the Commons who at Hardby near Bullingbrooke his birth-place ended her life 8 Trade and commerce for provision of life is vented thorow thirty one Market-Towns in this Shire whereof Lincoln the Counties Namer is chief by Ptolomy and Antonine called Lindum by Beda Linde-Collina and by the Normans Nichol. Very antient it is and hath been more Magnifical as by her many overturned ruines doth appear and far more populous as by Doomesdayes Book is seen where it is recorded that this City contained a thousand and seven mansions and nine hundred Burgesses with twelve Lage-men having Sac and Soc. And in the Normans time saith Malmesbury it was one of the best Cities of England being a place of traffick of Merchandize for all commerce by Land or Sea Herein King Edward the third ordained his Staple for the Mart of Wools Leather and Lead and no less than fifty Parish-Churches did beautifie the same but now containeth onely fifteen besides the Cathedral Some ruines yet remain both of â—riariâ—s and Nunneries who lie buried in their own ashes and the City conquered not by war but by time and very age and yet hath she not escaped the calamity of Sword as in the time of the Saxons whence Arthur enforced their Host the like also did Edmund to the destroying Danes and by the Normans it suffered some damage where King Stephen was vanquished and taken prisoner and again by the third Henry that assaulted and waâ— it from his rebellious Barons By fire likewise it was for defaced wherein not only the buildings were consumed but wihal many men and women in the violence thereof perished as also by an Earth quake her foundation was much weakened and shaken wherein the fair Cathedral Church dedicated to the Virgin of Virgins was rent in pieces The government of this City is committed yearly to a Mayor two Sheriffs twelve Aldermen in Scarlet a Sword a Hat of Estate a Recorder Sword-bearer and four Serjeants with Maces whose situation on a steep hill standeth for Longitude in the degree 20 10 scruples the Pole elevated for Latitude from the degree 53 and 50 scruples 9 Much hath been the devotion of Princes in building of religious houses in this County as at Crowland Lincoln Markby Leyborn Grenfeld Alvingham Newnersby Grymmysby Newsted Elshaw Stansfeld Syxhill Torkesey Bryggerd Thorâ—eholme Nuncotten Fosse Hovings Axholme Isle Gokewell S. Michaels near Stamford Swyneshed Spalding Kirkested c. 10 Commotions in this shire were raised the eight and twentieth of King Henry the Eight where twenty thousand making insurrection violently sware certain Lords and Gentlemen to their Articles But no sooner they heard of the Kings power coming but they dispersed themselves and sued for pardon And again in the third year of King Edward the Sixt in ease of Inclosures Lincoln rose in seditious manner as did they of Cornwall Devonshire York-shire and Norfolk but after some slaughters of their chiefest men were reduced to former obedience The Shires division is into three principal parts viz. Lindsey Kesteven and Holland Lindsey is subdivided into seventeen Hundreds Kesteven into eleven and Holland into three containing in all thirty one wherein are situated thirty Market-Towns and six hundred thirty Parish Churches NOTTINGHAÌ„ SHIRE NOTTINGHAM-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXII NOTTINGHAM-SHIRE from Nottingham her chiefest Town hath the Name and that somewhat softned from the Saxons Snoddenzaham for the many Dens or Caves wrought in her Rocks and under ground lyeth bordered upon the North and North-west with York-shire upon the East a good distance by Trent is parted from and with Lincoln-shire altogether confined the South with Leicester-shire and the West by the River Erwash is separated from Darby-shire 2 For Form long and Oval-wise doubling in length twice her breadth whose extreams are thus extended and distance observed From Feningley North of Steanford in the South are thirty eight English miles West part from Teversal to Besthorp in the East are little more than nineteen whose circumference draweth much upon one hundred and ten miles 3 The Air is good wholsome and delectable the Soyl is rich sandy and clayie as by the names of that Counties divisions may appear and surely for Corn and Grass of fruitful that it secondeth any other in the Realm and for Water Words and Canell Coals abundantly stored 4 Therein groweth a Stone softer then Alabaster but being burnt maketh a plaister harder than that of Paris wherewith they floor their upper Rooms for betwixt the Ioysts they lay only long Bulrushes and thereon spread this Plaister which being throughly dry becomes most solid and hard so that it seemeth rather to be firm stone than mortar and is trod upon without all danger In the West near Worksop groweth plenty of Liquoâ—ice very delicious and good 5 More South in this Shire at Stoke in the Reign of King Henry the seventh a great baâ—te was fought by Iohn De-la-Poole Earl of Lincoln which Richard the Uâ—urper had declared his heir apparent but Richard losing his life and De-la-Poole his hopes in seeking here to set up a Lambert fell down himself and at Newark after many troubles King Iohn got his peace with the end of his life 6 Trade and Commerce for the Counties provision is frequented in eight Market-Towns in this Shire whereof Nottingham is both the greatest and best a Town seated most pleasant and delicate upon a high hill for building stately a number of fair streets surpassing and surmounting many other Cities and for a spacious and most fair Market-place doth compare with the best Many strange Vaults â—ewed oâ—t of the Rocks in this Town are seen and those under the Castle of an especial note one for the story of Christs Passion engrâ—â—en in the Walls and cut by the hand of David the second King of Scots whilst he was therein detained Prisoner Another wherein Lord Mortimer was â—upprized in the non-age of King Edward the Third ever since bearing the name of Mortimers Hole these have their Stairs and several Rooms made artificially even out of the Rocks as also in that Hill are dwelling Houses with Winding-stairs Windows Chimneys and Room above Room wrought all out of the solid Rock The Castle is strong and was kept by the Danes against Burthred Ethelred and Elfred the Mercian and West-Saxon Kings who together laid their siege against it and for the further strenght of the Town King Edward sirnamed the Elder walled it about whereof â—ome part as yet remains from the Castle to the West-gate and thence the foundation may be perceived to the North where in the midst of the way ranging with this bank stands a Gate of Stone and the same Tract passing along the North part may well be perceived the rest to the River and thence to the Castle are built upon and thereby buried from sight whose circuit as I took it extendeth two thousand one hundred twenty paces 7 In the wars betwixt Stephen and Maud the Empress by Robert Earl of Glocester these Walls were cast
West-point about 80 miles from thence to her North-west about 70 miles and her East Coast along the Irish Sea-shore eighty miles the circumference upon two hundred and seventy miles 3 The air is clear and gentle mixt with a temperate disposition yielding neither extremity of heat or cold according to the seasonable times of the year and the natural condition of the Continent The soil is generally fruitful plentiful both in fish and flesh and in other victuals as butter cheese and milk It is fertil in Corn Cattle and pasture grounds and would be much more if the husbandman did but apply his industry to which he is invited by the commodiousness of the Country It is well watered with Rivers and for the most part well wooded except the County of Divelin which complains much of that want being so destitute of wood that they are compelled to use a clammy kind of fat turff for their fuel or Sea-coal brought out of England 4 The Inhabitants of these parts in Ptolomies days were the Brigantes Menapii Cauci and â—lani from which Blani may seem to be derived and contracted the latter and modern names of this Country Lâ—in Leighnigh and Leinster The Menapii as the name doth after a sort imply came from the Menapians a Nation in Low Germany that dwelt by the Sea-Coasts These Brigantes called also Brigants Florianus del Campo a â—paniard labours to fetch from the Brigants of his own Countrey of whom an ancient City in Spain called Brigantia took the name But they may seem rather to derive their denomination from the River Birgus about which they inhabited for to this the very name is almost sufficient to perswade us 5 The commodities of this Country do chiefly consist in Cattle Sea-fowl and Fish It breeds many excellent good horses called Irish Hobbies which have not the same pace that other horses have in their course but a soft and round amble setting very easily 6 This Country hath in it three Rivers of note termed in old time the three sisters Shour Neor and Batraeo which issue out of the huge Mountain called by Giraldus Bladinae Montes as out of their mothers womb and from their rising tops descending with a downfal into several Channels before they empty themselves into the Ocean joyn hand in hand altogether in a mutual league and combination 7 Places very dangerous for shipping are certain flats and shallows in the Sea that lie over against Holy-point which the Mariners call the Grounds Also the shelves of sand that lie a great way in length opposite to Newcastlâ— which over looketh them into the Sea from the top of an high hill adjoyning 8 In this Province are placed many fair and wealthy Towns as Kilkenny which for a Burrough-Town excels all the midland Burroughs in this Island Kildare which is adorned with an Episcopal See and much graced in the first infancy of the Irish Church by reason of Saint Brigid a venerable Virgin had in great account and estimation for her virginity and devotion as who was the Disciple of S. Patrick of so great fame renown and antiquity also Weisford a name given unto it by these Germans whom the Irish term Oustmans a Town though inferiour to some yet as memorable as any so that it became the first Colony of the English and did first submit it self unto their protection being assaulted by Fitz Stephen a Captain worthily made famous for his valour and magnanimity 9 But the City which fame may justly celebrate alone beyond all the Cities or Towns in Ireland is that which we call Divelin Ptolomy Eblana the Latinists Dublinium and Dubliniâ— the West-Britaines Dinas Dublin the English-Saxons in times past Duplin and the Irish Balacleigh that is the Town upon hurdles for it is reported that the place being fennish and moorish when it first began to be builded the foundation was laid upon hurdles 10 That it is ancient is perswaded by the authority of Ptolomy That it was grievously rent and dismembred in the tumultuous wars of the Danes and brought afterwards under the subjection of Edgar King of England which his Charter also confirmeth wherein he calleth it the noble City of Ireland is written by Saxo Grammaticus That it was built by Harold of Norway which may seem to be Harold Harsager when he had brought the greatest part of Ireland into an awful obedience unto him we read in the life of Griffith ap Sinan Prince of Wales At length it yielded unto the valour and protection of the English at their first arrival into Ireland by whom it was manfully defended from the fierce assaults as well of Auscoulph Prince of the Dublinians as afterwards of Gotard King of the Isles since which time it hath still augmented her flourishing estate and given approved testimony of her faith and loyalty to the Crown of England in the times of any tumultuous straights and commotions 11 This is the Royal Seat of Ireland strong in her munition beautiful in her buildings and for the quantity matchable to many other Cities frequent for traffick and intercourse of Merchantâ— In the East Suburbs Henry the second King of England as Hoveden reporteth caused a royal Palace to be erected and Henry Loundres Archbishop of Divelin built a Store house about the year of Christ 1220. Not far from it is the beautiful Colledge consecrated unto the name of the holy Trinity which Queen Elizabeth of famous memory dignified with the priviledges of an University The Church of S. Patrick being much enlarged by King Iohn was by Iohn Comin Archbishop of Dublin born at Evesham in England first ordained to be a Church of Prebends in the year 1191 It doth at this day maintain a Dean a Chanter a Chancellor a Treasurer two Archdeacons and twenty two Prebendaries This City in times past for the due administration of Civil Government had a Provost for the chief Magistrate But in the year of mans redemption 1409 King Henry the fourth granted them liberty to chuse every year a Major and two Bailiffes and that the Major should have a gilt sword carried before him for ever And King Edward the sixth to heap more honour upon this place changed the two Bailiffs afterwards into Sherifâ—s so that there is not any thing here wanting that may serve to make the estate of a City most flourishing 12 As the people of this Country do about the neighbouring parts of Divelin come nearest unto the civil conditions and orderly subjection of the English so in places farther off they are more tumultuous being at deadly feuds amongst themselves committing oft-times Man slaughter one upon another and working their own mischiefs by mutual wrongs for so the Irish of Leinster wasted Leinster with many Towns in the same Province in the year 1294. And in the year 1301 the men of Leinster in like manner raised a war in the winter season setting on fire the Town of Wykinlo Rathdoâ— and others working their own plague and punishment by burning
called Pintâ—hâ— a stately and pleasant Seat the Royal Mansion of the King of the Nahissans who is an absolute Monarch About fifty miles from Sapon is Akâ—â—atzy a small but well-peopled Island lying upon the direct course of the River and bearing South and by West governed by two Kings the one Superintendent over their Martial affairs the other over their Hunâ—ing and Husbandry Thirty miles farther South-west from Akenatzy are the Oâ—nock Indians dwelling in a Town built round a Field in which they usually practice their sports and exercises of activity Their Houses are built some of Reed and Bark some of Watling and Plaister Their Government is Democratical Fourteen miles South-west of the Oenocks dwell the Shackory Indians whose Countrey abounds in Antimony Forty miles farther South-west is Watary Thirty miles farther Westward is Sara lying more towards that ridge of the Apalatâ—an Mountains by the Spaniards called Suala where great quantities of Cinabar are found South-west from thence is Wisacky over a continued marish ground overgrown with reeds this Town is subject to the King of Ushery on which also this King hath his Royal Seat about three miles from the Town and this is the utmost Town South-west that I find mentioned belonging to Carolina To the North over the Suala Mountains lie the Rickockans but back again North-east returning on the other side of the River toward Virginia is the Town of Katearas a place of notable Trade and the Seat of the proud Emperor of the Toskiroros called Kascusara or Kascous There are also the Towns of Kasriocam and Mencherink which though on the Virginian side of the River Rorenock yet are accounted rather belonging to Carolina The Countrey as it is now in possession of the English is divided and governed according to a platform and model drawn up by my Lord Shaftsbury with the consent and approbation of the rest of the Lords Proprietors judged by many serious persons that have perused it of equal advantage to the Inhabitants with any that ever hath been yet experienced in respect of the equal ballance of the interests of all parties The whole Province is divided into several Counties each containing forty square plats of 12000 acres a piece of these square plats eight are to be divided among the Lords Proprietors that is each to have one with the title of a Signory eight more among the Nobility of which there are to be three in every County a Landgrave and two Cassiques only the Landgrave to have double the proportion to the two Cassiques that is four to their two a piece the rest containing 24 acres falls to the people and this division is to be observed alike in every County by which means one fifth of the Land comes to the Proprietors another to the Nobility and three to the People The Signories or Lands belonging to the Proprietors are to be hereditary and descend with the Dignity to their Heirs and in like manner the Baronies The Parliament which is to be Biennial is to consist of the Proprietors the Nobility and for the people one chosen out of every District by the Freeholders which representatives are to have a free Vote in the making of Laws the force whereof is determined to set a time viz. sixty years or thereabouts to prevent the incumbrances and mischiefs arising from the multiplicity of rules and penalties which the longer a Law continues are liable to be increased and perplexed by the cunning of such as make a gain by the practice of the Law Besides the Parliament which hath the Legislative Power there are eâ—ght supreme Courts for the dispatch of all publick affairs The first is that of the Palatine for so the eldest of the Proprietors is stil'd who hath power to call Parliaments and dispose of publick affairs The second is the Chief Iustices for the judging of Criminals and trial of Causes about Right and Propriety The third is the Chancellor's Court which is for the passing of Charters and managing the grand affairs belonging to the Province The fourth is the High-Constablâ—s which is for the ordering of the Land-Militia The fifâ—h is the Admirals for the disposing of the Naval-Forces and other Maritime affairs The sixth is the High Stewards which inspects into the business of Trade The seventh is the Treasurers which looks after the incomes and disbursements of the publick Stock or Treasury The eighth is the Chamberlain's which marshals and orders the ceremonies and fashions in all great Marriages Burials and publick Solemnities All these Courts each of which consists of one Proprietor and six Counsellors whereof two are chosen by the Nobility and two by the People joyned together make up the Council of State or Grand Council by which all affairs of highest concernment are managed and to which the last appeal lies in all Causes belonging to them There is also a Court in every County and in every District another in each of which to prevent long Suits whereby the people suffer only to enrich a numerous Tribe of glib-tongu'd Orators no Cause is tried above once only an appeal to be made from an inferior to a superior Court till it come to the Proprietors Court where the last determination is made without farther appeal neither indeed are there any mercenary Pleaders allowed And farther to prevent the occasion of Controversies and Sâ—â—â—s in Law there is to be a Register of all Grants and Conveyances of Land Lastly to prevent all disturbance and annoyance to publick or private weal and safety strict enquiry is to be made into the conversations of such as shall be found to have neither estates not employments such provision being to be made as shall take away all excuses of following illegal courses nor are any to be suffered to make a Trade of begging who have ability of body and are obliged by necessity to work since it is apparent that idleâ—ess and beggery are the source of all those villanies which by the hand of Iustice bring so many to untimely ends whose lives might otherwise haply have one way or other conduced to the service of their King or Countrey and that it must needs be much more advantagious to the publick to prevent the necessity of inflicting capital punishments than to inflict them when deserved As to the Government in point of Religious affairs there is only this to be observed that a free toleration and liberty of Conscience is granted to all excepting in the case of Atheism Profaneness and debauchery of life as destructive to all Government and humane Society whereas ceremonies and indifferent circumstances in Religion are judged to tend most to disturbance when most strictly and rigorously imposed A Map of EAST INDIA The Description of India INDIA by the Ancients simply so denominated but by the Moderns sirnamed Orientalis for distinction sake in regard America or the new found World is usually stil'd India Occidentalis or the West-Indies is that Region of Asia which under one appellation
name Bibrotes yielded him subjection which proved the ruine of all former liberty But when the Romans had rent their own Empire and retired their Legion into a narrower circuit the Saxons set foot where their forces had been and made this County a parcel of their Western Kingdom The Danes then setting their desire upon spoils from their roaving Pinnaces pierced into these parts and at Redding fortified themselves betwixt the Rivers Kennet aâ—d Thamisis whether after their great overthrow received at Inglefield by the hand of King Ethelwolfe they retired for their further safety 6 This Town King Henry the first most stately beautified with a rich Monastery and strong Castle where in the Collegiate Chuch of the Abbey himself and Queen who lay both vailed and crowned with the daughter Maud the Empress called the Lady of England were interred as the private History of the place avoucheth though others bestow the bodies of these two Queens elsewhere The Castle King Henry the second razed to the ground because it was the refuge for the followers of King Stephen From whence the North pole is raised in Latitude 51 degrees and 40 minutes and in Longitude from the first West-point observed by Mercator 19 degrees and 35 minutes 7 A Castle and Town of greater strength and antiquity was Wallingford by Autonie and Ptolomy called Gellena the chiefest City of the Attrebatians whose large circuit and strong fortifications shew plainly that it was a place of the Romans abode and since in a conceived safety hath made many very bold especially when the sparks of Englands civil dissentions were forced to flame in case of the Crown betwixt Maud the Empress and King Stephen whether her self and associates resorted as their surest defence 8 But of far greater magnificence and state is the Castle of Windsor a most Princely Palace and Mansion of His Majesty I will not with Ieffery affirm it to be built by King Arthur but with better authority say it was so thirsted after-by the Conquerour that by a composition with the Abbot of Westminster whose then it was he made it to be the Kings possesson as a place besides the pleasures very commodious to entertain the King In this Castle that victorious Prince King Edward the third was born and herein after he had subdued the French and Scots held he at one and the same time as his Prisoners Iohn King of France and David King of Scotland Neither was it ever graced with greater Majesty than by the institution of the most honourable Order of the Garter a signal Ornament of Martial Prowesse the invention thereof some ascribe to be from a Garter falling from his Queen or rather from Ioan Countess of Salisbury a Lady of an incomperable beauty as she danced before him whereat the by-standers smiling he gave the impress to check all evil conceits and in golden Letters imbellished the Garter with this French Posie HONI SOâ—â— QUâ— MALY PENSE And yet that worthy Clarenceaux alledging the Book of the first institution finds the invention to be more ancient as when King Richard the first warred against the Turks Saracens Cypres and Acon he girt the legs of certain choise Knights with a tack of leather which promised a future glory to the wearers The most Princely Chappel thereof is graced with the bodies of those two great Kings Henry the sixth and Edward the fourth whom the whole Kingdom was too little to contain the one of Lancaster the other of York where the rest now united in one mould with a branch of both those Houses even King Henry the eighth who there lieth also interred and rests in the Lord. 9 Other places of note in this Shire are Sinodum in the North and Watham in the East both of them places of the Romans residence as by their moneys there oftentimes found appeareth Neither was Sunning the least in this Tract that had been the seat of eight Bishops before the See was translated thence unto Shirburne or that to Salisbury Wantage also is not wanting of honour in bringing to life that learned and most valiant King Ealfred the scourge of the Danes and great Monarch of the English And Finchhamstead for wonder inferiour to none where as our Writers do witness that in the year a thousand and hundred a Well boyled up with streams of bloud and fiftoen days together continued that Spring whose waters made red all others where they came to the great amazement of the beholders 10 The riches and sweet Seats that this County affordeth made many devout persons to shew their devotions unto true piety in erecting places for Gods divine Service and their exemptions from all worldly business such were Abington Redding Bysham Bromehall Hendley Hamme and Wallingford whose Votaries abusing the intents of their Founders overthrew both their own Orders and places of professions all which were dissolved by Act of Parliament and given the King to dispose at his will This Shires division is into twenty Hundreds and hath been strengthened with six strong Castles is yet graced with three of His Majesties most Princely Houses and traded with twelve Market-Towns and is replenished with one hundred and forty Parishes MIDLE-SEX MIDDLESEX CHAPTER XIV MIDDLESEX so called in regard of the situation as â—eated betwixt the West-Saxons and East-Angles was sometimes together with Essex and Hartford-Shire that part and portion which the East-Saxons enjoyed for their Kingdom it lyeth bordered upon the North with Hartford-Shire upon the West by Colâ—â— is severed from Buckingham the South by Thamesis from Surrey and Kent and on the East from Essex by the River Lea. 2 The length thereof extended from Stratford in the East to Morehall upon Colne in the West is by measure nineteen English miles and from South-mines in the North to his Majesties Mannour of Hampton Court in the South are little above sixteen miles the whole Circumference extending to ninety miles 3 In Form it is almost square for Air passing temperate for Soyl abundantly fertile and for Pasturage and Grain of all kinds yielding the best so that the Wheat of this County hath served a long time for the Manchet to our Princes Table 4 It lyeth seated in a vale most wholesome and rich having some hills also and them of good ascent from whose tops the prospect of the whole is seen like unto Zâ—ar in Egypt or rather like a Paradise and Garden of God 5 The ancient Inhabitants known to Caesar were the Trinobants whom he nameth to be the most puisiant in the Land whose chief City and â—eat yieldeth him subjection made the whole with less loss to the Romans to bear the yoke of their own bondage and to come in under terms of truce But when their Forces in these parts were spent and the Empire shaken by intestine wars the Saxons setting their eyes upon so fair a soyl made their footing as sure herein which lastly with Hartford and Essex was the portion of the East-Saxons Kingdom 6 Five
Saxon at Alesbury in the year of grace 592 overcame the Britains and bare down all things before him yet no sooner was their Heptarchy weaned and their Monarchy able to stand alone but that the Danes before their strength and growth was confirmed waxed upon them and they not able in so weak a hand to hold fast that weight of greatness they had so grasped gave place to their Conquerours who did many harms in this Province for in the year 914 the Danes furiously raged as far as Brenwood where they destroyed the City Burgh the ancient seat of the Romans afterwards a Royal house of King Edward the Confessor which they utterly destroyed 5 The Shire-Town Buckingham fruitfully seated upon the River Ouse was fortified with a Rampire and Sconces on both banks by King Edward the elder saith Marianus the Scotish Writer where in the heart of the Town hath stood a strong Castle mounted upon a high hill which long since was brought to the period of her estate now nothing remaining besides the signs that there she had stood The River circulates this Town on every side that only on the North excepted over which three fair stone bridges lead and into which the Springs of a Well run called S. Rumalds a child-saint born at Kings-Sutton canonized and in the Church of this Town enthrined with many conceited miracles and cures such was the hap of those times to produce Saints of all ages and sexes This Town is governed by a Bayliff and twelve principal Burgesses and is in the degree removed from the first point of the West for Longitude 19 33 scruples and the North-pole elevated in Latitude for the degree of 52 18 scruples 6 A Town of ancient note is Stony Straâ—ford the Romans Lactorodum being built upon that ancient Causey-way which is called VVatling Street where remain the marks thereof even unto this day At this place Edward the elder stopped the passage of the Danes whilst he strengthened Torcester against them and herein King Edward the eldest since the Conquest reared a beautiful Cross in memory of Eleanor his dead Queen as he did in every place where her Corps rested from Herdby in Lincoln-shire till it was received and buried at VVestminster 7 Places intended for Gods true worship built by devout persons and sequestred from worldly imployments were at Launden Luffeld Bidlesden Bradwell Nothey Ankerne Missenden Tekeford Patrendune Asbridge and Alesbury Asbridge in great repute for the bloud supposed out of Christs sides brought out of Germany by Henry the eldest son of Richard King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwall whereunto resorted great concourse of people for devotion and adoration thereof But when the Sunshine of the Gospel had pierced thorow such clouds of darkness it was perceived apparently to be onely honey clarified and coloured with Saffron as was openly shewed at Pauls Cross by the Bishop of Rochester the twenty fourth of February and year of Christ 1538. And Alesbury for the holiness of S. Edith was much frequented who having this Town allotted for her Dowry had the world and her husband farewel in taking upon her the vail of devotion and in that fruitful age of Saints became greatly renowned even as far as to the working of miracles These all in the storms and rage of the time suffered such shipwrack that from those turmoiled Seas their Merchandise light in the right of such Lords as made them their own for wreacks indeed 8 With four Castles this Shire hath been strengthened and thorow eleven Market-Towns her Commodities traded being divided for service to the Crown and State into eight hundreds and in them are seated one hundred fourscore and five Parish-Churches OXFORDSHIRE OXFORD-SHIRE CHAPTER XXI OXFORD-SHIRE receiveth her name from that famous Vniversity and most beautiful City Oxford and this of the Foord of Oxen say our English Saxons though Leiland upon a ground of conjecture will have it Ousford from the River Ouse by the Latines called Isis which giveth name likewise to the adjoyning I stand Ousney The North point of this Shire is bordered upon by the Counties of VVarwick and Northampton the East with Buckingham the West by Glocester-shire and the South altogether is parted from Bark-shire by Thamisis the Prince of British Rivers 2 The blessings both of the sweet-breathing heavens and the fruitful sight of this Counties soil are so happy and so fortunate that hardly can be said whether exceeds The Air milde temperate and delicate the Land fertile pleasant and bounteous in a word both Heaven and Earth accorded to make the Inhabitants healthful and happy The hills loaden with Woods and Cattle the valleys burthened with Corn and Pasturage by reason of many fresh springing Rivers which sportingly there-thorow make their passage whereof Evenlod Charwell Tame and Isis are chief which two last making their Bed of Marriage near unto Dorchester run thence together in one channel and name 3 The length of this Shire is from Cleydon in the North-West unto Caversham in her South-East near unto Thamisis and amounteth almost to forty miles the broadest part is in her Western Borders which extending from the said Cleydon in the North unto Faringdon seated upon the River Isis in the South are scarcely twenty six and thence growing narrower like unto a Wedge containing in circumference about one hundred and thirty miles 4 The ancient Inhabitants known to the Romans where the Dobuni part whereof possessed further Westernly into Glocester-shire and nearer Eastward betwixt the bowing of Thamisis were seated the Ancalites who sent their submission unto Iulius Caesar when report was made that the Trinobants had put themselves under his protection whereof followed the Britains servitude under the proud yoke of the all-coveting Romans yea afterwards this Counties people being very puissant as â—acitus termeth them and unshaken by wars withstoâ—d Ostorius Scâ—pula the Roman Lieutenant chosing rather to yield their lives in battle than their pâ—rsons to subjection Of later times it was possessed by the Mercian Saxons as part of their Kingdom though sometimes both the West Saxons and the Northumbrians had the dispose of some part thereof for Beda aâ—firmâ—th that King Oswold gave the then flourishing City Dorchester unto Berinus the VVest Saxons Apostle to be his Episcopal See whence the good Bishop coming to Oxford and preached before VVulpherus the Mercian King in whose Court Athelwold the South-Saxons heathenish King was then then present he with all his Nobles were converted to the Faith of Christ and there baptived whereby Berinus became the Apostle also of the South-Saxons 5 Other places of memorable note either for actions therein happening or for their own famous esteem are the Roll-rich stones standing near unto Enisham in the South of this Shire a monument of huge stones set round in compass in manner of the Stonehenge of which fabulous tradition hath reported forsooth that they were metamorphosed from men but in truth were there erected upon some great victory
The second part occupied all the Land Northward from Humber to the Orkney-Sea called by the Latines Marâ— Caledonium or Dâ—ucâ—lâ—â—oâ—ium now famously known by the name of Scotland The third part was this lying betwixt the Irish-Seas the Rivers Sâ—verne and Dee and was called Câ—mbria which name doth yet continue with them though we the Eâ—glish call it Wales as the People Welshmen which is strange and strangers for so at this day the dwellers of Tyroll in the higher Germany whence our Saxons are said to have come do name the Italian their next neighbour a Welshman and his language Welsh 2 This opinion Verstegâ—n doth altogether contradict rather judging by the ancient Tâ—utâ—â—ick tongue which the Germans spake and wherein the G is pronounced for W that these Sâ—xoâ—s called them Gallish from the Gaules whence their original proceeded rather than Wallish from strangers which he thinketh could not be considering their habitations so neer unto them and that the like was in use he proveth by the words of Erench Gardian for Wardian Cornugalles for Câ—rwâ—lles yea and Galles for Walles calling our most famous Edward Prince of Galles not Prince of Wâ—lles insomuch that the County of Lombardy bordering along upon the Germans was of them called Gâ—lliâ—ciâ— cis-alphina and at this day Welsh-land So likewise do the Netherlands call the Inhabitants of Henalt and Artois Wallen or Walloâ—s and some part of Brabant and Flanders Welsh-Brabant and Welsh-Flaâ—ders and all because of the Language and Lineage of the Gauls Neither do the meer Natives of Wales know any other name of their Country than Cambria of themselves than Cambri or Cumri or of their Language than Cambraoc But leaving this opinion free to his affection we will proceed 3 Wales therefore being anciently bounded as before the Saxons did afterwards win by force from the Britains all the plain and Champion Country over the River Dee and especially Offa King of Mercia made their limits straighter by making a Ditch of great breadth and depth to be a Mear betwixt this Kingdom and Wales This Ditch is in many places to be seen at this day and bears the name of Clawh Offa that is Offaes Ditch The Country between it and England is commonly called the Marches and is for the most part inhabited by Welshmen especially in North-Wales even to the River Dee This admirable Trench began at Bassiâ—gwerke in Elintshire between Chester and Ruthland and ran along the Hills to the South-Sea a little from Bristow reaching above an hundred miles in length 4 Silvester Giraldus makes the River Wye to be the Mear between England and Wales on the South part called South-Wales whence he ascribeth the breadth of Wales unto Saint Davids in Menâ—viâ— to be an hundred miles and the length from Caerleon upon Vske in Gwentland to Holly-head in Anglesâ—y an hundred miles he might have said thirty more 5 About the year of Christ 870 our Alfred reigning in England Rodericus Magnus King of VVales did divide it into three Talaiths Regions or Territories which were called Kingdoms This Rodericus Magnus gave Venâ—dâ—tia Gwyneth or North-Wales to Anarawd his eldest son to Cadeth his second son Demeâ—ia Debeuâ—arth or South-VValls and to Mervin his third son Powys 6 North-VVales had upon the North-side the Irish-Sea from the River Dee to Bassingwerke to Aberdyvi upon the West and South-West the River Dyvi which divideth it from South-VVales and in some places from Powysland And on the South and East it is divided from Powys sometimes with high Hills and sometimes with Rivers till it come again to the River Dee It is generally full of high Mountains craggy Rocks great Woods and deep Vallies many strait dangerous places deep and swift Rivers 7 This Land was of old time divided into four parts Mon Arvon Meryonith and y Bervedhwlan or the middle Country and each of these were again divided into several Countries and they subdivided into their Cymeden or Commots wherein we follow that division which was in the time of Llewylyn ap Ruffin last Prince of VVales according to a Copy imparted to me by a worshipful Friend and learned Antiquary as seeming far more exact than that of Doctor Powels 8 Aâ—glâ—sey the chiefest is separated from the main Land with the River Moenai wherein at Aberfraw was the Princes Court now a mean Village In this Island is a fair Town called Beaumarish And common passage to Ireland at Caergybi in English Holly-head 9 Arvâ—n the second part of North-VVales is now called Carnarvanshire the strongest Country within that Principality giving place to none for fertility of the ground or for plenty of Wood Cattel Fish and Fowl c. Here are the Towns of Caernarvan in old time called Caer-Segoâ—t and Bangor the Bishops See with divers other ancient Castles and places of memory This portion hath on the North the Sea and Moeâ—ai upon the East and South-East the River Conwey which divideth it from Denâ—igh-shire and on the South-West is separated from Merionyth by Rivers Mountains and Mears 10 Merionyth was the third part of Gwyneth and keepeth the name till this day it is full of Hills and much noted for the resort of People that repair thither to take Herrâ—ngs Upon the North it hath Arvon and Denbigh land upon the South Caerdigan-Shire and upon the East Montgâ—mâ—ry-shire heretofore part of Powis In this County standeth the Town of Harlech and a great Lake called Llyn-Tegyd This Country is likewise full of Cattel Fowl and Fish and hath in it great store of red Deer and Roes but there is much scarcity of Corn. 11 Y Bervedhwland was the fourth part of Gwyneth and may be called in English The middle Country is inclosed with Hills on the East West and South-parts and with the Sea Northward It is plentiful of Cattel Fish and Fowl as also of Corn and is divided in the midst with the River Clwyd to which run a number of other Rivers from the Hills In this part is Dyffryn-Clwyd the fairest Valley within Wales containing eighteen miles in length and seven in breadth In which is the Town and Castle of Ruthlâ—n near unto the Sea and not far thence S. Assaph an Episcopal seat between the Rivers Clwyd and Elwy Herein stands the fair Town and goodly Castle of Denbigh situated upon a Rock the greatest Market-Town of North-Wales and from thence is seen the Town and Castle of Ruthyn fair for prospect and fruitful for fite This part of North-Wales hath the Sea upon the North d ee toward the East Arvon The River Conwey and Mâ—riâ—nyth upon the West and the Country then called Pâ—wys upon the South And these were the Mears and Bounds of the four Parts of Venedâ—tia Gwyneth or North-Wales 12 The second Talaith or Kingdom was Mathraval or Powys To this belonged the Country of Powys and the Land between Wye and Sevâ—rne It hath South-Wales upon the South and West with the Rivers Wye and Tywy and other Mears upon the North
out of Polonia Russia Lituania Walachia and part of Muscovia 13 Asiatica or Tartaria deserta Muâ—covitica differs not much from the ancient Sarmatia Asâ—â—tica which in Ptolomy's description is bounded on the West with the River Tanais and Palus Maeotis on the East with Scythia intra Imaum on the North with the Montes Hyperborei and on the South with the mountains Coran and Caucasus The Inhabitants live in Hordes as the rest do which remove often and direct their wandring course by observing the Pole-star In this too their Hordes have divisions and are known by several names The chief is Zavell which for the most part lies betwixt the Rivers Volga and Layich and in regard it is as it were the Mother Horde to the rest it was called magna Horda and her Emperour Vlacham magnus dominus for so he was and had full power of a Prince till they were subdued by the Precopenâ—es in the year one thousand five hundred six and after by Basilius Duke of Moscovia Next to this are the Casanenses which have their chief City Casan upon the River Velga near the confines of Muscovia It was once an entire government to it self but in the year one thousand five hundred fifty one after many victories and revolts it was fully and irrecoverably vanpuisht and made an addition to the Duke of Muscovia's title The Inhabitants here are somewhat more ingenious than the Precopenses they till their ground and in some places build houses and practise Merchandise with the Turks and Moscovites Not much unlike to these are the Astrocâ—anenses situate toward the Mare Caspium and have their name from the rich Metropolis Astrachan twenty Italian miles distant from the mouth of Volga both they and it were subdued in the year one thousand four hundred ninety four by the Duke of Muscovia Besides these there are many other wild Hordes of Tartars Of the Nohaicenses Thumenenses Scâ—ibaschienses Casachienses Astnichanenses Bascâ—irdi Kirgessi Molgamozani These last strange Idolaters of the Sun and a piece of a red clout hung up before them upon a pole They live in Caves and feed for the most part upon such creatures as creep upon the ground some of them are Anthropophagi And hereabouts is the great Lake called Kvtay 14 Tartaria Antiqua the ancient seat of the Tartars and Kingdom of Magog when both the first Inhabitant was placed by the Son of Iapheth and when these last Tartars entred under the Command of Chinchis It was the utmost portion of the Tartarian Empire to the frozen Seas on her North the Scythian on the East and the mare de Annian for it contains many disperst Hordes all almost subject to the great Cham of Cathai In the most Northern tract which strikes into the Sea beyond the Polar circle dwell the Dani Neptalitae Mecriti c. more South-ward the Kingdom of Tabor and the vast desart Caraecoranum and the Mount Altay the place of burial for the Tartarian Emperours Toward the East Seas and near the Promontory of Tabin are the Regions of Arzaret which some think to be the very place first possest by the remnant of the ten Captive Tribes and Annian and Argon and Tenduch and Mongal and many other whose people live after the antique manner in tents moveable some few Cities they have poorly built and as rudely customed Among other incivilities they have this fashion to prostitute their wives and sisters to such guests as they would entertain most friendly and when it was once forbad by their great Cham they recovered it again with much suit and solemn protestation that they had not thrived since it was laid aside The ground bâ—ings forth good store of especial good Rhubarb 15 Zagathai the same with Scythiaintra Imaum and is bounded upon the West with the mare Caspium upon the East with the Desart as far as Lop upon the North with the River Iaxartus and upon the South with the Mount Caucasus It hath the name from their Prince brother to theâ—r great Cham and contains in it these several Provinces 1 Zagatai where Tamberlane was born and first bare rule in the City Sarmachand a place enrâ—cht by his victories and memorable for the death of Clytus slain by Alexander in his drunken fury The seat of the Governour is in Bochara another town of the best note here 2 Bactria now Coccazzan the Inhabitants were led by â—essus which â—lew Darius and the first King was Zoroastes in the time of Ninus the Assyrian and twice tried the fortune of war with him but was at last vanquished and his Kingdom made a Province to the Monarchy In several ages it hath been tossed into the hands of divers States among the rest the Romans had it once in their possession at which time the Inhabitants received knowledge of the truth from the mouth of Saint Thomas but have lost it since by the tyranny of the Sarazens and Tartars 3 Sogdiana on the North of Bactria where Gâ—opolis stood built for a Fort against the Scythians and standing to the time of Alexander who battered it to the ground 4 Margiana and 5 Turchestan East of the Mare Caspium and was the sâ—at of the Turks before they brake into Armenia 16 Cathaie the same with Scythia extra Imaum and is the Empire of the great C ham of the Tartars and true progeny of Chinchis It is compassed almost with mountains and deserts and is divided from China only by a great wall on the South The soyl is exceeding fertile and the people far more civil than in the other parts of Tartaria Her Provinces are 1 Cathaie whâ—ch is supposed to be the Antique seat of the Seres and is therefore called Regio Serica For it sends forth excellent Silks Stuffs and Chamlets and other rare commodities which equalize her at least in her own esteem to the best parts of Europe Her Metropolis is Cambelu twenty eight miles in compass besides the Suburbs built four square by the River Polysangus and enricht from India China and other Regions with all sorts of Merchandise Here their great Cham lives but is buried at the Mount Altay and is conveyed thither by a strong guard which kills all they meet in the way and commands them to serve their Lord in the other world Maginus reports from Marcus Polus that while he was in Cathai ten thousand persons lost their lives upon one such occasion 2 Tangut which they say had the Art of Printing many hundred years before it was known among us 3 Camul 4 Tanifu 5 Tebet not much differing either from themselves or the other parts of Tartaria which belong to the Kingdom of Carthaie FINIS The Description of Virginia VIRGINIA now Properly so called and which is here peculiarly to be described is is the most Southern part of that tract of Land which at its first discovery namely by the two Cabots and after them Iohn Vâ—razzano a Florentine though afterwards more distinctly by others was all comprehended by