Durham A little lower you have the mouth of Twede on the farther bank whereof stands Berwick Berwick the last Town in England and best fortify'd in all Britain hh Some derive the name of this Town from one Berengarius a Romantick Duke Leland fetches it from Aber the British word for the mouth of a river and so makes Aberwick to signifie a Fort built upon such a mouth But they will best understand the true etymology of it who know what is meant by the word Berwicus in the Charters of our Kings Ingulphus renders Berwicus a Mannour wherein nothing's more common than I give the Townships of C. and D. cum suis Berwicis ii For my part what it should mean I know not unless it be a Hamlet or some such dependency upon a place of better note For in the Grants of Edward the Confessor Totthill is call'd the Berwicus of Westminster Wandlesworth the Berwicus of Patricksey and a thousand of the like But why all this pains 'T is lost labour if as some maintain the Saxons call'd it anciently Beornica-Æ¿ic that is the Town of the Bernicians for that this part of the Country was call'd Bernicia we have already noted and the thing is too well known to be here repeated But whence ever it had its name its situation carries it a good way into the sea so that that and the Twede almost incircle it Being seated betwixt two mighty Kingdoms as Pliny observes of Palmyra in Syria it has always been the first place that both Nations in their wars have had an eye on insomuch that ever since Edward the first wrung it out of the Scotch hands the English have as often retaken it as the Scots have ventur'd to seize it But if the Reader pleases we will here give him a summary abstract of its History The oldest account I find of Berwick is that William King of Scots being taken prisoner by the English pawn'd it for his ransom to our Henry the second redeemable only within such a time kk Whereupon says the Polychronicon of Durham Henry immediately fortify'd it with a Castle But Richard the first restor'd it to the Scots upon their payment of the money Afterwards King John as the History of Melross reports took the Town and Castle of Berwick at the same time that he burnt Werk Roxburgh Mitford and Morpath and with his Rutars wasted all Northumberland because the Barons of that county had done homage to Alexander King of Scots at Feltun A great many years after this when John Baliol King of Scotland had broken his Oath Edward the first reduc'd Berwick in the year of our Lord 1297. But soon after the fortune of war favouring the Scots our men quitted it and they seiz'd it but the English forthwith had it surrender'd to them again Afterwards in the loose reign of Edward the second Peter Spalding surrender'd it to Robert Brus King of Scots who warmly besieg'd it and the English vainly attempted its recovery till our Hector Edward the third bravely carry'd it in the year 1333. In the reign of Richard the second some Scottish Moss-troopers surpriz'd the Castle which within nine days was recover'd by Henry Percie Earl of Northumberland Within seven years after this the Scots regain'd it but by purchace not by their valour Whereupon the said Henry Percie being then Governour of the Town was accus'd of High-treason but he also corrupted the Scots with money and so got it again A long time after this when England was almost spent in civil wars Henry the sixth being already fled into Scotland deliver'd it up to the King of Scots the better to secure himself in that Kingdom Two and twenty years after Thomas Stanley with a great loss of men reduc'd it to the obedience of Edward the fourth Since which time the Kings of England have several times fortify'd it with new works but especially Queen Elizabeth who lately to the terrour of the enemy and security of the Burghers hath drawn it into a less compass than before and surrounded it with a high stone wall of firm Ashler work which is again strengthen'd with a deep ditch bastions and counterscarp so that its fortifications are so strong and regular that no besiegers can hope to carry it hereafter Not to mention the valour of the Garrison and the surprizing plenty of Ammunition and all warlike stores Be it also remember'd that the Governour of this place was alwaies a person of the greatest wisdom and eminence among the English Nobility and was also Warden of these eastern Marches The Mathematicians have plac'd this Town in 21 degrees and 43 minutes of longitude and in 55 and 48 of northern latitude So that the longest day in this climate consists of seventeen hours and 22 minutes and its night has only six hours and 38 minutes Brita has ãâã of Day So truly has Servius Honoratus written of this Country Britain says he has such plenty of day that she has hardly any room for night Nor is it a wonder that the Souldiers of this Garrison are able to play all night at dice without a candle if we consider their thorow twilight and the truth of Juvenal's expression Minimâ contentos nocte Britannos Britains with shortest nights content Take at parting J. Jonston's Verses upon Berwick Scotorum extremo sub limite Meta furoris Saxonidum gentis par utriusque labor Mille vices rerum quae mille est passa ruinas Mirum quî potuit tot superesse
of England and return homewards might be entertained which till K. Henry the second 's time remained in the hands of the King 's of Scotland In this Lothian the first place that presents it self upon the Sea Shore is Dunbar Dunbar a Castle in ancient times very strongly fortify'd the seat of the Earls of Merch before-mentioned thence commonly called Earls of Dunbar Earls of Dunbar often taken by the English and recovered by the Scots But in the Year 1567 it was demolisht by order of the States to prevent its being a retreat for Rebels But King James in the year 1515. conferr'd the Title and Honour of Earl of Dunbar upon Sir Geo. Hume for his approved Loyalty whom he had created before Baron Hume of Berwick Baron Home or Hume of Berwick to him his Heirs and Assigns m It is now a Viscounty in the person of Robert Constable Viscount Dunbar Hard by the little River Tine after a short course falleth into the Sea near the source whereof stands Zeister Zeister which hath its Baron of the Family of the Hays Earls of Arroll who is likewise hereditary Sheriff of the little Territory of Twedale or Peblis Upon the same rivulet some few miles higher in a large plain lies Hadington or Hadina fortify'd by the English with a deep and large ditch and a four square turf-wall without with four bullwarks at the Corners and as many more upon the Inner wall and as valiantly defended by Sir George Wilford an Englishman against Monsieur Dessie who fiercely attaqu'd it with 10000 French and Germans till the Plague growing hot and lessening the garison Henry Earl of Rutland came with a great Army and rais'd the siege and having levell'd the Works conducted the English home And now of late K. James 6. hath for his loyalty and valour elected into the Nobility of Scotland Sir John Ramsey whose RIGHT HAND was the DEFENDER OF THE PRINCE AND COUNTRY in that horrid Conspiracy of the Gowries under the title and honour of Viscount Hadington Viscouââ Hadinâton n It is now an Earldom in the famiây of the Hamiltons Of this Hadington J. Johnston hath these Verses Planities praetensa jacet prope flumina Tinae Fluminis arguti clauditur ista sinu Vulcani Martis quae passa incendia fati Ingemit alterno vulnere fracta vices Nunc tandem sapit icta Dei praecepta secuta Praesidio gaudet jam potiore Poli. Near Tine's fair stream a spatious plain is shown Tine's circling arms embrace the hapless town Where Mars and fiery Vulcan reign'd by turns With fatal rage whose dire effects she mourns By sad experience now at last grown wise She slights their fury and their power defies Contemns the dangers that before she fear'd And rests secure when mighty heaven 's her guard A little way from Hadington stands Athelstanford Athelââââford so named from Athelstan a Commander of the English slain there with his men about the year 815 but that this was Athelstan that Warlike King of the West-Saxons must be utterly deny'd if we have any respect to time or the manner of his Death Above the Mouth of this Tine upon the doubling of the shore stands Tantallon Castle from whence Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus was very troublesome to James 5. King of Scotland Here by the winding of the shores on both sides room is made for a very Noble Arm of the Sea well furnished with Isllands and by the influx of many rivers and the Sea-tides dilated to a mighty breadth Ptolemy calls it Boderia Tacitus Bodotria Bodoeâââ from its depth as I conjecture the Scots the Forth and Frith we Edenborough-Frith others Mare Fresicum and Mare Scoticum and the Eulogium Morwiridh Upon this after you are past Tantallon Tantalâââ are seated first North-Berwick antiently famous for a House of Religious Virgins and then Drylton Dryltoâ which formerly belong'd to the eminent family of the Haliburtons and now by the favour of K. James 6. gives the Title of Baron to Sir Tho. Ereskin Captain of his Guards as Felton Viscouââ Felton hard by gives the Honourable Title of Viscount to the same person who was the first that had the stile and dignity of a Viscount in Scotland Over against them in the sea near the shore lies the Bass The Bass an Island which rises up as it were in one continued craggy rock on every side inaccessible yet it has a Fort a fountain and pasture-grounds but is so hollow'd and undermined by the waves that it is almost wrought through What prodigious flights of sea-fowl especially of those Geese they call Scouts ââouts and Soland-Geese at certain times flock hither âââandââeâ ââch ââân to be âââ's Piâââae for by report their number is so great as in a clear day to darken the Sun what multitudes of Fishes they bring so as that 100 Soldiers in Garison here liv'd upon no other provision but the fresh fish brought hither by them as they give out what a quantity of sticks they convey for the building of their nests so that by their means the inhabitants are abundantly provided with firing what vast profit also their feathers and oyl amount to are things so incredible that no one scarcely would believe it but he that had seen it âââon ââââ-town Then as the shore draws back Seton appears which seems to take its name from its situation upon the Sea and to have given one to the Right Honourable House of the Setons descended of an English Family and a Daughter of King Robert Bruce of which the o The Marquisate of Huntley is now in the family of Gordon who are likewise Dukes of Gordon Marquiss of Huntley Robert Earl of Wintoun ãâã of Winââân Alexander Earl of Dunfermling all advanced to honours by King James 6. are Branches d After this the River Esk hath its influx into the Frith having run by Borthwic âââthwic which hath its Barons so sirnamed of Hungarian extraction by Nâwbottle ââwbottle that is the new building formerly a little Monastery now a Barony in the person of Sir Mark Ker by Dalkeith ââââââth lately a pleasant seat of the Earls of Morton and Musselborough âââââboâââgh below which upon Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset's entring Scotland with a * compleat Army ââââo to challenge the performance of Articles for the marrying Mary Queen of Scotland to Edward 6. King of England there happened a most dismal day to the youth of the noble Families in Scotland who there fell in the battle Here I must not pass by in silence this Inscription which J-Napier a learned person in his Commentaries on the Apocalyps informs us was here dug up and which the eminently ingenious Sir Peter Young Knight King James the 6th's Tutor hath thus more truly described APOLLINI GRANNO Q. LVSIVS SABINIA NVS PROC AVG. ââtem ââptum ââit luââ meriââ V. S. S. L
Falkirk but we need not here be particular in the Description of it designing a separate discourse upon that subject at the end of this Kingdom SELGOVAE BEneath the Gadeni to the South and West where now lie the small Territories of Liddesdale Eusdale Eskdale Annandale and Nidisdale q To which add Wachopdale so called from Rivulets running through them which all lose themselves in Solway-Frith were anciently seated the Selgovae the reliques of whose name seem to me whether to others too I knâw not to remain in the name Solway IN Liddesdale ââddâsâââe we have a high prospect of Armitage so called because anciently dedicated to a solitary life But now it is a very strong Castle which belonged to the Hepburnes who deduce their Original from a certain English Captive whom the Earl of March for delivering him out of a danger much enriched They were Earls of Bothwell âârls of ââthwell and for a long time Admirals of Scotland by inheritance But by a sister of James Earl of Bothwell last of the Hepburnes ââpburnes married to John Prior of Coldingham a natural son of K. James 5. who had several such issue both title and estate devolved to his son Hard by is Brakensey ââakensey the seat of the warlike Family of Baclugh âââd ââclugh sirnamed Scot with many other little Forts of men of Arms up and down the Country In Eusdale Eusdale I should be apt to think from the affinity of the name that the ancient Uzellum Uzellum mentioned by Ptolemy lay upon the River Euse In Eskdale Eskdale some are of opinion that the Horesti Horesti dwelt into whose borders Julius Agricola after he had subdued the Britains that inhabited this Tract led the Roman Army especially if we read Horesci for Horesti For the British Ar-Esc signifies a place by the River Eske As for Aesica in Eskdale I have spoken of it before in England and need not repeat it here a ANNANDALE JOined to this on the west-side lies Annandale Annandale that is the Valley or Dale upon the river Annan into which the access by land is very difcult The places of greatest note are a Castle upon Lough-Maban Lough-Maban which is three parts surrounded with water and strongly walled And Annandale Town almost upon the very mouth of the river Annan divested of all its glory by the English War in the reign of Edward 6. In this Territory the Jonstons The Jonstons are men of greatest name a family born for Wars between whom and the Maxwells who by ancient right preside over the Stewartry The Stewartry of Annandale for so 't is term'd there hath been too long an open enmity and defiance even to bloodshed This Valley Edgar King of the Scots upon his restoration to his Kingdom by the Auxiliaries he had out of England gave for his good services to Robert Brus The Bruses Lord of Cleaveland in the County of York who bestowed it by the King's permission upon Robert his younger son being unwilling himself to serve the King of Scots in his Wars From him are branched the Bruses Lords of Annandale of whom Robert Bruse married Isabella the daughter of William King of Scots by the daughter of Robert Avenel his son likewise Robert the third of that name married the daughter of David Earl of Huntingdon and Garioth whose son Robert sirnamed the Noble upon the failure of the issue of Alexander the third King of Scotland challenged in his mother's right the Kingdom of Scotland before Edward I. K. of England as the direct and superior Lord of the Kingdom of Scotland as the English give out or as an Honorary Arbitrator as the Scots will have it as being more nearly related in degree and bloud to King Alexander the third and to Margaret daughter to the King of Norway although a second sister's son Who soon after resigning up his own right granted and gave over to his son Robert Brus Earl of Carrick and to his heirs I speak out of the very Original all the right and claim which he had or might have to the Kingdom of Scotland But the point was determined in favour of John Baliol who sued for his right as descended from the eldest sister though in a more remote degree in these words Because the person more remote in the second degree descending in the first line is to be preferred before a nearer in the second line in the succession of an inheritance that cannot be parted Nevertheless the said Robert son to the Earl of Carriot by his valour possess'd himself of the Kingdom and establish'd it in his posterity A Prince who as he was illustrious for his glorious Actions so did he successfully triumph over Fortune so often his Adversary with a courage and presence of mind invincible b NIDISDALE CLose to Annandale on the West lies Nidisdale abounding in arable and pasture grounds so named from the River Nid The River Nid by Ptolemy falsely written Nobius for Nodius or Nidius of which name there are other Rivers in Britain full of muddy shallows as this Nid is It springs out of the Lake Lough-Cure upon which stood anciently Corda Corda a Town of the Selgovae It takes its course first by Sanqhar a Castle of the Creightons The Creightons Barons of Sanqhar who were long honoured with the Title of Barons of Sanqhar and the authority of hereditary Sheriffs of Nidisdale next by Morton Earls of Morton which gave the Title of Earl to some of the family of Douglass of which others are seated at Drumlanrig upon the same River near the mouth whereof stands Dunfreys Dunfreys between two Hills the most flourishing Town of this Tract which still shews its ancient Castle a Town famous for its woollen Manufacture and remarkable for the murder of John Commin a man of the greatest Interest amongst the Scots whom Robert Brus lest he should oppose his coming to the Crown ran through in the Church and easily got a pardon of the Pope for a murder committed in a sacred place Nearer to its mouth Solway a Village still retains somewhat of the old name of Selgovae Upon the very mouth is situated Caer-Laverock Caer-Laverock Ptolemie's Carbantorigum a Fort looked upon as impregnable when K. Edw. I. accompanied with the flower of the English Nobility besieged and took it But now 't is a weak Mansion-House of the Barons Maxwell who being of ancient Nobility were long Wardens of these Western Marches and lately advanced by a marriage with a Daughter and Coheir of the Earl of Morton whereby John Lord Maxwell was decâared Earl of Morton as also by the Daughter and Heir of Hereis Lord Toricles whom J. a second son took to wife and had by her the title of Baron Hereis Barons Hereis In this valley also upon the lake lies Glencarn Glencaââ of which the Cunninghams about whom I shall speak
Trepidus rapid but most famous for as glorious a victory as ever the Scots obtained when Edward 2. King of England was put to flight and forc'd to save himself in a Boat and for the routing of as fine an Army as ever England sent out before that by the valiant conduct of King Robert Brus. Insomuch that for a year or two the English did not in the least disturb the Scots Ptolemy seems somewhere about Sterling to place his Alauna Alauna which was either upon Alon a little River that hath its influx here into the Forth or at Alway a seat of the Ereskins hereditary Sheriffs of all the County without the Borough f 'T is now an Earldom in the Family of the Alexanders But I have not yet read of any one honoured with the title of Earl of Sterling d Additions to the DAMNII a CLYDSDALE Cydsdale called also the Sheriffdom of Lanrick from the town of Lanrick where the Sheriff keeps his courts is bounded on the South-East with the Stewartry of Annandale on the South with the Sheriffdom of Dumfrise on the South-west with that of Aire on the North-west with that of Ranfrew on the North with that of Dumbarton on the North-east with that of Sterling on the East with that of Linlithgow a little to the South-east with that of Mid-Lothian 'T is in length about 40 miles in breadth where broadest some 24. and where narrowest 16 miles The countrey abounds with Coal Peets and Lime-stone but what turns to the greatest account are the Lead-mines belonging to Hopton not far from which after rains the country people find pieces of gold some of which are of a considerable bigness I suppose 't is the same place our Author has mentioned upon this account It is divided into two Wards the Overward and Netherward this hilly and full of heaths and fit for pasturage the other plain and proper for grain It is watered with the pleasant River of Clide which gives name to the shire it rises at Errick-hill and running through the whole County glideth by many pleasant seats of the nobility and gentry and several considerable towns till it fall into its own Firth at Dumbarton The great ornament of these parts is the Palace of Hamilton Hamilton the residence of the Dutchess of Hamilton * Theatrum Scotiae the Court whereof is on all sides adorned with very noble buildings It has a magnificent Avenue and a Frontispiece towards the East of excellent workmanship On one hand of the Avenue is a hedge on the other fair large gardens well furnished with fruit-trees and flowers The Park famous for its tall oaks is six or seven miles round and has the Brook Aven running through it Near the Palace is the Church the Vault whereof is the buryal-place of the Dukes of Hamilton Upon the East bank of Clyde stands Glasgow Glasgow â Ibid. in respect of largeness buildings trade and wealth the chief City in the Kingdom next Edinburgh The river carries vessels of small burthen up to the very tower but New-Glasgow which stands on the mouth of Clyde is a haven for vessels of the largest size Most part of the City stands on a plain and is almost four-square In the very middle of it where is the Tolbooth a very stately building of hewn-stone four principal streets crossing each other divide the city as it were into four equal parts In the higher part of it stands the Cathedral Church commonly called St. Mungo's consisting indeed of two Churches one whereof is over the other The Architecture of the pillars and towers is said to be very exact and curious Near the Church is the Archbishop's Castle fenc'd with a wall of hewn stone but it s greatest ornament is the College separated from the rest of the town by an exceeding high wall the precincts whereof are enlarged with some Acres of ground lately purchased and the buildings repaired and adorned by the care and prudent administration of the Principal the Learned Doctor Fall Roman-Highway Nor does this tract want some remains of Roman Antiquity For from Errickstone in the one end to Mauls Mire in the other where it borders upon Reinfraw there are evident footsteps of a Roman Causey or military way called to this day the Watlin-street This in some parts is visible for whole miles together and the people have a tradition that another Roman Street went from Lanrick to the Roman Camp near Falkirk At Lismehago a town in this shire was a Priory and Convent of the Monks of the order Vallis Caulium a sort of Cistercians founded by Fergus Lord of Galloway a Cell of Kelso b RANFREW Ranfâew or Reinfraw is the next branch of the Damnii and is separated from the shire of Dumbarton on the West by the River Clyde which carries up ships of great burden for 10 miles On the East 't is joyned to the shire of Lanrick and on the West and South to the Sheriffdom of Aire It is in length twenty miles and in breadth eight but where broadest thirteen That part which lyeth near Clyde is pleasant and fertil without mountains only has some small risings but that to the South South-west and West is more barren hilly and moorish Our Author has observ'd this tract to be full of Nobility and Gentry who almost keep up a constant relation by marriage one with another The convenience of the Frith of Clyde the Coast whereof is all along very safe to ride in has caused good improvements in these parts At the West end of a fair Bay stand Gumrock Gumrock town and castle where there is a good road and a harbour lately contrived and a village is now in building More inward stands Greenock Greenock a good road and well built town of best account on all this Coast 'T is the chief seat of the herring-fishing and the Royal Company of Fishers have built a house at it for the convenience of trade Near this is Crawfird-Dyke Crawfird-Dyke where good houses are in building and a little more to the South New-work New-work where the town of Glasgow hath built a new port and called it Port-Glasgow with a large publick house Here is the Custom-house for all this Coast and the town of Glasgow hath obliged the Merchants to load and unload here But Pasly Pasly for antient Grandeur is the most considerable The Abbey and Church with fair gardens and orchards and a little Park for Fallow-deer are all enclosed with a stone-wall about a mile in circuit The Monastery here was of the Order of the Cluniacenses founded by Walter the second great Steward of King Malcolm the fourth The Chancel of the Church standeth yet where lye buried Robert 2. and his mother At this town there is a large Roman Camp the Praetorium is at the West end on a rising ground upon the descent whereof the town of Pasly stands This Praetorium
in his writings Records of above 1000 years standing concerning these remote parts of the world the Hebrides and the Orcades when in Italy the nurse of excellent wits for so many ages after the expulsion of the Goths there was such a scarcity of writers See the ââditions But upon this place Johnston born not far from hence hath these verses TAODUNUM Or DEIDONUM Quà Notus argutis adspirat molliter auris Hâc placidè coëunt Taus Oceanus Hic facili excipiens venientes littore puppes Indigenis vasti distrahit orbis opes Saepe dolis tentata belli exercita damnis Invictis animis integra praestat adhuc Fama vetus crevit cum Relligione renatâ Lucis hinc fulsit pura nitela aliis Alectum dixere priùs si maxima spectes Commoda fo rs Donum dixeris esse Dei. Tu decus aeternum gentisque urbisque Boëti Caetera dic patriae dona beata tuae Where the calm South with gentle murmurs reigns Tay with the sea his peaceful current joyns To trading ships an easie port is shown That makes the riches of the world it s own Oft have her hapless sons been forc'd to bear The dismal thunder of repeated war Yet unsubdu'd their noble souls appear Restor'd Religion hath advanc'd her height And spread through distant parts the sacred light Alectum once 't was nam'd but when you 've view'd The joys and comforts by kind heav'n bestow'd You 'll call it Donum Dei Gift of God Boetius honour of the realm and town Speak thou the rest and make thy mother's honours known Hence we have a sight of Brochty-crag Brochty-Crag a Fort defended by a Garison of English many months together when out of an earnest desire of a perpetual peace they sued for a Marriage between Mary of Scotland and Edward 6. of England and upon promise thereof demanded the performance by force of arms but the Garison at length abandoned it Then to the open sea lies Aberbroth in short Arbroth Arbroth a place endowed with ample Revenues formerly consecrated to Religion by King William in honour of St. Thomas of Canterbury Near this the Red-head Red-head shooteth out into the sea a Promontory to be seen afar off Hard by South-Eske enters the Ocean which flowing out of a lake passes by Finnevim-Castle much fam'd for being the seat of the Lindsays The Lindsays Earls of Crawford of whom I have spoken already Then Brechin Brechin standing upon the same River which King David the first adorned with a Bishop's See * See the Additions and at its very mouth Mont-rose Montrose that is The Mount of Roses a town antiently called Celurca built out of the Ruines of another of the same name and situated between the two Eskes which gives the title of Earl to the Family of Graham Upon which thus Johnston CELURCA or MONS ROSARUM Aureolis urbs picta rosis mons molliter urbi Imminet hinc urbi nomina facta canunt At veteres perhibent quondam dixisse Celurcam Nomine sic prisco nobilitata novo est Et prisca atque nova insignis virtute virûmque Ingeniis Patriae qui peperere decus A leaning mount which golden roses grace At once adorns and names the happy place But ancient times Celurca call'd the town Thus is it proud of old and late renown And old and late brave sons whose wit and hand Have brought new trophies to their native land Not far from hence is Boschain Boschain belonging to the Barons of Ogilvy Baroâs Ogilvy of very ancient nobility descended from that Alexander Sheriff of Angus who was slain in the bloody battle at Harley against the Mac-donalds of the Isles As for the Earls of Angus Earls of Angus Gilchrist of Angus a person illustrious for his brave exploits under Malcolm the 4th was the first Earl of Angus that I read of About the year 1242 John Comin was Earl of Angus who died in France and his Dowager perhaps heiress of the Earldom was married to Gilbert Umfravile an Englishman For both he and his heirs successively were summoned to the Parliament of England till the 3d year of K. Richard 2d under the title of Earls of Angus But the English Lawyers refused in their Instruments to own him for an Earl because Angus was not within the Kingdom of England till he produced in open Court the King 's Writ whereby he was summoned to Parliament under the name of Earl of Angus In the reign of David Brus Sc tââ chron con Tho. Steward was Earl of Angus who took Berwick by surprize but presently lost it again and a little after died miserably in prison at Dunbritton The Douglasses men of haughty minds and invincible hearts ever since the reign of Robert the 3d have been Earls of Angus after that Geo. Douglass had married the Kings Daughter and are reputed the chief and principal Earls of Scotland whose Office it is to carry the Regal Crown before the Kings at all the solemn Assemblies of the Kingdom The sixth Earl of Angus of this race was Archibald who married Margaret daughter to Henry the 7th and mother to James the 5th King of Scotland by whom he had issue Margaret Wife to Matthew Stewart Earl of Lennox she after her brother's death without issue willingly resigned up her right to this Earldom with the consent of her husband and sons to David Douglass of Peteindreich her Uncle's son by the father's side to the end that by this obligation she might engage that family more closely to her which was already the nearest allied in bloud At the same time her son Henry was about to marry Queen Mary By which marriage King James Monarch of Great Britain was happily born for the general good of these nations h s Now it is a Marquisate in the same family MERNIS THese parts were in Ptolemy's time inhabited by the Vernicones the same perhaps with Marcellinus's Vecturiones But this name of theirs is now quite lost unless we can imagine some little piece of it remains in Mernis For oftentimes in common discourse in the British tongue V is changed into M. THis little Province Mernis butting upon the German Ocean is of a rich soil and generally a level and champagne countrey The most memorable place in it is Dunotyr Dunotyr a castle advanced upon an high and inaccessible rock looking down on the sea beneath fortified with strong walls and towers at certain distances which hath long been the seat of the Keiths Kâith a very ancient and noble family and they in recompence of their valour have long been hereditary Earls Marshals Earls Marshals of the Kingdom of Scotland and Sheriffs of this Province Sheriffdom of Kincarain or Mernis In a Porch here is to be seen that ancient Inscription abovementioned of a * Vex. âticâis Company belonging to the XXth Legion the letters whereof the most
the honour of the Earl of Huntley from K. James the second in the year 1449. l MVRRAY BEyond the mountain Grampius which by a continual range of close join'd hills as it were extends its ridge with many risings and sinkings to this very country the Vacomagi in ancient times had their habitation upon the Bay of Vararis Vacomagi Sinus Vararis where now Murray Murray Frith lies in Latin Moravia noted for its fertility pleasantness and profitable product of fruit-trees The Spey a noble river opens a passage through this countrey into the sea wherein it lodges it self after it hath watered Rothes Castle whence the Family of Lesley derive their title of Earl ever since K. James the 2d advanced Geo. Lesley to the honour of Earl of Rothes Of this Spey thus our Poet Necham Spey loca mutantis praeceps agitator arenae Inconstans certas nescit habere vias Officium lintris corbis subit hunc regit audax Cursus labentis nauta fluenta sequens Great Spey drives forward with impetuous force Huge banks of sand and knows no certain course Here for a boat an Osier-pannier row'd By some bold peasant glides along the flood The river Loxa mentioned by Ptolemy now call'd Losse hides it self hard by in the sea Near this we have a sight of Elgin in which as also in Forres adjoining J. Dunbar of Cumnock descended from the House of the Earls of March does justice as hereditary Sheriff But when it is now ready to enter the sea it finds a more plain and soft soil and spreads it self into a lake well stored with Swans wherein the Herb Olorina grows plentifully Here upon it stands Spiny Barons Spiny Castle of which Alexander of the House of Lindsay is now the first Baron As also Kinloss Baâon Kinloss a near neighbour formerly a famous Monastery call'd by some Kill-flos from certain flowers there miraculously springing up on a sudden where the corps of King Duff murdered and here hidden was first found * In the year 972. hath for its Lord Edward Brus Master of the Rolls in England and one of His Majestie 's Privy Council created by K. James the 6th Baron Brus of Kinloss a Now Earls of Elgin Thus much for the shore More inward where Bean Castle now stands look'd upon to be that Banatia Banatia mentioned by Ptolemy there was found in the year 1460 a Marble Vessel very finely engraved and full of Roman coins Hard by is Nardin or Narne Narne Sheriffdom an Hereditary Sheriffdom of the Cambells of Lorn where in a Peninsula there stood a fort of a mighty height built with wonderful works and formely held by the Danes A little off is Logh-Nesse a very large lake three and twenty miles long the water whereof is so warm that even in this cold and frozen climate it never freezes from this by a very small Isthmus of hills the Logh Lutea or Lothea which by Aber lets it self into the western Ocean is divided Upon these lakes there stood anciently two noted fortifications called from the loghs one Innerness the other Innerlothy Innerness hath the Marquess of Huntley for its hereditary Sheriff who hath a large Jurisdiction hereabout * See thâ Additions But take here what J. Johnston writes upon these two places INNERNESS and INNERLOCHY Imperii veteris duo propugnacula quondam Primaque regali moenia structa manu Turribus oppositis adverso in limine spectant Haec Zephyrum Solis illa orientis equos Amnibus hinc atque hinc cincta utique piscibus amnes Foecundi haec portu perpete tuta patet Haec fuit at jacet heu jam nunc sine nomine tellus Hospita quae Regum est hospita facta feris Altera spirat adhuc tenuis sufflamina vitae Quae dabit fati turbine victa manus Dic ubi nunc Carthago potens ubi Martia Roma Trojaque immensae ditis opes Asiae Quid mireris enim mortalia cedere fatis Corpora cum videas oppida posse mori Two stately forts the realm's old guardians stood The first great walls of royal builders prov'd Their lofty turrets on the shores were shown One to the rising one the setting sun All round well stock'd with fish fair rivers lay And one presents a safe and easie bay Such once it was but now a nameless place Where Princes lodg'd the meanest cattel graze T'other survives and faintly breaths as yet But must e're long submit to conqu'ring fate Where 's haughty Carthage now with all her power Where 's Rome and Troy that rul'd as great before Where the vast riches of the Asian shore No wonder then that we frail men should die When towns themselves confess mortality In the reign of K. Robert Brus Thomas Randolph his sister's son a person that took infinite pains for his country and met with much opposition was very famous under the title of Earl of Murray Eârlâ of âââray In the reign of K. Rob. 2. John de Dunbar had the King's daughter and with her the Earldom of Murray as an amends for her lost virginity Under K. James the 2d William Creichton Lord Chancellor of the Kingdom and Archibald Douglass had a violent contest for this Earldom when against the laws and ancient customs of the Realm Douglass who had married the younger daughter of James de Dunbar Earl of Murray was preferr'd before Creichton who had married the elder by the power and great interest that William Earl Douglass had with the King which was so very great that he did not only advance this brother to the Earldom of Murray but another brother likewise to the Earldom of Ormond and two of his Cousins to the Earldoms of Angus and Morton But this his greatness a thing never to be trusted to when so exorbitant was his ruin soon after Under King James the 5th his own brother whom he had constituted Vicegerent of the Kingdom enjoyed this honour And within our memory James a natural son of K. James the 5th had this honour conferr'd upon him by his sister Qu. Mary who ill requited her when having gotten some few of the Nobility on his side he deposed her a most wicked precedent for crowned Heads But the punishment of heaven soon fell upon him being quickly after shot through with a musquet bullet His only daughter brought this title to her husband James Steward of Down descended of the Blood Royal to wit of the Dukes of Albany who being slain by some that envied him left behind him his son James his successor in this honour m LOQHVABRE ALl that tract of land beyond the Nesse which bends down to the western coast and joins to the lake Aber is thence called Loghuabre that is in the ancient British Tongue The Mouth of the Lakes That which lies towards the northern coast Rosse Loghuabre abounds much in pastures and woods and hath some veins of iron but very little produce of corn It
from the Church as a Feudatory and Vicegerent and obliged his Successors to pay three hundred Marks to the Bishop of that See Yet the most eminent 1 Sir Thomas Hol. Thomas Moor who sacrificed his life to the Pope's Prerogative denies this to be true For he says the Romanists can shew no grant and that they have never demanded the said money nor the Kings of England acknowledged it However with submission to this great man the thing is really otherwise as most clearly appears from the Parliament-Rolls which are evidence incontestable For in a Parliament in Edward the third's Reign the Chancellor of England informs the House That the Pope intended to cite the King of England to a tryal at Rome as well for homage as for the tribute due and payable from England and Ireland and to which King John had bound both himself and his Successors and desired their opinion in it The Bishops required a day to consider of this matter apart as likewise did the Lords and Commons The next day they met again and unanimously voted and declared that forasmuch as neither King John nor any other King whatsoever could put the Kingdom under such a servitude but by the consent and agreement of a Parliament which was never had and farther that since whatsoever he had done in that kind was directly contrary to the Oath which he solemnly took before God at his Coronation if the Pope would insist upon it they were resolved to oppose him with their lives and fortunes to the very utmost of their power Such also as were learned in the law made the Charter of King John to be void and insignificant by that clause of reservation in the end saving to us and our heirs all our rights liberties and regalities But this is out of my road From King John's time the Kings of England were stiled Lords of Ireland till within the memory of our fathers Henry the eighth was declared King of Ireland by the States of that Realm assembled in Parliament the title of Lord seeming not so sacred and venerable to some seditious persons as that of King In the year 1555 when Queen Mary offered the subjection of the Kingdom of England by the hands of her Ambassadors to Pope Paul the fourth this name and title of Kingdom of Ireland was confirmed by the Pope in these word To the praise and glory of Almighty God and his most glorious mother the Virgin Mary to the honour of the whole Court of Heaven and the exaltation of the Catholick Faith We at the humble request of King Philip and Queen Mary made unto us by the advice of our brethren and by virtue of our full Apostolical authority do erect the Kingdom of Ireland and do for ever dignifie and exalt it with the title honours powers rights ensigns prerogatives preferments Royal praeeminencies and such like privileges as other Christian Realms have use and enjoy or may have use and enjoy hereafter Having accidentally found a Catalogue of those English Noble men who went in the first invasion of Ireland and with great valor subdued it to the Crown of England lest I should seem to envy them and their posterity the glory of this atchievment I will here give you them from the Chancery of Ireland for so 't is entitled The Names of such as came with Dermic Mac Morrog into Ireland Richard Strongbow Earl of Pembroke who by Eve the daughter of Morrog the Irish petty King aforesaid had an only daughter who brought to William Mareschall the title of Earl of Pembroke with a fair estate in Ireland and had issue five sons who in order succeeded one another all childless and as many daughters who enriched their husbands Hugh Bigod Earl of Norfolk Guarin Montchensey Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester William Ferrars Earl of Derby and William Breose with children honours and possessions Robert Fitz-Stephens Harvey de Mont Marish Maurice Prendergest Robert Barr. Meiler Meilerine Maurice Fitz-Girald Redmund nephew to Stephen William Ferrand Miles de Cogan Richard de Cogan Gualter de Ridensford Gualter sons of Maurice Girald Alexander sons of Maurice Girald William Notte Robert Fitz-Bernard Hugh de Lacy. William Fitz-Aldelm William Macarell Hunfrey Bohun Hugh de Gundevill Philip de Hasting Hugh Tirell David Walsh Robert Poer Osbert de Harloter William de Bendenge Adam de Gernez Philip de Breos Griffin Nephew of Stephen Ralph Fitz-Stephen Walter de Barry Philip Walsh Adam de Hereford To whom out of Giraldus Cambrensis may be added John de Curcy Hugh Contilon Redmond Cantimore Edmond Fitz-Hugh Miles of St. Davids and others The Government of the Kingdom of IRELAND SInce Ireland has been subject to the Crown of England the Kings of this Realm have ever sent their Vice-Roys to manage the publick affairs there who at first in their Letters Patents or Commissions Loâd Depââies of ââââand were stilled Keepers of Ireland after that Justices of Ireland or at pleasure Lieutenants and Deputies Their jurisdiction and authority is really large and Royal they make war and peace have power to fill all Magistracies and other Offices except some very few to pardon all crimes but those of high treason and to confer Knighthood c. These Letters Patents when any one enters upon this honourable office are publickly read and after the new Deputy has took a solemn oath of a certain set form for that purpose before the Chancellor the sword which is to be carried before him is delivered into his hands and he is seated in a Chair of state attended by the Chancellor of the Realm the Members of the Privy-Council the Peers and Nobles of the Kingdom the King at Arms a Serjeant at Arms and other Officers of State So that whether we consider his jurisdiction and authority or his train attendance and splendor there is certainly no Vice-roy in Christendom that comes nearer the grandeur and majesty of a King His Council are the Chancellor of the Realm the Treasurer and such others of the Earls Barons and Judges as are of the Privy-Council Orders or degrees iâ Ireland For Ireland has the same orders and degrees of honour that England has Earls Barons Knights Esquires c. The Courts or Tribunals of IRELAND THE supream Court in Ireland is the Parliament which Parliament at the pleasure of the King of England is either called or dissolved by his Deputy âas an ãâã 12. and yet in Edward the second 's time it was enacted That Parliaments should be held in Ireland every year 2 Which seemeth yet not to have been effected Here are likewise observed foure Law-terms in the year as in England and five Courts of Justice held ãâã the a The Court was called The Court of Castle-chamber because it was usually kept in the Castle of Dublin but has never been held since the Court of Star-Chamber was supprest in England Star-Chamber the Chancery King's-Bench Common Pleas and the Exchequer Here are
p United to Dublin Glendelac q United to Leighlin Fern. Ossory otherwise r And Kilkenny de Canic Å¿ Leighlin Lechlin Kildare otherwise Dare. Under the Archbishop of Cassil are the Bishops of t Killaloe Laonie or de Kendalnan Limrick Isle of Gathy u Kilfenora united either to Kâillaloo or Tuam Cellumabrath x Emly annext to Cashell Melice or de Emileth Rosse otherwise Roscree Waterford otherwise Baltifordian y Lismore united to Waterford Lismore z Cloyne Clon otherwise de Cluanan Corcage or Cork a Rosse united to Cork De Rosalither b Ardfort united to Lamerick Ardefert Under the Archbishop of Tuam are the Bishops of Duac otherwise c Kilmacough united to Clonfert Killmacduoc De Mageo Enachdun De Cellaiaro De Roscomon Clonfert d United to Killalla Achad 5 Or Achâiry Hol. Lade otherwise e Killalla Killaleth De Conani De Killmanduach Elphin ¶ Besides these alterations already mentioned the Bishopricks of Rathluc Dalnliquir Isle of Gathay Roscree Mage Enachdun de Câlaiar Râscomon and Cânany are united to some of the rest so that there are no such in being at this day MOMONIA or MOUNSTER MOmonia in Irish Mown and in compound wown in English Mounster lies southward open to the Vergivian-sea separated from Connaught for some while by the river Siney or Shanon and from Lemster by the river Neor Formerly it was divided into many parts as Towoun i.e. North Mounster Deswoun i.e. South Mounster Heir woun West Mounster Mean-woun Middle Mounster and Urwoun the fore part of Mounster but at this day into two parts West Mounster and South Mounster The West Mounster was in old time the country of the Luceni the Velabri and the Uterini the South was that of the Oudiae or Vediae and the Coriondi but at present it is distinguished into a Into ââx at present Cork Kerry Limerick Clare Typerary and Waterford seven Counties Kerry Desmond Cork Limerick Tiperary Holy-Cross and Waterford In the most westward part of Ireland and where it tents towards the Cantabrian Ocean confronting at a great distance south-westward Gallitia in Spain the Velabri and the Luceni formerly inhabited as Orosius writes The Luceni of Ireland who seem to derive their name and origînal from the Lucensii of Gallitia in the opposite coast of Spain Lucâni of whose name some remains are to this day in the Barony of Lyxnaw were seated as I suppose in the County of Kerry and in b Conilogh Conoglogh hard by upon the River Shanon The County of KERRY THE County of Kerry near the mouth of the Shannon shoots forth like a little tongue into the sea roaring on both sides of it This County stands high and has many wild and woody hills in it between which lye many vallies whereof some produce corn others wood This c It was soâ but is not at prâsent is reckoned a County Palatine and the Earls of Desmond had herein the dignity and prerogatives of a Count Palatine by the gift of King Edward the third who granted them all royalties excepting the trying of four pleas Fire Rape Forestall and Treasure-trouve with the profits arising de Croccis which were reserved to the King of England But this liberty through the weakness of such as either would not or knew not how to use it became the very sink of all mischief and the refuge of seditious persons In the very entrance into this Country there is a territory called Clan-moris Câan-Moâââ from one Moris of the family of Raimund la Grosse whose heirs were successively called Barons of Lixnaw Cross through the middle of it runs a little river now nameless though perhaps by its situation ââ riv that which Ptolemy calls the Dur and passes by Trailey a small town now almost desolate where has been a house of the Earls of Desmund Hard by lyes Ardurt ââhâprick ãâã the See of a poor Bishop called of Ardefertb. Almost in the end of this promontory there lies on one side Dingle âââgâe a commodious haven and on the other Smerwick ââerwick contracted from St. Mary-wic a road for ships d Now united to Limerick where lately as Girald Earl of Desmund a man basely treacherous to his Prince and Country wasted and spoiled Mounster arrived some * Tumulââââi confused troops of Italians and Spaniards sent to his assistance by Pope Gregory the thirteenth and the King of Spain who fortified themselves here calling it Fort del Ore and threatning the Country with great ruin But this danger was ended by the coming and first onset of the Viceroy the most famous and warlike Baron Art Lord Grey Lord Arthur Grey For they forthwith surrendered and were put to the sword most of them which was thought in policy the wisest and safest course considering the then present posture of affairs and that the rebels were ready to break out in all quarters In conclusion the Earl of Desmund was himself forced to fly into the woods thereabouts for shelter and soon after set upon in a poor cottage by one or two soldiers who wounded him so being discovered he was beheaded for his disloyalty and the mischief he had done this Country Perhaps some will impute it to want of gravity and prudence in me A ridiculous persuasion of the wild Irish if I give an account of an old opinion of the wild Irish and still current among them That he who in the great clamor and outcry which the soldiers usually make with much straining before an onset does not huzza as the rest do is suddenly snatch'd from the ground and carried flying into these desart vallies from any part of Ireland whatsoever that there he eats grass laps water has no sense of happiness nor misery has some remains of his reason but none of his speech and that at long run he shall be caught by the hunters and brought back to his own home DESMONIA or DESMOND BEneath the Country of the old Luceni lyes Desmond stretching out a long way with a considerable breadth towards the South in Irish Deswown in English Desmond formerly peopled by the Velabri Vââââri and the Iberni who in some Copies are called Uterini The Velabri may seem to derive their name from Aber i.e. aestuaries for they dwelt among such friths upon parcels of ground divided from one another by great incursions of the Sea from which the Artabri and Cantabri in Spain also took their names Among the arms of the sea here there are three several Promontories besides Kerry above mentioned shoot out with their crooked and winding shores to the South-west which the Inhabitants formerly called Hierwoun i.e. West-mounster The first of them which lyes between Dingle-bay and the river Mair is called Clan-car and has a castle built at Dunkeran by the Carews of England a It is nâw divided into the Baronies of
the * Dynastas petty Kings here that they willingly suffered their Seigniories to be reduced into Counties and admitted Sheriffs to govern them But being quickly recalled and aspiring after greater honours some envious persons that were too mighty for him together with the licentiousness of his own tongue for he had bolted out some words against his Sovereign who is not to be violated by word or thought brought him unawares to ruine The County of LOVTH THE County of Louth in old books call'd Luna and Luda Triel in Latin Urgalia in Irish Iriel or Uriel if that is not rather a part of this county lies beyond the County of Meath and the mouth of the river Boine toward the Irish Sea upon a winding and uneven shore running northwards full of forrage and so fertile that it easily gratifies the Industrious husbandman Near the mouth of the Boine stands Drogheda or Droghda in English Tredah Tredah a neat and populous town denominated from the a From whence Sir James Ware always calls it Pontana bridge and divided in the middle by the Boine King Edward the second endowed it with the privilege of a Market and Fair at the instance of Theobald Verdon and several great Liberties have been granted it by the Kings of England particularly the privilege of a Mint Near this stands Mellefont-Abbey founded by Donald King of Uriel Mellifont Monastery and commended by S. Bernard lately given by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Edward Moor Knight b Whose heir is now Earl of Drogheda a Kentish man born very deserving for his wise conduct both at home and abroad the Monks having been turned out some time before Seven miles from hence stands c Ardâe Ardeth a mid-land town pretty emiment and higher in the Country Dundalk Dundalk which has the benefit of a good haven and was formerly fortified with strong walls It was burnt by Edward Brus brother to the King of Scots who had proclaimed himself King of Ireland and was soon after cut off with 8200 of his men hard by Within the memory of our age it was besieged by Shan O Neal who was soon forced to raise the siege with dishonour Eight miles from hence stands Carlingford Carlingâââd a pretty famous harbor And these are all the places that I know of memorable in this County Bermingâam who ãâã also caâled Briââtham âarl of ââgh This Louth has given the title of Earl to 38 Sir John John Bermingham an English man conferr'd upon him by King Edward the second as a reward to his great valour after he had defeated and slain Edward Brus that momentary King of Ireland aforesaid who had ravag'd the country with great cruelty and slaughter for some time giving him the said Earldom to have and to hold to him and the heirs males of his body as also the Barony of Athenry But as the honour had its first life and being in this Gentleman so it expir'd with him for after he had come off safe from the Conquest of his enemies he was overcome and slain here in a popular insurrection with many others of the same name leaving no issue behind him This County likewise within the memory of our fathers Barons of Louth has given the title of Baron to Oliver Plonket conferr'd upon him by King Henry the eighth Families now remaining in this County are the Verdons Tates Clintons Bellews or de Bella Aqua Dowdalls Gernons Hadsors Wottons Brandons Mores Warrens Chamberlains and many others of English original of Irish are the Mac-Mahons c. The County of CAVON NExt to this on the west lyes the County of Cavon ãâã Breaââ Reiley formerly called East Breany Here lives the Family of the O Reileys who derive themselves from the Ridleys of England though their manners and course of life is mere Irish Not long ago this family was eminent for their Cavalry which are now weakened by the wise conduct of 39 Sir Henry Henry Sidney who divided this territory of theirs into seven Baronies The Lords of it all of this family hold immediately by Knights-service of the Crown of England Their way of living is not usualy in towns but in castles they have a Bishoprick among them Bishopric of Kilmore Poor Bishâps but very mean and inconsiderable the See whereof is at Kilmore However this Bishop is not so poor neither as those Irish Bishops who had no other revenues or subsistance than three Milk-cows with this favourable custom that if they went dry the Parish was to give others in exchange for them as Adam Bremensis relates from the information of some of them returning out of Italy by Germany The County of FERMANAGH ON the west and north beyond Cavon lyes Fermanagh formerly inhabited by the Erdini a Country well wooded and full of bogs In the very middle of it lyes the greatest and most famous Lake in this Kingdom call'd Lough Erne ãâã Erne extended at least forty miles shaded with thick woods and full of inhabited Islands some of which contain no less than two or three hundred acres a piece And withal so well stor'd with Pike Trout Salmon and other fish that the Fishermen oftner complain of too great plenty and the breaking of their nets than of any want This lake does not stretch from east to west as the Maps describe it as I am inform'd by those who have took a full survey of it it begins at Bal-tarbet âââarbet which is the utmost village in the County of Cavon northward and reaches from south to north fourteen miles in length and four in breadth Before it has gone very far it contracts it self as narrow as the chanel of an ordinary river and so continues for six miles together Upon the lough in this narrow place stands a This is the famous Town of Iniskilling so often mentioned in the accounts of the late wars and of the rebellion in 1641. Iniskilling the best Fort of these parts defended in the year 1593 by the rebels and taken by Dowdall a gallant Captain From hence as it turns westward it is at its full bigness being as far as Belek Belek for twenty miles together at least ten miles broad and within a little of that it has a great fall or Cataract which they call the Salmons leap Here is a current report among the people living hereabouts that this Lough was formerly firm ground well cultivated and full of inhabitants and that it was suddenly overwhelmed and turned into a lake to extinguish the abominable crime of buggery then among them God Almighty says Giraldus the author of Nature condemned this land as guilty of those filthy and unnatural acts which rendered it not only unfit for the first Inhabitants but any other that might come after The Irish Annals lay this to the charge of certain Scotch-Refugees that were driven from the Hebrides and took up here The most noble and powerful
any expence or writing by certain judges whom they choose among themselves and call Deemsters Deemsters For the Magistrate taketh up a stone and after he has mark'd it gives it to the plaintiff by virtue whereof he summons in his witnesses and the defendant If the case is difficult and of great consequence it is referred to the hearing of twelve men whom they call the Keys of the Island Keys of the Island Annos They have also certain Coroners these they call Annos who are instead of Sheriffs and execute their office As for the Ecclesiastical Judge he hears and determines all causes within eight days from the citation and the party must either stand to his sentence or go to gaol As their language is peculiar so likewise are their laws and money as I have heard which are both signs of a distinct soveraignty The Ecclesiastical laws in force here next after the Canon law come nearest to the civil Neither the Judge nor the Clerks of the Court have any fees either for the process or instruments As for those mischievous effects of witchcraft of which English writers tell us there 's nothing in it The richer sort and those that have estates imitate the gentry of Lancashire in splendid living and integrity The women never stir abroad but with their winding sheets about them to put them in mind of mortality If a woman be tried and receives sentence of death she is sow'd up in a sack and thrown from a rock into the sea Stealing and begging from door to door is universally detested The people are wonderful religious and all of them zealously conformable to the Church of England They are likewise great enemies to the disorders as well Civil as Ecclesiastical of their neighbour Countreys And whereas the whole Isle is divided into two parts south and north the Inhabitants of this speak like the Scots and those of the other like the Irish If I should here subjoin a short history of the affairs of this Island it would be worth my while and truth it self seems to challenge it that hereby I may preserve the memory of such actions as are if not already buried in oblivion yet next door to it That this Island as well as Britain was possessed by the Britains is granted on all sides But when the northern nations broke in like a violent tempest upon these southern parts it became subject to the Scots In the time of Honorius and Arcadius Orosius says that it was as much inhabited by the Scots as Ireland was * By others Built and Ninius tells us of one Binle a certain Scot that held it Yet the same author observes that they were driven out of Britain and the Isles belonging to it by Cuneda the Grandfather of Maglocunas who from the cruel ravages he made in this Island is call'd the Dragon of the Isles by Gildas Afterwards this Island and likewise Anglesey aforesaid was subjected to the English Monarchy by Edwin King of the Northumbrians if we suppose them both to be signified by the word Menaviae as Writers would have us think At this time it was reputed a British Island At last when the north overswarming a second time sent out another Brood of Normans Danes and Norwegians to seek their fortune in the world the Norwegians who most sadly infested this sea by their piracies possessed themselves of this Island and the Hebrides and set up petty Princes over them of whom I will here add this Historical Account as it is word for word in an old Manuscript lest it should perish by some unlucky accident The title it bears is Chronicon Manniae i.e. A Chronicle of Man It seems to have been written by the Monks of Russin-Abbey the most eminent Monastery that was in this Island A CHRONICLE of the KINGS of MAN IN the year of our Lord 1065. died Edward King of England of pious memory to whom Harold son of Godwin succeeded Harold Harfager King of Norway rais'd war against him and was so beaten at a battle at Stainfordbridge that his men ran away In this flight one Godred sirnamed Crovan the son of Harold the black escaping out of Iseland came to Godred the son of Syrric King of Man at that time and was honourably entertained by him The same year William the Bastard conquered England and Godred the son of Syrric King of Man died and was succeeded by his son Fingall An. 1066. Godred Crovan got a numerous fleet together and arrived at Man where he fought with the inhabitants but was overcome and put to flight Having rallied his forces and his fleet he landed again at Man fought the inhabitants and was routed by them Having rais'd a great army the third time he came by night to the port called Ramsa and laid an ambuscade of three hundred men in a wood upon the hollow brow of a hill call'd Scacafel As soon as the sun was up the inhabitants drew themselves up in battalia and fell upon Godred with great violence When both parties were close engaged the three hundred men that lay in ambush behind came out to the assistance of their Countrymen and put the Islanders to flight When they saw themselves overcome and no place to retreat to for the tide was in so that there was no passing the river Ramsa and the enemy was at their heels pursuing them in a moanful manner they petitioned Godred to spare their lives Godred being moved with compassion at the calamitous condition of a people among whom he had himself been brought up for some time recall'd his army and hindred them from making any farther pursuit The next day Godred gave his army their choice whether they would divide the lands of the Isle among them and live there or seise upon the wealth and substance of the Country and return home with it But his army was rather for spoiling the Island and enriching themselves with the goods of it and so for departing However Godred himself with some of the Islanders that stayed with him settled in the south part of the Island and granted the north part to the remains of the natives upon condition that none of them should ever presume to claim any part of it as their inheritance Hence to this very day the whole Island is the King 's and all the rents that arise in it belong to him Godred then reduced Dublin and a great part of Laynestir As for the Scots he brought them to such subjection that if any of them built a ship or a boat they durst not drive * Plus quam tres clavos inscrere above 3 nails in it He reigned sixteen years and died in the Island call'd Yle leaving three sons Lagman Harald and Olave Lagman being eldest seised upon the Kingdom and reigned seven years His brother Harald continued a long time in rebellion against him but being at last taken he had his privy members cut off and his eyes put out Afterwards Lagman
and his Sister Isabel de Albeny Countess of Arundel Isabel the second Sister was married to Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester she had Richard de Clare Earl of Glocester and the Lady Anise Countess of * Perhaps âevonia Averna âââe uxoris who was Mother of Isabel the â Mother of the Lord Robert Brus Earl of Carrick in Scotland afterwards King of that Nation âis place ãâã corrupââd From Eva Brus the third Sister descended Maud the Mother of the Lord Edmund Mortimer Mother of the Lady Eva de Cauntelow Mother of the Lady Milsoud de Mohun who was Moââer to Dame Eleanor Mother to the Earl of Hereford Joan âarshall the fourth Sister was married to the Lord Guarin of Mount âhinsey and had Issue Joan de Valens Sybil Countess of Ferââs the fifth Sister had Issue seven Daughters the eldest call'd ââgnes Vescie Mother of the Lord John and the Lord William Vesââe the second Isabel Basset the third Joan Bohun Wife to the âord John Mohun Son of the Lord Reginald the fourth Sibyl âohun Wife to the Lord Francis Bohun Lord of Midhurst the fifth Eleanor Vaus Wife to the Earl of Winchester the sixth * Agatha Agas Mortimer Wife to the Lord Hugh Mortimer ââe seventh Maud Kyme Lady of Karbry These are all both âales and Females the Posterity of the said William Earl Marshal MCCXX. The Translation of S. Thomas of Canterbury The ââme year died the Lord Meiler Fitz-Henry founder of Connal ând was buried in the Chapter-House of the said Foundation MCCXXIV The Castle of Bedford was besieg'd and the Castle âf Trim in Ireland MCCXXV Died Roger Pippard and in the year MCCXXVIII ââed William Pippard formerly Lord of the Salmon-leap This âear died likewise Henry Londres alias Scorch-Villeyn Archbishop âf Dublin and was buried in Trinity-church there MCCXXX Henry King of England gave Hubert Burk ââe Justiceship and the Third Penny of Kent and âade him also Earl of Kent Afterward the same Hubert was ââprison'd and great Troubles arose between the King and his ââbjects because he adher'd to Strangers more than to his own naââral Subjects MCCXXXI William Mareschall the younger Earl Marshal and âarl of Pembrock departed this life and was buried in the Quire âf the Friers Predicants in Kilkenny MCCXXXIV Richard Earl Mareschall Earl of Pembrock and ârogull was wounded in a Battel in the Plain of Kildare on the ââst day before the Ides of April and some few days after died in Kilkeny and there was buried hard by his * Girmanum natural Brother viz. William in the Quire of the Friers Predicants Of whom this was written Cujus sub fossa Kilkennia continet ossa MCCXL Walter Lacy Lord of Meth died this year in Engâând leaving two Daughters to inherit his Estate of whom the âârst was married to Sir Theobald Verdon and the second to Gefâery de Genevile MCCXLIII This year died Hugh Lacy Earl of Ulster and âas buried in Cragsergus in the Convent of the Friers Minors âeaving a Daughter who was married to Walter Burk Earl of Ulster The same year died Lord Gerald Fitz-Maurice and Lord âichard de Burgo MCCXLVI An Earthquake about nine of the Clock over all âhe West MCCXLVIII Sir John Fitz-Geffery came Lord Justiciary into âreland MCCL. Lewis King of France and William Long-Espee were âaken Prisoners with many others by the Saracens In Ireland Maccanewey a Son of Belial was slain in Leys as he deserv'd In the year MCCLI. The Lord Henry Lacy was born Upon Christmas-day likewise Alexander King of Scots in the 11th year of his Age was then contracted with Margaret the daughter of the King of England at York MCCLV Alan de la Zouch was made and came Justiciary into Ireland MCCLVII This year died the Lord Maurice Fitz-Gerald MCCLIX Stephen Long-Espee came Justiciary into Ireland The green Castle in Ulster was demolish'd William Dene was made Justiciary of Ireland MCCLXI The Lord John Fitz-Thomas and the Lord Maurice his Son were slain in Desmond by Mac Karthy Item William Dene Justiciary dy'd and Sir Richard Capel put in his room the same year MCCLXII Richard Clare Earl of Glocester died this year as also Martin de Maundevile on the morrow of S. Bennet's day MCCLXIV Maurice Fitz-Gerald and Maurice Fitz-Maurice took Prisoners Richard Capel the Lord Theobald Botiller and the Lord John Cogan at Tristel-Dermot MCCLXVII David de Barry was made Justiciary of Ireland MCCLXVIII Comin Maurice Fitz-Maurice was drown'd The Lord Robert Ufford was made Justiciary of Ireland MCCLXIX The Castle of Roscoman was begun this year Richard of Exeter was made Justiciary MCCLXX The Lord James de Audley came Justiciary into Ireland MCCLXXI Henry the son of the King of Almain was slain in the Court of Rome Plague Famine and Sword rag'd this year particularly in Meth. Nicholas de Verdon and his Brother John were slain Walter de Burgo Earl of Ulster died MCCLXXII The Lord James Audley Justiciary of England was kill'd by a fall from his Horse in Tothomon and was succeeded in this Office by the Lord Maurice Fitz-Maurice MCCLXXIII The Lord Geffery Genevile return'd from the Holy Land and was made Justiciary of Ireland MCCLXXIV Edward the son of King Henry was anointed and crown'd King of England by Robert Kilwarby a Frier-Predicant Archbishop of Canterbury upon S. Magnus the Martyr's day in the Church of Westminster in the presence of all the Nobility and Gentry His Protestation and Oath was in this form I Edward son and heir of King Henry do profess protest and promise before God and his holy Angels from this time forward to maintain without partiality the Law Justice and Peace of the Church of God and the People subject unto me so far as we can devise by the counsel of our liege and legal Ministers as also to exhibit due and canonical Honour to the Bishops of God's Church to preserve unto them inviolably whatsoever has been granted by former Emperors and Kings to the Church of God and to pay due Honour to the Abbots and the Lord's Ministers according to the advice of our Lieges c. so help me God and the holy Gospels of the Lord. This year died the Lord John Verdon and the Lord Thomas de Clare came into Ireland And William Fitz-Roger Prior of the Hospitallers was taken Prisoner at Glyndelory with many others and more slain MCCLXXV The Castle of Roscoman was built again The same year Modagh was taken Prisoner at Norragh by Sir Walter le Faunte MCCLXXVI Robert Ufford was made Justiciary of Ireland upon the surrender of Geffery de Genevill MCCLXXVII O Brene slain MCCLXXVIII The Lord David Barry died this year as also the Lord John Cogan MCCLXXIX The Lord Robert d'Ufford went into England and appointed Frier Robert de Fulborne Bishop of Waterford to supply his place In whose time the Mony was chang'd A Round Table was also held at Kenylworth by Roger Lord Mortimer MCCLXXX Robert d'Ufford return'd from England
being still Justiciary as before His Wife died this year MCCLXXXI Adam Cusak younger kill'd William Barret and many others in Conaught Frier Stephen Fulborn was made Justiciary of Ireland The Lord Robert d'Ufford return'd into England MCCLXXXII This Year Moritagh and Arte Mac-Murgh his Brother were slain at Arclowe on S. Mary Magdalen Eve And Roger Lord Mortimer died MCCLXXXIII The City of Dublin was in part burnt and the Belfrey of Trinity Church upon the third day before the Nones of January MCCLXXXIV The Castle of Ley was taken and burnt by the petty Kings of Offaly the morrow after S. Barnaby's Day Alphonsus the King's Son twelve years old departed this Life MCCLXXXV The Lord Theobald le Botiller died on the 6th of the Kalends of October in the Castle of Arclowe and was buried there in the Convent of the Friers Predicants Gerald Fitz Maurice was taken Prisoner by his own Irish Subjects in Ofaly with Richard Petit and S. Deget and many others and at Rathode was a great slaughter MCCLXXXVI Le Norragh and Arstol with other Towns were successively burnt by William Stanton on the 16th of the Kalends of December About this time Eleanor Queen of England mother of King Edward took a religious habit at Ambresbury upon the day of S. Thomas's translation having her dower confirmed by the Pope and assur'd to her for ever Calwagh was taken Prisoner at Kildare The Lord Thomas Clare departed this Life MCCLXXXVII This year died Stephen Fulborn Archbishop of Tuam and was succeeded in the Office of Justiciary for a Time by John Sampford Archbishop of Dublin This year the King of Hungary renounc'd Christianity and turned Apostate and having fraudulently assembled his Nobility under pretence of a Parliament Miramomelius a potent Saracen came upon them with an Army of 20000 men and took the King and all the Christians there away prisoners on S. John Baptist's eve As the Christians were carried along the weather turn'd cloudy and a tempest of Hail fell suddenly and killed many thousands of the Infidels So the Christians return'd to their own homes and the Apostate King went alone with the Saracens The Hungarians crown'd his Son King and continued in the Catholick Faith MCCLXXXIX Tripoly a famous City was demolish'd after great effusion of Christian blood by the Sultan of Babylon Who commanded the Images of the Saints to be dragg'd at the horses tails through the ruinous City in contempt of Christ MCCXC Inclyta stirps Regis sponsis datur ordine legis The issue of the King becomes a Spouse The Lord Gilbert Clare took to Wife the Lady Joan de Acon a daughter of our Lord King Edward in the Abby of Westminster and the marriage was celebrated in May And John the Duke of Brabant's son married Margaret the said King's daughter also in the Church aforesaid in July This year the Lord William Vescie was made Justiciary of Ireland and enter'd upon the Office on S. Martin's day Item O Molaghelin King of Meth was this year slain MCCXCI Gilbert Clare the son of Gilbert and the Lady Joan de Acon was born on the 11th of May betimes in the morning Item there was an army led into Ulster against O Hanlan and other Princes that had broke the Peace by Richard Earl of Ulster and William Vescie Justiciary of Ireland Item The Lady Eleanor formerly Queen of England and mother of King Edward died this year on S. John's day after a laudable life spent four years eleven months and six days in a religious habit as she had desir'd in the Abby of Ambresbury where she was a profess'd Nun. Item the news came to our Lord Pope Martin on the eve of S. Mary Magdalen concerning the city of Acon in the Holy Land which was the only place of refuge for the Christians that it was besieg'd by Mislkadar the Sultan of Babylon with a numerous army He besieg'd it hotly for about forty days viz. from the 8th day before the Ides of April till the 15th before the Kalends of July At last the Wall was pull'd down by the Saracens and they entred the city in great numbers many Christians being slain and some drown'd in the sea for fear Among whom was the Patriarch and his Train The King of Cyprus and Oto de Grandison escap'd in a ship with their followers Item This year the Lord Pope Martin granted our Lord King Edward the tenth of all Ecclesiastical Benefices in Ireland for seven years together as a supply towards a relief for the Holy Land Item the eldest son of the Earl of Clare was born the same year MCCXCII Edward King of England again entred Scotland and was chosen King John Lord Balliol of Gallweya obtain'd the whole Kingdom of Scotland by right of inheritance and did homage to our Lord Edward King of England at Newcastle upon Tine on S. Stephen's day Florentius Earl of Holland Robert Brus Earl of Carrick John Hastings John Comin Patrick de Dunbar John Vescie Nicholas Souls and William Roos who were then at difference in the said Kingdom submitted themselves to the judgment of King Edward Item A fifteenth of all the Goods of Laymen in Ireland was granted to our Lord the King of England to be collected on the Feast of S. Michael Item Sir Peter Genevile Knight died this year Item Rice ap Meredyke was brought to York and there dragg'd at the horses tails c. MCCXCIII A general and open war was this year waged at sea with the Normans Item no small number of the Normans was cut off in a sea-engagement by the Barons of the Ports of England and others their coadjutors between Easter and Whitsuntide For this a war broke out between England and France whereupon Philip King of France directed his letters of citation to the King of England to appear in person at his Parliament to answer what the King had to say to him but finding no compliance with this order he forthwith by the counsel of his Parliament declar'd him outlaw'd and condemn'd him Item Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester and his wife came into Ireland about the feast of S. Luke MCCXCIV William Montfort in the King's Council holden at Westminster before the King died suddenly He was Dean of S. Paul's in London The Bishops and Clergy who doubted what the King would expect from every one of them had instructed him as a person whom the King would confide in what to signifie from them to him as soon as he return'd to the King and was addressing himself to speak as he had design'd he grew speechless fell down and was carried out by the King's servants in a miserable condition Upon this sight people grew fearful and began to take him for the great procurer of the tenths of ecclesiastical benefices to the King and of the scrutiny and search after the fold of Christ as also of the contributions granted the King afterward Item The city of Bordeaux with the adjacent country of Gascoign was taken
into possession by the King of France upon certain conditions but was detain'd unjustly and treacherously John Archbishop of Dublin and some other great men were sent to the Kinâ in Almain upon this account After they had receiv'd their answer in Tordran the Archbishop return'd into England and died oâ S. Leodegarys day The bones of which John Sampford werâ interr'd in S. Patrick's Church in Dublin on the 10th day beforâ the Kalends of March. The same year there arose a debate between William Lord Vescy then Justiciary of Ireland and the Lord John Fitz Thomas and the said Lord William Vescy went into England and lefâ Sir William de la Hay to officiate as Justiciary But when botâ them were before the King for combat upon an appeel for treason William Vescy fled into France and would not fight Whereupon the King of England gave all the Seigniories that belong'd to him to Sir John Fitz Thomas viz. Kildare Rathemgan and manâ others The same year Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester return'd ouâ of Ireland into England Likewise Richard Earl of Ulster sooâ after S. Nicholas's day was taken prisoner by Sir John Fitz Thomas and kept within the castle of Ley till the feast of S. Gregory Pope but was then set at liberty by the Council of our Lord thâ King in a Parliament at Kilkenny John Fitz Thomas gave aâ his lands for taking him viz. Slygo with other Possessions belonging to him in Conaght Item this year the castle of Kildare was taken but Kildarâ and the Country round it was wasted by the English and the Irish Calvagh burnt all the Rolls and Tallies of the said Earl This yeaâ and the two next following there was much dearth and Pestilencâ throughout Ireland Item William Lord Dooddyngzele was made Justiciary of Irelanâ MCCXCV Edward King of England built the Castle de Beâ Marisco i.e. Beaumaris in Venedocia which is call'd the motheâ of Cambria but commonly Anglesey and enter'd it immediatelâ after Easter subduing the Venedotes i.e. the able men of Anglesey and making them subject to him Soon after this viz. about thâ Feast of S. Margaret Madock at that time Prince elect of Waleâ submitted himself to the King's mercy and was brought to Londoâ by John de Haverings where he was clapt in the Tower to waâ the King's grace and favour This year died William Dooddingzeâ Justiciary of Ireland the day after S. Mary of Egypt Sir Thomas Fitz-Maurice succeeded him Also about the same time thâ Irish in Leinster destroy'd that Province burning the new Castââ with other Villages Item Thomas de Torbevile a seducer oâ the King and betrayer of his Country was drawn through the middle of London lying out at length and guarded with four Toâmentors in Vizards who revil'd him as we went along At lasâ he was gibbeted and deny'd the privilege of Burial having nonâ to attend his Funeral but Kites and Crows This Thomas waâ one of them who in the Siege of the Castle of Rions was takeâ and carry'd to Paris Whereupon he promis'd the Nobility oâ France that he would deliver to them the King of England anâ leaving his two Sons as Pledges came over and told the King oâ England and his Council how narrowly he escap'd out of Prisoâ When he had inform'd himself of the designs of the King anâ state of the Kingdom he sent the whole in writing to the Provoâ of Paris Of which being convicted he was executed iâ the manner aforesaid About the same time the Scoâ having broken the Peace which they had covenanted with oââ Lord King of England made a new league with the King oâ France and conspiring together rose up in Arms against their owâ sovereign Lord and King John Baillol and shut him up in the midland parts of Scotland in a Castle encompass'd with Mountain This was done in pure spight and contempt to the King of England because he had set the said John over them without theââ will and consent The King of England brought another Army ãâã Scotland the Lent following to chastise the Scots for their presumption and arrogance against their own Father and King Sâ John Wogan was made Justiciary of Ireland and the Lord Thomas Fitz-Maurice give place to him This Wogan made a Trucâ for two years between the Earl of Ulster and John Fitz-Thomas and the Geraldines About Christmas-day this year Gilbert Clarâ Earl of Glocester departed this life Item the King of Englanâ sent his Brother Edmund with an Army into Gascoign MCCXCVI The Lord Edward King of England on the thirâ day before the Kalends of April viz. upon Friday that fell oââ then to be Easter-week took Berwick with the slaughter of seveâ thousand Scots and not of above one of the English Knights viâ Sir John of Cornwall and seven Footmen more Shortly after abouâ the 4th of May he enter'd the Castle of Dunbar and took abouâ forty of the Enemy Prisoners who submitted themselves to thâ King's mercy having before defeated the whole Army of the Scots that is to say slain seven hundred Horse with the loss of Footmeâ only on the English side Item upon S. John's-day before Port-latin about 15000 Welchmeâ were sent to invade Scotland by the King's Order At the same timâ the Nobility of Ireland viz. John Wogan Justiciary Richard Bourâ Earl of Ulster Theobald Butler and John Fitz-Thomas witâ others came to assist in this Expedition to Scotland The Kinâ of England also entertain'd them with others of the English Nobility upon the third day before the Ides of May viz. Whitsuâday with a great Feast in the castle of Rokesburgh Item on thâ next Wednesday before S. Barnabas he enter'd the Town of Edinburgh and won the castle before the Feast of S. John Baptist shortly after in the same Summer all the castles in Scotland were surrender'd up to him Item John Balliol King of Scotland came tho' much against his will to the King of England upon the Sunday next after the Translation of S. Thomas the Archbishop attended with many Earls Bishops and Knights and they surrender'd all to the King but their lives and limbs and their Lord John Balliol gave up all his Right and Title in Scotland to the King of England who sent him under a safe guard towards London Item Edmund Brother to the King of England died this year in Gascoign MCCXCVII Our Lord Edward King of England sail'd into Flanders with an Army against the King of France where after much expence and altercation a form of Peace was concluded between them upon condition they should stand to the award and judgment of the Pope From the one side and the other certain Messengers were sent to the Court of Rome but while the King was in Flanders William Walleis according to a general Resolution of the Scots came with a great Army to Strivelin-bridge to engage John Earl of Warren in which Battel many were slain on both sides and many drown'd but however the English were
defeated This occasion'd a general Insurrection in Scotland of both Earls and Barons against the King of England There was also at this time a Quarrel between the King of England and Roger Bigod Earl Marshal but this was soon made up S. Lewis a Frier minor Son of the King of Sicily and Archbishop of Cologn died this year This year also the son and heir of the King of Maliager i.e. of the Islands of Majorac instituted the Order of the Friers-minors at the direction of S. Lewis who bid him go and do it Item Leghlin in Ireland with other Towns were burnt by the Irish of Slemergi Item Calwagh O Hanlen and Yneg Mac-Mahon were slain in Urgale MCCXCVIII Pope Boniface IV. on the morrow of the Feast of S. Peter ââd S. Paul all things being then quiet made Peace between England ââd France upon certain Terms Item Edward King of England ââd an Army again into Scotland to conquer it There were slain ãâã this Expedition about the Feast of S. Mary Magdalen many ââousands of the Scots at Fawkirk The Sun appear'd that day ãâã red as Blood in Ireland while the Battel at Fawkirk continu'd ââem about the same time the Lord King of England gave his Knights the Earldoms and Baronies of those Scots that were slain ân Ireland Peace was concluded between the Earl of Ulster and the Lord John Fitz-Thomas about the Feast of Simon and Jude Also ââe morrow after the Feast of the seven Sleepers the Sun-beams âere chang'd into a bloodish colour all the morning to the great âdmiration of every one Item This year died Thomas Fitz-âaurice Knight and Sir Robert Bigod sometime Justiciary in the âench Item In the City Artha as also Reath in Italy during ââe stay of Pope Boniface there happen'd so great an Earthquake ââat Towers and Palaces fell down and the Pope and his Cardiâals fled out of the City with great consternation Item on the Feast of Epiphany there was an Earthquake in Engâând from Canterbury to Hampton but not so violent MCCXCIX Theobald Lord Botilter the younger died in the Mannor of Turby on the second day before the Ides of May His Corps were convey'd towards Weydeney i. e Weney in the County of Limerick on the 6th day before the Calends of June Item Edward King of England married the Lady Margaret Sister to the noble King of France in Trinity-church at Canterâury about the Feast of the Holy Trinity Item the Sultan of Baâylon with a great Army was defeated by Cassan King of Tarââry MCCXCIX On the day after the Purification there was an inâââite number of Saracen-horse slain besides as many Foot Item There was this same year a Fight of Dogs at Genelon-castle in âurgundy the number of the Dogs were 3000 and all kill'd but ââe Item This year many Irish came to the Castle of Roch âefore the Annunciation to give some disturbance to the Lord Theâbald de Verdon MCCC The * Numisma Pollardorum Pollard-mony was prohibited in England and Ireland Item King Edward enter'd Scotland with an Army in Autumn but was stay'd by an order from Pope Boniface and to excuse himself sent certain Envoys to the Court of Rome Item Thomas son âo the King of England was born at Brotherton by Margaret the King of France's Sister on the last day of May. Item Edward Earl of Cornwall dy'd this year without issue and was buried in âhe Abby of Hailes MCCCI. Edward King of England enter'd Scotland with an Army Sir John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland and Sir John Fitz-Thomas Peter Bermingham and many others set sail from Ireâand to assist him Item A great part of the City of Dublin was âurnt down together with the Church of S. Warbutga on S. Caââmb's day at night Item Sir Jeffrey Genevil married the daughâer of Sir John Montefort and Sir John Mortimer married the daughter and heir of Sir Peter Genevil and the Lord Theobald Verdon married the daughter of the Lord Roger Mortimer The People of Leinster took up Arms in the Winter and burnt the Towns of Wyklo and Rathdon c. but they suffer'd for 't for the greater âart of their Provisions at home was burnt up and their Cattel âole so that they had certainly famish'd if a sedition had not hapned among the English at that juncture Item A small company of the Brenies were defeated this year by the Tolans and 300 of those Robbers were cut off Item A great part of Mounster was wasted by Walter Power and many Farm-houses burnt MCCCII This year died the Lady Margaret Wife to Sir John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland on the 3d day before the Ides of April And in the week following Maud Lacy the Wife of Sir Geffery Genevil died also Item Edmund Botiller recoverd the Mannour de S. Bosco Holywood forte with the Appurtenances thereunto belonging from Sir Richard Feringes Archbishop of Dublin by a Fine in the King's bench after the feast of S. Hilary Item the Flemings defeated the French in Flanders at Courtenay the Wednesday after the feast of S. Thomas In this Engagement were slain the Earl of Artois the Earl of Albemarle the Earl of Hue Ralph de Neel Constable of France Guy de Nevil Marshal of France the Earl of Hennaund's son Godfrey de Brabant and his son William de Fenles and his son James de S. Paul lost his hand and fourty Baronets were kill'd that day with Knights Squires c. without number The Tenths of all Ecclesiastical Benefices in England and Ireland were exacted by Pope Boniface for three years as a Subsidy for the Church of Rome against the King of Arragon Item upon the day of the Circumcision Sir Hugh Lacy made an inroad upon Sir Hugh Vernail and drove off his Beasts This year Robert Brus Earl of Carrick married Elizabeth the daughter of Sir Richard Bourk Earl of Ulster Item Edward Botiller married the daughter of Sir John Fitz-Thomas The City of Bourdeaux with others thereabouts which Edward King of England had formerly lost by a sedition of the French were now restor'd upon S. Andrew's-eve by the means of the Lord John Hastings MCCCIII Richard Bourk Earl of Ulster and Sir Eustace Power invaded Scotland with a strong Army But after that the Earl himself had made 33 Knights in the Castle of Dublin he passed over into Scotland to assist the King of England Item Gerald the son and heir of Sir John Fitz-Thomas departed this life This year the King and Queen of France were excommunicated with all their Children by Pope Boniface who also confirm'd the privileges of the University of Paris Soon after the Pope was taken Prisoner and kept as it were in Prison three whole days Soon after the Pope dy'd The Countess of Ulster died likewise about this time Item Walran Wellesly and Sir Robert Percivall were slain this year on the 11th day before the Kalends of November MCCCIV A great part of Dublin was burnt down viz. the Bridge-street a good part of
call'd Hogelyn John de Northon John de Breton and many others Item On the 16th before the kalends of July Dolovan Tobyr and other towns and villages bordering upon them were burnt down by the said malefactors Item Soon after this a great Parliament was held at London wherein a sad difference arose between the Barons upon the account of Pieirs Gaveston who was banish'd out of the Kingdom of England the day after the feast of S. John the baptist's nativity and went over into Ireland about the feast of the Saints Quirita and Julita together with his wife and sister the Countess of Glocester and came to Dublin in great state and there continued Item William Mac Baltor a stout robber and incendiary was condemn'd in the court of our Lord the King at Dublin by the Lord Chief Justice John Wogan on the 12th before the kalends of September and was drawn at a horse's tail to the gallows and there hang'd as he deserv'd Item This year a marble cistern was made to receive the Water from the conduit-head in Dublin such as was never before seen here by the Mayor of the City Master John Decer and all at his own proper expences This same John a little before made a bridge to be built over the river Aven-Liffie near the priory of S. Wolstan He also built the Chappel of S. Mary of the Friers minors wherein he was buried and the Chappel of S. Mary of the Hospital of S. John in Dublin Item This John Decer was bountiful to the convent of Friers Predicants in Dublin For instance he made one stone-pillar in the Church and laid the great stone upon the high altar with all its ornaments Item He entertain'd the friers at his own table on the 6th day of the week out of pure charity as the seniors have reported to their juniors Item The Lord John Wogan took ship in Autumn to be at the parliament of England and the Lord William Bourk was appointed Keeper of Ireland in his room Item This year on the eve of S. Simon and Jude the Lord Roger de Mortimer and his Lady the right heir of Meth the daughter of the Lord Peter son of Sir Gefferey Genevil arriv'd in Ireland As soon as they landed they took possession of Meth Sir Gefferey Genevil giving way to them and entring himself into the order of the Friers predicants at Trym the morrow after S. Edward the Archbishop's day Item Dermot Odympsy was slain at Tully by the servants of Sir Piers Gaveston Item Richard Bourk Earl of Ulster at Whitsontide made a great feast at Trym and conferr'd Knighthood upon Walter Lacie and Hugh Lacie In the vigil of the Assumption the Earl of Ulster came against Piers Gaveston Earl of Cornwal at Drogheda and at the same time turn'd back towards Scotland Item This year Maud the Earl of Ulster's daughter imbark'd for England in order for a marriage with the Earl of Glocester which within a month was consummated between them Item Maurice Caunton kill'd Richard Talon and the Roches afterwards kill'd him Item Sir David Caunton was hang'd at Dublin Item Odo the son of Cathol O Conghir kill'd Odo O Conghiâ King of Connaght Item Athi was burnt by the Irish MCCCIX Peter Gaveston subdued the O Brynnes in Ireland and rebuilt the new castle of Mackingham and the castle of Kemny he also cut down and scour'd the pass between Kemny castle and Glyndelagh in spite of all the opposition the Irish could make and sâ march'd away and offer'd in the Church of S. Kimny The same year the Lord Peter Gaveston went over into Englanâ on the eve of S. John Baptist's Nativity Item The Earl of Ulster's son's wife daughter of the Earl oâ Glocester came into Ireland on the 15th of October Item On Christmas-eve the Earl of Ulster returned out of England and landed at Drogheda Item On the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sir John Bonevil was slain near the town of Arstol by Sir Arnold Pover and his accomplices and buried at Athy in the Church of the Frierâ predicants Item A Parliament was held at Kilkenny in the octaves of thâ Purification of the Blessed Mary by the Earl of Ulster John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland and others of the nobility wherein a difference among certain of the great men was adjusted and many proviso's made in the nature of statutes that might havâ been of good consequence to the Kingdom if they had been observ'd Item Shortly after Sir Edward Botiller return'd out of England where he had been knighted at London Item The Earl of Ulster Roger Mortimer and Sir John Fitz-Thomas went over into England Item This year died Sir Theobald Verdon MCCCX. King Edward and Sir Peter Gaveston took theiâ march for Scotland against Robert Brus. Item There was this year a great scarcity of corn in Ireland * Eranca an eranc of corn sold at the rate of twenty shilling and upwards Item The Bakers of Dublin were punish'd after a new way foâ false weights For on S. Sampson the Bishop's day they werâ drawn upon hurdles at the horses tails along the streets of thâ City Item In the Abby of S. Thomas the Martyr at Dublin Sir Neiâ Bruin Knight Escheator to our Lord the King in Ireland departed this life his corps was buried at the Friers-minors in Dublin witâ such a pomp of tapers and wax-lights as never was before seen iâ this Kingdom This year a Parliament was held at Kildare wherin Sir Arnold Pover was acquitted of the death of the Lord Bonevil for it waâ found Se defendendo Item On S. Patrick's day Mr. Alexander Bickenor was witâ the unanimous consent of the Chapter made Archbishop of Dublin Item The Lord Roger Mortimer in the octaves of the nativity of the Blessed Virgin return'd into Ireland Item This year died Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln MCCCXI In Thomond at Bonnorathie the Lord Richarâ Clare gave the Earl of Ulster's party a very strange defeat Thâ Lord William Bourk and John the Lord Walter Lacy's Son werâ taken prisoners with many others This battle was fought on thâ 13th before the kalends of June and great numbers both of thâ English and the Irish slain in it Item Tassagard and Rathcante were invaded by the rapperies namely the O Brinnes and O Tothiles the day after S. John Baptist's nativity Whereupon in the Autumn soon after a greaâ army was rais'd in Leinster to defeat them both in Glindelory anâ in other woody places Item In August a Parliament was holden at London between thâ King and the Barons to consider the state of the Kingdom and thâ King's houshold and a committee of six Bishops six Earls and six Barons was appointed to consult the good of the Realm Item On the 2d day before the Ides of November the Lord Richard Clare cut off 600 Galegolaghes Item On All saints day last past Peter Gaveston was banished out of England by the Earls and Barons and many good statutes were
S. Valentine Item The Sunday following Roger Lord Mortimer came to Dublin and knighted John Mortimer and four of his Followers The same day he kept a great feast in the castle of Dublin Item Many Irish were slain in Conaght about this time by reason of a Quarrel between two of their great Lords The number of the slain amounted to about 4000 men on both sides After this a severe Vengeance fell upon the Ulster-men who had done great mischief during the depredations of the Scots here and eat Flesh in Lent without any manner of necessity for which sins they were at last reduc'd to such want that they eat one another so that of 10000 there remain'd but about 300 By which this does plainly appear to be God's vengeance upon them Item It was reported That some of the said Profligates were so pinch'd with Famine that they dug up Graves in Church-yards and after they had boil'd the Flesh in the Skull of the dead Body eat it up nay that some Women eat up their own Children to satisfie their craving Appetites MCCCXVIII On the 15. of Easter there came News from England That the Town of Berwick was betray'd and taken by the Scots Afterwards this same year Walter Islep the King's Treasurer in Ireland arriv'd here and brought Letters to Roger Lord Mortimer to attend the King Accordingly he did so substituting the Lord William Archbishop of Cashil Keeper of Ireland so that at one and the same time he was Chief Justice of Ireland Lord Chancellor and Archbishop Three weeks after Easter news came to Dublin That Richard Lord Clare and four Knights viz. Sir Henry Capell Sir Thomas Naas Sir James Caunton and Sir John Caunton as also Adam Apilgard with 80 Men more were all slain by O Brone and Mac-Carthy on the feast of S. Gordian and Epimachus The Lord Clare's Body was reported to be hewn in pieces out of pure malice But his Relicks were interr'd among the Friers-minors in Limerick Item On Sunday in Easter-month John Lacy was remov'd from Dublin-castle to Trym for his Trial His sentence was to be pinch'd in Diet and so he died in Prison Item On the Sunday before the Ascension Roger Lord Mortimer set sail for England but paid nothing for his Provisions having taken up in the City of Dublin and elsewhere as much as amounted to 1000 l. Item This year about the feast of S. John Baptist that Wheat which before was sold for 16 s. by the great mercy of God went now for 7. Oats sold for 5 s. and there was also great plenty of Wine Salt and Fish Nay about the feast of S. James there was Bread of new Corn a thing seldom or perhaps never before known in Ireland This was an instance of God's mercy and was owing to the prayers of the Poor and other faithful People Item On the Sunday after the feast of S. Michael news came to Dublin That Alexander Lord Bykenore Chief Justice of Ireland and Archbishop of Dublin was arriv'd at Yoghill On S. Denis's day he came to Dublin and was receiv'd by the Religious and Clergy as well as the Laity who went out in Processions to meet him Item On Saturday which happen'd to be the feast of Pope Calixtus a Battle was fought between the Scots and English of Ireland two leagues from Dundalk on the Scotch-side there were Edward Lord Brus who nam'd himself King of Ireland Philip Lord Moubray Walter Lord Sules Alan Lord Stewart with his three Brethren as also Sir Walter Lacy and Sir Robert and Aumar Lacy John Kermerdyne and Walter White with about 3000 others Against whom on the English-side there were the Lord John Bermingham Sir Richard Tuit Sir Miles Verdon Sir Hugh Tripton Sir Herbert Sutton Sir John Cusak Sir Edward and Sir William Bermingham and the Primate of Armagh who gave them Absolution besides Sir Walter Larpulk and John Maupas with about twenty more choice Soldiers and well arm'd who came from Drogheda The English gave the onset and broke into the Van of the Enemy with great vigour And in this Encounter the said John Maupas kill'd Edward Lord Brus valiantly and was afterwards found slain upon the Body of his Enemy The slain on the Scots side amounted to 2000 or thereabouts so thaâ few of them escap'd besides Philip Lord Moubray who was also mortally wounded and Sir Hugh Lacy Sir Walter Lacy and some few more with them who with much ado got off Thiâ Engagement was fought between Dundalk and Faghird Brus'â Head was brought by the said John Lord Bermingham to thâ K. of England who conferred the Earldom of Louth upon him and his Heirs male and gave him the Barony of Aterith One of hiâ Quarters together with the Hands and Heart were carried tâ Dublin and the other Quarters sent to other places MCCCXIX Roger Lord Mortimer return'd out of England and became Chief Justice of Ireland The same year on the feaââ of All Saints came the Pope's Bull for excommunicating Roberâ Brus King of Scotland The Town of Athisell and ãâã considerable part of the Country was burnt and wasted by John Lord Fitz-Thomas whole Brother to Moris Lord Fitz-Thomas John Bermingham aforesaid was this year created Earl of Louth Item The Stone-bridge of Kit-colyn was built by Master Moriâ Jak Canon of the Cathedral Church of Kildare MCCCXX In the time of John XXII Pope and of Edward son to King Edward who was the 25 King from the coming oâ S. Austin into England Alexander Bicknore being then Archbishop of Dublin was founded the University of Dublin Williaâ Hardite a Frier-predicant was the first that took the degree oâ Master Who also commenced Doctor of Divinity under thâ same Archbishop Henry Cogry of the order of Friers minors was the second Master the third was William Rodyarâ Dean of S. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin who afteâ commenc'd Doctor of the Canon law and was made the firââ Chancellor of this University The fourth Person that went ouâ Master in Divinity was Frier Edmund Kermerdyn Item Rogeâ Mortimer the Chief Justice of Ireland went into England leavinâ the Lord Thomas Fitz-John then Earl of Kildare his Deputy Item Edmund Lord Botiller went into England and so camâ to S. James's Item Leghelyn-bridge was then built by Master Moris Jaâ Canon of the Cathedral Church of Kildare MCCCXXI The O Conghors were sadly defeated at Balibogan on the Ninth of May by the People of Leinster and Meth Item Edmund Lord Botiller died in London and was burieâ at Balygaveran in Ireland John Bermingham Earl of Lowth waâ made Justiciary of Ireland John Wogan died also this year MCCCXXII Andrew Bermingham and Nicholas de la Lonâ Knight were slain with many others by O Nalan on S. Michael's day MCCCXXIII A Truce was made between the King of Englanâ and Robert Brus King of Scots for fourteen years Item Johâ Darcy came Lord Chief Justice into Ireland Item Johâ eldest son of Thomas Fitz-John Earl of Kildare died in the 9tâ
his abodâ there Item In November Walter L. Bermingham Chief Justice of Ireland and Moris Lord Fitz-Thomas Earl of Kildare took up arms againsâ O Morda and his Accomplices who had burnt the castle of Ley and Kilmehed and invaded them so fiercely with fire sword and rapin that altho' their number amounted to many thousands and they made a resolute defence yet at last after much blood and many wounds they were forc'd to yield and so they submitted to the King's mercy and the discretion of the Earl MCCCXLVII The Earl of Kildare with his Knights and Barons set out in May to join the King of England who was then at thâ siege of Caleys which the Inhabitants surrendred to the King oâ England the 4th of June Item Walter Bonevile William Calf William Welesly and many other brave English Welch aad Irish Gentlemen died of thâ Distemper which then rag'd at Caleys Item Mac-Murgh viz. Donald Mac-Murgh son to Donald Artâ Mac-Murgh King of Leinster was most perfidiously killed by hiâ own men on the 5th of June Item The King knighted Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Kildare who married the daughter of Barth de Burgwashe Item On S. Stephen the Martyr's day the Irish burnt Monaghan and ruined the Country about it Item D. Joan Fitz-Leones formerly wife to Simon Lord Genevilâ died and on the second of April was buried in the Convent-churcâ of the Friers-Predicants at Trym MCCCXLVIII The 22d year of Edward III. a great Pestilence which had been before in other Countries got into Ireland and rag'd exceedingly Item This year Walter Lord Bermingham Chief Justice of Ireland went into England and left John Archer Prior of Kylmainan to officiate for him The same year he return'd again and had the Barony of Kenlys which lies in Ossory conferr'd upon him by the King to requite his great service in leading an Army againsâ the Earl of Desmond with Raulf Ufford as before 't was said this Barony belong'd formerly to Eustace Lord Poer who was convicted and hang'd at the castle of the Isle MCCCXLIX Walter Lord Bermingham the best accomplish'd Justiciary that ever was in Ireland surrender'd his office and was succeeded in the same by Carew Knight and Baron MCCCL. In the 25th year of his Reign Sir Thomas Rokesby Knight was made Lord Chief Justice of Ireland Item This year on S. Margaret the Virgin 's Eve Sir Walteâ Bermingham Knight for some time an excellent and worthy Justiciary of this Kingdom died in England MCCCLI Died Kenwrick Sherman sometimes Mayor of the City of Dublin and was buried under the Belfrey of the Friers-Predicants which he himself had built as he had likewise glaz'd the great window at the head of the Quire and roof'd the Church among many other pious Works He died in the same convenâ on the 6th of March and leaving an Estate to the value of three thousand marks he bequeath'd great Legacies to all the Clergy both religious and secular for within twenty miles round MCCCLII Sir Robert Savage Knight began to build several Castles in many places of Ulster and particularly in his own Mannors telling his son and heir apparent Sir Henry Savage That they would thus fortifie themselves lest the Irish should hereafter break in upon them to the utter ruin of their estate and family and to the dishonour of their name among other Nations His son answer'd That where-ever there were valiant men there were forts and castles according to that saying Filii castrametati sunt the sons are encamp'd i.e. brave men are design'd for War and that for this reason he would take care to be among such which would prove the same in effect as if he liv'd in a castle adding That he took a castle of Bones to be much better than a castle of Stones Upon this Reply his Father gave over in great vexation and swore he would never more build with stone and mortar but keep a good house and great retinue about him foretelling however That his Posterity would repent it as indeed they did for the Irish destroy'd the whole Country for want of castles to defend it MCCCLV In the 30th of the same Reign Sir Thomas Rokesby Knight gave up his office of Chief Justice on the 26th of July the succession whereof was given to Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Desmond in which he continued till his death Item On the conversion of S. Paul the said Moris Lord Fitz-Thomas departed this life in the castle of Dublin to the great grief of his Friends and Kindred and all others that were peaceably inclin'd First he was buried in the Quire of the Friers-Predicants of Dublin and afterward in the Covent of the Friers-Predicants of Traly As to his character he was certainly a just Judge and stuck not at condemning even those of his own blood or family more than perfect Strangers for Theft Rapin and other Misdemeanors the Irish stood in great awe of him MCCCLVI In the 31st year of this Reign Sir Thomas Rokesby was the second time made Chief Justice of Ireland who kept the Irish in good order and paid well for the Provisions of his House saying I will eat and drink out of Wood-Vessels and yet pay both gold and silver for my food and cloths nay and for my Pensioners about me This same year the said Sir Thomas Lord Chief Justice of Ireland died in the castle of Kylka MCCCLVII In the 32d of this King's reign Sir Almarick de Saint Armund was made Chief Justice of Ireland and enter'd upon his office About this time arose a great dispute between the Lord Archbishop of Armagh Richard Fitz-Ralfe and the four orders of Friers-mendicants in conclusion the Archbishop was worsted and quieted by the Pope's authority MCCCLVIII In the 33d year of the same reign Sir Almarick Saint Amuad Chief Justice of the Kingdom went over into England MCCCLIX In the 34th year of this King's reign James Botiller Earl of Ormond was made Chief Justice of Ireland Item On S. Gregory's day this year died Joan Burk Countess of Kildare and was buried in the church of the Friers-minors in Kildare by her Husband Thomas Lord Fitz-John Earl of Kildare MCCCLX In the 35th year of this same reign died Richard Fitz-Raulf Archbishop in Hanault on the 16th of December His bones were convey'd into Ireland by the reverend Father in God Stephen Bishop of Meth and buried in S. Nicholas's church at Dundalk where he was born yet it is a question whether these were his very bones or the reliques of some one else Item This year died Sir Robert Savage of Ulster a valiant Knight who near Antrim slew in one day 3000 Irish with a small Party of English but it ought to be observ'd that before the Engagement he took care to give his men a good dose of Ale or Wine whereof it seems he had good store and reserv'd some for his Friends likewise Besides this he order'd That Sheep Oxen Venison and Fowl both wild and tame should be kill'd
stations and to assist the imagination by representing the Towns and Roads in Charts and Tables Italy was the first place where this light broke out and there the difficulty was very inconsiderable The remains of the old names was direction enough in a great many cases and where that guide fail'd them they were helpt out by their Histories which indeed are so many and withal so very particular in every the least circumstance that they even point out the Places and excuse one from any tedious search and application in settling the Geography France Spain and Germany had not this advantage in so high a degree but yet as they had their share of the Roman Arms so had they the good fortune to come under the hands of the Roman Historians These were sufficiently acquainted with their affairs by their nearness to Italy and their long subjection to the Roman Empire and so describ'd them with a tolerable exactness But Britain was another world to them and accordingly when their Pens engag'd in our matters they were not able to handle them so nicely but were forc'd to clap up things in general terms a way of writing that makes it very hard to trace them So that here the best direction in that search seems to be the old Itinerary of Antoninus and God knows a heap of bare names without the circumstances of Action is but a very poor guide However as poor as it was it had been a much more comfortable bottom to set out upon had it only been sound and entire But he found it so mangled either by the Transcribers negligence or ignorance or both that he plainly perceiv'd he must rectifie and patch up that before he could go any farther Most ancient Authors of any note have been sufferers that way but this kind wherein miles and distances are compendiously express'd is particularly expos'd to the ill treatment of Librarians Had Figures never been invented we had been eas'd of a great deal of trouble that piecing up of Distances and Chronologies does now give us There was no way to cure this but by collecting the various Readings occasion'd by such blunders and letting the whole matter be determin'd by the majority of Copies To this end he left no corner unsearch'd from which he might reasonably promise himself either Manuscript or printed Copy of Antoninus's Itinerary Ptolemy's Geography or the Notitia so far at least as they concern'd Britain His Learned Acquaintance at home were all set to search and his Correspondents abroad Ep. 25. Ortelius Ep. 6â Merula Ep. 129. Sweertius Ep. 147 155 193 2â8 247. Puteanus and Ep. 55. others were employ'd in the same Service He had heard of some Itinerary Tables in the Library of Conrade Peutinger a Noble-man of Auspurg and he never rested till he had compass'd that branch of them which belong'd to Britain They are since publisht by Velser under the name of the Peutingerian-Tables the Authority whereof Mr. Camden makes use of throughout his whole Britannia After he had fixt this point and begun to trace out the old Towns and Stations he consider'd that the Romans did not frame a new name to every place they conquer'd but generally contented themselves with what they found only fil'd off a little of the roughness and cloath'd it in a fashionable garb That the names and places mention'd in Britain by Latin Authors as easie as they sounded as spruce and court-like as they appear'd were yet all barbarous at the bottom and of a pure British extraction It was a language he had no knowledge of and so in setling the ancient places whenever he came to muster up his probabilities for indeed a great many of them are capable of no better evidence he was always jealous that something was lodg'd in the meaning of the name which if he knew it might either destroy the notion he had advanc'd or confirm him in his present opinion This brought a new task upon him and a very heavy one too the conquering a Tongue which had no manner of relation to any one he was master of before However there was this comfort it was a living language and he wanted not Friends who were Criticks in it His entrance upon the Saxon-affairs quickly convinc'd him that the knowledge of this Language was necessary to his design as much if not more than that of the British These latter Conquerours were not so modest as the former The glory and extent of the Empire was what the Romans aim'd at and if the Britains could but have patience to submit they might enjoy what they had and live as quietly as they pleas'd But the Saxons whatever they might pretend came over upon another errand their business was not Dominion but Possession and when they had gain'd their end by driving off the poor Britains they made it their next business to root out all memorials of them The old names were chang'd new methods of Government fram'd and in a short time every thing had a Saxon appearance So that now almost all our names of Places are originally Saxon and Mr. Camden thought it as vain an attempt to set about his design without this help as to take a Survey of Greece or Italy and all the while not know one syllable of the Language of either Country Thus every new Monster that sprang up was more terrible than other The poor Britains carried their Language along with them into the Western parts of the Island and there defended both it and themselves against any mixture of foreigners It was only transplanted and the change of Soil did it little or no harm so that to this day 't is preserv'd entire but only for a word here and there of Latin original which by their long intercourse with the Romans had dropt in among it Had the Saxons took the same course upon the Norman Invasion and when they found themselves out-match'd only resolv'd upon some corner for a retreat and stood it out to the last their 's too might have been a living Language to this day and learnt as we do French Spanish or Italian with a little study and conversation But their submission to the Norman was the loss of both their Liberty and Language A mixture of Pride and Policy makes the noise of a foreign Dialect very disagreeable to the ears of most Conquerours who look upon it as a reproach to see the Language reign when they have subdu'd the People William after he had wrought himself into a sort of Settlement and thought he might be practising upon the English without any great danger was not wanting in this piece of conduct Ingulpâ p. 71 85. He order'd that all the publick Pleadings should be in French that their Charters and Writings should run in the same Language that Children should not be instructed in their Mother-tongue but in the Norman only And the reign of Edward the Confessor had prepar'd the Nation to receive all this without any great resentment
The Normans bore such a sway in his Court as to give the Customs and Language of their own Country an air and authority here in England so that even in his time it begun to be thought a piece of good breeding to be Master of the French Carriage and to run down the English as rough and barbarous When the way was open'd before hand we need not be much surpriz'd to find in the next reign so very few Ingulpâ p 98. who could even read the Saxon Character or to hear that the main objection against Wolstan Bishop of Worcester was Mat. Par. sub An. 1005. that he did not understand the French Tongue In short the old Saxon grew so fast out of request Chron. Sax. that their common talk about the latter end of Henry the second would pass at this day for good broken English and be intelligible enough After it was disus'd in common Conversation we cannot imagine that the Books should be much minded The Monks indeed were concern'd to preserve their Charters but those who seiz'd upon the Church-Lands at the Dissolution of Monasteries were as much concern'd to have them destroy'd And to do it the more effectually they wisely burnt whole Libraries together or if they sav'd them out of the fire it was with no other design than to furnish the Shops of Mechanicks with waste Paper The havock was so universal and the use of them so little understood that it was purely by chance that any were preserv'd With what resolution must we suppose a man arm'd to engage in a work of so much confusion A Language that had lain dead for above four hundred years to be reviv'd the Books wherein it was bury'd to be rak'd out of ashes and which was yet worse those Fragments such as they were so very hard to be met with Almost the whole stock of the Kingdom came into three Collections that of Archbishop Parker given to Bennet College in Cambridge Archbishop Laud's given to the Bodleian Library and that of Sir Robert Cotton now the richest Treasure of that noble Library Nor was this condition peculiar to the Saxon Monuments all our English Historians were in the same circumstances They suffer'd as much by the Dissolution lay in as many holes and corners and were altogether as hard to come by And yet without these Mr. Camden's design was at a stand It was a true sense of the use of such Originals and of his own great misfortune in not being better furnisht that induc'd him afterwards to publish an entire Volume of them Sir Henry Savil collected another and those two Leaders have been follow'd by the Editors of the Decem Scriptores by Dr. Wats Mr. Fulman Dr. Gale and Mr. Wharton Had he entred upon his work with these advantages he had met with his Materials in a much narrower compass and found his task infinitely more easie Thus the same hand remov'd the Rubbish laid the Foundation and rais'd the Fabrick The old Itinerary was settled the British and Saxon Tongues conquer'd our ancient Historians perus'd Besides his Travels before he came to Westminster and his frequent Excursions so often as his business in the School would give him leave in April 1582. he took a Journey into Yorkshire through Suffolk and return'd through Lancashire See his Diary several parts of England survey'd and now he durst think of reducing his Collections to some method and order It had been above ten years in growing when the first Edition came out An. 1586. dedicated to that eminent Statesman William Lord Burghley Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth How well it was receiv'd we may appeal to the several Editions In the compass of four years there were no less than three at London besides that at Francfort in 1590. another in Germany and again another in London in 1594. To bear so many Impressions in so short a compass was a very extraordinary matter at that time when Books were not half so much read and relish'd as they are at present In short we may perhaps safely affirm that Mr. Camden was the only person living that was not satisfy'd with it For tho' men are generally but too fond of their own and so inclin'd to partiality in the main yet 't is certain that every Author understands the particular failings of his Work infinitely better than the nicest Critick that pretends to censure it Just as an intimate acquaintance sees farther into the odd humours and ill qualities of his friend than another that but accidentally falls into his company once or twice But the general applause it met with could not draw him to any extravagant thoughts of what he had done already nor tempt him to slacken his pursuit for the future No he that had weigh'd the matter knew best what could be done and what vast improvements it might receive from time and opportunities His own searches led him daily into new discoveries the continual information of Friends encreas'd the treasure both these help'd him out of numbers of doubts and scruples and so made way for new matter which he had suppress'd before out of a tenderness of imposing Errors upon mankind Thus when a design is well laid it thrives strangely new matter breaks in upon us almost whatever we read hear see or do turns one way or other to the main account And when the Standard is thus fixt assistance pours in from all parts as it were to the head quarters Most of the other Editions had been refin'd enlarg'd and corrected by the Author but they came too fast upon him to do so much as he desir'd After that of 1594. he resolv'd it should rest for some time and be gathering Two years after he took a journey to Sarum and Wells and return'd by Oxford After two years more he travell'd as far as Carlisle along with Sir Robert Cotton But in the midst of those preparations for a more compleat edition he was unexpectedly interrupted and instead of laying out his thoughts and endeavours after fresh discoveries was call'd to a defence of what he had already publish'd The occasion of it was this D. Smith's Life of Camden p. 34. In the year 1597. upon the death of Richard Leigh Clarenceux King at Arms Sir Fulk Grevil recommended Mr. Camden to the Queen as a person every way qualified for the place and one that had highly deserv'd of her Majesty and her Kingdoms The Queen without more ado gives him a grant and Mr. Camden accordingly was created Octob. 23. in the same year having the day before been made Richmond-Herald because by the Constitution none can be King at Arms but who has been first Herald At that time Mr. Brooke was York-Herald who upon Leigh's death presently had an eye upon that preferment and doubted not but the station he had already in the College would secure it to him The greater his assurance was the disappointment lay so much the heavier upon him and as men who lay too much stress upon
take cognizance of murders felonies trespasses for so they term them and many other misdemeanors Besides the King sends every year into each County two of the Justices of England to give sentence upon Prisoners âes of âe and to use the law-term in that cause to make a Gaol-delivery But of these more hereafter when we come to the Courts As to the Ecclesiastical Government after the Bishops of Rome had assigned to each Presbyter his Church and divided the parishes among them Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury ââââand âed inâââârishes about the year of our Lord 636. first began to divide England into Parishes as we read in the History of Canterbury Now England has two Provinces and two Archbishops Canterbury Primate of all England and Metropolitan and York Under these are 25 Bishops 22 under Canterbury and the rest under York What these Bishopricks are with their Counties or Dioceses which they now contain âops are shown us in those words of that excellent person the most reverend Father in God Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury a Patron of Learning and a great Judge of Antiquities In the Province of Canterbury THE Bishoprick of Canterbury along with Rochester contains the County of Kent London has under it Essex Middlesex and part of Hertfordshire Chichester has Sussex Winchester has Hamshire Surrey Isle of Wight with Gernsey and Jersey Islands lying upon the Coast of Normandy Salisbury contains Wiltshire and Berkshire Exeter includes Devonshire and Cornwal Bathe and Wells joyntly have Somersetshire and Glocester Glocestershire Worcester Worcestershire and part of Warwickshire Hereford Herefordshire and part of Shropshire Coventry and Lichfield joyned together Staffordshire Derbyshire and the other part of Warwickshire as also that part of Shropshire which borders upon the River Repil Next Lincoln the largest contains six Counties Lincolnshire Liecestershire Huntingdonshire Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire and the other part of Hertfordshire Ely Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely Norwich Norfolk and Suffolk Oxford Oxfordshire Peterburrow Northamptonshire and Rutlandshire Bristol Dorsetshire To which 18 Dioceses in England must be added those of Wales or Cambria which are both deprived of an Archbishop of their own and also made fewer seven hardly coming entire into four These are âeâe âsis St. Davids whose seat is at St. Davids Landaff Banchor and Asaph or Elwensis In the Province of York YOrk it self comprehends Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire Chester Cheshire Richmondshire Lancashire with part of Cumberland Flintshire and Denbighshire Durham the Bishoprick of Durham and Northumberland Carlisle part of Cumberland and Westmerland To these may be added the Bishoprick of Sodor in Mona commonly called the Isle of Man Amongst those the Archbishop of Canterbury takes the first place the Archbishop of York the second the Bishop of London the third the Bishop of Durham the fourth and the Bishop of Winchester the fifth The rest take place according to the time of their Consecration But if any of the other Bishops happen to be Secretary to the King he claims the fifth place There are besides in England 26 Deaneries 13 whereof were made in the larger Churches by King Henry VIII upon expulsion of the Monks The Archdeaconries are sixty and the Dignities and Prebends make 544. There are also 9284 Parish-churches under the Bishops of which 3845 are appropriate as is plain from the Catalogue exhibited to King James which I have here subjoyned Now appropriate Churches are such as by the authority of the Pope and the consent of the King and Bishop of the Diocess are upon certain conditions settled upon those Monasteries Bishopricks Colleges and Hospitals whose revenues are but small either because they were built upon their ground or granted by the Lords of the Mannour Such a Settlement is expressed in form of law by being united annext and incorporated for ever But these upon the subversion of the Monasteries were to the great damage of the Church made Feuda Laicalia Lay-fees In the Province of Canterbury Dioceses Parish-Churches Churches appropriate Canterbury 257 140 London 623 189 Winchester 362 131 Coventry and Lichfield 557 250 Salisbury 248 109 Bath and Wells 388 160 Lincoln 1255 577 Peterburrow 293 91 Exeter 604 239 Glocester 267 125 Hereford 313 166 Norwich 1121 385 Ely 141 75 Rochester 98 36 Chichester 250 112 Oxford 195 88 Worcester 241 76 Bristol 236 64 S. Davids 308 120 Bangor 107 36 Llandaff 177 98 S. Asaph 121 19 Peculiars in the Province of Canterbury 57 14 The whole number in the Province of Canterbury 8219 3303 In the Province of York York 581 336 Durham 135 87 Chester 256 101 Carlisle 93 18 The whole number in York 1065 592 The whole number in both Provinces 9284 3845 But in the Book of Thomas Wolsey Cardinal written in the year 1520. there are reckoned in all the Counties 9407 Churches I know not how this difference should happen unless it be that some were demolished in the last age and Chapels which are Parochial be omitted others which are barely Chapels being reckoned up amongst the Parish-churches However I have set down the number of Churches at the end of each County out of this Book of Wolsey's There were also in the Reign of King Henry VIII if it be not a crime to mention them monuments of the piety of our fore-fathers Monasteries built to the honour of God the propagation of the Christian faith and good learning and for the support of the poor Of Religious houses i.e. Monasteries or Abbies and Priories to the number of 645. whereof when 40 had been suppressed by a Grant from Pope Clement the seventh Hen. 5. had before that dissolved 100 Pâiories of Monks Aliens obtained by Cardinal Wolsey who had then laid the foundation of two Colleges one at Oxford and another at Ipswich presently about the 36th of Henry VIII a torrent as it were that has thrown down the banks broke in upon the ecclesiastical state of England and to the great surprize of the whole world and oppression of this nation at once threw down the greatest part of the Religious with their curious structures For what the Pope granted to the Cardinal the King took himself by consent of Parliament Whereupon in the year 1536. all religious houses with their revenues which had 200 l. yearly or under that were granted to the King in number 376. And the next year under a specious pretence of rooting out superstition the rest along with the Colleges Chauntries and Hospitals were given up to the King's disposal At which time there were valued or taxed 605 religious houses remaining Colleges besides those in the Universities 96. Hospitals 110. Chauntries and Free-chapels 2374. Most of which in a short time were every where pulled down their revenues squander'd away and the riches which had been consecrated to God by the pious munificence of the English from the time they received Christianity were as it were in a moment dispersed and if I may use the
it good For this reason Robert Mowbray Earl of Northumberland chose it for his chief hold when he rebell'd against King William Rufin but as is usual matters succeeded not well with this Rebel who being here brought into distress by his besiegers retir'd to the adjoyning Monastery which had the esteem of an holy and inviolable sanctuary Nevârtheless he was thence carry'd off and afterwards in along and noisom durance justly suffer'd for his treason I must now coast it along the shore Behind the Promontory whereon Tunnocellum or Tinmouth is seated near Seton Seton part of the Barony De la-vall in the reign of Henry the third stands Seghill Seghill call'd Segedunum Segedunum the station of the t The Fourth says Dr. Gale's edition of the Notitiae third Cohort of the Lergi on the Wall or Rampier and indeed Segedunum in the British tongue signifies the same thing as Seghill in the English A few miles from hence the shore is out by the river Blithe which having pass'd by Belsey the ancient inheritance of the Middletons and Ogle-Castle belonging to the Barons of Ogle Barons of Ogle does here together with the river Pont empty it self into the sea These Ogles were honour'd with the title of Barons from the very beginning of Edward the fouâth's reign having enrich'd themselves by marrying the heirs of Berthram de Bothal Alan Heton and Alexander Kirkby The male issue of these Barons was lately extinct in Cuthbert the seventh Baron who had two daughters Joan marry'd to Edward Talbot a younger son of George Earl of Shrewsbury and Catherine marry'd to Sir Charles Cavendish Knight A little higher the river Wents-beck Wentsbeck falls into the sea It runs by Mitford Barony of Mitford which was fir'd by King John and his Rutars when they miserably wasted this Country u That age call'd those foreign Auxiliaries and Free booters Rutarii Rutarii or Ruptarii who were brought out of the Low-countries and other places to King John's assistance by Falques * Or de Breant de Brent and Walter Buc. Brent being a u Homo efferatus is our Author's expression Our Historians call him Praedo nequissimus and a thousand more hard names because he us'd to make a little free with the Monasteries and their treasures as they lay in his way crack-brain'd fellow was afterwards banish'd the Kingdom but Buc a person of more sobriety having done the King good service had conferr'd on him by his Royal Bounty Lands in Yorkshire and Northamptonshire where his Posterity flourish'd down to John Buck who was attainted under Henry the seventh Great grandson to this John is that person of excellent learning Sir George Buc Knight Master of the Revels who for I love to own my Benefactors has remark'd many things in our Histories and courteously communicated his observations This was formerly the Barony of William Berthram whose line soon fail'd in w This Roger I suppose is the same whereof Mart. Paris in the year 1242. makes such honourable mention In partibus Borealibus Rogerus Bertram cum aliis quibusdam nobilibus ab hâc luce migravit Sir John Bertram was several times Sheriff of Northumberland in the reign of Henry 6. The Christian name of Bertram out of which as our Author notes in his Remains some think the Spaniards have made their Ferdinando is still very common in these northern parts Roger his grandson the three co-heiresses being marry'd to Norman Darcy T. Penbury and William de Elmeley After this Wentsbeck runs through the famous little Town of Morpeth Morpeth for the body of the Town is seated on the northern bank of the river and the Church on the southern Near to which stands also on a shady hill the Castle which together with the Town came from Roger de Merlac or Merley whose Barony it was to the Lords of Greystock and from them to the Barons Dacre of Gillesland I meet with nothing anciently recorded of this place save only that in the year of our Lord 1215. the Towns-men themselves burnt it Hist Malros in pure spight to King John uu From hence Wentsbeck runs by Bothal Castle anciently the Barony of Richard Berthram from whose Posterity it descended upon the Barons of Ogle Upon the bank of this river I have x This in all probability had not been very long fancy'd For in some former Editions of this work Bainbrigg in Yorkshire is supposed to bid as fair as any place for the old name of Glanoventa But Caervorran as has been already noted is as likely as either that or this long fancied whether upon good grounds or pure conjecture I know not was the seat of Glanoventa Glanoventa where the Romans plac'd a Garison of the first Cohort of the Morini for the defence of the Marshes This the very situation of the place seems to argue and the name of the river with its signification may further evidence For 't is ad Lineam Valli upon the range of the Wall or Rampire as the Liber Notitiarum places that Fort. And the river is call'd Wents-beck Now Glanoventa in the British tongue signifies the shore or bank of Went whence also Glanon a Maritime Town in France mention'd by Mela may probably have had its name Not far hence to omit other less considerable Turrets stands on the shore the old Castle of Withrington Withrington or Woderington in the Saxon Language Widringtun which gave name to the eminent and knightly family of the Withringtons who have frequently signaliz'd their valour in the Scotish wars Near this the river Coqued or Coquet Coquet falls into the Sea which rising among the Rocks of Cheviot-hills near its Head has Billesdun from whence are sprung the worshipful family of the Selbies lower to the South Harbottle Harbottle in the Saxon Herbottle i.e. the Armie's station whence the Family of the y From the reign of Henry the fourth down to Richard the third there were several of this name Sheriffs of Northumberland The Saxon Termination of botl which is of the like import with by ham and tun is not only to be observ'd in the name of this Village but in Larbottle Shilbottle and others of less note in this County Harbottles of good note in the last Age. Here was formerly a Castle which was demolish'd by the Scots in the year 1314. Hard by stands Halyston Hâlyston or Holy-stone where in the primitive English Church Paulinus is said to have baptized many thousands Upon the very mouth of Coquet the shore is guarded by the fair Castle of Warkworth Warkworth belonging to the Percies wherein is a Chapel admirably cut out of a Rock and fully finished without Beams or Rafters This King Edward the third gave to Henry Percy Parl. Rolls 5 Edw. 3. together with the Manour of Rochbury It was formerly the Barony of Roger Fitz-Richard given him by Henry the second
King of England who also bestow'd Clavering in Essex upon his son Whereupon at the command of King Edward the first they took the sirname of Clavering Clavering leaving the old fashion of framing sirnames out of the Christian name of their Father for so anciently according to the several names of their Fathers men were call'd Robert * The Son Fitz-Roger Roger Fitz-John c. Part of this Inheritance fell by Fine and Covenant to the Nevils afterwards Earl of Westmoreland and another share of it to a daughter call'd Eve married to Th. Ufford from whose Posterity it afterwards descended hereditarily upon the Fienes Barons of Dacre But from the younger sons branch'd out the Barons of Evers the Evers of Axholme the Claverings of Calaly in this County and others In the Neighbourhood is Morwic Morwick which may also boast of its Lords whose Male-issue was extinct about the year 1258. The Inheritance was convey'd by daughters to the Lumleys Seymours Bulmers and Roscells Then the shore receives the river Alaunus Alaunus which having not yet lost the name whereby 't was known to Ptolemy is still briefly call'd Alne Alne On its banks are Twifford or Double-Ford where a Synod was held under King Egfrid w and z This is still the seat of the same Family William Collingwood Esquire the chief of his name being its present proprietor Eslington the seat of the Collingwoods men of renown in the wars as also Alan-wick Alnewick call'd by the Saxons Ealn-Æ¿ic and now usually Anwick a Town famous for the victory obtain'd by the English wherein our brave Ancestors took William King of Scots and presented him a Prisoner to Henry the second 'T is defended with a goodly Castle which Malcolm the third King of Scotland had so straitned by siege that it was upon the very point of surrender when presently he was slain by a Souldier who stabb'd him with a Spear on the point whereof he pretended to deliver him the Keys of the Castle His son Edward rashly charging upon the Enemy to revenge his father's death was also mortally wounded and dy'd soon after This was formerly a Barony of the Vescies for Henry the second gave it to Eustachius Fitz-John Testa Naviâi father of William Vescie in Tenure of twelve Knights Services John Vescie returning from the Holy War first brought Carmelites Carmeââââ into England and built a Covent for them here at Holme a solitary place and not unlike to Mount Carmel in Syria x William the last of the Vescies Hist Dânesm made Anthony Bec Bishop of Durham Trustee of this Castle and the Demesn-lands belonging to it for the use of his natural son the only Child he left behind him But the Bishop basely betraying his trust alienated the Inheritance felling it for ready money to William Percie since whose time it has always been in the possession of the Percies From hence the shore after a great many Indentures passes by y Dunstaburge Dunstaburg a Castle belonging to the Dutchy of Lancaster which some have a Polyd. Virg. lib. 4. p. 80. mistaken for Bebban which stands further North and instead of Bebbanburg is now call'd Bamborrow Bamborâââ Our Country-man Bede speaking of this Castle 's being besieg'd and burn'd by Penda the Mercian says it had this name from Queen z Bebba Bebba but Florilegus or Matthew of Westminster tells us 't was built by Ida the first King of Northumberland who first fenc'd it with a wooden Empailure and afterwards with a Wall Take Roger Hoveden's description of it Bebba says he is a very strong City not exceeding large as containing about two or three acres of ground It has one hollow entrance into it which is admirably rais'd by steps On the top of a hill stands a fair Church and on the Western point is a Well curiously adorn'd and of sweet and clean water At present it is rather reckon'd a Castle than a City tho' of that extent that it rivals some Cities Nor was it look'd upon as any thing more than a Castle when King William Rufus built the Tower of Male-veisin Tower ãâã Male-vâ over against it the better to engage the Rebel Mowbray who lurk'd here and at last stole off and fled A great part of its beauty was afterwards lost in the Civil Wars when Bressie the stout Norman who fought for the House of Lancaster dealt unmercifully with it Since that time it has been in a continual struggle with old Age and the Winds which latter has through its large windows drifted up an incredible quantity of Sea-sand in its several Bulwarks Near this is Emildon sometime the Barony of John le Viscont Viscounâ but Rametta the heir of the family sold it to Simon de Monfort Earl of Leicester aa In this Barony was born John Duns call'd Scotus Joh. Scotâ Doctâr Sâtiles ãâã A.D. 1âââ because descended from Scotish Parents who was educated in Merton-College in Oxford and became an admirable proficient in Logick and School-Divinity but so critically scrupulous that he darkned all religious Truths He wrote many things with that profound and wondrous subtlety tho' in an obscure and impolish'd stile that he won the name of Doctor Subtilis and had the new Sect of Scotists erected in his name bb He dy'd miserably Paulââ ãâã vius iâ ãâã log Dâââ being taken with an Apoplectick fit and too hastily buried for dead For Nature having too late wrought through the Distemper he vainly mourn'd for assistance till at last beating his head against the Tomb-stone he dash'd out his brains and so expir'd Whereupon a certain Italian wrote thus of him Quaecunque humani fuerant jurisque Sacrati In dubium veniunt cuncta vocante Scoto Quid quod in dubium illius sit vita vocata Morte illum simili ludificante strophâ Quum non ante virum vitâ jugulârit ademptâ Quà m vivus tumulo conditus ille foret What sacred Writings or prophane can show All Truths were Scotus call'd in doubt by you Your Fate was doubtful too Death boasts to be The first that chous'd you with a Fallacy Who lest your subtle Arts your life should save Before she struck secur'd you in the grave That he was born here in England I affirm upon the authority of his own Manuscript Works in the Library of Merton-College in Oxford which conclude thus Explicit Lectura Subtilis c. Here ends the Lecture of John Duns call'd Doctor Subtilis in the University b 'T was an usual thing in those days for the Oxford-Scholars to spend some time at Paris but our English-men as seldom then as they do now reap'd any great advantage by their French Education Hist Antiq. Oxon. Lib. I. an Ann. 1282. of Paris who was born in a certain Hamlet of the Parish of Emildun call'd Dunston in the County of Northumberland belonging to the House of the Scholars of Merton-Hall in