Earles of Anjou Poictou Maine and Bulloigne and unto them he promiseth faire Lands and possessions in England Philip also the French King he goeth unto and solliciteth voluntarily promising in case he aided him to become his vassall and leege man and for England to take the oath of fealtie unto him But it being thought nothing good for the state of France that the Duke of Normandie who already was not so pliable and obedient to the French King as he ought should bee bettered in his state by the addition of England for the power of neighbour potentates is alwaies suspected of Princes so far was the King from yeelding any helpe that he disswaded him rather from invading England But by no meanes could the Duke be reclaimed from his enterprise nay much more encouraged he was now and set on being once backed with warrant from Alexander the Bishop of Rome for even now began the Pope to usurpe authority over Princes who allowing of his cause and quarrell had sent unto him a sacred and hallowed banner as a luckie fore-token of gaining both the victory and Kingdome yea and with all cursed whosoever should oppose themselves against him He assembled therefore all the forces he could possibly raise and gathered together a mighty navie before the Towne of Saint Valeries which standeth upon the mouth of the river Some where he lay a long time windbound For the procurement whereof with many a vow he importuned Saint Valeric the patron-Saint of the Towne and heaped upon him a number of gifts and oblations Harold who with his forces had waited very long in vaine for his comming determined to dissolve his armie to withdraw his navie and to leave the sea-coast both for that he was compelled thereto for want of provision as also because the Earle of Flanders had written unto him that William would not stirre that yeere whom he soone beleeved as thinking that the time of the yeere was such as had locked up the seas and barred all navigation forasmuch as the autumnall Aequinox was neere Whiles he thus deviseth with himselfe driven he was upon an unexpected necessity of new warre to call backe his armie for Harold surnamed the Hard and Harfager king of Norway who had practised piracie in the North parts of Britaine and already subdued the Isles of Orknes being by Tosto sollicited and called forth in hope of the Kingdome of England arrived within the mouth of the river Tine with a fleet of 500. flibotes or thereabout where Tosto also came and joined his owne fleet When they had a good while forraged and spoiled the countrey heere they weighed anchor and sailing along the coast of Yorkshire put into Humbre and there began to commit outrages with all manner of hostility For the repressing of whom the two Earles Edwin and Morcar led forth a power of soldiers whom they had raised suddainly and in tumultuary haste but they not able to abide the violent charge of the Norwegians fled for the most part as fast as they could and together with the Earles made shift to escape howbeit many of them passing over the river Ouse were swallowed up with the waves thereof The Norwegianâ—â—hen goe in hand to lay siege unto the Citie of Yorke which straight waies they get by surrender hostages being given on both sides But after some few dayes King Harold having gathered his whole power from all parts together speedeth him to Yorke and from thence marcheth against the Norwegians who lay encamped strongly in a most safe place for backed they were with the Ocean flanked on the left hand with Humber wherein their fleet rid at anchor and had for their defence on the right side and afront the river Derwent Howbeit King Harold couragiously setteth upon them where first there was a cruell conflict at the Bridge standing over the river Darwent which one Norwegian souldier by report made good for a time against the whole armie of the Englishmen and held out so long untill he was shot through with a dart and died after this continued the battell a good while within the very campe fought with equall valour and indifferent fortune on both sides But in the end the Norwegians were disarraied and scattered and in the midst of the battell Harold himselfe King of the Norwegians and Tosto with the greater part of the Armie lost their lives Vpon this Victorie there fell unto King Harold an exceeding rich bootie a great masse both of gold and silver and that huge Armado except twentie small Barques onely which he granted unto Paul Earle of Orkney and Olave the Sonne of Harold who was slaine for to carry away those that were hurt taking their oath first that from thence forward they should not attempt any hostilitie agaist England This happie victorie encourged Harold and set him aloft now he thought that he should bee a terrour yea to the Normans howsoever hee grew odious unto his owne people because hee had not divided the spoile among his souldiers Howbeit wholly hee employed himselfe to reforme the disordered state of the countrey which in this part was pittifully out of frame and lay neglected Meane while Willam Duke of Normandie finding a fit season for his purpose about the end of September weighed anchor and launched forth then with a gentle gale of winde he sailed with all his shipping and arrived at Pevensey in Sussex where being landed upon the naked shore for to cut off all hope of return from his men he did set fire on his ships and having erected a fortresse there for his men to retire thither in safetie forward he marcheth to Hastings where also he raised another strong hold and placed therein a garrison Now by this time he maketh proclamation declaring the causes of this warre namely to revenge the death of Alfred his Cousin whom together with many Normans Godwin the Father of Harold had murthered Item to bee avenged of the wrongs that Harold had done who when he had banished Robert Archbishop of Canterburie even then by intrusion entred upon the Kingdome of England now pertaining to him treading under foot the religious respect of his oath Howbeit by an Edict he straightly charged his souldiers not in hostile manner to spoile the English men Newes hereof in all hast was brought to King Harold who by all meanes thinking it good to use prevention and as spedily as might be to encounter the Duke sendeth out his messengers every way calleth earnestly upon his subjects to continue in their faithfull allegiance assembleth all his forces in every place and with great journies hasteneth to London where there presented himselfe unto him an Embassadour from Duke William but as he made many words in claiming the Kingdom Harold in a furious fit of anger and indignation went within a little of laying violent hands upon the very person of the Embassadour For a hard matter it was to bereave a fresh Victour
and the most Noble so with our Ancestors the English-Saxons hee was named in their tongue Aetheling that is Noble and in Latine Clito of the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Glorious or Excellent see how that age affected the Greeke Language And hereupon of that Eadgar the last heire male of the English bloud royall this old said saw is yet rife in every mans mouth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in the ancient latine Patents and Charters of the Kings wee read often times Ego E. vel Ae. Clyto Regis filius But this addition Clyto I have observed to be given even to all the Kings sonnes After the Norman conquest no certaine or speciall title of honour was assigned unto him nor any other to my knowledge than singly thus The Kings sonne and The first begotten of the King of England untill that Edward the first summoned unto the high Court of Parliament his sonne Edward by the name of Prince of Wales and Earle of Chester unto whom he granted afterwards the Dukedome also of Aquitain like as the same Prince being now King Edward the Second called unto the Parliament his young sonne Edward not full ten yeeres old by the title of Earle of Chester and of Flint But the said Edward having now attained to the Crowne and being Edward the Third created Edward his sonne a most valiant and renowned man of warre Duke of Cornwall Since which time the Kings first begotten sonne is reputed Duke of Cornewall at the houre of his birth And soone after he adorned the same sonne by solemne investure and creation with the title of Prince of Wales And gave the Principality of Wales in these words To be held of him and his heires Kings of England And as the declared or elect Successours of the Roman Empire as I said even now were named Caesares of the Greekish Empire Despotae of the Kingdome of France Dolphins and of Spaine Infants so from thence forward the Heires apparant of the Kingdome of England were entituled Princes of Wales And this title continued unto the daies of Henrie the Eight when Wales was fully united to the Kingdome of England But now whereas the Kingdomes of Britaine formerly divided are by the happy good luck and rightfull title of the most mighty Prince King Iames growen into one his Eldest sonne Henrie the Lovely Ioy and Dearling of Britaine is stiled PRINCE OF GREAT BRITAINE who as he is borne thus to the greatest hopes so all Britaine from one end to the other prayeth uncessantly from the very heart that God would vouchsafe to blesse him with the greatest vertues and continuance of honour that hee may by many degrees and that most happily exceede our hope surpasse the noble Acts of his Progenitours yea and outlive their yeeres As for our Nobilitie or Gentry it is divided into Superiour and Inferiour The Superiour or chiefe Noblemen we call Dukes Marquesses Earles and Barons which have received these titles from the Kings of this Realme for their Vertue and Prowesse DVKE is the chiefe title of honour among us next after PRINCE This was a name at first of charge and office and not of dignitie About the time of Aelius Verus the Emperour those who governed the Limits and Borders were first named Duces and this degree in the daies of Constantine was inferiour to that of Comites After the Romane government was heere in this Iland abolished this title also remained as a name of office and those among us who in old Charters during the Saxons time are so many of them called Duces were named in the English tongue onely Ealdermen and the verie same that were named Duces they called also Comites As for example that William the Conquerour of England whom most call Duke of Normandie William of Malmsburie termeth Comes or Earle of Normandie But as well Duke as Earle were names of charge and office as appeareth by this Briefe or Instrument of creating a Duke or Earle out of Marculphus an ancient Writer In this point especially is a Princes regall Clemencie fully commended that thorowout the whole people there bee sought out honest and vigilant persons neither is it meete to commit hand over head unto every man a judiciarie Dignity unlesse his faithfulnesse and valour seeme to have beene tried before seeing then therefore we suppose that we have had good proofe of your trustie and profitable service unto us wee have committed unto you the government of that Earledome Dukedome Senatourship or Eldership in that Shire or Province which your Predecessor untill this time seemed to have exercised for to manage and rule the same accordingly Provided alwaies that you evermore keepe your faith untouched and untainted toward our Royall governance and that all people there abiding may live and be ruled under your regiment and governance and that you order and direct them in the right course according to law and their owne customes That you shew your selfe a Protector to widowes and Guardian to Orphans that the wickednesse of theeves and malefactors be most severely by you punished that the people living well under your regiment may with joy continue in peace quietly and whatsoever by this very execution is looked for to arise in profit due to the Exchequer bee brought yeerely by your selfe into our Coffers and Treasurie This title of Duke began to be a title of honour under Otho the Great about the yeere 970. For hee to bind more streitly and neerer unto him martiall and politike men endowed them with Regalities and Roialties as hee termed them And these Roialties were either Dignities or Lands in fee. Dignities were these Dukes Marquesses Earles Capitaines Valvasors Valvasines Later it was ere it came to bee an Hereditarie title in France and not before the time of Philip the third King of France who granted that from thence forth they should bee called Dukes of Britaine who before time were indifferently stiled both Dukes and Earles But in England in the time of the Normans seeing the Norman Kings themselves were Dukes of Normandie for a great while they adorned none with this honour nor before that Edward the Third created Edward his sonne Duke of Cornwall by a wreath upon his head a ring on his finger and a silver verge or rod like as the Dukes of Normandie were in times past created by a Sword and Banner delivered unto them afterwards by girding the Sword of the Dutchie and a circlet of gold garnished with little golden Roses in the top And the same King Edward the Third created in a Parliament his two sonnes Lionel Duke of Clarence and Iohn Duke of Lancaster by the girding of a Sword and setting upon their heads a furred chapeau or cap with a circlet or Coronet of gold pearle and a Charter delivered unto them From which time there have beene many hereditary Dukes among us created one after another with these or such like words in
long inhabited with a warlike people and skilfull sailers well stored with barkes and craies and gained much by fishing which is plentifull along the shore But after that the peere made of timber was at length violently carried away by extreame rage of the sea it hath decaied and the fishing lesse used by the reason of the dangerous landing for they are enforced to worke their vessels to land by a Capstall or Craine In which respect for the bettering of the towne Queene Elizabeth granted a contribution toward the making of a new harbour which was begun but the contribution was quickly converted into private purses and the publike good neglected Neverthelesse both Court the Countrey and Citie of London is served with much fish from thence The whole Rape of Hastings and the Honour was holden by the Earles of Ew commonly called de Augi in Normandie descended from the base sonne of Richard the First Duke of Normandie untill the daies of Alice the heire of the house whom in the reigne of Henrie the Third Ralph de Issodun in France tooke to wife whose posteritie lost a faire patrimonie in England for that as our Lawyers spake in those daies they were Ad fidem Regis Franciae that is under the king of France his allegiance When King Henry the third had seazed their lands into his hands hee granted the Rape of Hastings first to Peter Earle of Savoy then to Prince Edward his sonne and after upon his surrender to Iohn sonne to the Duke of little Britaine upon certaine exchanges of lands pertaining to the Honour of Richmond which Peter Earle of Savoy had made over for the use of the Prince Long time after when the Duke of Britaine had lost their lands in England for adhering to the French King King Henrie the Fourth gave the Rape of Hastings with the Manour of Crowherst Burgwash c. to Sir Iohn Pelham the elder upon whose loialtie wisedome and valour he much relied Before we depart from Hastings as it shall not bee offensive I hope to remember that in the first daies of the Normans there were in this shire great gentlemen surnamed Hastings de Hastings of whom Mathew de Hastings held the Manour of Grenocle in this service that he should find at this haven an oaâ—e when the kings would crosse over the seas so now the honourable house of the Hastings that are Earles of Huntingdon enjoy this title of Hastings For King Edward the Fourth bestowed this title with certaine Royalties as they terme them upon Sir William Hastings his Chamberlaine Who is by Cominaus commended for that having received an yearely pension of Lewis the eleaventh the French King hee could not for any thing bee brought to give unto the French King an acquittance of his owne hand writing I will in no case saith hee that my hand-writing bee seene amongst the accounts of the French Kings Treasure But this man by diving so deepe into the friendship of Kings overwhelmed and drowned himselfe quite For whiles hee spake his minde and reasoned over franckly at a private consultation with the Usurper King Richard the Third all of a sodaine and unlooked for had hee was away and without pleading for himselfe presently made shorter by the head upon the next blocke Neither is this to be passed over in silence that King Henrie the Sixth adorned Sir Thomas Hoo a worthy knight whom hee also chose into the order of the Garter with the title of Baron Hoo and Hastings whose daughters and heires were married to Sir Gefferie Bollen from whence by the mothers side Queene ELIZABETH was descended to Roger Coplie to Iohn Carew Iohn Devenish From thence the shore passing under Farley hill farre seene both by sea and land whereon standeth a solitary Church full bleakly and a beacon is hollowed with an in-winding Bay and upon it standeth Winchelsey which was built in the time of King Edward the Frst when a more ancient towne of the same name in the Saxons tongue called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was quite swallowed up with the rough and raging Ocean in the yeare of our Lord 1250. what time the face of the earth both heere and also in the coast of Kent neere bordering became much changed The situation thereof I will set before your eyes in the very words of Th. Walsingham Situate it is upon a high hill very steepe on that side which either looketh toward the sea or over-looketh the rode where ships lie at anchor Whence it is that the way leading from that part to the haven goeth not streight forward least it should by an over sodaine and downe right descent force those that goe downe to fall headlong or them that goe up to creepe rather with their hands then to walke but lying side-waies it windeth with curving turnes in and out to one side and the other At first it was inclosed with a rampier after-wards with strong wals and scarce beganne it to flourish when it was sacked by the French men and Spaniards and by reason that the sea shrunke backe from it began sodainely as it were to fade and loose the beauty And now only beareth the countenance of a faire towne and hath under it in the levell which the sea relinquished a Castle fortified by Henrie the Eighth and large marshes defended from sea-rages with workes very chargeably By the decay hereof and the benefit of the sea together Rhie opposite unto it and as highly seated began to flourish or rather to reflourish For that in old time it flourished and that William of Ipres Earle of Kent fortified it Ipres Tower now the prison and the immunities or priviledges that it had in common with the Cinque-ports may sufficiently shew But by occasion of the Vicinity of Winchelsey or the shrinking backe of the sea it lay for a good while in former ages unknowne But when Winchelsey decaied and King Edward the Third walled it where the cliffes defended it not it beganne to breath againe and revive and in our fathers daies the sea to make amends aboundantly for the harmes it had done raised with an unusuall tempest so rushed in and insinuated it selfe in forme of a bay that it made a very commodious haven which another tempest also in our daies did not a little helpe Since which time it greatly reflourished with inhabitants buildings fishing and navigation and at this day there is an usuall passage from hence into Normandie yet now it beginneth to complaine that the sea abandoneth it such is the variable and interchangeable course of that element and in part imputeth it that the river Rother is not contained in his channell and so looseth his force to carry away the sands and beach which the sea doth inbeate into the haven Notwithstanding it hath many fishing vessels and serveth London and the Court with varietie of sea-fish Now whether it have the name of Riue a Norman
slaughter of them when at Lapis Tituli for so is that place named in Ninnius which we now call Stouar almost in the same sense and haven certainely it was hee put them to flight and forced them with all the speed they might to take their Pinnaces In which place also he gave commandement saith he that himselfe should bee buried to represse thereby as he thought the furious outrages of the English Saxons in like sort as Scipio Africanus did who commanded that his tombe should bee so set as that it might looke toward Africa supposing that his verie tombe would be a terror to the Carthaginians Here also at VVipped fleet so called of VVipped the Saxon there slaine Hengest discomfited the Britaines and put them to flight after hee had sore tired them with sundry conflicts S. Austine our Apostle as they call him many yeares after landed in this Isle unto whose blessing the credulous Clergie ascribed the plentifull fertility of the country and the Monke Gotceline cried out in this manner O the land of Tenet happy by reason of her fertilitie but most happy for receiving and entertaining so many Divine in-commers bringing God with them or rather so many heavenly citizens Egbert the third King of the Kentishmen to pacifie dame Domneva a devout Lady whom before time he had exceedingly much wronged granted here a faire piece of land wherein she errected a Monastery for 70. veiled virgins the prioresse whereof was Mildred for her holinesse canonized a Saint and the Kings of Kent bestowed many faire possessions upon it but Withred especially who that I may note the antiquitie and manner of livery of Seisin in that age out of the very forme of his owne Donation For the full complement of his confirmation thereof laied upon the holy altar a turfe of that ground which he gave at Humantun Heere afterward sundry times arrived the Danes who piteously empoverished this Island by robbings and pillages and also polluted this Monasterie of Domneva with all kind of cruelty that it flourished not againe before the Normans government Heere also landed Lewis of France who called in by the tumultuous Barons of England against King Iohn published by their instigation a pretended right to the Crowne of England For that whereas King Iohn for his notorious treason against King Richard his brother absent in the Holy-land was by his Peeres lawfully condemned and therefore after the death of King Richard the right of the Crowne was devolved to the Queene of Castile sister to the said King Richard and that shee and her heires had conveied over their right to the said Lewis and his wife her daughter Also that King Iohn had forfeited his Kingdome both by the murther of his Nephew Arthur whereof he was found guilty by his Peeres in France and also by subjecting his Kingdomes which were alwaies free to the Pope as much as in him lay contrary to his oath at his Coronation and that without the consent of the Peeres of the Realme c. Which I leave to Historians with the successe of his expedition least I might seeme to digresse extraordinarily Neither must I passe over heere in silence that which maketh for the singular praise of the inhabitants of Tenet those especially which dwell by the roads or harbours of Margate Ramsgate and Brodstear For they are passing industrious and as if they were Amphibii that is both land creatures and sea creatures get their living both by sea and land as one would say with both these elements they be Fisher-men and Plough-men as well Husband-men as Mariners and they that hold the plough-taile in earing the ground the same hold the helme in steering the ship According to the season of the yeare they knit nets they fish for Cods Herrings Mackarels c. they saile and carry forth Merchandise The same againe dung and mannure their grounds Plough Sow harrow reape their Corne and they inne it Men most ready and well appointed both for sea and land and thus goe they round and keepe a circle in these their labours Futhermore whereas that otherwhiles there happen shipwrackes heere for there lie full against the shore those dangerous flats shallowes shelves and sands so much feared of Sailers which they use to call The Goodwinsands The Brakes The four-foots The whitdick c. these men are wont to bestir themselves lustily in recovering both ships men and Merchandize endangered At the mouth of Wantsum Southward which men thinke hath changed his channell over against the Isle stood a City which Ptolomee calleth RHVTVPIAN Tacitus PORTVS TRVTVLENSIS for Rhutupensis if Beatus Renanus conjectureth truely Antonine RHITVPIS PORTVS Ammianus Marcellinus RHVTVPIAH STATIO that is the Road of Rhutupiae Orosius THE HAVEN and City of Rhutubus the old English-Saxons as Beda witnesseth Reptacesler others Ruptimuth Alfred of Beverly nameth it Richberge we at this day Richborow Thus hath time sported in varying of one and the same name Whence this name should arise it is not for certaine knowen But seeing the places neere unto it as Sandwich and Sandiby have their denomination of Sandi I considering also that Rhyd Tufith in the British-tongue betokeneth a sandy fourd I would willingly if I durst derive it from thence This City seemed to have beene seated on the descent of an hill the Castle there stood overlooking from an higher place the Ocean which is now so farre excluded by reason of sandy residence inbealched with the tides that it comes hardly within a mile of it Right famous and of great name was this City while the Romans ruled here From hence was the usual passing out of Britan to France and the Neatherlands at it the Roman fleets arrived here it was that Lupicinus sent by Constantius the Emperour into Britaine for to represse the rodes and invasions of Scots and Picts both landed the Heruli and Batavians and Maesian regiments Heere also Theodosius the father of Theodosius the Emperour to whom as Symmachus witnesseth the Senate decreed for pacifying Britan armed Statues on horse-backe arrived with his Herculij Iovij Victores Fidentes for these were names of Roman regiments Afterwards when the Saxon Pirates impeached entercourse of merchants and infested our coasts with continuall piracies the Second Legion Augusta which being remooved by the Emperour Claudius out of Germany had remained many yeares in Garrison at Isea Silurum in Wales was translattd hither and had a Provost of their owne heere under the great Lieutenant and Count of the Saxon shore Which Provostship happily that Clemens Maximus bare who being heere in Britan by the soldiers saluted Emperour slew Gratian the lawfull Emperour and was afterwards himselfe slaine by Theodosius at Aquileia For this Maximus it was whom Ausonius in the verses of Aquileia called the Rhutupine robber Maximus armigeri quondam sub nomine lixae Faelix quae tanti spectatrix laeta triumphi Fudisti Ausonio Rhutupinum Marte latronem
deliver up into his hands this Castle together with the well what time as he aspired to the Kingdome and after hee had settled his estate and affaires at London thought it good before all other things to fortifie this peece and to assigne faire lands in Kent unto Gentlemen to bee held in Castle-guard with this condition to be in readinesse with certaine numbers of men for defence of the same which service notwithstanding at this day is redeemed with a yearely paiment of money For when Sir Hubert de Burgh was Constable of this Castle to use the words of an old writer he weighed with himselfe that it was not safe for the Castle to have every moneth new warders for the Castle guard procured by the assent of the King and all that held of that Castle that every one should send for the ward of one moneth tenne shillings and that therewith certaine men elected and sworne as well horse as foote should be waged for to gard the Castle It is written that Phillip surnamed Augustus King of France when Lewis his sonne went about to gaine the Crowne of England had wonne certaine Cities and Forts and could not get this being manfully defended by the said Sir Hubert de Burgh said thus Verily my sonne hath not one foote of land in England untill he be Master of Dover Castle as beeing in very deed the strongest hold of all England and most commodious for the French Vpon the other cliffe which standeth over against it and beareth up his head in manner even with it are extant the remaines of a very ancient building One I know not upon what reason induced said it was Caesars Altar But Iohn Twin of Canterbury a learned old man who in his youth saw a great part thereof standing whole and entire assured me that it had beene a Watch-towre to give night light and direction to ships Like as there stood another opposite unto it at Bologne in France erected thereby the Romans and long after reedified by Charles the Great as Regino witnesseth in whom Phanum for Pharum is falsly read which at this day the French terme Tour de Order and the English The old man of Bullen Vnder this cliffe Henry the Eighth in our fathers daies with exceeding labour and 63000. pounds charges by pitching huge posts fast within the very sea and the same bound together with yron worke and heaping thereupon a deale of timber and stones brought up a mightie Pile which we call The Peere wherein the ships might more safely ride But the furious violence of the raging Ocean soone overcame the laudable endeavour of that puissant Prince and so the frame of this worke beaten continually upon with the waves became dis-joyned For the repaire whereof Queene Elizabeth laid out a great summe of money and the Authoritie of Parliament imposed upon every English ship that carry forth or bring in merchandise a certaine toll upon Tonneage for certaine yeares This Sea coast of Britaine is seperated from the Continent of Europe by a frete or streight where as some suppose the Seas brake in and made way betweene the lands Solinus calleth it Fretum Gallicum Tacitus and Ammianus Macellinus Fretum Oceani and Oceanum Fretalem Gratius the Poet Freta Morinum dubio refluentia ponto The narrow Seas on Bollen-coast that keepe uncertaine tides They of the Netherlands call it Dehofden of the two heads or promontories we the Narrow-sea and The strait of Calais as the Frenchmen Pas de Callais For this is the place as saith a Poet of our time gemini quà janua ponti Faucibus angustis latèque frementibus undis Gallorum Anglorumque vetat concurrere terras Where current of two seas In gullet streight wherein throughout their billowes rage and fret Keepes France and England so a part as though they never met The narrow sea as Marcellinus truly writeth swelleth at every tide with terrible high flouds and againe at the ebbe becommeth as flat as a plaine field if it be not raised with winds and counter seas betweene two risings of the moone it floweth twice and ebbeth as oft For as the Moone ascendeth toward the Meridian and is set againe under the Horizon in the just opposite point the Ocean heere swelleth mightily and the huge billowes rush upon the shores with so great a noise that the Poet might well say Rhutupináque littora fervent And Rhutup shore doth boile and billow and D. Paulinus where he speaketh of the County of Bulloigne which he termeth the utmost skirt of the world not without cause used these words Oceanum barbaris fluctibus frementem that is The Ocean raging and roaring with barbarous billowes Heere might arise a question beseeming a learned man that hath wit and time at will whether where this narrow sea runneth between France and Britaine now there was a narrow banke or necke of land that in times past conjoyned these regions and afterwards being broken either by the generall deluge or by rushing in of the waves or else by occasion of some earth-quake did let in the waters to make a through passage Verily as no man makes doubt that the face of the whole earth hath beene altered partly by the said deluge and partly by long continuance of time and other causes as also that Ilands by earthquakes or the shrinking back of waters were laid and joyned unto firme lands so most certainly it appeareth by authors of best credite that Ilands by reason of earthquakes and the breaking in of waters were severed disjoyned and rent from the Continent Whereupon Pythagoras in Ovid saith thus Vidi ego quod quondam fuerat solidissima tellus Esse fretum vidi factas ex aequore terras My selfe have seene maine ground sometime turned into sea and sand And seene I have againe the Sea became maine setled land Strabo gathering of things to come by those that are past concluded that such Isthmi neckes or narrow bankes of land both have beene and shall bee wrought and pierced through You see saith Seneca whole regions violently removed from their places and now to lie beyond the Sea which lay before bounding upon it and hard by You see there is separation made both of Countries and nations when as some part of nature is provoked of it selfe or when the mighty wind beateth strongly upon some sea the force whereof as in generall is wonderfull For although it rage but in part yet it is of the universall power that so it rageth Thus hath the sea rent Spaine from the Continent of Africke Thus by Deucalions floud so much spoken of by the greatest Poets was Sicilie out from Italy And hereupon Virgil wrote thus Haec loca vi quondam vasta convulsa ruinâ Tantum aevi longinqua valet mutare vetustas Dissiluisse ferunt cùm protinùs utraque tellus Vna foret venit medio vi pontus undis Hesperium Siculo latus abscidit arvaque urbes Littore diductas angusto interluit aestu
tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the other lying under it North-ward is named the Vale. Chiltern got that name according to the very nature of the soile of Chalky marle which the ancient English men termed Cylt or Chilt For all of it mounteth aloft with whitish hills standing upon a mixt earth of Clay and Chalke clad with groves and woods wherein is much Beech and it was altogether unpassable in times past by reason of trees untill that Leofstane Abbot of Saint Albans did cut them downe because they yeelded a place of refuge for theeves In it where the Tamis glideth at the foote of those hills with a winding course standeth Marlow a prety towne of no meane credite taking name of the said Chalke commonly tearmed Marle which being spred upon Corne ground eaten out of heart with long tillage doth quicken the same againe so as that after one yeeres rest it never lieth fallow but yeeldeth againe unto the Husband-man his seed in plentifull measure Nere unto this a rill sheaddeth it selfe in the Tamis making way through low places and where it turneth hath a towne upon it called High Wickham or Wicombe rather which happily thereof tooke the name considering that the German Saxons terme any winding reach of river and sea a Wicke and Combe a low Valle. And very many places wee meet withall in England named in that respect This towne for largenesse and faire building is equall to the greatest townes in this shire and in that it hath a Major for the Head-Magistrate worthily to bee preferred before the rest About the time of the Normans comming in Wigod of Wallengford was Lord both of the Burgh of Wicomb and also of the Villa forinseca I speake according to the Record of the ancient Inquisition that is The out Hamlet or Bery After whose death King Henry the first laid it unto the Crowne But King John at the length divided the said Out Berry betweene Robert de Vi-paâ—â—t and Alane Basset North off Wicomb mounteth up aloft the highest place of this Region and thereof it retaineth still the British name Pen. For the head or eminent top of a thing is with them called Pen and hence it is that the Pennine Alpes the Apâ—â—nine and many Mountaines among us tooke their names Nere unto this Wickham or Wicomb is Bradenham seated in a very commodious and wholsome place which now is become the principall habitation of the Barons of Windesor concerning whom I have already spoken in Barke-shire ever since that in the memory of our fathers William Lord Windesor seated himselfe here whose father S. Andrew descended from the old stemme of ancient Barons King Henry the Eighth dignified with the honour of Baron Windesor Tamis having entertained the said Riâ—â— commeth downe with a rolling streame by Aelan famous for a Colledge the nourâ—e garden as it were or plant plot of good letters which that most vertuous and godly Prince K. Henry the Sixt as I have already said first founded And some few miles forward the river Cole entreth into Tamis which running here betweene Buckinghamshire and Middlesexe giveth name unto the towne Colbroke which was that PONTES whereof Antonine the Emperour maketh mention as the distance on both sides from Wallingford and London doth witnesse Neither is there any other place else in the way that leadeth from Wallingford to London to which the name of Pontes that is Bridges might be more fitly applied For this Cole is here parted into foure channels over which stand as many bridges for the commodity of passengers whereof that it tooke this name the very signification of the word doth plainly shew Like as Gephyrae a towne in Boâ—etia and another Pontes in France where the County of Ponthieu our Tunbridg and others are so called of Bridges This County of Ponthieu to note so much by the way descended to the Kings of England in the right of Aeleanor the wife of King Edward the First who by her mothers right was sole and entire Heire of the same Cole by these severall partitions of his streames compasseth in certaine pleasant Ilands into which the Danes fled in the yeere of our Lord 894. when Aelfred preassed hard upon them and there by the benefit of the place defended themselves untill the English for want of provisions were forced to breake up Siege and leave them At this divorce and division of the waters Eure or Ever a little Towne sheweth it selfe which when K. Richard the First had given unto Sir Robert Fitz-Roger Lord of Clavering his younger sonnes of this place assumed their surname to wit Hugh from whom the Barons of Eure and Robert from whom the Family of Eure in Axolme is sprung and spred Farther within Land are these places which I may not passe over Burnham better knowne by the Hodengs Lord Huntercombs and Scudamores who were Lords thereof and of Beacons-field successively by inheritance than by it selfe Stoke Pogeis so called of the Lords thereof in old time named de Pogeis and from them hereditarily devolved upon the Hastings of whose race Edward Baron Hastings of Loughborrow founded here an Hospitall for poore people making himselfe one of their society and his nephew by the brother Henry Earle of Huntingdon built a very faire house and Fernham the very same if I bee not deceived which was called Fernham Roiall and which in times past the Barons Furnivall held by service of finding their Soveraigne Lord the King upon the day of his Coronation a glove for his right hand and to support the Kings right arme the same day all the while hee holdeth the regaâ—â— Verge or Scepter in his hand From the Furnivalls it came by the daughter of Thomas Nevill unto the Talbots Earles of Shrewsbury who although by exchange they surrendred up this Manour unto King Henry the Eight yet they reserved this honourable Office still to them and their Heires for ever This Cole carrieth downe with him another riveret also which somewhat above from the West sheddeth it selfe into it upon it we saw first Missenden where stood a religious House that acknowledged the D'Ollies their founders and certaine Gentlemen surnamed De Missenden their especiall benefactours upon a vow for escaping a ship-wracke And then in the Vale Amersham in the Saxon tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which vaunted it selfe not for faire buildings nor multitude of inhabitants but for their late Lord Frâ—ncis Russeâ—â— Earle of Bedford who being the expresse paterne of true Piety and noblenesse lived most dearely beloved of all good men But the principall seate of the Earles of Bedford is called Cheineis standing more East-ward where both Iohn the first Earle out of this Family and that noble Francis his sonne lye entombed together Unto which adjoyneth on the one side Latimers so named of the Lords thereof I meane those more ancient Barons Latimer before time called Islehamsted where Sir Edwin Sands Knight who
Lancaster second son of K. Henry the third and his wife Aveline de fortibus Countesse of Albemarle William and Audomar of Valence of the family of Lusignian Earles of Pembroch Alphonsus Iohn and other children of King Edward the First Iohn of Eltham Earle of Cornwall son to K. Edward the second Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester the yongest son of K. Edward the third with other of his children Aeleanor daughter and heire of Humfrey Bohun Earle of Hereford and of Essex wife to Thomas of Woodstocke the yong daughter of Edward the fourth and K. Henry the seventh Henry a childe two months old son of K. Henry the eight Sophia the daughter of K. Iames who died as it were in the very first day-dawning of her age Phillippa Mohun Dutches of Yorke Lewis Vicount Robsert of Henault in right of his wife Lord Bourchier Anne the yong daughter and heire of Iohn Mowbray Duke of Norfolke promised in marriage unto Richard Duke of Yorke yonger son to K. Edward the fourth Sir Giles Daubency Lord Chamberlaine to king Henry the Seventh and his wife of the house of the Arundels in Cornwall I. Vicount Wells Francis Brandon Dutches of Suffolke Mary her daughter Margaret Douglasse Countesse of Lennox grandmother to Iames King of Britaine with Charles her son Winifrid Bruges Marchionesse of Winchester Anne Stanhop Dutches of Somerset and Iane her daughter Anne Cecill Countesse of Oxford daughter to the L. Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England with Mildred Burghley her mother Elizabeth Berkeley Countesse of Ormund Francis Sidney Countesse of Sussex Iames Butler Vicount Thurles son and heire to the Earle of Ormond Besides these Humfrey Lord Bourchier of Cromwall Sir Humfrey Bourchier son and heire to the Lord Bourchier of Berners both slaine at Bernet field Sir Nicholas Carew Baron Carew Baronesse Powisse T. Lord Wentworth Thomas Lord Wharton Iohn Lord Russell Sir T. Bromley Lord Chancellour of England Douglas Howard daughter and heire generall of H. Vicount Howard of Bindon wife to Sir Arthur Gorges Elizabeth daughter and heire of Edward Earle of Rutland wife to William Cecill Sir Iohn Puckering Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England Francis Howard Countesse of Hertford Henrie and George Cary the father and sonne Barons of Hunsdon both Lords Chamberlaines to Queene Elizabeth the heart of Anne Sophia the tender daughter of Christopher Harley Count Beaumont Embassadour from the king of France in England bestowed within a small guilt Urne over a Pyramid Sir Charles Blunt Earle of Devonshire Lord Lieutenant Generall of Ireland And whom in no wise wee must forget the Prince of English Poets Geoffry Chauer as also he that for pregnant wit and an excellent gift in Poetry of all English Poets came neerest unto him Edmund Spencer Beside many others of the Clergy and Gentlemen of quality There was also another College or Free-chapell hard by consisting of a Deane and twelve Chanons dedicated to Saint Stephen which King Edward the Third in his princely Magnificence repaired with curious workmanship and endowed with faire possessions so as he may seeme to have built it new what time as he had with his victories overrun and subdued al France recalling to minde as we read the Charter of the foundation and pondering in a due weight of devout consideration the exceeding benefits of Christ whereby of his owne sweet mercy and pity he preventeth us in all occasions delivering us although without all desert from sundry perils and defending us gloriously with his powerfull right hand against the violent assaults of our adversaries with victorious successes and in other tribulations and perplexities wherein wee have exceeding much beene encombred by comforting us and by applying and in-powering remedies upon us beyond all hope and expectation There was adjoyning hereto a Palace the ancient habitation of the Kings of England from the time of King Edward the Confessor which in the Raigne of king Henry the Eighth was burnt by casuall fire to the ground A very large stately and sumptuous Palace this was and in that age for building incomparable with a vawmurâ— and bulwarks for defence The remaines whereof are the Chamber wherein the King the Nobles with the Counsellers and Officers of State doe assemble at the high Court of Parliament and the next unto it wherein anciently they were wont to beginne the Parliaments knowne by the name of Saint Edwards painted chamber because the tradition holdeth that the said king Edward therein dyed But how sinfull an Act how bloudy how foule how hainous horrible hideous and odious both to God and man certaine brute and savage beasts in mens shape enterprised of late by the device of that Arch Traitour Robert Catesby with undermining and placing a mighty deale of gunpowder under these Edifices against their Prince their Country and all the States of the Kingdome and that under an abominable pretence of Religion my very heart quaketh to remember and mention nay amazed it is and astonied but to thinke onely into what inevitable darknesse confusion and wofull miseries they had suddenly in the twinckling of an eye plunged this most flourishing Realme and Common wealth But that which an ancient Poet in a smaller matter wrote we may in this with griefe of minde utter Excidat illa dies aevo nè postera credant Secula nos certè taceamus obruta multa Nocte tegi propriae patiamur crimina gentis That cursed day forgotten be no future age beleeve That this was true let us also at least wise now that live Conceale the same and suffer such Designes of our owne Nation Hidden to be and buried quite in darknesse of oblivion Adjoyning unto this is the Whitehall wherein at this day the Court of Requests is kept Beneath this is that Hall which of all other is the greatest and the very Praetorium or Hall of Justice for all England In this are the Judiciall Courts namely The Kings Bench the Common Pleas and The Chancery And in places neere thereabout The Star-Chamber the Exchequer Court of Ward and Court of the Dâ—teby of Lancaster c. In which at certaine set times wee call them Tearmes yearely causes are heard and tryed whereas before king Henry the Third his dayes the Court of common Law and principall Justice was unsetled and alwaies followed the kings Court But he in the Magna Charta made a law in these words Let not the Common Pleas folâ—ow our Court but bee holden in some certaine place Which notwithstanding some expound thus That the Common Pleas from thenceforth bee handled in a Court of the owne by it selfe a part and not in the Kings Bench as before This Judgement Hall which we now have king Richard the Second built out of the ground as appeareth by his Armes engraven in the stone-worke and many arched beames when he had plucked downe the former old Hall that king William Rufus in the same place had built before and made it his
money and Title by his wife Beatrice the eldest daughter of William de Say who was the sisters sonne of that great Geffrey de Magnavill the first Earle of Essex This Fitz-Petre a man as an old Authour writeth Passing well monied had formerly dealt with the Bishop of Ely the Kings chiefe Justicer for a great peece of money presently paid and by intreaty beside and then claimed and demanded the Earledome in his wives right as being the daughter of William Say eldest brother to Geffrey Say Who gave him full Seisin thereof against Geffrey Say and required the money that hee promised which within a short time hee received of him every penny well and truely paid for to bee brought into the Kings coffers Thus being admitted and confirmed by the Kings Letters Patent hee held and possessed it taking Homage of all that held of him in Knights service And so was girt with the sword of the Earledome of Essex by King John at the solemnity of his Coronation This Geffrey Fitz-Petre was advanced to the high estate of Justicer of England by King Richard the First when hee removed Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury from that Office by the Popes peremptory command for that Bishops ought not to intermedle in secular affaires This Place the said Geffrey Fitz-Petre executed with great commendation preserving by his wisedome the Realme from that confusion which it after fell into by King Johns unadvised carriage His two Sonnes Geffrey and William assumed unto them the sirname of Magnavill or Mandevill and enjoyed this honour successively As for Geffrey hee by his wife was Earle of Glocester also and being a young man lost his life at a Turneament William tooke part with Lewis of France against King John and departed out of this World without issue These being thus dead childelesse their sisters sonne Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford and high Constable of England succeeded in their roome Of this mans Posterity male there succeeded many yeares together one after another Earles of Hâ—reford and of Essex of whom I will speake among the Earles of Hereford seeing that they wrote themselves Earles of Hereford and of Essex Aeleonor the eldest daughter of the last of these Bohuns being given in marriage together with the Title of Essex unto Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester bare unto him a daughter named Anne who had for her first Husband Edmund Earle of Stafford from whom came the Dukes of Buckingham and for her second Sir William Bourchier unto whom King Henry the Fifth gave the Earledome of Ew in Normandie This William of her body begat Henry Bourchier whom King Edward the fourth invested in the Dignity of the Earledome of Essex in regard hee had marryed his Aunt and was descended from Thomas of Woodstocke Hee had to succeede him another Henry his Grand-childe who being cast out of the sadle by a flinging horse lost his life leaving behinde him one onely daughter Anne who being then little respected King Henry the Eighth presently and all at once made Thomas Cromwell whom hee had used as his Instrument to suppresse and abolish the Popes authority Earle of Essex Lord Great Chamberlaine of England and Knight of the Order of Saint George whom before for his reaching politique head hee had made Baron Cromwell of Okâ—ham The Kings Vicar generall in Spirituall matters and Lord of the Privie Seale and all these honours were heaped upon him within the compasse of five yeares But in the fifth moneth after hee was Earle hee lost his head and so had the enterlude of his life a bloudy Catastrophe as most of these have who are busie managers of the greatest affaires And then the same King thought Sir William Parr upon whom hee had bestowed in marriage Anne the onely daughter and heire of the foresaid Henry Bourâ—â—ier worthy also to be entituled Earle of Essex But at the last after Parr was dead without issue Walter D'Eureux Vicount Hereford whose great Grandmother was Cecilie Bourgchier Sister to Henrie Bourgchier whom I named right now through the gracious favour of Queene Elizabeth received this dignitie of the Earledome of Essex and left it to his Sonne Robert Who being adorned with singular gifts of nature and supported besides with the speciall favour of his most gracious Prince grew so fast unto such honour that all England conceived good hope hee would have fully equalled yea and farre surpassed the greatest vertues and praises of all his Progenitours But alas whiles he was carried away with popularity and made hast to out goe his hopes hee cast himselfe headlong into destruction as many more have done who despising that which might come by patience with securitie have made choise to hasten thereto before time with their finall overthrow But our most gracious Soveraigne King Iames of his Royall benignitie hath restored his sonne Robert to his bloud and honours by Parliament authority There be counted in this County Parish Churches 415. ICENI THe Region next unto the Trinobantes which afterwards was called East-England and containeth Suffolke Norfolke and Cambridge-shire with Huntingdon-shire was inhabited in times past by the ICENI called elsewhere amisse TIGENI and in Ptolomee more corruptly SIMENI whom also I have thought heeâ—etofore to have been in Caesar by a confused name termed CENIMAGNI and so to thinke induced I was partly by that most neere affinity betweene these names ICENI and CENI-MAGNI and in part by the consent of Caesar and Tacitus together For Caesar writeth that the Cenimagni yeelded themselves unto the Romans which Tacitus recordeth that the Iceni likewise did in these words They willingly joyned in amity with us But that which maketh most to the cleering of this poynt in a Manuscript old booke for CENIMAGNI we finde written with the word divided in twaine CENIAGNI For which if I might not be thought somewhat too bould a Criticke I would reade instead thereof ICENI REGNI Neither verily can you finde the Cenimagni elsewhere in all Britain if they be a diverse people from the Iceni and Regni But of this name ICENI there remaine in this tract very many footings if I may so tearme them as Ikensworth Ikenthorpe Ikbortow Iken Ikining Ichlingham Eike c. Yea and that high street-way which went from hence the Historians of the former age every where doe name Ichenild-Street as one would say the Icenes street What should be the reason of this name so love me Truth I dare not guesse unlesse one would fetch it from the Wedge-like-forme of the country and say it lieth Wedgwise vpon the Sea For the Britans in their language call a Wedge Iken and for the same cause a place in Wales by the Lake or Meere Lhintegid is of that forme named Lhan-yken as Welsh-Britans enformed me and in the very same sense a little country in Spaine as Strabo writeth is cleped SPHEN that is The wedge and yet the same seemeth not to resemble a wedge so neere as this of
we may see in the Histories whether by celestiall influence or other hidden causes I leave to the learned But so farre as I could hitherto reade it did never set foote in England before that time Besides these places before named of great name and marke wee must not overpasse neither Melton Mowbray neere unto this Burton a Mercate Towne bearing name of the Mowbraies sometime Lords thereof wherein is nothing more worth the seeing than a faire Church nor Skeffington standing farther off which as it hath given name to a worshipfull Family so againe it hath received worship and credit from the same The River that watereth this part of the Shire is by the Inhabitants about it called the Wreken along which upon resemblance of the name I have sought VERNOMETUM but in vaine This Wreken gathereth a strong streame by many lively Brookes resorting unto it whereof one passeth by Wimondham an ancient habitation of a younger branch of the house of the Lords Barkleis well encreased by an heire of Dela-Laund and so on by Melton Mowbray before mentioned by Kirkby Bellers where there was a Priory having that addition of the Bellers a respective rich and noble Family in their time by Brokesby a seat now of the Villiers of an old Norman race and descended from an heire of Bellers which Brokesby imparted formerly the sirname to the Brokesbies of especiall antiquity in these parts Then the Wreken speedeth by Ratcliffe high mounted upon a cliffe and within few miles conjoyneth it selfe to Soar neere unto Mont-Soar-hill before mentioned Whatsoever of this Shire lieth beyond the Wreken Northward is not so frequently inhabited and part of it is called the Wold as being hilly without wood wherein Dalby a seat of the old Family of the Noels of whom I shall speake elsewhere and Waltham on the Wold a meane Mercat are most notable Through this part as I have beene enformed passeth the Fosse-way made by the Romans from Lewing Bridge by Segrave which gave sirname to the honourable Family often mentioned and the Lodge on the Wold toward the Vale of Bever but the Tract thereof as yet I know not This Shire hath beene more famous from time to time by reason of the Earles thereof have beene very renowned And seeing it had under the Saxons government Earles by inheritance I will first reckon them up in order as Thomas Talbot a skilfull Antiquary hath delivered me a note of them out of the kings Records In the time of Aethelbald King of the Mercians and in the yeere of our Redemption 716. Leofrick was Earle of Leicester whom there succeeded in direct line Algar the first Algar the second Leofrick the second Leofstane Leofrick the third buried in Coventry Algar the third who had issue two sonnes Aeadwin Earle of March Morkar Earle of Northumberland and a daughter named Lucy first married to Ivon Talboys of Anjou afterwards to Roger of Romara who begat of her William of Romara Earle of Lincolne Now when as the issue male of this Saxon Family failed and the name of the Saxons was troden as it were under foot Robert Beaumont a Norman Lord of Pont Audomar and Earle of Mellent after that Simon an officiary Earle of Leicester was dead obtained his Earledome in the yeere of our Lord 1102. at the bountifull hand of King Henry the First which Robert A man for skill and knowledge excellent faire spoken subtile wise and witty and by nature wily who while hee lived in high and glorious estate an other Earle carried away his wife from him whereupon in his old age being much troubled in minde he fell into deepe melancholy After him succeeded from father to sonne three Roberts the first sirnamed Bossu because hee was crook-backed who after he had rebelled against King Henry the First weary of his loose irregular life became a Chanon Regular the second sirnamed Blanch-maines of his lily-white-hands who sided with the young King against King Henry the Second and dyed in the expedition of King Richard the First to the Holy Land the third sirnamed Fitz-Parnell because his mother was Parnels daughter and one of the heires to Hugh Grant-maismill the last in whose right hee was Seneschall or Steward of England and died issuelesse in the time of King John A few yeeres after Simon Montfort descended from a base sonne of Robert King of France who had married the sister of Robert Fitz-Parnell enjoyed this honour But after that hee and his were expelled in the yeere 1200. as wholy devoted to the French Ranulph Earle of Chester attained unto this Dignity not in right of inheritance but by his Princes favour Howbeit afterwards Simon Montfort sonne of the foresaid Simon obtained this honour when Almarik his eldest brother surrendred up his right before King Henry the Third This Simon stood in so gracious favour with King Henry the Third that hee called him home againe out of France when he was banished heaped upon him great wealth admitted him unto the Earledome of Leicester granted to him the Stewardship of England and to honour him the more gave him his owne sister in marriage But hee thus over-heaped with honourable benefits when he had no meanes to requite them such is the perverse wilfulnesse of men beganne hatefully to maligne him yea and did most wickedly molest the good King having so well deserved making himselfe Ringleader to the rebellious Barons and with them raising horrible tempests of civill warre in which himselfe also at length was overthrowne and slaine As for his Honours and Possessions King Henry the Third gave and graunted them to Edmund his owne younger sonne Earle of Lancaster So afterward this honour lay as it were obscured among the Titles of the house of Lancaster and Mawde the daughter of Henry Duke of Lancaster being married to Henry Duke of Bavaria Earle of Henault Holland Zeland c. added unto his other Titles this of Earle of Leicester also For in the Charter dated the five and thirty yeere of King Edward the Third hee is in plaine termes stiled William Earle of Henhault and of Leicester yea and as we finde in the Inquisition made Anno 36. of the said King Edward the Third shee by the name of Dutchesse of Bavaria held the Castle Manour and Honour of Leicester After whose decease without issue that honour reverted to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who had wedded Blanch the other sister of Mawde From which time it became united to the House of Lancaster untill in our remembrance it reflourished in L. Robert Dudley who was by Queene Elizabeth girt with the sword of the Earledome of Leicester and extraordinarily favoured whereupon the States Generall of the united Provinces in their great troubles chose him triumphantly for their absolute Governour and soone after as contemptuously rejected him reserving all Soveraignty to themselves But after a short time he passed out of this transitory life
Saint late Bishop carried upon their shoulders to his buriall Howbeit the memory of two Prelates I must needs renew afresh the one is Robert Grosthead a man so well seene both in literature and in the learned tongues in that age as it is incredible and to use the words of one then living A terrible reproover of the Pope an adviser of his Prince and Soveraigne a lover of verity a corrector of Prelates a director of Priests an instructor of the Clergy a maintainer of Schollers a Preacher to the people a diligent searcher into the Scriptures a mallet of the Romanists c. The other is mine owne Praeceptor whom in all duty I must ever love and honour that right reverend Father Thomas Cooper who hath notably well deserved both of all the learned and also of the Church in whose Schoole I both confesse and rejoice that I received education The City it selfe also flourished a long time being ordained by King Edward the Third for the Staple as they tearme it that is the Mart of Wooll Leather Lead c. Which although it hath not been over-laied with any grievous calamities as being once onely set on fire once also besieged in vaine by King Stephen who was there vanquished and taken prisoner forced also and won by King Henry the Third when the rebellious Barons who had procured Lewis of France to chalenge the Crowne of England defended it against him without any great dammage yet incredible it is how much it hath been empaired by little and little conquered as it were with very age and time so that of fifty Churches which it had standing in our Great-grandfathers daies there are now remaining scarce eighteene It is remooved that I may note this also from the Aequator 53. degrees and 12. scruples and from the West point 22. degrees and 52. scruples As that Street-way called Highdike goeth on directly from Stanford to Lincolne so from hence Northward it runneth with an high and streight causey though heere and there it be interrupted forward for ten miles space to a little Village called the Spittle in the Street and beyond By the which as I passed I observed moreover about three miles from Lincolne another High-port-way also called Ould-street to turne out of this High dike Westward carrying a bancke likewise evident to be seene which as I take it went to AGELOCUM the next baiting towne or place of lodging from LINDUM in the time of the Romanes But I will leave these and proceed in the course that I have begun Witham being now past Lincolne runneth downe not far from Wragbye a member of the Barony called Trusbut the title whereof is come by the Barons Roos unto the Mannours now Earles of Rutland Then approcheth it to the ruines of a famous Abbay in times past called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commonly Bardney where Bede writeth that King Oswald was Entombed with a Banner of gold and purple hanged over his Tombe The writers in the foregoing age thought it not sufficient to celebrate the memory of this most Christian worthy King Oswald unlesse unto his glorious exploits they stitched also ridiculous miracles But that his hand remained heere uncorrupted many hundred yeeres after our Ancestours have beleeved and a Poet of good antiquity hath written in this wise Nullo verme perit nulla putredine tabet Dextra viri nullo constringi frigore nullo Dissolvi fervore potest sed semper eodem Immutata statu persistit mortua vivit The mans right hand by no worme perisht is No rottennesse doth cause it putrifie No binding cold can make it starke ywis Nor melting heat dissolve and mollifie But alwayes in one state persist it will Such as it was though dead it liveth still This Abbay as writeth Peter of Bloys being sometime burnt downe to the ground by the Danes furious outrage and for many revolutions of yeeres altogether forlorne that noble and devout Earle of Lincolne Gilbert de Gaunt reedified and in most thankfull affectionate minde assigned unto it with many other possessions the tithes of all his Manours wheresoever throughout England Then is Witham encreased with Ban a little River which out of the midst of Lindsey runneth downe first by Horne Castle which belonged in times past to Adeliza of Condie and was laid even with the ground in the Raigne of Stephen afterwards became a capitall seat of the Barony of Gerard de Rodes and pertaineth now as I have heard to the Bishop of Carlile From thence by Scrivelby a Manour of the Dimockes who hold it hereditarily devolved upon them from the Marmions by Sir J. Ludlow and that by service to use now the Lawyers words Of Grand Serjeanty viz. That whensoever any King of England is to bee crowned then the Lord of this Manour for the time being or some one in his name if himselfe bee unable shall come well armed for the warre mounted upon a good horse of service in presence of the Soveraigne Lord the King upon his Coronation day and cause Proclamation to bee made that if any man will avouch that the said Soveraigne Lord the King hath not right to his Kingdome and Crowne he will be prest and ready to defend the right of the King of his Kingdome of his Crowne and dignity with his body against him and all others whatsoever Somewhat lower The Ban at Tatteshall a little Towne standing in a Marish Country but very commodiously well knowne by reason of the Castle built for the most part of bricke and the Barons thereof runneth into Witham They write that Eudo and Pinso two Noblemen of Normandy loving one another entirely as sworne brethren by the liberall gift of King William the Conquerour received many Lordships and faire lands in this tract which they parted so as that Tatteshall fell to Eudo which he held by Barony from whose posterity it came by Dryby and the Bernacks unto Sir Raulph Cromwell whose sonne bearing the same name and being under King Henry the Sixth Lord Treasurer of England departed out of this world without issue but unto Pinso fell Eresby which is not farre off From whose progeny the inheritance descended by the Becks unto the Willoughbeies unto whom there came also an encrease both of honour and also of faire Livelods by their wives not onely from the Uffords Earles of Suffolke but also from the Lords of Welles who brought with them very faire possessions and lands of the family de Engain Lords of ancient Nobility and from the first comming in of the Normans of great power in these parts Among these Willoughbeis one excelled all the rest in the Raigne of Henry the Fifth named Sir Robert Willoughby who for his martiall prowesse was created Earle of Vandosme in France and from these by the mothers side descended Peregrine Berty Baron Willoughby of Eresby a man for his generous minde and military valour renowned
hidden within the net But these things I leave to their observation who either take pleasure earnestly to hunt after Natures workes or being borne to pamper the belly delight to send their estates downe the throat More Westward the River Trent also after he hath ended his long course is received into the Humber after it hath with his sandy banke bounded this shire from Fossedike hither having runne downe first not farre from Stow where Godive the wife of Earle Leofricke built a Monastery which for the low site that it hath under the hills Henry of Huntingdon saith to have beene founded Vnder the Promontory of Lincolne Then neere unto Knath now the habitation of Baron Willoughy of Parrham in times past of the family of the Barons Darcy who had very much encrease both in honor and also of possessions by the daughter and heire of the Meinills This Family of the Darcyes proceeded from another more ancient to wit from one whose name was Norman de Adrecy or Darcy de Nocton who flourished in high reputation under King Henry the Third and whose successours endowed with lands the little Nunnery at Alvingham in this County But this dignity is as it were extinct for that the last Norman in the right line which is more ancient left behinde him onely two sisters of which the one was married to Roger Pedwardine the other to Peter of Limbergh Then runneth the Trent downe to Gainesborrow a towne ennobled by reason of the Danes ships that lay there at rode and also for the death of Suene Tiugs-Kege a Danish Tyrant who after he had robbed and spoiled the country as Matthew of Westminster writeth being heere stabbed to death by an unknowne man suffered due punishment at length for his wickednesse and villany Many a yeere after this it became the possession of Sir William de Valence Earle of Pembroch who obtained for it of king Edward the First the liberty to keepe a Faire From which Earle by the Scottish Earles of Athol and the Piercies descended the Barons of Bourough who heere dwelt concerning whom I have written already in Surry In this part of the Shire stood long since the City Sidnacester which affoorded a See to the Bishops of this Tract who were called the Bishops of Lindifars But this City is now so farre out of all sight and knowledge that together with the name the very ruines also seeme to have perished for by all my curious enquiry I could learne nothing of it Neither must I overpasse that in this Quarter at Melwood there flourished the family of Saint Paul corruptly called Sampoll Knights which I alwaies thought to have beene of that ancient Castilion race of the Earles of Saint Paul in France But the Coat-Armour of Luxemburgh which they beare implieth that they are come out of France since that the said Castilion stocke of Saint Paul was by marriage implanted into that of Luxemburgh which happened two hundred yeeres since or thereabout Above this place the Rivers of Trent Idell and Dane doe so disport themselves with the division of their streames and Marishes caused by them and other Springs as they enclose within them the River-Island of Axelholme in the Saxon Tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is a parcell of Lincolne-shire It carryeth in length from South to North ten miles and in breadth not past halfe so much The flat and lower part of it toward the Rivers is marish ground and bringeth forth an odoriferous kinde of shrub which they tearme Gall. It yeeldeth also Pets in the Mores and dead rootes of fir-wood which in burning give a ranke sweet savour There also have beene found great and long firre-trees while they digged for Pet both within the Isle and also without at Laâ—ghton upon Trent banke the old habitation of the family of D'alanson now contractly called Dalison The middle parts of this Isle where it riseth gently with some ascent is fruitefull and fertile and yeeldeth flax in great aboundance also the Alabaster stone and yet the same being not very solide but brittle is more meet for pargetting and plaister-worke than for other uses The chiefe Towne called in old time Axel is now named Axey whence by putting to the Saxon word Holme which they used for a River-Island the name no doubt was compounded But scarce deserveth it to bee called a Towne it is so scatteringly inhabited and yet it is able to shew the plot of ground where a Castle stood that was rased in the Barons warre and which belonged to the Mowbraies who at that time possessed a great part of the Isle In the yeere 1173. as writeth an old Chronographer Roger de Mowbray forsaking his Allegeance to the Elder King repaired the Castle at Kinard Ferry in the Isle of Axholme which had beene of old time destroyed Against whom a number of Lincoln-shire men making head when they had passed over the water in barges laid siege to the Castle forced the Constable thereof and all the souldiers to yeeld and overthrew the said Castle Somewhat higher is Botterwic the Lord whereof Sir Edmund Sheffeld King Edward the Sixth created the first Baron Sheffeld of Botherwic who for his country spent his life against the Rebels in Norfolke having begotten of Anne Vere the Earle of Oxfords daughter a sonne named John the second Baron and father to Edmund now Lord Sheffeld a right honourable Knight of the Garter President of the Councell established in the North. But more into the North I saw Burton Stather standing upon the other side of Trent whereof I have hetherto read nothing memorable This Shire glorieth in the Earles which have borne Title thereof After Egga who flourished in the yeere 710. and Morcar both Saxons and who were Earles by office onely William de Romara a Norman was the first Earle after the Conquest in whose roome being dead for neither his sonne whereas he died before his father nor his grand-child enjoied this title King Stephen placed Gilbert de Gaunt After whose decease Simon de Saint Lyz the younger the sonne of Earle Simon you reade the very words of Robert Montensis who lived about that time Wanting lands by the gracious gift of King Henry the Second tooke his onely daughter to wife with her his honour also After this Lewis of France who was by the seditious Barons brought into England girt a second Gilbert out of the Family de Gaunt with the sword of the Earldome of Lincolne but when the said Lewis was soone after expelled the land no man acknowledged him for Earle and himselfe of his owne accord relinquished that title Then Raulph the sixth Earle of Chester obtained this honour of King Henry the Third who a little before his death gave unto Hawise or Avis his sister the wife of Robert De Quincy by Charter the Earledome of Lincolne so farre forth as appertained unto him that shee might bee Countesse
County of YORKE in the Saxon Tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commonly YORKE-SHIRE the greatest Shire by farre of all England is thought to bee in a temperate measure fruitfull If in one place there bee stony and sandy barraine ground in another place there are for it Corne-fields as rich and fruitfull if it bee voide and destitute of Woods heere you shall finde it shadowed there with most thicke Forests so providently useth Nature such a temperature that the whole Countrey may seeme by reason also of that variety more gracefull and delectable Where it bendeth Westward it is bounded with the Hilles I spake of from Lancashire and Westmorland On the North side it hath the Bishopricke of Durham which the River Tees with a continued course separateth from it On the East side the Germaine Sea lieth sore upon it and the South side is enclosed first with Cheshire and Darby-shire then with Nottingham-shire and after with Lincoln-shire where that famous arme of the Sea Humber floweth betweene into which all the Rivers well neere that water this shire empty themselves as it were into their common receptacle This whole Shire is divided into three parts which according to three Quarters of the world are called The West-Riding The East-Riding and The North-Riding West-Riding for a good while is compassed in with the River Ouse with the bound of Lancashire and with the South limits of the shire and beareth toward the West and South East-Riding looketh to the Sunne-rising and the Ocean which together with the River Derwent encloseth it North-Riding reacheth Northward hemmed in as it were with the River Tees with Derwent and a long race of the River Ouse In that West part out of the Westerne Mountaines or Hilles in the Confines issue many Rivers which Ouse alone entertaineth every one and carryeth them all with him unto Humber Neither can I see any fitter way to describe this part than to follow the streames of Done Calder Are Wherse Nid and Ouse which springing out of these Hilles are the Rivers of most account and runne by places likewise of greatest importance The River Danus commonly called Don and Dune so termed as it should seeme for that it is carried in a chanell somewhat flat shallow and low by the ground for so much signifieth Dan in the British language after it hath saluted Wortley which gave sirname to a worshipfull Family as also Wentworth hard by whence beside other Gentlemen as well in this Country as elsewhere the Barons of Wentworth have derived both their originall and name runneth first by Sheafield a Towne of great name like as other small Townes adjoyning for the Smithes therein considering there bee many iron Mines thereabout fortified also with a strong and ancient Castle which in right line descended from the Lovetofts the Lords Furnivall and Thomas Lord Nevill of Furnivall unto the Talbots Earles of Shrewesbury From thence Don clad with alders and other trees goeth to Rotheram which glorieth in Thomas Rotheram sometime Archbishop of Yorke a wise man bearing the name of the Towne being borne therein and a singular benefactor thereunto who founded and endowed there a College with three Schooles in it to teach children writing Grammar and Musicke which the greedy iniquity of these our times hath already swallowed Then looketh it up to Connisborrow or Conines-borrough an ancient Castle in the British tongue Caer Conan seated upon a Rocke into which what time as Aurelius Ambrosius had so discomfited and scattered the English Saxons at Maisbelly that they tooke them to their heeles and fled every man the next way hee could finde Hengest their Captaine retired himselfe for safety and few daies after brought his men forth to battaile before the Captaine against the Britans that pursued him where hee fought a bloudy field to him and his For a great number of men were there cut in peeces and the Britans having intercepted him chopt off his head if wee may beleeve the British History rather than the English-Saxon Chronicles which report that he being outworne with travell and labour died in peace But this Coningsborough in latter ages was the possession of the Earles of Warren Afterwards hee runneth under Sprotburg the ancient seat of that ancient family of the Fitz-Williams Knights who are most honourably allied and of kin to the noblest houses of England and from whom descended Sir William Fitz-Williams Earle of Southampton in our fathers remembrance and Sir William Fitz-Williams late Lord Deputy of Ireland But in processe of time this is fallen to the Copleys like as Elmesly with other possessions of theirs in this Tract are come by right of inheritance to the Savils From hence Done running with a divided streame hard to an old towne giveth it his owne name which we at this day call Dan-castre the Scots Don-Castle the Saxons Dona 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ninius Caer Daun but Antonine the Emperour DANUM like as the booke of Notices which hath recorded that the Captaine of the Crispinian Horsemen lay there in Garison under the Generall of Britaine This about the yeere of our Lord 759. was so burnt with fire from heaven and lay so buried under the owne ruines that it could scarce breath againe A large plot it sheweth yet where a Citadell stood which men thinke was then consumed with fire in which place I saw the Church of S. Georges a faire Church and the onely Church they have in the Towne Beneath this Towne Southward scarce five miles off is Tickhill which I am not willing to omit an old towne fensed with as old a Castle large enough but having onely a single Wall about it and with an high Mount whereon standeth a round Keepe It carryed in old time such a Dignity with it that the Manours and Lords belonging thereto were called The Honour of Tickhill In the Raigne of Henry the First Roger Busly held the possession thereof Afterwards the Earles of Ewe in Normandy were long since Lords of it by the gift of King Stephen Then King Richard the First gave it unto John his brother In the Barons Warre Robert de Vipont deteined it for himselfe which that hee should deliver unto the Earle of Ewe King Henry the Third put into his hands the Castle of Carleol and the County But when the King of France would not restore unto the English againe their possessions in France the King of England retained it unto himselfe when as John Earle of Ewe in the right of Alice his great Grandmother claimed of King Edward the First restitution thereof At length Richard the Second King of England liberally gave it unto John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster But now by this time Done that often riseth heere and overfloweth the fields gathering his divided waters into one streame againe when he hath for a while runne in one Chanell through Hatfeld Chace where there is great
fortune to escape it selfe This was called The battaile of the Standard because the English keeping themselves close together about the standard received the first onset and shock of the Scotish endured it and at length put them to flight And this Standard as I have seene it pictured in ancient bookes was a mighty huge chariot supported with wheeles wherein was set a pole of a great height in manner of a mast and upon the very top thereof stood a crosse to bee seene and under the crosse hung a banner This when it was advanced was a token that every one should prepare himselfe to fight and it was reputed as an holy and sacred altar that each man was to defend with all power possible resembling the same for al the world that Carrocium of the Italians which might never be brought abroad but in the greatest extremitie and danger of the whole state Within this litle shire also Threske commonly called Thruske is worth to bee mentioned which had sometime a most strong Castle out of which Roger Mowbray displaied his banner of rebellion and called in the king of Scots to the overthrow of his owne native Country what time as King Henry the Second had rashly and inconsiderately digged as it were his owne grave by investing his sonne King in equall authority with himselfe But this rebellion was in the end quenched with bloud and this Castle quite dismantled so that beside a ditch and rampire I could see nothing there of a Castle Another firebrand also of rebellion flamed out heere in the Raigne of Henry the Seventh For when the unruly Commons tooke it most grievously that a light subsidie granted by the States of the Kingdome in Parliament was exacted of them and had driven away the Collectors thereof forthwith as it is commonly seene that Rashnesse speeding once well can never keepe a meane nor make an end they violently set upon Henry Percie Earle of Northumberland who was Lieutenant of these parts and slew him in this place and having John Egremond to be their leader tooke armes against their Country and their Prince but a few daies after they felt the smart of their lawlesse insolency grievously and justly as they had deserved Heere hard by are Soureby and Brakenbake belonging to a very ancient and right worshipfull family of the Lâ—scelles also more Southward Sezay sometime of the Darels from whence a great family branched and afterwards the Dawnies who for a long time flourished heere maintaining the degree and dignity of Knights right worthily The first and onely Earle of Yorke after William Mallet and one or two Estotevils of the Norman bloud who they say were Sheriffes by inheritance was Otho son to Henry Leo Duke of Bavar and Saxony by Maude the daughter of Henry the Second King of England who was afterwards proclaimed Emperour and stiled by the name of Otho the fourth From whose brother William another sonne of Maud are descended the Dukes of Brunswicke and Luneburgh in Germanie who for a token of this their kinred with the Kings of England give the same Armes that the first Kings of England of Norman bloud bare to wit two Leopards or Lions Or in a shield Gueles Long after King Richard the Second created Edmund of Langley fifth sonne of King Edward the Third Duke of Yorke who by a second daughter of Peter King of Castile and of Leon had two sonnes Edward the eldest in his fathers life time was first Earle of Cambridge afterwards Duke of Aumarle and in the end Duke of Yorke who manfully fighting in the battaile at Agincourt in France lost his life leaving no children and Richard his second sonne Earle of Cambridge who having marryed Anne sister of Edmund Mortimer whose grandmother likewise was the onely daughter of Leonell Duke of Clarence and practising to advance Edmund his wives brother to the royall dignity was streightwaies intercepted and beheaded as if hee had beene corrupted by the French to destroy King Henry the Fifth Sixteene yeeres after his sonne Richard was restored in bloud through the exceeding but unadvised favour of King Henry the Sixth as being sonne to Richard Earle of Cambridge brother to Edward Duke of Yorke and cozin also to Edmund Earle of March. And now being Duke of Yorke Earle of March and of Vlster Lord of Wigmore Clare Trim and Conaght hee bare himselfe so lofty that shortly hee made claime openly in Parliament against King Henry the Sixth as in his owne right for the Crowne which he had closely affected by indirect courses before in making complaints of the misgovernment of the State spreading seditious rumours scattering Libels abroad complotting secret Conspiracies and stirring up tumults yea and open Warres laying downe his Title thus as being the sonne of Anne Mortimer who came of Philip the daughter and sole heire of Leonel Duke of Clarence third sonne of King Edward the Third and therefore to be preferred by very good right in succession of the Kingdome before the children of John of Gaunt the fourth sonne of the said Edward the Third And when answere was made unto him that the Nobles of the Realme and the Duke himselfe had sworne Alleageance unto the King that the Kingdome by authority of Parliament had beene conferred and entailed upon Henry the Fourth and his heires that the Duke claiming his Title from the Duke of Clarence never tooke upon him the Armes of the Duke of Clarence that Henry the Fourth held the Crowne in right from King Henry the Third hee easily avoyded all these allegations namely that the said oath unto the King taken by mans law was in no wise to bee performed when as it tended to the suppression of the truth and right which stand by the Law of God That there was no need of Parliamentary authority to entaile the Crowne and Kingdome unto the Lancastrians neither would they themselves seeke for it so if they had stood upon any right thereunto As for the Armes of the Duke of Clarence which were his by right hee forbare of purpose to give them untill then like as hee did to claime his right to the Imperiall Crowne And as for the right or Title derived from king Henry the Third it was a meere ridiculous devise and manifest untruth to cloake the violent usurpation of Henry the Fourth and therefore condemned of all men Albeit these plees in the behalfe of the Duke of Yorke stood directly with law yet for remedy of imminent dangers the matter was ordered thus by the wisdome of the Parliament That Henry the Sixth should enjoy the right of the Kingdome for tearme of life onely and that Richard Duke of Yorke should be proclaimed heire apparant of the Kingdome he and his heires to succeed after him provided alwaies that neither of them should plot or practise ought to the destruction of the other Howbeit the Duke immediately was transported so headlong with ambition that hee went about to preoccupate and forestall
his owne hopes and so hee raised that deadly Warre betweene the Houses of Yorke and Lancaster distinguished by the white and red Rose wherein himselfe soone after lost his life at Wakefield King Henry the Sixth was foure times taken Prisoner and in the end despoiled both of his Kingdome and life Edward Earle of March sonne to the said Richard obtained the Crowne and being deposed from the same recovered it againe thus inconstant fortune disported herselfe lifting up and throwing downe Princes at her pleasure many Princes of the royall bloud and a number of the Nobility lost their lives those hereditary and rich Provinces in France belonging to the Kings of England were lost the wealth of the Realme wholly wasted and the poore people thereof overwhelmed with all manner of misery Edward now being established in his royall Throne and in the ranke of Kings carrying the name of Edward the Fourth gave unto Richard his second sonne the Title of Duke of Yorke who together with king Edward the Fifth his brother was by their Unkle Richard the Third murdered Then king Henry the Seventh granted the same Title unto his younger sonne who afterwards was crowned king of England by the name of Henry the Eight And even now of late King James invested Charles his second sonne whom before hee had created in Scotland Duke of Albany Marquesse of Ormond Earle of Rosse and Baron of Ardmanoch a childe not full foure yeeres of age Duke of Yorke by cincture of a sword imposition of a Cap and Coronet of gold upon his head and by delivering unto him a verge of gold after he had according to the order with due complements made the day before both him and eleven more of Noble Parentage Knights of the Bath Reckoned there are in this County Parishes 459. under which he very many Chappels for number of Inhabitants equall unto great Parishes RICHMOND-SHIRE THE rest of this Country which lyeth toward the North-West and carryeth a great compasse is called Richmond-shire or Richmount-shire taking the name from a Castle which Alan Earle of little Britaine had built unto whom William the Conquerour gave this Shire which before time belonged to Eadwin an Englishman by these short letters Patents as it is set downe in the booke of Richmond Fees I William sirnamed Bastard King of England doe give and grant unto thee my Nephew Alane Earle of Britaine and to thine heires for ever all and every the Manour houses and lands which late belonged to Earle Eadwin in Yorke-shire with the Knights fees and other liberties and customes as freely and in as honourable wise as the said Eadwin held the same Given at our Leaguer before the City of Yorke This Shire most of it lieth very high with ragged rockes and swelling mountaines whose sloping sides in some places beare good grasse the bottomes and vallies are not altogether unfruitfull The hilles themselves within are stored with lead pit-coale and Coper For in a Charter of king Edward the Fourth there is mention made of a Mine or Delfe of Copper neere unto the very towne of Richmond But covetousnesse which driveth men even as farre as to hell hath not yet pierced into these hilles affrighted perchance with the difficulty of carriage whereas there have beene found in the tops of these mountaines as also in other places stones like unto sea winkles or cockles and other sea fish if they be not the wonders of nature I will with Orosius a Christian Historiographer deeme them to be undoubted tokens of the generall deluge that surrounded the face of the whole earth in Noahs time When the Sea saith he in Noahs daies overflowed all the earth and brought a generall floud so that the whole Globe thereof being therewith surrounded and covered there was one face as of the Firmament so also of the Sea The soundest Writers most evidently teach That all mankinde perished a few persons excepted who by vertue of their faith were reserved alive for offspring and propagation Howbeit even they also have witnessed that some there had beene who although they were ignorant of the times past and knew not the Authour himselfe of times yet gathered conjecturally as much by giving a guesse by those rough stones which wee are wont to finde on hilles remote from the Sea resembling Cocles and Oisters yea and oftentimes eaten in hollow with the waters Where this Country bordereth upon Lancashire amongst the mountaines it is in most places so waste solitary unpleasant and unsightly so mute and still also that the borderers dwelling thereby have called certaine Riverets creeping this way Hell-beckes But especially that about the head of the River Ure which having a Bridge over it of one entire stone falleth downe such a depth that it striketh in a certaine horror to as many as looke downe And in this Tract there be safe harbors for Goates and Deere as well red as fallow which for their huge bignesse with their ragged and branching hornes are most sightly The River Ure which wee have often spoken of before hath his fall heere out of the Westerne Mountaines and first of all cutting through the middest of the Vale called Wentsedale whiles it is yet but small as being neere unto his Spring-head where great flockes of Sheepe doe pasture and which in some places beareth Lead stones plentifully is encreased by a little River comming out of the South called Baint which with a great noise streameth out of the Poole Semer. At the very place where these Rivers meete and where there stand a few small Cotages which of the first Bridge made over Ure they call Baintbrig there lay in old time a Garison of the Romanes whereof the very Reliques are at this day remaining For on the toppe of an hill which of a Fort or Burge they now call Burgh appeare the ground workes of an ancient Hold containing about five acres of ground in compasse and beneath it Eastward many tokens of some old habitation and dwelling places Where amongst many other signes of Roman Antiquity I have seene of late this fragment of an antique Inscription in a very faire letter with Winged Victory supporting the same IMP CAES. L. SEPTIMIO PIO PERTINACI AUGU IMP CAESARI M. AURELIO APIO FELICI AUGUSTO BRACCHIO CAEMENTICIUM VI NER VIORUM SUB CURALA SENECINON AMPLISSIMIO PERIL VISPIUS PRAELEGIO By this we may guesse that the said hold at Burgh was in times past named BRACCHIUM which before time had been made of turfe but now built with stone and the same layed with good morter Also that the sixth Cohort of the Nervians lay there in Garison who may seeme to have had also their place of Summer aboade in that high hill hard by fensed with a banke and trench about it which now they tearme Ethelbury And not long since there was digged up the Statue of Aurelius Commodus the Emperour who as Lampridius writeth was sirnamed by his flattering
or Band of the Exploratores with their Captaine kept their station heere under the dispose of the Generall of Britaine as appeareth for certaine out of the NOTICE of Provinces where it is named LAVATRES But whereas such Bathes as these were called also in Latine Lavacra some Criticke no doubt will pronounce that this place was named LAVATRAE in stead of LAVACRA yet would I rather have it take the name of a little river running neere by which as I heare say is called Laver. As for the later name Bowes considering the old Towne was heere burnt downe to the ground as the inhabitants with one voice doe report I would thinke it grew upon that occasion For that which is burnt with fire the Britans still at this day doe terme Boeth and by the same word the Suburbes of Chester beyond the River Dee which the Englishmen call Hanbridge the Britans or Welshmen name Treboeth that is The burnt Towne because in a tumult of the Welshmen it was consumed with fire Heere beginneth to rise that high hilly and solitary Country exposed to winde and raine which because it is stony is called in our native language Stane more All heere round about is nothing but a wilde Desert unlesse it bee an homely Hostelry or Inne in the very middest thereof called The Spitle on Stane more for to entertaine waifaring persons and neere to it is a fragment of a Crosse which wee call Rerecrosse the Scots Reicrosse as one would say The Kings Crosse. Which Crosse Hector Boetius the Scottish Writer recordeth to have beene erected as a meere stone confining England and Scotland what time as King William the Conquerour granted Cumberland unto the Scots on this condition that they should hold it of him as his Tenants and not attempt any thing prejudiciall or hurtfull to the Crowne of England And a little lower upon the Romanes high street there stood a little Fort of the Romans built foure square which at this day they call Maiden-Castle From whence as the borderers reported the said High way went with many windings in and out as farre as to Caer Vorran in Northumberland There have beene divers Earles of Richmond according as the Princes favour enclined and those out of divers families whom I will notwithstanding set downe as exactly and truely as I can in their right order The first Earles were out of the house of little Britaine in France whose descent is confusedly intricate amongst their owne Writers for that there were two principall Earles at once one of Haulte Britaine and another of Base Britaine for many yeeres and every one of their children had their part in Gavell kinde and were stiled Earles of Britaine without distinction But of these the first Earle of Richmond according to our Writers and Records was Alane sirnamed Feregaunt that is The Red sonne of Hoel Earle of Britaine descended from Hawise great Aunt to William Conquerour who gave this Country unto him by name of the lands of Earle Eadwin in Yorke-shire and withall bestowed his daughter upon him by whom he had no issue He built Richmond Castle as is before specified to defend himselfe from disinherited and outlawed Englishmen in those parts and dying left Britaine to his sonne Conan Le Grosse by a second wife But Alane the Blacke sonne of Eudo sonne of Geffrey Earle of Britaine and Hawise aforesaid succeeded in Richmond and he having no childe lest it to Stephen his brother This Stephen begat Alan sirnamed Le Savage his sonne and successour who assisted king Stephen against Maude the Empresse in the battaile at Lincolne and married Bertha one of the heires of Conan Le Grosse Earle of Hault Britaine by whom hee had Conan Le Petit Earle of both Britaine 's by hereditary right as well as of Richmond Hee by the assistance of King Henrie the Second of England dispossessed Endo Vicount of Porhoet his Father in Lawe who usurped the Title of Britaine in right of the said Bertha his Wife and ended his life leaving onely one daughter Constance by Margaret sister to Malcolne king of the Scots Geffrey third Sonne to King Henry the Second of England was advanced by his Father to the marriage of the said Constance whereby hee was Earle of Britaine and Richmond and begat of her Arthur who succeeded him and as the French write was made away by King Iohn his Unkle True it is indeed that for this cause the French called King Iohn into question as Duke of Normandy And notwithstanding he was absent and not heard once to plead neither confessing ought nor convicted yet by a definitive sentence they condemned him and awarded from him Normandy and his hereditary possessions in France Albeit himselfe had promised under safe conduct to appeare in personally at Paris there to make answere as touching the death of Arthur who as a Liege subject had bound himselfe by oath to bee true and loyall unto him and yet started backe from his allegeance raised a rebellion and was taken prisoner in battaile At which time this question was debated whether the Peeres of France might give judgement of a King annointed and therefore superiour considering that a greater dignity drowneth the lesser and now one and the same person was both King of England and Duke of Normandy But whither doe I digresse After Arthur these succeeded orderly in the Earldome of Richmond Guy Vicount of Thovars unto whom the foresaid Constance was secondly married Ranulph the third Earle of Chester the third husband of the said Constance Peter of Dreux descended from the bloud royall of France who wedded Alice the onely daughter of Constance by her husband abovenamed Guy Then upon dislike of the house of Britaine Peter of Savoy Unkle by the mothers side unto Eleonor the wife of king Henry the Third was made Earle of Richmond who for feare of the Nobles and Commons of England that murmured against strangers preferred to honours in England voluntarily surrendred up this Honour which was restored to Iohn Earle of Britaine sonne to Peter of Dreux After whom succeeded Iohn his sonne the first Duke of Britaine who wedded Beatrice daughter to Henry the Third King of England Whose sonne Arthur was Duke of Britaine and as some write Earle of Richmond Certes John of Britaine his younger brother immediately after the fathers death bare this honourable Title And he added unto the ancient Armes of Drewx with the Canton of Britaine the Lions of England in Bordeur Hee was Guardian of Scotland under King Edward the Second and there taken and detained prisoner for three yeeres space and dyed at length without issue in the Raigne of Edward the Third And John Duke of Britaine his nephew the sonne of Arthur succeeded in this Earledome After his decease without children when there was hote contention about the Dutchy of Britaine betweene John Earle of Montfort of the halfe bloud and Joane his brothers daughter and heire
the West twenty degrees and forty eight minutes in Longitude Whiles I looked round about from the top of the said castle hill to see the mouth of Lone that issueth it selfe into the sea a little lower Fornesse the other part of this shire appeared in sight which the sea hath after a sort violently rent apart from the rest For when as the shore did from hence shoote out a maine way into the West the Ocean as it were much displeased and angry hereat obstinately ceased not to flash and mangle it nay which is more hath with his fell flowing at boisterous tides devoured the shore and thereby maketh three wide creâ—kes or bayes namely Kent-sand at which the river Ken powreth it selfe forth Leven-sand and Dudden-sand betweene which two the land beareth out so much that thereupon it tooke the name For with us in our language For-nesse Foreland is all one with the Latine Promontorium anterius that is a Fore-promontory All this part unlesse it be hard by the sea side mounteth up aloft with high topped hils and huge fels standing thicke together which they tearme Forness-fells Among which the Britans lived safe a great while trusting upon these strong naturall fenses although the victorious English Saxons made way through all in the end For in the yeere 228. after there comming in I gather that the Britans had their abode here because Egfride King of Northumberland gave unto Holy Saint Cuthbert the land called Carthmell and all the Britans in it thus we finde written in his life and it is very well knowne that Carthmell is a part of this shire by Kentsand and a little towne in it retaineth yet the same name Wherein William Mareschall the elder Earle of Pembroch built a Priory and endowed it with living If you read in Ptolomee SETANTIORUM 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is The Setantians Mere as some Copies have and not Setantiorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is The Setantians Haven I durst boldly avouch that these Britans here were called SETANTII For among these mountaines the greatest standing water in all England now called Winander-mere in the English Saxon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haply of his winding and turning in and out lieth stretched out for the space of ten miles or thereabout with crooked bankes and is all paved as it were with stone in the bottome in some places of wonderfull depth and breeding a peculiar kinde of fish found no where else which the inhabitants there by call A Chare And a little village standing hard by carrieth the name thereof In which Eathred King of Northumberland in the yeer of Christ 792. when he had by force fetched King Elfwolds sonnes out of Yorke flue them that by his owne wickednesse and their blood hee might secure the Kingdome to himselfe and his Betwixt this Mere and the river Dudden the promontory runneth out which wee commonly call Fornesse and hath the Iland Walney as a fore-fence or countremure lying along by it with a small arme of the sea betweene The gullet or entry into which is defended with a fort called the Pile of Fouldrey standing in the midst of the waves upon a rocke erected there by the Abbot of Fornesse in the first yeere of King Edward the third As for the Promontory it selfe there is nothing worth the sight in it unlesse it be the ruines of a monastery of Cistertian Monkes called Fornesse Abbey which Stephen Earle of Bullen afterwards King of England in the yeere of our redemption 1127. built in a place called sometimes Bekensgill or translated rather from Tulket in Andernesse Out of the Monkes whereof and from no place else as they themselves have reported the Bishops of the Isle of Man that lieth just over against were by an ancient custome wont to bee elected as having beene the mother as it were of many Monasteries in the said Man and in Ireland More Eastward standeth Aldingham an ancient hereditament belonging to the family of the Haveringtons or Harringtons unto whom it came from the Flemmings by the Cancefelds and whose inheritance descended by a daughter unto William Bonvill of Somersetshire and at last by him unto the Greies Marquesses of Dorset And somwhat higher is Ulverston in this regard not to bee passed over in silence for that King Edward the third gave a moity thereof unto Sir John Coupland a most brave warriour whom also he advanced to the dignity of a Banaret because in the battaile at Durham he took David the second King of the Scots prisoner But after his decease the same King granted it with other faire lands in this tract and the title also of Earle of Bedford unto Ingelram Lord Coucy of France as who had married his daughter Isabel and whose ancestours in right of Christiana Lindsey had great revenewes in England Touching the noble men which have borne the title of Lancaster there were in the first infancy of the Norman Empire three stiled Lords of the Honour of Lancaster namely Roger of Poictou the sonne of Roger Mont-gomery who was surnamed Pictavensis as William of Malmesbury writeth because hee had married a wife from out of Poictou in France But when he had by his perfidious disloyalty lost this honour William the sonne of King Stephen and Earle of Moriton and Warren had the same given unto him by his Father After whose death King Richard the first bestowed it upon his brother John who was afterward King of England For thus we read in an old History King Richard declared his singular love to his brother Iohn For beside Ireland and the Earledome of Moriton in Normandy he heaped upon him so many dignities in England that he was in maner a Tetrarch there Finally he conferred upon him Cornwall Lancaster Notingham Derby with the country adjoining and many more beside A good while after King Henry the third the sonne of John first advanced Edmund his second sonne called by some Crouth-backe to the title of Earle of Lancaster unto whom hee conveyed and made over the inheritances and honours of Simon Montfort Earle of Leicester Robert Ferrars Earle of Derby and John of Monmouth because they had risen and rebelliously born armes against him and he gave this Honor of Lancaster unto him in these words The Honour County Castle and Town of Lancaster with the Cow-pastures forrests of Wiresdale Lownsdale New castle under Lime the manour forrest and Castle of Pickering the manor of Scaleby the towne of Gomicester and the rents of the towne of Huntendon c. After hee the said Edmund had missed the kingdome of Sicily in which the Pope had invested him in vaine by a ring and not without ridiculous disgrace to the English nation caused in honour of him certaine peeces of gold to bee stamped with this title AIMUNDUS REX SICILIAE having first cunningly suckt a great masse of money from the credulous King in this regard This Edmund
when his first wife Avelina daughter and heire to William de Fortibus Earle of Albemarle was dead issuelesse who neverthelesse in her Will had made him her heire married Blanch of Artois of the roiall family of France to his second wife and by her had Thomas Henry and John that died an infant Thomas was the second Earle of Lancaster who tooke to wife Alice the onely daughter and heire of Henry Lacy Earle of Lincolne who by her deed passed over unto the house of Lancaster her owne inheritance and her mothers that which belonged to the family of Long Espee who were Earles of Salisbury like as her father the said Henry Lacy had made the like conveiance before of his owne lands in case Alice should dye without issue as it afterward happened But this Thomas for behaving himselfe insolently toward his soveraigne Edward the second and still supplying fewell to civill warres being taken prisoner in the field lost his head leaving no issue Howbeit when this sentence of death pronounced against him was afterwards by authority of Parliament reversed because hee had not his tryall by his Peeres according to the Law and great Charter his brother Henry succeeded after him in all his possessions and honours Hee also was advanced in estate by his wife Maude daughter and sole heire of Sir Patricke Chaworth who brought unto him not onely her owne patrimony but also great inheritances in Wales of Mauric of London and of Siward from whom she descended This Henry left behind him Henry his onely sonne whom King Edward the third from an Earle raised unto the honour of a Duke and he was second man of all our Nobility which received the name of Duke But hee having no issue male departed this life leaving behind him two daughters Maude and Blanch betweene whom the inheritance was divided Maud was married to William of Bavaria who was Earle of Holland Zeland Frisland Henault and in his wives right of Leicester And when as she deceased without children John of Gaunt so called because hee was borne at Gaunt in Flanders fourth sonne of King Edward the third who had married Blanch the other daughter of Henry aforesaid entred upon the whole inheritance and now being for wealth equivalent to many Kings and created withall by his father Duke of Lancaster he obtained also at his hands great roialties for hee having related what noble service he had performed to his countrey at home and abroad in the warres preferred the County of Lancaster to the dignity of a County Palatine by his letters Patent the tenour whereof runneth in this wise Wee have granted for us and our heires unto our foresaid sonne that he may have for tearme of his life his Chancery within the County of Lancaster and his writs to be sealed under his own seale to be appointed for the office of the Chancellour also Iustices of his owne as well to hold Plees of the Crowne as also other plees whatsoever touching common Law also the hearing and deciding of the same yea and the making of all executions whatsoever by vertue of their owne writs and officers there Moreover all other liberties and Roialties whatsoever to a County Palatine belonging as freely and in as ample maner as the Earle of Chester within the same County of Chester is known to have c. Neither was he Duke of Lancaster onely but also by his marriage with Constance the daughter of Peter King of Leon and Castile hee for a time was stiled by the name of King of Leon and of Castile But by a composition he gave this over and in the thirteenth yeere of King Richard the Second by consent of Parliament was created Duke of Aquitaine to have and hold the same for tearme of life of the King of England as King of France but to the universall dislike of Aquitaine repining and affirming that their Seigniory was inseparably annexed to the Crowne of England At which time his stile ranne thus Iohn sonne to the King of England Duke of Aquitaine and of Lancaster Earle of Derby Lincolne and Leicester and high Steward of England After him Henry of Bollinbroke his sonne succeeded in the Dukedome of Lancaster who when hee had dispossessed Richard the second and obtained the Kingdom of England he considering that being now King he could not beare the title of Duke of Lancaster and unwilling that the said title should be discontinued ordained by assent of Parliament that Henry his eldest sonne should enjoy the same and be stiled Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitain Lancaster and Cornwall and Earle of Chester and also that the liberties and franchises of the Dutchy of Lancaster should remaine to his said sonne severed from the Crowne of England and to make better assurance to himselfe his heires and successours in these inheritances by authority of Parliament he ordained in these words We not willing that our said inheritance or the liberties of the same by occasion of this present assumption upon us of our regall state dignity should be in any thing changed transferred diminished or impaired will that the same our inheritance with the foresaid rights and liberties thereof be kept continued and held fully and wholly to us our said heires in the said Charters specified in the same maner and forme condition and state as they descended and came unto us and also with all and every such liberties and franchises and other priviledges commodities and profits whatsoever in which our Lord and father whiles he lived had and held it for terme of his own life by the grant of Richard late King And by the tenour of these presents of our own certaine knowledge with the consent of this our present Parliament we grant declare decree and ordaine for us and our heires that as well our Dutchy of Lancaster as all other things and every one Counties Honours Castles Manours Fees or Inheritances Advocations Possessions Annuities and Seignories whatsoever descended unto us before the obtaining of our Regall dignity howsoever wheresoever by right of inheritance in service or in reversion or any way whatsoever remaine for ever to us and our said heires specified in the Charters abovesaid in forme aforesaid After this K. Henry the fifth by authority of Parliament dissevered from the crown and annexed unto this Dutchy a very great and large inheritance which had descended unto him in right of his mother Dame Mary who was daughter and one of the heires of Humfrey Bohun Earle of Hereford In this forme and estate it remained under Henry the fifth and Henry the sixth but King Edward the fourth in the first yeere of his reigne when hee had in Parliament attainted and forfeited Henry the sixth appropriated it as they use to speake unto the Crowne that is to say unto himselfe and his heires Kings of England From which King Henry the seventh notwithstanding forthwith separated And so it continueth having severall officers namely A Chancellor
and neere yea and triumphantly described by the Historians and Poets of that time in the highest degree with stately stile and lofty verse in the language of that age in barbarous Latin Here Bramish losing his owne name comes to bee called Till and first saluteth Ford Castle belonging sometimes to the warlike and valiant house of the Herons now to the family of the Carrs then Etall where the family surnamed De Maneriis or Manours sometimes inhabited reckoned in the ranke of worshipfull Knights out of which flourish the right honourable Earles of Rutland at this day Many small castles and piles in this tract I wittingly let passe For an endlesse peece of worke it were to goe through them all one by one considering it is certaine that in King Henry the second his time there were eleven hundred and fifteene Castles in England Right over against this Ford westward there mounteth aloft an high hill called Floddon neere Bramton memorable in regard of James the fourth King of Scots who was there slaine and his army overthrowne who whiles King Henry the eighth lay at the siege of Tournay in France marched forward in great courage and greater hope with Banner displayed against England But Thomas Howard Earle of Surry arraunged in good order of battaile valiantly in this place received him where the fight continued sharpe and hot on both parts untill the night came upon them uncertaine as then whether side had the victory But the day ensuing manifested both the Conquerour and conquered and the King of Scots himselfe with many a mortall wound was found among the heapes of dead bodies And hereupon was granted a new augmentation unto the Armes of the Howards as I have formerly specified Twede having now entertained Till runneth downe with a fuller streame by Norâ—ham or Northam in old time called Ubbanford a towne belonging to the Bishops of Durham For Egfrid the Bishop built it and Raulph his successour erected a Castle upon the top of an high steepe rocke and fortified it with a trench in the utmore wall whereof which is of greater circuit are placed sundry turrets in a Canton toward the river within there is another enclosure or wall much stronger in the midst of which there riseth up the Keepe of great heigth But the secure peace of our age hath now a long time neglected these fortifications albeit they stand in the borders Under it lieth the towne in a plaine Westward and hath in it a Church wherein was enterred Ceolwulph King of Northumberland unto whom Venerable Bede dedicated his booke of the Ecclesiasticall history of England and who afterwards renouncing the world became a Monke in Lindiffarn Church and served as a Christian souldier for the Kingdome of heaven and his body was conveyed after that into the Church of Norham Also when the Danes harried and spoiled the Holy Iland where Saint Cuthbert whom Bede so highly extolleth both sate as Bishop and lay buried and some went about by a devout and religious kind of stealth to transport his body over by occasion that the winds were against them They laid the sacred body downe with due honour at Ubbanford whether it were an Episcopall See or no it is uncertaine hard by the river Twede and there it lay for many yeeres together untill the comming of K. Etheldred Of this and of other things I had information for I will never conceale by whom I have found any good by George Carleton borne here as who was the Castellanes sonne of this place whom for that I have loved in regard of his singular knowledge in Divinity which hee professeth and in other more delightfull literature and am loved againe of him I were not worthy I assure you of love if I did not acknowledge thus much Beneath Norham at Killey a little village hard by were found as I have heard old men say in our grandfathers remembrance the ornaments or Harnish of a Knights belt and the hilt of a sword of massie gold which were presented unto Thomas Ruthall then Bishop of Durham A little lower appeareth the Mouth of Twede upon the farther side whereof standeth Berwicke the utmost towne in England and the strongest hold in all Britaine Which name some derive from one Berengarius a Duke whom they never heard of unlesse it were in a dreame Leland fetcheth it from Aber which in the British tongue signifieth the mouth of a river so that Aberwic should sound as much as The towne by the rivers mouth But he that knowes what Berwic in the Charters of our Kings signifieth wherein nothing is more common than these words I give C. and D. that is such and such townes cum suis Berwicis surely he must needs understand the true Etymologie of this Berwicke For mine owne part I cannot conjecture what it meaneth unlesse it be a Village or Hamlet annexed as it were a parcell of the Demesne unto some place of greater reckoning For in the donations of Edward the Confessour Totthill is called the Berwicke of Westminster and Wandlesworth the Berwicke of Patricseie and a hundred such But to what end is all this Surely we doe but lose this labour if as some will have it the name thereof were in old time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the English Saxon tongue that is The towne or village of the Bernicians Now that these countries were named Bernicia it is better knowne than can bee said and I have already notified as much But whence soever it hath the name it is so situate that it shooteth farre into the sea in so much as it is well neere compassed about with the sea and Twede together and seated betwixt two most mighty Kingdomes as Pliny hath reported of Palmyra in Syria It was the first thing alwayes that both nations tooke care of whensoever they were at any discord so that since the time that King Edward the first of that name first wrested it perforce out of the Scots hands the Scots have oftentimes repossessed it and the Englishmen as often recovered it from them againe But let us here if you please abridge the History thereof Of this Berwicke I have read nothing of greater antiquity than this that William King of Scots being taken Prisoner in the field by the English delivered it up unto our King Henry the second for his enlargement out of prison on this condition that unlesse by a certaine day appointed hee payd a summe of money for his ransome it should belong unto the Crowne of England for ever and presently as it is in the Polychronicon of Durham the said King Henry fortified it with a Castle Howbeit King Richard the first upon payment of the money released it againe unto the Scotish Afterwards King John as we read in the history of Melrosse wonne both the towne and Castle of Berwick what time as he with his Rutars burnt Werke Roxburgh Mitford and Morpath yea and laid all Northumberland most because the
which Scots at a low water when the tide was past used to passe over the river and fall to boot-haling But they would in no wise take Aeneas with them although hee intreated them very instantly no nor any woman albeit amongst them there were many both young maids and wives passing faire For they are perswaded verily that the enemies will doe them no hurt as who reckon whoredome no hurt nor evill at all So Aeneas remaines there alone with two servants and his Guide in company of an hundred women who sitting round in a ring with a good fire in the mids before them fell to hitchell and dresse hemp sate up all night without sleep and had a great deale of talk with his Interpreter When the night was far spent what with barking of dogs and gaggling of geese a mighty noise and outcry was made then all the women slipped forth divers waies his Guide also made shift to be gone and all was of an hurry as if the enemies had beene come But Aeneas thought it his best course to expect the event within his bed-chamber and that was a stable for feare lest if he had runne forth of dores knowing not the way he should become a prey and booty to him that should first meet him But see streightwaies the women returned with the Interpreter bring word all was well and that they were friends and not enemies were come thither There have been in this countrey certaine petty nations called Scovenburgenses and Fisburgingi but to point out precisely the very place of their abode in so great obscurity passeth my skill Neither can I define whether they were Danes or English But Florentius of Worcester published by the right honourable Lord William Howard writeth That when there was an assembly or Parliament holden at Oxenford Sigeferth and Morcar the worthier mightier ministers of the Scovenburgenses were secretly made away by Edrike Streona Also that Prince Edmund against his fathers will married Alfrith the wife of Sigefrith and having made a journey to the Fisburgings invaded Sigeferth his land and brought his people in subjection to him But let others inquire farther into these matters This region of North-humberland being brought under the English Saxons dominion by Osca Hengists brother and by his sonne Jebusa had first officiall governors under the fealty of the Kings of Kent After that when the kingdome of the Bernicii whom the Britans call Guir a Brinaich as it were Mountainers was erected that which reached from Tees to the Scottish Frith was the best part thereof and subject to the Kings of North-humberland who having finished their period whatsoever lay beyond Twede became Scottish and was counted Scotland Then Egbert King of the West-Saxons laied it to his owne kingdome when it was yeelded up to him Afterwards King Aelfred permitted the Danes to possesse it whom Athelstane some few yeeres after dispossessed and drave out yet after this the people set up Eilrick the Dane for their king whom King Ealdred forthwith displaced and expelled From which time forward this countrey had no more Kings over it but such as governed it were tearmed Earles Amongst whom these are reckoned up in order successively in our Histories Osulfe Oslake Edulph Walde of the elder Uchtred Adulph Alred Siward Tostie Edwin Morcar Osculph and that right valiant Siward who as he lived in armes so would he dye also armed Then his Earldome and these parts were given unto Tostie the brother of Earle Harold but the Earldomes of Northampton and Huntingdon with other lands of his were assigned to the noble Earle Walde of his sonne and heire These words of Ingulphus have I put downe because some deny that hee was Earle of Huntingdon And now will I adde moreover to the rest that which I have read in an old manuscript memoriall of this matter in the Librarie of Iohn Stow a right honest Citizen and diligent Antiquarie of the City of London Copso being made Earle of Northumberland by the gift of King William Conquerour expelled Osculph who notwithstanding within a few daies after slew him Then Osculph being runne through with a Javelin by a thiefe ended his life After this Gospatricke purchased the Earldome of the Conquerour who not long after deposed him from that honour and then succeeded after him Walde of Siwards sonne His fortune was to lose his head and in his roome was placed Walcher Bishop of Durham who like as Robert Comin his successour was slaine in a tumultuous commotion of the common people Afterwards Robert Mowbray attained to the same honour which hee soone lost through his owne perfidious treacherie when he devised to deprive King William Rufus of his royall estate and to advance Stephen Earle of Albemarle a sonne to the Conquerors sister thereunto Then K. Stephen made Henrie the sonne of David King of Scotland as wee read in the Poly Chronicon of Durham Earle of Northumberland whose sonne also William that afterwards was King of Scots writ himselfe William de Warrenna Earle of Northumberland for his mother was descended out of the familie of the Earles of Warren as appeareth out of the booke of Brinkburne Abbey After some few yeeres King Richard the first passed away this Earldome for a summe of money unto Hugh Pudsey Bishop of Durham for tearm of his life scoffing that he had made a young Earle of an old Bishop But when the said King was imprisoned by the Emperour in his returne out of the Holy-land and Hugh for his deliverie had contributed only 2000. pounds of silver which the King took not well at his hands because he was deemed to have performed but a little whom hee understood to have raised and gotten together a huge masse of money under pretence of his ransome and release he devested and deprived him of his Earldome After which time the title of the Barledome of Northumberland lay discontinued about an hundred and fourescore yeeres But at this day the family of the Percies enjoyeth the same which family being descended from the Earles of Brabant inherited together with the surname of Percie the possessions also of Percie ever since that Joscelin of Lovaine younger sonne of Godfrey Duke of Brabant the true issue of the Emperour Charles the Great by Gerberga the daughter of Charles a younger brother to Lothar the last King of France of the line of Charles tooke to wife Agnes the daughter and sole heire of William Percie of which William the great grandfather William Percie comming into England with King William the Conquerour was rewarded by him for his service with lands in Tatcaster Linton Normanby and other places Between this Agnes and Joscelin it was covenanted that hee should assume the name of Percies and retaine still unto him the ancient Armes of Brabant viz. A Lion azure which the Brabanters afterwards changed in a shield Or. The first Earle of Northhumberland out of this family was Henrie Percie begotten of Marie daughter
it became wholly under the Scots dominion about the yeere of our salvation 960. what time the English Empire sore shaken with the Danish wars lay as it were gasping and dying How also as an old booke Of the division of Scotland in the Library of the right honourable Lord Burghley late high Treasurer of England sheweth Whiles Indulph reigned the town of Eden was voided and abandoned to the Scots unto this present day as what variable changes of reciprocall fortune it hath felt from time to time the Historiographers doe relate and out of them ye are to be enformed Meane while read if you please these verses of that most worthy man Master I. Jonston in praise of Edenborrow Monte sub acclivi Zephyri procurrit in auras Hinc arx celsa illinc Regia clara nitet Inter utramque patet sublimibus ardua tectis Urbs armis animis clara frequensque viris Nobile Scotorum caput pars maxima regni Penè etiam gentis integra regna suae Rarae artes opes quod mens optaverit aut hîc Invenias aut non Scotia tota dabit Compositum hîc populum videas sanctum que Senatum Sanctáque cum puro lumine jura Dei An quisquam Arctoi extremo in limite mundi Aut haec aut paria his cernere posse putet Dic hospes postquà m externas lustraveris urbes Haec cernens oculis credis an ipse tuis Under the rising of an hill Westward there shoots one way A castle high on th' other side the Kings house gorgeous gay Betweene them both the citie stands tall buildings shew it well For armes for courage much renown'd much people therein dwell The Scots head citie large and faire the kingdomes greatest part Nay even the nations kingdome whole well neere by just desart Rare arts and riches what ones minde can wish is therein found Or else it will not gotten be throughout all Scottish ground A civill people here a man may see a Senate grave Gods holy lawes with purest light of Preachers here ye have In parts remote of Northren clime would any person weene That ever these or such like things might possibly be seene Say Travailer now after that thou forraine towne hast knowne Beholding this beleevest thou these eyes that are thine owne A mile from hence lyeth Leth a most commodious haven hard upon the river Leth which when Dessey the Frenchman for the securitie of Edenborrow had fortified by reason of manie men repairing thither within a short time from a meane village it grew to be a bigge towne Againe when Francis the second King of France had taken to wife Marie the Queene of Scots the Frenchmen who in hope and conceit had already devoured Scotland and began now to gape for England in the yeere 1560. strengthened it with more fortifications But Elizabeth Queene of England solicited by the Nobles of Scotland that embraced the reformed religion to side with them by her puissance and wisdome effected that both they returned into France and these their fortifications were laied levell with the ground and Scotland ever since hath been freed from the French Where this Forth groweth more and more narrow it had in the middest of it the citie Caer-Guidi as Bede noteth which now may seeme to be the Island named Inch-Keith Whether this were that VICTORIA which Ptolomee mentioneth I will not stand to prove although a man may beleeve that the Romans turned this Guidh into Victoria as well as the Isle Guith or Wight into Victesis or Vecta certes seeing both these Islands bee dissevered from the shore the same reason of the name will hold well in both languages For Ninius hath taught us that Guith in the British tongue betokeneth a separation More within upon the same Forth is situate Abercorn in Bedes time a famous Monasterie which now by the gracious favour of King James the sixth giveth unto James Hamilton the title of the Earle of Abercorn And fast beside it standeth Blacknesse Castle and beneath it Southward the ancient citie LINDUM whereof Ptolomee maketh mention which the better learned as yet call Linlithquo commonly Lithquo beautified and set out with a verie faire house of the Kings a goodly Church and a fishfull lake of which lake it may seeme to have assumed that name for Lin as I have already shewed in the British tongue soundeth as much as a Lake A Sheriffe it had in times past by inheritance out of the family of the Hamiltons of Peyle and now in our dayes it hath for the first Earle Sir Alexander Levingston whom King James the sixth raised from the dignitie of a Baron wherein his Ancestours had flourished a long time to the honour of an Earle like as within a while after he promoted Mark Ker Baron of Newbottle aforesaid to the title of Earle of Lothien SELGOVAE BEneath the GADENI toward the South and West where now are the small territories of Lidesdale Eusdale Eskdale Annandale and Nidesdale so called of little rivers running through them which all lose themselves in Solway Frith dwelt in ancient times the SELGOVAE the reliques of whose name seeme unto mee whether unto others I know not to remaine in that name Solway In Lidesdale there riseth aloft Armitage so called because it was in times past dedicated to a solitarie life now it is a very strong Castle which belonged to the Hepburns who draw their originall from a certaine Englishman a prisoner whom the Earle of March for delivering him out of a danger greatly enriched These were Earles of Bothwell and a long time by the right of inheritance Admirals of Scotland But by a filter of James Earle of Bothwel the last of the Hepburns married unto John Prior of Coldingham base sonne to King James the fifth who begat too too many bastards the title and inheritance both came unto his son Hard by is Brakensey the habitation of the warlike family of Baclugh surnamed Scot beside many little piles or sorts of militarie men everie where In Eusdale I would deeme by the affinite of the name that old UZBLLUM mentioned by Ptolomee stood by the river Euse. In Eskdale some are of opinion that the HORESTI dwelt into whose borders Iulius Agricola when he had subdued the Britans inhabiting this tract brought the Roman armie especially if we read Horesci in stead of Horesti For Ar-Esc in the British tongue betokeneth a place by the river Eske As for Aesica in Eskdale I have spoken of it before in England and there is no cause wherefore I should iterate the same ANNANDALE UNto this on the West side adjoyneth ANNANDALE that is The vale by the river Annan into which the accesse by land is very difficult The places of greater note herein are these a castle by Lough-Mahan three parts whereof are environed with water and strongly walled and the towne Annandale at the very mouth almost
shooteth into the deepe sea and is to bee seene a farre off Hard by South Eske voideth it selfe into the Ocean which river flowing amaine out of a lake passeth by Finnevim Castle well knowne by reason of the Lindeseies Earles of Crawford keeping residence there of whom I have alreadie written Then upon the said river standeth Brechin which King David the first adorned with a Bishops See and at the very mouth thereof Mont-rose as one would say the Mount of Roses a towne in times past called Celurca risen by the fall of another towne bearing the same name which is seated betweene the two Eskes and imparteth the title of Earle to the family of the Grahams Concerning which towne Ionston hath these verses CELURCA five 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 virumque Ingeniis patriae qui perperere decus MONT-ROSE With Roses gay the towne is deckt an easie Mount withall Stands neere the same and hence they say MONT-ROSE folke did it call In former times by ancient name Celurca men it knew Ennobled thus you see it is by name both old and new Both old and new renowne it hath for prowesse and for wit Of men that have their countrey grac'd and honour won to it Not farre from hence is Boschain belonging to the Barons of Ogiluy of very ancient nobilitie lineally descended from Alexander Sheriffe of Angus who was slaine in the bloodie battaile at Harley against the Mac Donald of the out Isles As touching the Earles of Angus Gilchrist of Angus renowned for his brave exploits under King Malcolm the fourth was the first Earle of Angus that I read of About the yeere 1242. Iohn Comin was Earle of Angus who died in France and his widow haply inheritrice to the Earldome was married to Sir Gilbert Umfranvill an Englishman For both hee and his heires successively after him were summoned to the Parliaments in England untill the third yeere of King Richard the second by the title of Earles of Angus Howbeit the Lawyers of England refused in their Brieves and instruments to acknowledge him Earle for that Angus was not within the kingdome of England untill hee had brought forth openly in the face of the Court the Kings writ and warrant wherein he was summoned to the Parliament by the name of Earle of Angus In the reigne of David Brus Thomas Stewart was Earle of Angus who by a suddaine surprise won Barwicke and streightwaies lost it yea and within a while after died miserably in prison at Dunbritton But the Douglasses men of haughtie mindes and invincible hearts from the time of King Robert the third have beene Earles of Angus after that George Douglasse had taken to wife the Kings daughter reputed the chiefe and principall Earles of Scotland and to whom this office belongeth to carrie the regall Crown before the Kings at all the solemne assemblies of the kingdome The sixth Earle of Angus out of this stocke was Archebald who espoused Margaret daughter to Henrie the seventh K. of England and mother to James the fifth King of Scots by whom he had issue Margaret wife to Matthew Stewart Earle of Lennox who after her brothers decease that died childlesse willingly resigned up her right and interest in this Earldome unto Sir David Douglasse of Peteindreich her unkles sonne by the fathers side and that with the consent of her husband and sonnes to the end that she might binde the surer unto her selfe by the linke also of a beneficiall demerite that family which otherwise in bloud was most neere what time as Henrie her son went about to wed Marie the Queen by which marriage King JAMES our Soveraigne the mightie Monarch of great Britaine was happily borne to the good of all Britaine MERNIS THese regions were in Ptolomees time inhabited by the VERNICONES the same perhaps that the VECTURIONES mentioned by Marcellinus But this their name is now quite gone unlesse wee would imagine some little peece thereof to remaine in Mernis For many times in common speech of the British tongue V. turneth into M. This small province Mernis abutting upon the German Ocean and of a rich and battle soile lieth very well as a plaine and levell Champion But the most memorable place therein is Dunnotyr a Castle advanced upon an high and unaccessible rocke whence it looketh downe to the underflowing sea well fensed with strong walls and turrets which hath beene a long time the habitation of the Keiths of an ancient and verie noble stock who by the guidance of their vertue became hereditarie Earles Mareschals of the kingdome of Scotland and Sheriffes of this province In a porch or gallerie here is to bee seene that ancient inscription which I mentioned even now of a companie belonging to the twentieth legion the letters whereof the right noble and honourable Earle now living a great lover of antiquitie caused to be guilded Somewhat farther from the sea standeth Fordon graced in some sort and commendable in regard of John de Fordon who being borne here diligently and with great paines compiled Scoti Chronicon that is The Scottish Chronicle unto whose laborious studies the Scottish Historiographers are very much indebted but more glorious and renowned in old time for the reliques of St. Palladius bestowed and shrined sometime as is verily thought in this place who in the yeere 431. was by Pope Caelestinas appointed the Apostle of the Scottish nation MARRIA or MAR. FRom the sea in the mediterranean or inland parts above Mernis MAR enlargeth it selfe and runneth forward threescore miles or thereabout where it lieth broadest Westwards it swelleth up with mountaines unlesse it bee where the rivers Dee which Ptolomee calleth DIVA and Done make way for themselves and enfertile the fields Upon the bank of Done Kildrummy standeth as a faire ornament to the countrey being the ancient seat of the Earles of Marre and not farre distant from it the habitation of the Barons Forbois who being issued from a noble and ancient stocke assumed this surname whereas before time they were called Bois after that the heire of that family had manfully killed a savage and cruell Beare But at the very mouth of this river there be two townes that give greater ornament which of the said mouth that in the British tongue they call Aber borrowing one name are divided asunder by one little field lying betweene the hithermore of them which standeth neerer to Dee mouth is much ennobled by an Episcopall dignitie which King David the first translated hither from Murthlake a little village by faire houses of the Canons an Hospitall for poore people and a free Grammar schoole which William Elphinston Bishop of the place in the yeere 1480. consecrated to the training up
standing in a docke neere the Tamis to the outside of the keele whereof a number of such little birds without life and feathers stuck close Yet would I gladly thinke that the generation of these birds was not out of the logges of wood but from the very Ocean which the Poets tearmed the Father of all things A mightie masse likewise of Amber as bigge as the bodie of an horse was not many yeeres since cast upon this shore The learned call it Succinum Glessum and Chryso-Electrum and Sotacus supposed that it was a certaine juice or liquor which distilleth out of trees in Britain and runneth downe into the sea and is therein hardned Tacitus also was of the same opinion when he wrote thus I can verily beleeve that like as there be trees in the secret and inward parts of the East which sweat out frankincense and balme so in the Ilands and other countries of the West there bee woods and groves of a more fattie and firme substance which melting by the hot beames of the Sunne approching so neere runneth into the sea hard by and by force of tempest floateth up to the shores against it But Serapio and the Philosophers of later times write that it ariseth out of a certain clammie and bituminous earth under the sea and by the sea side and that the billowes and tempests cast up part thereof a land and fishes devoure the rest But I digresse extravagantly I will into my way againe and since I acknowledge my fault let my confession purchase pardon In the reigne of King Alexander the second Alexander Comin rose up to the honour of Earle of Buquhan who married the daughter and one of the heires of Roger de Quincie Earle of Winchester in England and his Niece by a sonne brought the same title unto Henrie de Beaumont her husband for he in King Edward the third his daies had his place in the Parliament of England by the name of Earl of Buquhan Afterwards Alexander Stewart sonne to King Robert the second was Earle of this place unto whom succeeded John a younger sonne of Robert Duke of Albanie who arriving in France with seven thousand Scottishmen to aide Charles the seventh King of France bare himselfe valiantly and performed singular good service against the Englishmen and that with so great commendation as having victoriously slaine Thomas Duke of Clarence brother to Henrie the fifth King of England at Baugie and discomfited the English he was made Constable of France But in the third yeere following when the fortune of warre turned hee with other most valiant Knights to wit Archibald Douglasse Earle of Wigton and Duke of Touraine c. was vanquished at Vernoil by the English and there slain Whom notwithstanding as that Poet said aeternum memorabit Gallia cives Grata suos titulos quae dedit tumulos France thankfully will ay recount as citizens of her owne On whom both titles glorious and tombes she hath bestowne Certes whereas under the K.K. Charles the sixth and seventh France was preserved and Aquitain recovered by thrusting out the English the Frenchmen cannot chuse but acknowledge themselves much beholden to the fidelitie and fortitude of the Scottish But afterwards King James the first gave the Earldome of Buquhan unto George of Dunbar moved thereto upon pitie and commiseration because hee had deprived him before of the Earldom of March by authority of Parliament for his fathers crime and not long after James the sonne of James Stewart of Lorn surnamed the Black Knight whom he had by Q. Joan sister to the Duke of Somerset and widdow to King James the first obtained this honour and left it to his posteritie but for default not long since of heires male it came by a daughter married to Robert Douglas a younger brother of Douglas of Lochlevin to the family of the Douglasses From Buquhan as the shore bendeth backward and turneth full into the North lieth Boena and Bamff a small Sherifdome also Ajuza a little territorie of no especiall account and Rothamay castle the dwelling place of the Barons of Salton surnamed Abernethy Beneath these lieth Strath-bolgy that is the vale by Bolgy the habitation in times past of the Earls of Athol who of it assumed their surname but now the principall seat of Marquesse Huntly For this title K. James the sixth conferred upon George Gordon Earle Huntly Lord Gordon and Badzeneth a man of great honour and reputation for his ancient noblenesse of birth and the multitude of his dependants and followers whose ancesters descended from the Setons by Parliamentarie authoritie took the name of Gordon when as Sir Alexander Seton had taken to wife the daughter of Sir Iohn Gordon Knight by whom he had a large and rich inheritance and received the honour of the Earle of Huntly at the hands of King James the second in the yeere 1449. MORAVIA or MURRAY THe VACOMAGI remembred by Ptolomee anciently inhabited on the further side of Crantz-baine-mountain which as it were in a continued range by hills hanging one by another driveth out his ridge with many a winding as far as to Murray frith where now lieth Murray in Latin Moravia celebrated for the fertilitie pleasant site and commoditie of fruitfull trees By this Province Spey a famous river maketh his issue into the sea wherein he lodgeth when hee hath watered Rothes Castle whence the family of the Lesleys tooke the title of Earle ever since that K. James the second conferred the honour of Earle of Rothes upon Sir George Lesley Concerning this Spey our Poet Necham hath thus written Spey loca mutantis praeceps agitator arenae Inconstans certas nescit habere vias Officium lintris corbis subit hunc regit audax Cursus labentis nauta fluenta sequens Spey raising heaps of sand amaine that shift oft times their place Inconstant he doth change eftsoones and keeps no certaine race A panier serves here for a boat some ventrous swaine it guides Who followeth still the rivers course while downe the streame it glides The river LOXA mentioned by Ptolomee which now is called Losse hideth himselfe in the sea hard by neere unto which Elgina appeareth in which and in Forres adjoining I. of Dunbar of Cumnock descended from the stock of the Earles of March hath his jurisdiction as Sheriff by inheritance But where it is now readie to enter into the sea he findeth a more plaine and soft soile and spreadeth abroad into a Meere full of swans wherein the herbe Olorina plentifully groweth hee hath Spiny Castle standing upon it whereof now the first Baron is Alexander of the linage of the Lindseys like as Kinlosse also a neighbour by sometime a famous Monasterie some call it Kill-flos of certaine flowers miraculously there springing up on a sudden when the carkase of King Duff murdred and hidden in the same place was found hath also for the Lord thereof Edward Brus M. of the Rolls in
at the hands of King Henry the sixth the title and honour of Earle of Wiltshire to him and to the heires of his body who being Lord Deputy of Ireland as divers others of this race and Lord Treasurer of England standing attainted by King Edward the fourth was straight waies apprehended and beheaded but his brethren John and Thomas likewise proclaimed traytors kept themselves close out of the way John died at Jerusalem without issue Thomas through the speciall favour of King Henry the seventh was in the end restored to his blood who departed this life in the yeere 1515. leaving behinde him two daughters Anne married to Sir Iames de sancto Leodegano called commonly Sellenger and Margaret unto Sir William Bollein who bare unto him Sir Tho. Bollein whom King Henry the eighth created first Viscount Rochfort afterwards Earle of Wiltshire and of Ormond and afterward took Anne Bollein his daughter to wife who brought forth for England Queene Elizabeth a Prince of most happy memory and with all thankfulnesse to be alwaies remembred by the English and Irish. When Thomas Bollein was dead leaving no issue male Sir Pierce Butler a man of great power in Ireland descended of the Earles race whom Henry the eighth had before time created Earle of Osserie attained also to the title of Ormond and left the same unto his sonne James who had issue by the daughter and heire of James Earle of Desmond a sonne named Thomas Earle of Ormond now living whose faith and loyaltie hath been passing well tried and approved in many troubles and dangerous affaires who also hath joined in marriage his only daughter unto Theobald Butler his brothers son whom King James hath advanced lately to the title of Vicount Tullo Whereas some of the Irish and such as would be thought worthy of credit doe affirme that certaine men in this tract are yeerely turned into Wolves surely I suppose it be a meere fable unlesse haply through that malicious humour of predominant unkind Melancholy they be possessed with the malady that the Physicians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which raiseth and engendereth such like phantasies as that they imagine themselves to bee transformed into Wolves Neither dare I otherwise affirme of those metamorphosed Lycaones in Liveland concerning whom many Writers deliver many and marvellous reports Thus farre as touching the Province of Mounster for the government whereof Queene Elizabeth when shee bethought herselfe most wisely politickly and princely which way she might procure the good and wealth of Ireland ordained a Lord President to be the reformer and punisher of inconsiderate rashnesse the director also and moderator of duty together with one Assistant two learned Lawyers and a Secretary and the first President that shee made was Sir Warham S. Leger Knight a man of great experience in Irish affaires LAGENIA or LEINSTER THe second part of Ireland which the inhabitants call Leighnigh the Britans Lein the English Leinster and Latine writers Lagenia and in the ancient lives of the Saints Lagen lieth all of it on the Sea-side Eastward bounded toward Mounster with the river Neor which notwithstanding in many places it passeth beyond on Connaght side for a good space with Shanon and toward Meath with the peculiar knowne limits The Countrey is fertile and fruitfull the aire most milde and temperate and the people there inhabiting come neerest of all other to the gentle disposition and civill conversation of England their neighbour Iland from whence they are for the most part descended In Ptolomees dayes therein were seated the BRIGANTES MENAPII CAUCI and BLANI and peradventure from these Blani are derived and contracted these later and moderne names Lein Leinigh and Leinster But now it is divided into the Counties of Kilkenny Caterlogh Queenes County Kings County Kildare Weisford and Dublin to say nothing of Wicklo and Fernes which either be already or else are to be laid thereto BRIGANTES or BIRGANTES THe BRIGANTES seeme to have planted themselves betweene the mouth of the river and the confluence of Neor and Barrow which in Ptolomee is called BRIGUS Now because there was an ancient City of the Brigantes in Spaine named BRIGANTIA Florianus del Campo laboureth tooth and naile to fetch these BRIGANTES out of his owne countrey Spaine But if such a conjecture may take place others might with as great probality derive them from the Brigantes of Britaine a nation both neere and also exceeding populous But if that be true which I finde in certaine copies that this people were called BIRGANTES both hee and the other have missed the marke For that these tooke their denomination of the river BIRGUS about which they doe inhabite the very name is almost sufficient to perswade us These BRIGANTES or BIRGANTES whether you will dwelt in the Counties of Kilkenny Ossery and Caterlogh watered all with the river BIRGUS THE COUNTIE OF KILKENNY THe Countie of Kilkenny is bounded West with the countie of Tipperary East with the counties of Weisford and Caterlogh South with the countie of Waterford North with Queenes Countie and Northwest with upper Osserie A countrey that with townes and castles on every side maketh a very goodly shew and for plenty of all things surpasseth the rest Neere unto Osserie the mighty and huge mountaines Sleiew Bloemy which Giraldus calleth Bladinae Montes with their rising toppes mount up to a wonderfull heigth out of the bowels whereof as from their mothers wombe issue the rivers Shour aforenamed Neor and Barrow which running downe in severall chanels before they enter into the Ocean joine hand in hand all together whereupon they in old time tearmed them The three sisters The Neor commonly called also Neure runneth in manner through the midst of Kilkenny county and when it is passed with a forward course by the upper Osserie the first Baron whereof was Barnabas Fitz-Patrick promoted to that honor by King Edward the sixth and hath watered many fortresses on both sides floweth beside Kilkenny which is as much to say as the Cell or Church of Canic which for the sanctimony of his solitary life in this country was highly renowned a proper faire and wealthy Burrough towne this is and far excelling all other midland Boroughs in this Iland divided into the Irish towne and the English towne The Irish towne is as it were the Suburbs and hath in it the said Canicks Church which both gave name unto it and now also affordeth a See unto the Bishop of Osserie But the English towne is nothing so ancient built as I have read by Ranulph the third Earle of Chester and fortified with a wall on the West side by Robert Talbot a Nobleman and with a castle by the Butlers And sure it is that in the division of lands between the daughters of William Mareschal Earle of Penbroch it fell unto the third daughter whom Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester married Somewhat beneath the same Neore standeth a little walled towne named in English Thomas Towne
either by dint of sword conquered or by surrender gat the whole into his owne hands and was the first that was stiled Earle of Ulster but when his great exploits and fortunate archievements had wrought him such envie that through his owne vertues and other mens vices he was banished out of the Realme Hugh Lacy the second sonne of Hugh Lacy Lord of Meth who had commandement to pursue him by force and armes was by King John appointed his successour being created Earle of Ulster by the sword of which honour notwithstanding the same King afterward deprived him for his tumultuous insolency and hee was in the end received into favour againe But for the sounder testimony hereof it were good to exemplifie the same word for word out of the records of Ireland Hugh de Lacy sometime Earle of Ulster held all Ulster exempt and separate from all other counties whatsoever of the Kings of England in chiefe by service of three Knights so often as the Kings service was proclaimed and be held all Pleas in his owne Court that pertaine to a Iustice and Sheriffe and held a Court of Chancery of his own c. And afterward all Ulster came into the hands of our Soveraigne Lord K. Iohn by the forfeiture of the foresaid Hugh unto whom after that K. Henry the third demised it for terme of the said Hughs life And when Hugh was deceased Walter de Burgo did that service unto Lord Edward K. Henries son Lord of Ireland before he was King And the same Lord Edward feoffed the aforesaid Walter in the said land of Ulster to have and to hold unto the same Walter and to his heires by the service aforesaid as freely and wholly as the above named Hugh de Lacy held it excepting the advowsons of Cathedrall Churches and the demesne of the same also the Pleas of the Crowne to wit Rape Forstall Firing and Treasure Trouve which our soveraigne Lord K. Edward retained to himselfe and his heires This Walter de Burgo who was Lord of Conaght and Earle of Ulster begat of the only daughter of Hugh de Lacy Richard Earle of Ulster who after hee had endured many troubles and calamities died in the yeere 1326. Richard had issue Iohn de Burgo who departed this life before his father having begotten upon Elizabeth sister and one of the heires of Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester William who succeeded after his grandfather This William being slain by his own men when he was young left behind him a little daughter his only child who being married unto Leonell Duke of Clarence bare one daughter likewise the wife of Edmund Mortimer Earle of March by whom the Earledome of Ulster and Seigniory of Conaght came unto the Mortimers and from them together with the kingdome of England unto the house of Yorke and afterward Edward the fourth King of England adjoined it unto the Kings Domaine or Crowne land And when as at the same time England was divided into sides and factions whiles the civill warre grew hot and the English that abode here returned out of Ulster into England to follow the factions O-Neal and others of Irish blood seized these countries into their own hands and brought them to such wildnesse and savage barbarisme as it exceeded In so much as this province which in times past paied a mighty masse of money unto their Earles scarcely ever since yeelded any coin at all unto the Kings of England And verily in no one thing whatsoever pardon this my over-boldnesse have the Kings of England beene more defective in piety and policie than that they have for these so many ages seen so slightly to this Province yea and to all Ireland in the propagation of religion establishing the weale publike and reducing the life of the inhabitants to civility whether it was for carelesse neglect sparing or a fore-cast of dammage or some reason of state I am not able to say But that the same may be no longer thus neglected it seemeth of it selfe by good right to importune most earnestly being an Iland so great so neere a neigbour so fruitfull in soile so rich in pastures more than credible beset with so many woods enriched with so many mineralls if they were searched watered with so many rivers environed with so many havens lying so fit and commodious for failing into most wealthy countries and thereby like to bee for impost and custome very profitable and to conclude breeding and rearing men so abundantly as it doth who considering either their mindes or their bodies might be of singular emploiment for all duties and functions as well of warre as of peace if they were wrought and conformed to orderly civility I Intimated even now that I would speak touching the O-Neals who carried themselves as Lords of Ulster and I promised not long since a friend of mine that I would write of their rebellions raised in our age And verily I will performe my promise to his Manes whom whiles he lived I observed with all respect and being now in heaven I will not forget Thus much onely I will promise by way of Preface that I have compendiously collected these matters out of my Annales and here conjoined them which there are severed and divided according to their severall times and withall that whatsoever I shall write is not upon uncertaine rumours but gathered summarily from out oâ— their owne hand writings who managed those affaires and were present in the actions And this will I doe with so sincere an affection to the truth and so uncorrupt fidelity that I doubt not but I shall have thanks at their hands who love the truth and desire to understand the late affaires of Ireland and not incurre the blame of any unlesse they be such as having done ill take it not well if themselves be accordingly censured THE O-NEALES AND THEIR REBELLIONS IN OUR TIME TO say nothing of that GREAT NEALE who ruled by force and armes in Ulster and a great part of Ireland before the comming of Saint Patricke nor of those in the middle times who were but of meane note and memoriall to speake of this family after the arrivall of the English in Ireland lay close and obscure in remote lurking corners unlesse it were when Edward Brus brother to Robert King of Scotland named himselfe King of Ireland For then in a troublesome time Dovenald O-Neale started and rowsed himselfe out of his lurking holes and in his missives unto the Pope used this title in his stile Dovenald O-Neale King of Ulster and in right of inheritance the undoubted heire of all Ireland But after these stirres and troubles were laid this new King soone vanished away and Dovenalds posterity pluckt in their hornes and hid their heads untill that whiles England was all in a combustion kindled by the furious firebrands of civill warres betweene the houses of Yorke and Lancaster for the Imperiall Crowne those English that served and lived here abandoning Ulster and
hand in fight Afterwards upon the sixth day of the weeke being Good-friday when the foresaid John was unarmed and went by way of pilgrimage bare foot and in his linnen vesture a visiting the Churches as the manner is treacherously he was taken prisoner by his owne people for a piece of money given in hand and for a greater reward to be given afterward for a recompence and so was delivered unto Hugh Lacie But hee bringeth him unto the King of England who gave unto Hugh Lacie the Earldom of Ulster and the Seigniorie of Conaught which belonged unto John Curcie Then Hugh Lacie being Earle rewarded all the foresaid Traitours that had betraied John Curcie and gave unto them gold and silver more or lesse but straightwayes hung up all the Traitours aforesaid and tooke away all their goods and so Hugh Lacie ruleth over all Ulster and John Curcie is condemned to perpetuall prison because he had before time beene a Rebell to John King of England and would not doe him homage and besides blamed him about the death of Arthur the rightfull heire unto the Crowne But whiles hee was in prison and in extreme povertie having but little allowance and the same course and simple for to eat and drinke he said O God wherefore dealest thou thus by me who have built and re-edified so many Monasteries for thee and thy Saints Now when he had many times wailed and made loud moane in this wise and therewith fell asleep the holy Trinitie appeared unto him saying Why hast thou cast me out of mine owne seat and out of the Church of Doun and placed there my S. Patrick the Patron of Ireland Because indeed John Curcie had expelled the Secular Canons or Priests out of the Cathedrall Church of Doune and brought the blacke Monks of Chester and placed them in the said Church And the holy Trinitie stood there in a stately shrine or seat and John himselfe tooke it downe out of the Church and ordained a Chappell for that Image and in the great Church set up the image of S. Patrick which displeased the most High God therefore thus said God Know thou well that thou shalt never enter into thy Seigniorie in Ireland Howbeit in regard of other good deeds that thou hast done thou shalt with honour be delivered forth of prison which also came to passe And now by this time there arose a contention betweene John King of England and the King of France about a Seigniory and certain Castles and this suit or controversie still depending the King of France offered unto him a Giant or Champion to fight for his right Then the King of England called to remembrance his most valiant Knight John Curcie whom upon the information of others he had before cast into prison The King therefore sent for John Curcie and asked him if he were able to help and stand him in stead in a combat then John answered and said I will not fight for thee but for the right of the Kingdome for which afterward hee undertooke to doe his endeavour in single fight and so refreshed himselfe with meat drink and bathing and tooke the vertue of his owne fortitude and strength and a day was appointed betweene these Giants or Champions namely betweene John Curcie and the other But when the Champion of France heard of his exceeding great feeding and of his strength hee refused the combat and then was the said Seigniorie given unto the King of England Then the King of France requested to see a stroake given by the hand of John Curcie and he set a strong and doughtie good morion full of maile upon a great blocke or log of wood and the foresaid John taking his skeine or sword and looking back round about him with a stern and grim countenance smote the moâ—ion through from the very crest downeward into the blocke and the sword stucke in the wood so fast that no other man but himselfe was able to plucke out the sword then John at the request of the Kings easily pluckt it forth And the Kings demanded of the foresaid John wherefore he looked behind him with so grim a countenance before he gave the stroke who answered that if he had failed in giving that stroke he would have slaine them all as well Kings as others And the Kings gave unto him great gifts yea and the King of England rendred unto him also his Seigniorie of Ulster But John Curcie attempted 15. times to saile over sea into Ireland but was alwaies in danger and the wind evermore against him wherefore hee waited a while among the Monkes of Chester At length he returned into France and there rested in the Lord. MCCV. The Abbey of Wetheney in the countie of Lymericke was founded by Theobald the sonne of Walter Butler Lord of Karryke MCCVI. The order of Friers Minors was begun neere the citie Assisa by Saint Francis MCCVIII William Breos is expelled out of England and commeth into Ireland England is interdicted for the tyrannie of King John of England Likewise a great overthrow and slaughter hapned at Thurles in Mounster committed upon the Lord Justice of Irelands men by Sir Geffery Mareys MCCX John King of England came into Ireland with a great fleet and a puissant armie and for that the sons of Hugh Lacie to wit the Lord Walter Lord of Meth and Hugh his brother exercised tyrannie upon the Commons and especially because they slew Sir John Curson Lord of Rathenny and Kilbarrocke for they heard that the foresaid John accused them unto the King therefore I say the King drave the foresaid sonnes of Hugh Lacie out of the land and they fled into France and served in the Monasterie of Saint Taurin as unknowne working about clay and bricke and sometime in gardens as Gardiners but at length they were knowne by the Abbat of the said Monasterie and the said Abbat entreated the King for them because he had baptized his sonnes and was Godsib unto him as a Godfather many times and Walter Lacie paid two thousand and five hundred markes and Hugh Lacie payed a great summe of money unto the King for his ransome and at the request of the said Abbat restored they were againe unto their former degree and Seigniorie And Walter Lacie brought with him John the sonne of Alured that is Fitz-Acory sonne to the foresaid Abbats whole brother and he made him Knight and gave unto him the Seigniorie of Dengle and many other Lordships Item hee brought Monkes with him out of the same Monasterie and gave unto them many fermes and the Cell called Fourie in regard of charitie thankfulnesse and counsell and Hugh Lacie Earle of Ulster made a Cell for Monkes and endowed them in Ulster in a place called ..... But John King of England having taken many pledges and hostages as well of English as of Irish and hanged a number of malefactours upon Jebbits and setled the State of the land returned into England the same yeere that he came
Sampford archbishop of Dublin In the same yeer the King of Hungary forsaking the Christian faith became an Apostata and when hee had called fraudulently as it were to a Parliament the mightier potentates of his land Miramomelius a puissant Saracene came upon them with 20000. souldiers carrying away with him the King with all the Christians there assembled on the even of Saint John Baptists day as the Christians therefore journied the weather that was cleere and faire turned to be cloudie and suddenly a tempest of haile killed many thousands of the Infidels together The Christians returned to their owne homes and the Apostata King alone went with the Saracenes The Hungarians therefore crowning his sonne King continued in the Catholike faith MCCLXXXIX Tripolis a famous citie was laied even with the ground not without much effusion of Christian blood and that by the Soldan of Babylon who commanded the images of the Saints to bee drawne and dragged at horses tailes in contempt of the name of Christ through the citie newly destroyed MCCXC Inclyta Stirps Regis Sponsis datur ordine legis In lawfull guise by hand and ring Espoused is the Kings off-spring The Lord Gilbert Clare tooke to wife the Ladie Joan a daughter of the Lord King Edward in the Abbey or Covent Church of Westminster and the marriage was solemnely celebrated in the Moneth of May and John the Duke of Brabant his sonne married Margaret the said Kings daughter also in the Church aforesaid in the moneth of July The same yeere the Lord William Vescie was made Justice of Ireland entring upon the office on Saint Martins day Item O Molaghelin King of Meth is slaine MCCXCI Gilbert Clare the sonne of Gilbert and of the Ladie Joan of Acres was borne the 11. day of May in the morning betimes Item there was an armie led into Ulster against O-Hanlon and other Princes hindering the peace by Richard Earle of Ulster and William Vescie Justice of Ireland Item the Ladie Eleanor sometime Queene of England and mother of King Edward died in the feast of St. Iohn Baptist who in the religious habite which she desired led a laudable life for the space of foure yeeres eleven moneths and sixe dayes within the Abbey of Ambresby where she was a professed Nun. Item there resounded certaine rumours in the eares of the Lord Pope Martin on the even of St. Mary Maudlen as touching the Citie Acon in the holy land which was the only refuge of the Christians namely that it was besieged by Milkador the Soldan of Babylon an infinite number of his souldiers and that it had been most fiercely assaulted about fortie daies to wit from the eighth day before the Ides of April unto the fifteene Calends of July At length the wall was plucked down by the Saracens that assaulted it and an infinite number of them entred the Citie many Christians being slaine and some for feare drowned in the sea The Patriarch also with his traine perished in the sea The King of Cypres and Otes Grandison with their companies pitifully escaped by a ship Item granted there was unto the Lord Edward King of England by the Lord Pope Martin the tenth part of all the profits of Ecclesiasticall benefices for seven yeeres in Ireland toward the reliefe of the holy land Item the eldest sonne of the Earle of Clare was borne MCCXCII Edward King of England eftsoones entred Scotland and was elected King of Scotland Lord John Balliol of Galwey obtained the whole kingdome of Scotland in right of inheritance and did homage unto the Lord Edward King of England at New-castle upon Tine on S. Stephens day Florentius Earle of Holland Robert Brus Earle of Carrick John Hastings John Comyn Patrick Dunbar John Vescie Nicolas Soules and William Roos who all of them in that kingdome submitted themselves to the judgement of the Lord King Edward Item a fifteene of all secular mens goods in Ireland was granted unto the soveraign Lord King of England the same to be collected at the feast of S. Michael Item Sir Peter Genevile Knight died Item Rice ap Meredyke was brought to York and there at horses tailes drawne c. MCCXCIII A generall and open war there was at sea against the Normans Item no small number of the Normans by fight at sea was slain by the Barons of the Ports of England and other their co-adjutors between Easter and Whitsuntide For which cause there arose war between England and France whereupon Philip King of France directed his letters of credence unto the King of England that he should make personall appearance at his Parliament to answer unto Questions which the same King would propose unto him whose mandate in this behalf being not fulfilled straightwaies the King of France declaring by the counsell of the French the King of England to be outlawed condemned him Item Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester entred with his wife into Ireland about the feast of S. Luke MCCXCIV William Montefort in the Kings counsell holden at Westminster before the King died sodainly which William was the Dean of S. Pauls in London in whose mouth the Prelates Bishops and Cleargy putting their words which he was to utter and doubting how much the King affected and desired to have of every one of them and willing by him to be certified in whom also the King reposed most trust being returned to the King and making hast before the King to deliver expresly a speech that he had conceived became speechlesse on a sodain and fell downe to the ground and was carried forth by the Kings servants in their armes in piteous manner In regard of which sight that thus happened men strucken with feare gave out these speeches Surely this man hath beene the Agent and Procurator that the Tenths of Ecclesiasticall benefices should bee paied to the King and another author and procurer of a scrutinie made into the fold and flocke of Christ as also of a contribution granted afterward to the King crying against William Item the Citie of Burdeaux with the land of Gascoigne adjoining was occupied or held by the ministers of the King of France conditionally but unjustly and perfidiously detained by the King of France for which cause John Archbishop of Dublin and certaine other Lords of the Nobilitie were sent into Almaine to the King thereof and after they had their dispatch and answer in Tordran the Lord Archbishop being returned into England ended his life upon S. Leodegaries day The bones of which John Sampford were enterred in the Church of Saint Patrick in Dublin the tenth day before the Calends of March. The same yeere there arose debate betweene Lord William Vescy Lord Justice of Ireland for the time being and the Lord John Fitz-Thomas and the said Lord Williliam Vescy crossed the seas into England left Sir William Hay in his stead Justice of Ireland but when both of them were come before the King to fight a combat under an Appeal for treason the foresaid
William Vescy fled into France and would not fight Then the King of England gave all the Seigniories and Lordships which were the Lord William Vescies unto Sir John Fitz-Thomas to wit Kildare Rathemgan and many others The same yeere Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester returned out of Ireland into England likewise Richard Earle of Ulster soon after the feast of S. Nicholas was taâ—en prisoner by Sir John Fitz-Thomas and kept in ward within the Castle of Ley unto the feast of Saint Gregorie the Pope whose enlargement was then made by the counsell of the Lord the King in a Parliament at Kilkenny for the taking of whom the foresaid Sir Iohn Fitz-Thomas gave all his lands to wit Slygah with the pertenances which he had in Connaght Item the Castle of Kildare was won Kildare and the country round about it is spoiled by the English and Irish. Caluagh burnt all the Rolls and Tallies of the said Earle Great dearth and pestilence there was throughout Ireland this yeere and the two next ensuing Item Lord William Odyngzele is made Justice of Ireland MCCXCV Edward King of England built the Castle de Bello-Marisco that is Beaumaris in Venedocia which is called mother of Cambria and of the common sort Anglesey entring unto the said Anglesey straight after Easter and subduing the Venodotes that is the able men of Anglesey under his dominion and soone after this time namely after the feast of St. Margaret Madock at that time the elect Prince of Wales submitting himselfe to the Kings grace and favour was brought by Iohn Haverings to London and there shut up prisoner in the towre expecting the Kings grace and benevolence This yeere died Lord William Odingzele Justice of Ireland the morrow after S. Mary of Aegypt whom succeeded Sir Thomas Fitz-Maurice in the Justiceship Item about the same time the Irish of Leinster wasted Leinster burning New-castle with other townes Item Thomas Torbevile a traitor of the King and the realm being convicted was drawne through the middest of London lying along prostrate guarded with foure tormentors disguised under vizzards taunting and reviling him and thus in the end was hanged upon a jibbet in chaines so as his carcase might not be committed to sepulture but kites carrion crowes and ravens celebrated his funerals This Thomas was one of them which at the siege of the Castle of Rions were taken prisoners and brought to Paris Who spake unto the Peeres of France and said that he would betray the King of England into their hands and leaving there his two sonnes for hostages returned from the parts beyond-sea joining himself unto the King of England and his counsell relating unto them all how craftily he escaped out of prison and when hee had gotten intelligence of the Kings designement and the ordering of the kingdome hee put all in writing and directed the same unto the Provost of Paris For which being in the end convicted he received the sentence of judgement aforesaid Item about the same time the Scots having broken the bond of peace which they had covenanted with the Lord Edward King of England made a new league with the King of France and conspiring together rose up in armes against their owne soveraigne Lord and King Iohn Balliol and enclosed him within the inland parts of Scotland in a castle environed and fensed round about with mountaines They elected unto themselves after the manner of France twelve Peeres to wit foure Bishops foure Earles and foure Lords of the Nobilitie by whose will and direction all the affaires of the kingdome should be managed And this was done in despite and to disgrace the King of England for that against the will and consent of the Scots the said John was by the King of England set over them to be their Soveraigne Item the King of England brought an armie againe toward Scotland in Lent following to represse the rash arrogancie and presumption of the Scots against their owne father and King Item Sir Iohn Wogan was made Justice of Ireland and the Lord Thomas Fitz-Maurice gave place unto him Item the said John Wogan Justice of Ireland made peace and truce to last for two yeeres betweene the Earle of Ulster and Iohn Fitz-Thomas and the Geraldines Item in these dayes about the feast of Christ his Nativitie Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester finished this life Item the King of England sendeth his brother Edmund with an armie into Gascoigne MCCXCVI The Lord Edward King of England the third day before the Calends of Aprill to wit upon Friday that fell out then to be in Easter weeke wonne Berwicke wherein were slaine about 7000. Scots and of the English one onely Knight to wit Sir Richard Cornwall with seven footmen and no more Item shortly after namely upon the fourth of May he entred the Castle of Dunbar and tooke prisoners of the enemies about fortie men alive who all submitted themselves to the Kings grace and mercie having before defeated the whole armie of the Scots that is to say slaine seven hundred men of armes neither were there slaine of the English men in that service as well of horsemen as of footmen but ... footmen onely Item upon the day of Saint John before Port-Latin no small number of Welshmen even about fifteene thousand by commandement of the King went into Scotland to invade and conquer it And the same time the great Lords of Ireland to wit Iohn Wogan Justice of Ireland Richard Bourk Earle of Ulster Theobald Butler and Iohn Fitz-Thomas with others came to aide and sailed over sea into Scotland The King of England also entertaining them upon the third day before the Ides of May to wit on Whitsunday made a great and solemne feast in the Castle of Rokesburgh to them and other Knights of England Item upon the next Wednesday before the feast of Saint Barnabe the Apostle hee entred the towne of Edeâ—burgh and wonne the Castle before the feast of Saint John Baptist and shortly after even in the same summer were all the Castles within the compasse of Scotland rendred up into his hands Item the same Lord John Balliol King of Scotland came though unwilling upon the Sunday next after the feast of the translation of Saint Thomas the Archbishop to the King of England with Earles Bishops and a great number of Knights beside and submitted themselves unto the Kings grace and will saving life and limbe and the Lord John Balliol resigned up all his right of Scotland into the King of England his hand whom the Lord the King sent toward the parts about London under safe conduct Item Edmund the King of Englands brother died in Gascoigne MCCXCVII Lord Edward King of England sailed over into Flanders with a power of armed men against the King of France for the warre that was raised betweene them where after great expences and much altercation a certaine forme of peace was concluded betweene them with this condition that they should submit themselves unto the ordinance of
the Lord the Pope From the one side and the other were sent certaine messengers to the Court of Rome but whiles King Edward abode in Flanders William Walleis by the common counsell of the Scots came with a great armie to the bridge of Strivelin and gave battle unto John Earle Warren in which battell on both sides many were slaine and many drowned But the Englishmen were discomfited and defeated Upon which exploit all the Scots at once arose and made an insurrection as well Earls as Barons against the King of England And there fell discord betweene the King of England and Roger Bigod Earle Mareschall but soone after they were agreed And Saint Lewis a Frier minor sonne of the King of Sicily and Archbishop of Colein died Also the sonne and heire of the King de Maliagro that is of the Majoricke Ilands instituted the order of the Friers minors at the information of Saint Lewis who said Goe and doe so Item in Ireland Leghlin with other townes was burnt by the Irish of Slemergi Item Calwagh O-Hanlan and Yneg Mac-Mahon are slaine in Urgale MCCXCVIII Pope Boniface the fourth the morrow after the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul after all tumults were appeased ordained and confirmed a peace betweene the King of England and the King of France with certaine conditions that after followed Item Edward King of England set forth with an armie againe into Scotland for to subdue the Scots under his dominion Item there were slaine in the same expedition about the feast of Saint Marie Maudlen many thousands of the Scots at Fawkirk The sunne the same day appeared as red as bloud over all Ireland so long as the battell continued at Fawkirke aforesaid Item about the same time the Lord King of England feoffed his Knights in the Earldomes and Baronies of the Scots that were slaine More in Ireland peace and concord was concluded between the Earle of Ulster and Lord John Fitz-Thomas about the feast of the Apostles Simon and Iude. Also on the morrow after the feast of the 7. Saints sleepers the sun-beames were changed almost into the colour of bloud even from the morning so that all men that saw it wondred thereat Moreover there died Sir Thomas Fitz-Maurice Knight and Sir Robert Bigod sometime Lord chiefe Justice of the Bench. Item in the Citie Artha as also in Reathe in the parts of Italie whiles Pope Boniface abode there at the same time there happened so great an Earthquake that towres and palaces fell downe to the ground The Pope also with his Cardinals fled from the Citie much affrighted Item upon the feast of the Epiphany that is Twelfe day there was an earthquake though not so violent in England from Canterburie as farre as to Hampton MCCXCIX Lord Theobald Botiller the younger departed this life in the Manour de Turby the second day before the Ides of May whose corps was conveied toward Weydeney that is Weney in the countie of Limeric the sixth day before the Calends of June Item Edward King of England tooke to wife the Ladie Margaret sister to the noble King of France in the Church of the holy Trinitie in Canterburie about the feast of the holy Trinitie Item the Soldan of Babylon was defeated with a great armie of Saracens by Cassian King of the Tartars MCCXCIX The day after the feast of the Purification of the blessed Virgin Marie there was an infinite number of the Saracens horsemen slaine besides the footmen who were likewise innumerable Item in the same yeere there was a battell or fight of dogges in Burgundie at Genelon castle and the number of the dogges was 3000. and everie one killed another so that no dogge escaped alive but one alone Item the same yeere many Irishmen came to trouble and molest the Lord Theobald Verdon to the Castle of Roch before the feast of the Annuntiation MCCC The Pollard money is forbidden in England and Ireland Also in the Autumne Edward King of England entred Scotland with a power of armed men but at the commandement of Pope Boniface hee was stayed and he sent solemne messengers unto the Court of Rome excusing himself of doing any injurie Item Thomas the Kings sonne of England was the last day of May born at Brotherton of Margaret sister to the King of France Item Edward Earle of Cornwall died without leaving behind an heire of his owne bodie and was enterred in the Abbey of Hales MCCCI. Edward King of England entred into Scotland with an armie unto whom failed over sea Sir John Wogan Justice of Ireland and Sir John Fitz-Thomas Peter Bermingham and many others to aide the King of England Also a great part of the Citie Dublin was burnt together with the Church of Saint Warburga on S. Columbs day at night More Sir Geffrey Genevil espoused the daughter of Sir John Montefort and Sir John Mortimer espoused the daughter and heire of Sir Peter Genevil And the Lord Theobald Verdon espoused the daughter of the Lord Roger Mortimer At the same time the men of Leinster made warre in winter burning the towne of Wykynlo and Rathdon with others but they escaped not unpunished because the more part of their sustenance was burnt up and their cattell lost by depredation and the same Irish had beene utterly almost consumed but that the seditious dissention of certaine Englishmen was an hinderance thereto Item a defeature and slaughter was made by the Toolans upon a small companie assembled of the Brenies in which were slaine almost three hundred robbers Item Walter Power wasted a great part of Mounster burning many ferme houses MCCCII There died the ladie Margaret wife to Sir John Wogan Justice of Ireland the third day before the Ides of April and in the week following Maud Lacy wife to Sir Geffery Genevil died also Edward Botiller recovered the manour de S. Bosco with the pertenances from Sir Richard Ferenges Archbishop of Dublin by a concord made between them in the Kings bench after the feast of S. Hilarie Item the Flemings gave an overthrow at Courteray in Flanders unto the army of the French the Wednesday after the feast of the Translation of S. Thomas wherein were slaine the Earle of Arthois the Earle of Aumarle the Earle of Hue Ralph Neel Constable of France Guy Nevil Mareschal of France the sonne of the Earle of Hennaund Godfrey Brabant with his sonne William Fenys and his son Iames S. Paul lost his hand and fortie Baronets lost their lives that day with Knights Esquires and others sans number Item the tenths of all Ecclesiasticall benefices in England and Ireland were exacted by Boniface the Pope for 3. yeeres as a Subsidie to the Church of Rome against the King of Aragon Also upon the day of the Circumcision Sir Hugh Lacie raised booties from Hugh Vernail In the same yeere Robert Brus then Earle of Carrick espoused the daughter of Sir Richard Bourk Earle of Ulster Item Edward Botiller espoused the daughter of Sir Iohn Fitz-Thomas also
seas into England out of Ireland the Earle of Ulster Roger Mortimer and Sir Iohn Fitz-Thomas Item Sir Theohald Verdon died MCCCX. King Edward and Sir Piers Gaveston tooke their journey toward Scotland to fight against Robert Bruâ— Item in the said yeere great dearth there was of corn in Ireland an eranc of wheat was sold for 20. shillings and above Also the Bakers of Dublin for their false waight of bread suffered a new kinde of torment which was never seen there before for that on S. Sampson the Bishops day they were drawne upon hurdles through the streets of the Citie at horse-tailes More in the Abbey of S. Thomas Martyr at Dublin died Sir Neile Bruin Knight Escheator to the Lord the King in Ireland whose bodie was committed to the earth at the Friers minors with so great a pompe of tapers and waxe lights as the like was never seene before in Ireland The same yeere a Parliament was holden at Kildare where Sir Arnold Pover was acquit for the death of the Lord Bonevile because he had done this deed in his owne defence Likewise on S. Patricks day by assent of the Chapter M. Alexander Bickenore was elected Archbishop of Dublin Item the Lord Roger Mortimer returned into Ireland within the Octaves of the Nativitie of the blessed Virgin Marie Also the same yeere the Lord Henrie Lacie Earle of Lincolne died MCCCXI In Thomond at Bonnorathie there was a wonderfull and miraculous discomfiture given by the Lord Richard Clare unto the side of the Earle of Ulster Which Lord Richard aforesaid tooke prisoner in the field the Lord William Burke and John the sonne of the Lord Walter Lacie and many others In which battaile verily there were slaine a great number as well of the English as the Irish the 13. day before the Galends of June Item Taslagard and Rathcante were invaded by the robbers to wit the O-Brines and O-Tothiles the morrow after the Nativitie of S. John Baptist. Whereupon soon after in Autumne there was a great armie assembled in Leinster to make head and fight against the said robbers lurking in Glindelory and in other places full of woods Also a Parliament was holden at London in August betweene the King and the Barons to treat about the State of the kingdome and of the Kings houshold according to the ordinance of sixe Bishops sixe Earles and sixe Barons as they might best provide for the good of the Realme Item on the second day before the Ides of November the Lord Richard Clare slew sixe hundred of Galegalaghes More on All-Saints day next going before Piers Gaveston was banished the Realme of England by the Earles and Barons and many good Statutes necessarie for the commonwealth were by the same Lords made Which Piers abjured the Realme of England about the Feast of All-Saints and entred into Flanders foure moneths after the said Piers returned presently upon the Epiphanie and by stealth entred into England keeping close unto the Kings side so that the Barons could not easily come neere unto him And hee went with the King to Yorke making his abode there in the Lent whereupon the Bishops Earles and Barons of England came to London for to treat about the State of the kingdome for feare lest by occasion of Piers his returne the Common wealth should bee troubled with commotions Item Sir John Cogan Sir Walter Faunt and Sir John Fitz-Rerie Knights died and were buried in the Church of the Friers Preachers at Dublin Item John Mac-Goghedan is slaine by O-molmoy Item William Roch died at Dublin with the shot of an arrow by an Irish mountainer Item Sir Eustace Power Knight died Item in the Vigill of Saint Peters Chaire began a riot in Urgaly by Robert Verdon Item Donat O-Brene is traiterously slaine by his owne men in Tothomon MCCCXII Sir Peter or Piers Gaveston entred the castle of Scardeburgh resisting the Barons But soone after the Calends of June hee yeelded himselfe unto Sir Aumare Valence who had besieged him yet upon certaine conditions named before hand who brought him toward London But by the way he was taken prisoner at Dedington by the Earle of Warwicke and brought to Warwicke whereupon after counsell taken by the Earles and Barons he lost his head the thirteenth day before the Calends of July whose bodie lieth buried in the coventuall Church of the Friers Preachers at Langley Item John Wogan Lord Justice of Ireland led forth an armie to bridle the malice of Robert Verdon and his abettors which was miserably defeated the sixth day before the Ides of July in which fight were slain Nicolas Avenel Patrick Roch and many others For this fact the said Robert Verdon and many of his complices yeelded themselves unto the Kings prison at Dublin in expectance of favour and pardon Also on Thursday the morrow after Saint Lucie Virgin in the sixth yeere of King Edward the Moone was wonderfully seene of divers colours on which day determined it was that the order of Templars should be abolished for ever More in Ireland Lord Edmund Botiller was made the Lievtenant of Lord John Wogan Justice of Ireland which Edmund in the Lent following besieged the O-Brynnes in Glindelorie and compelled them to yeeld yea and brought them almost to confusion unlesse they had returned the sooner unto the peace of the Lord the King Item the same yeere on the morrow after Saint Dominickes day Lord Maurice Fitz-Thomas espoused Katherin daughter of the Earle of Ulster at Green-castle And Thomas Fitz-Iohn espoused another daughter of the same Earle the morrow after the Assumption in the same place Also the Sunday after the feast of the exaltation of the holy Crosse the daughter of the Earle of Glocester wife to the Lord Iohn Burke was delivered of a sonne MCCCXIII Frier Roland Joce Primate of Ardmach arrived at the Iland of Houth the morrow after the annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Marie and rising in the night by stealth tooke up his Crosier and advanced it as farre as to the Priorie of Grace Dieu whom there encountred certaine of the Archbishop of Dublins servants debasing and putting downe that Crosier and the Primate himselfe of Ardmagh they chaced with disgrace and confusion out of Leinster Item a Parliament was holden at London wherein little or nothing was done as touching Peace from which Parliament the King departed and tooke his journey into France at the mandate of the King of France and the King of England with many of his Nobles tooke the badge of the Crosse. Also the Lord John Fitz-Thomas knighted Nicolas Fitz-Maurice and Robert Clonhull at Adare in Mounster More on the last day of May Robert Brus sent certaine Gallies to the parts of Ulster with his rovers to make spoile whom the men of Ulster resisted and manfully chased away It is said that the same Robert arrived with the licence of the Earle to take truce Item in the same summer Master John Decer a Citizen of Dublin caused a necessarie bridge to
the said Earle having an oath tendered unto him swore upon the Sacrament that hee would never worke or procure by himselfe or by any of his friends and followers harme or grievance upon the occasion of his apprehension unto the Citizens of Dublin but that which himselfe might by order of law obtaine or get against the offenders or transgressours in that behalfe and thereupon hee had time and day untill the feast of the Nativitie of S. John Baptist at which day he came not Also in the same yeere Corne and other victuals were exceeding deere A Cranok of wheat was sold for three and twenty shillings and wine for eight denires and the whole land in maner was wasted by the Scots and Ulster-men yea many house-holders and such as had sustained and relieved a number of folk were driven to begge and a number were famished So great also was the death and dearth together that the poore were pined with famine and many died At the same time came messengers to Dublin out of England with grants of pardon which they had at their will and pleasure but before their comming the foresaid Earle was delivered And at the feast of Pentecost Mortimer the Lord chiefe Justice took his journy towards Tredagh and from thence to Trim and sent his letters for the Lacies to repaire unto him who contemptuously refused to come And afterwards Sir Hugh Crofts Knight was sent unto the Lacies to treat about a peace who by them was slain the more the pity And after that Mortimer L. Justice assembled his army against the Lacies who seized upon their goods cattell and treasure and brought them to finall destruction slew many of their men and chased them into the parts of Connaght And it was said that Sir Walter Lacie went forth as farre as to Ulster to seeke Brus. Item in the towne of St. Cinere in Flanders about the feast of Pentecost the Lord Aumar Valence and his sonne were taken prisoners and conveied into Almaini And the same yeere on Munday after the feast of the nativitie of S. John Baptist the Potentates of Ireland assembled themselves to the Parliament at Dublin and there was the Earle of Ulster enlarged who tooke his oath and found mainprisers or sureties to answer the writs of law and to pursue the Kings enemies both Irish and Scots Item upon the day of the Saints Pnocesse and Martinian Sir Iohn Atly encountred at sea Thomas Dover a right strong thiefe and took him and about forty of his men well armed he slew and his head he brought with him to Dublin Also upon the day of the translation of S. Thomas Sir Nicholas Bolscot came out of England with newes that two Cardinals were come from the Court of Rome into England to treat concerning a peace and they brought a Bull to excommunicate all the troublers of the peace of the Lord the King of England Likewise the Thursday next before the feast of St. Margaret Hugh and Walter Lacie were proclaimed seducers and felons to the King because they had advanced their banner against the peace of the Lord King of England More on the sunday following the Lord Roger Mortimer Justice of Ireland took his journey to Tredagh with all his souldiers At the same time the Ulster-men raised a bootie neere unto Tredagh and the men of Tredagh went out and fetched the bootie backe againe where was slaine Miles Cogan with his brother and sixe other great Lords of Ulster were taken prisoners and brought to the castle of Dublin And afterwards Mortimer the Lord Justice assembled his army against O-Fervill and commanded the Mal-passe to be cut downe and destroied all his houses and afterwards the said O-Fervil rendred himselfe to the peace and put in hostages Also the Lord Roger Mortimer Justice tooke his journey toward Clony and made an inquisition or inquest as touching Sir Iohn Blound to wit White of Rathregan which inquest accused the said Iohn whereupon he was of necessity to fine for two hundred marks and afterward on sunday after the feast of the nativity of blessed Marie the said Mortimer with a great power marched against the Irish of O-Mayl and came to Glinsely where many were slaine both of Irish and English but the Irish went away with the worst and soone after came O-brynn and rendred himselfe to the peace of the King And Roger Mortimer with his company came to the castle of Dublin And upon the day of Simon and Jude the Apostles the Archbales had peace by mainprise of the Earle of Kildare And at the feast of Saint Hilary following there was a Parliament holden at Lincolne about a treaty of peace betweene the Lord King of England and the Earle of Lancaster and between the Scots and the Scots continued in peace and by reason of that Parliament the Archbishop of Dublin and the Earle of Ulster staied in England by the Kings commandement And about the feast of the Epiphany there came newes to Dublin that Sir Hugh Canon the Kings Justice in his bench was slaine by Andrew Bermingham between Naas and Castle-Martin Item at the feast of the purification of the blessed Virgin Mary there came the Popes Buls so that Alexander de Bicknor was confirmed and consecrated Archbishop of Dublin and those Buls were read and published in the Church of the holy Trinity And at the same time was read another Bull that the Lord Pope ordained peace between the Lord King of England and the Lord Robert Brus King of Scotland for two yeeres to which time the said Brus refused to condescend and agree These things passed about the feast of St. Valentine Item the sunday following came the Lord Roger Mortimer to Dublin and dubbed Iohn Mortimer Knight with foure of his fellowes and the same day Mortimer kept a great feast in the castle of Dublin Item at the same time a great slaughter was made of Irishmen in Conaght through a quarrell betweene two Lords of Princes there and slaine there were of both sides about foure thousand men and afterwards there was taken great revenge upon the men of Ulster who in the time that the Scots spoiled and preaded in Ireland had done much harme and eate flesh in Lent not of necessity therefore much tribulation came upon them insomuch that they did eat one another so that often thousand there remained about 300. and no more who escaped in maner all for to be punished And here appeared the vengeance of God Item it was reported of a truth that some of the foresaid evill doers were so hunger-starved that in Church-yards they tooke the bodies out of their graves and in their skuls boiled the flesh and fed thereupon yea and women did eat their owne children for starke hunger MCCCXVIII In the Quindene of Easter newes out of England arrived in Ireland that the towne of Berwicke was betraied and taken by the Scots and afterwards in the same yeere Master Walter Islep the Kings Treasurer in Ireland landed and
have beene converted into a Garner or Store-house for corne and of the said British corne tearmed Britannicum and so much the rather because in the old Records of Holland wee finde it written Brittanburg for that age termed castles standing commodiously and such as were stored with plenty of corne Burghs as we read in the history of the Burgundians Moreover what if the Britans that in this doubtfull matter I may run out of one conjecture to another sometimes held it in their owne hands and so adopted it into their owne name considering they invested Magnus Maximus whom some name Clemens Maximus in the purple robe and proclaimed him Emperour against Gratian. For he arrived at this mouth of Rhene If againe it had not as yet taken this name Britannicum what if the Saxons tearmed it Huis te Britten for that they tooke ship from hence into Britain when they annoied our shores with their Cyules for so they tearmed their pinnaces or Brigantines Verily Zosimus sheweth that the Saxons after they had driven out the Frankers called Salii planted themselves in Batavia that is Holland and that from thence they put over by multitudes into Britain it is most cleere and evident Which also as I said before Ianus Douza a noble Gentleman indeed and passing well learned in his Ode of Leyden seemeth to imply yet here againe lest I might seeme too forward and lavish in setting forth the glory of Britaine considering that the right learned Hadrian Iunius borne and bred in Holland hath fetched the originall of the herbe Britannica from Britten a word of his owne country because it groweth plentifully upon those turfes which they call Britten and whereof they raise great bankes and dikes against the violence of the encroching Ocean it will be no absurdity if one should reduce this Huis te Britten unto the same originall and suppose it to have been so called because it was fensed with banks of turfe or of Britten set opposite against the forcible surges of the waves which when the surges of the sea had once pierced and overthrowne it may seeme to have borne downe this house also But let them see to these matters who have a deeper insight into the nature of the word and the situation of the place and pardon me withall if here I have thrust my sickle into anothers harvest In that coast there be also Isles of Zeland compassed about with the rivers Scaldt Maese and the Ocean Touching which I will onely adde thus much that the name of Valachria for of these this is the chiefe as Lemnius Levinus conjectureth came from our Welshmen Over against Zeland Tamis the goodliest and noblest river of Britain dischargeth himself into the sea in which place Ptolomee setteth TOLIAPIS and CAUNA or CONVENNON Of Toliapis which I suppose to be Shepey see in Kent Of Convennos I have spoken in Essex in the page 441. More Eastward without Tamis mouth there lieth along before the Iland Tenet a place full of shelves and sands and very dangerous for saylers which they call Goodwins sands where our Annales doe record that in the yeere 1097. an Iland which was the patrimony of Goodwin Earle of Kent was quite swallowed up and sunk in the sea concerning which John Twin writeth thus This land was very fruitfull and full of plenteous pastures lying somewhat lower and more flat than Tenet out of which there was a passage by boat or barge three or foure miles long This Iland in an unusuall tempest of windes and boisterous fury of stormy raines and uncooth rage of the sea was drowned and lieth overwhelmed with sand cast up after an incredible manner and without all recovery is turned into a middle or doubtfull nature of land and sea For I wot wel what I say because one while it wholly floateth and another while at a low water after an ebbe it beareth walkers upon it Haply this is Toliapis unlesse you had rather read Thanatos for Toliapis and in some copies we read it Toliatis of which we have treated in Kent See the 345. page In this very place the huge vastnesse of the sea gathereth into such a straight that the gullet of the Ocean betweene the firme land of France and Britaine is not above thirty miles over which Streights some call the Narrow sea of Britaine others of France and the bound it is of the British sea which by little and little removeth the shores farther asunder that were in manner meeting together and by the driving backe of the lands on both sides equally floweth between Britaine and France from East to West At this beginneth the British sea wherein first you meet with the Iland or byland rather Selsy in the English Saxon tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is according to Bede The Iland of Sea-calves which in our tongue we call otherwise Seales But hereof I have spoken already in the page 308. Somewhat higher lieth the Isle Vecta in the British tongue Guith in the Saxon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Saxons tearmed an Iland 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wee The Isle of Wight and Whight Whereof also I have written before in the 273. page Of Portland likewise which now is no Iland but annexed to the continent I have treated heretofore in Dorsetshire in the page 210. Hence will I cut over to the shore of France just against it where from Beer-fleet in Normandy unto the midst of the Channell the sea by the Mariners saying is paved as it were and overspred with rocks and cragges among which William sonne to King Henry the first and heire both of England and of Normandy whiles he crossed the seas out of Normandy into England in the yeere of salvation 1120. was by woefull shipwracke together with his sister his base brother and others of the floure of the nobility drowned Whereupon a Poet of that age thus versified Abstulit hunc terrae matri maris unda noverca Proh dolor occubuit Sol Anglicus Anglia plora Quaeque priùs fueras gemino radiata nitore Extincto nato vivas contenta parente Him from the land his mother kind the Sea a stepdame caught Now Englands Sunne alas is set weepe England weep for thought And thou that didst enjoy the beames of twofold light before Since Sonne is gone content thy selfe with father and no more Funus plangendum privat lapis aequoris unus Et ratis una suo principe regnaduo O dolefull day one rocke in Ocean maine One barke of Prince bereaveth kingdomes twaine And another Poet at the same time hammered out these verses touching that shipwracke Dum Normannigenae Gallis claris superatis Anglica regna petunt obstitit ipse Deus Aspera nam fragili dum sulcant aequora cymba Intulit excito nubila densa mari Dumque vagi caeco rapiuntur tramite nautae Ruperunt imas abdita saxa rates Sic mare dum superans tabulata
there established On the East-side where it faceth the citie Constantia there is seated upon a steep rocke a most strong castle with an haughty name called Mont Orgueil which is much beholden unto King Henry the fifth who repaired it The Governour of the Isle is Captain thereof who in times past was called the Custos of the Isle and in Henry the third his reigne had a yeerely pension of 200. pound On the South side but with longer distance betweene Saint Malo is to be seene having taken that new name of Maclou a very devout man where before time it was called the city Diablintum and in the ancient Notice ALETUM for in a Manuscript of Isidor Mercator we read thus in expresse termes Civitas Diablintum c. that is the city Diablintum which by another name is called Aletum As for the inhabitants they freshly practice the feat of fishing but give their minds especially to husbandry and the women make a very gainfull trade by knitting of hose which they call Iarsey Stockes or Stockings As touching the politicke state thereof a Governour sent from the King of England is the chiefe Magistrate hee appointeth a Bailiffe who together with twelve Jurats or sworne Assistants and those chosen out of the twelve severall parishes by the voices of the Parishioners sitteth to minister justice in Civill causes in criminall matters he sitteth but with seven of the said sworne assistants and in causes of conscience to be decided by equity and reason with three Twenty miles hence North-west lieth another Iland which Antonine the Emperour in ancient time named SARNIA we at this day Garnsey lying out East and West in fashion of an harpe neither in greatnesse nor in fruitfulnesse comparable to Iersey for it hath in it only ten parishes yet is this to be preferred before it because it fostereth no venemous thing therin like as the other doth It is also better fortified by naturall fenses as being enclosed round with a set of steepe rockes among which is found that most hard and sharpe stone Smyris which we terme Emerill wherewith Goldsmiths and Lapidaries clense burnish and cut their precious stones and glaziers also divide and cleave their glasse Likewise it is of greater name for the commodiousnesse of the haven and the concourse of merchants resorting thither For in the farthest part well neere Eastward but on the South side it admitteth an haven within an hollow Bay bending inward like an halfe Moone able to receive tall ships upon which standeth Saint Peters a little towne built with a long and narrow street well stored with warlike munition and ever as any warre is toward mightily replenished with Merchants For by an ancient priviledge of the Kings of England here is alwaies a continuall truce as it were and lawfull it is for Frenchmen and others how hot soever the warre is to have repaire hither too and fro without danger and to maintain entercourse of trafficke in security The entry of the haven which is rockie is fortified on both sides with castles On the left hand there is an ancient bulwarke or block-house and on the right hand over against it standeth another called Cornet upon an high rocke and the same at every high water compassed about with the sea Which in Queene Maries daies Sir Leonard Chamberlane Governour of the Iland as also under Queene Elizabeth Sir Thomas Leighton his successour caused to bee fortified with new workes For here lieth for the most part the Governour of the Iland and the Garrison souldiers who will in no hand suffer Frenchmen and women to enter in On the North side there is La-vall a biland adjoining unto it which had belonging thereto a covent of religious persons or a Priory On the West part neere unto the sea there is a lake that taketh up a mile and halfe in compasse replenished with fish but Carpes especially which for bignesse and pleasant taste are right commendable The inhabitants are nothing so industrious in tilling of the ground as those of Iarsey but in navigation and trafficke of merchandise for a more uncertaine gaine they be very painfull Every man by himselfe loveth to husband his owne land so that the whole Iland lieth in severall and is divided by enclosures into sundry parcels which they find not onely profitable to themselves but also a matter of strength against the enemie Both Ilands smile right pleasantly upon you with much variety of greene gardens and orchards by meanes whereof they use for the most part a kinde of wine made of apples which some call Sisera and we Sydre The inhabitants in both places are by their first originall either Normans or Britans and speake French yet disdaine they to be either reputed or named French and can very well be content to be called English In both Ilands likewise they burne Uraic for their fuell or else sea-coals brought out of England and in both places they have wonderfull store of fish and the same manner of civill government These Ilands with others lying about them belonged in old time to the Dukedom of Normandy but when as Henry the first King of England had vanquished his brother Robert in the yeere of our Lord 1108. he annexed that Dukedom and these Ilands unto the kingdome of England Since which time they have continued firme in loialtie unto England even when John King of England being endited for murdering Arthur his Nephew was by a definitive sentence or arrest of confiscation deprived of his right in Normandy which he held in chiefe of the French King yea moreover when the French had seized upon these Isles hee through the faithfull affection of the people twice recovered them Neither revolted they when Henry the third King of England had for a summe of money surrendred his whole interest and right in Normandy And ever since they have with great commendation of their constancy persisted faithfull unto the Crowne of England and are the onely remaines that the Kings of England have of the ancient inheritance of William the Conquerour and of the Dutchy of Normandy although the French otherwhiles have set upon them who from the neighbour coast of France have hardly this long time endured to see them appertaine not to France but to England And verily Evan a Welsh Gentleman descended from the Princes of Wales and serving the French King surprized Garnesey in the time of King Edward the third but soone lost it And also in the reigne of King Edward the fourth as appeareth by the records of the Realme they seized upon the same but through the valour of Richard Harleston valect of the Crowne for so they termed him in those daies they were shortly disseized and the King in recompence of his valorous service gave unto him the Captainship both of the Iland and of the castle And in the yeere 1549. when England under King Edward the sixth a child was distressed with domesticall troubles Leo Strozzi Captaine of
and to cover it again the very same day before the sunne setteth every one of the women bringing their burden and look which of them letteth her burden fall she is by the others torne in pieces and that they gathering together the pieces as they goe unto the temple make not an end before they be out of this furious fit and that it alwaies usually happeneth that one of them by falling downe of her burthen is thus torne peecemeale Thus old Authors writing of the utmost parts of the world took pleasure to insert pretty lyes and frivolous fables But what things are reported of Ceres and Proserpine they carry with them saith he more probability For the report goeth of an Iland neere unto Britaine where they sacrifice to these Goddesses after the same manner that they doe in Samothrace Then follow the Isles aux Mottouns Gleran Grois Belle-isle upon the coast of little Britaine Niermoustier and L'isle de Dieu upon the coast of Poictou and Lisle de Re Islands full well knowne and much frequented for the plenty that they yeeld of bay salt but for as much as they are not once mentioned by the ancient Geographers it may be sufficient for me that I have named them Onely the next Island at this day knowne by the name of Oleron was knowne to Pliny by the name of ULIARUS which lieth as he saith in the Bay of Aquitaine at the mouth of the river Charonton now Charent and had many immunities granted from the Kings of England then Dukes of Aquitain At which time it so flourished for marine discipline and glory that these seas were governed by the lawes enacted in this Iland in the yeere 1266. no lesse than in old time the Mediterranean sea by the lawes of Rhodes Hitherto have I extended the British sea both upon the credit of Pomponius Mela who stretcheth it to the coast of Spaine and upon the authority of the Lord Great Admirall of England which extendeth so far For the Kings of England were and are rightfull Lords of all the North and West sea-coasts of France to say nothing of the whole kingdome and crowne of France as who to follow the tract of the sea-coast wan the county of Guines Merk and Oye by the sword were true heires to the county of Porithieu and Monstrevil by Eleanor the wife of King Edward the first the onely heire thereof In like maner most certain heires to the Dutchy of Normandy by King William the Conquerour and thereby superiour Lords of Little Britaine dependant thereof undoubted heires of the countries of Anjou Tourain and Maine from King Henry the second whose patrimony they were likewise of the county of Poictou and Dutchy of Aquitaine or Guyenne by Eleanor the true heire of them wife to the said Henry the second to omit the counties of Tholouse March the homage of Avergne c. Of all which the French by their arrests of pretended forfaitures and confiscations have disseized the crowne of England and annexed them to the Crowne of France taking advantage of our most unhappy civill dissentions whereas in former ages the French Kings were so fore-closed by these territories as they had no accesse at all to the Ocean Nothing remaineth now seeing my pen hath with much labour struggled and sailed at length out of so many blind shelves and shallowes of the Ocean and craggy rocks of antiquity save onely this that as sea-men were wont in old time to present Neptune with their torn sails or some saved planks according to their vow so I also should consecrate some monument unto the ALMIGHTY and MOST GRACIOUS GOD and to VENERABLE ANTIQUITY which now right willingly and of duty I vow and God willing in covenient time I will performe and make good my vow Meane while I would have the Reader to remember that I have in this worke wrastled with that envious and ravenous enemy TIME of which the Greeke Poet sung very aptly in this note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hore-headed TIME full slowly creeps but as he slye doth walke The voices he as slyely steales of people as they talke Unseene himselfe those that be seene he hides farre out of sight And such againe as are not seene he bringeth forth to light But I for my part am wont ever and anon to comfort my selfe with this Distichon of Mimnermus which I know to be most true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heart take thine ease Men hard to please Thou haply maist offend Though one speake ill Of thee some will Say better there an end SOLI DEO GLORIA PHILEMON HOLLAND THE TRANSLATOUR TO THE READER IT is now almost thirty yeeres agone since I enterprised the translation of this Master Cambdens worke entituled Britannia and it is full twenty sixe yeeres since it was printed in English In which former Impression I being farre absent from the Presse I know not by what unhappy and disastrous meanes there passed beside ordinary and literall Errata many grosse and absurd mistakings and alterations of my translation which was done precisely and faithfully according to the Authors Originall VVhereof to give you but a touch or taste Page 23. line 11. the Latine is quà m Cambrica i. Britannicagens is printed Than the British Britain without all sense for Than the Welch that is the British Nation Page 38 line 15. Purple Tapestry remove for Purple Tapistry ridde as it ought to bee Page 200. line 14. of Saint Nicholas for Saint Michael as it ought to be according to the Latin Page 266. line 10. the Latine is Aerem insalubrem is crept in Wholesome aire for Unwholesome aire as it should bee Besides whole Verses and Lines left out and eftsoones other VVords and Sentences foisted in Substantives used for Adjectives Adjectives for Substantives Passive words used for Active Actives for Passive and so divers other passages against the Law of Priscian and Rules of Grammar Moreover that Hiatus and want of number in some Verses in other some Hypermeter all by mee translated with full feet and musicall measure and in some places for Sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or down right nonsense and such like stuffe in above a hundred places All which now by my means and command of the higher Powers care of some of the Partner-Printers of this second Impression and not without the industry and helpe of my onely Son H. H. a member of the Society of STACIONERS are rectified supplied and amended to the better illustration of the work contentment and solace of the future diligent Readers and perusers of the said VVorke Vale. 85. Aetat suae Anno Dom. 1636. Φ. THE SHIRES OF ENGLAND BArke-shire 279 Bedford-shire 399 Buckingham-shire 393 Cambridge-shire 485 Ches-shire 601 Cornewall 183 Cumberland 765 Darby-shire 553 Devon-shire 199 Dorset-shire 110 Durham 735 Essex 439 Glocester-shire 357 Hant-shire 258 Hereford shire 617 Hertford-shire
520 f Sir Henry Grey Baron Grey of Grooby 521 a Greys of Sandacro 553 d Greys Earles of Kent 553 c Th. Grey of Ruthin Marquesse Dorset 217 e Henry Grey Marquesse Dorset and Duke of Suffolk 217 f 470 c. beheaded 217 Greyes Barons of Wilton 396 d. their badge 621 a. 396 d Iohn Grey Earle of Tankervil 663 d Greystocks Barons 778 c Greystock Castle 778 b S. Grimbald 378 c Grimsby 542 c Grimstons-garth ibid. Grimstons a family 714 a Griphins a family 507 b. 607 e Grismunds tower 366 d Grâ—n and Gronnes what they signifie 486 b Grooby 520 f Grossement Castle 630 b Grossvenours commonly called Gravenours a famous family 604 b Grosthead or Grostest a worthy Bishop of Lincoln 540 b. c Ground most fat and battle 478 Ground burnt for tillage 675 c Gruffin ap Conan a noble Prince of Wales 670 a Guadiana 297 a Guaine 21 Gwain ibid. Gualt what it signifieth 20 Guarth what it signifieth 563 b Guarthenion why so called 624 Guash See wash Gueda wife to Earle Goodwin 363 b Guenliana a woman of manly courage 649 c Grerif 21 Guerir ibid. Gwif 19 Guild hall in London 435 a Guilford 295 b Guilfords a family 352 b Guineth Uranc 19 Guineth 659 f Guiniad fishes 666 b Guiscard of Engolism 502 c Gundulph Bishop of Rochester 333 a Gunora a Norman Lady 620 c Gunpowder treason 754 a Gunters a family 628 f Guorong what it signifieth 325 c Guortimer defeateth Hengist the Saxons 332 a. where buried 340 a Guvia 19 Gwin a colour 26 Guoloppum 132 Guy Brient a Baron 212 e Sir Guy of Warwick 267 a. 564 Guy cliff or Gibcliff 564 â— Gynâ—ecia 263 c H HAcomb 202 e Hadseigh 441 b Hadley 463 d Pope Hadrian the fourth choked with a flie 415 a Hadugato a Duke or Leader of the English Saxons 138 Hagmond Abbay 594 Haile a river 193 Haduloha 138 Haimon Dentatus 641 c Robert Fitz Haimon subdueth Glamorganshire 641 d Hakeds a kind of Pikes 499 Haledon 80â— d Hales Monastery 197 e. 365 a Halesworth 467 c Halifax 691 f Halifax law 69â— b Halton hall 808 f Halyston 812 f Hamden a towne and family 395 Hameldon hils 215 c Hamon 260 f Sir Hamon Mascy 610 c Hampton in Herefordshire 620 Hampton Court 420 b Hamsted hills 421 b Hanging walls of Mark Antony 763 c Hanley Castle 577 b Hanmere a place and family 68â— Hannibal never warred in Britain 32 Hans a river 587 c Hansacres a family 578 b Hansards a family 543 a Hantshire 258 Hanwell 376 e Hanworth 420 b King Harald slaine 317 a Harald Lightfoot 379 b Harald Haardred 707 d Harald the Bastard 143 Harald Goodwins sonne usurpeth the crowne of England 145 His worthy and Princely parts 146 Harborrow or Haaburgh 517 c Harbotle a place and familie 812 f Andrew of Harcla Earle of Carlile a traitour degraded 780 c Harcourts 584 e Harden or Hawarden 680 e Hardes ancient Gentlemen 339 d Harde-Cnut his death 303 b his immoderate feasting ibid. Th. Harding 208 e Fits Hardings Barons of Barkley 223 a Hard Knot a mountain 765 e Hardwick a towne 555 f. and a family ibid. Haresfield 419 c Harford West 653 b Haringtons or Haveringtons a family 755 d Haringtons Barons 526 b. of old descent ibid. Harington Lord 206 e Sir Iohn Harington Baron Harington of Exton ibid. Haringworth the honour of the Zouches Barons 414 a Harleston 472 e Harlestons a family ibid. Harold Ewias 617 d Harold a Gentleman ibid. Harptree 223 d Harrow on the hill 420 a Harrowden 510 a Hartle pole 738 b Harts hall in Oxford 381 d Harewich 451 e Harewood castle 698 e Haslingbury 453 d Hastings a noble family in times past 584 c Hastings Lords of Abergevenny 568 e Hastings Baron of Loughborow 394 c Sir Edward Hastings sole Baron thereof 521 b Baron Hastings and Hoo 319 b Sir william Hastings Lord Hastings 318 f Hastings great Gentlemen in Sussex ibid. Hastings a towne whence it tooke the name 317 f Rape of Hastings 318 d. Lords thereof ibid. George L. Hastings first of that name Earle of Huntingdon 503 a Hatfield Bradock 453 e Bishops Hatfield 406 f Hatfield Poveril 445 c Hatherton 607 e Hatfield Chace 690 e Hatley S George 485 d Hatterel hils 6â—1 c Sir Christopher Hatton Lord Chauncellor of England 508 his commendation ibid. his Monument 509 a Havelock a foundling 542 d Haverds a family 628 e Haudelo Lord Burnell 330 c Havering 441 â— Hawghton Conquest 401 e Hawghlee Castle 464 a Sir Iohn Hawkwood 450 b Haulton a towne and castle 611 Haure 21 The Haw 200 Hawsted 450 d Hawthorn at Glastenbury 227 e Hay a towne 627 f Hay castle 766 f Headon a towne 713 c Healy castle 583 e Hartly castle 760 d Heavenfield 806 d Hebrews called Huesi wherefore 23 Heidons or Heydons Knights 479 b Sir Christopher Heidon 326 c Heil an Idol of the Saxons 212 Heilston or Hellas 189 Heina a religious votary 699 e Heitsbury 245 d Hieu a religious woman 738 b Helbecks 727 â— Helbeck a crag 784 b Helena the mother of Constantine the Great borne at Colchester 451 a Helena a devout Empresse 74 Helenum 187 Helion a family 452 a Hell-Kettles deepe pits 737 â— Helmet of gold found 537 e Helvius Pertinax employed in Britan 66. Propraetor in Britan 67 Hemingston 464 a Hempe the best 210 d Hempsted 414 c Hen-Dinas 588 b Heneti whence they tooke name 26 Hengham Lords 472 f Hengist and Horsa brethren 127. they signifie an horse ibid. Hengrave 461 â— Hengston hill 196 d Henningham 450 a Henly in Arden 566 a Henly hundred 389 a Henly upon Tamis 389 b King Henry the sixt his vertues enterred and translated 294 d King Henry the seventh his vertues 297 f Henry the fourth Emperour enterred in Chester 605 c Henry of Lancaster claimeth the crowne of England 680 d Henry Fitz-Roy 240 b King Henry the second his commendation 284 e Henry Prince rebelleth against King Henry the second his father 465 a Henry the seventh proclaimed King 518 c King Henry the sixt twice taken prisoner by his owne subjects 509 e Heorten 738 b Heorthus 135 Heptarchie of the Saxons described with severall shires under every Kingdome 157 Heptarchie of the Saxons 136 reduced to a Monarchie 138 Herbert Bishop of Norwich 475 a Herbert Losenga Bishop 472 a Herbert Baron of Shurland 334 b Herberts Earles of Penbroch 359 a Sir Philip Herbert Baron of Shurland Earle of Montgomery 663 b Herberts an honourable family in Wales 655 d Le Herbert a way in Wales 665 f Hercules whether ever any 207 c Herefordshire 617 Hereford Citie 618 e Hereford Earles 621 b. c. c. Hereford Duke 622 a Hereford Viscounts ibid. Herring fishing by Hollanders c. 717 f Herrings in Yarmouth 478 a Herrings frequent our coast 718 a Herlaxton 537 d Herons or Heirons a family 806 b. 815 e Herlotâ—a 197 b Hermae 64 Herst Monceaux 315 a Herst what it
in Huntingdon-shire 501 d Leiton 439 f Leightons a family 667 d Leicestershire 517 Leicester towne 519 d Leike a towne 587 c Lemster or Leinster 619 f Lemster Ore 620 a Lemster bread 620 Lenae 17 Leneham 331 a Leofrike Earle of Mercians 567 e Leofrike first Bishop of Excester 204 d Leofrike Lord of Brane or Burne 533 a Leoftane Abbot of S. Albanes 393 c Leolin Prince of Wales his behaviour to King Edward 363 e Lean Vaur a fabulous Giant 604 Leon Vaur what it signifieth ib. Leonell Duke of Clarence 462 d Leprosie why termed Elephantiasis 522 d. when it came first into England ibid. Lestoff 468 d Leskerd 191 Lestuthiel 190 Lettuy what it is 399 f Leuca 21 Leven a river 781 c. 782 b Leveney a river 628 c Levensand 754 f Lever Maur 67 Leventhorps a family 408 c S. Lewis King of France taken prisoner 249 e Lewis of France his pretended title to the Crowne of England 340 Lewis a towne 313 e Lewknors 312 e Ley-mouth 440 a Lhan what it signifieth 631 d Lhan Beder 657 d Lhan Badern vaur 658 a Lhan Stephen 650 c Lhan Devi Brevi 657 b Lhanthony Abbey 631 c Lhan Vais 672 e Lhan Vethlin 662 d Lhan Heron 193 Lhan Stuphadon or Launstaveton 196 c Lhein 668 b Lhewellin ap Sisil Prince of Wales 680 a Lhewellin ap Gryffith the last British Prince of Wales 670 b Lhewellin last Prince of Wales of Brittish race 624 c. slaine ib. Lhuyd his opinion concerning the name of Britain 5.24 Library in Oxford furnished 381 Lichfield 585 b. an Archiepiscopall See 585 d Lickey Hill 574 d Lid what it is 491 d Lid river 199 d. 781 f Lida towne 351 a Lid Castle 781. Liddesdale ibid. Lidgate a village 461 f Iohn Lidgate a Monke ibid. Liesnes Abbey 328 b Lievtenants in every County or Shire instituted by King Aelfred 159 Lilborne 515 c Lime river and towne 210 b Limestone great store 694 f Limits of the Roman Empire 789 e d. see Scotland Limseies a family 567 e Lime a port towne 549 e Line or flax of the best 620 a Lillinstone 396 c Lincolnshire 529 Lincoln City 538 b. whence the name is derived ibid. Lincoln Earles 544 e f Lindsey a part of Lincolne-shire 537 f Robert of Lincoln 313 d Lincolne Colledge in Oxford 381 Linstock Castle 778 a Lingeins a family 665 d Lin 480 d. why so called ibid. Old Lin 480 King Lin ibid. Linnum Episcopi ibid. Lin peris poole 668 d Lin a river 547 c Dâ— la Linde 213 f Linton or Lenton a towne 547 d Lionesse 187 Lisls a family in the Isle of Ely 494 d L'isle a family 276 a L'isle of Rougmount 490 b Listers a family 592 e Vicount L'isle 280 d Liver a river 192 Littons a family 406 e Litchfield in Hantshire 272 c Littleborough 549 e Lites Cary 224 f Littletons a family 574 d Littleton alias Westcot a learned Lawyer and a famous ibid. Livery and seisin in old time 340 The Lizard 189 Llydan what it is 111 Louder a river and family 792 Lode workes 184 Looghor 646 a Lollius Urbicus Propretor in Britain 66 Lollham bridges 512 a London 421 d London an ancient Colony 50 London called Augusta 79 80 London stone 423 a London wall ibid. c London bridge 434 a London highway from Saint Albanes turned out of Watling-street 415 b London or Londres a family 649 d Maurice de Londres or London ibid. c Lonchamps a family 532 Longford a place and family 553 d Long-Meg a stone 777 e Longvils a family 397 c Lonsdale 760 Loo a river 192 Lophamford 467 d Lora Countesse of Leicester a reclused votary 339 a Lortie the name of a family 221 d Lothbrooke the Dane 207 a Lottery used by Saxons 135 Lovain a family 444 e Lovels 374. a family 505 d Lords of Castle Cary 514 a Lovets a family 553 d Loughborough 521 d Lowland-men 126 Louth 542 c Lowy of Tunbridge 330 a Lowy of Briony ibid. Luceni in Ireland 121 Lucensii in Spaine ibid. Sir Rich. Lucy Lord Iustice of England became a Chanon 328 b Lucies a family 769 f Lucius King of Britaine 67 Lucies Knights an ancient family 564 f Luculleae certaine speares 62 Ludgate 423 c Ludham 478 d Ludlow 590 c Ludlowes a family 594 b Luffeilds 396 f Luffenham or Leffingham South and North townes 525 Lug a river 619 d Lugus what it signifieth 779 a Lullingstone a town and family 328 e Lumley Castle 742 b Lumleys Barons ibid. Lune or Lone a river 753 c Lupicinus sent into Britaine 78 Lupus Earle of Chester 611 a Lusoriae naves 811 d Luthing a lake 468 d 442 a Luthingland ibid. Luton 402 e Lutter worth 517 f. an Episcopal See 519 d Lygons a family 577 b Th. de la Lynde 213 f Lyquorice in great plenty growing 550 f Lyrpoole or Litherpoole 748 d M MAchleneth 661 b Maclesfield a towne and forest 610 b Madin-boure or Madning boure Madning money ibid. Madock falsly dealt withall by his Guardian Iohn Earle of waren 677 b Maeatae 796 d Magicke practised in Britaine 234 a Magnavills alias Mandevil 452 b. Earles of Essex 453 e Magnavil his end ibid. f Magnentius an usurper 77. called Taporus ibid. a fortunate Prince 77. killed himselfe ibid. Magnus a Dane 314 c. his monument ibid. Magoclunus a tyrant in Britain 113 Magon a god 803 d Mahel Earle of Hereford 358 f Maiden Castle 212 c Maiden Bradley 24 Maiden way 761 e Maiden-head or Maiden-Hith 286 c Maidstone 330 e Maidulph the Irish Scot 242 c Main what it signifieth 569 c Maior of London first ordeined Main Amber 188 Malcolm Can Mor King of Scots 500 c Maldon 446 e. forced by Queen Boadicia 448 Malduit or Manduit 570 Mallets a family 223 e Malliveries 700 b Malmesbury 242 b Malpas 603 e. Barons thereof ibid. Maltravers Barons 217 a Malvern hils 577 b Malveisin 814 a Mamignot 326 d Maminots Barons 332 d Mancastle 746 b Mancester 569 c Manchester 746 a Manchet the finest 420 a Manchester why so called 747 a Mandrubatius See Androgeus oppressed by Cassibilinus 37 Manduites a family 591 e Mangonells 400 d Mannours or de Maneriis a family 815 e Mannours Earles of Rutland 527 a b. 536 b Manober Castle 651 c Mansions what they were 65 Mansfield a great mercate town in Shirewood 550 b Manwarings or Memilwarings a family 608 a Sir Peter Manwood Knight 339 b Sir Roger Manwood Knight ibid. Marble quarrey 736 e Marca 18 Marden 620 d The Marches 589 b Marga what it is 536 e Margan Castle 644 e Marga 20 Margaret Countesse of Richmond 216 d Margaret Countesse of Salisbury beheaded 250 d Lord Marchers 589 c. 165 Marcley hill 620 b. moveth ibid. Marcus made Emperour in Britaine by the armies 84 Mareschall of Harlots 294 b Mareschall Earle of Penbroch why so named 655 b Mareschall Earle of Penbroch slaine at a Turnament 407 d Mary Queene of Scots her end her tombe 511 c.
399 d Pauls or Pouls Church in London founded 425 c Pauls steeple burnt 425 e Paul 68 Paul the Notarie sirnamed Atena 78 b Paulinus first Archbishop of Yorke 693 d Paulinus preached Gods word in Lindesey 539 a Paunton a towne 537 b Payn Peverell 488 a Peada a Christian prince murdered 512 e Peag-Kirk 515 a Peake in Darbyshire 553. why so called 556 c Pâ—asen growing of themselves 351 b. growing out of rockes 466 b Peché 485 â— Peculiars Court 182 Pedred or Parret a river 222 a Pedwar 19 Pedwardins a family 532 f Peer of Dover 345 d Pega an holy woman 515 a Pehiti for Pecti 118 Peincting that Britans used 31 Peito a Franciscan Prier 562 b Peitoes a family ibid. b Peitons of Peiton hall knights 491 a Pelagius an Arch-Heretick 602 f a Britan born 87 Pelagian heresie in Britaine 410 c Pelham 315 c Pembridges a family 594 a Pempedula 19 Pen by Wicomb 393 e Penne 18. what it signifieth 393 e Pencoh Cloud 19 Pendle 19. hil 749 e Penguall what it signifieth 117 Pennigent 19. hill 749 c Pen a village 221 d Penninus 18 Pentachie of the Romans in Britain 156 Penuahel what it signifieth 117 Pen-Elin 187 Pensans 188 Pennant 191 Penal 661 c Penbroch or Pembrok-shire 651 Penbroch towne 651 c Penbroch Earles 555 a Pen Maur 19 Pen Maen Maur 669 c Pen Maen Bichan ibid. Penball Crag 811 d Pendragon Castle 760 c Penk a river 582 f Penkridge a towne 583 a Penrith 776 d Pensneth chace 581 d Penshurst 329 e Penworth or Penverdant 752 d Pentaphyllon 19 Penteney Abbey 481 â— Peperking alias Peverell 443 f Percies a family 312 b Perciâ—aies a family 722 d Percy Hotspur 803 c Percy Earle of Northumberland slaine by rebels 724 d Percepierre an herbe 237 a Peregrine Berty Lord Willoughbie of Eresby 541 f Peregrines Falkons 654 b Perennius a Minion of the Emperour Commodus 67. beheaded 67 Perin 190 Perith or Petrianae 777 a Perles shell fish 669 d Perles 765 e Perkin Warbeck 205 b Pershor 578 b Pertinax Emperour 68 Peter in Britain ibid. Peters Post a delfe or quary of stone 696 c Petre of Writle Baron 442 d Saint Peters upon the Wall 443 e Sir William Petre his commendations 446 a Peter pence 226 c Peterburgh 512 a Peterril a river ibid. Petor 19 Petoritum ibid. Petrarie 400 d Petrock 194 Petronius Turpilianus sent as Propretor into Britain 52 Pevensey or Pemsey 213 e Peverells Lords of Darby 558 d Peverells a family 445 c Pever a river and place 609 e Pewter vessel 184 Phelips or Philips a family 467 Philibert 269 c Philip Earle of Flaenders Earle of Kent 352 Pickering a towne 781 b Pickering Lith Pickering a Liberty and forest 722 b Picot Sheriffe of Cambridgeshire 485 e Picts wall 789 Picts what it signifieth in old British 116 Pic 20 Picts whence descended the progeny of ancient naturall Britains 115. why so called when the Northern Britans became so called 116. divided into two nations 114 Picts what become of them 118 Piddle a riveret 213 d Piers Gaveston 198 Pierpount a family 548 f Pigots 401 c Pilchards 186 Pilgrimage to our Lady of Walsingham 479 c Pimble mere 666 b Pimthecnos 15 Pinkneys Barons 505 e Pinson a Noble Norman 541 d Pits 334 e. 440 Pitchford a village and family 592 b Placence 327 b Plague in Yarmouth 477 f Plaines of Salisbury 245 d Planarat 20 Plautius a governour in Britain 447 Pleshi Plaisi or Estre 445 a Plime river 200 a Plimouth ibid. a Plimpton 201 b Plin Limon an high hill 658 b Plin Lin mere 666 b Plugenet a Baron 618 a Plumpton Parke 776 f Poenius Posthumius killeth himselfe 52 Poinings Barons 215 d Pointz Barons 223 f Points a family 364 b Poleland why so called 27 Iohn de la Pole Earle of Lincoln 469 f. executed 470. b Pollesworth 569 e Wil. de la Pole Duke of Suffolk 469 d. banished 469 f. beheaded ibid. Henry Pole Lord Mountacute 222 d. 453 d Pole Cardinall 206 a Poltimore 203 c Poltrosse a river 799 f Pole 192 Policletus a favorite of Nero sent into Britain 52 Pontes 394 a Poole 606 f. Pontthiue County or Earldome in France how it came to the Kings of England 394 b Poole a towne why so called 211 e Pomeries 202 a Pomponius Laetus his opinion of the name of Britain 5 Pooles on hill tops 667 e Popham 223 e. 256 c Pontfret or Pomfret 695 c. infamous for the bloudshed of Princes 695 f Pont a river 809 d Port Gate 808 f Port a Saxon 210 d Portland 210 e Portchester 268 a Port Peris ibid Portsey Iland 268 a Ports mouth 268 b Portstaw 313 d Potheridge 208 a Potton 401 c Portcleis 603 d Portmen 477 e Portogan 603 d Port sholme 498 a Portskeveth 633 f Pouderbach Castle 592 c Poultney a family 517 Povers a family 377 a Powder treason of Rob. Catesby 431 Powick a Baronie 577 b Powis Lords 663 c Princes of Powis 663 Powise Land 659 c Powlet Lord S. Iohn Earle of Wiltshire 257 a Powlet his honorable titles 267 Powderham 206 b Powndbury 212 c De Praeriis a family 607 e Prasutagus King of the Iceni 49 457 a Praefecti Praetorio under Constantine the Great 76 Prefecture what it is 422 Prerogative Court 181 Presidium 563 a Priests forbidden marriage 201 Priests married 576.201 b Priscus Licinius Propretor in Britaine 66 Priscillianists the first heretickes condemned to death 82 Priests marriage debated of in a Synode 243 d Prestom 623 e Prichards a family 628 e Probus Emperour 71 Preston in Andernesse 752 d. e Prideaux 194 Protolitia 808 d Prittlewel 441 c Provinciall Latin affected by the Britans 116 Provinces 2. in England 160 Prowes 203 a Princes of Wales 683 The Prince his place and stile 163.164 Prudhow Castle 808 d Pseudocomites 167 Puckerich 408 a Puclechurch 364 a Pudsey Bishop of Durrham and Earle of Northumberland 741 f Pulein a professour in Divinity and favourer of learning 379 e. 380 c Pulhealy 668 b Purbeck Isle 211 e Purcells or de Porcellis 377 a Puseies 280 f Putney 303 a Pymp 19 Pyramides of Glastenbury 229 Pyramidall stones 701 a Pyran 193 Pyrry a drinke 573 d Q QUatremans men of good note 383 f Qeene Borough 334 a Queenes Colledge in Oxford 381 d Querendon 395 e Quicke-sands in Holland 529 f Quincy Saer Earle of Winchester 267 b Quintinus 82 Quintins a family 731 a R RAby Castle 737 b Raculph Minster 335 b Radcliffes a family 767 d Radcliffe or Redcliffe 437 d Radcliffe in Bristow 237 e Radegund 349 a Radmilds 312 Radnorshire 623 Radnor town 623 c Radnore made a shire 677 e Radwinter 446 a Ragland 636 c Raihader Gowy 623 a. b Raleghs 208 e Ralegh a town 443 a Ramsey Isle and Abbey 499 b Ramsey mere 499 d Rammes foreheads that is Promontories 184 Ramesbury 256 b Rank-riders 799 c Ranulph Earle of Chester 607 b Rapes in Sussex 306 e Ratis
farre remote from all memory are over-cast with such mists and darkenesse that the truth seemes rather to bee wished than hoped for yet for all that will I doe my best to trace out the truth and declare as briefly as I can what my judgement is not minding to put downe ought prejudiciall to any man but most willing if any one shall bring more probable matter to welcome and embrace the same For I affect and love the truth not in my selfe more than in another and in whom soever I shall see it I will most willingly and gladly entertaine it First by the Readers good leave I will take this for granted and proved that ancient Nations in the beginning had names of their owne and that afterwards from these the Greeks and Latines by wresting them to the analogie or proportion of their speech imposed names upon regions and countreys to speake more plainely That people were knowne by their names before regions and places and that the said regions had their denominations of the people Who can deny that the names of the Jewes Medes Persians Scythians Almans French or Gauls Betulians Saxons Englishmen Scots c. were before Jewry Media Persia Scythia Alamaine France or Gaule Betulia Saxonie England Scotland c. And who sees not that these words sprang out of the other Of the Samâ—ites Insubres and Belgae we reade that Livie and Caesar first named the countreys themselves Samnitium Insubrium and Belgium Of the Franci in the time of Constantinus Maximus as is to be seene in his coines the place where they were seated took the name of Francia first from the Burgundi Sidonius Appolinaris first framed Burgundie In the same sort we must of necessitie think that this our Island Britaine tooke denomination from the Inhabitants or from the Gaules their neighbours That these first Inhabitants were called Brit or Brith some things induce me to thinke First and formost that verse which goeth about under the name of Sybilla 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Twixt Brits and Gaules their neighbours rich in gold that much abound The roaring Ocean Sea with bloud full filled shall resound Moreover the authoritie of Martial Juvenal and Ausonius Procopius also who nameth this Isle BRITTA In like manner the old Inscriptions set up by the Britaines themselves wherein are read BRITO BRITONES BRITTUS COH BRITTON ORDINIS BRITTON and at Rome in the Church of Saint Mary the round NATIONE BRITTO as also in this which is seene at Amerbachium in Germanie which I will put downe here underneath because it maketh mention of Triputium a place in Britaine not knowne NVMPHISO NO BRITTON TRIPVTIENO SVB CVRA MO VLPI MALCHI 7. LEG XXII PO PO FO The Saxons also themselves called the Britans in their language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Witichindas the Saxon every where namedth the Britans Britae so that the word BRIT is doubtlesse the primitive from whence Brito is derived and from whence the first glympse of light leading to the word Britaine seemeth to appeare Considering now that Nations devised their names of that wherein they either excelled others or were knowne from others whether in regard of their first founders honour as the Iönes of Javan the Israelites of Israël the Chananites of Chanaan the sonne of Cham or whether in respect of their nature conditions and inclinations as the Iberi after the Hebrew Etymologie because they were miners the Heneti for that they were straglers the Nomades because they gave themselves to the breeding and feeding of Cattell the Alemans or Germanes for that they were esteemed valiant men the French or Frankners for beeing free the Pannonians for wearing coats with cloth-sleeves as Dio conceiteth it the Ethiopians of their black hue and the Albanes because they were borne with white haire whereupon marke I pray you as Solinus saith The colour of the haire upon the head gave name unto a people Seeing also that our countrey men who were by a name common to them and their neighbours called Cimbri and Cumeri had no marke whereby they might bee distinguished and knowne from the borderers better than by that manner of theirs to paint their bodies for the most sufficient Authors that be as Caesar Mela Plinie and the rest doe shew that the Britaines coloured themselves with woade called in Latine Glastum and Glass at this day with them signifieth Blew What if I should conjecture that they were called Britans of their depainted bodies For whatsoever is thus painted and coloured in their ancient countrey speech they call Brith Neither is there cause why any man should thinke this Etymologie of Britaines to be harsh and absurd seeing the very words sound alike and the name also as an expresse image representeth the thing which in Etymologies are chiefly required For Brith and Brit doe passing well accord and that word Brith among the Britans implieth that which the Britans were indeed to wit painted depainted died and coloured as the Latine Poets describe them and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is having their backs pide or medly coloured as Oppianus termeth them Neither will it be impertinent as small a matter as it is to note here that as I have observed in the names of well neere all the most ancient Britaines there appeareth some signification of a colour which no doubt arose from this kind of painting The red colour is of the Britaine 's called Coch and Goch which in my judgement lieth couched in these names Cogidunus Argentocoxus and Segonax The same Britaines call the blacke colour Dû which after a sort sheweth it selfe in Mandubratius Cartimandua Togodumnus Bunduica Cogidunus The white colour is with them named Gwin the very prints as it were and expresse tokens of which word me thinkes I see in Venutius and Immanuentius Gwellw among them signifieth that which Color aqueuâ— among the Latines doth that is to say a wan or waterish colour and this appeareth evidently in the names of Vellocatus Caruillius and Suella Glass in the British tongue is as much as Blew which is seene in the name of King Cuniglasus For Gildas interpreteth it to be all one with Fulvus or as some copies have Furvus Laniâ— that is a Lion tawnie or coale blacke Butcher Aure which betokeneth a faire yellow or golden colour bewraieth it selfe in Cungetorius and Arviragus A lively and gallant colour is with them called Teg which maketh some little shew in Prasutagus and Carattacus But if we be perswaded that the Britans borrowed the names of mingled colours together with the very simple colours themselves of the Romans for certaine it is that they tooke from the Romans Werith for Viridis that is Greene Melin for Melinus that is a Quince yellow colour then if I thinke that there lyeth close some note of the colour Prasinus that is Leeke-blade greene in Prasutagus and of the red vermillon or Sinopre colour called of
name For then begun they to rove upon the coasts of France and England and were by the writers that penned in Latine the histories of England named Winccingi for that they practised Piracie for Wiccinga in the Saxon tongue as Alfricus witnesseth doth signifie a Pirat that runneth from creek to creeke also Pagani that is Painims because as yet they were not become Christians but the Angles themselves in their language termed them Deniscan and often times Heathon-mâ—n as one would say Ethnicks Of these Danes listen to Dudo of Saint Quintins an author of good antiquitie out of the Librarie of John Stow that most studious Antiquarie of the Citie of London which was never shut from me The Danes swarmed from out of Scanza that is Scandia like bees out of an hive in manifold diuersitie and barbarous manner after they had in heat lascivious lust and wantonnesse engendred an innumerable of-spring Who after they were growne to ripenesse of yeares falling to hot contention for goods and lands with their fathers and grand-fathers yea and often times among themselves when they once overflowed and grew so populous that they could have no roome sufficient for to inhabite in the place wherein they presently dwelt having gathered together by lot a multitude of youth and springals after a most ancient custome were thrust out into forraine Realmes to conquer unto themselves lands by dint of sword wherein they might live But in the full performance of dicharging those that should be thus sent out and in mustering up their armies they sacrificed unto THVR whom they worshipped in old time as their Lord for whom they killed not any sheepe oxen or other cattell but offered mens bloud Thinking that to be the most precious holocaust and sacrifice of all others because when the Priest by casting lots had predestinated who should die they were all at once deadly smitten upon the head with oxe yokes and when every one that was chosen by lot had his braines dashed out at one severall stroke laid along hee was on the ground and sought out there was with narrow prying the fibre that is to say the veine of the heart on the left side and having after their manner drawne out the bloud thereof and stricken it upon the heads of their friends speedily they hoise up sailes and thinking that they please their God with such an act they immediatly put to Sea and fall to their ores Moreover there is another manner or rather a most foule and detestable superstition which the Danes used in pacifying their Gods and this doth Ditmarus the Bishop who was of greater antiquitie somewhat than Dudo in these words describe But because I have heard strange and wonderfull things of the ancient Sacrifices that the Danes and Normans used I will not over passe the same There is in these parts a place and the chiefe it is of this kindome called Lederum in a province named Selon where every ninth yeare in the moneth of Januarie after the time in which we celebrate the Nativitie of our Lord they all assemble together and there they kill and sacrifice unto their Gods ninetie and nine men and as many horses with dogs and cocks for the hauks which the Gods sent them certainly perswading themselves as I said before that by the same they should please them About the time of Egbert in the yeare of Christ 800. they first landed on our sea-coasts afterwards with such tumults and hurliburlies as never the like was heard of having for many yeares made foule havock over all England razing cities firing Churches and wasting countries they let out the raines loose to all barbarous crueltie driving harrying spoyling and turning all upside downe where ever they went Thus after they had killed the Kings of the Mercians East-Angles seazed upoÌ„ their Kingdomes with a great part of the Kingdome of Northumberland Then was there a tribute called Dangelt imposed upon the poore people for the repressing of their robberies and outrages and that you may know what manner of imposition this was I would have you to reade these few lines copied out of our ancient Lawes The paiment of Dangelt was at the first ordained for Pirats For by sore annoying the countrey they went on and did what they could to waste it utterly And verily to keepe downe their insolencie it was enacted that Dangelt should yearely be paid that is twelve pence out of every hide of land throughout the whole country for to hire and wage those that might resist and withstand their invasion Also of this Dangelt was every Church freed and quit as also all lands that were in the proper Demesies of those Churches wheresoever they lay paying nothing at all in such a contribution as this because they trusted more in the prayers of the Church than in their defence by force of armes But when as now they assaile and set upon Aelfred King of the West-Saxons he one while by retiring and giving them ground otherwhiles by preassing hard upon them with his victorious forces not only did put them back from his owne country but also having slaine a Danish-petty-king of the Mercians expelled them in manner quite out of all Mercia and his sonne Edward the elder following in traine of his fathers victories when he had put the Danes to flight brought East England to his subjection like as Adelstane his base sonne speedily marching to atchieve victories with great slaughter of the Danes subdued Northumberland and so terribly pursued the Danes that they were forced either to depart the realme or to submit themselves unto him By the valorous prowesse of these Princes England recovered out of the whirlepit of calamities and rested from that bloody warre by the space of 50. yeares But while Etheldred a man of a dull and soft spirit raigned the Danes taking advantage of his cowardise strooke up alarme and sounded the battaile againe and having wasted the country constrained the Englishmen to redeeme their peace yearely with a great sum of monie and so insolently they bare themselves that the Englishmen conspired generally together and in one night murdred all the Danes every mothers sonne of them throughout all England thinking by the effusion of bloud to quench the fire of Danish warre which brake out neverthelesse into a more pernicious flame For Sueno King of the Danes provoked with this slaughter of his people invaded England with a puissant armie and having in a furious and enraged mood made much spoile he put Etheldred to flight subdued the whole Kingdome and left the same unto his sonne Canutus who having encountred in many cruell and sharpe battailes and those with variable fortune fought with Etheldred now returned and his sonne Edmund surnamed Iron-side had two of his sonnes succeeded after him to wit Harald a bastard and Canutus the Hardie After they were dead and the Danish yoke shaken off the Kingdome fell
see And on the other Hoc Anglis signo Regem fatearis eundem By this a King to Englishmen acknowledge him to be Moreover as William of Malmesburie doth report In imitation of Caesars policy who expelled the Germans lying hidden within that huge forrest Ardenna and by many asallie from thence annoying his armie not by the helpe of his owne Romans but by the Gaules his confederates to this end that whiles strangers and aliens killed one another himselfe might triumph with their bloud-shed the very same course I say did William take with the English men For against certaine of them who upon the first battell of that infortunate man Harold were fled into Denmarke and Ireland and returned with a puissant armie in the third yeere after he opposed meere English forces and an English generall permitting the Normans to sit still and keepe holiday foreseeing heereby and providing for his owne great easement whether of them soever should have the better Neither was he in this point frustrate of his purpose For the English having thus a prettie while skuffeled and skirmished one with another in the end rendred up the entire Victorie to the King without his paines taking And in another place Having undermined and quite overthrowne the power of the Laimen he provided by a sure and irrevocable edict to suffer no Monke or Clerke of the English Nation to endevour for to get any dignitie much disagreeing herein from the clemencie and gentlenesse of King Cnuto in times past who gave unto those that he conquered all their honours entire And hence it came to passe that when hee was once dead the naturall Inhabitants of the countrey upon light occasions fell to driving out of strangers and recovered unto themselves their ancient right and freedome When he had brought this to passe above all things hee laboured to turne away the storme of the Danish wars that hung over his head and to purchase peace though it were with round sums of mony Wherein he used Adelbert Archbishop of Hamburgh as his Instrument For Adam Bremensis writeth thus Betweene Suen and the Bastard there was continuall strife about England although our Bishop being greased in the hand with Williams bribes would have concluded a firme peace betwixt the Kings Which may seeme also to have beene established for since that time England was never any whit afraid of the Danes And William verily betooke himselfe wholly to the defence and maintenance of his Imperiall dignitie and to governe the state by excellent lawes For as Gervase of Tilburie writeth When the renowned Conqueror of England King William had subdued the farther coasts of this Island under his dominion and throughly tamed the stomacks and hearts of rebels by terrible examples lest that from thenceforth they should licentiously run into errour and commit trespasse he determined to reduce his subjects under the obedience of positive and written Lawes Having therefore all the lawes of England laid before him according to the Tripartite Division whereby they were distinguished that is to say Merchenlag Denelag and Westsex-enlag when hee had rejected some of them and allowed of others he adjoyned thereto those Lawes of Neustria beyond the seas which seemed most effectuall to preserve the peace of his Kingdome Afterwards as mine Author Ingulphus saith who flourished in those daies He commanded every Inhabitant of England to doe him homage and to sweare fealtie to him against all men He tooke the survey and description of the whole Land neither was there an Hide of England through but he knew both the value and the owner thereof there was neither plash nor place but set it was in the Kings Roll and the rent revenue and profit thereof the very tenure of possession and possessour himselfe was made knowne to the King according to the credit and true relation of certaine Taxers who being chosen out of every country did put downe in writing the territorie properly belonging thereto And this Roll was called the Roll of Winchester and by the Englishmen for the generalitie thereof because it contained fully and exactly all the tenements of the whole Land named Domesday I have beene more willing to make mention of this booke because it is to be cited alleaged often times hereafter which booke also it pleaseth me to name Gulielmi librum Censualem that is The Tax-booke of William Angliae Notitiam that is The Notice of England Angliae commentarios Censuales that is The Taxe Register or Sessing booke of England and Angliae Lustrum that is the Survey of England But whereas Polydore Virgill writeth how William that Conqueror first brought in the Triall or Iudgement of twelve men there is nothing more untrue For most certaine it is and apparant by the lawes of Etheldred that it was in use many yeares before Neither hath he any cause to terme it a terrible Iudgement For these 12. free-borne and lawfull men are duely by order empannelled and called forth of the Neighbourhood these are bound by oath to pronounce and deliver up their Verdict de facto they heare the counsell pleading in courts on both sides before the Bench or Tribunall and the disposition of witnesses then taking with them the evidences of both parties they are shut up together and kept from meat drinke and fire unlesse haply some one of them be in danger of death thereby so long untill they be all agreed of the fact which when they have pronounced before the Judge hee according to right and law giveth his definitive sentence For this manner of triall our most sage and wise Ancestours have thought the best to finde out the truth to avoid corruption and cut off all partialitie and affections Now as touching martiall prowesse how much the Normans excelled therein let others tell this may suffice for me to have said thus much that being planted among most warlike nations they alwaies saved themseves not by obsequious basenesse but by force of armes and founded most noble Kingdomes in England and Sicilie For Tancrede nephew unto Richard the second of that name Duke of Normandie and his posteritie atchieved brave exploits in Italie and having compelled the Sarazens to flie out of Sicilie erected a Kingdome there Whereupon the Sicilian Historiographer doth freely acknowledge that the Sicilians are beholden unto the Normans for that themselves remaine still in their native soile live in freedome and continue Christians Likewise in the holy Land their martiall prowesse hath been seen with singular commendation Hence it is also that Roger Hoveden writeth in these termes Bold France having made triall once of the Normans warfare durst not peepe out Fierce England being conquered yielded as captive unto them Rich Apulia falling to the lot of their possession flourished a fresh Famous Ierusalem and renowned Antioch were both subdued by them And ever since their comming England as well for martiall honour as civill behaviour hath among the most flourishing Kingdomes of
Canutus are in the Normans tongue translated under the name of Baro and loe what the very words are Exercitualia verò c. That is Let the Heriots or Relevies be so moderate as that they may bee tolerable Of an Earle as decent it is eight horses foure with saddles and foure without saddles foure Helmets and foure shirts of male eight launces or speares and as many shields foure swords and withall 200. mauces of gold Of a Viron or Baron to the King who is next unto him foure horses two with saddles and two without saddles two swords foure speares and as many targets one helmet and one coate of mauile and with fifty mauces of gold Also in the first time of the Normans Valvasores and Thani were ranged in degree of honour next after Earles and Barons and the Valvasores of the better sort if wee may beleeve those that write de Feudis were the very same that now Barons are So that the name Baro may seeme to bee one of those which time by little and little hath mollified and made of better esteeme Neither was it as yet a terme of great honor For in those daies some Earles had their Barons under them and I remember that I read in the ancient Constitutions and ordinances of the Frenchmen how there were under an Earle twelve Barons and as many Capitaines under a Baron And certaine it is that there be ancient Charters extant in which Earles since the comming in of the Normans wrote thus To all my Barons as well French as English Greeting c. Yea even Citizens of better note were called Barons For the Citizens of Warwick in Doomesday book were named Barones likewise Citizens of London and the Inhabitants of the Cinque-ports enjoyed the same name But some few yeares after like as at Rome in times past they chose Senators for their worth in wealth so were they with us counted Barons who held lands of their own by a whole Baronie that is 13. Knights Fees and a third part of one Knights Fee reckoning every fee as an old book witnesseth at 20. li. which make in all 400. marks For that was the value of one entire Baronie and they that had lands and revenues to this worth were wont to be summoned unto the Parliament And it seemed to bee a dignitie with a jurisdiction which the Court Barons as they terme them in some sort doe prove yea and the very multitude that was of these Barons perswaded me to thinke them to be Lords of this nature as that they might in some sort minister and execute justice within their circuit and seigniorie such as the Germans call Free-heires and especially if they had Castles of their owne For then they Jumped Just with the definition of that most famous Civilian Baldus who defineth him to be a Baron whosoever had a meere and subordinate rule in some castle by the grant of the Prince And all they as some would have it that held Baronies seeme to have claimed unto themselves this honor so that as divers learned in our lawes are of opinion a Baron and a Baronie a Count or Earle and a Countie a Duke and a Dutchie were Conjugata that is termes as one would say yoked together Certes in those daies Henrie the Third reckoned in England 150. Baronies And hereupon it is that in all the Charters and Histories of that age all noble men in manner be called Barons and verily that title then was right honorable and under the terme of Baronage all the superiour states of the kingdome as Dukes Marquesses Earles and Barons in some sort were comprised But it attained to the highest pitch of honor ever since that King Henrie the Third out of so great a number which was seditious and turbulent called the very best by writ or summon unto the high Court of Parliament For he out of a writer I speake of good antiquity after many troubles and enormous vexations betweene the King himselfe Simon of Mont-fort with other Barons raised after appeased did decree and ordaine that all those Earles and Barons of the Realme of England unto whom the King himselfe vouchsafed to direct his writs of Summons should come unto his Parliament and none others But that which he began a little before his death Edward the First and his successour constantly observed and continued Hereupon they onely were accounted Barons of the kingdom whom the Kings had cited by vertue of such writs of Summons as they terme them unto the Parliament And it is noted that the said prudent King Edward the First summoned alwaies those of ancient families that were most wise to his Parliaments but omitted their sonnes after their death if they were not answerable to their parents in understanding Barons were not created by Patent untill such time as King Richard the Second created Iohn Beauchamp de Holt Baron of Kiderminster by his letters Patent bearing date the eighth day of October in the eleventh yeare of his raigne Since that time the Kings by their Patâ—ents and the putting on of the mantle or roabe of honour have given this honour And at this day this order of creating a Baron by letters Patent as also that other by writs of Summons are in use in which notwithstanding they are not stiled by the name of Baron but of Chevalier for the Common law doth not acknowledge Baron to be a name of dignity And they that be in this wise created are called Barons of the Parliament Barons of the Realme and Barons of honor for difference of them who yet according to that old forme of Barons be commonly called Barons as those of Burford of Walton and those who were Barons unto the Count-Palatines of Chester and Pembroch who were Barons in fee and by tenure These our Parliamentarie Barons carie not the bare name onely as those of France and Germanie but be all borne Peeres of the Realme of England Nobles Great States and Counsellors and called they are by the King in these words To treat of the high affaires of the kingdome and thereof to give their counsell They have also immunities and priviledges of their owne namely that in criminall causes they are not to have their triall but by a Iurie of their Peeres that they be not put to their oath but their protestation upon their Honor is sufficient that they be not empanelled upon a Iurie of twelve men for enquest de facto No supplicavit can be granted against them A Capias cannot be sued out against them Neither doth an Essoine lie against them with very many other which I leave unto Lawyers who are to handle these and such like Besides these the two Archbishops and all the Bishops of England be Barons also of the kingdome and Parliament even as in our Grandfathers daies these Abbats and Priors following The Abbat of Glastenburie The Abbat of S. Augustines in Canterbury The Abbat of S. Peter in
Honnyton a Towne not unknowne to those that travell into these parts and was given by Isabell heire to Earles of Devonshire to King Edward the First when her issue failed and doth import his name to certaine places Among which these are of greatest note above Honnyton Mohuns Ottery the possession in times past of the Mohuns from whom by right of marriage it came to the Carews beneath Honyton Saint Maries Otterey so called of Saint Maries Colledge which Iohn Grandison Bishop of Excester founded who drew the whole estates of all the Clergie men in his Diocesse to himselfe For he perswaded them in their Wils to give up and make over all that they had unto his hands as who would bestow the same to godly uses in endowing Churches and in building of Hospitals and Colledges therewith which verily he by report performed accordingly very devoutly From the mouth of this Otterey the shore runneth Eastward with many winding reaches and turning creekes by Budley Sidmouth and Seaton famous Ports in times past but now the havens there are so choked up with sand brought in with the reciprocall course of the tides and heaped up against them that they have almost utterly lost all that benefit As for Seaton I would ghesse it to bee that MORIDVNVM which Antoninus speaketh of and is placed betweene DVRNOVARIA and ISCA if the booke be not faultie and called in Peutegerius table by a name cut short RIDVNVM considering both the distance and the signification of the name For Moridunum in the British tongue is the very same that Seaton in English to wit A Towne upon an hill by the Sea Hereto adjoyneth Wiscomb a Towne memorable in this respect that in it there dwelt William Lord Bonevill whose heire Cecilie by her mariage brought the titles of Lord Bonevill and Harington with a goodly inheritance in these parts unto Thomas Grey Marquesse Dorset Under these Townes the River Ax dischargeth it selfe at a very small channell after it hath passed downe by Ford where Adelize daughter to Baldwine of Okchampton founded an Abbey for Cistercian Monkes 1140. and by Axanminster a Towne renowned in the ancient Histories onely for their Tombes of the Saxon Princes who were slaine in that bloudy battell at Brunaburg and translated hither and scituate it is in the very frontire and limit of this Province Neere unto which Reginald Mohun of Dunster unto whom the Mannour of Axminster in right of inheritance fell by the Fourth daughter of William de Briewr built the Abbey of Newenham in the yere of Grace 1246. Hence the East-bound runneth crookedly north-westward by villages of no fame toward Severn side along w ch now let us take our way From Cornwall the first shore in this shire that stretcheth out it selfe in length to the Severn Sea is by Ptolomee called THE PROMONTORIE OF HERCVLES and retaineth still some little remnant of that name being called at this day Hertypoinct and hath in it two pretty townes Herton and Hertlond famous in old time for the reliques of that holy man Saint Nectan In honour of whom there was erected heere a little Monasterie by Githa Earle Goodwins wife who had this Nectan in especiall reverence for that she was perswaded that for his merits her husband had escaped the danger of shipwracke in a violent and raging tempest Howbeit afterwards the Dinants who also are named Dinhams that came out of Bretagne in France whose demeans as in â—ee it was were counted the founders thereof and from them descended Baron Dinham Lord high Treasurer of England under K. Henry the Seventh by whose sisters and heires the inheritance was divided between Lord Zouch Bourchier Fitz-warin Carew and Arundell The name of this Promontorie hath given credit to a very formall tale That Hercules forsooth came into Britaine and vanquished here I wot not what Giants But if it be true as Mythologers affirme that there was never any Hercules but that by him the power of humane wisedome is understtod whereby wee overcome pride lust envie and such like monsters or if according to the Gentiles divinitie by Hercules they meane the Sunne and by those twelve Labours endured and performed by Hercules the twelve signes of the Zodiack which the Sunne in his yearely course passeth through what it is they say let them looke to it themselves But for mine owne part I willingly believe that there was an Hercules nay I could be content to grant with Varro that there were of them fortie and three all whose acts were ascribed to that Hercules who was the sonne of Alcmena yet can I not perswade my selfe that ever Hercules came hither unlesse haply hee sailed over the Ocean in that Cup which God Nerius had given him whereof Athenaeus maketh mention But you will say that Franciscus Philelphus in his Epistles and Lilius Giraldus in his Hercules averre no lesse Pardon mee I pray you these latter writers may well moove mee but they are not able to remoove mee considering that Diodorus Siculus who went on with the Greekish historie in order even from the most remote and first records of all Antiquitie in plaine termes affirmeth that neither Hercules nor Father Bacchus went ever into Britaine I am therefore verily perswaded that the name of Hercules even to this place came either through the vanitie of Greekes or from the superstitious Religion of Britaines For as these beeing a most warlike Nation themselves had valiant men in marvellous admiration and as highly esteemed of such as vanquished Monsters so the Greekes againe whatsoever was any where stately and magnificent that they referred to the glory of Hercules and because hee had beene a great traveller such as travelled were wont to offer sacrifice unto him and to him likewise consecrate the places where they first arrived Hereof came Hercules-rocke in Campania Hercules Hauen in Liguria Hercules Grove in Germanie hence likewise the Promontories of Hercules in Mauritania Galatia and Britaine As the shore giveth backe againe from this Promontorie of Hercules the two Rivers Towridge and Taw which are the onely Rivers in this north part of the Countie discharge themselves into the sea at one mouth Towridge springing not farre from Henry poinct above said runneth South-Eastward and taking into him the river Ock whereof Ock-hampton a little market towne tooke the name where Baldwine the Vicount had his Castle in William the Conquerour time as appeareth out of Domesday booke from whom it descended to the Courtneys suddenly turning his channell maketh way Northward insulating in a manner Potheridge the Mansion of the Familie surnamed Monke Happily for that some one of them being a professed Monke by dispensation to continue his house returned to temporall state as that Noble house in France surnamed Archevesque that is Archbishop tooke that name to continue the memorie that one of the Progenitours of an Archbishop returned by dispensation to be a
as certaine lands were held in Coperland neere Dover by service to hold the Kings head betweene Dover and Whit-sand when soever hee crossed the Sea there And Lewis the younger French King when he came in devout pilgrimage to visit Thomas of Canterbury besought that saint by way of most humble intercession that no passenger might miscarry by shipwracke betweene Vitsan and Dover as who would say that at the same time that was the usual passage to and fro neither in truth is this narrow sea else where more streightned although it is to bee supposed that they who faile betweene in passing over did not respect the neerer way and shorter cut in sailing but the commodiousnesse of the havens in the one shoare and the other For even so albeit the sea be narrowest betweene Blacknesse in France and the Nesse in England yet now the ordinary passing is betweene Dover and Callais as in former ages before that Vitsan haven was dammed up the passage was betweene it and Dover and before that time betweene Rhutupiae and Gessoriacum From whence Claudius the Emperour and the other captaines whom I have spoken of sailed over into Britaine This GESSORIACVM Pliny seemeth to call Portum Morinorum Britannicum peradventure for the passage from thence into Britaine Ptolomee in whom it hath crept into the place of Itium nameth it Gessoriacum Navale in which signification also our Welsh Britans commonly terme it Bowling-long that is Boloine the ship-road For that Gessoriacum was the very same Sea-coast towne which Ammianus calleth BONONIA the Frenchmen Bologne the Low-country men Beunen and wee Bolen I dare bee bold to aver and maintaine against Hector Boethius and Turnebus grounding my assertion both upon the authoritie of Beatus Rhenanus who saw an ancient military Map wherein was written Gessoriacum quod nunc Bononia that is Gessoriacum now called Bolen and also upon Itinerarie computation or account of the miles which answereth just to the distance that Antonine the Emperour hath put downe betvveene Ambiani and Gessoriacum But that which may serve in steed of all proofes The rablement of Pyrates serving under Carausius which the Panegirick Oration pronounced unto Constantius the Emperour reported to have beene inclosed and shut up within the walles of Gessoriacum and there surprised an other Oration unto Constantius Maximus his sonne relateth to have beene vanquished at Bononia so that Bononia that is Bolen and Gessoriacum must needs be one and the selfe same place and it may seeme that the more ancient name was vvorne out much about that time For it is not to be surmised that so grave authors unto the great Princes erred in the setting downe and naming of this place the memory thereof being then so fresh and that victory so glorious But what have I to doe with France Verily I have the more willingly ripped up the memorie of these matters for that the prowesse and valour of our Ancestours shewed it selfe often in this coast as who wonne and wrested both Calais and Bolen from the French And as for Bolen they rendred it backe againe at the humble request of the French King after eight yeares for a summe of money agreed upon But Callais they held 212. yeare in despight and maugre of the French Now returne wee to Britaine with full sailes and a favourable tide From Dover leaving the little Abbey of Bradsole dedicated to S. Radegund wherof Hugh the first Abbat was founder there runneth for five miles in length a continued cheine of chalky cliffes standing on a row hanging joyntly one to another as far as to Folkstone which was a flourishing place in times past as may appeare by the pieces of Roman coine and Britaine brickes daily there found but under what name it is uncertaine Probable it is that it was one of those towres or holds which in the reigne of Theodosius the younger the Romans placed for to keep off the Saxons as Gildas saith At certaine distances along the shore in the South part of Britaine Famous it was and much frequented by the English Saxons for religions sake by reason of a Monasterie that Eanswide daughter to Eadbald King of Kent consecrated there unto Nunnes But now it is a small towne and the greatest part thereof the Sea hath as it were parted away Howbeit it was the Baronie of the Family de Abrincis or Aurenches From whom it came to Sir Hamon Crevequer and by his daughter to Sir Iohn of Sandwich whose grand child Iulian by his sonne Iohn brought the same as her dowry to Iohn Segrave From thence as the shore turneth a front South West-ward Sandgate Castle built by King Henry the Eighth defendeth the coast and upon a Castle hill thereby are seene reliques of an ancient Castle More inward is Saltwood a Castle of the Bishops of Canterbury which William Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury enlarged And neere unto it is Often-hanger where Sir Edward Poinings Baneret a father of many faire bastards and amongst them of Thomas Lord Poining Lieuftenant of Bollen began to build a stately house but left it unperfect when death had bereft him of his onely lawfull child which he had by his lawfull wife the daughter of Sir I. Scot his neighbour at Scots-Hall where the family of Scots hath lived in worshipfull estimation a long time as descended from Pashely and Serteaux by Pimpe But to returne to the sea-coast neere to Sandgate Hith is situated one of the Cinque ports whereof it assumed that name which in the English Saxons tongue signifieth an haven or harbour although hardly it maintaineth that name now by reason of sands and the Sea withdrawing it selfe from it And yet it is not long since it first made any shew and that by the decay and fall of Westhyth a neighbour-towne Westward and which was sometime a Port untill the Sea in our great grandfathers daies retired from it So are Sea-townes subject to the uncertaine vicissitude of the Sea This Hith like as West-Hith also had their beginning from the ruine of Lime standing hard by which in times past was a most famous Port towne untill the sands that the Sea casteth up had choked and stopped the haven Both Antonine and the booke of Norrices called it PORTVS LEMANIS Ptolomee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which being in Greeke a significative word the Copiantes or Copiers out of old bookes because they would seeme to supply the defect wrot it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latin Interpreters following them translated it Novus portus that is New port or New haven whereas the proper name of the place was Limen or Leman like as at this time Lime Heere the Captaine over a company or band of Turnacenses kept his station under the Count or Lieuftenant of the Saxon shore And a Port way paved with stone called Stonystreet reacheth from hence toward Canterbury which one would easily judge to have beene a worke of the Romans like as the
William who enjoyed it a short time dying also without issue So by Amice the second daughter of the forenamed Earle William married to Richard de Clare Earle of Hertford this Earledome descended to Gilbert her sonne who was stiled Earle of Glocester and Hertford and mightily enriched his house by marrying one of the heires of William Marshall Earle of Pembroch His sonne and successour Richard in the beginning of the Barons warres against king Henry the Third ended his life leaving Gilbert his sonne to succeed him who powerfully and prudently swaied much in the said wars as he inclined to them or the king He obnoxious to King Edward the First surrendred his lands unto him and received them againe by marrying Joane the Kings Daughter sirnamed of Acres in the Holy-land because shee was there borne to his second Wife who bare unto him Gilbert Clare last Earle of Glocester of this sirname slaine in the flower of his youth in Scotland at the battaile of Sterling in the 6. yeare of K. Edward the second Howbeit while this Gilbert the third was in minority Sir Ralph de Mont-hermer who by a secret contract had espoused his mother the Kings daughter for which he incurred the kings high displeasure and a short imprisonment but after reconciled was summoned to Parliaments by the name of Earle of Glocester and Hertford But when Gilbert was out of his minority he was summoned amongst the Barons by the name of Sir Ralph de Mont-hermer as long as he lived which I note more willingly for the rarenesse of the example After the death of Gilbert the third without children Sir Hugh Le De-Spenser commonly named Spenser the younger was by writers called Earle of Glocester because he had married the eldest sister of the said Gilbert the third But after that he was by the Queene and Nobles of the Realme hanged for hatred they bare to K. Edward the 2. whose minion he was Sir Hugh Audley who had matched in marriage with the second sister through the favour of King Edward the Third received this honour After his death King Richard the Second erected this Earledome into a Dukedome and so it had three Dukes and one Earle betweene and unto them all it prooved Equus Sejanus that is Fatall to give them their fall Thomas of Woodstocke youngest sonne to King Edward the Third was the first Duke of Glocester advanced to that high honour by the said King Richard the Second and shortly after by him subverted For when he busily plotted great matters the King tooke order that he should be conveyed secretly in all haste to Calis where with a featherbed cast upon him he was smouthered having before under his owne band confessed as it stands upon Record in the Parliament Rols that he by vertue of a Patent which hee had wrested from the King tooke upon him the Kings regall authority that he came armed into the Kings presence reviled him consulted with learned about renouncing his allegiance and devised to depose the King for which being now dead he was by authority of Parliament attainted and condemned of high Treason When hee was thus dispatched the same King conferred the Title of Earle of Glocester upon Thomas Le De-Spenser in the right of his Great Grand-mother who within a while after sped no better than his great Grand-father Sir Hugh For by King Henry the fourth he was violently displaced shamefully degraded and at Briston by the peoples fury beheaded After some yeares King Henry the Fifth created his brother Humfrey the second Duke of Glocester who stiled himselfe the first yeare of King Henry the Sixth as I have seene in an Instrument of his Humfrey by the Grace of God sonne brother and Uncle to Kings Duke of Glocester Earle of Henault Holland Zeland and Penbroch Lord of Friesland Great Chamberlaine of the Kingdome of England Protector and Defender of the same Kingdome and Church of England A man that had right well deserved of the common wealth and of learning but through the fraudulent practise and malignant envie of the Queene brought to his end at Saint Edmunds Bury The third and last Duke was Richard brother to King Edward the Fourth who afterwards having most wickedly murdred his Nephewes usurped the Kingdome by the name of King Richard the third and after two yeares lost both it and his life in a pitched field finding by experience that power gotten by wicked meanes is never long lasting Concerning this last Duke of Glocester and his first entry to the Crowne give me leave for a while to play the part of an Historiographer which I will speedily give over againe as not well able to act it When this Richard Duke of Glocester being now proclaimed Protector of the Kingdome had under his command his tender two Nephewes Edward the Fifth King of England and Richard Duke of Yorke he retriving after the Kingdome for himselfe by profuse liberality and bounty to very many by passing great gravitie tempered with singular affabilitie by deepe wisdome by ministring justice indifferently and by close devises wonne wholly to him all mens hearts but the Lawyers especially to serve his turne So shortly he effected that in the name of all the States of the Realme there should be exhibited unto him a supplication wherein they most earnestly besought him for the publike Weale of the Kingdome to take upon him the Crowne to uphold his Countrey and the common-weale now shrinking and downe falling not to suffer it to runne headlong into utter desolation by reason that both lawes of nature and the authority of positive lawes and the laudable customes and liberties of England wherein every Englishman is an inheritor were subverted and trampled under foote through civill wars rapines murthers extortions oppressions and all sorts of misery But especially ever since that King Edward the fourth his brother bewitched by sorcerie and amorous potions fell in fancie with Dame Elizabeth Greie widdow whom he married without the assent of his Nobles without solemne publication of Banes secretly in a profane place and not in the face of the Church contrary to the law of Gods Church and commendable custome of the Church of England and which was worse having before time by a precontract espoused Dame Aeleanor Butler daughter to the old Earle of Shrewsburie whereby most sure and certaine it was that the foresaid matrimony was unlawfull and therewith the children of them begotten illegitimate and so unable to inherite or claime the Crowne Moreover considering that George Duke of Clarence the second brother of King Edward the Fourth was by authority of Parliament convicted and attainted of high treason thereupon his children disabled and debarred from all right succession evident it was to every man that Richard himselfe remained the sole and undoubted heire to the Crowne Of whom they assured themselves that being borne in England he would seriously provide for the good of England neither could they make any doubt of his
in the Hole so named of the miry way in Winter time very troublesome to Travellers For the old Englishmen our Progenitors called deepe myre hock and hocks So passing along fields smelling sweet in Sommer of the best Beanes which with their redolent savour doe dull the quicke sent of Hounds and Spaniels not without fuming and chaâ—ing of Hunters we mounted up by a whitish chalkey hill into the Chiltern and streightwaies were at Dunstable This Towne seated in a chalkey ground well inhabited and full of Innes hath foure Streetes answering to the foure quarters of the world in every one of which notwithstanding the Soile bee most dry by nature there is a large Pond of standing water for the publique use of the Inhabitants And albeit they bee fed onely by raine water yet they never faile nor become dry As for spring-veines there are none to bee found unlesse they sinke Wells or pits foure and twenty Cubits deepe In the middest of the Towne is a Crosse or Columne rather to be seene with the Armes of England Castle and Ponthieu engraven thereon adorned also with Statues and Images which King Edward the First erected as he did some others in memoriall of Aeleoner his Wife all the way as hee conveyed her Corps out of Lincoln-shire with funerall pompe to Westminster That this Dunstable was the very same Station which the Emperour Antonine in his Itinerary calleth MAGIONINIUM MAGIOVINIUM and MAGINTUM no man needs to make doubt or to seeke it else where For besides that it is situate upon the Romanes high way there are peeces of the Roman Emperours moneies found otherwhiles in the fields adjoyning round about by the Swine-heards which as yet they terme Madning mony and within a little of the very descent of the Chiltern hils there is a military modell raised up round with a Rampire and Ditch such as Strabo writeth the Britans Townes were containing nine Acres of ground which the people use to call Madning-boure and Madin-boure in which very name with a little change MAGINTUM most plainly sheweth it selfe But when the said MAGINTUM by the injury of warre or time was decayed king Henry the First heere reedified a Towne built a royall house at Kings-bury and planted a Colony to represse the boldnesse of Theeves that heere beset the wayes and lay in wait as the private History of the Priory that himselfe founded for the ornament of this his Colony doth evidently beare witnesse But heare the very words out of that private History although they savour of the Barbarisme of that age Note that the plot of ground where the two high waies Watling and Ikening meet was first by Henry the elder King of England cleered to keepe under and bridle the wickednesse of a certaine most notorious Theefe named Dun and his Companions and of that Dun the said place was named Dunstable The King our Lord built there the Burgh of Dunstable and made for himselfe a royall Manour or house neere under that place The King had in the same Towne both Faire and Mercat Afterwards hee founded a Church and by authority of Pope Eugenius the Third placed therein Regular Chanons and feoffed the said Religious Chanons in the whole Burgh by his Charter and bestowed upon them very many liberties As for Leighton Buzard on the one side of Dunstable and Luton on the other neither have I reade nor seene any thing memorable in them unlesse I should say that at Luton I saw a faire Church but the Quier then Roofelesse and overgrowne with Weedes and adjoyning to it an elegant Chappell founded by I. Lord Wenlocke and well maintained by the Family of Rotheram planted heere by Thomas Rotheram Archbishop of Yorke and Chancellour of England in the time of King Edward the Fourth As touching the Lords Dukes and Earles of Bedford First there were Barons of Bedford out of the Family of Beauchamp who by right of inheritance were Almners to the Kings of England upon their Coronation day Whose inheritance being by females parted among the Mowbraies Wakes Fitz-Ottes c. King Edward the Third created Engelrame de Coucy Earle of Suesons in France sonne to Engelrame Lord of Coucy and his Wife daughter to the Duke of Austria the first Earle of Bedford giving unto him his daughter in marriage Afterwards King Henrie the Fifth advaunced Bedford to the title of a Dukedome and it had three Dukes the first was John the third sonne of King Henrie the Fourth who most valiantly vanquished the French men in a Sea-fight at the mouth of Seyne and afterwards being Regent of France slaine in a battaile on land before Vernoil who was buried in Roan and together with him all the Englishmens good fortune in France At which time he was Regent of France Duke of Bedford Alaunson and Anjou Earle of Maine Richmond and Kendall and Constable of England For so was his stile Whose Monument when Charles the Eighth King of France came to see and a Noble man standing by advised him to rase it Nay answered he let him rest in peace now being dead of whom in war while he lived all France had dread The second Duke of Bedford was George Nevill a very child sonne to John Marquesse Mont-acute both whom King Edward the Fourth so soone as hee had raised them to that type of Honours threw downe againe and that by authoritie of the Parliament the Father for his perfidious disloyaltie in revolting from him the Sonne in dislike of his Father Howbeit there was a colourable pretense made that his estate was too weake for to maintaine the port and dignity of a Duke and because great men of high place if they be not wealthy withall are alwaies grievous and injurious The third was Iasper of Hatfield Earle of Pembroch Honoured with that title by his Nephew King Henrie the Seventh for that hee was both his Unckle and had delivered him out of extreame dangers who being aged and a Bachelar departed this life some ten yeeres after his Creation But within the remembrance of our Fathers it fell backe againe to the title of an Earledome what time as King Edward the Sixth created Iohn Lord Russell Earle of Bedford after whom succeeded his Sonne Francis a man so religious and of such a noble courteous nature that I can never speake ought so highly in his commendation but his vertue will far surpasse the same He left to succeed him Edward his Nephew by his Sonne Sir Francis Russell who was slaine a day or two before his Father departed this life by Scotishmen in a tumult upon a True-day in the midle marches 1585. This small Province hath Parishes 116. HERTFORDIAE Comitatus A. Cattifuclanis olim Inhabitatus HERTFORD-SHIRE HERTFORD-SHIRE which I said was the third of those that belonged to the Cattieuchlani lieth on the East and partly on the South side of Bedford-shire The West side is enclosed with Bedford-shire and Buckingham-shire The South with Middlesex
Edward the Thirds sonne who after hee had married a wife out of that house was entituled by his father Duke of Clarence For he of this place with a fuller sound than that of Clare was stiled Duke of Clarence like as before him the sonnes of Earle Gislebert and their successors were hence surnamed De Clare and called Earles of Clare Who died at Languvill in Italy after he had by a second marriage matched with a Daughter of Galâ—acius Vicount of Millain and in the Collegiat Church here lieth interred as also Ioan Acres daughter to King Edward the first married to Gislebert de Clare Earle of Glocester Here peradventure the Readers may looke that I should set downe the Earles of Clare so denominated of this place and the Dukes of Clarence considering they have beene alwayes in this Realme of right honorable reputation and verily so will I doe in few words for their satisfaction in this behalfe Richard the sonne of Gislebert Earle of Augy in Normandy served in the warres under King William when hee entred England and by him was endowed with the Townes of Clare and Tunbridge This Gislebert begat foure sonnes namely Gislebert Roger Walter and Robert from whom the Fitz-walters are descended Gislebert by the daughter of the Earle of Cleremont had issue Richard who succeeded him Gislebert of whom came that Noble Richard Earle of Pembroch and Conquerour of Ireland and Walter Richard the first begotten sonne was slaine by the Welshmen and left behinde him two sonnes Gilbert and Roger. Gilbert in King Stephens dayes was Earle of Herford howbeit both he and his Successours are more often and commonly called Earles of Clare of this their principall seat and habitation yea and so many times they wrote themselves After him dying without issue succeeded his brother Roger whose sonne Richard tooke to wife Amice the daughter and one of the Heires to William Earle of Glocester in right of whom his posterity were Earles of Glocester And those you may see in their due place But when at length their issue male failed Leonel Third sonne of King Edward the Third who had married Elizabeth the Daughter and sole Heire of William de Burgh Earle of Vlster begotten of the Bodie of Elizabeth Clare was by his Father honoured with this new Title Duke of Clarence But when as hee had but one onely Daughter named Phillippa wife to Edmund Mortimer Earle of March King Henry the Fourth created Thomas his owne yonger sonne Duke of Clarence who being withall Earle of Albemarle High Steward of England and Governour of Normandy and having no lawfull issue was slaine in Anjou by the violent assault of Scots and French A long time after king Edward the Fourth bestowed this honour upon his owne brother George whom after grievous enmity and bitter hatred hee had received againe into favour and yet at the last made an end of him in prison causing him as the report currently goeth to be drowned in a Butte of Malmesey A thing naturally engraffed in men that whom they have feared and with whom they have contended in matter of life those they hate for ever though they be their naturall brethren From Clare by Long-Melford a very faire Almes-house lately built by that good man Sir William Cordal Knight and Maister of the Rolls Stour passeth on and commeth to Sudbury that is to say the South-Burgh and runneth in manner round about it which men suppose to have beene in old time the chiefe towne of this Shire and to have taken this name in regard of Norwich that is The Northren Towne Neither would it take it well at this day to be counted much inferiour to the Townes adjoyning for it is populous and wealthy by reason of Clothing there and hath for the chiefe Magistrate a Major who every yeare is chosen out of seaven Aldermen Not farre from hence distant is Edwardeston a Towne of no great name at this day but yet in times past it had Lords therein dwelling of passing great Honour of the surname of Mont-chensie out of which Family Sir Guarin Montchensie married the daughter and one of the heires of that mighty William Marescall Earle of Pembroch and of her begat a daughter named Ioan who unto the stile of her Husband William de Valentia of the family of Lusignie in France brought and adjoyned the title of Earle of Penbroch But the said Sir Guarin Mont-chensy as he was a right honourable person so he was a man exceeding wealthy in so much as in those dayes they accounted him the most potent Baron and the rich Crassus of England For his last will and testament amounted unto two hundred thousand Markes no small wealth as the standard was then From a younger brother or cadet of this house of Montchensie issued by an heire generall the Family of the Waldgraves who have long flourished in Knightly degree at Smalebridge neerer to Stoure as another Family of great account in elder ages at Buers which was thereof surnamed A few miles from hence Stour is enlarged with Breton a small Brooke at one of whose heads is seene Bretenham a very slender little towne where fcarce remaineth any shew at all of any great building and yet both the neere resemblance and the signification of the name partly induced me to thinke it to be that COMBRETONIUM whereof Antonine the Emperour made mention in this tract For like as Bretenham in English signifieth an Habitation or Mansion place by Breton so Combretonium in British or Welsh betokeneth a Valley or a place lying somewhat low by Breton But this in Peutegerius his Table is falsly named COMVETRONUM and ADCOVECIN Somewhat Eastward from hence is Nettlested seene of whence was Sir Thomas Wentworth whom King Henry the Eighth adorned with the title of Baron Wentworth and neere thereto is Offion that is to say The towne of Offa King of the Mercians where upon a clay Hill lie the ruines of an ancient Castle which they say Offa built after he had wickedly murdered Aethelbert King of the East-Angles and usurped his Kingdome But to returne to the River Breton Upon another brooke that joyneth therewith standeth Lancham a pretty Mercat and neere it the Manour of Burnt-Elleie whereunto King Henry the Third granted a Mercate at the request of Sir Henry Shelton Lord thereof whose posterity a long time heere flourished Hadley in the Saxons language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is watered with the same brooke a towne of good note in these dayes for making of Clothes and in old time much mentioned by our Historians because Guthrum or Gormo the Dane was heere buried For when Aelfred brought him to this passe that he became Christian and was baptized hee assigned unto him these countries of the East-Angles that he might to use the words of mine Author cherish them by right of inheritance under the Allegiance of a King
spirituall benefits in that Church as praiers blessings c. and so when he had entertained them with a very sumptuous feast hee gave them his blessing and dismissed them chearefully every man to his owne home But I will dwell no longer in this matter But hereby you may see how by small contributions great workes arose From Crowland there goeth a Cawsey planted on both sides with Willowes betweene the River Welland and the deepe Marishes Northward upon which two miles from Crowland I saw the fragment of a Piramis with this Inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I SAY THAT SAINT GUTHLAKE THIS STONE HIS BOVND DOTH MAKE Higher yet upon the same River is seated Spalding enclosed round about with Riverets and draines a fairer Towne I assure you than a man would looke to finde in this Tract among such slabbes and water-plashes where Ivo Talbois whom Ingulph elsewhere calleth Earle of Anjou gave an ancient Cell to the Monkes of Angiers in France From hence as farre as to Deeping which is ten miles off Egelrick Abbat of Crowland afterwards Bishop of Durham made for the ease of travailers as saith Ingulphus through the middest of a vast Forest and of most deepe Fennes a sound causey of wood and sand after his owne name called Elrich-road which notwithstanding at this day is not to be seene In higher Hoiland that bendeth more into the North first we have in sight Kirkton so named of the Church which is passing faire and then where the River Witham hemnd in strongly with bankes on both sides runneth in a maine and full streame toward the sea flourisheth Boston more truely named Botolphs-towne For it carried that name from one Botolph a most holy and devout Saxon who at Icanhoe had a Monastery A famous Towne this is standing on both sides of the River Witham which hath over it a wooden bridge of a great height and well frequented by the meanes of a commodious haven unto it the Mercat place is faire and large and the Church maketh a goodly shew as well for the beautifull building as the greatnesse thereof the towre-steeple of it which riseth up to a mighty height doth as one would say salute passengers and travailers a great way off and giveth direction also to the sailers A lamentable overthrow it sustained in the Raigne of Edward the first For when bad and Ruffian-like behaviour rufled at that time over all England certaine military lusty fellowes having proclaimed heere a Justs or running at Tilt at a Faire time when there was much resort of people thither came apparelled in the habit of Monkes and Chanons set fire on the Towne in most places thereof brake in upon Merchants with sodaine violence tooke away many things by force burnt a great deale more in so much as our Historians write that as the ancient Writers record of Corinth when it was destroied molten gold and silver ran downe in a streame together The Ring-leader Robert Chamberlan after hee had confessed the act and what a shamefull deed had been committed was hanged yet could he not be wrought by any meanes to disclose his complices in this foule fault But happier times raised Boston againe out of the ashes and a staple for wooll here setled did very much enrich it and drew thither merchants of the Hanse Society who had here their Guild At this day it is for building faire and by good trade rich For the Inhabitants give themselves both to merchandise and also to grasing Nere unto this was the Barony de Croeun or de Credonio out of which family Alan de Croeun founded the Priory of Freston and at length Parnel heire of the family being twice married transferred no small inheritance first to the Longchamps which came to the Pedwardins and secondly to John Vaulx from whom the Barons Roos are descended Beyond it scarce six miles reacheth Holland all which Ivo Talboys of Anjo◠received at the bountifull hands of king William the Conqueror but Herward an English man of good hope and full of douty courage being sonne to Leofrick Lord of Brane or Burne not brooking his insolency when he saw his owne and his Country mens safety now endangered after he had received the cincture with a military Belt by Brann Abbat of Peterborough whose stomacke rose also against the Normans raised warre against him oftentimes put him to flight and at length carried him away captive and suffered him not to bee ransomed but with such conditions that he might be received into the Kings favour wherein he dyed his liege man For so deserved his valour which is alwayes commended even in a very enemy His Daughter being wedded to Hugh Enermeve Lord of Deping enjoyed his lands which afterwards as I understand was devolved upon the Family of Wake which being mightily enriched with the Possessions of the Estotevills was of right great honour in these parts untill the Raigne of Edward the Second for then by an heire Generall their inheritance came by right of marriage unto Edmund of Woodstocke youngest sonne to King Edward the First and Earle of Kent But of a younger sonne the ancient Family of the Wakes of Blisworth in Northampton-shire yet remaining is descended The second part of this Country commonly called Kesteven and by Aethelward an ancient Authour Ceostefnewood adjoyning to Hoiland on the West side is for aire farre more wholesome and for Soile no lesse fruitfull Greater this is and larger than the other yea and garnished every where with more faire Townes At the entry thereinto upon the river Welland standeth Stanford in the Saxon tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 built of rough stone whence it hath the name A Towne well peopled and of great resort endowed also with sundry immunities and walled about It gave Geld or Tribute as wee reade in Domesday Booke for twelve hundreds and an halfe in the army shipping and Danegeld and in it were sixe Wards What time as King Edward the elder fortified the South bankes of Rivers against the Danes breaking by force into the Land out of the North parts Marianus recordeth that hee built a very strong Castle just over against this Towne also on the South banke which now is called Stanford Baron yet there appeareth not any one token thereof at this day for that Castle which in time of the civill Warre Stephen strengthened against Henry of Anjou was within the Towne as both the generall report holdeth and the very plot also whereon it stood as yet remaining sheweth But soone after the said Henry being now King of England gave the whole Towne of Stanford which was in his Demaine excepting the fees or Feifs of the Barons and Knights of the same Towne unto Richard de Humez or Homets who was Constable to the King his Soveraigne Lord for his homage and service And the same afterwards held William Earle of Warren by the will and pleasure of King John Under the
that the place tooke that name of later time by farre from Guy Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke and certaine it is that Richard Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke built Saint Margarets Chappell heere and erected a mighty and giantlike statue of stone resembling the said Guy Avon now runneth downe from Warwicke with a fuller streame by Charle-cot the habitation of the renowned ancient family of the Lucies knights which place long agoe descended hereditarily to them from the Charlecots who upon a pious and devout minde founded a religious House at Thellisford for entertainment of poore folke and Pilgrims For that little River was called Thelley which by Compton Murdacke the possession sometime of the Murdackes and now of the Vernaies Knights and by this Thellisford goeth into Avon which within a while runneth hard by Stratford a proper little mercate towne beholden for all the beauty that it hath to two men there bred and brought up namely John of Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury who built the Church and Sir Hugh Clopton Major of London who over Avon made a stone Bridge supported with foureteene Arches not without exceeding great expenses This Hugh was a younger brother out of that ancient family which from Clopton a Manour adjoyning borrowed this sirname since the time that Walter de Cocksfeld called Knight Mareschall setled and planted both himselfe and his successours at Clopton The inheritance of these Cloptons is in our time descended to two sisters coheires the one of which is married to Sir George Carew knight Vice chamberlaine to our most gracious Lady Queen Anne whom King James hath entituled Baron Carew of Clopton and whom I am the more willing to name with honour in this respect if there were none other for that hee is a most affectionate lover of venerable antiquity Neither seeth Avon any other memorable thing upon his bankes but Bitford a Mercate Towne and some Country Villages being now ready to enter into Worcester-shire Now let us enter into the Woodland which beyond the River Avon spreadeth it selfe Northward much larger in compasse than the Feldon and is for the most part thicke set with Woods and yet not without pastures corne fields and sundry mines of Iron This part as it is at this day called Woodland so also it was in old time knowne by a more ancient name Arden but in the selfesame sense and signification as I thinke For it seemeth that Arden among the ancient Britans and Gaules signified a Wood considering that we see a very great Wood in France named ARDEN a Towne in Flanders hard by another Wood called Ardenburg and that famous Wood or Forest in England by a clipped word likewise cleped DEN to say nothing of that DIANA which in the ancient inscriptions of Gaule is sirnamed ARDVVENA and ARDOINA that is if I doe not mis-conceive Of the Wood and was the same Diana which in the inscriptions of Italy went under the name of NEMORENSIS Of this Forest Turkill of Arden who flourished heere in all honour under King Henry the First tooke his name and his offspring which was of great worship and reputation spred very much over all England for many yeeres successively ensuing In the West side of this Country the River Arrow maketh haste to joyne himselfe in society with Avon by Studly Castle belonging sometime to John the sonne of Corbutio But whether this River Arrow tooke name of swiftnesse as Tigris in Mesopotamia for Arrow with us like as Tigris among the Persians betokeneth a shaft or contrariwise of the still streame and slow course which Ar in the old French and British Tongue implied let other men looke who have better observed the nature of this River Upon this River standeth Coughton the principall mansion house of the Throckmortons a family of Knights degree which being spred into a number of faire branches and fruitfull of fine wits flourished in this tract especially ever since they matched in marriage with the daughter and heire of Speney Not farre from hence is Ousley which also was in ancient time well knowne by the Lords thereof the Butlers Barons of Wem from whom it was devolved hereditarily to the Ferrars of Ousley Whose inheritance within a short time was divided betweene John Lord of Greistocke and Sir Raulph Nevill Beneath it upon Arrow standeth Beauchamps-Court so named of Baron Beauchamp of Powicke from whom by the onely daughter of Edward Willoughbey sonne to Robert Willoughbey Baron Broke it came to Sir Foulque Grevill a right worshipfull person both for his Knights degree and for kinde courtesie whose only sonne carrying likewise the same name hath consecrated himselfe so to true Vertue and Nobility that in nobility of minde he farre surmounteth his parentage and unto whom for his exceeding great deserts toward me although my heart is not able either to expresse or render condigne thankfulnesse yet in speech will I ever render thankes and in silence acknowledge my selfe most deepely endebted Under this Towne there runneth into Arrow the River Alâ—e which holding on his course through the woods passeth under Henley a prety mercate towne a Castle joyning whereunto belonged the Family of the Mont-forts being Noblemen of great name which for the pleasant situation among the Woods they called by a French name Bell-desert but this together with the ruines is now buried quite and scant to be seene at all These were descended not from the Almarian Family of the Mont-sorts of France but from Turstan de Bastanberg a Norman whose inheritance passed away at length by the daughters unto the Barons of Sudley and to the Frevills In the very place where Arrow and this Alne doe meete together we saw Aulcester by Matthew Paris called and that more rightly Allencester which the inhabitants affirme to have beene a most famous and ancient Towne and thereupon they will have the name to be Ouldcester This as we reade in an old Inquisition was a Frank-burogh of our Lord King Henry the First and the same King gave that Burogh to Robert Corbet for his service and when the said Robert died it came by descent to Sir William of Botereux and to Sir Peter Fitz-Herbert and when William of Botereux dyed the moity of that Burogh fell by descent into the hand of Sir Reginald of Botereux as to the heire who now holdeth it and when Peter Fitz-Herbert died that moity descended into the hand of Herbert the sonne of Peter which Herbert gave it to Sir Robert de Chaundoys But now it is decaied and of a very great Towne become a small Mercate of wares and trade Howbeit exceeding much frequented for the Corne Faire there holden This hath for a neere neighbour Arrow according to the name of the River whose Lord Thomas Burdet for his dependance upon George Duke of Clarence words unadvisedly uttered and hardly construed through the iniquity of the time lost his life But by his grand daughter
to recover the Holy Land That part of this Country which lyeth beyond the Haven and hath onely these two Rivers to water it the Britans doe call Ros making the name answerable to the thing for that it lyeth for the most part all low on a flat and greene plaine This Tract was inhabited by Flemings out of the Low Countries who by the permission of King Henry the First were planted heere when the Ocean by making breaches in the bankes had overwhelmed a great part of the said Low Countries These are distinctly knowne still from the Welsh both by their speech and manners and so neere joyned they are in society of the same language with Englishmen who come nighest of any Nation to the low Dutch Tongue that this their little Country is tearmed by the Britans Little England beyond Wales A Nation this is as saith Giraldus strong and stout and continually enured in warres with the Welsh a Nation most accustomed to seeke gaine by clothing by traffique also and merchandise by sea and land undertaking any paines and perills whatsoever A Nation of very great power and as time and place requireth ready by turnes to take plough in hand and till the ground as ready also to goe into the field and fight it out And that I may adde thus much moreover a Nation most loyally devoted to the Kings of England and as faithfull to Englishmen and which in the time of Giraldus was wonderfull skilfull in Sooth-saying by the Inspection of Beasts inwards whose worke also is heere seene as they are a people passing industrious namely The Flemish High way reaching out a great length The Welshmen have many a time banded all their Forces in one and to recover this country belonging sometimes unto their ancestors have violently set upon these Flemings and overrunne their lands spoiling and wasting where ever they went yet they most courageously have alwayes from time to time defended their estates their name and life Whereupon concerning them and King William Rufus the Historian Malmesbury writeth thus Many a time and often King William Rufus had but small successe against the Welsh men which any man may well mervaile at considering that alwaies otherwise he spread most fortunately in all adventures of Warre But I take it that as the unevennesse of the ground and sharpnesse of the ayre maintained their Rebellion so the same empeached his valour But King Henry who now Reigneth a man of an excellent wit found meanes to frustrate all their devices by placing Flemings in their Country who might be alwaies ready to represse and keepe them in And in the fifth booke King Henry with many a warlike expedition went about to force the Welsh men who ever and anon rose up in Rebellion for to yeeld and submit themselves and resting in the end upon this good and holsome policie for to take downe and abate their swelling pride he brought over thither all the Flemings that dwelt in England For a number of them who in those daies in regard of his Mothâ—rs 〈◊〉 by her Fathers side flocked thither were closely shrowded in England in so much 〈◊〉 they for their multitude seemed burdensome unto the Realme Wherefore he sent them altogether with their substance goods Wives and Children unto Ros a Country in Wales as it were â—â—to a common avoidance thereby both to purge and clense his owne Kingdome and also to quaile and represse the rash boldnesse of his enemies there By the more westward of these two Rivers is Harford West called by the English men in times past Haversord and by the Britans Hulphord a faire Towne and of great resort situate upon an hill side having scarce one even streete but is steepe one way or other which being a Countie by it selfe hath for Magistrates a Major a Sheriffe and two Bailiffs The report goeth that the Earles of Clare fortified it with Rampier and Wall on the North side and we read that Richard Earle of Clare made R. Fitz-Tancred Castellan of this Castle Beyond Ros there shooteth out with a mighty front farre into the West Ocean a great Promontory which Ptolomee called OCTOPITARUM the Britans Pebidiauc and Cantred Devi we Saint Davids land A stony barren and unfruitfull ground as Giraldus saith Neither clad with Woods nor garnished heere and there with Rivers ne yet adorned with Medows lying alwaies open to windes onely and stormes Yet a retyring place for most holy men and a nurserie of them For Calphurnius a Britaine Priest as some I know not how truly have written heere in the vale of Ros begat of his Wife Concha Sister to Saint Martin of Tours Patricke the Apostle of Ireland and Devi a most religious Bishop translated the Archiepiscopall See from Isca Legionum into the most remote and farthest angle heereof even to Menew or Menevia which afterwards the Britans of his name called Twy Dewy that is Devi his house the Saxons Dauy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the English men at this day Saint Davids and was for a long time an Archbishops See But by occasion of a pestilence that contagiously raged in this Country whereby the Pall was translated into little Britaine in France to Dole this Archiepiscopall dignity had an end Yet in the foregoing ages the Welsh men commensed an action heere about against the Archbishop of Canterbury Metropolitane of England and Wales but they were cast in the Law What this Saint Davids was and what maner of thing in times past a man can hardly tell considering it hath beene so often by Pirates rased but now it is a very small and poore Citie and hath nothing at all to make shew of but a faire Church dedicated to Saint Andrew and David which having been many times overthrowne Petre the Bishop in the reigne of King John and his successors erected in that forme which now it sheweth in the vale as they tearme it of Ros under the Towne and hard by it standeth the Bishops Pallace and faire houses of the Chaunter who is next unto the Bishop for there is no Deane heere of the Chauncellor Treasurer and foure Archdeacons who be of the number of the XXII Canons all enclosed round within a strong and seemely wall whereupon they call it the Close This Promontorie thrusteth it selfe so farre Westward that in a cleere Sunshine day a man may from thence see Ireland and from hence is the shortest cut to Ireland and by Plinies measure which he tooke false was from the Silures for he thought that the Silures reached thus farre thirty miles But that this land ran out farther and that the forme of the Promontory hath been changed it may be gathered out of these words of Giraldus What time saith he as King Henry the Second made his abode in Ireland by reason of an extraordinary violence of stormes the sandy shores of this coast were laide bare as farre as to the very hard ground and the face of
〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and we at this day Yorke The British History reporteth that it tooke name of King Ebraâ—c the Founder yet give mee leave to deeme conjecturally without the prejudice to others that the name EB-URACUM is derived from nothing else but from the River Vre so that it soundeth as much as by Vre or along the side of Vre for even so the EBUROVICES in France were seated by the River Eure neere unto Eureux in Normandy Semblably the EB-URONES in the Netherlands neere unto the river Oure in the Dioecese of Lhuick and EB-LANA in Ireland standeth hard by the river Lefny This is the second City of England the fairest in all this Country and a singular safeguard and ornament both to all the North parts A pleasant place large and stately well fortified beautifully adorned as well with private as pulique buildings rich populous and to the greater dignity thereto it hath an Archiepiscopall See Ure which now is called Ouse flowing with a gentle streame from the North part Southward cutteth it as I said in twaine and divideth it as it were into two Cities which are conjoyned with a stone Bridge having the mightiest Arch one of them that ever I saw The West part nothing so populous is compassed in with a very faire Wall and the River together fouresquarewise and giveth entrance to those that come thither at one onely Gate named Mikel Barre as one would say The great Gate From which a long street and a broade reacheth to the very Bridge and the same streete beset with proper houses having gardens and orchards planted on the backeside on either hand and behinde them fields even hard to the Walles for exercise and disports In the South angle whereof which they and the River make betweene them I saw a Mount raised as it seemeth for some Castle to be built upon it called The old Bale which William Melton Archbishop as wee reade in the Archbishops lives strongly enclosed first with thicke planckes eighteene foote long afterward with a stone wall yet there is nothing of all that now to be seene The East side wherein the houses stand very thicke and the streetes be narrower in forme resembleth as it were a lentill and is fortified also with very strong walles and on the South-East defended with the deepe chanell of Fosse a muddy River which entring into the heart of the City by a blinde way hath a Bridge over it with houses standing upon it so close ranged one by another that any man would judge it to bee not a Bridge but a continued streete and so a little lower runneth into Ouse where at their confluence and meeting together right over against the Mount that I spake of King William the Conquerour in a very convenient place raised a most strong Castle to awe the Citizens Upon which time hath now a great while without impeachment wrought his will ever since that Englishmen fell to neglect strong Holds as receptacles for those whose hearts would not serve to fight in open field On this side also toward the North-East standeth the Cathedrall Church dedicated to Saint Peter an excellent faire Fabrique and a stately neere unto which without the Walles of the City but yet enclosed within walles and by the River flourished a renowned Abbay called Saint Maries which Alan the Third Earle of Little Britaine in Armorica and of Richmund built and endowed with rich livings but now it is converted into the Princes house and is commonly called The Manour Whence I should fetch the originall of Yorke but from the Romanes I cannot tell seeing the Britans before the Romanes comming had no other Townes than woods fensed with trenches and rampire as Caesar and Strabo unreprovable Authors doe testifie To say nothing therefore of King Ebrauk whom some men both curious and credulous as it should seeme have imagined out of the name of Eboracum for so is Yorke in Latine termed to have beene the Founder thereof most certaine it is that the Sixth Legion Victrix which Hadrian there Emperour brought out of Germany over into Britaine was placed heere in Garison And that it was a Colony of the Romanes it appeareth both by the authority of Ptolomee and Antonine and also by an ancient Inscription which I saw in a certaine Aldermans house there in these words M. VEREC DIOGENES IIIII I VIR COL EBOR. IDEMQ MORT CIVES BITURIX HAEC SIBI VIVUS FECIT As also by a peece of money coined by the Emperour Severius in the reverse whereof we reade COL EBORACUM LEG VI. VICTRIX But how it is that Victor in his History of the Caesars hath called Yorke Municipium or free towne of Britaine being as it was a Colony I require farther time to deliberate thereupon unlesse it were that the inhabitants of Yorke like as sometime the Praenestines did choose rather from a Colony to bee brought unto the state of a free-Burgh For Colonies having as Agellius writeth lawes customes and rights at the will of the people of Rome and not at their owne pleasure seemed more obnoxious and their condition not so free whereas free Cities such as in Latin are named Municipia used rights Lawes and orders of their owne and the Citizens or Burgesses thereof were partakers with the people of Rome in their honourable Offices onely and bound of necessity to nothing else No mervaile therefore if Colonies were changed into Free Burroughs But to what end stand I upon this point This difference of the name is not in the story of the Emperours so exactly observed but that one and the selfe same place is called both a Colony and a Municipium or Free City Howbeit out of that peece of money I dare not constantly affirme that Severus first conducted and planted this Colony seeing that Ptolomee and Antonine himselfe writeth it was the seat of the sixth Legion in the Antonines time But we reade that Severus had his Palace in this City and heere at the houre of death gave up his last breath with these words I entred upon a state every where troublesome and I leave it peaceable even to the Britans His body was carried forth here to the funerall fire by the souldiers after the military fashion and committed to the flames honoured with Justs and Turneaments of his souldiers and his owne sonnes in a place beneath this City Westward neere to Ackham where is to be seene a great Mount of earth raised up which as Raulph Niger hath recorded was in his time of Severus called Sivers His ashes being bestowed in a little golden pot or vessell of the Porphyrite stone were carried to Rome and shrined there in the Monument of the Antonines At which time there was in this City the Temple of Goddesse Bellona For Spartianus speaking of Severus and this very City saith thus When Severus returned and came into the City purposing to offer sacrifice he was led first of all to the
gold made him Lord chiefe Baron of his Exchequer conferred upon him the whole Seignorie or Lordship of Holdernes together with other lands belonging unto the Crown and that by the Kings Charter yea and ordained that he should be reputed a Baneret Yet if any man make doubt hereof the Recordes I hope may satisfie him fully in which William De la Pole is in plaine tearmes called Dilectus Valectus et Mercator noster that is Our wellbeloved Valect and our Merchant now Valect to tell you once for all was in those daies an honorable title as well in France as in England but afterward applied unto servants and gromes whereupon when the Gentry rejected it by changing the name they began to bee called Gentlemen of the Bedchamber From Hull a Promontorie runneth on forward and shooteth out a farre into the sea which Ptolomee calleth OCELLVM wee Holdernesse and a certaine monke Cavam Deiram as it were the hollow Country of the Deirians in the same signification that Coelosyria is so tearmed as one would say Holow Syria In this Promontory the first towne wee meet with in the winding shore is Headon in times past if wee list to beleeve fame that useth to amplifie the truth and which for my part I will not discredit risen to exceeding great account by the industry of merchants and sea-faring men from which so uncertaine is the condition as well of places as of people it is so much fallen by the vicinity of Hull and the choaking up of the haven which hath empoverished it that it can shew scarce any whit of the ancient state it had Although King Iohn granted unto Baldwin Earle of Aulbemarle and of Holdernesse and to his wife Hawis free Burgage heere so that the Burgers might hold in free Burgage with those customes that Yorke and Nichol that is Lincolne Yet now it beginneth by little and little to revive againe in hope to recover the former dignity There standeth hard by the Pomontorie an ancient towne which Antonine the Emperour called PRAETORIVM but we in our age Patrington like as the Italians have changed the name of a towne sometime called Praetorium into Petrovina That I doe not mistake herein both the distance from DELGOVITIA and the very name yet remaining doth prove which also in some sort implieth that this is the very same that in Ptolomees copies is written PETVARIA corruptly for Praetorium But whether this name were given it either from Praetorium that is the hall of Justice or from some large and stately house such as the Romans tearmed Praetoria it doth not appeare for certaine The inhabitants glorie much yet as touching their Antiquity and the commodiousnesse of the haven in ancient times and they may as well glorie for the pleasantnesse thereof For it hath a most delectable prospect on the one side lieth the maine sea brimme upon it on the other Humber a famous arme of the sea and over against it the fresh and greene skirtes of Lincoln-shire The high way of the Romans from the Picts wall which Antonine the Emperor followed here endeth For Ulpian hath written that such high waies commonly end at the sea at rivers or at Cities Somewhat lower standeth Winsted the habitation of the Hildeards knights of ancient descent and higher into the Country Rosse from whence the honorable family of the Barons Rosse tooke their name like as they were seated there in times past and hard by the sea-side Grimstons-garth where the Grimstons for a long time have lived in good reputation and a little from hence standeth Rise the mansion house in old time of certaine noble men bearing the name of Falconberg And then in the very necke of the promontorie where it draweth in most narrow into a sharpe point and is called Spurnhead is KELNSEY a little village which plainely sheweth that this is the very OCELLVM mentioned by Ptolomee for as from OCELLVM Kelnsey is derived so Ocellum doubtlesse was made of Y-kill which as I have said before signifieth in the British tongue a Promontory or narrow necke of land From Spurn-head the shore withdraweth it selfe backe by little and little and gently bending inward shooteth Northward by Overthorne and Witherensey two little Churches called of the sisters that built them Sisters kirks and not farre from Constable-Burton so called of the Lords thereof who being by marriages linked to right honorable houses flourish at this day in great worship and out of which familie Robert as wee read in the booke of the Abbay of Meaux was one of the Earle of Aulbemarls knights who being aged and full of daies took upon him the Crosse and went with King Richard in his voiage toward the holy land Then by Skipsey which Dru the first Lord of Holdernesse fortified with a Castle When the shore beginneth to spread againe and beare out into the sea it maketh roome for a bay or creeke that Ptolomee calleth EYAIMENON GABRANTO VICORUM which the Latin Interpreters have translated some PORTUOSVM SINVM that is the barborous Creeke others SALVTAREM that is the safe Creeke But neither of them both better expresseth the nature of the Greeke word than the very name of a little village in the nouke thereof which wee call Sureby For that which is safe and sure from danger the Britans and French men both terme Seur as wee Englishmen sure who peradventure did borrow this word from the Britans There is no cause therefore why we should doubt but that this creeke was that very EYAIMENON of the GABRANTOVICI who dwelt there abouts Hard by standeth Bridlington a towne very well knowne by reason of Iohn of Bridlington a poeticall monkish prophet whose ridiculous prophesies in Rhime I have read albeit they were not worth the reading And not farre from hence for a great length toward Driffield was there a ditch cast up and brought on by the Earles of Holdernesse to confine and bound their lands which they called Earles Dyke But whence this little nation here inhabiting were named GABRANTOVICI I dare not search unlesse happily it were of goates which the Britans tearme Gaffran and whereof there is not greater store in al Britain than hereabout Neither ought this derivation of the name to seeme absurd seeing that Aegira in Achaia borroweth the name of goats Nebrodes in Sicily of fallow Deere and Boeotia in Greece of Kine and Oxen. That little Promontory which with his bent made this creeke is commonly called Flamborough head and in the Saxon tongue Fleam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Authors who write that Ida the Saxon who first subdued these Countries arrived here Some think it took the name from a watchtowre which did by night put forth a flame or burning light for to direct sailers into the haven For the Britans retaine yet out of the provinciall language this word Flam and Mariners paint this creeke in their sea-cards with a blazing flame on the
father to Matthew Earle of Lennox who having sustained sundrie troubles in France and Scotland found fortune more friendly to him in England through the favour of King Henrie the eighth considering that hee bestowed upon him in marriage his Neice with faire lands By the meanes of this happie marriage were brought into the world Henrie and Charles Henrie by Marie Queene of Scots had issue JAMES the sixth King of Britain by the propitious grace of the eternall God borne in a most auspicate and lucky houre to knit and unite in one bodie of an Empire the whole Island of Britaine divided as well in it selfe as it was heretofore from the rest of the world and as we hope and pray to lay a most sure foundation of an everlasting securitie for our heires and the posteritie As for Charles he had issue one onely daughter Arbella who above her sexe hath so embraced the studies of the best literature that therein shee hath profited and proceeded with singular commendation and is comparable with the excellent Ladies of old time When Charles was dead after that the Earledome of Lennox whereof he stood enfeoffed was revoked by Parliamentarie authoritie in the yeere of our Lord 1579. and his Unkle by the fathers side Robert Bishop of Cathanes had some while enjoyed this title in lieu whereof he received at the Kings hands the honour of the Earle of March King James the sixth conferred the honourable title of Duke of Lennox upon Esme Steward sonne to John Lord D'Aubigny younger brother to Mathew aforesaid Earle of Lennox which Lodowic Esme his son at this day honourably enjoieth For since the time of Charles the sixth there were of this line Lords of Aubigny in France the said Robert before named and Bernard or Eberard under Charles the eighth Lewis the twelfth who is commended with great praise unto posteritie by P. Iovius for his noble acts most valerously exploited in the warre of Naples a most firme and trustie companion of King Henrie the seventh when he entred into England Who used for his Emprese or devise a Lion betweene buckles with this Mot DISTANTIA JUNGIT for that by his meanes the Kingdomes of France and of Scotland severed and dis-joined so farre in distance were by a straighter league of friendship conjoyned like as Robert Steward Lord D'Aubigny of the same race who was Marshall of France under King Lewis the eleventh for the same cause used the royall Armes of France with buckles Or in a border Gueules which the Earles and Dukes of Lennox have ever since borne quarterly with the Armes of Steward STIRLING Sheriffdome UPon Lennox North-eastward bordereth the territorie of STERLING so named of the principall towne therein for fruitfull soile and numbers of Gentlemen in it second to no province of Scotland Here is that narrow land or streight by which Dunbritton Frith and Edenborrough Frith that I may use the termes of this our age piercing farre into the land out of the West and East Seas are divided asunder that they meet not the one with the other Which thing Iulius Agricola who marched hitherto and beyond first observed and fortified this space betweene with garrisons so as all the part of Britaine in this side was then in possession of the Romans and the enemies removed and driven as it were into another Island in so much as Tacitus judged right truely There was no other bound or limit of Britaine to bee sought for Neither verily in the time ensuing did either the VALOUR of Armies or the GLORIE of the Romane name which scarcely could be stayed set out the marches of the Empire in this part of the world farther although with inâ—odes they other whiles molested and endammaged them But after this glorious expedition of Agricola when himselfe was called backe Britaine as faith Tacitus became for-let neither was the possession kept still thus farre for the Caledonian Britans drave the Romans backe as farre as to the river Tine in so much as Hadrian who came into Britaine in person about the fortieth yeere after and reformed many things in it went no farther forward but gave commandement that the GOD TERMINUS which was wont to give ground unto none should retire backward out of this place like as in the East on this side Euphrates Hence it is that S. Augustine wrote in this wise God TERMINUS who gave not place to Iupiter yeelded unto the will of Hadrianus yeelded to the rashnesse of Iulian yeelded to the necessitie of Iovian In so much as Hadrian had enough to doe for to make a wall of turfe between the rivers Tine and Esk well neere an hundred miles Southward on this side Edenborrough Frith But Antoninus Pius who being adopted by Hadrian bare his name stiled thereupon TITUS AELIUS HADRIANUS ANTONINUS PIUS under the conduct of Lollius Urbicus whom he had sent hither Lievtenant repelled the Northern enemies backe againe beyond BODOTRIA or Edenborrough Forth and that by raising another wall of turfe namely besides that of Hadrianus as Capitolinus writeth Which wall that it was reared in this verie place whereof I now speake and not by Severus as it is commonly thought I will produce no other witnesses than two ancient Inscriptions digged up here of which the one fastned in the wall of an house at Cader sheweth how the second Legion Augusta set up the wall for the space of three miles and more the other now in the house of the Earle Marshall at Dunotyr which implieth that a band of the twentieth Legion Victrix raised the said wall three miles long But see here the verie inscriptions themselves as Servatius Riheley a Gentleman of Silesia who curiously travailed these countries copied them out for mee IMP. CAESARI T. AELIO HADRIANO ANTONINO AUG PIO P. P. VEXILLATIO LEG XX. VAL. VIC F. PER. MIL. P. III. IMP. CAES. TIT. IO AELIO HADRIANO ANTON AUG PIO PP LEG II. AUG PER. M. P. III. D. CIXVIS At Cadir where this latter inscription is extant there is another stone also erected by the second Legion Augusta wherein within a Laurell garland supported by two little images resembling victorie are these letters LEG II AVG. FEC And in a village called Miniabruch out of a Ministers house there was removed this inscription into a Gentlemans house which is there new built out of the ground D. M. C. JULI MARCELLINI PRAEF COH I. HAMIOR But when the Northerne nations in the reigne of Commodus having passed once over this wall had made much wast and spoile in the countrey the Emperour Severus as I have alreadie said repaired this wall of Hadrian Howbeit afterwards the Romans brought eftsoones the countrey lying betweene under their subjection For Ninius hath recorded that Carausius under Diocletian strengthened this wall another time and fortified it with seven castles Lastly the Romanes fensed this place when Theodosius the younger was Emperour under the conduct of Gallio of Ravenna Now saith Bede they
per ultima serpit Mersit rege satos occidit orbis honos Whiles Normans after victories of Noble Frenchmen won Make saile for England God himselfe withstood them all anon For as the rough and surging waves they cut with brittle barke He brought upon the troubled sea thicke fogges and weather darke Whiles sailers then in coasts unknowne were driven and hal'd astray Upon blind rockes their ships were split and quickly cast away Thus when salt water entred in and upmost hatches caught Drown'd was that royall progeny worlds honour came to naught More Westward certaine Ilands affront France yet under the Crowne of England and first of all upon the coast of Normandy or the Lexobii whom our Britans or Welshmen tearme Lettaw as one would say Littorales that is Coast-men lieth Alderney which in the Records is named Aurney Aureney and Aurigney so that it may seeme to be that ARICA which in Antonine according to the King of Spaines copie is reckoned among the Isles of the British sea Others hold it to be that EBODIA or EVODIA whereof Paulus Diaconus only hath made mention who had small skill of this coast which he placeth thirty miles from the shore of Seine and telleth of a rumbling roaring noise of waters falling into a gulfe or Charybdis that is heard a far off This Alderney lieth in the chiefe trade of all shipping passing from the Easterne parts to the West three leagues distant from the coast of Normandy thirty from the nearest part of England extended from South East to the North West and containeth about eight miles in circuit the South shore consisting of high cliffes The aire is healthfull the soile sufficiently rich full of fresh pastures and corn-fields yet the inhabitants poore through a custome of parting their lands into small parcells by Gavelkind The towne is situate well neere in the midst of the Isle having a parish Church and about 80. families with an harbour called Crabbic some mile off On the East side there is an ancient fort and a dwelling house built at the charge of the Chamberlans for the fee farme of the Isle was granted by Queene Elizabeth to G. Chamberlane son to Sir Leonard Chamberlane of Shirburne in Oxfordshire when he recovered it from the French And under this fort the sand with violent drifts from the Northwest overlaied the land so that now it serveth thereabout most for conies I know not whether I were best to relate of a Giants tooth one of the grinders which was found in this Iland of that bigge size that it equalled a mans fist seeing Saint Augustine writeth of one that himselfe saw so bigge that if it were cut in small peeces to the proportion of our teeth it seemed it might have made an hundred of them Hence Westward there runneth out a craggy ridge of rockes which have their severall eddies and therefore feared of the Mariners who tearme them Casquettes Out of one of the which properly named Casquet there gusheth a most sweet spring of fresh water to the great comfort of the Iland-fishermen beating up and downe hereabout At these to remember incidently that the memorie of a well-deserving Patriot may not perish the fleet which Iohn Philipot Citizen of London set forth and manned at his owne private charges had a glorious victorie over a rabble of Pirates who impeached all trafficke taking their Captaine and fifteene Spanish ships that consorted with them Which worthy man also maintained 1000. souldiers at his owne pay for defence of the Realme against the French who sore infested the Southern coast in the beginning of the reigne of King Richard the second to omit his great loanes to the King and other good and laudable offices to his country Under these lieth Southward CAESAREA whereof Antonine hath written scarce twelve miles distant from Alderney which name the Frenchmen now have clipped so short as the Spaniards have CAESAR AUGUSTA in Spaine for they call it Gearzey like as Cherburgh for Caesarisburgus and Saragose for Caesar augusta Gregorius Turonensis calleth it the Iland of the sea that lieth to the City Constantia where hee reporteth how Pratextatus Bishop of Roan was confined hither like as Papirius Massonius tearmeth it the Isle of the coast of Constantia because it butteth just upon the ancient city Constantia which may seeme in Ammianus to be named CASTRA CONSTANTIA and in the foregoing ages Moritonium For Robert Montensis writeth thus Comes Moritonii id est Constantiarum if that be not a glosse of the transcriber For Moritonium which now is Mortaigne is farther distant from the sea This Isle is thirty miles or thereabout in compasse fenced with rockes and shelves which are shallow places dangerous for such as saile that way The ground is fertile enough bearing plenty of sundry sorts of corne and breeding cattaile of divers kindes but sheepe especially and most of them with faire heads carrying foure hornes a peece The aire is very wholsome and healthy not subject to any other diseases but agues in September which thereupon they tearme Settembers so that there is no being for Physicians here And for that it is scarce of fuell in steed of fire wood they use a kind of Sea weed which they call Uraic deemed to be that Fucus marinus which Plinie mentioneth and groweth every where about in craggy Ilands and on rockes most plenteously This being dried at the fire serveth for to burne with the ashes whereof as it were with Marle and the fat of the earth they dung commonly their fields and fallows and thereby make them very battle fruitfull Neither are they permitted to gather it but in the spring and summer season and then upon certaine daies appointed by the Magistrate At which time with a certaine festivall mirth they repaire in numbers from all parts to the shore with their carres as also to the rockes neere unto them they speed themselves a vie with their fisher-boats But whatsoever of this kind the sea casteth up the poore may gather for their owne use The inward parts of the Isle gently rise and swell up with pretty hills under which lye pleasant vallies watered with riverets and planted with fruitfull trees but apple trees especially of which they make a kind of drinke Well stored it is with farme places and villages having within it twelve Parishes and furnished on every side with creekes and commodious rodes among which the safest is that in the South part of the Isle betweene the two little townes Saint Hilaries and Saint Albans which harbour hath also a little Iland belonging to it fortified with a garison having no way of accesse unto it wherein by report Saint Hilarie Bishop of Poictiers after he had beene banished hither was enterred For the towne dedicated to his name just over against this Iland is accounted the principall towne both in regard of the mercate and trafficke there as also of the Court of Justice which is
405 Huntington shire 497 Kent 324 Lanca-shire 745 Leicester-shire 517 Lincoln-shire 529 Middlesex 419 Monmouth 631 Northfolke 467 Northampton-shire 505 Nottingham-shire 547 Northumberland 799 Oxford-shire 373 Richmond-shire 727 Rutland-shire 525 Shrop-shire 589 Somerset-shire 220 Stafford-shire 581 Suffolk 459 Sussex 306 Surrey 294 Warwick-shire 561 Westmorland 759 Wilt-shire 241 Worcester-shire 573 Yorke-shire 689 THE SHIRES OF VVALES ANglesey 671 Brecknocke 627 Cardigan-shire 657 Carmarden-shire 649 Carnarvon-shire 667 Denbigh-shire 675 Flint-shire 679 Glamorgan-Shire 641 Merioneth-Shire 665 Montgomery 661 Penbroke-Shire 651 Radnor-Shire 623 The first Index or Table serving from the beginning of BRITAIN to the end of ENGLAND A A The first letter thus shaped A 762 c Aaron a martyr 73 f. 636 f Ab-adam a Baron 364 d Aballaba 761 a Abendon or Abington 279 d Aber 21 f Aber Avon 645 f Aberbury castle 592 f Aber Conwey 669 e Aberford 696 b Aberfraw 672 f Abergevenny 635 a Abergevenny castle defamed for treason 635 b Abergevenny Lords ibid. Abtots a family 579 b Abus the same that Humber 710 d Academia in Attica 486 f Accabler 21 f Ackmancester 234 d Acmunderness 752 e Actons 364 a Acton Burnel 591 f Adam de Portu 269 a Ad Ansam 448 c Adeliza Queene her praises 309 a Aden what it signifieth 117 c Aderborne a river 245 d Adington 510 b Ad Lapidem 262 d Adminius 418 c Admirals court 180 b Ad murum 819 c Adraste a goddesse among the Britains 31 c Adrian the Emperor in Britain 65 d Ad Rotum c. 449 c Adalph re-edifieth Peterburgh Abbey 512 f Aeleonor K. Edward the First his wife 397 a Aeleonor K. Henry the Third his widow liveth in a Nunnerie 254 c Aeleonor Cobham 304 a K. Aelfred a Prince much troubled 224 b c. First Monarch of England 158 c. Second founder of Oxford Universitie 376 b Aelfritha K. Edgars wife 254 c 262 b. a cruell and hatefull stepdame 211 d Aelward Meaw that is to say white 217 b Aeneus Sylvius that is Pope Pius Secundus 818 e Aequity courts in England 178 Aequivocation of Adam bishop of Hereford 363 b Aesica 781 d Aestii 21 f Aeternalis Domus what it is 645 d Aethelbald the good King of the Mercians 554 a. stabbed to death 569 e Aethiopians why so named 23 c 26 b Aethling that is the Prince 614 a Aeton 393 f Aeton or Eton Schoole 288 f Agelocum 545 f Jul. Agricola Lievtenant of the twentieth legion in Britaine 53 e. Propretor in Britain 54 b. discomfiteth the Ordovices 54 c d. conquereth Anglesey ibid. his civill and politicke government in Britain 54 f. his martiall skill 55. his other vertues and behaviour 55 56. hee vanquisheth the Caledonians 57. his patience 57. his Oration to his soudiers 59. his victorie 61. his modestie 62 Agrippina the Empresse her haughtie mind 44 e f Aidon castle 808 f Ailesburies gentlemen 395 f Ailesburie 395 c Ailesford 3â—1 f Ailwin Healf Koning 499 e Ainsbury or Ainulphsbury 497 c Ainulph a religious man ibid. Airmins a family 5â—3 a Akemanstreet-way 377 b Alabaster-stone 544 c Alabaster stone about Burton upon Trent 586 b Alan a river 194 c. 246 d Alan the son of Flaold 589 f Alaricus King of the Goths 86 b Alaun a river 259 c. 813 c Alban a country 126 c Albanes whence they tooke their name 26 b S. Alban of Verlam our Stephen and Protomartyr of Britaine 73 f. 409 f Albanie 126 S. Albans a towne 408 c S. Albans Church town 410 c 412 d S. Albans battels 413 c Albenies Earles of Sussex 320 e Albinus 126 Albina 24 b Albinus created Caesar 68. hee usurpeth the Empire 69. is slaine ibid. Albion 1 23. whence it tooke name 24 a Albrighton 594 a Alchester 377 b Alcwin a learned English Saxon 137 f. 704 c Alborow 701 c. 731 c. 466 a Aldelme Abbat 244. a singular scholar and a devout man ibid. Aldersgate in London 423 d Aldgate in London 423 e Aldingham 755 d Ale the ancient English-mens drinke 554 f Alen a riveret 676 f. 681 f Alexander of Hales a great Clerke 365 a Alexander the bountifull Bishop of Lincolne 383 e. 539 d profuse in building 549 d King Alexander the Great never in Britain 32 d Alfreton 555 e Algar Earle 379 a Alheale 14 d Alford in Lincolnshire 542 b Alingtons a familie 489 e Knights 406 d Alipius 79 Allabany 126 Allectus his treachery 73. is vanquished and slaine ibid. Allobrogae 19 Almans whence they tooke their name 26 b. 124 Almondbury 692 d Alne river 566 a. 813 c Alnwick or Anwich 813 c Alon a river 801 e Alone 794 c Alpes of Britain 667 c Alpes why so called 24 Alresford 262 e All-souls Colledge in Oxford 382 Alsten more 799 c Alt a river 748 c Althorp 508 d Altars of the Gentiles and their Religion 751 d e Alterynnis 617 c Altmouth a towne 748 e Alvertonshire 723 e Alum made 217 a Alum earth discoverd by Sir Th. Chaloner knight 721 d Alured See Aelfred Alwena a devout woman 494. d Ambacti 16 Amboglana 760 b Ambleside ibid. Ambresbury 254 b Ambro. what it is 127 Abrones ibid. Ambrosius Aurelius 128 Ambrosius Aurelianus 254 b Amersham 394 e Amphibalus a martyr 636 f Ampthil 401 d Anas a river 297 a. why so called 245 c Ancaster 537 b Ancaster heath ibid. d Andate or Andates a goddesse among the Britains 31. 457 e Andradswald 306 c Audragathins a traitour drowneth himselfe 83 Anderida the weald 329 d Andernesse 752 e Androgeus Cynobelinus his sonne the same that Mandrubatius why so called 417 e Anesty in Hertfordshire 405 f Angel a Province in Dania 130 Angels 610 c Ri. Angervil Philobiblos 381 f Angles or Englishmen whence they came 130 Anglesey 671. why so called 672 c conquered by king Edward the first ibid. d. invaded by Suetonius Paulinus 49 Angotby 545 a Angre 440 b Ankam a river 543 a Ankro the river 569 c Anne wife to King Richard the Second 297 d Anne Bullen mother to Queene Elizabeth 256 f Anna a Christian King 466 a Annius Viterbiensis 24 Anselm against Priests mariage 201 b Ansty or Ancienty liberty 707 a Ant or Anton a river 260 e Antivestaeum 187 Anthony 193 Antoninus Pius Britannicus 66 Philosophus ibid. Anubis Latrans 17 Apelby 761 a Apennini 18 Apollinaris an herbe 98 Appropriat Churches what they be and how many 161 Apthorp 514 e Aquila his prophesie 214 c Aquileia the city commended 83 Aquitania why so called 27 Ar 21 Ara ibid. Arar 20 Araris a river in France 694 a Arat 20 Arbeia 769 c Arches a court 181 Archbishop of Canterbury 136 Archbishops three in Britaine 155. in England two 160 Arconfield 618 a Archdeacons 222 c Archdeaconries in England how many 161 Archigubernius 66 Ardudwy 665 e Areol 594 e Are a river 693 f. why so called 694 a Arians what they were 81 Arelate 21 Aremorica 19 Arfast Bishop of East England 471 f Arden forest 358 b Arden
family 450 d Bowes or Bough a worshipfull family 731 c. 737 a. why so called 732 e Bowland forest 750 b Bowtetorts a family 465 b Boxley 332 c Brachae 19 Bradenham 393. e Brance 19 Briti ibid. Bridburn a place and family 553 Bradford 244 f Bradewardin a place 6â—8 c Bradwardin the profound Doctor 618 c Bradstons Ancestors of Vicount Montacute and Barons Wentworth 364 a Braibrooke castle 1513 e Braibrookes Barons ibid. e Brackley 505 d Braibrook 329 c Brakenbake 724 e Brackenburies a family of good note 737 c Brambles 274 c Brampton 783 a Bramton 815 b Bramton Brian castle 619 c Bramish a river 815 b Bancaster 408 a Brian de Brampton 619 c Brand 568 e Brandons a family Suffolke 465 e Branspeth castle 739 Branonium 575 a Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke 470 c Brannodunum 480 a Bransford or Bensford-bridge 517 e Brasen weapons 188 Brasen nose Colledge in Oxford 383 a Brasmatias a kinde of Earthquake 620 c Bray 286 d. Lord Bray 297 b. The breach by Greenwich 328 a Nicolas Breakspeare That is Pope Adrian the forth 414 f Breakspeare a place and family 419 b Brechanius his 24. daughters all Saints 627 a Breden forest 224 a Breedon hils 577 e Breedon a village ibid. Breertons a family 608 f. their death foreshewed 609 b Breerton a place 609 Brechnockshire 627 Brechnock towne 628 a Brechnock meere ibid. Brechnock Lords ibid. Brechnock made a shire 677 e Bremenium 803 Brember castle 313 c Bremetonacum 753 c Bremicham or Bermingham a town and familie 567 Bren what it signifieth 677 Bremin what it is 33 Brennus 677 Brennus a renowmed King 33 Bretenham 463 b Breton a river ibid. Brent a river 421 Brent See Falkes de Brent Brentmarsh 230 e Brentford 421 Brentwood 442 a Brentwell or Brounswell 421 Broses Barons 113 c. 201 f Breoses a family 553 d Will. de Breos or Braus a strong Rebell 629 b Breoses Lords of Brechnock 623 Bretons a family 556 b Bretts 128 f Breusais 138 f Brian who so called 117 Bridlington 714 d Iohn of Bridlington ibid. Brewood 583 a Bricols 400 e Bridge Casterton 534 b Bridgford by Nottingham 548 Brig for Glansford 543 a Brigantes in Britaine rebelled 43 Brigantes 685. whereof they took name ibid. Brill for Burihill 395 b Breint Fitz Conty 282 a Brients 202 c d Brients Barons 215 d Brinlo 568 f Brienston 215 e Brimsfeild 365 f Bridgewater 225 a Earle of Bridgewater 225 c Bridkirk 768 b Briewer Baron 222 e Bristoll or Bristow a Citie 237 a the reason of the name ibid. b Bret the Primitive of the Britains 26 Brit or Brith the first name of the Britains 25 Brith what it signifieth 26 Britaine or Britannie whence it tooke name 27. why late discovered and knowne 33. mentioned by Lucretius first of any Latin writer ib. twice Schoole-Mistres to France 138 Britaine the great that is England 155 Britaine the lesse that is Scotland ibid. Britaine how divided 154.155 Britaine what names it hath 1. the site thereof 1. the forme of it ibid. why called another world 24. the division and compasse of it 2.4 Britaine hath sundry names 23 the position thereof in respect of the Heavens 4. how fruitfull and commodious 3. her first inhabitants 4. the name 5 Britaine under what signe or Planet 182 Britain portracted in womans habite 24. the Roman world 45 discovered to be an Iland 61 a province Presidial 62. How it was governed under and after Constantine the Great 62 76. how it became subject to the Romans 62. infected by Barbarians 79. brought to civilitie 63. called Romania and Romaine Ile 88 Britains ruin and downfall 107 Britaine and France whether ever conjoyned 346 a Britains came first out of Gaule 11.12 Britans in Religion language and maners agree with the Gauls 13.14.15.16.17 Britans emploied by Caesar in base services 38 Britans generally rebell 49. their grievances ibid. Britains cast off the Romans yoke 86 Britains how they may derive their descent from the Troians 88 Britans in Armorica 110 Britans of Wales and Cornewale 112.113 Britans send Embassadours to the Saxons 128 Britans retaine their ancient language 23 Britans long lived 555 b Britans painted themselves blue with wood 20 Britans maners and customes out of Iulius Caesar 29. out of Strabo ibid. out of Diodorus Siculus 29. out of Pomponius Mela ibid. out of Cernelius Tacitus 30. out of Dio Nicaus ibid. out of Herodian ibid. out of Pliny 3â— out of Solinus ibid. Britaine Burse 428 d Britannica the herbe See Scorby or Scurvigrasse Britanniciani what they were 111 Briten huis 40 Brithin a kind of drinke 5 British tongue full of Greeke words 28 British States submit to Caesar 37 British Iles mentiond by Polibius 33 Of British Perle a brestplate 38 British names import colours 26 British townes what they were 29 Britwales or Welshmen 113 Briva what it signifieth 414 Brockets knights 406 f Brocovum 762 d Broge 19 Brokes by a place 522 f. a family 523 a Brome 467 f Bromesgrave 574 â— Bromefield 677 a Wolter Bronscorn Bishop of Excester 190 Brookes a family of ancient descent 611 a Brooke L. Cobham 329 c Barons Brooke 244 c Bronholme 478 e Brougham 762 d Brotherton 695 b Sir Anthonie Browne first Vicount Montacute 482 b Sir Ant. Browne Marquesse Montacute 222 d Broughton 376 e Broughton in Hantshire 262 c Brundenels a family 514 b Bruges Baron Chandos 365 b Bruin a family 442 b Burg-morfe or Bridg-North 591 b Robert Brus the noble 500 e Baron Brus of Skelton 720 c Bruses a noble family 526 b Brutus 5. why so called 8 Bucken that is Beech trees 393 George Buck 22 d Buchonia and Buckenham 393 a Buckinghamshire 393 Buers a family 463 b Walter Buc and his race 812 b Buckingham town 396 c. Earles 397 d Buckhurst Baron 320 Buelth 627 e Bugden 497 d Bulchobaudes 79 Buldewas or Bildas 593 e Bulkley a towne and family 607 Anne Bullen or Bollen Marchianesse of Penbroch 655 e Bullen or Bollen Earle of Wiltshire 256 e Bullen or Bollogne in France the same that Gessoriacum and Bonoia 348 d Th. Bullen Earle of Wiltshire died for sorrow 257 Bulleum Silurum 627 e Bulley or Busley a noble Norman 551 a Bulverith 316 e Buly castle 76â— c Bulnesse 775 c Bumsted Helion 452 a Bungey 468 b Burdos or Burdelois 473 a Burford in Shropshire 590 f Burnt Elly 463 d Burgesses 177 Burgh under Stanemore 760 Burgh castle 468 e Burgh Clere 72 c Burgi what they were 760 f Burly a faire place 526 b Burons an ancient family Burrium 636 c S. Buriens in Cornwal 188. why so called ibid. Burnel Baron 330 c Burcester 337 b Burdet 566 c Bunbury for Boniface burry 607 Burghersh alias Burgwash 320 Bartholomew Burgwash a Baron 320 b Burghley 514 â— Burgh 727 f Burghsted 442 e Burgh or Burrow Barons 543 f Burne a Barony ibid. Burnels a family 591 f Burrowes what they are 515 e Burrow banke 452 e Burrow hill
The Saxons conquest Gildas The Saxons Manners Lib. 9 cap. 2. Originum The Saxons shores or coasts Comites littoris Saxonici * Sperabat for timebat * Baieux Saxones Baiocassini Lib. 8. Epist. ad Namantium * Ciuli * By hanging them indifferently one with another Lib. 2. Epist. 4â— An horse the badge or cognisance of the Saxons These cerimonies Adam Bremensis ascribeth to the Saxons which Tacitus attributeth to the Suevians The Saxons Gods Wednesday Friday Tuesday * De temporibus Eoster a goddesse Herthus a goddesse Earth Thursday hath name from this Thor. * Ingenti Priapo A Monarchie alwaies in the Englishmens Heptarchie Lib. 2. cap. 5. â—96 * Augustine the Englishmens Apostle Englishmen converted to the faith Lib. 2. cap. 1. * Englishmen * Hol-Deirâ—â—esse * Christ. The River Swale in York-shire Beda reporteth all this of Paulinus Archbishop of York and not of Augustine The Religion of the Englishmen The learning of Englishmen Britaine twice Schoole-mistris of France The flitting backe againe of Anglo-Saxons into Germanie England About the yeare 800. Theod. that is a Nation Epist. to Zacharie the Pope Porphyrius de Theolog. Phâ— Ael â—al c. Vlf. Ard Athel and Ethel Bert. Bald. Ken and Kin. Cuth Ead. Fred. Gisle Hold. Helm Hare and Here. Hild. Wiga Leod. Leof Mund. Rad Red and Rod. Ric. Sig. Stan. Wi. Willi. Wold The name of Britaine brought into use againe Da-hen Winccinga * Dâ—â— The Religion of the Danes Hereupon peradventure we have our Thursday so called * Burnt offering Lib. 1. * Theophania The waste and spoile that the Danes made Dangelt * Or demame * Otherwise called Alured 1012. Cut in his coines The Danes afflicted England 200. yeares and reigne about 20. * Hardy-Knout Edward the Confessor * Of Canterbury Nordmanni Nord-lâ—udi Helâ—â—ldus The booke of Sangall concerning the Acts of Charles the Great * Calvus * Crassus * Normandy Neustria * Rou. * The Foole. Bigod * Baptisme * Longa spata Dukes of Normandie * Domuâ— regia Major * Or Tostre Normans 10â—6 The Charter of William Conquerour The Historie of Saint Stephens Abbey at Cane in Normandie The Normans conquest * Hungarie A Comet Malcolm * Mil. Calumbus Filius Osberni * Andium * Pictonum * Cenomannorum * Bononiae * When daies and nights be of a length about the eleventh day of September * Durus Stanford bridge neere Yorke * 14. Octob. * Or heavie Axes Botescaâ—les The seale of William Conqueror * Normandy Domesday-booke * A Jurie of twelve * As touching the fact The warlike prowesse of the Normans Th. Fazel in the sixth book of the latter Decad. Chalcondilas In Pembroke shire Of consolation to Albina Nicephorus How countries are divided * Cap. 6. Britan Great and Small Britaine the Higher and the Lower Tripartite Britaine Dist. 80. cap. 1. * Chester Britaine in five parts Lib. 28. The Saxons Heptarchie or seven Kingdomes England divided into Shires or Counties * An Hide as some thinke is so much land as one plough can eare in one yeare as others thinke 4. yard-lands Aelfred he is named in pieces of Coine also Alured in our English Chronicles Hundreds Wapentaks Tithings and Lathes Leth. Shires The division of England according to the Lawes The manuscript booke of S. Edmund * Dâ—omesday booke Wales divided into Shires * or London 897. Math. Westmonast He flourished in the yeare 1070. * Mercia Sheriffe of the Shire Twelve men Justices of peace Justices of Assises England divided into Parishes Bishops Monasteries or Abbaies An hundred Priories of Monks Aliens King Henrie the Fift had dissolved before The King Bracton lib. 1. cap. 8. Seneca The Prince * Nobilis Caesar. * Caesar Nobilissimus * Dux Cornubiae natus * Lords A Duke * Dukes * Earles Sigonius Regni Italici lib. 5. Afterward a golden rod or verger was used Marquestes * An. 4. Henriâ— 4. In paratitlis ad Codicem P. Pithaeus in Memorab Campaniae * An authenticall record of the Exchequer * or Maundevil Cincture of the sword * Penbrochiae in another place Count Palatine Pithaus Vicounts Barons In Parergis See Goldastus pag. 14. Lords About the yeere 580. Nâ—riots or Relevies Haply Mancusae that is 30. deniers Many Thanes in England in the Conquerours time Court-Barons Math. Paris pag. 1262. Baronage of England Bishops Barons Abbats Barons of the Parliament Matth. Paris Vavasors Signius Nobles of an inferiour ranke Knights Wherefore Knights be called in Latin Milites Solidarij Banerets * Fars 2. Pat. 15.8.3 m. 22. and 23. * Hominum ad vexillum * Hominum ad arma Knights of the Bathe Knights De moribus Germanorum Lib. 1. cap. 22. Epist. 94. * Beene dubbed Knight * Others say 100. * Complements * Ennoblishment * Nobilitationis * King or Queene * Priests In dorso Pat. 51. H. 3. Esquires * Esses Gentlemen Citizens Yeomen Parliament The Kings Court. Kings Bench. Common Pleas. Exchequer Iustices Itinerant Star-Chambe Court of 〈◊〉 Admirals Court Chancerie * Socratum that is the place of Judgement Epist. 6. lib. 11. Robert Fitz. Stephen who lived under Henry the Second Court of Requests Ecclesiasticall Courts See the Antiquitie of the British Church Court of the Arches Court of Audience Court of Faculties Vnder what Signe in heaven Britaine lieth The order or Method of the worke ensuing * Welch * Welchmen Ostidamnej Cossini Corn and Kern * Perâ—copsca or Procopia * Bretaigne or Little Britaine Strabo Orewood Tinne Lib. 6. cap. 8. 9. * â—o The Common wealth of Tinners L. Warden of the Stannary Cornish Diamonds Pilchards * Which peradventure be Gerres in Plinie Hurling Havillan in Architrenio Westerne people most strong and hardie * Tamer Those of the Tercieres â— Bellerium or Antivestaeum Steort what iâ— signifieth * Castellidi Lipantâ—n * Mardi Mecha or the Red-sea * Mardi Mecha or the Red-sea S. Burien * Silly or Sorlings A Trophee Barons of Ticis * Marine Amber that is Ambrose stone S. Michaels mount Michelstow Laurence Noel Weapons of Brasse * Pyrrhecorax Cornish chough * A narrow passage betweene two creeks or armes of the Sea Mounts-bay Goldphin Hill The familie of the Godolphins Loo poole Menna Meneg Ocâ—â—num The Liskard Voluba Falemouth * Brindiâ— * Leland Pendinas Cenionis ostium Perin Glasnith Arwenak Carminow Rossiâ— Lansladron In the time of Edward the First Foy The Mohuns Vzella Britans have not the letter â— Vxellodunum in France How the havens in Cornwall come to be stopped up Leskerd Bodman The booke of Winchester Abbey S. Neots Doomesday * Doniert Prayer for the soule c. Wring-cheese Hurlers The river Loo S. Germans Trematon * De vallet Edge-Comâ— Anthony S. Iies * In Aquilâ—â—nâ—m or North. S. Columbs Lhanheton Lib. 3. Philâ—peinos of Wâ—â—liam Britâ—â— who lived anno 117 * Swallow Castle Denis Padstow Tindagel The place of Arthurs Nativitie Architrenius Banners Tufa a Banner
Valentia Barle Clan-Caâ—r Beare O Swilivant O Mahon Notium Promontorium The river Iâ—rnus Earles of Desmond Vodiae a people Coriandi a people Muskeray Carbray Spaniard landed in Ireland and from thence driven Kerry-wherry Vicount Butiphant Baron Roch Vicount Fermoy Yoghall The Kay The kingdome of Corke Lismor Christian a Bishop Ard-mor Dessee Dungarvan Poers Barons of Curraghmore Waterford Earle of Waterford Steward of Ireland An. 28. H. 8. Conilagh Knoc-Patric Knight of the Valley Anno 11. Reg. Eliz. Limirick Clan-William Baron of Castle Conell Clan-Gibbon 13. Elizab. Fitz-Geralds Emely The lower Ossery The county of Holy Crosse of Tipperary Wood of the Crosse. Cassile Baron de Cahir Clomell Earle of Caricke Anno 9. Ed. 2. Ormond Butlers Earles of Ormond Anno 2. Ed. 3. Earle of Tipperary Wolf-men The disease Lycanthropia County of Kilkenny Upper Ossery Baron of upper Ossery Thomas Towne Callan Inis Teog The Statute of Absenties Barony Ydron Cavanaghs O More Out of a pamphlet of Patrick Finglas Hook-Tower Lease Mary Burgh Donemaws Rheba Baronet of Rheban Offaly Philips towne Kildar S. Brigid Ch. 9. Ed. 2. N. 12. Barons Fitz-Eustace Pat. 2. Ed. 4. Carausius Tintern Monastery Hieron a Promontory Cauci O Tooles O Birns Arklo Glynnes Wicklo lately made a county 1606. The Grounds Old-Court Poers Court Liffy river which Girald calleth Aven-Liff * That is the river Lâ—ff Eblana Dublin Who also is named Abloicus Aulafus and Olavus Ioscelin of Furnes in the life of S. Patricke Lib. 2. verum Anglicar c. 26. Kaies * Upon Ausonius l. 2. c. 22. Dammensis All-Hallowes An University begun 1591. 13. May was the foundation laid 1593. Scholars were first admitted 1320. A Manuscript of Baron Hoult Thomas Court Statut. Parli 18. H. 8. c. 15. Tole-stale Marquesse of Dublin Pr. p. Pat. anno 9. Rich. 2. m. 1. Saint Laurence Barons of Houth Malchid Fingall Th. Stukely Marquesse of Leinster Laberus Barnwell Baron Trimlet stoun Baron Slane Navan Baronet of Navan Bishop of Meth. Molingar Barons Delvin Nogents Lords of Meth. Genevile Constables of Ireland Anale O-Pharoll River Senus or Sineus Shannin and Shannon Macolicum Malc Rigia Which others call Mare Bredunicum Nagnatae Gangani Concani Auteri Killaloe Catarracta Bunraty Clare Earles of Twomond Ilands of Arran Bed l. 4. c. 4. Ecclesiast hist. Logh-Corbes Gallwey The battell of Knoctoe 1516. Aterith Birminghams Clan-Ricard Earles of Clan-Ricard Archbishoprick of Toam or Tuen Maio. Killaley Bishoprick of Killaley Lib 4. cop 4. Logh-Mesk Galloglasses Mac-William who also is called Mac-William Eughter Cuttings Coyne Liverey c. Cause of Rebellions in Ireland Richard Bingham Nagnata Diploma l. 2. c. 6 Girald Cambren de expugnatio Hibern p. 787. Curlew hills Barony of Boyle Balin Tober Rog. Hoveden Anno 1175. pag. 312. John Perot Lord Deputy 1585. Uriel in Latin Urgalia Tredagh Mellifont Abbey Dundalk Carlingford Birmingham who also is called Brimicham Earle of Louth Baron Louth East Breany O Reily Kilmore Bishopricke Poore Bishops Lough-Ern Bal-tarbet Belek Mac-Mahon Fitz-Urse 1590. Charles Blunt L. Mont-joy Fewes Orry Mont-Norris Armach S. Patricke Vita Patricii Marianus Scotus The Irish shaving See Bed l. 5. c. 22. S. Bernard in the life of Malachy Lib. 1. Ceremoniar sacrar Sect. 14. Isanium the Promontory Dunum Downe Saint Patricks Sepulcher Robert de Monts de Immutatione Ordinis Monachoâ—um Banchor Abbay Pelagius the Arch-heretick In the life of Malachias Bishoprick of Coner Savage Upper Clane-Boy Knoc-Fergus Nether Clane-Boy Isle of Magie Glinnes Bissets James Mac-Conell The Rowt Mac-Guilly Surley Boy Chairly Boy Donluse River Ban. Glan-Colkein Salmons O-Cahan Uraights The election of O-Neal Scottish Ilanders Upper Tit-Oen Bishopricke of Cloghter Dunganon Baron of Dunganon Fort of Black-water Patricks Purgatory Regia Reglis Derry Robogdii Robogdium Promontory Vennicnii River Vidua Boreum Promontory Sligah â— Donegall O-donell Scoti In the life of S. Patrick Earles of Ulster An. 7. Ioannis See pag. 624. and 725. Ireland neglected Scoto-Chronicon lib. 12. cap. 26. Shan or John O Neale Thomas Earle of Sussex Lord Deputy Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy 1565. 1567. Hugh O-Neal Earle of Tir-Oen 1588. 1595. Die 12. Iunii Lord Generall of the Army Baron Burough Lord Deputie 1597. 1598. Robert Earle of Essex Lord Lievtenant 1599. 8 September 1599. 28. Septemb. 1599. Charles Blunt Lord Deputy 1600. The manners of the Irishry or wild Irish. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but in the Epitome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is feeding upon herbes and weeds O prefixed to the names of the Noblest men in Ireland by way of excellency Brehons Professionâ— hereditary Tanistry Girald Cambren Galloglasses Kernes Barritus Water-cresses Shamroots This place is corrupted in the copie The whole yeere out of an old fragment Haply Hollâ—wood Gresholme Stockholme and Scalmey Silimnus Bernacles Annales of Th. Otterborn Anno 7. H. 4. Scottish or westerne Iles. Earles of Orkney Thule Thule for Britaine Island Lib. 2. belli Gothici Shetland which some call Hethland Bergos Nerigon The frozen sea or Cronium Lindis-farne Holy Iland Farn Isle Bede in the life of Cuthbert Saxon Ilands Lib. 7. Birchanis Borkun The British Armory or Store-house Holland coast Britten huis Portus Morinorum Britannicus The Chamavi dwelt thereby as appeareth out of the Embassages of Eunapius Burgus what it is Zosimus l. 4. Saxons in Holland Janus Douza in his Nomenclator Britten an herb Zeland See pag. 333. 441. Toliapis Caunus Canvey See in Essex Shepey Goodwin Sands Some call it Lomea The British narrow sea Alderney Casquettes Gerzey Castra Constantia Moritavum Uraic Fucus marinus Sarnia Garnsey Haply Granonâ— by a transposition of letters which the Nâ—â—titia placeth iâ— the Tract of Armorica Smyris Normandy lost Tillet Serke Set-Iles Barsa Basepole Where the British sea is deepest Lisia by transposition of leters Silia * Sacrum Promontorium Non usque navibus we read in the notes of Paris Stella Maria. Ulpian lib. 7. de Mathematicis Axantos Ushant Siambis Mariners cal it the Seame Veneti Insulae Vene cae Vannes Venna Caro i. Charles Fiâ—shing as Heâ—gardus saith Nesidae * Samnitum Bacchus Oleron Uliarus Lex Rhodia Admirall of England Hereditary territories in France belonging to the Crowne of England
head Yet others are of opinion that this name arrived in this Island with the English out of Angloen in Denmarke the ancient seat of the English nation for there is a towne called Flemsburg and that the Englishmen from hence called it so like as the Gaules as Livie witnesseth tearmed Mediolanum that is Millan in Italiâ— after the name of Mediolanum in Gaule which they had left behinde them For there is a little village in this Promontory named Flamborrough where an other notable house of the Constables had anciently their seat which some doe derive from the Lacies Constables of Chester Beeing in these parts I could learne nothing for all the enquirie that I made as touching the bournes commonly called Vipseys which as Walter of Heminburgh hath recorded flow every other yeere out of blinde springs and runne with a forcible and violent streame toward the sea nere unto this Promontory Yet take here with you that which William Newbrigensis who was borne neare that place writeth of them Those famous waters which commonly are called Vipseys rise out of the earth from many sources not continually but every second yeere and being growne unto a great bourn runne downe by the lower grounds into the sea Which when they are dry it is a good signe for their breaking out and flowing is said to bee an infallible token portending some dearth to ensue From thence the shore is drawne in whereby there runneth forth into the sea a certaine shelfe or slang like unto an out-thrust tongue such as Englishmen in old time termed a File whereupon the little village there Filey tooke name and more within the land you see Flixton where in King Athelstanes time was built an Hospitall for the defence thus word for word it is recorded of way-faring people passing that way from Wolves least they should be devoured Whereby it appeareth for certaine that in those daies Wolves made foule worke in this Tract which now are no where to be seene in England no not in the very marches toward Scotland and yet within Scotland there be numbers of them in most places This little territory or Seigniory of Holdernesse King William the First gave to Drugh Buerer a Fleming upon whom also he had bestowed his Niece in marriage whom when hee had made away by poison and thereupon fled to save himselfe hee had to succeed him Stephen the sonne of Odo Lord of Aulbemarle in Normandy who was descended from the Earles of Champaigne whom King William the First because hee was his Nephew by the halfe sister of the mothers side as they write made Earle of Aulbemarle whose posterity in England retained the Title although Aulbemarle be a place in Normandy His successour was William sirnamed Le Grosse whose onely daughter Avis was marryed to three husbands one after another namely to William Magnavill Earle of Essex to Baldwine De Beton and William Forts or de Fortibus by this last husband onely shee had issue William who also had a sonne named William His onely daughter Avelin being the wedded wife of Edmund Crouchbacke Earle of Lancaster dyed without children And so as wee reade in the booke of Meaux Abbay for default of heires the Earldome of Aulbemarle and honour of Holdernesse were seized into the Kings hands Howbeit in the ages ensuing King Richard the Second created Thomas of Woodstocke his Unkle and afterwards Edward Plantagenet Earle of Rutland the Duke of Yorkes sonne Duke of Aulbemarle in his fathers life time likewise King Henry the Fourth made his owne sonne Thomas Duke of Clarence and Earle of Aulbemarle which Title King Henry the Sixth afterward added unto the stile of Richard Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke for the greater augmentation of his honour EBORACENSIS Comiâ—aâ—us pars Septentrionalis vulgo NORTH RIDING NORTH-RIDING SCarce two miles above Flamborrough-head beginneth the NORTH-RIDING or the North part of this Country which affronting the other parts and beginning at the Sea is stretched out Westward and carrieth a very long Tract with it though not so broad for threescore miles together even as farre as to Westmorland limited on the one side with Derwent and for a while with the River Ure on the other side with Tees running all along it which on the North Coast separateth it from the Bishopricke of Durrham And very fitly may this part bee divided into Blackamore Cliveland Northallverton-shire and Richmond-shire That which lyeth East and bendeth toward the Sea is called Blackamore that is The blacke moorish land For it is mountanous and craggy The Sea coast thereof hath Scarborrough Castle for the greatest ornament a very goodly and famous thing in old time called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is A Burgh upon the Scar or steepe Rocke The description whereof have heere out of William of Newburgh his History A Rocke of a wonderfull height and bignesse which by reason of steepe cragges and cliffes almost on every side is unaccessible beareth into the Sea wherewith it is all compassed about save onely a certaine streight in manner of a gullet which yeeldeth accesse and openeth into the West having in the toppe a very faire greene and large Plaine containing about threescore acres of ground or rather more a little Well also of fresh water springing out of a stony Rocke In the foresaid gullet or passage which a man shall have much adoe to ascend up unto standeth a stately and Princelike Towre and beneath the said passage beginneth the City or Towre spreading two sides South and North but having the sore part Westward and verily it is fensed afront with a wall of the owne but on the East fortified with the rocke of the Castle and both the sides thereof are watered with the Sea This place William Le Grosse Earle of Aulbemarle and Holdernesse viewing well and seeing it to bee a convenient plot for to build a Castle upon helping Nature forward with a very costly worke closed the whole plaine of the Rocke with a Wall and built a Towre in the very streight of the passage which being in processe of time fallen downe King Henry the Second caused to bee built in the same place a great and goodly Castle after hee had now brought under the Nobles of England who during the loose government of King Stephen had consumed the lands of the Crowne but especially amongst others that William abovesaid of Aulbemarle who had in this Tract ruled and reigned like a King and possessed himselfe of this place as his owne Touching the most project boldnesse of Thomas Stafford who to the end hee might overthrow himselfe with great attempts with a few Frenchmen surprised this Castle of a sudden in Queene Maries Raigne and held it for two daies together I neede not to speake ne yet of Sherleis a Gentleman of France who having accompanied him was judicially endited and convict of high treason albeit he was a forrainer because hee had done against
the duty of his Alleageance the peace then betweene the Kingdome of England and of France being in force These are matters better knowne than that the World can take notice of them by any writings of mine Yet may this seeme a thing worth my labour and expedient to note how the Hollanders and Zelanders use to take marveilous plenty of herrings call them in Latin Haleces Leucomenida or Chalcides which of them you please upon this coast and make a very gainfull trade thereof having anciently first obtained licence by an ancient custome out of this Castle For the Englishmen granted licence to fish reserving the honour to themselves but resigning for lazinesse as it were the profit unto strangers For it is almost incredible what infinite summes of money the Hollanders raise unto themselves by this their fishing in our shore These Herrings pardon me I pray you if briefly by way of digression I doe make mention of Gods goodnesse towards us which in our great grandfathers dayes kept as it were their station onely about Norway now in our time not without the divine Providence swimme yeerely round about this Isle of Britaine by skulles in wonderfull great numbers About Midsommer they shoole out of the deepe and vast Northren-sea to the coasts of Scotland at which time because they are then at the fattest they bee streightwaies sold Thence come they to the English East coast and from the middest of August unto November is the best and most plenteous taking of them betweene Scarborrough and Tamis mouth Afterwards by force of some great storme they are carryed into the British sea and there untill Christmas offer themselves to the fishers nettes from hence dividing themselves and swimming along both sides of Ireland after they have coasted round about Britaine they take their course into the Northren Ocean as their home and there settle themselves as it were and rest untill June where after they have cast their spawne and brought forth a yong fry they returne againe in mighty great skulles and so march about these Isles Whiles I am writing hereof that comes into my minde which sometimes I read in Saint Ambrose Fishes saith hee by infinite numbers meeting as one would say by common consent out of many places from sundry creekes of the Sea with a joint flote as it were make toward the blastes of the North winde and by a certaine direction and instinct of Nature haste into that Sea of the Northren parts A man that saw the manner of them would say a certaine tide were comming downe from the current they rush so forward and cut the waves as they passe with a violent power through Propontis into Pontus Euxinus But to my matter againe From thence the shore indented and interlaced with rockes bendeth in as farre as to the River Teise and by a compasse that the said shore fetcheth there is made a Bay about a mile broad which of that Outlaw Robert Hood so much talked of wee call Robin Hoods Bay For hee as John Major the Scotishman writeth flourished in the Raigne of Richard the First and the said Authour setteth him out with this commendation that Hee was indeed an Arch-Robber but the gentellest Theefe that ever was Then DUNUS SINUS a creeke mentioned by Ptolomee streightwaies by giving backe of the shore on both sides sheweth it selfe neere unto which standeth Dunesley a little village and hard by it Whitby in the English Saxon tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Beda expoundeth to bee The Bay of a Watch-Towre Neither will I call that interpretation into question although in our language it doth resemble Sinum Salutis that is The Bay of health so that I would say this very same was Salutaris Sinus that is The Bay of safety but that the situation in the Geographer did perswade me otherwise Heere are found certaine stones fashioned like Serpents folded and wrapped round as in a wreathe even the very pastimes of Nature disporting her selfe who as one saith when shee is wearied as it were with serious workes forgeth and shapeth some things by way of game and recreation A man would thinke verily they had beene sometime Serpents which a coat or crust of stone had now covered all over But people too credulous ascribe this to the Praiers of Saint Hilda as if shee had thus transformed and changed them who in our Primitive Church withstood to her power the shoring and shaving of Priests and the celebration of Easter according to the order of Rome when a Synode was held touching these matters in the yeere of our Lord 664. in the Abbay which shee had built in this place and whereof herselfe was first Governesse Unto whose holinesse also they ascribe that those wilde Geese which in Winter time flye by flockes unto Pooles and Rivers that are not frozen over in the South parts whiles they flye over certaine fields heere adjoyning suddenly fall downe to the ground to the exceeding great admiration of all men a thing that I would not have related had I not heard it from very many persons of right good credit But such as are not given to superstitious credulity attribute this unto a secret propriety of this ground and to an hidden dissent between this soile and those geese such as is betweene wolves and Squilla rootes For provident Nature hath infused such like secret mutuall combinations and contrarieties which the learned tearme Sympathies and Antipathies as all men acknowledge for their preservation Afterwards Edelfleda King Oswins daughter enriched this Abbay with most large revenewes where also shee solemnized her fathers funerall obsequies But at length the Danes robbing and spoiling where ever they came utterly overthrew it and although Serle Percie reedified it being immediately upon the comming in of the Normans head-ruler of the same yet now it scarce affordeth any footing at all of the ancient dignity Hard by upon a steepe hill howbeit betweene two others higher than it toward the Sea stood by report the Castle of Wada a Saxon Duke who in that confused Anarchy of the Northumbers and massacre of Princes and Nobles having combined with those that murdred King Ethered gave battaile unto King Ardulph at Whalley in Lancashire but with so disasterous successe that after his owne power was discomfited and put to flight himselfe was faine to flie and afterwards by a languishing sicknesse ended his life and heere within the hill betweene two entire and solid stones about seven foote high lieth entombed which stones because they stand eleven foote asunder the people doubt not to affirme that hee was a mighty Giant Neere unto this place long time after Peter de Maloulacy built a Castle which being full as it were of grace and beauty he named in French Moult-Grace as wee reade in the History of Meaulx but because it became a most grievous yoke unto the neighbour Inhabitants the people masters alwaies of our usuall speech by
world for fishfull streame renown'd Refresheth all the neighbour fields that lye about it round But Glascow beautie is to Cluyd and grace to countries nye And by the streames that flow from thence all places fructifie Along the hithermore banke of Cluid yeth the Baronie of Reinfraw so called of the principall towne which may seeme to bee RANDVARA in Ptolomee by the river Cathcart that hath the Baron of Cathcart dwelling upon it carrying the same surname and of ancient nobilitie neere unto which for this little province can shew a goodly breed of nobilitie there border Cruikston the seat in times past of the Lords of Darley from whom by right of marriage it came to the Earles of Lennox whence Henrie the Father of King James the sixth was called Lord Darly Halkead the habitation of the Barons of Ros descended originally from English blood as who fetch their pedegree from that Robert Ros of Warke who long since left England and came under the alleageance of the King of Scots Pasley sometimes a famous Monasterie founded by Alexander the second of that name high Steward of Scotland which for a gorgeous Church and rich furniture was inferiour to few but now by the beneficiall favour of King James the sixth it yeeldeth both dwelling place and title of Baron to Lord Claud Hamilton a younger sonne of Duke Chasteu Herald and Sempill the Lord whereof Baron Sempill by ancient right is Sheriffe of this Baronie But the title of Baron of Reinfraw by a peculiar priviledge doth appertaine unto the Prince of Scotland LENNOX ALong the other banke of Cluyd above Glascow runneth forth Levinia or LENNOX Northward among a number of hills close couched one by another having that name of the river Levin which Ptolomee calleth LELANONIUS and runneth into Cluyd out of Logh Lomund which spreadeth it selfe here under the mountaines twenty miles long and eight miles broad passing well stored with varietie of fish but most especially with a peculiar fish that is to be found no where else they call it Pollac as also with Ilands concerning which manie fables have beene forged and those riâ—e among the common people As touching an Iland here that floateth and waveth too and fro I list not to make question thereof For what should let but that a lighter bodie and spongeous withall in manner of a pumice stone may swimme above the water and Plinie writeth how in the Lake Vadimon there be Ilands full of grasse and covered over with rushes and reeds that float up and downe But I leave it unto them that dwell neerer unto this place and better know the nature of this Lake whether this old Distichon of our Necham be true or no Ditatur fluviis Albania saxea ligna Dat Lomund multa frigiditate potens With rivers Scotland is enrich'd and Lomund there a Lake So cold of nature is that stickes it quickly stones doth make Round about the edge of this Lake there bee fishers cottages but nothing else memorable unlesse it be Kilmoronoc a proper fine house of the Earles of Cassiles on the East side of it which hath a most pleasant prospect into the said Lake But at the confluence where Levin emptieth it selfe out of the Lake into Cluyd standeth the old Citie called Al-Cluyd Bede noteth that it signified in whose language I know not as much as The rocke Cluyd True it is that Ar-Cluyd signifieth in the British tongue upon Cluyd or upon the rocke and Cluyd in ancient English sounded the same that a Rocke The succeeding posteritie called this place Dunbritton that is The Britans towne and corruptly by a certaine transposition of letters Dunbarton because the Britans held it longest against the Scots Picts and Saxons For it is the strongest of all the castles in Scotland by naturall situation towring upon a rough craggie and two-headed rocke at the verie meeting of the rivers in a greene plaine In one of the tops or heads abovesaid there standeth up a loftie watch-tower or Keep on the other which is the lower there are sundrie strong bulwarks Betweene these two tops on the North side it hath one onely ascent by which hardly one by one can passe up and that with a labour by grees or steps cut out aslope travers the rocke In steed of ditches on the West side serveth the river Levin on the South Cluyd and on the East a boggie flat which at everie tide is wholly covered over with waters and on the North side the verie upright steepenesse of the place is a most sufficient defence Certain remaines of the Britans presuming of the naturall strength of this place and their owne manhood who as Gildas writeth gat themselves a place of refuge in high mountaines and hills steep and naturally fensed as it were with rampires and ditches in most thick woods and forrests in rockes also of the sea stood out and defended themselves here after the Romans departure for three hundred yeeres in the midst of their enemies For in Bedes time as himself writeth it was the best fortified citie of the Britans But in the yeere 756. Eadbert King of Northumberland and Oeng King of the Picts with their joint forces enclosed it round about by siege and brought it to such a desperate extremitie that it was rendred unto them by composition Of this place the territorie round about it is called the Sherifdome of Dunbarton and hath had the Earles of Lennox this long time for their Sheriffes by birth-right and inheritance As touching the Earles of Lennox themselves to omit those of more ancient and obscure times there was one Duncane Earle of Lennox in the reigne of Robert the second who died and left none but daughters behinde him Of whom one was married to Alan Steward descended from Robert a younger sonne of Walter the second of that name High Steward of Scotland and brother likewise to Alexander Steward the second from whom the noblest and royall race of Scotland hath beene propagated This surname Steward was given unto that most noble family in regard of the honourable office of the Stewardshippe of the kingdome as who had the charge of the Kings revenues The said Alan had issue John Earle of Lennox and Robert Captain of that companie of Scottishmen at Armes which Charles the sixth K. of France first instituted in lieu of some recompence unto the Scottish nation which by their valour had deserved passing well of the kingdom of France who also by the same Prince for his vertues sake was endowed with the Seigniorie of Aubigny in Auvergne John had a sonne named Matthew Earle of Lennox who wedded the daughter of James Hamilton by Marion daughter to King James the second on whom he begat John Earle of Lennox hee taking armes to deliver King James the fifth out of the hands of the Douglasses and the Hamiltons was slaine by the Earle of Arran his Unkle on the mothers side This John was