foreign Countries to that Countries great benefit and Englands great praise 9 The Trade thereof with other provisions for the whole are vented through eighteen Market-Towns in this Shire whereof Winchester the Britains Caer Gwent the Romans Venta Belgarum in chief ancient enough by our British Historians as built by King Budhudthras nine hundred years before the Nativity of Christ and famous in the Romans times for the weavings and embroderies therein wrought to the peculiar uses of their Emperours own persons In the Saxons time after two Calamities of consuming fire her walls was raised and the City made the Royal Seat of their West Saxons Kings and the Metropolitan of their Bishops See wherein Egbert and Elfred their most famous Monarchs were Crowned and Henry the third the Normans longest Reigner first took breath And here King Aethelstane erected six Houses for his Mint but the Danish desolation over running all this City felt their fury in the days of King Ethelbright and in the Normans time twice was defaced by the mis-fortune of fire which they again repaired and graced with the trust of keeping the publick Records of the Realm In the civil wars of Maud and Stephen this City was sore sacked but again received breath was by King Edward the third appointed the place for Mart of Wool and Cloth The Caehedral Church built by Kenwolf King of the West-Saxons that had been Amphibalus S. Peters Swethins and now holy Trinitie is the Sanctuary for the ashes of many English Kings for herein great Egbert anno 836. with his son King Ethelwolf 857. Here Elfred Oxfords founder 901. with his Queen Elswith 904. Here the first Edmund before the Conquest 924. with his sons Elfred and Elsward Here Edred 955. and Edwy 956. both Kings of England Here Emme 1052. with her Danish Lord Canute 1035. and his son Hardicanute 1042. And here lastly the Normaus Richard and Rufus 1100. were interred their bones by Bishop Fox were gathered and shrined in little gilt coffers fixed upon a wall in the Quire where still they remain carefully preserved This Cities situation is fruitful and pleasant in a valley under hills having her River on the East and Castle on the West the circuit of whose walls are well near two English miles containing one thousand eight hundred and eighty paces through which openeth six gates for entrance and therein are seven Churches for divine Service besides the Minister and those decayed such as Callender Ruell Chappell S. Maries Abbey and the Friers without the Suburbs and Sooke in the East is S. Peteâ—s and in the North Hyde Church and Monastery whose ruins remaining shew the beauâ—y that formerly it bare The graduation of this City by the Mathematicks is placed for Latitude in the Degree 51 10 minutes and for Longitude 19 3 minutes 10 More South is South-hampton a Town populous rich and beautiful from whom the whole Shire deriveth her name most strongly walled about with square stone containing in circuit one thousand and two hundred paces having seven Gates for entrance and twenty nine Towers for defence two very stately Keys for Ships arrivage and five fair Churches for Gods divine Service besides an Hospital called Gods-house wherein the unfortunate Richard Earle of Cambridge beheaded for treason lieth interred On the West of this Town is mounted a most beautifull Castle in form Circular and wall within wall the foundation upon a hill so topped that it cannot be ascended but by stairs carrying a goodly prospect both by Land and Sea and in the East without the walls a goodly Church sometimes stood called S. Maries which was pulled down for that it gave the French direction of course who with fire had greatly endangered the Town instead thereof is newly erected a small and unfinished Chappel In this place saith learned Cambden stood the ancient Clausentium or Fort of the Romans whose circuit on that side extended it self to the Sea this suffered many depredations by the Saxon Pirates and in Anno 980. was by the Danes almost quite overthrown In King Edward the thirds time it was fired by the French under the Conduct of the King of Sicils son whom a Countrey man encountred and struck down with his Club he crying Rancon that is Ransome but he neither understandiog his language nor the Law that Arms doth allow laid on more soundly saying I know thee a Frankon and therefore shalt thou die And in Richard the seconds time it was somewhat removed and built in the place where now it standeth In this Clausentium Canute to evict his flatterers made trial of his Deity commanding the Seas to keep back from his seat But being not obeyed he acknowledged God to be the onely supreme Governour and in a religious devotion gave up his Crown to the Rood at Winchester More ancient was Silcester built by Constantius great Constantines son whose Monument they say was seen in in that City and where another Constantine put on the purple robe against Honorius ' as both Ninius and Gervase of Canterbury do withess Herein by our Historians record the warlike Arthur was Crowned Whose greatness for circuit contained no less than fourscore Acres of ground and the walls of great height yet standing two miles in compass about This City by the Danish Rovers suffered such wrack that her mounted tops were never since seen and her Hulke the walls immured to the middle of the earth which the rubbish of her own desolations hath filled 11 Chief Religious houses within this County erected and again suppressed were these Christ's-Church Beaulieu Whâ—rwall Rumsey Redbridge Winchester Hyde South-hampton and Tichfield The honour of this Shire is dignified with the high Titles of Marquess and them Earls of VVinchester and South-hampton whose Arms of Families are as thou seest and her division into thirty seven Hundreds and those again into two Hundred fifty three Parishes WIGHT ISLAND VVIGHT ILAND CHAPTER VII WIGHT ILAND was in times past named by the Romans Vecta Vectis and Vectâ—sis by the Britains Guyth and in these days usually called by us The Lsle of Wight it belongeth to the County of South-hampton and lieth out in length over against the midst of it South-ward It is encompassed round with the British Seas and severed from the Main-land that it may seem to have been conjoyned to it and thereof it is thought the British name Guyth hath been given unto it which betokeneth separation even as Sicily being broken off and cut from Italy got the name from Secando which signifieth cutting 2 The form of this Isle is long and at the midst far more wide than at either end From Binbridge Isle in the East to Hurst Castle in the West it stretcheth out in length 20 miles and in breadth from Newport haven Northward to Chale-bay Southward 12 miles The whole in circumference is about sixty miles 3 The Air is commended both for health and delight whereof the first is witnessed by the long continuance of the Inhabitants in
from the first West-Point 15 13 minutes as Mercatâ—r hath measured them 9 Memorable matters both for antiquity and strangeness of sight are these At Boskenna upon the South west of her Promontory is a trophy erected which are eighteen Stones placed round in compass and pitched twelve foot each from others with another far bigger in the very center These do shew some victory there attained either by the Roman or else King Athelstan At the foot of the Rock near unto S. Michaels Mâ—â—nt in the memory of our Fathers were digged up Spear-heads Axes and Swords of Brass wrapped in linen the weapons that the Cimbrians and ancient Britains anciently used At Camelford likewise pieces of Armours both for horse and man are many times found in digging of the ground imputed to the signs of that fight wherein Mordred was slain and wherein great Arthur received his deaths wound And at Castle Dennys are the Trenches wherein the Danes lodged when they first minded to subdue the Land In the Parish S. Clare two stones are pitched one of them inscribed with a strange Character and the other called The other half stone The Hurlers also fabuled to be men metamorphosed into stones but in truth shew a note of some victory or else are so set for Land-marks Bounders There also the Wring-Cheese doth shew it self which aâ—e huge Rocks heaped one upon another and the lowest of them the least fashioned like a Cheese lâ—ing pressed under the rest of those Hills which seemâ—th very dangerous to be passed under But near to Pensans and unto Mounts bay a far more strange Rock standeth namely Main-Amber which lyeth mounted upon others of meaner size with so equal a counterpoize that a man may move it with the push of his finger but no strength remove it out of its place 10 Religious Houses built and suppressed within the limits of Cornwall the fairest and greatest for account were Launston S. Neotes S Buriens S. Michaels Mount and S. Germains a Bishops See so was Pedman also from whence King Edward the Confessor removed it unto the City of Excester 11 The division of this Shire is into nine hundreds wherein are seated twenty two Market-Towns and 161 Parish-Churches SOMERSET SHIRE Petrus Kaerius caelavit SOMMERSET-SHIRE CHAPTER XI SOMMERSET-SHIRE is both a rich and spacious Countrey having the Severâ— Sea beating upon it on the North side the South part bordering upon Devon and Dorset-shires the West confined with Devon shire and the East and North-East upon Wilt shire and Gloucester shire It took the name of Sommerron sometime the chief Town of this Shire whence in the Ancient Historian Asserius this County is called Sommertunensis that is Sommertun-shire 2 The form thereof is large bearing it self still wider as it slretcheth into the middle part thereof and contains in length from Brackley near unto Frome Selwood Eastward to Oure in the West Miles 55. In breadth from Parshut Point in the North to Chard Southward is somewhat above forty miles The whole ciacumference is about 204 miles 3 The Air is milde and pleasing and for the most part subject to such temperate dispositions as the Sommer-season affordeth whence some have erroniously conceited that the Region borrowed her name from the nature of her Clime yet how delightful soever it is in the time of Summer with change of the season it may well change her pleasing name and borrow some Winterly denomination so full of wet so miry and moorish it is in so much as the Inhabitants can hardly travel to and fro without their encumbrance 4 Howbeit they pass over this with all patience knowing their ensuing seasonable profits far to exceed any present detriments and displeasures for as it is fowl so it is fruitful which makes them comfort themselves with this Proverb that What is worst for the Rider is best for the â—bider the Soyl and Glebe thereof being very fertile and every side garnished with Pastures and delightful Meadows and beautified with Mannor houses both many and fair and in a word hath every thing in it to content the purse the heart the eye at home and sufficient ports to give entertainment to commodities from abroad 5 The ancient Inhabitants that possessed this Province were the Belgae who spread themselves far and wide as well here as in Wilt-shire and the inner parts of Hant-shire who being branched from the Germans conferred the names of those places from whence they came upon these their seats where they resided 6 The general profits of this province are Corn and Cattle wherewith it is so plentifully stored as it may challenge any neighbouring County for the quantity to make shew of Cattle so fat or Grain so rich Some places are peculiarly enriched by Lead-mines as Mindiphils perchance so called of the deep Mines by Leiland aptly termed Minerarii Mineral-hills which yield plenty of Lead the most Merchantable Commodity that is in England and vented into all parts of the world Some are beautified with Diamonds as S Vincent Rock whereof there is great plenty and so bright of colour as they might equalize Indian Diamonds if they had their hardness yet being so many and so common they are less sought after or commended 7 This Countrey is famoused by three Cities Bath Wells and Bristow The first takes name of the hot Bathes which Antonine called Aquae Solis The waters of the Sun Stephanus Badiza we at this day Bathe and the Latinists Bathonta a place of continual concourse for persons of all degrees and almost of all diseases weence it was sometimes called Akemancester who by divine providence do very often find relief there the Springs thereof by reason of their Mineral and sulphurous passage being of such exceeding power and medicinable heat as that they cure and conquer the rebellious stubbornness of corrupt humours in repect of which admirable vertues some have fabled that they were first conveyed by Magick Art To testifie the antiquity of this place many images and Roman Inscriptions are found in the walls which can now be hardly read they are so worn and eaten into by age Wells as Leiland reporteth was sometimes called Theoderodunum but from whence it had that denomination he makes no mention the name it now beareth is taken as some think from the River there which King Kinewulph in his Charter Anno 766 calleth Welâ—e or as others from the Wells or Springs which there break forth and whereupon that See under whose Iurisdiction is also the City of Bath hath been anciently called Fontanensis Eccleâ—â— the Fountain Church where the Cathedral built by King Inas to the memory of S Andrew is very beautiful and richly endowed The City is likewise well replenished both with Inhabitants and seemly buildings Whose government is managed by a Mayor yearly elected a Recorder and seven Masters having the Assistancs of sixteen Burgesses a Town-Clerk and Two Sergeants at Mace Whose Latitude is 51 20 minutes and Longitude 17 31 minutes Bristow is
not so ancient as it is fair and well seated The beauty of it being such as for the bigness thereof it scarce gives place to any City of England and doth worthily deserve the Saxons name Bright-stad whose pleasantness is the more by reason that the River Avon scowres through the midst of it which together with the benefit of Sewers under all the streets clears the City of all noysome filth and uncleanness It is not wholly seated in this County of Sommerset but one part thereof in Gloucestershire but because it is an entire County of it self it denies subjection unto either having for its own government both a Bishop with a well furnished Colledge and a Mayor with a competent assistance of Aldermen and other Officers for civil affairs 8 This Province hath been the Theater of many Tragical events and bloudy battels the Danes did grievously afflict Porlock by cruel Piracies in the year eight hundred eighty six Yet neer unto Pen a little Village neigbouring upon North Cadbury Edmund sirnamed Iron-side gave them a notable foyle as he was pursuing Canutus from place to place for usurping the Crown of England And Keniwach a West-Saxon in the same place had such a day against the Britains that they ever after stood in awe of the English-Saxons prowess Marianus relateth that not far from Bridge-water as the Danes were stragling abroad Ealstane Bishop of Sherbourne did so soyl their Forces in the year 845 as their minds were much discomfited and their powers utterly disabled Ninius also writeth that King Arthur did so defeat the English-Saxons in a battel at Cadbury that it deserved to be made perpetuously memorable Neither is Mons Badonicus now Banesdown less famous for Arthurs victories And King Elfred in another battel not far from hence gave the Danes such an overthrow as he forced them to submission and induced Godrus their King to become a Christian himself being Godfather to him at the Font. So happy is this Region and so beholding to Nature and Art for her strengths and fortifications as she hath aâ—ways been able to defend her self and offend her enemies 9 Neither hath it been less honoured with beauteous houses consecrated to Religion such was that of Black Ohanons at Barelinch in the first limit of his Shire Westward and King Athelstaâ— built a Monastery in an Island called Muchelney that is to say the great Island which is between the Rivers Iuel and Pedred running together where the defaced wallâ— and runs thereof are yet to be seen King Henry the third also erected a Nunnery at Witham which was afterwards the first house of the Carthusians Monks in England as Hinton not far off was the second But above all other foâ— antiquity glory and beauty was the Abby of Glostenbury whose beginning is fetcht even from Ioseph of Arimathea which Davi Bishop of S. Davids repaired being fallen to ruine and King Inas lastly builded a fair and stately Church in this Monastery though it be now made even with the ground the ruins only shewing how great and magnificent a Seat it hath anciently been which several houses were thus beautified by bounteous Princes for religious purposes and to retire the mind from worldly services though blinded times and guides diverted them to superstitious and lewd abuses 10 Other memorable places are these Camalet a very steep hill hard to be ascended which appears to have been a work of the Romans by divers Coins dig'd up there on the top whereof are seen the lineaments of a large and ancient Castle which the Inhabitants report to have been the Palace of King Arthur Ilchester which at the coming of the Normans was so populous that it had in it an hundred and seven Burgesses and it appears to be of great antiquity by the Roman Caesars Coyns oftentimes found there The Church-yard of Avalenia or Glastonbury where King Arthurs Sepulchre was searcht for by the command of King Henry the second which was found under a stone with an Inscription upon it faftned almost nine foot in the ground Also Duâ—stere where as is reported a great Lady obtained of her husband so much Pasture ground in a Common by the Town side for the good and benefit of the Inhabitants as she was able in a whole day to go about bare-foot This County is divided into 42 Hundreds for the disposing of business needful for the State thereof wherein are placed 33 Market-Towns fit for buying and selling and other affairs of Commerce It is fortified with four Castles and planted with 385 Parishes for concourse of Divine Service WILT SHIRE VVILT-SHIRE CHAPTER XII WILT-SHIRE is enclosed upon the North with Gloucester-Shire upon the East is bounded with Bâ—rk-shire upon the South with Dorset and Hamp-shire and upon the West is confronted against partly by Gloucester and the rest by Somerset-shire 2 The form thereof is both long and broad for from Inglesham upon Thamisis in the North to Burgat Damarum in the South are thirty miles the broadest part is from Buttermer Eastward to the Shire-stones in the West being tweuty nine the whole in Circumference is one hundred thirty nine miles 3 For Air it is feated in a temperate Climate both sweet pleasant and wholesome and for soil saith Iohn of Sarisbury is exceeding fortile and plentiful yea and that with variety 4 The Northern part which they call North-Wilt shire riseth up into delectable hills attired with large Woods and watered with clear Rivers whereof Isis is one which soon becometh the most famous in the Land The South part is more even yielding abundantly Grass and Corn and is made the more fruitful by the Rivers Wily Adder and Avon The midst of this County is most plain and thereby is known and commonly called Salesbnry Plaines and lie so level indeed that it doth limit the Horizon for hardly can a man see from the one side to the other These Plaines grase an infinite number of sheep whose fleeces and flesh bring in a yearly revenue to their owners 5 Anciently this County was possessed by the Belgae who are seated by Ptolomy in Hamp-shire Sommerset shire and in this Tract and they as it seemeth by Caesar were of the Belgae in Gaul These as some hold were subdued by Vespatian Lieutenant of the second Legion under Claudiâ— when the foundation of his future greatness was in these parts first laid by his many Victories over the Britains And herein surely the Romans seated for besides Taâ—esbury Trench by Tradition held to be his in many other Forts in this Shire the Tract of their Footing hath been left and the stamped Coins of their Emperours found and apparent testimony of their abode 6 After them the West-Saxons made it a part of their Kingdom whose border was Avon as witnesseth Athelward though the Marcians many times encroched upon them whereby many great Battles as Malmesbury tells us betwixt them were fought when in the young years of their Heptarchie each sought to enlarge his by the
of his Mothers kindred by the Fathers side sâ—rely pestred and endamaged the English he sent into Wales both to purge aâ—d disburden his own Kingdom and to quell and keep back thâ— courage of his enemies These men here seated deceived not his expectation but so carried themselves in his quarrel that they seldome communicated with their Neighbours so that to this day they speak not the Language and the Country is yet called Little England beyond Wales 5 The Commodities of this Shire are Corn Cattel Sea-Fish and Fowl and in Giraldus his daies of saleable Wines the Havens being so commodious for Ships arrivage such is that at Tenby and Milford and Haven of such capacity that sixteen Creeks â—ive Bays and thirteen Roads known all by several names 〈◊〉 therein contained where Henry of Richmond of most happy memory arrived with 〈…〉 of Eâ—glands freedom from under the government of an usurping Tyrant 6 Near unto this is Pembroke the Shire-Town seated more ancient in shew than it is in years and more houses without Inhabitants than I saw in any one City throughout my Survey It is walled long-wife and them but indifferent for repair containing in circuit eight hundred and fourscore paces having three Gates of passage and at the West-end a large Castle and locked Causey that leads over the water to the decayed Priory of Monton The site of this Town is in the degree of Longitude as Mercâ—tor doth measure 14 and 35 minutes and the Elevation from the North-Pole in the degree of Latitude 52. 7 A City as barren is old Saint Davids neither clad with Woods nor garnished with Rivers nor beauâ—ified with Fields nor adorned with Meadows but lieth alwaies open both to Wind and Storms Yet hath it been a Nursery to Holy Men for herein lived Calphurnius a Britain Priest whose Wife was Choncha Sister to Saint Martin and both of them the Paâ—ents of Saint Patrick the Apostle of Ireland Devi a most Religious Bishop made this an Archepiscopal See removed from Isca Legiâ—num This the Britains call Tuy Dewy the House of Devi we Saint Davids a City with few Inhabitants yet hath it a fair Cathedral Church dedicated to Saint Andrew and David in the midst of whose Quire lieth intombed Edmond Earl of Richmond Father to King Henry the Seventh whose Monument as the Prebends told me spared their Church from other defacements when all went down under the Hammers of King Henry the Eighth About this is a fair Wall and the Bishops Palace all of Free-Stone a goodly House I assure you and of great Receit whose uncovered Tops cause the curious Works in the Walls daily to weep and them to fear their downfal ere long 8 But Monton the Priory and S. Dogmels places of devout piety erected in this County found not the like favour when the commission of their dissolutions came down against them and the axes of destruction cut down the props of their Walls 9 This Shire hath been strengthened with sixteen Castles besides two Block-Houses commandiâ—g the Mouth of Milfâ—rd-Haven and is still traded in five Market-Towns being divided into seven Hundreds and in them seated one hundred forty five Pariâ—h-Churches RADNOR BREKNOK CARDIGAN and CAERMARTHEN discribed Petrus Kaerius caelavit 1500. RADNOR-SHIRE CHAPTER III. RADNOR-SHIRE lyeth bordered upon the North with the County Monmouth upon the East toucheth Shropshire and Herefoâ—dshire the Rivers Clarwen and Wye divide it from Brecknock in the South and the West part doth shorten point-wise in Cardigan-shire 2 The form thereof is in proportion triangle every side containing almost a like distance for from West to North are twenty miles from North to South twenty two miles and from South to West are twenty four miles the whole in circumference extending to fourscore and ten miles 3 The Air thereof is sharp and cold as most of Wales is for that the Snow lieth and lasteth long unmelted under those shadowing high Hills and over-hanging Rocks 4 The Soil is hungry though not barren and that in the East and South the best the other parts are rough and churlish and hardly bettered by painful labour so that the Riches of the North and West consisted chiefly in the brood of Cattel 5 Anciently this County was posseâ—â—ed by the Silâ—res warlike People and great withstanders of the Romans Impoâ—itions who had not only them to â—ight against but withal the unacceâ—â—ible Mountains wherewith this Shire is so overpressed and burdened that many times I feared to look down from the hanging Rocks whereunder I passed into those deep and dark Dales seeming to me an entrance into Limbâ— Among thâ—se as say our Historiaâ—s that hateful Prince to God and Man Vâ—rtigâ—r his Countries scourge and last Monarch of the British-blood by Fire from Heaven was consumed with his incestuous Wise from whom â—iniâ— nameth the Country wherein his Castle stood Guartiger-Maur of whose Rubbish the Castle Guthremion was raised as some are of opinion Yet they of North-Wales will have his destruction and Castle to stand in their parts near unto Beth-Kellech whereof we will further speak in the relation of his Life Fatal was this place also to Llewellin the last Prince of the British Race who being betrayed by the Men of Buelth â—â—ed into those vast Mountains of Radnor where by Adam Francton he was slain and his Head Crowned with Ivy set upon the Tower of London 6 Places most worthy of note in this Shire are as ensueth The first is Radnor from whom the County receiveth her name anciently Magi where the Commander of the Pacensian Regiment lay and thought to be the Magnos in Antonine the Emperours Survey This Town is pleasantly seated under a Hill whereon standeth mounted a large and strong Castle from whose Bulwark a Trench is drawn along the West of the Town whereon a Wall of Stone was once raised as by the remains in many places appeareth This Trench doth likewise inverge her West-side so far as the River but after is no more seen whose Graduation is observed to have the Pole elevated for Latitude 52 degrees and 45 minutes and for Longitude from the first Point of the West set by Mercator 17 degrees and one minute Prestayn for beautious building is the best in this Shire a Town of Commerce wonderfully frequented and that very lately Next is Kâ—ighton a Market-Town likewise under which is seen the Clawdh-Offa or Offaes Ditâ—h whose Tract for a space I followed along the edge of the Mounâ—ain which was a bound set to separate the Welsh from the English by the Mercian King Offa and by Egberâ— the Monarch a Law made by the instigation of his Wife that it should be present death for the Welsh to pass over the same as Iohn Bever the Monk of Westminster reporteth and the like under Hâ—â—ald as Iohn of Salisbury writeth wherein it was ordained that what Welshman soever should be found with any weapon on this side of that Limit which was Offaes Ditch should have
be ministred but whereas the ancient Kings of England acâ—ording to Moses his example sate in pâ—rson in the seat of Iustice to right the greater affairs of their Subjects as William Lambeâ—â— sheweth in King Alfred Edgar Canutus c. and proves out of the Kings Oath out of Bractoâ— Britain â—axon Laws c. King William not only continued this but besideâ— erâ—cted some other Câ—urtâ— of â—ustice as the Exchequer and certain Courts and Sessions to be held four times every year â—appointing both Iudges some to hear causes others to whom appeals should be made but none from them and also Praefects to look to good orders Those last Polydor calleth Iustices of Peace but their instruction seems to be far later and no less is his errour on the other side in saying the Conquerour first instituted Sheriffs and the trial by twelve men which were both ancienter 4 And because the Conquerour for honour of Bishops caused them to remove from small obssure places to Cities of more renown we have therefore reserved to this last â—lace that division of this Kingdome which is according to Iurisdiction Episcopal Formerly in the year of Salvation 636. Honorius the first Archbishop of Canterbury first divided England into Parishes which at this day are contained under their several Diocesans and these again under their two Metropolitanes Canâ—erbury and York in manner following CANTERBVRY Bishopricks Counties Parishes Canterbury Kent 257. Rochester 98. London Essex 623. Middlesex Hertford-shire part Lincoln Lincoln-shire 1255. Leicester-shire Huntington Bedford-shire Buckingham-shire Hertford-shire part Chichester Hertford-shire 250. Sussex Winchester Hant-shire 362. Surrey Wight Isle Gernesey Isle Iersey Isle Salisbury Wilt-shire 248. Bark-shire Exeter Devon-shire 604. Corne-wall Bath and Wells Sommerset-shire 388. Gloucester Gloucester-shire 267. Worcester Worcester-shire 241. Warwick-shire Litchfield and Coventry Warwick shire part 557. Stafford-shire Derby-shire Shrop-shire part Hereford Shrop shire part 313. Hereford-shire Ely Cambridge-shire 141. Ely Isle Norwich Norfolke 1641. Suffolk Oxford Oxford-shire 195. Peterborow Northampton 293. Rutland-shire Bristow Dorset-shire 236. Glamorgan Landaffe Monmouth-shire 177. Brecknock-shire Radnor-shire S. David Pembroke-shire 308. Caermarden Bangor Caernarvon-shire 107. Anglesey Isle Merioneth-shire Denbigh-shire S. Asaph Devon-shire part 121. Flint-shire part  YORK  York York-shire 581. Nottingham-shire Chester Cheshire 256. Richmond-shire Cumberland part Lanca-shire Flint part Carlile Cumberland part 93. Westmorland Durham â—urham 135. Northumberland Sodor Man Island 17. Total Bishopricks 27. Parishes 9285. 9 To speak nothing of these twenty eight Flamins the Priests of Idolatry and the three Arch-Flamins whose seats were at London Caerlion and York all of them converted by King Lucius into Christian Bishops Sees let us only insist upon the three last by the same King appointed to be Metropolitanes over the rest among whom London is said to be chief whose first Christian Archbishop was Thean the builder of S. Peters Church in Cornhill for his Cathedral as by an ancient Table there hanging was affirmed and tradition to this day doth hold Our British Historians do bring a succession of fifteen Arch-bishops to have sate from his time unto the coming of the Saxons whose last was Vodius slain by King Vortiger for reprehending his heathenish marriage with Rowen the Daughter of Hengist At what time began the misery of the Land and of holy Religion both which they laid waste under their prophane feet until Ethelbert of Kent the first Christian Saxon King advanced Christianity and Augustine to the Archbishoprick of Caâ—terbury when London under Melitus became subject to that See 6 At Caerlion upon Vske in the time of the great Arthur sate Dubritius a man excellently learned and of an holâ— conversation he had sate Bishop of Landaffe a long time and with Germanus and Lupus two French Bishops greatly impugned the Pelagian Heresie infecting at that time the Island very far whose fame and integrity was such that he was made Archbishop of all Wales but grown very old he resigned the same unto Daviâ— his Disciple a man of greater birth and greater austerity of life who by consent of King Arthur removed his Archbishops See unto Menevia a place very solitary and meet for meditation the miracles of the man which are said to be many changed both the name of the place into his own and robbed Caerlion of her Archiepiscopal seat This See of S. Davids as in an ancient Register belonging to that Church is recorded had seven Bishops Suffragans subject unto it which were Exeter Bath Hereford Landaffe Bangor S. Asapâ— and â—ernes in Ireland notwithstanding either for want of Pall carried into Britany by Archbishop Sampson in a dangerous infection of sickness or by poverty or negligence it lost that jurisdiction and in the days of King Henry the first became subject to the See of Canterbury 7 York hath had better succesâ— than either of the former in retaining her original honour though much impaired in her circuit challenging to have been sometime Metropolitane over all the Bishops in Scotland and although it was made equal in honour and power with Canterbury by Pope Gregory as Beda relateth and had twelve suffragan Bishopricks that owed obedience onely four now acknowledge York their Metropolitane but Canterbury the Superiour for William the Conquerour thinking it dangerous to have two in like authority lest the one should set on his Crown and the other 〈◊〉 it off left York to be a primate but Canterbury only the primate of all England 8 That Lichfield was made an Archiepiscopal See by Pope Hadrian the first at the suit of Offa the great King of Mercia is manifested by Matthew of Westminster unto whose Iurisdiction were assigned the Bishopricks of Winchester Hereford Leicester Sidnacester Helmham and Dunwich and whose first and last Archbishop was Aldwin That Winchester also had intended an Archiepiscopal Pall the same Author recordeth when Henry Bloys of the Bloud Royal greatly contended with the Archbishop of Canterbury for superiority under the pretence of being Cardinal de latere to him an Archiepiscopal Pallâ— was sent with power and authority over seven Churches but he dying before that the design was done the See of Winchester remained in subjection to Canterbury And that long before the See of Dorchester by Oxford had the Iurisdiction of an Archbishop is apparent by those provinces that were under his Diocess which were Winchester Oxford Lincoln Salisbury Bristow Wells Litchfield Chester and Exeter and the first Bishop of this great circuit Derinus was called the Apostle and Bishop of the West Saxons which in his next successor was divided into two parts Winchester and Dorchester and not long after into Lichfield Sidnacester and Legecister and lastly the See removed from Dorchester to Lincoln as now it is And thus far for the division of this Realm both Politick and Ecclesiastick as it hath stood and stands at this day 9 But the whole Islands division by most certain Record was anciently made when Iulius Agricola drew a trench or fortification
upon that narrow space of ground betwixt Edenborough Frith and Dunbetton Bay maketh the Southern part a province unto the Roman Empire Afterwards Hadrian the Emperour seeing perhaps the Province too spacious to be well governed without great expence drew back these limits almost sourscore miles shorter even to the mouth of the River Tyne which he fortified with a wall of admirable work unto Carlâ—le where stood the Lands border while it was a Roman Province yet the conquering Saxons did spread again over those bounds and as seemeth enlarged their government to that first Tract as by this inscription in a Stone Cross standing upon a Bridge over the water of Frith appeareth I am a free Mark as Passengers may ken To Scots to Britains and to English men 10 But afterward William the Conquerour and Malcolm King of Scotland falling to an agreement for their limits arreared a Cross upon Stanemore where on the one side the portraiture and Armes of the King of England was sculptured and of the King of Scots on the other a piece whereof is yet remaining there near to the Spittle thence called the Rey-Cross there erected to be a Meare-stone to either Kingdome His successors also abolished the two partitions in the West whereby the Welsh became one Nation and Kingdome with the English It is also said that King Stephen to purchase friendship with the Scottish Nation gave unto their King the County of Cumberland who with it held both Westmorland and Northumberland but as Newbrigensis writeth he restored them to King Henry the second wisely considering his great power and right to those parts 11 The last known borders were from the Sulway in the West bay along the Cheviot hills unto the water of Tweed by Barwick in the East to maintain which on each part many Laws have been made and many inrodes robberies and fewdes practised all which by the hand of God is cut off and by the rightfull succession of King Iames our Soveraigne who hath broken down the partition of this great Island and made the extreames of two Kingdomes the very midst of his great united Empire KENT KENT CHAPTER III. KENT the first province appearing in the South of this Kingdom is bounded upon the North with the famous River Thamisis on the East with the German Ocean on the South with Sussex and the narrow Seas and upon the West with Sussex and Surrey The length thereof extending from Langley in the West unto Ramsgate Eastward in the Isle of Thanet is about 53 English miles From Rother in the South unto the Isle of Graine Northward the breadth is not much above 26 and the whole circumference about 160 miles 2 In form it somewhat resembleth the head of a Hammer or Battle-axe and lieth corner-wise into the Sea by Strabo Caesar Diodorus and Pâ—olomy called Cantium of Cant or Canton an Angle or Corner or of Caine a British word which signifieth Bushes or VVoods whereof that County in those former times was plentifully stored 3 The Air though not very clear because of the vapours arising from the Sea and Rivers that environ the same is both wholesome and temperate as seated nearest to the Equinoctial and the furthest from the North Pole not touched with cold as the other parts of the Land are 4 The soil towards the East is uneven rising into little hills the West more level and Woody in all places fruitful and in plenty equals any other of the Realm yea and in some things hath the best esteem as in broad cloths Fruits and feeding for Cattel Onely Mines except Iron are wanting all things else delivered with a prodigal heart and liberal hand 5 Sundry navigable Rivers are in Kent whereof Medway that divideth the shire in the midst is chief in whose bosome securely rideth his Majesties Navy Royal the walls of the Land and terrours of the Sea besides ten other of name and account that open with twenty Creeks and Havens for Ships arrivage into this Land four of them bearing the name of Cinque Ports are places oâ— great strength and priviledges which are Dover Sandwich Rumney and Winchelsey among which Dover with the Castle is accounted by Matthew Paris the Monk the lock and key to the whole Realm of England and by Iohn Rosse and Lidgate is said to be built by Iulius Caesar fatal only for the death of King Stephen and surrender of King Iohn therein happening 6 A conceit is that Goodwin Sands were sunk for the sins of himself and his sons Shelves indeed that dangerously lie on the North-east of this County and are much feared of all Navigators These formerly had been firm ground but by a sudden inundation of the Sea were swallowed up as at the same time a great part of Flanders and the Low Countries were and the like also at the same time befel in Scotland as Hector Boetius their Historiographer writeth A like accident hapned in the year 1586 the fourth day of August in this County at Mottingham a Town eight miles from London suddenly the ground began to sink and three great Elmes thereon growing were carried so deep into the bowels of the earth that no part of them could any more be seen the hole left in compass fourscore yards about and a line of fifty fathoms plummed into it doth find no bottom 7 The Kentish people in Caesars time were accounted the civillest among the Britains and as yet esteem themselves the freest Subjects of the English not conquered but compounded with by the Normans and herein glory that their King and Commons of all the Saxons were the first Christians converted in Anno 596 yea and long before that time also Kent received the Faith for it is recorded that Lucius the first Christian British King in this Island built a Church to the name and service of Christ within the Castle of Dover endowing it with the Toll of the same Haven 8 This County is enriched with two Cities and Bishops Sees strengthened with 27 Castles graced with 8 of His Majesties most Princely Houses traded with 24 Market-Towns and beautified with many stately and gorgeous buildings The chiefest Ciâ—y thereof the Motropolitane and Arch-bishops See is Canterbury buiâ—t as our British Historians report 900 years before the birth of â—hrist by Henry of Huntington called Caier-Kent wherein as M. Lambard saith was erected the first School of professed Arts and Sciences and the same a pattern unto Sigibert King of the East Angles for hiâ— foundation at Cambridge notwithstanding by the computation of time this Sigibert was slain by Penda King of Mercia thirty years before that Theodore the Grecian was Bishop of Canterbury who is said to be the erector of that Academy But certain it is that Austin the Monk had made this City famous before that time by the conversion of these Saxons unto Christianiâ—y and in building a most magnificent Church to Gods service wherein eight of their Kings have been interred but all their Monuments
since over-shadowed by the height of Beckets Tomb that for glory wealth and superstitious worships equalized the Pyramides of Egypt or the Oracle of Delphos yet now with Dagon is fallen before the Ark of God This City hath been honoured with the presence and Coronations of King Iohn and Queen Isabel his wife with the marriages of King Henry the third and of King Edward the first and with the interments of Edward the Black Prince King Henry the fourth and of Queen Ioan his wife as Feversham is with the burials of King Stephen and of Maud his Queen and wife But as in glory so in adversity hath this City born a part being divers times afflicted by the Danes but most especially in the dayes of Ethelred who in that revenge of their massacre made havock of all and herein slew forty three thousand and two hundred persons the tenth besides reserved to live Afterward it recovered breath and beauty by the liberality of Bishop Lanford Characters and priviledges by King Henry the third strength in Trench and Fortifications from King Richard the second and lastly Walls for her defence by Simon Sudbury Arch-bishop of that See whose Graduation is placed for Latitude 51. 25 and parallelized for Longitude 22. 8 her sister Rochester differing not much in either degree 9 Which City as Beda saith was built by one Rof Lord of the same though some ascribe the foundation of the Castle to Iulius Câ—sar and hath been often ruinated by the injuries of war both in the times when the Saxons strove for superiority among themselves wherein this City was laid waste Anno 680. as also in the assaults of their common enemy the Danes who about the year 884. from France sailed up the River Medway and besieged the same so that had not King Elfred speedily come to the rescue it had been overthrown by those Pagans And again in Anno 999. the Dâ—nes miserably spoiled this City in the time of King Ethelred neither haâ—n it stood safe from danger since though not defaced so much by war for twice hath it been sore endamaged by chance of fire the first was in the Reign of King Henry the first Anno 1130. himself being present with most of his Nobility for the consecration of the Cathedral Church of S. Andrew And again almost wholly consumed about the latter end of the Reign of King Henry the second Anno 1177. Yet after all these calamities it recovered some strength again by the bounty of King Henry the third both in buildings and in ditching her about for defence 10 Civil broyls and dissentions hath this County been burdened with and that not only under the Saxons and Danes whose desolations were many and grievous but also by other rebellions since the Normans Conquest both in those infamous insurrections called The Barons Wars in the reign of King Henry the Third wherein much harm was done as also under King Richard the Second when Wat Tyler Captain of a dreadful commotion assembled at Black-heath Mile-end and in London doing many outrages where in Smithfield he was lastly struck down by William VVallworth then Mayor of the City and worthily slain for his notorious treasons Again upon Black-heath Michael Ioseph the Lord Dawbeney with their Cornish Rebels were overthrown by King Henry the Seventh Anno 1497. 11 Kent in the time of Iulius Caesar was governed by four several Kings Under Vortigern the Britain by a Lieutenant called Guoronge from whom the said King gave it to Hengist the Saxon in favour of his Daughter Howen who seeking to make himself absolute King thereof eight years after his first entrance fought a victorious battel against the Britains near unto Crayford and thenceforth accounted that Province his own Yet afterward Vortimer the valiant Britain gave him battel at Aylesford in the which both Horsa and Catigern brethren to both the Generals were slain and the Saxons driven into the Isle of Thanet their first assigned habitation not daring to enter the Continent so long as Vortimer lived Catigern was interred upon that plain where to this day remaineth his Monument being 4 stones pitched in manner of the Stonehenge and is vulgarly called Citscotehouse The like Monument was of Horsa at Horsted which stormes and time have now devoured Hengist made this Province a Kingdom for himself and successors which name and power it retained the space of three hundred and twenty years when Egbert King of the West-Saxons subdued and joyned it to his own in which subjection it stood untill the time of the Normans Then it was given under the title of an Earldom by the Conquerour unto Otha Bishop of Bayeux his half brother whose successors in that dignity were those most honourable families whose Arms and Names within this plot are blazed and expressed It is divided principally into five Lathes subdivided into 66 hundreds and them again into 398 Parishes and wherein had been seated twenty three Religious Houses SUSSEX SUSSEX CHAPTER IV. SOUTH-SEX a word compounded of the site thereof Southward lieth stretched along the British Seas The North confronts upon Surrey and Kent and the West butteth upon Hampshire 2 For form it lieth long and narrow so that all her Rapes do run quite through the Shire and containeth from Westharting in the West to Kent ditch that divides it from Kent in the East sixty four miles but in the broadest part little above twenty the whole circumference about one hundred fifty eight miles 3 The Air is good though somewhat clouded with mists which arise forth of her South bordering Sea who is very prodigal unto her for Fish and Sea-fowl though as sparing for Harbours or Ships arrivage and those which she hath as uncertain for continuance as dangerous for entrance 4 Rich is the Soil and yieldeth great plenty of all things necessary but very ill for travellers especially in the winter the Land lying low and the ways very deep whose middle tract is garnished with Meadows Pastures and Corn fields the Sea-coast with Hills which are called the Downs abundantly yielding both Grain and Grass and the North side over shadowed with pleasant Groves and thick Woods where sometimes stood the famous wood Andradswald containing no less than an hundred and twenty miles in length and thirty in breadth taking the name of Andexida a City adjoyning both which were won from the Britains by Ella the first Saxon King of this Province and the place made fatal to Sigebert King of the VVest-Saxens who being deposed from his Royal throne was met in this Wood by a Swine-herd and slain in revenge of his Lord whom Sigebert had nurdered 5 The ancient people in the Romans time were the Râ—gni of whom we have spoken and who were subdued by Vespasian the Leader of the second Legion under Aulus Plautius Lieutenant in Britain for Claudius the Emperour But after the departure of the Romans this with Surrey was made the South â—axons Kingâ—ome yet that giving place to the VVest-Saxons as they
in time to the Normans iâ— became a Province under the Conquerours power who gave to his followers much Land in these parts 6 The place of most account in this Shire is Chichester by the Britains called Câ—ercei a City beautifull and large and very well walled about first built by Cissa the second King of the â—outh Saxons wherein his Royal Palace was kept And when King VVilliam the First had enacted that Bishops Sees should be transâ—â—ted out of small Towns unto places of greater resort the Reâ—idence of the Bishop until then held at Selsey was removed to this City where Bishop Raulfe began a most goodly Cathedral Church but before it was fuâ—ly finished by a sudden mischance of fire was quite consumed Yet the same Bishop with the helping liberality of King Henry the First began it again and saw it wholly finished whose beauty and greatness her fatal enemy still envying again cast down in the dayes of King Richard the First and by her raging flames consumed the buildings both of it and the Bishops Palace adjoyning which Seffrid the second Bishop of that Name re-edified and built anew And now to augment the honour of this place the City hath born the Title of an Earldome whereof they of Arundel were sometimes so styled Whose Graduation for Latitude which is removed from the Aequator unto the degree fifty five minutes and for Longitude observing the same point in the West whence Mercator hath measured are twenty degrees 7 With whom for frequency bigness and building the Town Lewes seemeth to contend where King Athelstane appointed the mintage of his Moneys and VVilliam de VVarron built a strong Castle whereunto the disloyal Barons of King Henry the Third in warlike manner resorted and fought a great Battle against their own Soveraign and his son wherein the King had his Horse flain under him Richard King of the Romans surprised and taken in a Wind-mill and Prince Edward delivered unto them upon equal conditions of peace But a greater Battel was fought at Battle when the hazard of England was tried in one days fight and Harold the King gave place to his Conquerour by losing of his life among sixty seven thousand nine hundred seventy four Englishmen besides whose bloud so spilt gave name to the place in French Sangue lac And the soyl naturally after rain becoming of a reddish colour caused William Newbery untruly to write That if there fall any small sweet showers in the place where so great a slaughter of the English-men was made presently sweateth forth very fresh bloud out of the earth as if the evidence thereof did plainly declare the voice of bloud there shed and cried still from the earth unto the Lord. 8 But places of other note in this Shire are these from Basham Earl Harold taking the Sea for his delight in a small Boat was driven upon the Coast of Normandy where by Duke William he was retained 'till he had sworn to make him King after Edward the Confessors death which oath being broken the Bastard arrived at Pensey and with his sword revenged that Perjury At VVest-VVittering also Ellâ— the Saxon before him had landed for the conquering of those parts and gave name to the shore from Cimen his son But with greater glory doth Gromebridge raise up her head where Charles Duke of Orleance father to Lewes the twelfth King of France taken prisoner at Agincourt was there a long time detained 9 The commodities of this Province are many and divers both in Corn Cattle VVood Iron and Glass which two last as they bring great gain to their possessors so do they impoverish the County of Woods whose want will be found in ages to come if not at this present in some sort felt 10 Great have been the devotions of religious Persons in building and consecrating many houses unto the use and only service of Christ whose Beadmen abusing the intents of their Founders hath caused those Foundations to lament their own ruins For in the tempestuous time of King Henry the Eighth eighteen of them in this County were blown down whose fruit fell into the Laps of some that never meant to restore them again to the like use This County is principally divided into six Rapes every of them containing a River a Castle and Forrest in themselves besides the several Hundreds whereunto they are parted that is the Rape of Chichester into seven of Arundel into five of Bramber into ten of Lewes into thirteen of Pevensey into seventeen and of Hastings into thirteen in all fifty six wherein are seated ten Castles eighteen Market-Towns and three hundred and twelve Parish-Churches SURREY SURREY CHAPTER V. SURREY by Beda called Sutbri lieth seperated upon the North from the counties of Buckingham and Middlesex by the great River Thamisis upon the East Kent doth inbound it upon the South is held in with Sussex and Hamp-shire and her West part is bordered upon by Hamp-shire and Bark-shire 2 The form thereof is somewhat square and lieth by North and by East whereof Redrith and Frensham are the opposites betwixt whom are extended thirty four miles The broadest part is from Awfold Southward to Thamisis by Stanes and them asunder twenty two the whole in circumference is one hundred and twelve miles 3 The heavens breathing Air in this Shire is most sweet and delectable so that for the same cause many Royal Palaces of our Princes are therein seated and the Countrey better stored with game than with grain insomuch that this County is by some men compared unto a home-spun freeze-cloth with a costly fair list for that the out-verge doth exceed the middle it self And yet it is wealthy enough both in Corn and Pasturage especially in Holmesdale and towards the River of Thamisis 4 In this shire the Regni an ancient people mentioned by Ptolomy were seated whom he brancheth further through Sussex and some part of Hamp-shire And in the wane of the Romans Government when the Land was left to the will of invaders the South-Saxons under Ella here erected their Kingdome which with the first was raised and soonest found end From them no doubt the Countrey was named Suth-rey as seated upon the South of the River and now by contraction is called Surâ—ey 5 And albeit the County is barren of Cities or Towns of great estate yet is she stored with many Priâ—cely Houses yea and five of his Majesties so magnificently built that of some she may well say no shire hath none such as is None such indeed And were not Richmond a fatal place of Englands best Princes it might in estem be ranked with the richest For therein died the great Conquerour of France King Edward the Third the beautiful Ann daughter to Charles the Fourth Emperour and intirely beloved wife to King Richard the Second the most wise Prince King Henry the Seventh and the rarest of her Sex the Mirrour of Princes Queen Elizabeth the worlds love and Subjects joy 6 At Mâ—rton likewise
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
followers so that most of the Mannors and Lands in the parts aforesaid were in those days either mediately or immediately holden of one of them And as Northfolk and Suffolk were first united in a Kingdom then in an Earldom so they continued united in the Sheriff-wick till about the fifteenth year of Queen Elizabeth 5 The Towns here are commonly well built and populous three of them being of that worth and quality as no one Shire of England hath the like Norwich Lynn and Yarmouth to which for ancient reputation as having been a seat of the Kings of East-Angles I may add Thetford known to Antoninus Ptolomy and elder ages by the name of Sitomagus when the other three were yet in their infancy and of no esteem For I accept not the Relations of the Antiquity and State of Norwich in the time of the Britains and Saxons though Alexander Nevil hath well graced them Her very name abridgeth her Antiquity as having no other in Histories but Norwich which is meer Saxon or Danish and signifieth the North-Town or Castle It seemeth to have risen out of the decay of her neighbour Venta now called Castor and as M. Cambden noteth not to have been of mark before the entry of the Danes who in the year 1004 under Swane their Captain first sackt and then burnt it even in her infancy Yet in the days of Edward the Confessor it recovered 1320 Burgesses But maintaining the cause of Earl Radulph aforesaid against the Conquerour they were by famine and sword wasted to 560 at which time the Earl escaping by Ship his wife upon composition yielded the Castle and followed In William Rufus time it was grown famous for Merchandise and concourse of people so that Herbert then translated the Bishoprick from Thetford thither made each of them an ornament to other In variety of times it felt much variety of Fortune By fire in Anno 1508. By extreme plagues whereof one in Anno 1348 was so outragious as 57104 are reported to have died thereof between the Calends of Ianuary and of Iuly By misery of war was sacked and spoiled by the Earl of Flanders and Hugh Bigod Anno 1174. In yielding to Lewis the French against their natural Lord King Iohn Anno 1216. By the disinherited Barons Anno 1266. By tumult and insurrection between the Citizens and Church-men once about the year 1255. which if Henry the third had not come in person to appease the City was in hazard to be ruined the second time in Anno 1446 for which the Mayor was deposed and their Liberties for a while seised In Edward the sixths time by Ketts rebellion whose fury chiefly raged against this City Since this it hath flourished with the blessings of Peace Plenty Wealth and Honour so that Alexander Nevil doubteth not to prefer it above all the Cities of England except London It is situate upon the River Hierus in a pleasant valley but on rising ground having on the East the Hills and Heath called Mussold for Musswould as I take it In the 17 year of King Stephen it was new founded and made a Corporation In Edward the firsts time closed with a fair Wall saving on a part that the River defendeth First governed by four Bayliffs then by Henry the fourth in Anno 1403 erected into a Majoralty and County the limits whereof now extend to Eatonbridge At this present it hath about thirty Parishes but in ancient time had many more 6 Lynn having been an ancient Borough under the government of a Bayliff or Reve called Praepositus was by King Iohn in the sixth year of his Reign made Liber Burgus and besides the gift of his memorable Cup which to this day honoureth his Corporation endowed with divers fair Liberties King Henry the third in the Seventeenth year of his Reign in recompence of their serviâ—â— against the out-lawed Barons in the Isle of Ely enlarged their Charter and granted them further to choose a Major Loco Praepositi unto whom King Henry the eighth in the sixteenth year of his Reign added twelve Aldermen a Recorder and other Officers and the bearing of a Sword before the Mayor But the Town coming after to the same King he in the ewenty ninth of his Reign changed their name from Maior Burgensis Lynn Episcopi to Maior Burgenses Lynn Regis 7 â—â—rmouth is the Key of the Coast named and seated by the mouth of the River â—ere Begun in the time of the Danes and by small accessions growing populous made a Corporation under two Bayliffs by King Henry the thrid and by his Charter about the fifteenth year of his Reign walled It is an ancient member of the Cinque Ports very well built and fortified having only one Church but fair and large founded by Bishop Herbert in William Rufus days It maintaineth a Peer against the Sea at the yearly charge of five hundred pound or thereabout yet hath it no possessions as other Corporations but like the Children of Aeolus and Thetis maria 4 ventos as an Inquisitor findeth Anno 10. H 3. There is yearly in September the worthiest Herring fishing in Europe which draweth great concourse of people and maketh the Town much the richer all the year but very unsavory for the time The Inhabitants are so courteous as they have long held a custom to feast all persons of worth repairing to their Town 8 The Bishoprick of Norwich had first her seat at Dunwich in Suffolk and was there begun by Faelix who converted this County and the East-Angles to the Faith Being brought out of Burgundy by Sigebert the first Christian King of the East-Angles he landed at Babingley by Lynn and there builded the first Church of these Countries which in his memory is at this day called by his Name The second he built at Sharneburn then of wood and therefore called Stock Chappel After Faelix and three of his Successors this Bishoprick was divided into two Sees the one with eleven Bishops in succession continuing at Dunwich the other with twelve at Elmham in Northfolk Then united again in the time of King Edwin the entire See for twelve other Bishops remained at Elmham and in the Conquerours time was by his Chaplain Arfastus being the thirtieth translated to Thetford from thence by Herbert his next Successour save one bought of W. Rufus for 1900 pounds and brought to Norwich This Herbert sirnamed Losinga a Norman builded the Cathedral Church there and endowed it with large possessions Not far from thence he also builded another Church to S. Leonard a third at Elmham a â—ourth at â—ynn S. Margarets a very fair one and the fifth at Yarmouth before mentioned By the Cathedral Church he builded a Palace for the Bishops and founded the Priory there now converted to Dean and Chapter and another Priory at Thâ—tford Since his time the Bishops See hath immoveably remained at Norwich but the ancient Possessions are severed from it and in lieu thereof the Abbey and Lands of
S. Benedict of Holme annexed to it The Commodities of this County I have contained in these four Verses Ingenio populi cultu Norfolcia clara est Hinc fluviis illinc Insula clausa mari Qua ratis vellus frumenta cuniculus agnus Lac scatet pisces pabula mella crocus This Description of Norfolk I received from the Right Worshipful Sir HENRY SPELMAN Knight CAMBRIDGE SHIRE CAMBRIDGE-SHIRE CHAPTER XVIII CAMBRIDGE-SHIRE lyeth bounded upon the North with Lincoln shire and Northfolk upon the East with Northfolk and Suffolk upon the South with Harâ—fordâ—shire and Essex and upon the West with Bedford and Huntington-shires 2 This Province is not large nor for air greatly to be liked having the Fens so spread upon her North that they infect the Air far into the rest from whose furthest point unto Royston in the South are thirty five miles but in the broadest is not fully twenty the whole in Circumference traced by the compass of her many indents one hundred twenty and eight miles 3 The Soil doth differ both in Air and Commodities the Fenny surcharged with waters the South is Champion and yieldeth Corâ— in abundance with Meadowing Pastures upon both the sides of the River Câ—me which divides that part of the Shire in the midst upon whose East-bank the Muses have built their most sacred Seat where with plenteous increase they have continued for these many hundred years 4 For from ancient Grantcester Camboritum by Antonine now famous Cambridge the other brest and Nurse-mother of all pious literature have flowed full streams of the learned Sciences into all other parts of this Land and else where ancient indeed if their story be rightly writ that will have it built by Cantaber a Spaniard three hundred seventy five years before the birth of our Saviour who thither first brought and planted the Muses This City Grantcester by the tyranny of time lost both her own beauty and her professed Athenian Students so that in Beda's days seven hundred years after the word became flesh it is described to lie a little desolate City and as yet retaineth the name without any memory of circuit by walls Of this City in the year of Christ 〈◊〉 as the Monk of Button doth report nine Scholars received their Baptism and became Preachâ—â—â— of the Gospel among the Britains which as he saith happened in the Reign of Hadrian the Emperour But when the Picts Scots Hunnes and Saxons had laid all things waste and with their savage swords cut ouâ— the leaves of all civil learning this as the rest yielded to destruction and so lay forlorn till the Saxons themselves became likewise civil when Sigebert the first Christian King of the East-Anglâ—s from the example of France whither he had been banished built Shools in his Kingdom and here at Grancester the chief recalling thither the Profâ—ssors of Arts and Sciences as the Story recordeth and Traditions do hold But afterwards as it seemeth their increase being straightned the Students complained as thâ— Prophets did to Elisha that the place was too little for them to dwell in therefore enlarging more North-ward seated themselves near unto the Bridge whereupon the place began to be called Grantbridge though others from the crooked River Came will have it named Cambridge This place though sacred and exempted from Mars as Sylla once spake when he spared Athens the Danes in their destructions regarded no whit wherein they often wintered after their spoyls and left the scars of their savage sores ever behind them And in the year 1010 when Suen in his fierceness bare down all before him this place was no place for Scholars to be in Warres loud Alarum ill consorting the Muses mild Harmonies Yet when the Normans had got the Garland on their heads and these Danish storms turned into Sun-shine days Gislebert the Monk with Odo Terricus and William all three of the like Monastical Profession in the Reign of King Henry the first resorted unto this place and in a publick Barn read the Lectures of Grammar Logick and Rhetorick and Gislebert Divinity upon the Sabbath and festival days From this little Fountain saith Peter Blessensis grow a great River which made all England fruitful by the many Masters and Teachers proceeding out of Cambridge as on t of a holy Paradise of God The first Colledge therein endowed with Professions was Peter-house built by Hugh Balsham Bishop of Ely in the year of Grace 1284 whose godly example many others followed so that at this day there are sixteen most stately Colledges and Halls for building beauty endowments and store of Students so replenished that unless it be in her other â—ister Oxford the like are not found in all Europe But at what time it was made an Vniversity let Robert de Remyngton tell you for me In the Reign saith hâ— of King Edward the first Granâ—bridge of a School by the Court of Rome was made an Vniversity such as Oxford is Lastly the â—eridian Line Cutâ—ing the Zenith over this City is distant from the furthest West Point according to Mercator 20 degrees 50 scruples and the Arch of the same Mâ—ridian lying between the Aequator and Vertical point is 52 degrees 20 scruples 5 Another City formerly in great fame is Ely had in account for the repute and holiness of Votary Nuns there residing built first by Audry wife to one Tombrot a Prince in this Province who had this place as a part of her Dowry she having departed from her second Husband â— Egbert King of Northumberland devoted her self to the service of God and built here a Monastery whereof she became the first Abbess This in the Danish desolations was destroyed but soon after re-edified by Ethelwood Bishop of Winchester who stored it with Monks unto whom King Edgar granted the jurisdiction over four hundreds and a half within these Fenns and the East Angles limits which to this day are called The liberties of S. Audrey after whose example many Nobles so enriched it with large Revenues that as Malmesbury saith The Abbot thereof laid up yearly in his own Coffers a thousand and four hundred pounds And of later times the Monks thereof became so wealthy that their old decayed Church they renewed with new and most stately buildings which is now the Cathedral of the Diocess and for beauty giveth place to no other in the Land Eight other foundations set apart from secular use in this Province were at Thorney Charteres Denny Elsey Beach Barnwell Swasey and Shengey all which in the days of King Henry the Eighth came to the period of their surpassing wealth and left their Lands to the dispose of his Will 6 The general Commodity of this Shire is Corn which in the South and Champion part doth abundantly grow as also Saffron a very rich Spice Some Woods there are and Pasture both pleasant and profitable The North part thereof is Fenny but withal fruitful whereof Henry of Huntington and William of Malinesbury thus do write
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
sâ—ored with Votaries and revenues for life were in this Shire no less than fourteen most stately seated in the places as followeth at both the Herefords Barroâ— Ewayot Câ—â—fford Mâ—nemue Acornbury Lemster Linbroke Peterchurch Kilpeck Dâ—râ— and VViggermore and suspected of hypocrisie were called in question by King Henry the Eighth and so strictly pursued that some faulâ—s were apparent whereby they were laid open to the general Deluge of the Time whose streams bare down the walls of all those Foundations carrying away the Shrines of the dead and defacing the Libraries of their ancient Records 9 This County before the Conquest being accounted in VVales was then strengthened with Forts against the English and being once made a Proâ—ince to England was fortified with Castles against the VVelsh wherein we find no less than twenty eight though many of them now are ruinated to nothing Such were Alban at both the Ewyats Godridg Grosmond Herdly Hereford Old Castle Dorston Brampton Bredwarden Saint Brivels Ledbury Lenals Snowdâ—â— Harlewois Huntington VVilion VVigmore Richards Monemue Corâ—t Kilbeck Clifford Skensfred VVâ—teney Radenwer and Kâ—nevenleis and is traded with eight Market-Towns being diuided into eleven Hundreds and in them seated one hundred seventy and six Parish-Churches containing in compass an hundred and two miles Worcestershir VVORCESTER-SHIRE CHAPTER XXV WORCESTER-SHIRE is a County both rich and populous and lyeth circulated upon the North with Staffordâ—shire upon the East with Warwick and Oxford-shires upon the South with â—locesterâ—shire and the West by Malverne Hills is parted from Herefordâ—shire the rest lyeth confronted upon and in part divided from Shrop-shire by the River Dowles 2 The form thereof is triangle but not of equal proportion for from North to South are thirty two miles from South to North-West twenty two and from thence to her North-East point are twenty eight the whole in circumference is one hundred and twenty miles 3 The Air of this Shire is of a favourable temperature that gives an appetite for labour diet and rest The Soyl is fertile and to me seemed inferiour to none other in this Land for besides the abundance of Corn in every place spread the Woods and Pasturage in her hills and Plains sweet Rivers that water the Vallies below the Cattle that cover the tops of higher ground the Fields Hedge-rows and High-ways are beset with fruitful Peaâ—-trees that yield great pleasure to sight and commodious use for with their juyce they make a bastard kind of Wine called Perry which is both pleasant and good in taste Many Salt Springs also this County affordeth yea and more than are commonly in use such with the Germans our ancient Predecessors were esteemed most sacred and holy so that as Tacitus writeth to such they wontedly resorted to sâ—pplicate their Gods with their devout praâ—ers as to places neerest the Heavens and therefore the sooner to be heard And Poets in their feignings will have the Nymphs residence in shady green groves and banks of sweet Springs if so then as Helicon this County affords both such are the Forrests of Wire and Feckeâ—â—am the great Woods of Norton and most fair Chase of Malvern And for waters to witness what I say is the Severn that cuts this Shire in the midst Teme Salwarp and Avon all of them making fruitâ—ul their passage and stored with Fish of most delicious taste 4 The ancient people possâ—ssors of this Shire were the CORNAVII inhabitants of Cheâ—shire Shrop-shire Stafford and Warwick-shires subdued by the Romans in Claudius Caesars time and after their departure made a portion of the Merciâ—nâ—Saxons Kingdom and in Beda's time were called the VVicii whereof it may be this Shire had the name unless you will have it from the Salt-Pits which in old English are named Witches or from the famous Forrest of Wyre Howsoever true it is that the County doth hold the name from the Chief City VVorcester 5 Which is most pleasantly seated passing well frequented and very richly inhabited This was the Branonium mentioned by Antonine and Ptolomy called by the Britains Câ—er-VVrangon by Ninius Câ—er-Guorcon and by the Latines Vigornia This City is seated upon the East bank of Severâ—e and from the same is walled in triangle-wise about extending in circuit one thousand six hundred and fifty paces thorow which seven Gates enter with five other Watch-Towers for defence It is thought the Roâ—ans built this to restrain the Britains that held all beyond Sâ—verne This City by Hardy Canute in the year of Christ 1041 was soâ—ely endangered and set on â—â—re and the Citizens slain almost every one for that they had killed his Collector of the Danish Tribute yet it way presently repaired and peopled with many Burgesses and for fifteen Hides discharged it self to the Conquerour as in his Doomesdays is to be seen But in the year 1113 a sudden fire happened no man knew how which burnt the Castle and Cathedral Church Likewise in the civil â—royles of King Sâ—ephen it was twice lighted into a flame and the latter laid it hopeless of recovery Notwithstanding from those dead Ashes a new Phenix arose and her building raised in a more stately proportion especially the Cathedral dedicated to S. Mary first laid by Bishop Sexwolfe in Anno 680 â—ince when it hath been augmented almost to the River In the midst of whose Quiâ—e from his many turmoiles resteth the body of King Ioâ—n the great withstandeâ— of the Popes proceedings under a monument of white Marble in Princely Vestures with his portraiture thereon according to life And in the South-â—ide of the same Quire lyeth entombed Prince Aâ—thur the eldest Son to King Henry the seventh his Monument is all black Iett without remembrance of him by Picture This City is governed by two Bayliffs two Aldermen two Chamberlains and two Constables yearly elected out oâ— twenty four Burgesses clothed in Scarlet assisted with forty eight other Citizenâ— whom they call their Common Councellâ—rs clad in Purple a Recorder Town-Clerk and five Sergeants with Mace their Attendants Whose Geographical Position is distant in Longitude from the West Meridian 18 degrees 10 scruples â—aving the North-Pole elevated in Latitude 52 degrees and 32 scruples 6 Places of further note for memorable antiquity is Vpton of great account in the Roman time where some of their Legions kept as witness their Moneys there often found the admirable Ditch upon Malvern Hâ—lls drawn by Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester to divide his Lands from the Church of Worcester the Saxons or Augustines Oke where he the English Apostle met with the British Bishops for the uniform celebration of Easter from whence both parts departed with discontented minds after many hot words and thwaâ—ting disputes 7 Neither is it wiâ—hout admâ—ration to me that many places of this Shire lye far within the Precincts of other Provinces as Aulston Washborâ—es Cuttesden Paxford Hanging-Easton Northwickâ— Blockley Eurlode in Glocester-shire and Goldcote Aldermeâ—ston Newâ—old Steddenton Armiscote Blackwell Darlings-cote Shipton Tydminâ—on Olbarrow in Warwick
precious stone Astroites is found Off-Church which was the Palace of great Offa the Merciaâ— and the burial-place of S. Fremâ—nd his son Cheâ—terton where the famous Fosse-way is seen At Leamington so far from the Sea a Spring of Salt-water boyleth up and at Newenham Regis most soveraign wateâ— against the Stone Green wounds Vlcers and Imposthuâ—es and dâ—unk with Salt looseth and with Sugar bindeth the body and turneth wood into stone as my self saw by many sticks that therein were faln some part of them Ash and some part of them Stone and Guy Cliffe where the famous Earl Guy after many painful exploits aâ—chieved retired and unknown led an Hermâ—ts life and was lastly there buried 8 The chiefest Commodities in this County growing arâ— Corn whereof the Red Horse Vale yieldeth most abundantly Wools in great plenty Woods and Iron though the producer of the one will be the destruction of the other Such honourable Families as have been dignified with the Earldom of this Sbire Toâ—ns 〈…〉 the Normans Conquest in the great Map it self are inserted and by their several names expressed This County is strengthened with eight strong Castles traded with fifteen Market-Towns inriched with many fair buildings and by the devotion of many Nobles had many foundations of religious Monasteries therein laid The chiefest were at Stoneley Warwick Thellisford Roxhall Balshall Killingworth worth Coventree Combe Nun-â—aton Ashley â—therston and Pollesworth all which came to their period in the Reign of King Henry the eight when the rich Revenues were alienated to his use and those stately buildings either overturned or bestowed upon his Courtiers but yet to Gods glory and his divine service one hundred fifty eight Parish-Churches therein remain dispersedly seated in the nine Hundreds of this Shires Division NORTHAMPTON SHIRE NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE CHAPTER XXVII NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE situated near unto the midst of England lyeth separated upon the North from Lincoln-Shire by the Riuer Weland from Huntington-shire on the East is parted by the water Nene her South is bounded with Buckingham and Oxford-shires and the West from Warwick with VVatling-street-way Avon and VVeland is divided from Leicester 2 The Form of this County â—s large and narrow broadest in the South-west and thence shooâ—ing still lesser like unto a Horn nor not much unlike to the Form of Cornwal and from the entrance of Câ—erwel into this Shire unto the fall of VVeland and Nene near unto Crowland are by measure forty six miles and the broadeâ—t part is from Ouse unto Avon which is not fully twenty miles the whole in circumference one hundred and nineteen miles 3 The Air is good temperate and healthful the soyl is champion rich and fruitful and so plenteously peopled that from some Ascents thirty Parish-Churches and many more Wind-mills at one view may be seen notwithstanding the simple and gentle Sheep of all creatures the most harmless are now become so ravenous that they begin to devour men waste fields and depopulate hoâ—ses if not whole Town-Ships as one merrily hath written 4 The ancient people known to the Romans and recorded by Ptolomy were the Coritany who possessed this County and were branched further thorow Leicester Lincoln Nottingham Rutland and Darby-shires these joyning with the Icenians with them were fettered with the chains of subjection when for Claudius Publius Ostorius Scapula entred his Lieutenantship in Britain and in battle subdued all betwixt the Rivers Nene and Sabrina But when the Romans were content to let go that which so long was desired and had cost so much in the getting the Saxons a most warlike Nation put into these parts and made it a portion of their Mercian Kingdom but their government also grown out of date the Normans seated themselves in these fair possessions the branches of whose Stems are spread abroad in these parts most fruitful and fair 5 Commodities arising in this Shire are chiâ—fly gotten by tillage and plough whereby Corn so plentifully aboundeth that in no other Counâ—y is found more or so much the pasâ—ures and woods are filled with Cattle and every where sheep loaden with their sleeces of wool 6 The chief Town in this Shire is Noâ—thampton whereof the County taketh name which for circuit beauty and building may be ranked with the most of the Cities of our Land It is seated at the meeting and confluence of two Rivers the greater whereof beareth the name Nen. This Town hath been built all of stone as by many foundations remaining to this day is seen and is walled about both strong and high excepting the West which is defended by a River parted into many streams In the depredations of the Danes Swen their King set this Town on fire and afterwards it was sorely assaulted by the disobedient Bâ—rons of King Iohn who named themselves The Army of God But the loyalty of this Town stood nothing so sure unto King Henry his son whence the Barons with displayed Banners sounded the Battle against their Soveraign And yet after this a woful field of Eâ—glands civil division was fought whence Richard Nevil the stout Earl of Warwick led away prisoner that unfortunate man King Heâ—ry the sixth Upon the West part of this Town standeth a large Castle mounted upon an hill whose aged countenance well shâ—weth the beauty that she had born and whose gaping chinks do daily threaten the downfall of her walls To this upon the South the Town wall adjoyneth and in a round circuit meeteth the River in the North extending in compass two thousand one hundred and twenty paces whose site so pleased the Students of Cambridge that thither they removed themselves upon the Kings Warrant in mind to have made it an University from whence the North-Pole is elevated 52 degrees 36 scruples for Latiâ—ude and in Longiâ—ude is removed from the West 19 degrees and 40 scruples being yearly governed by a Mayor two Bayliffs twelve Magisâ—rates a Recorder Town-Clerk a Common Counsel of forty eight Burgesses with five Serjeants to execute buâ—iness 7 But the devotions of the Saxon-Kings made Peterbâ—row more famous formerly called Meddâ—swell where VVolphere King of Mercia began a most stately Monastery to the honour of S. Peter for satisfaction of the bloud of his two sons whom he had â—urthered in case of Chrisâ—ianity but himself being for the like made away by his Mother his brother Penda continued the work with the assistance of his brother Ethelred and two sisters Kineburga and Kineswith This among the Danish Desolatioâ— was cast down yet was it again restored to greater beauty by Ethelwold Bishop of VVinchester with the help of King Edgar and of Adulph his Chancellour who upon prick of conscience that in bed with his wife he had over-laid and smothered an Infant their only son laiâ— all his wealth upon the reâ—edifying of the place and then became Abbot thereof himself The Cathedral is most beautiful and magniâ—ical where in the Quire lie interred two unfortunate Queens on the North side Katherine Dowager of Spain the
many Horse-shooes nailed upon the Shire-Hall door some of large size and ancient fashion others new and of our present Nobility whose names are thereupon stamped as followeth Henry Hastings Roger Rutland Edward L. Russel Earl of Bedford Ralph L. Euwer of Parram Henry L. Bertley Henry L. Mordant William L. Compton Edward L. Dudley Henry L. Winsor George Earl of Cumberland Philip Earl of Montgomery L Willoughby P. L Whartâ—n The Lord Shandois Besides many others without names That such homage was his due the said Lord himself told me and at that iâ—stâ—nt a suit depended in Law against the Earl of Lincoln who refused to forfeit the penalâ—y or to pay his fine 6 Her ancient Inhabitant known to the Romans mentioned in Prolomy were the Coritani and by him branched thorow Leicester Lincoln Nottingham Darby-shire and this who with the Icenians were subdued by P. Ostorius under the yoke of Claudius the Roman Emperour and at their departure by conquest of the Saxons made it a Province unto their Mercian Kingdom whose fortunes likewise coming to a full period the Normans annexed it under their Crown 7 This County King Edward Confessor bequeathed by his Testament unto Queen Eadgith his wife and after her decease unto his Monastery at Westminster which William the Conquerour cancelled and made void bestowing the Lands upon others the Tithes and the Church unto those Monks That the Ferrars here first seated besides the credit of Writers the Horse-shooe whose badge then it was doth witness where in the Castle and now the Shire-Hall right over the â—eat of the Iudge a Horse-shooe of Iron curiously wrought containing five foot and a half in length and the breadth thereto proportionably is fixed The Castle hath been strong but now is decayed the Church fair end the Town spacious whose degree of Longitude is 19 46 scruples and the North-poles elevation in Latitude 53 degrees and 7 minutes 8 Let it not seem offensive that I to fill up this little Shire have inserted the seat of a Town not sited in this County for besides the conveniency of place the circuit and beauty but especially it being for a time an University did move much yea and the first in this Island if Iohn Hardings Author fail him not that will have Bladud to bring from Athens certain Philosophers whom here he seated and made publick profession of the Liberal Sciences where as he saith a great number of Scolars Studied the Arts and so continuing an University unto the coming of Augustine at which time the Bishop of Rome interdicted it for certain Heresies sprung up among the Britains and Saxons But most true it is that the Reign of King Edward the third upon debate falling betwixt the Southern and Northern Students at Oxford many School-men withdrew themselves hither and a while professed and named a Colledge according to one in Oxford Brazen-nose which retaineth that name unto this day This was so great a skar unto the other that when they were recalled by Proclamation to Oxford it was provided by Oath that no Student in Oxford should publickly profess or read in the Arts at Stanford to the prejudice of Oxford 9 As this Shire is the least in circuit so is it with the fewest Market-Towns replenished having onely two And from societies that feed upon the labours of others was this Land the freest for besides Rishal where Tibba the Falconers Goddess was worshiped for a Saint when Superstition had well neer put Gods true hononr out of place I find very few neither with more Castles strengthened than that at Okam whose ruines shew that a Castle hath been there Divided it is into five Hundreds and therein are planted forty eight Parish-Churches LEICESTER SHIRE LEICESTER-SHIRE CHAPTER XXX LEICESTERSHIRE lyeth bordered upon the North with Nottingham-shire upon the East with Lincoln and Rutland upon the South with Northampton-shire upon the West with Watling-street-way is parted from Warwick-shire the rest being bounded with the confines of Darby is a County Champion abounding in Corn but sparing of woods especially in the South and East parts which are supplyed with Pit-coals plenteously gotten in the North of this Province and with abundance of Cattle bred in the hills beyond the River Wrâ—ak which is nothing so well inhabited as the rest 2 The Air is gentle milde and temperate and giveth appetite both to labour and rest wholesome it is and draweth mans life to a long age and that much without sickness at Carleton onely some defect of pronunciation appeareth in their speech 3 The Soil thus consisting the Commodities are raised accordingly of Corn Cattle and Coals and in the Rocks near Bever are sometimes found the Astroites the Star-like precious Stone 4 The ancient people that inhabited this County were the Coritani who were spread further into other Shires but after that the Romans had left the Land to it self this with many more fell to be under the possession and government of the Mercians and their Kings from whom the English enjoyed it at this day 5 In Circular-wise almost the compass of this Shire is drawn indifferently spacious but not very thick of Inclosures being from East to West in the broadest part not fully 30 miles and from North to South but 24 the whole circumference about 196 miles whose principal City is set as the Center almost in the midst from whom the Pole is elevated 53 degrees and 4 minutes in Laritude and for Longitude 19 degrees 22 minutes 6 From this Town the Shire hath the name though the name of her self is diversly written as Legecestria Legara Legâ—o-cester by Ninius Caer-Lerion by Matthew of Westminster if we do not mistake him â—irall and now lastly Leicester ancient enough if King Leir was her builder eight hundred and forty and four years before the birth of our Saviour wherein he placed a Flamine to serve in the Temple of Ianus by himself there erected and where he was buried if Ieffery ap Arthur say true but now certain it is that Ethelred the Mercian Monarch made it an Episcopal See in the year of Christ Iesus 680 wherein Sexwulâ—â— of his elâ—ction became the first Bishop which shortly after was thence translated and therewith the beauty of the Town began to decay upon whole desolations that erectifying Lady Edelfled cast her eyes of compassion and both re-edified the buildings and compassed it about with a strong wall where in short time the Cities Trade so increased that Matthew Paris in his lesser Storâ— reporteth as followeth Lege-cester saith he is a right wealthy City and notably defeâ—ded and had the wall a sure foundation were inferiour to no City whatsoever But this pride of prosperity long lasted not under the Normans for it was sore oppressed with a world of Calamities when Robert Bossu the Crouch-back Earl of that Province rebelled against his Soveâ—aign Lord King Henry the second whereof hear the same Author Paris speak Through the obstinaâ—e stubbornness of Earl Robert saith he
ground of a marvellous capacity which is commonly called The Devils Arse in the Peak whereof Gervase of Tilbury hath told many pretty Tales and 〈◊〉 do make it one of the wonders of our Land 9 As inâ—other Csounties the devotions of the Religious have been made apparent in the erectioâ— of Places for Gods peculiar Service so in this have been founded eight of that nature which werâ— Dale Derelege Darby Repton Bechef Graiesley Faverwell and Pollewerke whose peace and plenty stood secure from all danger till the blustering Winds arising in the Reign of King Henry the Eight blew off the Pinacles of their beauteous Buildings and shook asunder the revenues of those Foundations which never are like again to be laid 10 This Shire is divided into six hundreds wherein have been seated seven Castles and is still traded with eight Market-Towns and replenished with one Hundred and six Parish-Churches Staffordshir STAFFORD-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXIV STAFFORD-SHIRE whose situation is much about the middle of England meeâ—eth upon the North with Chess-shire and Darby and that in a Triangle point where three Stones are pitched for the bounds of these Shires it is parted from Darby-shire on the East with Dowe and with Trent the South is confined with Warwick and Worcester-shires and the West butteth against the County of Shrop-shire 2 The form thereof is somewhat Lozeng-like that is sharp at both ends and broadest in the midst The lengh extending from North to South is by measure forty four miles and the breadth from East to West twenty seven miles the whole in Circumference one hundred and forty miles 3 The Air is good and very healthful though over sharp in her North and Moreland where the Snow lyeth long and the Wind bloweth cold 4 The Soil in that part is barren of Corn because her Hills and Moors are no friends unto Tillage the middle more level but therewithal wooddy as well witnesseth that great one called the Cank But the South is most plenteous in Corn and Pasturage 5 Her ancient Inhabitants were the CORNAVII whom Ptolomy placeth in the Tract that containeth Shrop-shire Worcester-shire Chess-shire and this all which were pâ—sâ—essed by the Mercian-Saxons when their Heptarchy slourished And Tameworth in this Shire was then held their Kingâ— Court. The Danes after them often assayed herein to have seated as witnesseth Tâ—trall then Theotenâ—â—ll by inteâ—pretation The habitation of Pagans imbrued with their blood by King 〈◊〉 the Flder But the Inhabitants of this Province Beda terms The midland-Englishmen because to his seeming it lay in the heart of the Land which when the Normans had made Conquest of all many of them set down their rest here whose posterity at this day are fairly and further branched into other parts 6 The Commodities of this County consist chiefly in Corn Caâ—tle Alablaster Woods and Iron if the one prove not the destruction of the other Pit-coal Flesh and Fish whereof the River Trent is said to swarm and others arising and running thorow this Shire do so batâ—en the ground that the Meadows even in the midst of Winter grow green such are Dowe Manifold Churnot Hunsye Yenden Tean Blith Trent Tyne and Sowe whereof Trent is not only the principal but in esteem accounted the third of this Land 7 Stafford the Shire-Town anciently Bâ—theney from Berâ—elin a reputed holy Man that therein lead an Hermits life was built by King Edward the Elder incorporated by King Iohn and upon the East and South Parts was Walled and Trenched by the Barons of the Place the rest from East to North was secured by a large Pool of Water which now is become fair Meadow-grounds The tract and circuit of these Walls extended to twelve hundred and forty Paces thorow which four Gates into the four Winds have passage the River Sowe running on the South and West of the Town King Edward the Sixt did incorporate the Burgesses and gave them a perpetual Succession whose Government in under two Bailiffs yearly elected out of one and twenty Assistants called the Common-Counsel a Recorder whereof the Dukes of Buckingham have born the Office and as yet is kept a Court of Record wherein they hold Plea without limitation of summe a Town-Clerk also from whose Pen I received these Instructions and to attend them two Sergeants at Mace This Town is sited in the degree of Latitude 53 20 scruples and of Longitude 18 and 40 scurples 8 But Leichfield more large and of far greater fame is much her ancient known unto 〈◊〉 by the name of Licidfeld which Rosse doth interpret to be The field of dead bodies for the number of Saints under the rage of Dioclesian there slain upon which cause the City beareth for her Arms an Eschucheon of Landskip with divers Martyrs in divers manner Massacred Here Oswin King of Northumberland overcoming the Pagan-Mercians built a Church and made it the See of Duma the Bishop whose Successors grown rich with golden reasons so overcame King Offa and he Adrian the Pope that an Archiepiscopal Pale was granted Bishop Eadulph to the great disgrace of Lambert Archbishop of Canterbury In this Church were interred the Bodie of VVulfhere and Celred both of them Kings of the Mercians But when the minds of Men were set altogether upon gorgeous building this old Foundation was new reared Roger Clinton Bishop this See and dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Chad and the Close inwalled by Bishop Langton The government of this City is by two Bailiffs and one Sheriff yearly chosen out of twenty four Burgessâ—s a Recorder a Town-Clerck and two Sergeants their Attendants 9 Houses of Religion erected in this Shire were at Leichfield Stafford De la Crosse Cruxden Trentham Burton Tamworth and VVolver-hampton These Votaries abusing their Founders true pieties and heaping up Riches with disdain of the Laity laid themselves open as marks to be shot at whom the hand of the skilful soon hit and quite pierced under the aim of King Henry the Eighth who with such Revenues in most places relieved the Poor and the Orphans with Schools and maintenace for the training up of Youth a work no doubt more acceptable to God and of more charitable use to the Land 10 With thirteen Castles this County hath been strengthned and in Thirteen Market-Towns her Commodities traded being divided into five Hundreds and in them seated one hundred and thirty Parish-Churches Shropshire Petrus Kaerius caelavit SHROP-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXV SHROP-SHIRE is both large in circuit well peopled and very fruitful for life It lyeth circulated upon the North with the County Palatine of Chester upon the East altogether with Stafford-shire upon the South with Worcester Hereford and Radnor-shire and upon the West with Mountgomâ—ry and Denbigh 2 The form thereof is almost circular or round whose length from Wooserton below Lodlane South to Over neer unto the River Trent in the North is thirty four miles the broadest part is from Tong in the East to Oswestre fited at the head of
the degree of Latitude 54 yet the warmth from the Irish-Seas melteth the Snow and dissolveth Ice sooner there then in those parts that are further off and so wholsome for life that the Inhabitants generally attain to many years 4 The Soyl is fat fruitful and rich yielding abundantly both profit and pleasures for Man The Champion grounds make glad the hearts of their Tillers The Meadows imbroydered with divers sweet smelling Flowers and the Pasture makes the Kines Udder to strout to the Pail from whom and wherein the best Cheese of all Europe is made 5 The ancient Inhabitants were the CORNAVII who with Warwick-shire Worcester-shire Stafford-shire and Shrop-shire spread themselves further into this County as in Ptolomy is placed and the Cangi likewise if they be the Ceaâ—gi whose remembrance was found upon the Shore of this Shire on the surface of certain pieces of Lead in this manner inscribed IMP. DOMIT. AU. GER DF CEANG. These Cangi were subdued by P. Ostorius Scapula immediately before his great Victory against Caractacus where in the mouth of Deva he built a Fortress at the back of the Ordovices to restrain their power which was great in those parts in the Reign of Vespasian the Emperour But after the departure of the Romans this Province became a Portion of the Saxon-Mercians Kingdom notwithstanding saith Ran Higdan the City it self was held by the Britains until all fell into the Monarchy of Egbert Of the dispositions of the fince Inhabitants hear Lucan the Monk who lived prelently after the Conquest speak They are found saith he to differ from the rest of the English partly better and partly equal In feasting they are friendly at meat chearful in entertainment liberal soon aâ—gry and soon pacified lavish in words impatient of servitude merciful to the afflicted compassionate to the poor kind to their kindred spary of labour void of dissimulation not greedy in eating and far from dangerous practises And let me add thus much which Lucian could not namely that this Shire hath never been stained with the blot of Rebellion but ever stood true to their King and his Crown whose loyalty Richard the Second so far found and esteemed that he held his Person most safe among them and by the Authority of Parliament made the County to be a Principality and stiled himself Prince of Chester King Henry the Third gave it to his eldest Son Prince Edward against whom Lewlin Prince of Wales gathered a mighty Band and with them did the County much harm even unto the Cities Gaâ—es With the like scare-fires it had oft times been affrighted which the ylastâ—y defenced with a Wall made of the Welsh-mens Heads on the South side of Dee in Hambridge The Shire may well be said to be a Seed-plot of Gentility and the producer of many most ancient and worthy Families neither hath any brought more men of valour into the Field than Chess-shire hath done who by a general speech are to this day called The chief of Men and for Natures endowments besides their nobleness of minds may compare with any other Nation in the World their Limbs straight and well-composed their complexions fair with a chearful countenance and the Women for grace feature and beauty inferiour unto none 6 The Commodities of of this Province by the report of Ranulphus the Monk of Chester are chiefly Corn Cattle Fish Fowl Salt Mines Metals Mears and Rivers whereof the Banks of Dee in her West and the Vale-Royal in her midst for fruitfulness of pasturage equals any other in the Land either in grain or gain from the Cow 7 These with all other provision for life are traded thorow thirteen Market-Towns in this Shire whereof Chester is the fairest from whom the Shire hath the name A City raised from the Fort of Ostorius Lieutenant of Britain for Claudius the Emperour whither the twentieth Legion named Victrix was sent by Galba to restrain the Britains but grown themselves out of order Iulius Agricola was appointed their General by Vespasian as appeareth by Moneys then Minted and there found and from them no doubt by the Britains the place waâ— called Cder-Legion by Ptolomy Denanâ— by Antonine Dena and now by us West-Chester but Henry Bradshaw will have it built before Brute by the Giant Leon Gaver a Man beyond the Moon and called by Marius the vanquisher of the Picts Over Deva or Dee a fair Stone-bridge leadeth built upon eight Arches at either end whereof is a Gate from whence in a long Quadrant-wise the Walls do incompass the City high and strongly built with four fair Gates opening into the four Winds besides three 〈◊〉 and seven Watch-Towers extending in compass one thousand nine hundred and forty paces On the South of this City is mounted a strong and stately Castle round in form and the base Court likewise inclosed with a circular Wall In the North is the Minster first built by Earl Leofrike to the honour of S. Werburga the Virgin and after most sumptuously repaired by Hugh the first Earl of Chester of the Normans now the Cathedral of the Bishops See Therein lyeth interred as report doth relate the body of Henry the Fourth Emperour of Almane who leaving his Imperial Estate lead lastly therein an Hermites life This City hath formerly been sore defaced first by Egfrid King of Northumberland where he slew twelve hundred Christian Monks resorted thither from Bangor to pray Again by the Danes it was sore defaced when their destroying feet had trampled down the beauty of the Land But was again rebuilt by Edelfleada the Mercian Lady who in this County and Forrest of Delamer built two fine Cities nothing of them now remaining besides the Chamber in the Forrest Chester in the daies of King Edgar was in most flourishing estate wherein he had the homage of eight other Kings who rowed his Barge from S. Iohns to his Palace himself holding the Helm as their Supream This City was made a County incorporate of it self by King Henry the Seventh and is yearly governed by a Major with Sword and Mace born before him in State two Sheriffs twenty four Aldermen a Recorder a Town-Clerk and a Serjeant of Peace four Sergeants and six â—eomen It hath been accounted the Key into Ireland and great pity it is that the Port should decay as it daily doth the Sea being stopped to secure the River by a Causey that thwarteth Dee at her bridge Within the Walls of the City are eight Parish-Churches St. Iohns the greater and lesser in the Suburbs are the VVhite-Fryers Black-Fryers and Nunnery now suppressed From which City the Pole is elevated unto the degree 53 58 minutes of Latitude and from the first point of the West in Longitude unto the 17 degree and 18 minutes 8 The Earldom whereof was possessed from the Conquerour till it fell lastly to the Crown the last of whom though not with the least hopes is Prince Henry who to the Titles of Prince of VVales and Duke of Cornwall hath
or ever become the ruin of time which is much feared for the merciless underminings of the Sea that with her daily and forcible irruptions never ceaseth to wash away the Foundations of the Key The People of this Town are well approved for courtesie and also Civil Government which is administred by the Constable of the Castle who is ever Mayor by Patent having the assistance of one Alderman two Bailiffs two Sergeants at Mace and one Town-Cleâ—k The Townsmen do not a little glory that King Edward the Second was born there in a Tower of the Castle called Eagle-Tower and surnamed of Caer-nar-von he being the first Prince of Wales of the English Line The site of this Town according to Mathematical observation is in the degree of Longitude 15 and 50 scruples from the first West point and the Pole elevated in Latitude 53 and 50. Bangor the Bishops See though it be now but a small Town yet it was in time past so large that for the greatness thereof it was called Banchor-Vaur that is Great-Banchor which Hugh Earl of Chester fortified with a Castle But it hath been long since utterly ruinated and laid level with the ground insomuch as there is not any footing to be found or oâ—her monuments left thereof although they have been sought with all diligent enquiry This Bishops See hath been the Diocess of ninety six Parishes But the ancient Church which was consecrated unto Daniel sometime Bishop thereof was defaced and set on fire by that notorious Rebel Owen Glendowerdwy who had a purpose also to destroy all the Cities of Wales for that they stood for the King of England And though the same Church was since repaired about the time of King Henry the seventh yet hath it scarce recovered the resemblance of her former dignity The River Conwey which limiteth this Shire on the East-side is in Ptolomy by corruption or ignorance of Transcribers called Toissonius instead of Cononius whence Canonium a Town mentioned by Antonine took name and albeit both it and its name be now utterly extinct yet is there a covert remembrance thereof in the new name of a poor Village standing among the rubbish thereof called Caer-hean that is the ancient City Out of the Spoil whereof King Edward the first built a new Town at the Rivers mouth termed thereupon Aber-Conwey that is the mouth of Conwey which being formerly fortified by Hugh of Chester and strongly situate and senced both with Walls and a fair Castle by the Rivers side deserves rather the name of a City than a Town if it were more populous and traffiqued with Inhabitants Neither must I here forget Nowin though but a small Market-Town for that it pleased the English Nobles Anno 1284 to honour it and the memory of King Arthur with triumphant celebrity after they had subdued the rebellious Ringleaders of Wales 7 Other matters of memorable note this Country affordeth not much unless perhaps this That just over-against the River Conwey where it issueth into the Sea there sometimes stood an ancient City named Diganwey which many years ago was consumed by Lightning and so made utterly desolate as many other Monuments have been of ancient and worthy memory As likewise that in the Pool Lin-Peris there is a kind of Fish called there Tâ—rcoth having a red Belly no where else seen For touching these two other miracles famoused by Giraâ—dus and Gervasius that on those his high Hills there are two Pools called the Mears the one of which produceth great store of Fish but all having only one Eye and the other there is a moveable Island which as soon as a man treadeth thereon it forthwith floateth a great way off whereby the Welsh are said to have often scaped and deluded their Enemies assailing them these matters are out of my Creed and yet I think the Reader had rather believe them than to go to see whether it be so or no. It is traded with five Market-Towns fit for bargaining buying and selling fortified with four Castles and hath sixty eight Parish-Churches in it where the Inhabitants concur and meet together for the celebration of Divine-Service THE KINGDOME OF SCOTLAND SCOTLANDS General Description CHAPTER I. SCOTLAND the second Kingdom of Great-Britain and the North part of the Island hath on the East the German-Ocean on the North the Orkneys and Deucalidon-Sea the West affronted with Ireland and the South hath the River Tweed the Cheviot-Hills and the adjacent Tract reaching to the Sulway-Sands whereby it is separated from England 2 This Kingdom is fair and spacious and from these South borders spreadeth it self wide into the East and West till again it contracts it self narrower unto the Northern Promontories furnished with all things befitting a famous Kingdom both for Air and Soil Rivers Woods Mountains Fish Fowl and Cattel and Corn so plenteous that it supplyeth therewith other Countries in their want The People thereof are of good feature strong of body and of couragious mind and in Wars so venturous that scarce any service of note hath been performed but that they were with the first and last in the Field Their Nobility and Gentry are very studious of learning and all civil knowledge for which end they not only frequent the three Universities of their own Kingdom S. Andrews Glasco and Edoâ—borough the Nurseries of Piety and Mansions of the sacred Muses but also much addict themselves to travel into forain Countries The South ê‘ t of ScotlaÌ„d wherin are contayned Edinbrough St. Andrew and Glasco Archbishoâ— 4 Yet in the mean while lest I should seem too defective in my intendments let me without offence in this third though short Book give only a general view of that Kingdom upon observations from others which to accomplish by mine own survey if others should hap to fail and my crazy-aged body will give leave is my chief desire knowing the Island furnished with many worthy remembrances appertaining both unto them and us whom God now hath set under one Crown and the rather for that their more Southern People are from the same Original with us the English being both alike the Saxoâ— branches as also that the Picts anciently inhabiting part of that Kingdom were the inborn Britains and such as thither fled to avoid the Romans servitude whose names began first to be distinguished under Dioclesian the Emperor when they were termed Picts for painting their Bodies like the Britains as saith Flavius Vigetius which is more strengthned for that the Northern Britains converted by Saint Columb are called Britain-Picts 5 But the Highland-men the natural Scot indeed are supposed to descend from the Scythians who with the Getes infesting Ireland left both their issue there and their manners apparent in the Wild-Irish even to this day And from Scytha as is thought the name of Scot grew for so the Netherlanders by Scutten express indifferently the Scythian or Scot so Gildas called the Irish-Britains Scythians so King Elfred in translating the History of Orosius
turneth Scotos into Scyttan and so saith Walsingham from one and the same original Scythae Scytici Scota Scotici take their names as from Geta Getici Gothi Gothici have done The Southren parte of Scotland wherin is y e strange Lake Lomund Petrus Kaerius caelavit 6 Their Manners were alike saith Diodorus Siculus and Strabo and their Garments not much different as by Sidonius Apollinaris may be gathered where he seemeth rather to describe the modern Wild-Irish than the antike Gete Notwithstanding this Nations Original by some hath been derived from Scota the supposed Daughter of the Egyptian King Pharaoh that nourished Moses afterwards married unto Gaithelus the Son of Cecrops Founder of Athens who first seating in Spain passed thence into Ireland and lastly into Scotland where his Wife Scota gave Name to the Nation if we believe that they hit the mark who shoot at the Moon 7 But that the Scythians came into Spain besides the Promontory bearing their name Scythicum Silius Italicus a Spaniard born doth shew who bringeth the Concani a Nation therein seated from the Massagetae which were the Scythians and the Sarmatae whom all confess to have been Scythians were the builders as he saith of the City Susanna in Spain And how from Spain they possessed themselves of Ireland at the time when the Kingdom of Iudah flourished Ninius the Disciple of Elvodugus doth tell and their own Histories of Nemethus and Delas besides Cisnerus and others do shew who were first known by the name of Scots as is gathered out of Porphyry alledged by S. Ierome in the Reign of Aurelianus the Emperour Gildas calleth them the Irish-Spoilers Giraldus A Scottish Nation descended from Ireland which in regard of them by Eginhardus is termed The Isle of Scots by Beda The Isle inhabited by the Scots and by other Historians Scotland the great as their seat in Britain was called Scotland the less The Eastern part of Scotland wherin ther are diuers Shires and the Vniversity of Aberdyn Petrus Kaerius caelavit 9 Scotlands South-part in Galloway washed with the water of Solway-Bay toucheth degree 56 of Latitude and thence imbosoming many Loughs and Inlets upon the East and West extendeth it self unto the degree 60 and 30 minutes whose Logitude is likewise laid betwixt the degree 13 and 19 and the same grown very narrow being so near the North-Pole as lying directly under the hinder-most Stars of the Greater Bear 10 The which Kingdom is divided into two parts by the great River Tay the South whereof is the more populous and more beautified in manners riches and civility the North more rude retaining the customs of the Wild-Irish the ancient Scot in whose several Territories these Counties ensuing are contained South Teifidale Merch Laudier Liddesdale Eskedale Anuandale Niddesdale Galloway Carricke Kyle Cunningham Arrar Cluidesdale Lennox Stirling Fife Stratberne Menteith Argile Cantire Lorne North. Loquabrea Braidalhin Perth Athol Anguis Merns Mar Buquhan Murrey Rosse Sutherland Cathanes Strathnavern Part of Scotland it is called of the înhabitance Stranauerne with his borderers Petrus Karius caelavit 1599. 11 And these again are subdivided into Sheriffdomes Stewardships and Bailiwicks for the most part Inheritory unto honourable Families The Ecclesiastical Government is also subject under two Metropolitan Arch-Bishops which are of S. Andrews the Primate of Scotland and of Glasco whose Iurisdictions are as followeth S. Andrews Dunkeld Aberdon Murray Dunblan Brechin Ross Cathenes Orkney Glasco Galloway Argile Iles. Amongst the things worthy of Note of Antiquity in this Kingdom most memorable was that Fortification drawn from Abercorne upon the Frith of Edenborougâ— unto Alcluyd now Dunbritton opening upon the West-Sea where Iulius Agricola set the limit of the Roman Empire past which saith Tacitus there was no other bounds of Britain to be sought for and that here the second Legion Augusta and the 20 Legion Victrix built a part of the Wall certain Inscriptions there digged up and reserved at Dunloyr and Cader do witness as also an ancient coped Monument of an high and round compass which as some think was a Temple consecrated unto the God Terminus others a Trophy raised by Carausius who fortified this Wall with seven Castles as Ninius doth declare The Iles of Hebrides w th ther borderers Petrus Kaerius caelavit 13 Ninian a Britain is recorded to have converted the South-Picts unto the Faith of Christ in the Reign of Theodosius the youâ—ger and the Church in Galloway bearing his name doth witness it so likewise in the same age Palladius sent from Pope Celestine became an Apostle unto the Scots whose Reliques lay enshrined at Fordon in Mernis as was verily supposed but that Christianity had been formerly planted in this uttermost Province is testified by Tertullian in saying the Britains had embraced the Faith further than the Romans had power to follow or persecute them whereupon Peter Monk of Clun in Spain concludeth their conversion to be more ancient than the Southern Britains 14 But touching things observable for the present surely admirable is the report of the plenty of Cattel Fish and Fowl there abiding their Neat but little yet many in number Fish so plentiful that men in some places for delight on Horse-back hunt Salmons with Spears and a certain Fowl which some call Soland-Geese spreading so thick in the Air that they even darken the Suns light of whose Flesh Feathers and Oyl the Inhabitants in some parts make great use and gain yea and even of Fishes brought by them abundant Provision for Diet as also of the Sticks brought to make their Nests plentiful provision for Fuel CATHANES and ORKNAY INS Petrus Kaerius caela 16 No less strange than any the fore-mentioned waters but more lamentable is the remembrance of the great inundation hapning by the sudden rising of Tay which bare away the Walls and Town of Berth and with it the Cradle and young Son of King William into the Sea wherein the Royal Infant with many others perished the King and his Courtiers hardly escaping the danger with life The ruine of this Town raised another more famous and more commodiously seated even Berth since called Saint Iohns-Town 17 Islands and Ilets yielding both beauty and subjection to this Scottish-Kingdom are the Western the Orkneys and the Shetlands reckoned to be above three hundred in number the Inhabitants for the most part using the frugality of the ancient Scot. 18 The Western lying scattered in the Deucalidonian Sea were anciently ruled by a King of their own whose maintenance was out of their common Coffers and the Regal Authority never continued in lineal succession for to prevent that their Kings were not permitted to have Wives of their own but might by their Laws accompany with other mens as the like Law was in the other parts of Scotland that the Virginity of all new Wives should be the Landlords prey till King Malcolme enacted that half a mark should be paid for redemption The residence of those fore-mentioned Kings was chiefly
of Greece they of Downe challenged his Grave to be with them upon certain Verses written on a Toâ—b which ascribes Patrick Bridget and Columbe to be buâ—ied therein they of Armagh lay claim by the warrant of S. Bernard who saith that Patrick in his time there ruled and after death there rested Glascenbury in England by ancient Records will have his body interred with them and Scotland avoâ—cheth his birth to be at Glasco and bones to rest at Kirk Patrick with them of such reverent esteem was this Irish Apostle 23 This Patrick in his youth had been taken captive by the Irish Pirats and for six years continuance served Machuain as his slave and keeper of his Swine in which dejected condition so desirous he was of the Lands Salvation that in his Dreams he thought the Infants unborn cryed unto him for Baptism and redeeming himself thence for a piece of Gold found in the Feld which a Swine had turned up in his aged years came back again into Ireland preached the Gospel converted the People and lastly became Archbishop of Armagh Of whose miracles and Purgatory I leave others to speak that are more credulous in the one and have better leisure to relate the other and will shew thee Ireland as now it is first in general and then in parts Mounster The Province of MOUNSTER CHAPTER II. THis Province called in Irish Mown in a more ordinary construction of Speech Wown in Latine Momonia and in English Mounster lieth open Southward to the Virginian Sea Northward it affronteth part of Connaught The East is neighboured by Leinster and the West is altogether washed with the West-Ocean 2 The length thereof extended from â—allatimore-Bay in her South unto the Bay of Galway in her North are about ninety miles Her broadest part from East to West is from Waterford-Haven to Feriter-Haven and containeth an hundred miles The whole circumference by following the Prometaries and indents are above five hundred and forty miles 3 The â—orm thereof is quadrant or four-square The Air mild and temperated neither too chilling cold nor too scorching hot The Soil in some parts is â—illy looking aloft with woody wilde and solitary Mountains yet the Vallies below are garnished with Corn-fields And generally all both pleasant for sight and fertil for Soil 4 This Province is at this day divided into two parts that is the West Mounster and the South Mounster The West Mounster was inhabited in old time by the Luceni the Velabri and the Vterini the South Mounster by the Oudiae or Vodiae and the Coriondi The Velabri and Luceni are said by Orosius to have dwelt in that part of the Country where it lieâ—h outmost Westward and passing towards the Cantabrian-Ocean looketh afar off to Gallitia in Spain The Luceni of Ireland who seem to have derived their name and original from the Lucensii of Gallitia and of whom there still remain some Reliques in the Barony of Lyxnouw are supposed to have been seated in those parts that lie neighbouring upon the bank of the River Shennon 5 The general Commodities of this Province are Corn Cattel Wood Wooll and Fish The last whereof it affords in every place and abundance of all sorts But none so well known for the store of Herrings that are taken there as is the Promontory called Eraugh that liâ—s between Banire and Ballatimore Bay whereunto every year a great Fleet of Spaniards and Portugals resort even in the midst of Winter to fish also for Cods 6 The principal City of the Province is Limericke which the Irish call Loumeagh compassed about with the famous River Shennon by the parting of the Channel This is a Bishops See and the very Mart-Town of Mounster It waâ— first won by Reymond le Grosse an Englishman afterwards burnt by Duenald an Irish petty King of Thuetmond Then in process of time Philip Breos an Englishman was infeoffed in it and King Iohn fortified it with a Castle which he causâ—d therein to be built In this Castle certain Hostages making their abode in the year 1332 grew as is reported so full of pride and inconstancy that they slew the Constable thereof and seized the Castle into their own hands But the resolute Citizens that could neither brook nor bear with such barbarous cruelty did in revenge then shew such manly courage and vivacity as they soon after recovered the Castle again repaying the Hostages in such hostile manner as they put them all to the Sword without partiality The position of this Town is by Mercator placed for Latitude 53 degrees 20 minutes and for Longitude 9 degrees 34 minutes Near unto the River that Ptolomy calleth Daucona and Giraldus Cambrensis by the alteration of some few letters nameth Sauranus and Savarenus which issueth out of Muskerey Mountains is seated the City Corke graced also with another Episcopal dignity and with the Bishops See of Clon annexed unto it which Giraldus calleth Corragia the Englishmen Corke and the native inhabitants of the Country Coreach This Town is so besâ—t on every side with neigâ—bouring molesters as that they are still constrained to keep watch and ward as if there lay continual siege against it The Citizens of this place are all linkt together in some one or other degree of affinity for that they dare not match their daughters in marriage into the Country but make contracts of Matrimony one with another among themselves In this place that holy and religious man Briock is said to have his birth and breeding who flourished among the Gaules in that fruitful age of Christianity and from whom the Diocess of Sambrioch in Britain Armorica commonly called S. Brieâ— had the denomination 7 The City which the Irish and Britains call â—orthlargy and the English Waterford though it be last in place yet is it not least in account as being the second City in all Ireland as well for the convenience and commodiousness of the Haven that affords such necessary aptitude for trade and traffique as also for the faithful loyalty which it hath always shewed to the Imperial Crown of England for ever since it was won by Richard Earl of Pembroke it still performed the obedience and peaceable offices of duty and service unto the English as they continued the course in the Conquest of Ireland whence it is that the Kings of England have from time to time endowed it with many large Franchises and Liberties which King Henry the Seventh did both augment and confirm 8 Although since the time of S. Patrick Christianity was never extinct in this Country yet the government being haled into contrary factions the Nobility lawless and the multitude wilful it hath come to pass that religion hath waxed with the temporal common sort more cold and feeble being most of them very irreligious and addicted wholly to superstitious observations for in some parts of this Province some are of opinion that certain men are yearly turned into Wolves and made Wolf-men Though this hath been constantly affirmed by
apparitions or rather some religious horror which as some ridiculously dream was digg'd by Vlysses when he went down to parely with those in hell This is the Cave which the Inhabitants in these dayes call Ellan 〈◊〉 â—rugadory that is The Isle of Purgatory and S. Patricks Purgatory for some persons less devout than credulous affirm that S. Patrick or rather Patricius Secundus an holy Abbot of that name labouring the conversion of the people of this Province and much inforcing the life to come they replyed contemptuously unto him that unless they saw proofs of those joyes and pains he preached they would not lose the possession of their present pleasures in hope or fear of things to come they 〈◊〉 not when Whereupon as they say he obtained at Gods hands by earnest prayer â—hat the punishments and torments which the godles are to suffer after this life might be there presented to the eye that so he might more easily root out the sins and Heathenish Errours that stuck so fast in the hearts of the Irish. But touching the credit hereof although common fame and some records do utter it I neither will urge the beliefe nor regard seeing it is no Article of our Creed 8 Matters memorable within this Province are these first that the Bishops of Ireland were wont to be consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury in regard of the Primacy which they had in this Country until such time as Iohn Papirio a Cardinal was sent thither from Pope Eugenius the fourth to reform Ecclesiastical Discipline in this Island which was then grown so loose that there were Translations and Pluralities of Bishops according to the will and pleasure of the Metropolitan Also that the Irish men were accustomed to leave and forsake their wedded Wives at their own free-wills whereof Lanfranck Archbishop of Canterbury complained unto Therdeluac a King of Ireland And had not this Nation been corrupted with this vice even unto these our days both the right of lineal succession had been more certain among them and the Gentry and Commonalty had not in such cruelties imbrued themselves with such effusion of their own kindreds blood about their Inheritances and legitimation 9 The principal Town in this Tract is Armagh near unto the River Kalin which albeit it maketh a poor shew is the Archiepiscopal See and Metropolitane of the whole Island Before Saint Patrick had built there a fair City for site form quantity and compass modelled out as he saith by the appointment and direction of Angels this place was named Drumsalrich the Irish tell much that it received the name of Queen Armacha but the better opinions are that it is the same which Beda calleth Dearmach and out of the Scottish and Irish Language interpreteth it The Field of Oaks Here as S. Bernard writeth S. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland ruled in his life time and rested after death in honour of whom it was of such venerable estimation in old time that not only Bishops and Priests but Kings also and Princes were in general subject to the Metropolitan thereof in all obedience and to his government alone Among the Archbishops of this Province S. Malachy is famoused who first prohibited Priests marriage in Ireland and as S. Bernard saith who wrote his life at large borrowed no more of the native barbarousnes of that County than Sea-fishes do saltness of the Seas Also Richard Fitz-Ralph commonly called Armachanus is of famous memory who turned the edge of his style about the year 1355 began to oppose his opinion against the order of Mendicant â—ryers as detesting in Christians such voluntary begging The chief Fort in this Tract is Eâ—is Kâ—lling defended by the Rebels in the year 1593 and won by Dowdal a most valiant Captain near unto which is a great downfall of water termed The Salmon Leap of which there is a common Speech currant among the Inhabitants that it was once firm ground very populous and well husbanded with tillage till it was suddenly over-flown with water and turned into a Lake for some filthy abominable acts of the people against Nature committed with Beasts 10 The places of Religion sequestred from other worldly services and consecrated to holy purposes erected in this province were The Abbey which sheweth it self at Donegal The Monastery of Deryo where the Irish Rebel Shan O Neal received such an overthrow by Edward Randolph renowned for his service in the behalf of his Coâ—ntry that he could never after recover the loss he sustained at that time The Monastery near unto the River Liffer The famous Monastery at the Bay of Knockfergus of the same institution name and order as was that ancient Abbey in England near unto Chester called Banchor also Mellifont Abbey founded by Donald a King of Vriel and much commended by S. Bernard And lastly the most renowned Monastery built at Armagh in the year of our Salvation 610 out of which very many Monasteries were afterwards propagated both in Britain and Ireland These places were far and near frequented and sought unto by great confluences of Pilgrims till Time proved their devotions to be erronious and the pure light of the word revealed opening the eyes of their understanding hath taught them to shake off the shame of such Superstitions 11 That the people of this County might be kept within the bounds of their duty this Province hath been secured with fifty six Castles and Forts and for trade of commerce nine Narket-Towns appointed being divided into these Counties ensuing Counties Dunghall or Tyr connel Vpper Tyrone Nether Tyrone Fermanagh Cavan Monaghan Colrane Antrim Downe Armagh Lough FINIS The Table to find the Maps as appeareth by Folio ENgland Scotland and Ireland 1 England 2 Kent 3 Sussex 4 Surrey 5 Southampton 6 The Isle of Wight 7 Dorcetshire 8 Devonshire 9 Cornwall 10 Sommersetshire 11 Wiltshire 12 Barkshire 13 Middlesex 14 Essex County 15 Suffolke 16 Norfolke 17 Cambridgeshire 18 Hartfordshire 19 Bedfordshire 20 Buckinghamshire 21 Oxfordshire 22 Gloucestershire 23 Herefordshire 24 Woâ—cestershire 25 Warwickshire 26 Northamptonshire 27 Huntingtonshire 28 Rutlandshire 29 Leicestershire 30 Lincolnshire 31 Nottinghamshire 32 Darbyshire 33 Staffordshire 34 Shroâ—shire 35 Chester 36 Lancashiâ—e 37 Yorkshire 38 The Bishoprick of Durham 39 Westmorland and Cumberland 40 Northumberland 41 The Isle of Man 42 Holy Island c. 43 Wales 44 Pembrokeshire 45 Radnor Breknock Cardigan and Caermarden described 46 Glamorganshire 47 Monmouthshire 48 Montgomery c. 49 Denbigh and Flint described 50 Anglesey and Carnarvan 51 The Kingdom of Scotland 52 The South part of Scotland 53 The Southern part of Scotland 54 The Eastern part of Scotland 55 Part of Scotland Stranavern 56 The Isles of Hebrides 57 Cathanes and Orknay 58 Ireland described 59 Mounster 60 Leinster 61 Connaught 62 Vlster 63 MIDIA 64 A PROSPECT OF THE MOST FAMOUS PARTS of the VVORLD VIZ. ASIA 13 AFRICA 24 EUROPE 35 AMERICA 46 With these Kingdoms therein contained Graecia 57 Roman Empire 67 Germany 78 Bohemia
length The compass is reckoned by us to be 1890 English miles It is begirt on every side with Seas unless on the Eastern and there it is joyned to France by a kind of Isthmus when the Pyrenaean Mountains cross from one Sea to the other and set the limits to both Kingdoms On the West it is bounded with the Atlantick Ocean on the North with the Cantabrick and on the South with the Fretum Herculeum South East with the Mediterraneum Till within this 800 years it continued mangled and broken by many turns of Fortune Since it hath felt variety enough now it is wholly subject to one Monarch though it yet carry the name of three Kingdoms Aragou Castile and Portugal The Land yields all sorts of Wines Sugar Fruits Grain Oyls Metals especially Gold and Silver It is fertile enough for the Inhabitants For indeed they are not many nor have they so great Cities as there are in other Regions in Europe Besides the conditions of those for the most part are base The meanest proud the best superstitious and hypocrites most of them lascivious Give them their own they are good Souldiers not so much for their valour in performing as patience to endure labours hunger thirst and by this means oft-times weary out an enemy rather than Conquer him 10 France the second Region of Europe beginneth from the West at the Pyrenean Mountains and is bounded on the East with Germany on the North with our English Seas and South-ward with the Mediterraneum South East with the Alpes which divide it from Italy It was once tributary to Rome as most of these parts besides and had its division into Provinces as they pleased Now the chief are Loraign Burgundy Savoy and these have their free Princes the rest are Norway Brittany Berry Aquitane Picardy Poictou Languedock Anjow Gascoin Province Compagne and many more The Country is very fruitful and calls her neighbouring Nations to her for Traffique Their special Commodities are Wine Corn and Salt Well peopled and hath very many illustrious Cities But the Inhabitants are naturally light in their carriage almost Counter-point to the Spaniard yet of great â—ame both in learning and wars Commended by all strangers for compleat Courtship 11 Belgia hath France on the South on the North Denmark on the East Germany and the main Ocean on the West It is known best with us by the Name of Low Countreys or Netherlands The compass of it is about a thousand miles It is divided into 17 Provinces And of these four are Dukedoms seven Earldoms five Baronies and one Marqueship The Dukedoms are 1 Brabant and in this is Antwerp 2 Luick 3 Lutzenburg here stands the vast Forrest of Ardeuna 4 Gelderland The Earldomâ— 1 Flanders 2 Artois 3 Hainalt 4 Holland 5 Zealand 6 Zutphen 7 and Hamme The Baronies 1 Friezland 2 Vtreck 3 Mechlin 4 Overissell 5 Groueling The Marqueship is that of the holy Empire The Land is good and affordeth great store of Butter Cheese and breeds Oxen of incredible bigness and weight The people too are very industrious and excellent Mechanicks The men commonly are of a goodly Porrtaiture yet of more fame for their wars than their volour but are forced to maintain their liberty by the Sword good Sea-men indeed and in that they bear some sway Their Governours are called the States of the Low Conntries The General of their Forces is the Prince of Orange 12 Germany lyeth East-ward from Belgia and on her own East is bounded with Hungary and Polonia and the River Vistula and the North with the Germane Ocean and on the South with the Alpes that divide her from Italy In the middle is situated the Kingdome of Bohemia compassed with the Sylva Hircinia and in this stands Prague where the Emperour commonly keeps his Court. And comprehends many Provinces of note Saxony Brandenberge Pomerania Bavaria Silesia Franconia Austria Helvetia East-Friezland Westphalia Cleveland Alsatia Brunswick and Hassia It hath now the name of the Empire as once Rome had but it comes far short of her in glory The right to it descends not by succession but by choice of six Electors arch-Arch-Bishops of Triers Mentes and Cullen Count Palatine of Rhene Duke of Saxony and Marquess Brandenbâ—â—g In case of equality the King of Bohemia hath a suffrage which carries it It is a rich Country in Corn Wine Fruits Mines and hath in it healthfull Bathes The people warlike and ingenious for the invention of many useful implements 13 Italy hath Germany on the North divided by the Alpes on the South the Mediterraneum on the East the Adriatique Sea and on the West Mare Tyrrhenum In length it is 1010 miles and in the broadest place 420. It was once intirely one Now it is divided into many States and Provinces The chief are the Kingdom of Naples the Territory of Rome Lumbardy Tuscain the Seignory of Vâ—nice Verona and others of great fame For indeed the whole Country is of admirable fertility and called by good Authors The Paradise of the earth The Inhabitants grave and frugal yet hot and lascivious 14 Denmark is joyned to Germany on the South and on the West hath the Mare Germanicum and so almost is invironed with Sea and is a Peninsula In the Continent are two Provinces of note Irglant and Holsten The other are petty Islands for the most part The chief Zealand and Loiland The Country breedeth goodly Horses and store of Cattel The people are good Souldiers and subject to one King 15 Hungaria hath part of Germany on the West on the East the River Tibiscus and Walachia on the North with Poland and on the South with the River Saure South West with Sclavonia The great Danubius cuts her in the middle and names her parts Citerior and Vlterior The chief Provinces are 1 The Country of Soliense where the earth sends forth such a ftench that it poysoneth the very Birds which fly over it 2 An Island in Danubius exceeding fertile And so indeed is the whole Country The people are generally strong but shew the Ancientry to be of the Scythians by their barbarous manner and neglect of learning Their daughters portion are only a new attire and their Sons equally inherit without priviledge of birth-right The Emperour of Germany and the Turk share it betwixt them 16 Polonia and Silesia a Province of Germany on the West on the East the River Boristhenes or Neiper on the North the Baltick Sea and Hungary on the South It is in compass 2600 miles The chief Provinces which belong at least to Poland are Livâ—nia Lituania Volinia Samogiiia Podolia â—ussianigra Mazoria Prussia Podlassia The Dukedomes of Optwittes and Zotor Polonia propria The Land abounds with Honey Wax Mines of Copper and Iron It breeds store of Horses fit for service Their Religion is promiscuous of all kinds from the true worship to the very Atheist which acknowledgeth no God yet they are governed by one King which doth not succeed but is chosen by
Tillage This in general 10 Time hath not given way to many divisions of this America I find one only in the best Authors and that it seems nature marked out to their hands For she hath severed the Continent into two Peninsulae The one lieth North-ward from the Aequinoctial and is called Mexicana The other for the most part South-ward toward the Magellanick Straits and is called Peruviana Each of them are subdivided into their Provinces 11 Mexicana is the first and her bounds on the East and West are the Atlantick Ocean and Mare del Zur By the first it is severed from Europe and by the last from the Regions of China and Tartaria in Asia and is distant not above 250 miles if we measure the passage at the shortest cut On the South it hath the Peninsula Peruviana and North-ward we are not sure whether Sea or Land It comprehends in compass 13000 miles The quality of the Inhabitants and the riches of her soyl shall appear in her several Provinces which are numbred thus 1 Nova Hispania or Mexicana propria 2 Quivira 3 Nicarugua 4 Iacutan 5 Florida 6 Virginia 7 Norumbega 8 Nova Francia 9 Terra laboratoris or Corterilalis 10 Estotâ—landia 12 Nova Hispania or Mexicana propria is the largest Province of this North part of America and gave the name Mexiacana to the whole Peninsula which her self received from her chief City Mexico Her bounds South-ward is the Isthmus that joyns the Continents North-ward the same with the Peninsulaes on the West Califormia or Mar Viriniglio and on the East Incutan It was first possest by the Spaniard 1518. But it cost them much bloud to intitle their Kings Hispaniarum Reges It is an excellent Country full of all variety almost in every kind usual with us and exceeds in rarities full of wonder There is one tree which they dress like our Vine and order it so that it yields them almost all useful necessâ—ries The leaves serve them instead of Paper and of the Vine â—ark they make Flax Mantles Mats Shoes Girdles and Cordage She hath in her four principal Regions of note 1 Nova Galicia found out by Nunnus Gusmannus 1530. Her Cities are Compostella now a Bishops See Sancte Espritte and Guadalaiara The inhabitants lived at large heretofore without any government But since the Spaniard came they have endured incredible servitude and cruelty 2 Mechnacan a fertile Region the Inhabitants comely and witty Her chief Cities Sinsonse the place of their native Kings Pascuar and Valudolit the Bishops See 3 Mexico or Tomistian which contains in it the City of Mexico in compass six miles the seat of an Arch-Duke and the Spanish Viceroy and in it is an University a Printing-house and a Mint for coynage Other Cities there are Tescuvo and Angelorum Civitby 4 Ganstecan lying open on the East near Mare del Nort. It is but barren and the people poor but cunning The Spaniards have here two Colonies Panuce and S. Iames in the vallies 13 Quivira bordereth upon the West of the Continent towards Tartary It is temperate and fertile But the chief riches is the Kine which feed them with their flesh and cloath them with their Hides Her Provinces are Cibola and Nova Albion The last was discovered by our noble Sir Francis Drake and voluntarily yieded to the protection of our admired Queen of England Elizabeth 14 Nicarugua on the South-east of Nova Hispania had a kind of setled Common wealth before they knew Christianity and is reported to have a tree that withereth at a mans touch The chief Cities are now Granado and Leo a Bishops See 15 Incutan is situated over against the Isle Cuba upon the East of the Peninsula The people adored the Cross before they heard of Christ. The Country is indifferent fertile though that indeed as in all other places of this new World have proved worse for the Inhabitants for it hath drawn upon them their forraign Invadour 16 Florida lyeth near the Gulf of Mexico and bordereth upon the Mare del Nort. A pleasant Region it is and was discovered by our English under Sebastian Cuhbot 1497. out left for the Spaniard to posses which for a while he did and after him the French but neither in quiet For they warred upon each other till they left neither of them men enough to hold it The French built the City called Ara Corobina The Spanish Est Hevens and S. Matthews and planted there three Forts Saint Iames Saint Philip Saint Augustine which was burnt by Sir Francis Drake 1586. but recovered again 17 Virginia carries in her name the happy memory of our Elizabeth On the East it hath Mare del Nort on the North Norumbega Florida on the South and Westward the bounds are not set It was first entred by Sir Walter Raleigh 1584. and some at that time left there to discover the Country till more were sent but they perished before the second supply Since there have been many Colonies planted out of England which have there manured the ground and returened good Commodities to the Adventurers For indeed it is a rich Country in Fruits Trees Beasts Fish Fowle Mines of Iron and Copper Viens of Pitch Allum and Tar Râ—zin Gums Dies Timber c. The Plantation went on with good success till the year 1622. And then by the treachery of the Inhabitants there were murdered near upon three hundred of our men The Natives are very vile people horrible Idolaters adore the creature which they most fear and hate them which keep them not in awe they were kindly entreated by our English and invited by all friendly means to Christianity The North parts are most inhabited by our men and is therefore called New Eâ—gland It hath but one entrance by Sea at a fair Bay Her Capes are called Cape Henry and Cope Charls The chief Towns are Ianus Town Regnoughton and Balesguift 18 Norumbega on the North of Virgiâ—ia lyeth toward the Mare del Nort and is a very fertile Region It is inhabited by the Spanish and French The Seas are shallow and endanger many ships So full of Fish that the Boats cannot have free passage saith Maginus 19 Nova Francia is further North-ward from Norumbega a barren Country and the people barbarous some Anthropophagi A few French there are besides the Natives 20 Terra Laboratoris or Conterialis still more North-ward upon the Sea-coast and is divided from Norumbega by the River Lanada It reacheth into the Sea in form of a Pâ—niusula The men are barbarous live in Caves run swiftly and are good Archers The chief places are Bresto Cabo Marzo and South Maria. 21 Estotiland the last Province of the Northern Peninsula still creeps by the edge of the Atlantick and on the North hath the Straits called Fretum Daveissii an English man who this way attempted the North-west unto Cathai and China And in regard it was adventured in the name of our Queen the Promontory is called Elizabeths Fore-land and the Sea running by
it is likewise named Forbishers Straights from another of our worthy Country-men that were interested before in the same service This Region is held to be the first discovered of the New world The North of it is still unknown It yields plenty of gold but is exteam cold The people ingenious and good Artificers in most kinds they are cloathed with Beasts Hides and are skilled to make themselves Boats of Sea Calves skins which they venture into the main Sea without danger 22 Peninsula Peruviana is the South tract of America from the Isthmus to the Magellanick Straights The same Seas are the bounds upon the East and West which were of the other Mexicana by which she is divided from Africa on the East and on the West at a large distance from the most Southren Islands of Asia The compass of it is 17000 miles From North to South there runs a continued course of high Mountains whose tops the very Fowls of the air cannot reach by flight And from thence descend many admirable Rivers among which Maragno and Argenteus are most famous The one for his extent and the other for his plenty of silver The Country is exceeding rich but the people differ not much from the worst of Beasts They devour mans flesh filthy worms and what else comes in their way The chief Provinces are numbred thus 1 Castella Aurea 2 Guiana 3 Peru. 4 Brasil 5 Chile 23 Castella Auren is the first named from her plenty of gold She lieth part in the Isthmus The â—est is the Northern tract of Peru 1 Castella del oro in the very Isthmus which is by some measured to be seventeen miles in breadth by others twelve the Merchandise sent from Spain is unladen at Nombre de Dios and conveyed cross the Isthmus by land to Panamais from thence shipped again for the North-west of Peru Near these parts was an admirable atchievement performed by our valiant Country-man Iohn Oxenham who by the direction of Moors skilled in the Country went to the Land of Pearls and took from the Spaniards an incredible weight of gold and Silver 2 Nova Andalusia South-ward from Castella del oro The chief Towns are Tocoio and Sancta Espritia 3 Nova Granata a rich Region with Mines of gold and silver part of it lyeth under the Aequinoctial And this is S. Foy one of the Arch-Bishops Sees 4 Carthagena a fruitful Country which yielded when time was to out still renowned Sir Francis Drake store of prize and 240 pieces of Ordnace 24 Guiana is the second Province of the Peninsula Peru Maria situated just under the Aequinoctial On the North it hath the main River Oronoque or Raliana from Sir Walter Raleigh who went further than any before him into the Country This River is navigable by report above 1000 miles On the South it hath likewise another great River of the Peninsula called Maragnon which exceeds the former and is navigable 600 miles in length In this province stands the largest City of America called el Dorodo or the guilded City For indeed there is plenty of gold The length as it is spoken by some Travellers will exceed belief The second memorable Town is S. Thome not so much for her own worth as the disastrous fortunes of Sir Walter Raleigh who there first lost his eldest son and after returned home with that ill success as it cost him his own life 25 Peru the third in rank yet by name it seems to be the chiefest Province of this Southern Tract It is contained almost betwixt the Aequator and the Tropick of Capricorn On the North it hath Castella del oro on the South Chila on the West mare del Zur and on the East the Mountains of Peru. It is a very rich Country aboundeth with gold and silver little esteemed among the Inhabitants For by report the Spaniard ordinarily shooed their Horses with gold Another great Commodity is Tobacco a toy to play withall but yields a great Revenue to the King of Spain In this Province stands Lima the arch-Arch-Bishops See and place of residency for the Vicerâ—y Cusco where the Native Kings of Peru had wont to keep their Court The Inhabitants are strange Idolaters and worship a black Sheep Serpents and other ugly creatures 26 Brasile on the North hath the great River Maragnon and on the South and West Argenteus on the East Mare del North. The â—ongitude from North to South is accounted 150 the breadth 500 the compass about 3000. The Inhabitants are rude live for the most part in the Bodies of trees They swim excellently and are able to keep under the water for a long space Their chief Commodities are Sugar and Brazile wood The people are covered with natural hair cruel lascivious false and what not In this Region is an herb called Viva which if you touch it will shut up as a Dasie in the night and will not open till the party that injured it be out of sight Here are few Towns of note St. Anna Equitum Ascensio Pernanbuco 27 Chile is the last of the Peninsula and on the North hath Peru on the West the Mare del Zur on the South the Magellanick Straits on the East the Virginian Ocean She hath her name from her extream cold temper in so much that many are frozen to death and hardned like marble It is a rich Country as well for Gold as other Commodities of worth The Rivers are fed with Snow that falls from the tops of high Mountains The people are of large stature and very valiant The chief City is St. Iames where a Colony of Spaniards keep hold And thus we are travelled from the Basis to the very Pyris at the South America The utmost poynt of it is called Caput victoriae from Magellanus ship The rest must be performed by Sea Our best Courâ—e will be from the East Atlantick Ocean round by the Magellanick Straits into the Pacifick Sea For within this compass lyeth all the Islands that belong to this new world and those were my second part in the general division of the whole Hemisphere 28 The Islands of America in the Atlantick Ocean are 1 Margarita not far from Castella delorâ— It is very barren in provision for victuals but exceeds in plenty of precious stones of the greatest value And so doth her neighbour 2 Aubagna 3 Trinidado stored with Tobacco 4 Bacalaâ—â— over against Terra Laboratoris 5 Boriquâ—n North-ward from Guiana Her principal Cities are S. Iolas and Port Rico ruined by our Earl of Cumberland 1597. 6 Iamaica spoiled by the Spaniards cruelty of most of her Natives Insomuch that the mothers strangled their babes in their womb to prevent their servitude under so hard a Master as the Spanish Governour 7 Laba a rich Isle In this there is a Bishops See called Ingo 8 Lucaiae insulae in number a 130. and is best commended for the beauty of her women 9 Barmudae many in number discovered by Sir Thomas Summers and thence
12 Brunswick and Lunenburg 13 Franconia 14 Palaltinus Rhâ—ne 15 Wittenburg 16 Aâ—sper 17 Bayden 18 Mentz 19 Bamberg 20 Weirstberg 21 Saxonia 22 Anâ—â—â—t 23 Mansfield 24 Swevia 25 Bavaria 26 Brandenburg 27 Lusatia 28 Tirolum 29 Misnia 30 Bohemia 31 Silesia 32 Moravia 33 Pomeranea 34 Mecklinburg 35 Austria 15 East-Frezeland is on the West side of Germany and bounded with the North Sea Her chief Town is Embden 2 Wesphalia is on the South of East Frizeland It is most famous for Swine and excellent Bacon which is esteemed with us one of our greatest dainties to commend a feast Part of it belongs to the three next Bishops of Cullen Munster and Triers 3 Cullen her Arch-Bishop is an Elector The chief Town was called Vbiopolis afterward Agrippina and lastly Cullen from a Colony which was there planted by the French It is a received tradition among the Inhabitants that the bodies of the Wisemen which came from the East to worship Christ are here interred None almost but hath heard of the three Kings of Cullen 4 Munster Her chief City is Munster notable since the year 1533 at which time a company of brain sick Anabaptists named it Ierusalem and raised them a new Governour by the title of the King of Sâ—â—â— 5 Triers Her Arch bishop an Elecator Her chief City Tâ—iers of great antiquity founded by Trebeta the son of Nâ—â—ius and â—â—pport sackt by our Earl Richard King of the Romans 16 6 Clivia or Cleeveland a Duke dome of that name Her chief Cities are Wesell Emrick and Cleve Her commodity the Tophus-stone of which they make Cement 7 Iuliacum Gulick a Dutchy Her principal City is Aken or Aquiseranum where the Emperour receives his Silver Crown for Germany and doth great worship to a clout which they take to be our Saviours Mantle in which he was wrapped 8 Hassia a mountainous Country but fruitful Her Metropolis Marpurgum an University and the chief place of her Lant-grave is Cassels It comprehends likewise the Counties of Nassâ—w and Hanaw 9 Alsatia Her chief City is Strasburg famous for a Clock of wonderful art and a Tower of five hundred seventy eight paces high Other Towns here are of note as Bing Worms Confluence and Andernach 10 Helvetia Swetzerland on the East of France and North of Italy It contains thirteen Cantons Zurich Berne â—â— ucerne Vrenia Glavis Zugh Basell Friburg Vnderwalt Soâ—oâ—r Shasâ—haâ—â—en Apeâ—sol and Suits Her chief Cities are Zurike or Tigurum where Zuinglius was martyred and Sengâ—ll or Civitas Sancti Galli and Baâ—ell where a general Council was decreed to be above the Pope in the year one thousand four hundred thirty one 17 Tariâ—gia Her Prince a Lant-grave Her ground though not of large extent nor above twelve German miles either in length or breadth saith Maginus yet it is very rich it comprehends twelve Counties as many Abbies a hundred fourty four Cities as many Towns above two thousand Viliages two hundred and fifty Castles Her Metropolisis Eâ—â—ord 12 Brunswick on the East of Wâ—sâ—phaliâ— a Dukedom whose principal Citiâ—s are Brunswick Hâ—lâ—erstâ—de Wolâ—heiton and Luneburg which gives title to an other Dukâ—dom whose chief Seat is Cella â—18 13 Franconia Iâ— lyeth on the West of Tâ—ringia and joyns to Hossia Northward The Inhabitants were converted to Christianity by Boniface In this Province stands Francfort famous for her â—wo Marts every year and Noremâ—erge within the Territories are comprehended the seven other which â—elong to this section 18 The Palatine of Rhene some seventy two miles from North to South and from East to West nienty six Her chief City is Heidelberge Her Prince an Elector and hath many more priviledges than the other six In the vacancy he is Governour of a great part of Germany â—â— Wâ—tteâ—â—â—rge The chief Towns are Tubing an Vniversity Stâ—dgard c. 16 Aâ—spech a Marquiâ—aâ—e Her chiâ—f Town Aâ—â—pech 17 Badâ—n a Marquisate pleasant and fruitfull betwixt the Rivers Rhene and Nâ—ccar Her chief Cities are 〈◊〉 and Baden in which there be Bathes that cures many diseases 18 Mentâ— Mâ—guntia a Bishoprick The Prince is a Spiritual Elector and sits alwaies at the right hand of the Emperour 19 Bamberg a Bishoprick of it self of large revenues In this stands Fochia where they say Pontius Pilate Was born 20 Weirstberg Her Bishop is entituled Duke of Franconia 19 21 Saxony on the East of Hassia and South of Brunswick and North of 〈◊〉 In this Province was Luther born at Isâ—eben Within her bounds are likewise comprehended tâ—ese two other Principalities of Anhalt and Mansfield 22 Anhalt whose Governour with great courage and power bore Arms in defence of the Palatines right to the Kingdom of Bohemia 23 Mansâ—â—eld an Eâ—rldom the more famous for the valiant acts of the present Count who to this day wars upon the Emperours party in the behalf of the illustrious Pâ—latine and his unparrelled â—ady Elizabeth Sister to his royal Maâ—esty of England 20 14 Swevia on the South of Franconia It is a Country full of people and those 〈◊〉 goodly personage great wit and valiant In this Province is the head of Danubius and runs through the middle of the Country Her chief Towns are Vlme Lendawe and Auspurg or Augusta Vindelicorum Norlingen c. 25 Bavaria on the South of Bohemia and Franconia There is both the upper and lower Bavaria Of the first the chief Cities are Muchen Ingolstade Frising and about thirty four Towns more equal to the most Cities of the lower Bavaria the principal are Ratisbone Patâ—vium Pâ—ssâ—n Lanshutum and Saltâ—pâ—rge In this City lyeth â—uried Paracelsus 26 Brandenburg on the East of Saxoâ—y a Marquisate of five hundred and twenty miles in compass It was heretofore inhabited by the Vandales The Metropolis is Brandenburg and Francfort ad Oâ—iâ—um for so it is distinguisht from the other Francfort in Franconia and Berlium Herâ— are fifty-five Cities and sixty-four Towns 27 Lusatia it looks West-ward toward Saxony The chief City is Gorlitâ—ia 28 Tyrolum on the South of South of Bavaria and East of Helvetia Her cheif Cities are Oonipus Inspruck Brâ—ixen Tridentum Trent where the general Council was held one thousand five hundred forty six 29 Misnia on the East of Lâ—satia a â—ruitfull Region Her chief Ciâ—ies are Misnia Dresden Lipsin a place of learning and Torga many Writers place this Province with Saxony 21 30 Bohemia on the South of Saxony and Misnia encompassed with the Sylva Hircinia a â—ruitfull and pleasant Country It may deserve a particular description of it self and therefore I wilâ— mention it here with no other solemnity then I do the rest of Germany Her Metropolis is Prague which was taken by the Impâ—rialists in thâ—â— last quarrel the King and Queen being at that time in the Church celebrating Gods service were forced suddenly to flie for their safety into Sileâ—ia 31 Silâ—sia Eastâ—ward from part of Bohemia two hundred miles long and eighty one broad a fruitfull Country the people valiant Her principal Cities
Captains 5 Lanâ—â—â— North west from Pilsen noted for the most fruitful place in the whole Region 15 Now the out Provinces which are part of the Kingdom though not of Bohemia are first Lâ—â—atia It Iyeth betwixt the Rivers Albis and Odera and the Mountains of â—ohemia On the West it hath Saxony On the North and East Brandenburg On the South Silesia It is divided into the higher and lower Lâ—satia and is watered with the River Nissâ— It is indeed part of Saxony though under rule to the King of Bohemia For both this and Silesia was given to Vratislaus by the Emperor Henâ—y the â—ourth It is a very fruitful Country in most kind of grain and the Inhabitants though employed much in Husbandry yet are they a warlike people as most of Germany and so they have been tried by the Duke of Saxony and others of the Emperors party though they have been by number and main strength over-born The first that was surprised was Bantsen but the Metropolis is â—orlitâ—ia next Zittan c. No soil nor Customes differ much from the next Province 6 Silesia on the West hath part of Bohemia upon the North Dusatia and part of Poland upon the South Moravea and upon the East Polonia At the beginning it was part of the Hircinian Forest It is watered with the River Odera and from hence took her name as Conradus Celtus delivers it Lib Amorum 2. Eleg. 5. Hic Odera à priscis qui nomina Suevus habebat Nascitur Godani praecipitatur aquis Suevos qui Siesum socium sibi convocat amnem A quo nunc nomen Slesia terra gerit But Iohannes Crato a Silesian rather thinks that the name came from the Qâ—adi a people that heretofore inhaâ—â—ted these parts and the rather for thâ—t the very Qâ—adi in the Slavonian Tongue signifieth the same which Sâ—lâ—sium did in the Sâ—xon and old German That they did possess this Provâ—nce is agreed upon by most but where they were before seated Geographers somewhat differ Ptolomâ— placeth them by the Hirâ—inian under Lâ—na sylva and others not far off It was the people which in their war with Mâ—rcus Aâ—tonius the Emperour were scaâ—tered with thundring and lightning obtained by the prayers of the Christian Legion For when the Râ—man was driven to such straight that he could foresee no help which might come from man he put himself upon their prayers to God for his deliverance A strange hope that he could believe in their faith and yet not in that God in whoâ— they believed But the Almighty was pleased to shew his power and force the very heathen â—o honour his people For here ended the fourth Persecution 174. and the Christian Legion was surnamed the Thunderer 17 The air here is somewhat cold but mild and the Land â—ertile The Inhabitants good Husbandmen to make the best They have a kind of forced Wine which the meaner sort drink freely The richer have it sent from those neighbouring Provinces which are better stored The chief City is Perslaw or Vratisâ—avia which takes name from her Founder Vratislaus and in honour of him givâ—â— the Letter W in her Arms. About the seat of this City Ptolomâ— placeth Budorgis insomuch that some think this was raised out of her ruine Not far off there is yet to be seen the remainders of statelâ— old buildings which are supposed to have been the houses of the ancient Quadi Iâ— the year 1341. â—t was ruined by fire but built again with stone and it is now one of the stateliest Cities of Germaâ—y for â—xcellent buildings and fair streets It is an Archbishops See and an Academy The rest are Neissa Niâ—sa â— Bishops See and a fair Town Glats Oppolen Olderberge Glomor c. Maginus numbers 15 Dukedomes in Silesia whereof six remain in their ancient families the rest for want of heirs are â—allen to the King of Bâ—hemia But the two chief of name are Ligintz and Swevitz The first is immediately the Kings Swevitz too is under his government but yet hath a Duke of its own which is honoured with the title and revenues 18 Moravia is bounded on the North and East with Silesia on the West with Brandenburg on the South with Austria and Hungary It was heretofore called Marcomannia received the latter name from the River Moravia which runs through the Country It yields plenty of Corn Wine Fish and People which use a kind of confused mixt language of Sclavonick Bohemick and Tutonick In plowing up their grounds there hath been oftentimes found a certain Coyn of the Roman Emperours Marcus Antonius with this inscription de Marcomannis which the Inhabitants interpret to be of the Spoâ—ls whiâ—h the Roman took from the Marcomanâ—i who inhabited this Region For certain it is that this people were vanquished by Marcus Antonius as appears in their Historians The People were converted to Christianity by Methodius Their chief City is Olmuzium Olmuz an â—niversity Brin c. It is reported by Dubrarius that in Gradiâ—co a part of this Province there grow eth a kind of Myrrhe and Frankincense out of the ground which in likeness resemble the hidden parts of man and woman It was first added to the King and Kingdome of Bohemia by Sigisâ—und the Emperour in the Reign of Albertus GALLIA The Description of FRANCE No people but are ambitious to win upon Antiquity as far as their Line will reach Among others the French are great prerenders to that Title and fetch their original from Mesech the sixth son of Iapheth not above an hundred and fifty years after the Ark â—ested But this passeth not for currant truth among her own Historians and therefore is not the plea which gives France here the second place in my Division of Europe I observe rather her situation which ranks her next to Spain East-ward and that was the course proposed in my general Description 2 As for her Inhabitants the first certainly which we can make good were the Gauls A people of whose beginning we can give no unquestionable account yet this of them is most sure they were a Nation of noted valour above four hundred years before Christ. It is â—ow full two thousand and twelve since they sacked Rome and took the Capitoll In the memory of that great Action we may claim a part For first were themselves conquered by the two â—oble Brittish spirits Brennius and â—elinus Kings of England and aâ—ter led on by them if we may trust the story unto thoâ—e glorious adventures which have to this day continued their fame almost above any other Natâ—on Let the proof resâ— upon my Author This saith Matthaeus west monâ—steâ—iensis out of the Roman History 3 â—â—ecenta millia â—allorum ad sedes novas querendas prâ—â—ecti ducibus Bâ—linâ— Brennio Romam invaseruâ—t ibique diu morati â—unt Sed mille libras auri praemium discessionis â— Romanis suscipientes mox diversis agminibus alii Graeâ—iam alii Macedoniam alii Thraciam petiverunt
hour and caused them to cast off the Spanish clog which they did in the year 1581. and declared by their Writings that Philip the second King of Spain had forfeited his Government of the Low-Countries by breach of his faith And withall they bound their people by a new oath never to return to their obedience which they yet make good against the Arch-Dutchess who by kindred to the Spanish King and marriage to the Arch-Duke is at this time interested in the Government and therefore in the quarrel 11 To her there belongs of the 17 Provinces 1 The Dukedoms of Lutzenburg 2 Limburg and 3 Brabant 4 The Earldoms of Flanders 5 Artoyse 6 Hannault 7 Namurcia 8 The Barony of Mechlin 9 The Marquisate of the holy Empire To the States are reckoned 10 Dutchy of Geldria 11 The Earldoms of Zutphen 12 Zealand and 13 Holland 14 The Baronies of Vtrech 15 Overissell 16 Frizeland 17 And Groyning 12 We begin with the Dukedomes entailed to the Spanish Faction and for the easier finding their situation we will take them as they lie from West to East And in this order is 1 Lutzenburg It stands betwixt the River Mosa on the West and the Forrest of Ardenna East on the South it joyns upon a part of France Her chief City is Lucenburg called by Ptolomy Angusta Romanduorum In circuit this Dukedome is 240 miles and contains in it many other Towns which have been much battered in the Wars betwixt the French and Spanish Kings before the States were at difference among themselves Thâ—onville among others is of note for the stronger Bostâ—nachum for the chief Merchandise It is called the Paris of Ardenna for by some that Forrest is reckoned into this Dukedom It stands on the East-side was in Caesars time 500 miles in compass now about 90. Near to Ardenna is the Spaw Baths of great fame for the cure of sundry diseases And hath oftentimes given our false English a pretence to leave their Countrey forsooth for Physick when they have no other excuse to get free and joyn themselves with the Romish Catholicks Maginus reckons into this Region 1168 Villages besides Castles with several Earldoms many other petty Governments In the South is the Dutchy of Bovillon belonging to a Peer of France 2 Limburg on the North East of Lutzenburg divides the Government between her own Duke and the Bishop of Luick who commands the Western Tract as much as contains 24 walled Towns and 1800 Villages and hath under him 52 Baronies Luick the chief City of the Bishoprick is an University memorable for this one story above any other in Christendom That at one time there studied 9 Kings sons 24 Dukes sons 29 Earls sons c. The Dukes part in the East is not of that fame either for multitude of Towns and Villages or command of under territories In the year 1293 the heirs male were extinct and by that means it fell to the Duke of Brabant The whole Region is exceeding fertile and affords almost all necessaries except Wine Among other commodities it abounds with a kind of stone of excellent use in Physick called Lapis Calaminani The principal City Limburg stands upon the River Wesa 3 Brabant on the North of Limburg which commonly is supposed to have the name from Brachlant as if a barren soil but it is otherwise reported unless towards the North. The people are very jolly ut veri gravem senectutem sentire videantur And that methinks should argue plenty Her chief Cities are Loraign an University which contains 20 Colledges and among the rest a Seminary for English Iesuits Bruxels and this is the Dukes seat strengthened with a double wall and is adorned with very elegant buildings Bergen ap Some which is yet fresh in the memory and mouths since the siege 1622. Bolduc whose people are noted to have preserved the antique valour of their Predecessors more than any other of the Provinces Breda was the place of the Prince of Orange got from the Spaniard by a desperate policy of a small number of Gentlemen which ventured themselves into the Castle being conveyed in a Boat covered with turves when they were past recoil they were forced to set their best strength forward as well for their lives as the Victory and were blest with a success beyond hope They mastered the Castle and the rest soon followed It was of late recovered by the Spaniards after a long siege where our English got honour though not conquest under the conduct of our noble and valiant Earl of Oxford And lastly within the compass of this D. is contained 13 The Marquisate of the holy Empire whose chief City is Antwerp a Town heretofore of infinite Trading had two Marts every year qualified with an extraordinary priviledge that during the time no man might be arrested nor his goods seized and questionless this invited many which were in debt and could not have the freedom of traâ—tique elsewhere 14 The Earldoms are 1 Flanders First indeed as well in esteem as situation For it gives name to the whole Region of the Netherlands and the Prince writes himself Comes Dei gratiâ it is the very North west tract of this Belgia and is divided in Teutonican Imperatoriam and Gallicam The first is the Flandria Flandricans properly Flanders The principal Cities are Gandadâ—m Gaut the birth place of our Iohn Duke of Lancâ—ster She is severed by the River Shead and lets into 26 Islands and hath passage from one to another by 98 Bridges Her walls are seven miles in compass Her other Towns are Burgies and Graveling Her Ports Dunkirk Scluse Newport Ostend c. The two last notable one for a pitcht field the other for a long siege In both the English honourably maintained the right of the States against the Archâ—Duke Flandria Imperatoria is but a small parcel and borders upon Brabant is called the Earldom of Hulit which is the chief City within her Territoties Gallica Flandria is not of any large extent but very fertile and pleasant Her chief Towns are Lilla or Lilse Duacum Doway an University Orchais Tornai taken by King Henry the Eighth and ransomed by the Inhabitants for 100000 Duckets 2 Artesia Artoyse the seat of the Atrebates in Caesars time Their chief City was then called Atrebatum now Arras whence we have our rich hangings and their name It lieth most on the South of Flanders Maginus reckons to her 12 Cities and 852 Villages The chief of name beside their Mother Town Arras are Ayre Pernes S. Omer S. Paul 3 Hannonia Hanolt on the East of Flanders 60 miles long broad 48 contains 950 Villages and 24 Towns besides Castles The chief are Banais supposed to stand in the same place where the ancient Belgium was built Mons Conde Valenciennes c. 4 Namurce on the East of Hanolt a fruitful Countrey and full of Mines especially of Iron It hath but four Cities 182 Villages The Metropolis is Namurce and the rest Charlemont
the Romans in Citeriorem which lay nearest to their Territories and Vlteriorem which was all the extent beyond the River Iberus ad fretum usque Herculeum The second was by them too in Baeticum the whole tract beyond the River Ana South-ward 2 Lusitanium Northward toward the Cantabrick Ocean and 3 Terraconensem Eastward joyning upon France When the Moors enjoyed it they rent it into twelve parcels a multitude of petty royalties Arragon Catalonia Valentia Castile Toledo Biscay Leon Gallicea Murcia Navarre Corduba and Portugal And these yet retain the name of Kingdoms but their government was long ago recovered into the hands of five which bare the titles of Castile Arragon Granada Navarre and Portugal It was of latter times contracted into the three Kingdoms of Arragon Castile and Portugal but is in the power of one King called the Catholick King of Spain We stand to this last division as most proper for our times and best befitting my brief Discourse Give me leave to add the Islands which lie near to each Kingdom 11 The present state of Arragon comprehends three of those Kingdomes as it was scattered by the Moors and Sarazens 1 Arragon it self which lieth on the South of Navarre on the East of Castile on the North of Valentia and the West of Catalonia The ancient Inhabitants were the Iaccetani Lutenses and Celtiberi her chief City Caesar Augusta 2 Catalonia It lieth betwixt Arragon and the Pyrenâ—an hills It is supposed a mixt name from Gothi and Alani people which heretofore possest it after the Vandals had lost their hold The Region is but barren yet it hath in it many Cities the chief Terra cona which gave name to the whole Province called by the Romans Terraconenses 3 Valentia which on the East is touched with the Mediterraneum on the North with Castile on the South with the Kingdom of Murcia It is reported for the most pleasant and fruitful Region in all Spain it hath her name from her chief City and as Maginus relates admits as yet of 22 thousand Families of Moors In this is the University where S. Dominick Father of the Dominicans studied and the old Saguntum besieged by Hannibal now Morvedre 12 The state of Castile as now it stands comprehends all the rest of those scattered Governments as were possest by the Moors Portugal only excepted And first Castile it self both the old which joyns with Arragon on the East of Portugal and the west of Navarre and the new which toucheth her upon the South The first abounds not much with fruits but yet it breeds many Cattel The Metropolis is Burgos and the other chief are Salamanca an University and Valadolit once the seat of the Kings of Spain Now Castile abounds more with Corn is watered with the River Tagus and Ana And in this stands the Kings chief Cities Madrid and Toledo which was heretofore a propriatory of it self The rest that belong to Castile are 2. Toledo however now but a City of new Castile yet in the division her Territories spread themselves over a large compass The City is in the midst of Spain It was the seat of the Gothish Kings and successively of the Moorish Princes now of the arch-Arch-Bishops who exceed in Revenues any other Prelate in the world except the Pope Here hath sate eighteen National Councils in the time of the Gothish Kings 3. 13 Biscay heretofore Cantabria on the North of old Castile toward the Ocean it was the last people which yielded to the Romans and after to the Moors A Mountainous Countrey but affords excellent Timber for ships and good Iron Her Cities are S. Sebastian Fonterabia and Bilbao which stands but two miles from the Sea and is noted for excellent Blades some have been tried by the English upon their own Crests 4. 14 Leon heretofore Austria on the East hath Biscay on the West Gallicia on the North the Cantabrick Ocean and on the South old Castile The Region is reported to yield plenty of Gold Vermilion red Lead and other Colours else she is barren her inhabitants not many and those live most upon Hunting and Fishing It is the title of the eldest Son of Castile as Wales is to our Prince of England Her chief City is Oveido which bears part with her in the name of a Kingdom and indeed was the Title of the first Christian King after the Moors Conquest 15 Gallicia on the East joyns upon Leon on the West it is bounded with the Atlantick Ocean on the North with the Cantabrick and on the South with the River Mingo It breeds Iennets in abundance insomuch that they have been Poetically feigned to be conceived by the wind Niger writes that here hath been an incredible plenty of Gold Lead and Silver that the Rivers are full of a mixt earth and that the Plough could scarce wag for clods of Golden Ore There appears now no such matter The principal Cities are Saint Iago where S. Iames the Apostle lieth buried his Reliques kept worshipped and visited by Pilgrims And the other of note especially with us is Corugna an excellent Port for Ships and mentioned oft in our wars with the Spaniards by the name of the Groyne Here likewise is the Promontory Nerius called by our Mariners Capo de finis terrae 16 Murcia on the North hath new Castile on the South and East the Spanish Seas It is not much peopled but yet is famous for several commodities especially for pure earthen Vessels and fine Silk Heretofore it enriched the Romans with a daily supply of 25000 Drachmae of silver Her chief places are Alicante whence our Alicant Wines come and new Carthage oft commended by our Travellers for her large and safe Haven and lastly Murcia a Town which gives name to the whole Region 17 Navarre lieth close to the Pirenaean Hills and as Maginus gives it is enclosed with Mountains and so it is North and East on the West it hath the River Ebro and on the South Arragon The Vascones are said to have lived here who afterward placed themselves in France and kept there their name to this day of Vascones corruptly Gascoigns The chief Towns are Bampelme the Metropolis and Viana the title of the Navarran Prince Maginus sets the Revenue annual of this Kingdom at 100000 Duckets 18 Corduba now a City only heretofore a Kingdom and included Andaluzia Granada and Estremadura Equalized almost the whole Province which the Romans in their second division called Baetica Andaluzia hath lost but one Letter of her name since she was possest by the Vandales From them she was first called Vandalicia since Andalicia corruptly Andaluzia It lieth on the west of Granada and is a very fertile Countrey In this Region is the chief City Corduba whence we receive our Cordavan Leather The second of note is Sevil the Metropolitan of Andaluzia and the fortunate Islands esteemed the goodliest City in all Spain and though as Corduba it was not honoured with the Title of a Kingdom
Sibenburgen which she yet keeps as a remembrance of her residence in these parts The Country is populous and fertile It breeds fair and fierce Horses wild Bulls Indeed their men in some parts are not very tame Toward the North in the Province Zaculcia they live most upon the spoil maintaining continual war with the Turks and Germans and acknowledge no difference of worth or degrees among themselves Their Government or rather want of government is compared to the Helvetian Three places they have Hâ—sdy Corbay and Sceply whither they resort to determine of their State busines The chief Towns of Transylvania are Harmenstad Alba Iulia or Weisingburg Claneenburg Schlesburg Millenbachium Coronae or Cronstant 15 Moldavia lieth in the North of Transylvania and reacheth as far as the Euxine Sea on the West it hath part of Ruthenia This Country hath been by course in the several possessions of the Emperour of Germany the King of Poland and sometimes the Turk thereafter as it was cast by chance of war It was a Vayvodate and her chief Cities Occazonia Fuchiana and Falezing To this Moldavia belongs the Countrey of the Bessi mentioned by Ovid in his 6 de Tristibus Vivere quà m miserum est inter Bessosque Getasque They were a people of Thrace not far from Pontus who lived most by theft and pillage and after possest the Mountain Haemus and a part which lies betwixt it and Lituania and from the Inhabitants bears the name of â—essaralia Their principal Towns are â—ilim and Chermem This last is the seat of the Turkish Sanziack for the whole Province became subject to his tyranny in the year 1485. 16 Walachia is supposed rather to have been first named Flaccia by the Roman Flaccus who placed here a Colony which have continued the Latine tongue to this day among the Inhabitants though in a corrupt idiome such as can hardly be understood Near to this over the River Danubius stands Pons Trajanus built by the Emperour Trajanus Nerva a work worth admiration as appears by those ruinous parcels which are yet standing It hath puzzled the best Artificers to find out how such a vast foundation could be framed in so deep and fierce a stream which could not be turned into any other course to give way to the building The Country abounds with good commodities Gold Silver and Iron Salt-pits Wine Cattel and excellent great Horses The chief Cities are Sabinivus Prâ—ilaba and Tergoresta 17 Servia lies divided from Hungary and Rascia with the River Savus on her North and Bosnia on her West It was the seat of the ancient Triballi who met with Philip King of Macedonia and took from him the spoils which he had brought from Maeteas King of the Sarmatians It was it seems but a barbarous people and therefore Aristophanes in one of his Comedies among his mock-gods names Marathane-triballos Her chief Cities are 1 Taurunum which Pliny placeth in the utmost bounds of Pannonia It is commonly known by the name of Belgard and Alba Graeca It is not so great as glorious nor is it fortified so much with walls as Rivers it lieth open for a siege only one way which the Turk often attempted and returned with great loss yet at last in the year one thousand five hundred twenty one it gave up to Solyman and became a Province to his Empire It stands near where the Rivers Danubius and Savus are dissevered and is the Town which the Hungarians report to have been once delivered by the admirable industry of Ioannes Capistranus a Franciscan who is much honoured for the action by those of his own Society But Ioannes Huviades thaâ—t great Souldier and terrour to the Turk challengeth the glory as his peculiar Vadianus 2 Samandria and 3 Stoniburg 18 Rascia is on the North of Danubius where it parts with the River Savus and lieth betwixt Servia and Bulgaria In her chief City Boden there is kept a Fair once every year and much people resort for enterchange of commodities from most Countries thereabout 19 Bulgaria somewhat North-East from Rascia and is bounded with Danubius upon the South Theophylact was here Bishop and was called Bulgarius Near this is the City Tomos where Ovid lived in Banishment as himself mentioneth in his 3. de Tâ—istibus The principal Cities at this present are 1 Sophia the seat of the Berlegbeg of Greece And 2 Nicopolis The ornament of their King was imperial a Crown of gold attire of silk and red shoes Their title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a tearm allowed by the Greek Emperours to those only which might wear this habit the rest they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as much as Reges 20 Bosnia on the West of Servia and South of the River Savus had her name from the Bossi or Bessi the people of Bulgaria within the memory almost of our Fathers it was governed by Kings and as yet retains the title of the Kingdom of Bosnia The chief Towns are Cuzachium and Iaâ—iga the first is the place of residency and the second of burial for the Bosnian Kings Heretofore the City Sinderoria had that honour which some suppose to be the same that was once called Dardanum DANIA The Description of the Kingdom of DENMARK THE Kingdom of Denmark strikes into the Sea upon the North of Germany as Italy on the South the manner of both is not much unlike and the glory of this heretofore was not inferior For however in these latter ages the pride of Rome hath pranked up her Territories in gay apparel yet the day was when both she and they stooped to the Inhabitants of this Country though then known by another name of Cimbria Chersonesus Three Roman Consuls Manilius Sillanus and Cepio fell by their sword and the Empire it self it seems was in a shrewd hazzard when their own Historian reports that Actum esset de imperio nisi illi saecul Marius contigisset 2 The people were then and had been from their beginning the Cimbri a Progeny of Gomer first son of Iapheth who before they removed into this quarter of the world dwelt in the inner Asia near the straight which passeth from the Pontus Euxinus to the Polus Maeotis there we yet find the Bosphorus Cimmericus in Ptolomy which took name from the Cimmerii for so they were called at large and by contraction Cimbri 3 From thence they were in time disturbed by the Scythians and forced to seek them a new sea for their habitation which after long travel here they found fittest for their security as being a Peninsula fenced almost round with Seas from the force of all foreign Enemies Yet here too they met at last with a worse danger which they could less resist For the main Ocean brake into a great part of the Countrey displaced many of their Colonies and sent them Petitioners to Rome for a dwelling within her Dominions but their entreaty being with some neglect denied it kindled the sparks which to this time had lain as it were
pass the â—aws of that narrow strait The Inhabitants are as greedy of Rhâ—nish French and Spanish Wines the Spices of Portugal and the fruits of Andaluzia as they again are needy of the Wax Honey and Skins which are brought thither from Prussia Livonia Muscovia and the bordering Nations The other chief riches of Denmark are goodly Horses great store of Cattel and Corn enough sent to the supply of divers other parts of Christendome It hath been observed that 50000 Oxen have been driven out of these Provinces into Germany for which toll hath been paid at Guttaorp Such incredible plenty of Herring near the Isle of Scania that the Ships they say are searce able by main strength of Oars to row out of the Harbour Besides these here are furniture for War both by Sea and Land Armour Masts Cables Steel Saddles c. 11 Their chief person of fame in course of Learning was Ticho Brahe an excellent Mathematician memorable for his artificial Tower in the Isle of Fimera In Religion the greatest part of them are now Lutherans but were first converted to Christianity by Ansuerus 12 We are come to her division which the Sea almost hath made to our hands For her several Provinces are well-nigh so many Islands at least Peninsula The chief are 1 Iuttia or the old Cimbria Chersonesus 2 Diethmarsia 3 Scania 4 Hollandia 5 Blesâ—ide 6 The Islands in the Sinus Codanus which lye betwixt Iuttia and Scanta That is the West and this is the East limits of the Danish Dominions North and South are the Ocean and the River Esdora or Hever 13 Iuttia as it was the first so it is the principal part of this Kingdom Her bounds upon the West and East and North are the Bâ—ltick Seas and upon the South it â—s joyned to Holjatia and the Istumes of Dithâ—arsex It is in length 〈◊〉 Muginus eighty German 〈◊〉 from the River Albis to the Cimbrick Promontory called Seagen and in breadth twenty It is a fruitful Region for Wheat Rie Barley c. And in the North-west there is good pasture though more North-ward it becomes sandy and barren and puts the Inhabitants to fish for their victuals by which they make a shift to live though hardly enough God Knows in poor sheds sleightly clapped together and of a slender stuff such as if need be they can remove at their pleasure upon very short warning and bear them away almost upon their back They transport into other Countries great store of good Horses for service besides Barley Cheese Butter Suet Hides and rich Skins Nuts and Fish In this Province are twenty eight Cities twenty Castles and four Bishops Sees Ripensis Arthusienses and AElburga all near to the Sea-side wilburga in the up-land Country From this Province came the Iuits who joyned in with the Saxons and Angles to conquer England Her chief Towns are Rincopen Hoine and Achausen 14 Diethmarsia is situated betwixt the Rivers Albis and Eidera They were a parcel of the old German Saxons and the Country it self is by some yet reckoned the lower Saxony but it is in subjection to the King of Denmark for it is the seat and title of his first Son and heir apparent as the Dauphinate is to the Son of France and Wales to the Son of England Her Metropolis is Breme the rest Meldorp and Heininckst and Tellinckst and other rich Towns yet the soyl cannot be very fertile by reason of the moist air and her many Marshes especially toward the North which makes it unfit for tillage and indeed impassable for travellers Upon which impediments the Inhabitants have made this advantage to keep out all forein Invaders and appropriate what wealth they have to their own secure possession 15 Scania or Scandinaria in the largest compass comprehends more than belongs to the Kingdome of Denmark and is invironed round about with Seas except on that side where it is joyned to Muscovy On her West â—s the Kingdom of Norway on her East Swethland and upon the South of that is this Scania which gives place to no Region at least within these Dominions either for wholsome air or fertile soyl for commodious Havens and plenty of Merchandise for dainty Rivers of store of Fish for Cattel Mines of Iron Lead Silver and Gold fair Towns and civil Customs The Metropolis is Lumpis This whole Province is some eighteen miles in length and in breadth about twelve in some places in others not above six 16 Hollaudia on the North of Scania and South of Suecia is bounded with the Seas upon the West and on the East with vast Woods which divide her from Gothland It is a fertile Region and not much unlike unto Scandia but that it comes somewhat short of her happiness in soyl Her chief Town is Hallausoc 17 Blescida or Blicker is bounded on the East and South with Baltick Ocean and on the North is parted from Scania by a little patch of the Sea It is a Region full of Rocks Woods and Mountains Her chief City and Castle is Culmaria a strong defence against the Swethelander and the next Town of note is Malmagia the birth-place of Casparus Bartholinus a late approved Writer in the Arts. 18 In the Sinus Codanus near to the Cimbria Chersonesus there are numbred 35 Islands The chief are 1 Zealand in length 64 miles in breadth 52 it contains in it 13 Cities 7 Castles with divers pretty Towns and Villages The Metropolis is Haâ—â—nia the single University within the King of Denmarks government And here is his chief place of reâ—idency which by the Germans is called Koppâ—nhagen the Merchants Haven Her other Towns are Roschilt a Bishops See and heretofore a strong Fortress well furâ—isht for war and honoured with the Sepulchres of some of their Kings but yet it is now at a lower ebb and of little respect Elsner or Helsinura is a Sea-town That in Helsinura is called Croneburgh well furnished with all provision The other in Scania Hepsigburgh of equal strength to cause the best Ship to cast Anchor and satisfie their King before they shall have the way open out of the Baltick into the Ocean 19 2 Fionia or Fimera is second to Zealand both in bigness and plenty of rich commodities It is in length 12 miles and 4 in breadth A pleasant Region fertile and fruitful Here are in this Island 8 Cities the chief is Ottonium Odensch or Oâ—sell in the very middle almost It was a Bishops See well built but ill fenced for it hath been oft times wasted and burnt by the Enemy The other Towns are upon the Seaâ— coast and their names are Neburgh Sinborgh Feborch Ascens Eorgena Middlesar and Kortemunde beside some Castles many Villages and Noble-mens houses 20 3 Laglant 7 miles in length and hath in it many Villages and fair buildings The City Râ—theopinga and the Castle Trancura 4 Loilant near Seelant It is full of Hazels that they fraught Ships with Nuts and traffique for them into many other
Merhamed the Great Mogul The others of most note are Moltan Scheâ—â—us for antiâ—uity Polymbothy the Palibothra of Ptolemy 4 Delly so nam'd from its Mother City sometimes the Seat of the Great Moguls where many of them had their Sepulchral Monuments many other great Towns and Cities there are in this Province among which Tremer is particularly culiarly mentioned and also Doceti made the more remarkable by the great overthrow given by Merhamed to Badurius 5 Agra whose Supreme City of the same name is the present Imperial Seat and ordinary residence of the Great Mogul ever since the time of Ecâ—ar it stands on the Eastern-bank of the River Iemâ—na and not above 18 miles the way being stag'd with Mahometan Temples from Fatepore once a stately City to which Echebar removed his Court from Caximir and built him here a Royal Palace with sumptuous Gardens but much demolished since the removal of the Imperial Seat to Agra whither the materials of the said Palace were conveyed Hendee adorned with a Regal Castle which serves for a Prison of State hewn out of the main Rock as also two Hospitals for maimed Commanders Biani the most peculiar place in all East-India for the manufacture of Indico all the way between Lahor and Agra which is reckoned 400 miles is set with rows of Mulberry and other fair trees on each side the way and at every ten miles end fair houses for the entertainment of Travellers Within this Terrritory is included the Kingdom of Gualiar with its grand City of the same name where the Mogul hath a rich Treasury of Gold and Silver and a strong Castle for Prisoners 6 Sanga once a Kingdom whose Regal City Citor of 12 miles circuit and seated on a Rocky Hill with a narrow access shews the ruines of 100 Temples since its being taken first from Queen Crementina by Badurius King of Cambaia afterwards from him by the Great Mogul 180 miles from Agra is Azimere remarkable for the Pillars erected by Echebar between that and Agra one at the end of every mile and half and at 15 miles end a Caravansera or Inn for Travellers Into this division is reckoned the Kingdom of Nagracut with its Metropolis of the same name in which is a Chappel seel'd and pav'd with Plates and adorn'd with figures of massy Silver 7 Cambaia divided into 3 Provinces Sinda Gusarate Cambaia properly so called Of Sinda a great part whereof is a wast sandy Desartâ— the chief Towns or Citi 's are Tutta a Town well Traded by the Portugheses Lauribander supposed very near if not in the same place with that ancient Aâ—exandria Calwalla given by Echebar for the maintenance of a race of Women-dancers Radempoor a large City at the entrance of the Desart fortified with a strong Castle Nuraquemire a grateful retreat for such as have past a wearisome journey of ten daies through the Desart at the farthest end whereof it is seated Sarrama the center of the Province to which it belongs as it is usually accounted Of Guasarate whose ancient Inhabitanâ—s are the Râ—sboochs yet unsubdued by the Mogul Diu a Town of great importance to the Portughâ—ses by whom it hath been long possest and so well fortified that it held out and baffleda strong Siege laid against it by the Admiral of the Great Turk Solyman the Magnificent in the year 1537. Sauran a Town of the forementioned Resboochs which fortified with a strong Castle defies the whole power of the Mogul Boldra a Town more neat and handsome than large Amadabat accounted by some the chief City of Gusarate Sâ—rkâ—ff adorned with the Sepulchres of the ancient Cambaian Kings Ardovat Saringo and Periano Of Cambaia properly so called the Metropolitan City of the same name for its populousness term'd the Caire of the Indies Baracho where the best Calicuts are made Swally giving name to a very commodious Bay Surat a pleasant well-built and well-fortified City and at present a very eminent Factory of English Merchants Neriand a Town of all the East-Indies second only to that of Biani for the manufacture of Indico's Daman a neat and well-fortified Town in possession of the Portugheses Campanel once the usual Râ—sidence of the Cambaian Kings being encompassed with a seven-fold wall and seated on the top of an high Hill Dacaiotote a place whose strength rendred it capable to capitulate with the Mogul for a King or Governor of their own Netherby a Town trading in Aâ—mory and brasen Ware Tanai and Bandore 8 Decan having a City of the same name whose Inhabitants are very wealthy though Bider was rather made choice of for the Royal Residence at least it was the Seat of Mamutâ—a as Danager of Niâ—almoxa and Visapore of Idalcan Goa the most flourishing Emporium of the Portugheses in the East-Indies and therefore the Seat of their Vice-Roy and an arch-Arch-Bishops See and so impregnably fortified that Idalcan attempted in vain with all his force to take it in the year 1573. Chaul a Sea-port Town in possession also of the Portugheses by them no less strongly fortified and no less vainly assaulted by Nisamolocco another King of Decan Brampore once the Royal Seat of Chanlis taken from Miram the then King by the Mogul in the year 1600. Sintacora and Balagnate the native people of this Countrey were formerly called Venazarari who still hold out in some parts against the Mogul as the Resboochs in Cambaia 9 Canara ancient accounted a part of Decan but now almost wholly in the power of the Kings of Narsinga except what the Portugals possess of it The now most flourishing Towns belonging to it are Meâ—inde Onor Sea-Port Towns Baticalia Mayendre Mongalor recovered from the Portugals by the King of Narsinga Lispor chiefly remarkable for the Quarries of Adamant near it Salsette seated in a Peninsula under the subjection of the Portugals 10 Malabar divided into 7 Provinces some whereof are Kingdoms viz. Calecut Granganor Cochin Caicolam Coulan and Travancor The most memorable Towns or Cities of Calecut are the Metropolitan from whence it takes denomination and whence that sort of linnen-Cloath which had here its first manufacture is called Calicut Of Cranganor there is only of note one City of the same name in which are said to be no less than 70000 Christlans of the race of those converted by Sr. Thomas Of Cochin Angamale an Archiepiscopal See of these Thomasian Christians and Cochin an Episcopal See Of Caicolam one only of remark giving name to the Province Of Coulam the like accounted by some the Soveraign City of all Malabaâ— and once the peculiar Residence of the Cobâ—itin or Arch-Priest of the Bramines Of Travancor the denominating City and Quilacare which a petty King of Travancor holds of the King of Narsinga by a most bloody tenure being obliged at 12 years end to sacrifice himself in a horrid manner to a filthy Idol 11 Narfinga or Bisnagar in which are many Cities worth notice as Cael whose Inhabitants the Paravi a sort of Christians live