whose Armes are in the same Chappell William Smith Bishop of Lincolne was the first Lord President of Wales in Prince Arthurs daies Ieffrey Blythe Bishoppe of Couentrie and Litchfield Lord President Rowland Lée Bishoppe of Couentrie and Litchfield Lord President Ihou Uessie Bishop of Exeter Lord President Richard Sampson Bishop of Couentrie and Litchfield Lord President Iohn Duldley Earle of Warwick after Duke of Northumberland Lord President Sir William Harbert after Earle of Penbroke Lord President Nicholas Heath Bishop of Worcester Lord President Sir William Harbert once againe Lord President Gilbert Browne Bishop of Bathe and Welles Lord President Lord Williams of Tame Lord President Sir Harry Sidney Lord President Sir Andrew Corbret Knight Uicepresident There are two blancks left without Armes Sir Thomas Dynam Knight is mentioned there to doe some great good act Iohn Scory Bishop of Hartford Nicholas Bullingham Bishop of Worcester Nicholas Robinson Bishop of Bangore Richard Dauies Bishop of Saint Dauies Thomas Dauies Bishop of Saint Assaph Sir Iames Crofts Knight Controller Sir Iohn Throgmorton Knight Iustice of Chester and the three Shieres of Eastwales Sir Hugh Cholmley Knight Sir Nicholas Arnold Knight Sir George Bromley Knight and Iustice of the three shieres in Wales William Gerrard Lord Chauncellor of Ireland and Iustice of the three Shieres in Southwales Charles Foxe Esquier and Secretorie Ellice Price Doctor of the Lawe Edward Leighton Esquier Richard Seborne Esquier Richard Pates Esquier Rafe Barton Esquier George Phetyplace Esquier William Leighton Esquier Myles Sands Esquier The Armes of al these afore spoken of are gallantly and cunningly set out in the Chappell Now is to be rehearsed that Sir Harry Sidney being Lord President buylt twelue roumes in the sayd Castle which goodly buildings doth shewe a great beautie to the same He made also a goodly Wardrope vnderneath the new Parlor and repayred an old Tower called Mortymers Tower to kéepe the auncient Records in the same and he repayred a fayre roume vnder the Court house to the same entent and purpose and made a great wall about the woodyard built a most braue Condit within the inner Court and all the newe buildings ouer the Gate Sir Harry Sidney in his daies and gouernement there made and set out to the honour of the Quéene and glorie of the Castle There are in a goodly or stately place set out my Lord Earle of Warwicks Armes the Earle of Darbie the Earle of Worcester the Earle of Penbroke and Sir Harry Sidneys Armes in like maner al these stand on the left hand of the Chamber On the other side are the Armes of Northwales and Southwales two red Lyons and two golden Lyons Prince Arthurs At the end of the dyning Chamber there is a pretie deuice how the Hedgehog brake the chayne and came from Ireland to Ludloe There is in the Hall a great grate of Iron of a huge height so much is written only of the Castle ⧠The Towne of Ludloe and many good gifts graunted to the same KIng Edward fourth for seruice truely done When Henry sixt and he had mortall warre No sooner he by force the victorie wone But with great things the Towne he did prefarre Gaue lands thereto and libertie full large Which royall gifts his bountie did declare And dayly doth mainteyne the Townes great charge Whose people now in as great freedome are As any men vnder this rule and Crowne That liues and dwels in Citie or in Towne Two Bayliefes rules one yéere the Towne throughout Twelue Aldermen they haue there in likewise Who doth beare sway as turne doth come about Who chosen are by oth and auncient guise Good lawes they haue and open place to pleade In ample sort for right and Iustice sake A Preacher too that dayly there doth reade A Schoolemaster that doth good schollers make And for the Queere are boyes brought vp to sing And so serue God and doe none other thing Thrée tymes a day in Church good Saruice is At sixe a clocke at nine and then at three In which due howers a straunger shall not mis But sondrie sorts of people there to see And thirtie thrée poore persons they maintaine Who wéekely haue both money almes and ayde Their lodging free and further to be plaine Still once a weeke the poore are truely payde Which shewes great grace and goodnesse in that Seate Where rich doth see the poore shall want no meate An Hospitall there hath bene long of old And many things pertayning to the same A goodly Guyld the Township did vphold By Edwards gift a King of worthie fame This Towne doth choose two Burgesses alwaies For Parliament the custome still is so Two Fayres a yéere they haue on seuerall daies Three Markets kept but monday chiefe I troe And two great Parkes there are full néere the Towne But those of right pertaine vnto the Crowne These things rehearst makes Ludloe honord mitch And world to thinke it is an auncient Seate Where many men both worthie wise and ritch Were borne and bred and came to credit great Our auncient Kings and Princes there did rest Where now full oft the Presdent dwels a space It stands for Wales most apt most fit and best And néerest to at hand of any place Wherefore I thought it good before I end Within this booke this matter should be pend The rest of Townes that in Shropshiere you haue I néede not touch they are so throughly knowne And further more I knowe they cannot craue To be of Wales how euer brute be blowne So wishing well as duetie doth me binde To one and all as farre as power may goe I knit vp here as one that doth not minde Of natiue Soyle no further now to showe So cease my muse let pen and paper pause Till thou art calde to write of other cause ⧠An Introduction to remember Shropshiere HOw hath thy muse so long bene luld a sléepe What deadly drinke hath sence in slumber brought Doth poyson cold through blood and bosome créepe Or is of spite some charme by witchcraft wrought That vitall spréetes hath lost their feeling quite Or is the hand so weake it cannot write Come ydle man and shewe some honest cause Why writers pen makes now so great a pause Can Wales be nam'de and Shropshiere be forgote The marshes must make muster with the rest Shall Sallop say their countreyman doth dote To treate of things and write what thinks him best No sure such fault were dubble error plaine If in thy pen be any Poets vayne Or gifts of grace from Skyes did drop on thée Than Shrewsebrie Towne thereof first cause must bée Both borne and bred in that same Seate thou wast Of race right good or els Records do lye From whence to schoole where euer Churchyard past To natiue Soyle he ought to haue an eye Speake well of all and write what world may proue Let nothing goe beyond thy Countries loue Wales once it
grace it shalbe calde of right Speake what you can a happie Seate it is A trim Shiere towne for Noble Barron or Knight A Cittie sure as free as is the best Where Size is kept and learned Lawyers rest Buylt auncient wise in swéete and wholesome ayre Where the best sort of people oft repayre Not farre from thence a famous Castle fine That Raggland hight stands moted almost round Made of Freestone vpright as straight as line Whose workmanship in beautie doth abound The curious knots wrought all with edged toole The stately Tower that lookes ore Pond and Poole The Fountaine trim that runs both day and night Doth yéeld in showe a rare and noble sight Now Chepstowe comes to mynd as well it may Whose Seate is set some part vpon an hill And through the Towne to Neawport lyes a way That ore a Bridge on Wye you ride at will This Bridge is long the Riuer swift and great The Mountaine bigge about doth shade the Seate The craggie Rocks that ore the Towne doth lye Of force farre of doth hinder viewe of eye The common Port and Hauen is so good It merits praise because Barkes there doe ride To which the Sea comes in with flowing flood And doth foure howers aboue the Bridge abide Beyond the same doth Tyntterne Abbey stand As old a Sell as is within that Land Where diuers things hath bene right worthie note Whereof as yet the troth I haue not gote To Chepstowe yet my pen agayne must passe Where Strongbow once an Earle of rare renowne A long time since the Lord and Maister was In princely sort of Castle and of Towne Then after that to Mowbray it befell Of Norffolke Duke a worthie knowne full well Who sold the samet o William Harbert Knight That was the Earle of Penbrooke then by right His eldest Sonne that did succeede his place Of Huntyngton and Penbrooke Earle likewise Had but one childe a Daughter of great race And she was matcht with pompe and solempne guise To Somerset that was Lord Chamberlaine And made an Earle in Henry seuenths raigne Of him doth come Earle Worster liuing nowe Who buildeth vp the house of Raggland throwe A Creation of an Earle EDward by the grace of God King most imperiall Of France England the Lord of Ireland therwithall To Archbishops Bishops all to Abbotes and to Priors To Dukes to Earles to Barrons to Sheriffes of the shires To Iustices to Maiors and chiefe of Townly gouernment To Baylieffes my lichefolke all haue herewith greeting sent Knowe ye whereas we iudge it is a gracious Prince his parte To yéeld loue fauour and reward to men of great desarte Who of himselfe his Royall house and of the publique state Haue well deseru'd their vertues rare euer to renumerate And to adorne with high reward such vertue cléere and bright Stirs others vp to great attempts and faintnes puts to flight We following on the famous course y e former Kings haue run That worthie approued wight whose déedes most nobly dun Haue greatest things of vs deseru'd we do intend to raise To fame and honors highest type with gifts of Princely praise That truely regall are we meane that valiant worthie Knight That William Herbert hath to name now L. Herbert hight Whose seruice wheÌ„ we first did raigne we did most faithful find When for our royal right we fought which stil we call to mind To which we ad from then till now continuall seruices Which many were whereof each one to vs most pleasing is And chiefly when as lately now his déedes did him declare A worthie Knight wherby he gayn'd both fame and glorie rare When as that Rebell and our foe euen Iasper Tudyrs sonne who said he Earle of Penbroke was did westwales coast oreruÌ„ And there by subtile shifts and force did diuers sondrie waies Anoy our State and therewithall a vyle Sedition raise But there he gaue to him a fielde and with a valiant hand Orethrew him and his forces all that on his part did stand And marching all along those Coasts y e most he flew out right The rest he brake and so disperst they gaue themselues to flight Our Castle then of Hardelach that from our first daies raigne A refuge for all Rebels did against vs still remaine A Fort of wonderous force besiege about did he And tooke it where in most mens mynds it could not taken be He wan it did make them yéeld who there their saftie sought And all the Countrie thereabouts to our obedience brought These therefore his most worthie Acts we calling into minde His seruices and great desarts which we praise worthie finde And for that cause we willing him with honors royally For to adorne decke and aduaunce and to sublime on hye The eight day of September in the eight yéere of our Raigne We by this Charter that for ours shall firme for euer remaine Of speciall grace and knowledge sure sound and determinate And motioÌ„ méere him William doe of Penbroke Count create Erect preferre and vnto him the Title stile and state And name thereof and dignitie foreuer appropriate As Earle of Penbroke and withall we giue all rights that do All honors and preheminence that state perteyne vnto With which estate stile honor great and worthie dignitie By cincture of a Sword we him ennoble reallie For that the sence and worthie words were great The seruice such as merites noble fame The forme thereof in verse I doe repeate And shewe likewise the Lattin of the same He seru'd a King that could him well reward And of his house and race tooke great regard And recompenst his manly doing right With honor due to such a noble Knight Where loyall mynd doth offer life and all For to preserue the Prince and publique state There doth great hap and thankfull Fortune fall As guerdon sent by destnie and good fate No Soueraine can forget a Subiects troeth With whose good grace great loue and fauour goeth Great gifts and place great glorie and renowne They get and gayne that truely serues a Crowne And thou my Knight that art his heire in blood Though Lordship land and Ragglands stately towers A female heire and force of fortunes flood Haue thée bereft yet bearst his fruits and flowers His armes his name his faith and mynd are thyne By nature nurture arte and grace deuyne Ore Seas and Lands these moue thée paynes to take For God for fame for thy swéete Soueraines sake ⧠Here followeth the Creation of an Earle of Penbroke in Latin EDwardus Dei gracia Rex Angliae Fraunciae Dominus Hiberniç Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibê° Prioribus Ducibus Comitibus Baronibus Iusticiarijs Vicecomitibus Prepositis Ministris omnibus Balliuis fidelibus suis saluteÌ„ Sciatis quod cum felicis grati admodum Regis munus censeamus de se de Regia domo deque Republica regno bene meritas personas coÌ„gruis
attempt of man Can win the Fort if house be furnisht throw The troth whereof let world be witnesse now It is great payne from foote of Rocke to clyme To Castle wall and it is greater toyle On Rocke to goe yea any step sometyme Uprightly yet without a faule or foyle And as this Seate and Castle strongly stands Past winning sure with engin sword or hands So lookes it ore the Countrey farre or neere And shines like Torch and Lanterne of the Sheere Wherefore Denbigh thou bearst away the praise Denbigh hath got the garland of our daies Denbigh reapes fame and lawde a thousand waies Denbigh my pen vnto the Clowdes shall raise The Castle there could I in order drawe It should surmount now all that ere I sawe ¶ Of Valey Crucis Thlangothlan and the Castle Dynosebrane THE great desire to see Denbigh at full Did drawe my muse from other matter true But as that sight my mynd away did pull From former things I should present to you So duetie bids a writer to be playne And things left out to call to mynd agayne Thlangothlan then must yet come once in place For diuers notes that giues this booke some grace An Abbey nere that Mountayne towne there is Whose walles yet stand and steeple too likewise But who that rides to see the troth of this Shall thinke he mounts on hilles vnto the Skyes For when one hill behind your backe you see Another comes two tymes as hye as hee And in one place the Mountaynes stands so there In roundnesse such as it a Cockpit were Their height is great and full of narrowe waies And stéepe downe right of force ye must descend Some houses are buylt there but of late daies Full vnderneath the monstrous Mountaynes end Amid them all and those as man may gesse When rayne doth fall doth stand in sore distresse For mightie streames runnes ore both house and thatch When for their liues poore men on Hilles must watch Beyond the same and yet on Hill full hye A Castle stands an old and ruynous thing That haughtie house was buylt in weathers eye A pretie pyle and pleasure for a King A Fort a Strength a strong and stately Hold It was at first though now it is full old On Rocke alone full farre from other Mount It stands which shewes it was of great account Betwéene the Towne and Abbey built it was The Towne is néere the goodly Riuer Dée That vnderneath a Bridge of stone doth passe And still on Rocke the water runnes you see A wondrous way a thing full rare and straunge That Rocke cannot the course of water chaunge For in the streame huge stones and Rocks remayne That backward might the flood of force constrayne From thence to Chirke are Mountaynes all a rowe As though in ranke and battaile Mountaynes stood And ouer them the bitter winde doth blowe And whirles betwixt the valley and the wood Chirke is a place that parts another Sheere And as by Trench and Mount doth well appeere It kept those bounds from forrayne force and power That men might sléepe in suretie euery hower Here Denbighshiere departs from writers pen And Flintshiere now comes brauely marching in With Castles fine with proper Townes and men Whereof in verse my matter must begin Not for to fayne and please the tender eares But to be playne as worlds eye witnesse beares Not by heresay as fables are set out But by good proofe of vewe to voyd a dout WHen Sommer swéete hath blowne ore Winters blast And waies waxe hard that now are soft and foule When calmie Skyes sayth bitter stormes are past And Clowdes waxe cléere that now doth lowre and skoule My muse I hope shall be reuiu'de againe That now lyes dead or rockt a sleepe with paine For labour long hath wearied so the wit That studious head a while in rest must sit But when the Spring comes on with newe delite You shall from me heare what my muse doth write Here endeth my first booke of the worthines of Wales which being wel taken wil encourage me to set forth another in which work not only the rest of the Shieres that now are not written of shalbe orderly put in print but likewise all y e auncient Armes of Gentlemen there in general shalbe plainly described set out to the open vewe of the world if God permit me life and health towards the finishing of so great a labour FINIS Thomas Churchyard EN·DIEV·ET·MON·ROY· Churchiards Armes William Malmesburie de regibus anglorum Dauid Powell a late writer yet excellently learned made a sharp inuectiue against William Paruus and Pollidor Virgill all their complices accusing them of lying tongues enuyous detraction malicious slaunders reproachfull and venomous language wilfull ignoraÌ„ce dogged enuie and canckered mindes for that thei spake vnreuerently of Arthur and many other thrise noble Princes Jeffrey of Monmouth Matthewe of Westminster and others are here in like sort to be read looked on The Authors troublesome life briefely set downe A short note of the nature of many CouÌ„tries with the disposition of the people there A commendation of the loyaltie of Welshmen A rehearsall of great strife and dissention that ruinated Wales How Lawe and loue links men together like brethren The accustomed courtesie of Wales No such theft and robberie in Wales as in other Countries Victuals good cheape in most part of Wales A great rebuke to those that speakes not truely of Wales Good disposition neuer wants good maners Good true Authors that affirmes more goodnesse in Wales than I write of Two Riuers by MoÌ„mouth the one called Monnow and the other Wye King Henry the fifth Neere the Towne Sir Charles Harbert of Troy dwelt in a faire Seate called Troy At Wynestow now dwels Sir Thomas Harbert a little from the same Troy Maister Roger Ieames dwelt at Troy nere this Towne The Earle of Worcesters house and Castle The Earle of Penbroke that was created Earle by King Edward the 4. buylt the Castell of Raggland sumptuously at the first Earle of Worcester Lord hereof A faire bridge Maister Lewis of Saint Peere dwelles neere that Sir Charles Sommerset at the Grange doth dwell now Sir William Morgan that is dead dwelt at Pennycoyd Harbert of Colbroke buryed there Chepstow In the Castle there is an ancient tower called Longis tower wherby rests a tale to be considered of Of this Earle is a great and worthie tale to be heard A peece of a petigree Earle Strongbowe was maried to the King of Lynsters Daughter in Ireland and this Strongbowe wan by force of armes the Earledoms of Wolster Tyroll The Authors verses in the honor of noble mynds Good men are made of and bad men rebuked Sir William Harbert of â—â—â—nt Gillyans Polidorus Virgilius spake all of his owne nations praise and sawe but little of Brittaine nor loued the same Venerable bede a noble writer Gildas a passing Poet of Brittaine
Sibilla a deuine Prophesiar writer Merilinus Ambrosius a man of hye knowledge spirit A description of Oske Two Riuers nere together of seuerall natures shewes a strange thing King Edward the fourth and his children as some affirme and King Richard the third were borne here Castle StrogeÌ„ doth yet remaine three myle from Oske but the Castle is almost cleane downe In the Duchie of Lancaster these three Castles are but not in good plight any way The Duke of Yorke once lay here and now the Castell is in Maister Roger Willyams hands A description of Carleon Maister Morgan of Lanternam in a fayre house dwelles two mile from Carleon A plaine and true rehearsall of matter of great antiquitie A fayre Fountaine now begun A free Schoole now erected by Maister Morgan of Lanternam A gird to the flatterers and fauners of present tyme. A house of reformatioÌ„ newly begun likewise The Bishop of Landaffe still lying in the Towne We praise and extoll strange Nations and forget or abase our owne Countries In Arons the Martyrs Church King Arthur was crowned Three Archbishops Yorke London and CarleoÌ„ crowning King Arthur Arthur was great that coÌ„manded such solemnitie The true Authors are in the beginning of this booke for profe of this Another notable solemnitie at a Coronation In Iulius Church the Martyr the Queene was crowned An honor rare and great yet seldome seene A deepe and large round peece of grouÌ„d shewes yet where Arthur sate A Church on a hil a mile of Saint Gillyans is a faire house where Sir William Harbert dwelles Wonderfull huge and long pauements The notablest seate to behold being on the top that may be seene The Castle almost downe The flowing water may easily be brought about both Towne and Castle A great beautie of grounds waters groues other pleasures for the eye to be seene from the old Castle of Carleon I haue seene Caues vnder ground at this day that goe I know not how farre all made of excellent work and goodly great stones both ouer head and vnder foote close and fine round about the whole Caue The name so mightie argues it was a mightie and noble towne Two hundred Philosophers were norished in Carleon Yeeld right as well to our elders daies as to our present age Allobroges Allobroges Sybilla her prophesies touching the Britaines An exhortatioÌ„ of Howell The sentence and resolution of the King of Albania Vaticinia Sibille de Britonibus Exhortatio Hoeli Sententia regis Albaniae Analles sue gentes A Hill most notable neere CarleoÌ„ a myle froÌ„ the towne A very high Hill of a marueilous streÌ„gth which was a strong Forâ—â—n Arthurs daies Bellinus MaÌ„gnus made this called Bellingstocke A wonderfull high mountaine with the like maner of defence The towne of Neawport On a round hill by the Church there is for Sea and Land the most princely sight that any man liuing at one instant may with perfect eye behold The Towne hath Marchants in it A Castle is at the end of this Towne and full by the Bridges and Riuer Greenefield Castle that was the Duke of Lancasters Eboyth is the Riuers name that runneth here For Riuer wood pasture ayre walke pleasure this place passeth A true iudgement of the commodities in Wales if the people there would be laborous Nychill The people of wales in many places thriues by labour daylie and gets great gayne through tillage I haue knowen many places so barraine that they haue sought for come farre of who now are able to liue without helpe of any other Countrey It stands ouer two little Riuers called Ceybbie and Ceyuennie of which Ceyuenie Aborgeuenie tooke the name The Bridge of stone a eleuen fayre arches and a great bridge of stone to come drylie to that bridge Of the bountie of tyme past and the hardnes of our age A fayre and noble Castle belonging to the auncient house and race of the honorable the Lord of Aborgaynie The bountie of the Castle and Countrie A goodly and stately peece of worke as like to fall as be repayred againe Any heart in the world would pittie the decay of Castles in MoÌ„mouth shiere In this church was a most famous worke in maner of a genealogie of Kings called the roote of Iesse which worke is defaced and pulled downe in peeces On the right hand in a faire Chappell Both the windowe and in other parts about him shewes that he was a stranger Blewe is The labell whereon are nyne Flowerdeluces On the left hand a Lord of Aborgany Sir William Thomas Knight alias Harbert Sir Dauie Gam Knight father to this Knights wife This Knight was slaine at Edgingcourt field His Tombe is of hard and good Allablaster Sir William Thomas was father to the next that followes called Sir Richard Harbert of Colbroke Knight In the Chronicle this is rehearsed On the left hand of the Chappell they lye She was daughter to Thomas ap Griffith father to Sir Rice ap Thomas Knight On the right hand of the Chappell The old Earle of Penbroke one of the priuie Councell In the windowe now he lyes Some say this great Lord was called Bruce and not Hastings but most doe hold opinion he was called Hastings A Ladie of Aborgaynie A Ladie of some noble house whose name I knowe not Doctor Lewis lately Iudge in the Amoraltie Maistre Gams dwelles here Doctor Awberie hath a house here The auncient house of Gams The Armes of the Gams The Armes of one Waters His name was Reynold Debreos Glasseberies Bridge is within two myle of Portthamwel Maister Robert Knowles that maried one of the heires of the Vaughhans hath a fayre house and a Parke at Portthamwell The names of streates there Castle streate Broad streate Old streate And the Mill streate A fayre house by the gate of the making of Iustice Walter Nere this is a fayre house of Maister Sackfords which he lid buyld and a fayre house that Master Secretarie Foxe did bestowe great charges on a house that Maister Berrie dwelles in M. Townesend hath a fayre house at Saint Austins once a Frierie The Lord President Sir Harrie Sidneys Daughter called Ambrosia is entombed here in most brauest maner and great chargeable workmanship on the right hand of the Aulter On the same is my Lord of Warwicks Armes excelleÌ„tly wrought and my Lord Presidents Armes and others are in like sort there richly set out Sir Robert Townes-end Knight lyes in a maruelos fayre Tombe in the Queere here and his wife by him at his feete is a red Rowbuck and a word tout en dieu On the left hand Hozier lyes in the bodie of the Church On the right hand Cookes lyes This man was my mothers father Beawpy was a great ritch and verteous man he made another Chantrie The Castle of Ludloe Sir Harry Sidney built many things here worthie praise and memorie Ouer a Chimney excellently wrought in the best chamber is S. Androwes Crosse ioyned to Prince Arthurs Armes
in the hall windowe All that followes are Armes of Princes and Noblemen The great water called TeaÌ„ comes 17. mile froÌ„ a place called the Whitehall neere vnto Begyldie in the County of Radnor The Forrest of Brenwood is west from the towne The Chace of Mocktrie and Oâ—kley Parkes staÌ„ds not farre from thence A deuice of the Lord Presidents He gaue great possessions large liberties and did incorporate them with many goodly freedomes That Towne hath bin well gouerned a loÌ„g while with two Bayliefes twelue Aldermen and fiue and thirtie Commoners a Recorder a Townclarke assistant to the sayd Bayliefes by iudiciall course of lawe weekely in as large and ample maner for their triall betweene partie and partie as any Cittie or Borrowe of England hath The poore haue sweete lodgings each one a part to himselfe An Hospitall called S. Iones A Guyld that King Edward by Letters Pattents gaue to the Bayliefs and Burgesses of the towne The AldermeÌ„ are Iustices of the Peace for the time being A deuice of the Author called Reasons threatning The Author borne in Shrewseburie Shrewseburie the marshes of Wales Reasons threatning is done The priuie blowes that Reason giues For feare of shame slouthfull men are well occupied Newe buildings makes old deuice blush Labour reapes reward Many well borne and rich in Shrewseburie Diuers Almes houses in Shrewseburie and hath bin there mainteyned in old time Shrewseburie and Wales are like in courtesie Fayre wordes and reuerence is a common thing there Good nature and good maners shewes good mynds Stout behauiour is rather abhorred then embraced Many of wales wealthie men in Shrewseburie A deepe deuice the foundation of Shrewseburie The Castle built in such a braue plot that it could haue espyed a byrd flying in euery streate A matter to be marked A Knight lyes crosselegged in S. Maries his name is Leyborne Of the same of Churches Of the Riuer of Seuarne A notable Riuer called Seuarn running vnder two faire bridges of stone There is a bridge called Welshbridge which shewes Shrewseburie to be of Wales The Castle though old and ruynate stands most braue and gallantly Maister Prince his house staÌ„ds so trim and finely that it graceth all the Soyle it is in Here is the way to Meluerley to Wattels Borrow where Ma. Leighton dwelles to Cawx Castle Lord Staffords and to Maister Williams house Aldermen in Scarlet orderly in Shrewseburie and two Bayliefes as richly set out many Mayor of some great Cities Great costly banquetting in Christmas and at all Sessions Sizes A matter of trafficke to be noted and coÌ„sidered of London compared to the flowing Sea The great must maintaine the smal Ludloe is set out after Ozestrie and Bishops Castle doth front in Wales Of a notable market a meruclous matter Poore folkes makes fewe words in bargayning The blessednesse of plaine people A rare report yet truely giuen of Wales You must reade further before you finde Ludloe described The Authors forgetfulnesse clensed A pleasant and artificiall peece of grouÌ„d Maister Aston was a good and godly Preacher A Friery house stood by this ground called the Welsh Fryers In Shrewseburie were three Fryer houses A briefe discourse of auncient tyme. The occasion of buylding strong Holds Wales hath a wonderfull number of Castles A description of Denbighshiere A conceyted toy to set a broach an earnest matter Being Muster-maister of Kent more chargeable then well coÌ„sidered of there Chirke Castle a goodly and princely house yet Keeryock a wondrous violent water Maister Iohn Edwards hath a fayre house nere this Newe Bridge on the Riuer Dee A strauÌ„ge nature of a water There is a poole in Meryonethshiere of three myle long rageth so by storme that it makes this Riuer flowe Ruabon Church is a fayre peece of worke This Gentleman was called Iohn Bellis Eytton Offaes Dyke Wats Dyke Robert Howell lyes there a Gentleman In Maylor are all these Gentlemen Maister Roger Pilsons house at Itâ—hlay Maister Almmer at Pantyokin Maister Iohn Pilson of Bersan Maister Edward Iones of Cadoogan Maister Iames Eaton of Eatton Maister Edward Eaton by Ruabon Maister Owen Brueton of Borras Maister Iohn Pilson of Haberdewerne Maister Thomas Powell of Horsley Maister Iohn Treuar of Treuohn Agene all praise of all Gentlemen inhabiting of any Countrey Holt Castle an excellent fine place the Riuer of Dee running by it Maister Hues dwelles there Maister Euan Flud dwelles in Yale in a fayre house Castle Dynosebraen on a wooddie hill on the one side Greene Castle on the other A Bridge of stone very faire there stands ouer Dee Maister Lakon Ma. Thlude of Yale The names of the Riuers of Denbighshire Keeriock parts Shropshere DeÌ„bighshere before Chirk Dee at newe Bridge and Thlangothlen Aleyn in the valley of Yale Clanweddock in the fayre vale of Dufrin Cloyd Cloyd receiues Clanweddock and Elwye by Saint Asse Istrade by Denbigh Raihad comes to the Voâ—â—ney Keynthleth comes into Rayhad The Castle of Wrythen is yet outwardly a marueilous faire and large princely place There is a Poole here abouts that hath in it a kynd of fish that no other water can shewe A Riuer called Aleyn in the valley of Yale The valley of Yale The Earle of Kent lyes here An Anckres in King Henrie the fourths tyme buryed here The pleasant vale of Diffrin Cloyd The Vale throughly described Three Riuers in this Vale. A naturall secret touched Thomas Salesburie of Lleweni Robert Salesburie of Bachenbid Foulk Lloyd of Houllan Piers Holland of Kynmel Piers Owen of Abergele Edward Theleall of Beren William Wyn of Llamuaire Elis Price of Spitty Iohn Middleton The strongest Castle seate that euer man beheld Marke wel the situation and buylding of the same A practise by the Author proued A great glorie giuen to Denbigh The Abbey of Valey Crucis Castle Dynosebraen A goodly bridge of stone here The Towne and the bridge with the vyolent Riuer before that Towne A little spoke of Fluntshiere The Author fell sicke here The writer takes here breath till a better season serues
must I write to furnish foorth this booke Some Shieres doe part at Waters tryall showes There who so list vpon the same to looke Dulace doth runne along vnto the Hay So Hartford shiere from Breakenoke parteth there Brennick Deelyes Thlauenny as they say At Tawllgath méetes so into Wye they beare From Arthurs Hill Tytarell runnes apace And into Oske and Breakenoke runnes his race Nere Breakenoke Towne there is a Mountaine hye Which shewes so huge it is full hard to clime The Mountaine seemes so monstrous to the eye Yet thousands doe repayre to that sometime And they that stand right on the top shal see A wonder great as people doe report Which common brute and saying true may bee But since in deede I did not there resort I write no more then world will witnesse well Let them that please of those straunge wonders tell What is set downe I haue it surely seene As one that toyld and trauayld for the troth I will not say such things are as I weene And frame a verse as common voyces goeth Nor yet to please the humors of some men I list not stretch nor racke my termes awry My muse will not so farre abuse the pen. That writer shall gayne any blot thereby So he haue thanke in vsing ydle quill He seekes no more for paines and great good will ¶ Ludloe Towne Church and Castle THE Towne doth stand most part vpon an Hill Built well and fayre with streates both large and wide The houses such where straungers lodge at will As long as there the Councell lists abide Both fine and cleane the streates are all throughout With Condits cleere and wholesome water springs And who that lists to walke the Towne about Shall finde therein some rare and pleasant things But chiefly there the ayre so sweete you haue As in no place ye can no better craue The Market house where Corne and Cates are sold Is couered ore and kept in finest sort From which ye shall the Castle well behold And to which walke doe many men resort On euery side thereof fayre houses are That makes a shewe to please both mynd and eye The Church nere that where monuments full rare There is wherein doth sondrie people lye My pen shall touch because the notes I finde Therein deserue to be well borne in minde Within the Quere there is a Ladie layd In Tombe most rich the top of fayre Touchstone There was bestow'd in honour of this mayd Great cost and charge the trueth may well be knowne For as the Tombe is built in sumptuous guise So to the same a closet fayre is wrought Where Lords may sit in stately solemne wise As though it were a fine deuice of thought To beautifie both Tombe and euery part Of that fayre worke that there is made by arte Against that Tombe full on the other side A Knight doth lye that Iustice Townesend hight His wife likewise so soone as that she dyed In this rich Tombe was buryed by this Knight And trueth to tell Dame Alice was her name An Heire in deede that brought both wealth and land And as world sayth a worthie vertuous Dame Whose auncient Armes in colours there doth stand And many more whose Armes I doe not knowe Unto this Knight are ioyned all a roe Amid the Church a Chantrie Chappell stands Where Hozier lyes a man that did much good Bestow'd great wealth and gaue thereto some lands And helpt poore soules that in necessitie stood As many men are bent to win good will By some good turne that they may freely showe So Hoziers hands and head were working still For those he did in det or daunger knowe He smyld to see a begger at his doore For all his ioye was to reléeue the poore Another man whose name was Cookes for troth Like Hozier was in all good gifts of grace This Cookes did giue great lands and liuings both For to maintaine a Chauntrie in that place A yéerely dole and monthly almes likewise He ordaynd there which now the poore doe mis His wife and he within that Chappell lyes Where yet full plaine the Chauntrie standing is Some other things of note there may you see Within that Church not touched now by mée Yet Beawpy must be nam'd good reason why For he bestow'd great charge before he dyde To helpe poore men and now his bones doth lye Full nere the Font vpon the formost side Thus in those daies the poore was lookt vnto The rich was glad to fling great wealth away So that their almes the poore some good might do In poore mens boxe who doth his treasure lay Shall finde againe ten fold for one he leaues Or els my hope and knowledge me deceiues THE Castle now I mynd here to set out It stands right well and pleasant to the vewe With sweete prospect yea all the field about An auncient Seate yet many buildings newe Lord Presdent made to giue it greater fame But if I must discourse of things as true There are great works that now doth beare no name Which were of old and yet may pleasure you To see the same for loe in elders daies Was much bestow'd that now is much to praise Prince Arthurs Armes is there well wrought in stone A worthie worke that fewe or none may mend This worke not such that it may passe alone For as the tyme did alwaies people send To world that might excéede in wit and spréete So sondrie sorts of works are in that Seate That for so hye a stately place is méete Which shewes this day the workmanship is greate Looke on my Lords and speak your fancies throw And you will praise fayre Ludloe Castle now In it besides the works are here vnnam'd A Chappell is most trim and costly sure So brauely wrought so fayre and finely fram'd That to worlds end the beautie may endure About the same are Armes in colours sitch As fewe can shewe in any Soyle or place A great deuice a worke most rare and ritch Which truely shewes the Armes the blood and race Of sondrie Kings but chiefly Noble men That here in prose I will set out with pen. Sir Walter Lacie was first owner of Ludloe Castle whose Armes are there and so followes the rest by order as you may reade Ieffrey Genyuile did match with Lacie Roger Mortymer the first Earle of Martchy an Earle of a great house matcht with Genyuile Leonell Duke of Clarence ioyned with Ulster in Armes Edmond Earle of Marchy matched with Clarence Richard Earle of Cambridge matcht with the Earle of Marchy Richard Duke of Yorke matcht with Westmerland Edward the fourth matcht with Woduile of Riuers Henry the seuenth matcht with Elizabeth right heire of England Henry the eight matcht with the Marquese of Penbroke These are the greatest first to be named that are there set out worthely as they were of dignitie and birth Now followes the rest of those that were Lord Presidents and others