Dissolution the plate and jewels thereof fill'd two great chests each whereof requir'd eight men to carry them out of the Church Monast Angl. vol. 1. p. 18. So that the name of Christ to whom it was dedicated was almost quite laid aside for that of S. Thomas Nor was it so much fam'd for any other thing as the memory and burial of this man tho' it has some other tombs that may deservedly be boasted of particularly Edward Prince of Wales sirnam'd the Black a heroe for his valour in war a downright miracle and Henry 4. that potent King of England But King Henry 8. dispers'd all this wealth that had been so long in gathering and drove out the Monks in lieu whereof this Christ-Church has a Dean Archdeacon 12 Prebendaries and 6 Preachers whose business it is to sow the word of God in the neighbouring places It had another Church below the city to the East which disputed preeminence with this St. Augustine's commonly St. Austen's known by the name of S. Austin's because S. Austin himself and K. Ethelbert by his advice founded it to the honour of S. Peter and S. Paul for a burying place both to the Kings of Kent and the Archbishops for it was not then lawful to bury in Cities it was richly endow'd and the Abbot there had a Mint granted him and the Privilege of coyning money Now as the greatest part of it lyes in its own ruines and the rest is turn'd into a house for the King any one that beholds it may easily apprehend what it has been Austin himself was bury'd in the Porch of it and as Thomas Spot has told us with this Epitaph Inclytus Anglorum praesul pius decus altum Hic Augustinus requiescit corpore sanctus The Kingdom 's honour and the Church's grace Here Austin England's blest Apostle lays But Bede o Tho' Bede may be otherwise very good authority yet here he certainly fails for the title Archiepiscopus occurring in it is a plain evidence that 't is of later date since that title could not be then in the Western Church nor was it allow'd commonly to Metropolitans as Mabillon and others have observ'd till about the ninth age See Stillingfleet 's Origin Britan. p. 21 22. who is better authority assures us that he had over him this much more ancient Inscription HIC REQVIESCIT DOMINVS AVGVSTINVS DOROVERNENSIS ARCHIEPISCOPVS PRIMVS QVI OLIM HVC A BEATO GREGORIO ROMANAE VRBIS PONTIFICE DIRECTVS ET A DEO OPERATIONE MIRACVLORVM SVFFVLTVS ET ETHELBERTHVM REGEM AC GENTEM ILLIVS AB IDOLORVM CVLTV AD FIDEM CHRISTI PERDVXIT ET COMPLETIS IN PACE DIEBVS OFFICII SVI DEFVNCTVS EST SEPTIMO KALENDAS IVNIAS EODEM REGE REGNANTE That is Here resteth S. Augustine the first Archbishop of Canterbury who being formerly dispatch'd hither by the blessed Gregory Bishop of Rome and supported of God by the working of miracles both drew Ethelberht with his kingdom from the worship of Idols to the faith of Christ and also having fulfill'd the days of his Office dy'd on the 7th of the Kalends of June in the same King's reign With him there were bury'd in the same porch the six Archbishops that immediately succeeded and in honour of the whole seven namely Austin Laurentius Mellitus Justus Honorius Deus-dedit and Theodosius were those verses engraven in marble SEPTEM SUNT ANGLI PRIMATES ET PROTOPATRES SEPTEM RECTORES SEPTEM COELOQVE TRIONES SEPTEM CISTERNAE VITAE SEPTEMQVE LVCERNAE ET SEPTEM PALMAE REGNI SEPTEMQVE CORONAE SEPTEM SVNT STELLAE QUAS HAEC TENET AREA CELLAE Seven Patriarchs of England Primates seven Seven Rectors and seven Labourers in heaven Seven Cisterns pure of life seven Lamps of light Seven Palms and of this Realm seven Crowns full bright Seven Stars are here bestow'd in vault below It will not be very material to take notice of another Church near this which as Bede has it was built by the Romans and dedicated to S. Martin and in which before the coming of Austin Bertha of the blood Royal of the Franks and wife of Ethelbert was us'd to have divine Service celebrated according to the Christian Religion As to the Castle which appears on the south-side of the City with it's decay'd bulwarks since it does not seem to be of any great Antiquity I have nothing memorable to say of it but only that it was built by the Normans Of the dignity of the See of Canterbury which was formerly very great I shall only say thus much that as in former ages under the Hierarchy of the Church of Rome the Archbishops of Canterbury were Primates of all England Legates of the Pope and as Pope Urban 2. express'd it as it were Patriarchs of another world so when the Pope's Authority was thrown off it was decreed by a Synod held in the year 1534. that laying aside that title Primate and Metropolitan of all England they should be stil'd Primates and Metropolitans of all England This dignity was lately possess'd by the most reverend Father in God John Whitgift who having consecrated his whole life to God and his utmost endeavours to the service of the Church dy'd in the year 1604. extremely lamented by all good men He was succeeded by Richard Bancroft a man of singular courage and prudence in matters relating to the establishment of the Church Canterbury is 51 degrees 16 minutes in Latitude and 24 degrees 51 minutes in Longitude xx After Stour has gather'd it's waters into one chanel it runs by Hackington Hackington where Lora Countess of Leicester a very honorable Lady in her time quitting the pleasures of the world sequester'd her self from all commerce with it to have her time entire for the service of God At which time Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury began a Church in this place to the honour of S. Stephen and Thomas of Canterbury but the Authority of the Pope prohibiting it for fear it should tend to the prejudice of the Monks of Canterbury he let his design fall However from that time the place has kept the name of S. Stephens S. Stephens and Sir Roger Manwood Knight Lord chief Baron of the Exchequer a person of great knowledge in our Common Law to whose munificence the poor inhabitants are very much indebted was lately it's greatest ornament nor is his son Sir Peter Manwood Knight of the Bath a less honour to it at this day whom I could not but mention with this respect and deference since he is an encourager of virtue learning and learned men From hence the Stour by Fordich Fordich which in Domesday-book is call'd the little burrough of Forewich famous for it's excellent trouts passes on to Sturemouth 69 Which it hath now forsaken a mile and more yet left and bequeathed his name to it But now by Stoure-mouth runneth a brook which issuing out of S. Eadburgh's Well at Liming where the daughter to K. Ethelbert first of our
supplicated the Convocation by the name of William Camden Batchelor of Arts of Christ-church That whereas from the time he had taken the Degree of Batchelor he had spent 16 years in the study of Philosophy and other Liberal Arts he might be dispens'd with for the reading of three solemn Lectures and so be admitted to proceed His Supplication was granted upon condition he stood in the following Act which it seems his other occasions would not permit him to do nothing appearing of it in the Publick Records of that time When he attended the Funeral of Sir Thomas Bodley he had the Degree of Master of Arts voluntarily offer'd him by the University but then he had no occasion for 't having establish'd his reputation upon a better bottom and so it seems So Mr. Wood's but Dr. Smith seems to intimate that he accepted it declin'd it This was all the relation Mr. Camden had to the University of Oxford which he left in the year 1571. From thence he betook himself immediately to London but with what prospect he went or what encouragement he found we have no distinct account I cannot believe that he fell into any particular employment because himself has told us that upon his leaving the University he survey'd a considerable part of England Relictâ Academiâ studio incitato satis magnam Angliae partem fide oculatâ obivi are his own words in his In the beginning of that Treatise Answer to Brooke And he must mean that interval of four or five years between his bidding adieu to Oxford and his advancement to the second Mastership of Westminster-School He had powerful motives to induce him to this search after Antiquities His own natural genius lay so strong that way Ex quo primùm animum studiis excolere coepi inclinatione nescio quâ ad investigandam Antiquitatem totus propendi velim nolim huc me nà tura tulit adeò ut puer in Schola quaecunque huc spectare videbantur avidè arripuerim adolescens in Academiâ cum Philosohpicis pensis vnexus essem omnes cogitationes motusque animi huc contulerim Answer to Brooke pag. 1. that even when he was a School-boy he could neither hear nor see any thing of an antique appearance without more than ordinary attention and notice While he was in the University not a spare hour but it went upon the same business When he came to be engag'd in the tedious business of teaching School Posteà ad urbem accessi ubi etsi laboriosissimo docendi munere fungebar hoc Antiquarium Studium exuere volebam minimè tamen potui Neque enim potest quisque nostrûm subitò fingi aut natura converti Animum semper in haec tanquam arcum intentum habui cùm feriarer non potui non haec studia recolere subinde in has vel illas Angliae parte◠exspatiari Ibid. he would fain have wean'd himself from his old Trade have drawn back his inclinations and have confin'd his thoughts as well as body to the narrow bounds of a School But all was in vain the itch still return'd and stuck so fast by him that he could not get rid of it When a Vacation gave him liberty to look abroad he declares it was not in his power to keep within doors the bent of his own Genius was always pulling him out not to impertinent visits and idle diversions but to entertainments which he relish'd above all these stately Camps and ruinous Castles those venerable Monuments of our Fore-fathers This propensity of nature was seconded by the importunity of Friends and receiv'd very early encouragement from persons of the best rank Answer to Brooke The noble Sir Philip Sidney was always pushing him forward whilst in Oxford and after his removal Britannia in Middlesex the two Goodmans Gabriel and Godfrey Doctors in Divinity kept up his spirits with supplies both of Books and Money The interest also which the former of these had in the Collegiate Church of Westminster procur'd him the place of second Master in that School We cannot imagine but his fame spread in the Kingdom proportionable to his knowledge of it and consequently must not doubt that a person of so great attainments could want applications from all hands to undertake the Antiquities of his native Country But the difficulties on one hand appear'd so very great and the helps on the other so very inconsiderable that nothing could prevail upon him to engage in such a frightful task So that what Collections and Observations he had hitherto made seem to have been only design'd for private satisfaction and to quench a secret thirst which Nature had brought along with him into the world In the mean time Ortelius Answer to Brooke that great restorer of Geography as he terms him took a journey into England and apply'd himself particularly to Mr. Camden as the best Oracle one could possibly consult about the state and affairs of the Kingdom The tender regard he had for the honour of his Country back'd with the authority and perswasion of this great Man wrought him by degrees into some sort of compliance and at last over-rul'd him into a resolution of improving his stock and digesting his Papers in order to the use and satisfaction of the Publick Now he is engag'd in the Work give me leave to trace him through the several steps and advances he made in it and to suspend a little the consideration of other Heads any farther than as they fall in with this Design It was the glory of his Life and therefore his honour is concern'd that it be set in a true Light it is the Work we now publish and upon that score calls for a more particular account He enter'd upon it with almost all the disadvantages that could attend any Undertaking It was a sort of Learning that was then but just peeping into the world when that heat and vehemence of School-Divinity which had possess'd all hearts and hands for so many hundred years before began to cool by little and little For while that humour of Metaphysical nicities continu'd it was so entirely the entertainment and study of the Age that little else could edge in with it No room for Poetry Oratory History But when polite Learning came upon the stage and the sweetness of a Greek or Roman Author began to out-relish the crabbed notions of the School-men the vein turn'd wholly the other way and this latter was thrown out of doors Then the industry of Learned men was entirely employ'd upon publishing and refining such Authors as had lately got footing in the world And yet after all the Historians did not yield that pleasure and satisfaction which might be expected from so much niceness both in language and composition because they could not follow them through all the Scenes of Action nor frame their conceptions to the several marches of the Armies To remove this inconvenience they began to make particular Surveys to fix the old places in their proper
and yet which is almost incredible not one received any harm A strange miracle this was but what is yet a greater the River cures all diseases and infirmities Whoever steps in faint and disordered comes out sound and whole What a joyful sight was this for Angels and men So many thousands of a Proselyte nation coming out of the chanel of the same River as if it had been out of the womb of one Mother One single pool preparing so many inhabitants for the heavenly mansions Hereupon his Holiness Pope Gregory with all the companies of the Saints above broke forth into joy and could not rest till he had writ to Eulogius the holy Patriarch of Alexandria to joyn with him in that his transport for so vast a number being baptized on one Christmas day No sooner was the name of Christ preached in the English nation Religiâ—â— theâ—â—â—â— but with a most fervent zeal they consecrated themselves to it and laid out their utmost endeavours to promote it by discharging all the duties of Christian Piety by erecting Churches and endowing them so that no part of the Christian world could show either more or richer Monasteries Nay even some Kings preferred a religious life before their very Crowns So many holy men did it produce who for their firm profession of the Christian Religion their resolute perseverance in it and their unfeigned piety were Sainted that in this point 't is equal to any country in the whole Christian world And as that prophane Porphyrie stiled Britain a Province fruitful in tyrants so England might justly be called an Island fruitful in Saints Afterwards The â—â—ing oâ— Saxâ—â— they begun to promote humane learning and by the help of Winifrid Willebrod and others conveyed that and the Gospel together into Germany as a German Poet has told us in these Verses Haec tamen Arctois laus est aeterna Britannis Quòd post Pannonicis vastatum incursibus orbem Illa bonas artes Graiae munera linguae Stellarumque vias magni sydera coeli Observans iterum turbatis intulit oris Quin se relligio multum debere Britannis Servata latè circum dispersa fatetur Quis nomen Winfride tuum quis munera nescit Te duce Germanis pietas se vera fidesque Insinuans coepit ritus abolere prophanos Quid non Alcuino facunda Lutetia debes Instaurare bonas ibi qui foeliciter artes Barbariemque procul solus depellere coepit Quid tibi divinumque Bedam doctisssmus olim Tam varias unus bene qui cognoverat artes Debemus Let this to Britain's lasting same be said When barbarous troops the civil world o'respread And persecuted Science into exile fled 'T was happy she did all those arts restore That Greece or Rome had boasted of before Taught the rude world to climb the untrod spheres And trace th' eternal courses of the stars Nor Learning only but Religion too Her rise and growth to British soil doth owe. 'T was thou blest Winifred whose virtue's light From our dull climate chas'd the fogs of night Profanest rites thy pious charms obey'd And trembling superstition own'd thy power and fled Nor smaller tokens of esteem from France Alcuinus claims who durst himself advance Single against whole troops of ignorance 'T was he transported Britain's richest ware Language and arts and kindly taught them here With him his Master Bede shall ever live And all the learning he engross'd survive And Peter Ramus farther adds Briâ—â—â— twiâ— schâ—â—â—stris 〈◊〉 Fraâ—â— that Britain was twice School-mistris to France meaning first by the Druids and then by Alcuinus who was the main instrument made use of by Charles the Great towards erecting an University at Paris And as they furnish'd Germany with Learning and Religion so also with military discipline Nay The 〈◊〉 chiâ—◠〈◊〉 of thâ—â—â—â—ons 〈◊〉 Gerâ—â— what is more those Saxons who live in the Dukedom of Saxony are descended from them if we may depend upon Eginhardus's words The Saxon nation as antiquities tell us leaving those Angles which inhabit Britain out of a desire or rather necessity of settling in some new home march'd over sea towards the German Coasts and came ashore at a place named Haduloha 'T was about that time Theoderick King of the Franks made war upon Hirminfrid Duke of the Thuringi his son in law and barbarously wasted their land with fire and sword After two set battles the victory was still depending though there had been considerable losses on both sides Upon which Theoderick disappointed of his hopes of Conquest sent Ambassadors to the Saxons Their Duke at that time was one Hadugato who as soon as he heard their business and their proposals of living together in case of victory marched with an Army to their assistance By the help of these who fought it out stoutly like men that dispute for Liberty and Property he conquer'd the enemy spoil'd the inhabitants put most of them to the sword and according to promise yeilded the land to the Auxiliaries They divided it by lot and because the war had reduced them to so small a number that they could not people the whole part of it especially all that which lies Eastward they let out to the Boors each of which according to his quantity was to pay a certain Rent The rest they cultivated themselves On the South side of them lived the Franks and a party of the Thuringi who had not been engaged in the late war from whom they were divided by the river Unstrote On the North side the Normans a most resolute nation on the East the Obotriti and on the West the Frisians Against these they were always maintaining their ground either by truces or continual skirmishes But now let us return to our English Saxons The Saxons for a long time lived under their Heptarchy in a flourishing condition till at last all the other Kingdoms shatter'd with civil wars were subdued to that of the West-Saxons For Egbert King of the West-Saxons after he had conquered four of these Kingdoms and had a fair prospect of the other two to unite them in name as he had already done in government and to keep up the memory of his own nation â—ut the 〈◊〉 800. published an Edict wherein 't was ordered that the whole Heptarchy which the Saxons had possessed themselves of â—land should be called Engle-lond i.e. the land of the Angles From hence came the Latin Anglia taking that name from the Angles who of the three nations that came over were most numerous and most valiant The Kingdoms of Northumberland and Mercia two of the largest with that of the East-Angles were theirs whereas the Jutes had no more than Kent and the Isle of Wight and the Saxons East West and South-Saxony very narrow bounds if compared with those large territories of the Angles From these now time out of mind they have been call'd by one general name Angles and in their own language Englatheod
the Stoure receives a small river call'd Alen upon which stands S. Giles Winburn the dwelling-place of the honourable and ancient family of h Ashley is the name It came by descent to the present E. of Shaftsbury from Sir Anthony Ashley who was in several publick Employments in the reign of Qu. Elizabeth he having given his only daughter and heiress in marriage to Sir John Cooper of Rockbourn in Hampshire who had issue by her Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper who in the year 1661. was made a Peer by the title of Baron Ashley of Wimborne St. Giles having chosen that title pursuant to an Article in the aforesaid marriage That if Sir John Coopor or heirs should come to be honoured with the degree of Peerage they should take that for their title In the year 1672. Lord Ashley was created Earl of Shaftsbury to whom succeeded his son the present Earl with whom this Estate and Seat remains Astely Knights Ashleys Knights and Wickhampton the patrimonial estate heretofore of the Barons of Maltravers Maltravers the last of whom in the reign of Edw. 3. left two daughters only one of which was marry'd to John de Arundel the grandfather of John Earl of Arundel who left to his heirs the title of Barons of Maltravers the other was the wife of Robert le Rous and afterwards of John Keynes Knight From hence the Stoure flows on by Canford Canford below which not long since James Baron of Montjoy who particularly search'd into the nature of metals began to make Chalcanthum that is Coperas Coperas as we call it and boil alum From hence formerly John Earl of Warren forcibly as it were ravish'd and took away Alice Lacy the wife of Thomas Earl of Lancaster with much injury to his reputation and no small damage to England as appears by our Chronicles Here the river Stoure leaves Dorsetshire and running through some parts of Hantshire disembogues it self into the Ocean having first receiv'd a little river which flows to Cranborne Cranborne a town well watered where in the year of our Lord 930. Aeilward a nobleman sirnam'd Meaw from his fair complexion founded a little monastery which Robert Fitz-Haimon a Norman transferr'd to Tewkesbury leaving a Monk or two here for to him the possessions of Aeilward sell From whom by succession it came by the Clares Earls of Glocester and Burbs Earls of Ulster Viscount Cranborne to Lionel Duke of Clarence and by him to the Crown But now Robert Cecil 24 Now Earl of Salisbury is Viscount of Cranborne whom King James deservedly for his most approv'd wisdom first dignify'd with the title of Baron Cecil of Essendon and the year after with that of Viscount Cranborne 25 South from hence lyeth Woodland empark'd sometime the seat of the worshipful family of the Filioll the heirs whereof are marry'd to Edward Seymor after Duke of Somerset and Willâ—ughby of Wallaton It should be Woelaton Farls and Marquesses of Dorset The life of Osmund MS. Touching the Earls and Marquesses of this Shire William the Conquerour after he had got the Crown of England i Matth. Paris Hist Min. An. 1189. made Osmund who was Earl of Seez in Normandy Bishop of Salisbury first then Earl of Dorset and Lord Chancellour having a great opinion of his wisdom and excellent learning A long time after See the Dukes of Somerset Richard 2. in the 21 year of his reign preferr'd John de Beaufort the son of John of Gaunt and Earl of Somerset to be Marquess of Dorset from which honour he was afterwards degraded by Hen. 4. out of ill will to Richard 2. And when in full Parliament the house of Commons with whom he was much in favour did earnestly intercede that his dignity of Marquess might be restor'd him he utterly refus'd to accept it professing a great aversion to such a novel and upstart title unknown before those times and his younger brother Thomas de Beaufort was created Earl of Dorset who afterwards for his valour was by Hen. 5. made Duke of Exeter and had the County of Harcourt given him For he gallantly defended Harflew in Normandy against the French and bravely put to flight the Earl of Armeniâ—c in a pitch'd battel After his decease without issue Hen. 6. nominated Edmund of the same house of Lancaster first Earl then Marquess of Dorset and at last Duke of Somerset whose sons being all taken off in the Civil wars and the house of Lancaster as it were quite routed Edw. 4. created Thomas Grey of the family of Ruthin who was his son-in-law for the King marry'd Grey's mother Marquess of Dorset when he came to the great estate of the Bonvils in this County and those adjoyning in the right of his wife Thomas his son and Henry his grandson by the said Thomas succeeded him who was created Duke of Suffolk by Edw. 6. upon his marriage with Francis the daughter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and neice to King Hen. 8. by his sister He suffer'd for high-treason in Queen Mary's reign and too late experimented of what dangerous consequence it is to marry into the Royal Family and to soar too high in ambitious hopes From his time the title of Dorset was conferr'd on no one till K. James in the beginning of his reign advanc'd Thomas Sackvill Baron of Buckhurst Lord High Treasurer of England to the Earldom of Dorset for his most exact diligence and singular wisdom as an ornamental honour justly due to his true virtue and the good service he had done his country 26 Who ended his life with sudden death An. 1608. and left Robert his son his successor who deceasing within the year left the said honour again to Richard his hopeful son whom he beâ—at of the Lady Margaret Howard daughter to the late Duke of Norfolk There are in this County 248 Parishes ADDITIONS to DORSETSHIRE a THE County of Dorset as it is observ'd by our Author to be adorn'd with woods pastures and fruitful valleys so is it principally enrich'd by the sea which supplies it with great plenty of the best fish and gives it an opportunity of improving it self by trading 'T is very much for the honour of it that K. Charles 2. declar'd he never saw a finer Country either in England or out of it Lime b The Town of Lime seems to have been much improv'd since Mr. Camden's time for it is now a Burrough consisting of 16 Capital Burgesses and a Recorder whereof there is a Mayor and two Justices The Mayor is the next year after his Mayoralty a Justice of the Peace and the year following Justice and Coroner The Peer there for the nature and largeness of it hath scarce it 's like in England and requires great cost yearly to maintain it The place is so much encreas'd that whereas our Author observes it could hardly be term'd a port on any other account than as frequented by
honour of the deceased party When the Roman Empire began to decline and barbarous nations made frequent incursions into their provinces then the British armies fearing they might be involv'd in the calamity of their Neighbours chose themselves Emperors first Marcus then Gratian both of whom they presently murder'd and lastly â—tura â—runt â—tantine 〈◊〉 chose â—â—eror â—he sake 〈…〉 in the year 107. they * chose one Constantine purely for the sake of his name and against his own will in this city Caer Segont as Ninnius and Gervasius Dorobernensis tell us He setting sail from Britaine arrived at Bologne in France and got all the Roman forces as far as the Alps to joyn him defended Valence a city of Gaule with great resolution against the forces of Honorius the Emperor and set a garrison upon the †Rhine â—henum that was before defenseless He built several fortresses in the passages of the Alpes In Spain by the assistance of Constans his son whom from a Monk he had rais'd to the title of Augustus he was very successful and then sending letters to Honorius to beg pardon for his crime in suffering the soldiers to force upon him the Purple received back an Imperial Robe from that Emperour Buoy'd up with this he pass'd the Alpes with a design to march to Rome but hearing of the death of Alaric the Goth who had been a friend to his cause he retreated to Arles where he fixed the Imperial seat commanded the city to be call'd †after his own name â—tantiâ—â—â— and summon'd thither a solemn meeting of seven Provinces In the mean time Gerontius rais'd a faction against his Master and after he had traiterously slain Constans his son at Vienne in Gaule closely besieged Constantine the Father in Arles but while one Constantius sent by the Emperour Honorius was marching against him with an army Gerontius laid violent hands upon himself In the mean time Constantine being reduc'd to great necessity by the closeness of this siege and by some unhappy sallies of the garrison brought to despair he quitted his honour and that load of fortune and entring into the Church took upon him the Order of a * Priest â—â—y upon which the city was presently surrendred and he led prisoner into Italy where he was beheaded with Julian his son whom he entitled the Noble 〈◊〉 entiâ—â—e 〈◊〉 and Sebastian his brother The History of these affairs which is before deliver'd more at large I have here abridged from Zosimus Zosomen Nicephorus Orosius and Olympiodorus that truth may triumph over the vanity of those who by the help of their own invention have adulterated this story with their ridiculous and simple forgeries Our Historians report that in this city was the inauguration of our martial King Arthur and soon after the place was demolish'd either in the Saxon Wars or when Athelwolf in rebellion against King Edward his brother assisted by that crew of Danish Robbers destroy'd all this country as far as Basing-stoke Nothing now remains but the walls which though they have lost their coping and battlements seem to have been of a great height For by the rubbish and ruins the earth is grown so high that I could scarce thrust my self through a †passage which they call Onion's hole â—â—gipâ—râ— tho' I stoop'd very low The walls however remain in a great measure entire only some few gaps there are in those places where the gates have been and out of these very walls there grow Oaks of such a vast bigness incorporated as it were with the stones and their roots and boughs spreading so far round that they even raise an admiration in all that behold them In compass the walls contain about two Italian miles so that perhaps from the largeness of the place the Saxons call'd it Selcester that is a great city Sel what For Sel seems in their language to have signified great since Asserius Menevensis interprets the Saxon word Selwood by Sylva magna i.e. a great wood On the west-side of the walls where 't is a level there runs a long ridge cast up for defence of the place It includes about 80 acres of land a good and fat soil now divided into separate fields with a little grove towards the west and eastward near the gate a farm-house with a small Church of modern building in which while I search'd for ancient Inscriptions I found nothing but some Coats of Arms in the windows viz. in a field sable seven Fusils argent Bendwise as also in a field sable a Fesse between two cheverns Or and in a shield Or an eagle display'd with two heads gules Arms of the Blewets Bainards and Cusanz I find these last to be the Arms of the Blewets to whom this estate came after the time of William the Conquerour the second are the Arms of the noble family of Bainard of Leckham and the first is the Coat of the family of the Cusanz by whom this estate pass'd hereditarily from the Blewets to the Bainards But in the reign of William the Conquerour this was in the possession of William de Ow the Norman who being accus'd of treason appeal'd to a tryal of his innocence by Duel but being conquered he was by command of King William Rufus punish'd with the loss of his eyes and testicles The inhabitants of this place told me it had been a constant observation of theirs that tho' the soil here be fat and fertile yet in a sort of baulks that cross one another the corn never grows so thick as in the other parts of the field and along these they imagine the streets of the old city to have run Here are commonly dug up British tiles and great plenty of Roman Coins which they call Onion-pennies from one Onion whom they foolishly fancy to have been a Giant and an inhabitant of this city There are often found too some inscriptions which the ignorance of the Country-people has robb'd the world of There is only one brought up to London and placed in the garden of the honourable William Cecil Baron of Burghley and Lord High Treasurer of England which is this MEMORIAE FL. VICTORI NAE T. TAM VICTOR CONIUX POSVIT I shall not be positive as some others are that this was a monument in memory of Victorina who was called Mater Castrorum i.e. Mother of the Camp and who rais'd the Victorini son and grandson Posthumus Lollianus Marius and Tetricus Caesars in Gaule and Britain against Gallienus the Emperor But I have somewhere read that there were two Victors in Britaine and that both flourished at the same time one son of Maximus the Emperor the other * Praetorio Praefectus Praefect of the Guards to the same Emperor and mention'd by St. Ambrose in his Epistles But I dare affirm that neither of these was he who set up this monument in memory of his wife As there is one Roman military way that leads from hence directly southward
brothers made their escape and got over to the next Province Jutarum See p. 192. where coming to a place that is call'd Ad Lapidem and thinking to secure themselves there from the fury of the conquering Prince they were betray'd and order'd to be put to death Which coming to the ears of a certain Abbot and Priest call'd Cynbreth that at a small distance from thence had a Monastery in a place call'd Reodford i.e. the ford of reeds he came to the King who was then privately in those parts for the cure of his wounds which he had receiv'd in the Isle of Wight and desir'd of him that if those young brothers must be kill'd he would please first to permit them to be baptiz'd This request the King granted upon which the Abbot having instructed them in the word of truth and washed them in the fountain of salvation made them certain of their entrance into the kingdom of heaven And immediately after the Executioner coming to them they joyfully submitted to a temporal death as a sure and certain passage to eternal life And in this order after all the provinces of Britain had receiv'd the Christian faith the Isle of Wight was also converted in which notwithstanding because of the miseries of a foreign yoke no one had the dignity of a Minister or Bishop before Daniel who is now Bishop of the West-Saxons and the Geuissi After this Authors say nothing of the Island till the year 1066. when Tostius brother to K. Harald with some Pirate-ships from Flanders out of ill will to his brother landed here Florence of Worcester and when he had compell'd the inhabitants to pay him a certain Tribute sail'd off A few years after as I find in an ancient book belonging to the Priory of Caeresbroke which was shewn me by Robert Glover Somerset-herald that great oracle in Genealogical Antiquities as William the Bastard conquer'd England so William Fitz-Osborne who was his Mareschal and Earl of Hereford conquer'd the Isle of Wight and was first Lord of it A long time after which the French in the year 1377. by surprize landed and plunder'd the Isle They made another unsuccessful attempt A. D. 1403. being bravely driven back as also within the memory of our fathers in the reign of Hen. 8. when the French Gallies set fire to one or two small Cottages As to the Lords of this Isle Lords of the Isle of Wight William Fitz-Osborn presently after being slain in the wars of Flanders and his son Roger attainted and banish'd it came into the King's hands and Henry 1. K. of England gave it to Richard de Ridvers otherwise call'd Redvers and de Ripariis Earl of Devonshire and with it the Fee of the village of Christ-Church Here this Richard built a Castle as likewise another at Cares-brooke but his son Baldwin in the troublesome reign of K. Stephen when there were as many petty Princes in England as Lords of Castles who all pretended to a right of coining money and other rights of sovereign power was turn'd out of this castle by K. Stephen Yet his posterity recover'd their ancient right whose pedigree I have already drawn down where I treated at large of the Earls of Devonshire At length Isabell widow to William de Fortibus Earl of Albemarle and Holderness sister and heiress of Baldwin the last Earl of Devonshire of this Family was not without difficulty constrain'd by Charter to surrender up her right herein to K. Edw. 1. Since that time the Kings of England have had the possession of this Isle and Henry de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick was by King Henry 6. in whom he had a great interest crown'd King of the Isle of Wight and afterwards entitl'd First Earl of all England But this new and extraordinary Title dy'd with him Afterwards Richard Widevile Earl of Rivers was made Lord of the Isle of Wight by Edward 4. and Reginald Bray receiv'd it ‖ In firmam to farm as the Lawyers call it for the yearly rent of 300 Marks from K. Henr. 7. who had a great affection for him Besides these it has had for it's Lords a noble Family call'd de Insula or Lisle one of whom in the reign of Edw. 2. was summon'd to Parliament under the name of John de Insula Vecta i.e. of the Isle of Wight ADDITIONS to HAMSHIRE Right name of the County a BY what Author this County is call'd Hanteschyr which Mr. Camden says is the Saxon name of it I know not Certain it is that this must have been given it after the coming in of the Normans who brought along with them the custom of placing h after c a manner of writing altogether unknown to the Saxons The ancient Annals call it expresly Hamtunscyre which is by later writers melted into Hamteschyre Hampteshire and Hamshire Florence of Worcester indeed calls it Hantunscyre but it must needs be a mistake of the Librarian for Hamtunscyre since the Saxon-Annals call it so and he transcrib'd from them Which is the more observable because our modern Hants and Hantshire generally us'd as the true names plainly proceed from this mistake in the writing Hantunscyre being naturally melted into Hantshire b After the name we come to the County it self a part whereof our Author observes was that Natanleod Natanleod mention'd by our Histories Tho' the story be very obscure yet one may venture to affirm even against the Annals that this King's name could not be Natanleod but rather Natan or Nata which by the addition of leod i.e. a countrey signifies the tract or country of Natan Besides one of the Copies calls it Natanleag that is the field of Natan which naturally suggests what Mr. Camden could not so well infer from the other viz. some remains of the old name as in Netley and Nutley in this County Ellingham c 'T is possible the Avon as our Author conjectures might be call'd Alaun but Allingham is no proof of it there being no such place near the river unless he means Ellingham the affinity whereof with Ellandune has caus'd an opinion that the battle between Egbert and Bernulf might be in this place and the rather because Higden tells us it was in Hamshire But as the engagement was really * See that County in Wiltshire so Higden's error seems to have been occasion'd by the Monk of Winchester's saying that it was at Elendune which was a mannour belonging to the Priory of Winchester New-forest d East of the river is New-Forest wherein are 9 Walks and to every one a Keeper It has two Raungers a Bow-bearer and a Lord-Warden which office as †Itinerar MS. Vol. 6. Leland says formerly belong'd by right of inheritance to the Earls of Arundel but it is at present in the hands of his Grace the Duke of Bolton Malwood-castle e In this forest is the Castle of Malwood ‖ Aubr MS. the area whereof contains a great many
here a Castle now more than ruinous they were Founders of the adjacent Abby of Kingswood of the Cistercian order w 15 Derived from Tintern whom Maud the Empress greatly enriched The males of this House failed in the time of King Richard 2. and the Heir General was married to Cantelow Within one mile of this where the river Cam lately spoken of springeth is Uleigh a seat also of the Barkleys descended from the Barons Barkley styled of Uleigh and Stoke-Giffard who were found Coheirs to J. Baron Boutetort descended from the Baron Zouch of Richard Castles aliàs Mortimer and the Somerys Lords of Dueley And not far eastward we behold Beverstone-castle Beverston formerly belonging to the Gournys and Ab-Adams Ab-Adams who flourish'd under Edward 1. but afterwards to the Knightly family of the Berkleys x Hitherto I have made cursory remarks upon those places in this County which are situate beyond or upon Severn now I will pass forward to the easterly parts which I observ'd were hilly to wit Cotswold Cotswold which takes it's name from the hills and sheepcotes for mountains and hills 16 Without woods the Englishmen in old times termed Woulds Would what in English upon which account the ancient Glossary interprets the Alps of Italy the Woulds of Italy Upon these hills are fed large flocks of sheep with the whitest wool having long necks and square Bodies by reason as is supposed of their hilly and short pasture whose fine wool is much valued in foreign nations Under the side of these hills as it were in a neighbourhood together lye these following places most remarkable for their Antiquity y 17 Beginning at the north-east end of them Campden Campden commonly called Camden a noted market town where as John Castor averrs all the Kings of the Saxon Race had a congress in the year 689 and had a common consult how to carry on the war joyntly against the Britains which town 16 Weston and Biselay were in the possession of Hugh Earl of Chester in William the Conqueror's time Inq. 2. Ed. 2. was in the possession of Hugh Earl of Chester and from his posterity descended 17 By Nicolao de Albeniaco an Inheritrice to the ancient Earls of Arundel unto Roger de Somery by Nicholas de Albeniaco to Roger de Somery z h This place is in Warwickshire Adjoyning unto it is Weston of no great antiquity but now remarkable for the stately house there built by Ralph Sheldon for him and his posterity which at a great distance makes a fine prospect Hales Hales a most flourishing Abbey built by Richard Earl of Cornwal and King of the Romans 18 Who was there buried with his wife Sanchia daughter to the Earl of Provence famous for its scholar Alexander de Hales a great master of that knotty and subtile sort of school divinity aa 19 As he carried away the sirname of Doctor Irrefragabilis that is the Doctor ungainsaid as he that could not be gainsaid Sudley Sudley formerly Sudleagh i The neat Church here was ruin'd in the Civil wars and the best part of the Castle is since pull'd down a beautiful castle lately the seat 20 Of Sir Tho. Seimor Baron Seimor of Sudley and Admiral of England attainted in the time of K. Edw. 6 and afterward of Sir John Bruges whom Q. Mary c. of Giles Bruges Baron of Chandos Barons of Chandos whose grandfather John was honoured by Queen Mary with that title because he derived his pedigree from the ancient family of Chandos out of which there flourish'd in the reign of K. Edw. 3. 21 Sir John a famous Banneret L. of Caumont and Kerkitou in France John Chandos Viscount St. Saviours in France eminent for his services and great success in war The former Lords hence called Barons of Sudley Barons of Sudley that lived here were of an ancient English Race deducing their original from Goda the daughter of K. Aethelred whose son Ralph Medantinus Earl of Hereford was the father of Harold Lord of Sudley whose progeny long continued here until for want of issue male the heiress married with 22 Sir William William Butler of the family of Wem and brought him a son named Thomas He was father of Ralph Lord high Treasurer of England whom Hen. 6. created Baron of Sudley 23 With a fee of 200 marks yearly and who new built this castle His sisters were married into the families of Northbury and Belknape by which their possessions were in a short time divided into different families Hard by this is Toddington Toddington where the Tracies Tracies of a worshipful and ancient family have long flourished and formerly received many favours from the Barons of Sudley But how in the first reformation of religion William Tracy Lord of this place was censured after his death his body being dug up and burn'd publickly for some slight words in his last Will which those times call'd heretical or how in preceding times another William Tracy imbrued his hands in the blood of Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury Ecclesiastical writers having told us at large is now no part of my business to relate Winchelcomb Winchelcomb is here seated which is a populous town where Kenulph the Mercian King erected a Monastery and upon the day of it's consecration freely dismissed Edbricth King of Kent then his prisoner without any ransome paid 'T is scarce credible in what great repute this monastery was for the sake of the reliques of K. Kenesm a child of 7 years old whom his sister privately bereaved of his life to gain the inheritance and who was by that age added to the number of martyrs The neighbourhood of this place was formerly reckoned as a County or Sheriffdom by it self for we find in an ancient manuscript belonging to the Church of Worcester these words Edric sirnamed Streona that is the * Adquisitor Acquirer who under Ethelred and afterwards under Cnute or Canute presided and reigned as a Viceroy over all England adjoyned the Sheriffdom of Winchelcombe which was then an entire thing in it self to the County of Glocester bb 24 Thence I found nothing memorable but near the fountain of Churn river Coberley a seat of a stem of Barkeleis so often named even from the Conquest which matched with an heir of Chandos and so came hereditarily to the Bruges progenitors to the Lords Chandos Then by Bird-lip-hill whereby we ascended to this high Coteswold Lower in the County lyeth Brimesfield Brimesfield where the Giffords were formerly Lords Giffords Barons to whom by marriage with the Cliffords came a plentiful Estate but soon after having only daughters it fell to the Lords Le Strange of Blackmer the Audleys and others cc These places are situate amongst the hills but under the hills upon the East-confines of the County I saw that famous Roman highway call'd the Fosse
expresly says that the Founders did therein instituere Canonicos seculares who were of the Order of S. Augustine Roger de Iveri is there mention'd as a Co-Founder a Parish-Church dedicated to St. George to which the Parishioners not having free access when the Empress Maud was closely besieg'd in this castle by King Stephen the Chapel of St. Thomas Å¿ Westward from the Castle hard by was built for that purpose He is supposed likewise to have beautified the city with new walls which are now by age sensibly impair'd Robert his Nephew son of his brother Nigel Chamberlain to King Hen. 1. t Who design'd thereby to expiate the sins of her former unchaste life and to prevail with her husband told him a story of the chattering of birds and the interpretation of a Frier which legendary tale Leland tells us was painted near her Tomb in that Abbey by persuasion of his wife Edith daughter of Furn who had been the last Concubine of that Prince in the island meadows nigh the castle built Oseny Oseney Abby which the ruins of the walls still shew to have been very large At the same time as we read in the Register of the said Abbey of Oseney Robert Pulein began to read the holy scriptures at Oxford which were before grown almost out of use in England which person after he had much profited the English and French Churches by his good doctrine was invited to Rome by Pope Lucius 2. and promoted to the dignity of Chancellour of that See To the same purpose John Rous of Warwick writes thus By the care of Keng Henry the first the Lecture of Divinity which had been long intermitted began again to flourish and this Prince built there a new Palace which was afterward converted by King Edward 2. into a Convent for Carmelite Friers But u Richard Ceur de Lion third son of Henry and Queen Eleanor his wife was born on the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary An. 1157. 4 Hen. 1. in the King's Palace of Beaumont in a Chamber upon the ground whereof the Carmelites when this house was given them by King Edw. 2. built a Belfrey and Tower of which they us'd to boast as the place of Nativity to this Martial Prince long before this conversion was born in that Palace the truly Lion-hearted Prince King Richard 1. commonly call'd Ceur de Lion Richard ceur de Lyon a Monarch of a great and elevated Soul born for the glory of England and protection of the Christian world and for the terror and confusion of Pagans and Infidels Upon whose death a Poet of that age has these tolerable verses Viscera Carleolum corpus Fons servat Ebrardi Et cor Rothomagum magne Richarde tuum In tria dividitur unus qui plus fuit uno Nec superest uno gloria tanta viro Hic Richarde jaces sed mors si cederet armis Victa timore tui cederet ipsa tuis Great Richard's body's at Fontevrault shown His bowels at Carlisle his head at Roan He now makes three because too great for one Richard lyes dead but death had fear'd his power Could this proud Tyrant own a Conquerour The City being thus adorn'd with beautiful buildings many Students began to flock hither as to the common Mart of civility and good letters So that learning here quickly reviv'd chiefly through the care of the foresaid Robert Pulein a man born to promote the interest of the learned world who spar'd no trouble and pains to cleanse and open the fountains of the Muses which had been so miserably dried and damm'd up under the favour and protection of King Henry 1. King Henry 2. and Richard his son whom I mention'd just before And he met with such fortunate success in his endeavours that in the reign of King John there were three thousand Students in this place who went away altogether some to Reading and some to Cambridge w As also to Maidstone Salisbury and other places when they could no longer bear the x Which happen'd An. 1209. the 10th of King John upon a Clerk in Oxford accidentally killing a woman and complaint being made to the King then at Woodstock he commanded two of the Scholars who upon suspicion of that fact had been imprison'd by the Towns-men to be immediately hang'd without the City walls This so much offended and frighted the poor Scholars that they all deserted the Town But the Inhabitants being soon sensible of the desolation and poverty they had brought upon themselves did upon their knees deprecate the fault at Westminster before Nicholas the Pope's Legate and submitted to a publick Penance Upon which the dispersed Scholars after five years absence return'd to Oxford An. 1214. and obtain'd some new Privileges for their more effectual protections abuses of the rude and insolent Citizens but when these tumults were appeas'd they soon after return'd Then and in the following times as Divine Providence seem'd to set apart this City for a seat of the Muses so did the same Providence raise up a great number of excellent Princes and Prelates who exercis'd their piety and bounty in this place for the promoting and encouraging of Arts and all good Literature And when King Henry 3. came hither and visited the shrine of S. Frideswide which was before thought a dangerous crime in any Prince and so took away that superstitious scruple which had before hindred several Kings from entring within the walls of Oxford He here conven'd a Parliament to adjust the differences between him and the Barons and at that time confirm'd the privileges granted to the University by his Predecessors and added some new acts of grace and favour After which the number of learned men so far encreas'd as to afford a constant supply of persons qualified by divine and humane knowledge for the discharge of offices in Church and State So that Matthew Paris expresly calls Oxford The second School of the Church after Paris nay the very foundation of the Church r. For the Popes of Rome had before honour'd this place with the title of an University which at that time in their decretals they allow'd only to Paris Oxford Bononia and Salamanca And in the Council of Vienna it was determin'd That Schools for the Hebrew Arabic and Chaldaic tongues should be erected in the Studies of Paris Oxford Bononia and Salamanca as the most eminent that the knowledge of those Languages might be hereby propagated and encourag'd and that out of men of the Catholick Communion furnisht with sufficient abilities two should be chosen for the profession of each Tongue For the maintenance of which Professors in Oxford all the Prelates in England Scotland Ireland and Wales and all Monasteries Chapters Convents Colleges exempt and not exempt and all Rectors of Parish-Churches should make a yearly contribution In which words one may easily observe that Oxford was the chief School in England Scotland Wales and Ireland and that
Karneu with the addition of the English termination don signifying Mountain or Hill as in Snowdon Huntingdon c. which conjecture is much confirm'd when we consider there are many hills in Wales denominated from such heaps of stones as Karn Lhechart in Glamorganshire Karnedh Dhavidh Karnedh Higin and Karnedh Lhewelyn in Caernarvonshire with many more in other Counties d Tralhwn from Tre'r Lhyn is an Etymology â—â—ymology 〈◊〉 the word â—â—alhwn agreeable enough with the situation of this place otherwise I should be apt to suspect the word Tralhwn might be the name of a place near this pool before the town was built and that the town afterwards took its name from it For in some parts of Wales 't is a common appellative for such soft places on the Roads or elsewhere as travellers may be apt to sink into as I have observ'd particularly in the Mountains of Glamorganshire And that a great deal of the ground near this place is such is also very well known As for the Etymon of the appellative Tralhwn I suppose it only an abbreviation of Traeth lyn i.e. a Quagmire e Concerning the situation of the old Mediolanum â—edâ—olaâ—â—m our Author seems to discourse with that judgment and modesty as becomes the character he justly bears in the world and since his time I cannot learn that any Roman Monuments have been discover'd at either of the places he mentions that might remove his scruples and fully determine the position of that City His arguments for the agreeableness of the names of Mediolanum and Mylhin though he writes it Methlin are so valid that I know not what can be objected to them However it seems observable that we do not find it was customary among the Britains to prefix the word Lhan i.e. Church to the name of Roman Cities but if any word was prefixt 't was generally Kaer i.e. a Fort or Fence as Caer Lheion Kaer Went Kaer Vyrdhin c. And tho' we should allow the invalidity of this objection and suppose the word Lhan might be introduced in latter times yet considering that a learned and inquisitive Gentleman of this Town who amongst his other studies has always had a particular regard to the Antiquities of his Country has not in the space of forty years met with any Coyns here or other tokens of a place inhabited by the Romans nor yet discover'd the least signs that this town was anciently of any considerable note I think we cannot safely barely on account of its name and vicinity to the situation requir'd conclude it the old Mediolanum Therefore it seems convenient to have recourse to the situation assign'd this City by Dr. Powel before our Author writ his Britannia who in his learned Annotations on Giraldus's Itinerary * ‖ L 2. c. 4. assures us 't was not only the opinion of some Antiquaries that the ancient Mediolanum was seated where the village of Meivod stands at present but also that the same village and places adjoyning afforded in his time several such remarkable Monuments as made it evident there had been formerly a considerable town at that place This Meivod is seated about a mile below Mathraval on the North-side of the river Myrnwy and three miles Southward of Lhan Vylhin at the situation our Author requires At present there remains only a Church and a small village but several yet living have seen there the ruins of two other Churches I am inform'd that about a mile from the Church there 's a place call'd Erw'r Porth i.e. the Gate-acre which is supposed to have taken its name from one of the Gates of the old City and that in the grounds adjoyning to this village Cawsways Foundations of Buildings Floors and Harths are often discover'd by Labourers but whether any such Monuments as we may safely conclude Roman as Coyns Urns Inscriptions c. are found at this place I must leave to farther enquiry Meivod as Bishop Usher supposes is call'd by Nennius Cair Meguid and in other copies Cair Metguod but what the word Meguid or Metguod or yet Meivod or Mediolanum might signifie is hardly intelligible at present at leastwise I cannot discern that the modern British affords us any information concerning the origin of these names Mathraval mention'd here as formerly the seat of the Princes of Powys shews at present no remains of its ancient splendour there being only a small Farm-house where the Castle stood Lhan Vylhin is a market-town of considerable note first incorporated by Lhewelyn ap Grufydh Lord of Mechain and Mochnant in the time of Edward the second It 's govern'd by two Bailiffs chosen annually who besides other Privileges granted to the town by King Charles the second bearing date March 28. Anno Reg. 25. were made Justices of the Peace within the Corporation during the time of their being Bailiffs f The Lordship of Powys was afterwards purchased by Sir Edward Herbert second son of William Earl of Penbroke to whom succeeded his eldest son Sir William Herbert created Lord Powys by King James the first whom his son Percy succeeded in the same title But his son William was first made Earl of Powys by King Charles the second and afterwards Marquiss of Powys by King James Since Philip Herbert second son of Henry Earl of Penbroke was created Earl of Montgomery Earls of Montgomery 3 Jac. 1. May 4 the same persons have enjoy'd the titles of Penbroke and Montgomery and at present both are joyn'd in the right honourable Thomas Baron Herbert of Cardiff c. MEIRIONYDHSHIRE BEyond the County of Montgomery lies Meirionydhshire which the Britains call Sîr Veirionydh in Latin Mervinia and by Giraldus Terra filiorum Conani It reaches to the crooked bay I mention'd and is wash'd by the main Ocean on the west-side with such violence that it may be thought to have carried off some part of it On the south for some miles 't is divided from Cardiganshire by the river Dyvy and on the north borders on Caernarvon and Denbighshire Mountains exâ—eeding high This County hath such heaps of mountains that as Giraldus observes 't is the roughest and most unpleasant County of all Wales 1 And Wales For the hills are extraordinary high and yet very narrow and terminating in sharp peaks nor are they thin scatter'd but placed very close and so eaven in height that the shepherds frequently converse from the tops of them who yet in case they should wrangle and appoint a meeting can scarce come together from morning till night a Innumerable flocks of sheep graze on these mountains nor are they in any danger of Wolves Wolves in England destroy'd which are thought to have been then destroy'd throughout all England when King Edgar impos'd a yearly tribute of three hundred wolves skins on †No Prince of this name in Wales An leg Idwal See Derbyshire and Yorkshire Ludwal Prince of these Countries For as we find in William of Malmesbury When he had
Mountain in Wales being call'd y Wydh va †〈…〉 and the highest Stone-pillar or Monument I have seen there call'd Hir-vaen gŵydhog ‖ O◠〈…〉 gaâ—â—â— An 〈…〉 Gwyâ— 1. c. 〈◊〉 Gâ—ganâ—â— so that there being a considerable Krig at this place for so they call artificial Mounts or Barrows in South-Wales we may safely conclude it thence denominated Near this Town as the learned * Ushâ—â— Bâ—t 〈◊〉 Anâ—â— â— ex Câ—â—â—â—tio 〈◊〉 Usher supposes was that celebrated victory which he calls Victoria Alleluiatica for that the Pagans were put to flight by the repeated shouts of Alleluia obtain'd by the Britains under the conduct of Germanus and Lupus against the Picts and Saxons Adding that in memory of that miraculous victory the place is call'd at this day Maes Garmon or St. German's Field †Mat. 〈◊〉 the name of pater sâ—meâ—â—â—e impâ—â—s 〈…〉 beeâ—iâ—â— there Vide Aâ—gâ—â—â—â— And whereas it may be objected That seeing 't is allow'd St. German died in the year 435. 't was impossible he should lead the Britains in this Island against the Saxons for that Hengist and Horsa arriv'd not here till 449 ‖ See 〈◊〉 Aâ—thâ—◠〈…〉 coutâ—â—â— the 〈◊〉 Saxons He answers that long before their time as appears from Ammianus Marcellinus Claudian c. the Saxons made frequent inroads into this Island It will not perhaps be unacceptable to the Curious if we take notice here of some delineations of the leaves of Plants that are found upon sinking new Coal-pits in the Township of Leeswood in this parish These tho' they are not much minded are found probably in most other parts of England and Wales where they dig Coal at leastwise I have observ'd them at several Coal-pits in Wales Glocestershire and Somersetshire and have seen considerable variety of them in that excellent Musaeum of Natural Bodies collected by Mr. William Cole of Bristol as also amongst Mr. Beaumont's curious Collection of Minerals They are found generally in that black flat or as the Workmen call it the slag or cleft which lyes next above the Coal so that in sinking new Pits when these mock-plants are brought up they are apt to conclude the Coal not far off These are not such faint resemblances of leaves as to require any fancy to make out the comparison like the Pietra imboschata or Landskip-stone of the Italians but do exhibit the whole form and texture more compleatly than can be done by any Artist unless he takes off their impressions from the life in some fine paste or clay I say resemblances of leaves because amongst all the stones I have seen of this kind I have hitherto observ'd none delineated with any roots or flowers but always either pieces of leaves or whole ones or else which happens but seldom some singular figures which I know not what bodies to compare to Such as those I have seen from these Coal-pits and the same may be said of others in general do for the most part resemble the leaves of capillary Plants or those of the fern-kind but our observations in this part of Natural History are as yet in their infancy and we know not but the bowels of the Earth were it possible to search them might afford as great variety of these mock-plants as the surface contains of those we esteem more perfect However this I shall venture to affirm that these Plants whatever may be their origin are as distinguishable into Species as those produced in the Surface For altho' we find as yet no resemblance of flowers or seeds yet the form and texture of these leaves which are always constant and regular will soon discover the Species to such as have any skill in Plants or will take the trouble to compare them nicely with each others For example I have observ'd amongst the ruble of one Coalpit seven or eight Species of Plants and of each Species twenty or more Individuals Whoever would prove these Subterraneous Leaves an effect of the universal Deluge will meet with the same difficulties not to mention others as occur to those who assign that origin to the fossil shells teeth and vertebrae of fish Crabs claws Corals and Sea-mushrooms so plentifully dispers'd not only throughout this Island but doubtless in all parts of the World For as amongst the fossil shells of England we find the greatest part of a figure and superficies totally different from all the shells of our own Seas and some of them from all those the most curious Naturalists have hitherto procured from other Countreys so amongst these Plants we find the majority not reconcileable with those produced in this Country and many of them totally different from all Plants whatever that have been yet describ'd But that the Reader may not wholly rely on my Judgment herein I have â—dded three figures of such leaves out of a Coal-pit belonging to the Demeans of Eagle's-Bush near Neath in Glamorganshire Fig. 27. represents a Leaf of a Plant which I presume totally different from any yet describ'd It 's about six inches long but seems to be broken off at each end and almost two in breadth The four ribs are a little prominent somewhat like that of Harts-tongue as are also the three orders of Characters betwixt those ribs which seem in some sort to answer the seeds of such Plants as are call'd dorsiferous as those of the Hart's-Tongue or Fern-kind Fig. 28. resembles a branch of the common female Fern and agrees with it in superficies and proportion as well as figure Fig. 29. expresses the common Polypody tho' not so exactly as the 28th imitates the female Fern. This is an elegant Specimen having the middle rib very prominent and that of each leaf rais'd proportionably four inches long and an inch and a quarter broad I find these Mineral Leaves are not only produc'd in the Coal-slats but sometimes in other Fossils for I have formerly observ'd of them in Marl-pits near Kà er-wys in this County which in some measure resembled Oak-leaves And amongst that valuable Collection of Minerals reposited in the Ashmolean Musaeum by Dr. Robert Plot I find a Specimen of Iron-ore out of Shropshire delineated with a branch of some undescribed Plant which from the texture of the leaves I should be apt to refer to the capillary Tribe tho' the figure as the Doctor observes in his Catalogue seems rather to resemble Box-leaves †〈…〉 Câ—ps 〈…〉 But I shall add no more on this subject as expecting shortly a particular Treatise of the origin of form'd Stones and other Fossils from an ingenious person who for some years has been very diligent in collecting the Minerals of England and as far as I am capable of judging no less happy in his Discoveries f I find some mention of this Bangor Is-koed for so t is generally call'd to distinguish it from Bangor in Caernarvonshire in that Manuscript of Mr. Robert Vaughan's of Hengwrt so often quoted in these Welsh Counties Bangor Monachorum
meaning his own body The O-Neals afterwards wrested it out of their hands but they being attainted of treason Sir Thomas Smith Knight and one of Queen Elizabeth's Privy-Council by her permission planted a Colony there an excellent design but very unsuccessful For after great expence his own natural son whom he had set over it was taken by an Ambuscade of the Irish and then thrown to be tore in pieces by the dogs a piece of cruelty for which they afterwards severely suffered being themselves put to death and given to the wolves Above Ardes westward lyes the more southern Clanboy Clanboy the Upper i.e. a Yellow Sept or the family of Hugh the Yellow as they interpret it a woody Country which extends to the bay of Knock-Fergus inhabited by the O-Neals and counted the very utmost part of this County of Down The County of ANTRIM THE next County to Louth northwards is the County of Antrim so called from Antrim a small town only remarkable for giving name to the whole shire which is bounded by the bay of Knock-Fergus Knock Fergus the Lough Eaugh and the river Ban. This bay of Knock-Fergus called Vinderius in Ptolemy took it's name from a town situate upon it which the English term Knock-Fergus the Irish Carig-Fergus that is the rock of Fergus from that famous Fergus drowned there who first brought the Scots out of Ireland into Britain This town is more frequented and famous than any other upon this coast by reason of a commodious haven fortifications though not yet finished a castle standing upon a high rock and has a garison to keep the country in subjection with an ancient palace now converted into a magazine Near this lies Clane-boy the lower Clanboy the Lowâ—â— the habitation likewise of the O-Neals memorable for the death of that lewd rebel Shan or John O-Neal who after many outrages was defeated in one or two skirmishes by 49 Sir Henry Henry Sidney Lord Deputy and reduced to such streights that he was resolved to go and address himself to the Lord Deputy with a halter about his neck for pardon but his Secretary dissuaded him and induced him rather to seek assistance from the Island Scots who under the conduct of Alexander Oge were now encamped here and ravaged the country Accordingly he went to them and was kindly received but put to death soon after with his whole party for the slaughter he had formerly made among their relations The war being thus ended by his death and he attainted with his whole party Queen Elizabeth bestowed this Clane-boy upon Walter D'Evereux Earl of Essex who came hither sent perhaps by means of some Courtiers under pretence of honour for he was made Governor of Ulster and Marshal of Ireland into a Country ever rebellious and ungovernable Where endeavouring with great expence to compose affairs and reduce them to a state of peace and quietness he was at last after many and great difficulties snatch'd away by an untimely death to the loss and trouble of all good men and to the benefit of the O-Neals and Brian Carragh of the family of the Mac-Conells who thereupon got this territory and since that time have been at war with one another for the Lordship of it Near this Knock-Fergus lies a Peninsula joined by a small neck of land to the continent which is call'd the Isle of Magie 〈◊〉 oâ— Maâ—â—â— being four miles in length and one in breadth Here some suppose that the Monastery of Magio so much commended by Bede did stand which I have already mentioned in the County of Maio. Then the Glinnes â—â—â—nnes that is the valleys begin at Older-sleet a bad road for ships and run along a great way by the sea This territory belong'd formerly to the Bissets â—â—â—ts Noblemen of Scotland who for making away Patrick Earl of Athol were banished hither and by the favour of Henry the third King of England were settled in an estate here For John Bisset who died in the beginning of Edw. the first had a great estate in lands here and in Edw. the 2d's reign Hugh Bisset forfeited part of it by rebellion In the last age this was invaded by the 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ni â—â—torâ—s 〈…〉 Coâ— Irish Scots from the Cantire and the Hebrides under the conduct of James Mac Conell Lord of Cantire in Scotland who claimed it as descended from the Bissets Shan O-Neal having cut off their Captain soon repelled them Yet they returned and made cruel ravages in these parts fomenting rebellions in the Kingdom till but very lately 50 Sir John John Perrot Lord Deputy first reduced Donall Goran who was slain together with his brother Alexander in Conaught by 51 Sir Richard Richard Bingham and afterwards Agnus Mac Conell the sons of James Mac Conell to that pinch that they submitted themselves to the Queen of England and upon their humble petition received this Country to hold of her by Knight's service on condition to bear arms for none but the Kings of England and to pay a certain number of Cows and Hawks yearly c. Above this as far as the river Bann the Country is called Rowte The Rowte the seat of the Mac Guillies Mac Guâ—lly a family of no small note among the Irish but pent up in this narrow corner by the outrage and continual depredations of the Island-Scots For Surley-Boy Surley boy also Chairly boy that is Charles the yellow brother to James Mac Conell who possessed the Glinnes did in a manner make himself master of this tract till 52 Sir John John Perrot the aforesaid Lord Deputy having took the castle of Donluse Doniuse strongly situated upon a rock hanging out into the sea and severed from the land by a deep ditch drove out him and his party However he recovered it the year following by treachery after he had slain Carie the governor who made a stout defence Upon this the Lord Deputy sent out Meriman an experienced Captain against him who cut off the two sons of James Mac Conell with Alexander the son of this Surley Boy and pressed him so closely driving away his cattle the only riches he had for he was able to make up 50000 Cows of his own stock that he surrender'd Donluse came to Dublin and made an open submission in the Cathedral exhibiting a petition for mercy Being after this admitted into the Governors lodgings as soon as he saw the picture of Queen Elizabeth he threw away his sword once or twice and fell down before it devoting himself entirely to Her Majesty Being received into favour and protection among the other subjects of Ireland hereupon he abjured both in the Chancery Kings-Bench all allegiance to any foreign Prince whatsoever and by the bounty of Queen Elizabeth had four territories or Toughs as they call them from the river Boys to the Ban bestowed upon him namely Donseverig Loghill and Ballamonyn together with the government of Donluse
in good order protected the weak but still continued insolent and cruel to the Nobility insomuch that they petitioned the Lord Deputy for protection and relief whereupon he grew more outragious dispossest Mac-Guir Lord of Fermanagh with fire and sword who had under hand accus'd him burnt the Metropolitan Church of Armagh and besieged Dundalk but this proved ineffectual partly by the valour of the Garison and partly by the apprehension of being suppressed by William Sarfield the Mayor of Dublin who was on his march towards him with the flower of his Citizens However he made cruel ravages in the adjacent Country To put a stop to these bold and outragious proceedings 6 Sir Henry Sidney the Lord Deputy set out himself and was advancing at the head of an Army against him but wisely detach'd seven companies of foot and a â—ry Sidâ—â—â— Lord â—oxy 〈…〉 troop of horse beforehand under the conduct of Edward Randolph a famous old soldier by sea into the North parts of Ireland where they encamped themselves at Derry upon Loghfoil to be upon the rear of the enemy Shan fearing this immediately marched thither and with all his force endeavoured to remove them upon this attack Randolph issued out upon him and though he valiantly lost his own life in the engagement yet he gave the enemy such a defeat that from that time forward they were never able to keep the field so that Shan finding himself weaken'd by slight skirmishes and deserted by his soldiers was once resolved to go and throw himself with a halter about his neck at the mercy of the Lord Deputy But his Secretary perswading him rather to rely upon the friendship of the Scots who under the conduct of Alexander Oge i.e. the younger were now encampt in Claneboy he sent Surley boy Alexander's brother whom he had detained prisoner a long time to prepare the way and soon after followed him with the wife of O-Donnell his adultress The Scots received him kindly and with some few of his adherents he was admitted into a tent where after some cups they began to resent the fate of James Mac-Conell the brother of Alexander whom Shan had killed and the dishonour done to James's sister whom Shan had married and put away whereupon Alexander Oge and his brother Mac-Gillaspic took fire and giving the signal for revenge all fell upon Shan with their drawn swords and hewed him to death by which peace was restored to that Province in the year 1567. A little after this a Parliament was called at Dublin wherein an Act passed for the Attainder of Shan and annexing most of the Counties and Seigniories of Ulster to the person of the Queen and her Successors and for prohibiting any one ftom taking the stile and title of O-Neal hereafter Notwithstanding this was soon after assumed by Turlogh Leinigh Brother's son to this Con More O-Neal already spoken of who was now towards the decline of his age and therefore of a more calm temper but the rather because he lay under some apprehensions from Shan's sons and Hugh Baron of Dunganon his son though he had marryed his daughter to him whom soon after he put away and married another This Turlogh being very obsequious and dutiful to the Queen of England gave no disturbance to the English but prov'd a very troublesome neighbour to O-Donell and the Island Scots and in a skirmish cut off Alexander Oge who had killed Shan O-Neal Hugh the son of Matthew called Baron of Dunganon who lived sometimes obscurely in his own country and sometimes in England in the service of some of our Nobility began to rise from this mean condition to some degree of eminence The Queen made him Captain of a troop of horse in the war against the Earl of Desmond and allowed him an yearly pension of a thousand marks whereupon he behaved himself gallantly against the rebels in all encounters and at length exhibited a Bill in Parliament That by vertue of a Grant made to his Grandfather an Act might be pass'd for his restitution to the title and dignity of Earl of Ter-Oen and to the estate of his Ancestors As for the title and dignity of Earl of Ter-Oen it was granted without any difficulty but the estate of his Ancestors being annext to the Crown by the Attainder of Shan O-Neal it was wholly referred to the Queen who graciously gave it him in consideration of his services already done her and those she still expected hereafter Yet first she provided that the Province should be surveyed and laid out into proper districts one or two places reserv'd in her own hands for garisons particularly the Fort at Black-water that provision should be made for the maintenance of the sons of Shan and Turlogh and that he should pretend to no authority over any Seigniories beyond the County of Ter-Oen though they bordered upon it Having willingly received it with all these conditions he return'd his thanks to her Majesty with great expressions both of the reality of this address and of his sincere resolution to serve her with the utmost of his diligence authority and affection for these favours and indeed it may be said of him that he performed his promise and that the Queen could expect no more from the most faithful subject she had than he did His body was able to endure the miseries either of labour watching or want his industry was very great his mind excellent and capable of the greatest employments he had a great knowledge in the affairs of war and was so profound and unfathomable a dissembler that some foretold at that time He would either prove the greatest good or the greatest hurt to Ireland He gave such testimonies of his valour and loyalty that the Queen her self interceeded with Turlogh Leinigh for his Seigniory and got him to surrender it upon conditions After Leinigh's death he usurped the title of O-Neal notwithstanding it was made capital by Act of Parliament excusing it as done purely to anticipate others that would perhaps assume it and promising to relinquish it but begg'd earnestly that no oath might be press'd upon him for performance About this time the Spanish Armado which had in vain attempted to invade England was dispersed and routed many of them in their return were shipwreckt in the Irish Sea and great numbers of the Spaniards thrown upon the coast of Ireland the Earl of Ter-Owen was faid to have kindly received some of them and to have treated with them about making a private league between him and the King of Spain Upon this account he was accused before the Queen and no slight evidence brought against him by Hugh Ne-Gaveloc i.e. in Fetters the natural son of Shan so called from his being kept in fetters for a long time which so enraged the Earl that afterward he had him apprehended and commanded him to be strangled but had much ado to find an Executioner the people had so much veneration for the blood of the O-Neals
acclamations of the common people nay with a clap of thunder in a clear sun-shiny day set out from London towards the end of March and after a troublesome voyage arrived in Ireland Having received the sword according to the custom he took his march upon the persuasion of some of the Council who had too much regard to their own private interests against some petty Rebels in Munster without heeding the Earl which was quite contrary to his instructions having taken Cahir a Castle of Edward Butler Baron of Cahir which was encompassed by the river Swire and possessed by the Rebels and made great booty of their cattle he made himself terrible to the whole Country so that the Rebels dispersed themselves into the woods and forests In the mean time he received no small loss by the cowardise of some soldiers under 35 Sir Henry H. Harrington for which he punished them with great severity He returned towards the end of July his army being sadly harassed with toil and sickness and incredibly diminished Finding the Queen very angry at this unfortunate expedition when she had expresly urg'd him to march directly into Ulster against the Earl he writ an excuse to her Majesty laying the fault upon her Counsel in Ireland that advised him whom he could not but comply with in respect to their experience in the state affairs of that Kingdom promising that he would now forthwith march into Ulster He had scarce delivered these letters out of his hands when he was forced to send another dispatch that now he was diverted and obliged to march into Ophaly near Dublin against the O-Conors and the O-Moils who had broke out into rebellion and whom he soon vanquished with good success in some few skirmishes Upon a review of his army after this expedition he found himself so much weakned that he writ the Queen word and got the hands of the Privy-Councellors to his letter that it was necessary to reinforce his army with a thousand soldiers before he went into Ulster Being now resolved to employ his whole power against that Province he ordered 36 Sir Coniers Coigniers Clifford Governor of Conaught to march toward Belik with a body of light horse that the Earls forces might be distracted when he should attack him on the other side Clifford set out accordingly with 1500. men and notwithstanding the toil of a long march and scarcity of powder would not halt till he had passed the Curlew-mountains When most of his men had passed the Rebels set upon them unawares under the conduct of O-Rork Being easily repelled ours still continued their march but the enemy perceiving the want of powder among them renewed the charge and put them quickly to flight being already sore fatigued with their journey killing Clifford himself and Sir Henry Radcliff of Ordsall Knight In the mean while the supply which the Lord Deputy had desired was raised in England and transported But within some few days after he sent the Queen word he could do nothing more this year than march to the frontiers of Ulster with 1300 foot and 300 horse where he arrived about the thirteenth of September The Earl shewed himself from the hills for two days together and at length sent Hagan to the Lord Deputy for a parley His Lordship refused it answering That if the Earl had any thing to say to him he might find him next morning at the head of his army The next morning after some light skirmishes a trooper rid out from the Earl's Army and told them in a loud voice that the Earl did not intend to engage but to parly with the Lord Lieutenant yet not now between the armies in battalia As the Lord Deputy was advancing the next day Hagan came up to him declaring that the Earl desired that the Queen's pardon and a peace might be allowed him and withall that he might have an audience of his Lordship if this favour was granted him he would be ready to receive him at the ford of the river hard by called Balla Clinch This ford is not far from Louth the head town of the County and near the Castle of Gerard Fleming The Lord Deputy sent some before hand to discover the place who found the Earl there according to the appointment he told them that the river was risen but that a man might be still very easily heard from the one side of the ford to the other Whereupon his Lordship having lodged a troop of horse upon the next hill went down to him alone The Earl riding his horse up to the belly in the ford saluted him with great respect and so after about an hour's discourse between themselves they withdrew to their respective armies Con a bastard son of the Earl's was sent to the Lord Deputy to desire another conference before a select number on both sides The Lord Deputy granted this likewise provided the number did not exceed six The Earl taking his brother Cormac Mac Gennys Mac Guir Evar Mac Cowley Henry Ovington and O-Quin returned forthwith to the same ford and the Lord Deputy came down to him accompanied with the Earl of Southampton Sir George Bourgchier Sir Warham S. Leger Sir Henry Danvers Sir Edward Wingfeld and Sir William Constable The Earl saluted them singly with great respect and after some few words it was concluded that Commissioners should be appointed the day following to treat of a peace who agreed upon a cessation from that very day from six weeks to six weeks 8. Sept. 1599. till the first of May yet so that it should be free for both sides to renew the war after fourteen days warning and that if any Confederate of the Earl's did not agree to it the Earl should leave him to be pursued at the discretion of the Lord Deputy In the mean while the letters of the Lord Deputy already mentioned were delivered to the Queen by Henry Cuff a great Scholar but an unfortunate man As soon as she perceived that her Lieutenant had done nothing at all in so long a time with so great an army and so much to her expence nor could for that year she was much offended and writ back to him and her Council there 38 That his proceeding answered neither her direction nor the world's expectation That she could not but wonder what the Lord Deputy meant by prolonging the war at this rate and missing those excellent opportunities he had had of carrying it on against the Earl himself considering that this was his constant advice in England and he had often promised her in his Letters he would take that course she asked him why he had made those impertinent expeditions into Munster and Ophaly even against his own judgment and without giving her notice before hand that so she might have countermanded them If his army was now broken and weak how comes it that he did not force the enemy when it was intire strong and compleat If the spring was not a
performed this for three years he desisted the fourth alledging he could not find one more However that there remain'd some long after is manifest from unquestionable Records The inhabitants who apply themselves wholly to the breeding of cattel and who feed on milk-meats viz. butter cheese c. notwithstanding that Strabo formerly derided our Britains as ignorant of the art of making cheese are scarce inferiour to any people of Britain in stature clear complexion comeliness and due proportion of limbs but have an ill character amongst their neighbours for Incontinency and Idleness It hath but few towns On the east where Dyvy runs Kwmmwd Mowdhwy Mowdhwy is a place well known which was formerly the inheritance of William otherwise call'd Wilkok Mowdhwy a younger son of Grufydh ap Gwenwynwyn and by his son's daughter it descended to 2 Sir Hugh Burgh Hugo Burgh and again by daughters of that house to the honourable families of Newport Leighton Lingen and Mitton Where the river ‖ Dôl Gelheu Avon runs more westerly lies Dôl Gelheu a small market-town so call'd from the valley wherein 't is seated b And close by the sea in the small Country of Ardudwy stands the castle of Ar-lech Harlech call'd heretofore Kaer Kolhwyn on a steep rock which as the inhabitants report was built by Edward 1. and took it's name from the situation for Ar-lech in the British signifies on a rock though some call it Harlech †Quasi Hardh-lech and interpret it A rock pleasantly situated When England was embroil d in civil wars Davidh ap Jenkin ap Enion a British Nobleman who sided with the house of Lancaster defended this castle stoutly for a long time against Edward 4. until 3 Sir William William Herbert Earl of Penbâ—oke forcing his way thorough the midst of the Alps of Wales though a very toilsome journey storm'd it with that vigour that it was surrender'd into his hands It 's almost incredible what great difficulties he struggl'd with in this troublesome journey when in some places whilst he ascended the mountains he was forced to creep and elsewhere in descending to tumble down in a manner together with his soldiers whence that way is call'd by the neighbours at this day Lhé Herbert Herbeâ—â— way c Higher up in the confines of this County and Caernarvonshire two notable arms of the sea encroach on the land call'd Y Traeth mawr and Traeth bychan that is the Greater Wash or Frith and the Lesser And not far from hence near a small village call'd Festineog Festâ—â—â— there is a high road or military way of pitch'd stones which leads thorough these difficult and almost unpassable mountains and seeing it is call'd in British Sarn Helen or Helen's way Heleâ—â— way it is but reasonable that we suppose it made by Helena the mother of Constantine the Great whose works were many and magnificent throughout the Roman Empire d Nor is Kaer Gai i.e. Caius's castle far from this place built by one Caius a Roman of whom the common people of that neighbourhood report great things and scarce credible In the east part of the County The â—â—tains oâ— Dee the river Dee springs from two fountains whence 't is supposed it deriv'd it's name for they call it Dŵy which also signifies the number two though others contend it took the name from the word Duw as if a sacred river This â—iâ—â— is calâ—â— Weâ—sh Dowâ—â— Sâ—e 〈◊〉 shire 〈◊〉 not r Pimble Meaâ— and some from Dû which denotes black from the colour of the water This river after a very short course passes entirely and unmix'd through a large lake call'd Lhyn Tegid in English Pimble Mear and ‖ Crâ—â— for iâ— Meâ— Guiâ—â—â— Fish Plenlyn Mear carrying out the same quantity of water it brought in For neither are the Gwiniad e which are a fish peculiar to this lake found in the Dee nor any Salmons taken in the lake tho' commonly in the river but if you please take here an accurate description of this lake by an Antiquarian Poet. Hispida qua tellus Mervinia respicit Eurum Est lacus antiquo Penlinum nomine dictus Hic lacus illimeis in valle Tegeius altâ Latè expandit aquas vastum conficit orbem Excipiens gremio latices qui fonte perenni Vicinis recidunt de montibus atque sonoris Illecebris captas demulcent suaviter aures Illud habet certè lacus admirabile dictu Quantumvis magnâ pluviâ non aestuat atqui Aëre turbato si ventus murmura tollat Excrescit subito rapidis violentior undis Et tumido superat contemptas flumine ripas Where eastern storms disturb the peaceful skies In Merioneth famous Penlin lies Here a vast Lake which deepest vales surround His watry globe rowls on the yielding ground Encreas'd with constant springs that gently run From the rough hills with pleasing murmurs down This wondrous property the waters boast The greatest rains are in it's chanels lost Nor raise the flood but when loud tempests roar The rising waves with sudden rage boyl ore And conqu'ring billows scorn th' unequal shore On the brow of this Lake lies Bala Bala a small priviledg'd town having but few inhabitants and the houses rudely built which yet is the chief market of these mountaneers f Hugh Earl of Chester was the first Norman that seiz'd this Country and planted garrisons in it whilst Grufydh ap * Coâ—â— Kynan was his prisoner but he afterwards recovering this land with the rest of his Principality left it to his posterity who possess'd it till their fatal period in Prince Lhewelyn There are in this County 37 Parishes ADDITIONS to MEIRIONYDHSHIRE a THis Country as Giraldus observes generally consider'd is the most mountainous of all the Welsh Counties though it's mountains are not the highest those of Snowdon in Caernarvonshire exceeding them in height and being at least equal to them in rocky precipices But whereas Giraldus calls it the roughest and most unpleasant country in all Wales it may be answer'd if that be worth notice that for the pleasing prospect of a Country there is hardly any standard most men taking their measures herein either from the place of their own nativity and education or from the profit they suppose a Country may yield But if as some hold variety of objects make a Country appear delightful this may contend with most as affording besides a sea-prospect not only exceeding high mountains and inaccessible rocks with an incredible number of rivers cataracts and lakes but also variety of lower hills woods and plains and some fruitful valleys Their highest mountains are Kader Idris Aren Voudhwy Aren Benlhyn Arennig Moelwyn Mannod c. These maintain innumerable herds of cattel sheep and goats and are in regard they are frequently fed with clouds and rains and harbour much snow considerably more fertil though the grass be coarse than the hills and ridges of lower Countries Kader