Pulhely and Krekyth Bardesey Island ISLE of ANGLESEY with its Hundreds of Tallibollion Holyhead Llyfon Llandrogarn Tyndaythwy Bewmatis Twrkelyn Llandourodok Meney Newburgh Maltracth Aberfraw MERIONETHSHIRE where are the Hundreds of Ardydwy Harlech Talibout Dolgelhe Ystymanale Abeâ—dowyâ— Mowthy Maynloyd Penlyn Bala Ydeirmon Corwen MONTGOMERYSHIRE in which are the Hundreds of Mechavy Llanvilling Ystrondmarchel Montgomery Welshpoole Kery Kery Kidriorn Newtown Kare Eynion Llandaguan Kyfy Log. Machenlet Yriostly Llanidios SOUTH WALES in which are the Counties of RADNORSHIRE where are the Hundreds of Rayadergowy Rayadergowy Knighton Knighton Kevenlice Llanbadern Radnor New Radnor Prestaine Painscastle Llanhedder Collowini Dyssart BRECKNOCKSHIRE with its Hundreds of Bealt Bealt Talgarth Hay Merthye Merterkynok Dyvynnock Divynock Penkelly Brecknock Crickhole Crecowell CARDIGANSHIRE with its Hundreds of Tredvoir Cardigan Cardigan Island Moythen Llanbeder Pennarth Tregaron Llanylar Llanrusted Llanbadarn Aberysthwyth PEMBROOKSHIRE which is divided into the Hundreds of Kemes Newport Kilgarvan Kilgarvan Dewysland St. Davids Ramsey Island the Bishop and his Clerks Dungledy Lauhaden Wiston Rowse Haverford west Rosemarket Scaline Island Stockholme Isle Nerberth Tenby and Narberth Castle Martin Pembroke Caldey Island CAERMARDENSHIRE where are the Hundreds of Derllys Kancharne Elluet Caermarden and Newcastle Kidwellye Kidwyly Llannelthye Perue Llanymdofry Llangadok Cayo Llandilouawre Cathinok Abergerlech GLAMORGANSHIRE in which are the Hundreds of West Gowre Swansey and Penrise Mumbles point Pennarth point Oxwich point Wormshead point Llangevelach Llansamled Neath Aberavon and Neeth Newcastle Bridgend Ogmore Ogmore Castle Nash point Cowbridge Cowbridge Denispowis Porkerry Castle Barry Island Sylye Isle Cardiff Cardiff Landaff Caerfily Caerphilly Lantrissent Lantrissent MONMOUTHSHIRE now an English County where are the Hundreds of Bergaveny Abergavenney Skenfrith Mounmoth Ragland Ragland Caldicot Chepston Goldeclyffe Uske Uske Carlion Wealooge Newport ENGLAND Small Isles belonging to Great Britain THE Kingdom of England with that of Scotland forms an Island which bears the name of Great Britain unto which belongeth a vast number of lesser Isles which may be considered under four heads or forts viz. the Orcades the Hebrides the Sorlings and the Isles of Scilly with those of the Sporades All which said Isles with that of Ireland are scitâ—ate between the 9th and the 23th degrees of Longitude and the 50th and 59th of Latitude England is divided from Scotland by the River Tweed and Solway a line being drawn from the one to the other and on all other sides it is begirt with the Sea It s extent and division The extent and form of these Isles with their scituation to each other doth appear in the Map to which I refer the Reader But 't is probable that some may judge the Maps false for that the true Geographical distances of places are lesser than the Itinerary But these Reasons are sufficient to satisfie any to the contrary 1. The unpassable Woods which 〈◊〉 between places 2. the high Mountains and low Vallies 3. the Marishes or Boggs 4. the Rivers or Ponds and 5. the Parks or other enclosures which cause the Traveller to leave his direct line and go about It may be divided into two though unequal parts to wit England and Wales separated each from other by the Severn and a line drawn to the Wye but the more certain division was by a huge Ditch which beginning at the Influx of the Wye into the Severn reached to Chester where the Dee disâ— burthens its self into the Sea 80 miles in length made by Offa King of the Mercians and called Claudh Offa. This Kingdom of England is severed into 52 Shires or Counties of which 12 make the Principality of Wales and these Counties are subdivided into Hundreds Wapentakes or Wards and those again into Parishes which comprehend Boroughs Villages Hamlets Endships or Trthings It s division according to the Circuits of the Judges England is also divided into six parts for the Circuits of the 12 Itinerary Judges two of which twice every year are alotted for each Circuit iâ— the chief Town or Towns of each County in the said Circuit to sit and hear Causes and to administer Justice for the ease of the Subject and according to this division one Circuit doth contain the Counties of Wilts Somerset Devon Cornwall Dorset and Hantshire Another those of Berks Oxford Gloucester Monmouth Hereford Worcester Salop and Stafford Another those of Kent Surry Sussex and Hartford Another those of Bedford Bucks Cambridge Huntington Norfolk and Suffolk Another those of Northampton Rutland Lincoln Derby Nottingham Leicester and Warwick And another those of York Durham Northumberland Cumberland Westmoreland and Lancaster The two remaining Counties viz. Middlesex and Cheshire being exempted the one for its vicinity to London and the other as having its peculiar Judges for the administration of Justice It s division according to the Spiritual Jurisdiction For Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction this Kingdom is divided into two Archbishopricks viz. Canterbury and York under which are 25 Bishops of which 22 belong to that of Canterbury who is Primate and Metropolitan of all England and but 3 to that of York Now what these Bishopricks are this following Table will declare unto you A GENERALE MAPP OF THE ISLES OF GREAT BRITTAINE DESIGNED BY MONSIEUR SANSON GEOGRAPHER TO THE FRENCH KING RENDERED INTO ENGLISH ILLUSTRATED BY RIC BLOME BY HIS MAIESTIS ESPECIALL COMMAND London Printed for Ric Blome The most August Charles the 2d by the grace of God â—ing of England Scotland France and Ireland defendor of the Faith c 〈◊〉 this Mapp with all humility is Concecrated by your Majestes Obedient subiect Servant Ric Blome A Catalogue of the Archbishopricks and Bishopricks of England and Wales together with what Counties are under their Jurisdictions and what Parishes and Impropriations are in each Diocess Archbishopricks and Bishopricks Counties under each of their Jurisdictions Parishes in each Diocess Impropriations in each Diocess Canterbury hath Canterbury and part of Kent 257 140 York hath Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire 581 336 London hath Essex Middlesex and part of Hartfordshire 623 189 Durham hath Durham and Northumberland 135 87 Worcester hath Worcestershire and part of Warwickshire 241 76 Winchester hath Hantshire Surrey Isles of Wight Garnsey and Jersey 362 131 Bath Wells hath Somersetshire 388 160 Oxford hath Oxfordshire 195 88 Bangor hath Carnarvanshire Anglesey Merionethshire and part of Denbighshire 107 36 Rochester hath part of Kent 98 36 Ely hath Cambridgshire 141 75 Chichester hath Sussex and part of Hartfordshire 250 112 Salisbury hath Wiltshire and Berkshire 248 109 Lincoln hath Lincolnshire Leicestershire Bedfordshire Huntingtonshire Buckinghamshire and part of Hartfordshire 1255 577 St. Asaph hath part of Flintshire and part of Denbighshire 121 19 St. Davids hath Pembrookshire and Carmarthenshire 308 120 Peterborough hath Northamptonshire and Rutlandshire 293 91 Landaff hath Glamorganshire Monmouthshire Brecknockshire and part of Radnorshire 177 98 Carlisle hath part of Cumberland and part of Westmerland 92 18 Exeter hath Devonshire Exeter
for its Salt-Pits or Wiches having three Fountains that afford great plenty of Water for the making of Salt which is excellent white and good for which here is drove a good Trade Sturbridge Sturbridge seated on a Flat and on the Stower over which it hath a Bridge it is a good and well-built Town hath the accommodation of a good Free-School with a Library and its Market on Fridays is well furnished with Corn Provisions and Swine Kidderminster Kidderminster feated under a Hill and on the Severn where the Stower loseth it self dividing the Town in twain an ancient Bailiwick-Town beautified with a fair Church hath well-built Houses is well inhabited and much traded unto for its Stuffs called Kidderminster-Stuffs and its Market which is on Thursdays is considerable for Corn Gottle Provisions and several Country-commodities Bewdley Bewdley a Bailiwick-Town which sends Burgesses to Parliament pleasantly seated on the Severn and near the Forest of Wire which in former time was a place of great delight and much resorted unto It is a neat and well-built Town enjoyeth a good Trade for Mault Leather and Caps called Bewdley-Caps here made and hath a Market on Saturdays chiefly considerable for Barly YORK-SHIRE County of York describ'd the largest County in England being above 300 miles in compass and although thus spacious for the generality is indifferent fertil yielding good plenty of Cattle Corn Fowl and Fish for if one part is stony sandy and barren other parts make amends and although there are great store of Heaths and Moors which are barren ground yet are they profitable to the Inhabitants for the feeding of Cattle In this County the Romans had several Stations and here were abundance of Abbeys Monasteries and Religious Houses many of which were of great note eminency and wealth The chief Manufactures of this Shire are Stockings Alum Jett Lime Knives Pins c. but above all Cloth in great plenty It is fevered into three distinct parts and called the North-Riding the East-Riding and the West-Riding which said Ridings or Parts are subdivided into 26 Wapontacks or Hundreds viz. the North into Eleven the East into Six and the West into Nine and in all these Wapontacks are numbred 563 Parish Churches besides abundance of Chapels of Ease by reason of the largeness of the Parishes many of the Chapels being as large as Parishes in other parts of England The North-Riding of Yorkshire may not improperly be divided into Richmondshire Cleaveland a fertil part North-Allerton and Blackmore very Mountainous Craggy and Moorish The chief places in this Riding are York City of York which next to London claimeth the Priority of all others in the Kingdom a place of great antiquity and fame having its rise from the Romans who had it in such great esteem that Severus their Emperour had here his Palace and here ended his days and had those Funeral Rites solemnized on his Corps according to their custom And here Fl. Valerius Constantius surnamed Chlorus bid adue to the World and in his room his Son Constantine was here proclaimed Emperour Nor did this City thus flourish only in the time of the Romans but was of great repute in all succeeding Ages and hath in all the revolutions and changes under the Saxons Danes and Normans preserved its ancient lustre and is at present a fair large and beautiful City adorned with many splendid Buildings both publick and private is very populous much resorted unto and well inhabited by Gentry and wealthy Tradesmen and numbreth about 30 Parish Churches and Chapels besides its Cathedral or Minster a most stately Structure dedicated to St. Peter Amongst its publick Buildings of note these may be taken notice of The Bishops-Palace its Chapter-House a curious piece of Architecture the Princes-House called the Mannor and the Courts of Judicature held for the Neighbouring Marches according to that of Ludlow It is a City and County within it self enjoyeth large Immunities sendeth Burgesses to Parliament is governed by a Lord Major 12 Aldermen clad in Scarlet 2 Sheriffs 12 Common Council 8 Chamberlains a Recorder Town Clerk Sword-Bearer and Common Serjeant with other sub-Officers It is a place of great strength being well fortified and enclosed with a strong Wall on which are many Turrets or Watch-houses and hath for entrance 4 Gates and 5 Posterns It s scituation is no less pleasantly than commodiously seated on the Owse which severeth it in two parts but joyned together by a fair Stone-bridge and to conclude its Markets on Thursdays and Staturdays are very considerable and well served with Flesh Fish Fowl c. as are its Shambles on the Week-days with Provisions Malton or New-Malton seated on the Derwent Malton over which it hath a good Stone-bridge It is composed of two Towns the New and the Old Malton and both containing 3 Parish Churches it is a place well inhabited and accommodated with good Inns hath weekly two Markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays which is one of the best in the County for Horses living Cattle Provisions and most Country-commodities especially Vtensils for Husbandry and as a Borough Town which is but meanly built electeth Parliament men Pickering or the Honour of Pickering a pretty good Town Pickering belonging to the Dutchy of Lancaster hath a famous Old Castle now ruinous in which they keep their Courts for the hearing of Causes under 40 s. in the said Honour which includeth several Villages which as it were encompass it so that the adjacent Country is called Pickering-Lith the Forest of Pickering and the Liberty of Pickering It s Market which is on Mondays is well served with Corn and Provisions Scarborough a place of great strength as well by Nature as Art Scarborough being seated on a steep Rock with such craggy Cliffs that it is almost inaccessible and beareth so into the Sea that it is washed on all parts except on the West where it yieldeth access by a strait passage Cliff or Gullet where it hath a strong Wall On the top of this Rock is a very fair green and large Plain containing about 60 Acres of ground and hath a little Well of Fresh-water springing out of the Rock and for its further defence hath a strong Castle now made use of by his Majesty for a Garrison This Town is not very large but well built and inhabited enjoyeth a good Trade having a commodious Key with several Vessels belonging to it which are employed by them and during the Herring-season for the Fishing Trade they being plentifully taken on this Coast This place is of note for its famous Spaw much resorted unto as well by Foreigners as the English It is a Town Corporate electing Parliament men is governed by two Bailiffs and a Common Council and hath two Markets weekly on Thursdays which is of good account and on Saturdays which is but small Not far from this Town is Robinhoods-Bay so called from Robinhood that noted Robber in the Reign of
City and Cornwall 604 239 Chester hath Cheshire Richmondshire Lancashire part of Cumberland Westmoreland Flintshire and part of Denbighshire 256 101 Bristol hath Dorsetshire and the City of Bristol 236 64 Norwich hath Norfolk and Suffolk 1121 385 Gloucester hath Glocestershire 267 125 Hereford hath Herefordshire part of Shropshire Worcestershire in part and part of Radnorshire 313 166 Coventry and Lichfield hath Staffordshire Derbyshire Warwickshire and part of Shorpshire 557 250 Besides peculiar to the Diocess of Canterbury 57 14 To these may be added the Bishoprick of Sodor in the Isle of Man under the Archbishoprick of York but hath no place or Vote in Parliament ENGLAND is a Kingdom blest with a sweet and temperate Air and for the generality of a fertil Soil It s fertility and commodities and very grateful to the Husbandman abounding in all things necessary for the use of Man both for Food and Rayment as Corn Cattle Fowl Fish Fruit Roots c. In the bowels of the got else-Earth are store of excellent Mines of Lead Tin Iron Copper Black-Lead not where in Europe Coal and some of Silver It also produceth Hops Linnen-Cloth Tallow Hides Leather Calves-skins Lamb-skins Sheep-skins Cony-skins and some Furrs also Wax Stockings Hats Saffron Hony Madder Butter Cheese Herrings Pilchers and Barrel-Cod but above all Wool of which is made great abundance of excellent Cloth Serges Bays Kerseys Worsteds and the like Manufactures which find great vent in Forreign parts and for Building it affordeth all Materials The Weights The Weights currant in this Kingdom are of two sorts viz. Troy and Averdupois Of Troy 24 grains make a penny-weight 20 penny-weight an ounce and 12 ounces a pound from which pound wet Measures are derived a pint making a pound and by this weight Gold Silver Silk Pearl Precious Stones Bread c. are weighed By the Averdupois is weighed Butter Cheese Flesh Tin Iron Fruits and generally all garbled and ponderous Commodities and this weight is reduced into several denominations as Tuns Hundreds Quarters Pounds Ounces and Drams where note that 16 drams make an ounce 16 ounces a pound 28 pound a quarter 4 quarters a hundred and 20 hundred a Tun. The Measures The Measures are three viz. dry liquid and long the Dry are those in which all sorts of dry Commodities are measured and consisteth also of several denominations as a pint quart gallon or half-peck peck and bushel which containeth 64 pints or 32 quarts which is 8 gallons also 8 Bushels make a Quarter 9 Bushels a Fat of Coals which is a quarter of a Chaldron 5 Quarters a Wey 10 Quarters a Last and 20 Lasts a Combe Liquid Measures are those in which liquid substances are measured of which a Gill is the least next a quarter half-pint pint quart pottle and gallon which is 4 quarts 8 Gallons make a Firkin of Ale and 9 a Firkin of Beer 2 Firkins a Kilderkin 2 Kilderkins a Barrel which is 36 gallons 42 Gallons a Tierce 63 Gallons a Hogshead 2 Hogsheads a Butt or Pipe and 2 Buts a Tun. But note that the Wine Measures are of less content than the Ale for 4 Gallons Ale-measure make 5 Wine-measure Long Measures are those by which Cloth Stone Glass Land c. is measured of which an Inch which is esteemed the length of 3 Barly corns though divided into less denominations as half a quarter of an Inch is the least and 12 Inches make a Foot 3 Foot a Yard which is divided into 16 parts or Nails 3 Foot 9 Inches is an Ell 6 Foot a Fathom 5 ½ yards or 16 ½ foot is a Rod Perch or Pole 40 Rods a Furlong 8 Furlongs an English Mile which is 320 Poles or 1760 Yards or 1056 Paces at 5 foot to the Pace Of Weights Measures c. used in particular Commodities viz. The weight and measure of particular commodities A Fodder of Lead is 19 ½ Hundred a Load is 36 Formels or 175 Stone and a Stone is 5 ⅜ pound A Fagot of Steel is 120 pound and a Barrel of Gad-Steel is 180 pound A Stone of Glass is 5 pound and 24 Stone is a Seam A Last of Herrings is 12 Barrels every Barrel 12 hundred and every Hundred 120 Herrings A Last of Powder is 24 Firkins every Firking weighing 100 pound neat and the empty Firkin 12 pound A Load of Timber is 50 foot of square Timber A Stack of Wood is 3 ½ foot in height and 12 in length A Fagot of Wood ought to be 3 foot in length and 14 inches about besides the Band. Billets ought to be 3 foot and 4 inches in length and the single Billet must be 7 ½ inches about the Cast-Billet 10 inches and the two Cast-Billets 14 inches about Billets of a Cast must be nicked within 4 inches of the end and Billets of 2 Casts within 6 inches of the middle A full Sack of Coals is 3 Bushels Ten Hides make a Dicker and 20 Dickers a Last of Leather A Rowl of Parchment is 5 dozen Twenty Quires of Paper is a Ream and 10 Reams a Bail A Lath must be 5 foot long 2 inches broad and half an inch thick A Plain-Tile must be 10 ½ inches in length 6 ½ in breadth and half an inch thick Roof-Tiles must be 13 inches in length with a good and equal proportion of breadth and thickness Pan or Paving-Tiles must be 10 inches square and 1 ¼ inch thick A Brick must be 9 inches long 4 broad and 2 inches thick Nails are sold by the 1000 and 120 to the hundred A Truss of Hay is to weigh 56 pound and 36 Trusses make a Load A Truss of Straw should weigh 36 pound and 36 Trusses make a Load Courts of Judicature As concerning the Courts of Justice of this Kingdom they may be considered under three sorts to wit Ecclesiastical Temporal and one mixt of both and under these three sorts are comprehended all the Courts of Judicature For Ecclesiastical Affairs are the Synod or Convocation of the Clergy and the Provincial Synod which is kept in both Provinces of Canterbury and York viz. the Courts of Arches the Courts of Audience the Courts of Faculties the Prerogative Court and the Court of Peculiars The Courts for Temporal Affairs are of two kinds viz. for Law and Equity for Law those of the Kings Bench Common Pleas Exchequer Assizes Court of Admiralty Dutchy Court c. And for Equity those of the Chancery Exchequer Requests c. And besides these Courts there are several other Inferiour Courts held in particular Liberties for the Inhabitants thereof And all these Courts have their peculiar Judges and other sub-Officers As concerning Precedency Precedency all Nobles of each degree take place according to their Seniority of Creation and not of years unless descended of the Blood Royal and then they take place of all others of that degree Yet there are some that by their great Offices or Places at Court or setting at
the Streights of Davis Waigats and Anian This South-land with the Pacifick-Sea Indian Ocean and Magellanick Streight The Polar Artick Land hath a very little distance at the Streight of Waigats from the Old World from America at the Streight of Davis But it is removed from the South-land by a huge space The Polar Austral or rather the South-land is very nigh to the Old World at the running out Tract of New Guiney as also to America at the Streight of Magellan But concerning the South-land only we have assuredly discovered that it is round about environed with the Sea and is separated from the rest Concerning the rest of the Lands to wit the Old World America and the Pole Artick World the matter and discovery is not yet certain whether they be round about begirt by the Sea and separated from one another but yet it is very likely they are so by reason of divers Bays and Entrances of starts running within the Earth The South-land only as yet is fully sailed about this could not be hitherto performed in the rest For the Old World as yet hath not been sailed round beyond Waigats Streight although the whole Western Southern Eastern shore hath been viewed and that but a little part of the North shore remaineth to be discovered America hath been sailed round only part of her Septentrional shore being excepted by reason of the uncertainty of the Streights or narrow Seas Thus have we declared the placing of the greatest Islands or Continents Proposition IV. Ten great Ilandâ— We reckon up ten great Islands on the Surface of the Land which are these following 1. Britain comprehending England and Scotland it is esteemed the greatest of all Islands which are commonly so called those being excluded which in The foregoing Proposition we have related at large 2. Japan which in Maps and Globes hath a lesser magnitude than it ought to have for they which have been there affirm that it is as great if not greater than Britain 3. Luconia one of the Philippine Isles which also from its Metropolitan Town is called Manilha 4. Madagascar or St. Laurence seated on the Eastern shore of Africa 5. Sumatra one of the Indian Isles 6. Borneo not far from Sumatra 7. Island not far from Norway 8. Newfoundland nigh unto Canada 9. Between Davis Streight and Hudsons Streight in the Northern Ocean lyeth a great Island about the Polar Land which according to Visher's Vniversal Tables is in form round 10. Nova Zembla nigh unto Russia To these is California to be also numbred if that be an Island which it is esteemed to be and not a part of America Proposition V. We number up ten mean Islands on the Surface of the Earth viz. 1. Java one of the Indian Isles 2. Cuba nigh unto Hispaniola 3. Hispaniola 4. Ireland nigh unto England 5. Crete or Candia not far from Greece 6. Sicily nigh unto Italy 7. Ceylan one of the Indian Isles 8. Mindanao one of the Philippine Isles 9. Sardinia seated in the Mediterranean Sea 10. Celebes in the Indian Ocean To these may be numbred Friezland an Isle not far from Island Proposition VI. Ten little Isles We will also number ten little Islands on the Surface of the Earth to wit 1. Gilolo one of the Indian Isles 2. Amboina not far from Gilolo 3. Timor one of the Indian Isles 4. Jamaica in the Bay of Mexico 5. Sealand in Denmark 6. Corsica seated in the Mediterranean Sea 7. Eubaea now Negropont seated in the Mediterranean Sea 8. Majorca nigh unto Spain 9. Cyprus 10. Isabella in the Pacifick Ocean There are more Islands which may be reduced to this rank but we shall refer them to the last order of them as more commodious Proposition VII The least Isles Of the least Islands there is almost an innumerable multitude on the Surface of the Earth among which these following deserve a peculiar consideration First the famous Solitary Islands Secondly those which are found in great numbers in some Tract of the Ocean and for their Neighbourhood are comprehended under one name We shall term them in general a body or fry of Islands because we are left destitute of a more fitting name The Tract of Sea wherein these Isles lye is called the Archipelago The notable Solitary Islands are in the Mediterranean Sea Rhodes Malta Ivisa Minorca Chios Cephalonia c. In the Atlantick Ocean between Africa and Brazile lieth the Island of St. Helen where also the Island of the Ascension the Isle of St. Thomas is placed in the very Equator The Island Madera over against the Gaditane Streight Zocotora seated before the mouth of the Arabian Bay Gothland in the Baltick Sea Among the notable Solitary Isles those are also worthy of remembrance which swim on the waters of which see Chapter eighteenth Proposition VIII There are fifteen fries or files of the least Islands numbred on the Surface of the Earth The lesser Isles to wit 1. The Canary Islands in the Atlantick Sea 2. The Isles of Azores in the Northern Sea 3. The Islands of Hesperides or the Green Islands over against Cape Verd. 4. The Islands of Maldives in Indian Ocean 5. The Lucar Islands between Florida and Cuba nigh unto America 6. The Princes Islands between Hispaniola and America to which I refer and reduce all the least Islands seated in the Bay of Mexico 7. The Camercan Isles lying before Hispaniola 8. The Mascarenian Islands between Madagascar and Africa 9. The Molucco Islands seated in the Indian Ocean 10. The Philippine Islands in the Pacifick Ocean 11. The Aegean Islands 12. The Japonian Isles 13. The Islands of Solomon in the Pacifick Sea 14. The Isles of Theeves in the Archipelago of St. Lazarus 15. The Isles of Banda nigh unto Java 16. The Islands scituate near England and Scotland as the Hebrides Orcades Sourlings Sporades c. 17. The Islands between the Magellanick Streight and the Streight Le Maire Other Isles may be reckoned Here I do not reckon to these those Islands which lye close on the shore of some Continents in great numbers as on the Coast of China Norway Brazile Davises Streight c. Unto this rank also the Islands in great Rivers are to be referred and marshalled as such as are found in the River Nile in the River of St. Laurence of Canada in the River Wolga and in some other Rivers as also those which are in certain Lakes as in the Lake Zembre a Lake in Africa in South America where the Islands of Lead are scituate in a Lake c. But all or most of these Isles especially these aforegoing together with several others I have largely treated of in the Geographical Description of the four Parts of the World in their fit places to which I refer the Reader Proposition IX The Parts of all Lands or Islands are not of the same shape or figure but are unlike The more famous differences of these are a Peninsula and an Isthmus
which the Moon will be vertical that day viz. one after another See Proposition 13. in Chap. 19. The use of this Problem is great yea very necessary in the Doctrine concerning the flux and reflux of the Sea The mode of performing of the same you shall find in the Nineteenth Chapter and the Thirteenth Proposition For there it is more conveniently explained yet the Explication of that Proposition may be anticipated and demonstrated to the studious in this Chapter Proposition XVI In those places of the Sea to which the Moon is vertical the flux and deflux is greatest except that there be other impediments which we have reckoned up in the XIV Proposition And by how much the parts of the Sea are more remote from the place by so much the flux and deflux is lesser other things being equal For because in that place the pressure is greater and the tumour of the water greater which is more vicine to the Moon pressing and the Celestial matter thence followeth that that the Proposition intimateth the objections concerning some other places in the comparison of which the contrary is found are to be excused by the admixtion of other causes Proposition XVII The quantity of the flux and reflux is unconstant in every place and divers on several daies and by so much the greater or lesser by how much the Moon is more remote or near unto that place The Moon every day changeth her place in the Ecliptick For the Moon every day changeth her place in the Ecliptick and so on other daies is vertical to other places and by consequence is more remote from any place or more near Which being observed we conclude from the preceeding Proposition that there is a divers quantity of the flux and reflux in one and the same place on divers daies whether that the diversity be sensible or insensible Proposition XVIII The greatest intumescency of water in any place and term of the flux ought to be when that the Moon doth occupy the Meridian of the place But in many places it is found to be in another scituation of the Moon For then is the Moon most nigh to any place of the Earth when that it is in the Meridian of that place because that the Hypotenusa of a right angled Triangle is lower than the Cathetus Whence it is inferred by the XVI Proposition that when the Moon is in the Meridian See Proposition 16. there ought to be the greatest intumescency and Altitude of water and immediately a decrease to succeed But when the Moon is in the lowest of the Meridian then the narrowest of the vortex of the Earth opposite to it in the upper Meridian and therefore doth effect the same as if that the body of the Moon were present But here ariseth a great difficulty For there are many places and Coasts of the Earth in which we find that the term of the flux is not when that the Moon cometh to the Meridian as the Philosophers held before this age but sooner or later viz. when that the Moon cometh to a certain quarter not Cardinal and this quarter is not constantly observed but in new and full Moons for the most part the greatest intumescency is and the begining of a detumescency before the Moon cometh to this quarter or vertical Circle So at London the water is at the highest when the Moon cometh to the quarter which is between the South and West or North and East that is to the South West or North East quarter At the Coast of China in the Port of the City Maccau The greatest flux at the Coast of China observed by a Portugal a certain Portugal Mariner observed the time of the greatest intumescency by this mode The Elevation of the Pole is 22 degrees 20 minutes in the Year 1584 on the 19 of September the Moon was at full then the intumescency or Altitude of the highest water was observed in the morning at ½ or ¼ of an hour past 8. therefore then the Moon was removed from the Meridian 3 ¼ hours Whence the quarter or vertical Circle in which the Moon at that moment of time was is found according to the Problem of the 30 Chapter Anno 1585 on the 16 of February in the full Moon the greatest hight of water was observed at half an hour past a eleven a Clock at Noon Certain observations taken by a Dutch Mariner of the flux of the Sea in many places A certain Dutch Mariner on the daies of the new and full Moon noted the hours of divers places for the term or intumescency of the flux from which I have extracted these At the twelfth hour on the daies of the new and full Moon on the Coast of Flanders at Enchusen in Holland at Horn at Embden in East Freezland at the mouth of the Elve at Eider at the Isles of Jutland and at Dover at England At 45 minutes past 12 at Flushing in Zealand half an hour after one a Clock at the Occidental Coast of the Isle of Wight at Calis at the mouth of the River of Thames at the shoar of Zeland in the mouths of Scald in Mosa and at Gored A quarter after two before the mouth of Scald and the mouth of Mosa At three a Clock at Amsterdam Roterdam Dort in Holland at Newcastle in England at Arment in Flanders in the mouth of the River of Burdeaux in the South Coast of Britain Gallocia Gascoyn Biscay Portugal and Spain and on the Western Coast of Ireland even to Hitland A quarter after four in the evening at Roan in France between Mosa and Rochel in the River of Burdeaux in the Bays of the Spanish Portugal and Gallecian Coast in the South Coast of Britany in France Gascoyn and on the Western Coast of Ireland Half an hour past four from the Texel at the South Coast of Ireland A quarter past five in all the Ports of the Southern Coast of Ireland at Plymouth in England and other Southern places of it even to the Coast of Wales At six in the evening and morning before Hamburgh in the Elbe before Bremen the Texel Antwerpe in the Channel between England and Brabant without Sorlis A quarter before seven in the evening between Fawick and Vaelmuya in the Channel even to Bristol before St. Nicholas and Podessembe even to Waymouth and Hartepole At half an hour past seven in the Haven at the Texel at Kilduyna in the middle of the Channel nigh Plymouth and in the Sea even to the Promontory of the Lizard A quarter past eight in the evening nigh the Isle of Wight in the Channel even to Bevesier without the Fly on the Coast of Holland At nine before the mouth of the River Ems in Freezland before the Fly before the Coast of Freezland at the Eastern Coast of the Isle of Wight At half an hour past ten before the mouth of the River Thames on the Coasts of Normandy and Picardy And at a quarter
past eleven a Clock in the River Thames and other places of England A difficult task to explicate the cause of this difference Now it is a most difficult task to explicate the cause of this so notable a difference and that in all places although it be incumbent on the Philosopher or Geographer Yet it is probable that the various windings of the shoars the scituation of the Coasts in respect of the Sea the obstacles of Islands the mutual meetings of the water the distance of the places from the Lunary way various waies especially those that are constant and general the declining of the shoars and other things do very much conduce to this propriety of the flux For example at the Port of London in the Coast of England the water encreaseth until the Moon cometh unto the quarter of the South-West viz. when it declineth from the Ecliptick towards the South for then water begineth to flow back again but not when the Moon cometh to the Meridian Therefore we say that whilst the Moon moveth to the Meridian of London towards Brazile or from Brazile towards London the Sea doth not recede from London but is yet augmented by reason that the Coasts of America unto which the Ocean is moved by the Moon do repel that water towards England and this hapneth therefore because it affordeth not a passage for the water But why when the Moon is declining from the Ecliptick towards the North is the greatest Altitude of the water and the begining of the decrease observed before the Moon cometh to the Meridian viz. in the North-East I answer that this cometh to pass because that the Moon is then far more near to England than when it declineth from the Ecliptick towards the South and therefore then it more swiftly filleth but the cause why then the flux is no longer protracted even until the Moon cometh to the Meridian may be by reason that the Moon forceth the Sea more near the Sea of Mexico and Hudsons Streights where there is found a great intumescency and detumescency On the Coast of China we therefore say that the intumescency doth anticipate the appulse of the Moon at the Meridian by reason that a continnual East wind driveth that Sea towards the West But these allegations I leave to be farther examined by the searchers of nature But for the finding out of the true cause it is altogether necessary that we acquire accurate observations how the flux and reflux of the Sea is made in divers places viz. in what vertical the Moon is in that flux how the quarter is varied in a divers place of the Moon as in the full and new especially in those places where the Moon becometh vertical also in those which directly respect the East West and North. Also that must be diligently observed how the flux is here made in those hours of the day whilst that the Moon being in the North part of her Circle hath not the Sea placed vertically under her but Lands in a long tract viz. from Cambaja and China even to the Occidental Coasts of Africa For because then that it doth not directly press the water it being depended over the Mediterranean places I thence suppose that some variety must happen to this motion Also what then it doth whilst the Moon ruling in the South Hemisphere passeth over the Mediterranean parts of Brazile or Southern America Without these observations we shall hardly arrive at the true cause neither shall we neglect this argument Proposition XIX The Sea floweth to most Coasts in six hours and twelve minutes and refloweth also in so many hours The Sea in few places floweth in more hour and refloweth in less In very few places it floweth in more hours and refloweth in less and on the contrary in very few places it floweth in fewer hours and refloweth in more yet so that the time of the flux and deflux viz. between the two greatest intumescencies together make twelve hours with 24 ⅛ minutes and two such times make 24 hours with about 50 minutes 48 ¾ and therefore on every day the greatest intumescency falleth out later almost by an hour because that the Moon almost an intire hour returneth more slowly to the same Meridian every day We have sufficiently explained the first part of the Proposition in the Demonstration of the Eleventh Proposition although in this demonstration we have taken the Altitude of the Sea the Moon possessing the Meridian but in this Proposition by reason that in the proceeding we have shewed that in many places that Altitude doth happen the Moon being constituted without the Meridian we do not reckon in them the hours from the time in which the Moon possesseth the Meridian but for that time in which the Moon occupieth that vertical place in the which when that the Moon is it is manifest that the greatest intumescency is Yet in these places the period of the increment ot decrement doth not exactly observe these twelve hours witih twenty four minutes or twenty four hours with fifty minutes because that the Moon by reason of its various and mutable distance from the vertex either in more or fewer hours returneth to the same vertical which difference notwithstanding is not great Although therefore in all places the flux and reflux be compleated almost in twelve hours and twenty four minutes when that there are no tempests also in most this time is equally divided between the flux and reflux so that in six hours it floweth and in so many refloweth yet in some places the time of the flux is unequal to the time of the deflux viz. more or less The flux and reflux of the Ocean at the River Garumna in France The Ocean entereth Garumna a River in France in seven hours and resloweth in five So at the Port of Maccoa on the Coast of China the flux is in nine hours and refloweth in three yea in less if that the Eastern winds blow On the contrary at the Coast of Zenega a River of Aethiopia the Sea floweth in four hours and refloweth in eight The causes of these differences are difficult Some refer them to the swift and valid efflux of the Rivers or also to a simple efflux for therefore the Shoar of Garumna discovereth the flux in seven hours because that its strong motion retardeth the flux but yet assisteth the deflux therefore the Sea refloweth in five hours Others have added those hours to the flux by reason that the Sea reflowing from the more Northern place hindreth least the Sea should hinder the egress from Garumna but rather be more forced on it But I suppose therefore to be by reason that Garumna poureth forth it self by a strong Motion from its inlet or mouth into the Ocean for some distance this efflux is prohibited on some part from the Sea and so the water of Garumna is at a stand also for some space before that the Sea by reason of the Moon entreth its
FRANCE viz. In the Estates of the CATHO LICK KING to wit In SPAIN as The County of Rousillon where are Perpignan Elne Collioure Salces c. The County of Cerdagne Puy Cerda c. The Principality of Catalogne and County of Barcelone where are Barcelona Girona Vich Solsona Urgel Manressa Cardona Cadegues c. In the LOW COUNTRY as Part of the County of Flanders Gravelines Wasten Part of the County of Artois Arras Hesdin Bappaumes Part of the County of Haynaut Landrochy Part of the Dutchy of Luxenbourg Thionville Damvillers In the FRENCH COUNTY as Part of the Balliages of Gray Vesoul Lure c. Part of the Balliages of Salins Arbois Poligny Bletterans St. Amour Joux c. In divers Lands and Principalities the most part of which are esteemed in the Empire of GERMANY to wit In the Estate of LORRAIN as The Dutchy of Barrois Barle Duc Ligny St. Michael Pont a Moosson The Dutchy of Lorrain Nancy Mirecourt Newchasted on the Meuse Dieuze Sirke c. The Bishoprick of Metz Vic Moyen-Vic Marsal St. Avold Alberstrof Espernay About LORRAIN as The Principality of Sedan The Principality of Arches or Charleville Clermont Stenay Jametz The County of Biche In and about the PALATINATE of the RHINE as Part of the Palatinate of the Rhine Bacharach Creutznach Altzheim Oppenheim Neustat Landau Cermosheim c. Part of the Archbishoprick of Mayence Mayence Bingen c. Part of the Bishoprick of Wormes Wormes Part of the Bishoprick of Spire Spire Udenheim or Philipsbourâ— Part of the Estate of Bade Baden Durlach Pfortzheim c. In ALSACE or ALSATIA as Low Alsace Haguenau Saverne c. Higher Alsace Colmar Schlestat Brisach Newbourg c. County of Pfirt or Ferrette and Country of Sungou Ferrette Tannes Befo rt Blome Landseror c. About ALSACE as The County of Monbeliard c. The Bishoprick of Basle Porentru St. Uâ—sand Dalsperg or Delmont c. The County of Reinfield Reinfield Lanffenbourg Waldshout In the Dutchy of Wirtenberg Hohen-Wiel In Piedmont Pignerol c. In ITALY In the Estates of the Duke of SAVOY to wit In the Principality of Piedmont Turin Suze Avigliane Chivas Santja Ast Quierascq Coni Caours c. In the Marquisate of Saluces Carmagnole Demont In the Estates of MONFERRAT viz. In the Dukedom of Savoy Trin c. In the Dukedom of Mantoua Casal Aqui. On the River of GENES The Principality of Monaco or Morgues Rt. Worshipfull Sr. Iustinian 〈◊〉 of Lamport in Northamptoâ—shire Baronet 〈◊〉 Mapp is Humbly DD. by R. Blome GENERALL MAPP of the KINGDOM of FRANCE Designed by Monsieur Sanson Geographer to the French King FRANCE FRANCE is esteemed the most fertil and powerful Kingdom in Europe and the best next to England that can subsist without the help of others It is seated about the 45th degrees of Latitude It s Scituation which is in the midst of the Temperate Zone It is washed on the East with the Rhine together with an imaginary line drawn from Strasburgh to Calais on the South by the Mediterranean Seas and opens a passage to the Northern Ocean on the West by the Aquitain Sea and on the North by the British Ocean Its Bounds It extends it self from the 42 degrees of Latitude unto the 51 and from the 15th of Longitude to the 29th which makes its length and breadth to be above 200 French Leagues It is contiguous to the Low Countries on the North to Germany and Italy on the East and to Spain on the South It s Soil and Commodities It is of an extraordinary fertil Soil affording three excellent and useful Commodities in great plenty viz. Corn Wine and Salt also Oil Almonds Paper Canvass Linnen both fine and course Oade Corral Skins Nuts Stuffs and several Manufactures Toies and Curiosities It is very plentiful in all Provisions It s People It is exceeding populous and crouded with Towns and Cities once numbring 100000 Parishes which are now reduced to a less number The People are well proportionate and indifferent handsom especially the Men they are of a ready and Mercurial wit of a courteous Behaviour of a hot Brain and soon moved to Broils they are very active and given to Exercises in weighty Affairs both Civil and Martial they are not over subtle their first attempt being like thunder and their end like smoak In matters of Religion they generally follow the Church of Rome in which they are not over strict It would be too tedious to observe all the different Orders and Governments in this Kingdom we will content our selves to say that in the Assemblies of the General Estates where the Nobility Clergy and third Estate have their Seats it is divided into twelve several Government of which four are on this side or if you please Northwards of the Loire four upon and about the Loire and four beyond the South of the Loire The four on this side are Picardy Normandy the Isle of France and Champaigne the four about the Loire are Bretaigne Orleance or Orlenois Bourgogne or Burgundy and Lionois and the four beyond the Loire are Guienne and Gascoigne Languedoc Dauphin and Provence In each Government are several Parts or Countries which are taken notice of in the Geographical Tables of the Kingdom of which in order Goverment of Picardy PICARDY is divided into the Higher and Lower in both of which are divers good Towns in the Lower are 1. Calais called by Coesar Portus Iccius held by the English near 200 years and was then esteemed the Key of the Kingdom it is esteemed one of the best Ports in Picardy seated opposite to Dover in England from which it is distant about eight Leagues once a place of great Trade as being the Staple of English Wools now only of note for its being the receipt of Passengers from this Kingdom to England to and fro 2. Bulloigne a strong Frontier Town towards the Sea 3. Abbeville also a strong Frontier Town In the higher Picardy are 1. Amiens a Frontier City towards Flanaers well fortified and famous for the sudden loss and as sudden and brave regaining it by Henry the Fourth 2. St. Quintin a strong Frontier Town Dukedom of Normandy NORMANDY well watered with Rivers amongst which are the Seine Anon and Orne It is well garnished with Cities and Towns many of which are commodiously seated for Trade by reason of their vicinity to the British Ocean the chief of which are 1. Roan its Metropolis seated in the higher Normandy on the banks of the Seine over which there is a famous Bridge of Boats Here is held one of the Parliaments of France and it is a place of as great Trade as any in France being one of the three principal Towns where Exchanges are used Here the English have a publick Hall allowed them for the sale of English Woolen cloth to which place at certain days they are constrained to expose them to sale 2. Havre de Grace or Now Haven the strongest
place in all Normandy 3. Dieppe also a City of some Trade being a common landing-Landing-place for the English in their passage into France 4. Caen famous for its long resistance of Henry the Fifth of England 5. Fabais once a strong Town here it was that Duke Robert passing through saw some Maids a dancing amongst which was one Arlet a Skinners Daughter who so nimbly footed it that his desires were to enjoy her thinking she would be as active in the Bed whereupon he sent for her and obtained his desires in which she so plensed him that he begat on her William the Bastard King of England in spight to whom and disgrace to his Mother the English call Whores Harlots 6. Charenton famous for the Preaching of that eminent Divine Peter du Moulin and 7. Constance Isle of France The Isle of FRANCE made so by the circlings and confluences of the Seine and other little Brooks It lieth in the heart of all France where we shall find not only its particular glory but that of all the Kingdom to wit Paris City of Paris which for its Riches Power and number of Inhabitants may justly contend with any in Europe It is about 12 miles in circuit if all the Suburbs are reckoned and in form rather round than oval seated on the Seine and in a Soil so fertil that not many Cities know so great plenty It is of no great strength nor of much consequence in matter of Trade only contenting themselves with enough to serve the Inhabitants and Court yet in matter of Coin it giveth rule to all Cities in France and is another of the three Cities where Exchanges are placed a convenience for the Nobility Gentry and Courtiers as also for Strangers The chief ornaments of it are the Palace of the Louvre so much famoused abroad besides so many Palaces of the Nobility amongst the rest that of Luxembourgh its Palace-Royal its Church of Nostre Dame its Vniversity formed by Charlemain in Anno 800 esteemed the first in Europe containing 55 Colledges and particularly the Colledge of the Sorbona also the Halls of Justice or Courts of Parliament being as our Courts of Judicature are all remarkable Next to this City may be reckoned 1. St. Dennis about three miles from Paris famous for the Sepulchres of the French Kings 2. Pont-oyse 3. Meaux 4. Beauvais and 5. Soissons In this Province is the beautiful House and Forest of Fontaine Bleau built by Henry the Fourth esteemed not only one of the fairest Palaces in all France but of Christendom here is also seated the Royal Mansion of St. Germains and Boys de Vincennes where the puissant Henry the Fifth finished his days In this Province is the Dukedom of Valois whose chief places are Luzarch and Sen-lis This Country abounds in Vineyards which yields the sharp Wine called Vin de Paris Province of Champaigne CHAMPAIGNE so called from being a Champain Country its chief places are 1. Rheims famous for being the place where the Kings of France are usually Crowned and anointed with an Oil here kept which they say came down from Heaven and never decreaseth and here is a Colledge for English Jesuits 2. Chaaloons 3. Langres 4. Sens and 5. Troyes all places of some account Province of Britany BRETAIGNE or Britanny whose chief Port-Towns are Brest Blavet and St. Malos and within Land the Cities of 1. Nantes seated on the Loire 2. Rennes where the Parliament for this Province is held 3. Vennes seated on the South-Sea 4. Breine and 5. Morlaix of note for its great store of Paper so called Under the Government of ORLEANS or ORLEANOIS we comprehend divers Provinces on this side upon and beyond the Loire viz. Province of Maine MAINE whose chief places are 1. Maine seated on the River Magenue which dischargeth it self into the Loire 2. Mayenne 3. Laval and 4. Domfront Province of Perche PERCHE on the borders of Normandy hath for its chief places Nogent le Retrou Mortaigne and Vernevil which by some are esteemed in Normandy Province of la Beauce LA BEAVCE hath for its principal places 1. Chartes seated on the Loire a fair and pleasant City dignified with an Vniversity for the study of the Civil Laws 2. Estampes 3. Chà steau Dun and 4. Vendosme Province of Gastenois GASTENOIS hath for its principal place Montargis Province of Nivernois NIVERNOIS or BVRBON well watered by the Loire and Allier its chief places are 1. Nerves of some account for its pretty Glass-works and is dignified with an ancient Dukedom 2. La Charite 3. Clamecy and 4. Donzy Province of Orleanois ORLEANOIS whose chief City is Orleans from whence the Government or Province took its name a City if Paris excepted may contend with any in France having once been the Seat of a King of its own It s pleasant scituation on the Loire makes it extream delightful and although of no considerable Trade yet is a great Thorough-fair for such Commodities as pass to Lions and other places in the heart of the Kingdom Province of Blasois BLASOIS hath for its chief place Blois where by the command of Henry the Third the Duke of Guise the first stirrer up of the Civil Wars in France as also the great contriver and promoter of the grievous Massacre at Paris was slain in the Senate-house Province of Touraine TOVRAINE hath for its chief places 1. Tours where the Protestants first began and from one of whose Gates called Hugo's-Gate they were called Hugonots Nigh to this place it was that Charles Martel Father of King Pepin discomfited an Army of about 400000 Saracens and slew of them about 370000. 2. Amboise 3. Loches and 4. Chinon Province of Anjou ANJOV adjoyning to Maine a small Province but exceeding fertil and affords the best Wines in France It s chief places are 1. Angiers dignified with an Vniversity 2. Saumur a Town delightfully seated on the Loire and dignified with the only Protestant Vniversity in France and 3. la Fleche Province of Poictou POICTOV a large and populous Province numbring about 1200 Parishes and dignified with three Bishopricks its principal places are 1. Poictiers seated on the River Clavius famous for the study of the Civil Laws and in greatness esteemed next to Paris but of small account as to matter of Trade 2. Maillezais 3. Luson 4. Chastelleroud 5. Niort 6. Lusignan and 7. Touars This Country is very fertil especially in good Vineyards and in these Fields were sought that memorable Battle between John of France and Edward the Black Prince who contrary to all expectation gained the day Province of Aunis AVNIS South of Poictou hath for its chief City Rochel commodiously seated on the Aquitain Ocean by reason of which it enjoyeth a great Trade it is a place of great strength as may appear by the resistance the Protestants there inhabiting made against the powerful Army of the French King
the Helm of State have precedency as the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper Lord President of his Majesties Council Lord Privy Seal Lord high Chamberlain the Earl Marshal the Lord Chamberlain the Master of the Horse c. Precedency may be thus observed the King who is the fountain of Honour the Prince of England who is eldest Son to the King and is born Duke of Cornwal and about the age of 17 years is usually created Prince of Wales Princes of the Blood Royal who are the Sons Brothers Uncles and Nephews of the King The Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper the Archbishop of York Lord Treasurer of England Lord President of the Privy Council Lord Privy Seal Dukes Marquesses Dukes eldest Sons Earls Marquesses eldest Sons Dukes younger Sons Viscounts Earls eldest Sons Marquesses younger Sons Bishops Barons Viscounts eldest Sons Earls younger Sons Barons eldest Sons Privy Counsellors that are not Noblemen Judges Viscounts younger Sons Barons younger Sons Knights of the Garter if not otherwise dignified as is rarely found Knights Bannerets Baronets Knights of the Bath Knights Batchelors Colonels Sergeants at Law Masters of Chancery and Doctors and Esquires and those may be comprehended under five several heads 1. Esquires unto the Kings Body 2. the descendants by the Male-line from a Peer of the Realm 3. the eldest Sons of Knights of the Garter Baronets Knights of the Bath and Knights Batchelors 4. the two Esquires attending on the Knights of the Bath at their Knighting and 5. Officiary Esquires as Justices of the Peace Barresters at Law Lieutenant Colonels Majors and Captains and lastly Gentlemen At a Marshal Court held at White-Hall the 18th of March An. Dom. 1615. it was declared and concluded on that there are two degrees that establish and settle the Title of an Esquire by birth the one the younger Sons of Peers of the Realm which do invest into the Heirs-males descended from them the Name and Title of Esquires the other the lineal Heir-male of a Knights House and these may justly assume and challenge the Title of Esquire by birth so that in all reason the younger Sons of Peers are more worthy than Knights so the setling of a Title proceeding from them is more worthy and eminent than that derived from Knights The Dominions of England The Dominions of the King of England are very large for besides that of England Scotland and Ireland there are divers small Isles scituate nigh unto them and do belong to one or the other as the Isles of ORKNEY or ORCADES in number 32 seated against the North-cape of Scotland The Isles of SHETLAND also under the Scotish Dominions the HEBRIDES in number 44 seated Westwards of Scotland the SORLINGS seated in the Westrn-cape of Cornwall the SPORADES being several Isles dispersed about the British Seas amongst which these following are the chief MAN scituate between England Scotland and Ireland JERSEY and GARNSEY on the French Coast WIGHT part of Hantshire PORTLAND part of Dorsetshire STEEPHOLMS and FLATHOM in Somerfetshire AIBBRE in Cheshire DENNY in Monmouthshire CODLEY in Pembrokeshire ANGLESEY which is one of the Welsh Counties SHEPPEY in Kent NORTHEY OSEY and HORSEY in Essex FERNE COCKET and HOLY Isle in Northumberland with several other small Isles not worth the naming as indeed many of these are Then in Africa as TANGIER GVINEY c. In the East Indies several places though belonging to the East India Company of London and in America large Dominions as NEW ENGLAND NEW YORK MARYLAND VIRGINIA CAROLINA all which are on the Continent also divers Isles some of which are very considerable as JAMAICA BARBADOS BERMVDOS ANTEGO NEW FOVNDLAND c. all which shall be treated of as they come in order but first of the English Counties County of Barkshire described BARKSHIRE well clothed with Wood and watered with Rivers is blest with a sweet Air hath a rich Soil fit both for Corn and Pasturage especially in the Vale of Whitehorse and generally the whole County for profit and pleasure yieldeth to few Shires in England The principal Commodity that this Shire produceth is Cloth which finds great vent and amongst the Rivers that water the County the Isis the Oke and the Kenet which affords excellent Trouts are the chief It is severed into 20 Hundreds in which are 140 Parishes and hath 12 Market Towns Reading Reading pleasantly seated near the Thames and on the Kenet which is navigable for Barges to London which adds much to its Trade which is considerable especially for Cloth and Mault 't is a large Town containing three Parish Churches is beautified with well built Houses hath fair Streets is well inhabited and hath a very considerable Market for Grains Malt Hops and most Country commodities on Saturdays 'T is a Town Corporate governed by a Major 12 Aldermen and as many Burgesses with sub-Officers enjoyeth several Immunities and sendeth Burgesses to Parliament 'T was formerly beautified with a fair and rich Monastery and a strong Castle built by King Henry the First where in the Collegiate Church of the Abby himself and Queen with Maud their Daughter were interr'd both which now lie in their ruins New Windsor Windsor pleasantly seated near the banks of the Thames and adjoyning to a Park and Forest well stored with Game 't is a fair large well frequented and inhabited Town Corporate governed by a Major and other sub-Officers sendeth Burgesses to Parliament and hath a very good Market for Provisions on Saturdays This Town is of great note for its stately Castle and Royal Palace of his Majesty seated on a great eminency wherein is a Chappel for Devotion a Colledge for Learning and an Alms-house for decayed Gentlemen called the poor Knights of Windsor and famous is this Castle not only for giving birth to so many of our Kings and Princes but for being the place where the ceremony of the Knights of the Garter is solemnized on St. Georges day Nigh unto New Windsor is Old Windsor a Town of greater antiquity though not of so much splendor Newbury Newbury well seated on the Kennet and in a Champain Plain a large well inhabited and frequented Town Corporate governed by a Major Aldermen and Burgesses beautified with a spacious Market-place and well built Market-house sufficiently served with Corn Flesh Fish and Fowl on Thursdays This Town had its rise out of the ancient Spinae now a small Village near adjoyning and called Speenhamland and is of note for its Jack of Newbury who got so great an estate by Clothing which this Town at present is very considerable for Wallingford Wallingford a Town of great antiquity and in times past very strong and large containing four Parish Churches within its Walls which took up a mile in circuit 'T is at present a large Town Corporate governed by a Major Aldermen and sub-Officers enjoyeth large Immunities and sendeth Burgesses to Parliament 'T is commodiously seated on the banks of the Thames over which
Parliament men is of great great strength as well by nature as art The Town is not large but is well inhabited and frequented by those that have relation to Sea-Affairs and the rather by reason of its safe and commodious Haven harbour for Ships and Vessels to Anchor in it being oft-times the station of the Navy Royal which and for being the ready passage to Holland where the Packet-boats are kept for that purpose doth occasion it to enjoy a good Trade yet its Market on Tuesdays is not very considerable About 4 miles Northwards from Harwich is Horsey Isle and about 2 miles further is the Ness a Promontory well known to Sea-men Maldon Maldon a Town of great antiquity and repute in the time of the Romans as Cambden noteth and was the Seat of Cunobelin King of the Trinobantes It is well seated on an Arm of the Sea about 6 or 7 miles from the Main before which lie small Isles called Northey and Osey the Town is large having one Street about a mile in length is well inhabited enjoyeth a good trade occasioned by reason of the commodiousness of its Haven amongst its Immunities electeth Parliament men is governed by 2 Bailiffs 6 Aldermen 18 Brethren a Recorder High-Steward c. and hath a very considerable Market on Saturdays for Flesh Fish Fowl and other Provisions Walden Walden or Saffron-Walden seated on an Ascent amongst pleasant Fields of Saffron a large fair well inhabited and frequented Town Corporate enjoying several Immunities is governed by a Treasurer 2 Chamberlains and the Commonalty and hath a very considerable Market on Saturdays for Corn and all forts of Provisions Near unto this Town is that stately House Audley-end Audley-end built by the Right Honourable Tho. Howard Earl of Suffolk then Lord High Treasurer of England which said House now belongeth to his Majesty Chelmesford Chelmesford seated in the Road and between two Rivers over which are Bridges for conveniency of passage It is a fair large and well frequented Town where the Assizes are usually kept and hath a very great Market for Corn Provisions c. on Fridays Raleigh Raleigh a place of great antiquity though not of largeness and its Market which is on Saturdays is but small Not far from this Town are the Isles of Wallop and Fowlness that is the Promontory of Fowls which hath a Church in it Also Canvey Isle of a rich Soil and feedeth good store of Sheep Brentwood Brentwood seated on a Hill and on the high Road a place of good Antiquity is well inhabited and its Market on Thursdays is well served with Provisions Rumford Rumford a large thoroughfare well frequented and inhabited Town seated in the Liberty of Haverill which enjoyeth large Immunities being an ancient retiring place of the Kings This Town of Rumford is of note for its great Market on Tuesdays for living Cattle but for Corn and Provisions which it is plentifully served with it hath a Market on Wednesdays Waltham Waltham or Waltham-Abby seated on the River Leg where it formeth several Eights or small Isles and in a large Forest so called well stored with Deer and other Game It is a Town of some note and hath a Market on Tuesdays Gloucestershire described GLOVCESTERSHIRE a County of a healthful Air and fertil Soil both for Corn and Pasturage yielding plenty of Corn and feeding abundance of Cattle and great flocks of Sheep especially about Coteswold whose Wool is much esteemed for its fineness The part lying Eastwards called Coteswold riseth up with Hills and is for grazing the middle part which is watered with the Severne lieth low and maketh a most fertil Plain and the Western part beyond the Severne is overspread with Wood and called Dean Forest which affordeth excellent Timber Trees for the building of Ships and great store of Coal and Iron-Mines where there are divers Furnaces and Forges for working the same This Forest is of a large extent being about 20 miles in length and 10 in breadth within which tract of ground are numbred 3 Hundreds 23 Parish Churches 1 Castle 1 Abby 3 Market Towns and 1 Major Town and the Common thereof besides the Purlieus and Abby-woods is said to contain 32000 Acres of Ground The chief Commodities that this County produceth are Corn Wool Cloth Iron Steel Wool and Timber also Fruits here had in such great plenty that the Highways and Lanes are beset with Apple Pear and Plumb-trees which grow naturally without ingrafting It is well watered with Rivers amongst which are the Isis Strowd Churne Avon Wye and Severne which for broadness of Channel swiftness of Stream and plenty of Salmon and other excellent Fish comes little short of any River in England The ancient Inhabitants were the Dobuni and in the time of the Saxons it became part of the Kingdom of the Mercians This County is divided into 30 Hundreds in which are numbred 280 Parish Churches and is traded unto by 25 Market-Towns Bristol Bristol seated between the Avon and the Froom which after a small course fall into the Severne the Avon dividing it into two parts as the Thames doth London and Southwark and are so joyned by a fair Stone-bridge on which are also stately Houses The greatest part of this City is in this County and the least in Somersetshire but it will owe subjection to neither being an entire County incorporate of it self enjoying large Immunities sendeth Burgesses to Parliament is governed by its peculiar Magistrates as a Major Court of Aldermen 2 Sheriffs and other sub-Officers and is dignified with the See of a Bishop and the title of an Earldom now invested in the person of the Right Honourable George Digby Earl of Bristol c. It is a City of a sweet and delightful scituation and of far more beauty than antiquity being adorned with many fair and well built Edifices and its Streets so neatly ordered by reason of the Avon that runneth through it together with the common Sinks and Sewers under ground that no filth is to be seen to annoy its Inhabitants It is a City of a large extent numbring 18 Parish Churches besides its Cathedral a fair structure It is begirt with a Wall and further defended with Fortifications its Port is good and commodious for Ships of a considerable burthen which doth occasion it to be a place of a very considerable Trade and to be well inhabited and frequented by Merchants and Tradesmen insomuch that next after London it may justly claim priority of all others in England and for the accommodation of its Inhabitants besides its Shambles its Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays are plentifully served with all sorts of Provisions It is of note for its Bristol-Stones taken out of St. Vincents-Rock near adjoyning Gloucester Gloucester a City of good antiquity and pleasantly seated on an easie Ascent and on the banks of the Severne over which it hath a fair Stone-bridge 'T is a City not
Lea hath a Market on Tuesdays which is well provided with Commodities a place well known to many for its great Bed Stratford Stratford or Bishops-Stratford seated on the side of a Hill a very large fair and well inhabited and frequented Market Town full of Inns for the giving entertainment to Strangers and its Market on Thursdays is very well resorted unto and provided with Provisions and most Country Commodities Here are the ruins of a Castle raised on an artificial Mount within which is a deep and dark Dungeon called the Convicts Prison by which it may be supposed that some great Priviledges did belong unto it Baldock Baldock a considerable large Town seated between the Hills in a Chalky Soil fit for Corn of chief note for its many Maulsters yet its Market on Thursdays is but small Royston a famous Market Town Royston which is kept on Wednesdays for Corn and Mault here made being seated in a fat Soil and between Hills in a bottom The Town is large well inhabited and full of Inns part being in this County and part in Cambridgeshire Herefordshire described HEREFORDSHIRE a County every where exceeding fertil having great plenty of Grains and rich Pastures which feed store of Cattle especially Sheep whose Wool is much esteemed for its finess and for Wheat Wool and Water it yieldeth to no County in England It is well clothed with Wood and watered with Rivers the chief amongst which are the Wye Munow Wades Doive Lugg Froom c. All Fruits here grow in great plenty and of their Apples they make such abundance of Sider that besides what they use themselves it being their general drink of late years it is become a considerable Commodity especially that which is called Red-streak It s ancient Inhabitants were the Silures a stout and warlike People who sorely perplexed the Romans for 9 years space through the valour and noble exploits of their Commander Charactacus and became afterwards part of the Kingdom of the Mercians It is divided into 11 Hundreds in which are numbred 176 Parish Churches and hath Traffick with 8 Market Towns Hereford Hereford a City of great antiquity and raised out of the ancient Arconium now called Kenchester about 3 miles distant a place of good account in the time of the Romans and so continued until it was shaken to pieces by a violent Earthquake It is no less pleasantly than commodiously seated amongst delightful Meadows and rich Corn-fields and almost encompassed with Rivers to wit the Wye and two others over which are two Bridges It is of a large place beautified with good Buildings both publick and private amongst which are the Bishops Palace the Colledge the Cathedral the Prebends houses and Hospital and numbreth 6 Parish Churches two of which in the late Troubles were demolished besides its Cathedral to which belongeth a Bishop Dean Chancellor 6 Canons 27 Prebends with a Chanter Treasurer 12 Vicars Choral besides Deacons Queristers and other Attendants This City enjoyeth large Immunities sendeth Burgesses to Parliament is governed by a Major 6 Aldermen a Common Council Recorder and other sub-Officers and is very well served with Commodities having weekly 3 Markets on Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays which are of considerable account that on Fridays for Cattle Sheep and Hogs and the other for Grain and all sorts of Provisions besides Gloves here made and sold in great quantities Near to this City is Gilden Vale so called from the fertility of the Soil and pleasant scituation Ross Ross seated in a fertil Soil on the banks of the Wye a fair Borough Town which hath a very great Market on Thursdays for Corn Cattle and Provisions being much resorted unto by the Inhabitants of Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire Lidbury Lidbury near adjoyning to Malvern Hills a fine well built Town seated in a rich Clayey-ground much inhabited by Clothiers who drive a good Trade and its Market on Tuesdays is well served with Corn Cattle and Provisions Lemster a large ancient and pleasant Town Lemster seated in a rich Soil and on the Lugg which runneth through it over which are several Bridges It is governed by a Bayliff a Recorder Justices of the Peace and 24 of the Chamber or Common Council it sendeth Burgesses to Parliament and hath a very good Market on Fridays for Corn Cattle Sheep Provisions Hops and Wool for which this Town is of note it being called Lemster-Ore Kyneton also seated on the Arrow a pretty large and well built Town Kyneton whose Inhabitants drive a good Trade for narrow Cloths It s Market on Wednesdays for Corn Cattle Provisions and several Country Commodities is esteemed the best in the County County of Huntington described HVNTINGTONSHIRE a County for the generality of a fertil Soil both for Corn and Tillage garnished with delightful Hills and towards the East where it joyneth on the Fens it hath rich Pasturage which feed store of Cattle It is well watered with Rivers the chief amongst which is the Ouse which divideth it self into several streams It is severed into 4 Hundreds in which are seated 79 Parish Churches and is traded unto by 5 Market Towns Huntington Huntington pleasantly seated on a rising Ascent and on the North-banks of the Owse over which it hath a fair Stone-bridge which leadeth to Godmanchester on the other side of the Owse a very large County and ancient Borough Town seated in a rich Soil and well inhabited by Yeomen and Farmers It is a Town of great antiquity was once very populous numbring no less than 15 Parish Churches which are now reduced to 4 and enjoyed great Immunities and had a Mint for Coynage At present it is dignified with the title of an Earldom sendeth Burgesses to Parliament is governed by a Major 12 Aldermen of which the Major is one and Burgesses is well inhabited and frequented and the rather as being a thorough-fate Town from London Cambridge and other Southern parts of England into the North and into Scotland and also for being the place where the Assizes are kept for the County and its Market on Saturdays is very well served with Provisions St. Ives St. Ives so called from one Ivo a Persian Bishop who 't is said about the year 600 travelled through England preaching the Gospel and here ended his days and his Body was from hence removed to Ramsey Abbey a fair large and ancient Town seated on the Owse over which it hath a very good Stone-bridge hath a Market on Mondays which is well served with Provisions and is of chief note for living Cattel St. Neots so called from Neotus St. Neots a Monk of Glastenbury a large and well built Town beautified with a neat Church is commodiously seated on the Owse over which it hath a fair Stone-bridge which leadeth to Bedfordshire It s Market is on Thursdays which is well served with Provisions and through the commodiousness of the Owse the Neighbouring Towns are
Parish Churches and is traded unto by 12 Market Towns Leicester delightfully seated in a healthful Air rich Soil Leicester and on the Banks of the Stour over which it hath two Bridges It is a place of more antiquity than beauty being said to be built by King Leir and called Caer-Lerion wherein Authors say he placed a High-Priest to serve in the Temple of Janus which he caused to be built and wherein he was buried This Town was also had in great request in the time of the Romans also Ethelred King of the Mercians erected here an Episcopal See which he soon translated elsewhere to its great impoverishment but the noble Lady Edelfled not only repaired it but also encompassed it with a strong Wall and much added to its Riches so that it soon became a place of a great Trade which glory and riches it lost by the Spoils it sustained by Rob. Bossu the Crouch-back Earl of this Shire As to its present state it is a Borough and Town Corporate governed by a Major Aldermen and sub-Officers is dignified with the title of an Earldom is well inhabited hath indifferent good Buildings sendeth two Representatives to Parliament containeth 3 Parish Churches and its Market on Saturdays is well served with Corn Provisions and Country commodities From this Town Crouch-back Richard set forth with great strength and pomp to Redmore near Bosworth where on the 22 of August 1485 in a bloody Battle there fought for the deciding the differences betwixt the Houses of York and Lancaster he was slain yielding both himself and the victory to Henry of Richmond who was proclaimed King in the field and the next day the body of the said Richard was disgracefully brought back torn and naked and as meanly buried in the Gray-Friars of Leicester in a Stone-chest which now is made use of in an Inn for a Drinking-trough for Horses Loughborough Loughborough delightfully seated on the banks of the Sour over which it hath a Bridge amongst fertil Meadows and near Charwood Forrest It is a handsom Town beautified with fair Buildings and a large Church and hath a very considerable Market for Corn Cattle Sheep and Provisions on Thursdays Melton-Mowbray Melton-Mowbray well seated in a fertil Soil and on the banks of the Eye which almost encircleth it over which are two fair Stone-bridges It is an indifferent large and well built Town and hath a very considerable Market on Tuesdays for Corn Cattle Hogs Sheep Provisions c. Lutterworth Lutterworth seated on the Swift and in a good Soil an indifferent Country Town beautified with a large and fair Church which hath a lofty spired Steeple and its Market on Thursdays is well served with Corn and Country commodities Near this Town is a Spring so cold that in a short time it turns Straws and small Sticks into Stone LINCOLNSHIRE County of Lincoln described a County of a large extent and doth divide its form bounds and division into Hundreds The Soil is of a different temperature the Western and Northern parts being very pleasant and grateful to the Husbandman both for Corn and rich Pastures which feed great store of Cattle and the Eastern and Southern parts are fenny barren and unfit for Corn but in recompence hath great plenty of Fish and Fowl The Air upon the South and East parts is thick and foggy occasioned through the Fenny grounds but the other parts good and healthful It is well watered with Rivers as the Humber Trent Idell Dane Wash Witham Welland c. which lose themselves in the Sea The chief Commodities that this County produceth are Corn Cattle Fish Fowl Flax Wool Alablaster c. This County is severed into 3 principal Divisions or Parts viz Lindsey Holland and Kesteven which are divided into 30 Hundreds in which are numbred 631 Parish Churches and is traded unto by 31 Market Towns Lincoln Lincoln a City of great antiquity and hath been far more magnificent and spacious than now it is whose ruinous places doth witness the same being said to have had 50 Churches which now are reduced to 15 besides its Cathedral or Minster said to be one of the finest loftiest and stateliest structures in England This City in the time of the Britains was of great strength and fame containing 1070 Mansions and 900 Burgesses with 12 Lage-men having Sac and Soc and in the time of the Normans it was esteemed one of the best peopled Cities in the Isle and enjoyed a great Trade both by Sea and Land insomuch that King Edward the Third ordained here his Staple for the Mart of Wools Leather and Lead But it s pristine glory has been much eclipsed by the several shocks of ill Fortune it hath met with nevertheless it is a place well inhabited and frequented enjoyeth a good Trade and its Markets on Fridays is well served with Provisions and its Shops furnished with Commodities It is pleasantly seated on the side of a Hill and on the River Witham which divideth it self into several streams and waters in the lower part of the City over which are divers Bridges for the accommodation of the Inhabitants in their passage to and sro It is dignified with an Episcopai See where the Bishop hath his Palace and whose Diocess is the greatest of any in England numbring within its Jurisdiction 1255 Parishes of which 577 are Impropriations The civil Government of this City is committed to the care of a Major 2 Sheriffs 12 Aldermen who are clothed in Scarlet besides a Recorder Town Clerk 4 Chamberlains a Sword-bearer 4 Serjeants at Mace c. It enjoyeth ample Immunities sendeth two Representatives to Parliament and is a County within it self whose Liberties extends about 20 miles in compass and is called the County and City of Lincoln The Isle of Axholme made so by the Rivers Trent Dun Idel Isle of Axholms and others It is a large tract of ground in which are seated several Towns the flat and lower part of the Isle towards the Rivers is Moorish and yieldeth a sweet Shrub called by the Inhabitants Gall. In this part have been great and tall Fir-trees digged up And the middle part which is a rising ground is fertil and produceth great store of Flax. Barton seated on the Humber Barton where there is a considerable Ferry into Yorkshire which doth much advantage the Town which is large and stragling yet hath but an indifferent Market on Saturdays Grimsby Magna seated near the Humber or rather the Sea Grimsby Magna and in a flat and Marshy rich ground This Town was formerly very large having two Parish Churches enjoyed a good Trade but its Harbour which was then commodious being choaked up hath much eclipsed its trade and grandure having now but one Church which for largeness giveth place to few Cathedrals Here was formerly a Castle an Abby a Nunnery 2 Priories and 2 Chantries which time hath reduced to ruins and in their places are erected Houses It
sometime defended against a certain Soldan or Heathenish Prince Through the Picts Wall runneth the Tyne which watereth two Dales each having their Hills so boggy with standing Water on the top that no Horse-man is able to ride through them and yet in many places are great heaps of Stones called Laws supposed to be cast up in memory of some persons there slain The chief places are Newcastle Newcastle scituate on an Eminence and on the North banks of the Tyne over which it hath a fair Bridge This Town before the Conquest was called Monk-chester as being in the possession of Monks which name was changed to Newcastle by Robert Son to William the Conquerour from a Castle there built by him It is a Town and County of it self being incorporated and governed by a Major 12 Aldermen a Recorder and other sub-Officers and amongst its Immunities sends its Representatives to Parliament 't is a place of good largeness numbring 4 Parish Churches besides one in Gates-head it is beautified with good Buildings and by reason of its deep and secure Haven is much inhabited and frequented by Merchants and Tradesmen having several Vessels belonging to the Town but is of chief note for its Coal trade It is a place of great strength for besides its Castle now something ruinous it is begirt with a strong Wall on which are many Turrets and hath for entrance 7 Gates Here are weekly two Markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays which are both very considerable for all sorts of Provisions Morpeth Morpeth scituate on the Wensbeck a very fine incorporated Town governed by 2 Bailiffs and sendeth Burgesses to Parliament It is strengthned with a Castle and hath a Market on Wednesdays which is esteemed the best in the County for Corn Cattle and Provisions Barwick Barwick commodiously seated betwixt England and Scotland but on the North or Scotish side of the Tweed over which it hath a stately Bridge sustained by 14 or 15 Arches being a Town and County of it self It is a Place of great strength as well by Nature as Art being almost encompassed with the Sea and the Tweed and strongly fenced about with Walls a Castle and other Fortifications as being a place of such great importance to England It is a Town Corporate governed by a Major Bailiffs and Burgesses and hath the election of Parliament men It is large and populous its Houses well built enjoyeth a good Trade especially for Salmon and Corn and its Market on Saturdays is very considerable Along the Coast of this County are the Isles of Cockes Fern and Holy Isle which are small Isles of a barren and ungrateful Soil and but thinly inhabited NOTTINGHAM a County blest with a wholsom Air County of Nottingham its Soil is different the South-east part which is watered with the Trent and other fresh Streams is most fertil and apt for Corn and Grass and is called the Clay part and the Western part wherein is the Forest of Shirwood a large tract of ground which is well clothed with Wood and provided with Game and this part from the temperature of the Earth is called the Sandy part This County produceth a Stone softer than Alablaster but being burnt maketh a Plaister harder than that of Paris with which they floor their upper Rooms The form of this Shire is oval doubling in length twice its breadth It is severed into 8 Hundreds or Wapontacks in which are numbred 168 Parish Churches and hath intercourse of traffick with 9 Market Towns Nottingham commodiously feated on an Eminence and on the banks of the Leane Nottingham which at a small distance loseth it self in the Trent over each of which Rivers there is a fair Stone-bridge besides two others over two Ponds called the Cheney Bridges It is a large Town numbring 3 Parish Churches is replenished with well built Houses its Streets are fair and graced with a spacious Market-place on the West side of the Town is the Castle which before its defacement in the late Wars was a place of great strength and importance It is a Town of good antiquity and amongst its places of remark here are many strange Vaults hewed out of the Rocks especially under the Castle which are descended by divers steps and have their several Rooms and Stairs artificially made also in the Hill are Houses with Rooms Chimneys winding Stairs and Windows wrought out of the solid Rock This Town enjoys several Immunities electeth Burgesses for Parliament is governed by a Major 6 Aldermen 2 Sheriffs a Town Clerk and other sub-Officers it enjoyeth a good Trade is well inhabited and frequented and hath weekly 3 Markets viz. on Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays which is very considerable for Cattle Corn and Provisions Newark scituate on the high Road to York and on the Trent Newark over which it hath a Bridge It is a good large Town Corporate governed by an Alderman and 12 Assistants is well inhabited enjoyeth a good Trade and hath a considerable Marker for Corn Cattle and Provisions on Wednesdays Mansfield scituate in the Forest of Sherwood a well inhabited Mansfield well built and large Town enjoying a good Trade for Mault and hath a very considerable Market for Corn Cattle Mault Swine and Provisions on Thursdays Redford scituate on the River Idel an ancient Town Corporate Redford which electeth Burgesses to Parliament is governed by 2 Bailiffs 6 Aldermen and a Steward and hath a great Market for Corn and Provisions on Saturdays The County of OXFORD is blest with a delectable Air County of Oxford described which doth occasion it to be much inhabited by Gentry and the rather as being of a fertil Soil for Corn and Fruits well stored with Cattle and interlaced with pleasant Hills wherein and in the Downs are found variety of Game It is well watered with Rivers as the Owse or Isis the Tame Cherwel Windrush and Ebenlode It is divided into 14 Hundreds in which tract is seated 280 Parish Churches and is traded unto by 12 Market Towns and graced with a beautiful and stately City Oxford the Seat of the Muses exceeding all Universities in the World Oxford except her Sister Cambridge It is a place of great antiquity said to be consecrated unto Learning in the time of the Old Britains and was much cherished and countenanced by King Elfred who sent thither his Son Ethelward on purpose to invite the young Nobles to study the Arts and Sciences It is a City commodiously seated both for pleasure and profit between the Isis and the Charwel which encompasseth three parts of the City over which for the convenience of passage it hath several Bridges The City is large numbring 14 Parish Churches besides its Cathedral a large Structure and is at present a fair and stately City adorned with well-built Houses and beautified with divers curious Structures as the Kings Palace now the Mannor House the 16 Colledges 8 Halls the Schools wherein is a stately Library
and The ater newly erected It enjoyeth ample Immunities keepeth Courts for all Actions without limitation of some hath the election of 4 Burgesses 2 for the University and 2 for the City It is a place very populous and well resorted unto hath weekly two Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays which is the chief and very considerable for Provisions and all sorts of Grain especially Barly and also enjoys a great trade for Mault Burford Burford scituate on an Ascent near the Downs and on the River Windrush which springeth out of the Cotswold a large and fair Town Corporate governed by two Bailiffs and other sub-Officers and hath a well frequented Market for Corn Cattle and Provisions on Saturdays and is of chief note for Saddles here made Woodstock Woodstock a well compacted Borough Town governed by a Major 4 Aldermen c. enjoyeth several Immunities sends Burgesses to Parliament and hath an indifferent good Market on Tuesdays It is delightfully seated and of some note for its large Park wherein was Woodstock-Bower built by King Henry the first and where he kept his Mistress the beautiful Rosamond Clifford which was here poysoned by his enraged Queen Elianor Banbury Banbury seated on the Cherwel and in a Flat a pretty large wealthy and beautiful Town Corporate governed by a Major 12 Aldermen c. sends Burgesses to Parliament hath a very considerable Market for Cattle Sheep and Provisions on Thursdays and is of some note for its Cakes and Cheese Tame Tame pleasantly seated on the River so called which with its branches doth almost encompass it and over which it hath a Bridge which leadeth into Buckinghamshire It is a large Town having one spacious Street in the midst of which is the Market-place and its Market which is on Tuesdays is well resorted unto by Grasiers and Butchers from London and other parts it being very considerable for Cattle Henley Henley or Henley upon Thames as being thereon seated over which it hath a fair Bridge a large Town Corporate governed by a Warden for its chief Magistrate enjoyeth a considerable trade for Maulting and much inhabited by Bargmen and Watermen who are employed for the carrying of Mault Wood c. to London and in return bring such commodities as they and the Neighbourhood have occasion of It s Market is on Thursdays which is very considerable for Corn especially Barly there being oft-times about 300 Cartloads sold in one day RVTLAND County of Rutland described the smallest County in the Kingdom making in circumference not above 40 miles and although for quantity the least yet for quality may be compared with the best being of a very fertil Soil both for tillage and pasturage especially about the Vale of Catmose It is well clothed with Wood watered with fresh Streams is blest with a sweet Air and hath more Parks considering its extent than any County in England This County is severed into five Hundreds in which are 48 Parishes and hath two Market Towns viz. Oakham Oakham scituate in the rich and pleasant Valley of Catmose and although not large yet is the Shire Town where the Assizes and Sessions are held its Buildings are indifferent good especially its Church Free School and Hospital here is an old decayed Castle which is now made use of for the Assizes It hath a Market on Saturdays which is indifferently well served with Provisions Vpingham highly seated a neat compacted and well built Town Upingham hath the accommodation of a Free School and an Hospital and its Market which is on Wednesdays is well resorted unto and served with living Cattle Corn and Provisions SHROPSHIRE being a frontier County to Wales County of Salop described is well replenished with Towns and Castles the better to over-awe the Welshmen in the bordering Marches and divers Noblemen in this tract were called Barons of the March and enjoyed in their Territories certain Priviledges and held Courts for the administring of Justice This County is of a fertil Soil both for Tillage and Pasturage abounding in Wheat and Barly is well clothed with Wood feedeth good store of Cattle and in the bowels of the Earth are Mines of Iron and Pit-Coal It is well watered with Rivers as the Tern Clun Rea Teame Roden and Severn being the chief which in a crooked passage severeth the Shire in the midst It is very Hilly and Mountainous especially towards the Southern and Western parts In this County are 170 Parish Churches and hath for its Towns of chief note Shrewsbury raised out of the ancient Vriconium Shrewsbury the Seat of the Princes of Powis until forced thence by the Saxons It is pleasantly seated on an easie Ascent and on the banks of the Severn which almost encompasses it It is a place which for largeness numbring 5 Parish Churches besides a Chapel neatness of Buildings both publick and private largeness and variety of Streets and populousness may be set down in the rank of Cities It is a Town of good strength as well by Nature as Art being fenced about with a strong Wall defended by a Castle Bulwarks and other Fortifications It is a place of a great resort and well inhabited both by English and Welsh and enjoyeth this place being the common Mart between England and Middle Wales The Town enjoys large Immunities keepeth Courts sendeth its Representatives to Parliament hath a large Free School is governed by a Major 24 Aldermen 48 Common Council-men a Recorder Town Clerk with other sub-Officers and hath weekly 3 Markets on Wednesdays for Provisions on Thursdays for Cottons c. here sold in great abundance and thence sent to London and on Saturdays for Cattle and all sorts of Provisions in great plenty Oswestre so called from Oswald King of the Northumbers Oswestre who was here slain in a Battel and cruelly torn in pieces by Penda the Pagan Mercian Prince It is a Town Corporated governed by two Bailists and Burgesses and before the Mart for Welsh Cottons was hence removed to Shrewsbury was of greater account than now it is yet is it of some trade for Flannels and its Market which is on Mondays is well resorted unto and furnished with Cattle and Provisions Wenlock Magna seated in the road from Worcester to Shrewsbury Wenlock Magna a Town Corporate governed by Bailiffs and Burgesses hath the election of Parliament men is of some note for its Lime and Tobacco-pipes here made in great plenty and hath a very good Market on Mondays for Corn and Provisions Bridgnorth a large Town Corporate governed by 2 Bailiffs and Burgesses Bridgnorth and hath the election of Parliament men It is seated on the Severn over which is a fair Stone-bridge is well inhabited containeth 2 Parish Churches and hath a good Market for Corn Cattle and Provisions Ludlow seated on the Temd a Town more fair than ancient Ludlow being beautified with divers good Buildings amongst which is the Palace of the President
and its Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays are very great and well provided with Corn Flesh Fish and Fowl It was formerly a Major Town but at present a Bailiwick Bridgwater seated on a navigable River Bridgwater over which it hath a fine Stone-bridge It is a large well frequented and inhabited Borough Town hath the election of Parliament men is governed by a Major and other sub-Officers was formerly a place of good account having a Castle and an Abby It s Market is on Thursdays which is well served with Corn and Provisions and in the Summer season with Cattle Mynehead seated on the Sea-shoar a Borough Town Mynehead electing Parliament men hath a very good harbour for Ships of a considerable burthen to ride in and is a place of some Trade especially into Ireland yet its Market is but small County of Stafford The County of STAFFORD seated much about the midst of England of a healthful Air and different Soil the Southern parts being generally barren as sandy gravelly or heathy except on the banks of the Rivers yet by the Husbandmans pains in manuring it it beareth good Corn and the Northern parts are hilly and full of grat Heaths and Moors and is made use of for seeding of Cattle And although an Inland County yet by reason of the many Rivers and Brooks it is plentifully furnished with excellent Fish To speak of the Country in general there are more Heaths Moors and wast Ground than in any County in England as to its bigness insomuch that you may go the whole length of the County and see little but Heaths and Moors but these are not without profit as breeding store of Sheep Conies and Deer as well as pleasure for the Gentleman both for the Hawk Gun and Hound and for Parks and Warrens few Counties doth exceed it The Commodities that this Shire affordeth to others are Cattle Sheep Horses Butter Cheese Wool Bacon Iron Iron-ware chiefly Nails Alablaster c. The number of Parishes are 130 and hath 18 Market Towns many of which are of considerable account Litchfield Litchfield a City and County of it self seated in a pleasant Champain Country divided from the Cathedral and Close but joyned together by two Bridges and Cawseys It is a City of great antiquity formerly called Licidfeld that is the Field of dead Bodies which name it had from the great number of Christians there slain in the Dioclesian Persecution and here Oswin King of the Northumbers having vanquished the Pagan Mercians erected a Church and made it the Episcopal See of Duina the Bishop which afterwards was made an Archiepiscopal Pale by Pope Hadrian in the Reign of King Offa which dignity expired with his life This City is well built is indifferent large containing 3 Parish Churches besides its Cathedral a beautiful and curious Structure adjoyning to which is the Bishops Palace and the Prebends-houses the Streets are payed and well ordered and is a place much frequented by Gentry It is governed by 2 Bailiffs a Sheriff which are elected out of 24 Burgesses a Recorder Town Clerk with sub-Officers and amongst its Immunities sends Burgesses to Parliament Its Markets are on Tuesdays and Fridays which are plentifully served with Corn and Provisions Stafford Stafford well seated on the River Sowe amongst rich Meadows a fair Town indifferent large containing 2 Parish Churches hath a Free School and a fine square Market-place in which the Shire-Hall is kept for the Assigâ—â— and Sessions of the County the Streets are paved and well ordered and its Houses well built it is governed by a Major and Burgesses hath a Recorder Town Clerk and 2 Serjeants at Mace The Town enjoys large Immunities sends Burgesses to Parliament is well inhabited and frequented and its Markets which is on Saturdays is well served with Corn Flesh and other Provisions New-Castle under Line New-Castle seated on a little Rivulet a large Town Corporate governed by a Major Bailiffs and Burgesses hath a Court of Record to hold plea in all Personal Actions under 40 l. and amongst its Immunities sends Burgesses to Parliament It hath a great Market on Mondays for Cattle some Horses and Sheep with plenty of Provisions and after Low-Monday a Market or rather a Fair every Fortnight for some time Vttoxater uttoxater pleasantly seated near the Banks of the Dove amongst excellent Pasturage The Town is not very well built but pretty large hath a well built Market-place and its Market which is on Wednesdays is said to be one of the greatest in these parts of England for Cattle Sheep Swine Butter Cheese Corn and all Provisions Tamworth Tamworth seated on the Banks of the Tame which divides the Town one part being in this County and the other in Warwickshire The Town at present is of good account though not of that splendor as in former times being incorporated governed by Bailiffs a high Steward under-Steward Recorder and other sub-Officers sends Burgesses to Parliament and hath a Market on Saturdays which is indifferent good for Corn and Provisions and in the Spring time for Cattle and Sheep Walsall Walsall seated on the top of a Hill a well-built Town Corporate governed by a Major and other sub-Officers hath a Court of Record enjoyeth a good Trade for divers Manufactures made of Iron as Nails Bridle-bits Stirrups Spurs and also Bellows here made in great plenty yet its Market which is on Tuesdays is not very great Wolverhampton pleasantly seated on a Hill Wolverhampton beautified with reasonable well built Houses and its Streets handsomly paved is much frequented by Gentry hath a neat Collegiate Church and its Market which is on Wednesdays is very considerable for Corn Cattle and Provisions being esteemed the second Market Town in the County County of Suffolk described SVFFOLK a County of a various Soil and consequently hath sundry growths and Manufactures the Eastern parts all along the Coasts and for 5 or 6 miles Inland are generally very bleak but healthy sandy full of small Hills and Springs and employed in Tillage for Rye Peas Brank Hemp and for Sheep-walks The more Inland part commonly called High-Suffolk or the Wood-lands is pretty level close and dirty and is made use of chiefly for Dayries driving a great trade for their Butter and Cheese and the parts about Bury are Champain and affordeth great store of grain of all sorts It is a County of a large extent is well stored with Parks watered with fresh Streams and blest with a most healthful and sweet Air which makes it to be so well inhabited by Gentry and is traded unto by 27 Market Towns and numbreth 575 Parish Churches Ipswich seated by the Banks of the Orwell Ipswich near the place where its fresh Water and salt meet which with the Tide gives it the conveniency of a Key 'T is a place of great antiquity and was once fenced about with a Wall or Rampier which was thrown down by the
hath a stately Market-house enjoyeth a good Trade chiefly for Mault and is the place where the Assizes and general Sessions for the County are kept It is governed by a Major 12 Brethren 24 Burgesses a Recorder with sub-Officers Amongst its Immunities electeth Parliament men and its Market which is on Saturdays is very great for Corn and Provisions Near unto this Town is Guy-Cliff most pleasantly seated amongst Groves and fresh Streams where Guy of Warwick is said to have built a Chapel and after he had left off his exploits here led an Hermetical life and was here interr'd Stratford Stratford seated on the Avon over which it hath a fair Stone-bridge sustained by 14 Arches It is a good large Town having for Divine worship two Churches is well inhabited enjoyeth a considerable Trade for Mault here made and hath a Market on Thursdays which is very well served with Corn and Provisions Bromicham Bromicham seated very dry on the side of a Hill it is a large and well built Town very populous much resorted unto and enjoyeth a very great trade for Iron and Steel Wares and Tools here made also for Saddles and Bridles which find good vent at London Ireland and other parts and its Market is on Thursdays which is very considerable for living Cattle Corn Mault and Provisions besides the Manufactures of the Town At Newenham-Regis is a Spring whose Water if drunk with Salt loosneth and if with Sugar bindeth the Body and is said to be very Sovereign against Vlcers Imposthumes and the Gout County of Westmoreland described The County of WESTMORELAND so called as lying amongst Moors and high Hills or Fells generally of a barren Soil and very Mountainous but not without many fruitful Valleys both for Tillage and Pasturage and is well watered with fresh Streams Here are several Meers and Lakes as Winder-Meer which is the greatest standing water in England Rydale-water Ester-water Gresmere-water Kent-Meer Vlles-water Brother-water Hawse-water and others This County is divided or severed into two Baronies viz. Kendale Barony which is divided into the Wards of Kendale and Lonsdale and the other Barony called the Barony of Westmoreland is divided into East-Ward and West-Ward and of these in order Kirby-Lonsdale Kirby-Lonsdale or the Church-Town in Lonsdale seated on the Lon over which it hath a large Stone-bridge and in a rich Vale. It is a large and well built Town beautified with a fair Church a well inhabited and frequented Town both to Church and Market esteemed the greatest in the County next to Kendale and its Market on Thursdays is well served with Provisions and traded unto for Cloth Kendale Kendale or Kirby-Kendale a very fair large well-built inhabited and frequented Borough and Market Town which for good Buildings largeness neatness and good Manufactures is the chief in the County It is a place of a considerable Trade the people much addicting themselves to Traffick not only in their old Manufacture of Cotton and course Woollen Cloth but of late in Druggets Serges Hats Worsted-Stockings c. to the much enriching the Town and adjacent parts It is most pleasantly seated in a Valley so called amongst Hills and on the River Can or Kent over which it hath two fair Stone-bridges besides one of Wood which leadeth to the Castle now ruinoâ—â— The Town is built in form of a Cross and is beautified with a fair and large Church sustained by five rows of Pillars with several Apartments near unto which is a Free-School well endowed and to this Church belongeth 12 Chapels of Ease As to the Government of this Town it is committed to the care of a Major 12 Aldermen 20 Common Council-men a Recorder Town Clerk and two Attorneys who attend their Sessions and Courts of Record Here are belonging to this Town 7 Companies viz. Mercers Shear-men Cordwainers Tanners Glovers Taylors and Pewterers each having their Hall or place of meeting and for the accommodation of its Inhabitants hath a very great Market for Corn living Cattle and Provisions on Saturdays Apleby Apleby of note for its scituation and antiquity being for the most part encircled with the River Eden but so slenderly peopled with idle Inhabitants and the Buildings so mean although of late much amended that were it not for the Assizes and Sessions here held it would be little better than a Village It is a very ancient Town Corporate governed by a Major and 12 Aldermen with sub-Officers enjoys large Immunities sends Burgesses to Parliament and is discharged from paying Toll in all places except London and York Here is an Hospital or Alms-house erected and liberally endowed by the Lady Clifford for the relief of 13 decaied Widows who are called the Mother and her 12 Sisters The Market is here kept on Saturdays which is well served with Corn and Provisions Kirby-Stevens Kirby-Stephens beautified with a fair Church seated near the Hills towards Yorkshire It is a good and well known Town which of late is much improved by the trade of making Stockings and hath a good Market on Fridays At Stainmore a great Hill is a Cross said to be erected upon a Peace concluded between William the Conquerour and Malcolme King of the Scots and that by the said Place each Kingdom should know their limits and on this Stone-Cross which is called Ree-Cross that is the Cross of Kings was engraven the Arms of the Kings on the South-side those of England Ree-Cross and on the North those of Scotland County of Wilts WILT-SHIRE an Inland County no less fertil than delightful It s Northern parts hath delectable Hills well clothed with Woods and watered with fresh Streams amongst which is the Isis which soon becometh the chief of the Kingdom It s Southern parts are more even and exceeding fertil in Corn and Grass feeding great flocks of Sheep and are also well watered with the Avon Willy and Alder and the midst of the County is plain and level bearing the name of Salisbury-Plain which is a large tract of ground which feedeth good flocks of Sheep In the midst of this County is a Dike called Wansdike which runneth many miles in length and is a place of some wonder being said to be made for the dividing the Kingdom of the Mercians from that of the West-Saxons this being the place where they fought for the enlargement of their Dominions And here it was that Ina the West-Saxon joyned Battle with Geolred the Mercian whence both of them quitted the Field with equal loss This County is divided into 29 Hundreds in which are seated 304 Parish Churches and hath for the accommodation of the Inhabitants 20 Market Towns Salisbury Salisbury a City of great antiquity being the Seat of the Romans It is commonly called New-Sarum as raised out of the Old which was seated on a great Eminence being designed for Strength and War yet honoured with an Episcopal See and a fair Cathedral This City of New Sarum is
King Richard the First and here is found Jett or black-Amber Whitby well seated on the River Esk at its influx into the Sea Whitby over which it hath a Bridge It is a well built Town enjoyeth a considerable Trade especially for Alum and Butter called Whitby-Butter there belonging to it about 100 Sail of Vessels having a Custom and would be more considerable were its Peer finished and its Market which is on Saturdays is very great and well served with Flesh Fish Fowl c. On this Coast is seated Skeningrave a small Town Skeningrave but well frequented by Fishermen And near unto Hunt-Cliff not far from the Shoar at a Low-water appear Rocks about which the Seal-sish come in great Sholes and lie sleeping and Sunning themselves in fair and warm weather and according to observation whilst these Fish do thus sleep there is one of them which watcheth as a Sentinel and when any danger approacheth they are awaked by its slinging it felf into the Sea and making a noise and so escape North-Allerton seated near the Swale a large Borough Town North-Allerton which electeth Parliament men and hath a great Market on Wednesdays for Horses Cattle Corn and Provisions and is a Town of a good Trade The other part of this Riding beareth the name of Richmondshire Richmondshire so called from a Castle there seated It lieth very high and is Mountainous and Rocky hath good Mines of Lead Copper and Pit-Coal is interlaced with fertil Valleys It containeth within its Jurisdiction 5 Wapontacks and hath for its chief places Richmond Richmond seated on the Northern Banks of the Swale over which it hath a Stone-bridge It is a large Town Corporate containeth 2 Parish Churches is begirt with a Wall which hath 3 Gates for entrance which leadeth into so many Suburbs is fortified with a strong Castle highly seated on a Rock is graced with well-built Houses many of which are of Free-stone and its Streets are paved and well ordered It s Market-place which is well resorted unto and plentifully furnished with Cattle and Provisions on Saturdays is very spacious It is well inhabited by Gentry and Tradesmen and enjoyeth a very good Trade for Stockings and Woollen Knit-Caps for Sea-men It is governed by a Major and Aldermen with sub-Officers enjoyeth large Immunities and hath a Court of Record for all Actions without limitation of some for the said liberty The East parts of this Riding lying on or near the Sea-shoar and the Banks of the Derwent are of a good Soil and fertil but the midst called the Wold is very hilly and barren It s chief places are Hull Hull or Kingston upon Hull commodiously seated on the Mouth of the River Hull at its influx into the Humber a Town of no great antiquity taking its rise from King Edward the First where he made a Haven and a Free-Burgh and granted to its Inhabitants who were Free Burgesses ample Immunities It is at present a very large Borough and Town Corporate though containing but 2 Parish Churches graced with fair Buildings and well ordered Streets which are sufficiently furnished with Shop-keepers one of which resembleth Thames-street near the Bridge in London where Pitch Tar Cordage Sails and other necessaries for Ships are sold and to which the Ships and Vessels come to lade and unlade their Goods having a Custom-House and Key and the commodiousness of the Town for Shipping makes it to be a place well inhabited and much resorted unto by Merchants this Town being inferiour for Trade to none in England next to London and Bristol It is a place of exceeding great strength being able to bid defiance both to a Navy and a Land-Army and that by reason of its strong Block-houses Castles VValls Forts Trenches and the Inhabitants and Souldiers within it being a considerable Garrison of his Majesties It is governed by a Major 12 Aldermen a Common Council and other sub-Officers amongst its Priviledges gives Vote in Parliament by its Representatives It is very well served with Provisions as well in its Shambles as in its Market which is on Saturday In these Seas are taken abundance of Herrings to the great profit of the Inhabitants Bridlington Barlington or Barlington a Sea-Port Town seated on a Creek near Flamborough-head a place well known to Sea-men and hath a sase Road for Ships to ride in and a very commodious Key for Ships to lade and unlade at by reason of which it enjoyeth a good Trade and its Market which is on Saturdays is well served with Provisions c. Beverley Beverley seated on the River Hull which gives passage into the Humber for Boats and Barges for the conveyance of their Goods to and fro It is a large and well-built Borough and Town Corporate containing two Parish Churches besides its Minster it enjoyeth large Immunities electeth Parliament men is governed by a Major 12 Aldermen with sub-Officers is a place well inhabited by Gentry and Tradesmen and its Markets which are on Thursdays and Saturdays are well served with Provisions Howden Howden seated near the Rivers Owse and Derwent a good large Town which gives name to a small Territory called Howdenshir and hath a very great Market for Cattle Corn and Provisions on Saturdays The West Riding is the largest of the three is every where well watered with Rivers and replenished with good Towns the chief amongst which are Halifax seated in a barren Soil and on a steep descent of an Hill Halifax a place of note as well for being the Birth-place of Johannes de Sacro Bosco the Inventer of the Sphere as for its strict Law in the sudden beheading of such as are taken in the act of Theft As for the largeness of the Parish it containeth 11 Chapels of Ease of which two are Parish Chapels is very well inhabited and driveth a great Trade for Cloth and other Manufactures It is a very good Town graced with Stone-built Houses and well-ordered and paved Streets and hath a considerable Market for Corn and Provisions on Thursdays Sheafield seated on the Don or Dune Sheafield a place of chief note for the great quantity of Smiths there inhabiting by reason of the many Iron-Mines in these parts who drive a good Trade for all sorts of Edge-Tools and other things of Iron especially Knives which bear the name of Sheafield-Blades The Town is large its Houses built of Stone and hath a great Market on Tuesdays for several Commodities especially Corn which is much bought up for the supply of some parts of Darbyshire Nottinghamshire and the West of Yorkshire Rotheram seated on the Don over which it hath a fine Stone-bridge Rotheram a well built Town with Stone-houses and hath a very great Market for Cattle and Provisions on Mondays Tickhill yet retaineth something of its ancient Castle and Fortifications Tickhill demolished in the late Wars It hath a distinct Liberty called the Honour of Tickhill being part
thrusteth it self forth into a Promontory called St. Abbs-head Kelso Kelso formerly famous for its Monastery which with thirteen others King David the First raised from the ground for the advancement of Gods glory It s chief places TEIFIDALE that is the Vale by the River Teifie or Teviat adjoyning to England a craggy hilly Country It s chief places are Roxburg Roxburg which gives name to a Territory adjoyning seated between the Rivers Tweed and Teifie once a place of great strength being defended by a Castle and towred Fortifications and here it was that King James the Second of Scotland was unfortunately slain by the breaking of a Cannon at the Siege Jedburgh Jedburgh a well frequented and inhabited Borough-Town seated near the confluence of the Rivers Teviat and Yed Peblis Peblis seated on the Tweed and a branch thereof a Market-Town of some account Merlos Merlos seated also on the Tweed formerly of note for its ancient Monastery of cloistered Monks that gave themselves to Prayer and to get their livings by their handy labour and this place holy King David restored and replenished with Cistertian Monks ESKDALE Eskdale a small Territory so called from a River which passeth through it its chief place was Aesica Aesica that ancient City wherein the Tribune of the first Band of the Astures kept Watch and Ward against the Northern Enemies EVSKDALE Euskdale another small Territory which takes its name from the River that watereth it LIDDISDALE Liddisdale also another small Territory which receiveth its name from the River that passeth through it It s chief places are Brankensey Brankensey c. Harlay and Armetage ANNADALE that is the Vale by the River Annan It s chief places are Annadale Annadale seated at the Mouth of the River Annan And Lough-Mahun Lough-Mahun a Town of good strength as well by Nature as Art nigh unto which is a strong Castle Of a fertil Soil NITHESDALE or NIDDESDALE a County so named from the River Nid which watereth it a County of a fertil Soil which beareth good Corn hath rich Meadows and Pastures and in the Solway which watereth its Southern part are taken great store of excellent Salmons which the Inhabitants for their Recreation oft-times hunt on Horse-back with Spears It s chief places are Dunfreys Dunfreys seated between two Hills and on the River Nid near its influx into the Solway once strengthned with a Castle a Town of good account for making of Woollen-Cloths out more remarkable for the Murther of John Cummin a man of great eminency amongst the Scotch who was slain by Robert Brus in the Church out of fear lest he should fore-close his way to the Kingdom Nigh unto this Town is Solway Solway a small place which seemeth to retain something of the old name of Selgovae Caer-Laverock seated at the Mouth of the Nid Caer-Laverock in former time of so great strength that for a good while it stoutly resisted the power of King Edward the First who besieged it Corda also a flourishing Town in former Ages Corda GALLOWAY a County so called of the Irish who once here inhabited in former times had Princes and Lords over it It is a Country much inclined to Hills which renders it more fit for Grasing than Tillage breeding abundance of small and well limbed Nags which for their nimbleness and hardiness are esteemed excellent for a Traveller And the Sea by which it is washed together with its Bays Creeks Meers and Loughs affords the Inhabitants store of excellent Fish It s chief places are Kircoubright the most commodious Port-Town on this Coast Kircoubright and the second Stewarty of Scotland Cardines a place or Fort of great strength as well by Nature as Art Cardines being seated on a craggy high Rock by the River Fleet and fenced about with strong Walls Wigton seated on a Bay of the Sea between the Rivers Cre and Bladno Wigton a good Haven-Town Not far from this Town and on the Sea-shoar Ptolomy placed the ancient City Leucopibia which is now called Wytherne and here it is said Ninia Leucopibia or Ninian a holy Britain who first instructed the South-Picts in the Christian Faith in the Reign of the Emperour Theodosius the younger had his Seat and built a Church to the honour of St. Martin CARRICT a County that hath rich Pastures and is well furnished with all necessaries both by Land and Sea where it beareth the name of Dunbritain-Frith a large and capacious Bay which with its Rivers and Loughs affords its Inhabitants plenty of Fish It s chief places are Barganie a place of great antiquity Arduntoun and Cosregall Barganie KYLE a fertil County and well inhabited and hath for its chief places Arduntoun Aire seated on a River so called where it looseth it self into the Frith Cosregal a place of some account being a Sheriffdom And Vchiltre Aire Uchiltre CVNNINGHAM also washed with Dunbritain-Frith a County no less commodious and fertil than pleasant being plentifully watered It s chief places are Irwin a Borough-Town seated on a River so called Irwin at its influx into the Frith where it hath a Haven though now choaked up Largis Largis where Alexander the Third destroyed abundance of the Norwegians And Androsan Androsan CLVDESDALE a County so called from the River Cluid that watereth it It s chief places are Glasco pleasantly scituate on the River Cluyd Glasco over which it hath a fair Bridge sustained by eight Arches It is a City of good account well frequented and inhabited enjoyeth a good Trade and is dignified with the See of an Archbishop as also with an Vniversity Douglass seated on a River and in a Vale so called Douglass Lanrick the Hereditary Sheriffdom of the Hamiltons Lanrick who take their name from Hamilton-Castle seated on the fruitful Bank of the Cluid Hamilton Reinfraw which gives name to a Barony Reinfraw Paslay in former times a famous Monastery Paslay founded by Alexander the Second High Steward of Scotland which for a stately Church with rich Furniture was inferiour to few LENNOX a County very Hilly and well watered with Rivers amongst which is the Cluid and the large Lough Lomond about 20 miles in length Lomond Lough and in breadth where broadest about 8 in which are many small Isles amongst which some are said to float about a place noted for great plenty of Fish especially for a Fish called a Polloc found no where else This County is honoured in giving Title to the Right Noble the Duke of Richmond and Lennox c. It s chief places are Dunbritton Dunbritton that is the Britains Town for that the Britains held it longest against the Scots Picts and Saxons being the strongest place in all the Kingdom as well by Nature as Art being loftily seated on a rough craggy and
two-headed Rock at the meeting of the Rivers near the large Lough Lomond and in a green Plain in one of the tops is or was placed a Watch-Tower and on the other several Fortifications or Bulwarks on the East-side it hath a boggy Flat which at every Tide is covered with water and on the South it hath the River Cluid Alcluyd Alcluyd an ancient City by some said to be the same Dunbritton Of a fertil Soil STRIVELING or STIRLING a County of a fertil Soil and well inhabited and here is that narrow Land or Streight by which Edenburgh-Frith and Dunbrith-Frith thrusting themselves far into the Land out of the East and West Seas are separated from meeting together which space was fortified with Garrisons between by Julius Agricola so that all the part on this side was in the possession of the Romans and their Enemies were forced to retire themselves into the more Northern and Hilly part of the Kingdom but this lasted not long for Agricola being called home the Caledonian Britains forced the Romans back as far as the River Tine and when Hadrian arrived in Britain about 40 years after instead of going farther he gave command that the God Terminus which used not to give ground to any should be withdrawn back and that a Wall of Turffs commonly now called Grahams-Dike should be made between the Rivers Tine and Eske Southward on this side Edenburgh-Frith for about 100 miles which proved successful unto them And along this Wall hath been oft-times found several Inscriptions and pieces of Romish Antiquities And of remark was that ancient round building 24 Cubits high and 13 broad open at the top and framed of rough and unpolished Stones without any Cement Lime and Morâ—ar some call this the Temple of the God Terminus others Arthur's Oven and others Julius Hoff as supposing it to be raised by Julius Caesar but Cambden would rather believe it to be built by Julius Agricola who fortified these parts had not Ninius said it was built by Garausius as a Triumphal Arch in memory of some Victory The chief places in this County are Stirling Stirling Striveling or Stirling-Borough a place of good strength and fortified with a powerful Castle high mounted on the brow of a steep Rock a place dignified with the birth of King James the Sixth of Scotland and First of England who afterwards caused it to be beautified with new Buildings Falkirke Falkirke c. Cumirnald and Torwood MENTEITH a County so called from the River Teith It s chief places are Dunblain Clackmannan Dunblain seated on the River Teith being the See of a Bishop and Clackmannan Of a very fertil Soil FIFE a fertil County in Corn and Pasturage hath Pit-Coal and the Sea with its two Arms Forth and Tau which almost encompass it affordeth store of Oysters and other Fish It s chief places are St. Andrews St. Andrews of old Regimund that is St. Regulus Mount which Vng or Oeng King of the Picts gave to God and St. Andrew that it should be the chief and Mother Church of the Picts Kingdom It is a City pleasantly seated on the Sea-shoar near Fif-ness is fortified with a fair and strong Castle is dignified with an Archiepiscopal See which is Primate of all Scotland and is also honoured by being the Seat of the Muses Disert Disert seated on the rising of a Hill and in an open Heath so called where there is a large place called the Cole-plot that affordeth good store of Bitumen Dunfirmling Dunfirmling a famous Monastery in old time and of note as well for its Building and being the Burial-place of King Malcomb the Third as for giving Title to the Earl of Dunfirmling Falkland Falkland well and pleasantly seated for Hunting for which purpose the Kings have had here their Retiring-house Cupre Cupre a Borough-Town of some note STRATHERNE that is the Vale along the River Ern hath for its chief places Abergenny Abergenny once a City of good account being the Royal Seat of the Picts Kings which as 't is said Nectane their King dedicated to God and St. Bridget with a Tract of ground thereto belonging Drimein Drimein-Castle well seated on the River Ern. Tulibardin Tulibardin-Castle scituate also on the same River ARGILE a County well furnished with Pools in which together with the Sea and its many Arms which it sendeth forth are taken great plenty of good Fish and in its Mountains are bred a kind of wild Deer Places of good account are none in this County LORNE a Country of an apt Soil for bearing of Barley is well watered being divided by the large Lough or Lake called Leane It s chief places are Dunstafage Dunstafage seated near the said Lake once dignified with a House of the Kings Tarbar Tarbar where King James the Fourth ordained a Justice and a Sheriff to administer Justice to the Inhabitants of the out-Isles Bergonum and Bergonum CANTTRE that is the Lands-head as thrusting it self forth with a long and tapered Promontory which Ptolomy called the Promontory Epidiorum This County seated near Ireland Kiltan Sandell between the extream point of which and Marlock or Tor-Bay in Ireland there are scarce 13 miles It s chief places are Killtan and Sandell Isle of Arran ARRAN a small County and Isle near unto Cantire hath for its chief places Arran and Rothsay The Highlanders ALBAINE or BRAID-ALBIN whose Inhabitants are called the Highlanders a kind of rude and warlike People and much of the nature of the Irish in habit and disposition It s chief places are Enrer Lothea and Foyre PERCH a large and fertil County hath for its chief places Perch Perch or St. John's Town a place of good account and once larger than now it is being built by King William it is pleasantly seated between two Greens and on the River Tau which is navigable for Barges Dunkelden Dunkelden dignified by King David with an Episcopal See supposed to be a Town of the Caledonians Berch Also on the Tau stood the little City of Berch which was washed away by the overflowings of the said River together with many of its Inhabitants amongst which was an Infant-Child of the Kings in its Cradle Scone Scone seated on the farther side of the Tau dignified with an Inauguration of the Scotch Kings before their Union to England Westminster now being the place and where the Chair in which the Kings were then Crowned is which is at present made use of upon the like occasion Caladonia Wood. ATHOL an indifferent fertil County and well clothed with Wood where is that large and overshadowed Wood Caladonia already treated of a Country said to be infamous for Witches It s chief place is Blaire Very fertil and well watered ANGVIS a fertil County both for Corn and rich Pastures is well watered with several Rivers which lose
themselves in the Sea which serveth for its Eastern bounds It is interlaced with Hills and Forests and garnished with divers Forts and Castles It s chief places are Dundee Dundee seated on the Mouth of the River Tay a noted and well resorted Town for Trade by reason of its commodious Port for Ships Brechin Brechin scituate on the River South-Eske near its fall into the Sea and dignified by King David the First with an Episcopal See Nigh unto this Town is Red-head a place not unknown to Seamen Montross Montross of old Celurca of some account for being honoured with the Title of an Earldom Arbroth seated near the Sea a Town endowed with large Revenues Arbroth and by King William dedicated to a Religious use in honour of Thomas of Canterbury MERNIS Very fertil or MERNIA a small but plain and fertil Champaâ—â—â— Country which shooteth it self forth on the German Ocean It s chief placâ— are Dunnotyr Dunnotyr defended by a strong Castle seated on an high and inaccessibâ—â— Rock near the Sea Fordon Fordon seated also not far from the Sea BVQVIHAN washed with the Sea whose Waves did here cast up mighty Mass of Amber of an inestimable value it hath good Pastures most to feed Sheep whose Wool is excellent and its Rivers breed store of Salmon which are had at such easie rates that it is scarce worth the trouble of takiâ— them It s chief places are Rotheniay and Stanes Adjoyning to this Country lieth Boena and Bamff a small Sheriffdom alâ— Ajuza a little Territory of no great note MARR Marr. a long and narrow County somewhat inclined to Mountains bâ— well watered with the Done or Dee well stored with Salmons and other Fisâ— Its chief places are Aberdene Aberdene feated on the Sea-shoar at the Mouth of the Done dignified wiâ—â— an Episcopal See hath an Hospital also a Free-Grammar-School and is of no for taking of Salmons Kildrumy and Kildrumy MVRRAY Murray a pleasant and fertil County and the rather as watered wiâ—â— the Spey Findorne and the River and Lake Nessa which reacheth aboâ—â—â— 23 miles in length the water whereof is observed to be so warm that it nevâ— is sound to freez and this Lake is its Northern limits as the Spey is its Easterr all which empty themselves in the Sea where it formeth a Bay Its chiâ—â— places are Innernes Innernes Bean-Castle which Ptolomy thinks to be Banatia and here Anno 1460. a Marble-Vessel artificially engraven full of Roman Coins wâ— found Narden Narden or Narne an hereditary Sheriffdom and here stood within a bâ— land a strong Fortress of a great height which was kept by the Danes agaiâ— the Scots Innernes Innerlothea and Innerlothea in former times two eminent Fortifications Alâ— Elgin and Rothes Elgin Rothes places honoured with the Titles of Earldoms LOQVABREA a County well stored with Rivers and Lakes whicâ— empty themselves into the Sea it hath also good Pastures yet is it very Mouâ—â—tainous and well clothed with Wood and in the bowels of the Earth are Minâ— of Iron Iron-Mines It s chief place is Innerlothey Innerlothey once of good account being well frequented and traded unto but through the Pyracies and Wars of the Danes and Norwegians who razâ— it it hath now scarce any Remain left ROSS It s sertility a large Mountainous and Woody County which reacheth froâ— one Sea to the other hath great plenty of Stags Deer Wild-fowl and Fisâ— Its chief places are Cromarty Cromarty or the Haven of Safety as having so secure and capacious an Haâ—â— bour for Ships Ness-mouth Lovet Ness-mouth and Lovet In this County is the Territory of Ardmanoch Ardmanoch very Mountainous froâ— which the second Sons of the Kings of Scotland bear their Title SVTHERLAND regarding the Sea is well watered with Rivers bâ— sides the large Lough or Lake Shyn almost in the midst of the Country Weâ—â—â— wards of which are great store of Hills from which is dug excellent whiâ—â— Marble very good for curious Works It is a Country more fit for breediâ— of Cattle Dunrobin Dorne than for Tillage and hath for its chief places Dunrobin anâ— Dorno Very cold and barren STRATHNAVERNE a County far engaged Northwards whicâ— with Cathanes have the utmost Northern Coast of all Britain which must oâ— casion it to be of a very cold temperature it is very much inclined to sterility Strabubaster Tounge is Mountainous and but ill inhabited It s chief places are Strabubaster anâ— Tounge A MAPP of the Kingdome of IRELAND by Ric Blome by his Matys Com To the R t honble Ric Boyle Earle of Burlington â—â—ron Cliford of Lansborro in England Earle of Corke Viscount Dungaruen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord High Treasurer of Ireland c. And to the Rt. honble Roger Boyle Earle of Orrery Baron 〈◊〉 Broghill in Ireland and of his Ma js most honble privy Councell c This Mapp is humbly Dediâ—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 the R t honble Sr. Rob Kilrâ—â—ray of Terry Bâ—â—on in England Kt. Bart 〈◊〉 of Londonderry Baron of Crallon 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 County in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. his estate in Ireland being called Medinshill This Mapp 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 is DD by Ric Bloâ—◠〈◊〉 the R t honble Earle of Arran Viscâ—â—llough Baron Butler of Clougrenan 〈◊〉 of his Maie s most honble privy Councell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Mapp of the Province of 〈◊〉 is humble DD by Ric Blom◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 honble 〈◊〉 Baron of 〈…〉 Mai s Army of 〈…〉 his 〈◊〉 most honble 〈…〉 This Mapp of the Provence of 〈…〉 Humbly DD by Ric Blome CATHANES a County washed with the Eastern Ocean where it formeth several Creeks and is well watered with Rivers which afford good store of Fish from which and by the grasing and feeding of Cattle the Inhabitants get the greatest part of their livelyhood It s chief places are Dornock a mean place yet the See of a Bishop Dornock Catnes a Maritim Town dignified with an Earldom Catnes Nigh unto this Town Southwards is Ness-head and Northwards Dunesbe-head both Maritim places and Girnego Girnego Three Mountains In this Tract are three Promontories to wit Vrdehead of old Berubium Dunsby or Dunscanby of old Virvedrum and Howbum of old Orcas There are several Isles dispersed about this Kingdom of Scotland as the Orcades Shetland and Hebrides which may properly be said to belong thereunto but as to the description thereof they shall be treated of amongst the other small Isles belonging in general to great Britain after we have treated of the Kingdom of Ireland IRELAND It s scituation IRELAND environed on all sides by the Sea and next to Great Britain may claim priority of all others in Europe It is a Country generally of a fertil Soil and plentifully stored with Cattle Fowl and Fish Fertility but is Mountainous Woody Waterish and full of unprofitable Loughs or
landed his Army there and obtained the Regal Dominion thereof which being passed over unto him by their Nobles and Commonalty their Charter so signed was transmitted to Rome and was confirmed by a Patent of Pope Hadrian by a Ring delivered unto him in token of his investure and was farther confirmed by the Authority of certain Provincial Synods and ever since that time it hath remained in the possessions of the Kings of England The Temporal Government of Ireland The Temporal Government since the English became Masters thereof hath most commonly been by one Supream Officer sent over by the Kings of England and called Lord Deputy or Lord Lieutenant who for Majesty State and Power is not inferiour to any Vice-Roy in Christendom living in great grandure and having ample and Royal Power and Authority granted unto him and as Assistant unto him in so weighty a concern he hath his Privy Council being a select number of honourable and prudent persons chosen out of the Nobility Clergy and Capital Officers of State for their Degrees of Honour and Offices of State they are the same with those of England already treated of The present Lord Lieutenant is the Right Noble his Excellency Arthur Capell Earl of Essex Viscount Maldon Baron Capell of Hadham c. Its Laws and Courts of Judicature The Laws of this Kingdom have correspondency with those of England and have likewise there several Courts of Judicature as the Chancery Common-Pleas Kings-Bench Exchequer c. but above all the High Court of Parliament There are likewise in each County Justices of the Peace for the quiet governing and well ordering the Inhabitants as in England The Archbishops and Bishops As to the Ecclesiastical Government of this Kingdom it is committed to the care of four Archbishops under whom are divers Suffragan Bishops whose names are as followeth Under the Archbishop of Armagh who is Primate of Ireland are the Bishops of Meath or Elnamirand Conuer Rathluc Dune or Dundalethglas Ardachad Derry Dal-Liquir Chlocor or Lugundum and Rathbot Under the Archbishop of Dublin those of Ferne Lechlin Glendalach Ossery and Kildare Under the Archbishop of Cassile those of Limrick Waterford Corke Laonie or Kendalnan Gellumabrath Lismore Ardefret the Isle of Gathay Clon De Rosalither Melite or Emilech and Ross or Roscree And under the Archbishop of Tuam those of Elphin Gonany Clonfred Enachdun Achad Duac or Killmacduoc Mage Killmundâ—ach Cellaiar Roscomon and Lade or Killaleth According to the Temporal Government of this Kingdom it is severed into four Provinces to wit Leimster Vlster Connaugh and Mounster which are again subdivided into several Counties which comprehend several Baronies in which are seated several Towns And of these Provinces in order LEIMSTER It s fertility THis Part of Ireland for the generality is of a fertil Soil affording great plenty of Corn Cattle Fowl and Fish enjoyeth a wholsom and temperate Air is well watered with Rivers the chief amongst which are the Shour Neor and Barraeo It s Bivers which have their rise out of that great Mountain called by Giraldus Bladinae Montes It is very well inhabited as well by the Gentry as the Commonalty and the rather by reason of Dublin the Metropolitan City of this Kingdom therein seated It s form may be said to be triangular for from South-east to the West-point is above 80 miles from thence to the North-west about 70 and her East-Coast about 18 the circumference making about 270 miles And for its bounds it hath on the West the Province of Connough on the North that of Leimster and on the East and South the Sea which regards England from which that is from Holy-head in the Isle of Anglesey it is distant about 50 miles a Sea very dangerous for Saylers by reason of the Flats and Shallows that lie over against Holy-point which are called the Grounds And as to its division it is severed into ten Counties to wit Dublin East-Meath West-Meath Longford Kildare Kings County Queens County Caterlough Weixford and Kilkenny all which are again subdivided into several Baronies and of these Counties in order County of Dublin described DVBLIN or Divelin a fertil County for Corn and Cattle but ill provided with Wood which defect is supplied by Peat or Turff dug up in the clammy places as also by Sea-Coal brought from England It is severed into seven Baronies viz. New-Castle Vpper-Cross Rath-down Castle-knock Coolock Balrudery and Nether-Cross and by reason of its City Dublin the Metropolis of Ireland is very well furnished with Towns and inhabited by Gentry It s chief places are Dublin Dublin the capital City in the Island by Ptolomy called Eblana by the Latinists Dublinium and Dublinia by the West Britains Dinas Dulin and by the Irish Balacleigh that is the Town upon Hurdles by reason that when it began to be first built the ground being wet and moorish the Foundation of its Houses were laid upon Hurdles It is a City of great Antiquity and said to be built by Harold the first King of Norway who brought most of the Kingdom under his obedience though not without great Spoils and after the Conquest of the English was Peopled by a Colony of Bristol-men It is no less pleasantly than commodiously seated on the River Liffie which after a small course emptieth it self into a capacious Bay of the Sea where it hath a good Haven and a fair prospect and on the South it hath delightful Hills which with the several Parks here adjacent afford great Recreation to the Gentry It is a City dignified and enriched with the residence of the Lord Lieutenant as also with the See of an Archbishop with an Vniversity and the Courts of Judicature by reason of which it is a place of good Traffick being well inhabited and frequented by Nobility and Gentry as also by abundance of wealthy Merchants and Shop-keepers It is beautified with many fair Buildings both publik and private the principal amongst which are the Lord Lieutenants Palace a stately Structure built by order of King Henry the Second in the East-Suburbs then the Cathedral Church dedicated to St. Patrick consisting of a Dean Chanter Chancellor Treasurer two Arch-Deacons and twenty Prebendaries Nigh unto which is the Archbishops Palace both which are without the City in the Suburbs called St. Patricks Then the Collegiate Church consecrated to the Holy Trinity commonly called Christ-Church seated in the midst of the City which Queen Elizabeth dignified with the Priviledges of an Vniversity and not far from this is the Town-Hall called Toles-tale a fair Stone-building of a quadrangular form and here the Lord Major Sheriffs Aldermen and other the Magistrates of the City assemble together for the management and consulting on the publick Concerns of the City as to hear Causes hold Sessions c. Then a beautiful Colledge with several other fair Edifices It is at present a City of a large Extent to what it formerly was and doth daily increase in
its Buildings especially in its Suburbs which is severed from the City by a Wall which gives entrance by six Gates As touching the Trade of this Kingdom I shall include it under this City as being the chief place of Traffick The Commodities exported are the product of the Country already treated of and those imported are all sorts of English Commodities especially Apparel Silks Stuffs c. also Wines Oils and several other Commodities Their Coins as being under the Jurisdiction of England have correspondency therewith and are here currant as also those of Spain and an Irish Pound which consisteth of 20 s. is but 15 s. sterling which makes their Shilling but 9 d. sterling And as to their Weights and Measures they are the same with those of England where see further Wickle seated on the Sea Wickle where over the narrow Haven there standeth a Rock enclosed with a strong Wall instead of a Castle and serveth for a place of defence New-Castle a Town which regardeth the Sea Newcastle where there are Shelves of Sand which they call the Grounds reaching a great length between which and the Shoar is said to be about seven Fathom water Houth seated on the River Liffy at its fall into the Sea Houth which almost encloseth it Malcheal also seated on the Sea Malcheal nigh unto which is a small Isle called Lambey County of East-Meath described EAST-MEATH a County watered with the noble River Boyn which cutteth the Country into two parts and after it hath received the Waters of Lough-Ranmore dischargeth it self into the Sea It is severed into twelve Baronies viz. Moyfenragh Dunboyne Ratoth Duleeke Kells Morgallon Skreen Navan Lune Slane Foore and Decce And hath for its chief place Trim seated on the River Boyne a Town of good account and Trade Trim. Aboy a well inhabited and frequented Town Aboy Navan Drodagh Slane Navan Drodagh and Slane which also hath a Barony County of West-Meath described WEST-MEATH so called as lying Westwards as the other is for lying Eastwards It is divided into twelve Baronies viz. Farbill Moyeashell Clunlonan Brawney Moygoish Delvin Corkery Demyfoore Maheredernon Rathconrath Kilkenny-west and Fartullagh And hath for its chief places Molingar the chief Shire-Town Molingar as being commodiously seated in the midst of the County Delvin seated on the Summit of a Hill a Town dignified with a Barony Delvin and Kelskery Kelskery County of Longford described LONGFORD a County almost encompassed with Lakes and Rivers amongst which is the Shannon the noblest River in the Kingdom It is severed into six Baronies viz. Ardagh Granard Moydow Longford Rathline and Abbyshrewle And hath for its chief places Longford which gives name to the County seated on the Lake Eske Longford or rather on the Shannon Ardragh another good Town Ardragh County of Kildare described KILDARE a rich and fertil County severed into ten Baronies viz. Salt Nass Ikeathy or Oughtereney Claine Connel Magna Carbury Ophaly Noragh and Rabane Kilkullen half Kilcah and Moon Whose chief places are Kildare a fair Inland Town being well frequented defended by a Castle Kildare and dignified with the See of a Bishop A place much celebrated in the Infancy of the Irish Church for its St. Brigid an holy Virgin who was the Disciple of St. Patrick Mainoth defended by a Castle and is a place of good account Mainoth and well frequented Naas Athie Naas and Athie seated on the River Barrow both Towns of some account Kings County described KINGS COVNTY so called in honour to Philip King of Spain Husband to Mary Queen of England It is divided into ten Baronies viz. Cooles-Town Philips-Town Marrius-Town Ballicowen Kilcoursey Balliboy Clonliske Garricastle Ballibritt and Fercale And hath for its chief places Philips-Town or Kings-Town Philips-Town Queens-Town described QVEENS COVNTY full of Boggs and Woods is divided into eight Baronies viz. Balliadams Vpper-Ossery Portnehinch Tenehinch Cullinagh Mary-burrough Slewmargigh and Stradbally And hath for its chief places Queens-Town a place of good account and is the chief in the County Queens-Town Rheban once a City but at present of small note Rheban County of Caterlough described CATERLOVGH a fertil County and well clothed with Wood. It is severed into five Baronies viz. Ravilly Caterlough Forth Idronye and St. Mullin in part And hath for its chief places Caterlough Caterlough seated on the River Barrow of good account and strength Leighlin Leighlin also seated on the Barrow once dignified with an Episcopal See Tullo Tullo seated on the River Slane Carickbrak Areklo Carickbrak and Areklo which two last are seated on the Sea County of Wexford described WEXFORD or WEISFORD washed by the Sea a County in former time according to Ptolomy possessed by the Menapians a sort of People which came out of Low-Germany It is divided into eight Baronies viz. Gory Scarwalsh Ballagheene Bantry Shellmaleere Forth Bargy and Sheelburne And hath for its chief places Wexford Wexford supposed to be the ancient City Menapa scituate at the Mouth of the River Slane where it hath a good Haven a fair Town and of note for being the first Town that imbraced a Colony of English as also for its Herring-fishing which makes it to be well inhabited and frequented Ross Ross seated on the River Barrow which after a small course falleth into a Bay or Arm of the Sea Ternes Ternes scituate on the Slane dignified with the See of a Bishop and was in former time fortified with a Castle Eniscort Eniscort a Borough and Town Corporate County of Kilkenny described KILKENNY a very fertil County well graced with Towns is divided into ten Baronies viz. Gowran Fassaghdining Kilkenny Cranagh Galmey Callen Iverke Sheelelogher Kells Knocktopher Ida-Igrin and Ibercon And hath for its chief places Kilkenny Kilkenny seated on the River Nur which traverseth the County a fair and wealthy Borough-Town far exceeding all other Mid-land Borough-Towns in the Kingdom It is divided into the English and the Irish Town that part belonging to the English being fenced on the West-side by a Wall and defended by a Castle and that part which belongeth to the Irish being as it were the Suburbs is of the greatest Antiquity having in it the Canicks Church and is honoured with the See of the Bishop of Ossery Thomas Town Thomas Town seated beneath the River Nur a small walled Town Callan Callan seated on a River so called a Borough and Town Corporate Religious Houses Amongst the places in this Province set apart for Divine Worship these following were of great note viz. the stately Abbey called Thomas Court at Dublin built by King Henry the Second in expiation of the Murther of Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury the Monasteries of St. Maries of Oustmanby and Tintern and the Abbey founded by William Marshall Earl
nor costly in their Apparels or Habitations they are very Religious and neglect not the Church yet as all People they are inclined to Venery Contentions and Strifes they are not much addicted unto living in Amity together and for Recreation they are so much addicted to the musick of the Violin that there is scarce any Family but is provided therewith The Government As to the Government for Spiritual Affairs it hath a Bishop who at present is the Right Reverend Dr. Henry Bridgman and is called Lord Bishop of Sodore and for Temporal Affairs a Lieutenant or Governour with two Deemsters or Judges a Controller a Clerk of the Rolls a Receiver a Water-Bailiff an Attorney-General and other Officers And to their further assistance as occasion requireth for the deciding of Controversies c. are usually called the 24 Keys of the Isle especially once every year to wit upon Midsomer-day at St. Johns Chapel to the Tinewild-Court where upon a Hill adjoyning to the said Chapel the Inhabitants of the Isle being there assembled hear the Laws and Ordinances agreed upon before in the Chapel which is performed with no small ceremony and pomp especially if the Lord of the Isle be present who is seated on a Chair of State with a Canopy over his head and attended by his Barons viz. the Bishop the Deemsters the Gentry and the Yeomanry The present Lord of the Isle who is called King in Man is the Right Honourable Charles Stanley Earl of Darby Baron Strange of Knocking and Mohan c. a Dignity hereditary to him and his Heirs Good Orders observed in their Law The Inhabitants have a great happiness above those of England in that they are freed from necessary and chargeable Suits and heavy Fees of the Lawyers for here no Judge or Clerks take any thing for drawing up Orders or making up Processes all Controversies being ended by the Deemsters without Writings or matter of Charge and for the deciding the same they have their several Courts kept at certain times of the year for the Inhabitants of such a sheading or division of the Isle where they have particular Officers which do observe good Rules and Orders The People do here observe two very good Customs the one in not permitting the Poor to get their living by Begging and the other that when the Women go abroad they begirt themselves with their Winding-sheet to put them in mind of their Mortality This Isle is severed into two parts viz. South and North whereof the Inhabitants of the one have affinity with the Scots and the other with the Irish And in these parts are numbred 17 Parishes and many Villages is desended by two Castles and for intercourse of Traffick hath five Market-Towns It s chief places are It s chief places Douglas Douglas the best Peopled Town and of the greatest resort by reason of its commodious Haven unto which the French and others come to Traffick with them for their Commodities as aforesaid and for the security of the Harbour here is a Block-house Russin Russin or Castle-Town where within a small Isle Pope Gregory the Fourteenth instituted an Episcopal See It is fortified with a strong Castle but of no great importance as to the security of the place by reason of its distance from the rocky and shallow Harbour Laxi-Town Laxi-Town seated on a Bay so called Ramsey Ramsey scituate on the Sea where it hath a Haven which for defence hath some Guns mounted thereon Peel Peel or Peel-Castle seated in St. Patricks-Isle a place of great strength towards the Sea and defended by a Castle being a Market-Town as are the former Amongst its other places are these following Balacuri honoured with the Palace of the Bishop Kirh-Androw Kirk-Patriark Kirk-Balalough Kirk-Mighill Kirk-Lennon Kirk-Brodon Kirk-Santon and Kirk-Christ The Isle of Jersey described JERSEY seated near the Coast of Normandy in France and opposite to Hantshire in England of which it is a part it is a place of good strength as well by Nature as Art as being fenced about with Shelves and Rocks and defended by several Castlos It is an Isle of a fertil Soil and the more by reason of their rich manuring it bearing good crops of Corn and other Grain and breeding store of Cattle especially good Flocks of Sheep whose Wool is fine of which they make Jersey-Stockings in great plenty It is ill clothed with Wood instead of which they use for Fuel a kind of Sea-weed which they call Vraic which plentifully groweth on the Rocks and in the craggy Islands and this being dried they burn and with the Ashes they manure the Land Nor are they permitted to gather it but in the Spring and Summer-season and then upon certain days according to the appointment of the Magistrates It s extent This Isle containeth in length from Mount-Orguil-Castle in the East to Sentwon-pool in the West about 10 miles and in breadth from Dubon-point in the South to Plymouth-Bay in the North about 6 and in circumference about 38 miles It s Air and temperature It is blest with a sweet temperate and wholsom Air not being subject to any disease except Agues in September It is well watered with fresh Streams and hath great plenty of Fruit and the Inhabitants who are much of the nature of the French in their Language Manners c. live very happily enjoy the fruits of their labour addicting themselves to Fishing but principally to the Manufacture of Stockings which finds good vent in England and elsewhere The Government of this Isle is as followeth Government viz. a Governour or Captain is sent over by the King of England who appointed Sub-Officers as a Bailiff who together with twelve Jurates or sworn Assistants which are elected our of the 12 Parishes by the choice of the Inhabitants sit and administer Justice in Civil Causes but in Criminal matters he sitteth with seven of them and in Causes of Conscience which are to be decided by reason and equity with only three This Isle is every where furnished with commodious Creeks and Havens and is garnished with twelve Parishes besides several Villages It s chief places It s chief places are St. Hillares so called from St. Hillary Bishop of Poictiers St. Hillares who was hither banished and here interr'd a Town seated on the Sea-shoar nigh unto which is a small Isle so called which is fortified with a Garrison and this Town is the principal in the Isle for its Market Commerce plenty of Inhabitants and for being the place where the Courts of Judicature are kept St. Albans seated not far from the Sea where it hath a a Haven St. Albans as also a small Isle so called St. Clement seated on an Arm of the Sea St. Clements not far from which is the Castle of Mount-Orguil seated on a steep Rock on the Eastern-shoar Mount-Orguil nigh unto which is a place called the Rock and
great plenty of Wheat A place so surfeiting of Delights that the vile Impostor Mahomet would never enter into it lest by the ravishing Pleasures of this place he should forget the business he was sent about and make this his Paradise This City is famous first for her Founders who were Abrahams Servants next for the Temple of Zacharias which was garnished with 40 stately Porches and adorned with about 9000 Lanthorns of Gold and Silver and last of all for the Conversion of St. Paul who here first preached the Gospel for which he was forced to make his escape out of the House being let down the Walls in a Basket Josephus believeth that it was built by Vs the Son of Abraham Grandchild to Noah However it were after Type and Sidon began to decay this began to be in some repute and hath been esteemed the chief City of Phoenicia and sometimes of all Syria It is beyond Mount Libanus in respect to Tyre and Sidon seated in a Soll so fertil and delightful by reason of the Rivers and Fountains that in Holy Scripture it is called a famous City a City of Joy a House of Delight and Pleasure and some Authors call it the Paradise of the World Yet hath it felt very great changes as well as Tyre and Sidon It hath been taken retaken ruined and re-established divers times by the Assyrians Babylonians Persians Macedonians Romans Parthians Saracens Tartars by the Soldans of Egypt and in fine by the Turks in whose hands it is at present very flourishing and rich The Houses of private persons are not so fair without as within the publick Buildings are very beautiful the Castle is in the middle of the City built by a Florentine 4. Serepta seated on the Sea Coast betwixt Tyre and Sidon memorable in Holy Scripture for the Prophet Elijah in raising from death the poor Widows Son Here is found excellent Wines accounted as good as those of Grece 5. Acre of old Acon and Ptolemais is bounded with the Sea on two sides the third is joyned to a Plain of the Continent The City is very strong being walled with a double Wall fortified throughout on the out-side with Towers and Bulwarks and in the middle of the City a strong Castle on the top of which there was every Night set Lights which served to direct Ships at Sea to their Port. The Plain is fertil and well watered with Streams which descend from the Neighbouring Mountains The Christians took lost and retook this place divers times when they made War into the Holy Land in which none more famous than Richard the First and Edward the First both Kings of England The same did likewise the Saracens the Soldans of Egypt ruined it and after re-built it and at present it remains in the hands of the Turks 6. Tripoli of Syria for distinction from Tripoli of Barbary seated in a rich Plain is at this day by some esteemed the Metropolis of Phoenicia thought it hath three times more Ruins than whole Houses and seated about two miles from the Sea but not above half a mile from its Haven which formerly served for a Port to Aleppo but since removed to Alexandretta or Scanderone But yet a place of some small Trade affording Corn Cotton-Wool Yarn Silk some Drugs Pot-Ashes and other Commodities The Buildings are generally low and the Streets narrow excepting those which lead towards Aleppo which are fair and broad having many pleasant Gardens which are watered with delightful Streams in which Gardens they keep great quantities of Silk-Worms The Soil is excellent good if it were well tilled but the Air is unhealthful 7. Biblus now Gibbeleth was the habitation of Ciniras the Father of Myrrha Mother to the fair Adonis from whence the neighbouring River took its name remarkable in the infancy of Christianity for being the See of a Bishop but now by the Turks made desolate And 8. Barutt or Beryte a place formerly of great Trade but now of great concourse and much frequented by Merchants and others it being the Road for all those Caravans that travel from Aleppo Damascus and Jerusalem to Cairo and Mecca It is subject to the Grand Signior Near to this Town is that noted Valley where as some Authors say St. George by killing the Dragon which had his abode in a Cave here redeemed the Kings Daughter which was to be delivered to his fury PALESTINE Palestine bounded PALESTINE formerly called Judaea Canaan or the Holy Land is bounded on the East with Mount Hermon so much spoken of in Holy Scripture on the South with part of Arabia Petraea on the West with the Mediterranean Sea and part of Phoenicia and on the North with the Anti-Libanus which separates it from Syria and the rest of Phoenicia It s scituation is between the Third and Fourth Climates which makes the longest day to be 14 hours and a quarter So populous that before the coming in of the Israelites they had 30 Kings and afterwards David numbred 1300000 Fighting men besides those of the Tribe of Benjamin and Levi. This last and most Meridional part of Syria which we call Palestine first received the name of the Land of Canaan because the Children of Canaan first seised it and parted it amongst them when God had promised it to Abraham and his Posterity it was called the Land of Promise but when it fell into the hands of the Hebrews after their return from Egypt and that they had divided it by Tribes it took the name of the Land of the Hebrews under which it was governed by Prophets Judges and Kings but under these Kings it was soon divided into two Realms which they called Judah and Israel Under the Romans it was only known by the name of Judea or Palestine of Judea because that the Tribe of Judah was always the most powerful of the Twelve and the Kingdom of Judah the most noble and preserved it self longer than that of Israel of Palestina because the Philistines which possessed a part of the Maritim Coast of Judea were powerful and very well known to Strangers After the death of our Saviour Jesus Christ all this Country was called the Holy Land A description of the Jews and their Religion The People which anciently possest this Country were the Jews being of a middle stature strong of body of a black complexion goggle-ey'd a subtle and ingenious people and such as will live in any place much given to Traffick Usury and Brokage not lending without Pledges and taking the forfeitures of them Their Law or Religion was given them by God the Father which with the several Ceremonies and Rites c. prescribed to them may be found in the five first Books of Moses their Synagogues are neither fair within nor without save only adorned with a Curtain at the upper end together with several Lamps and in the midst is placed a Scaffold in form of a Reading-Desk for their Priest which readeth their Law and sings their Liturgy
the Castle of St. Elmo doth merit fame not only for its buildings which are curious but for the entertainment there given to those that fall sick where the Knights themselves lodge when sick or wounded to receive cure where they are exceeding well attended have excellent good dyet served by the Junior Knights in silver and every friday visited by the Grand Master accompanied with the great Crosses a service which was from the first institution commanded and thereupon called Knights Hospitallers Here are as Sandys saith three Nunneries one for Virgins another for Bastards and the third for penitent Whores Castle of St. Elmo The Castle of St. Elmo is at the end of the City of Valetta towards the Sea and at the opening of two Ports During the siege of Malta it was taken and sackt by the Turks after having wasted 18000 Cannonshot given divers assaults and lost 4000 men of their best Militia among others Dragut one of their most famous Coursaiers The Christians lost 1300 men among whom many Knights But this Fort was restored to a far better Estate than before and is separated from the City only by a ditch cut likewise in the Rock on the other side and on the point of the Borgo is the Fort of St. Angelo and likewise above the Borgo and the Isle of Sengle have been made new works to hinder the Turks from lodging there Besides these three Cities and the Forts about them the ancient City of Malta Medina is in the middle of the Island on an easie ascending hill and in an advantagious scituation The Turks assaulted it in 1551 but soon retired The Bishop of the Isle hath here his residence and near the City is yet the Grotte and Chapel of St. Paul where they believe he preached and where he lay when he suffered shipwrack and this place is of great account among them All these Cities and Forts have 250 or 300 pieces of Cannon on their Rampart The Isle very strong and well provided for War and their Magazins are so well provided with Powder Shot Wood Bisket Salt-meats and all Provisions and Ammunition that they call it Malta Flor del Mondo Malta the Flower of the World being provided alwaies with Ammunitions and Provisions for a three years siege yet this is to be understood not only because of its Fortifications and Ammunitions but likewise because of its force and the resolution of its Knights The Order of Knighthood first instituted This order of Knighthood according to Sandys received their denomination from John the charitable Patriarch of Alexandria though vowed to St. John Baptist as their Patron Their first seat was the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem built by one Gerrard at the same time when the Europeans had something to do in the Holy-Land where they received such good success and became so famous that they drew divers worthy persons into this society which by Pope Gelasius the second was much approved of He saith that one Raymond was the first Master of this Order who did amplifie their Canons and entituled himself The poor servant of Christ and Guardian of the Hospital in Jerusalem and at the allowance of one Honorius the second were apparelled in black garments signed with a White-Cross this Order we have said began at Jerusalem and at first meddled not but with the Government of the Hospital of St. John and were called Fryers Hospitallers or simply Hospitallers as those of the Temple Templers but when these Hospitallers were constrained to make profession both of Hospitality and Arms they were called Knights Hospitallers or Knights of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem These Knights oft forced to remove their habitations after the loss of Jerusalem they held their Convent in the City and Fortress of Margatt then in Aicre or Ptolomaido and all the Latine Christians being driven from the Holy Land and from Souria they retired into Cyprus But during their stay in Cyprus they gained Rhodes and established themselves there so powerfully that they were called Knights of Rhodes Margaret was taken from them in 1285. Aicre in 1291 little less than 200 years after Godfrey of Bulloin had Conquered the Holy Land and this order began before after the loss of Aicre they lived in Cyprus from 1291 to 1309. in which year they took and settled in Rhodes and maintained it more than 100 years sustaining four sieges till in 1522 Sultan Solyman became Master of Rhodes they then retired into Europe now into one place and then into another and in fine to Malta which Charles the fifth gave them in 1530. with some little neighbouring Isles as likewise the City of Tripoly in Barbary which they could keep no longer then 1551. that place being too far engaged in the Enemies Country These Knights are of divers Nations and are divided into eight Tongues to wit of Province of Auvergne of France of Italy of Arragon of England of Germany and of Castile so that the three first are in France and the last in Castile each Tongue contains many Priories and each Priory many Commanderies these three Tongues which are in France have near 300 Commanderies The other five Tongues which are in Italy Arragon England Germany and Castile made near 400. but there are no more in England England the Kings of England when they confiscated the goods of the Church having likewise seized the goods and Commanderies of the Knights of Malta and in Germany a part of these Commanderies being fallen into the hands of Lutherans and Calvinists serve no longer so that at present France alone furnishes little less than half the Commanderies of Malta And it hath been observed that from the first establishment of this Order unto this very present of 57 great Masters there hath been 37 French only 4 or 5 Italians 7 or 8 Spaniards and 11 whose Nation and Tongue the History could not observe but apparently the most part were French since this Order began by the French of these 34 known 12 were in the Holy-Land and in Souria 13 in Rhodes and 〈◊〉 in Malta unto Father Paul of Lascaris of every one there is a Grand Prior who lives in great reputation in his Country who orders the affairs of their Order and for England St. Johns by Clarken-well in times past was a mansion of the Grand-Prior There are several Councels among these Knights Their Government as that for deciding of differences which may happen among them the Councel of War the General Chapter which may augment or moderate the Authority of the great Master renew the Ordinances and Government of the Religion or their Order and which is held every five years The Ceremonies performed in making these Knights The Ceremonies used in Knighting are these which follow first being cloathed in a long loose garment he goeth to the Altar with a Taper in his hand of White Wax where he kneeleth down and desires the Order of the Ordinary then
grains fruits c. if its Inhabitants would give it tillage South of Canada are New England New York Maryland Virginia and Caroline of which in Order New England described NEW ENGLAND North of Maryland according to the report of Captain Smith hath seventy miles of Sea Coast where are found divers good Havens some of which are capable to harbour about five hundred sail of Ships from the fury of the Sea and winds by reason of the interposition of so great a quantity of small Isles which lie about the Coast to the number of about two hundred And although it be seated in the midst of the Temperate Zone yet the Climate is more uncertain as to heat and cold than those European Kingdoms which lie parallel to it Yet the Air is found very healthful and agreeable to the English which hath occasioned the settlement of divers Potent Colonies here who live very happily and drive a considerable Trade for their provisions to our American Plantations especially to the Barbados This Country is Inhabited by divers sorts of people the chief amongst which are the Bessabees about the River Renobscot and the Massachusetes a great Nation The Native Inhabitants and every one are governed by their particular Kings and do much differ in Customs and Manners from one another as they do in the other parts of America living generally at variance with each other Their chiefest riches is in their Furrs and Skins which they sell to the English in truck for Commodities they are for the most part ingenious well disposed and with little pains would be brought to Christianity This Country is for the generality of a fertil soil is well watered with Rivers hath plenty of Fish as Cod Thornback Sturgion Their Fish Porpuses Haddock Salmons Mullets Herrings Mackeril Plaice Oysters Lobsters Crab-fish Tortoise Cockles Muscles Clams Smelts Eels Lamprons Drums Alewives Basses Hollibuts Sharks Seals Grampus Whales c. Here are great variety of Fowl as Phesants Partridges Pigeons Heathcocks Fowls Oxeyes Geese Turkeys Ducks Teal Herns Cranes Cormorants Swans Brants Widgeans Sheldrakes Snipes Doppers Blackbirds Loon Humbird with divers others too tedious to name They have also great plenty of Beasts both tame and wild as Cows Sheep Goats Swine and Horses Beasts and for wild Lyons Bears Wolves Foxes Martins Rackoons Mooses Musquasus Otters Bevers Deer Hares Coneys c. Amongst the hurtful things the Rattlesnake is the most dangerous and here are several sorts of stinging Flies which are very troublesom to the Inhabitants Trees Here are sundry sorts of trees as the Oak Cyprus Pine Cedar Chesnut Walnut Firr Ash Elm Asp Alder Maple Birch Sassafras Sumach c. also several Fruit-trees as Pomgranates Maracocks Puchamins Olives Apples Pears Plumbs Cherries Grapes Fruits with those common in England And their ground also produceth Potatoes Carrots Turrips Parsnips Onyons Cabbages with most of the Roots and Herbs found in England The soil being very agreeable for them But the fruits are not found here so good as in Virginia nor in Virginia as in Caroline as lying more Southwards and having the greater influence of the Sun This Country affordeth several rich Furrs hath Iron Amber Pitch Tarr Masts Flax Linnen Cables Its Commodities and Grains in great plenty The English which now Inhabit this Country are very numerous and powerful having a great many Towns several of which are of considerable account and are governed by Laws appropriate to themselves and have their Courts of Judicature and assembling together each Town having two Burgesses for the looking after the affairs of the Colony Government And as to matters of Religion and Church Government they are very strickt and make a great show being much of the stamp of the ridged Presbyterians Amongst their Towns these are of chief note 1. Boston commodiously seated for Traffick on the Sea Shore It s chief Towns at present a very large and spacious Town or rather a City being composed of several well ordered streets and graced with fair and beautiful houses which are well inhabited by Merchants and Tradesmen who drive a very considerable Trade It is a place of great strength having two or three hills adjoyning on which are raised Fortifications with great Pieces mounted thereon which are well guarded 2. Charles Town seated on and between the Rivers Charles and Mistick it is beautified with a large and well built Church and near the River-side is the Market place from which runs two streets in which are divers well built houses 3. Dorchester an indifferent Town seated near the Sea 4. Cambridge commodiously seated on a River doth consist of several streets and is beautified with two Colledges and hath divers fair and well built houses 5. Reading commodiously seated about a great Pond and well Inhabited 6. St. Georges Fort seated on the mouth of the River Sagadebock 7. New Plymouth seated on the large Bay of Potuxed With divers other Towns of some account most of which bear the Names from those of England but amongst the Indians are known by other names New York described NEW-YORK formerly New Netherland is seated betwixt New England and Virginia It is now called New York from his Royal Highness the Duke of York the Proprietor thereof by grant from his Majesty It is a Country of a fertile soil is well watered with Rivers and is found to produce the same Beasts Birds Fowls Fish Fruits Trees Commodities c. and in as great plenty as New England so they need not be taken notice of here This Country is also possessed by sundry sorts of people not much unlike those of New England and are very expert at their Bow and Arrows which is their chief weapon of War are found to be of a ready wit and very apt to learn what is taught them in their Religious Rites divers ceremonies are observed amongst them It s Native Inhabitants and are said to worship the Devil whom they much fear their Priests being little better than Sorcerers who strangely bewitch those silly people When any woman findeth her self quick with child she keepeth her self chast from man until her delivery the like she observeth in the time of her giving suck a strange Custom which our European Dames would not well relish upon the least offence the man turneth away his wife and marrieth again and the Children begotten by her she keepeth Furnication is here permitted they are very dutiful to their Kings they believe the transmigration of the soul and concerning the Creation of the world have strange foolish opinions They are much addicted to sports recreations and dancings and observe Festival times Their habit is but mean as the rest of the Indians yet do they paint and besmear their faces with several colours which they hold Ornamental their dyet and habitations are also mean Here is one very considerable Town now called New York being well seated both for security trade and pleasure in a small
Port Royal it contains about twenty houses only serving for the conveniency of passage from Port Royal to St. Jago It s other places are Port Morant in the Eastern point Port Morant a very capacious and secure Harbour and hereabout is a Potent Colony of the English seated Old Harbour a good Bay for Ships to ride in Old Harbour Port Negril Port Negril in the extream Western point very commodious and secure to windward in which Men of War do often ply when they look for the Spanish Ships not far from which place was seated the old Town of Melilla founded by Columbus Port Antonio seated on the North Port Antonio a very safe Land lock't Harbour at the mouth of which lyeth a small Isle wholly taken up by the said Earl of Carlisle with divers other good Bays and Harbours along the Coast It s other chief places are Sevilla seated in the North part of the Isle Sevilla once beautified with a Collegiate Church whose Chief bore the title of Abbot amongst whom was Peter Martyr who described the History of the West Indies by Decades Mellilla And Mellilla seated on the North East where Columbus mended his Ships at his return from Veragua This Island was of considerable importance to the Spaniards by reason that all his Plate-Fleet which comes from Carthagina steer directly for St. Domingo in Hispaniola and from thence must pass by one of the ends of this Isle to recover Havana which is the common Rendezvous of this whole Armado before it returns home through the Gulph of Florida nor is there any other way whereby to miss this Island because he cannot in any reasonable time turn it up to the windward of Hispaniola which though with great difficulty it might be performed yet by this means he would lose the security of his said united Fleet which meet at Havana from all the parts of the Bay of Mexico Nombre de Dios and elsewhere accompanying each other home The Isle Boriquem with its chief places described BORIQVEM is little less either in Circuit or Fruitfulness than Jamaica St. Juan del Puerto Rico is the Residence of a Bishop and a Governor It hath an excellent Port which sometimes communicates its name to the Island El Arricibo and Guadianilla or St. Germain are the other Cities all the Isle hath few Ports it is traversed by a Chain of Mountains which cut it from West to East here is sound a white Gum which they use instead of Pitch to caulk their Ships and instead of Tallow to make Candles and for want of other Medicaments for Wounds and Sores besides its Gold Sugars and Gayac it hath many Salt-Marches These four Isles are the greatest and chiefest of the Antilles the rest are numerous and ought to be considered under the names of the Lucays and Caribes The Lucays are North of Cuba and Hispaniola of which Lucayon is the chief the greatest and the most Northernly of all Bahama gives its name to the Channel which is between the Isles and Florida a Channel so rapid that in despite of the Winds it carries Ships from South to North or rather from South-West to North-East Guanahani is the first Land which Columbus discovered near America and named in St. Salvador because he had been in danger to have been cast into the Sea by his own men in the fear they had that they should find no Land The CARIBE ISLES THE CARIBES or CANIBALS ISLANDS are so called from its Native Inhabitants who were Canibals or Men eaters and these are a great Body of Isles forming a Demy-Circle towards America Meridionalis the chief of which are set down in the Geographical Table and which I shall take notice of and first with Barbados BARBADOS the most considerable Colony the English are Masters of amongst all the Caribe Isles Barbados It s scituation is in the North Latitude of 13 degrees 20 minutes and although but of a small Circuit not exceeding eight Leagues in length and 5 in breadth where broadest yet it is a Potent Colony and able on occasion to Arm about 10000 Fighting men It s strength which with the natural strength of the Isle is able to give resistance to the powerfullest Foe It is exceeding fertil bearing Crops all the year long Fertility and the trees always cloathed in their Summer livery but the two seasons for Planting is in May and November but the Sugar Canes are Planted all the year round And here are found to grow in great plenty excellent Fruits as Oranges both sweet and sower Fruits Pomgranates Citrons Lemmons Limes Macows Grapes Juniper Apples Momins Acosous Papayers Monbains Icacos Raysins Cherries Cocos Indian Figgs Plantins Bonauves Guavers Castard Apples prickle Pears and Apples Millons both land and water and Pine Apples the rarest Fruit in the Indies They have great plenty of Fish and Fowl Fish and Cattle common with Jamaica and other places in the Indies and have also a competent stock of English Cattle and Horses but something dear by reason they imploy their Grounds better than to breed upon and most roots herbs and seeds and flowers common with us in England are found to thrive and grow very well The Commodities that this Isle produceth are Sugars Indico Cotton Wool Commodities Ginger Fustick and Logwood but especially Sugar Indico Cotton and Ginger lading yearly therewith 200 sail of Ships both great and small to the great enrichment of the Inhabitants and profit of England This Isle lying so near the Equinoctial Line cannot but be hot yet not so but that travel and labour is sufferable and that occasioned by the cool breezes of wind which riseth with the Sun and bloweth fresher as the Sun mounteth up And the Air is found very moist so that all Iron-tools are much subject to rust This Isle is not over plentifully watered with Rivers or fresh Springs there being but one that may appropriate that name or rather a Lake which runneth not far into the Land notwithstanding which defect the Inhabitants have no want of water for the Land lying low and even there are several Ponds and most houses have Wells or Cisterns which holds the rain water And here is a River called Tuigh-River remarkable for that on the top of the water is gathered an Oyl which is made use of to burn in Lamps Its Trees Amongst the Trees here growing which for the most part are appropriate to the rest of the Caribe Isles those of most note are the Cedar Redwood Mastick Locust the Iron wood tree also the Cassia Fistula Coloquintida Tamarind Cassavie of which is made their Bread the Poyson tree and the Physick Nut also the Calibash the Shell of whose Fruit serveth like Goards to carry liquid things in the Mangrass tree the Roucou of whose Bark is made Ropes as also Flax which being spun is imployed to several uses the Lignum Vitae and the Palmeto Here are several
of Ships in like manner are they found in the Gulph or Bay of St. Laurence Besides the Cod-fish here are other sorts of Fish in great plenty as Thornback Ling Salmons Oysters c. The greatest of these Isles and which commonly takes the name of New-found-land is 4 or 5 Leagues circuit It is scituate betwixt the degrees of 46 and 53 of Northern Latitude and is severed from the Continent of America by an Arm of the Sea and is distant from England about 600 Leagues A Country ill-inhabited towards the East and South the Inhabitants being retired farther within Land but the English have of late settled some Colonies to maintain their Fishing-Trade Its Inhabitants The Natives are of a reasonable good Stature and well proportioned but full-ey'd broad-faced beardless and of an Oker complexion not over ingenious their Houses are very mean and their Apparel and Furniture worse The Country being for the generality reputed fertil if well cultivated and would yield good Grains is enriched by Nature with plenty of Fish Fowl and wild Beasts and is blest with a wholsom Air though the rigour of the Winter season and the excess of Heats in Summer do something detract from its due praise East of New-found-land is a great Bank a thing as remarkable as any in all Canada This Bank is much different from those which are covered with Water when the Sea is high uncovered and dry on an Ebb Saylors must shun such Banks like death This which we now speak of is like a Country overflown always covered with the Sea and having at least 20 30 or 40 Fathom water for the depth is unequal Off from this Bank on all sides the Sea is no less than 200 Fathom deep and yet this Bank is 200 Leagues long 20 25 and sometimes 50 broad It is on this Bank that the New-found-landers that is those Ships that go to fish for Cods of New-found-land do for the most part stop and make their freight About this great Bank and more towards the Main Land than the Ocean there are some others much less but of the same nature It is almost incredible how many Nations and of each how many Sail of Ships go yearly to fish for these Cods with the prodigious quantity they take a Man being able to take 100 of them in the space of an hour The manner of Fishing They fish with Hooks which are no sooner thrown into the Sea but the greedy Fish snapping the Bait is taken by the Hook and drawn on Ship-board they lay him presently on a Plank one cuts off his head another guts it and takes out its biggest bones another salts and barrels it c. Which being thus ordered is hence transported by the English and other European Nations into all parts of Europe as also into the other three parts of the World They Fish only in the day time the Cod as they say not biting in the night nor doth this Fishing last all Seasons but begins a little before Summer and ends with September In Winter the Fish retires to the bottom of the deep Sea where Storms and Tempests have no power Another kind of Fishing Near New-found-land there is another kind of fishing for the same Fish which they call dried Fish as the other green Fish The Ships retire into some Port and every Morning send forth their Shallops one two or three Leagues into the Sea which fail not to have their load by Noon or a little after They bring them to Land lay them on Tables or Planks and order it as the other but after the Fish hath been some days in salt they take it forth exposing it to the Air and Wind lay it again in heaps and return it from time to time to the open Air till it be dry That this Fish may be good it must be dried in a good and temperate Air Mists moisten it and make it rot the Sun hardens it and makes it yellow At the same time they fish for Cods green or dry the Fishers have the pleasure of taking Fowl without going forth of their Vessels They take them with a Line as they do fish baiting the Hook with the Cods Liver these Fowl being so greedy that they come by flocks and fight who shall get the Bait first which soon proves its death and one taken the Hook is no sooner thrown out again but another is catch'd in the like nature But enough of these and of Cod-fishing In the year 1623 Sir George Calvert Knight the Principal Secretary of State and afterwards Lord Baltimore obtained a Patent of part of New-found-land which was erected into the Province of Avalon where he settled a Plantation and erected a stately House and Fort at Ferry-land where he dwelt some time And after his death it fell to his Son the Right Honourable Caecilius late Lord Baltimore also Proprietor of Mary-land CANADA taken particularly is on the Right hand and towards the lower part of the great River The River Canada and its name is communicated both to the River and Neighbouring Country This River is the largest of America Septentrionalis and one of the fairest in the World It is about 200 Fathom deep and at its Mouth 30 Leagues broad It s course according to the report of those of the Country is already known for 4 or 500 Leagues and there is some likelyhood that we may in the end discover that the Lake which seems to be its head-Spring disburthens it self into the Sea by two or three different courses one towards us which is that of Canada another towards the West and above California the third towards the North and into the Christian Sea and that the Mouth of this may shew us the way we have so long sought to go to the East-Indies by the West People with whom the French Trade Their Colonies The People with whom the French trade here are the Canadans the Hurons the Algonquins the Attiquameques Nipisiriniens Montagnets those of Saguenay Acadia c. And to this purpose they have divers Colonies on the great River at Tadousac at Quebeck at Three-Rivers at Sillery at Richelieu at Montreal and without the Bay of Chaleur at Miscou at Port-Royal c. This Trade is only managed by Exchange they give the Skins of Bevers Otters Martles Sea-Wolfes c. for Bread Pease Beans Plumbs Kettles Cauldrons Hatchets Arrow-heads Pinchers Coverlids c. But to instruct them in Christianity many Ecclesiasticks of Religious Orders have had divers disbursements and residences likewise an Hospital and Seminary of Vrsilines The Jesuits have the chief care of these Houses North of Canada is ESTOTTILAND Estottiland or TERRADE LABRADOR near Hudsons Streight it is called sometimes the Land of Cortereal and sometimes new Britany however I esteem it a part of new France the Country is Mountainous Woody full of wild Beasts well furnished with Rivers rich in Metals of a fertil Soil in most places and would produce