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
yet which is wonderful there be many great heaps of Stones called Laws which the neighbouring people are verily perswaded were cast up and laid together in old time in remembrance of some that were slain there There is also a martial kind of Men which lie out up and down in little Cottages called by them Sheals and Shealings from April to August in scattering fashion summering as they term it their Cattel and these are such a sort of people as were the ancient Nomâ—dâ—sâ— The last not least matter of note is this that the Inhabitants of Morpeth set their own Town on fire in the year of Christ 1215 in the spight they bare to King Iohn for that he and his Rutars over-ran these Countries This County hath five Market-Towns in it for her Trade of Buying and Selling 26 Castles for her strength and fortification and 460 Parish-Churches for Divine Service THE ISLE OF MAN MAN-ISLAND CHAPTER XLIII THe Isle of Man is termed by Ptolomy Moneda by Pliny Menabia by Orâ—sius Mâ—navia by Beda Menavia secunda and by Gildas Eubonia and Menaw The Britains name it Menow the Inhabitants Maninge and we Englishmen The Isle of Man It boundeth Northward upon Scotland Southward upon the Isle of Auglesey Eastward upon part of Lanca-shire and Westward upon the Coast of Ireland 2 The form is long and narrow for from Cranston to the Mull-hills where it is longest it only stretcheth it self to twenty nine miles but from the widest part which is from Peele-Castle to Douglas-point are scarce nine the whole compass about is fourscore and two miles 3 The Air is cold and sharp being bordering upon the Septentrionâ—l parts and for her shelter having but a wall of water They have few Woods only they light sometimes upon subterranean trees buried under the ground by digging up the earth for a clammy kind of Turff which they use for fuell 4 The Soil is reasonable fruitful both for Cattel Fish and Corn yet it rather commendeth the pains of the People than the goodness of the ground for by the Industry of the Inhabitants it yieldeth â—uffciently of every thing for it self and sendeth good store into other Countries It hath Fields by good manuring plenteous of Barley and Wheat but especially of Oats and from hence it comes that the People eat most of all Oaten-bread It bears abundance of Hemp and Flax and is full of mighty Flocks of Sheep and other Cattel yet are they smaller in body than those we have in England and are much like to the Cattel in Ireland that are neighbouring upon it 5 This Commodity makes this Iâ—land more happy than we are here for the People are there free from unnecessary commencements of Suits from long and dilatory Pleas and from frivolous feeing of Lawyers No Iudg or Clerks of the Couâ—t take there any penny for drawing Instruments or makâ—ng of Processes All Controversies are there determined by certain Iudges without writings or other charges and them they all Deemsters and chuse forth among themselves If any complaint be made to the Magistrate for wrong either done or suffered he presently taketh up a Stone and fixeth his mark upon it and so delivereth it unto the Party Plaintiff by vertue of which he both calls his Adversary to appearance and to produce his Witnesses If the Case fall out to be more litigious and of greater consequence than can easily be ended it is then referred to twelve Men whom they term The Keys of the Island Another happiness enricheth this Island namely the Security and Government thereof as being defended from neighbour Enemies by Souldiers that are pâ—est and ready for on the South side-of the Isle stands Bala-Curi the Bishops chief place of residence and the Pylâ— and a Block-house staâ—ding in a little Island where there is a continual Garrison of Souldiers And it is so well managed for matter of rule and civil Discipline that every man there possesseth his own in peace and safety No man lives in dread or danger of what he hath Men are not there inclined to Robbing or Thieving or Licentious living 6 The Inhabitants of this Island are for the most part religious and loving to their Pastors to whom they do much reverence and respect frequenting daily to Divine Service without division in the Church or innovation in the Commonwealth The wealthier sort and such as hold the fairest possessions do imitate the people of Laca-shire both in their honest carriage and good house-keeping Howbeit the common sort of People both in their language and manners come nighest unto the Irish although they somewhat relish and favour of the qualities of the Norwâ—gians 7 Things not worthy to be buried in the grave of oblivion are that this Island in the midst thereof riseth up with hills standing very thick amongst which the highest is called Sceafull from whence upon a clear and fair day a man may easily see three Kingdoms at once that is Scotland and Ireland This Isle prohibits the customary manner of begging from dore to dore detesting the disorders as well Civil as Ecclesiastical of Neighbour Nations And the last not least that deserves to be committed to memory is that the women of this Country wheresoever they go out of their dores gird themselves about with the Winding-sheet that they purpose to be buried in to shew themselves mindful of their mortality and such of them as are at any time condemned to die are sowed within a Sack and flung from a Rock into the Sea 8 The whole Isle is divided into two parts South and North whereof the one resembleth the Scottish in Speech the other the Irish. It is defended by two Castles and hath seventeen Parishes five Market-Towns and many Villages A Chronicle of the Kings of MAN CHAPTER XLIV IT is here very pertinent to the purpose to insert a small History of this Island that the atchievements heretofore had may not be utterly buried although they are waxen very old and almost torn from remembrance by the teeth of â—ime I is confessed by all that the Britains held this Island as they did all Britain But when the Nations from the North overflowed these South parts like violent tempests it became subject to the the Scots Afterwards the Norwegians who did most hurt from the Northern Sea by their manifold robberies made this Island and the Hebrides to be their haunt and erected Lords and peâ—â—y Kings in the same as is expressed in this Chronicle written as is reported by the Monks of the Abbey of Russin A Chronicle of the Kings of MAN ANno Dom. 1065 Edward of blessed memory King of England departed this life and Harald the Son of Godwin succeeded him in the Kingdom against whom Harold Harfager King of Norway came into the Field and fought a Battel at Stainford-bridge but the English obtaining the Victory put them all to flight Out of which chase Godred sirnamed Crovan the Son of Harald the black of Iseland came unto Godred the
The second part occupied all the Land Northward from Humber to the Orkney-Sea called by the Latines Marâ— Caledonium or Dâ—ucâ—lâ—â—oâ—ium now famously known by the name of Scotland The third part was this lying betwixt the Irish-Seas the Rivers Sâ—verne and Dee and was called Câ—mbria which name doth yet continue with them though we the Eâ—glish call it Wales as the People Welshmen which is strange and strangers for so at this day the dwellers of Tyroll in the higher Germany whence our Saxons are said to have come do name the Italian their next neighbour a Welshman and his language Welsh 2 This opinion Verstegâ—n doth altogether contradict rather judging by the ancient Tâ—utâ—â—ick tongue which the Germans spake and wherein the G is pronounced for W that these Sâ—xoâ—s called them Gallish from the Gaules whence their original proceeded rather than Wallish from strangers which he thinketh could not be considering their habitations so neer unto them and that the like was in use he proveth by the words of Erench Gardian for Wardian Cornugalles for Câ—rwâ—lles yea and Galles for Walles calling our most famous Edward Prince of Galles not Prince of Wâ—lles insomuch that the County of Lombardy bordering along upon the Germans was of them called Gâ—lliâ—ciâ— cis-alphina and at this day Welsh-land So likewise do the Netherlands call the Inhabitants of Henalt and Artois Wallen or Walloâ—s and some part of Brabant and Flanders Welsh-Brabant and Welsh-Flaâ—ders and all because of the Language and Lineage of the Gauls Neither do the meer Natives of Wales know any other name of their Country than Cambria of themselves than Cambri or Cumri or of their Language than Cambraoc But leaving this opinion free to his affection we will proceed 3 Wales therefore being anciently bounded as before the Saxons did afterwards win by force from the Britains all the plain and Champion Country over the River Dee and especially Offa King of Mercia made their limits straighter by making a Ditch of great breadth and depth to be a Mear betwixt this Kingdom and Wales This Ditch is in many places to be seen at this day and bears the name of Clawh Offa that is Offaes Ditch The Country between it and England is commonly called the Marches and is for the most part inhabited by Welshmen especially in North-Wales even to the River Dee This admirable Trench began at Bassiâ—gwerke in Elintshire between Chester and Ruthland and ran along the Hills to the South-Sea a little from Bristow reaching above an hundred miles in length 4 Silvester Giraldus makes the River Wye to be the Mear between England and Wales on the South part called South-Wales whence he ascribeth the breadth of Wales unto Saint Davids in Menâ—viâ— to be an hundred miles and the length from Caerleon upon Vske in Gwentland to Holly-head in Anglesâ—y an hundred miles he might have said thirty more 5 About the year of Christ 870 our Alfred reigning in England Rodericus Magnus King of VVales did divide it into three Talaiths Regions or Territories which were called Kingdoms This Rodericus Magnus gave Venâ—dâ—tia Gwyneth or North-Wales to Anarawd his eldest son to Cadeth his second son Demeâ—ia Debeuâ—arth or South-VValls and to Mervin his third son Powys 6 North-VVales had upon the North-side the Irish-Sea from the River Dee to Bassingwerke to Aberdyvi upon the West and South-West the River Dyvi which divideth it from South-VVales and in some places from Powysland And on the South and East it is divided from Powys sometimes with high Hills and sometimes with Rivers till it come again to the River Dee It is generally full of high Mountains craggy Rocks great Woods and deep Vallies many strait dangerous places deep and swift Rivers 7 This Land was of old time divided into four parts Mon Arvon Meryonith and y Bervedhwlan or the middle Country and each of these were again divided into several Countries and they subdivided into their Cymeden or Commots wherein we follow that division which was in the time of Llewylyn ap Ruffin last Prince of VVales according to a Copy imparted to me by a worshipful Friend and learned Antiquary as seeming far more exact than that of Doctor Powels 8 Aâ—glâ—sey the chiefest is separated from the main Land with the River Moenai wherein at Aberfraw was the Princes Court now a mean Village In this Island is a fair Town called Beaumarish And common passage to Ireland at Caergybi in English Holly-head 9 Arvâ—n the second part of North-VVales is now called Carnarvanshire the strongest Country within that Principality giving place to none for fertility of the ground or for plenty of Wood Cattel Fish and Fowl c. Here are the Towns of Caernarvan in old time called Caer-Segoâ—t and Bangor the Bishops See with divers other ancient Castles and places of memory This portion hath on the North the Sea and Moeâ—ai upon the East and South-East the River Conwey which divideth it from Denâ—igh-shire and on the South-West is separated from Merionyth by Rivers Mountains and Mears 10 Merionyth was the third part of Gwyneth and keepeth the name till this day it is full of Hills and much noted for the resort of People that repair thither to take Herrâ—ngs Upon the North it hath Arvon and Denbigh land upon the South Caerdigan-Shire and upon the East Montgâ—mâ—ry-shire heretofore part of Powis In this County standeth the Town of Harlech and a great Lake called Llyn-Tegyd This Country is likewise full of Cattel Fowl and Fish and hath in it great store of red Deer and Roes but there is much scarcity of Corn. 11 Y Bervedhwland was the fourth part of Gwyneth and may be called in English The middle Country is inclosed with Hills on the East West and South-parts and with the Sea Northward It is plentiful of Cattel Fish and Fowl as also of Corn and is divided in the midst with the River Clwyd to which run a number of other Rivers from the Hills In this part is Dyffryn-Clwyd the fairest Valley within Wales containing eighteen miles in length and seven in breadth In which is the Town and Castle of Ruthlâ—n near unto the Sea and not far thence S. Assaph an Episcopal seat between the Rivers Clwyd and Elwy Herein stands the fair Town and goodly Castle of Denbigh situated upon a Rock the greatest Market-Town of North-Wales and from thence is seen the Town and Castle of Ruthyn fair for prospect and fruitful for fite This part of North-Wales hath the Sea upon the North d ee toward the East Arvon The River Conwey and Mâ—riâ—nyth upon the West and the Country then called Pâ—wys upon the South And these were the Mears and Bounds of the four Parts of Venedâ—tia Gwyneth or North-Wales 12 The second Talaith or Kingdom was Mathraval or Powys To this belonged the Country of Powys and the Land between Wye and Sevâ—rne It hath South-Wales upon the South and West with the Rivers Wye and Tywy and other Mears upon the North
A DANE A NORMAN England Wales Scotland and Ireland Described 〈◊〉 and Abridged With y e Historie Relation of things worthy memory from a farr larger Voulume Done by Iohn Spied Anno Cum priuilegio 1676 AN EPITOME OF Mr. IOHN SPEED's THEATRE of the EMPIRE OF GREAT BRITAIN And of His PROSPECT Of the Most Famous Parts of the WORLD In this New Edition are added The Descriptions of His Majesties Dominions abroad viz. New England 226 New York Carolina 251 Florida Virginia 212 Maryland Iamaica 232 Barbados 239 AS ALSO The Empire of the Great Mogol 255 with the rest of the East-Indies The Empire of Russia 266 With their respective Descriptions London Printed for Tho. Basset at the George in Fleet-street and Ric. Chiswel at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard 1676. England Scotland and Ireland A Catalogue of all the Shires Citties Bishoprickes Market Townes Castles Parishes Rivers Bridges Chases Forrests and Parkes conteyned in every particuler shire of the Kingdom of England Shires Cities Bishopckes Mark Townes Castles Parish 〈◊〉 Rivers Bridgs Chases Forrests Parkes Kente 02 02 17 08 398 06 14 00 00 23 Sussex 01 01 18 01 312 02 10 00 04 33 Surrie 00 00 06 00 140 01 07 00 0¼ 17 Middlesex 02 02 03 00 073 01 03 01 00 04 Hant-shire 01 01 18 05 248 04 31 00 04 22 Dorcet shire 00 00 18 06 248 04 29 01 02 12 Wilt shire 01 01 21 01 304 05 31 01 09 29 Somerset shire 03 02 29 01 385 09 4â— 00 02 18 Devon shire 01 01 40 03 394 23 106 00 00 23 Corrnuall 00 00 23 00 161 07 31 00 00 09 Essex 01 00 21 01 415 07 28 00 01 46 Hartford shire 00 00 18 00 120 01 24 00 00 23 Oxford-shire 01 01 10 00 208 03 26 00 04 09 Buckinghamsh 00 00 11 00 185 02 14 00 00 15 Berck shire 00 00 11 01 140 03 07 00 0â— 13 Glocester shire 01 01 20 01 280 12 22 01 02 19 Suffolk 00 00 28 01 464 02 32 00 00 27 Norfolk 01 01 26 00 625 03 15 00 00 00 Rutlande 00 00 02 00 047 00 01 00 00 04 Northampton-sh 01 01 11 02 326 05 24 00 03 23 Huntinton-shire 00 00 05 00 078 01 05 00 00 07 Bedford-shire 00 00 10 00 116 01 06 00 00 12 Cambridg-shire 00 01 06 00 163 01 07 00 00 05 Warwick shire 01 01 12 01 15â— 07 21 01 00 16 Lecester shire 00 00 11 02 200 01 10 00 02 13 Stafford-shire 01 00 12 05 130 13 19 01 01 38 Worcester shire 01 01 07 03 152 05 17 01 02 16 Shrop shire 00 00 13 13 170 18 13 00 07 27 Hereford shire 01 01 08 07 176 13 11 01 02 08 Lincolne shire 01 01 26 02 630 09 15 00 00 13 Nottingham sh. 00 00 11 00 168 05 17 00 01 18 Darby shire 00 00 08 04 106 1â— 2â— 00 01 34 Cheshire 01 01 09 03 068 09 19 00 02 18 Yorke-shire 01 01 46 14 563 36 62 04 08 72 Lancasshire 00 00 08 06 036 33 24 00 01 30 Durham 01 01 05 04 062 11 20 00 00 21 Westmoreland 00 00 04 06 026 08 15 00 02 19 Cumberland 01 01 08 15 058 20 33 00 03 08 Northumbrland 00 00 11 â—2 040 21 16 00 01 08 Monmouth 00 00 06 07 14â— 15 14 01 00 08 Glamorgan 00 01 07 â—2 151 16 06 00 00 05 Radnor 00 00 04 05 043 13 05 00 03 00 Brecknok 00 00 03 04 070 27 13 00 00 02 Cardigan 00 00 04 00 077 26 09 00 0â— 00 Carmarthin 00 00 06 04 08â— 20 16 00 0â— 0â— Pembrok 00 01 06 05 142 06 07 00 02 03 Montgomery 00 00 06 03 042 28 06 00 00 00 Merionidth 00 00 03 02 034 26 07 00 00 00 Denbigh 00 00 03 03 05â— 24 06 00 00 06 Flint shire 00 01 03 04 024 04 0â— 00 00 02 Anglesey 00 00 03 00 08â— 08 02 00 00 00 Caernarvon 00 0â— 05 03 073 17 06 00 00 00 * The totall Summe of this Catalogue is           5 â— Shires 25 Cities 26 Bish 645 Market 156 Castles â—725 Pa. Ch 555 Rivers 956 Bridg 93 Chas. 62 For. 783 Parks The General of Great BRITAIN CHAPTER I. THE State of every Kingdome well managed by prudent government seems to me to represent a humane Body guided by the soveraignty of the Reasonable Soul the Countrey and Land it self representing the one the Actions and State-Affairs the other Sith therefore the excellencies of the whole are but imperfectly laid open where either of these Parts is defective our intendment is to take a view as well out of the outward Body and Lineaments of the now flourishing British Monarchy the Islands Kingdomes and Provinces thereof in actual possession for with others no less justly claimed in the continent we meddle not which shall be the continent of our first or Chorographical Tome containing the four first Books of this our Theatre as also of its successive government and vital actions of State which shall be our second or Historical Tome containing the five last Books And here first we will by example of the best Anatomists propose to view the whole Body and Monarchy entire as far as conveniently we could comprise it and after will dissect and lay open the particular Members Veins and Ioynts I mean the Shires Rivâ—â—s Cities and Towns with such things as shall occur most worthy our regard and most behoveful for our use 2 The Islâ—nd of Great Britain which with her adjoyning Isles is here first presented containâ—th the Kingdomes of England and Scotland and is of many accounted the greatest Island in the World though Iustus Lypsius gives that praise to Cuba in America as the Oriental Navigators do unto Sumatra taken for Pâ—olomy's Taproâ—aria or to Madagascar the Island of S. Laurence both which are near unto or under the Equiâ—octial Line in which we will not contend as pleasing our selves with her other praises greater than her Greatness yet with this honour also that it was without question the greatest Island of the Roman World and for any thing yet certainly known of all the rest Concerning whose positure in respect of Heaven Lucretius the first of the Latin Writers that names Britain seemeth to place it in the same Parallel with Pontus where he saith Nam quid Britannum coelum differre putamus c. What differs Britains Heaven from that of Nile Or Pontus welkin from Gades warmer Ile In which by a certain cross comparison he opposeth two likes against two unlikes Britain and Pontus against Egypt and Gades But to seek into profound Antiquity rather than present practice for matters in which Vse makes perfectness were to affect the giving light by shadows rather than by Sun-shine 3 It is by experience found to lie included form the degree fifty and thirty scruples of Latitude and for
Archiepiscopal Seats grounding his conjecture on the saying of Pope Lucius who affirmeth that the Ecclesiastical Iurisdictions of the Christians accorded with the precincts of the Roman Magistrates and that their Archbâ—shops had their Sees in those Cities wherein their Presidents abode so that the ancient Seats of the three Archbâ—shops here being London in the East Câ—erleon in the West and York in the North Londons Diocess as seemeth made Britain prima Caerleon Britain secunda and York Maxima Caesariâ—nsis 15 But in the next age when the power of their Presidents began to grow over great they again divided Britain into five parts adding to the three former Valentia and â—lavia Caesariensis the first of which two seemeth to have been the Northerly part of Maxima Caesariensis recovered from the Picts and Scots by Theodoâ—lus the General under Valence the Emperour and in honour of him named Valeâ—tia and Flavia may be conjectured to receive the name from Flavius the Emperour son of Theâ—dâ—sius for that we read not of the name Britain â—lavia before his time 16 So these five partitions had their limits assigned after this manner Britaine prima contained those coasts that lay betwixt Thamesis the Severne and the British Sea Britaine Secunda extended from Severne unto the Irish Seas containing the Countrey that we now call Wales Flavia Caesariensis was that which lay betwixt the Rivers Humber and Tyne and Valentia from the said River and Picts wall reached unto the Rampire near Edenburgh in Scotland the farthest part that the Romans possessed when this division was in use For the several people inhabiting all those parts with their ancient Names and Borders whether designed by the Romans or the old Britains together with our modern Names and Shires answerable to each of them we will refer you to the Tables thereof elsewhere 17 This whole Province of Britain as in our History shall appear was highly esteemed of the Emperours themselves assuming as a glorious surname Britannicus coming thither in person over those dangerous and scarce known Seas here marrying living and dying enacting here Laws for the whole Empire and giving to those Captains that served here many ensigns of great honour yea Claudius gave Plantius the first Prefect of that Province the right hand as he accompanied him in his Triumph and his own Triumph of Britain was set out with such magnificence that the Provinces brought in golden Crowes of great weight the Governours commanded to attend and the very Captains permitted to be present at the same A Naval Coronet was fixed upon a Pinnacle of his Palace Arches and Trophies were raised in Rome and himself on his aged knees mounted the staires into the Capitol supported by his two sons in Law so great a joy conceived he in himself for the Conquest of some small portion of Britain 18 Now the Romans found it held it and left it as times ripened and rottened their success with the Names the Inhabitants Manners and Resisters I leave to be pursued in the following Histories and will only now shew thee these three Kingdoms that are in present the chief Bodies of Great Britains Monarchy two of which Scotland and Ireland shall in their due places have their farther and more particular Descriptions THE KINGDOME OF ENGLAND ENGLANDS General Description CHAPTER II. THE Saxons glory now near to expire by his appointment who holdeth both times and Kingdoms in his all-ordering hand their own Swords being the Instruments and the Danâ—s the mauls that beat their beautiful Diadem into pieces the Normans a stirring Nation neither expected nor much feared under the leading of William their Duke and encouragement of the Roman Bishop an usual promoter of broken titles made hither suddenly into England who in one only battel with the title of his sword and slaughter of Harold set the imperial Crown thereof upon his own head which no sooner was done but the English went down and the Normans lording it became Owners of those Cities which themselves never built possessed those Vineyards which they never planted drunk of those Wells which they never had digged and inhabited those Houses filled with riches for which they never had laboured for they found it to be as the land whereupon the Lord set his eye even from the beginning to the end of the year not only drinking water of the rain of Heaven but having also rivers of waters and fountains in her valleys and without all scarcitie whose stones are Iron and out of whose mountains is digged brass This made them more resolute at first to settle themselves in this fairest and fruitfullest part of the Island the conquerour using all policy both Martial and Civil to plant his posterity here for ever How he found the Land governed we shewed in the Heptarchy but his restless thoughts were not contented with conquering the Nation and their Land unless he also overcame their very Customes Laws and Language 2 Touching the distribution of the Kingdome whereas other Kings before him made use of it chiefly for the good of the people and better ministring of Iustice he made use of it to know the wealth of his Subjects and to enrich his Coffers for he caused a description to be made of all England â—ow much land every one of his Barons possessed how many Knights fees how many Plow-lands how many in villanage how many heads of beasts yea how much ready money every man from the greatest to the â—ast did possess and what rents might be made of every mans possession the Book of which inquisition yet in the Exchequer was called Doomesday for the generality of that Iudgment on all the Land Whereunto we may add his other distribution of this Land worse than any former when thrusting the English out of their possessions â—e distributed their inheritances to his Souldiers yet so that all should be held of the King as of the only true Lord and possessor 3 For the Laws by which he meant to govern he held one excellent rule and purpose which was that a people ought â—to be ruled by Laws written and certain for otherwise new Iudges would still bring new Iudgments and therefore he caused twelve to be chosen out of every County which should on their oath without inclining one way or other neither adding nor deâ—racting open unto him all their ancient Laws and Customes By whose relation understanding that three sorts of Laws formerly were in the Land Merchelenage West-Saxonlage Dane-lage he had preferred these last himâ—elf and people being anciently derived from those Northern people had not all the Barons bewayling to the King how grievous it was for a Land to be judged by those Laws which they understood not altered his resolute purpose yet in bringing in the strange â—orms of Norman Processe and pleading in the French tongue which continued till Edward the thirds time that grievance was buâ— slendâ—rly prevented So likewise did he much alter the old Courts of Iustice where these Laws shouâ—d
Colchester declareth that a Fish in all parts like a man was taken near Oxford and for six months was kept in the Castle whence after he escaped again to the Sea As strange but most true was a crop of Pease that without tillage or sowing grew in the Rocks betwixt this Oxford and Aldebrough in the year 1555 when by unseasonable weather a great dearth was in the Land there in August were gathered above one hundred Quarters and in blossoming remained as many more where never grass grew or earth ever seen but hard solid Rocks three yards deep under their roots 8 Places separated from common use and devoted to God and his service by religious Princes were at S. Edmunds Ipswich Ikleworth Blithborow Clare Ieston Burgh Castle wherein Sigebert King of the East Angles entered the profession of a Monk but was thence forced by his people to fight against the Mercians in which Battle he was slain And Dunwich where Foelix founded his Episcopal See These with many others in this County were suppressed in the fall of the Monasteries and their Revenues assumed by King Henry the Eighth 9 This Shire is principally divided into three parts which are called Celdable S. Edmunds and S. Andreys Liberties subdivided into twenty two Hundreds and them again into 575 Parish-Churches wherein are seated seven Castles and twenty eight Market-Towns NORFOLCKE NORTHFOLK CHAPTER XVII NORTHFOLK is an Island inclining to an oval form closed on the South part with the Rivers of Wavenay and the lesser Ouse which divides it from Suffolk On the East and North with the German Ocean on the West toward Cambridge-shires with some branches of the greater Ouse toward Lincolis-shire with that part of the Neve which passeth from Wisbitch into the Washes It containeth in length from Tarmouth to Wifbitch about fifty miles In breadth from Theâ—ford to Wells about thirty The whole Circuit is about two hundred forty two miles The Name ariseth from the situation of the people who being the Norther-most of the Kingdom of East-Angles are therefore called the Northfolk as the Souther-most Southfolk The Air is sharp and piercing especially the Champion and near the Sea therefore it delayeth the Spring and Harvest the situation of the Countrey inclining thereto as being under the 53 degree of Latitude The Soil diverse about the towns commonly good as Clay Chalk or fat Earth well watered and with some Wood upward to the Heaths naked dry and barren Marsland and Flegge exceeding rich but Marsland properly for Pasture Flegge for Corn. 2 The parts from Thetford to Burneham and thence Westward as also along the Coast be counted Champion the rest as better furnished with Woods Woodland The Champion aboundeth with Corn Sheep and Conies and hesein the barren Heaths as the Providence of our Ancestors hath of old disposed them are very profitable For on them principally lie our Fould courses called of the Saxons whose institution they therefore seem to be Paldyocum that is Liberty of fold or foâ—â—dage These heaths by the compasture of the sheep which we call Tathe are made so rich with Corn that when they fall to be sown they commonly match the fruitfullest grounds in other Countries and laid again do long after yield a sweeter and more plentiful feed for Sheep so that each of them maintain other and are the chiefest wealth of our Countrey The Woodland fitter for grass is maintained chiefly by feeding of Cattel yet well stored with Corn and Sheep The Coast is fortunate in Fish and hath many good harbours whereof Lynn and Tarmouth be the mother-ports and of great traffique Wells and Blackeney next in estimation The whole County aboundeth with Rivers and pleasant Springs of which the Ouse is the chiefest by whose plentiful branches the Isle of Ely the Towns and Shires of Cambridge Huntington and the County of Suffolk vent and receive Commodities The next is Hiâ—rus or Yere passing from Norwich to â—armouth where it receiveth the Bure coming from Aylsham both of them of great service for water carriages but very notable for their plenty of fish for some one man out of an hold upon the Bnrâ— hath drawn up ordinarily once a year between two Nets above five or six score Bushels of Fish at one draught The Waveney and the lesser Ouse are also Navigable and of great use The residue I omit 3 The people were anciently called the ICENI as the also of Suffolk Cambridge-shire and Huntington-shire and supposed to be of them whom Caesar nameth Cenimagni Ptolomy Simeni some Tigeni Their manners were likely to be as the rest of the Britains barbarous at those times as appeareth by Caesar and Tacitus Neither can I otherwise commend their successors the Saxons for so also their own Countreyman Ethelward termeth them Since the entry of the Normans they have been counted civil and ingenious apt to good Letters adorning Religion with more Churches and Monasteries than any Shire of England and the Laws and Seats of Iustice for many ages with some excellent men from whom most of our chief Families and some of the greatest Nobility of the Kingdom have taken advancement And herein is Northfolk fortunate that as Crete boasted of an hundred Cities so may she of an hundred Families of Gentlemen never yet attainted of high Treason How the Government of this County was about Caesars time is uncertain but agreeable no doubt to the rest of the Britains under some peculiar Toparch or Regulus as Tacitus termeth him The latter Romans held it by two Garrisons one at Gariannum neer â—armouth the other at Branodunum now called Brancastre both of horse and commanded by the Comes Maritimi Tractus as Mercellinus calleth him and termed after Comes Littoris Saxonici Upon the entry of the Saxons this County with Suffolk fell in the portion of the Angles and about the year five hundred sixty one were together erected into a Kingdom by Vffa of whom the succeeding Kings were tituled Vffines But having suffered many Tempests of Fortune it was in the year 870 utterly wasted and extinct by Hungar and Hubba the Danes who overthrew the vertuous King Edmund about Thetford and after martyred him at S. Edmundsbury Yet they did not long enjoy it for King Edward shortly recovered it from them and annexed it to his other Kingdoms The Daâ—es notwithstanding inhabited abundantly in these parts so that many of our Towns were sounded by them aâ—d a great part of our people and Gentry are risen out of their bloud 4 This Kingdom of East-Angles was after allotted to an Earldom of that name by William the Conqueroâ—r who made Radulph a Britain marrying his Kinswoman Earl thereof but gave the greatest parts of this County about Wimonham Keninghall Lenn Burnham Fulmerstone c. to W. de Albany Pincerne and W. de Warranna Forrestario who to strengthen themselves according to the use of that time with the homage and service of many Tenants divided large portions of the same amongst their friends and
in it for the celebration of Divine Service CUMBERLAND CHAPTER XLI CUMBERLAND the furthest North-West Province in this Realm of England confronteth upon the South of Scotland and is divided from that Kingdom partly by the River Kirsop then crossing Eske by a tract thorow Solomâ—-Moss until it come to the Solwaye-Frith by Ptolomy called the Itune-Bay The North-West part is neighboured by Northumberland more East-ward with Westmerland the South with Lancashire and the West is wholly washed with the Irish-Seas 2 The form whereof is long and narrow pointing wedg-like into the South which part is altogether pestred with copped hills and therefore hath the name of Cop-land The middle is more level and better inhabited yielding sufficient for the sustenance of man but the North is wild and solitary cumbred with Hills as Copland is 3 The Air is piercing and of a sharp temperature and would be more biting were it not that those high Hills break off the Northern storms and cold falling Snows 4 Notwithstanding rich is this Province and with great varieties thereof is replenished the Hills though rough yet smile upon their beholders spread with Sheep and Cattel the Vallies stored with Grass and Corn sufficient the Sea affordeth great store of Fish the Land overspread with variety of Fowls and the Rivers feed a kind of Muskle that bringeth forth Pearl where in the mouth of the Irt as they lie gaping and sucking in Dew the Country people gather and sell to the Lapidaries to their own little and the buyers great gain But the Mines Royal of Copper whereof this Country yieldeth much is for use the richest of all the place is at Keswick and Newland where likewise the Black-Lead is gotten whose plenty maketh it of no great esteem otherwise a commodity that could hardly be missed 5 The ancient Inhabitants known to the Romans were the Brigantes whom Ptolomy disperseth into Westmorland Richmond Durham York-shire and Lancashire But when the Saxons had overborn the Britains and forced them out of the best to seek their resting among the vast Mountains these by them were entred into where they held play with their enemies maugre their force and from them as Marianus doth witness the Land was called Cumber of those Kumbri the Britains But when the State of the Saxons was sore shaken by the Danes this Cumberland was accounted a Kingdom of it self for so the Flower-gatherer of Westminster recordeth King Edmund saith he with the help of Leoline Prince of South-Wales wasted all Cumberland and having put out the eyes of the 〈◊〉 soâ—s of Dunmail King of that Province granted that Kingdom unto Malcolm King of Scots whereof their eldest sons became Prefects This Province King Stephen to purchâ—se favour with the Scots what time he stood in most need of aid confirmed by gift under their Crown which Henry the Second notwithstanding made claim unto and got as Nubrigensis writeth and laid it again in the Marches of England since when many bickerings betwixt these Nations herein have hapned but none so bitter against the Scottish-side as was that at Salome Moss where their Nobility disdaining their General Oliver Sinclere gave over the Battel and yielded themselves to the English which dishonour pierced so deeply into to the heart of King Iames the fifth that for grief thereof he shortly after died 6 Many memorable Antiquities remain and have been found in this County for it being the Confines of the Romans Possessions was continually secured by their Garrisons where remains at this day part of that admirable Wall built by Severus also another Fortification from 〈◊〉 to Elâ—â—-Moâ—th upon the Sea-shore toward Ireland by Stillicâ— raised when under 〈◊〉 he suppressed the rage of the Picts and Irish and freed the Seas of the Saxon Pirates Upon Hard-knot hill Moresby Old-Carleil Pap-Castle along the Wall and in many other places their ruines remain with Altars and Iâ—scriptions of their Captains and Colonies whereof many have been found and more as yet lie hid 7 The chiefest City in this Shire is Careile pleasantly seated betwixt the Rivers Eden Petterelâ— and Caud by the Romans called Luguvallum by Beda Luell by Ptolomy Leucopibia by Ninius Caer-Lualid and by us Carlile This City flourishing under the Romans at their departure by the furious outrages of the Scots and Picts was dejected yet in the daies of Egfrid King of Northumberland was walled about but again defaced by the over-running Danes lay buried in her own ashes the space of two hundred years upon whose ruines at length Rufus set his compassionate eye and built there the Castle planting a Colony of Flemings to secure the Coasts from the Scots but upon better advisement removed them into Wales After him Henry his Brother and Successor ordained this City for an Episcopal See whose site is placed in the degree of Longitude from the first West part 17 and 2 scruples and the Pole thence elevated from the degree of Latitude 55 and 56 scruples 8 West from hence at Burgh upon the Sand was the fatal end of our famous Monarch King Edward the First who there leaving his Wars unfinished against Scotland left his troubles and soon missed life to his untimely and soon lamented death 9 And at Salkelds upon the River Eden a Monument of seventy seven Stones each of them ten foot high above ground and one of them at the entrance fifteen as a Trophy of Victory was erected These are by the By-dwellers called Long-Meg and her Daughters 10 This Country as it stood in the Fronts of Assaults so was it strengthened with twenty-five Castles and preserved with the Prayers as then was thought of the Vâ—taries in the Houses erected at Carlilâ— Lâ—ncroft Wether all Holme Daker and Saint Bees These with others were dissolved by King Henry the Eight and their revenues shadowed under his Crown but the Province being freed from the charge of Subsidie is not therefore divided into Hundreds in the Parliament Roles whence we have taken the divisions of the rest only this is observed that therein are seated nine Market-Towns fifty eight Parish-Churches besides many other Chappels of Ease NORTHUMBERLAND NORTHUMBERLAND CHAPTER XLII THE County of Northumberlaâ—d hath on the South the Bishoprick of Durham being shut in with the River Derwent and with Tyne the North is confined upon Scotland the West upon part of Scotland and part of Cumberland the East-side lyeth altogether upon the Sea called Mare Germanicum 2 The form thereof is Triangular and differs not much in the sidings for from her South-East unto the South-West point are near unto 40 miles from thence to her North-point are sixty miles and her base along the Sea-shore 45 miles The whole in circumference is about one hundred forty five miles 3 The Air must needs be subtile and piercing for that the Northernly parts are most exposed to extremity of weathers as great winds hard froâ—ts and long lying of snows c. Yet would it be far more sharp than it is were
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
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-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
was forced by Evander the Arcadian a man of that admirable eloquence that he was called the son of Mercury but had by chance slain his Father and was therefore expulsed his inheritance and advised into Italy by his Mother a great Prophetess of those times He removed the Aborigines from their seat and planted his companions in the same plot of ground where after Rome was built and in the Mons Palatinus founded a little Town which he called Palâ—auteum in memory of his great grandâ—father And this was about the year 2710. 6 About 60 years after Aeneas arrived in this Countrey from the siege of Troy was entertained as an amorous suitor by Lavinia with consent of her Father Latinus and after the death of his corrival Turnus King of the Rutilians was setled heir to the Latin Monarchy after his Father 7 From Aeneas to Numitor the succession went on not without some rubs but suffered no great breach for almost four hundred years When the title should have fallen to him being the elder and true heir he was spoiled of the Kingdom by his younger Amulius Sylvius nor could it be recovered till time had given growth and strength to Romulus and Remus his grand-children by his daughter Rhea 8 The birth and breeding of these two brothers is well known we need not enlarge their story farther than thus They were the sons of Rhea a Virgin which was cloystered up into the Temple of Vesta by her Uncle Amulius Sylvus that she might not bring forth an heir to endanger his Title Notwithstanding means was found so that she conceived at once two children by Mars and was delivered among her Sister Vâ—stals For this her self as the censure was upon such delinquents was buried alive her boys exposed to be destroyed but were preserved by Faustulus the Kings Shepherd and nursed by his wife Laurentia or Lâ—pa for her bad life 9 When years and their supposed father had taught them their pedegree and the base tyranny of their Uncle they began with revenge upon him for their mothers quick burial for their own intended murder and their Grandsires injury To be brief they slew their great Uncle Amâ—lius Sylvius and turned the Kingdom to the rightful 〈◊〉 10 Thus when they had once dealt in disposing of Empires they could not easily return to the Shepherds hook but bethought them of the like fortune for their own advancement and stirred not far to make good their purpose but in the very Mons Palatinus the place where they suckt their nurse they drew together a monstrous head of debaucht Shepherds and built the City which is now called Rome from Romulus who in strife for the name or as some say for a disdainful skip over the new walls slew his brother Rhemus and was left the sole Founder and Commander of this rascal crew for so indeed it was and held in that contempt by their borderers that they could not by intreaty get wives from them to continue their succession till by a guile they had enticed the Sabines to their Pastimes ravisht their women and afterward by degrees either made their peace or wan it with the sword from the people round about them 11 Thus began the Empire of Rome and was governed at first by 7 Kings in a direct succession to Tarquinius Superbus who lost both himself and Kingdom by his own pride and his Son Sextus rape upon Lucretia It was next taken up by Consuls two annually chosen out of the Patritii or principal Citizens The third rank were of Decemviri but they again were dispossest for the like rape of Appius upon Virginia and Tribunes were constituted of Consulary authority Then Consuls again in another course and for a while Dictators which when Caesar had once clapsed he soon made to himself a power Imperial and though after five years it cost him his life which he enchanged with Brutus and Cassius for 23 wounds in the Senate-house yet the liberty of Rome was never so fully recovered but that soon after the Government fell upon Angustus by the death of Anthony and deposing of Lepidus who for a while were joyned with him into the Triumviratus 12 Thâ—s hold was scarce ever lost clearly to this day though by the changing of the seat Imperial from Rome to Bizantium in the reign of their forty third Constantinus by the division into the Eastern and Western in the time of Theodotius by the many invasions of the Goths Huns Vandals Alani Burgundians and Lombards it comes now far short of that full glory in which it once shined 13 Yet is Italy still as before a happy soyl pleasant and fertile at all times moderate weather and healthful air full of variety as well of living creatures as Plants Corn Wine Oyl Linnen Herbs c. And can afford into other Countries Rice Silks Velvets Sattins Taffataes Grogram Rash Fustians Gold-wire Armour Allom Glasses c. The rich are very rich for wealth will come with much labour in great abundance but the poor are extream poor for they are most of them very idle 14 Her chief Rivers are Padus or Poe Athesis Rubica Tyberis Arnus c. And her chief Mountains are the Alps and Mons Appennius The first are in height 5 dayes journey covered with snow and from thence have their name à nivibus albis They have two passages from Germany into the Countrey and three out of France From Germany by the Valtoline and by Trent Out of France through Provence and Liguria through the hills Genura to Lombardy and through the Countrey of Turaign The Appennine Mountains run at length with Italy like the ridge of a mans back and is called indeed Spina The measure of Italy is from North-west to South-East about 1020 miles and from the two Seas cross in some places 410. 15 The Inhabitants are of a sad temper solid judgement witty Politick and frugal yet they are as deeply engaged to their peculiar vices hot letchers and those seldome stand quit from that horrible torture of jealousie over their Wives for it measures others actions by its own rule Both in them are incredible and makes treachery and murder seem no fault in their eye if they be provoked by suspition Little friendship with them but for advantage and a man must beware that he venter not farther upon those terms than he may well step back lest he be betrayed perhaps forced to a love worse than their hate for they are most unnatural in their lust The Women when they have their free liberty differ not much but their close keeping either hinders or at least hides their faults so as they appear modest lovely and witty for as much as they dare speak 16 For war and learning it bred in times past the mirrour of both Camillus Fabius Maximus Scipio Pompey Caesar Cicero Livie Tacitus Virgil Ovid and many hundreds which yet prompt our tongues and pens with examples of goodness in several kinds Nor hath it lost that
dead in a dejected Nation and now they break out into flames which stirred them to require that by force of Arms which they could not request by submissive Oratory 4 Hence grew their first quarrel with the Romans which they put on with that courage and success that they were emboldened at last to assault the very City with so strong Forces that the glory of it began to shake and had shattered to pieces had not the victory followed rather the fortune of one Marius than the valour of the whole Roman Legions and that too as some relate it was bought of his heathenish gods at a dear rate by the bloudy sacrifice of his own daughter The great and most memorable encounter was six hundred and forty years after the City was built about an hundred and eleven before Christ. And then indeed they received in a manner a fatal crush which quelled them for the present yet not so but that in after ages they recovered strength and same spread their victories over the most part of Europe and left their name for many years since that in Italy it self 5 For without doubt those Cimmerii mentioned by Starbo which lived on the North side of the Appennine Mountains near Boianum were of this stock and of that note as they gave occasion for many Proverbs and Fables to both Greek and Latin Poets It was a people which belike seldom saw Sun but lurked for the most part under ground lived upon theft and issued forth only in the night a season most fit for deeds of darkness and so was their whole course which caused our well known Adage of tenebrae Cimmeriae pro densissimâ caligine The horrid dens and dismal Rivers which ran by the place of their abode bred at length a terrour in the silly Heathens and was esteemed by them the passage down to their Elizium So Homer gives it in the second of his Odysses and Virgil in his sixth of the Aeneidos and here did Naso feign his house of sleep Metamorph. 11. Est propè Cimmerios longo spelunca recessu Mons Carus ignavi domus penetralia Somni 6 Thus was their Original and progress for the first Age whilst it continued iâ— the possession of the Cimmerians The next which succeeded were the Saxons a people no less famous but since their story hath been elsewhere remembred in our other Descriptions it must give place here to the third Invader the Danes who whilst the Saxons were employed with us here in the Conquest of England start out of those petty Isles in the Sinus Codanus and took up their room in this Peninsula There they have continued to this day and added other Territories to their Dominions so that the then Cimbria Chersonesus is but a parcel of the now Kingdom of Denmark as shall appear when we come to her division and that only which in our latter times is called Iuitland and runs North ward in form almost of a Hounds tongue into the Baltick Ocean 7 The Danes like enough were at first one Nation with the Cimbri but being together expulsed by the Scythians from their native soyl they were severally dispersed though not at any great distance These setled themselves in the Northern Isles as the other did in their Chersonesus The first at their removal varied not their antique name of Cimbri As for Chersonesus it is not peculiar to this Country being as common as Peninsula for it imports no more than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à terrâ insulâ and of these there are many more some perhaps of equal same Taurica Chersonesus was not far distant from the place of their first abode Peloponnesus well known in Greece Thracia Chersonesus in Thrace and Aurea Chersonesus in India 8 But the Danes it seems suffered some change as well in their name as fortunes Saxo Grammticus gives it to one Dan the son of Huniblus which was their first Governour in their new Commonwealth But this is controuled by Reccanus saith Quade who renders another Etymon how likely I leave to those who can best judge by their skill in the Danish Language The Cimbri saith he when they were grown to great multitudes bethought themselves of several names to distinguish their Colonies Each following their own conceiâ— best to express the quality in which they most gloried Among the rest some there were which affecting at least the opinion of a valiant people such as scorned riches without honour honour without victory and victory without the bloud of their enemies assumed their name from that creature which Nature had marked out with this Character Gallum igitur gallinaceum tum bellicae laudis generosissimi animi tum indolis regalis militis strenui adomnia momenta vigilis optimum exemplar ut pro Symbolo synthemate quodam sivi acceperunt it a nomen quoque ab eo placuit mutuari vocarunt enim sese Dic Hanem compositae per concisâ—onem Danem quod Gallinaâ—â—â— significat 9 However the Etimon may be far fetcht for ought I know yet doubtless at this day they make good the Elogy of a valiant and warlike Nation strong of body big boned and of a terrible countenance ambitious of a glorious death rather than a sluggish idle life It is the saying of Valerius Maximus Cimbros Celteberos in acie gaudio exultare consuevisse tanquam gloriosè feliciter vita excessuros lamentari vero in morbo quasi turpiter perituros We our selves heretofore have felt their stroaks and submitted to their Conquests in the time of Osbert King of Northumberland They were provoked by a rape done upon the Sister of the Danish King for which the poor English dearly paid with two hundred fifty five years servitude under their tyranny Yet since we have had and at this time do enjoy the benefit of their magnanimity under the personal conduct of the right valiant and illustrious King Christian who hazards both his state and life in the behalf of his dear neece Elizabeth and her Royal Husband the Prince Palatine of the Rheine 10 Their first Prince which established them a setled and civil government was Gotricus in the year seven hundred ninety seven Before it was but a confused state and affords us little certainty of their story From that time the government hath been under a sole King of equal power with the greatest though his Revenues are hardly answerable His best profit is from a breach of the Sea which runs into the middle part of the Countrey commonly called the Sound which is a passage so narrow that no shipping can pass that way without the licence and favour of the Wathch-men keeping Garrison there to receive the Imposts and Customs of the arriving Vessels for the King It is easily gathered to what sum of money that Impost amounteth by the infinite number of Shipping of Hâ—lland Zealand France England Sâ—otland Norway and the Baltick Sea that sail in those Seas and of necessity must