and the strongest hold in all Britain It is well neer compassed about with the Sea and Twede together Upon the West parts of Northumberland the Picts-Wall is in some of the waste ground the Wall is to be seen of great height and almost whole The Roman Britains being continually molested by the often incursions of the barbarous people called Picts The Emperour Severus built a Wall of stone with great wisdome and industry to strengthen the Northern parts of Britain against the many inrodes of the Picts At every miles end of this Wall was a Tower and in the Wall a Pipe of Mettal betwixt the Tower or Sentinel-houses that so soon as a man had set his mouth to this Pipe they might hear through all the Sentinels where the enemy was and so in a short time giving warning from one end of the Wall to the other There are about fourty six Parishes in Northumberland Oxfordshire ON the West-side it joyneth upon Glocestershire on the South which way it runneth out farthest in breadth it is dissevered from Barkshire by the River Isis or Tamis Eastward it bordereth upon Buckinghamshire and Northward where it endeth pointed in manner of a Cone or Pineapple hath Northamtonshire of one side and Warwickshire on the otherside confining with it It is a fertile Countrey and plentifull wherein the plains are garnished with Corn-fields and Medows the Hils beset with Woods stored in every place not only with Corn and Fruits but also with all kind of Game for Hound or Hawk and well watered with fish-full Rivers Hoch-Norton for the rustical behaviour of the Inhabitants in the age afore-going it grew to be a Proverb when folk would say of one rudely demeaning himself and unmannerly after an Hoggish kind That he was born at Hocknorton Woodstock a woody place Here is one of the Kings Houses full of state and magnificence built by King Henry the First who adjoyned also thereunto a very large Park compassed round about with a stone wall which John Rosse writeth to have been the first Park in England Our Historians report that King Henry the Second being enamoured upon Rosamond Clifford a Damsel so fair so comely and well-favoured without comparison that her beauty did put all other women out of the Princes mind insomuch as she was termed Rosa mundi the Rose of the world and to hide her out of the sight of his jealous Juno the Queen he built a Labyrinth in this House with many inextricable windings backward and forward which notwithstanding is no where to be seen at this day She was buried at Godstow with this Epitaph in Rhyme Hic jacet in tumba Rosa mundi non Rosa munda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet The Town it self having nothing at all to shew glorieth yet in this that Jeffrey Chaucer our English Homer was there bred and brought up Banbury a fair large Town It is famous for Cheese and Cakes Hanwell where the Family of Cope hath flourished many yeers in great and good esteem Broughton the seat of my Lord Say and Sele Islip the native place of that King Edward whom for his religious piety and continency our Ancestours and the Popes vouchsafed the name of Edward the Confessor Oxford a fair and goodly City whether a man respect the seemly beauty of private houses or the stately magnificence of publick buildings together with the wholsome site or pleasant prospect thereof It was from its situation in ancient times called Bello situm Isidis vadum Saxonice Ouseford Ousenford corrupte Oxford Historia circumfertur adfirmans hanc urbem olim ab amaenitate sitûs Bellositum dictum fuisse Joannes Rossus hinc edoctus hoc idem affirmat Let. Comment in Cygn. Cant. Oxoniensis Universitas Schola secunda Ecclesiae imo Ecclesiae fundamentum Matthew Paris Hist. Angl. pag. 945. In the Councel of Vienna it was ordained that there should be erected Schools for the Hebrew Greek Arabick and Chaldaean Tongues in the studies of Paris Oxford Bonony and Salamanca as the most famous of all others to the end that the knowledge of these Tongues might by effectual instruction be throughly learned Here are 17 Colledges and 7 Hals Dorchester a Town known in times past to the Romans Vide Lel. Commentin Cygn. Cant. Henley upon Tamis The Inhabitants of it for the most part are watermen This County containeth two hundred and eighty Parish Churches Richmondshire IT takes the name from a Castle Most of it lieth very high with ragged Rocks and swelling Mountains whose sloping sides in some places bear good Grasse the bottom and Valleys are not altogether unfruitfull The Hils themselves within are stored with Lead Pit-coal and Copper Nappa an house built with Turrets and the chief seat of the Medcalfs thought to be not long since the greatest Family for multitude of the same name in all England For I have heard that Sir Christopher Medcalf Knight and the top of this kindred being of late High-Sheriff of the Shire accompanied with three hundred men of the same House all on Horse-back and in a Livery met and received the Justices of Assizes and so brought them to York So Camden Bolton-Castle a stately Castle Richmond the chief Town of the Countrey well peopled and frequented Hourby-Castle There are contained in this Shire an hundred and four Parishes besides Chappels Rutlandshire IT is the least County of all England Lying in form almost round like a circle it is in compasse so farre about as a Light-horsman will ride in one day It was called Rutland as one would say Red-land the Earth in this Shire is every where red and so red that even the Sheeps fleeces are thereby coloured red the English-Saxons called Red in their tongue Roet and Rud. Uppingham a place upon an high ascent whence that name was imposed a well frequented Mercat Town The Vale of Catmose a field full of Woods Okeham is in the midst of it so called from Oaks This small Shire hath Parish Churches fourty eight Shropshire ON the East-side it hath Staffordshire on the West Mongomeryshire and Denbighshire on the South-side Worcester Hereford and Radnorshires and on the North Cheshire It is replenished with Towns and Castles standing thick on every side in regard of repelling and repressing the Welshmen in the Marches bordering hereupon Whence our Ancestours by an ancient word named the Confines of this Shire toward Wales the Marches because they were Bounds and Limits between the Welsh and English and divers Noblemen in this Tract were called Barons of the March and Lords Marchers who had every one in their Territory a certain peculiar jurisdiction and in their own Courts ministred Law unto the Inhabitants with sundry Priviledges and Immunities Bishops-Castle so called because it belonged to the Bishops of Hereford whose Diocesse and Jurisdiction was large in this Shire Clun-Castle so called from the River Clun Ludlow it standeth upon an Hill a Town
painted and the word Tain signifying a Nation the Britains used to discolour and paint their bodies that they might seem more terrible in the eyes of their enemies Camden in his Britannia p. 26 27. seems rather to incline to this Etymology Brith signifieth blew-coloured sc. with woad hence Britons The Greeks gave to this Isle the name Albion for difference sake Seeing they have in fabulous wise named Italy Hesperia of Hesperus the sonne of Atlas France Gallatia of a sonne of Polyphemus I cannot otherwise believe but in the same vein also of fabling they called this Island Albion of Albion Neptunes sonne which thing Perottus and Lilius Giraldus have put down in writing Unlesse a man would derive it rather of {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which as Festus witnesseth in Greek signifieth white whence the Alpes also have their appellation for it is environed with white Rocks England is called Albion ab albis rupibus whereby it is specially conspicuous So was an Isle in the Indian-Sea called Leucas white Seld. on Drayt. Polyolb Song first This Etymology is disliked by Lhoyd but defended by Sir John Price in his Defence of the British History England bears a great sway in the affairs of Europe Speed in his Chronicle saith The great affairs of Europe mainly depended upon the Directions of Queen Elizabeth who sitting at the Helm of the Ship arbitrated and guided their estates both in Peace and Warre See more there to this purpose in his 9th Book chap. 24. p. 880. The English have been very helpfull to the Netherlands in their warres and atchievers of the greatest exploits amongst them Heinsius in his Oration made after the taking of the Busse saith Anglorum sanguine stat haec respublica This Commonwealth stands by the bloud of the English The first of all Provinces this Island of Britain by common consent received the Christian Faith The glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ saith Gildas Albanius surnamed the Wise the most ancient of our British Historians which first appeared to the world in the later time of Tiberius Caesar did even then spread his bright beams upon this frozen Island of Britain And it is generally received for a truth that Joseph of Arimathea laid the foundation of our faith at Glastenbury He that hath written of Honour Military and Civil lib. 4. cap. 19. saith The chief place of Honour and Precedency in Europe appertaineth to the Kings of England And one of the reasons he gives is Because the King and people of England received the Gospel and Christian Faith before France or Spain There have been more Kings and Princes of the Bloud Royal Confessors and Martyrs in England than in any one Province in Europe Fasciculus temporis See Gainsfords Glory of England Chap. 21. 27. concerning our famous Kings here and of famous Kings and Princes that came hither Claudia Rufina of the British Nation is celebrated by the Apostle Paul and also by Martial It is apparent that this Island had the first Christian King in the world and clearly in Europe If priority of time swayed it and not custome derived from a communicable attribute given by the Popes that name of Most Christian should better fit our Sovereigns than the French Vide Polyd. Verg. Angl. Hist. l. 2. p. 41. We had also the first Christian Emperour Constantine The first King that ever renounced the Popes Supremacy was King Henry the Eighth The first King that ever wrote against the Pope to prove him to be the Antichrist was King James England hath been an Asylum for the distressed Protestants of other Countreys The Armes of England are three Lions passant gold in a field gewls The Lion signifies fortitude and generosity Three Flour-delices were since that time annexed thereto by Edward the Third by reason of his claime to the Crown of France The State is Monarchical A Kingdom of a perfect and happy composition wherein the King hath his full Prerogative the Nobles all due respects and the People amongst other blessings perfect in this that they are masters of their own purposes and have a strong hand in the making of their own Laws Of all Seniories in the world that I know the Realme of England is the Countrey where the Commonwealth is best governed the People least oppressed and the fewest buildings and houses destroyed in Civil Warre and the lot of misfortune falleth upon them that be authours of the Warre Phil. de Commin Hist. l. 5. c. 18. England is not subject to Imperial and Romane Lawes as other Kingdoms are but retaineth her ancient Laws It is governed by the Municipal or Common Law a Law proper to the Nation The Commonalty of England is the best Commonalty in the world and the best Infantry or Foot-souldiers in whom the principal strength of an Army consists It was once the saying That the Husbandry and Yeomandry of England were the freest men in the world The Merchant of England surpasseth all other Nations See Gainsfords Glory of England ch. 26. England aboundeth with all sorts of Cattel except Asses Mules Camels and Elephants No Countrey yeeldeth such plenty of Beeves and Sheep A Countrey alwayes most temperate The Air is thick and so it is much subject to winds clouds and rain and therefore in regard of the thicknesse of the Air it is neither opprest with too much heat or too much cold It is somewhat cloudy Gundamore being here bid the Spanish Post when he came to Spain commend him to the Sunne for he had not seen him a great while and in Spain he should be sure to find him The Ocean which beateth upon the Coast of this Island aboundeth with all manner of Fish There are no where in all the world either more dainty Oisters or greater store The soil is fruitfull in Mines of Lead Iron Tin and other Minerals especially it abounds in Coal a necessary and rich Commodity It is replenished also with all sorts of Grain with Medows and Pastures in which innumerable flocks of Cattel feed Cardan exhorted Edward the Sixth to plant Olives and was fully perswaded they would prosper in this Island Many places in Glocestershire and elsewhere in England are called Vineyards seeing it hath afforded Wine and surely it may seem to proceed rather from the Inhabitants idlenesse than any distemperature and indisposition of the Aire that it yeeldeth none at this day Camd. Brit. in Glocestershire In Hantshire he saith We had Vines in Britain since Probus the Emperours time rather for shade than fruit The People are tall of stature well-favoured and fair countenanced for the most part gray-eyed The women most fair and beautifull do go very decently and comely attired We feed mostwhat on flesh The drink which we use and do make of malt is in deed very good wholsome and pleasant There are more Parks Forests Chases in England than are found in all Christendom
famous no doubt in the Romans time The Archbishop of Canterbury was called Totius Angliae Primas the Archbishop of York Angliae Primas without any further addition Anselme for recompence of the service he had done in oppugning the marriage of Priests and resisting the King for the investiture of Clerks was by Pope Urbane endowed with this accession of honour that he and his Successours should from thenceforth have place in all General Councels at the Popes right foot who then said withall Includemus hunc in orbe nostro tanquam alterius orbis Papam Canterbury is one of the famousest Cities in England It hath had a rare Cathedral though now much ruinated by reason of these later times The Cathedral is in the midst of the City a fair Church the body of which is within a little as large as Pauls in London between the body and the Quire a very high Steeple where hangeth a Bell called by the name of Bell-Harry being one of them which King Henry brought out of France There is also in this Steeple four Spires much like to Sepulchres in London There is on each side of the great West-gate two other Steeples the one called Dunston-steeple the other Arnold-steeple in each of which are a very pleasant ring of Bels In the same Cathedral there was the famousest Window that ever was known in England for which there was offered as some say by the Spanish Embassadour 10000lb being the whole History of Christ from his Nativity to his Sufferings but is now battered to pieces In the Quire of this Cathedral is buried Prince Edward called the Black Prince whose Monument is there of brasse The Dean and Prebends had very fair Houses within the bounds of the said Cathedral which was like a little City and so much power formerly that the Maiors Sword was not suffered to be held up within the Gates of the Deanry There is underneath this Cathedral a great Congregation of French living in the City and the Dutch also have a Church in that place which was called the Bishops Palace Within the bounds of the said Deanry there is a free School called The Kings School wherein are two Masters and many Scholars formerly wearing Gowns that are there brought up and many from thence sent to the University There was one Schoolmaster * some years before he died affirmed he had had thirty seven Masters of Arts of his bringing up There are many Churches in the City and Suburbs There are two Markets a week The Maior and Aldermen are cloathed in Scarlet and they keep the Sessions in the same City The City is walled and hath a Mote about it the Wall being so broad that two or three men may go a-brest with gallant Watch houses called Citadels all built with flint-stone There was an old Castle but it hath been for many years demolished and some of the Works or Forts are yet standing that were when the Danes came in one or two of which were made use of when the last rising was there There are two Hospitals in the City one for Ancient people and the other for Children The Isle of Thanet it is eight miles long and four broad a right fertile soil Goodwin-Sands a sandy dangerous place In the Reign of William the Second certain Lands in Kent which did once belong to Godwin Earl of Kent were overflowed and covered with sand which to this day do bear the name of Godwins Sands See Kilburns Survey of Kent pag. 262 263. How Tenterden Steeple was said to be the cause of Goodwins Sands Sandwich one of the Cinque Ports Dover The Town is seated between high Cliffs more famous for the commodiousnesse of the Haven such as it is and for ready passage into France then for any elegance or great trade There is a most stately Castle like unto a pretty City fortified strongly with Bulwarks and many a Tower It is the strongest hold of all England and most commodious for the French Sandgate-Castle and Satlwood a Castle Hith it signifies an Haven or Harbour one of the Cinque Ports Rumney-marsh a fruitfull soil it feedeth a number of Herds of Cattel sent hither from the furthest parts of Wales and England to be fatted There is at Bilsington a Priory built by John Maunsel Weaver in his Funeral Monuments saith He saw a Pedigree of the Maunsels from Philip de Maunsel who came in with the Conquerour untill these our times Wie Here was born John Kemp Archbishop of Canterbury and one of the great Benefactors to the University of Oxford He was Bishop of Rochester Chichester and London Archbishop of York first and afterward of Canterbury twice made Cardinal Bis primas ter Praeses bis Cardine functus This Province hath three hundred ninety eight Parishes and sixty four Hundreds Lancashire IT is a large populous and well wooded Countrey The County Palatine of Lancaster famous for the four Henries the Fourth Fifth Sixth and Seventh Kings of England derived from John Gaunt Duke of Lancaster is upon the South confined and parted by the River Mersey from the County Palatine of Chester the County of Darbyshire bordering upon the East the large Countrey of Yorkshire together with Westmerland and Cumberland being her kind neighbours upon the North and the Sea called Mare Hibernicum imbracing her upon the West Their Kine and Oxen have goodly Heads and fair spread Hornes and are in body well proportionate withall Warringdon Rochdale a Mercate Town well frequented Manchester a Town of great antiquity from Main a British word which signifieth a Stone It is seated upon a stony hill and beneath the Town there are most famous quarries of stone It farre excelleth the Towns lying round about it for the beautifull shew it carrieth for resort unto it and for cloathing in regard also of the Mercate place the fair Church and Colledge John Bradford the famous Martyr was born here Letherpool or Lirpool so named of the water spreading it self in manner of a Pool whence there is a convenient passage over into Ireland and much frequented and in that respect more notorious than for any antiquity Ocmeskirk a Mercate Town well known by reason of the Sepulture there of the Stanleys Earls of Derby whose chief seat Latham is hard by a stately house Wiggin a Corporation with a Maior and Burgesses Bolton upon the River Irwell Preston a great fair Town and well inhabited Hornby a fair Castle Lancaster the chief Town of this Region There are thirty six Parishes in this Shire but those very populous and spacious six Hundreds and fifteen Market Towns Leicestershire IT hath bordering upon it on the East-side both Rutlandshire and Lincolnshire on the North Notingham and Derbyshire and Warwickshire on the West and on the South-side lieth Northampton The whole Shire yeeldeth great abundance of Peas and Beans more than any other Country insomuch that there is an old by-word of the same commonly known to all
once was a City of Truth a holy Mountain in regard of the Doctrine of truth and holinesse preached therein then certainly London may Insomuch that Foraigners Hungarians Germans Batavians others learn our Language and come over to this City that they may hear our Preachers and read our English Divines London-Bridge is an admirable Workmanship of stone hewen out of the Quarry upon nineteen Arches besides the Draw-bridge and is furnished on both sides with passing fair houses joyning one to another in manner of a street that for bignesse and beauty it may worthily carry away the prize from all the Bridges in Europe The whole City is divided into six and twenty Wards and the Councel of the City consisted of as many ancient men named of their age in our tongue Aldermen as one would say Senatours who each one have the over-seeing and rule of his several Ward The chief Magistrate is the Lord Maior and two Sheriffs whereof the one is called the Kings the other the Cities Sheriff In Henry the Sixths Reign Godfrey Bolein was Lord Maior of London being the Ancestor of two renowned and virtuous Queens of England Anne second wife to King Henry the Eighth and Elizabeth their Daughter through whose great vigilancy and providence the City stood so well guarded that the Kings peace was dutifully kept notwithstanding the great Lords of both the Factions Yorkists and Lancastrians were with so great Troops of followers lodged within and about the same In Edward the Thirds Reign Henry Picard Maior of London in one day sumptuously feasted four Kings Edward the Third King of England John King of France the King of Cyprus then arrived in England David King of Scots See the courage and piety of a Lord Maior in King James his time in Wilsons History of Great-Britain p. 106. The Merchants meeting place standing upon Pillars which the common people call the Burse and Queen Elizabeth with a solemn Ceremony named The Royal Exchange was set up by Sir Thomas Gresham Citizen and Knight a magnificent work whether you respect the Model of the building the resort of Merchants from all Nations thither or the store of wares there Which Sir Thomas Gresham being withall an exceeding great lover of Learning consecrated a most spacious house his own habitation to the furtherance of Learning and instituted the Professours of Divinity Law Physick Astronomy Geometry and Musick with liberal Salaries and Stipends to the end that London might be a place not only furnished with all kind of Traffick but also with the Liberal Arts and Sciences There is also a fair and goodly Library in Sion-Colledge containing an hundred twenty and one foot in length and above five and twenty foot in breadth In the Reign of King James Robert Earl of Salisbury caused to be erected a stately building in the Strand which upon Tuesday the tenth of April in the yeer 1609. was begun to be richly furnished with Wares and the next day after the King the Queen and Prince with many great Lords and Ladies came to see and then the King gave it the name of Britains Burse Westminster was called in times past Thorney of Thorns now Westminster of the West situation and the Monastery A City of it self having its peculiar Magistrates and Priviledges It is renowned for the Abbey Church the Hall of Justice and the Kings Palace This Church is famous especially by reason of the Inauguration and Sepulture of the Kings of England William the Conquerour and Matilda his wife were first crowned at Westminster and since them all other Kings and Queens of this Realm have been there crowned Stows Surveigh of London It is a Church of very fair Workmanship supported with sundry rows of Marble Pillars a peece of work that cost fifty yeers labour in building It was founded by King Edward the Confessour King Henry the Seventh for the Burial of himself and his children adjoyned thereto in the East end a Chappel of admirable elegancy Leland calleth it The wonder of the world all the curious and exquisite work that can be devised is there compacted It is reported That the Chappel cost ten thousand pound or as others say fourteen thousand pound There is a Collegiate Church and famous School Forty Scholars in their due time are preferred to the Universities Here are buried the Prince of English Poets Geffrey Chaucer as also he that for pregnant wit and an excellent gift in Poetry of all English Poets came neerest unto him Edmund Spenser Isaac Casaubone William Camden Clarenceux King of Arms Westminster-Hall is the greatest Hall in England and the very Praetorium or Hall of Justice In this are the Judicial Courts the Upper-Bench the Common-Pleas and the Chancery and in places neer thereabout the Starre-Chamber the Exchequer Court of Wards and Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster In which at certain set times we call them Terms Causes are yeerly heard and tried This Judgement Hall King Richard the Second built out of the ground as appeareth by his Arms engraven in the stone-work and many arched beams There are a hundred twenty and one Churches more than Rome it self can shew Redcliff so called of the Red cliff a pretty fine Town and dwelling place of Sailers Enfield-Chase a place much renowned for hunting In this County without the City of London are reckoned Parishes much about seventy three with the City Liberties and Suburbs an hundred twenty and one Monmouthshire IT is enclosed on the North-side with the River Munow that separateth it from Herefordshire on the East-side with Wye running between it and Glocestershire on the West with the River Remmey which severeth it from Glamorganshire and on the South with the Severn The East part is full of Grasse and Woods the West is somewhat hilly and stony yet not unthankfull to the Husbandman Monmouth the chief Town of the Shire Munow and Wye at their confluence do compasse it almost round about and give it the name On the North-side where it is not defended with the Rivers it was fortified with a wall and ditch In the midst of the Town hard by the Mercat place standeth a Castle which as it is thought John Baron of Monmouth built It was the Birth place of Henry the Fifth that triumpher over France and the second Ornament of the English Nation It glorieth also that Geffrey Ap Arthur or of Munmouth Compiler of the British History was born and bred there a man well skilled in Antiquities but as it seemeth not of antique credit so many toyes and tales he every where enterlaceth out of his owne brain as he was charged while he lived Chepstow a famous Town and of good resort situate upon the side of an Hill rising from the very River fortified round about with a Wall of a large circuit which includes within it both Fields and Orchards It hath a very spacious Castle situate over the River Strighall Castle it belongs to the
and worshipfull Family Flixton or Felixton so named of Faelix the first Bishop of these parts Mettingham where there is a Castle Luthingland of Luthing the Lake Comerley Town Burgh-Castle now ruined Sommerly-Hall my Lady Wentworths House famous for fair Walks and Ponds There is one long Walk encompassed with Fir-trees on each side The Parishes in this County amount to the number of five hundred seventy five Surrey FRom the West it boundeth partly upon Barkshire and Hantshire from the South upon Sussex and from the East on Kent toward the North it is watered with the River Tames and by it divided from Middlesex It is a Countrey not very large yet wealthy enough where it beareth upon Thames and lieth as a plain and champion Countrey It is likened by some unto a course freeze garment with a green gard or to a cloath of great spinning and thin woven with a green list about it because the inner part is but barren the outward edge or skirt more fertile Chertsey a kind of Island Fernham so named of much Fern growing in that place Guildford a Mercat Town well frequented and full of fair Innes Ockam where that great Philosopher and Father of the nominals William de Ockham was born and whereof he took that name as of the next Village Ripley George Ripley a ring-leader of our Alchymists Oatlands a fair house of the Kings neer unto which Caesar passed over Tames into the Borders of Cassivelaunus For this was the only place where a man might in times past go over the Tames on foot and that hardly too which the Britains themselves improvidently bewrayed unto Caesar Ockley so named of Oaks Rhiegate the Rivers course Holm-Castle Beckworth-Castle Effingham Kingstone a very good Mercat Town for the bignesse and well frequented It had beginning from a little Town more ancient then it of the same name In which when England was almost ruinated by the Danish Warres Aethelstan Edwin and Ethelred were crowned Kings upon an open stage in the Market place whence it was called Kingston Leland Comment. in Cygn. Cant. Camd. Brit. Shene so called of its shining brightnesse now Richmond wherein the most mighty Prince King Edward the Third when he had lived sufficiently both to glory and nature died King Henry the Seventh built it and gave it that name of Richmond of the Title he bare being Earl of Richmond before he obtained the Crown of England He had scarce finished this new work when in this place he yeelded unto Nature and ended his Life Here Queen Elizabeth also died None-such a retiring place of the Princes and surpasseth all other houses round about which King Henry the Eighth in a very healthfull place called Cuddington before selected for his own delight and ease and built with so great sumptuousnesse and rare workmanship that it aspireth to the very top of ostentation for shew so as a man may think that all the skill of Architecture is in this one piece of work bestowed and heaped up together So many Statues and lively Images there were in every place so many wonders of absolute Workmanship and Workes seeming to contend with Roman Antiquities that most worthily it might have this name that it hath of None-such Hane quia non habeant similem laudare Britanni Saepè solent nullique parem cognomine dicunt The Britains oft are wont to praise this place For that through all The Realm they cannot shew the like and None-such they it call The House was environed about with Parks full of Deer it had such dainty and delicate Orchards such Groves adorned with curious Arbours so pretty quarters Beds and Alleys such Walks so shadowed with Trees that it was exceeding pleasant Wandle a clear Riveret full of the best Trouts Woodcot a pretty Town Croidon there was the Archbishops house of Canterbury There are Charcoals Bedington a fair house beautified with a delightfull shew of pleasant Gardens and Orchards Addington Aguilon situate in a most fertile soil Merton It is famous for the Statute of Merton enacted here in the 21. of King Henry the Third and also for Walter de Merton Founder of Merton Colledge in Oxford borne and bred here Wimbledon there is a goodly House beautifull for building and delectable for fair profpect and right pleasant Gardens built in the year 1588. when the Spanish Armado made sail upon the coast of England Wandlesworth Putney Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth was born there Batersey Lambeth Canutus the Hardy King of England there amidst his cups yeelded up his vital breath It was the Palace of the Archbishop of Canterbury Southwark the Burrough of Southwork the most famous Mercat Town and place of Trade in all this Shire It is large and populous In the Reign of King Edward the Sixth it was annexed to the City of London and is at this day taken for a member as it were of it Sterborow-Castle This County hath in it an hundred and forty Parish Churches Sussex THe Region of the South Saxons a word compounded of the site thereof Southward and of the Saxons who in their Heptarchy placed here the second Kingdom It is above threescore miles long and somewhat above twenty miles broad It lieth upon the British Ocean all Southward with a strait shore as it were farre more in length than breadth How be it it hath few harbours by reason that the Sea is dangerous for shelves and therefore rough and troublous the shore also it self full of Rocks The Sea-coast of this Countrey hath green Hils on it mounting to a greater height called the Downs which because they stand upon a fat chalk or kind of Marle yeeldeth corn abundantly The middle tract garnished with Medows Pastures Corn-fields and Groves maketh a very lovely shew The hithermore and northern side thereof is shaded most pleasantly with Woods like as in times past the whole Countrey throughout which by reason of the Woods was hardly passable The Wood Andradswald taking the name of Anderida the City next adjoyning took up in this quarter a hundred and twenty miles in length and thirty in bredth It is full of Mines in sundry places where for the making and fining whereof there be Furnaces on every side and a huge deal of Wood is yeerly spent to which purpose divers Brooks in many places are brought to runne in one chanel and sundry Medows turned into Pools and Waters that they might be of power sufficient to drive Hammer-mils which beating upon the iron resound all over the places adjoyning Boseham a place environed round about with Woods and the Sea together Chichester lieth in a champion plain A City large enough and walled about built by Cissa a Saxon the second King of this Province and of him so named It hath four Gates opening to the four Quarters of the World from whence the streets lead directly and crosse themselves in the midst where the Market is kept a
ENGLAND DESCRIBED Or the several COUNTIES SHIRES thereof briefly handled Some things also premised to set forth the Glory of this NATION By Edward Leigh Esquire Mr of Arts of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford LONDON Printed by A. M. for Henry Marsh at the Signe of the Princes-Arms in Chancery-lane near Fleetstreet 1659. TO THE Right Worshipfull AND HIS Honoured Friend Sr ROBERT PYE SIR IT is blamed in our Englishmen that they are apt too much to admire Foreigne Countreys and Commodities and exotick Fashions also because they are either ignorant of or do not sufficiently prize the Excellencies of their own native Soil and herein the old Proverb of the English is verified They never know when they are well VVe have little cause I thinke to envy any other Countrey if we rightly understand our own happy condition I have in my Prolegomena written encomiastically of this Nation and in the Book have spoken snccinctly of each County Were the Subject well handled I suppose it would be a pleasing Argument to you who have seen a great part of England However you will I hope excuse my boldnesse in prefixing your Name to this worke since I was willing to testifie herein how much I am beholding to you for your many great Civilities and Courtesies to me and mine I have heard you often say Though you had a great Office many yeers and was Executor also to three eminent Persons of the Nobility yet you scarce ever had any complaint against you for Miscarriages in your Place or a Suit at Law with any one excepted in your whole life These with a plentifull Estate and a healthfull Constitution of Body are mercies and lay a stronger Obligation upon you to be carefull to please and honour that God who hath been so propitious to you Your exciting of others and your own munificence also to so good a VVork as to the edifying of a specious Chappel for the solemn worship of God and setling also a competent Maintenance for a Minister is laudable Your prudent avoiding Suretiship though you were solicited by two Royal Persons to be bound for them is consonant to Scripture-Rules But Sir in your declining Age it will be your wisdome now and comfort hereafter to lay up your treasures in Heaven to mortifie all inordinate affections and to secure your interest in Christ Nusquam tuta foelicitas ubi periclitatur aeternitas A man is never safe till his everlasting condition be well provided for I shall not enlarge herein but subscribe my self Sir Your obliged and thankfull Friend and Servant Edward Leigh TO THE CANDID READER Reader I Did intend the publishing of this first Book of the Kingdome or Several Counties of England together with another of The Kings of England But the Bookseller desired to put forth this first alone I have made much use of Camden and if I could have added to his Chorography some new and memorable things of each County which he had not observed I should have thought it might have been usefull for a native Englishman and Foraigner Perhaps I have not been able to make additions to him in every County but I hope I have inserted some special things in the whole over and above what he travelling over most part of the Land for that purpose hath published I have perused Andre du Chesne his Histoire generale de Angleterre d'Escosse d' Irlande Councellor and Geographer to the King of France and also Draytons Polyolbion with M. Seldens Illustrations Those that have written of any Counties or Cities of England as Burton of Leicestershire Dugdale of Warwickshire King of Cheshire Nordens Speculum Britanniae his brief Description of Middlesex and Harfordshire Lambert and another of Kent Crews Surveigh of Cornwall Stows Description of London Somners of Canterbury and Nevils of Norwich we having onely as yet the Description of those three Cities I made use also of Lelands Itinerary a Manuscript written to Henry the Eighth and his Comment in Cygneam Cantionem M. Burtons Notes on Antoninus his Itinerary I have confined my self to England not medling with Wales Ireland or Scotland I have in the Prolegomena related some things which may make the Nation illustrious and also acquaint Strangers with the Politia or Government thereof I have lately received from M. Du-gard a learned Minister in Warwickshire and Rector of Barford a memorable observation concerning the Family of the Fairfaxes there the like whereto is scarce to be found in any sacred or prophane Writer which coming too late to insert in Warwickshire I thought good to mention here The matchlesse Family of the Fairfaxes in Barford two miles from Warwick wherein there are four Generations and three of them double viz. 1. Samuel Fairfax a child of almost twelve years of age 2. John and Elizabeth his Father and Mother 3. John and Eleonor his Grand-father and Grandmother 4. Richard and Alice his great Grandfather and great Grandmother Not one of these three pairs hath been twice married and every pair of them is an honour to marriage They all for divers yeares most lovingly dwelt together in one house and ate together at one Table At last they are divided in habitations but not in affections The youngest pair with their children live at Wibtaft in the furthest part of the County nigh unto High-crosse the other two pair in Barford The great Grandfather is above fourscore yeares of age a very proper and lusty man an honest and loving neighbour and one that hath born the Office of High-Constable The most remarkable of these particulars have been put into this Latine Epigramme by the present Rector of Barford Mirabilis Fairfaxiorum Familia quae est Barfordiae secundo lapide à Polemopoli sive Warwico Quartus in aetheream Fairfaxius editur * auram Patris Avi Proavi gaudia magna sui Hos tegit una domus cum terna uxore maritos Unáque alit lautis mensa benigna cibis Non magis unanimes nôrunt haec secula mentes Est bis corporibus mens velut una tribus Tótque ex conjugibus bis vincla jugalia nemo Nexuit nemo nexa soluta cupit More columbarum laetatur conjuge conjux Deseruit rugas nec juvenilis amor Hisce tribus Paribus Barfordia jure superbit Nampar his Paribus quis locus alter habet Tho. Dugard Art Mag. Rector Barf The same in English Fairfax the Fourth is born * a gallant Boy Fathers Grandfathers great Grand-fathers great joy Under one roof these dwell with their three Wives And at one Table eat what Heaven gives Our times a sweeter Harmony have not known They are six Persons yet their hearts but one And of these six as none hath hitherto Known Marriage twice so none desires to do Mate is to mate what dearest Dove to Dove Even grandest wrinkles are top-full of love In these three Pairs Barford may justly glory What other place can parallel this Story Th. Dugard Some parts of