educated besides many other learned men William from this town called Malmsburiensis William of Malmesbury to whose learned industry the civil and ecclesiastical History of England are greatly indebted The town entirely supported by the abbey was fortify'd by Roger Bishop of Salisbury who when the War broke out between Henry of Anjou and King Stephen strengthen'd it with walls and a Castle which was once in vain besieg'd by King Henry 2. l A. D. 1152. The Castle indeed made a brave defence but all the Historians say it was taken at last by Duke afterwards King Henry This magnificent Bishop erected buildings here and at Salisbury for space very large for cost very chargeable for shew very beautiful The stones are set in such exact order that the joynts cannot be seen and the whole structure seems to be but one stone But the castle not long after by the permission of King John was rased for the convenience of the Monks that so the abbey might be enlarg'd which daily increas'd in building and revenues till the fatal dissolution of Monasteries Then the lands and riches which had been so many years in gathering were dissipated tho' in ancient times they were thought to be the good works of pious Christians Concil Aquisgran penance for sins and the patrimony of the poor And the Church it self had suffered the same fate had not one Stump a rich clothier by a great deal of intercession and more money recover'd it for the use of the Town 's folks who turn'd it into a Parish-Church and a great part of it is yet remaining f From Malmsbury the Avon runs to Dantesey Dantesey which gave name to the Lords of it Knights once very eminent in these parts from whom it descended to the Easterlings commonly known by the name of Stradlings and from them to the family of Danvers Of which Henry Danvers was lately dignified by the favour of K. James with the title and honour of Baron Danvers of Dantesey g Baron Danvers Six miles from hence the Avon receives from the east a rivulet which runs through Calne Caln an ancient little town on a stony ground adorned with a neat Church where during the contentions between the Monks and secular Priests about the Coelibacy of the Clergy A Synod about the Coelibacy of the Clergy a great Synod was conven'd A. D. 977. But in the midst of the dispute the Convocation-house in which the States of the Kingdom were assembled the beams breaking and the timber-frame bursting asunder suddenly fell to the ground together with the Bishops and Nobility of the Kingdom by which fall most were bruis'd and some kill'd but Dunstan alone President of the Synod and of the Monks party escaped unhurt By which miracle for so it was accounted in those times m Malmesbury indeed makes it a miracle to confirm the cause of the Monks but Huntingdon and Bromton say it was a Judgment upon the Nobility for betraying and murdering their late K. Edward the cause of the Monks was probably very much confirmed From hence the Avon now grown bigger runs to Chippenham Chippenham by the Saxons call'd Cyppanham now only famous for its market from whence it had it's name for Cyppan in the Saxon language signifies to traffick Cyppan what it is and Cypman a Merchant and we yet retain Cheppen and Chappman or as the Germans say Coppman n Of the same original is Cheapside in London In those times it was the Country-house of the Saxon Kings which King Alfred by his Will bequeathed to his younger daughter Now there is nothing worth seeing but the Church built as is evident from their Coats of Arms on the Walls by the Lords Hungerford h Over against this town tho' at some distance from the river lies Cosham Cosham now a small village heretofore honour'd with the Country palace of King Ethelred and the retiring-house of the o The inhabitants still enjoy several privileges granted them by Richard Earl of Cornwall and Edmund Earl of the same place obtain'd a Charter for a weekly market Since the Restoration Margaret Hungerford built here an Alms-house and Free-school Earls of Cornwall From hence one may see Castlecomb Castlecomb an ancient castle famous upon the account of the Walters of Dunstavill Lords of it 6 Men of great renown in their time from whom the Wriothesleys Earls of Southampton derive their pedigree For Petronilla 7 Or Parnel the daughter and heir of the last Walter married Rob. de Montford and had a son named William who sold this castle and the rest of his lands to Bartholomew Badilsmer from whom it came as I have heard to the Scroops who have held it ever since But let us now again follow the course of the river on which lieth Leckham Leckhâ—â— the estate of the noble family of the Bainards where Roman coins are very often found as also Lacock p Leland says that in a field by Lacock much Roman money us'd to be found and it is call'd Silverfield Lacock where that pious matron Ela Countess of Salisbury in her widowhood built as she did likewise at Henton q In the County of Somerset a Monastery A. D. 1232. to the honour of the Blessed Virgin and S. Bernard in which she devoted her self soul and body to the service of God The Avon whose banks are thick set with trees hath not run far beyond Brumham once the seat of the Lord 8 Or truly De S. Amando St. Amand. Afterward of the Bainton from them * De â— Amaâ—â— Samond before it receives a rivulet from the east which riseth near the castle De Vies Devises or the Vies the Divisio of Florentius Wigorn. The Vies Devâ—â—â— The Divisae of Neubrigensis It was once a noble castle strongly fortify'd by art and nature but now ruin'd by the injury of time This was built at the vast expence of Roger Bishop of Sarum that it might excell all the castles in England This man's fortune had advanc'd him from a poor Mass-priest to be the second man in the kingdom But fortune as one saith hath favour'd no man so far as to exempt him from the fear of losing whatever she gave him For K. Stephen being angry with him took from him this castle and that of Shirburn together with all his great riches and so plagu'd the poor old man in prison with hunger and other troubles that between the fear of death and the torments of life he was unwilling to live and knew not how to die About this time it was very much controverted whether it is lawful for Bishops by the Canon-law to hold Castles and if this by permission was allow'd whether in troublesome times they ought not to be at the King's disposal i The Avon conjoyn'd with this rivulet bends it's course toward the west and presently another brook from the south runneth into it
the Church is roof'd with lofty Arches of square work †Pari commissura the joints answering one another but on both sides it is enclos'd with a double Arch of stones firmly cemented and knit together Moreover the Cross of the Church made to encompass the middle Quire of the ‖ Canentium Domino Singers and by its double supporter on each side to bear up the lofty top of the middle tower first rises singly with a low and strong arch then mounts higher with several winding stairs artificially ascending and last of all with a single wall reaches to the wooden roof well cover'd with lead But 160 years after Henry the third demolish'd this Fabrick of Edward's and erected a new one of curious workmanship supported by several rows of marble Pillars and leaded over which was fifty years in building This the Abbots very much enlarg'd towards the west and Henry the seventh for the burial of himself and * Suorum his children added to the east part of it a Chapel of a most neat and admirable contrivance call'd by Leland the miracle of the world for you 'd say that all the Art in the world is crowded into this one work wherein is to be seen his own most splendid and magnificent Monument made of solid brass q After the expulsion of the Monks it had several revolutions first it had a Dean and Prebendaâ—ies next one single Bishop Thomas Thurlbey who after he had squander'd away the revenues of the Church gave it up and surrender'd it 42 Surrender'd it to the spoil of Courtiers to the Dean Presently after the Monks and their Abbot were restor'd by Queen Mary but they being quickly ejected by Authority of Parliament Queen Elizabeth converted it into a Collegiate Church nay I may say a Nursery of the Church For she settl'd twelve Prebendaries as many old Souldiers past service forty Scholars calld King's Scholars sent successively to the Universities and thence transplanted into Church and State c. Over all these she constituted a Dean 43 Over these she plac'd Dr. Bill Dean whose Successor was which dignity not long since was honourably bore by Dr. Gabriel Goodman a person of singular worth and integrity and a particular Patron both to me and my studies There were bury'd in this Church to run over those likewise in order Princes bury'd in Westminster-Abbey and according to their Dignity and the time when they dy'd Sebert first 44 And first Christian King of the East-Angles Harold bastard-son of Canutus the Dane King of England St. Edward King and Confessor with his Queen Editha Maud wife to King Henry the first and daughter to Malcolm King of Scots Henry the third Edward the first his son with Eleanor his wife daughter to Ferdinand third King of Castile and Leon. King Edward the third and Philippa of Hanault his wife Richard the second and Anne his wife sister of the Emperour Wenzelaus Henry the fifth with his wife Catharine daughter of Charles the sixth King of France Anne wife of Richard the third and daughter of Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick Henry the seventh with his wife Elizabeth 45 Daughter to King Edward 4. and his mother Margaret Countess of Richmond K. Edward the sixth Anne of Cleve fourth wife to K. Henry 8. Queen Mary and one not to be mention'd without the highest expressions both of respect and sorrow I mean our late most serene Lady Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory the darling of England a Princess endow'd with heroick Vertues Wisdom and a greatness of Mind much beyond her Sex and incomparably skill'd both in Things and Languages Here she lyes bury'd in a stately Monument erected for her out of a pious veneration by King James But alas how inconsiderable is that Monument in comparison of the noble qualities of so great a Lady She her self is her own Monument and a more magnificent and sumptuous one too than any other For let those noble actions recommend her to the praise and admiration of Posterity RELIGION REFORM'D PEACE ESTABLISHT MONEY REDUC'T TO ITS TRUE VALUE A MOST COMPLEAT FLEET BUILT NAVAL GLORY RESTOR'D REBELLION SUPPRESS'D ENGLAND FOR XLIIII YEARS TOGETHER MOST PRUDENTLY GOVERN'D ENRICHT AND STRENGTHEN'D SCOTLAND FREED FROM THE FRENCH FRANCE IT SELF RELIEV'D THE NETHERLANDS SUPPORTED SPAIN AW'D IRELAND QUIETED AND THE WHOLE WORLD TWICE SAIL'D ROUND The Dukes and Lords that have been bury'd here are Edmund Earl of Lancaster younger son to King Hen. 3. Avelina de Fortibus Countess of Albemarle his wife William and Audomar de Valentia of the family of Lusignia Earls of Pembroke Alphonse John and other Children of K. Edward 1. John de Eltham Earl of Cornwall son of K. Edward 2. Thomas de Woodstock Duke of Glocester youngest son of Edw. 3. with others of his children Eleanor daughter and heir of Humfrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex wife to Thomas de Woodstock the young daughters of Edw. 4. and Hen. 7. Henry young son of Hen. 8. who dy'd at 2 months old Sophia daughter of K. James 1. who dy'd ‖ Primo aetatis diluculo almost assoon as born Philippa Dutchess of York Lewis Viscount Robsert of Hanault in right of his wife Lord Bourchier Anne the young daughter and heir of John Moubray D. of Norfolk betroth'd to Rich. D. of York younger son to K. Edw. 4. 46 Sir Giles Daubeney Giles Daubeney Lord Chamberlain to K. Hen. 7. and his wife of the family of the Arundels in Cornwall Viscount Welles Frances Brandon Dutchess of Suffolk Mary her daughter Margaret Douglas Countess of Lenox grand-mother to James K. of Great Britain with Charles her son Winefrid Bruges Marchioness of Winchester Anne Stanhop Dutchess of Somerset and Jane her daughter Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford daughter of Baron Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England with her mother Mildred Burghley Elizabeth Berkley Countess of Ormond Frances Sidney Countess of Sussex 47 James Butler instead of Thomas Butler Thomas Butler Viscount Thurles son and heir of the Earl of Ormond Besides Humfrey Bourchier Lord Cromwell another 48 Sir Humfrey Bourchier Humfrey Bourchier son and heir of the Lord Berners both slain in Barnet-fight 49 Sir Nicholas Carew Baron Carew instead of Nicholas Baron Carew Nicholas Baron Carew the Baroness of Powis Thomas Baron Wentworth Thomas Baron Wharton John Lord Russel Thomas Bromley Lord Chancellour of England Douglasia 50 H. Howard Howard daughter and heir of Viscount Bindon wife of 51 Sir Arthur Gorges Arthur Gorge Elizabeth daughter and heir of Edward Earl of Rutland wife of William Cecil 52 Sir John Puckering John Puckering Keeper of the Great Seal of England Frances Howard Countess of Hertford Henry and George Cary father and son Barons of Hunsdon and Lord Chamberlains to Q. Elizabeth the heart of Anne Sophia the young daughter of Christopher Harley Count de Beaumont Embassador in England from the French King put in a golden little Urn upon a Pyramid 53 Sir Charles Blunt Earl c. instead of Charles Earl of Devon c. Charles Earl of Devonshire Lord Deputy
without issue was succeeded by his brother Roger whose son Richard marry'd Amicia daughter and coheir of William Earl of Glocester and in right of her his posterity were Earls of Glocester whom you may find in their proper place But at last upon default of heir-male Leonel third son of Edw. 3. who had marry'd Elizabeth daughter and sole heir of William de Burgo Earl of Ulster by Elizabeth Clare was honour'd by his father with the new title of Duke of Clarence But he having only a daughter call'd Philippa wife of Edmund Mortimer Earl of March King Henry 4. created his younger son Thomas Duke of Clarence Dukes of Clarence who was Governour of Normandy 7 As also Lord High Steward of England and Earl of Albemarle and in the assaults of the Scots and French was slain in Anjou leaving no issue behind him A considerable time after Edward 4. conferr'd this honour upon George his brother whom after bitter quarrels and a most inveterate hatred between them he had receiv'd into favour yet for all that he at length dispatch'd him in prison ordering him to be drown'd as the report commonly goes †In dolio vini Cretici in a butt of Malmesey And thus 't is planted in the nature of man to hate those they fear and those with whom they have had quarrels for life even tho' they be brethren e From Clare the Stour runs by Long-Melford a beautiful Hospital lately built by that excellent person Sir William Cordall Knight Master of the Rolls to Sudbury Sudbury i.e. the Southern burrough which it almost encompasses The common opinion is e For Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction it has still something of preheminence the County being divided into the two Archdeaconries of Suffolk and of Sudbury that this was once the chief town of the County and that it had the name given it with respect to Norwich i.e. the northern village And indeed at this day it has no reason to give place to it's neighbours For 't is populous and thrives exceedingly by the Cloth-trade it 's chief Magistrate also is a Mayor who is annually chosen out of the seven Aldermen Not far from hence is Edwardeston Edwardeston a place of no great repute at present but had formerly Lords and inhabitants of great honour call'd de Monte Canisio and commonly Mont-chensy Barons de Montchensy Of which family Guarin marry'd the daughter and co-heir of that most powerful Earl of Pembroke William Marshal and had by her a daughter Joanna who brought to her husband William de Valentia of the family of Lusigny in France Minor Hist Matth. Par. the title of Earl of Pembroke That Guarin Mont-chensy as he had great honours so likewise had he a very plentiful fortune insomuch that in those times he was call'd the Crassus of England his Will amounting to no less than two hundred thousand marks f 8 No small wealth as the standard was then From a younger brother or cadet of this house of Montchensie issu'd by an heir-general the fâ—â—â—ly of the Waldgraves who having long flourisht in Knightly degree at Smaltbridge nearer to Stour as another family of great account in elder age 〈◊〉 Buers which was thereof sirnamed A few miles from hence the Stour is encreas'd by the little river Breton which within a small compass washes two towns of Antiquity At the head of it we see Bretenham a little inconsiderable town without almost any appearance of a City and yet that it is the Combretonium Combretonium mention'd by Antoninus in those parts is evident both from the affinity and signification of the name For as Bretenham Bretenham in English implies a town or mansion upon the Breton so does Combretonium in Welsh a valley or low place upon the Breton But this place in the Peutegerian Tables is falsly call'd Comvetronum and Ad Covecin A little way from hence to the east is seen Nettlested 9 Whence was Sir Thomas Wentworth whom King Henry 8. honour'd with the title of Baron Wentworth from whence are the Wentworths Baâ—ons Wentworth whom King Henry the eighth honour'd with the dignity of Barons and neighbour to it is Offton i.e. the town of Offa King of the Mercians where upon a chalky hill there lye the ruins of an old Castle which they tell you was built by King Offa after he had villanously cut off Ethelbert King of the East-Angles and seiz'd upon his kingdom 10 But to return to the river Breton on the banks of another brook that is joyn'd thereto stands Lancham a â—air market-town and near it the manour of Burnt-Elleie to which King Henry 3. granted a market at the request of Sir Henry Shelton Lord thereof whose pâ—sterity flourisht here for a long time Below this is Hadley in Saxon headlege famous at this day for making of woollen Cloaths but mention'd by our ancient Historians upon the account of Guthrum or Gormo the Dane's Guthrum or Gormo the Dane being buried here For when Alfred had brought him to such terms as to make him embrace Christianity and be baptiz'd he assign'd him this tract of the East-Angles that he might to use the words of my g Selden has observ'd it to be taken out of Malmesbury Not. MS. Author by a due Allegiance to the King protect those Countries he had before over-run with ravage and plunder From hence the Breton runs 11 Runs swiftly by Higham whence the family of Higham takes its name to Stour c. into the Stour whose united streams flowing not far from Bentley Bentley where the Talmaches a famous and ancient family have a long time flourisht within a few miles run near Arwerton Arwerton formerly the seat of the famous family of the Bacons 12 Who held this manour of Brome by conducting all the Footmen of Suffolk and Norfolk from St. Edmund's-dike in the wars of Wales now of the Parkers who by the father's side are descended from the Barons Morley and by the mother from the Calthrops a very eminent family Then they flow into the Ocean and the river Orwell or Gipping joyning them just at the mouth discharges it self along with them This rises about the very middle of the County out of two Springs one near Wulpett Wulpett the other at a little village call'd Gipping Wulpett is a Market-town and signifies in Latin Luporum fossa i.e. a den of Wolves if we believe Neubrigensis who has patcht up as formal a story about this place as is the * Vera narratio True Narrative of Lucian Namely how two little green boys †Ex Satyrorum genere born of Satyrs after a long tedious wandering through subterraneous Caverns from another world i.e. the Antipodes and the Land of St. Martin came up here If you would have more particulars of the story I refer you to the Author himself ‖ Omnibus rihonibus ridenda prâ—pinabit who
Confessor's Charter In consideration of 4000 Eeles in Lent the Monks of Ramsey shall have out of the Territory of St. Peter so much square stone as they need at Berneck and of rough stone for walls at Burch Beneath Berneck that Roman way which the neighbouring Inhabitants call the Forty-foot way from its breadth cuts this Shire in two between Caster and Stamford and appears in an high Causey especially by the little wood of Berneck where it has a Beacon set upon the very ridge and so runs along by Burghley-Park-wall Some few miles hence the Welland runs down by Maxey-Castle Maxey formerly belonging to the Barons of Wake and by Peag-Kirke Peag-Kirk Ingu phus where in the infancy of Christianity in England Pega a holy woman who gave name to that place sister of St. Guthlac with other devout Virgins by their life and example gave excellent documents of Piety and Chastity and so comes to the Fenns so often mention'd And by reason the bank on the South-side thereof is neglected the river over-flows the adjacent Lands to the great damage of the proprietors and having broken thus out of it's chanel which went formerly by Spalding it falls into the Nen and extreamly overcharges it The lesser Avon which is the other boundary as I said of this Shire northward but serves for a limit only about 5 or 6 miles breaking out of the ground near the springs of the Welland runs westward by 11 Suleby sometimes an Abby of black Monks and by c. Stanford Stanford upon Avon seat of the family of Cave Cave out of which several branches of good note have dispers'd themselves in all the neighbouring Tract also by Lilburne the seat in former ages of the Canvils That this hath been anciently a Roman Station I am persuaded by it's situation upon one of their Military ways by the ancient Trenches there and a little piked Hill cast up which some dug of late days in hopes of finding old hidden treasures but instead of Gold they met with Coals And thus this little river after it 's passing under Dowbridge leaves Northamptonshire and enters Warwickshire Bounds of the Ancients From the digging up of those Coals what if I should give a guess that this Hill was thrown up for a mark or Boundary since Siculus Flaccus tells us that either Ashes or Coals or Potsherds or broken Glasses or Bones half burnt or Lime or Plaister were wont to be put under such marks or limits and St. Augustin writes thus of Coals Lib. de Civ Dei 21. c. 4. Is it not a wonderful thing considering Coals are so brittle that with the least blow they break with the least pressure they are crush'd in pieces yet no time can conquer them insomuch that they that pitch'd Land-marks were wont to throw them underneath to convince any litigious fellow whatsoever that came never so long time after and should affirm that no Land-mark was there made And so much the rather am I inclined to this conjecture because they that have written of limits do inform us that certain Hillocks which they termed Botontines Boton tines Hence perhaps come our Buttings were plac'd in the limits So that I suppose most of these Mounts and round Hillocks which we see all hereabouts 12 And call Burrows were raised for this purpose and that Ashes Coals Potsherds c. might be found under them if they dug deeper into the ground Earls of Northampton The first Earl that this County had at least that I know of was Waldeof son of the warlike Siward who being also Earl of Huntingdon lost his head for treason against William the Conquerour leaving only two daughters behind him which he had by Judith the Conquerour's niece by a sister on the mother's side The Life 〈…〉 Simon * De S. 〈…〉 Sylvaneciensâ—â— Sinlis being scornfully rejected by Judith the mother upon account of being lame in his legs married Maud the eldest daughter and built St. Andrew's Church and the Castle at Northampton After him succeeded his son Simon 2. who was a long time at law about his mother's estate with David King of Scots his mother's second husband and having sided with King Stephen in the year of our Lord 1152. died with this ‖ Elogia elogy A youth full of every thing that was unlawful every thing that was unseemly His son Simon 3. going on with the suit against the Scots for his right to the Earldom of Huntingdon wasted his whole estate but thro' the favour of King Hen. 2. married the daughter and heir of Gilbert de Gant Earl of Lincoln and having at last recover'd the Earldom of Huntingdon and disseis'd the Scots died issueless in the year 1185. Many years after King Edw. 3. created William de Bohun a person of approved valour Earl of Northampton and when his elder brother Humfrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and High Constable of England was not able in that warlike Age to bear the charge of Constable he made him also High Constable of England After him his son Humfrey succeeding in the Earldom of Northampton as also in the Earldoms of Hereford and Essex upon his Uncle's dying issueless had two daughters the one married to Thomas of Woodstock youngest son to King Edw. 3. the other to Henry of Lancaster Duke of Hereford afterwards King of England The daughter of Thomas of Woodstock brought by her marriage this her grandfather's title of Northampton together with others into the family of the Staffords But when they had lost their honours King Edw. 6. honour'd William Par Earl of Essex a most accomplish'd Courtier with the title of Marquiss of Northampton who within our memory died issueless And now while I am upon this work our most serene Sovereign King James in the year of our Lord 1603. at one and the same time has advanced Henry Howard Brother of the last Duke of Norfolk a person of excellent wit and fluent eloquence a complete master of Arts and Sciences exceeding prudent and provident to the degree and stile of Baron Howard of Marnehill and the honour of Earl of Northampton There belong to this Shire 326 Parishes ADDITIONS to NORTHAMPTONSHIRE a THE County of Northampton at the time of the Conquerour's Survey was something larger than now it is For all the south part of Rutlandshire must have been taken out of it because in Domesday-book we meet with the towns in this tract under the title of Northamptonshire 'T is a County so plentiful in all things necessary to life that it does not need nor indeed will allow much of manufacture the ground abundantly maintaining and fully employing the Inhabitants * Full Wor. pag. 279. It is said that of Cloathing has been attempted with great application but at last came to nothing The thinness of it's woods observ'd by our Author and it 's distance from the sea so that no Coal can
ancient Palace The Inhabitants thereabouts think it to be the ruins of a City but others judge it to have been the Camp of either Penda or Oswald o Scarce three miles off stands Whittington Wittingâ—â—n not long since a castle of the Fitz-Warrens who derive their pedigree from 30 Sir Guarin Warren de Metz a Lorainer he took to wife the heiress of William Peverel who is said to have built it and had issue by her Fulk the father of the renown'd 31 Sir Fulk Fitz-Warren Fulk Fitz-Warren The life of 〈◊〉 writâ—en â—n â—â—ench whose strange and various fortune in war was very much admir'd by our Ancestors 32 And had Poems compos'd upon it In Henry the third's reign there was a Commission to Fulk Fitz-Warren to fortifie the castle of Whittington sufficiently as appears by the Close-rolls in the fifth year of that King's reign The Barony of these Fitz-Warrens 〈◊〉 Fitz-â—arren expir'd in a female having in the last age pass'd from the Hancfords to the Bourchiers now Earls of Bath Below this castle Wrenoc the son of Meuric held certain lands by the service of being Latimer between the English and Welsh that is an Interpreter This I have remark'd from an old Inquisition for the better understanding of the word Latimer â—he signifiâ—ation of Latâ—mer which few are acquainted with tho' it is a name very famous in this kingdom Upon the Northern bounds of this Shire first stands Shenton a seat of the Needhams 33 Blackmere an ancient family of the Lords L'estrange a famous family y Of this family was Sir Robert Needham Kt. who had considerable Commands during the war in Ireland under Queen Elizabeth He was afterwards Vice-President of the Council in the Marches of Wales and created by King Charles the first Viscount Kilmorey to him succeeded Thomas his son who built a noble house in this place and is succeeded in his honour by Robert Viscount Kilmorey his son and next White-church â—hite-â—hurch or the white Monastery famous for some monuments of the Talbots but more particularly for that of our English Achilles 34 Sir John John Talbot the first Earl of Shrewsbury of this family whose Epitaph I here insert not that it comes up to the character of such an Hero but only for a Specimen how the stile of every age varies in framing their monumental Inscriptions ORATE PRO ANIMA PRAENOBILIS DOMINI DOMINI IOANNIS TALBOTT QVONDAM COMITIS SALOPIAE DOMINI TALBOTT DOMINI FVRNIVALL DOMINI VERDON DOMINI STRANGE DE BLACK-MERE ET MARESCHALLI FRANCIAE QVI OBIIT IN BELLO APVD BVRDEWS VII IVLII MCCCCLIII That is Pray for the soul of the right honourable Lord Lord John Talbott sometime Earl of Shrewsbury Lord Talbott Lord Furnivall Lord Verdon Lord Strange of Blackmere and Marshal of France who died in battel at Burdews VII of July MCCCCLIII These Talbotts many years ago had the Inheritance of the Barons L'estrange of Blackmere â—â—rons Leâ—â—ange of â—â—ackmere 35 Who were sirnam'd Le Strange commonly and Extranei in Latin Records for that they were strangers brought hither by King Henry the second and in a short time their house was far propagated Those of Blackmere were much enricht by an heir of W. de Albo Monasterio or this Whit-Church and also by one of the heirs of John Lord Giffard of Brimsfield of ancient Nobility in Glocestershire by the only daughter of Walter Lord Clifford who were sometimes call'd Extranei that is Foreigners in right of their wives For they were Lords Marchers in this County and their seat in this neighbourhood call'd Blackmere from a Lake of blackish water is now almost quite ruin'd This family was much ennobled and their estates encreas'd by intermarriage with a daughter and coheir of John Giffard of Brimsfield of an honourable and ancient Family in Glocestershire whose wife Mawd was the only daughter of Walter Clifford the third More 36 Westward to the East lies Ellesmer Ellesmer a small tract of rich and fertile ground which according to the Chester-Chronicle together with the small castle King John settled upon Lewellin Prince of North-Wales when he made up the match between him and 37 Joan his base-base-daughter his natural daughter Afterwards 38 In the time of King Henry the third it came to the L'estranges or the Extranei but at present it has its Baron 39 Sir Thomas Thomas Egerton who for his singular wisdom and integrity was by Queen Elizabeth made Lord Keeper and afterwards by King James advanc'd to the highest dignity of the Long-robe by being made Lord Chancellour and created Baron of Ellesmer z Before he dy'd he was made Viscount Brackley Baron of Ellesmâ—r Now to say somewhat briefly of the Earls of Shrewsbury Earls of Shrewsbury Roger de Belesm or Montgomery was created by William the Conquerour first Earl of Shrewsbury who also had the greatest share of Lands given him in this kingdom of any of his Souldiers His eldest son Hugh immediately succeeded him but was afterwards slain in Wales leaving no issue behind him Next was Robert another of his sons a man barbarously cruel both towards his own sons and his hostages whose eyes he pull'd out and then gelded with his own hands But at last being attainted of High Treason he was punish'd by King Henry the first with perpetual imprisonment where his sufferings were answerable to the heinousness of his crimes a Malmesb. Hist Novell f. 99. The revenues of the Earldom were transferr'd to Queen Adelizia for her dower Many ages after King Henry the sixth in the twentieth year of his reign conferr'd this honour upon John Lord Talbot who by a natural genius as well as choice of profession seems to have been destin'd for military atchievements And in the 24th year of his reign he encreas'd his honours by adding to his title of Earl of Shrewsbury and Weisford that of Earl of Waterford the Barony of Dongarvan and Lieutenancy of Ireland He was afterwards slain in a battel at Chastillon 40 Upon Dordan near Bourdeaux in Aquitain with his younger son 41 Sir John Talbot John Viscount L'isle after he had scatter'd the Trophies of Victory over the best part of France for four and twenty years together His son John succeeded him whose mother was a daughter and coheir of 42 Sir Thomas Thomas Nevil Lord Furnivall but espousing the interest of the house of Lancaster he lost his life in the battel at Northampton From him 43 By a daughter of the Earl of Ormond descended John the third Earl of Shrewsbury and 44 Sir Gilbert Talbot Captain of Calais Gilbert from whom the Talbots of Grafton are descended 45 This third John had by his wife Katharine daughter to Henry Duke of Buckingham George the fourth Earl who serv'd King Henry the seventh valiantly and constantly at the battel of
Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland erected a large and magnificent Pile and designed to make it the seat of his Family principal and head town of this County is Kildar Kildar eminent in the first ages of the Irish Church for Brigid â— Brigid a virgin of great esteem for her devotion and chastity not she who about 240 years since instituted the Order of the Nuns of S. Brigid namely that within one Monastery both Men and Women should live together in their several apartments without seeing one another but one more ancient who lived about a thousand years ago was a disciple of S. Patrick and very famous both in Ireland Scotland and England Her miracles and the fire which never goes out being preserved and cherished in the * Adytis â—â—â—traliâ—â—â— inner sanctuary like that of Vesta by the sacred Virgins and still burns without any addition or increase of ashes are related by some Authors This town has the honour of being a Bishops See formerly stil'd in the Pope's Letters Episcopatus Darensis 14 And after the entrance of the English into Ireland was c. and was first the habitation of Richard Earl of Pembrook afterwards of William Marshall Earl of Pembrook his son in law by whose fourth daughter Sibill it came to William Ferrars Earl of Derby and by a daughter of his by her likewise to William Vescy whose son 15 William Lord Vescy William Vescy Lord Chief Justice of Ireland being out of favour with King Edward the first upon a quarrel between him and John the son of Thomas Fitz-Girald and having lost his only legitimate son gave Kildare and other lands of his in Ireland Aâ—chivâ—â—â—geta to the King upon condition he should infeoff his natural son sirnamed de Kildare with all his other lands in England A little after that the said John son to Thomas Fitz-Girald whose ancestors descended from Girald Windesor Castellan of Pembrook by their great valour did much service in the conquest of Ireland had the castle and town of Kildare together with the title and name of Earl of Kildare Earls of Kildar bestow'd upon him by King Edward the second These Fitz-Giralds or Geraldins as they now call them were very great men and particularly eminent for their brave actions who of themselves as one says preserved the sea-coasts of Wales and conquered Ireland And this family of Kildare flourished with their honour and reputation unsullied for a long time having never any hand in rebellions till Thomas Fitz-Girald son of Girald-Fitz-Girald Earl of Kildare and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in Henry the eighth's time upon the news that his father who was sent for into England and charg'd with male-administration was executed was so far transported by the heat of youth upon this false rumour that he rashly took up arms against his King and Country invited Charles the 5th to take possession of Ireland wasted the Country with fire and sword besieged Dublin and put the Archbishop thereof to death for which outrage he was soon after hang'd with five of his uncles his father being dead before of grief and trouble at these proceedings However this family was restored by Queen Mary to its ancient grandeur who promoted Girald brother of the said Thomas to the Earldom of Kildare and the Barony of Offaly 16 He ended this life about the year 1558. His eldest Son Girald died before his father leaving only one daughter married to Sir Robert Digby Henry his second son succeeded who when he had by his wife Lady Frances daughter to Charles Earl of Nottingham only two daughters William the third son succeeded to the Earldom who was drowned in passing into Ireland in the year 1599 having no issue And then the title of Earl of Kildare came to Girald Fiâ—z Girald son to Edward their uncle who wan restored to his blood in lineage to make title by descent lineal or collateral from his father and brother and all his ancestors any attainder or corruption of blood to the contrary notwithstanding his two sons Henry and William having both succeeded him without issue male the title of Earl fell to Girald Fitz-Girald their Cousin-german 17 With a fair patrimony seduced by the Religious pretext into Rebellion Other eminent towns in this county are Naas a market town Athie situate upon the river Barrow Mainoth a castle of the Earls of Kildare and endowed with the priviledge of a market and a fair by King Edw. the first in favour of Girald Fitz-Moris Castle-Martin the chief seat of the family of the Fitz-Eustaces descended from the Poers in the County of Waterford of whom Rowland Fitz-Eustace Barons Fitz Eustace for his great worth was made a Baron of Parliament by Edward the fourth and had the manour of Portlester bestow'd upon him as also the title of Vicount Baltinglas by Henry the eighth Pat. 2. Ed. 4. Viscounts Baltinglas all which dignities Rowland Fitz-Eustace lost 7 being banish'd in Q. Elizabeth's time for his treachery The more considerable families here besides the Fitz-Giralds are all likewise English the Ougans De-la-Hides Ailmers Walshes Boisels Whites Suttons c. As for the Gyant 's dance which Merlin by art magick transferred as they say out of this territory to Salisbury-plain as also the bloody battle to be fought hereafter between the English and the Irish at Molleaghmast I leave them for the credulous and such as doat upon the fabulous part of antiquity and vainly admire prophesies For it is not answerable to my design to dilate upon stories of this nature These are the midland Counties of Leinster now for those upon the sea coast The County of WEISFORD BElow that mouth from which the three sister-rivers the Barrow the Neore and the Swire empty themselves into the sea upon a Promontory eastward where the shore is rounding lies the County of Weisford or Wexford in Irish County a Which signifies Coarse or rough Reogh where the Menapii Menapii are placed by Ptolemy That these Menapii were the off-spring of the Menapii that peopled the sea-coast in the Lower Germany the name it self seems to intimate But whether that Carausius Carausius who put up for Emperor and held Britain against Dioclesian were of this or that nation Published by Sâ—hottus I leave to the discovery of others For * Aurelius Victor calls him a citizen of Menapia and the city Menapia is in Ireland and not in the Low-Countreys of Germany according to Geographers Upon the river Barrow in this County formerly flourished Ross a large b Now a burrough city of good trade and well inhabited fortified with a wall of great compass by Isabel the daughter of Earl Richard Strongbow which is the only remains of it at this day For the dissention between the citizens and the religious here has long since ruined the town and reduced it to little or nothing More eastward Duncanon Duncanon
plain there is a very pleasant prospect on all sides and a curious Index which they call a compass for the use of mariners The town is not very large but its name and reputation is very great among all nations and that not so much for the convenience of the harbour as for the excellence of the Natives 1 In sea-services of all sorts For to mention no others this town gave being to Sir Francis Drake Sir Francis Drake Knight in maritime atchievements without dispute the greatest Captain of our age Who first to repair the losses he had suffer'd from the Spaniards as I have heard himself say as it were block d up the Bay of Mexico for two years together with continual defeats and travell'd over the Straits of Dariena whence having descry'd the South-sea as the Spaniards call it it made such impression on his mind that like Themistocles inflam'd with the trophies of Miltiades he thought he should be wanting to himself his country and his own glory if he did not complete the discovery Therefore in the year 1577. going off from hence and entring that sea by the Straits of Magellan thro' the assistance of God and his own conduct tho' not without great change of fortune he next to Magellanus sail'd quite round the world in two years and ten months time Whereupon a certain Author has thus complemented him Drake pererrati novit quem terminus orbis Quemque semel mundi vidit uterque polus Si taceant homines facient te sydera notum Sol nescit comitis immemor esse sui Drake who in triumph round the world hast gone Whom both the Lines and both the Poles have known Should envious men their just applause deny Thy worth wou'd be the subject of the sky Phoebus himself wou'd sing thy deathless praise And grace his Fellow-trav'ller with his rays But the rest of his exploits and those of others born here that have flourish'd in marine atchievements being not within the compass of my design are left to Historians Nor have I any thing farther to add here but that in the reign of William Rufus Ealphege The Clergy first restrained from marrying in England a learned and a marry'd priest flourish'd in this place for before the year 1102. the Clergy were not prohibited to marry here in England Then Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury first introduced this violence to Scripture and humane nature as our Historians of that age complain and Henry of Huntingdon expresly of Anselm He prohibited the Clergy of England to have wives who before that were not prohibited Some thought it a matter of great purity others of great danger lest affecting cleanness above their power they should sink into horrible uncleanness to the great scandal of the Christian name More inward not far from the river Plim stands Plimpton Plimpton a pretty populous market-town where are still the reliques and deform'd ruins of a castle of which many held by tenure or as our Lawyers call it in Castle garde For this was the chief seat of the Red-versies or Riparii for both are read who were Barons of Plimpton and Earls of Devonshire e These were accounted Caput honoris Comitatus Devon having 89 Knights-fees appendant Afterwards by marriage the Castle mannour and honour of Plimpton together with the Earldom of Devonshire and other large Eâ—tates pass'd into the family of the Courtneys Next to this stood Plimpton S. Mary which lost it's glory not long since when the f Here was a College of a Dean and four Prebendaries that had been founded by some of the Saxon Kings but because they would not part with their wives they were displac'd by Bishop Warlewast and a Priory of Canons-Regular erected here Goodwin's Catal. of Bishops Dugdales's Monastic College of Prebends there was dissolv'd which William Warlewast Bishop of Exeter had formerly built More Eastward appears Modbery Modbery a small town which belongs to the famous and ancient family of the Campernulphs who are also call'd 2 In old Deeds De Campo Arnulphi and by the vulgar Champernouns Champernoun Knights who have had much honour by the heir of the Vautorts f From the Plim's mouth where the South shore of this region begins the Country goes on with a wide and large front as far as g It is in Saxon Steort Stert a promontory Stert 〈…〉 in Hâ—ghdutch as the word it self signifies in Saxon but assoon as the shore winds back again the river Dert rises which flowing from the inner part of the County by dirty and mountainous places thence called Dertmore Dertmâ—â—e where Load-stones have been lately found g falls then very steep and strong washing away with it the sands from the Stannaries which by degrees choak up its channel thro' the forest of Dertmore where David de Sciredun held lands in Sciredun and Siplegh Testa Nevilli for finding two arrows when our Lord the King came to hunt in that forest and then it runs by Dertinton the Barony heretofore of the Martins who were Lords of Keims in Wales as far as Totness Dirintâ—â— Totneâ—s This ancient little town situated from west to east upon the side of a hill was formerly of great note It did not geld according to Domesday but when Exeter gelded and then it yielded 40 pence and was to serve upon any expedition either by land or sea And Toteness Barnestaple and Lidford serv'd as much as Exeter paid King John granted them the power of chusing a Mayor for their chief Magistrate and Edw. 1. endow'd it with many Privileges and afterwards it was fortify'd with a Castle by the Zouches as the Inhabitants believe It was formerly the Estate of Judeal sirnam'd de Totenais afterwards of William Briwer a very noble Gentleman by one of whose daughters it came to the Breoses and from them by a daughter likewise to George de Cantelupo Lord of Abergeuenny whose sister Melicent being marry'd to Eudo de la Zouche brought it to the Barons Zouche and there it continued till John Baron Zouche being banish d for siding with Richard 3. Henry 7. gave it as I have heard to Peter Edgecomb a man both wise and noble h Just by this town stands Bery-Pomery denominated from the Pomeries Pomâ—y one of the noblest families in these parts who somewhat more to the eastward had a very neat Castle a little farther off from the bank They derive their pedigree from Radulph de Pomery who in William the Conqueror's time held Wich Dunwinesdon Brawerdine Pudeford Horewood Toriland Helecom and this Berie c. From Totnes the neighbouring shore was heretofore call'd Totonese and the British History tells us that Brutus the founder of the British nation arriv'd here and Havillanus as a Poet In â—â—â—treâ—â— following the same Authority writes thus Inde dato cursu Brutus comitatus Achate Gallorum spoliis cumulatis navibus aequor Exarat superis auraque faventibus
are Porlock â—ck 〈◊〉 in Saxon Portlocan and Watchet formerly Wecedpoort two harbours which in the year 886. suffer'd very much from the fury of the Danes b â—â—or Between these two lies Dunstor-castle in a low ground every way shut up with hills except on that side which faces the sea It was built by the Moions or Mohuns â—â—amily â—e Moâ—â—â—â— or â—â—â—â—ns from which it came by bargain to the Luterells This family of the Mohuns was for a long time very famous and powerful and flourish'd from the time of William the Conqueror under whom the Castle was built to the reign of Richard 2. Out of it were two Earls of this County William and Reginald who was depriv'd of that honour in the Barons war From that time their posterity were accounted Barons the last whereof John left three daughters Philippa wife of Edward Duke of York Elizabeth marry'd to William de Monte-acuto or Montacute second Earl of Salisbury of that name and Mawd to the Lord Lestrange of Knokyn The mother of these as the story goes obtain'd of her husband under this town so much ground for a * Compascuus ager Common to the inhabitants as she could go about barefoot in one day Near this castle are two small villages dedicated to two of their Country-Saints Carenton is the name of the one from Carentocus the Britain the other S. Decombes from Decumanus S. Decumanus who setting sail out of South-Wales landed here as we find it in an ancient Agonal in a horrid desert full of shrubs and briers the woods thick and close stretched out a vast way both in length and breadth strutting up with lofty mountains sever'd wonderfully by the hollow vallies Here bidding farewell to the world he was stab'd by an Assassin and so got the reputation of a Saint among the common people 3 And between those Clivers was an old Abby of White Monks founded by William de Romara Cosin to the Earl of Lincoln Stoke-Curcy Family of the Curcies a Barony so nam'd from the Lords of it lies at a little distance from the sea the seat of William de Curcy Butler to K. Henry 1. Of which family was that John de Curcy John de Curcy who took Ulster in Ireland a man design'd by nature to be great and honourable endu'd with a height of soul and a sort of majesty whose signal courage must be understood from the Irish Antiquities From thence to the Stertpoint the shore shoots out by little and little where two of the largest rivers in the whole county meeting together empty themselves at one mouth call'd by Ptolemy the aestuary of Uzella The aestuary of Uzella from the river Ivell which throws off that name before it comes here It rises in Dorsetshire and at it's first coming into Somersetshire gives it's name to a well-frequented market-town call'd Evell 4 Which rose by the decay of Ilchester and receives a little river upon which is Camalet Camalet a See Stow's Annals p. 60. Drayton's Polyolb p. 54. a steep mountain of a very difficult ascent in the top whereof are the plain footsteps of a decay'd Camp and a triple rampire of earth cast up including 20 acres 5 And there appear about the hill five or six ditches so steep that a man shall sooner slide down than go down The inhabitants call it Arthur's palace but that it was really a work of the Romans is plain from the Roman Coins daily digg'd up there c What they might call it I am altogether ignorant unless it be that Caer Calemion we meet with in Ninnius's Catalogue by a transposition of letters for Camelion 5 Hereby are two towns West-Camelet and East-Camelet or Queens Camelet happily for that it had been in dowry to some Queen Cadbury Cadbury the adjoining little village may by a conjecture probable enough be thought that Cathbregion where Arthur as Ninnius has it routed the Saxons in a memorable engagement Another town of the same name North-Cadbury was given by K. Henry 3. to b A funeral Inscription upon the Northern Wall of St. Margaret's Westminster mentions one John Mulys of Halmston in Devoushire familiâ oriundum sui nominis quae insignita erat olim titulo de North-Cadbury Nicholas de Moeles Moeles who had marry'd Hawisia one of the heiresses of James de Novo mercatu or New-market This man's posterity liv'd a long time in great splendour till John in Edward 3.'s time dying lest only issue 2 daughters Muriela and Isabel this marry'd to William Botereaux d and the other to Thomas Courtney 6 Here to digress aside from the river Ivel Wine-caunton no mean market is neighbour to this North Cadbury and near thereunto is Pen c. Here Holland has inserted the same account that Camden afterwards gives of Pen. From hence the river Jvel runs to Ischalis Ischalis mention'd by Antoninus now Jvelcester Jvelchester call'd if I mistake nor in Ninnius's Catalogue Pontavel-coit for Pont Jvel Coit i.e. a bridge over the Jvel in a wood and by Florence of Worcester Givelcester It is now famous for nothing but the market and its antiquity for now and then they dig up Coins of the Roman Emperours of gold brass and silver That it was formerly bb This town as Leland says is one of the most ancient in all that quarter has had 4 Parish-Churches whereof two had the ruines standing in his time the third was quite demolâ—sh'd and one us'd Itinerar Vol. 2. large and encompass'd with a double wall is evident from the ruines 7 And two towers upon the bridge about the coming in of the Normans it was a populous place having in it a hundred and seven Burgesses And at that time it was a place of strength and well fortify'd for in the year of Christ 1088. when the Nobility of England had form'd a wicked plot designing to depose William Rufus in order to advance Robert his Brother Duke of Normandy to the throne Robert Moubray a warlike man after he had burnt Bathe vigorously assaulted this place but all in vain However time has done what he could not compass and has at last as it were storm'd it A little more inward 8 By Langpout a proper market-town the confluence of Jvel and Pedred form a river-Island call'd Muchelney Michelney i.e. the large Island wherein are something of the walls of an old Monastery which Historians tell us was built by King Athelstan Pedred riv Pedred commonly Parret rises in the very south-bound of the County and with a winding channel runs by Crockherne in Saxon Crucâ—rne and by Pedderton Pedderton to which it gave the name formerly Pedridan the palace of King Ina now famous only for a market and Fair procur'd of Henry 6. by Henry Daubeney then the Parret runs into the Jvel and robs it of it's name Three miles hence towards the East
this city being both besieg'd and storm'd first surrender'd it self to the Saxons and in a few years as it were recovering it self took the new name of Akmancester q and grew very splendid For Osbrich in the year 676. built a Nunnery and presently after when it came into the hands of the Mercians King Offa built another Church but both were destroy'd in the Danish Wars r Out of the ruins of these there grew up another Church dedicated to S. Peter to which Eadgar sirnam'd the Peaceful because he was there inaugurated King granted several immunities the memory whereof the inhabitants still keep up by anniversary sports In the times of Edw. the Confessor as we read in Domesday-book it gelded for 20 Hides when the Shire gelded There were 64 Burgesses of the King 's and 30 of others But this flourishing condition was not lasting for presently after the Norman Conquest Robert Mowbray nephew to the Bishop of Constance who rais'd a hot rebellion against William Rufus plunder'd and burn'd it But it got up again in a short time by the assistance of John de Villula of Tours in France who being Bishop of Wells did as Malmesbury informs us y Malmesbury has it quingentis libris i.e. 500 pounds for five hundred marks purchase the city of Henry 1. whither he translaâ—ed his See z He was only stil'd Bâ—shop of Bath subscribing himself commonly Joannes Lathon as Doctor Gaidot in his MS. history of the place has prov'd by several instances tho' still retaining the name of Bishop of Wells and built him here a new Cathedral But this not long ago being ready to drop down Oliver King Bishop of Bath laid the foundation of another near it exceeding large and stately which he well-nigh finish'd And if he had quite finish'd it without all doubt it had exceeded most Cathedrals in England But the untimely death of that great Bishop with the publick disturbances 38 And the suppression of Religious houses ensuing and the avarice of some persons who as t is said converted the money gather'd thro' England for that end to other uses envy'd it this glory s However from that time forward Bath has been a flourishing place both for the woollen manufacture and the great resort of strangers 39 For health twice a year and is now encompass d with walls wherein they have fix'd some ancient images and Roman Inscriptions to evidence the Antiquity of the place but age has so wore them out that they are scarce legible And lest any thing should be wanting to the Dignity of Bath Earls of Bath it has honour'd some of the Nobility with the title of Earl For we read that Philebert de Chandew born in Bretagne in France had that title conferr'd upon him by King Henry 7. Afterwards King Henry 8. in the 28th year of his reign created John Bourchier Lord Fitz-Warin Iâ—quis 31 Hen. 8. Earl of Bath 40 Who dyed shortly after leaving by his wife the sister of H. Daubenâ—y Earl of Bridgewater John second Earl of this family who by the daughter of George Lord Roos had John Lord Fitz-Warin who deceased before his father having by Frances the daughter of Sir Thomas Kitson of Hengrave Wâ—lliam now third Earl of Bathe who dying in the 31 year of the same King was succeeded by John his son who dy'd in the third year of Queen Elizabeth He before the death of his father had John Lord Fitz Warin from whom is descended William the present Earl of Bath who every day improves the nobility of his birth with the ornaments of learning ss Geographers make the Longitude of this City to be 20 degrees and 56 minutes the Latitude 51 degrees and 21 minutes For a conclusion take if you please those Verses such as they are concerning Bathe made by Necham who flourish'd 400 years ago Bathoniae thermas vix praefero Virgilianas Confecto prosunt balnea nostra seni Prosunt attritis collisis invalidisque Et quorum morbis frigida causa subest Praevenit humanum stabilis natura laborem Servit naturae legibus artis opus Igne suo succensa quibus data balnea fervent Aenea subter aquas vasa latere putant Errorem figmenta solent inducere passim Sed quid sulphureum novimus esse locum Scarce ours to Virgil's Baths the preference give Here old decrepit wretches find relief To bruises sores and ev'ry cold disease Apply'd they never fail of quick success Thus human ills kind nature does remove Thus nature's kindness human arts improve They 're apt to fancy brazen stoves below To which their constant heat the waters owe. Thus idle tales deluded minds possess But what we know that 't is a sulph'ry place Take also if you think them worth your reading two ancient Inscriptions lately digg'd up upon the high-way below the city in Waldcot-field and remov'd by Robert Chambers a great admirer of Antiquities into his gardens where I transcrib'd them C. MVRRIVS C. F. ARNIENSIS FORO IVLI. MODESTVS MIL. LEG II. * Adjâ—â—â—â—cis prae â—licis AD. P. F. IVLI. SECVND AN. XXV STIPEND †Hic sâ—â— est H. S. E. DIS MANIBVS M. VALERIVS M. POL. EATINVS * C. EQ MILES LEG AVG. AN. XXX STIPEN X. H. S. E. I saw likewise these Antiquities fasten'd on the inner side of the wall between the north and west gates Hercules holding up his left hand with his Club in the right In a broken piece of stone is this writing in large and beautiful letters * Decâ—â—ioni DEC COLONIAE †Glevi 〈◊〉 Glocester GLEV. VIXIT AN. LXXXVI Next leaves folded in Hercules bending two snakes and in a sepulchral table between two little images one whereof holds an Amalthaean horn there is written in a worse character and scarce legible D. M. SVCC PETRONIAE VIXIT ANN. IIII. * Meâ—â— M. IIII. †Dies D. XV. EPO MVLVS ET VICTISIRANA ‖ Filix â—rissime â—cerunt FIL. KAR. FEC A little below in a broken piece of stone and large letters is VRN IOP Between the west and south gates Ophiucus enfolded by a serpent two men's heads with curl'd locks within the copings of the walls a hare running and underneath in a great stone this in letters a cross VLIA ILIA A naked man as 't were laying hands upon a soldier also between the battlements of the walls leaves two lying kissing and embracing each other a footman brandishing his sword and holding forth his shield another footman with a spear and these letters a-cross on a stone III VSA IS VXSC. And Medusa's head with her snaky hairs t Upon the same river Avon which is the bound here between this County and Glocestershire on the western bank of it is Cainsham Cainâ—â— so nam'd from Keina a devout British Virgin whom many of the last age through an over-credulous temper believ'd to have chang'd serpents into stones Serpeâ—â— stones because they find sometimes in
amongst which is a pulpit of stone and a Chappel wherein they say that Jordan Companion to St. Austin the English Apostle was bury'd but 't is now a free-school This place not to mention the private houses is beautify'd on all sides with publick and stately buildings On one side with a Collegiate Church call'd Gaunts from its founder Sir Henry Gaunt Knight who quitting the affairs of this world here dedicated himself to God now by the munificence of T. Carre a wealthy citizen it is converted into a Hospital for Orphans On the other side over against it are two Churches dedicated to St. Austin the one but small and a Parish-Church the other larger and the Bishop's Cathedral adorn'd by King Henry 8. with six Prebendaries Now the greatest part of it is pull'd down and the College gate which indeed is curiously built has this Inscription REX HENRICVS II. ET DOMINVS ROBERTVS FILIVS HARDINGI FILII REGIS DACIAE HVIVS MONASTERII PRIMI FVNDATORES EXTITERVNT That is King Henry 2. and Lord Robert the son of Harding son to the King of Denmark were the first founders of this Monastery This Robert 42 Call'd by the Normans Fitz Harding Harding's son of the blood-roâ—al of Denmark was an Alderman of Bristol and was so great with King Henry 43 The second that by his favour Maurice his son marry'd the daughter of the Lord de Barkley from whence his posterity Barons of Barkley who flourish'd in great state are to this day call'd Barons of Barkley Register of the Monastery some whereof are bury'd in this Church aa From hence where the Avon runs are high rocks on both sides the river as if Nature had industriously design'd them One of these which hangs over the river on the east-side is call'd S. Vincent's and is so stock'd with Diamonds British Diamonds that one may get whole bushels of them But the great plenty lessens their true value among us for besides that by their transparency they even vie with those from the Indies they do not yield to them in any respect save hardness but their being smooth'd and fil'd by nature into six or four corners does in my mind render them more admirable bb The other rock on the western bank is likewise full of Diamonds which by a wonderful artifice of nature are contain'd in hollow reddish flints for the ground here is red as if they were big with young The Avon after it has pass'd by these rocks is at last with a full channel unloaded into the Severn-Aestuary cc It remains now that I reckon up the Earls and Dukes of this County of Somerset Earls and Dukes of Somerset The first Earl of Somerset is said to have been William de Mohun or Moion the same probably that b Vid. Hist Matth. Paris Minor Maud the Empress in her Charter whereby she created William de Mandevil Earl of Essex makes use of as a witness under the name of Comes W. de Moion i.e. Earl W. de Moion From this time there occurs no distinct mention of the Earls of Somerset unless it be in this Rescript of King Hen. 3. Patents an 1 Hen. 3. to Peter de Mawley which I will set down in order to incite others to spend their judgments upon it Know ye that we have receiv'd the homage of our belov'd Uncle William Earl of Sarum for all the lands which he holds of us especially for the County of Somerset which we have given to him with all the Appurtenances for homage and service reserving still to our selves the Royalties and therefore we command you that you grant him a full seisin of the said County with all it's Appurtenances and for the future not to intermeddle with any thing belonging to the said County c. And we charge all our Earls Barons Knights and Freetenents of the County of Somerset that they pay Fealty and Homage to the said Earl with reserve only of fidelity to the King and that for the future they be obedient and answerable to him as their Lord. Whether one may from hence conclude that he was Earl of Somerset as also of Devonshire for he writ too in the same words to Robert Courtney concerning this William I leave to the judgment of others Under this Henry 3. as we read in a Book in French belonging to the family of the Mohuns Knights 't is said that Pope Innocent on a solemn festival made Reginald Mohun Earl of Este i.e. as our Author interprets it of Somerset delivering him a golden Rose and granting an annual pension to be paid yearly at the altar of S. Paul's in London So that this man seems not so much to have been properly Earl as Apostolical Earl An Apostolical Eâ—â—â— for so such were term'd in that age who were created by the Pope as those created by the Emperour Imperial Earls having a power of licensing Notaries and Scribes making Bastards legitimate c. under some certain conditions A considerable time after John de Beaufort natural son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster by Catharine Swinford See the Earls of Dorset being with his brothers and sister made legitimate by K. Richard 2. by the assent of Parliament was advanc'd to the honour of Earl of Somerset and afterwards created Marquess of Dorset but was presently depriv'd of that honour by Henry 4. and had only the title of Somerset left him He had three sons Henry Earl of Somerset who dy'd young John created by K. Henry 5. first Duke of Somerset who had an only daughter Margaret mother to K. Henry 7. and Edmund who succeeded his brother in the Dukedom and was for some time Regent of France But being recall'd he was accus'd of having lost Normandy upon which account he suffer'd many indignities from the people and in that lamentable war between the two houses of Lancaster and York was slain in the first battle of S. Albans Henry his son succeeded him who being a time-server and one while siding with the house of York another with the house of Lancaster was by the York-party taken prisoner in the battle of Hexam and had his levity punish d with the loss of his head And his brother Edmund who succeeded him in this honour the last Duke of Somerset of this family after the defeat of the Lancastrian party at Tewksbury was dragg'd being all over blood out of the Church wherein he had taken Sanctuary and beheaded The legitimate heirs male of this family being thus extinct first Henry 7. honour'd Edmund his young son with this title who soon after dy'd and next Henry 8. his natural son Henry Fitz-Roy who dying without issue Edward 6. invested 44 Sir Edward c. Edward de Sancto Mauro commonly call'd Seimor with the same who being full of Honours and as it were loaded with Titles for he was Duke of Somerset Earl of Hertford Viscount Beauchamp Baron of S. Maur Uncle to the King Governour to
North-Cadbury which our Author tells us came into the family of the Botereauxs by the marriage of Isabella daughter of John de Moels It continu'd in the said family till the death of William the late Lord Botereaux who dying 2 Ed. 4. without issue-male this Lordship with a very great inheritance descended to Margaret his daughter and sole heir marry'd to Robert Lord Hungerford from whom it descended to Mary Lady Hungerford their great Grand-daughter who was marry'd to Edward Lord Hastings and Hungerford father to George the first of that sirname Earl of Huntingdon in which family it continu'd to the reign of James 1. that Sir Francis Hastings younger son to Francis Earl of Huntingdon being possess'd of the same and having no children did alienate it e Ivel continuing it's course towards the sea joyns with the river Parret which a little more northward is encreas d by the Thone Near the head of this stands Orchard Orchard formerly the inheritance of the Portmans But now that family being extinct in the late Sir William Portman he has left it to his Cousin-german by the mother's side Mr. Henry Seymour who now enjoys it and has his residence there ee Upon the Parret stands Bridgwater Earls of Bâ—idgewater the Earl whereof Henry Daubeny dying without issue-male this title lay dead till the 15 of Jac. 1. when it was conferr'd upon John Egerton Baron of Ellesmere Viscount Brackley and son to the Lord Chancellor Egerton He was succeeded by his son John and this John by a son of the same name f From hence let us go along with Mr. Camden north-west to Glassenbury Glassenbury where amongst other curiosities he mentions the budding of a Hawthorn-tree on Christmas-day The tree has been cut down these many years yet there are some still growing in the County from branches of that as particularly one in the garden of William Stroud Esq possessor of the ground where the other stood another in the garden of the White-hart Inn in Glassenbury g Farther northward are Mendippe-hills Mendippe-hills famous for the lead-mines free for any English-man to work in except he has forfeited his right by stealing any of the oar or tools of the others And their law or custom in that case is very remarkable The Groviers for so the Miners are call'd as the pits they sink are call'd Groves living at some distance leave their tools and the oar they have got sometimes open upon the hill or at best shut up in a slight hutt Whoever amongst them steals any thing and is found guilty is thus punish'd He 's shut up in a hutt and then dry fearn furzes and such other combustible matter is put round it and fire set to it When 't is on fire the Criminal who has his hands and feet at liberty may with them if he can break down his hutt and making himself a passage out of it get free and be gone but must never come to work or have to do any more on the hill This they call Burning of the hill There is lead also dug on Broadwell-down Broad-well and other parts thereabouts lying between Wrinton and Backwell About the west-end of Mendippe-hills is found plenty of Lapis Calaminaris lying near the surface of the earth This calcin'd and mix'd with copper makes brass Here are also some veins of Magnesia or Mangonesse and of Yellow Oker h In those hills is Ochie-hole otherwise call'd Wockey-hole Wockie-hole which latter is certainly the right coming from Æ¿oc which does not imply any hollowness as †Notes upon Polyolb p. 53. Selden would have it for that is express'd by hole but signifies crooked or as he also observes creeky not but that Æ¿oc might come from the British Ogo so that Camden's conjecture may be pertinent enough The inhabitants have broach'd strange and extravagant fables concerning this cave passing by those as impertinent the place is in it self so remarkable as very well to deserve our notice From a very narrow entrance it opens into a large vault the roof whereof either for it's height or the thickness of the air they who go in cannot discover by the light of candles they carry with them After having clamber'd over several rough and unequal passages amongst the moist rocks you come at last to a stream of very clear cold water In several places of this Cave one may see that the droppings of water encrease the rock and turn into stone in some places hanging down like icicles i Amongst those hills is Chuton Chuton famous for the seat of William Bonvill who lies interr'd with his Lady in the Chancel at Chuton It is now the Mannour as well as title of the present Lord Waldgrave whose father by K. James 2. was created Baron Waldgrave of Chuton Towards the north is Chue Magna or Bishops-Chue Chue Magna or Bishops Chue where is dug up a red bolus call'd by the country-people Reding from thence distributed all over England for the marking of sheep and such other uses it is also often us'd by Apothecaries instead of Bolus Armenus A mile east from Chue-Magna on the south-side of the river Chue lies Stanton-Drew Stanton-drew * Aubr MS. where is to be seen a monument of stones like those of Stone-henge in Wiltshire but these being not altogether so big as the Stone-henge ones nor standing in so clear a plain the hedges and trees mix'd amongst them have made them less taken notice of Two miles south of Stanton Drew at Stowey Stowey on the side of the hill above the Church rises a large spring that is never dry The water coming from thence as it runs down through Stowey covers the things it meets in it's way with a stony crust This effect it has not in the very source nor within 20 yards where it rises the place where it works most is about forty or fifty yards from the rising at a fall higher than a man's head There it sheaths every thing with stony cases and makes the sides of the bank hard rock and from thence all along it's stream it covers sticks c. with a crust See a larger description of it in a letter from Mr. Lock inserted in Boyle's Hist of the Air pag. 140. k Returning southward over Mendippe hills we meet with Wells Wells where our Author tells us was a Bishop's seat till John de Villula in the time of King Hen. 1. removing it to Bath the Bishops were call'd Bishops of Bathe and Wells But it is observable that almost 200 years after John the Bishops were only call'd Bishops of Bathe and sometimes of Glaston but not of Wells So that our Author affirming afterwards when he comes to Bathe that this John did retinere Wellensis Episcopi nomen i.e. still keep the title of Bishop of Wells must needs be in a vulgar error For Bishop Godwin in his English Tract of the Bishops expresly says that he
which gives name to the house called Broke situated upon it Baron Brooâ—e This house was heretofore the seat of John Pavely Lord of the Hundred of Westbury and afterward gave the title of Baron to Rob. Willoughby because by the Cheneys he was descended from the family of Pavely when K. Henry 7. created him Peer of the realm of which King he was a great favourite and by him as it is reported made 9 Steward of his house and c. for some time Lord high Admiral For which reason he gave the r The Rudder is painted in several glass-windows of his house rudder of a ship for his Cognizance as Pompey the Admiral of the Roman Navy stamp'd the stern on his medals But this family was soon extinct for he left but one son Robert Baron Brook who had by his first wife a son call'd Edward who dy'd in his father's life-time and left one daughter afterwards married to Sir Fulk Grevil by his second wife he had two daughters by whom this rich estate came to the Marquess of Winchester and the Lord Montjoy Not far from hence toward the east lies Edindon Edindâ—â— heretofore Eathandune where K. Alfred won the most glorious victory that ever was obtained over the ravaging Danes and drove them to that extremity that they solemnly swore immediately to depart the land In this place also William de Edindon Bishop of Winchester a great favourite of K. Edw. 3. who was born here and from hence took his sirname founded a College for Canons call'd Bonhommes k Upon a hill a little above on the same rivulet stands Trubridge in old time Truþabrig that is Trubâ—â— a strong or true bridge But for what reason it had this name does not at all appear Now it is very noted for the Clothing-trade and shews the ruines of Å¿ The Castle says Leland stood on the south side of the town it is now clean down There was in it seven great towers whereof some pieces of two of them yet stand c. The Earls of Sarum were Lords of Thoroughbridge then the Dukes of Lancaster and now the Earl of Hertford So he The Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster for this County is annually held in this town about Michaelmas a Castle which belongeth to the Dutchy of Lancaster 11 And sometime to the Earl of Salisbury l The Avon being encreas'd by this river watereth Bradford â—radford in old time Bradanford call'd so from the Broad ford which standeth on the side of a hill and is built all of stone where a bloody battel was fought in the Civil wars between Kenilwachius K. of the West-Saxons â—n 652. and Cuthred his Kinsman Here the Avon leaveth Wiltshire and entreth into Somersetshire running toward the Bath m From hence the west limit of this Shire goes directly southward n by Longleat â—ongleat the well-contriv'd and splendid house 12 In a foul soil which c. tho' more than once damnified by fire 13 Hath risen eftsoons more fair of the Knightly family of the Thinnes descended from the Boteviles o Maiden-bradley â—aiden-â—radley so named because t This is a vulgar Fable the Hospital being built long before the division of that estate among daughters See the Additions to Worcestershire under the title Kidderminster one of the daughters and heiresses of Manasser Bisset a famous man in his time being her self a Leper built a Hospital here for leprous maids and endowed it with her inheritance her father had founded a Priory here u In the reign of K. Stephen before Stourton â—rons of â—ourton 〈◊〉 Hen. 6. the seat of the Barons of Stourton who were dignified with this title by K. Henry 6. w This is a mistake for Sir W. Stourton marry'd Elizabeth heiress to Sir John Moigne long before Hen. 6.'s time viz. 21 Ric. 2. See Sir William Dugdale's Baronage at which time a very great estate accru'd to them by a marriage with the heiress of the family of Le Moign or Monk not Mohun as some have erroneously thought and from thence their Crest is a Demi-Monk with a penitential whip in his hand The town took its name from the river Stour which riseth here out of six fountains between which proper the Stourtons Lords of this place bear for their Arms a Bend Or in a field sable By the foresaid Maiden-Bradley glides a rivulet call'd Dever-ril â—ver because like Anas in Spain and the Mole in Surry which took their names from thence x There is nothing at present to be heard of any such diving river it diveth under the earth and a mile off riseth up again and hasteneth to Verlucio â—erlucio a very ancient town mentioned by Antoninus the Emperor in his Itinerary which name it hath not yet quite lost being call'd Werminster â—erminster a compound of that old name and the Saxon word Minster which signifieth a Monastery Heretofore it had great privileges for it is recorded in the book which William the Conqueror caused to be made that nec geldavit nec hidata fuit that is it paid no tribute Now it is only famous for a great y Kept on Saturdays Corn-market and indeed it is scarce credible what quantities of Corn are every week carried hither and presently sold 14 But for remnants of Roman Antiquities I could discover none here only on the East side are seen some trenches upon the Hills and on the West a natural round and high cop'd hill called Clay-hill p From this place toward the south north and east all along the middle of the Shire the Downs are so wide that there can scarce be any bounds discover'd from whence they are call'd the Plains â—sbury-â—ns but thinly inhabited and heretofore of bad repute for frequent robberies The south part of them is water'd by two pleasant rivers the Willey-bourn the Guilou of Asserius and the Nadder commonly called Adder-bourn Willey-bourn having its first rise at Werminster runneth by Heitesbury or Hegedsbury the feat of the Barons of Hungerford q 15 But in the Church which hath been Collegiate there is seen but one defaced monument of them The last Lord Hungerford created by K. Henry 8. had his denomination of this place but enjoy'd that honour a short while being condemn'd of a crime not to be utter'd to a village called Willey Opposite to which is seen a very large military entrenchment fortify'd with a deep double ditch and called by the neighbouring inhabitants Yanesbury-Castle â—nesbury From it's figure any one may easily conclude that it was a Roman Camp Some think it was Vespasian's Camp who being Lieutenant of the 20th Legion under Claudius subdued two nations in this part of England to the Roman Empire and some remains of Vespasian's name are thought to be in Yanesbury r 16 Opposite to this on the other side of the water is another less
Camp-place singly-ditch'd called Dun-shat and about one mile and a half from Yanesbury another likewise with a single trench named Woldsbury I have noted the names as the Country people term them that others may collect some matter thereby more than I can The Nadder rising in the south border of this County with a winding stream z Mr. Camden's conjecture is made more probable by the true writing of what we call An adder which ought to be writ a nadder being in Saxon Naeddre and accordingly in our Northern parts we call it A nedder The corruption has happen'd in this as in some others by stealing the initial n from the word it self and giving it to a creeps like an adder from whence it seems to have it's name not far from Wardour a pretty Castle Wardour Castle which once belong'd to the ancient family of S. Martins Now it is in the possession that I may omit several of its intermediate a Amongst whom were the Lords Lovel temp Hen. 4. 5. 6. and J. Tuchet Lord Audley 1 Ed. 4. owners 17 And amongst them the Lord Brook who repair'd it and died at it of John Arundel lately made by King James Lord Arundell of Wardour Baron Arundel of whom very honorable mention is to be made because in his youth he piously went into far countries to serve in the wars against the sworn enemies of Christendom the Turks and there for his singular valour at the storming of Gran he merited the honour to be made Count of the Empire by a Patent from the Emperor Rodolph 2. in these words Count of the Empire Forasmuch as he had behaved himself couragiously in the field and at the siege of several Cities and Castles and especially had given eminent proof of his valour at the assault upon the water-town near Gran taking the Flag from the Turks with his own hands we have created made and nominated him and all and every one of his children his heirs and lawful issue for ever of both sexes true Counts and Countesses of the sacred Empire and have dignified them with the Title and Honour of a County Imperial c. b No less valiant was the Lady Arundel who in 1643. with only 25 men made good this Castle for a week against 1300. of the Parliament Forces and they at last contrary to the Articles of Surrender did 100000 l. damage to the Castle and Parks Vid. Merc. Rustic Week 5. On the other side of the river is Hach Hache not very noted at present but famous in the reign of K. Edw. 1. for it's Baron Eustace de Hache Baron of Hache who was then summoned to Parliament among the rest of the Nobility 18 And a few miles from thence is Hindon a quick Market and known for nothing else that I could see At the conflux of these rivers Willey watereth the place from it denominated Wilton Wilton once the chief town of the County to which it gave name It was in times past call'd Ellandunum as appears from some ancient Charters which expresly make mention of Weolsthan Earl of Ellandunum Ellandunum that is of Wilton and again that he built a little Monastery at Ellandunum that is at Wilton From this name Ellan I am partly induc'd to think this river to be the Alanus which Ptolemy placeth in this Tract Alan riv At this place Egbert King of the West-Saxons fought successfully against Beorwulf the Mercian A. D. 821. but the battel was so bloody on both sides that the river was stained with the blood of near relations s Here also A. C. 871. Aelfred fighting against the Danes was at the first Charge conquerour but the fortune of the battel changing he was driven out of the field In the times of the Saxons it was a very populous place King Edgar founded here a Nunnery and as the Historians relate made his daughter Edith Abbess But it is evident from the ancient Charter of Eadgar himself dated A. D. 974. that the Nunnery was much older for in it are these words The Monastery which was built by my great grandfather K. Edward in a noted place by the Inhabitants called Wilton And we read in the life of Edward the Confessor Whilst S. Edward was building the Abbey of S. Peter at Westminster Editha his wife imitating the royal charity of her Husband laid the foundation of a stately Monastery of stone instead of the wooden Church at Wilton where she was educated The town did not much decay tho' it was miserably plunder'd by Swain the Dane until the Bishops of Salisbury c Leland says that before the turning of the road this town had 12 Parish-Churches but now they are reduc'd to one turn'd the Road into the western Countries from it Since that time it has dwindled by little and little into a small village only it hath the honour of a Mayor for its chief Magistrate and the stately house of the Earls of Pembroke built out of the suppressed Abbey But in old time Sorbiodunum Sorbiodunum was and now New-Sarum which arose out of its ruines is a great obstacle of it's splendor Antoninus's Itinerary calleth that town Sorbiodunum which the Saxons afterward named Searysbyrig and the vulgar Latins Sarum and Sarisburia 19 And Salisburialia Old Sarisbury For the course of the Itinerary and the remains of the name evidently shew this without any remark of mine And without doubt Searesbirig was derived from Sorbiodunum the Saxon word Byryg which denoteth a town being put in the place of Dunum Dunum what it signified with the Gauls and Britains which word the Britains and Gauls usually added to places of lofty situation as this Sorbiodunum is So that as one very well skilled in the Welsh language informed me Sorviodunum signifieth a dry hill t which is a more probable conjecture than the far-fetch'd derivation of it from Saron in Berosus or from Severus the Emperour from whom they call'd it Severia u For it was seated on a high hill and as Malmsbury saith The town was more like a Castle than a City being environ'd with a high wall and notwithstanding it was very well accommodated with all other conveniences yet such was the want of water that it was sold there at a great rate This gave occasion to the distich which was made upon Old Sarum by one that lived in those times Est tibi defectus lymphae sed copia cretae Saevit ibi ventus sed Philomela silet Water's there scarce but chalk in plenty lies And those sweet notes that Philomel denies The harsher musick of the wind supplies By the great pieces of the Walls and the Bulwarks yet to be seen it seems to have been a very strong place and near half a mile in circumference Kinric the Saxon after he had fought against the Britains with good success A. D. 553. was the first of the Saxons that won it
Corn-market weekly kept here on Wednesday How long it has been a market-town does not precisely appear but in the 35 Henr. 6. William de Beauchamp Lord St. Amond bequeath'd his body to be bury'd in the Chappel of the Chantry of this place and at his death which happen'd in the same year was seiz'd among several other Lordships in Wiltshire of Cheping Lavington which according to Mr. Camden's observation in Chippenham is the same with Market-Lavington and if so it has been a market above these 200 years at least The manour belongs now to the Right honourable James Earl of Abingdon as doth also the next village call'd West-Lavington or Lavington Episcopi where his Lordship hath a very pleasant seat finely accommodated with a park gardens a grotto and several other conveniences It came to him by marriage with the late incomparable Lady Eleonora one of the daughters of Sir Henry Lee by Ann his wife to whom it descended as heiress to the Danvers's and Danteseys who had been Lords of this manour for many generations two of whom founded and liberally endow'd the Free-school and Almshouses in this town In this Parish is Littleton-Painell Lâ—ttlâ—â—â—â—-Painâ—â—â— now an obscure village tho' heretofore a market-town which privilege was obtain'd for it 12 Edward 2. by John Lord Paganel or Painel The next river the Avon receives is the Were which runs not far from Westbury Westbâ—â—â— a small Mayor-town that probably arose out of the ruines of the old Roman one about half a mile north which without doubt was once very famous as appears by the great quantities of Roman coins that have been here found If the Verlucio of Antoninus were settl'd here the distances from Aquae Solis and Cunetio better agreeing in this town than any other would justifie such a conjecture And Holinshed calls the rivulet that runs near it Were which might give name to the town seated upon it Verlucio The new name Westbury is purely Saxon and it was natural enough for them to give this name to a town which they found to be the most considerable in these western parts calling it by way of eminency Westanbyrig in the same manner as they did the great neighbouring wood known by the name of Selwood for some Copies of the Saxon Annals read it simply Westanpuda others Westan-Sele-puda k Near Westbury is a village call'd Leigh or Ley Ley. which is most probably the place where K. Alfred encamp'd the night before he set upon the Danes at Eddington For the name comes very near it it being an easie mistake for the Saxon Scribe to write Æglea for aet Lea here is also a field call'd Courtfield and a garden adjoyning encompass'd with a moat and a tradition goes that here was a palace of one of the Saxon Kings Clay-hill by the sound might bid fair enough for this Aeglea Aegâ—â— but then it would have been a piece of very ill conduct in King Aelfred to have pitcht his tent upon such a high place visible from all parts of the Country when he intended to surprize the enemy So that it is more likely he march'd along this vale which was then over-spread with woods that were a part of Selwood-forest Beside Clay-hill shows no marks of any trenches or such like and is too far from Eddington where the fight was in the fields between the town and Bratton-castle which without doubt was the fortification whither the Danes fled after their rout and held out a siege of 14 days For it is seated upon the extremity of a high hill which commands all the country being encompass'd with two deep ditches and rampires proportionable The form of it is oval in length 350 paces and almost 200 broad in the widest part Near the middle of it is a large oblong barrow 60 paces long prabably the burying-place of some of the Danish Nobility here slain Within this vast Entrenchment there have been several pieces of old Iron-armour plough'd up It hath but two entrances fortify'd with out-works the one toward the south-east opening to the plain the other toward the north-east leading directly down to Eddington l North from hence is Trubridge â—â—â—â—â—dge the Saxon name whereof our Author tells us is Truþabrig and upon that interprets it a firm or true bridge Where he met with the name I know not but 't is much more probable that the right name is Trolbridge for beside the natural melting of l into u there is a Tithing in the Liberty and Parish call'd Trol and a large Common near it of the same name Also in a Manuscript History of Britain which is a Compendium of Geffrey of Monmouth the place is written Trolbridge where 't is said to have been built by Molmutius m Next is Bradford â—â—dford a town of good note for the cloathing trade which beside the fight mentioned by Mr. Camden was famous in the Saxon times for the Monastery built here by Aldhelm and destroy'd in the Danish wars as also upon the account of a Synod probably held here A. D. 964. in which S. Dunstan was elected Bishop of Worcester n The west limit of this Shire runs by Farley-castle â—ley-â—tle which tho' in Somersetshire yet part of the Park belonging to it lyes in Wiltshire and in this part not many years ago there was dug up a Roman pavement of Chequer-work a piece whereof was given to Ashmole's Musaeum in Oxford by Mr. Aubrey o Southward from hence upon the western limit we go by Longleat â—gleat the noble seat of the honorable Thomas Thynne Lord Viscount Weymouth to Mere â—e so call'd probably from being a Mearc or Land-mark for it is near the borders of Wiltshire Somersetshire and Dorsetshire In the neighbourhood of this town and Stourton are 4 Entrenchments one of which in Stourton-park is double-ditch'd and call'd by Leland Whiteshole-hill probably the Camp of the Danes in one of the battels at Pen. â—minâ— p Upon the little river Deverill is Werminster by Camden thought to be the Verlucio of Antoninus but that opinion is not back'd with Coins or other remains of the Romans that have been discover'd there and beside we have shewn before that Westbury is a more probable place Concerning it's state in the Saxon times I think our Historians are silent only we may observe that upon the Downs on the east-side of the town there are two Camps the one call'd Battle-bury having double-works and so probably Danish the other Scratchbury a square single trench'd fortification q About 3 miles to the east is Heitsbury â—sbury where Walter Lord Hungerford Lord High Treasurer of England founded an Hospital for 12 poor men and one woman with an allowance for a Chaplain who was likewise to be Warden and to teach a Free-school But this being not fully perform'd in his life-time Margaret his son Robert Lord Hungerford's widow effected it and it remains to this day r Farther down upon the river Willey
has been a long series of successors no less eminent for wealth and honour than for piety and devotion 5 But among others St. Swithin continues yet of greatest fame not so much for his sanctity as for the rain which usually falls about the feast of his translation in July by reason the Sun then is Cosmically with Praesepe and Aselli noted by ancient writers to be rainy Constellations and not for his weeping or other weeping Saints Margaret the Virgin and Mary Magdalen whose feasts are shortly after as some superstitiously credulous have believed and by a peculiar privilege are Chancellors to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Prelates of the Garter Some of these at great expence have beautify'd and enlarg'd this Church particularly Edington and Walkeling but above all Wickham who with incredible cost built the West part of the Church from the Choire a neat and curious piece of work in the middle of which between two pillars is his own monument The Church has been accordingly dedicated to new Patrons Amphibalus Peter Swithin and lastly to the Holy Trinity by which name it is at present call'd Among the Saxons it was in great repute for being honour'd with the Sepulture of some of their Kings whose bones were gathered by Richard Fox Bishop and put into little gilded Coffins which with their several Inscriptions he placed upon a wall that runs along the upper part of the Quire It was formerly call'd h Ealdan-Mynster Chron. Sax. Ealden-mynster i.e. the old Monastery or Minster to distinguish it from the more modern one i Niwan-Mynster Chron. Sax. NeÆ¿an-mynster i.e. New Minster which King Aelfred founded and to build the Offices belonging to it bought of the Bishop a certain peice of ground for every foot whereof he paid one Mark according to the publick Standard This new College as well as the old one was first founded for marry'd Priests who were afterwards expelled by Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury upon the miracle of a Cross speaking and condemning the Order and so Monks were brought into their room These two Monasteries had their walls so near one another that when they were singing in one the noise was a disturbance to the other upon which arose some quarrels between the two Societies that afterwards broke out into feuds This reason and another inconvenience of a great confluence of waters which ran down the streets from the West-gate and making a standing pool at this new Monastery did infect the air with unwholsome vapours caus'd the Church 200 years after it's first building to be remov'd into the northern suburbs to a place call'd Hide Hide-Abby where by the licence of Henry 1. the Monks built a large and beautiful Monastery which within a few years by the treachery of Henry of Blois Bishop of Winchester as a private little History of that place tells us was miserably burnt down in which fire was consum'd that famous Cross the gift of Canute the Dane that as some old Records deliver it cost him the yearly revenue of all England But the Monastery was raised again to a noble fabrick as the present ruines testifie and grew by degrees till that fatal period for the destruction of Monks For then this house was demolished and the other of St. Trinity which is the Cathedral Church upon ejection of the Monks had a new foundation of a Dean and 12 Prebendaries At the East-side of the Cathedral stands a spacious k It was built A. D. 1137. by Henry Bishop of Winchester Leiger-Book of St. Cross in the hands of Mr. Worsley palace of the Bishop's call'd Wolvesey fortify'd by several turrets almost surrounded by the river and reaching to the City-walls m In the south suburbs there is a neat College that answers it which William of Wickham Bishop of this See the greatest patron and encourager of Learning that was in England A College bâ—â—â—â— by William of Wickham and whose memory shall be celebrated through all ages in the Monuments of Learning built for a publick school which affords great numbers of learned men both to Church and State In this are maintain'd gentilely a Warden 10 Fellows 2 Masters 70 Scholars l Particularly 3 Chaplains 3 Clerks an Organist 16 Choristers and the statutable servants with some others There are also other eminent buildings in this City most of them consecrated to religious uses which because time has destroy'd I have no mind to mention n tho' I cannot but take notice of that * Partheâ—â—â—m St. Mary's Abby Nunnery or Monastery for Virgins which Aelfwide wife to King Alfred founded it having been so noble a piece of building as the ruines of it still shew and the place out of which Henry 1. Maud wife to Henry 1. took his wife Maud daughter of Malcolm King of Scots by whom the Royal families of the Saxons and Normans were united and by which means that Prince gain'd much on the affections of the English For she was great grand-daughter to Edmund Ironside by his son Edward The banished and a Lady not only endow'd with all the vertues becoming a Queen but more especially eminent for piety and devotion Whereupon this old Tetrastick was made in her commendation Prospera non laetam fecêre nec aspera tristem Aspera risus ei prospera terror erant Non decor effecit fragilem non sceptra superbum Sola potens humilis sola pudica decens Nor bless'd rejoyc'd nor when unhappy mourn'd To laughter grief and joy to fear she turn'd Nor beauty made her frail nor sceptres proud Humble tho' great and scarce more fair than good As to Guy Earl of Warwick so famous in story who in a single combat here conquer'd Colbrand that Danish †Typhoëus Giant and Waltheof Earl of Huntingdon beheaded in this place where afterward was the Chapel of St. Giles and as to the famous adjoyning Hospital of St. Cross founded by Henry de Blois Brother of King Stephen and Bishop of this City and farther endow'd by Henry de Beaufort Cardinal I shall say nothing of all these because a full relation is already given of them in our common Histories As to the Earls of Winchester Earls of Winchester to pass by Clito a Saxon who at the coming in of the Normans was depriv'd of this ancient honour King John made Saer Quincy Earl of Winchester The Quincy's Arms. whose Arms were * Baltheus militaris a Fesse with a †Lemniscus label of seven as I learn'd from his seal To him succeeded Roger his son who bore in a field Gules seven ‖ Rhombos Mascles voided Or. But he dying without Issue male the honour was extinct in him for he marry'd the oldest daughter and co-heir by a former wife of Alan Lord of Galloway in Scotland in whose right he was Constable of Scotland But by her he had only 3 daughters of whom the eldest was marry'd to William de Ferrariis Earl of
who was his Godfather See Bede lib. 4. c. 13. and upon Baptism gave him this token of adoption Their Country is now divided into three Hundreds with a very little change of the name Meansborow Eastmean o Weastmean is only a Tithing and not a Hundred as the other two Weastmean within which there is a rais'd hill surrounded at the top with a large trench and call'd Old Winchester where tradition tells us there was an ancient City but there is now not the least mark or sign of it so that one may easily imagine it to have been only a Roman Summer-Camp Below this lies Warnford Warnford where Adam de Portu a man of great wealth in those parts under William the Conqueror rebuilt the Church as we are taught by a rude distich fixed on the wall Addae hic portu benedicat solis ab ortu Gens Deo dicata per quem sic sum renovata Good folks in your devotions ev'ry day For Adam Port who thus repair'd me pray q More inward there border upon these the Segontiaci Segontiaci who submitted themselves to Caesar and inhabited the Northern limits of this County living in the Hundred of Holeshot in which we meet with Aulton a Market-town that King Alfred by will left to the Keeper of Leodre and Basingstoke Basingstoke that has a well-frequented market and a very neat Chapel dedicated to the Holy Ghost built by William the first Lord Sands who there lies bury'd Upon the roof of it the history of the Prophets Apostles and Disciples of Christ is very artificially describ d. Below this place Eastward lies Basing Baâ—ing famous for it's Lords of that Sirname St. Johns St. Johns Poinings and Powlets For when Adam de Portu Lord of Basing marry d the daughter and heir of Roger de Aurevall whose wife was the daughter and heir of the noble family of the St. Johns Out of 〈◊〉 old m 〈…〉 this 〈◊〉 then William son of the said Adam took the honorary title of St. John which was retain'd by his successors in a right line But when Edmund de St. John in the time of Edward 3. died without issue Margaret his sister marrying John de St. Philibert brought to him the whole estate of the Lords St. John She likewise dying without issue Isabel her other sister wife of * Sir Luke Hol. Luke Poynings had by him Thomas Lord of Basing whose grandchild Constantia by his son Hugh became heir to this part of the estate and being marry'd into the family of the Powlets was the great grandmother of that William Powlet Powlet who by K. Henr. 8. was made Baron St. John of Basing and by King Edward 6. Earl of Wiltshire and Marquess of Winchester and being Lord High Treasurer of England after he had in most troublesome times run through a course of the highest honours He lived â—â— years dy'd in a good old age a happiness that rarely attends Courtiers He built here a seat both for largeness and beauty wonderfully magnificent but which was so overpower'd by it's own weight that his posterity have been forc'd to pull down a part of it r Nigh this place we see The Vine Vines 〈◊〉 brought 〈◊〉 to Engâ—aâ—d a very neat house of the Barons of Sandes and so call'd from Vines which we have had in Britain more for shade indeed than fruit Vopiscus ever since the time of Probus the Emperor For 't was he that gave liberty to the Britains and some other nations to have Vines The first Baron of this family was †Sir William Hol. William Sandes Barons 〈◊〉 Sandes whom King Henry 8. advanc'd to that honour when he was his Chamberlain and had encreas'd his estate by marriage with Margery Bray daughter and heir of John Bray and Cousin of Reginald Bray Knight of the Garter and a most eminent Baneret To him was born Thomas Lord Sandes grandfather to William now living Nigh this place to the south-east lies Odiam Odiam now proud of a Palace of the King 's and once known for the prison of David 2. King of Scots It was formerly a free burrough of the Bishop of Winchester's Matth â—â—ris the Castle whereof in the reign of K. John was defended by 13 English for 15 days together against Lewis Dauphine of France who straitly besieged it with a great Army Higher up among the Segontiaci upon the Northern edge of the County lay the City of these Segontiaci Vindonum which losing it's old name Vindâ—â—â— took that of it's inhabitants as Lutetia in France borrow'd it's name from the Parisians For this place was call'd by the Britains Caer Segonte that is the City of the Segontians and so Ninnius terms it in his Catalogue of Cities we at this day call it Silcester Silcester and Higden seems to give it the name of Britenden from the Britains I am induc'd to call this place the Vindonum because it agrees with the distances of Vindonum from Gallena or Guallenford and from Vinta or Winchester in the Itinerary of Antoninus and the rather too because there is a military way still visible between this Silcester and Winchester Ninnius tells us this City was built by Constantius son of Constantine the Great and that it was once call'd Murimintum perhaps for Muri-vindun that is the Walls of Vindonum for the Britains retain the word Mure borrow'd from the Provincial language and the V consonant they often change into M in their pronunciation On the ground whereon this City was built I deliver Ninnius's words the Emperâ—r Constantius sow'd 3 grains of Corn that no poor person might ever inhabit there So Dinocrates at the building of Alexandria in Egypt as Ammianus Marcellinus has it strowed all the out-lines with †Farioâ— Wheat by which Omen he foretold that that City should always be supplied with plenty of provisions The same Author also reports that Constantius dy'd here and that his sepulchre was to be seen at the gate of the City as appear'd by the inscription But in these matters let Ninnius vindicate his own credit who indeed has stuff'd that little history with a great many trifling lies But thus much I dare affirm that this city was in great repute in that age and I myself have here found several coins of Constantine Junior son of Constantine the Great which on their reverse have the figure of a building and this inscription PROVIDENTIAE CAESS But all writers agree that Constantius whom Ninnius makes the builder of this city dy'd at Mopsuestia or Mebsete in Cilicia and was thence carry'd to the sepulchre of his Ancestors at Constantinople 〈…〉 I deny not but that a †sepulchre or honorary grave might be here made for the Emperor for such like ‖ Barrows of earth were often made in memory of the dead â—mulâ— â—orary 〈◊〉 or â—ows round which the souldiers had yearly their solemn exercises in
to Winchester so is there another that passes westward thro' Pamber a thick and woody forest then by some places that are now uninhabited it runs near Litchfield that is the field of carcasses and so to the forest of Chute pleasant for its shady trees and the diversions of hunting where the huntsmen and foresters admire it 's pav'd rising ridge which is plainly visible tho' now and then broken off Now northward in the very limits almost of this County I saw Kings-cleare Kingscleare formerly a seat of the Saxon Kings now a well-frequented market town 11 By it Fremantle in a Park where King John much hunted Sidmanton Sidmanton the seat of the family of Kingsmils Knights and Burgh-cleare Bu gh-cleare that lies under a high hill on the top of which there is a military camp such as our ancestors call'd Burgh surrounded with a large trench and there being a commanding prospect from hence all the country round a Beacon is here fix'd which by fire gives notice to all neighbouring parts of the advance of an enemy These kind of watch-towers we call in our language Beacons from the old word Beacnian i.e. to becken they have been in use here in England for several ages sometimes made of a high pile of wood and sometimes of little barrels fill'd with pitch set on the top of a large pole in places that are most expos'd to view where some always keep watch in the night and formerly also the horsemen call'd Hobelers by our Ancestors were settled in several places to signifie the approach of the enemy by day s This County as well as all the rest we have thus far describ'd belong'd to the West-Saxon Kings and as Marianus tells us when Sigebert was depos'd for his tyrannical oppression of the subject he had this County assign'd him that he might not seem intirely depriv'd of his government But for his repeated crimes they afterward expell'd him out of those parts too and the miserable condition of this depos'd Prince was so far from moving any one's pity that he was forc'd to conceal himself in the wood Anderida and was there killed by a Swine-herd This County has had very few Earls besides those of Winchester which I have before spoken of At the coming in of the Normans one Bogo or Beavose a Saxon had this title who in the battel at Cardiff in Wales fought against the Normans He was a man of great military courage and conduct and while the Monks endeavour'd to extol him by false and legendary tales they have drown'd his valiant exploits in a sort of deep mist From this time we read of no other Earl of this County till the reign of Henry 8. who advanc'd William Fitz-Williams descended from the daughter of the Marquess of Montacute in his elder years to the honours of Earl of Southampton and Lord High Admiral of England But he soon after dying without issue King Edward 6. in the first year of his reign conferr'd that honour upon Thomas Wriotheosley Lord Chancellour of England and his grandson Henry by Henry his son now enjoys that title who in his younger years has arm'd the nobility of his birth with the ornaments of learning and military arts that in his riper age he may employ them in the service of his King and Country There are in this County 253 Parishes and 18 Market Towns ISLE of WIGHT TO this County of Southamton belongs an Island which lies southward in length opposite to it by the Romans formerly call'd Vecta Vectis and Victesis by Ptolemy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Britains Guith by the Saxons Wuitland and Wicþ-ea for they call'd an Island Ea we now call it the Isle of Wight and Whight 'T is separated from the Continent of Britain by so small a rapid channel which they formerly call'd Solent that it seems to have been joyn'd to it whence as Ninnius observes the Britains call'd it Guith which signifies a Separation t For the same reason the learned Julius Scaliger is of opinion that Sicily had it's name from the Latin word Seco because it was broken off and as it were dissected from Italy Whence with submission always to the Criticks I would read that passage in the sixth of Seneca's Natural Quaest. Ab Italia Sicilia resecta and not rejecta as 't is commonly read From the nearness of it's situation and the likeness of it's name we may guess this Vecta to be that Icta which as Diodorus Siculus has it at every tide seem'd to be an Island but at the time of the ebb the ground between this Island and the Continent was so dry that the old Britains us'd to carry their tinn over thither in Carts in order to transport it into France But I cannot think this to be Pliny's Mictis tho' Vecta come very near the name for in that Island there was white lead whereas in this there is not any one vein of metal that I know of This Island from east to west is like a Lentil or of an oval form in length 20 miles and in the middle where 't is broadest 12 miles over the sides lying north and south To say nothing of the abundance of fish in this sea the soil is very fruitful and answers the husbandman's expectation even so far as to yield him corn to export There is every where plenty of rabbets hares partridge and pheasants and it has besides a forest and two parks which are well stock'd with deer for the pleasures of hunting Through the middle of the Island runs a long ridge of hills where is plenty of pasture for sheep whose wool next to that of Lemster and Cotteswold is reckon'd the best and is in so much request with the Clothiers that the inhabitants make a great advantage of it In the northern part there is very good pasturage meadow-ground and wood the southern part is in a manner all a corn country enclos'd with ditches and hedges At each end the sea does so insinuate and thrust in it self from the north that it makes almost two Islands which indeed are call'd so by the inhabitants that on the west side Fresh-water Isle the other on the east Binbridge Isle Bede reckon'd in it in his time 1200 families now it has 36 towns villages and castles and as to its Ecclesiastical Government is under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Winchester but as to it 's Civil under the County of South-hamton The inhabitants facetiously boast how much happier they are than other people since they never had either p 'T is strange why they should add Monks since S. Mary's in Caresbrooke particularly was a Cell of Black Monks belonging first to Lyra in Normandy afterwards to the Abbey of Montgrace in Yorkshire and then to the Cistercians of Sheen Besides this there were in the Island three Priories * Cu 〈…〉 tos 〈◊〉 câ—â—os Newpoâ—â— Monks Lawyers or Foxes The places of greatest note are these Newport
Ouse as appears by a distich in a window of S. Helen's Church there and turned the high road hither for a short cut it became so much frequented as to be reckon'd amongst the principal towns of this County having a Mayor and much enriching it self by steep'd barley sprouting and chitting again which the Greeks call Byne and we Mault Mault It hath besides a Cross of excellent workmanship in the middle of the Market-place erected as 't is reported in the reign of K. Henry 6. by the fraternity of St. Cross instituted by him As Cissa was the founder of this Abbey so Cilla as I have it out of an old book King Cedwalla's sister built a Nunnery at Helnestow near the Thames where her self presided over the Virgins who were afterwards translated to Witham In the heat of the war between Offa and Kinulph the Nuns upon the building of a castle there retired from thence For after that Kinulph was overthrown whatsoever lay under his jurisdiction from the town of Wallingford in the south part from Ichenilde-streete as far as * Now Ashbury near Whitehorse Hill Essebury and in the north part as far as the River Thames King Offa seiz'd upon Near unto it north-west lies Lee which by the daughter of a certain Knight sirnam'd de Lee fell to the family of the Besiles Besiles Lee. Fetiplace and thence came to be call'd Besiles-Lee and from that family in right of marriage to Richard Fetiplace whose progenitor Thomas brought some honour to his posterity by matching with Beatrix a natural daughter of John 1. King of Portugal 1 And widow to Gilbert Lord Talbot from whom they are descended But now let us return Hard by Abington the little River Ock which washes the south-side of the town and over which Sir John St. Helens Knight formerly built a bridge gently falls into the Ouse It hath it's rise in the vale of White-horse scarce a mile or two from Kingston-Lisle Viscounts Lisle anciently the possession of Warin de Insula or Lisle a noble Baron John Talbot a younger son of that famous Warriour John Earl of Shrewsbury being by the mother's side descended from that Baron was first created Baron L'isle 2 By K. Henry 6. as Warin de Insula was before in regard of his being possess'd of this place as if that honour were annext to it and afterwards Viscount L'isle 3 By a Patent without any such regard This title by the favour of our Kings hath in a continued series still flourish'd in his posterity For to sum up all in short when Thomas Talbot son of that John dy'd issueless being shot through the mouth with an arrow as in a skirmish he was defending his estate against Baron Barkley Edward Grey who had marry'd his sister receiv'd the same honour from King Richard 3. and had a son nam'd John whose only daughter and heir being an infant was contracted to Charles Brandon by King Henry 8. and thereupon he became Viscount L'isle but she dying before the solemnization of the marriage this his title dy'd with her Afterwards the same King Henry conferr'd this honour upon Arthur Plantagenet a natural son of King Edward 4. who had marry'd Elizabeth the sister of John Grey Viscount L'isle Edmund Dudley's widow And upon his dying without issue-male John Dudley son of Edmund Dudley by the same Elizabeth Grey afterwards Duke of Northumberland 4 In the time of K. Edward 6. was honour'd by the same King with this title But he being attainted 5 By Queen Mary Queen Elizabeth restor'd in blood his son Ambrose and before she created him Earl of Warwick the same day made him Baron L'isle 6 Who ended his life issueless and Robert Sidney his sister's son a person illustrious for his so noble descent and his own virtues was honour'd with the title of Viscount L'isle 1605. by King James who had before created him Baron Sidney of Pensherst and likewise made him Lord Chamberlain to his Royal Consort Queen Ann d Thence this river Ock just now mention'd runs between Pusey Pusey still in the possession of a Family of that Sirname and held by a Horn given to their ancestors by King Canutus the Dane e and the two Denchworths hard by Denchworth where two noble and ancient Families have long flourish'd Hide at South-Denchworth and Fetiplace at North-Denchworth both which may seem to have sprung from the same stock considering they give the same Coat of Arms. After this the Ock receives a nameless rivulet which flows out of the same Vale about Wantage call'd in Saxon Wanating anciently a Royal Vill and the birth-place of the famous King Alfred which at his death he bequeath'd to Alfrith It was made a market-town not long after by the interest of that valiant Soldier Foulk Fitzwarin upon whom Roger Bigod Earl Marshal of England had bestow'd it for his singular courage and great conduct in War and it now owns for it's Lords the Bourchiers Earls of Bath descended from the race of the Fitzwarins of which family some are bury'd here f The Ouse leaving Abington presently receives the Tame out of Oxfordshire of which river elsewhere and now by a compound word being call'd Thamisis the Thames The Thames Sinodun first makes a visit to Sinodun an high hill defended with a deep ditch where 't is certain in ancient times there was a Roman fortification for the ground being now broken up with the Plough Roman Coins a certain sign of antiquity are now and then found by the Ploughmen Bretwel Beneath it at Brettwell there was a Castle if it were not really upon this hill which Henry 2. Rob. Montensis took by force a little before his making peace with King Stephen From hence the Thames bends it's course to the once chief City of the Attrebatii call'd by Antoninus Galleva Attrebatum by Ptolemy Galeva but both of them through the carelesness of Copiers name it wrong instead of Gallena Gallena and these likewise in the Greek Copies obtrude upon us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a transposition of the letters for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For I have been of the opinion that it was so call d in the British tongue as it were Guall hen that is the Old Fort. Which name being still kept and Ford from a shallow place in the river added to it a See this opinion confuted in the Additions to Wiltshire the Saxons in ancient times call'd it b Wealingford Walingeford and Walingford by the Saxon Annals according to the several ages Guallengaford and Wallengaford and we now-a-days by contraction Wallingford Wallingford In K. Edward the Confessor's time it was counted a Borough and contain'd in it as we find in Domesday book 276 * Hagas houses yielding 9 pound †De Gâ—â—â— Tax and those that dwelt there did the King service on horseback or else by water Of those
houses eight were destroy'd for the Castle It was formerly walled about and as may be seen by the tract was a c The ditch of the town says Leland and the creast whereon the wall stood are yet manifestly perceiv'd and begin from the Castle going in compass a good mile or more mile in compass it hath a castle seated upon the river very large and so well fortify'd in former times that the hopes of it's being impregnable hath made some persons over-resolute For when the flames of Civil War had as it were set all England on fire we read that King Stephen ever now and then attempted it by siege but still in vain We much wonder'd at it's greatness and magnificence when we were boys and retir'd thither from Oxford for it is now a retiring place for the Students of Christ-Church at Oxford it being double wall'd and surrounded with d Leland says it has 3 dikes large and deep and well water'd two ditches In the middle stands a tower rais'd upon a very high mount in the steep ascent whereof which you climb by stairs I saw a well of an exceeding depth The Inhabitants believe it was built by the Danes but I should rather judge that something was here erected by the Romans and afterwards demolish'd by the Saxons and Danes when Sueno the Dane harrass'd the Country up and down in these parts At length it recover'd it self under William 1. as plainly appears by Domesday Book where it makes mention of eight ‖ Hagaâ— Houses being pull'd down for the Castle as I observ'd but now Yet William Gemeticensis takes no notice of this Castle when he writes that William the Norman after Harold's defeat immediately led his army to this city for so he terms it and passing the Thames at the ford encamp'd here before he march'd to London Lords of Wallingford At which time Wigod an Englishman was Lord of Wallingford who had one only daughter given in marriage to Robert D'Oily by whom he had Maud his sole heir married first to Miles Crispin and after his death by the favour of K. Henry 1. to Brient †Fillo Comitis Fitz-Count and he being bred a soldier and taking part with Maud the Empress stoutly defended the Castle against King Stephen who had rais'd a Fort over against it at Craumesh till the peace so much wish'd for by England in general was concluded in this place and that terrible quarrel between King Stephen and K. Henry 2. was ended And then the love of God did so prevail upon Brient and his wife that quitting the transitory vanities of this world they wholly devoted themselves to Christ by which means this Honour of Wallingford fell to the Crown Which appears by these words taken out of an old Inquisition in the Exchequer To his well beloved Lords Of the Honour of Wallingford in Tâ—â—â— de Nâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the Exchequer our Lord the King's Justices and the Barons of the Exchequer the Constable of Wallingford Greeting Know ye that I have made diligent Inquisition by the Knights of my Bailywick in pursuance of my Lord the King's precept directed to me by the Sheriff and this is the summe of the inquisition thus taken Wigod of Wallingford held the honour of Wallingford in K. Harold's time and afterwards in the reign of K. William 1. and had by his Wife a certain Daughter whom he gave in marriage to Robert D'Oily This Robert had by her a Daughter named Maud which was his heir Miles Crispin espous'd her and had with her the aforesaid honour of Wallingford After Miles ' s decease our Lord K. Henry 1. bestow'd the aforesaid Maud upon Brient Fitz-Count c. Yet afterwards in the reign of Henry 3. it belong'd to the Earls of Chester and then to Richard King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwall who repaired it and to his son Edmond who founded a Collegiate Chapel within the inner Court but he dying issueless it fell again to the Crown and was annexed to the Dukedom of Cornwall since when it hath fallen much to decay More especially about the time when that plague and mortality which follow'd the conjunction of Saturn and Mars in Capricorn A terrible â—â—ague reign'd so hotly through all Europe in the year of our Lord 1343. Then this Wallingford by that great mortality was so exhausted that whereas before it was very well inhabited and had 12 Churches in it now it can shew but one or two But the inhabitants rather lay the cause of this their town's decay upon the bridges built at Abingdon and Dorchester e Just so Wilton the once chief town of Wiltshire began to decay when the road was turn'd through Salisbury and the bridge was built there by which means the High-road is turn'd from thence g From hence Southward the Thames gently glides between very fruitful fields on both sides of it by Moulesford Moulesford which K. Henry 1. gave to Girald Fitz-Walter from whom the noble Family of the Carews are descended A family that hath receiv'd the addition of much honour by it's matches with the noble families of Mohun and Dinham and others in Ireland as well as England Not far from hence is Aldworth where there are certain tombs and statues upon them larger than ordinary much wonder'd at by the common people as if they were the pourtraictures of Giants when indeed they are only those of certain Knights of the family of De la Beche which had a Castle here and is suppos'd to have been extinct for want of male-issue in the reign of Edward 3. And now at length the Thames meets with the Kenet The river â—enet which as I said before watering the south-side of this County at it's first entry after it has left Wiltshire runs beneath Hungerford â—ungerâ—â—rd call'd in ancient times Ingleford Charnam-street a mean town and seated in a moist place which yet gives both name and title to the honourable family of the Barons of Hungerford first advanc'd to it's greatness by f He was son of that Sir Thomas Hungerford who was Speaker to the House of Commons 51 Edw. 3. which was the first Parliament wherein that House had a Speaker Walter Hungerford who was Steward of the King's Houshold under King Henry 5. and had conferr'd upon by that Prince's bounty in consideration of his eminent services in the wars the Castle and Barony of Homet in Normandy to hold to him and his heirs males by homage and service to find the King and his heirs at the Castle of Roan one Lance with a Fox's tail hanging to it â—â—ima pars â—pl Paâ—â— Norâ—n 6 H. 5. which pleasant tenure I thought not amiss to insert here among serious matters The same Walter in the reign of Henry 6. was Lord High Treasurer of England â—rons â—ngerford and created Baron Hungerford and what by his prudent management and his matching with Catherine Peverell descended from the
Moels and the Courteneys much augmented his estate His son Robert who marry'd the daughter and heir of the Lord Botereaux enrich'd the family more and then Robert his son who had to Wife Eleanor the daughter and heir of William Molines upon which account he was honour'd among the Barons of the Kingdom by the name of Lord Molines and during the Civil Wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster was beheaded at New-castle made great additions to it Thomas his son slain at Salisbury in his father's life-time left Mary an only daughter married to Edward Lord Hastings with whom he had a great estate But Walter brother to the said Thomas begat Edward Hungerford father of that Walter whom Henry 8. created Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury and condemned afterwards for a very heinous crime nevertheless Queen Mary restor'd his children to every thing but the dignity of Barons h Not far from hence towards the South lies Widehay â—idehay long the seat of the Barons of St. Amand â—â—ons of Amand. whose estate by marriage came to Gerard Braybrok and Elizabeth his eldest grand-daughter by his son Gerard transferr'd the estate by marriage to William Beauchamp who being summon'd to Parliament by the name of William Beauchamp of St. Amand â—â—uchamp 〈◊〉 Amand was a Baron as his son Richard also was who had no legitimate issue From thence the river Kenet taking it's course between Hemsted Marshall anciently held * Per virgam Marescalliae by the Rod of the Marshalsea and belonging to the Marshals of England where †Sir Thomas Thomas Parry Treasurer of the Houshold to Queen Elizabeth built a very fine seat and Benham Valence so call'd from it's belonging to William Valence Earl of Pembroke 7 But Queen Elizabeth gave it to John Baptista Castilion a Piemontes of her Privy Chamber for faithful service in her dangers comes to Spinae Spinae the old town mention'd by Antoninus which retaining still it's name is call'd Spene but instead of a town is now a poor little village scarce a mile from Newbury a noted town that had it's rise out of the ruines of it For Newbury Newbury with us is as much as the New Borough that is in regard to Spinae the more ancient place which is quite decay'd but hath left the name in part of Newbury it self still call'd Spinhamlands And if nothing else yet this certainly might prove that Newbury fetcht it's original from Spinae for that the inhabitants of Newbury owns the little village Spene for their mother tho' Newbury compar'd with Spene is for it's buildings and neatness a very considerable town and much enrich'd by cloathing well seated upon a plain and has the river Kenet running through it In the Norman Conquest this town fell to Ernulph de Hesdin Earl of Perch Lib. Inquisitionum whose great grandson Thomas Earl of Perch being slain at the siege of Lincoln the Bishop of Chalons his heir sold it to William Marshall Earl of Pembroke who likewise held the mannour of Hempsted hard by spoken of before as did his successors Marshals of England till Roger Bigod for his obstinacy lost his honour of Earl Marshal and possessions too which notwithstanding by much †precariò intercession he obtain'd again for life i The Kenet continues on his course from hence and receives by the way the little river Lamborn Lamborn which at it's rise imparts the name to a small market-town that in ancient times belong'd to Alfrith K. Alfred's Cousin having been left him by the said King in his Will and afterwards was the Fitzwarin's who obtain'd the privilege of a market of Henry 3. But now it belongs to the Knightly family of Essex which derives it's pedigree from William de Essex Under-Treasurer of England in Edw. 4.'s time and from those of the same sirname in Essex that liv'd in great repute and honour there From thence this little river runs beneath g In the late Civil Wars it was a garrison for the King Dennington Dunnington-castle call'd also Dunnington a little but very neat castle seated on the brow of a woody hill having a fine prospect and windows on all sides very lightsome They say it was built by Sir Richard de Abberbury Knight founder also of God's House beneath it for the relief of the poor Afterwards it was the residence of h It was the house of Jeoffery Chaucer and there under an Oak commonly call'd Chaucer's Oak he is said to have penn'd many of his famous Poems The Oak till within these few years was standing Chaucer then of the De la Poles and within the memory of our fathers of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk And now the Kenet having run a long way passes at last by Aldermaston Aldermaston which Henry 1. gave to Robert Achard from whose posterity by the De la Mares it came at length by right of marriage to the Fosters a Knightly family At last it runs into the Thames having first with it's windings encompass'd a great part of Reading This little city or town of Reading Reading call'd in Saxon * Per virgam Marescalliae Rheadyge of Rhea that is the River or of the British word Redin signifying Fern which grew in great plenty hereabouts for the neatness of it's streets the fineness of it's buildings for it's riches and the reputation it hath gotten for making of cloath goes beyond all the other towns of this county tho' it hath lost it's greatest ornaments the beautiful Church and very ancient Castle k For this as Asserius tells us the Danes kept possession of when they drew a ditch between the Kenet and the Thames and hither they retreated after King Ethelwolph had routed them at Inglefield Inglefield a little village in the neighbourhood which gives name to a noble and ancient family But it was so demolish'd by K. Henry 2. because it was a place of refuge for King Stephen's party that nothing now remains of it but the bare name in the next street Near to this K. Hen. 1. having pull'd down a little Nunnery founded in former times by Queen Alfritha to expiate for some crimes built a most magnificent Abbey for Monks and enrich'd it with great Revenues Which Prince to use the very words of his Charter of Foundation Because three Abbeys in the kingdom of England were formerly for their sins destroy'd that is Reading Chelsea and Leonminstre which were long in Lay-mens hands by the advice of the Bishops founded a new Monastery at Reading and endow'd it with Reading Chelsea and Leonminstre In this Abbey was interr'd the Founder himself King Henry 7 With his wife both veil'd and crown'd for that she had been a Queen and professed Nun. Maud the Empress together with his daughter Maud as appears by the private history of the place tho' some report that she was bury'd at Becc in Normandy Who as well
as that Lacedaemonian Lady Lampido mention'd by Pliny was a King's Daughter a King's Wife and a King's Mother that is Daughter of this Henry 1. King of England Wife of Henry 4. Emperor of Germany and Mother to Henry 2. King of England Concerning which take here a Distich inscrib'd upon her tomb in my judgment ingenious enough Magna ortu majorque viro sed maxima partu Hic jacet Henrici filia sponsa parens Great born match'd greater greatest brought to bed Here Henry's Daughter Wife and Mother 's laid And she might well be counted greatest and most happy in her issue De nugis Curial l. 6. c. 18. For Henry 2. Henry 2. her son as Joannes Sarisburiensis who liv'd in those times hath observ'd was the best King of Britain the most fortunate Duke of Normandy and Aquitain and as well for the greatness of his actions as his excellent virtues above all others How valiant how magnificent how wise and modest he was as I may say from his very infancy envy it self can neither conceal nor dissemble since his actions are still fresh in our memory and conspicuous since he hath extended the monuments of his power from the bounds of Britain to the Marches of Spain And in another place concerning the same Prince Henry 2. the mightiest King that ever was of Britain thunder'd it about Garumna and besieging Tholouse with success did not only strike terror into the inhabitants of Provence as far as the Rhosne and Alpes but also by demolishing their strongholds and subduing the people made the Princes of France and Spain to tremble as if he threatned an universal conquest I will add farther if you please a word or two relating to the same Prince out of Giraldus Cambrensis From the Pyrenaean Mountains unto the western bounds and farthest limits of the northern Ocean this our Alexander of the West hath stretched forth his arm As far therefore as nature in these parts hath enlarged the Land so far hath he extended his victories If the bounds of his Expeditions were sought for sooner wou'd the globe of the earth fail than they end for where there is valour and resolution lands may possibly be wanting but victories can never fail matter for triumphs may be wanting but triumphs themselves never How great an addition to his glories titles and triumphs was Ireland With how great and stupendous a courage did he pierce thro' the very secret and occult places of the Ocean But take here an old verse upon his death which fully expresses in short both all this and also the glories of his son King Richard 1. Mira cano sol occubuit nox nulla secuta est Strange the sun set and yet no night ensu'd Rich. 1. For Richard was so far from bringing night upon this our Nation that by his Victories in Cyprus and Syria he enlighten'd it with brighter beams of glory But this by way of digression Let us now return from persons to places This Monastery wherein King Hen. 1. lies interr'd is now converted i This with the Stables was probably demolish'd in the late Civil Wars for now there is nothing to be seen of them that which remains being a very indifferent house into a Royal Seat adjoyning to which stands a very fine stable stor'd with noble horses of the King 's But concerning this place take these verses of the Poet describing the Thames running by it Hinc videt exiguum Chawsey properatque videre Redingum nitidum texendis nobile pannis Hoc docet Aelfredi nostri victricia signa Begscegi caedem calcata cadavera Dani Utque superfuso maduerunt sanguine campi Principis hic Zephyro Cauroque parentibus orti Cornipedes crebris implent hinnitibus auras Et gyros ducunt gressus glomerantque superbos Dum cupiunt nostri Martis servire lupatis Haeccine sed pietas heu dira piacula primum Neustrius Henricus situs hic inglorius urna Nunc jacet ejectus tumulum novus advena quaerit Frustra nam regi tenues invidit arenas Auri sacra fames Regum metuenda sepulchris Thence little Chawsey sees and hastens on To Reading fam'd for cloth an handsome town Here Aelfred's troops their happy valour show'd On slaughter'd Begsceg and his Pagans trod And drown'd the meadows in a purple flood Here too in state the royal coursers stand Proud to be govern'd by our Mars's hand Full stretch'd for race they take their eager round And neighing fill the air and trampling shake the ground But where poor banish'd Virtue art thou gone Here Henry lies without a single stone Equall'd alas with common dead too soon So fatal avarice to Kings appears It spares their crowns more than their sepulchres Scarce half a mile from Reading amongst fine green Meadows the Kenet joyns the Thames which by the conflux being much enlarg'd spreads it self towards the north running by Sunning Sunning a little village that one would wonder should ever have been the See of eight Bishops who had this County and Wiltshire for their Diocese yet our Histories report as much The same was afterwards translated by Herman to Sherburn and at last to Salisbury to which bishoprick this place still belongs 8 Hereby falleth Ladden a small water into the Thames Not far off stands Laurence Waltham where the foundations of an old fort are to be seen and Roman coins are often digg'd up 9 And next to it Billingsbere the inhabitation of Sir Henry Nevil issued from the Lords Abergevenny Thence the Thames passes by Bistleham contracted now into Bisham Bisham at first a Lordship of the Knights Templers then of the Montacutes 10 And amongst them the first Earl of Salisbury of this family founded a Priory wherein some say he was buried Certes his wife the daughter of the Lord Grandison was buried there and in the Inscription of his tomb it was specified that her Father was descended out of Burgundy Cousin-german to the Emperor of Constantinople the King of Hungary and Duke of Bavaria and brought into England by Edmund Earl of Lancaster who built a little Monastery here afterwards of that noble Knight Sir Edw. Hobey Sir Edw◠Hobey a person to whom I owe a particular respect and whose more than ordinary obligations are so much the subject of my thoughts that I can never possibly forget them The Thames now bidding adieu to Bisham fetches a compass to a little town call'd in former ages Southealington 11 Afterwards Maidenhith now Maidenhead Maiden-head * A 〈◊〉 cap 〈…〉 from I know not what British Maiden's head one of those eleven thousand Virgins who as they returned home from Rome with Ursula their Leader suffer'd Martyrdom near Cologne in Germany from that scourge of God Attila Neither is this town of any great antiquity for no longer ago than our great grandfathers time there was a ferry in a place somewhat higher at Babhams end But after
possessions who after he had inlarg'd it with a well-furnish'd Library and some new works left it at his death to the Baron of Lumley a person whose whole course of life did truly answer his character from him by bargain it return'd to the Crown h Near this place for I cannot think it unworthy the mentioning is a vein of potter's earth famous for those little vessels the goldsmiths use to melt their gold in being made of it upon which account it carries a good rate The small and clear river Vandal The Vandal riv abounding with the best trouts rises at Cashalton a little distance from hence and running by Morden washes a town upon the western bank of it situate in a most fruitful place call'd Merton Merton in Saxon Meredune formerly famous for the death of Kenulph King of the West-Saxons slain in the cottage of a certain harlot here with whom he was smitten by †Clyte Prince Kinehard and the Prince himself presently kill'd upon the spot by the friends of Kenulph was punish'd answerably to his treachery Now it shews nothing but the ruins of a monastery built by Henry 1. 10 For Black-Canons at the instance of Gilbert Viscount of Surry 11 In the year 1127. which was famous for the Statute of Merton enacted in the 21 Hen. 8. and also for Walter de Merton founder of Merton-College in Oxford born and bred here which was famous for a Parliament held there under Henry 3. Afterwards the Vandal is augmented by a small river from the east which arises at Croydon Croydon formerly Cradiden lying under the hills and particularly famous for a palace of the Archbishops of Canterbury whose it has been now for a long time and for coals which the inhabitants trade withal Those that live there tell you that a Royal palace stood formerly on the west part of the town near Haling where the rubbish of buildings is now and then digg d up by the husbandmen and that the Archbishops after it was bestow'd on them by the King transferr'd it to their own palace nigher the river Near which the most Reverend father in God John Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury of blessed memory out of a pious disposition built and endow'd a beautiful Hospital for the relief of the poor and a School for the promotion of good learning For the torrent that the vulgar affirm to rise here sometimes The bourn and to presage dearth and pestilence it seems hardly worth so much as the mentioning tho' perhaps it may have something of truth in it Near to this place is Beddington Beddington i where is a most neat and curious house adorn'd with pleasant orchards and gardens built by Sir Francis Carew Knight For 't is an ancient seat of the Carews who are descended from Nicholas Baron Carew of Moulesford the Carews of Devonshire are of the same family too and have flourish'd a long time in this County especially since 12 Sir James J. Carew marry'd the daughter and coheir of the noble Baron Hoo 13 And Hastings To digress a little from the river Eastward from Croydon standeth Addington now the habitation of Sir Oliff Leigh whereby is to be seen the ruble of a Castle of Sir Robert Agvilon and from him of the Lords Bardolph who held certain lands here in fee by Serjeanty to find in the King's kitchin at the Coronation one to make a dainty dish which they call'd Mapigernoun and Dilgerunt What that was I leave to the skilful in ancient Cookery Wibbandune now commonly Wimbledon Wimbledon is seated upon the other bank of the Vandal where after the British war was ended and too much happiness began to breed civil dissentions among the Saxons Aethelbert King of Kent first rais'd a civil war against his own Countrymen The first civil wars among the Saxons But Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons luckily defeated him in this place with great loss on Aethelbert's side particularly the two Captains Oslan and Cneben were slain from the latter whereof 't is possible that the military fortification I saw here of a circular form call'd Bensbury or Cnebensbury might take it's name Now it 's greatest ornament is a house as of a stately structure so made pleasant by it's prospect and gardens built by Sir Thomas Cecil Kt. son of the most prudent Baron Burghley in the year 1588. when the Spanish Armada was upon our coasts Two miles from hence to the south upon the very top of a hill is a little wood call'd at this day Woodcote Woodcote where are the plain remains of a small city and several wells built of little pieces of flints the neighbourhood talk much of it's populousness richness and number of it's * Patriciorum Aldermen This I take to be the City which Ptolemy calls Noiomagus Antoninus Noviomagus g Mr. Somner Antiquit. of Canterbury p. 24. has prov'd from the course of the Itinerary that it must necessarily lie in Kent which opinion is confirm'd by Dr. Stillingfleet Orig. Britan. p. 63. See the Additions to Kent under the title Hollow-wood hill where it may probably enough be settled Noviomagus nor need I insist upon any other arguments for it besides that of distance For 't is ten miles from London and eighteen from Vagniacae or Maidston as is hinted by an old Itinerary Those therefore are very much out of the way who have plac'd this Noviomagus either at Buckingham or Guilford It was the chief City of the REGNI and known to Marinus Tyrius a very ancient Geographer whom Ptolemy takes upon him to censure because he had put Noviomagus in Britain in a more northerly climate than London and in the method of his Itinerary set it more to the south Upon the Thames next to the mouth of the Vandal where is a little town call'd from it Wandlesworth 14 Between Putney the native soil of Thomas Cromwell one of the flowting stocks of fortune stands the small village Batersey in old Saxon Patryks-ea and in latin Patricii insula i.e. Patrick's Isle and the Royal seat call'd Kennington Kennington whither the Kings of England us'd to retire the discovery whereof 't is vain to endeavour after there appearing neither name nor rubbish to direct us Next is Lambith Lambith or Lomebith that is a dirty station or haven formerly made famous by the death of Canutus the valiant King of England who there breath'd out his last in the middle of his Cups For he giving himself wholly over to eating and drinking ordered as Henry of Huntingdon has it that a Royal meal should be serv'd up to his whole Court four times a day chosing rather that dishes should be sent off his Table untoucht by those he had invited than that other dishes should be call'd for by those that came in after uninvited But now it is more famous for the palace of the Archbishops of Canterbury For
about the year of Christ 1183. Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury by an exchange with the Bishop of Rochester got a mannour in this place wherein he began a palace for him and his successors and this by little and little was enlarg'd But when the Archbishops began to have thoughts of building a small Collegiate Church here Good God what numbers of Appeals were packt to Rome by the Monks of Canterbury and what thundrings threatnings and censures were level'd by the Pope against the Archbishops For the Monks were jealous that this might prove an encroachment upon their Privileges and deprive them of their right to elect the Archbishop Nor could these disturbances be quieted till the little Church they had began was at the instance of the Monks levell'd with the ground Near to this is the most famous mart-town of all the County call'd at this day the Burrough of Southwork in Saxon Suþƿerke Southâ— i.e. a work or building to the south situated so to the south over against London as that it seems to be a sort of suburbs to it but yet so large is it and populous that it may vie with most Cities in England being as it were a Corporation of it self Within the memory of our fathers it had it 's own Bailifs but in the reign of Edward 6. it was annext to the City of London and is at this day reckon'd a branch of it For which reason we will defer the further examination of this place till we come to London Beneath this the Thames leaves Surrey the eastbound whereof runs down in a direct line to the south almost by Lagham which in the reign of Edward 1. had it's Parlamentary Barons Barons S. John 〈◊〉 Lagâ—â—â— call d S. John de Lagham whose estate came at last to J. Leodiard by a daughter and heiress Somewhat lower almost in the very corner where it takes a view both of Sussex and Kent is Sterborrow-castle formerly the seat of the Lords de Cobham who from this place were nam'd de Sterborrow Sterborrâ— and descending from John de Cobham Lord of Cobham and Couling and the daughter of Hugh Nevil flourish'd a long time together in great splendour and reputation For Reginald in the reign of Edward 3. was made Knight of the Garter and Admiral of the Sea-coasts from the Thames mouth Westward But Thomas the last of them marrying Anne daughter to 15 Humphry Duke the Duke of Buckingham had by her one only daughter Anne marry'd to Edward Burgh descended from the Percies and Earls of Athol His son Thomas was created Baron Burgh by K. Henry 8. and left a son William father to Thomas Barons â—rough 〈◊〉 Burgh who was a great encourager of Learning Governour of Briel made by Queen Elizabeth Knight of the Garter and Lord Deputy of Ireland where he expos'd himself to death in defence of his country As to Eleanor Cobham of this family wife to Humphrey Duke of Glocester whose reputation was something tainted I refer you to the English Histories We must now reckon up the Earls Earls 〈◊〉 Surreâ— who were 〈◊〉 call'd 〈◊〉 of Wâ—â— Arms 〈◊〉 Earls 〈◊〉 Warrâ—â— William Rufus King of England first made William de Warren Governour of Surrey 16 Who had marry'd his Sister under the honorary title of Earl whose Arms were Checky Or and azure For in his Foundation-Charter of the Priory of Lewis we read thus I have given c. for the good of my master K. William who brought me over into England and for the good of my Lady Queen Mawd my wife's mother and for the good of my master K. William his son after whose coming into England I made this Charter and who created me Earl of Surrey c. To him succeeded his son 17 And marry'd the daughter of Hugh Earl of Vermandois whereupon his posterity as some suppose us'd the Arms of Vermandois His son William dying in the Holy Land about 1142. and his grandchild by a son of the same name But this last had only a daughter who brought the same title first to William King Stephen's son and afterwards to Hamelin base son of Geoffrey Plantagenet Earl of Anjou But the first husband dying without issue Hamelin had by her William Earl of Surrey whose posterity taking the name of Warrens bore the same title This William marry'd the eldest daughter and coheir of William Marshal Earl of Pembroke widow of Hugh Bigod and had by her John 18 Who slew Alan de la Zâ—rich in presence of the Judges of the Realm and John by Alice daughter of Hugh le * Earls of March in â—â—â—nce Brune sister by the mother's side to K. Henry 3. had William who dy'd before his father and had by Joanna Vere daughter of the Earl of Oxford John who was born after the death of his father and was last Earl of this family He was as I learnt from his seal Earl of Warren Surrey Strathern in Scotland Lord of Bromfeld and Yale and Count Palatine But he dying without lawful issue in the 23d of Edward 3. his sister and heiress Alice was marry'd to Edmund Earl of Arundel and by that marriage brought this honour into the family of the Arundels 19 For Richard their son who marry'd in the House of Lancaster after his father was wickedly beheaded for siding with his Sovereign King Edward 2 by the malignant envy of the Queen was both Earl of Arundel and Surrey and left both Earldoms to Richard his son who contrariwise lost his head for siding against his Sovereign K. Richard 2. But Thomas his Son to repair his Father's dishonour lost his life for his Prince and Country in France leaving his sisters his heirs for the lands not entailed who were marry'd to Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk c. to Sir Rowland Lenthall and Sir William Beauchampe Lord of Abergavenny from which it came at last by the Mowbrays to the Howards For Thomas Mowbray marry'd the eldest sister and coheir of Thomas Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel and Surrey In the mean time 20 After the execution of Richard Earl of Arundel Richard 2. conferr'd the title of Duke of Surrey upon Thomas Holland Earl of Kent who notwithstanding did not long enjoy that honour For secretly endeavouring to rescue the same Richard then taken prisoner and to restore him to his Crown his plot unexpectedly was discover'd and himself making his escape was seiz'd by the town of Cirencester and beheaded Next Thomas de Beaufort who was the King's Chancellor bore this honour if we may believe Thomas Walsingham For he tells us that in the year 1410. The Lord Tho. Beaufort Earl of Surrey dy'd But let Walsingham make good his assertion for there is no such thing appears in the King's Records only that Thomas de Beaufort was about that time made Chancellor 'T is evident however from the publick Records of the Kingdom that King Henry 6. in the 29th year of
of the Cistercian Order That part of it which is now standing is a farm-house belonging to my Lord of Leicester from whom many noble persons still remain Echingham next adjoyning had also a Baron in the time of K. Edward 2. Baron Echingham William de Echingham whose ancestors were * Seneschalli Stewards of this Rape But the Inheritance by heirs females came to the Barons of Windsor and the Tirwhitts Then the Rother dividing his waters into 3 chanels Robertsbridge or Rotherbridge Bodiam passes under Robertsbridge where in the reign of Hen. 2. Alured de St. Martin founded a Monastery m Call'd S. Mary's of Robertbridge and of the Cistercian Order That part of it which is now standing is a farm-house belonging to my Lord of Leicester and so running by Bodiam a Castle belonging to the ancient and famous family of the Lewkneys built by the Dalegrigs here falls into the sea Now I have pass'd along the sea-coast of Sussex As for the Mediterranean parts there is nothing worth taking notice of unless I shou'd reckon up the Woods and Forests of great extent both in length and breadth the remains of the vast and famous wood Anderida Among which to begin at the west the most noted are these the Forest of Arundel S. Leonard's Forest Word Forest 31 And not far off East-Grensted anciently a parcel of the Barony of Eagle and made a Market by King Henry 7. Ashdown Forest under which lies Buckhurst Baron Backhurâ—t the seat of the ancient family of the Sackvils of which Q Elizabeth in our memory advanced Thomas Sackvil 32 Her Alley by the Bullens a Gentleman of great wisdom to be Baron of Buckhurst took him into her Privy Council elected him into the most honorable Order of the Garter and made him Lord Treasurer of England whom also of late K. James created Earl of Dorset Waterdown Forest 33 Where I saw Bridge a lodge of the Lord Abergavenny and by it craggy rocks rising up so thick as tho' sporting Nature had there purposed a sea Hereby in the very confines of Kent is Groomebridge an habitation of the Wallers whose House there was built by Charles Duke of Orleans father to K. Lâ—wis 12. of France when he being taken Prisoner in the Battel at Agincourt by Richard Waller of this place was here a long time detained Prisoner and that of Dallington the least of all Earls of Sussex See the Eâ—â—ls â—f Arundel Sussex has had 5 Earls of the family of D'Aubeney who were likewise called Earls of Arundel 34 the first of them was William D'Aubeney the son of William Butler to King Hen. 1. and Lord of Buckenham in Norfolk who gave for his Arms Gules a Lion rampant Or and was call'd sometimes Earl of Arundel and sometimes Earl of Chichester because in those places he kept his chief residence He had by Adeliza daughter of Godfrey Barbatus Duke of Lorrain and Brabant Queen Dowager to King Hen. 1. William the 2d Earl of Sussex and Arundel Father of William the 3d. Earl unto whom Mabil sister and one of the heirs of the last Ranulph Earl of Chester bore William the 4th Earl and Hugh the 5th Earl who both died issueless and also 4 Daughters married to Robert Lord of Tateshall John Fitz-Alan Roger de Somery and Robert de Mount-hault Afterwards the title of Arundel sprouted forth again as I said before in the Fitz-Alans But that of Sussex lay as it were forgotten and lost till our age which hath seen 5 Ratcliffs descended of the most noble house of the Fitz-Walters that fetch'd their original from the Clares bearing that honour viz. Robert created Earl of Sussex by K. Hen. 8. 21 Hâ—â—t who married Elizabeth daughter of Henry Stafford Duke of Buckingham by whom he had Henry the 2d Earl to whom Eliz. the daughter of Tho. Howard Duke of Norfolk bore Thomas who was Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth and dy'd without issue a Heroe of very great worth and honour in whose mind were joyntly seated both the wisdom of a Statesman and the courage of a Soldier as England and Ireland had reason to acknowledge Henry his brother succeeded him after Henry Robert his only son an honourable young Gentleman who now enjoys the Earldom This County contains 312 Parishes So much for Sussex which together with Surrey was the seat of the Regni afterwards the Kingdom of the South-Saxons The kingdom of the South-Saxons called in Saxon †The true reading is Suth-seaxna ric Suþ-seaxan-ric which 31 years after the coming in of the Saxons was begun by Aella who according to Bede First amongst the Kings of the English Nation ruled all their southern Provinces which are sever'd by the River Humber and the adjacent limits The first Christian King was Edilwalch baptiz'd in the presence of Wulpher King of Mercia his Godfather who gave him in token of adoption two Provinces the Isle of Wight and the Province of the Meanvari But in the 306th year from the beginning of this Kingdom upon Aldinius the last King 's being slain by Ina it came wholly under the Dominion of the West-Saxons ADDITIONS to SVSSEX a THE County of Sussex as in the north part it still abounds with wood so as our Author observes the greatest part of it seems to have been formerly in the same condition For I can never believe but that vast Weald being 30 miles in breadth and beginning in the south part of Kent must in it's way to Hamshire take up a considerable tract of this Shire And if so we may inferr from hence this account of it that the inhabitants could be but very few and thin-plac'd for a long time Which is plain from the two * Lambard Perambulat p. 224. Somner's Forts and Forts p. 107. Kentish Antiquaries affirming that for a great while the whole Weald was scarce any thing else besides a desert and vast wilderness not planted with towns or peopl d with men but stuff'd with herds of deer and droves of hogs only Which account may be very rationally grounded upon this bottom that no part of the Weald appears by the several Grants to have been let out by the King the only Lord and Proprietor of it in Manours but in so many Dens which imply'd only a woody place yielding covert and feeding for cattel and that there is no other use of them express'd but only Pannage for hogs From which hint is gather'd the primitive state of the greatest part of this County b In after times our Author observes among other things that they deaâ—t in the Glass-trade Put that lasted not long for whether it was that it turn'd to little account or that they found themselves out-vy'd by other places there are now no Glass-houses in the whole County At present as in our Author's time they are most famous for the Iron-works which are in several places of this County some whereof have both
of Kingsdowne had that seditious 57 Sir Bartholomew Lord Badlismere Bartholomew mention'd before He again by Margaret Clare had 58 Sir Giles Lord Badilsmere Giles who dy'd without issue Margery wife of William Roos of Hamlak Mawd of John Vere Earl of Oxford Elizabeth of William Bohun Earl of Northampton and afterwards of Edmund Mortimer and Margaret of 59 Sir John John Tiptoft from whence descended a splendid race of Princes and Noblemen 60 Then saw I Tenham not commended for health but the parent as it were of all the choice fruit-gardens and orchards of Kent and the most large and delightsome of them all planted in the time of K. Henry 8. by Richard Harris his fruiterer to the publick good for 30 Parishes thereabout are replenish'd with Châ—rrygardens and Orchards beautifully dispos'd in direct lines Next I saw Feversham Feversham which is very commodiously seated for the most plentiful part of this Country lyes all round it and it has a bay very convenient for the importation and exportation of commodities for which reasons it flourishes at this day above it's neighbours And it seems formerly to have made a good figure since K. Aethelstan held a Meeting here of the Wise men of the Kingdom and enacted Laws in the year of our Redemption 903. and that Stephen who usurp'd the Crown of England built a Monastery for Cluniacks wherein himself his wife Mawd and his son Eustace were all bury'd u Near this place as also in other parts of the County they discover here and there pits of great depth which tho' narrow at the top yet more inward are very capacious having as it were distinct chambers with their pillars of Chalk To what end the pits in Kent might be made Several opinions have been broach'd about them For my part I have nothing to offer as my own conjecture unless they were those pits out of which the Britains digg'd white chalk to manure their ground as they are mention'd by Pliny For says he they us'd to sink pits a hundred foot deep narrow at the mouth but within of a great compass and just such are those very pits we describe nor are they met with any where but in chalky grounds Unless some imagine that the English-Saxons might digg such holes for the same uses the Germans did from whom they were descended They were wont says Tacitus to digg holes under ground and to overlay them with great quantities of dung thus they prov'd a refuge against winter and a garner for their corn for the bitterness of the cold is allay'd by such places And if at any time the enemy should surprise them he plunders only what 's open and expos'd the secret corners and pits being either altogether unknown or safe upon this account that they are to be sought for From thence upon an open shore abounding with shell-fish and particularly oysters of which the pits are very common we see Reculver Reculveâ— in Saxon Reaculf but formerly by the Romans and Britains Regulbium Regaâ—â—â—â— as 't is call'd in the Notitia which tells us that the Tribune of the first Cohort of the Vetasians lay here in garrison under the Count of the Saxon shore 61 Who had the command then of nine ports as the Lord Warden hath now of five ports for so in those times were the sea-coasts hereabouts stil'd And it justifies this it's Antiquity by l There have been ancient Medals and Coins lately dugg up here the coyns of Roman Empeâ—ors that are dugg up in it Aethelberht King of Kent when he gave Canterbury to Austin the Monk built here a palace for himself Basso a Saxon adorn'd it with a Monastery out of which Brightwald the eight in the See of Canterbury was call'd to be Archbishop Whereupon it was from the Monastery call'd also Raculf-minster when Edred brother to Edmund the Elder gave it to Christ-Church in Canterbury m Nothing is left but the Church and about 12 houses the sea having gain'd all the Town and at this day the Church it self is in great danger to be lost and to preserve it there are men almost continually employ'd to make good the wall or banks which may prevent it's breaking At this day 't is nothing but a little Country village and the small reputation it has is deriv'd 62 From the salt savoury oysters there dredged from that Monastery the towers whereof in the form of Pyramids are of use to sea-men for the avoiding of sands and shelves in the mouth of the Thames Haâ—râ—aâ—â— Jâ—â—â—â— H. â— in maâ—g For as a certain Poët has it in his Philippeis Cernit oloriferum Tamisim sua Doridi amarae Flumina miscentem See Thames renown'd for Swans with brackish waves Mix her pure stream w Now we are come to the Isle of Tanet divided from the Continent by the small chanel of the river Stour by Bede called Wantsum Stour 〈◊〉 which is made up of two different rivers in that woody tract nam'd the Weald So soon as it gets into one chanel it visits Ashford and Wy noted market-towns but small Both of them had their College of Priests that at the latter built by John Kemp Archbishop of Canterbury a native of the place x and the other by Sir R. Fogg Knight Wy had a peculiar Well also into which God was mov'd to infuse a wonderful virtue by the Prayers of 63 Eustace a certain Norman Monk if we may believe Roger Hoveden Pag. 45â— whom I would by all means recommend you to if you are an admirer of Miracles 64 As how the blind by drinking thereof recovered sight the dumb their speech the deaf their hearing the lame their limbs And how a woman possess'd of the Devil sipping thereof vomited two toads which immediately were first transform'd into huge black dogs and again into asses And much more no less strange than ridiculous which some in that age as easily believ'd as others â—asly forg'd Thence the Stour leaving East well the inhabitation of the family of the Finches worshipful of it self and by descent from Philip Belknap and Peoplesham goeth on to Chilham c. Next is Chilham Chilham or as others call it Julham where is the rubbish of an ancient Castle which one Fulbert of Dover is said to have built Fulbert of Dover which family soon ended in a female heir marry'd to Richard natural son of King John to whom she brought this castle and very large possessions He had two daughters by her Lora wife of William Marmion and Isabel wife of David de Strathbolgy Earl of Athole in Scotland 65 Afterward of Sir Alexander Baliol who was call'd to Parliament by the name of Lord of Chilham and mother to that John Earl of Athole who having been sentenc'd for repeated treasons to make him conspicuous in proportion to the nobility of his birth was hang'd at London upon a gallows 50 foot
Order though out of the world q Hence the Medway passing by Halling Halling where Mr. Lambard the first Historiographer of this County sometime liv'd in the Bishop's house comes at length to Rochester Rochester which is so certainly the Durobrovis of Antonin that I need add no more than what our Author hath written already concerning it only that it was sack't by the Danes in the days of King Ethelred An. 839. and besieg'd by them again in An. 885. when they cast up works round it but was reliev'd by King Alfred and that all the lands of the Bishoprick were laid waste by King Ethelred An. 986. Of late years it gave an additional title to the Lord Wilmot of Adderbury in Com. Oxon. who in consideration of his great and many signal services done to the Crown at home and abroad was created Earl of Rochester by Letters Patents bearing date at Paris Dec. 13. 1652. 4 Car. 2. who dying An. 1659. was succeeded in his Honour by his only son John a person of extraordinary wit and learning He dying without issue July 26. 1680. the right honourable Lawrence Hyde second son to Edward Earl of Clarendon Viscount Hyde of Kenelworth and Baron of Wootton Basset was created Earl of Rochester Nov. 29. 1682. 34 Car. 2. r The river Medway having past Rochester-bridge which is one of the finest if not the best in England glideth on to Chatham Chatham famous for the station of the Navy-Royal which hath been so far advanc'd by the Kings Charles and James 2. beyond what it was in our Authors days with the large additions of new Docks and Storehouses wherein are many conveniencies unknown till of late and all these so well fenced with new Forts such as those at Gillingham Cockham-wood the Swomp c. that perhaps there may not be a more compleat Arsenal than this in the world To which add the Royal Fort of Shireness Shireness in the Isle of Shepey built at the mouth of this river by King Charles 2. which stands much more commodiously for the security of the River than the Castle of Queenborough ever did which was built there for that purpose by King Edward 3. but is now demolish't Of this see more at the end of the County Which is all I have to say more than our Author has done concerning this fruitful Island but that of late years the right honourable Lady Elizabeth Lady Dacres mother to Thomas Earl of Sussex was enobled with the title of Countess of Shepey during life Sept. 6. 1680. the 32 of Car. 2. since whose death in consideration of many eminent services done the Crown by the honourable Henry Sidney Esq fourth son of Robert Earl of Leicester the titles of Viscount Shepey and Baron of Milton near Sittingbourn were both conferr'd on him by his present Majesty King William 3. Apr. 9. 1689. 1 Gul. Mar. who hath also been since successively made Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Master of the Ordnance s Near this Town of Milton Milton alià s Middleton now erected into a Barony Hasting the Dane as our Author tells us built him a Castle to annoy the Town the footsteps whereof yet remain at Kemsley-downs beyond the Church This they now call being overgrown with bushes the Castle ruff whither King Alfred coming against him fortified himself on the other side the water the ditches of which fortification and some small matter of the stone-work also still remain by the name of Bavord-Castle †Aelfredi vita p. 44 45 46. secus fontes Cantianos near unto Sittingbourn t This Sittingbourn Sittingbourn was once both a Mayor and Market town now through disuse enjoying neither But the Dane never did the town of Milton so much real mischief as Godwin Earl of Kent who being in rebellion against Edward the Confessor in the year 1052. enter'd the King's Town of Middleton and burnt it to the ground ‖ Chron. Sax. An. 1052. which in all probability stood in those days near the Church near a mile from the Town that now is and was upon the rebuilding remov'd to the head of the Creek where it now stands u Eastward from hence lyes the Town of Feversham Fevershaâ— where King Stephen saith our Author founded an Abbey for the Monks of Clugny which appears to be true by his Foundation-Charter printed in the * Vol. 1. p. 683. Monasticon taking his first Abbot and Monks out of the Abbey of Bermondsey of the same order yet †Hist oâ— Cant. p. â—â— Mr. Somner and ‖ Monâ—â—tâ—con Feveâ— shamiense p. 7 8. Mr. Southouse from the absolutory Letters of Peter Abbot of Bermondsey and of the Prior and Monks of S. Mary de Caritate finding Clarembaldus the first Abbot of Feversham and his Monks releas'd from all obedience and subjection to the Church of Clugny and to the Abbot and Prior aforesaid * Monast Angl. p. 3â— are inclin'd to believe Mr. Camden mistaken and that the Abbot and Monks of Feversham pursuant to their absolution presently took upon them the rule and habit of S. Bennet notwithstanding it is clear they were still esteem'd of the order of Clugny for several years after as farther appears by the Confirmation-Charters of King Henry 2. King John and Henry 3. all printed in the †Ibid. p. 687 688 689. Monasticon and by the Bulls of Pope Innocent 3. Gregory 10. and Boniface 9. all in a ‖ MS. imâ— Munimerâ— Eccles Christi Cantuar. MS. book in Christ-Church Canterbury So that I guess the mistake must rather lye on Mr. Somner's and Mr. Southouse's side than our Author's the absolutory Letters in all probability tending only to their absolution from those particular Houses making any claim upon them and not from the order it self though it cannot be deny'd * Monaâ—â— Angl. 〈◊〉 p. 417. but that the Abbot and Monks of Reading were at first Cluniacs and after became Benedictines as perhaps these might do some years after their first foundation And thus much for the Ecclesiastical state of this Town As for Secular matters it has been lately honour'd by giving title to Sir George Sands of Lees Court in this County Knight of the Bath who in consideration of his faithful services to King Charles 1. was by King Charles 2. advanced to the degree and dignity of a Baron of this Realm by the title of Baron of Throwley as also of Viscount Sands of Lees Court and Earl of Feversham by Letters Patents bearing date at Westminster April 8. 28 Car. 2. which he was only to enjoy for term of life with remainder to Lewis Lord Duras Marquess of Blanquefort in France and Baron of Holdenby in England who marrying the Lady Mary eldest daughter of the said George Earl of Feversham who dyed Apr. 16. 1677. the said Lord Duras being naturalized by Act of Parliament An. 1665. succeeded his Father-in-law in all his titles and
full of windings and turnings GLOCESTERSHIRE GLocestershire in the Saxon tongue gleaucestâ—schyre was the chief Seat of the Dobuni It is bounded on the west by Monmouthshire and Herefordshire on the north by Worcestershire on the east by Oxfordshire and Warwickshire †And Barkshire Hol. and on the south by Wiltshire and part of Somersetshire A pleasant and fertile County stretching out in length from northeast unto southwest The most eastern part which swelleth with rising Hills is call'd Cotteswold The middle part is a large fruitful Plain which is water'd by the most noble river Severne that gives as 't were life and spirit to the Soil The more western part lying on the other side Severne is altogether shaded with Woods But enough of this William of Malmesbury easeth me of the labour who fully describes this County and sets forth it 's excellence Take what he writes in his Book De Pontificibus The Vale of Glocester is so call'd from its chief City the soil whereof yieldeth variety of fruits and plants and all sorts of grain in some places by the natural richness of the ground and in others by the diligence of the Country-man enough to excite the idlest person to take pains when it repays his sweat with the increase of an hundred fold Here you may behold the high-ways and publick roads full of fruit-trees not set but growing naturally The Earth of its own accord bearing fruit exceeding others both in taste and beauty many of which continue fresh the whole year round and serve the owner till he is supply'd by a new Increase There is no Province in England hath so many or so good Vineyards Vineyards as this County either for fertility or sweetness of the Grape The wine whereof carrieth no unpleasant tartness being not much inferiour to the French in sweetness The Villages are very thick the Churches handsome and the Towns populous and many To all which may be aâ—ded in honour of this County the river Severne Severne than which there is not any in the Land that hath a broader Chanel swifter stream or more plenty of fish There is in it a daily rage and boisterousness of waters which I know not whether I may call a Gulph or Whirlpool casting up the sands from the bottom and rowling them into heaps it floweth with a great torrent but loses its force at the first Bridge Sometimes it overfloweth its banks and wanders a great way into the neighbouring Plains and then returneth back as conquerour of the Land That Vessel is in great danger that is stricken on the side the Watermen us'd to it when they see this Hygre Hygâ— coming for so they call it in English do turn the Vessel and cutting through the midst of it avoid its violence What he says concerning the hundred-fold increase doth not at all hold true neither do I believe with those idle and dissatisfied Husbands whom Columella reprehends that the soil is wore out by its excessive fruitfulness in former Ages and become barren But yet not to mention other things we have no reason to admire that so many places in this County from their Vines are called Vineyards since they formerly afforded plenty of Wine and that they yield none now is rather to be imputed to the sloth and unactiveness of the Inhabitants than the indisposition of the Climate a But why in some parts of this County * See 〈◊〉 Ed. â—â— as we read in our Statutes by a private custom which hath now grown into a Law The Lands and Tenements of condemned persons are forfeited to the King only for a year and a day and after that term expired contrary to the custom of all England beside return to the next heirs let the Lawyers enquire since 't is not to my purpose b And now let us survey those three parts in their order which I mention'd before GLOCESTER SHIRE By Rob t Morden â—â—â—â—ton And since Avon in the British Language signifieth a River it is not improbable it took it's name from the river In the same sense among us to omit many others we have Waterton Bourne Riverton and the Latins have their Aquinum and Fluentium And I am the more ready to believe that this town took it's name from the river because at this place they us'd to ferry over from whence the town opposite to it was called Trajectus by Antonine but without doubt there is an error in the computation of the distance between these two places since he makes it 9 miles betwixt Trajectus and Abone whereas the river is scarce two miles over But I suppose it may have lost it's name or rather dwindld into a village The Ferâ—y when passengers began to ferry over lower or when Athelstan expell'd the Welsh thence For he was the first according to William of Malmesbury who drove the Welsh beyond the river Wye and whereas in former times Severn did divide the Welsh or the Cambri and the English he made the Wye to be their Boundary whence our Countryman Neckham Inde Vagos Vaga Cambrenses hinc respicit Anglos On this side Wye the English views On that the winding Welsh pursues 〈◊〉 Brâ—â—â—â—is Not far from Wye stands amongst tufts of trees St. Breulais Castle more than half demolished famous for the death of Mahel youngest son of Miles Earl of Hereford for there by the just judgment of heaven he was remarkably punished for his greedy designs inhumane cruelty and boundless Avarice always usurping on other men's rights with all these vices he is taxed by the writers of that age For as Giraldus writes being courteously treated here by 2 Sir Walter Clifford Walter de Clifford and the castle taking fire he lost his life by the fall of a stone on his head from the highest tower Here is nothing more remarkable in this woody place e 3 Beside Newnham a pretty market and Westbury thereby a seat of the Bamhams of ancient descent but that Herbert who marry'd the daughter of the aforesaid Mahel Earl of Hereford was in right of his wise call'd Lord of Deane from whom the noble family of the Herbert's deduce their original who gave rise to the Lords of Blanleveny and more lately 〈◊〉 in Dâ—râ—â—shâ—â—e to the Herberts Earls of Huntingdon and Pembroke and others From which family if we may credit D. Powel in his Welsh History Aâ—â—â—â—ny â—â—â—â—erbert was descended Anthony Fitz-Herbert whom the Court of Common Pleas of which he was sometimes chief Justice and his own most elaborate treatises of the Common Law do manifest to have been singularly eminent in his faculty But others affirm he was descended from the Fitz-herberts a Knightly family in the County of Derby and indeed in my opinion more truly â—â—â—â—rn The river Severn call'd by the Britains Haffren after it hath run a long way in a narrow chanel f at it's first entrance into this Shire receives the Avon and
another small river that runs into it from the East â—â—â—kesbuâ—â—â— between which is seated Tewkesbury in the Saxon tongue Theocsbury by others nam'd Theoci Curia so call'd from Theocus that there led the life of an hermit a large and fair town having 3 bridges over 3 rivers leading to it famous for the making of woollen cloth â—â—â—tâ—rd and smart biting Mustard but formerly most noted for an ancient Monastery g founded by Odo and Dodo two brothers in the year of our Lord 715 where their palace formerly stood as they shew us by the following inscription HANC AULAM REGIA DODO DUX CONSECRARI FECIT IN ECCLESIAM Which being almost ruin'd by age and the fury of Wars was repair'd by Robert Fitz-hamon Fitz-hamon a Norman 4 Lord of Corboile and Thorigny in Normandy translating Monks from Cranborn in Dorsetshire hither piously designing to make what satisfaction he was able for the loss the Church of Bajeux in Normandy sustain'd which Henry 1. consumed with fire to free him from prison but afterwards repenting of the fact rebuilt it It cannot saith William of Malmesbury be easily conceiv'd how much Robert Fitz-hamon adorned and beautified this Monastery where the stateliness of the buildings ravish'd the eyes and the pious charity of the Monks the affections of all persons that came thither In this Monastery he and his successors Earls of Glocester were interr'd who had a castle hard by call'd Holmes that is now ruin'd Neither was it less famous for the bloody overthrow that the Lancastrians received in this place in the year 1471 in which battel many of them were slain more taken and beheaded their power so weaken'd and their hopes so defeated by the death of Edward the only son of K. Hen. 6. and he very young whose brains were barbarously beaten out here that they were never afterwards able to make any head against King Edw. 4. Whence J. Leland writes thus of this town Ampla foro partis spoliis praeclara Theoci Curia Sabrinae qua se committit Avona Fulget nobilium sacrisque recondit in antris Multorum cineres quondam inclyta corpora bello Where Avon's friendly streams with Severn joyn Great Tewkesbury's walls renown'd for trophies shine And keep the sad remains with pious care Of noble souls the honour of the war From hence we go down the stream to Deorhirst Deorhirst which is mentioned by Bede it lyeth very low upon the Severn whereby it sustaineth great damages when the river overfloweth It had formerly a small Monastery which was ruined by the Danes but reflourished under Edward the Confessor who as we read in his Will assigned it with the government thereof to the Monastery of St. Denis near Paris But a little after as Malmesbury saith it was only an empty monument of antiquity h Over-against this in the middle of the river lies a place call'd Oleneag and Alney by the Saxons now the Eight i.e. an Island Famous upon this account that when the English and Danes had much weaken'd themselves by frequent encounters to shorten the War it was agreed that the fate of both nations should be determin'd by the valour of Edmund King of the English and Canutus King of the Danes in a single combat who after a long doubtful fight agreed upon a peace and the Kingdom was divided between them but Edmund being quickly taken out of the world not without suspicion of poyson the Dane seised upon the whole i From Deorhirst the river Severn 5 Runneth down by Haesfield which K. Hen. 3. gave to Richard Pauncefote whose successors built a fair house here and whose predecessors were possessed of fair lands in this country before and in the Conqueror's time in Wiltshire after various windings and turnings parts it self to make the Isle of Alney rich and beautiful in fruitful green meadows and then hastens to the chief city of the county which Antoninus calls Clevum or Glevum the Britains Caer Gloui the Saxons Gleaucester we Glocester Glocester the vulgar Latins Glovernia others Claudiocestria from the Emperour Claudius who as is reported gave it that name when he here married his daughter Genissa to Arviragus the British King whom Juvenal mentions Regem aliquem capies vel de temone Britanno Excidet Arviragus Some captive King thee his new Lord shall own Or from his British chariot headlong thrown The proud Arviragus comes tumbling down as if Claudius his three wives brought him any daughters besides Claudia Antonia and Octavia or as if Arviragus was known in that age when his name was scarce heard of in Domitian's reign But leaving those that make their own conjectures pass for the records of venerable antiquity I should rather adhere to Ninnius his opinion who derives this name from Glouus the great grand-father of King Vortigern only I find Glevum mention'd long before by Antoninus which the distance from Corinium with its name confirm to be the same But as the Saxon name Gleauecester came from Glevum so Glevum by analogy came from the British name Caer Glowi and that I believe from the British word Glow which in their language signifies fair and splendid so that Caer Glow is the same as a fair City Upon the same account among the Greeks arose the names of Callipolis Callidromos and Callistratia and amongst the English Brightstow †And Shirley and in this County Fair-ford 6 Fairley c. This City was built by the Romans on purpose to be a curb to the Silures and a Colony placed there call'd Colonia Glevum for a The Inscription is still to be read at Bath I have seen the remains of an ancient stone in the walls of Bath near the North-gate with the following Inscription * decurio DEC COLONIAE GLEV VIXIT ANN. LXXXVI This City lyes extended upon Severne and on that side where it is not wash'd with the river is secured in some places with a strong wall being beautify'd with many fair Churches and handsome well-built Streets On the south part was once a Castle built of square stone but now almost quite ruin'd it was first raised in the time of William the Conqueror and 16 houses were demolished in that place as Doomsday book mentions it to make room for this edifice About which as Roger de Monte writes Roger the son of Myles Constable of Glocester commenced his action at Law against King Henry 2. and also Walter his brother lost the right he had both to the City and Castle Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons first took this City by force of arms from the Britains in the year 570. then it came under the Jurisdiction of the Mercians under whom it long flourished in great repute here Osrick King of the Northumbrians by the permission of Ethelred King of the Mercians founded a great and stately Monastery for Nuns over which Kineburga Eadburga and Eva all Mercian Queens successively presided Edelfieda likewise that famous Lady
here a Castle now more than ruinous they were Founders of the adjacent Abby of Kingswood of the Cistercian order w 15 Derived from Tintern whom Maud the Empress greatly enriched The males of this House failed in the time of King Richard 2. and the Heir General was married to Cantelow Within one mile of this where the river Cam lately spoken of springeth is Uleigh a seat also of the Barkleys descended from the Barons Barkley styled of Uleigh and Stoke-Giffard who were found Coheirs to J. Baron Boutetort descended from the Baron Zouch of Richard Castles aliàs Mortimer and the Somerys Lords of Dueley And not far eastward we behold Beverstone-castle Beverston formerly belonging to the Gournys and Ab-Adams Ab-Adams who flourish'd under Edward 1. but afterwards to the Knightly family of the Berkleys x Hitherto I have made cursory remarks upon those places in this County which are situate beyond or upon Severn now I will pass forward to the easterly parts which I observ'd were hilly to wit Cotswold Cotswold which takes it's name from the hills and sheepcotes for mountains and hills 16 Without woods the Englishmen in old times termed Woulds Would what in English upon which account the ancient Glossary interprets the Alps of Italy the Woulds of Italy Upon these hills are fed large flocks of sheep with the whitest wool having long necks and square Bodies by reason as is supposed of their hilly and short pasture whose fine wool is much valued in foreign nations Under the side of these hills as it were in a neighbourhood together lye these following places most remarkable for their Antiquity y 17 Beginning at the north-east end of them Campden Campden commonly called Camden a noted market town where as John Castor averrs all the Kings of the Saxon Race had a congress in the year 689 and had a common consult how to carry on the war joyntly against the Britains which town 16 Weston and Biselay were in the possession of Hugh Earl of Chester in William the Conqueror's time Inq. 2. Ed. 2. was in the possession of Hugh Earl of Chester and from his posterity descended 17 By Nicolao de Albeniaco an Inheritrice to the ancient Earls of Arundel unto Roger de Somery by Nicholas de Albeniaco to Roger de Somery z h This place is in Warwickshire Adjoyning unto it is Weston of no great antiquity but now remarkable for the stately house there built by Ralph Sheldon for him and his posterity which at a great distance makes a fine prospect Hales Hales a most flourishing Abbey built by Richard Earl of Cornwal and King of the Romans 18 Who was there buried with his wife Sanchia daughter to the Earl of Provence famous for its scholar Alexander de Hales a great master of that knotty and subtile sort of school divinity aa 19 As he carried away the sirname of Doctor Irrefragabilis that is the Doctor ungainsaid as he that could not be gainsaid Sudley Sudley formerly Sudleagh i The neat Church here was ruin'd in the Civil wars and the best part of the Castle is since pull'd down a beautiful castle lately the seat 20 Of Sir Tho. Seimor Baron Seimor of Sudley and Admiral of England attainted in the time of K. Edw. 6 and afterward of Sir John Bruges whom Q. Mary c. of Giles Bruges Baron of Chandos Barons of Chandos whose grandfather John was honoured by Queen Mary with that title because he derived his pedigree from the ancient family of Chandos out of which there flourish'd in the reign of K. Edw. 3. 21 Sir John a famous Banneret L. of Caumont and Kerkitou in France John Chandos Viscount St. Saviours in France eminent for his services and great success in war The former Lords hence called Barons of Sudley Barons of Sudley that lived here were of an ancient English Race deducing their original from Goda the daughter of K. Aethelred whose son Ralph Medantinus Earl of Hereford was the father of Harold Lord of Sudley whose progeny long continued here until for want of issue male the heiress married with 22 Sir William William Butler of the family of Wem and brought him a son named Thomas He was father of Ralph Lord high Treasurer of England whom Hen. 6. created Baron of Sudley 23 With a fee of 200 marks yearly and who new built this castle His sisters were married into the families of Northbury and Belknape by which their possessions were in a short time divided into different families Hard by this is Toddington Toddington where the Tracies Tracies of a worshipful and ancient family have long flourished and formerly received many favours from the Barons of Sudley But how in the first reformation of religion William Tracy Lord of this place was censured after his death his body being dug up and burn'd publickly for some slight words in his last Will which those times call'd heretical or how in preceding times another William Tracy imbrued his hands in the blood of Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury Ecclesiastical writers having told us at large is now no part of my business to relate Winchelcomb Winchelcomb is here seated which is a populous town where Kenulph the Mercian King erected a Monastery and upon the day of it's consecration freely dismissed Edbricth King of Kent then his prisoner without any ransome paid 'T is scarce credible in what great repute this monastery was for the sake of the reliques of K. Kenesm a child of 7 years old whom his sister privately bereaved of his life to gain the inheritance and who was by that age added to the number of martyrs The neighbourhood of this place was formerly reckoned as a County or Sheriffdom by it self for we find in an ancient manuscript belonging to the Church of Worcester these words Edric sirnamed Streona that is the * Adquisitor Acquirer who under Ethelred and afterwards under Cnute or Canute presided and reigned as a Viceroy over all England adjoyned the Sheriffdom of Winchelcombe which was then an entire thing in it self to the County of Glocester bb 24 Thence I found nothing memorable but near the fountain of Churn river Coberley a seat of a stem of Barkeleis so often named even from the Conquest which matched with an heir of Chandos and so came hereditarily to the Bruges progenitors to the Lords Chandos Then by Bird-lip-hill whereby we ascended to this high Coteswold Lower in the County lyeth Brimesfield Brimesfield where the Giffords were formerly Lords Giffords Barons to whom by marriage with the Cliffords came a plentiful Estate but soon after having only daughters it fell to the Lords Le Strange of Blackmer the Audleys and others cc These places are situate amongst the hills but under the hills upon the East-confines of the County I saw that famous Roman highway call'd the Fosse
Burrill is single-trench'd and seems to have been ruin'd before fully finish'd Within the bank it contains 20 acres of arable land but on the west and south sides there is no bank nor trench which probably was occasion'd by the steep Meres that would not give leave to draw them The New-merch or de novo mercatu mention'd by our Author came in with the Conquerour but had only two daughters Hawys and Isabel as Sir William Dugdale in his Baronage has told us Mr. Camden's mistake in making three seems occasion'd by the elder being marry'd first to John Botereaux and afterwards to Nicholas de Moels which two he says marry'd two of the daughters This Deorham from Ralph Russel descended to Sir Gilbert Dennys who marry'd the heiress of that family thence to the Winters whose heiress marry'd to William Blathwayt Esq the present possessor he hath built here a stately new fabrick in the room of the old one Not far from hence lyeth Great Badminton Great Bâ—minton a seat belonging to his Grace Henry Duke of Beaufort which having been made his Country-residence since the demolishment of Rayland Castle is so adorn'd with stately additions to the house large parks neat and spacious gardens variety of fountains walks avenues Paddocks and other contrivances for recreation and pleasure as to make it justly esteem'd one of the most complete seats in the kingdom all which is owing to the care judgment and expence of the present Duke But here we must not omit Chipping-Sodbury Chippinâ—-Sodbury a market-town below the hills which hath a Free-school and was govern'd by a Bailiff but about 1681. 't was made a Corporation with a Mayor Aldermen and Burgesses which was suppressed by the Proclamation of K. James 1688. Next is Wotton-under-edge Wotton-under-eâ— famous for Cloathing where is a noble Free-school erected by Catherine relict of Thomas Lord Berkley in the year 1385. an Alms-house by Hugh Perry Alderman of London in 1632. which cost 1000 l. and the like sum was given by Sir Jonathan Daws late Sheriff of London for the relief of the poor w In this bottom lyeth Dursly Dursâ—y a market-town famous for Cloathing Kingeswood Abbey which our Author mentions is by all writers plac'd in Glocestershire whereas the whole Parish is really in the County of Wilts under the power of their Sheriffs and Justices but within the Diocese of Glocester It was founded by William Berkley 1139. thence removed to Tetbury and at last fix'd here till the Dissolution x Above the hills is Beverston Beverston Castle which formerly belong'd to the Berkleys but is now in the possession of Sir William Hicks Baronet Beyond which lyeth Tetbury where is a great market for yarn and a Free-school and Alms-house by the bounty of Sir William Romney a native of the place It belong'd to the Berkleys but they sold their right to the inhabitants who now enjoy the tolls and profits of the markets and fairs y In Coteswold near Norlich or North-Leach at a village call'd Farmington Aubr MS. is an exceeding large Roman camp nam'd Norbury Norbury 850 paces long and 473 broad The Works are but single and not very high 't is now a corn-field and not far from it westward there is a barrow In the same Would is Painswick-Parish about 5 miles from Glocester †wherein is Kimsbury-Castle Kimsbury-Castle exceeding high Ibid. on the north-side it has a vast precipice and on the other sides stupendous Works From hence is a most lovely prospect over the Vale to Malvern-hills to Shropshire Worcestershire Herefordshire and Monmouthshire z In the north part of the County is Camden â—amden a market-town famous for Stockings It gave the title of Viscount to Sir Baptist Hicks 4 Car. 1. who was a great benefactor to this place by erecting an Alms-house rebuilding the market-place and annexing the Impropriation of Winfryth in Dorsetshire for the augmentation of the Vicaridge He built here a curious house near the Church which was burnt in the late Civil Wars lest it should be a garrison for the Parliament and lyes bury'd in the south I le of the Church which is adorn'd with such noble monuments of marble as equal if not exceed most in England He gave in his life-time ten thousand pounds to charitable uses as his Epitaph mentions and leaving only two daughters the honour descended to my Lord Noel by marrying the eldest of them whose posterity are now Earls of Gainsburrow The Weston mention'd by our Author near this place is not that where Ralph Sheldon built his house for he had no land there but Weston in the parish of Long-Compton in Warwickshire of which place he was then Lord as his posterity are to this day Beyond Camden on a rising ground is Ebburton where the Lord Chancellour Fortescue lies buried his monument was not erected till the year 1677. aa Next is Hales-Abbey which was begun in the year 1246. and when 't was dedicated the King Queen and Court were all present at the solemnity There are now but small remains of it only a neat cloyster the rest being turn'd into a fair house now in the possession of William Lord Tracy of Toddington two miles off where he has a stately house the seat of his Ancestors Alexander de Hales mention'd by our Author lies bury'd in the Cordeliers Church in Paris and if his Epitaph says true dy'd 1245. a year before this Abbey was begun so that I do not see how he could have his education here bb Not far from hence is Winchcomb Wâ—nchcomb where are scarce any ruins visible either of the Abbey or of that which was call'd Ivy-Castle or of St. Nicholas Church that stood in the east part of the town The inhabitants made planting of Tobacco their chief business which turn'd to good account till restrain'd by the 12 Car. 2. they decay'd by little and little and are now generally poor cc A little lower lies Brimpsfield Brimpsfield which was formerly a place of some repute for we find that Lionel Duke of Clarence had a Charter for a weekly market here on Tuesdays and a Fair on the Eve of Corpus Christi here was also a Priory and a Castle but both are vanish'd John Gifford Lord of this place founded Glocester-hall in Oxon. for the Monks of Glocester dd On the edge of Oxfordshire is Stow Stow. a great market where as the common observation goes they have but one element viz. Air there being neither wood common field nor water belonging to the town It hath an Alms-house a Free school and a multitude of poor Here in the year 1645. March 21. the forces of King Charles 1. being over-power'd were routed by the Parliament-Army ee Next is North leach Northleach a market-town with a neat Church Here is a good Grammar-school founded by Hugh Westwood Esq who as 't is commonly reported came afterwards to be low in the world and desiring
publick spirit For this reason the present Chancellor of the University at the same time providing for the memorial of himself has in this Library erected a Statue of Sir Thomas Bodley that great friend and patron of Learning with this Inscription THOMAS SACKVILLUS DORSETTIAE COMES SUMMUS ANGLIAE THESAURARIUS ET HUJUS ACADEMIAE CANCELLARIUS THOMAE BODLEIO EQUITI AURATO QUI BIBLIOTHECAM HANC INSTITUIT HONORIS CAUSSA PIE POSUIT That is THOMAS SACKVIL EARL OF DORSET LORD HIGH TREASURER OF ENGLAND AND CHANCELLOR OF THIS UNIVERSITY PIOUSLY ERECTED THIS MONUMENT TO THE HONOUR OF SIR THOMAS BODLEY KNIGHT WHO INSTITUTED THIS LIBRARY In the Reign of Henry the Seventh for the better advancement of Learning William Smith Bishop of Lincoln built new out of the Ground Brazen-Nose-College ff which was b With Exhibitions for 13 Scholars An. 1572. well endow'd by the pious and good old man Alexander Nowell Dean of St. Pauls About the same time Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester founded Corpus-Christi-College gg After these Cardinal Wolsey Arch-bishop of York on the site of the Monastery of St. Frideswide began the most noble and ample Foundation of all others 15 For Professors and two hundred Students which King Henry 8. with addition of Canterbury-College did richly endow and gave it the name of Christ-Church Christ-Church hh 16 Assign'd to a Dean Prebends and Students The same mighty Prince at the expence of his own Exchequer honored the City with an Episcopal See and the University with publick Professors And in our own age that the Muses might still be courted with greater favours Sir Thomas Pope Kt. and Sir Thomas White Kt. Citizen and Alderman of London have repair'd Durham and Bernard Colleges which lay almost buried in their own dust have enlarg'd their buildings endow'd them with lands and given them new names dedicating the former to the Holy Trinity ii this latter to St. John Baptist kk Queen Mary c The publick Schools at the time of Mr. Camden's writing ow'd their restitution to the piety and bounty of Queen Mary An. 1554. but the present fabrick in form of a stately Quadrangle was rais'd by the contribution of Sir Thomas Bodley and other Benefactors An. 1613. built from the ground the publick Schools And lately Hugh Price Dr. of Laws has happily laid a new foundation 17 With good speed and happy success as I wish call'd in honour of our Saviour Jesus-College ll These Colleges in number sixteen beside eight Halls mm all fairly built and well endow'd together with their excellent and useful Libraries do so raise the credit and esteem of Oxford that it may be justly thought to exceed all other Universities in the world nn Nor does it yield the precedence to any in Living Libraries for so with Eunapius I may term the men of profound learning nor in the admirable method of teaching all Arts and Sciences nor in excellent discipline and most regular government of the whole body But why this digression Oxford is very far from standing in need of a Panegyric having already gain'd the universal esteem and admiration of the world Nor would I by any means seem extravagant in the commendation of my mother University Let it suffice to say of Oxford what Pomponius said of Athens It is so eminent that there needs no pointing at it But by way of conclusion take this passage which begins the history of Oxford from the Proctor's book Chronicles and Histories do assure us that several places in different parts of the world have been famous for the studies of Arts and Sciences But of all such places of study among the Latins Oxford appears to be of the most ancient foundation to profess a greater variety of knowledge to be more firm in adhering to the Catholick Religion and to enjoy more good customs and greater privileges The Astronomers observe this City to be in twenty two degrees of longitude or distance from the fortunate Islands and in the northern latitude of fifty one degrees and fifty minutes 18 And thus much briefly of my dear Nurse-Mother Oxford As soon as Isis and Cherwell have joyn'd their * Besides this number valu'd at more than a thousand pound he gave 126 Volumes more in the year 1440. an in 1443. a much greater number with considerable additions at his death An. 1446. streams below Oxford the Isis with a swift and deeper current passes on to the south to find out the Tame River Tame which it seems long to have sought for Nor does it run many miles before the said Tame rising in the County of Bucks comes and joyns with it which river upon entrance into this County gives its own name to a Market-town of pleasant situation among rivers for the river Tame washes the north part of the town and two little brooks slide by it on the east and west sides This place has been in a flourishing condition ever since Henry Bishop of Lincoln in the reign of Henry 3. Claus 3 Hen. 3. brought the great road which lay before upon one side of the town through the middle of it Alexander that munificent Bishop of Lincoln Lord of this Manour to alleviate the publick odium he had contracted by his extravagant expences in building of Castles founded here a small Monastery And many years after the Quatremans a Family in former times of great repute in these parts built here an Hospital for the maintenance of poor people But neither of these foundations are at present to be seen though instead of them Sir John Williams Lord Williams of Tame Kt. advanced to the dignity of a Peer of this Realm by Queen Mary under the title of Baron Williams of Tame has here founded a beautiful School and an Alms-house oo 19 But this title soon determined when he left but daughters married into thâ— families of Norris aâ—d Wenman From hence the Tame runs near Ricot Ricot a neat seat which belong'd formerly to the Quatermans upon whose failure of issue male it was sold away by the Fowlers and Hernes till it came at last into the hands of the Lord Williams before-mention'd and by his daughter to the Lord Henry Norris Lord Norris whom Queen Elizabeth advanc'd to the dignity of a Peer by the title of Baron Norris of Ricot pp a person as well eminent for his honourable descent being deriv'd from the d Sir Edward Norris Knight marry'd Tridesaide younger daughter of Francis Viscount Lovel Lovels who were allied to most of the great families in England as more especially for his stout and martial sons whose valour and conduct are sufficiently known in Holland Portugal Bretagne and Ireland The next place visited by the Tame 20 Huseley where sometimes the names of Burentines flâ—urished as at Chalgrave is e The same place we find in the Catalogue of the British-Cities call'd by Ninnius and Huntingdon Cair Dauri by Alfred of Beverley
belong'd to Nigel Kyre pp Next is Ricot Ricot which still continues in the family of the Norris's and is now part of the possession of the right honourable James Earl of Abingdon who had that honour conferr'd upon him Novemb. 29. 1682. and having marry'd Eleanora one of the daughters and coheirs of Sir Henry Lee Baronet by her has issue his eldest son and heir apparent Mountague Lord Norris who has marry'd the heiress to the family and estate of the ancient and honourable Venables Barons of Kenderton qq South and by West of Dorchester are two banks with a trench between them therefore call'd Dike-hills * Pag. 322. which in the opinion of Dr. Plot cannot be part of any Roman way because extended only as a string to the great bow of the river Thames but rather a fortification such as P. Ostorius is said by Tacitus to have rais'd on the rivers Antona and Sabrina or else some of the out-works of the fortifications on Long Witenham-hill on the other side the water which perhaps was the Sinnodunum of the ancient Britains So he rr Not far from hence is Ewelme Ewelme the Rectory whereof with a Canonâ—y of Christ-Church King James 1. in the third year of his reign annex'd to the office of Regius-Professor of Divinity in Oxford as he did at the same time the government of the Hospital here to that of Professor in Physick Which Prince however represented as of a mean spirit for his inclinations to peace was yet one of the highest patrons to learning and the greatest Benefactor to this University and deserves to have his memory vindicated from the common aspersions cast upon it by men of ignorance and men of arms ss Then the Thames runs forward to Henley Henley which Dr. Plot takes to be the ancientest town in the whole County so call'd says he from the British Hen which signifies old and Lley a place and perhaps might be the head town of the People call'd Ancalites that revolted to Caesar tt At some distance is Watlington Watlington which by the name one would imagine to be of no less than British Antiquity Plot. p 332 as seeming to point out to us * the old way of making their towns or cities an account whereof Strabo has left us viz. Groves fenc'd about with trees cut down and laid cross one another within which they built them sheds for both themselves and Cattel The same way of fencing the Saxons call'd Watelas hurdles or wattles from whence the town probably enough might have its name Continuation of the EARLS Henry the last Earl mention'd by our Author marry'd Diana second daughter to William Cecil Earl of Exeter and dy'd at the siege of Breda An. 1625. without issue Upon which Robert Vere son and heir of Hugh son and heir of Aubry de Vere second son of Earl John the fifth was in the Parliament held at Westminster An. 2 Car. 1. restor'd to this title of Earl of Oxford who taking to wife Beatrix van Hemmema of Friezland had issue by her Aubrey the present Earl Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter who marry'd Diana daughter to George Kirk Esq but by her has no issue More rare Plants growing wild in Oxfordshire Anagallis foemina flore coeruleo Female or Blew-flower'd Pimpernel At Battle near Oxford Park p. 554. Arundo vallatoria foliis ex luteo variegatis Painted or gilded Reed Found by Mr. Bobert in the river Thames not far from Oxford Though it be but an accidental variety it deserves to be mention'd being very ornamental in gardens Atriplex vulgaris sinuata spicata D. Plot. Hist. nat Oxon. It is found commonly on Dunghils growing together with Goose-foot Orache Geranium Columbinum maximum foliis dissectis D. Plot. Hist nat Oxon. columbinum majus foliis imis longis usque ad pediculum divisis Moris hist The greatest Doves-foot Cranes-bill with dissected leaves In hedges about Marston and on that part of Botley causey next Oxford in great plenty Gramen caninum aristatum radice non repente sylvaticum Dogs-grass with awns Found plentifully growing in Stoken-Church woods Mr. Bobert Gramen Secalinum majus Sylvaticum Gr. secalinum majus Park an Gr. hordeaceum montanum sive majus C. B. Wild Rye grass of the woods In Stoken-Church woods also Idem Gramen cyperiodes minimum Ranunculi capitulo rotundo Cyperus-grass with a round Crowfoot-head Frequently found on the bogs on the west side of Oxford Idem Gramen bromoides maximum hirtum Park Festuca graminea perennis hirsuta gluma longiore dumetorum spicâ divisâ In Godstow copse near Oxford Idem Helleborine flore albo vel Damasonium montanum latifolium C B. Ger. Damasonium Alpinum seu Elleborine floribus albis J. B. Elleborine minor flore albo Park White-flower'd Bastard-Hellebore In the woods near Stoken-Church not far from the way leading from Oxford to Lnod Hordeum nudum seu Gymnocrithon J. B. Zeopyron sive Tritico-speltum C. B. Park Hordeum nudum Ger. cujus figura huic plantae minimè respondet Naked Barley It is sown in the fields about Islip in Oxfordshire and other places It is really a species of wheat and no Barley only its ear resembles the Hordeum dystichum Orobanche Verbasculi odore D. Plot. Hist nat Oxon. Birds-nest smelling like Primrose-roots At the bottoms o trees in the woods near Stoken church Saxifraga Anglica annua Alsines folio D. Plot. Hist nat Oxon. Annual Pearl-wort In the walks of Baliol-College gardens and on the fallow-fields about Hedington and Cowley plentifully and in many other places Stachys Fuchsii J. B. Ger. major Germanica C. B. Park Base Hore-hound Nigh Witney-park in Oxfordshire and thereabouts plentifully Tilia foliis molliter hirsutis viminibus rubris fructu tetragono 'T is known by the name of the red Lime and grows naturally in Stoken-Church woods Mr. Bobert Tormentilla reptans alata foliis profundiùs serratis Pentaphyllum minus viride flore aureo tetrapetalo radiculas in terram è geniculis demittens Moris Hist Creeping Tormentil with deeply indented leaves In the borders of the corn-fields between Hockley and Shotover-woods and elsewhere Triticum spica multiplici C. B. Ger. Park Many-eared wheat It hath been sown about Biceter and Weston on the green Viola Martia hirsuta major in odora D. Plot. Hist nat Oxon. Moris hist. Trachelii folio D. Merret Violet with Throatwort-leaves In Magdalen-college-Cops Shotover-hills Stow-wood and many other places plentifully It is found in most Countries Viola palustris rotundifolia D. Plot. Hist nat Oxon. Round-leaved Marsh-violet In the bogs about Stow-wood and on the banks of Cherwell between Oxford and Water-Eyton but sparingly Clematis Daphnoides major C. B. Daphnoid latifolia seu Vinca pervinca major Park The greater Periwinkle In the high-ways between Wolverton and Yarnton and in several hedges thereabout I am not yet fully satisfied that this is a native of England though it be found in the places mentioned
dissolution of Religious houses came to the Crown as also certain rents there belonging to a brotherhood of the Blessed Virgin call'd our Lady's Rents all which were by Queen Elizabeth in the fourth year of her reign granted to the Mayor Bayliffs and Burgesses of Wicomb for the maintenance of a free Grammar-School and certain Alms-people there Since which time the Rents being improv'd more Alms-people have been maintain'd and An 1684. new Alms-houses were erected and built There is no doubt but Wic signifies sinus and that it gives name to several towns in England but the rule ought not to be general because it signifies as well vicus or castellum in which latter sense it is us'd particularly in the Saxon Norð-Æ¿ic Norwich d The Thames having pass'd by Eaton Eaton receives the river Cole upon which stands Colebrook the Pontes of Antoninus though Stow Harrison Hluyd Leland c. had rather remove it to Reading in Berkshire Upon this occasion our Author mentions Ponthieu as coming to the crown of England by Edward the first 's Queen who had it in right of her mother †Dâ— Tillet Recueil de Râ—ys de France The mother was Joan second wife to Ferdinand third King of Castile daughter and heir to Simon Earl of Ponthieu Higher upon the back of the Cole stands Euer Euer which took its name from Roger de Ivery who came in with the Conquerour and had this among other possessions bestow'd upon him The manour our Author tells us was given to John de Clavering by King John ‖ Dugd. Bar. T. 1. p. 107. but before that it was granted to Robert his father by Richard 3. anno regni 9. and his son had only a confirmation of it from King John anno regni 14. e At a little distance from the river is Stoke-Pogeois Stoke-Pogeois which Mr. Camden says came from the Pogeis hereditarily to the Hastings It first descended by marriage to the Molins from them to the Hungerfords and by Thomas Lord Hungerford's daughter and sole heir being married to Edward Lord Hastings and Hungerford to the Hastings In this parish-Church George and Anne the first Earl and Countess of Huntingdon lye interr'd which probably might induce Edward Lord Hastings of Loughborough their third son greatly favour'd and advanc'd by Queen Mary to found an Hospital here which still remains and whither he himself upon the death of that Queen retir'd to a house adjoyning and there dy'd He is bury'd in a Chapel built by him for the use of the Hospital f Passing the hills which divide this County we come to the western-part of it where Ickford Ickford upon the river Tame is thought to be the place of Treaty between King Edward and the Danes An. 907. call'd by the Saxons Yttingaford I had once thought that some remains of that name might still be in Itene for so New-forest in Hamshire was formerly call'd or Ifford near Christ-Church in Hamshire but Brompton's writing the place Ichingford seem to favour the first conjecture g Farther north is Borstal Borâ—tal famous for the garrison in the time of K. Ch. 1. It was given together with the Rangership of the forest of Bernwood by one of the Williams to Nigel of Borstal by the livery of a horn which is still preserv'd This seat through several heirs females of divers names came to the Denhams and from thence by one of the daughters of Denham to the family of Lewis of Wales whose daughter and heir now enjoys it h Passing to the east we are led to the fruitful Vale of Alesbury wherein one lately entire pasture call'd Beryfield Beryfield now part of the inheritance of Sir Robert Lee Baronet in the manour of Quarendon is let yearly for 800 l. At the town of Alesbury Alesbâ—â—y our Author informs us of an odd sort of tenure on condition to find straw for the King's bed * Placit Câ—â—on de â—no 14 Ed. 〈◊〉 It was held by William of Alesbury and beside that service he was likewise to straw his chamber and to provide him three eeles whenever he should come thither in winter If he came in summer besides straw for the bed he was to provide sweet herbs for the King's chamber and two green-geese All which he was to do thrice every year if the King came so often thither The town has given the title of Earl to Robert Bruce created by K. Charles 2. An. 1664. i Not far from hence is Upper Winchindon Upper Wâ—â—chindon a seat of the Lord Wharton †Dugd Baâ—â— T. 3 p. 3â—â— which probably came to that family by Philip Lord Wharton marrying Jane the daughter and heir of Arthur Godwin of that parish Esq to whose family our Author observes it formerly belong'd k Upon the Ouse lyes Bitlesden Bitlesden on the mention whereof Mr. Camden says that Osbert de Clinton was Chamberlain to King Henry 1. He certainly liv'd later for in 10 Henr. 2. ‖ Dugd Bâ—â—â— T. 1. p. 522. I find him mention'd as then living Geffrey Clinton the first of that family was indeed Lord Chamberlain to King Henry 1. and was succeeded by his son of the same name l The same river carries us to Buckingham Buckingham * Paroch Ant qâ— ty Mr Kâ—â—â—â— p. 7. near which town upon the banks of the Ouse Aulus Plautius's first victory over the Britains seems to have been gain'd Near the Church was once a stately Prebend-house belonging to the Church of Lincoln which was endow'd with Lands of 1000 l. per An. Here was also a Chapel call'd St. John Baptist's founded by Thomas Becket and now converted into a Free-school m In this Hundred is Caversfield Caversfieâ—â— whether so call'd from Carausius as if one should say Carausius's field I dare not be positive †Paroch Ant. p. 1â— However 't is very probable from the circumstances that this is the very place where Allectus slew Carausius in battel BEDFORD SHIRE By Robt. Morden n Not far from hence upon the same river is Stony-stratford â—â—â—ny-â—â—â—tford where our Author mentions a Cross erected in memory of Eleanor Edward the first 's Queen She dy'd at Hareby in Lincolnshire and such crosses were erected between that and Westminster in all places where the corps rested Our Author is enclin'd to believe that this is the old Lactorodum for so he writes it though it is more commonly Lactadorum and sometimes Lactodrodum and Lactorudum â—urton's â—â—erar 〈◊〉 3. â—e Bel. 〈◊〉 l. 5. * The old town in Gaul call'd Lactorate perhaps might give it the name since †Caesar has observ'd that the Gauls coming over hither gave the same names to towns as those they had left behind them o The Ouse carries us next to Terringham which family there of the same name by the death of Sir William Terringham without heir male is now almost quite extinct His only daughter and heir is marry'd
to John Backwell Esq p In the account of the Earls Mr. Camden tells us that Henry Duke of Buckingham's reason for plotting against Richard 3. was that King 's detaining from him the estate of the Bohuns But this cannot be the cause ‖ Dudg Bar. T. 1. p. 168. for after that Tyrant's advancement he sign'd a bill for Livery of all those Lands unto him whereunto he pretended a right by descent from Humphrey de Bohun sometime Earl of Hereford and Constable of England Mr. Dugdale has given us an abstract of it and is of opinion that the cause of this his carrriage was either remorse of conscience for raising that King to the throne by the barbarous murther of his nephews or else his observing himself neglected by him Continuation of the DUKES After the attainder and execution of Edward the title lay vacant till the 14th of Jac. 1. when George Viscount Villers was created Earl of Buckingham the next year Marquess of Buckingham and by a Patent bearing date 18 Maii 21 Jac. 1. Duke of Buckingham This George being kill'd by one Felton at Portsmouth Aug. 23. An. 1628. was succeeded by George his son who dying Apr. 16. 1687. left the title vacant More rare Plants growing wild in Buckinghamshire I have not had opportunity of searching this County for Plants neither have any singular local or uncommon species growing there as yet come to my knowledge save only Sphondylium montanum minus angustifolium tenuiter laciniatum observed by Dr. Plukenet near St. Giles Chalfont in the mountainous meadows BEDFORDSHIRE THE County of Bedford commonly Bedfordshire is one of the three Counties which we observ'd before to have been inhabited by the Cattieuchlani On the east and south it is joyn'd to Cambridgshire and Hertfordshire on the west to Buckinghamshire on the north to Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire and is divided into two parts by the Ouse running through it In the north part it is more fruitful and woody in the south where 't is much larger the soil is more poor though it makes a tolerable return For it abounds with barley which is plump white and strong In the middle it is something thick-set with woods but eastward is more dry and wants wood The Ouse at its first entrance into this County first visits Trury the seat of Baron Mordant â—â—â—oâ—s â—â—rdant which family is indebted to Henry 8. for this dignity For he it was that created John Mordant Baron Mordant a prudent person who had married the daughter and coheir of H. Vere of Addington Next it glides by Hare-wood a little village call'd formerly Hareles-wood where Sampson sirnam'd The Strong built a Nunnery and where in the year of our Lord 1399. a little before the breaking out of those Commotions and Civil wars wherewith England was for a long time embroil'd the Hyâ—gma 〈◊〉 153. the river stood still and the water retiring both ways did wonderfully leave a passage on foot through the chanel for three miles together a 1 They who saw it took it as a plain presage of the division ensuing Afterwards it runs under Odil or Woodhill formerly Wahull which had also its Barons of Wahull eminent for their ancient Nobility 2 Whose Barony consisted of 300 Knights-fees in divers Countries and a Castle 3 Which is now hereditarily descended to Sir R. Chetwood Knight as the inheritance of the Chetwoods came formerly to the Wahuls which is now come by inheritance to the Chetwoods b From hence the Ouse with no less windings than those of the Meander it self is carry'd through Bletnesho commonly Bletso â—â—so formerly the seat of the Pateshuls afterwards of the Beauchamps 〈◊〉 St. 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 sho and now of the famous family of St. John who formerly by their valour became Masters of a great estate in Wales 4 In Glamorganshire and in our age had the honour of Barons conferr'd upon them by Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory 5 When she created Sir Oliver the second Baron of her Creation Lord St. John of â—letnesho unto whom it came by c. To them it came by Margaret de Beauchamp an heiress marry'd first to Oliver de St. John from whom those Barons are descended and afterward to John Duke of Somerset by whom she had the famous Margaret Countess of Richmond a Woman whose merit is above the reach of the highest Commendation and from whom the Royal Family of England is descended From hence the Ouse hastens 6 By Brumham a seat of the Dives of very ancient parentage in these parts to Bedford Bedford in Saxon Bedanford the County-town and which gives name to the whole and so cuts it that one would imagine it two towns but that it is joyn'd by a Stone-bridge c 'T is more eminent for the pleasantness of its situation and antiquity than any thing of beauty or stateliness though it has indeed five Churches I dare not assent to those who think it to be the Lactodorum of Antoninus for neither is it situate upon a military way which is the surest guide in our search after stations and mansions mention'd by Antoninus nor were there ever any Roman Coins dug up here I have read that it was call'd in British Liswider or Lettidur but this seems to be turn'd out of the English name For Lettuy signifies in British publick Inns and Lettidur innes upon a river and our English Bedford implies Beds and Inns at a Ford. Below this Town in the year 572. Cuthwulph the Saxon did so shatter the Britains in a set-battel that he was ever after too hard for them and had several towns surrender'd Nor does it seem to have been neglected by the Saxons since Offa that powerful Prince of the Mercians made choice of this place as Florilegus tells us for his Burial but the Ouse being once more rapid and rising higher than ordinary swept away his Monument The town was repaird by Edward the elder after it had been destroy'd in the Danish wars which King did likewise add a little city on the south side of the river call'd by that age to follow the best Copâ— of Hoveden Mikesgate In the time of Edward the Confessor as we find it in that Book wherein William the first took his Survey of England it defended it self for the half of an Hundred in expedition and ships The land of this village never hided But under the Normans it was a much greater sufferer for after Pagan de Beauchamp the third that was call'd Baron of Bedford had built a Castle theâ—e never a civil commotion arose in the kingdom but what had a stroke at it while standing Stephen in the first place when he had possess'd himself of the Kingdom of England against his solemn oath took this Castle with great loss on both sides afterwards when the Barons took up arms against King John William de Beauchamp Lord of it and one of the headers of that Faction
which had been for some time buried under ground and was dug up a perfect stone More to the East Tuddington shews it's beautiful house lately built by H. Lord Cheney 12 Made by Queen Elizabeth Baron Cheyney of Tuddington built and shortly after dy'd sans-issue where also formerly Paulinus Pever a Courtier and Sewer to King Henry 3. did as Matth. Paris tells us build a seat with such palace-like grandeur such a Chapel such Lodgings with other houses of stone cover'd with lead and surrounded it with such ‖ Pomoeâ—â— avenues and parks that it rais'd an astonishment in the beholders We have not gone far from this place along by Hockley in the hole a dirty road extreme troublesome to travellers in winter time 13 For the old Englishmen our Progenitors call'd deep mire hock and hocks and through fields wherein are the best beans yielding a pleasant smell but by their fragrancy spoiling the scent of dogs not without the great indignation of the Hunters till we ascend a white hill into Chiltern and presently come to Dunstable Duâ—stabâ—e seated in a chalky ground pretty well inhabited and full of Inns. It has 4 streets answering the 4 quarters of the world and because of the dryness of the soil every one has 4 publick * Lacunâ— ponds which tho' supply'd only with rain-water are yet never dry For springs they can come at none without digging 24 fathom deep In the middle of the town there is a Cross or rather a Pillar having engraven upon it the Arms of England Castile and Pontieu and adorn'd with Statues it was built by K. Edw. 1. in memory of his Queen Eleanor among some others in places through which she was carry'd 14 Out of Lincolnshire in Funeral pomp to Westminster There 's no manner of doubt to be made but that this was the Station which Antoninus the Emperour in his Itinerary mentions under the name of Magioninium Magiovinium Magiovinium and Magintum c Mr. Camden in his second edition 8o. settl'd it at Ashwell in Hertfordshire nor need it be sought in any other place For setting aside that it stands upon the Roman Military way the Swineherds now and then in the neighbouring fields find Coins of the Emperors which they call to this day Madning-money and at a little distance upon the very descent of Chiltern-hills there is a round military fortification such as Strabo has told us the British towns were It contains 9. acres and is call'd Madning-bowre and Madin-bowre a name wherein with a little variation one may easily discover Magintum But after Magintum either by the storms of war or time was destroy'd Henry 1. built another Town here with a Royal seat at Kingsbury and planted a Colony that should be a curb to the insolence of Robbers as the private History of the little Monastery which he founded for an ornament to his Colony does plainly testifie But take the very words of that private History tho' they savour something of the barbarity of that age It is to be observ'd that that * Aâ—ea structure at the meeting of the way of Watling and Ikening d Primitus sartabatur in the folio edition but in the second which was in 8o. we find in the margin primitus succidebantur was first contriv'd by Henry the Elder of that name King of England to prevent the mischiefs of one Dun a famous Robber and his Gang and that from this Dun the place was call'd Dunstable i Our Lord the King built a burrough there and a Royal seat for himself near it The Burgesses were free in every thing as the other Burgesses of the King's Realm The King had in the same village a Fair and Market and afterwards built a Church wherein by the authority of Pope Eugenius 3. he plac'd Canons Regular feoffing the said Religious in the whole Burrough by Charter and granting them several immunities k 15 As for Leighton Buzard on the one side of Dunstable and Luton on the other neither have I read nor seen any thing memorable in them unless I should say that at Luton I saw a fair Church but the Quire then roofless and overgrown with weeds and adjoyning to it an elegant Chapel founded by J. Lord Wenlock and well maintained by the family of Rotheram planted here by Thomas Rotheram Archbishop of York and Chancellour of England in the time of King Edw. 4. Now of the Lords Dukes and Earls of Bedford Dâ—kes Earls and Barons of Bâ—â—â—ord First there were Barons of Bedford of the family of Beauchamp who by right of inheritance were Almoners to the Kings of England on their Coronation-day But the estate being divided by daughters to the Mowbrays Wakes and Fitz-Otes King Edward 3. made Engelram de Coucy Earl of Soissons in France 16 Son to Engelrame Lord of Coucy and his wife daughter to the Duke of Austria to whom he had marry'd a daughter first Earl of Bedford Afterwards Henry 5. erected Bedford into a Dukedom and it had three Dukes the first was John third son of Henry 4. who beat the French in a sea-engagement at the mouth of the Seine and again being made Regent of France 17 Slain in a land-fight at Vernolium He was bury'd at Roan and the Fortune of England as to the French wars was bury'd with him Whose monument while Charles 8. King of France was a viewing and a Nobleman stood by that advis'd him to pull it down Nay says he let him rest in peace now he 's dead whom France dreaded in the field while alive The second Duke of Bedford was George Nevil a young boy son of John Marquess of Montacute both of whom K. Edw 4. degraded by Act of Parliament almost assoon as he had set them up the father for treachery in deserting his party and the son out of revenge to the father Tho' it was indeed urg'd as a pretence that he had not estate enough to bear out the grandeur of a Duke and that great men when they want answerable Fortunes are always a plague and burthen to their neighbours The third was Jasper de Hatfeld Earl of Pembroke honour'd with this title by his * Nepote grandchild Hen. 7. whom he had sav'd out of very great dangers but 18 Some ten years after his creation he tho' he liv'd to a great age dy'd unmarry'd But within the memory of our Fathers it return'd to the title of an Earldom when King Edward 6. created John Russel Earl of Bedford who was succeeded by his son 19 Sir Francis Francis a person of that piety and gentile easiness of temper that whatever I can possibly say in his commendation will fall infinitely short of his Virtues He left Edward his successor and grandchild by his son Francis who is growing up by degrees to the honour of his Ancestors This little County has 116 Parishes ADDITIONS to BEDFORDSHIRE a ON the west-side of
this County is Harewood Harewood made remarkable for the standing of the river An. 1399. The very same thing happen'd as I have been inform'd the 18. or else the 28. of January in the year 1648. And as the first was look'd upon to be a prognostick of the Civil Wars that ensu'd so as the circumstances fall out may this be thought of K. Charles 1.'s death there being nothing so extraordinary on foot at that time nor any thing to which it can at least be so plausibly referr'd if we were to make a conjecture b Next is Odill Oâ—â—ll where Leland tells us the Castle mention'd by our Author was in his time nothing but strange ruins and that it belong'd to the Lord Bray but whether it came immediately from them to the Chettwoods I know not c From hence the river runs to Bedford Bâ—dford which our Author says one would easily imagine to be two towns and tho' both sides of the river are govern'd by the same Magistrates viz. a Mayor two Bailiffs c. yet thus far they make their particular claims that whereas they have two weekly markets the south-side has the Tuesday-one considerable for all living cattel and the north-side the Saturday-one for all sorts of Corn. Of the five Churches also two are seated on the south and three on the north-side St. Pauls as * â—inerar Mo. Leland tells us is the principal Church of the town and was before the Conquest a College of Prebendaries and after too till the Foundation of Newnham-Priory They had their houses round the Church and tho' as our Author observes Roisia was she that remov'd it †Ibid. yet her son Simon de Bello-Campo or Beauchamp confirming and completing the Act of his mother was look'd upon as the Founder and accordingly in his Epitaph which was before the high Altar of this Church he is call'd Fundator de Neweham d In the place of the Castle Mr. Camden speaks of is now a spacious Bowling-green look'd upon by the Gentry who resort thither in great numbers for their recreation to be as good as most in England e In this town was built and endow'd An. 561. a Free-school by Sir William Harper born in it bred a Merchant-Taylor in the city of London and afterwards Lord Mayor of it Within two miles of Bedford was an old Castle ‖ Ibid. call'd by Leland Risingho-Castle Risingho-Castle which he says was a little by west from Castle-mill In his time the building was so entirely destroy'd that no part of it was visible but the Area of the Castle was easie to be trac'd and the great round hill where the Keep or Dungeon stood complete f Next is Sandye Sandy ‖ Aubr MS. where have been discovered some farther evidences of Antiquity namely glass urns and one red urn like Coral with an Inscription They have ashes in them and are in the hands of a Gentleman in Bedford At Chesterfield also there is a Roman-Camp where there were coins and urns digg'd up about the year 1670. some of which were bestow'd upon the University of Oxford by Mr. Thomas Crysty of Bedford g South-west from hence is Houghton-Conquest Houghton-Conquest where are two Common-fields one call'd Great-Danes-field and the other Little-Danes-field * Ibid. in both of which are a great many Pits some 15 foot diameter or thereabouts h More to the South-west is Woburn Woburn not far from which there is dug up great store of Fullers earth commonly call'd from the place Woburn-earth a thing so very useful in Cloathing that the transportation of it has been strictly forbidden i Near the South-bounds of this County is Dunstaple Dunstaple which one should hardly believe upon the authority of a Monkish writer to be denominated from a famous robber Dun when the Saxon Dun and the old Gaulish or British Dunum does so well answer the situation of the place which as our Author describes it is hilly and mountainous beginning upon that long ridge of hills call'd Chiltern and besides we have his judgment that 't is very ancient †Fuller's Worthies p. 119. There was a woman who liv'd dy'd and was bury'd in this town that had as appears by her Epitaph nineteen Children at five births Five at two several births and three together at three others k More to the west is Leighton or Leyton Leyton ‖ Ibid. call'd also Layton-buzzard corruptly from Beaudesert about half a mile from which is a Roman-Camp And as this shows the presence of that people there so the eminence of this town even in the beginning of the Saxon times seems to be prov'd from those Conquests of Cuthwulph in the year 571. wherein among others he is said by the Saxon-Annals to have taken LygeanburH which seems to me much more properly to belong to this Leyton than to Loughborrow in Leicestershire the place pitch'd upon by our Author For setting aside that the Saxons generally fixt in such places as the Romans had been in an observation that may be confirm'd by numbers of instances the old name and new agree very well The termination burH has a particular eye only to the fortification that was then there and why might not the Lygean be as well melted into Lay or Leigh as the river Lygea is now into Lee or Ley Besides the course of his Victories does best suit this for he went from LygeanburH to Ailesbury and then to Bensington in Oxfordshire which almost lye in a direct line whereas Loughborow lyes out of the road Continuation of the EARLS Edward the last Earl mention'd by our Author marry'd the daughter of John Lord Harington and dy'd in 1627. without issue Upon which this title came to Francis son of William fourth son to the last Francis Earl of Bedford and he was succeeded by William his eldest son who still enjoys it More rare Plants growing in Bedfordshire Caryophyllus minor repens nostras An Betonica coronaria sive Caryophyllata repens rubra J.B. Creeping wild Pink. On Sandy-hills not far from an ancient Roman Camp Gentianella fugax Autumnalis elatior Centaureae minoris foliis An Gentianella fugax quarta Clus The taller Autumnal Gentian with Centory-like leaves On Barton-hills upon a waste chalky ground as you go out of Dunstable-way towards Gorckambury Park p. 407. Glastum sativum Ger. Park Isatis sativa vel latifolia C. B. Isatis seu Glastum sativum J.B. Woad This plant is cultivated in this County in this manner They every year sow the seed it is never sown above two years together and pluck up the old Woad unless it be saved for seed It is fown about the beginning of March and cropt about the midst of May thereafter as the leaf comes up It is best in a fair and dry Summer but most in a moist then they crop it four or five times according as it comes The first cropt is best every crop after worse in
those days for making of brick and divers other Romans coins and vessels were found as Mr. Stow tells us belonging to their Sacrifices and Burials beside what he mentions Such as the Coins of Trajan and Antoninus Pius Lamps Lachrymatories Patinae and vessels of white earth with long necks and handles which I suppose must be the Gutti used in their Sacrifices †Survey p. 177. There were many Roman Coins also discover'd in the foundations of Aldgate when it was rebuilt in the year 1607. which were formerly kept in the Guild-hall ‖ Ibid. p. 121 But many more of all kinds since the late fire in the foundations of St. Paul's Church now rebuilding and in the making of Fleet-ditch which were carefully collected by Mr. John Coniers Citizen and Apothecary of London and are now many of them in the possession of the ingenious Mr. Woodward the present Professor of Physick in Gresham-College London Many Urns and Coins have been also met with in digging the foundations of the new buildings in Goodmans-fields as there daily are in many other places upon the like occasions especially in the Suburbs of the City w Southwark was 't is true Apr. 23. 1549. 4 Edw. 6. purchased of the King by the Lord Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of London for the sum of Six hundred forty seven pounds two shillings and a penny and annext to their City and erected immediately into a new Ward call'd the Bridg-ward without and was thenceforth to be esteemed within the government and correction of the Lord Mayors and other Officers of London and their Deputies The inhabitants were licensed to enjoy and use all such Laws and Privileges whatsoever within their Borough and Precincts as the Citizens of London did within their City * Stow's Survey p 442 443. Which possibly might move our Author to place its history here But it was not thereby remov'd out of Surrey as appears by the provisions of the King's Grant whereby care is taken that the Lord Mayor should do and execute all such things within the Borough as other Justices might within the County of Surrey and that he as Escheator within the Borough and Precincts should have power to direct Precepts to the Sheriff of Surrey for the time being †See more of this in Surrey x The Hospital of Christ-Church founded Anno 1552. by King Edward the sixth as it stood in our Author's time maintain'd but 600 Orphans whereof part Boys and part Girls and both the children of Freemen of this City Since the Fund being uncertain depending as well upon the casual charity both of living and dying persons as upon its real Estate the number has been augmented and diminisht in proportion to the increase and decrease of that sort of Charity However it seldom now maintains less than 1000 annually nor is there reason to fear they will ever have fewer Here having run through the several Schools at 15 years they are put forth to a seven years Apprenticeship except some Boys of the best parts who are sent to the Universities and there also maintain'd for seven years which is the present state of King Edward's foundation Mathematical School To this there has been added another of late years stiled the New Royal Foundation of King Charles the second consisting of 40 Boys all wearing Badges appropriate to their Institution to be fill'd up successively out of such of the above-mention'd Children as have attain'd to a competency in fair writing and Latin learning Thence-forward they are instructed in the Mathematicks and Art of Navigation till they are 16 years of age at which time they are disposed of in a seven years Apprenticeship to the practice of Navigation Which Institution most highly charitable in it self and tending to the honour and safety of the Kingdom as well as the security and advancement of our Trade was founded the 19th of August Anno 25 Car. 2. Earls of MIDDLESEX Sir Lionel Cranfield Kt. Merchant of London having for his great abilities been first made Master of the Requests then of the great Wardrobe and after of the Wards and at last privy Counsellor upon the 19. of July 19 Jac. 1. was advanced to the degree of a Baron of this Realm by the title of Lord Cranfield of Cranfield in Bedfordshire and to the office and dignity of Lord high Treasure of England and by Letters Patents bearing date Sept. 2. 1622. 20 Jac. 1. to the Earldom of Middlesex Who by his second wife Anne daughter to James Bret of Howbey in the County of Leicester Esquire had issue four sons James Edward Lionel and William whereof James and Lionel succeeded him in the Honour but both dying without issue this Title descended to his eldest daughter Frances married to Richard Earl of Dorset and her issue and is accordingly now enjoyed by the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold and Knight of the Garter More rare Plants growing wild in Middlesex communicated by Mr. James Petiver Filicula saxatilis ramosa maritima nostras Raii Synops Hist Plant. Small-branch'd Stone-fern On many old walls in and about London as the Savoy Westminster Royal Garden c. Fungus spongiosus niger reticulatus doliolis vinosis adnascens Raii synops Mr. Doody's spung-like Mushrome In most vaults sticking to the wine casks Eruca sylvestris Ger. sylv vulgatior Park major lutea caule aspero C. B. tenuifolia perennis fl luteo J. B. Wild Rocket On old walls about this City frequently as on London-wall between Cripplegate and Bishopsgate the Charter-house c. plentifully Viscum Ger. vulgare Park baccis albis C. B. Quercus aliarum arborum J. B. Misseltoe On some trees at Clarendon house St. James's Nasturtium aquaticum amarum Park majus amarum C. B. Nasturtium aq fl majore elatius Raii syn Bitter Cresses On the Thames-bank between Peterborough-house and Chelsey Conserva reticulata Raii Hist Plant. append 1852. synops 15. Mr. Doody's netted Crow-silk In some ditches about Westminster and Hounslow-heath Bardana major Rosea Park 1222. lappa Rosea C. B. prodr 102. Rose Burdock This variety which Caspar Bauhine averrs to be found frequently about Leipsick I have observed near the Thames between Westminster and Chelsey Juncus caule triangulari Merr. Pin. 67. The three-corner'd Bulrush In the Thames between Peterborough-house and the Horse-ferry Westminster Cyperus rotundus litoreus inodorus J. B. rotundus inodorus Anglicus C. B. rotundus litoâ—eos Ger. rotundus litoreus inodorus Anglicus Park Round-rooted Bastard Cyperus Sagitta aquatica omnium minima Raii synops append 242. The least Arrow-head Observed by that most curious Botanist Dr. Plukenet to grow with the two last Salix minima fragilis foliis longissimis untrinqueviridibus non serratis Raii synops append 238. Dr. Sherard's Green Osier Amongst the Willows on the Thames side between Westminster and Chelsey Salix folio Amygdalino utrinque aurito corticem abjiciens Raii synops 216. Almond-leav'd
the first that gave life as it were to this place For Maud the Empress gave him Newport a pretty neighbouring town in these words which are transcrib'd from the Original Charter For as much as he us'd to pay at the day of my father Henry's death and to remove the market of Newport to his castle of Walden with all the customs which before belong'd to the said market in Toll passage and other customs And that the way of Newport which lyes near the shore be turn'd to Walden according to custom upon the ground forfeited to me and that the market at Walden be kept on Sundays and Thursdays and that there be a fair held in Walden to begin on Whitsun-eve and last all the following week From this market the place was long call'd Chepping-Walden We read also in the Register of this Abbey He appointed Walden as the head of his Honour and the whole County for a seat for himself and his heirs The place where he built the Monastery had great plenty of water which ran here continually from springs that never dried up The Sun visits it very early in the morning and forsakes it very soon in the evening being kept off by the hills on each side This place is now call Audley-end from 31 Sir Thomas Thomas Audley Chancellor of England Baron â—â—dley of Walden who changâ—d the Monastery into a dwelling-house for himself He was created Baron Audley of Walden by Hen. 8. and left one daughter and heir Margaret second wife to Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk who had issue by her Thomas William Elizabeth and Margaret Thomas famous for his experience in sea-affairs was summon'd to Parliament by Q. Elizabeth An. 1587 by the name of Lord Howard by Walden And lately King James hath created him Earl of Suffolk and made him his Chamberlain 32 Who in this place hath begun a magnificent Building Near whose house at Chesterford there was seated a much ancienter little city near Icaldune in the very utmost limits of the County which now from the old Burrough the Country-people call Burrow-bank Burrow-bank There are only the marks of a ruin'd place to be seen and the plain track of the walls Yet I shall by no means affirm it to be h This in another place be fancies may be St. Edmundsbury See Suffolk under that title the Villa Faustini which Antoninus mentions in these parts and tho' Ingrati haud laeti spatia detinet campi Sed rure vero barbaróque laetátur Of no vast tracts of barren land 't is proud But like true Country innocently rude Yet I shan't so much as dream this to have been the place described in these and the other verses of the ingenious * Martial Epigrammatist The fields as I have said before look very pleasant with sown Saffron 33 A commodity brought into England in the time of King Edward 3. Saffron For in the month of July every third year when the roots have been taken up and after twenty days put under the turf again about the end of September they shoot forth a bluish flower out of the midst whereof hang down three yellow chives of Saffron which are gather'd best in the morning before sun-rise and being taken out of the flower are dried by a gentle fire And so wonderful is the increase that from every acre of ground they gather 80 or 100 pound of wet Saffron which when it 's dry will be about 20 pound And what 's more to be admir'd that ground which hath bore Saffron three years together will bear Barley very plentifully 18 years without dunging and afterwards will be fit enough for Saffron Bâ—rons of Câ—avering More to the South lies Clavering which Hen. 2. gave with the title of a Baron to 34 Sir Robert Fitz-Roger Robert Fitz-Roger from whom the family of the Euers are descended His posterity having after the old way for a long time taken for their sirname the Christian-name of their father as John Fitz-Robert Robert Fitz-John c. at length upon the command of Edw. 1. took the name of Clavering from this place But of these when we come to Northumberland See in Northumberland Here too Stansted-Montfitchet presents it self to our view which I can't pass by in silence since it was formerly the seat or Barony of the family of the Montfitchets Barons Montfitchet Arms of the Montfitchâ—â— who bore for Arms Three Cheverons Or in a shield gules and were reckon'd among the most honourable of our Nobility But the male-line continued no farther than to five Descents when the inheritance fell to three sisters Margaret wife to Hugh de Bolebec Aveline to William de Fortibus Earl of Albemarle The Playzes and Philippa wife to Hugh Playz The posterity of the last continued till within the memory of our Grandfathers and ended in a daughter married to Sir John Howard Kt. from whose daughter by 35 Sir George Vere George Vere the Lords Latimer and Wingfield are descended A little lower stands Haslingbury Hâ—sâ—ingbury the seat of the Lords Morley of whom more in Norfolk Adjoyning to this is an old military Vallum thence call'd Wallbery and more to the East Barrington-Hall the seat of the noble family of the Barringtons Barrington who in the time of King Stephen were greatly enrich'd with the estate of the Lords Montfitchet that then fell to them and in the memory of our fathers a match with the daughter and heir of 36 Sir Henry Pole Henry Pole Lord Montacute son and heir to Margaret Countess of Salisbury render'd them more illustrious by an alliance with the royal blood 37 Neither is Hatfield Regis commonly called of a broad spread Oak Hatfield Brad-Oak to be omitted where Robert Vere Earl of Oxford built a Priory and there lyeth entombed cross-legg'd with a French Inscription wherein he is noted to be first of that name Robert and third Earl of Oxford After the Norman Conquest Maud the Empress Lady of the English as she used to stile her self created Geoffrey de Magneville â—â—rls of Essex or Mandevil son of William by Margaret heiress to Eudo ‖ Dapiferi Sewer first Earl of Essex that she might draw to her party a man of that great power and experience in war He in the civil disturbances under King Stephen 38 Despoiled of his estate lost his troublesome life in the field 'T was he too as ancient writers inform us who for his many villanous practices incurr'd the sentence of Excommunication â—egister of Wâ—lden under which at the little town of Burwell he receiv'd a mortal wound in the head As he was just expiring some Templars came in who put on him the habit of their Order marked with a red cross and when he was dead carried him away with them into their own precincts the old Temple at London where putting him into a pipe of lead
1173. when the rebellious son of King Henry the second took up Arms against his father Robert Earl of Leicester with his Stipendiaries from Flanders harrass'd the Country all round And here also it was that in the year 1553. Queen Mary enter'd upon the government notwithstanding the violent opposition of Dudley Earl of Northumberland against King Henry the eight's daughters The river goes next to Parrham Parrham a little town whose Lord William Willoughby Barons Willâ—ugâ—by of Parrham had the dignity of a Baron conferr'd upon him by King Edward the sixth and from thence running by Glemham which has given name to an ancient and famous family 16 Descended from the Bacons and Brandons to Oreford Oreford that takes its name from it it falls into the Sea This was once a large and populous town fortify'd with a Castle of reddish stone which formerly belong'd to the Valoinies and afterward to the Willoughbeys But now it complains of the Sea's ingratitude which withdraws it self by little and little and begins to envy it the advantage of a harbour And this is all I have to say of Oreford unless you please to run over this short passage of Ralph de Coggeshall an ancient Writer In the time of Henry the first when Bartholomew de Glanvile was Governour of the Castle of Oreford some fishermen hapen'd to catch a wild man in their nets All the parts of his body resembl'd those of a man he had hair on his head a long * Pineatam picked beard and about the breast was exceeding hairy and rough But at length he made his escape privately into the Sea and was never seen more So that what the common People affirm may be very true Whatever is produc'd in any part of nature is in the sea and not at all fabulous what Pliny has wrote about the Triton on the coasts of Portugal Tritons and Sea-monsters and the Sea-man in the Straits of Gibralter Not much higher in a safe and pleasant situation within the Vale of Slaughden where the Sea beats upon it on the east and the River on the west lyes Aldburgh Aldburgh which signifies an ancient Burrough or as others will have it a burrough upon the river Ald. 'T is a harbour very commodious for mariners and fishermen by which means the place is populous and is much favour'd by the Sea which is a little unkind to other towns upon this coast Hard by when in the year 1555. all the corn throughout England was choakt in the ear by unseasonable weather the inhabitants tell you that in the beginning of Autumn there grew Pease miraculously among the rocks Pease growing out of the rocks without any earth about them and that they reliev'd the dearth in those parts But the more thinking people affirm that Pulse cast upon the shore by shipwrack h At the south part of the Meer-shingle says Blome there still comes up yearly certain coarse grey Peas and very good Coleworts out of the stony-heaps us'd to grow there now and then and so quite exclude the miracle But that such as these grew every year among the pebbles on the coasts of Kent we have observ'd before From hence keeping along the shore at ten miles distance we meet with Dunwich Dunwich in Saxon Dunmoc mention'd by Bede Here it was that Foelix the Burgundian who reduc'd the East-Angles then falling from the Faith to Christianity fixt an Episcopal Seat in the year 630. and his Successors for many years presided over the whole kingdom of the East-Angles But Bisus the fourth from Foelix when by reason of old age and a broken constitution he found himself altogether unable to manage so large a Province divided it into two Sees One he kept in this place and fixt the other at a little town call'd North-Elmham In the reign of William the first it had 236 Burgesses and 100 Poor it was valued at fifty pound and sixty thousand †Allectum for halecum herrings by gift So we read in Domesday-book In the last age it was very populous and famous for a Mint and in the reign of Henry the second it was as William of Newburrow has told us a famous village well stor'd with riches of all sorts At which time when the peace of England was disturb'd with fresh commotions it was fortify'd on purpose to awe Robert Earl of Leicester who over-run all those parts far and near But now by a private pique of Nature which has set no fixt bounds to the incursions of the Sea the greatest part of it is swept away by the violence of the waves and the Bishops having many years ago transferr'd their Seat to another place it lyes now in solitude and desolation h A little higher the river Blith unloads it self into the Sea upon whose bank I saw a little town call'd Blithborow Blithborrow memorable only for the burying place of the Christian King Anna whom Penda the Mercian slew in a pitcht battel The Church was made eminent for a College of Prebendaries by Henry the first who granted it to the Canons of St. Osith It has a Market by the favour of John Lord Clavering to whom King Edward the second granted this Privilege along with a Fair. He was possess'd of a very large estate in those parts Regist Monast de Sibton as descended from the daughter and heir of William de Cassineto or Cheney who held the Barony of Horsford in the County of Norfolk and built a small Monastery at Sibton i Here the Promontory Easton-nesse Easton-nesse shoots it self a great way into the Sea Eastward Extensio Promont so that 't is lookt upon to be the farthest east of any part of Britain By Ptolemy it is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Extensio extension and to put it beyond all doubt that this is the same with our Easton know that Eysteney is the same in British that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in the Greek and Extensio in the Latin though indeed this name might as probably be deriv'd from our own language because of the easterly situation of the place 17 On the farthest part of the same Promontory stands Easton a village of fishermen almost entirely swallow'd up of the sea and on the southern side thereof Southwold c. In the south part of this Promontory Southwold lyes in a plain low and open expos'd to the Sea which the convenience of the harbour made by the river Blith's unlading it self there has render'd a pretty populous town At high water it is so encompast with the Sea that you 'd take it for an Island and wonder that 't is not all overflow'd Which brings to my mind that passage of Cicero Lib. 3. De Nat. Deor. What shall we say of the Tides in Spain and Britain and their ebbing and flowing at set times without a God they cannot be who hath set bounds to the sea
in the publick Records of the kingdom they must excuse me if I suspend my assent till they convince me upon better grounds Not but I own the family of the Glanvils to have made a very great figure in these parts But before Edward the third's time I could never yet find it vouch'd by good authority that any one was honour'd with the title of Earl of this County But that King made Robert de Ufford a person of great exploits both at home and abroad son of Robert Steward of the King's house under Edward the second by Cecilia de Valoniis Lady of Orford Earl of Suffolk To him succeeded his son William whose four sons were snatcht away by an untimely death in his life time and himself just as he was a going to report the opinion of the House of Commons in Parliament fell down dead Robert Willoughby Roger Lord of Scales Inq. 5. Rich. 2. and Henry de Ferrariis of Grooby as next heirs at Law divided the estate Lel. Com. in Cygnaam Cant. Wallingham p. 35â— Regist Mâ—n de Melsa And Richard the second advanc'd Michael de la Pole from a Merchant to this honour and to the dignity of Lord Chancellour of England Who as Tho. Walsingham tells us was better vers'd in merchandize as a Merchant himself and the Son of a Merchant than in martial matters For he was the son of William de la Pole the first Mayor of Kingston upon Hull See Hull in Yorkshire i See Brook's Catalogue p. 305. and Discovery of Errours p. 46. 57 58 59. who upon account of his great wealth had the dignity of a Banerett conferr'd upon him by Edward the third But wanting a spirit fit to receive those crowds of prosperity he was forc'd to quit his Country and dy'd in banishment However his being a Merchant does not by any means detract from his honour for who knows not that even our Noblemen's sons have been Merchants Nor will I deny that he was nobly descended though a Merchant 20 Michael his son being restor'd dy'd at the siege of Harslew and within the space of one month his son Michael was in like manner slain in the battel of Agincourt leaving daughters only Michael his son being restor'd had a son Michael slain in the battel of Agincourt and William whom Henry the sixth from Earl of Suffolk first created Marquiss of Suffolk 21 As also Earl of Pembroke to him and the heirs male of his body and that he and his heirs male on the Coronation-day of the Kings of England carry a golden Verge with a dove on the top of it and such another Verge of Ivory at the Coronation of the Queens of England Afterwards he advanc'd the same person for his great deserts to the honour and title of Duke of Suffolk And indeed he was a man truly great and eminent For when his father and three brothers had lost their life in the service of their Country in the French wars he as we read in the Parliament-Rolls of the 28th of Henry 6. spent thirty whole years in the same war For seventeen years together he never came home once he was taken while but a Knight and paid twenty thousand pound * Nostrae monetae sterling for his ransom Fifteen years he was Privy-Councellor and Knight of the Garter thirty By this means as he gain'd the entire favour of his Prince so did he raise the envy of the people 22 Insomuch that being vehemently accus'd of treason and misprisions and on that account summon'd to appear before the King and Lords in Parliament assembled after having answer'd the Articles objected he referr'd himself to the King's Order Whereupon the Chancellor by his Majesty's special command pronounc'd That whereas the Duke did not put himself on his Peers the King as for what related to the Articles of Treason would remain doubtful and with respect to those of Misprision not as a Judge by advice of the Lords but as a person to whose order the Duke had voluntarily submitted himself did banish him from the Realms and all other his Dominions for five years But he was surpriz'd c. and so for some slight misdemeanours and those too not plainly prov'd upon him he was banish'd and in his passage over into France was intercepted by the enemy and beheaded He left a son John who marry'd Edward the fourth's sister and had by her John Earl of Lincoln This Earl John being declar'd heir apparent to the Crown by Richard the third could not suppress his ambition but presently broke out against King Henry the seventh to his own destruction for he was quickly cut off 23 In the battel at Stoke in the Civil war to his father 's also who dy'd of grief and to the ruine of the whole family which expir'd with him For his brother Edmund styl'd Earl of Suffolk making his escape into Flanders began to raise a Rebellion against King Henry the seventh who better satisfy'd with repentance than punishment had pardon'd him for some heinous Crimes But a little after he was by Philip of Austria Duke of Burgundy against the Laws of Hospitality as they then worded it deliver'd up to Henry who solemnly promis'd him his life but clap'd him in prison Henry the eighth not thinking himself oblig'd to a promise of his father's when he had thoughts of going for France cut him off for fear there might be some insurrections in his absence But Richard his younger brother living under banishment in France made use of the title of Duke of Suffolk who was the last male of the family that I know of and dy'd bravely in the thick of the enemies troops An. 1524. in the battel of Pavie wherein Francis the first King of France was taken prisoner For his singular valour his very enemy the Duke of Bourbon bestow'd upon him a splendid Funeral †Atratúsque interâ—uit and was himself one of the Mourners Afterwards King Henry 8. conferr'd the title of Duke of Suffolk upon 24 Sir Charles Charles Brandon to whom he had given Mary his sister widow of Lewis the 12th King of France in marriage 25 And granted to him all the Hmours and Manours which Edmund Earl of Suffolk had forfeited He was succeeded by his young son Henry and Henry by his brother Charles but both dying of the ‖ Sudore Britannico Sweating-sickness 26 On one day in the year 1551. Edward the sixth dignify'd Henry Grey Marquiss of Dorchester who had marry'd Frances their sister with that title But he did not enjoy it long till he was beheaded by Queen Mary for endeavouring to advance his daughter to the Throne and was the last Duke of Suffolk From that time the title of Suffolk lay dead till of late King James in the first year of his reign created Thomas Lord Howard of Walden second son of Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk Earl of Suffolk
sea-coast entire More inward upon the west-side of the County there are also several towns but because they are but of late standing I will just only touch upon them Near Linne is Rising-Castle Rising seated on a high hill and vying with that at Norwich It was formerly the seat of the Albinies afterwards of Robert de Mont-hault by marriage with the sister and coheir of Hugh de Albiney Earl of Arundel and lastly of the Mowbrays descended as I have been told from the same stock with the Albinies But now it is ruinated and as it were expiring for age z Below is Castle-acre Castle-acre where formerly the Earls of Warren dwelt in a Castle now ruinous that stood upon a little river aa The river is anonymous rising not far from Godwicke Godwick a lucky name where is a small seat but made great by the ornament it receives from the famous Sir Edward Cooke Knight a person of admirable parts than whom as no one ever apply'd himself closer to the study of the Common-Law so never any understood it better Whereof he convinc'd England by his discreet management for many years together whilst Attorney-General and still does by executing the office of Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas with the greatest prudence Nor has he given less proof of his abilities in his Commentaries upon our Laws whereby he has highly oblig'd both his own Age and Posterity This little river glides on gently westward to Linne by Neirford Neirford which gave name to the famous family of Neirfords and by Neirborrough where near the seat of the Spilmans Knights there is a strong and ancient military entrenchment upon a high hill very conveniently seated for the defence of the neighbouring field bb Next Penteney is plac'd upon the same rivulet which was formerly a common burying-place for the Nobility of those parts Neighbour to this is Wormegay Wormegay commonly Wrongey which Reginald de Warren brother of William de Warren second Earl of Surrey had with his wife of whom as I have read the said Earl had the donation or Maritage as they worded it in that age By his grand-daughter by a son it presently went to the Bardolphs â—arâ—ns â—â—â—dâ—â—ph noble and honourable Barons who flourish'd for a long time and bore three Cinque-foils Or in a field azure A great part of their estate along with the title came to 19 Sir William William Phellips and by his daughter to the Viscount Beaumont More to the east we see Swaffham â—â—affham a famous market-town formerly the possession of the Earl of Richmond Ashele-manour â—â—heâ—e in right whereof the Hastings and the Greys Lords of Ruthun â—â—n prâ—câ—â—â—â—◠‖ had formerly the oversight of the Table cloaths and Napkins made use of at the Coronation of the Kings of England â—â—â—â—e de â—â—â—â—aâ—yre North-Elmham where the Bishops had their seat for some time when this Diocese was divided into two cc Dereham Dâ—â—eham where was bury'd Withburga daughter of King Anna who divorcing her self entirely from all luxury and levity and being a Virgin of great sanctity was by our Ancestors canoniz'd a Saint dd Next to this is Gressenhall â—reâ—â—enhall with its neighbour Elsing both the possessions formerly of the Folliots â—oâ—â—ot persons of great honour in their time By the daughter of Richard Folliot they came to 20 Sir Hugh Hugh de Hastings of the family of Abergeuenny and at length by the daughters and heirs of Hugh Hasting the last Gressenhal came to 21 Sir Hamon Hamon le Strange of Hunstanston and Elsing â—â—â—ing to William Brown brother of 22 Sir Anthony Anthony Brown first Viscount Montacute In this Quarter also is Iâ—-borough â—â—hborough which Talbot takes to be the Iciani mention'd by Antoninus 〈◊〉 Nor need I say any more about these matters I have now nothing to do but to reckon up the Earls and Dukes of Norfolk and so go on to Cambridgeshire ee â—â—â—â—s and â—â—kes of â—â—rfâ—â—k William the Conquerour set one Ralph over the Country of the East-Angles that is the Counties of Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgeshire But he was quickly depriv'd as I observ'd before for endeavouring innovations in the State Some years after in the reign of K. Stephen Hugh Bigod was Earl of Norfolk For when a Peace was concluded between Stephen and Henry of Anjou afterwards Henry 2. it was expresly provided that William son of Stephen â—â—â—eement â—â—â—ween K. â—â—â—pâ—en and â—â—â—y D. of â—â—pe should have the whole County of Norfolk except among other things the third penny of which Hugo Bigod was Earl Whom notwithstanding King Hen. 2. afterwards made Earl of the third penny of Norfolk and Norwic. A Monâ—â—s In the 27th of Henry 2. upon his death his son Roger succeeded him who for I know not what reason procur'd a new Creation-Charter of Rich. 1. Roger was succeeded by his son Hugh who marry'd Mawd eldest daughter and coheir of William Marshal Earl of Pembroke By her he had Roger Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England Luxatis â—â—poris arâ—â—lis who * wresting and straining his joynts in a Tournament dy'd without issue and Hugh Bigod Lord Chief Justice of England slain in the battel of Lewes whose son Roger succeeded his Uncle in the dignity of Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England But when his insolent and stubborn behaviour had thrown him under the displeasure of Edw. 1. he was forc'd to pass over his honours and almost his whole estate to the King for the use of Thomas de Brotherton the King's son by Margaret sister to Philip the Fair King of France For so a History has told us out of the Library of St. Augustin's in Canterbury In the year 1301. Roger Bigod Earl of Norfolk made King Edward his heir and deliver'd up to him the Marshal's rod upon this condition That if his wife bore him any children all should be return'd and he should hold it peaceably without any contradiction on the King's part And the King gave him a thousand pound in money and a thousand †Librataâ— pound in lands for life along with the Titles of Marshal and Earl But he dying without issue King Edw. 2. by virtue of the surrender above-mention'd honour'd his brother Thomas Brotherton with the titles of Marshal and Earl of Norfolk But his daughter Margaret Parl. 21. Rich. 2. call'd Lady Marshal and Countess of Norfolk and marry'd to John Lord Segrave was created Dutchess of Norfolk for life by K. Rich. 2. who at the same time created Thomas Mowbray Earl of Nottingham and grandchild to Margaret by a daughter first Duke of Norfolk to him and his heirs males having before granted him the dignity and stile of Earl Marshal of England 23 This is he that before the King was challeng'd and accus'd by Henry of Lancaster Duke of Hereford This is he who accus'd Henry of
whom Thoke the great Lord of these parts gave his only daughter in marriage tho' perhaps it may be as probably fetch'd from Ingol a little river which runs into the sea there s East of Inglesthorp at a little distance from the shore lies Sharneburne Sharneburne whereof one Thoke was Lord when Felix came to convert the East-Angles Upon his conversion to Christianity he built here a Church dedicated to S. Peter and S. Paul It was very little and according to the custom of that age made of wood for which reason it was call'd Stock-Chapel Our Author tells us the Lord of this manour at the Conquest recover'd his estate which had been given to Warren by the Conquerour in a legal Tryal His name was Edwin a Dane who came over with Canutus An. 1014. and had it by marrying an heiress of Thoke's family It appears by a MS. quoted by Sir Henry Spelman that his plea against Warren was That he had not been aiding or assisting against the King directly or indirectly either before at or after the Conquest but all that while kept himself out of arms And this he was ready to prove whenever the King pleas'd t From hence towards Mershland we go to Len Len. for it is falsly call'd Lynne nor has it the name as Mr. Camden imagines from hlyn the British word denoting the waters round it but as Spelman affirms from Len in Saxon a farm or tenure in fee so Fanelhen among the Germans is the tenure or fee of a Baron and Len Episcopi is the Bishop's farm He farther observes tho' I could never meet with any such word amongst our English-Saxons that the word Len is us'd also in a more limited sense by the Saxons to signifie Church-lands and appeals to the several names of places wherein that sense of the word holds And farther Ter-llen it seems in Welsh is Terra Ecclesiae After the original of the name our Author observes that there were two Lens one Bishop's Len on the east-side of Ouse and the other on the west King's Len whereas the first is both the Len-Regis and Episcopi Till the time of K. Hen. 8. it was call'd Len-Episcopi as being in the hands of the Bishop of Norwich but that King exchanging the Monastery of S. Bennet of Hulme and other lands with the revenues of the Bishoprick this amongst the rest came into the hands of the King and so with the possessor chang'd it's name into Len-Regis u As to the Sword there is no doubt but they have such a thing tho' whether given by K. John is very much to be question'd For first they tell you it was given from K. John's side to be carry'd before the Mayor whereas he did not grant them a Mayor but only a Provost Praepositus and the privilege of a Mayor was granted by K. Hen. 3. as a reward for their good service against the Barons in the Isle of Ely Besides K. John's Charter makes no mention of the Sword so that 't is plain it was given by Henry 8. who after it came into his hands granted the town several privileges chang'd their Burgesses into Aldermen and granted them a Sword whereof express mention is made in the Charter to be carry'd beâ—ore their Mayor I find a loose paper of Sir Henry Spelman's dated Sept. 15. 1630. to this purpose That he was then assur'd by Mr. Tho. Kenet Town-Clerk of Len that one John Cooke the Sword-bearer about 50 years before came to Mr. Ivory the School-master and desir'd him because one side of the hilt of the town-sword was pâ—ain and without any inscription that he would direct how to engrave upon it that King John gave that Sword to the town Whereupon he caused the said Thomas Kenet being then his scholar to write these words Ensis hic fuit donum Regis Johannis à suo ipsius latere datum after which the Sword-bearer carry'd the writing to one Cooke a goldsmith and caus'd him to engrave it So that by this account whatever Inscription of that nature may be now upon it is of no authority It hath at present a very large Church with a high spire built by Bishop Herbert ‖ G dwâ—n de Prae◠〈◊〉 who also built the Cathedral at Norwich with the Church of Yarmouth and Elmham and all this was done by way of penaâ—ce after Symony had been charg'd upon him by the See of Rome The town hath no fresh-water springs but is supply'd partly by a river from Gaywood the water whereof is rais'd by Engines and from thence some conduits in the town are supply'd and partly by water convey'd in leaden pipes one from Middleton about 3 miles the other from Mintlin about 2 miles off w From Len we must pass over the Ouse into Mershland Mershâ—and which is a Peninsula being almost surrounded with navigable rivers and an arm of the sea The even superficies and other circumstances seem to argue it's being formerly recover'd from the sea by the industry of the ancient inhabitants In Mr. Camden's time it was so much expos'd to inundations that the best-contriv'd banks could scarce preserve it And Sir Henry Spelman tells us that within his memory there was two general overflows one of salt and the other of fresh water By the latter as appear'd upon oath taken before the Commissioners appointed to inspect that affair whereof Sir Henry was one the inhabitants suffer'd 42000 pound damage For the water did not then break down the bank as at other times but ran over it at least a whole foot They are within a few years fallen upon an expedient which 't is hop'd will prove a good defence to the most dangerous and weakest parts a substantial brick-wall with earth which where it was well contriv'd hath resisted two or three years tides If it continues it may set a value upon some estates whose rents were almost annually laid out upon the old way of imbanking The quantity of it is about 30000 acres and the soil turns to more account by grass than corn The many ditches drawn through all parts of it make it look as if cut to pieces and over them are no less than cxi bridges The whole in the widest part by measure is but 10 miles over x Tylney-Smeeth Tylâ—eâ—-Smeeâ—h is a plain so fruitful that tho' it be not any way above 2 miles over yet it serves for pasture to all the larger cattel belonging to the 7 villages and for 30000 sheep besides y Leaving Mershland and crossing the Ouse Downham Downhâ—m lies in our way so call'd from it's hilly situation for dun signifies a hill and ham a dwelling In some old Records it is call'd Downeham-hithe i.e. Downeham-port referring to the river upon which it sâ—â—nds The privilege of a Market belonging to this place is of very ancient date for it is confirm'd by Edward the Confessor A little more northward is Stow-Bardolf Stow Bâ—rdolf where Nicholas Hare built a stately
Grey afterwards Marquess of Dorset held this honour a little while It is evident from the Records that William Herbert Earl of Pembroke again brought in the Charter of Creation whereby his father was made Earl of Pembroke into the Chancery to be cancelled and that Edward the fourth created him Earl of Huntingdon in the seventeenth year of his reign But in the memory of our fathers Henry the eighth settled this honour upon George Lord Hastings But Francis Lord Hastings his son dying in his life-time this honour descended to Henry his son a truly honourable person both for Nobility and Piety he dying without heirs his brother George succeeded him whose grandchild by a son Henry enjoys the honour at this day This little Shire contains 78 Parishes ADDITIONS to HVNTINGDONSHIRE a HUntingdonshire call'd in * Annal. p. â—â—1 l. 1. p. 147. l 36. Saxon huntandunescyre and by later Writers Huntedunescire and Huntyngdonschyre is of very small extent scarce stretching out it self 20 miles tho' measur'd to the best advantage †â—â—eeâ— fâ—â—m â—ir R b. Cottâ—n It has been an observation upon this County that the families of it have been so worn out that tho' it has been very rich in Gentry yet but few Sirnames of any note are remaining which can be drawn down beyond the reign of the last Henry The cause of such decay in places nearer London is plain enough viz. the many temptations to luxury and high living and the great wealth of Merchants always ready to supply their extravagance with money till the whole be run out But this cannot hold here so that we must see whether a reason brought by a later Author will not solve it viz. That most of the County being Abby-land upon the Dissolution many new Purchasers planted themselves herein and perhaps their new possessions might have the same fate that Church-revenues have had in other places where they fell into Lay-hands b Our Author observes that it was all Forest till the time of Henry the second But if we may believe Sir Robert Cotton who sent the account to Speed and had himself design'd a History of the County this was never fully effected till the time of Edward 1. For Henry 2. did pretend to enfranchise his subjects of this Shire from servitude of his beasts except Wabridge Saple and Herthy his own Demains But such were the encroachments of the succeeding Reigns that the poor inhabitants were forc'd to petition for redress which was granted them by the great Charter of Henry 3. Only his son resum'd the fruits of his father's kindness till in the 29th year of his reign he confirm'd the former Charter and left no more of this shire Forest than what was his own ground The government of the County is very peculiar Cambridgeshire in the Civil administration being joyn'd to it so that there is but one High-sheriff for both Shires He is one year chosen out of Cambridgeshire out of the Isle of Ely a second and a third out of this Shire In the Isle of Ely he is one time chosen out of the north part and out of the south another c It 's chief town is Huntingdon Huntingdon in Saxon huntandune huntendune huntenduneport which appears formerly to have been a flourishing town reckoning no less than 15 Churches tho' in our Author's time they were reduc'd to four and of these the zeal of the late times only left two The cause of this decay seems to have been the ‖ Cotton in Speed alteration made in the river by Grey a Minion of the time as my Author calls him who procur'd the passage of it to be stop'd whereas before to the great advantage of the Inhabitants it was navigable as far as this town King John granted it by Charter a peculiar Coroner profit by Toll and Custom a Recorder Town-Clerk and two Bailiffs but at present it is incorporated by the name of a Mayor twelve Aldermen and Burgesses d Its neighbour Goodmanchester Goodmanchester probably by the methods our Author mentions grew so wealthy and considerable that in the reign of King James 1. it was incorporated by the name of two Bailiffs twelve Assistants and commonalty of the Burrough of Goodmanchester e Lower down upon the river is St. Ives St. Ives which a late Writer calls a fair large and ancient town with a fine Stone-bridge over the Ouse But within these three or four years it was a great part of it burnt down and whether it have so far recover'd it self as to merit that character at present I know not f Between Ramsey and Peterborrow our Author observes that King Canutus made a large Cawsey call'd by our Historians Kingsdelfe Kingsdelf But whatever way our Authors mark out by that name 't is certain they cannot mean Canutus's road for the name Kingsdelf or Cingesdaelf in those parts appears upon Record before Canutus's time I mean in the reign of King Edgar who in his Charter to the Church of Peterburrow * Chron. Sax. p. 119. lin 18. makes this Cingesdaelf one of the bounds of his Donation Besides the daelf will not answer a via constrata lapidibus or pav'd way but seems rather to mark out to us some ditch drawn at first for the draining those fenny grounds and reducing the waters into one chanel g On the west side of this County is Kimbolton Kimbolton which our Author says in his time was the seat of the Wingfields It has since pass'd from them by sale to the Mountagues and Henry Earl of Manchester of that name very much improv'd the Castle sparing no cost that might add to its beauty †Lel. Itin. MS. vol. 1. It was Sir Richard Wingfield who built new Lodgings and Galleries upon the old foundations of this Castle which was double ditch'd and the building of it very strong Here is at present a pretty fair town seated in a bottom which gives the title of Baron to the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester h Leighton Leighton mention'd by our Author to be the seat of the Cliftons is now the Lady Butler's daughter and heir to the late Richard Earl of Arran who had it in marriage with the sole daughter of James Duke of Richmond as this Duke had by the Lord Clifton's Continuation of the EARLS Henry the last Earl mention'd by our Author had by Elizabeth daughter and coheir to Ferdinando Earl of Derby Ferdinando Earl of Huntingdon father to Theophilus the seventh Earl of that name who was Captain of the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners Privy-Councellor to King Charles 2. and King James by whom he was made chief Justice in Eyre of all the Forests south of Trent as also Lieutenant of the Counties of Leicester and Derby His son and heir apparent is George Lord Hastings I have not as yet observed any Plants peculiar to this County the more rare being common to it with Cambridgeshire NORTHAMPTON SHIRE by Rob t
Morden CORITANI WE are now to visit the Coritani a People living inward from the Iceni and taking up a very large Tract of Ground in the Mediterranean parts of this Isle as far as the German Ocean viz. the Counties now commonly call'd Northamptonshire Leicestershire Rutlandshire Lincolnshire Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire I shall forbear medling with the Etymology of their name for fear I should pretend to know what 's a downright mystery For notwithstanding they are a People scattered far and wide which the Britains express by Gur-tani yet should I assert that these Coritani took their name from thence would you not think this mere trifling Let those who are better skill'd in that sort of Learning more safely give their conjectures whilst I according to my design survey each of the Counties I now mentioned in their respective order NORTHAMPTONSHIRE THE County of Northampton in Saxon Norþ-afendon-scyre and a See the Additions to Hamshire under the title Southampton Northantonshire commonly Northamptonshire is situate in the very middle and heart as it were of England and from the South-west-side where it is broadest contracting it self by degrees runs out in length to the North-east On the East lye the Counties of Bedford and Huntingdon on the South those of Buckingham and Oxford Westward Warwick and Northward those of Leicester Rutland and Lincoln separated by the rivers Avon the less and the Welland Watling-street one of the Roman high-ways runs along the East-side from the Ouse to Dowbridge the Nen call'd also by Historians Aufona gently cuts through the middle and east parts It is a Champain Country very populous and every where adorn'd with Noblemen and Gentlemen's houses very full of Towns and Churches insomuch that in some places there are 20 in others 30 Spires or Steeples more or less in view at a time It s soil both for tillage and pasturage exceeding fertile but not well stock'd with wood unless at the hither and further end But every where as in other Provinces of England full and as it were over-run with sheep Shâ—ep which as that Hythodaeus said us'd to be so gentle â—iâ— Tâ—â— M. â—s Uâ—â—â—â— and fed with so little but now as 't is reported begin to be so ravenous and wild that they devour men waste and depopulate fields houses and towns a On the South border where the river Ouse so often mention'd has its spring on a gently rising ground full of bubbling fountains stands Brackley â—â—â—â—klâ—y that is a place full of brake or fern anciently a famous staple for Wooll but which now only boasts how great and wealthy it once was by its ruins and by a Mayor it retains for its chief Magistrate The Zouches Lords of the place founded a College there from them it came successively by right of marriage to the Hollands and the Lovels But upon the attainder of Lovel in King Henry the seventh's time the Stanleys by the King's grant became Lords of it But the College ruinous now belongs to Magdalen College in Oxford who keep it for a retiring place Nor was this town a little famous in former ages for the memory of Rumbald a young infant who as we read in his life was a King's son and as soon as he was born after he had spoken I know not what holy words had profess'd himself a Christian and had been immediately baptiz'd expir'd 1 And being canoniz'd by the people amongst the Saints had his commemoration kept both here and at Buckingham From hence northward after I had gone six miles through woods and groves first I saw Astwell where T. Billing formerly Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench dwelt in great repute from whom it descended hereditarily to the ancient family of the Lovels Then Wedon and Wapiham which the family of the Pinkneys held by Barony The Barony 〈◊〉 â—he Pinkâ—â—ys till such time as H. de Pinkney made King Edward the first his heir Who being an excellent Prince many ill men made him their heirs whereas according to Tacitus a good father makes no Prince but a bad one his heir From hence I presently came to Tripontium Tripontium which Antonine takes notice of but not in its right place For I am of opinion this was that very place we now call Torcester nor are there good Arguments wanting to prove this If Trimontium in Thrace had that name of three Hills Triturrita in Tuscany of three Towers and Tripolis of three Cities there is no room to doubt but that this Tripontium of ours was so nam'd of three Bridges And here at this Torcester the Roman Praetorian or Military-way which very plainly appears in several places between this and Stony-Stratford is cut in two by three principal chanels that the little river divides it self into which as well anciently as now must have had of necessity three several Bridges over them Now if you ask a Britain how he calls Three Bridges in British he will presently answer you Tair ponte and certain persons of good credit from whom I receiv'd some Roman coins here positively affirm that Torcester is its true name Some will have the River's name Toue that runs by it and think it was so call'd of Towers Nevertheless Marianus calls it Touecester if the Book be not faulty in whom we read that this town was so fortified in the year of our Lord 917. that the Danes were by no means able to take it and that King Edward the Elder afterwards encompass'd it with a Stone-wall yet with all my search I could find no signs of any such Wall Only there is a Mount still remaining cast up in ancient times they call it Berihill now taken up in private Gardens and planted on every side with Cherry Trees And time it self has so ruin'd the town that it is beholden to the situation the name and the ancient Coins ever now and then found here for its reputation of antiquity For it has nothing worth taking notice of but one only Church large and fair in which D. Sponte formerly Rector thereof by report a good Benefactor both to Church and Town lies enterr'd in a Tomb of excellent workmanship But at Elton hard by you have a prospect of a fine house belonging to the family of the Farmers Knights The river that waters Torcester in its course from hence towards the Ouse runs by Grafton Grafton now an Honour of the King 's but formerly a seat of the family of Widdevil Widdevil or Wodâ—il out of which came Richard a person much renowned for his virtue and valour who was fined 1000 l. of our money by King Henry the sixth for marrying Jaquet Dowager of John Duke of Bedford and daughter of Peter of Luxenburgh Earl of St. Paul without leave of the King Yet afterwards he advanced the same person to the Honour of Baron Widdevil of Rivers Parl. 27 H. 6. With Elizabeth this Lord's daughter King Edward the fourth privately
an ancient family but now of execrable memory for a most cruel and horrible plot never parallel'd in any age which Robert Catesby of Ashby St. Leger the dishonour of his family running headlong upon villanies gaping after the most detestable cruelties and impiously conspiring the destruction of his Prince and Country lately contriv'd under a specious pretext of Religion Of this let all ages be silent and let not the mention of it convey this scandal to posterity which we our selves cannot reflect on without horrour nay the dumb and inanimate Beings seem to be moved at the hainousness of such a villanous conspiracy Hard by is Fawesley Faweâ—â—â— where the Knightleys have long dwelt adorn'd with the honour of Knighthood descended from the more ancient family of Knightley of Gnowshall in Staffordshire And more eastward upon the Nen whose chanel as yet is but small stands Wedon on the street Wedâ—◠〈◊〉 the Street once the royal seat of Wolpher K. of the Mercians and converted into a Monastery by his daughter Werburg a most holy Virgin whose miracles in driving away Geese from hence some credulous writers have very much magnified I shou'd certainly wrong truth shou'd I not think tho' I have been of a contrary opinion that it is this Wedon which Antonine in his Itinerary calls Bannavenna Bennavenna Bennaventa Bannâ—â—na 〈◊〉 Isaâ—â—â—na 〈◊〉 naâ—â—â— and once corruptly Isannaventa notwithstanding there remain not now any express footsteps of that name so much does length of time darken and change every thing For the distance from the ancient Stations and Quarters on both sides exactly agrees and in the very name of Bannavenna the name of the river Aufona Avenna now Nen the head whereof is near it in some measure discovers it self Likewise a Military-way goes directly from hence northward with a Causey oft broken and worn away but most of all over-against Creke a village where of necessity it was joyn'd with bridges but elsewhere it appears with a high ridge as far as Dowbridge near Lilborne A little more northward I saw Althorp â—â—â—â—p the seat of the noted family of the Spencers Knights allied to very many Houses of great worth and honour out of which Sir Robert Spencer the fifth Knight in a continued succession a worthy encourager of virtue and learning was by his most serene Majesty K. James lately advanced to the honour of Baron Spencer of Wormleighton Hard by Althorp Holdenby-house 〈…〉 â—â—denby makes a noble appearance a stately and truly magnificent piece of building erected by Sir Christopher Hatton 〈◊〉 Christoâ—er Hatâ—◠〈◊〉 died 〈◊〉 1591. Privy Counsellour to Qu. Elizabeth Lord Chancellour of England and Knight of the Garter upon the lands and inheritance of his great grandmother heir of the ancient family of the Holdenbys for the greatest and last monument as himself afterwards was wont to say of his youth A person to say nothing of him but what is his due eminent for his piety towards God his love for his Country his untainted integrity and unparallel'd charity One also which is not the least part of his character that was always ready to encourage Learning Thus as he liv'd piously so he fell asleep piously in Christ Yet the monument the learned in their writings have rais'd to him shall render him more illustrious than that most noble and splendid tomb in St. Paul's Church London deservedly and at great charges erected to the memory of so great a person by Sir William Hatton Kt. his adopted son Beneath these places the Nen glides forward with a gentle small stream and is soon after encreas'd by the influx of a little river where at the very meeting of them the City called after the river Northafandon and in short Northampton â—orthampâ—â—n is so seated that on the west-side it is water'd with this river and on the south with the other Which I was of late easily induced to imagine the ancient Bannaventa but I err'd in my conjecture and let my confession atone for it As for the name it may seem to have had it from the situation upon the north-side of the Aufona The City it self which seems to have been all of stone is in it's buildings very neat and fine for compass large enough and wall'd about from which walls there is a noble prospect every way into a spacious plain Country On the west-side it hath an old Castle 10â—5 â—egister of Andrews beautiful even by it's antiquity built by Simon de Sancto Licio commonly call'd Senliz the first of that name Earl of Northampton who joyned likewise to it a beautiful Church dedicated to St. Andrew for his own sepulture and as 't is reported re-edified the town Simon the younger also his son founded without the town ‖ De Pratis De la Pree a Nunnery It seems to have lain dead and neglected during the Saxon Heptarchy neither have our Writers made any where mention of it in all those depredations of the Danes unless it was when Sueno the Dane with barbarous fury and outrage ravag'd all over England For then as Henry of Huntingdon reports it was set on fire and burnt to the ground In the reign of St. Edward there were in this City as we find in Domesday 60 Burgesses in the King 's Domain having as many Mansions of these in King William 1.'s time 14 lay waste and 47 remained Over and above these there were in the new Borough 40 Burgesses in the Domain of K. William After the Normans time it valiantly withstood the siege laid to it by the Barons during the troubles and slaughters with which they had then embroil'd the whole Kingdom Who being maliciously bent against King John for private and particular reasons did yet so cloak them with pretences of Religion and the common good â—â—â—rtitus 〈◊〉 that they termed themselves The Army of God and of Holy Church At which time they say that military work was made they call Hunshill But it stood not out with like success against Hen. 3. their lawful King as it did against those Rebels For when the Barons brought up and now inur'd to sedition begun a war against him in this place he made a breach in the wall and soon won it by assault After this as before also the Kings now and then held their Parliaments here for the conveniency of its situation as it were in the very heart of England and in the year of Christ 1460. a lamentable battel was here fought wherein such was the Civil division of England after the slaughter of many of the Nobility Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick took that most unfortunate Prince King Hen. 6. then a second time made Prisoner by his subjects To conclude the longitude of Northampton our Mathematicians make 22 deg 29 min. and the latitude 52 deg 13 min. d From hence the Nen hastens by Castle-Ashby where Henry Lord Compton has begun a very fine House near which is
Yardley Hastings Yardley so sirnam'd of the Hastings once Earls of Pembroke to whom it belong'd 3 And to turn a little aside I may not omit Horton when as King Henry 8. created Sir W. Par Lord thereof Uncle and Chamberlain to Queen Catharine Par Baron Par of Horton which honour shortly vanish'd with him when he left only daughters who were married into the families of Tresham and Lane But to return to Willingborow a market anciently Wedlingborough 4 And Wodlingborough made a Market by King John at the suit of the Monks of Crowland Here a rivulet from the east runs into it coming down by Rushton and Newton belonging to the Treshams by Geddington where there was a Castle of the Kings and where there yet remains a Cross erected in honour of Queen Eleanor King Edward 1.'s Consort by Boughton belonging to the family of Montacutes Knights e Lib. in 〈◊〉 in scaâ—cario by Kettering Kettering a well-traded market-town near which stands Rouwell a noted Horse-fair f by Burton the Barony likewise if I mistake not the name of Alan de Dinant for King Henry 1. gave him a Barony of that name in this County for killing the French King's Champion in single Combat at Gizors and by Harrouden the Lord whereof * Sir N. Nicholas Vaulx Baron Vaulx Governour of Guines in Picardy K. Hen. 8. created Baron Vaulx of Harrouden Hence the Nen keeps his course to Higham a town 5 In times past of the Peverells and after by them of the Ferrers formerly belonging to the Ferrers from whom it took the name of Higham-Ferrers Higham Ferrers who had here also their Castle the ruins whereof are yet to be seen near the Church But the chief ornament of this place was Henry Chicheley Archb. of Canterbury who founded here a fine College for Secular Clerks and Prebendaries Founder of All-souls in Oxford Matth. Parker as likewise an Hospital for the Poor Thence it runs by Addington anciently belonging to the Veres and washes Thorpston commonly call'd Thrapston †Belonging likewise to them and it 's opposite Drayton the seat in the last age of H. Green but afterwards by his daughter of John and Edward Stafford Earls of Wiltshire Now 't is the Lord Mordaunt's to whom it descended hereditarily from the Greens Gentlemen of great reputation in this County Thence it runs almost round about a pretty little town which takes it's name from it Oundale Oundale they call it corruptly for Avondale where there is nothing worth seeing but a fine neat Church a Free-school for the education of youth and an Alms-house founded by Sir William Laxton sometime Lord Mayor of London In the neighbourhood stands Barnwell Barnwell a little Castle lately repair'd and beautified with new buildings by the worthy Sir Edward Mont-acute Knight of the ancient family of the Mont-acutes as appears by his Coat of Arms. It formerly belong'd to Berengarius le Moigne that is Monk and not as some think to that Berengarius of Tours whose opinion concerning the Eucharist was condemn'd in a Synod ‖ Of 113 Bishops held by the Bishop of Rome After this it salutes Fotheringhay-Castle Fotheringhay environ'd on every side with very pleasant Meadows which in Henry 3.'s time when the Strong-holds encourag'd the Nobility to revolt was surpris'd by William Earl of Albemarle who laid all the Country round about waste as Matth. Paris informs us At which time it seems to have belong'd to the Earls of Huntingdon 6 Who were of the Royal race of Scotland A good while after K. Edw. 3. assign'd it †Quast in hâ—eredicatem as it were for an inheritance or Appennage as they call it to his son Edmund of Langley Duke of York who rebuilt the Castle and made the highest Fortification or Keep thereof in form of a Horse-Fetter 7 Which hath of it self and with a Falcon in it was his Devise or Exprese as implying that he was locked up from all great hope as a younger brother which was the family of York's Device His son Edward Duke of York in the second year of Hen. 5. An. 1415. as appears by an Inscription there in barbarous verse founded a very fine Collegiate Church wherein himself after he was slain at the Battel of Agincourt as also Richard Duke of York his Brother's son who lost his life at Wakefield and his Wife Cicely Nevil had all magnificent monuments which were thrown down and ruin'd together with the upper part or Chancel of the Church 8 In King Edward the sixth's time But Queen Elizabeth commanded two monuments to be set up in memory of them in the lower end of the Church now standing which nevertheless such was their pinching and sparing who had the charge of the work are look'd upon as very mean and unworthy such great Princes descended from Kings and from whom the kings of England are descended 9 The form of the Keep beforesaid built like a Fetterlock occasioneth me to digress a little and I hope with your pardon when the gravest Authors in as small matters have done the like Edmund of Langly Duke of York who built that Keep and garnish'd the Glass-windows there with Fetter-locks when he saw his sons being young scholars gazing upon the painted windows ask'd them what was Latin for a Fetter-lock They studying and looking silently one upon another not able to answer If you cannot tell me says he I will tell you Hic haâ—c hoc Taceatis that is Hic haec hoc be silent and quiet and therewithal added God knoweth what may happen hereafter This King Edward the fourth his great grand-child reported publickly when he having attained the Crown created Richard his younger son Duke of York and then commanding that he should use for his badge the Fetter-lock open to verifie the presage of his great grand-father But this by the way The said Cicely Cicely Dutchess of York saw plainly within the compass of a few years what pastime †Impotens unruly and unconstant Fortune if I may so say creates her self out of the miseries of the mighty For she saw her husband Duke Richard even then when he thought himself sure of the kingdom and her son the Earl of Rutland slain together in a bloody battel and some few years after her eldest son Edward the fourth advanc'd to the * Deprived of the same recovering it again Crown and taken away by an untimely death having before made away †Her second son and c. his brother George Duke of Clarence After this she saw her son Richard K Rich. 3. forcing his way to the Crown by the lamentable murder of his Nephews and slander of her his own Mother for he charg'd her openly with incontinency then she saw him possess'd of the kingdom and soon after slain in battel These her miseries were so link'd together too that
k Matthew Paris dy'd in the year 1259. so that these walls were seen in this condition 86 years after their destruction but how much longer is uncertain to this day in the shape of rocks for bigness and solidity such was the indissoluble tenacity of the morter Miserable was the condition of these citizens at that time both in relation to their fines and banishment who having purchased for a sum of money licence to depart were notwithstanding so terrify'd that they were forc'd to take Sanctuary at St. Albans and St. Edmunds-bury Also the Castle here which was really a large and strong building was dismantled Beneath which is a very fair Collegiate Hospital or receptacle for the poor in the Church whereof Henry Earl of Lancaster and Henry of Lancaster his son who was the first Duke of Lancaster 133◠lye buried Which Duke in his latter days built and dedicated the same with a pious intention for the maintenance of poor people Of which thus Henry Knighton of Leicestershire who liv'd in that age Henry Duke of Lancaster was the first founder of the Collegiate Church and Hospital without the South gate at Leicester in which he plac'd a Dean and 12 Canons Prebendaries as many Vicars and other * Ministri ministers one hundred poor and weak men and ten able women to serve and assist the sick and weak and sufficiently endow'd the said Hospital 12 As for this Hospital it continueth in some good state as another Beadhouse in the town built by W. Wigeston But the Collegiate Church which was a magnificent work and the greatest ornament of Leicester was demolish'd when Religious houses were granted to the King On the other side of the town amongst pleasant meadows water'd by the Soar was a Monastery call'd from its situation †De prees De pratis of which thus the foresaid Knighton writes Robert le Bossu Earl of Leicester 13 When he began Gerondon-Abby for Cistercians founded the Monastery of S. Mary de Prees of Leicester and richly endow'd the same with lands possessions and rents himself also by consent of Amicia his wife became a Canon Regular in the same and fifteen years serv'd God there in that Regular habit and dy'd in the Lord a Canon Thus he took upon him the Canonical habit by way of penance for having been in arms against his Prince e What name Leicester bore in the times of the Romans does not appear I think it is called in the Catalogue of Ninnius Caer Lerion but that it was built by the fabulous King l It has its name says Mr. Somner from the river Leire which at this day is call'd Soare and this is confirm'd by a town nam'd Leare which lyes at the head of it Leir let who will believe for me Yet its situation on the Military-way call'd the Foss and its distance from the Bennones High-cross and Verometum Burrow-hill agrees so exactly with the description of Antoninus that I cannot but believe that this is the Ratae Ratae which in Ptolemy is call'd Ragae tho' there is not the least track or sign of the name Ratae now remaining m About three miles from Leicester there is a place call'd Rathy but that can hardly pretend to be the ancient Ratae both because it shows no remains of Antiquity and likewise because it is remote from the Roman Fosse unless perhaps it be an old trench scarce half a mile distant on the South-side of Leicester call'd Rawdikes 14 Or Road-dikes Here I am at a stand and look about me to see what way I should follow as a guide to the discovery of ancient towns Ranulph the Monk of Chester tells us that the old Street-way goes from hence to Lincoln through the Wasts but through what Wasts he shews not The vulgar opinion is that it went on to the north through Nottinghamshire Antoninus the Emperour if I mistake not seems to intimate that it went northward through this County into Lincolnshire And really this way the footsteps of some places of antiquity appear of which we shall speak in their order but that way tho' I have made diligent search I have not hitherto discover'd any thing what others may have done I know not 15 North-west from Leicester Not far from hence is n See the description of it in Burton's Leicestershire p. 122. Grooby Grooby a rich and ample estate or as we call it a Manour Which from Hugh Grantnaismill whom William the first enricht with great revenues descended by the Earls of Leicester and the Quincys to the family of the Ferrars of which family were the Lords Ferrars of Grooby Ferrars and Grays of Grooby who a long time enjoy'd the honour of Barons but at last leaving one only daughter Isabella she by marriage convey'd the same into the name of the Greys from whom it came again to the Crown by Attainder But while I am revising this work James our Soveraign Lord and King has restor'd Sir Henry Grey a most worthy Knight to this honour of his Ancestors having before his Coronation created him Baron Grey of Grooby Let us now return to the river Soar which having past Leicester giveth name in the first place to Montsorell or rather Mont-Soar-hill Mont-Sore-hill compounded of the Norman and English languages now only noted for its market f but heretofore most famous for its Castle seated on a steep and craggy hill and over-hanging the river this first belong'd to the Earls of Leicester afterwards to Saher de Quincy Earl of Winchester in the Barons war At this day there remains nothing but a heap of rubbish Histor minor For in the year 1217. the Inhabitants of these parts having after a long siege taken the castle pull'd it down to the ground as a nest of the Devil and a den of Thieves and Robbers Higher on the other side of the river is Barrow where is digg'd the best and most approv'd sort of †Caln lime for firm building A few miles from thence the Soar ends its course in the river Trent 16 A little above Cotes now the habitation of the family of Skipwith originally descended out of Yorkshire and enrich'd many years since with fair possessions in Lincolnshire by an heir of Ormesby A little on this side of which is o See Burton's Leicestersh p. 181. Loughborrow Loughborrow a market town that in the reign of Queen Mary had one Baron Edward Hastings dignify'd with this title g but upon the death of that Queen who had a great affection for him he cloy'd with the affairs of this world refus'd to live longer in it and devoting himself wholly to God retir d into the Hospital which he had erected at Stoke Pogeis in Buckinghamshire where among the poor people he liv'd to God and with them finish'd the course of his life devoutly in Christ p Where 't is call'd Leiganburge
which they offer'd their Lands advowsons of Churches tenths of Sheep and other Church-tithes certain measures of wheat a certain number of workmen or masons on the other side the common people as officious with emulation and great devotion offer'd some money some one day's work every month till it should be finish'd some to build whole pillars others pedestals and others certain parts of the walls The Abbot afterwards made a speech commending their great bounty in contributing to so pious a work and by way of requital made every one of them a member of that Monastery and gave them a right to partake with them in all the spiritual blessings of that Church At last having entertain'd them with a plentiful feast he dismiss'd them in great joy But I will not insist upon these things 2 But hereby you may see how by small contributions great works arose From Crowland between the river Welland and the deep marshes there is a Causey with willows set on each side leading to the North on which two miles from Crowland I saw a fragment of a pyramid with this Inscription AIO HANC PETRAM GVTHLACVS HABET SI BI METAM This rock I say is Guthlack's utmost bound Up higher on the same river is Spalding Spalding a town which on every side is enclos'd with rivulets and canals and indeed neater than can be reasonably expected in this County among so many lakes Here Ivo Talbois call'd somewhere in Ingulphus Earl of Anjou granted to the Monks of Anjou an ancient Cell From hence as far as Deeping which is ten miles off Egelrick Abbot of Crowland afterwards Bishop of Durham made a firm Causey for the sake of travellers through the midst of a vast forest and deep marshes as Ingulphus says of wood and gravel which was call'd from his name Elrich-road but at this day 't is not to be seen In the upper Hoiland which lyes more to the north the first place is Kirkton so call'd from the Church which is indeed very fine afterwards where the river Witham enclos'd on both sides with artificial banks runs with a full stream into the sea stands the flourishing town of Boston Boston more truly Botolph's town for it took that name as Bede testifies from Botolph a pious Saxon who had a Monastery at Icanhoe 'T is a famous town and built on both sides the river Witham over which there 's a very high wooden-bridge it has a commodious and well frequented haven a great market a beautiful and large Church the tower of which is very high and does as it were salute travellers at a great distance and direct mariners Robbers under the disguise of Monks It was miserably ruin'd in Edward the first 's reign for in that degenerate age and universal corruption of manners throughout the kingdom certain warlike men whilst a tournament was proclaiming at Fair-time came under the disguise of Monks and Canons set the town on fire in many places broke in upon the Merchants with sudden violence and carry'd away many things but burnt more insomuch that our Historians write as the ancients did of Corinth when it was demolish'd that veins of gold and silver ran mix'd together in one common current Their Ring-leader Robert Chamberlain after he had confessed the fact and detested the crime was hang'd but could not by any means be brought to discover his accomplices However Boston recover'd it self again and a staple for wooll which they call Woolstaple was here settled which very much enrich'd it and drew hither the Merchants of the Hanse-Company who fix'd here their Gild. At this time 't is a fair-built and a trading rich town for the inhabitants apply themselves wholly to merchandise and grazing Near this was the Barony de Croeun or Credon Regist de Freston Barons of Burton Croeune of which family was Alanus de Croeun who founded the Priory of Freston at last Petronilla the heiress of the family being twice married brought no small inheritance first to the Longchamps which came to the Pedwardins secondly to John Vaulx from whom the Barons of Ross are descended This Hoiland reaches scarce six miles farther and was entirely given by William the first to Yvo Talbois of Anjou whose insolences were such that Herward could never endure him an Englishman Herward the Englâ—shman very ambitious fiery and resolute the son of Leofrick Lord of Brane or Burne who seeing his own and his Country's safety now at stake Ingulphus Crâ—wlandenâ—s and having a souldier 's belt put on him by Bran Abbot of Peterborough that was also enrag'd at the Normans broke out into open war against him often conquer'd him and at last took him prisoner and would not suffer him to be ransom'd unless he himself might be received into the King's favour so he liv'd and dy'd in his allegiance And indeed his valour which is a quality we honour in our very enemies deserv'd as much His daughter was married to Hugh Enermeve Lord of Deping and enjoy'd his possessions which afterwards as I have been informed came to the Barons de Wake Barons of Wake a family very much enrich'd by the Estate of the Estotevills very eminent and men of great interest in these parts till Edward the second 's time for then by an heir female their inheritance fell by right of marriage to Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent youngest son to King Edward the first From the younger sons the ancient and famous family of the Wakes of Blisworth in Northamptonshire yet remaining is descended d The second part of this County commonly call'd Kesteven Kesteven but by Ethelwerd an ancient author Ceostefnewood e borders upon Hoiland on the west happy in an air much more wholsome and a soil no less fruitful This division is larger than the other and is every where adorn'd with more towns On the borders by the river Welland stand Stanford Stanford in Saxon Steanford ‖ E saxo structili built of free-stone from which it has it's name It is a town of good resort endow'd with divers privileges and wall'd about paying Geld as Domesday-book has it for twelve Hundreds and a half to the army and towards the navy and Danegeld and had in it six Wards When King Edward the Elder fortified the southern banks of the river to hinder the Danish inroads from the north he built also on the south bank over against it a very strong castle Vid. Burghley in Northamptonshire call'd now Stanford Baron as Marianus has it But at this day 't is not to be seen for the common report is and the foundation-plot it self still witnesses that that castle which Stephen fortified in the Civil war against Henry of Anjou stood in the very town Soon after when this Henry was King of England he gave the whole village of Stanford being his Demesne Lib. Inq. in the Exchequer excepting the fees of the Barons and Knights of the
William Earl of Warren the manour burrough and castle of Stamford were granted to John Earl Warren by Edw. 1. and by his death reverted to the Crown After five or six regrants from the Crown to several of the greatest Nobility and as many returns to it either by forfeiture or for want of heirs-male Queen Elizabeth granted them to William Cecil first Lord Burgley from him they descended to Anne daughter and coheir of William Earl of Exeter who was marry'd to Henry Grey first Earl of Stamford advanc'd to that dignity by King Charles the first in the third year of his reign He was father of Thomas Lord Grey of Grooby who dy'd in his father's life time having marry'd Dorothy daughter and coheir of Edward Bourchier Earl of Bath by which match the right honourable Thomas present Earl of Stamford is descended from Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester the Bohuns Earls of Essex Hereford and Northampton and several other noble Families l Between Stamford and Lincoln in the Kesteven division there are many Spaws Spaws or mineral chalybiate Springs as at Bourne Walcot by Folkingham Pickworth Newton Aunsby Aserby and 't is said in the grounds east of Dunsby-hall three miles north ot Sleeford but those chiefly celebrated and us'd are Bourne and Walcot m Going along with the river Wealland we are led to Deping Deping which manour came to the Crown by the black Prince's marrying Joan the fair Maid of Kent who was daughter to Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent and of Margaret sister and heiress to Thomas Wake the last of that line It is very remarkable that she had been twice marry'd before and twice divorc'd n South from hence lyes Bourne Bourne which by the same marriage came to the Crown along with Deping Mr. Camden makes it famous for the inauguration of King Edmund and the Castle of the Wakes For the first * Lelaâ—d Itiner M. p. 18. Leland tells us he remembers he has read some where that S. Edmund King of the East-Angles was crown'd at Bourne but does not know whether 't was this Bourne That it was not but is to be removed into Suffolk to Buers is evidently prov'd in the Additions to that County For the castle he says there appear great ditches and the Dungeon-hill of it against the west end of the Priory somewhat distant from it as on the other side of the street backward that it belong'd to the Lord Wake and that much service of the Wake-fee is done to it and every Feodary knows his station and place of service The medicinal Spring arising here in a farm-yard is as strong as that at Astrop in Northamptonshire and is pretty much drank in summer time That also seven miles farther northward 〈◊〉 near the edge of the fenns at Walcot near Folkingham is much frequented by the Gentry of late years and is something stronger than the other purging both by urine and stool 〈…〉 o Let us now pass to the western part of Kesteven Division where Belvoir-castle first offers it self to our view And as three Counties Leicester Nottingham and Lincoln share of the Vale so is it not easie to determine whether the Priory there belongs to the first or last of the three For the castle there is no dispute but it belongs to Lincoln only there is some difference about the founder of it Mr. Camden is for Todeney a Norman but Mr. Burton is willing to have it rais'd by one of the house of Albeney whose first name indeed he does not deny might be Totney or Todeney He grounds his opinion upon some ancient Records about the time of King Henry the first or elder proving the Albenies then to be resident here who were true Natives of this land and no Normans or Strangers because of the addition to their names with which he declares he has seen them written Willielmus de Albiniaco Brito As to the Priory Mr. Camden seems to make it go along with the Castle but Mr. Burton brings it over into Leicestershire perhaps more out of a desire to enlarge his own province than any just reason unless there be a fuller intimation of it in the Roll of the fifth of Henry the third upon which he builds than any thing he has quoted out of it 〈◊〉 p Ancaster presents it self next to the Antiquity whereof abundantly shown by Mr. Camden I have nothing to add Leland Itinerar p. 20 sets down how an old man of Ancaster told him 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 that by Uresby or Roseby a plough-man took up a stone and found another stone under it wherein was a square-hole having Roman-coin in it 〈◊〉 Near to this place is Herlaxton where the same author mentions the helmet of gold set with stones which was presented to Catharine Princess dowager and further adds to what Mr. Camden has said of it that there were also bedes of silver in that pot and writings corrupted q From hence we must remove a little and follow the river Witham as our best direction to Lincoln the Metropolis of this County Not far from the head of it â—â—â—y 〈◊〉 on the west-side lyes Boothby-pannel upon which the great Dr. Sanderson who was for some years Rector there entail'd a lasting name and honour as he did afterwards upon the Regius-Professor's Chair at Oxford and the See of Lincoln The reason of the name we learn from Lel. MS. 〈◊〉 Leland who tells us there was one Boutheby of very ancient time the Heir-general of whom was married to Paynelle r Out of Kesteven we are carry'd into the third part of the division Lindsey where upon the banks of the river Trent â—â—â—ey we meet with Torksey in which town the ancient Charter is still preserv'd and it enjoys thereby the privilege of a toll from strangers who bring cattel or goods that way as also of a Fair on Monday in Whitsun-week much resorted to by young folks and other country-people in those parts Sheringham seems to me to strain too hard when he endeavours to make the name of this place favour his conjecture grounded upon Mela that the Turks were the same nation with the Tyrsagetae and rest of the Goths fâ—om whom our Ancestors were descended Unless it were countenanc'd by some peculiar passage in history there is nothing but the bare similitude of names and that too can contribute nothing if Mr. Somner's opinion may be taken in the case who derives it from troge a cockboat and ige an Island s Two miles west from Lincoln is Skellingthorp Skellingthorpe the Lordship whereof worth about 520 l. per annum was bequeath'd to Christ's Hospital in London by the Lord of it Henry Stone who dy'd June 26. 1693. This Gentleman gave also along with it his whole personal estate worth four thousand pound to the same pious use t From hence the Foss-dike leads us South-east to Lincoln Lincoln call'd as Mr. Camden observes by the
In the Civil wars it was a garison for the King and commanded by Colonel Philip Stanhope a younger son to Philip the first Earl of Chesterfield which being taken by storm he and many of his souldiers were therein slain and the house afterwards burnt e Directly towards the north upon the west-side of the river is Southwell Southwell where I cannot but take notice of an inscription upon a pillar in that Church both because I do not observe it set down by Dr. Thoroton and also because it contains aâ—sort of historical account of that place Reges Reginae erunt nutrices tuae Hanc Collegiatam Parochialem Ecclesiam Religiosa Antiquitas Fundavit Rex Henricus 8. Illustrissimus restauravit 1543. Edwardo Lee Archiepiscopo Ebor. piissimo petente Regina Elizabetha Religiosissima sancivit 1584. Edwino Sandys Archiepiscopo Ebor. dignissimo intercedente Monarcha Jacobus Praepotentissimus stabilivit 1604. Henrico Howard Comite Northamptoniensi praenobilissimo mediante A Domino factum est istud Da gloriam Deo Honorem Regi Sint sicut Oreb Zeb Zebe Salmana qui dicunt possideamus Sanctuarium Dei Psal 83.11 Det Deus hoc sanctum sanctis sit semper Asylum Exulis Idolatras sacrilegósque ruat * From hence it is commonly call'd Leespillar Gervas Lee In piam gratámque Maecenatum memoriam posuit 1608. DARBY SHIRE by Robbt. Morden From this town the family of the Southwells took their name and were anciently seated here For mention is made in the â— Thorot â—â—â—ing-â—â—â—shâ—â—e Records of Sir Simon Southwell under Hen. 3. of Sir John under Edw. 1. and of several others down to Hen. 6. when they spread themselves into Norfolk and Suffolk In the reign of Charles 2. Sir Robert of that name went into Glocestershire where he is now seated at Kings-weston f The next place is Langer â—â—nger which Camden mentions as eminent for the Lords of it the Tibetots where we are to observe that this name has had no relation to that place since the time of Edw. 3. For in the 46. year of his reign Robert the last of the Tibetots dying without heir-male the custody of all his lands and the care of his three daughters were committed to Richard le Scrope and he marrying Margaret the eldest to his son Roger brought that seat into the name of the Lords Scropes wherein it continu'd down to Emanuel who was created Earl of Sunderland 3 Car. 1. But he having no issue by his wife Elizabeth that and the rest of his estate was settl'd upon his natural issue three daughters and Annabella the third of them to whose share this manour fell in the division marrying John Howe second son of Sir John Howe of Compton in Glocestershire brought it into that name On the west-side of Trent not far from the river Idle stands Tuxford â—â—â—ford where Charles Read Esquire built a curious Free-school and endow'd it with 50 l. per an The like he did at Corby in Lincolnshire and Drax in Yorkshire to which last he added a hospital and endow'd that also with 50 l. per an h Returning to the course of the river we are led to Littleborrough â—â—â—leborâ—â—â—gh which Camden tells us upon second thoughts he 's fully satisfied is Antoninus's Agelocum â—â—locum â—â—â—giacum or Segelocum The place at which he says he formerly sought it appears from his edition of 1594. to have been Idleton seated upon the bank of the river Idle to which he was induc'd partly by its distance from Lindum and partly because he imagin'd it might be an easie slip of the Librarian to write Agelocum for Adelocum which latter is not unlike the present name of it Talbot is for Aulerton in Sherwood and Fulk contrary to Antoninus who makes it distant from Lindum 14 miles at least for Agle almost six miles from that place Dr. Thoroton seems inclin'd to reduce it to the bank of the river Idle where Eaton standing upon that account may as well be call'd Idleton and Id or Yd in the British signifying corn as Ydlan denotes a granary there may seem to be some affinity between that and Segelocum as if it were a place of corn But then it is scarce fair to bring it to Idleton upon the likeness in sound with Adelocum and afterwards to settle it there upon a nearness in signification to Segelocum one of which readings must be false and by consequence not both to be made use of as true to confirm the same thing Upon the whole Mr. Burton approves of our Author's conjecture and to reconcile Agelocum and Segelocum has ingeniously rank'd these two amongst the words to which the Romans sometimes prefix'd an S or Sibilus and sometimes omitted it So says he they call d the Alpes which in Lycophron's Cassandra we find written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and they who are call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Insulae by Dionysius the Periegetes the same in Strabo are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lying in the British Sea Salamantica of Spain is call'd by Polybius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Caesar's Suessiones in Ptolemy are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To add one common Noun out of Dioscorides what in Virgil's Eclogues is Saliunca in him is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rather take the whole place out of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i On the north-west side of this County about a mile and a half from Workensop is Welbeck-Abbey Welbeck-Abbey now a very noble building seated in the lowest part of a fine park surrounded with trees of excellent timber and was the seat of William and Henry late Dukes of New-Castle And about 6 miles east from hence stood the Abbey of Rughford Rughford-Abbey now the noble and pleasant seat of George Marquiss of Hallifax Continuation of the EARLS Charles Howard mention'd by our Author dying An. 1624. was succeeded by his second son Charles William the elder dying before him without issue-male This Charles was succeeded by a son of his own name who was likewise second son James the elder dying unmarry'd At present the title is enjoy'd by the right honourable Daniel Finch late Secretary of State More rare Plants growing wild in Nottinghamshire Caryophyllus minor repens nostras An Betonica coronaria sive caryophyllata repens rubra J. B. Purple creeping mountain Pink. By the roads side on the sandy hill you ascend going from Lenton to Nottingham plentifully and in other sandy grounds in this County Gramen tremulum medium elatius albis glumis non descriptum Said to grow in a hollow lane between Peasely and Mansfield by P. B. I have not seen this sort of grass my self nor do I much rely on the authority of this book only I propose it to be searched out by the curious Glycyrrhiza vulgaris Ger. emac. Common English Liquorice It is planted and cultivated for sale at Worksop in this County which Camden also takes notice of Lychnis
Ethelfleda that victorious Governess of the Mercians by surprize took it and put them to the sword In Edward the Confessor's time as it is in Domesday there were 143 Burgesses in it which number was so much lessen'd that in William the first 's reign there were only 100 remaining These at the feast of S. Martin paid twelve * trabes of corn to the King This seem to mean Thraâ—â—â— â— corn Its reputation at present proceeds from the Assizes for the County held there and from the excellent good Ale brew'd in it The beer caâ—l'd Cuâ—mi in Dâ— sâ—aridâ—s in Eâ—â— Alâ— fâ—eaâ— Dâ—â—â—sh word Oâ— a word deriv'd from the Danish Oel and not from Alica as Ruellius says The British express'd it by the old word Kwrw for which Curmi is falsly read in Dioscorides when he says that the Britanni and the Hiberi perhaps he means Hiberni drank Curmi a liquor made of barley instead of wine For this is our Barley-wine which Julian the Apostate ingeniously calls in an Epigram of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. Spicigenam Bromon not Bromium This is the ancient and peculiar drink of the English and the Britains very wholesom notwithstanding Henry of Auraunches the Norman Poet-laureat to King Henry the third plays upon it smartly in these verses Nescio quod Stygiae monstrum conforme paludi Cervisiam plerique vocant nil spissius illa Dum bibitur nil clarius est dum mingitur unde Constat quòd multas faeces in ventre relinquit Of this strange drink so like the Stygian lake Men call it Ale I know not what to make They drink it thick and piss it wondrous thin What store of dregs must needs remain within However Turnâ—b â— Wine the most learned man in France does not question but men that drink this liquor if they avoid excess will live longer than if they drank wine and that this is the cause why some among us that drink ale live to the age of an hundred years Yet Asclepiades in Plutarch ascribes this longevity to the coldness of the climate which preserves the natural heat of our bodies when he tells us of the Britains living 120 years However the wealth of this town does in a great measure depend upon a certain kind of retail-trade which is to buy corn and sell it again to the high-land countries for the town consists wholly in a manner of these sort of Merchants b Not far distant from hence the course of the river Derwent lyes through that place where Ralph de Montjoy The Barâ— Montjoy had lands in Edward the first 's reign and then it runs by Elwaston where was born Walter Blunt who was rais'd by Edward the fourth to the dignity of Baron of Montjoy 2 With a pension whose posterity have equall'd the glory of their descent and family by the ornaments of learning and particularly above the rest Charles now Earl of Devonshire Baron of Montjoy Lord-deputy of Ireland and Knight of the Garter so eminent for his virtue and learning that no one is preferable and but few comparable to him in those respects Below this place the Derwent runs into the Trent which soon after receives Erewash the boundary between this and Nottinghamshire in this part Upon this stands Riseley which belongs to the Willoughbys of whom as I have heard was that Sir Hugh Willoughby Kt. who in discovering the frozen Sea near Wardhous in Scandia was starv'd to death with his whole company Near this too stands Sandiacre or as others would have it Sainct Diacre the seat of that noble family the Greys of Sandiacre Grey of Sandiaâ—â—â— whose estate came to Edward Hilary in right of his wife his son took the name of Grey one of whose daughters and heirs some few years after was marry'd to Sir John Leak Kt. the other to John Welsh On the East-side there succeed in order to the north Codenor Câ—denor-â—â—â—e heretofore Coutenoure a castle which did belong to the Barons Greys stil'd Lords Grey of Codenor whose estate in the last age came by marriage to the Zouches for John de la Zouch the second son of William Lord de la Zouch of Haringworth â—â—ons Gâ—ey of Codner marry'd Elizabeth heiress to Henry Grey the last Lord of Codenor Winfeld a very rich manour where Ralph Lord Cromwel in the reign of Henry the sixth built a very stately house considering that age Then Alffreton Alfreton which is believ'd to have been built by King Alfred and so denominated from him It has likewise had its Lords nam'd de Alfreton from it of whom the second Robert the son of Ranulph built the little Monastery de Bello Capite commonly Beauchief in the remotest angle of this County But a few years after for default of heirs-male their estate went with two daughters to the family of the Cadurci or Chaworths and to the Lathams in the County of Lancaster Their Arms were two Cheverons as they call them Or The Arms â—f the Baâ—onâ— Alâ—â—n â—â—ely in a Shield Azure Which very Coat the Musards 3 That is to say Doubters and delayers Barons of Staveley in this County bore likewise but with different colours who in the reign of Edward the first ended in N. Musard for his eldest sister was marry'd to T. de Freschevill whose posterity remain and flourish here at this day Higher in the very edge of the County to the east upon a rough ground stands Hardwick â—ardwick which has given name to a famous family in this County from whom is descended Elizabeth the present Countess of Shrewsbury who has there laid the foundation of two stately houses almost joyning to one another which at a great distance appear very fair by reason of their high situation At present the title of this Barony is enjoy'd by William Cavendish â—â—on Caâ—â—â—dish or â—â—dâ—sh her second son who was lately advanc'd by King James to the honour of Baron Cavendish of Hardwick More inward we see Chesterfield â—heâ—terâ—â—â—ld in Scardale that is in a dale enclos'd with rocks d In the North we call rocky places Skarrs to this day and the Southern parts still retain something of this in the skar of a wound For rocks or crags were call'd Scarrs by the Saxons Both the ruins of the walls and this new name do prove it to be of antiquity but the old name of it is superannuated and quite lost 4 King John erected it into a Free-burrough and gave it to William Briewer his particular favorite and it is only mention'd in authors upon the account of a Battel between Henry the third and the Barons in which Robert de Ferrariis the last Earl of Derby of this family was taken and degraded by Act of Parliament after which he liv'd privately and his posterity have since flourish'd under the title of Barons only d Next Chesterfield to the west lyes Walton â—alton which hereditarily descended
Throw in a cloth you 'll see it straight ascend For all 's bore upward by the conqu'ring wind But all that 's remarkable in this high and rough little country a certain person has endeavour'd to comprise in these f Hobbs has comprehended the seven wonders in one verse Aedes mons barathrum binus fons antraque binà four verses Mira alto Pecco tria sunt barathrum specus antrum Commoda tot plumbum gramen ovile pecus Tot speciosa simul sunt Castrum Balnea Chatsworth Plura sed occurrunt quae speciosa minus Nine things that please us at the Peak we see A Cave a Den and Hole the wonders be Lead Sheep and Pasture are the useful three Chatworth the Castle and the Bath delight Much more you 'll find but nothing worth your sight 7 To these wonders may be added a wonderful Well in the Peake-forest not far from Buxtons which ordinarily ebbeth and floweth four times in the space of one hour or thereabouts keeping his just tides and I know not whether Tideswell a market town hereby hath his name thereof Hol. As to what he says of the justness of the tides there is no such thing for sometimes it does not flow once in two days and sometimes it flows twice in an hour Those of the Peverels who as I have said before were Lords of Nottingham Lords aâ—â— Earls of Derby are also reported to have been Lords of Derby Afterwards King Rich. 1. gave and confirm'd to his brother John Simeon Dunchâ—â—â—sis Horeden Mat. Par. 204. the County and Castle of Nottingham Lancaster Derby c. with the Honours belonging to them and the Honour also of Peverel After him those of the family of the Ferrars as for as I can gather from the Registers of Tutbury Merivall and Burton Monasteries were Earls William de Ferrariis born of the daughter and heir of Peverel whom King John as it is in an ancient Charter An ancieâ—â— Charter 1 Joan. ‖ Cinrit c. created Earl of Derby with his own hands William his son 8 Who being bruis'd with a fall out of his coach dy'd in the year 1254. and Robert the son of this William who in the Civil wars was so stripp'd of this dignity that none of his posterity tho' they liv'd in great state were ever restor'd to their full honours Many possessions of this Robert were given by King Henry 3. to his younger son Edmund and King Edward 3. so says the original record by Act of Parliament gave Henry of Lancaster the son of Henry Earl of Lancaster the Earldom of Derby to him and his heirs and likewise assign'd him 1000 marks yearly during the life of Henry Earl of Lancaster his father From that time this title continued in the family of Lancaster till King Henry 7. bestow'd it upon Thomas Stanley who had not long before marry'd Margaret the King's mother 9 To him and his heirs males He had for his successor his grandson Thomas begotten by George his son on the body of Joan the heiress of the Lord Strange of Knocking This same Thomas had by the sister of George Earl of Huntingdon Edward the third Earl of this family highly commended for his courteousness and hospitality who of the Lady Dorothy daughter to the first Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk begat Henry the fourth Earl who soon obtain'd very honourable employments and left by the Lady Margaret daughter of Henry Earl of Cumberland Ferdinand and William successively Earls of Derby Ferdinand dy'd after a strange manner in the flower of his youth leaving by Margaret her right name is Alice his wife daughter of Sir John Spenser of Althorp three daughters viz. Anne marry'd to Grey Bruges Lord Chandos Frances espous'd to Sir John Egerton and Elizabeth the wife of Henry Earl of Huntingdon William the sixth Earl now enjoyeth the honour and hath issue by Elizabeth daughter to Edward late Earl of Oxford and now William g See an account of this family in Lancashire under the title Ormeskirke the sixth Earl of Derby of this family a man of great worth and honour enjoys that dignity Thus far of the Counties of Nottingâ—â—â— and Derby partly inhabited by those who in Bede 's time were call'd Mercii Aquilonares The Noâ—thern â—â—cians because they dwelt beyond the Trent northward and possest as he says the land of seven thousand families This County includes 106 Parishes ADDITIONS to DERBYSHIRE a IN the more southerly part of this County upon the river Trent is Repton Repton where Matilda wife to Ralph Earl of Chester founded a Priory of Canons Regular of the Order of St. Austin in the year 1172. And since the dissolution Sir John Port of Etwall in this County by his last Will order'd a Free-school to be erected appointing certain lands in the Counties of Derby and Lancaster for the maintenance of this and an Hospital at Etwall both which are still in a prosperous condition b The Trent running forward receives the river Derwent and upon it stands Derby Derby which had not this name by an abbreviation of Derwent and the addition of by as our Author imagines but plainly from being a shelter for deer which is imply'd in the true name of it Deoraby And what farther confirms it is that 't was formerly a park and in the arms of the town to this day is a buck couchant in a park Which joyn'd to the Lodge-lane still the name of a passage into the Nuns-green as they put the original of it out of all doubt so do they evidently shew the ancient condition of the place When the town was built does not appear but its privileges and ancient charters argue it to be of good antiquity It is exempted from paying toll in London or any other place except Winchester and some few other towns and is a staple-town for wool a very ancient manufacture of this Kingdom There was formerly in it a Chapel dedicated to St. James near which in digging some cellars and foundations of houses bones of a great size have been found And on the north-side of St. James's lane within the compass of ground where the Chapel stood a large stone was made bare which being gently remov'd there appear'd a stone-coffin with a very prodigious corps in it but this upon the first motion of the stone turn'd into dust The Coffin was so cut as to have a round place made for the head wide about the shoulders and so narrower down to the feet On the south-east corner of the town stood formerly a castle tho' there have been no remains of it within the memory of man But that there was one appears from the name of the hill call'd Cow-castle-hill and the street that leads west to St. Peter's Church in ancient Deeds bearing the name of Castle-gate In Allhallows Church there is a monument for one Richard Crashaw of London Esquire who dy'd the 20th of June An.
and was at last buried But the wiser sort think that this place took its name from Guy de Beauchamp who liv'd much later And certain it is that Richard de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick built and dedicated here a Chapel to S. Margaret and set up the o Eight foot high Gyant-like statue of the famous Guy still remaining l From Warwick the Avon with a fuller body passes by Charlcott Charlcott the seat of the noble and knightly family of the Lucies which long since hereditarily passed to them from the Charlcotts who out of a pious intent built a Religious house p William de Lucy son of Walter de Charlcott first assum'd this name temp Henr. 3. and built the Religious house for the support and entertainment of poor people and strangers at Thellisford For the brook was call'd Thelley which running by Compton Murdack heretofore belonging to the Murdacks now to the family of the Verneys Knights and thence by this Thellisford falls into Avon Which river within a little way salutes Stratford a pretty handsom market-town that owes its ornaments and beauty chiefly to its two natives John de Stratford Stratford upon Avon Archbishop of Canterbury q The South-Isle was built by him but the Qâ—ire by T. Balshal and the North and South Cross by the Executors of Hugh Clopton The Church is Collegiate and the College now standing Regist Wigorn. Lel. Itinerar who founded the Church here and Hugh Clopton sometime Lord Mayor of London who at extraordinary expence built the Stone-bridge here over the Avon consisting of 14 arches He was younger brother of an ancient family which took their name from the adjacent manour of Clopton from the time that Walter Cocksfield stil'd Knight-Marshal fix'd his seat here at Clopton for himself and posterity Their inheritance in our time descended to two sisters coheirs one of them married to Sir George Carew a famous Kt. Vice chamberlain to her most serene Majesty Queen Anne whom K. James created Baron Carew of Clopton Baron Carew of Clopton and whom if for no other reason I cannot omit for the great respect he paid to venerable Antiquity m Avon seeâ— nothing more on its banks besides Bitford a small market-town and some little Country villages before it makes its entry into Worcestershire Now let us take a view of the Woodland Woodland which lying on the Northern-side of Avon extends it self into a much greater compass than the Feldon for the most part cloathed with woods yet not wanting pastures or corn-fields and hath several veins of r No veins of iron were ever yet found in this County In the borders of it viz. Worcestershire and Staffordshire there have Iron As it is now call'd the Woodland so by a more ancient name it was call'd Arden Arden which in my opinion are words importing the same thing For Arden with the ancient Britains and Gauls did denote a Wood. And we know in France a vast wood bears the name of Arden and a town in Flanders situated near another wood is call'd Ardenburg and that celebrated forest of England paring off the first syllable retains the name of Den. Not to mention that Diana Diana which in s See Selden's Polyolbion pag. 229. the old Gallick Inscription was call'd Ardwena Ardwena and Ardoina i.e. if I am not much mistaken Sylvestris or Of the woods and was the same that in the Italick Inscriptions is called Nemorensis or Diana of the Groves From this part Turkiil de Arden who resided here and was in great favour with King Henry 1. assumed that sirname and his Descendants the Ardens famous in succeeding ages were branched out into all parts of England On the Western-side of the Woodland the river Arrow n makes hast by Studly Studley some ages since a castle belonging to John son af Corbutio to joyn the river Avon But whether it be so call'd as Tigris a river of Mesopotamia which in the Persian language signifies an Arrow from the swiftness of its current or from its flow course for that the word Ara among the old Britains and Gauls imports I leave to the search of others 5 Who have better observ'd the nature of this river On the banks of Arrow lies Coughton Coughton the chief seat of the family of the Throckmortons Throckmortons Knights who since they married with the heiress of Speney grew very numerous famous and fruitful of good Wits Not far from hence lies Ouseley memorable for the ancient Lords thereof the Butlers Barons of Wem from whom it hereditarily descended to the Ferrars of Ousley Ousley Whose inheritance in a short time was divided betwixt John Lord of Greistocke and Ralph Nevil A little lower upon Arrow is seated Beauchamp's Court Beauchamps Court so called from Baron Beauchamp of Powicke from whom by the only daughter of Edward Willoughby son of Robert Willoughby Lord Brook it came to Sir Fulk Grevill Grevills Kt a person no less esteem'd for the sweetness of his temper than dignity of his station Whose only son of the same name so entirely devoted himself to the study of real Virtue and Honour that the nobleness of his mind far exceeded that of his birth for whose extraordinary favours tho' I must despair of making suitable returns yet whether speaking or silent I must ever preserve a grateful memory Below Beauchamp's-Court the river Alne or Alenus falls into Arrow which in its course through a woody country passes by Henley Henley a litde market town near which the Montforts a noble family of great name had a Castle that from its delightful situation on a hill amidst the woods was call'd by a French name Bell desert But the castle hath long since been buried in its own ruins They derived their pedigree not from the Almarian family of the Montforts but from Turstan de Bastanberg a Norman Their inheritance at length pass'd away by Daughters to the Barons of Sudley and the Frevils Just at the confluence of the two rivers Arrow and Aulne I saw Aulcester Aulcester by Mathew Paris called Allencester and that more properly The inhabitants because it hath been a place of great note and antiquity will needs have the true name to be Ouldeester This was as we read in an old Inquisition a free Burrough of our Lord Henry 1. which the same King gave to Robert Corbet for his service and when the same Robert died it descended to 6 Sir William William de Botereux and to Peter the son of Herbert And when William de Botereux died his Moiety descended to Reginald de Botereux as heir who now holds it A Bâ—â—â— in the Exâ—â—equer and when Peter the son of Herbert died his Moiety descended to Herbert the son of Peter which Herbert gave it to Robert de Chaundois 7 But now it is decay'd and of a very great town become a small market of
Canutus founded for Nuns who being expell'd within a little time in the year 1040. Leofrick Earl of Mercia enlarg'd it and in a manner built it a-new with so great a show of gold and silver to use Malmesbury's words that the walls of the Church seem'd too strait to contain the treasures of it It was very prodigious to behold for from one beam were scrap'd w Five hundred marks Malmesb. See Dugdale's Warwickshire 50 marks of silver And he endow'd it with so great revenues that Robert de Limsey Bishop of Lichfield and Chester remov'd his See hither as to the golden sands of Lydia that as the same Malmesbury hath it he might steal from the treasures of the Church wherewithall to fill the King's Coffers to cheat the Pope of his provisions and gratifie the Roman avarice However this See after a few years return'd back to Lichfield but upon these terms that one and the same Bishop should be stil'd Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield The first Lord of this City that I know of 〈◊〉 of â—â—â—try was Leofrick who being incens'd against the Citizens laid upon them very heavy taxes these he would by no means remit notwithstanding the great intercession of his Lady Godiva unless she would consent to â—ide naked thro' the most frequented parts of the city â—â—50 which if credit may be given to tradition she perform'd â—egus having cover'd her body with her long dangling hair without being seen by any one and so freed her Citizens from many heavy impositions From Leofrick this City by Lucia his son Algar's daughter came into the possession of the Earls of Chester for she had marry'd Ranulph the first Earl of that name and the third of the family who granted the same Liberties to Coventry that Lincoln enjoy'd and gave a great part of the City to the Monks the residue of it and Chilmore their manour-house near the City he reserv'd to him and his heirs who dying and the inheritance for want of issue-male coming to be divided amongst the sisters Coventry by the death of the Earls of Arundel fell to Roger de Monte alto De monte Alto. or Monthault whose grandson Robert granted all his right for want of issue-male to Queen Isabel Mother of King Edw. 3. to hold during her life after her decease the remainder to John de Eltham brother of the King and to the heirs of his body begotten In default of such the remainder to Edward King of England and his heirs for ever For so you have it in a Fine the second year of Edward 3. But John of Eltham was afterwards created Earl of Cornwall and this place became annex'd to the Earldom of Cornwall from which time it hath flourish'd very much Several Kings gave it divers immunities and privileges especially Edward 3. who granted them the electing of a Mayor and two Bayliffs 11 And to build and embattle a wall about it and Henry 6. who having laid to it some of the neighbouring villages granted by his Charter For so are the very words of it That it should be an entire County incorporate by it self in deed and name distinct from the County of Warwick At which time in lieu of two Bayliffs he constituted two Sheriffs and the Citizens began to enclose it with very strong walls In these are very noble and beautiful gates at that which goes by the name of Gofford is to be seen a vast shield-bone of a Boar which you may believe that Guy of Warwick or Diana of the Groves which you please kill'd in hunting after he had with his shout turn'd up the pit or pond that is now called Swansewell-pool but in ancient Charters Swineswell As to the Longitude of this City it lies in 25 degrees and 52 scruples the Latitude in 52 degrees and 25 scruples Thus much of Coventry which yet that I may ingenuously acknowledge the person who furnish'd me with it you must know you have not from me but from Henry Ferrars of Badsley a person to be respected as for his birth so for his great knowledge in Antiquity and my very good friend who in this and other places courteously directed me and as it were gave me leave to light my candle at his s Near Coventry to the North are situated Ausley Ausley a castle heretofore of the Hastings Lords of Abergavenny and ww Brandon Brand Brand. of old a seat of the Verdons To the East is placed Caloughdon vulgarly call'd Caledon Caledon an ancient seat of the Barons Segrave Barons Segrave from whom it descended to the Barons de Berkley by one of the daughters of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk These Segraves from the time that Stephen de Segrave was Lord Chief Justice of England were Barons of this Realm and enjoy'd the inheritance of the Chaucumbs whose Arms from that time they assumed viz. Arms of the Segraves A Lion rampant Argent crowned Or in a shield Sable John the last of this family marry'd Margaret Dutchess of Norfolk daughter of Thomas de Brotherton and had issue Elizabeth who carry'd the honour of Marshal of England and title of Duke of Norfolk into the family of the Mowbrays Not far from hence is Brinkle Brinkle-castle where was an ancient castle of the Mowbrays to which belong'd many fair possessions lying round it but time hath swept away the very ruins of it t as also of the Monastery of Combe Combe-Abbey which the Camvils and the Mowbrays endow'd Out of whose ashes the fair structure of the Harringtons arose in this place As you go Eastward x Anciently writ Thester Over as being seated castward of Monks-kirby and call'd but lately Cester-over by the inhabitants Dugd. Warwicksh p. 60. Cester-over presents it self the possession of the Grevils of whom I have before made mention Near which Watling street a Military way of the Romans dividing this County to the North from Leicestershire passes by High-cross of which we have already spoken near Nonn-eaton which of old was call'd Eaton but Amicia the wise of Robert Bossu Earl of Leicester as Henry Knighton writes having founded a Monastery of Nuns here in which she her self was profess'd of that number from those Nuns it got the name of Non-Eaton And formerly it was of great fame for the piety of its holy virgins who being constant in their devotions gave a good example of holy living to all about them Near this stood heretofore Asteley-castle Asteley the chief seat of the family of the Asteleys 12 Out of which flourish'd Barons in the time of King Edward the first second and third Baron Asteâ—ey the heiress of which was the second wife of Reginald Grey Lord of Ruthin From him sprang the Greys Marquisses of Dorset some of whom lye interr'd 13 In a most fine and fair Collegiate Church which Thomas Lord Astley founded with a Dean and Secular Canons in the neat
the Counties of Wilts and Somerset Provinces of the West-Saxon Kingdom u Mr. Camden having left the west-side of this County in a manner untouch'd it will be necessary to give a more particular view thereof The river Teme Teme in Latin Temedus waters the north-west part of this Shire taking its course into the Severn through rich meadows and the soil on both sides produceth excellent Syder and Hops in great abundance On the edge of Shropshire the river gives its name to Temebury a small but well-frequented market-town This town with most of the Lands between Teme and Herefordshire were held by Robert Fitz Richard Lord of Ricards Castle whose son Hugh marrying Eustachia de Say a great heiress the issue of that match took the sirname of Say These Lands by Margery an heir-female came to Robert Mortimer about K. John's time and the issue-male of the family of Mortimers failing the patrimony was divided between two daughters the elder of which being marry'd to Geoffry Cornwall part of it continues in the hands of their posterity but the rest hath often chang'd its Lords About 7 miles below Temebury the river passeth under Woodbery-hill Woodbery-hill remarkable for an old entrenchment on the top vulgarly call'd Owen Glendowr's Camp which notwithstanding is probably of greater antiquity Hence runs a continu'd ridge of hills from Teme almost to Severn and seems to have been the boundary of the Wiccian Province At the foot of Woodbery-hill stands Great-Witley Gâ—eâ—t â—â—â—ley where is a fair new-built house the chief seat of the Foleys who bought it of the Russels to whom it came about King Henry the 7th's time by marriage with one of the coheirs of Cassy who had marry'd the heir-general of the Coke-sayes it s more ancient Lords Under the west-side of Woodbery-hill lies Shelsley Beauchamp and over against it Shelsley Walsh Sheâ—â—ey Waâ—sh where dwelt Sir Richard Walsh the famous Sheriff of this County at the time of the Powder-plot who pursu'd the traytors into Staffordshire and took them there A little lower stood Hammme-castle and now in the place of it a fair seat which the ancient family of the Jeffreys have enjoy'd about 200 years Hence by Martley Teme passeth under Coderidge Coderiâ—â—â— a manour of the Berkleys formerly the Actons and in more ancient times belonging to the Mortimers and Says On the opposite bank stands Leigh Leâ—gh a manour of the Viscount of Hereford whence the river hasting to Powick falls into the Severn Continuation of the EARLS Henry son of Edward succeeding his father was created Marquiss of Worcester by K. Charles 1. which honour was after him enjoy'd by Edward his son and Henry his grandson who being created Duke of Beaufort by King Charles 2. the title of Marquiss of Worcester is now given to Charles Somerset his eldest son a Gentleman of great parts and worth who merits no less a character than that Mr. Camden gives his noble Ancestor with whom he concludes his description of Worcestershire More rare Plants growing wild in Worcestershire Colchicum vulgare seu Anglicum purpureum album Ger. Park Common meadow-Saffron I observed it growing most plentifully in the meadows of this County Cynoglossum folio virenti J. B. Cynoglossum minus folio virente Ger. semper virens C. B. Park The lesser green-leaved Hounds-tongue It hath been observed in some shady lanes near Worcester by Mr. Pitts an Apothecary and Alderman of that City Sorbus pyriformis D. Pitts which I suspect to be no other than the Sorbus sativa C. B. legitima Park That is the true or manured Service or Sorb-tree Found by the said Mr. Pits in a forest of this County Triticum majus glumâ foliaceâ seu Triticum Polonicum D. Bobert An Trit speciosum grano oblongo J. B Polonian Wheat It is found in the fields in this County and as Dr. Plot tells us in Staffordshire also STAFFORDSHIRE THE third part of that Country inhabited by the Cornavii now Staffordshire in Saxon Stafford-scyre the people whereof as living in the heart of England are call'd in Bede Angli Mediterranei Angli Mediterranei bounded on the east by Warwickshire and Derbyshire on the south by the County of Worcester and on the west by Shropshire lies from south to north almost in the form of a Rhombus being broad in the middle but narrow and contracted towards the ends of it The north part is mountainous and less fertile but the middle which is water'd by the Trent is fruitful woody and pleasant by an equal mixture of arable and meadow grounds so is also the south which has much pit-coal and mines of iron Iron but whether more to their loss or advantage the natives themselves are best Judges and so I refer it to them STAFFORD SHIRE by Robt. Morden After this we find memorable in this tract Chellington Chellington a very fine seat and the manour of that ancient and famous family the Giffards The Gâ—ffards given to Peter Giffard in the reign of Hen. 2. by Peter Corbuchin to whom also Richard Strongbow who conquer'd Ireland gave Tachmelin and other lands in that Country Vulfrunes-hampton so call'd from Vulfruna a very pious woman who built a Monastery in the town which before had the name of Hampton and hence for Vulfrunes-hampton it is corruptly call'd Wolverhampton Wâ—lverhampton which is chiefly remarkable for the College there annex'd to the Dean and Prebendaries of Windsor b Theoten-hall 〈…〉 that is to say a house of Pagans now Tetnall where many of the Danes were cut off in the year 911. by Edward the elder c Weadesburg now Weddsborrow Weddsborâ—ow heretofore fortified by Aethelfleda Governess of the Mercians and Walsall none of the meanest market-towns Near this lies the course of the river Tame Tame which rising not far off runs for some miles on the east-side of this County toward the Trent passing at some small distance by Draiton Basset â—â—set the seat of the Bassets who are descended from one Turstin Lord of this place in the reign of Hen. 1. and grown up into a numerous and famous family For this is the stock from which the Bassets of Welleden Wiccomb Sapcott Chedle and others of them are propagated But of these Bassets of Draiton Ralph was the last a very eminent Baron who marry'd the sister of John Montfort Duke of Bretagne and died without issue in the reign of Rich. 2. From hence the Tame passing thro' the bridge at Falkesley over which an ancient Roman-way lay runs by the lower part of Tamworth â—â—mworth in Saxon Tamapeord in Marianus Tamawordina so situated between the borders of the two Shires that the one part of it which formerly belong'd to the Marmions is counted in Warwickshire the other which belong'd to the Hastings is reckon'd in this County It takes its name from the river Tame which runs by it and the Saxon word Weorth which signifies
river rises near Healy castle built by the Barons of Aldelegh or Audley Barons Audley to whom this place was given by Harvy de Stafford as likewise Aldelegh it self by Theobald de Verdon and from these spring the family of the Stanleys Earls of Derby 8 Strange it is to read what Lands King Henry 3. confirm'd to Henry Audeley which were bestow'd on him through the bounty of the Peers and even of private Gentlemen not only in England but also in Ireland where Hugh Lacy Earl of Ulster gave him Lands together with the Constablish of Ulster so that without doubt he was either a person of singular virtue or a very great Favourite or an able Lawyer or perhaps was endu'd with all these qualifications His posterity were all â—â—d in marriage with the heirs of the Lord Giffard of Brimsfield of Baron Martin Lord of Keimeis and Barstaple as also a younger brother of this house with one of the heirs of the Earl of Glocester who was by King Edward 3. created Earl of Glocester About which time James Lord Aualey acquir'd a very great reputation on the account of his valour and skill in war-like affairs who as it is related by French Historians being dangerously wounded in the battel of Poitiers when the Black Prince with many high commendations had given to him a pension of 400 marks per annum bestow'd it immediately on his four Esquires that always valiantly attended him and satisfy'd the Prince doubting that his gift might be too little for so great service with this answer gratefully acknowledging his bounty These my Esquires sav'd my life amidst my enemies and God be think'd my Ancestors have left me sufficient Revenues to maintain me in your Service Whereupon the Prince approving this prudent Liberality both confirm'd his Donation to his Esquires and besides assign'd to him Lands to the value of 600 marks yearly But by his daughter one of the co-heirs to her brother the title of Lord Audley came afterward to the Touchets and in them continueth but the inheritance and name descended to the Touchetts in whose posterity and name that family is still remaining i I must not go on here without taking notice of that house call'd Gerards Bromley both upon the account of its magnificence and also because 't is the chief seat of Thomas Gerard whom King James in the first of his reign created Baron Gerard of Gerards Bromley The Sow keeps like a parallel line at equal distance from the Trent and runs by Chebsey which formerly belong'd to the Lords Hastings 9 Reckon'd among the principal Noble-men in the time of King Edward the first and then not far from Eccleshal the residence of the Bishop of Lichfield k and Ellenhall which formerly was the seat of the Noels Noel a famous family who founded a Monastery here at Raunton from them it descended hereditarily to the Harcourts who are of an ancient and noble Norman race and flourish'd for a long time in great dignity Of the male-line of these Noels is Andrew Noel of Dalby an eminent Knight and the Noels of Wellesborow in the County of Leicester and others remaining at this day l From hence the Sow runs by Stafford Stafford heretofore Statford and first of all Betheney where Bertelin with the reputation of great sanctity liv'd formerly an Hermite Edward the elder in the year 914. built a Tower upon the North-side of the river here When William the first took his Survey of England as it is said in Domesday-book the King had only eighteen Burgesses here belonging to him and twenty mansion houses of the Honour of the Earl it paid in gross for all customs nine pounds in deniers 10 And had 13 Canons-Prebendaries who held in Frank-Almoin In another place The King commanded a castle to be made there which was lately demolish'd But at that time as it is at this day Stafford was the chief Town of this County which owes its greatest glory to Stafford a castle adjoyning to it 11 Which the Barons of Stafford of whose Progeny were the Dukes of Buckingham built for their own seat who prevail'd with King John to erect it into a Burrough with ample liberties and priviledges caus'd to be partly enclos'd with a wall and founded a Priory of Black-Canons in honour of St. Thomas of Canterbury built by the Barons of Stafford for a seat m Below this the Sow is joyn'd by a little river call'd Penke which gives name to Pennocrucium an ancient town of which we have already made mention Near the confluence of the Sow and the Trent stands Ticks-hall where the family of the Astons dwell which for antiquity and kindred is one of the best families in these parts n With these waters the Trent glides gently through the middle of the County to the Eastward having Chartley Chartley. castle at two miles distance on the left of it which from Ranulph Earl of Chester who built it fell to the Ferrars by Agnes his sister who was married to William de Ferrars Earl of Derby from whom descended and flourish'd the Lords Ferrars of Chartley Lords Ferrars of Chartley. and Anne the daughter of the last of them brought this Honour with her as a portion to Walter D'eureux her husband from whom is Robert D'eureux Earl of Essex and Lord Ferrars of Chartley. On the right side of this river almost at the same distance stands Beaudesert Beaudesert most delicately seated among the woods formerly the house of the Bishops of Lichfield but afterwards of the Barons Pagets Barons Paget For William Paget who for his great prudence and knowledge of the world being eminent both at home and abroad was in great favour with Henry the eighth and King Edward the sixth having got a large estate was created Baron Paget of Beaudesert by Edward the sixth 12 He was as it may be collected from his Epitaph Secretary and Privy Counsellor to King Henry 8. and constituted by his Testament Counsellor and Adjutant to King Edward the sixth during his minority to whom he was Chancellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster Comptroller of the Houshold and by him created as I have already intimated Baron and Knight of the Garter as also by Queen Mary Lord Privy-Seal Whose grandson William is now the fourth Baron Pagett His grandson Thomas the fourth Baron flourishes now at this day who by his virtue and progress in the best kinds of learning is a grace and ornament to his whole family and in this respect but justly distinguisht by an honourable mention here From hence the Trent visits Lichfield Lâ—â—hfieâ—d scarce four miles distant from the right side of it Bede calls it Licidfeld which Rous of Warwick renders a field of carcasses and tells us that many Christians suffer'd martyrdom there under Dioclesian The city stands low is pretty large and neat and divided into two parts by a kind of lough or clear water
greatness and great men There are 130 Parishes in this County ADDITIONS to STAFFORDSHIRE AS Staffordshire has the advantage of two ancient ways running through it which have secur'd to us some considerable remains of Roman Antiquity so is it remarkable for several engagements and revolutions relating to the Saxon and Danish times For the British it is not altogether so considerable tho' there want not some small footsteps of that people which the discovery of such weapons as we know they formerly us'd point out to us But whatever curiosities or rarities it might have afforded the world must have been in a great measure strangers to them if it had not fallen under the search of the learned Dr. Plot both as to it 's Natural History and also it's Antiquities which he has given us by way of Appendix without mixing them with the body of his work The latter of these is our business at present wherein he must be our greatest guide whilst we travel over this County a To begin with Mr. Camden Dudley-Castle Dudley-castle he tells us descended from Fitz-Ausculph to the Somereys but between these two were the Paganals whereof Gervase Paganal founded a Priory there From that family it next descended by an heiress to the Somereys from whom by a co-heir it came to Sir John Sutton descended from the Suttons of Nottinghamshire afterwards the Dudleys were possessed of it from whom it pass'd by the daughter and heir of Sir Ferdinando Dudley son and heir of the last Lord Dudley to Humble Lord Ward of Birmicham b More towards the north is Wolver-hampton Wolver-hampton which had by K. Hen. 3. a Fair granted to it upon the eve and day of St. Peter and St. Paul and also a Market weekly on Wednesdays There is in it a Free-school founded by Sir Stepehn Jennings sometime Lord Mayor of London c From hence passing by Tetnall Tetnall we go to Wrottesley * Hist of Staff p 394. eminent for the remains of some old British or other Antiquity whether fortification or city tho' my Author inclines to the latter because of the several partitions like streets running divers ways within the limits of it as also the large hinges which have been found there and some of the stones squar'd The whole contains in circuit about 3 or 4 miles and stones of a vast bigness have been found hereabouts whereof one made 100 loads another after 10 loads of stone were hew'n off it requir'd 36 yoke of oxen to draw it and made the great cistern in the malt-house at Wrottesley which tho' left very thick both at bottom and sides will yet wet 37 strikes of barley at a time If the historical account of the Danes here in England can assert this monument to them I have nothing to object against it but so far as that opinion is grounded upon Mr. Camden's interpretation of Theotenhall which is near it is very false for that name implies no more than the hall or palace of a Lord without any necessary relation to Heathens or Christians If the construction of Paganorum aedes were true the argument were certainly undeniable since every body knows that the Danes in all our historians go under the name of Pagani Seasdon Seasdon upon the edge of Shropshire offers it self next to our consideration †Id. p. 3 near which at a place call'd Abbots or Apewood-castle there is an ancient fortification standing on a lofty round promontory with a steep ridge for a mile together having hollows cut in the ground over which 't is suppos'd anciently they set their tents The hills at each end which seem to have been the bastions make it probable that the whole has been one continu'd fortification Whether it be Roman or British is not so easily determin'd only we know of no signal action hereabouts which makes it more probable that 't is British because if it had been Roman their histories might perhaps have left us some account of it And Tacitus makes it plain that the Britains did fortifie as well with earth cast up as stones when he tells us Annal. l. 12. c. 31. that the Iceni chose a place septum agresti aggere aditu angusto ne pervius equiti foret where the agrestis agger does most probably signifie a bank of earth Towards the south-east from hence is Kings-Swinford King's-Swinford in which parish upon Ashwood heath there is a large entrenchment that measures about 140 paces over which notwithstanding its distance from the way is yet in the opinion of the learned Dr. Plot really Roman i.e. a tent or castrametation made at that distance on the account of their being drawn off from their ways and ordinary quarters to skirmish with the enemy as occasion might require In this parish likewise at Barrow-hill are two uniform Barrows or Tumuli all rock which notwithstanding Dr. Plot thinks to have been earth at first and turn'd into stone by subterraneal heats At the utmost south-borders of this County lies Clent Clent famous for the death of S. Kenelm slain at seven years of age by the contrivance of his sister Quendred Not far from whence is Kinfare Kinfare where is an old fortification of an oblong square about 300 yards long and 200 over The name will answer either a Danish or Saxon original so that to conclude upon either barely from that is a false bottom And the signification does not imply that any one was kill'd there For Fare tho' it signifies a going an expedition or journey yet I am confident it never denotes passing into another world I should rather believe that some King in his march had stop'd there or made that his head-quarters and so deriv'd the name upon it Going to Watlingstreet we meet with Hynts Hynts near which place is a large Roman Tumulus now like those at Barrow-hill turn'd into a hard rock There are more Roman Barrows upon this street one at Catts-hill two on Calves-heath another near Great Sarden On the edge of Warwickshire is Tamworth Tamworth which the Saxon Annals call Tamanpeorþige In the year 781. it appears to have been the palace of the Mercian Kings by a Grant of Offa to the Monks of Worcester which is dated from his royal palace there A square trench is still remaining by the name of King's ditch which is very large That there was a Castle before Aethelfled's time is very plain because she only repair'd it after it had been demolish'd by the Danes but by whom it was first made a place of strength does not appear A little farther towards the north lies Elford â—lford where is a Roman Tumulus the description whereof after a curious examination Dr. Plot has given us Level with the surface of the ground about it is a moist blackish sort of earth without any mixture of gravel or stones about 2 yards diameter and a foot and half deep in the middle lying much in
makes it reasonable enough to suppose that these two might be stations for the reception of the Armies in their march Upon the east side of the road between Streethey and Burton stands Eddingal Eddinghall where is a rais'd way pointing towards Lullington in Derbyshire which Dr. Plot is of opinion might probably be one of the Roman Viae vicinales or by-roads which they had beside their great high-ways for the convenience of going between town and town p More to the West is Blithfield Blithfield the seat of the Bagotts as Mr. Camden tells us It came into this family by the marriage of the daughter and heir of Blithfield in the reign of Edward the second Before which time they were seated at the neighbouring village of Bagotts-Bromley From this family were also descended the ancient Barons of Stafford afterwards Dukes of Buckingham Farther Northward and not far from Checkley by a small brook call'd Peak are the stately ruins of Croxden-Abbey Croxden-Abbey formerly a Monastery of Cistercian Monks founded by Theobald de Verdon a Norman Baron about the time of Henry the second Continuation of the LORDS After Edward Stafford last Duke of Buckingham of that name there were three of that family who enjoy'd the title of Lords Stafford Henry Edward and another Henry the daughter of the last being marry'd to William Howard son of Thomas Earl of Arundel and Surrey King Charles the first created this her husband Nov. 1640. Viscount and Lord Stafford More rare Plants growing wild in Staffordshire The mountainous part of this Country called the Moorelands produceth the same plants with the Peak Country of Derbyshire The more depressed and level parts with Warwickshire At a village called Worton in this County about two miles distant from Newport in Shropshire grow in plenty the Abies Ger. Park faemina sive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 J. B. The female or Yew-leav'd Firr-tree which whether they were native of this place or anciently planted here is some question That they were natives Dr. Plot gathers not only from their disorderly natural situation and excessive height to which planted trees seldom arrive but chiefly from the stools or stumps of many trees which he suspects to have been Firrs found near them in their natural position in the bottoms of Mosses and Pools particularly of Shebben-pool some of the bodies whereof are daily dug up at Laynton and in the old Pewet-pool in the same parish where these now grow Sorbus Pyriformis D. Pitt The Pear-like Service I have already declared my opinion that this is no other than the common Service-tree Dr. Plot tells us that it grows in the Moorelands at many places Sambucus fructu albo Ger. Park fructu in umbella viridi C. B. acinis albis J. B. White-berried Elder In the hedges near the village of Combridge plentifully Dr. Plot hist nat Staff Tripolium minus vulgare The lesser Sea-star-wort Said to grow in the grounds of Mr. Chetwynd of Ingstree within two miles of Stafford in a place call'd the Marsh near the place where the brine of it self breaks out above ground frets away the grass and makes a plash of Salt-water Dr. Plot. hist nat Staff SHROPSHIRE SHROPSHIRE By Robert Morden Lower upon the river Temd we see Burford Burford which from Theodorick Say's posterity descended to Robert de Mortimer and from his heirs to 4 Sir Jeffrey Jeffrey de Cornubia or Cornwaile Cornwaile of the lineage of Richard Earl of Cornwall and King of the Alemans whose heirs even to our days have bore the honourable title of Barons but were not such Barons as might sit in Parliament Burford is held of the King Inq. 40 E. 3. to find five men towards the Army of Wales and by the service of a Barony as appears by the Inquisition But observe by the way those who held an entire Barony were formerly reputed Barons and some Sages of the Common Law will have Baron and Barony to have been Conjugates Baron and Barony conjugates like Earl and Earldom Duke and Dukedom King and Kingdom Temd here leaves Shropshire and by its Northern Banks arise some hills of no difficult ascent call'd Clee-hill Clee-hill famous for producing the best Barley and not without some veins of Iron c at the bottom of which in a little village call'd Cleybury Hugh de Mortimer built a castle which immediately King Henry the second so entirely demolish'd finding it a Nursery of Rebellion that scarce any remains of it are visible at this day and Kinlet a seat of the Blunts Blunt signifies yellow hair in the Norman tongue a name very famous in these parts denoting their golden locks This is a very ancient and honourable family and hath spread its branches far Then we see Brugmorfe Bridgemorfe commonly call'd Bridgnorth on the right hand bank of the Severn so call'd of Burgh and Morfe a Forest that adjoyns to it before call'd Burgh only a town enclos'd and fortified with walls a ditch a castle and the river Severn which with a very steep fall flows in amongst the rocks It stands secure upon a rock through which the ways that lead into the upper part of the town were cut 'T was first built by Edelfleda Domina Merciorum Lady of the Mercians and wall'd round by Robert de f His right name is Belesme for so the ancient Saxon Annals call him Belism Earl of Shrewsbury who relying upon the strength of the place revolted from Henry the first as likewise did Roger de Mortimer from Henry the second but both with ill success for they were forc'd to surrender and so were quieted At the siege of this castle as our Chronicles say King Henry the second had like to have lost his life by an arrow which being shot at him was intercepted by a truly gallant man and lover of his King 5 Sir Hubert Syncler Hubert de Saint-Clere who sav'd the King's life by being accessary to his own death At this place formerly 6 Sir Ralph Ralph de Pichford behav'd himself so gallantly that King Henry the first gave him the little 7 Burgh Brug near it to hold by the service of finding dry wood for the great chamber of the castle of 7 Burgh Brug against the coming of his Soveraign Lord the King d Willeley is not far off the ancient seat of 8 Sir Warner the Warners of Willeley Willey or Willeley from whose posterity by the Harleys and Peshall it came to the famous family of the Lacons Lacon much advanc'd by intermarriage with the heir of Passelew and lately improv'd by the possessions of Sir J. Blunt of Kinlet Kt. Other castles and towns lye scattering hereabouts as New castle Hopton castle Shipton and Corvesham upon the river Corve the gift of K. Hen. 2. Lib. Inq. to Walter de Clifford Brancroft and Holgot commonly call'd Howgate which formerly belong'd to the Mandutes then
Stoke And he by Anne his wife daughter of William Lord Hastings had Francis the fifth Earl who begat of Mary daughter to Thomas Lord Dacre of Gilles-land George the sixth Earl a man of approv'd fidelity in weighty affairs of State whose son Gilbert by his wife Gertrude daughter to Thomas Earl of Rutland the seventh Earl maintaineth at this day c. Next succeeded George and after him Francis his son the father of George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury a States-man of untainted honour and approv'd experience in the weighty affairs of Government whose son Gilbert at present not only supplies his Ancestors room but supports the character too with great grandeur and his own personal merits There are in this Shire about 170 Parishes ADDITIONS to SHROPSHIRE SHropshire being the Frontier between England and Wales has had more Castles in it than any other County in England Insomuch that a * Fuller's Worth late Author says it may seem on the west to be divided from Wales with a wall of continu'd castles and Speed tells us that beside several towns strongly wall'd upon this occasion 32 Castles have been built in it a Of the more ancient Castles there seems to have been one at Chirbury Chirbury near the Severn for Aethelfled Lady of the Mercians is †Chr. Sax. said to have built one at Cyricbyrig Now as to the affinity between the old and new names if we add the Norman h after C the change is very easie and natural and for the condition of the place nothing can answer more exactly for where should she more probably build it than here when her main design was to secure her kingdom against the incursions of the Welsh b From hence toward the south-east was fought that famous battel mention'd by our Author between Ostorius and Caratacus And as the Action was great and eminent ‖ Aubrey 's Monumenta Britan. vol. 2. so are the remains of it to this day very considerable Near Lanterden about the meeting of the rivers Teme and Clun are two barrows in which were found burnt bones and an urn And a little way east of Teme at Brandon Brandon is a single square work with four ports very commodiously situated as having near it the river to serve them with water a thing the Romans were always careful to secure if possible And these are the reliques of the Romans As for the Britains there is a Camp of theirs about half a mile from Brandon at a place call'd Coxoll near Brampton-Bryan-Castle it is now cover'd with great oaks From hence they seem to have been beaten and about three miles towards the north is that large British Camp Caer-Caradock Caer Caradock The trenches are very deep and yet it is hard rock The Rampires are wall'd but the wall is now cover'd with earth which if one remove a little the stones appear * Dugd. Visitation of Shropsh It is now vulgarly call'd the Gair and situate upon the east-point of a very steep hill having no access to it but from a plain on the west part thereof It is three times as long as 't is broad having its entrance to the west fenc'd with a high treble rampire There is also a narrow passage out of it towards the east upon the very pitch of the hill The north-side of it is fortify'd with a deep and double trench but on the south-side it hath but a single trench because the steepness of that side of the hill is of it self a very good defence On the south-point of a high hill a mile north of Clun call'd Tongley Tongley is a large fortification somewhat larger than Caer Caradock it is made circular and defended with 3 deep trenches drawn round it And a mile from Bishops-castle towards Montgomery is a place call'd the Bishops-mote Bishops-mote where is a very steep and high hill like the Keep of a Castle at the west end and towards the east near an acre of ground surrounded with an entrenchment These are all the marks we have left of this memorable engagement c Keeping along the south-coast of the County we come to Clay-hill Clay-hill where are still the remains of an ancient Camp d From whence the Severn leads us to Bridgenorth Bridgnorth a name as Leland has observ'd but of late use it being call'd in all ancient Records Bridge But the most ancient name is that given it by the Saxon Annals Bricge from which by some of our later Historians it is term'd Brugge and Bruggenorth that addition being made upon the building of some bridge over the Severn south of this So that our Author I think is mistaken when he says it was formerly call'd simply Burgh implying thereby some fortification That Castle built by the Danes An. 896. call'd in Saxon CÆ¿atbricge seems to be the very same tho' our Author and Mr. Somner are inclin'd to place it at Cambridge in Glocestershire For 1. 't is said expresly to be upon the Severn whereas Cambridge is two miles distant and beside that was probably built to guard the passage over the Severn 2. The Canterbury-copy reads it expresly Bricge as the Chronicle calls Bridgenorth which is at this day commonly nam'd Brigge And 3. As to the former part of the word there is a town about a mile distant call'd Quatford and another at two miles distance call'd Quat so that one may reasonably imagine CÆ¿atbricge should not be far off The forest Morfe Morfe mention'd by our Author is now a waste with scarce a tree upon it and the Walls and Castle he speaks of quite ruinated Northward from hence is Evelyn from which place the family of that name came into Surrey some ages since along with the Onslows and Hattons where these three seated themselves near one another and have remain'd a long time e Upon the edge of Staffordshire is the Well of S. Kenelm S Kâ—â—â—â—â— Welâ— to whom the Kingdom of Mercia fell at seven years of age But Quendred his sister practising with the young King's guardians made him away f More to the west is Acton-Burnell Acâ—â—â—-Burnell famous as our Author observes for a Parliament there The House of Commons sat in a barn then belonging to the Abbot of the Monastery of S. Peter and S. Paul which is still standing and belongs to Francis Prynce Esq g Next the Severn carries us to the Uriconium Uriconiâ—â— of the Ancients the circumference of which city-wall was about 3 miles built upon a foundation for the most part made of pebble-stones about 3 yards thick and a vast trench round it which in some places appears exceeding deep to this day Our Author refers the decay of it to the Danish wars and that it was burnt is indubitable for the way the fire went is still discoverable by the blackness and rankness of the soil But if we say this was done by the Danes we seem to injure the Antiquity of Shrewsbury
the People Tacitus Tacitus imagines them to have come first from Iberia upon account of their * Colorati vultus ruddy complexion their curl'd hair and their situation over against Spain But Florianus del Campo a Spaniard is very positive in that matter and takes a great deal of pains to find the Silures in Spain and to obtrude upon us I know not what stories about Soloria and Siloria among the old Astures However this Country was very large for it seems probable from Pliny and Tacitus that they were possess'd of all South-Wales and the Inhabitants were hardy stout warlike averse to servitude of great boldness and resolution term'd by the Romans †Pervicacia obstinacy and stubbornness not to be wrought upon either by threats or kindness and their posterity have not degenerated in any of these particulars When the Romans out of an itching desire of enlarging their Empire made attempts upon them See pag. xlvii they partly reposing a confidence in the courage and conduct of King Caratacus and partly incens'd by a saying of Claudius the Emperour That they were to be as entirely routed as the Sugambri had been engag'd the Romans in a very troublesome and difficult war For having intercepted the Auxiliary Troops cut off the Legion under Marius Valens and wasted the territories of their Allies P. Ostorius Propraetor in Britain was quite wore out with all these crosses and dy'd of grief Veranius too who govern'd Britain under Nero was baffled in this enterprize against them For where Tacitus says Tacit. Annal L. XIV Illum modicis excursibus Sylvas populatum esse that he destroy'd and wasted the woods with slight excursions instead of Sylvas with the Learned Lipsius only read Siluras and all 's right Nor could an end be made of this war before Vespasian's reign For then Julius Frontinus subdu'd them and kept them quiet by garisons of the Legions A certain Countryman of ours has wrested that verse of Juvenal upon Crispinus to these Silures magnâ qui voce solebat Vendere municipes fractâ de merce Siluros Who with hideous cry Bawl'd out his broken Sturgeon in the streets As if some of our Silures had been taken prisoners and expos'd to sale at Rome But take it upon my word he has mistook the genuine sense of the Poet. For any one that reads that passage with attention will quickly perceive that by Siluros he designs to express a sort of Fish and not a People HEREFORDSHIRE HErefordshire call'd by the Britains Ereinuc is in a manner of a circular form bounded on the East with the Counties of Worcester and Glocester on the South with Monmouth on the West with Radnor and Breknock and on the North with Shropshire A Country besides its pleasantness both for feeding of Cattel and produce of Corn every where of an excellent soil and admirably well provided with all necessaries for life Insomuch that it may scorn to come behind any County in England for fruitfulness of soil 1 And therefore says that for three W. W. W. Wheat Wooll and Water it yieldeth to no Shire of England To which excellencies are to be added its fine rivers the Wye the Lug and the Munow which after they have water'd the verdant flow'ry meadows and rich and fruitful corn-fields at last have their conflux and in one chanel pass to the Severn-Sea a 〈◊〉 River 〈◊〉 The Munow has its rise in Hatterell-hills which shooting up aloft look as it were like a Chair and are a sort of wall to this Shire on the South-west-side Hence the river descending first struggles Southward along the foot of these hills 〈◊〉 to Blestium a town so plac'd by Antoninus that both for situation and distance it can be no other than that which standing upon this river 〈◊〉 Town is by the Britains call'd Castle Hean that is the Old Castle by us The old Town An inconsiderable village but nevertheless this new name makes much for its antiquity for in both tongues it sounds an Old Castle or Town Next to this lyes Alterynnis surrounded with water Alterynnis the Seat of the Cecils as it were an Island in a river the seat in former ages of the ancient and knightly family of the Sitsilters or Cecils whence my right honourable Patron highly accomplisht with all the Ornaments of Virtue Wisdom and Nobility Sir William Cecil Baron of Burghley and Lord High Treasurer of England is descended From hence the Munow turning Eastward for a good way parts this Province from Monmouthshire and is augmented by the river Dore at Map-Harald or Harald Ewias Harald-Ewias a Castle This Ewias-Castle to give you the words of King William the first 's Book was repair'd by Alured of Marleberg The Family of Ewias Afterwards it belonged to one Harald a Nobleman who Their Arms. in a Shield Argent bore a Fess Gules between three Estoiles Sable from whom it first took the name of Harold Ewias but Sibyll his great-grand-Great-grand-daughter and one of the heirs transferr'd it by marriage to the Lords Tregoz Tregoz and Grandison from whom it came at length to the Lords of Grandison originally of Burgundy of whom elsewhere Now the Dore above-mentioned falling down from the North by Snotthill a castle Gidden Vale. and sometimes the Barony of Robert Chandois where there is a Quarry of excellent Marble cuts through the middle of the valley which the Britains from the river call Diffrin Dore but the English that they might seem to express the force of that word have term'd it The Golden Vale. Which name it may well be thought to deserve for its golden rich and pleasant fertility For the hills that encompass it on both sides are clothed with woods under the woods lye corn-fields on each hand and under those fields lovely and gallant meadows In the middle between them glides a clear and crystal river on which Robert Earl of Ewias erected a fine Monastery wherein most of the Nobility and Gentry of these parts were buried Part of this County which bends towards the East now call'd Irchenfeld Irchenfeld in Domesday Archenfeld was as Historians write laid waste with fire and sword by the Danes in the year 715 Camalac a British Bishop being then carried away captive Herein once stood Kilpec a noted castle the seat of the noble family of the Kilpec's Kilpec who as some report were Champions to the Kings of England in the beginning of the Normans which I am very willing to believe In the reign of Edward the first Robert Wallerond liv'd here whose ‖ Nepos nephew Alane Plugenet was honourd with the title of a Baron In this Archenfeld likewise as we read in Domesday-book certain Revenues by an old custom were assigned to one or two Priests on this condition that they should go in Embassies for the Kings of England into Wales and to use the words of the said Book The men
room William the son of Osbern of Crepon or as the Normans call'd him Fitz-Osbern a person very nearly allied to the Dukes of Normandy He being slain in the 4 Assisting the Earl of Flanders wars in Flanders was succeeded by his son Roger sirnam'd de Bretevill who died 5 Condemn'd to perpetual prison for a Conspiracy against the Conquerour out-law'd Proscriptus leaving no legitimate issue Then King Stephen restor'd to Robert le Bossu Earl of Leicester 6 Who had marry'd Emme or Itta heir of Bretevill son of Emme de Bretevill's heir I speak out of the original it self the Borough of Hereford and the Castle and the whole County of Hereford to descend by inheritance but to no purpose For Maud the Empress who contended with Stephen for the Crown advanced Miles the son of Walter Constable of Glocester to that honour and 7 Also granted to him Constabulariam Curiae suae the Constableship of her Court whereupon his posterity were Constables of England as the Marshalship was granted at the first by the name of Magistratus â—lariscalâ—iae Câ—riae nostrae made him high Constable of England Constables of England Nevertheless King Stephen afterwards divested him of these honours This Miles had five sons Roger Walter Henry William and Mahel all persons of great note and who died untimely deaths after they had all but William succeeded one another in their father's inheritance having none of them any issue King Henry amongst other things gave to Roger The Mote of Hereford with the whole Castle Girald Cambriae Itin. l. 1. c. 2. and the third penny of the revenues of the Pleas of the whole County of Hereford whereof he made him Earl But upon Roger's death if we may credit Robert Montensis the same King kept the Earldom of Hereford to himself Margaret the eldest sister of these was married to Humphrey Bohun the third of that name and his Posterity were High Constables of England viz. Humphrey Bohun the fourth Henry his son 2 Par. Chart. An. 1 Reg. Joan. Matth. Paris Lib Waldensis Lib. Monasterii Lanthony to whom King John granted Twenty pound to be received yearly of the third penny of the County of Hereford whereof he made him Earl This Henry married the sister and heir of William Mandevill Earl of Essex and died in the fourth year of King Henry the third Humphrey the fifth his son who was also Earl of Essex and had Humphrey the sixth who died before his father having first begot Humphrey the seventh upon a daughter and one of the heirs of William Breos Lord of Brecknock His son Humphrey the eighth was slain at Boroughbrigg leaving by Elizabeth his wife daughter of King Edward the first and dowager of the Earl of Holland a numerous issue viz. John Bohun Humphrey the ninth both Earls of Hereford and Essex who dyed issueless and William Earl of Northampton who had by Elizabeth 8 Daughter sister and one of the heirs of Giles Lord Badlesmer Humphrey Bohun the tenth and last of the Bohuns Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton as also Lord High Constable of England He left two daughters Eleanor the wife of Thomas de Woodstock Duke of Glocester and Mary married to Henry of Lancaster Earl of Derby Henry 〈◊〉 fourâ—◠〈◊〉 of Eâ—gâ—â—â—â— who was created Duke of Hereford and was afterwards crowned King of England After this the Staffords Dukes of Buckingham had the title of Earls of Hereford who were descended from a daughter of Thomas of Woodstock which daughter was afterwards married to William Bourchier called Earl of Ew But in our memory King Edward the sixth honour'd Walter D'Eureux descended by the Bourchiers from the Bohuns with the title of Viscount Hereford whose grandchild by a son was afterwards created Earl of Essex by Queen Elizabeth This County contains 176 Parishes ADDITIONS to HEREFORDSHIRE a THE County of Hereford being as it were a Frontier in all the wars between the English and Welsh has upon that account been very remarkable for its number of Forts and Castles no fewer than 28. the greatest part whereof have now little to show beside the name Our Author observes it to be a very good Corn-Country but its present peculiar eminence is in Fruits of all sorts which give them an opportunity particularly of making such vast quantities of Syder as not only to serve their own families for 't is their general drink but also to furnish London and other parts of England their Red-streak from a sort of Apple they call so being exrtemely valu'd b Upon the river Wye two miles from Hereford is Eaton-wall Eaton * Aubr MS. a Camp containing about thirty or forty acres The works of it are single except a little on the West-side And about two miles from hence and a mile from Kenchester is Creden-hill upon which is a very great Camp and mighty works the graff here is inwards as well as outwards and the whole contains by estimation about forty acres c Near which is Kenchester Kenchester †Blome where about the year 1669. was found in a wood a great vault with tables of plaster in it The vault it self was pav'd with stone and thereabouts were dug up also many pieces of Roman Coins with large Bones leaden Pipes several Roman Urns with ashes in them and other vessels the use whereof was unknown d A little lower stands its daughter Hereford Hereford in which name our Author would find some remains of the old Ariconium whereas it is of a pure Saxon original implying no more than a ford of the army nor ought the vulgar's pronouncing it Hariford be of any weight when it appears by * See the Glossary and the several places wherein 't is mention'd our most ancient Annals that it was constantly written hereford Which interpretation doth also suit the situation of the place exceeding well the Severn being for many hundreds of years the frontier between two Nations almost always at war e Leland †Itinerar MS. has told us that the Castle by the ruins appear'd to have been one of the fairest largest and strongest in all England The walls were high firm and full of great towers and where the river was not a sufficient defence for it there it was strongly ditch'd It had two wards each of them surrounded with water the dungeon was high and exceeding well fortify'd having in the outward wall or ward ten towers of a semiciâ—cular figure and one great tower in the inner ward As to the building of it the sâ—me Leland has left us what tradition was on foot in his time without taking any notice of our Author's Earl Milo Some think says he that Heraldus â—gan this Castle after that he had conquer'd the rebellion of the Welshmen in King Edward the Confessor's time Some think that the Lacies Earls of Hereford were the great makers of it and the Bohuns Earls of Hereford
cool briezes which by an innate salubrity of air renders the Country exceeding temperate On the East it hath the mountains of Talgarth and Ewias On the North as he saith 't is a more open and champain Country where 't is divided from Radnorshire by the river Wy upon which there are two towns of noted antiquity Bûalht â—â—â—â—ht a and Hay Bûalht is a town pleasantly seated with woods about it and fortified with a castle but of a later building by the Breoses and Mortimers when as RhÅ·s ap Gryffydh had demolished the old one At present 't is noted for a good market but formerly it seems to have been a place very eminent for Ptolemy observes the Longitude and Latitude of it and calls it Bullaeum â—â—â—â—â—eum Silurum b From this town the neighbouring part a mountainous and rocky Country is call'd Bualht into which upon the Incursion of the Saxons King Vortigern retir'd And there also by the permission of Aurelius Ambrosius his son Pascentius govern'd as we are inform'd by Ninnius who in his Chapter of Wonders relates I know not what prodigious story of a heap of stones here wherein might be seen the footsteps of King Arthur's Hound Hay in British Tregelhi which in English we may render Haseley or Hasleton lyes on the bank of the river Wy upon the borders of Herefordshire a place which seems to have been well known to the Romans since we often find their coyns there and some ruins of walls are still remaining But now being almost totally decay'd it complains of the outrages of that profligate Rebel Owen Glyn-Dowrdwy who in his march through these Countries consum'd it with fire c As the river Wy watereth the Northern part of this County so the Usk a noble river takes its course through the midst of it d which falling headlong from the Black-mountain and forcing a deep Chanel passes by Brecknock â—â—â—â—knock the chief town of the County placed almost in the Center thereof This town the Britains call Aber-Hondhy â—â—hodni â—â—do â—â—b from the confluence of the two rivers Hondhy and Usk. That it was inhabited in the time of the Romans is evident from several coyns of their Emperours sometimes found there Bernard Newmarch who conquered this small County built here a stately Castle which the Breoses and Bohuns afterward repaired and in our Fathers memory King Henry the eighth constituted a Collegiate Church of 14 Prebendaries in the Priory of the Dominicans which he translated thither from Aber-Gwily in Caer-mardhinshire Two miles to the East of Brecknock is a large Lake which the Britains call Lhyn Savèdhan and Lhyn Savà dhan Lhyn Savadham Giraldus calls it Clamosum from the terrible noise it makes like a clap of thunder at the cracking of the Ice In English 't is call'd Brecknockmere Brecknockmere it is two miles long and near the same breadth well stored with Otters and also Perches Tenches and Eels which the Fishermen take in their Coracls Lhewèni a small river having enter'd this Lake still retains its own colour and as it were disdaining a mixture is thought to carry out no more nor other water than what it brought in It hath been an ancient tradition in this neighbourhood that where the Lake is now there was formerly a City which being swallow'd up by an Earthquake resign'd its place to the waters d And to confirm this they alledge besides other arguments that all the high-ways of this County tend to this Lake Which if true what other City may we suppose on the river Lheweny but Loventium Loventium placed by Ptolemy in this tract which tho' I have diligently search'd for yet there appears no where any remains of the name ruins or situation of it Marianus which I had almost forgotten seems to call this place Bricenau-mere Bricenau-mere who tells us that Edelfleda the Mercian Lady enter'd the Land of the Britains Anno 913. in order to reduce a castle at Bricenaumere and that she there took the Queen of the Britains prisoner Whether that castle were Brecknock it self Brecknock-castle or Castelh Dinas on a steep tapering Rock above this Lake remains uncertain but it 's manifest from the Records of the Tower that the neighbouring castle of Blaen Lheveny Blaen Lheveni-castle was the chief place of that Barony which was the possession of Peter Fitz-Herbert the son of Herbert Lord of Dean-forest by Lucy the daughter of Miles Earl of Hereford e In the reign of William Rufus Bernard Newmarch the Norman a man of undaunted courage Lords of Brecknock and great policy having levied a considerable Army both of English and Normans was the first that attempted the reducing of this Country And having at length after a tedious war extorted it from the Welsh he built Forts therein and gave possession of Lands to his Fellow-souldiers amongst whom the chiefest were the Aubreys a Roger Gunter a younger brother of this family intermarrying with the daughter and heir of Thomas Stodey Esq â—3 Henr. 4. settled at Kintbury or Kentbury in Barkshire where the Family still remains Gunters Haverds Waldebeofs and Prichards And the better to secure himself amongst his enemies the Welsh he married Nêst the daughter of Prince Gruffydh who being a woman of a licentious and revengeful temper at once depriv'd her self of her own reputation and her son of his Inheritance For Mahel the only son of this Bernard having affronted a young Nobleman with whom she conversed too familiarly she as the Poet saith iram atque animos à crimine sumens depos'd before King Henry the second that her son Mahel was begotten in adultery Upon which Mahel being excluded the estate devolved to his sister Sibyl and in her right to her husband Miles Earl of Hereford whose five sons dying without issue this Country of Brecknock became the Inheritance of Bertha his daughter who had by Philip de Breos a son William de Breos Lord of Brecknock Called also Braus and Breus upon whom the seditious spirit and * Procax shrewd tongue of his ‖ Matildis de Haia wife drew infinite calamities For when she had utter'd reproachful language against King John the King strictly commanded her husband who was deep in his debt to discharge it Who after frequent demurrings at last mortgaged to the King his three castles of Hay Brecknock and Radnor which yet soon after he surprised putting the Garrisons to the Sword he also burnt the town of Lemster and thus with fire sword and depredations continued to annoy the Country omitting nothing of the common practice of Rebels But upon the approach of the King's forces he withdrew into Ireland where he associated with the King's enemies yet pretending a submission he return'd and surrender'd himself to the King who had intended to follow him but after many feign'd promises he again rais'd new commotions in Wales At last being compell'd to quit his native country he
Monuments of this kind in Wales some of which we shall take notice of in other Counties In Anglesey where there are many of them as also in some other places they are call'd Krom-lecheu a name deriv'd from Krwm which signifies crooked or inclining and lhech a flat stone but of the name more hereafter 'T is generally supposed they were places of burial but I have not yet learn'd that ever any Bones or Urns were found by digging under any of them Edward Somerset Lord Herbert of Chepstow Ragland and Gower obtain'd of K. Charles 1. the title of Earl of Glamorgan Earls of Glamogan his father the Lord Marquiss of Worcester being then alive the Succession of which Family may be seen in the Additions to Worcestershire DIMETAE a _THE remainder of this Region which is extended Westward and call'd by the English West-Wales West-Wales comprehending Caer-mardhin-shire Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire was thought by Pliny to have been inhabited by the Silures But Ptolemy to whom Britain was better known placed another Nation here whom he call'd Dimetae and Demetae Moreover both Gildas and Ninnius used the word Demetia to signifie this Country whence the Britains call it at this day Dyved changing the M into V according to the propriety of that Language If it would not be thought a strain'd piece of curiosity I should be apt to derive this appellation of the Demetae from the words Deheu-meath which signifie the Southern plain as all this South-Wales has been call'd Deheu-barth i.e. the Southern Part. And I find that elsewhere the Inhabitants of a champain Country in Britain were call'd by the Britains themselves Meatae Nor does the situation of this Country contradict that signification for when you take a prospect of it the Hills decline gently and it dilates it self gradually to a Plain a Seing it was the custom amongst the Romans to retain such names of the places they conquer'd as the ancient Natives made use of adding only a Latin termination it may seem more probable that Dimetia was mâ—de out of the British name Dyved than the contrary But whatever the original name of this County might be I cannot subscribe to our Author's conjecture of the etymon of it for we find no such word in the British Language either in Manuscripts or common use as Meath for a plain champain Country Tho indeed if there were such a word they that are well acquainted with those Counties would scarce allow it applicable to them CAER-MARDHIN-SHIRE THE County of Kaer-Vyrdhin call'd by the English Caer-Mardhin-shire is a Country sufficiently supply'd with Corn very well stock'd with Cattel and in divers places affords plenty of Coal It is bounded on the East with Glamorgan and Brecknock shires on the West with Pembroke on the North divided from Cardiganshire by the river Teivi and on the South with the main Ocean which encroaches on the Land here with such a vast Bay 〈◊〉 that this Country might seem out of fear to have withdrawn it self In this Bay Kydweli first offers it self the territory whereof was possessed for some time by the sons of Keianus a Scot until they were driven out by Kynèdhav a British Prince But now it is esteem'd part of the Inheritance of Lancaster by the heirs of Maurice of London or de Londres who removing from Glamorganshire after a tedious war made himself Master of it and fortified old Kydweli with Walls and a Castle now decay'd with age For the Inhabitants passing over the river of Gwen-draeth vechan built new Kydweli invited thither by the conveniency of a Haven which yet at present is of no great use being choak'd with shelves â—â—hâ—an â—â—an of â—y conâ—â— When Maurice of London invaded these Territories Gwenlhîan the wife of Prince Gryffydh a woman of invincible courage endeavouring to restore her husband's declining state enter'd the field with display'd banner and encounter'd him But the success not being answerable to her courage she with her son Morgan and divers other Noblemen as Giraldus informs us were slain in the field 〈◊〉 of â—or and â—â—eli By Hawis the daughter and heiress of 1 Sir Thomas of London Thomas de Londres this fair Inheritance with the Title of Lord of Ogmor and Kydweli descended to Patrick Chaworth and by a daughter of his son Patrick to Henry Earl of Lancaster The heirs of Maurice de Londres as we read in an old Inquisition were obliged by this Tenure in case the King or his Chief Justice should lead an Army into these parts of Kydweli to conduct the said Army with their Banners and all their Forces through the midst of the Country of Neath to Lochor â—â—iver 〈◊〉 or â—â—s A little below Kydweli the river Towy which Ptolemy calls Tobius is received into the Ocean having passed the length of this County from North to South First by Lhan ym Dhyvri so call'd as is supposed from the confluence of rivers which out of malice to the English was long since demolish'd by Howel ap RhÅ·s â—â—r Afterwards by Dinevor-castle the Royal Seat of the Princes of South-Wales whilst they flourish'd situated aloft on the top of a Hill And at last by Caer-mardhin which the Britains themselves call Kaer-Vyrdhin Ptolemy Maridunum Maridunum and Antoninus Muridunum who continues not his journeys any farther than this place Caer-Mardhin and is here by negligence of the Copyists ill handled For they have carelesly confounded two Journeys the one from Galena to Isca the other from Maridunum to Viroconovium This is the chief town of the County pleasantly seated for Meadows and Woods and a place of venerable Antiquity fortified neatly saith Giraldus with brick-walls partly yet standing on the noble river of Towy navigable with ships of small burden tho' the mouth of it be now almost stopp'd with a bed of Sand. Here our Merlin Merlin or Myrdhin Emris the British Tages was born for as Tages was reported to have been the son of a Genius and to have taught the Tuscans South-saying so our Merlin who was said to have been the son of an Incubus devised Prophecies or rather mere Phantastical Dreams for our Britains Insomuch that in this Island he has the reputation of an eminent Prophet amongst the ignorant common people a Soon after the Normans enter'd Wales this town fell into their possession but by whose means I know not and a long time it encounter'd many difficulties having been often besieged and twice burnt first by Gryffydh ap RhÅ·s and afterwards by RhÅ·s the said Gryffydh's brother At which time Henry Turbervil an Englishman reliev'd the castle and cut down the bridge But the walls and castle being afterwards repair'd by Gilbert de Clare it was freed from these miseries so that being thus secured it bore the tempests of war much easier afterwards The Princes of Wales eldest sons of the Kings of England settl'd here their Chancery and Exchequer for South-Wales Opposite to this city
kind which they call Peregrins For according to the account they give of them I need not use other words to describe them than these verses of that excellent Poet of our age Augustus Thuanus Esmerius in that golden book he entitles Hieracosophion Depressus capitis vertex oblongaque toto Corpore pennarum series pallentia crura Et graciles digiti ac sparsi naresque rotundae Flat heads and feathers laid in curious rows O'er all their parts hook'd beaks and slender claws The sea now with great violence assails the land receding from this Promontory which is a small region call'd the Lordship of Kemaes B◠〈◊〉 Kâ—â—â—â— Fâ—â—â—â— The chief place in it is Fiscard seated on a steep rock and having a convenient harbour for shipping so call'd by the English from a Fishery there and by the Britains Aber-Gwain which signifies the mouth of the river Gwain The next is Newport Neâ—pâ—â—â— * At the foot of a high mountain on the river Nevern call'd in British Trevdraeth which signifies the town on the sand 6 And in Latin Records Novus Burgus This was built by Martin of Tours whose posterity made it a corporation granted it several privileges and constituted therein a Portrieve and Bayliff and also built themselves a Castle above the town which was their chief seat They also founded the Monastery of St. Dogmael St. Dogmael bâ—â—â— St. Tegâ—â—â— 7 According to the Order of Tours on the bank of the river Teivi in a Vale encompass'd with hills from which the village adjoyning as many other towns from Monasteries took it's beginning This Barony was first wrested out of the hands of the Welsh by Martin of Tours Lords â—f Kemaâ—â— The faâ— iâ— of the Mâ—â—tinâ— from whose posterity who were from him call'd Martins it descended by marriage to the Barons de Audeley They held it a long time until the reign of King Henry 8. when William Owen descended from a daughter of Sir Nicholas Martin after a tedious suit at law for his right at last obtain'd it and left it to his son George who being an exquisite Antiquary has inform'd me that there are in this Barony besides the three Burrows Newport Fishgard and St. Dogmael 20 Knights-fees and 26 Parishes More inward on the river Teivi already mention'd lies Kil Garan 〈◊〉 Garan which shews the ruins of a Castle built by Giraldus But now being reduc'd to one street it 's famous for no other thing than a plentiful Salmon Fishery For there is a very famous Salmon-Leap â—â—e Salâ—â—â—â—eap where the river falls headlong and the Salmons making up from the sea towards the Shallows of the river when they come to this cataract bend their tails to their mouths nay sometimes that they may leap with greater force hold it in their teeth and then upon disengaging themselves from their circle with a certain violence as when a stick that 's bent is reflected they cast themselves from the water up to a great height even to the admiration of the spectators which Ausonius thus describes very elegantly Nec te puniceo rutilantem viscere Salmo Transierim latae cujus vaga verbera caudae Gurgite de medio summas referuntur in undas Nor thou red Salmon shalt be last in fame Whose flirting tail cuts through the deepest stream With one strong jerk the wondring flood deceives And sporting mounts thee to the utmost waves There have been divers Earls of Penbroke â—â—rls of â—â—nbrâ—ke descended from several families As for Arnulph of Montgomery who first conquer'd it and was afterwards out-law'd and his Castellan Girald of Windsor whom King Henry 1. made afterwards President over the whole country I can scarce affirm that they were Earls King Stephen first conferr'd the title of Earl of Pembroke upon Gilbert Strongbow son of Gislebert de Clare He left it to his son Richard Strongbow the Conquerour of Ireland who was as Giraldus has it à Clara Clarensium familia oriundus descended from the famous family of the Clares Isabella the only daughter of this Earl brought this title to her husband William Marshal so call'd for that his Ancestors had been hereditary Marshals of the King's palace a very accomplish'd person well instructed in the arts of peace and war Of whom we find this Epitaph in Rudburn's Annals Sum quem Saturnum sibi sensit Hibernia Solem Anglia Mercurium Normannia Gallia Martem Me Mars the French their Sun the English own'd The Normans Mercury Irish Saturn found After him his five sons were successively Earls of Pembroke viz. William call'd the younger Richard who having rebell'd against Henry 3. fled into Ireland where he died in battel Gilbert who at a tournament in War was unhors'd and so kill'd and Walter and Anselm 8 Who enjoy'd this honour but a few days All these dying in a short space without issue King Henry 3. invested with the honour of this Earldom William de Valentia of the family of Lusignia in Poictiers who was his own brother by the mother's side and marry'd Joan the daughter of Gwarin de Mont Chensey by a daughter of William Marshal To William de Valentia succeeded his son Audomar who was Governour of Scotland under K. Edw. 1. His 9 Eldest second sister and coheiress Elizabeth being marry'd to John Lord Hastings brought this title into a new family For Lawrence Hastings his grandchild by a son 10 Lord of Weishford and c. who was Lord of Abergavenny was made E. of Penbroke by a Rescript of K. Edward 3. a copy whereof it may not be amiss to subjoyn here that we may see what right there was by heirs-female in these honorary titles Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Know ye that the good presage of wisdom and virtue which we have conceiv'd by the towardly youth and happy beginnings of our most well beloved Cousin Lawrence Hastings deservedly induce us to countenance him with our especial grace and favour in those things which concern the due preservation and maintenance of his honour Whereas therefore the inheritance of Aimar of Valence sometime Earl of Penbroke deceas'd long since without heir begotten of his body hath been devolv'd upon his sisters proportionably to be divided among them and their heirs because we know for certain that the foresaid Lawrence who succeedeth the said Aimar in part of the inheritance is descended from the eldest sister of Aimar aforesaid and so by the avouching of the learned whom we consulted about this matter the Prerogative both of name and honour is due unto him We deem it just and due that the same Lawrence claiming his title from the elder sister assume and have the name of Earl of Penbroke which the said Aimar had whilst he liv'd Which as much as lyeth in us we confirm ratifie and also approve unto him willing and granting that the said Lawrence have and hold the Prerogative and honour of Earl-Palatine in those lands
Gaul were built either by Duke Medus or Prince Olanus or that whilst it was building Sus mediatim lanata a Sow half clad with wooll was dug up should I not seem to grasp at clouds and trifles And yet the Italians tell all these stories of their Mediolanum But seeing it is most evident that all these were founded by people who spoke the same language for we have shewn already that the Gauls and Britains used one common tongue it seems highly probable that they had their denomination from one and the same original Now our Mediolanum agrees in nothing with that of Italy but that each of them are seated in a Plain between two rivers and a learned Italian has from thence derived the name of his Mediolanum for that it is seated media inter lanas Lana 〈◊〉 it signâ—â—â—â— which he interprets betwixt Brooks or small Rivers e 4 But this may seem over-much of Mediolanum which I have sought here and about Alcester not far off This County has dignified no Earl with its name and title till very lately An. 1605. King James created at Greenwich Philip Herbert a younger son of Henry Earl of Penbroke by Mary Sydney at one and the same time Baron Herbert of Shurland and Earl of Montgomery Earls of Montgomery as a particular mark of his favour and for the great hopes he conceiv'd of his virtuous qualifications The Princes of Powis Princes of Powys descended from Roderic the Great †Froâ— Bledhyn 〈◊〉 Kynvyâ— Powel 〈◊〉 Lords of Powys possess'd this County with some others in a continued series till the time of Edward the second For then Owen the son of Grufydh ap Givenŵynwyn the last Lord of Powys of British Extraction for the title of Prince was discontinued long before left only one daughter call'd Hawis D. Powâ—â— who was married to 5 Sir John John Charlton an English-man the King's Valect and he thereupon created Earl of Powys by King Edward the second His Arms as I have observed in several places were Or a Lion rampant Gules 6 Which he receiv'd from his wife's Progenitors He was succeeded in this title by four Barons until the male-line became extinct in Edward who by Aeleanora daughter and one of the heiresses of Thomas Holland Earl of Kent had two daughters viz. Jane married to Sir John Grey and Joyce the wife of John Lord Tiptoft from whom descended the Barons Dudley and others Dupli Norm 6 Hen. 5. This Sir John Grey by his own martial valour and the munificence of King Henry the fifth receiv'd the Earldom of Tanquervil Earl of Tanquerâ—â—â— in Normandy to him and his heirs male delivering one Bassinet at the Castle of Roan yearly on St. George's day His son was Henry Lord Powys in whose Family the title of Powys continued honourable to Edward Grey who not long before our time died without lawful issue f There are in this County 47 Parishes ADDITIONS to MONTGOMERYSHIRE a KEvn Kaer Kevn Kaer tho' it be here mention'd lyes in the County of Meirionydh concerning which a Gentleman who has liv'd there many years adds this farther account The main Fort which was on the highest part of the hill was built quadrangularly and encompass'd with a strong wall and a broad ditch of an oval form excepting that towards the valley 't was extended in a direct line On the out-side of the great ditch next the river Dyvi the foundations of many Houses have been discover'd and on a lower Mount there stood a small Fort which may be supposed to have been built of bricks for that they find there plenty of them All the out-walls were built of a rough hard stone which must have been carried thither by water there being none such nearer than Tâl y Ganeg distant from this place about seven miles From the Fort to the water-side there 's a broad hard way of pitch'd pebles and other stones continued in a straight line through meadows and marsh-grounds which may be about two hundred yards long and ten or twelve in breadth It is very evident this Fort hath been demolish'd before the building of the Church of Penalht for that we find in the walls of that Church several bricks mixt with the stones which were doubtless brought thither from this place Roman Coyns have been found here since Mr. Camden's time particularly some silver pieces of Augustus and Tiberius and near the main Fort in a field call'd Kâe Lhŵyn y Neuodh i.e. the Court or Palace-grove a small gold chain was found about four inches long and another time a Saphire-stone neatly cut Some other things of less note have been discover'd in the same place as a very large brass Cauldron used since as a brewing vessel at Kae'r Berlhan several pieces of lead and some very odd Glasses of a round form like hoops which were of several sizes some of them being about twenty inches in circumference others much less c. These hoop-glasses were curiously listed of divers colours some of which being broke 't was observ'd that variety proceeded from Sands or Powders of the same colours inclosed in several Cells within the Glass b Kaer Sŵs â—â—er Sws was anciently a town of considerable note as may be concluded from the street there and the lanes about it I cannot learn that any Roman coyns have been discover'd at this place however that it was of Roman foundation seems highly probable for that there have been lately besides some neat hewn stones for building several bricks dug up there of that kind we frequently meet with in such ancient Cities as were possess'd by the Romans It has had a Castle and at least one Church and is said to have been heretofore the seat of the Lords of Arwystli but how far this town extended seems at present altogether uncertain It has had encampments about it at three several places viz. First on the North-side on a Mountain call'd Gwyn-vynydh Secondly Eastward near a place call'd Rhôs dhiarbed in the parish of Lhan Dhinam where besides entrenchments there 's a very large Mount or Barrow And thirdly at a place call'd Kevn Karnedh about a quarter of a mile on the West-side of the town Moreover about half a mile Southward from this Kevn Kardnedh on the top of a hill above Lhan Dhinam Church there 's a remarkable entrenchment call'd y Gaer Vechan which name may signifie either the lesser City or the lesser Fortification but is here doubtless put for the latter c The stones on the top of Corndon-hill â—â—rndon-â—â—â—â— whence 〈◊〉 call'd are no other than four such rude heaps as are commonly known on the Mountains of Wales by the name of Karneu and Karnedheu whereof the Reader may find some general account in Radnorshire And to me it seems very probable seeing these stones can in no respect be compar'd to a Crown that the name of Corndon is derived from this word Karn the singular of
to supply all Wales It is also at this time very rich in cattel 1 And findeth out great multitudes and affords milstones in some places also a kind of Alum-earth e Of the Alumen plumosum or Amianthus found at a plaee call'd Kâ—ie Lhywarck in the Parish of Lhan-Vair yng Hornwy See Phil Trans n. 166. of which they lately began to make Alum and Coperas but the project not succeeding they have now desisted 〈◊〉 This is that celebrated Island Mona anciently the seat of the Druids attempted first by Paulinus Suetonius and reduced under the Roman yoke by Julius Agricola In the reign of Nero this Paulinus Suetonius as we read in Tacitus prepared for an attempt on the Island Mona a very populous country and a receptacle of deserters and to that end built flat-bottom'd vessels because the shores were but shallow and hazardous thus the foot passed over and the horse follow'd either at a ford or else in deeper waters as occasion required swam their horses On the opposite shore stood the Enemies army well provided of arms and men besides women running about with dishevel'd hair like furies in a mournful habit bearing torches in their hands About the army stood the Druids who with hands lifted up to heaven pouring forth dreadful Imprecations so terrified the soldiers with the novelty of the sight that as if their limbs had been benumm'd they exposed their bodies like so many stocks to the strokes of the enemy But at last partly by exhortation of the General and partly by encouraging each others not to stand amazed at the sight of distracted women and ‖ Fanaticum agmen a company of frantick people they advance their ensigns and trample down their enemies thrusting them into their own fires They being thus conquer'd a garrison was planted there and their groves cut down which were consecrated to their cruel superstitions For they held it lawful to sacrifice with the blood of Captives and by inspection into humane Entrails to consult their Gods But while these things were in agitation a sudden revolt of the whole Province recall'd him from this enterprise Afterwards as the same Author writes Julius Agricola resolves to reduce the Island Mona from the Conquest whereof Paulinus was recall'd as we have already observ'd by a general rebellion in Britain but being unprovided of transport Vessels as it commonly happens in doubtful resolutions the policy and courage of the General found new means of conveying over his army For having first laid down their baggage â—he commanded the choicest of the Auxiliaries to whom the fords were well known and whose custom it was in their country so to swim as to be able to guide themselves and their arms and horses to pass over the chanel Which was done in such a surprising manner that the enemies who expected a Navy and watch'd the sea stood so much amazed that supposing nothing difficult or invincible to men of such resolution they immediately supplicated for peace and surrender'd the Island So Agricola became famous and great a Many ages after when it was conquer'd by the English it took up their name being call'd formerly by the Saxons Engles-ea and now Anglesey which signifies the English Island But seeing Humfrey Lhwyd in his learned Epistle to that accomplish'd Scholar Ortelius has restor'd the Island to its ancient name and dignity it is not necessary we should dwell long upon this County However we may add that about the decline of the Roman Government in Britain some of the Irish Nation crept into this Island For besides certain intrench'd Banks which they call Irish Cottages there is another place well known by the name of Yn hericy Gwidil from some Irish who under the conduct of one Sirigi overcame the Britains there as we read in the Book of Triades b Nor was it afterwards harass'd by the English only Marianus but also by the Norwegians and in the year 1000 a Navy of King Aethelred sailing round the Island wasted and consum'd it in a hostile manner c Afterwards two Normans of the name of Hugh the one Earl of Chester and the other of Salop oppress'd it and to restrain the Inhabitants built the Castle of Aber Lhienawg But Magnus the Norwegian coming thither at the same time 2 Shot the said Hugh Earl of Shrewsbury c. shot Hugh Earl of Chester through the body with an arrow and pillaging the Island departed The English having afterwards often attempted it at last brought it under their subjection in the time of Edward the first It contain'd formerly 363 Villages and is a very populous Country at this time The chief Town is Beaumaris Beaumaris built in the East part of it in a moorish place by King Edward the first and call'd by the name of Beau marish from its situation whereas the place before was call'd a This wherever our Author found it seems to be no British name Bonover He also fortified it with a Castle which yet seems not to have been ever finish'd the present Governour whereof is the right worshipful Sir Richard Bulkley Knight whose civility towards me when I survey'd these Counties I must always gratefully acknowledge Not far from hence lyes Lhan Vâes Lhan Vâes a famous Cloister heretofore of the Friers minors to which the Kings of England have been bountiful Patrons as well on account of the devoutness and exemplary lives of the Friers who dwelt there as that I may speak out of the Book of Records because there were buried at that place a daughter of King John 2 Paâ—lâ—t Ann. 2 li â—â— a son of the King of Denmark the bodies of the Lord Clifford and of other Lords Knights and Esquires who were slain in the wars of Wales in the times of the illustrious Kings of England The Town of Newburgh Newbâ—rgâ— in British Rhosîr d is esteem'd next best to Beaumarish distant from it about twelve miles westward which having strugl'd along time with the heaps of Sand cast against it by the Sea has now lost much of its former splendour Abèr-Fraw Abèr-Fraâ— not far from thence tho' at present but a mean place waâ— yet heretofore of much greater repute than any of the rest as being the Royal Seat of the Kings of Gwynedh or North-Wales who were thence also styl'd Kings of Abèr-Fraw Near the western Cape of this Island which we call Holy-head Holy heâ—d there 's a small Village call'd in Welsh Kaer Gybi which receiv'd its name from Kybi a devout man and Disciple of St. Hilary of Poictiers who led here a religious life from whence there is a common passage into Ireland e Of the Islâ—nds adjoyniâ—g 〈◊〉 Aâ—gleâ—â—â— see an◠〈◊〉 the Bâ—â—â— Isles The other places of this Island are well planted with Villages which seeing they afford little worth our notice I shall now pass over into the Continent and take a view of Denbighshire There are in this Island
excellent Library which Alcuin tells us was founded by his Master Archbishop Egelred The Monastery did not lye long till it rose again but the Cathedral lay neglected till Edw. 1.'s time and then it was begun by John Roman Treasurer of this Church and brought to that stately pitch we now see it of by his son John William Melton and John Thoresby all Archbishops nn together with the contributions of the Gentry thereabouts especially of the Percies and the Vavasors as the Arms of those families in the Church and their portraictures in the gate do shew The Percies are cut out with a piece of timber and the Vavasors with a stone in their hands in memory of the one's having contributed stone and the other timber â—â—â—ent p. p. 〈◊〉 1. to this new fabrick The church as we are told by the Author of the Life of Aeneas Silvius or Pope Pius 2. as he had it from his own mouth is famous for its magnificence and workmanship all the world over and for a lightsome Chapel with shining walls and small thin-wasted pillars quite round This is the beautiful Chapter-house where the following verse is writ in golden Letters Ut Rosa flos florum sic est Domus ista Domorum The chief of Houses as the Rose of flowers About the same time the Citizens began to fortifie themselves with new walls adding many towers for a farther security and made excellent laws for their government King Rich. 2. made it a County incorporate and Rich. 3. began to raise a new Castle in it from the ground That nothing might be wanting in the last age K. Hen. 8. established a Council or Senate here not unlike the Parliaments in France The Council established in the North. who were to judge of all suits arising within these northern parts and to decide them by the rules of right and equity This Court consists of a President and what number of Counsellors the King pleases with a Secretary and under-Officers Our Mathematicians have defined the Longitude of York to be 22 deg and 25 scr the Latitude 54 degr and 10 scr Thus far we have been describing the west part of this County and the City of York which neither belongs to this nor any other part of the Shire but enjoys its own Liberties and a jurisdiction over the neighbourhood on the west-side called the liberty of Ansty Ansty which some derive from Ancienty to denote its antiquity others more plausibly from the German word Anstossen implying a bound or limit I will conclude what I have said of this City with these verses written by J. Jonston of Aberdeen not long since Praesidet extremis Artoae finibus orae Urbs vetus in veteri facta subinde nova Romanis Aquilis quondam Ducibusque superba Quam pòst barbaricae diripuere manus Pictus atrox Scotus Danus Normannus Anglus Fulmina in hanc Martis detonuere sui Post diras rerum clades totque aspera fata Blandius aspirans aura serena subit Londinum caput est regni urbs prima Britanni Eboracum à primâ jure secunda venit O'er the last borders of the Northern land York's ancient towers tho' oft made new command Of Rome's great Princes once the lofty seat Till barbarous foes o'erwhelm'd the sinking state The Picts the Scots Danes Normans Saxons here Discharg'd the loudest thunder of the War But this once ceas'd and every storm o'erblown A happier gale refresh'd the rising town Let London still the just precedence claim York ever shall be proud to be the next in fame The Ouse being past York begins to be disturb'd with eddies or that whirl of waters which we call Higra and so marches by Bishops-Thorp Bishops-Thorpe that is the Bishop's Village formerly called S. Andrew's Thorpe till Walter Grey Archbishop of York purchased it and to bilk the King's Officers who are always ready to seise the Temporalities of Bishops when a See is vacant gave it to the Dean and Chapter of York upon condition they should always yield it to his successors Of whom Richard le Scrope Arch-bishop of York a hot man and still hankering after novelty and change was in this very place condemned of high treason by King Henry the fourth for his seditious practices oo Upon the same river stands Cawood Cawood the castle of the Archbishops which King Athelstan gave to the Church as I have been told Over against it on the other side the river is seated Rical where Harold Haardread arrived with a numerous fleet of the Danes From hence the Ouse runs to Selby a pretty populous little town and remarkable for Henry the first 's being born in it Here William the first his father built a Church in memory of St. German who quash'd the Pelagian Heresie notwithstanding like a Hydra it had frequently revived and struggl'd for life here in Britain The Abbots of this and of St. Maries at York were the only Abbots of these northern parts that could sit in Parliament pp At last the Ouse runs directly to the Humber 14 Leaving first Escricke a seat of the Lascelles sometimes to be remember'd for that K. James advanced Sir Thomas Knivet the owner therâ—of Lord Knivet to the honour of Baron Knivet of Escricke in the year 1607. passing in it's way by Drax Dâ—ax a little village formerly famous for a Monastery 15 Founded there by Sir William Painell where Philip de Tollevilla William Newbrigensis is my Author had a castle strongly situated in the midst of rivers woods and marshes and defended it against K. Stephen relying on the courage of his men and the great store of arms and provisions in the place however it was soon reduced into the King's power qq ADDITIONS to the West-riding of YORKSHIRE YORKSHIRE without any angular advantages extends into a square of fourscore and ten miles * 〈…〉 p. â—74 adequate in all its dimensions to the Dukedom of Wâ—rtenberg in Germany a Following the river Don we first come to Wortley Wortlâ—y the Issue-male of the family of which name expir'd in Sir Francis Wortley †Sid. Reports 315. who devis'd the greatest part of his estate to Anne Newcomen supposed to be his natural daughter the present wife of the Honourable Sidney Wortley Esq ‖ Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 445 second son of Edward Mountague Earl of Sandwich slain in the Dutch wars 28 May 1672. who in right of his said wife is Lord of Wortley b Not far from hence is Wentworth Wâ—ntworth Of the family of that name and place was the Right Honourable Thomas Viscount Wentworth Lord Lieutenant of Ireland created Earl of Strafford 15 Car. 1. and Knight of the most noble order of the Garter who being beheaded on Tower-hill 12 May 1641. lyeth here interr'd and was succeeded in his Honours by his son William the present E. of Strafford and Knight of the said noble Order c The Don carries us next to
of Hilda's Hilda prayers as if she had transform'd them c In the infancy of the Saxon Church she withstood to the utmost of her power the tonsure of the Clergy and the celebration of Easter after the Roman manner in a Synod touching these matters An. 664. held in the Monastery she had founded in this place whereof her self was first Governess d Geese droping down It is also ascribed to the power of her sanctity that those wild Geese which in the winter fly in great flocks to the lakes and rivers unfrozen in the southern parts to the great amazement of every one fall down suddenly upon the ground when they are in their flight over certain neighbouring fields hereabouts a relation I should not have made if I had not received it from several very credible men But those who are less inclin'd to heed superstition attribute it to some occult quality in the ground and to somewhat of antipathy between it and the Geese such as they say is between Wolves and Scylla-roots For that such hidden tendencies and aversions as we call Sympathies and Antipathies Sympathy and Antipathy are implanted in many things by provident nature for the preservation of them is a thing so evident that every body grants it Edelfleda the daughter of King Oswin afterwards enriched this Abbey with very large revenues and here also she buried her father But at length in the times of the Danish ravages it was destroyed and although Serlo Percius who presently after the Conquest was made Governour of it rebuilt it yet at this day it has hardly the least shew of its ancient greatness Hard by upon a steep hill near the sea which yet is between two that are much higher a Castle of Wada a Saxon Duke is said to have stood Duke Wada from whom the family of the Wadâ—s derive their pedigree who in the confused disorderly times of the Northumbrians so fatal to petty Princes having combined with those that murder'd King Ethered gave battel to King Ardulph at Whalley in Lancashire but with such ill fortune that his army was routed and himself forced to fly for it Afterwards he fell into a distemper which kill'd him and was interr'd on a hill here between two hard stones about seven foot high which being at twelve foot distance from one another Wadesgrave occasions a current report that he was a gyant in bulk and stature Long after Peter de Malo-lacu built a Castle near this place which from its grace and beauty he nam'd in French Moultgrace Moulgrave Castle as we find it in the History of Meaux but because it became a grievance to the neighbours thereabouts the people who have always the right of coyning words by changing one single letter call'd it Moult-grave by which name it is every where known tho' the reason of it be little understood Barons de Malo-lacu This Peter de Malo-lacu commonly called Mauley that I may satisfie the curious in this point born in Poictou in France married the only daughter of Robert de Turnham in the reign of Rich. 2. by whose right he came to a very great inheritance here enjoyed by seven Peters Lords de Malo-lacu successively who bore for their Arms a bend sable in an Escocheon Or. But at last the seventh dying without issue 1 The inheritance of Dancaster Bainton Bridesalle c. were parted c. the inheritance came to be parted by the sisters between the Knightly families of the Salvains and Bigots e Near this place and elsewhere on this shore is found Black Amber or Geate Geate Some take it to be the Gagates Gagates which was valued by the Ancients among the rarest stones and jewels It grows upon the rocks within a chink or cliff of them and before it is polish'd looks reddish and rusty but after is really as Solinus describes them black and shining like a diamond Others are of opinion that our Pit-coal is a sort of Gagates Of which thus Rhemnius Palaemon from Dionysius Praefulget nigro splendore Gagates Hic lapis ardescens austro perfusus aquarum Ast oleo perdens flammas mirabile visu Attritus rapit hic teneras ceu succina frondes All black and shining is the Jeat In water dip'd it flames with sudden heat But a strange coldness dip'd in oyl receives And draws like Amber little sticks and leaves Likewise Marbodaeus in his Treatise of Jewels Nascitur in Lycia lapis prope gemma Gagates Sed genus eximium foecunda Britannia mittit Lucidus niger est levis laevissimus idem Vicinas paleas trahit attritu calefactus Ardet aqua lotus restinguitur unctus olivo Jeat-stone almost a gemm the Lybians find But fruitful Britain sends a wondrous kind 'T is black and shining smooth and ever light 'T will draw up straws if rubb'd till hot and bright Oyl makes it cold but water gives it heat Hear also what Solinus says In Britain there is great store of Gagates or Geate a very fine stone If you ask the colour it is black and shining if the quality it is exceeding light if the nature it burns in water and is quenched with oyl if the virtue it has an attractive power when heated with rubbing f From Whitby the shore winds back to the westward near which stands Cliveland Clivâ—laâ—â— so called as it seems from precipices which in our language we call Cliffs for it is situated by the side of several steep hills up and down here from the foot of which the country falls into a plain fertile ground g Upon the shore Skengrave a small village flourishes by the great variety of fish it takes where seventy years ago it is reported they caught a ‖ Homâ— ma◠〈…〉 sea-man A Sea Mâ— who lived upon raw fish for some days but at last taking his opportunity he made his escape again into his own element When the winds are laid and the sea in a still calm the waters thereof being spread into a flat plain very often a hideous groaning is suddenly heard here and then the fishermen are afraid to go to sea who according to their poor sence of things believe the Ocean to be a huge monster which is then hungry and eager to glut it self with mens bodies Beneath Skengrave stands Kilton Kilton a castle with a park quite round it this belonged formerly to the famous family of the Thwengs whose estate fell to the Barons of Lumley Hilton and Daubeny Very near this place is seated Skelton-castle which belongs to the ancient family of the Barons de Brus Bruis of Skeâ—ton who are descended from Robert Brus a Norman He had two sons Adam Lord of Skelton Skelton and Robert Lord of Anan-dale in Scotland from whom sprang the Royal Line of Scotland But Peter Brus the fifth Lord of Skelton died without issue and left his sisters heirs Agnes married to Walter de Falconberg Barons
elsewhere they held of the King More inward among the mountains of Blackamore Blackamore there is nothing remarkable to be met with besides some rambling brooks and rapid torrents which take up as it were all the vallies hereabouts unless it be Pickering a pretty large town belonging to the Dutchy of Lancaster seated upon a hill and fortified with an old Castle to which many neighbouring villages round about do belong so that the adjacent territory is commonly called Pickering Lith the Liberty of Pickering and the Forest of Pickering Pickering which Hen. 3. gave to Edmund his younger son E. of Lancaster In this upon the Derwent Atton Atton is situated which gives name to the famous family of the Attons Knights descended from the Lords de Vescy whose estate was divided by the daughters between Edward de St. John the Euers and the Coigniers From this Edward de St. John a great part thereof came by a daughter to Henry Bromflet who was summon'd to Parliament in the following manner 27 Hen. 6. Bromflet Lord Vescy no where else to be met with among the Summons to Parliament We will that both you and the heirs males of your body lawfully begotten be Barons of Vescy Afterwards this title went by a daughter to the Cliffords On the other side four miles from Pickering near Dow a very strong current is Kirkby-Morside Kirkby-Moreside none of the most inconsiderable market-towns formerly belonging to the Estotevills and situate near hills from which it takes it's name From these westward stands Rhidale Rhidale a very fine valley pleasant and fruitful adorn'd with 23 Parish-Churches and the river Rhy running through the midst of it A place says Newbrigensis of vast solitude and horror till Walter Espec gave it to the Cluniack Monks and founded a Cloister for them Here Elmesly is seated Elmesley call'd also Hamlak which if I do not mistake Bede calls Ulmetum where Robert sirnamed de Ross built the Castle Fursam near which the river Recall hides it self under ground Lower down upon this river stands Riton the old estate of an ancient family the Percihaies commonly called Percyes From hence the Rhy with the many waters received from other currents rolls into the Derwent which washes Malton Malton in this valley a market-town famous for its vent of corn horses fish and Country-utensils There the foundation of an old Castle is visible which formerly as I have heard belonged to the Vesceys Baron Vescey Barons of great note in these parts Their pedigree as appears from the Records of the Tower is from William Tyson who was Lord of Malton and Alnewick in Northumberland and was cut off in the battel of Hastings against the Normans His only daughter was married to Ivo de Vescy a Norman who likewise left one only daughter called Beatrice married to Eustachius the son of John Monoculus who in the reign of K. Stephen founded two Religious houses at Malton and Watton For his second wife daughter to William Constable of Chester was Lady of Watton William the son of Eustachius by his wife Beatrice being ripped out of his mothers womb took the name Vescey and for Arms Arms of the Vâ—scies Matth. Paris MS. A Cross Argent in a field Gules This William by B. daughter to Robert Estotevill of Knaresburgh had two sons Eustach de Vescey who married Margaret daughter to William King of Scotland and 7 Sir Guarin Guarin de Vescey Lord of Knapton Eustach was father to William who had a son John that died without issue and William famous for his exploits in Ireland and who changed the old Arms of the family into a shield Or with a Cross Sable William his lawful son John dying in the wars of Wales gave some of his lands in Ireland to King Edward that his natural son called William de Kildare might inherit his estate Lib. Dunelm and made Anthony Bec Bishop of Durham his Feoffee in trust to the use of his son who hardly acquitted himâ—elf fairly in that part of his charge relating to Alnwick Eltham in Kent and some other estates which he is said to have converted to his own use This natural son aforesaid was slain at Sterling fight in Scotland and the title fell at last to the family of the Attons by Margaret the only daughter of 8 Sir Guarin Guarin Vescy who was married to Gilbert de Atton Vid. pag. praeced But enough of this if not too much and besides we spoke of it before Near this valley stands Newborrow Newborrow to which we owe William of Newborrow an English Historian learned and diligent now it is the Seat of the famous family de Ballasise who are originally from the Bishoprick of Durham and also Belleland commonly call'd Biland Biland two famous Monasteries both fâ—unded and endow'd by Roger Mowbray Family of the Mowbrays The family of these Mowbrays was as considerable as any for power honours and wealth they possessed very great estates with the castles of Slingesby Thresk and others in these parts The rise of this family was in short thus Roger de Mowbray Earl of Northumberland and R. de * In another plâ—ce call'd De Frente Bovis Grandebeofe being for disloyalty depâ—iv'd of their estates King Henry the first gave a great part of them to Nigell de Albenie descended from the same family with the Albenies Earls of Arondell a man of very noble extraction among the Normans He was Bow-bearer to William Rufus and enrich'd to that degree by him The Register of Fountain-Abby that he had in England 140 Knights fees and in Normandy 120. His son Roger was also commanded by him to take the name of Mowbray fâ—om whom the Mowbrays Earls of Nottingham and the Dukes of Norfolk are descended To these Mowbrays also Gilling-castle Gilling-castle a little way from hence did formerly belong but now 't is in the hands of that ancient and famous family which from their fair hair have the name of Fairfax Fairfax for fax Fax in the old Saxon signifies hair or the hairs of the head upon which account they call'd a Comet or Blazing-star a Faxed-star Faxed-star as also the place before spoken of Haly-fax from holy hair Below this to the Southward lyes the Calaterium nemus commonly The Forest of Galtres The Forest of Galtres which in some places is thick and shady in others plain wet and boggy At present it is famous for a yearly Horse-race A Horse-race wherein the prize for the horse that wins is a little golden bell 'T is hardly credible what great resort of people there is to these races from all parts and what great wagers are laid upon the horses In this Forest stands Creac Creac which Egfrid King of Northumberland in the year b It was given in 685. the last of that King's reign as some Latin editions and the
for their great bulk and branchy heads are very remarkable and extraordinary The river Ure which we have often mention'd has its rise here out of the western mountains and first runs through the middle of the vale Wentsedale Wentsedale which is sufficiently stock'd with cattel and has a great deal of lead in some places Not far from the first spring while it is yet but small 't is encreased by the little river Baint from the south which issues from the pool Semur with a great murmur At the confluence of these two streams where some few cottages call'd from the first bridge over the Ure Baintbrig was formerly a Roman garison Bracchium of which some remains are yet extant For upon the hill which from a burrough they now call Burgh there are the groundworks of an old fortification about five acres in compass and under it to the east the signs of many houses are yet apparent Where among several proofs of Roman Antiquity I have seen this fragment of an old Inscription in a very fair character with a winged Victory supporting it IMP. CAES. L. SEPTIMIO PIO PERTINACI AVGV IMP CAESARI M. AVRELIO A PIO FELICI AVGVSTO The name o◠〈…〉 eras'd BRACCHIO CAEMENTICIVM VI NERVIORVM SVB CVRA LA SENECION AMPLISSIMI OPERI L. VI SPIVS PRAE LEGIO From which we may conjecture that this fort at Burgh was formerly called Bracchium which before had been made of turf but then was built with stone and mortar that the sixth Cohort of the Nervii garison'd here who also seem to have had a Summer Camp upon that high hill trenched round which is hard by and is now called Ethelbury It is not long since a Statue of Aurelius Commodus the Emperour was dug up here Statue of Commodus the Emperour who as Lampridius has it was stil'd by his flatterers Britannicus even when the Britains were for chusing another against him This Statue seems to have been set up when through an extravagant esteem of himself he arriv'd to that pitch of folly that he commanded every one to call him The Roman Hercules son of Jupiter For it is formed in the habit of Hercules his right-hand armed with a club and under it as I am inform'd was this broken and imperfect Inscription which had been ill copied and was quite decay'd before I came hither CAESARI AVGVSTO MARCI AVRELII FILIO SEN IONIS AMPLISSIMI VENTS _____ PIVS This was extant in Nappa Nappâ— a house built with turrets and the chief seat of the Medcalfs The 〈…〉 which is counted the most numerous family this day in England For I have heard that Sir Christopher Medcalf Knight the chief of the family being lately Sheriff of the County was attended with 300 Knights all of this family and name and in the same habit to receive the Justices of the Assize and conduct them to York From hence the Ure runs very swiftly with abundance of Crey-fishes Crey-â— ever since C. Medcalf within the memory of this age brought that sort of fish hither from the south parts of England l and between two rocks from which the place is called Att-scarre it violently rolls down its chanel not far from Bolton Bolton the ancient seat of the Barons de Scrope Barons 〈◊〉 Scrâ—pâ— and a stately castle which Richard Lord le Scrope Chancellour of England in Richard the second 's time built at very great charge Now taking its course eastward it comes to the town of Midelham Midâ—ehâ—â— the Honour of which as we read in the Genealogy of the Nevils Alan Earl of Richmond gave to his younger brother * By 〈◊〉 Ribaa Rinebald with all the lands which before their coming belonged to Gilpatrick the Dane His grandchild by his son Ralph Lords of Midâ—ehâ—â— called Robert Fitz-Ralph had all Wentsedale bestowed on him by Conanus Earl of Bretagne and Richmond and built a very strong castle at Midleham Ranulph his son built a small Monastery for Canons at Coverham now contractedly called Corham in Coverdale Genealâ—â—â— antiquâ—â—â— and his son Ralph had a daughter Mary who being married to Robert Lord Nevill brought this large estate for a portion to the family of the Nevils This Robert Nevill having had many children by his wife was taken in adultery unknown and had his privy members cut off by the adulteress's husband in revenge which threw him into such excessive grief that he soon dy'd From hence the Ure having pass'd a few miles washes Jervis or Jorvalle-Abbey 1 Of Cistertians founded first at Fo rs add after translated hither by Stephen Earl of Britain and Richmond which is now decay'd then runs by Masham Mashaâ— which belonged to the Scropes of Masham who as they are descended from the Scropes of Bolton fo are they again grafted into the same by marriage On the other side of this river but more inward stands Snath Snath the chief seat of the Barons de Latimer whose noble extraction is from G. Nevill younger son of Ralph Nevill first Earl of Westmorland who had this honourable title conferr'd on him by K. Henry the sixth of that name when the elder family of the Latimers had ended in a female Barons Latimeâ— and so in a continu'd succession they have flourished till our time when for want of heirs-male to the last Baron this brave inheritance was parted among his daughters who were married into the families of the Percies the Cecils the D'anvers and Cornwallis There is no other place in these parts remarkable upon the Ure but Tanfeld Tanfeâ—â— formerly the seat of the Gernegans Knights from these it descended to the Marmions Marmâ—â—â— lâ— q. 6. â— the last of these left Amice his heir the second wife of John Lord Grey of Rotherfeld whose two children taking the name of Marmion were heirs to their mother 2 John that assum'd the sirname of Marmion and dy'd issueless and Robert who left behind him one only daughter and sole heir Elizabeth wife to Sir Henry Fitz-Hâ—gh a nâ—ble Baron and one of them left an only daughter and heiress Elizabeth the wife of Fitz-Hugh a famous Baron The Ure now receives the Swale Swalâ— sacred â—â—ver so called as Thom. Spott has it from its swiftness which enters it with a great leaping and hurry of waters This also rises out of the western mountains hardly five miles above the head of the river Ure and runs to the eastward It was very sacred among the ancient English because when the Saxons were first converted to Christianity there were baptiz'd in it on one day with great joy by Paulinus Archbishop of York above ten thousand men besides women and children The course of the Swale lies through a pretty large vale which is called Swaldale from it and has grass enough but wants wood and first by Marricke â—â—rricke where stood a Cloister built by the Askes men of great note heretofore
they be original productions of Nature or petrify'd Shell-fishes of the Nautilus kind has been very much controverted by several Learned men on both sides But he is of opinion that they are rather spiral petrifications produc'd in the Earth by a sort of fermentation peculiar to Alum-mines Hence they are plentifully found in the Alum-pits at Rome Rochel and Lunenburgh as well as in those of this Country and 't is probale that Keinsham and other parts of England where these stones are found would afford likewise good store of Alum But a fuller account of those Alums than hitherto we have had is to be hop'd for from Mr. Lhwyd Mr. Beaumont and Mr. Woodward The particular method of making it in this place is fully describ'd by Mr. Ray in his †Pag. 201. Collection of English words d For the Synod held here our Author had no less authority than the ‖ Lib. 3. Capp 25. 26. Ecclesiastical History of Venerable Bede but yet neither King Alfred's Paraphrase nor the Saxon Chronicle mentioning any such thing makes it a little suspicious And that the whole matter is really a Fable is prov'd by Mr. Nicholson in his * Part IV. in Episc Lindifarn History of the Kingdom of Northumberland which will shortly be printed This Whitby hath a very fair and commodious Haven There are about sixty Ships of 80 Tuns or more belonging to the Town e Since Mr. Camden's time Moulgrave Moulgrave in this Riding hath given the honourable title of Earl to Edmund Lord Sheffields of Butterwick Lord President of the North and created Earl of this place Febr. 7. in the first year of Charles 1. He was succeeded by Edmund his grandchild by Sir John Sheffields his second son to which Edmund John his son and heir succeeded in this honour f All along these shores Mr. Ray observ'd the people very busie in making of Kelp which they do in this manner They gather the Sea-wrack and lay it on heaps and when 't is dry they burn it While it is burning they stir it to and fro with an Iron-rake so it condenses and cakes together into such a body as we see Kelp to be and is of use in making of Alum If they should not stir it it would burn to ashes as other combustible bodies use to do g The neighbouring tract call'd Cliveland Cliveland has since our Author's time given the title of Earl to Thomas Lord Wentworth created Febr. 7. 1 Car. 1. who dy'd without issue In the 22th year of Charles the second the title of Dutchess of Cliveland during life was conferr'd upon Barbara Villiers daughter to the Lord Viscount Grandison One could hardly imagine how this name should be taken from Cliffs when Travellers have observ'd it to be a perfect plain particularly by a prospect from Roseberry-Toppin The Soil is exceeding clayie which has occasion'd this Proverb Cliveland in the clay Bring in two soles and carry one away h The Abbey-Church of Gisburgh Gisburgh seems by the ruins to have been comparable to the best Cathedrals in England The Inhabitants of this place are observ'd by Travellers to be very civil and well bred cleanly in dressing their diet and very decent and neat in their houses Here are two Alum-works one belonging to the Chaloners the other to the Darcies but were both laid aside some years ago Possibly Whitby lying more conveniently and having plenty of the Mine at hand may have got the trade from them i Since Mr. Camden's time Danby Danby hath afforded the title of Earl to Henry Lord Danvers of Dantsey created Febr. 7. 1 Car. 1. but he dy'd without issue in the year 1643. In 1674. June 27. this title was conferr'd upon Thomas Oâ—born created before Baron of Kiveton and Viscount Latimer since advanc'd to the dignity of Marquiss of Carmarthen and lately created Duke of Leeds Continuation of the DUKES As James 1. created Charles his second son Duke of York so Charles succeeding his father in the Throne declared his second son James afterwards King James 2. Duke of the same place whereupon at his birth he receiv'd that title but was not created till the 27th of Jan. 1643. being the 19th year of his father's reign Cockle-stones k As to the stones like Cockles mention'd by our Author in Richmondshire Mr. Nicholson affirms he could never hear of any that were met with lying single and dispers'd but that plenty of them as well here as in other places of the North are found in firm rocks and beds of Lime-stone sometimes at six or eight fathom within ground Whence the Miners call them Run-Limestone they supposing these figures to be produc'd by a more than ordinary heat and quicker fermentation than they allow to the production of the other parts of the quarry And this perhaps is as rational an account of these Sports of Nature as any that our Modern Virtuosi have hitherto pitch'd upon l Sir Christopher Medcalf might have had a stock of Crey-fish Crey-fish nearer home for in the County of Westmorland the rivers Kent Lowther and others are plentifully stockt with them m Tho' the name of the old Caturactonium be left in Catarick yet are the remains of it met with about three flight-shots from the bridge at a farm-house call'd Thornburgh standing upon a high ground where as well as at Brampton upon Swale on the other side of the river they have found Roman Coins Upon the bank of the river which here is very steep there are foundations of some great walls more like a castle than any private building and the large prospect makes it very convenient for a Frontier-garison It is credibly reported that almost a hundred years ago these walls were dug into out of hopes of finding some treasure and that the work-men at last came to a pair of Iron gates Overjoy'd at this and thinking their business done they go to refresh themselves but before their return a great quantity of hanging ground had fall'n in and the vast labour of removing the rubbish discourag'd them from any further attempt The level plot of ground upon the hill adjoyning to the Farm-house may be about ten acres in several parts whereof Roman Coins have been plow d up one particularly of gold with this Inscription Nero Imp. Caesar and on the Reverse Jupiter Custos Within this compass also they have met with the bases of old Pillaâ—s and a floor of brick with a pipe of lead passing perpendicularly down into the earth which is thought by some to have been a place wheâ—e sacrifice was done to the Infernal Gods and that the blood descended by those pipes Likewise in Sir John Lawson's great grandfather's time to which family the estate came by marriage as the Servants were plowing the Plow-share stuck fast in the ear of a great brass-pot which upon removing the earth they observ'd to be cover'd with flat-stones and upon opening found it as 't is
And although the city be naturally strong yet he increas'd both the strength and state of it by a wall for he built one all along from the Chancel of the Church to the tower of the castle which now begins by degrees to fall under the weight of age but never that I know of bore the brunt of an enemy For when David Brus King of Scots destroy'd all with fire and sword as far as Beaupark or Berepark â—epark which is a Park just under the city whilst Edward 3. â—346 was at the siege of Calis in France Henry Percy and William Zouch Archbishop of York with such troops as they could raise on a sudden encounter'd the Scots and charg'd them with that heat and bravery that they almost cut off the first and second battalions to a man took the King prisoner and put the third into such consternation that they fled with all the haste they could make their fear carrying them over the deepest precipices till they got again into their own country This was a remarkable engagement and to be reckon'd among the many bloody defeats we have given the Scots call'd by us The Battel of Nevill Cross For the greatest of the Scotch Nobility being slain here and the King himself taken they were forc'd to part with much ground hereabouts and yield up many Castles into our hands And this may suffice for Durham to which with the Reader 's leave I will add a distich of Necham's and an Hexastich of Jonston's and so conclude Arte situque loci munita Dunelmia salve Qua floret sanctae relligionis apex Hail happy Durham Art and Nature's care Where Faith and Truth at th' noblest height appear Vedra ruens rapidis modò cursibus agmine leni Seque minor celebres suspicit urbe viros Quos dedit ipsa olim quorum tegit ossa sepulta Magnus ubi sacro marmore Beda cubat Se jactant aliae vel relligione vel armis Haec armis cluit haec relligione potens Unequal Were as by her walls it runs Looks up and wonders at her noble sons Whom she gave life and now their death does mourn And ever weeps o'er Beda's sacred urn Let others boast of piety or war While she 's the care of both and both of her As for the Monks being turn'd out and twelve Prebendaries with two Archdeacons substituted in lieu of them as for the Prior's also being chang'd into a Dean I have nothing to say to them These are things sufficiently known to every body 1 And unwilling I am to remember how this Bishoprick was dissolv'd by a private Statute and all the possessions thereof given to Edward 6. when private greediness edg'd by Church-men did grinde the Church and withdrew match from God wherewith Christian piety had formerly honour'd God But Queen Mary repeal'd that Statute and restor'd the said Bishoprick with all the possessions and franchises thereof that God might enjoy his own It stands in 22 degr of Longitude and in 54 degr 57 min. of Latitude Beneath Durham not to omit this there stands eastward a very noble Hospital founded by Hugh * Pudsey an extraordinary rich Bishop and for some time Earl of Northumberland for Lepers and as Newbrigensis has it with great cost and expence yet upon some accounts not very honourable For to advance this charitable design he made use of his power to extort from other men when he was not willing to allow enough of his own to that work However he settled a very good allowance for maintaining sixty five Lepers besides Mass-priests From hence the Were is carry'd in a streighter course towards the north by Finchale Fin hale where in the reign of Henry 2. Godricus a man of ancient and Christian simplicity and wholly intent upon God and Religion led and ended a solitary life and was here buried in the same place where as William of Newburrow says he was wont in a fit of devotion to prostrate himself or to lye down in a fit of sickness This man grew into such admiration for this holy simplicity of his that R. brother to that rich Bishop Hugh Pudsey built a * Ecclesiola Chapel to his memory k Hence the Were runs by Lumley Lumley a castle with a Park quite round it the ancient seat of the Lumleys Barons Lumley who are descended from Liulphus a man of great Nobility in these parts in Edward the Confessor's time who married Aldgitha the daughter of Aldred Earl of Northumberland Of these Marmaduke took his mother's Coat of Arms in whose right he came to the rich inheritance of the Thwengs The Arms were In a field argent a fess Gules between three Poppinjays Vert whereas the Lumleys before that bore for their Arms Six Poppinjays argent in a field Gules For she was the eldest daughter of Marmaduke Thweng Lord of Kilton and coheir to Thomas Thweng her brother But Ralph the son of this Marmaduke was made the first Baron of Lumley by Richard 2. Which honour John the ninth from him enjoys at this day a man of accomplish'd virtue and integrity and now in his old age most honourable for all the ornaments of true nobility Opposite to this and not far from the river on the other side stands Chester upon the street Chester upon the street that is a castle or little city by the highway call'd in Saxon Concester d From an Altar found at Benwall in Northumberland 't is probable the Condercum was there that place being nearer ad Lineam Valli See Northumberland for which reason I have thought it the Condercum Condercum where upon the line of the Vallum the first wing of the Astures kept garrison in the Roman times as the Notitia tells us For it is but some few miles distant from the Vallum of which I shall treat hereafter The Bishops of Lindifarn liv'd retiredly here for 113 years with the body of S. Cuthbert in the time of the Danish wars In memory of which whilst Egelric Bishop of Durham was laying the foundation of a new Church there he digg'd up such a prodigious sum of money 2 Bury'd as 't is thought by the Romans that he left his Bishoprick as being now rich enough and so returning to Peterborough where he was Abbot before he made Causeys through the fens and did several other works not without very great expence Long after this Anthony Bec Bishop of Durham 3 And Patriarch of Jerusalâ—m founded a Collegiate Church a Deanry and seven Prebends here In this Church Baron Lumley but now mention'd plac'd the monuments of his ancestors all in order as they succeeded one another from Liulphus down to our own times which he had either pick'd up out of the suppress'd Monasteries or made new More inward and in the middle as it were of the triangle stands another small village lately noted for it's College with a Dean and Prebendaries in it founded by
are read these verses in an old barbarous character concerning King Oswald Hic locus Oswalde quondam placuit tibi valde Northanhumbrorum fueras Rex nuncque Polorum Regna tenes loco passus Marcelde vocato This happy place did holy Oswald love Who once Northumbria rul'd now reigns above And from Marcelde did to Heaven remove From Warrington the Mersey grows broader and soon after contracts it self again but at last opens into a wide mouth very commodious for trade and then runs into the Sea near Litherpoole Litherpool in Saxon Liferpole commonly Lirpoole call'd so as 't is thought from the water spread like a fenn there It is the most convenient and frequented place for setting sail into Ireland but not so eminent for its being ancient as for being neat and populous e For the name of it is not to be met with in old Writers but only that Roger of Poictiers who was Lord of the Honour of Lancaster as they express'd it in those times built a Castle here the government whereof was enjoy'd for a long time by the noble family of the Molineaux Molineux Knights whose chief Seat lyes hard by at Sefton Sefton which the same Roger de Poictiers bestow'd upon Vivian de Molineaux about the beginning of the Normans For all the Land between the Ribell and the Mersey belong'd to the said Roger as appears by Domesday f Near Sefton Alt a little river runs into the Sea leaving its name to Altmouth a small village which it passes by and runs at a little distance from Ferneby where in the mossy grounds belonging to it they cast up Turves which serve the Inhabitants both for fire and candle Under the Turf there lyes a blackish dead water which has a kind of I know not what oily fat substance floating upon it and little fishes swimming in it which are took by those that dig the Turves here so that we may say we have fish dug out of the ground here as well as they have about Heraclea and Tius in Pontus Nor is this strange when in watry places of this nature the fish by following the water often swim under-ground and men there fish for them with spades But that in Paphlagonia many fish are dug up Fishes dug up and those good ones too in places not at all watery has somewhat of a peculiar and more hidden cause in it That of Seneca was pleasantly said What reason is there why fish should not travel the Land if we traverse the Sea g From hence the shore is bare and open and goes on with a great winding More into the Country stands Ormeskirke Ormeskirk a market-town remarkable for being the burial-place of the Stanleys Earls of Derby whose chief Seat is Latham hard by a house large and stately which from Henry the fourth's time has been continually enlarg'd by them h At that time John Stanley Knight father of John Lord Lieutenant of Ireland descended from the same stock with the Barons of Audley married the daughter and heir of Thomas Latham an eminent Knight to whom this great estate with many other possessions came as his wife's portion From that time the Stanleys Stanleys have liv'd here of whom Thomas son of Thomas Lord Stanley made Earl of Derby Earls of Derby by King Henry the seventh had by Eleanor Nevill daughter to the Earl of Salisbury George Lord Le Strange For he married Joan the only daughter and heir of John Baron Le Strange of Knockin who dy'd during the life of his father leaving a son Thomas the second Earl of Derby He by his wife Ann daughter of Edward Lord Hastings had a son Edward the third Earl of Derby who by Dorothy the daughter of Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk had Henry the fourth Earl whose wife was Margaret daughter of Henry Clifford Earl of Cumberland and mother of Ferdinand the fifth Earl who dy'd lately and of William now the sixth Earl who succeeded his brother 4 But I forget my self now when as I have formerly remembred as much i Here Dugless Dugless river a small brook runs with an easie still stream near which our Arthur as Ninnius says defeated the Saxons in a very memorable battel Near the rise of it stands Wiggin Wiggin a town formerly call'd Wibiggin as they affirm I have nothing to say of this name but that the Lancashire-men call buildings Biggin Biggin what nor of the town but that 't is neat and plentiful and a Corporation consisting of a Mayor and Burgesses also that the Rector of the Church is as I have been told Lord of the town Hard by stands Holland Family of Hollands from which the Hollands a most famous family who were Earls of Kent and Surrey and Dukes of Exeter took their name and original The daughter and heir of the eldest brother who flourish'd here under the degree and title of Knight being at last marry'd to the Lovels brought them both the estate and Arms of this family Arms of the Hollands namely In a field Azure ‖ With flowers de Ly◠florete Argent a Lion rampant gardant Arg. Near the mouth of the Dugless lies Merton a large broad lake which empties it self into this river where in the out-let of it it is presently joyn'd by the river Ribell Next to the Mersey this is the first river here that falls into the Ocean the old name whereof is not quite lost at this day for Ptolemy calls the Aestuary here Bellisama Bellisama and we Ribell by adding perhaps the Saxon word Rhe which signifies a river This river running in a swift stream from Yorkshire-hills is first carry'd to the southward by three high mountains Ingleborrow-hill near the spring of it which made me very much wonder for it shoots out in a vast ridge rising as it were gradually to the westward and mounts up towards the end as if another hill were rais'd upon the back of it Penigent Penigent so call'd perhaps from it's white and snowy head for so Pengwin signifies in British it is of a great bulk but not so high as the other Where the Rhibell enters Lancashire for these I have mention'd are in Yorkshire stands Pendle-hill Pendle-hill of great height and which on the very top produces a peculiar plant call'd Clowdesbery Clowdesbery as if it were the off-spring of the Clouds k But this hill is chiefly famous for the great damage done to the lower grounds about it heretofore by a fall of water that issued from it and for being an infallible prognostick of rain when the top of it is black and cloudy I the rather make mention of them both because they are the most eminent hills in our Appennine and therefore 't is commonly said Ingleborrow Pendle and Penigent Are the highest hills between Scotland and Trent and also that what I have already said may be the better understood Why the highest Alps should be
Preston in Andernesse 〈…〉 instead of Acmundesnesse for so the Saxons nam d this part of the country because between the rivers Ribell and Cocar it hangs out for a long way into the Sea like a Nose it was also afterwards call'd Agmonderâ—nes In William the Conqueror's time there were only 16 villages in it inhabited the rest lay wast as we find in Domes-day and it was possess'd by Roger of Poictiers Afterwards it belong d to Theobald Walter from whom the Butlers of Ireland are descended for so we read in a charter of Richard the first Know ye that we have given and by this present charter confirm'd to Theobald Walter for his homage and service all Agmondernes with all other appurtenances thereunto c. This soil bears oats pretty well but is not so good for barley it makes excellent pasture especially towards the Sea where it is partly champain whence a great part of it is call'd the File 〈…〉 as one would guess for the Feild Yet in the records of the tower it is express'd by the latin word Lima which signifies a File a Smith's Instrument wherewith iron or other things are polish'd In other places it is fenny and therefore counted less wholsom The Wyr a little river which comes from Wierdale a solitary and dismal place touches here as it runs along in a swift stream and passes by Grenhaugh-castle Grenhaugh castle built by Thomas Stanley the first Earl of Derby of that family while he was under apprehension of danger from certain of the nobility outlaw'd in this County whose estates had been given him by Henry the 7th for they made several attempts upon him frequently making inroads into his grounds till at last these feuds were wisely quieted by the moderation of this excellent person In many places along this coast there are heaps of sand b Mr. Ray Northern words p. 20â— has given us an account of the manner of making salt of sea-sand in this County upon which they now and then pour water A new way of making Salt till they grow saltish and then with a hot turf-fire they boil it into a white salt Here are also some deceitful and voracious sands they call them quick-sands Quicksands so dangerous to travellers who when the tide is out take the shortest cut that they ought to use great care lest as Sidonius expresses it they sink and are shipwrack d in their travels by land especially near the mouth of the Cockar where in a field of quicksands if I may so say stands Cockarsand-Abbey Syrticus Ager formerly a small Monastery of the Cluniacks founded by Ranulph de Meschines It lies expos'd to the winds situated between the mouth of the Cockar and the Lune commonly call'd the Lone with a large prospect into the Irish sea The Lone commonly Lune Lune riv which has its rise among the mountains of Westmoreland runs southward in a crooked chanel bank'd so as that the current of the water is much hinder'd To the great gain of those that live thereabouts it affords store of Salmon Salmon in the summer time for this sort of Fish taking great delight in clear water and particularly in sandy fords comes up in great shoals into this and the other rivers on this coast As soon as it enters Lancashire the Lac a little river joyns it from the east Here at present stands Over-burrow Over burrow a small country village but that it was formerly a great city taking up a large plot of ground between the Lac and the Lone and was forc'd to surrender by the utmost misery of a siege and famine I learnt from the inhabitants who have it by a tradition handed down from their Ancestors The place it self shews its own antiquity by many old monuments inscriptions upon stones chequer'd pavements and Roman coins as also by this its modern name which signifies a Burrow If it ever recover its ancient name it must owe it to others and not to me tho' I have sought it with all the diligence I could And indeed one is not to imagine that the particular names of every place in Britain is to be found in Ptolemy Antoninus the Notitia and in Classick Authors If a man might have the liberty of a conjecture I must confess I should take it to be Bremetonacum Bremetonacum which was a distinct place from Brementuracum as Jerom Surita a Spaniard in his notes upon Antoninus very reasonably supposes upon the account of its distance from Coccium or Riblechester From this Burrough the river Lone runs by Thurland-Tunstalls a fort built in Henry the fourth's time by Sir Thomas Tunstall Knight the King having granted him leave to fortifie and kernel his mansion that is What it is to kernel to embattel it and then by Hornby a fine castle Hornby-castle which glories in its founder N. de Mont Begon and in its Lords the Harringtons and the Stanleys Barons de Monte Aquilae or Mont-Eagle Barons Monteagle descended from Thomas Stanley first Earl of Derby 6 And advanc'd to that title by K. Henr. 8. William Stanley the third and last of these left Elizabeth his only daughter and heir marry'd to Edward Parker Lord Morley She had a son William Parker who was restor'd by King James to the honour of his ancestors the Barony of Mont-Eagle and must be acknowledged by us and our posterity to have been born for the good of the whole Kingdom for by an obscure letter privately sent him and produc'd by him in the very nick of time Gun powder-plot the most hellish and detestable treason that wickedness it self could project was discover'd and prevented when the Kingdom was in the very brink of ruin for some of that wicked gang under the execrable masque of Religion stood ready to blow up their King and Country in a moment having before planted a great quantity of Gun-powder under the Parliament-house for that purpose The Lone after it has gone some miles further sees Lancaster on the south side of it the chief town of this county which the inhabitants more truly call c This is its name in all the North part of England Loncaster Lancaster and the Scots Loncastell from the river Lon. Both its name at this day and the river under it in a manner prove it to be the Longovicum wâ—ere under the Lieutenant of Britain as the Notitia informs us a Company of the Longovicarians who took that name from the place kept gaâ—â—ison Thoâ— at present the town is not populous and the inhabitants thereof are all husbandmen for the grounds about it are well cultivated open flourishing and woody enough yet in proof of its Roman antiquity they sometimes meet with coins of the Emperors especially where the Fryers had their cloyster for there as they report stood the marks of an ancient city which the Scots in a sudden inroad in the year 1322 wherein
they destroy'd every thing they could meet with burnt to the ground From that time they began to build nearer a green hill by the river upon which stands a castle not very great nor ancient but fair built and strong and upon the very hill stands a Church the only one in the town where the Monks aliens had a cell heretofore 7 Founded by Roger of Poictiers Below this at a very fine bridge over the Lone on the stoâ—pest side of the hill there hangs a piece of a very ancient wall which is Roman they call it Wery-wall probably from the later British name of the town for they nam'd this town Caer Werid that is a green 〈◊〉 from the green hill perhaps but I leave the fâ—râ—her discovery of this to others John Lord of Moâ—iton and Lancaste who was afterwards King of â—ngâ—and confirmed by charter all the liberties which he â—ad granted to the Burgesses of Bristow Edward the third in the 36th year of his reign granted to the Mâ—yor and Bailiffs of the village of Lancaster that Pleas and Sessions should be held no where else but there The latitude of this place not to omit it is 54 degrees 5 minutes and the longitude 20 degrees 48 minutes From the top of this hill while I look'd all round to see the mouth of the Lone which empties it self not much lower I saw Forness â—ournesse the other part of this County on the west which is almost sever'd from it by the sea for whereas the shore lay out a great way from hence westward into the ocean the sea as if it were enrag'd at it ceased not to slash and mangle it Nay it swallow'd it quite up at some boisterous tide or other and theâ—eby has made three large bays namely Kentsand which receives the river Ken Levensand Duddensand between which the land shoots oâ—t so much like a promontory into the sea that this 〈◊〉 oâ— the county takes its name from it 〈…〉 and Foreland signifie the same with us that proâ—â—â—â—tortâ—â— anterius that is a fore-promontory does in latiâ— l The whole tract except by the Sea-side is all high mountains and great rocks they call them Fornâ—ss-fâ—lls â—â—rnâ—sâ—e-Fells among which the Britains liv'd securely for a long time relying upon the fortifications wherewith nature had guarded them tho' nothing prov'd impregnable to the Saxon Conquerors For in the 228th year after the coming in of the Saxons we may from hence infer that the Britains lived here because at that time Egfrid King of the Northumbrians gave to S. Cuthbert the land called Carthmell Carthmell and all the Britains in it for so it is related in his life Now Carthmell every one knows was a part of this County near Kentsand and a little town in it keeps that very name to this day wherein William Mareschal the elder Earl of Pembroke built a Priory and endow'd it If in Ptolemy one might read Setantiorum Sâ—tâ—â—â—â—â—ruâ— Lacus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a lake as some books have it and not Sâ—tantiorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a haven I would venture to affirm that the Britains in these parts were the Setantii for among those mountains lies the greatest lake in England now call'd Winander-mere Winamâ—â—rmere in Saxon WinÆ¿adremer perhaps from the windings in it about ten miles in length the bottom pav'd as it were with a continued rock wonderful deep in some places as the neighbouring Inhabitants tell you and well stor'd with a sort of fish no where else bred See the Aâ—dâ—â—â—â—ns tâ— Wâ—â—tmâ—â—land Câ—are a fiâ—h Hiâ—tâ—ry â—f Maâ—â—â— which they call Chare m Upon this lake stands a little town of the same name where in the year 792. Eathred King of the Northumbrians slew the sons of King Elfwold after he had taken them from York that by his own wickedness and their blood he might secure himself in the Kingdom Between this lake and the river Dudden is the promontory we commonly call Forness with the Island Walney like a Counterscarp lying along by it and a small arm of the sea between The entry to it is d This fort is quite ruinated defended by a Fort call'd The Pile of Fouldrey Piâ—e 〈◊〉 Fâ—uldâ—eâ— situate upon a rock in the middle of the water and built by the Abbot of Forness in the first year of King Edward the third Upon the promontory there is nothing to be seen but the ruins of Forness-Abbey 8 Of Câ—stercian Monks Lâ—b F â—â—sâ—â—nâ— which Stephen Earl of Bullen afterwards K. of England built in the year 1127. in a place formerly call'd Bekensgill or translated it rather from Tulket in Anderness Out of the Monks of this place and no where else as they themselves have related the Bishops of the Isle of Man which lyes over against it were wont by an ancient custom to be chosen this being the mother as it were of several Monasteries both in that Island and in Ireland n More to the East stands Aldingham Aldâ—â—ghâ—â— the ancient estate of the family of the Harringtons Hâ—â—â—â—gtâ—â—s to whom it came from the Flemmings by the Cancefelds and whose inheritance by a daughter went to William Bonvill 9 Of Somersetshire of Devonshire and by him at last to the Greys Marquisses of Dorset Somewhat higher lyes Ulverston Ulâ—â—â—â— to be mention'd upon this account that Edward the third gave a moiety of it to John Coupland one of the most warlike men of that age whom he also advanc'd to the honour of a Banneret for taking David the second King of Scots prisoner in a battel at Durham After his death the said King gave it with other great estates in these parts and with the title of Earl of Bedford to Ingleram Lord Coucy a Frenchman he having married his daughter Isabel and his Ancestors having been possess'd of great Revenues in England in right of Christian de Lindsey â—o As for those of the Nobility who have bore the title of Lancaster 〈…〉 there were three in the beginning of the Norman Government who had the title of Lords of the Honour of Lancaster namely Roger of Poictou the son of Roger Montgomery sirnam'd Pictavensis as William of Malmesbury says because his wife came out of Poictou in France But he being depriv'd of this honour for his disloyalty King Stephen conferr'd it upon his own son William Earl of Moriton and Warren Upon whose death King Richard the first bestow'd it upon John his brother who was afterwards King of England For thus we find it in an ancient History 〈…〉 King Richard shew'd great affection for his brother John For besides Ireland and the Earldom of Moriton in Normandy he bestow'd upon him such great preferments in England that he was in a manner a Tetrarch there For he gave him Cornwal Lancaster Nottingham Derby with the adjacent Country and many other things A pretty while after King Henry the third son of King John
aa They are not both in this river but one in this and the other in the river Betham above Milchorp and has upon its Western bank a very populous town call Candale 1 Or Kâ—ndale or Kirkby-Candale i.e. a Church in the valley upon Can. It has two Streets crossing each other is very eminent for the woollen manufacture and the industry of the inhabitants who trade throughout all England with their woollen cloath Their greatest honour is 〈…〉 that Barons and Earls have taken their titles from the place The Barons were of the family of Ivo Taleboys of whose posterity William by consent of King Henry the second call'd himself William of Lancaster His 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 niece and heir was marry'd to Gilbert son of Roger Fitz-Reinfrid by whose daughters upon the death of William his son the estate came to Peter Brus the second Lord of Skelton of that Christian-name and William Lindsay from whom on the mother's side Ingelram Lord of Coucy in France 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 deriv'd his pedigree as I understood by the History of Fourness-Abbey By the daughter of this Peter Brus sister and heiress to Peter Brus the third the Barony descended to the Rosses of Werke and from them the honour was devolv'd hereditarily upon the Parrs 2 Of whom Sir William Parr was made Lord Par by King Henry 8. whose Castle over against the town is ready to drop down with age It has had three Earls 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 John Duke of Bedford advanc'd to that honour by his brother King Henry the fifth John Duke of Somerset and John de Foix descended from the noble family of the Foix in France whom King Henry the sixth rais'd to that dignity for his faithful service in the French wars Upon which account possibly it is that some of this family of Foix in France have still the sirname of Kendal c I know no other piece of Antiquity that Kendal can boast of Once indeed I was of opinion that it was the old Roman station Concangii but time has inform'd me better d 〈…〉 Lower in the river Can there are two Water-falls where the water is tumbled headlong with a hideous noise one at a little village call'd Levens another more Southward near Betham From these the neighbours draw certain prognostications of the weather for when the Northern one has a clear sound they promise themselves fair weather but when the Southern rain and mists And thus much of the Southern and more narrow part of this County bounded on the West with the river Winster and the spacious Lake mention'd but now call'd Winander-mere and on the east with the river Lone or Lune At the upper corner of this Lake Winander-mere Ambleside lyes the carcass as it were of an ancient City with large ruins of walls and scatter'd heaps of rubbish without the walls The Fort has been of an oblong figure fortify'd with a ditch and rampire in length 132 Ells and in breadth 80. That it was a work of the Romans the British bricks the mortar temper'd with small pieces of bricks the little Urns or Pots the Glass Vials the Roman Coins commonly met with the round stones like Mill-stones of which †Coagmentatis soder'd together they us'd formerly to make Pillars and the pav'd ways leading to it are all an undeniable Evidence But the old name is quite lost unless one should imagine from the present name Ambleside that this was the Amboglana Ambolgana mention'd by the Notitia e Towards the East the river Lone is the limit and gives its name to the adjoyning tract Lonsdale i.e. a vale upon the Lone the chief town whereof is Kirkby Lonsdale whither the neighbouring Inhabitants resort to Church and Market Above the head of the Lone the Country grows wider and the Mountains shoot out with many windings and turnings between which there are here and there exceeding deep vallies and several places hollow'd like so many deep or caves f The noble river of Eden Eden call'd by Ptolemy Ituna Ituâ—a b It arises in Westmorland at a place call'd Hugh seat Morvil or Hugh Morvil's hill from one of that name sometimes Lord of Westmorland Out of the same hill there run two other great rivers on Yorkshire-side Eure and Swale rising in Yorkshire has at first only a small stream but increasing gradually by the confluence of several little rivers seeks a passage through these Mountains to the North-west by Pendragon-Castle c See Skipton in the Additions to the West-Riding of Yorkshire to which age has left nothing but the name and a heap of great stones g Then it runs by Wharton-hall the seat of the Barons of Wharton Wharton-hall Lords Wharton the first whereof was 3 Sir Thomas Wharton Thomas advanc'd to that honour by King Henry the Eighth To him succeeded his son of the same name who was succeeded by Philip the present Lord a person of great honour h Next by Kirby-Stephen or Stephen's Church a noted market and so by two little villages call'd Musgrave Musgrave that gave name to the warlike family of the Musgraves i of which Thomas Musgrave in the time of Edward the third was summon'd to Parliament among the Barons their seat was Heartly-Castle Heartly-Castle hard by Here the Eden as it were stops its course that it may receive some rivulets upon one of which scarce two miles from Eden it self stood Verterae Verterae an ancient town mention'd by Antoninus and the Notitia From the latter of these we learn that in the decline of the Roman Empire a Praefect of the Romans quarter'd there with a band of the Directores Now the town it self is dwindl'd into a little village defended with a small Fort and its name pass'd into Burgh Burgh under Stane-more Veget. l 4. c. 10. for it is call'd Burgh under Stane-more i.e. a Burrow under a stony Mountain Under the later Emperours to observe it once for all the little Castles which were built for the emergent occasions of war and stor'd with provisions began to be call'd Burgi a new name which after the translation of the Empire into the East the Germans and others seem to have taken from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And hence the Burgundians have their name from inhabiting the Burgi Orosius for so that age call'd the Dwellings planted at a little distance one from another along the Frontiers I have read nothing of it but that in the beginning of the Norman Government 4 The Northern English the English form d a Conspiracy here against William the Conquerour I durst almost affirm that this Burgh was the old Verterae both because the distance on one side from Levatrae and on the other from Brovonacum if resolv'd into Italian miles does exactly agree with the number assign'd by Antoninus and also because a Roman military way still visible by its high ridge or
14 thick set almost in a direct line and at equal distances for a mile together They seem design'd to preserve the memory of some Action or other but the injury of Time has put it beyond all possibility of pointing out the particular occasion Upon Loder there is a place of the same denomination which as Strickland not tar off has given name to an ancient and famous family u Lower down w at the confluence of Loder and Eimot was dug up in the year 1602. this stone set up in memory of Constantine the Great IMP. C. VAL. CONSTANTINO PIENT AVG. After Eimot has been for some space the bound between this County and Cumberland x near Isanparles Isâ—â—pâ— a rock well known in the neighbourhood which Nature hath made of such a difficult ascent with several caverns also and windings as if she design'd a retreat for the distress'd in troublesome times it throws its own waters with those of other rivers into Eden a few miles below having first receiv'd the little river Blencarne the bound on this side between Westmorland and Cumberland upon which I understood there were the vast ruins of a Castle call'd the Hanging walls of Marcantoniby Hanging-â—aâ—ls of Marcantoâ—â—y that is as they tell you of Mark Antony 〈◊〉 Term. Mâ—â—h R. 6. 〈◊〉 l. 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Vipants The h That both Ralph Meschines and Hugh de Morvil with some others of that family were Lords of Westmorland before Robert de Vipont Mr. Machel has discover'd from Records and will prove at large in his Antiquities of this County The present Lord is the right honourable Thomas Tufton Earl of Thanet to which family it descended from their ancestors the Viponts and Cliffords first Lord of Westmorland that I know of was Robert de Veteri ponte or Vipont who bore in a shield gules six Annulets Or. For King John gave him the Bailiwick and revenues of West morland by the service of four Knights whereupon the Cliffords his successors held the Sheriffdom of Westmorland down to our age For Robert the last of the Viponts left only two daughters 6 Isabel Sybil wife of Roger Lord Clifford and Idonea wife of 7 Sir Roger. Roger de Leybourne A long while after King Richard 2. created Ralph de Nevil or New-Ville Lord of Raby a person of a very noble and ancient English Pedigree being descended from Uhtred E. of Northumberland first E. of Westmorland Earls of Westmorland whose posterity 8 By his former wife Margaret by his first wife M. daughter of the Earl of Stafford enjoy'd this honour till Charles hurry'd on by a boundless Ambition violating his duty to Queen Elizabeth and his Country 9 And covering treason under the mantle of Religion fix'd an eternal mark of infamy upon this noble family cast a blot upon his own dignity 10 By actual Rebellion in the year 1599. and leaving his native country liv'd and dy'd very miserably in the Netherlands His issue by the second wife Katharine daughter of John of Gaunt D. of Lancaster became so famous and numerous that almost at the same time there flourish'd of it 11 Beside the Earl of Westmorland the Earl of Salisbury the Earl of Warwick the Earl of Kent the Marquis of Montacute 12 A Duke of Bedford Baron Latimer and Baron Abergevenny In this County are i In the bottom of Westmorland are 25. and in the Barony of Kendal 7. Besides these there is a great number of Chapels of ease many of which are fallen to decay 26 large Parishes ADDITIONS to WESTMORELAND a IN the general description of this County Mr. Camden seems to have taken his measures only from one part of it For travelling from Lancaster through the Barony of Kendal to Workington in Cumberland he met with little in his road besides great mountains with here and there a Valley between and so took an estimate of the whole from that part imagining probably that the more southerly corner was like to be as good at least if not better than the rest But had he gone directly northward he would have found reason to change his opinion the Barony of Westmorland commonly call'd the bottom of Westmorland from it's low situation being a large open champain country in length not less than 20 miles and in breadth about 14. And so far is it from being uncultivated that it affords great plenty of arable grounds and those good store of corn Nor do Mores in the northern parts signifie wild barren mountains but generally Common of pasture in opposition to Mountains or Fells So that in the Barony of Kendal where they have most Mountains there are few or no Mores their Commons being generally call'd Fells and in the bottom of Westmorland there are few mountains except that ridge which bounds the Country like a rampire or bulwark but very many Mores which yet are so far from being uncapable of improvement that most of them have been formerly plow'd as the ridges appearing do assure us If the whole Country therefore were to be deriv'd from barren mountains we might say with more reason that it had the name from lying westward of that long ridge of hills which Mr. Camden calls the English Apennine As for the story of King Marius tho' our Author perhaps justly rejects it so far as 't is urg'd for giving name to this County yet we must not be too hasty in exploding the whole matter of fact as fabulous since the ‖ 〈…〉 â—2 learned Primate of Armagh has said so much in favour of it Before we descend to a particular Survey we may observe that the Gentlemens houses in this County are large and strong and generally built Castle-wise for defence of themselves their Tenants and their goods whenever the Scots should make their inroads which before the time of King James 1. were very common That it is divided into the Barony of Kendal and the Barony of Westmorland we have before hinted These two parts belong to two several Dioceses the former to Chester the latter to Carlisle In each we find with two Wards several Deanries Parishes and Constablewicks but no Hundreds possibly because in ancient times these parts paid no Subsidies being sufficiently charg'd in Border service against the Scots b On the south side lies Milthrop Milthrop the only sea-town in this County tho' the commodities which are imported are brought hither only in small vessels from Grange in Lancashire And near it Levens Levens where is a fair stone bridge over the river Kent on the south-side of which river are still to be seen the ruins of an ancient round building now call'd Kirks-head which is said to have been anciently a Temple dedicated to Diana And not far from it appear the ruins of another building which seems to have belong'd to the same place In the Park which is well stor'd with Fallow-deer and almost equally divided by
this day call it Bulness â—ess and tho' it is but a very small village yet has it a Fort â—imenâ— and as a testimony of its antiquity besides the tracks of streets and pieces of old walls it has a harbour now choakt up and they tell you that there was a pav'd Cawsey ran all along the shore from hence as far as Elenborrow h A mile beyond this as appears by the Foundations at low water begins the Picts-wall that famous work of the Romans formerly the bound of the Province and built to keep out the Barbarians who in those parts were as one expresses it continually * Circumlatraverunt barking and snarling at the Roman Empire I was amaz'd at first why they should be so careful to fortifie this place when 't is fenc'd by a vast arm of the Sea that comes up some eight miles but now I understand how at low-water 't is so shallow that the Robbers and Plunderers made nothing of fording it That the figure of the Coast hereabouts has been alter'd appears plainly from roots of Trees cover'd over with Sand at a good distance from the shore which are commonly discover'd when the Tide is driven back by the violence of Winds I know not whether it be worth the while to observe what the Inhabitants tell you of Subterraneous Trees without boughs Trees under ground they very commonly dig up discovering them by the Dew 10 In Summer which never lyes upon the ground that covers them Upon the same Friths a little more inward is Drumbough-Castle of late times the possession of the Lords of Dacre but formerly a Station of the Romans Some will have it the Castra Exploratorum but the distances will by no means allow it There was also another Roman Station which by a change of the name is at present call'd e To distinguish it from Burgh under Stane-more in Westmoreland Burgh upon Sands Burgh upon Sands 1307. from whence the neighbouring tract is call'd the Barony of Burgh This by Meschines Lord of Cumberland was bestow'd upon Robert de Trivers from whom it came to the * The Morvils call'd de Burgh super Sabulones Lib. Inq. Morvills the last of whom Hugh left a daughter who by her second husband Thomas de Molton had Thomas Molton Lord of this place and father of that Thomas who by marriage with the heir of Hubert de †Vaulx Vallibus joyn'd Gillesland to his other possessions all which were carry'd by Mawd Molton to Ranulph de Dacre But this little Town is noted for nothing more than the untimely death of King Edward the first Edw. 1. after he had triumph'd over his enemies round about him He was a Prince exceeding famous in whose valiant breast God as it were pitcht his Tent and as by courage and wisdom so also by a gracefulness and stateliness of body rais'd him to the very highest pitch of Majesty Providence exercis'd his youth with constant wars and difficulties of State to fit him for the Government which after he came to it he so manag'd by conquering the Welsh and subduing the Scots that he deserves the Character of one of the greatest Ornaments of Britain i The Inhabitants say that under this Burgh in the very aestuary there was a Sea-fight between the Scotch and English and that ‖ Reverso aestu when the Tide was out it was manag'd by the Horse which seems no less strange than what Pliny relates not without great admiration of such another place in Caramania This aestuary is call'd by both Nations Solway-Frith Solway-Frith from Solway a Town of the Scots that stands upon it But Ptolemy names it more properly Ituna for the Eiden a very considerable river Ituna Eiden river which winds along Westmoreland and the inner parts of this County falls into it with a vast body of waters Hist Mailros still remembring what rubs and stops the carcasses of the Scots gave it in the year 1216. after it had dâ—own'd them with their loads of English spoils and swallow'd up that plundering Crew The Ituna or Eiden assoon as it enters this County receives from the west the river Eimot flowing out of the Lake call'd Ulse or Ulse-water which I mention'd before Near its bank upon the little river Dacor is f Here is a Castle standing which formerly has been a magnificent building and a seat of the family but there are no remains of a Monastery nor does it appear by any Records to have been standing since the Conquest Dacre-Castle Dacre noted in latter ages for giving name to the family of the Barons de Dacre â—arons Dacre and mention'd by Bede for having a Monastery in his time as also by Malmesbury for being the place where Constantine King of the Scots and Eugenius King of Cumberland put themselves and their Kingdoms under the protection of King Athelstan k Somewhat higher at a little distance from the confluence of Eimot and Loder at which is the round trench call'd King Arthur's Table stands Penrith which implies in British a red hill or head for the ground hereabouts and the stone of which it is built are both reddish 'T is commonly call'd Perith Perith. and is a noted little market town fortify'd on the west-side with a Royal Castle which in the reign of Henry 6. g It is now in ruins and was never repair'd out of the ruins of Maburg nor was that ever a Roman Fort but a Danish Temple This is very obvious to a curious eye and will be shewn at large in Mr. Nicolson's History of the Kingdom of Northumberland Part 6. was repair'd out of the ruins of Maburg a Roman Fort hard by It is adorn'd with a pretty handsome Church l has a large Market-place with a Town-house of wood for the convenience of the Market-people which is beautify'd with Bearâ— climbing up a ragged staff the Device of the Earls of Warwick Formerly it belong'd to the Bishops of Durham but when Anthony Becc Bishop of this See was grown haughty and insolent by his great wealth Edward the first as we read in the book of Durham took from him Werk in Tividale Perith and the Church of Simondburne For the benefit of the Town W. Strickland Bishop of Carlisle descended from a famous family in those parts did at his own proper charges draw a Chanel or water-course from h This is a Rill falling from the Peat-Mosses in the Fells about Graystock from whence it has its name Peterill or the Little-river Petre. Upon the bank of this lay Plompton-park very large Call'd oâ—â—â— Haâ—a de Plompten and formerly set apart by the Kings of England for the keeping of Deer but by King Henry 8. with greater prudence planted with houses being almost in the frontiers between England and Scotland m Near this I saw several remains of a demolish'd City which for its nearness to Perith they call Old Perith
but I should rather take it to be the Petrianae For that the Ala Petriana Petriana was quarter'd here is plain from the fragment of an old Inscription which one Vlpius Trajanus ‖ Emeritus a pensionary of the same Ala Petriana set up But take this and some others which I copy'd out here GADVNO VLP TRAI EM AL. PET MARTIVS * Hâ—ply Faciendum procuraviâ— F P. C. ' D M. AICETVOS MATER VIXIT * Annot. A XXXXV ET LATTIO FIL-VIX A XII LIMISIVS CONIV ET FILIAE PIENTISSIMIS POSVIT D M FL MARTIO SEN IN * Possibly in Cohorte C CARVETIOR QVESTORIO VIXIT AN XXXXV MARTIOLA FILIA ET HERES PONEN * Duâ— CVRAVIT DM CROTILO GERMANVS VIX ANIS XXVI GRECA VIX ANIS IIII VINDICIANVS * Fratri filiae Titulum posuit FRA. ET FIL. TIT. PO. After Eden has receiv'd the Eimot n it hastens to the north along by little inconsiderable villages and Forts to the two Salkelds At Little Salkeld there is a circle of stones 77. in number each ten foot high and before these at the entrance is a single one by it self fifteen foot high This the common people call Long-Megg and the rest her daughters and within the circle are hh The heaps of stones in the middle of this monument are no part of it but have been gather'd off the plough'd-lands adjoyning and as in many other parts of the County have been thrown up here together in a waste corner of the field Both this and Rolrich-stones in Oxfordshire may seem to be monuments erected at the solemn Investiture of some Danish Kings and of the same kind as the Kongstolen in Denmark and Moresteen in Sweeden Whereof the Reader may see Discourses at large in Wormius's Mon. Dan. lib. 1. cap. 12. S. J. Steph. Not. ad Sax. Gram. p. 29. Messen Paraph. Theat Nobil Suec p. 108. and our Countryman Dr. Plot 's History of Oxfordshire p. 336 337 c. two heaps of stones under which they say there are dead bodies bury'd And indeed 't is probable enough that this has been a monument erected in memory of some victory From thence the Eden passes by Kirk-Oswald Kirk-Oswald dedicated to S. Oswald formerly the possession of that 11 Sir Hugh Hugh Morvil who with his Accomplices kill'd Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury in memory of which fact the sword he then us'd was preserv'd here for a long time then by Armanthwayte Armanthwayte the Castle of the Skeltons and Corby Câ—rby-Castle a Castle of the noble and ancient family of the Salkelds which was much enrich'd by marriage with the heir of Rosgil then by Wetherall Wetheraâ—â— formerly a little monastery belonging to the Abbey of S. Mary in York where one sees i These Caves are in a rock of difficult access two Rooms one within the other of about five or six yards square each They seem to have been cut out for some Hermits to lodge in being near the Abbey a sort of houses dug out of rock that seem to have been design'd * In pâ— gii 〈◊〉 Viroâ—iâ—â— for an absconding place 12 In this dangerous Country next by Warwic which I take to be the old Virosidum where the sixth Cohort of the Nervii formerly kept garison along the Wall against the Picts and Scots In the last age there was built here a very strong stone-bridge at the expence of the Salkelds and Richmonds And so by Linstoc Linstoc a castle of the Bishops of Carlisle within the Barony of Crosby Crosby which Waldeve son of Earl Gospatrick and Lord of Allerdale gave to the Church of Carlisle The present name I fancy is contracted from Olenacum For that Olenacum Olenacâ—â— where the Ala prima Herculea lay in garison against the Barbarians seems to have been along the Wall And now Eden ready to fall into the Aestuary receives two little rivers almost at the same place Peterill and Caude which from the south keep all along at an equall distance Upon the Peterill beside the Perrianae already spoken of is Greystock â—â—eystock the Castle of a family which has been long famous deriving its original from one Ralph Fitz-Wolter Of whose posterity William de Greystock marry'd Mary daughter and coheir of Roger de Merley Lord of Morpath He had a son John who having no issue got leave of King Edward 1. to make over his estate to his 〈…〉 Cousin Ralph de Granthorpe son of William whose posterity for a long time flourish'd here in great honour 13 With the title of Lord Greystock But about the reign of Henry 7. that family ended and the estate came by marriage to the Barons of Dacre the heirs general of the last of whom were marry'd to 14 Philip Earl of Arundel and Lord William Howard two sons of Thomas Howard late Duke of Norfolk o Near the Caude besides the Copper-mines â—â—pper-â—â—nes at Caudebeck is Highyate a Castle of the Richmonds p and a beautiful Castle of the Bishops of Carlisle call'd The Rose-Castle this seems to have been the old Congavata â—â—ngavata where the second Cohoâ—t of the Lergi were quarter'd for Congavata signifies in British a vale upon the Gavata now contracted into Cauda But I have not yet been able to mark out the express place where it was seated q Between the confluence of those rivers 〈◊〉 the ancient City Carlile has a delicate pleasant situation bounded on the north with Eden â—â—en on the east with Peterill and on the west with Caude Also besides these natural fences it is arm'd with a strong stone wall a castle and a citadel 'T is of an oblong form from west to east upon the west is a pretty large castle which by the Arms appears to have been k It might be repair'd by Rich. 3. tho' 't is very improbable considering the affairs of his Reign but 't is certain it was built by Will 2. some hundred years before built by Rich. 3. Almost in the middle of the city stands the Cathedral Church the upper part whereof being newer is a curious piece of Workmanship l The Lower W. part is the Parochial-Church and as old as S. Cuthbert or Walter who came in with the Conquerour was a Commander in his Army rebuilt the City founded a Priory and turning Religious became himself the first Prior of it The Chancel was built by Contribution A. D. 1350 1 2 3 c. The Belfrey was rais'd and the Bells plac'd in it at the charge of William de Strickland Bishop A. D. 1401. but the lower is much more ancient On the east it is defended with a Citadel very strong and fortify'd with â—â—griis â—â—agnaâ—â—â— several Orillons or Roundels built by K. Hen. 8. The Romans and Britains call'd this City Lugu-ballum â—â—gu-â—â—â—lum and Lugu-vallium or Lugu balia the Saxons as Bede witnesses Luel Ptolemy as some
oâ—â—e Barons of Dacre the last whereof some years ago dy'd young and his Uncle Leonard chosing rather to contend with his Prince in War than with his Nieces in Law about the estate seis'd upon the Castle and got together a company of Rebels in opposition to his Prince But the Lord Hunsdon with the garrison of Berwick easily defeated them put a great many to the sword and the rest amongst whom was Leonard himself to flight x 19 But of him more in my Annals Nearer the Wall beyond the river Irthing was lately found this fair votive Altar erected to the Goddess Nymphe of the Brigantes for the health of the Empress Plautilla Wife to M. Aurelius Antoninus Severus and the whole Imperial family by M. Cocceius Nigrinus a Treasurer to the Emperour when Laetus was second time Consul with intricate connexion of letters which I read thus DEAE NYMPHAE BRIGantum QUOD VOVERAT PRO SALUTE PAUTILIAE COnjugis INVICTAE DOMini NOSTRI INVICTI IMP. M. AURELii SEVERI ANTONINI PII. FELicis CAESaris AUGusti TOTIUSQUE DO MUS DIVINAE EJUS M. COCCEIUS NIGRINUS Questor AUGusti Numini DEVOTUS LIBENS SUSCEPTUM Solvit LAETO II. Nearer the Wall stood the Priory of Lanercost founded by R. de Vallibus Lord of Gillesland y and upon the wall is Burd-Oswald Below this where the Picts-Wall pass'd the river Irthing by an arch'd bridge at a place now call'd Willoford was the Station of the †See the Additions to Ambleside in Westmorland If we are to settle the Amboglana here the many rivulets in those parts which carry the name of Glen oâ— Glynn afford us a probable original of the name Cohors prima Aelia Dacorum as appears by the Notitia and several Altars erected by that Cohort and inscrib'd to Jupiter Optimus Maximus Some of them I think proper to give you tho' they 're much defac'd and worn with age Jovi optimo Maximo * I. O. M. COH I. AEL DAC CVI PRAE IG I. O. M. CoH. I. AEL DAC C. P. STATV LoN GINUS TRIB I. O. M. OH I. AEL DA C. C. A. GETA IRELSAVRNES PRO SALVTE D. N MAXiMIANO †Fortissimo Caesari FOR CAE VA OAED L E G. VI. V I C. P. F. F. I. O M. COH I AEL DAC TETRICIANO RO C. P. P. LVTIC V. S. DESIG NATVS TRIB I. O. M. COH I. AEL DAC GORD ANA. C. P EST. I. O. M. H. I. AEL DAC C. PRAEESI FLIUS FA S TRIB PETVO COS. The first Lord of Gillesland that I read of Lords of Gillâ—sâ—â—â— Out oâ—â— old Mâ—â— R. Câ—â— Clarenceux 〈◊〉 him Raâ—â— as also 〈◊〉 MSS. of Fountaâ—â— and Hiâ—â— Abbâ—â— was William Meschines brother of Ralph Lord of Cumberland not that William who was brother of Ranulph Earl of Chester from whom sprang Ranulph de Ruelent but the brother of Ralph but he was not able to get it out of the hands of the Scots for Gill the son of Bueth Å¿ This was but for a short time for the father was banish'd into Scotland in Earl Randolph's time and the son Gillesbueth as he was call'd was slain by Robert de Vallibus at a â—eeting for Arbitration of all differences so that that family seems never to have claim'd after The murther was barbarous and Robert to atone for it built the Abbey of Lanercost and gave to it the Lands that had caus'd the quarrel held the greatest part of it by force of Arms. After his death King Henry the second bestow'd it upon Hubert de Vallibus or Vaulx whose Coat Armour was Chequey Argent and Gules His son Robert founded and endow'd the Priory of Lanercost But the estate within a few years came by marriage to the Moltons and from them by a daughter to Ranulph Lord Dacre whose posterity flourish'd in great honour down to our time z Having thus took a Survey of the Sea-coast and inner parts of Cumberland we must pass to the East of it a lean hungry desolate sort of Country which affords nothing remarkable besides the head of South-Tine in a wet spungy ground and an ancient Roman stone Cawsey * 8 Ulnaâ— above ten yards broad 'T is call'd the Maiden-way Maiden-way leading out of Westmoreland and at the confluence of the little river Alon and the Tine we spoke of on the side of a gentle ascent there are the remains of a large old Town which to the North has been fortify'd with a fourfold Rampire and to the West †Sileâ—â— with one and a half The place is now call'd Whitley-castle and as a testimony of it's Antiquity has this imperfect Inscription ‖ Compâ—â— of a scriâ—â— ratioâ—◠〈◊〉 risimâ—leâ— compendiously written with the Letters link'd one in another from which we learn that the third Cohort of the Nervii built a * Aedemâ— Temple there to Antoninus the Emperour son of Severus IMP. CAES. Lucii Septimi Severi AraBICI ADIABENICI PARTHICI MAX. FIL. DIVI ANTONINI Pii Germanici SARMA NEP. DIVI ANTONINI PII PRON. DIVI HADRIANI ABN DIVI TRAIANI PARTH ET DIVI NERVAE ADNEPOTI M. AVRELIO ANTONINO PIO FEL AVG. GERMANICO PONT MAX. TR. POT X IMP. COS. IIII. P. p. PRO PIETATE AEDE VOTO COMMVNI CURANTE LEGATO AVG. PR COH III. NERVIO RVM G. R. POS. Now seeing the third Cohort of the Nervii was quarter'd in this place seeing also the Notitia sets them at Alione as Antoninus does at Alone and a little river running under it is call'd Alne if I should think this to be the very Alone I could not indeed deliver it for a positive truth because the injuries of time and the violence of wars have long since put these things out of the reach of human knowledge but it would at least seem probable Upon the decay of the Roman power in Britain tho' this Country was cruelly harrass'd by the Scots and Picts yet did it longest keep its original Inhabitants the Britains and fell late under the power of the Saxons But when the Danish wars had well nigh broke the Saxon government it had its petty Kings â—â—gs of â—â—mberâ—â—â—d stil'd Kings of Cumberland to the year of our Lord 946. At which time as Florilegus tells us King Edmund by the assistance of Leolin King of South-Wales spoil'd Cumberland of all its riches and having put out the eyes of the two sons of Dummail King of that County granted that Kingdom to Malcolm King of Scots to hold of him and to protect the North-parts of England both by Sea and Land against the incursions of the Enemy After which the eldest sons of the Kings of Scotland as well under the Saxons as Danes were stil'd â—mbriâ—e 〈◊〉 Governours of Cumberland But when England had yielded to the Normans this County submitted among the rest and fell to the share of Ralph de Meschines whose eldest son Ranulph was Lord of Cumberland and at the same time in right of his mother and by the favour of his Prince Earl
and Darwent and also in these five Townships Brigham Eglysfeld Dene Brainthwaite and Grisothen and in the two Clistons and Staneburne He infeoffed also Odardus le Clerk in the fourth part of Crostwaite pro Custodia Asturcorum c Austurcorum MS. B. suorum i.e. for keeping his Goshawkes Galfridus de Meschins Earl of Chester dy'd without issue and thereupon Ranulphus de Meschins became Earl of Chestre and surrender'd to the King all the County of Cumberland on this condition That all those that held Lands of him in Fee should hold of the King in Capite The foresaid Waldevus son of Earl Gospatricius infeoffed Odardus de Logis in the Barony of Wygton Dondryt Waverton Blencogo and Kirkbride which Odardus de Logis founded the Church of Wygton and gave to Odardus son of Liolfe Tulentyre and Castlerige with the Forest between Caltre and Greta and to the Prior and Convent of Gisburne he gave Appleton and Bricekirk with the Advowson of the Church there He gave also to Adam son of Liolfe Uldendale and Gilcruce and to Gemellus son of Brun Bothill and to Waldevus son of Gileminius with Ethreda his sister he gave Brogham Ribton and Litle Brogham and Donwaldese and Bowaldese ad unam Logiam for a Lodge or House for a Ranger He gave also to Ormus son of Ketellus Seton Camberton Flemingbi Craiksothen in marriage with Gurwelda his sister And to Dolfinus son of Abwaldus with Matilda another sister he gave Appletwhaite and Litle Crosby Langrige and Brigham with the Advowson of the Church there He gave also to Melbeth his Physician the Town of Bromefeld saving to himself the Advowson of the Church there Alanus son and heir of the said Waldevus gave to Ranulphus Lyndsey Blenerhasset and Ukmanby with Ethereda his sister To Uthrdeus son of Fergus Lord of Galloway in marriage with Gurnelda d Gunilda MS. B. his other sister he gave Torpenhow with the Advowson of the Church there He gave also to Catellus de Spenser e Le Despenser MS. B. Threpeland He gave also to Herbert the Manour of Thuresby for the third part of a Township He gave also to Gospatricius son of Ormus High Ireby for the third part of a Township He gave also to Gamellus le Brun f Isal Rugh MS. B. Rughtwaite for a third part of a Township He gave also to Radulphus Engaine Issael with the Appurtenances and Blencrake with the Service of Newton And the same Alanus had one Bastard-brother nam'd Gospatricius to whom he gave Boulton Bastinthwaite and Esterholme And to Odardus he gave Newton with the Appurtenances And to his three Huntsmen Sleth g Selif MS. B. and his Companions Hayton To Uctredus he gave one Carrucat of Land in Aspatrike on condition that he should be his Summoner Summonitor in Allerdale He gave also to Delfinus six Bovates or Oxgang of Land in High-Crossby that he should be Serviens D. Regis the King's Serjeant in Allerdale And to Simon de Shestelyngs he gave one Moiety of Deram And to Dolfinus son of Gospatricius the other Moiety He gave also to Waldevus son of Dolfinus Brakanthwaite And to the Priory of S. Bega he gave Stainburne And to the Priory of Carliol he gave the body of Waldevus his son with the Holy Cross which they have yet in possession and Crossby with the Advowson of the Church there with the Service that Uctredus owed him and also the Advowson of the Church of Aspatrike with the Service of Alanus de Brayton He gave them also the Advowson of the Church of Ireby with the Suit and Service of Waldevus de Langthwaite The same Alanus son of Waldevus gave to King Henry h D. H. Regi Seniori MS. B. the Fields of the Forest of Allerdale with liberty to hunt whenever he should lodge at Holme-Cultrane To this Alanus succeeded William son of Duncane Earl of Murrayse Nephew and Heir to the said Alanus as being son to Ethreda sister to his father Waldevus The foresaid William son of Duncanus espoused Alicia daughter of Robert de Rumeney Lord of Skipton in Craven which Robert had married a daughter of Meschins i Willielmi de Meschins MS. B. Lord of Coupland This William had by this Alicia his wife a son call'd William de Egremond who dy'd under age and three daughters The eldest nam'd Cicilia k Seff MS. B. and Silitia being a Ward was married by King Henry to William le Gross Earl of Albemarle with the Honour of Skipton for her Dower The second nam'd Amabilla was married to Reginald de Luce with the Honour of Egremond by the same King Henry And the third nam'd Alicia de Romelic was married to Gilbert Pipard with Aspatrike and the Barony of Allerdale and the Liberty of Cokermouth by the said King Henry and afterwards by the Queen to Robert de Courtney but she dy'd without heirs of her body William le Gross Earl of Albemarlie had by his wife Cicilia Harwisia l Hatewisia to whom succeeded William de Fortibus Earl of Albemarlie to whom succeeded another William de Fortibus to whom succeeded Avelina who was espoused to Lord Edmond brother to King Edward and dy'd without heirs c. Reginald de Luce by Amabilla his wife had m Richardum de Lucy Amabillum Aliciam Alicia To Amabilla succeeded Lambert de Multon To him succeeded Thomas Multon de Egremond And to Alicia succeeded Thomas de Luce n Quae sequuntur desunt MS. B. to whom succeeded Thomas his son who was succeded by Anthony his Brother More rare Plants growing wild in Westmoreland and Cumberland Lan. Eruca Monensis laciniata lutea Jagged yellow Rocket of the Isle of Man In Sella fields Sea-bank found growing abundantly by Mr. Lawson Echium marinum P. B. Sea-Bugloss On the Sea-shore near White-haven plentifully Mr. Newton W. Gladiolus lacustris Dortmanni Clus cur post Water Gilly-flower or Gladiole In the Lake call'd Hulls-water which parteth Westmoreland and Cumberland Orobus sylvaticus nostras English Wood-vetch At Gamblesby about six miles from Pereth in the way to New-castle in the hedges and pastures plentifully Vitis Idaea magna quibusdam sive Myrtillus grandis J. B. Idaea foliis subrotundis exalbidis C.B. Idaea foliis subrotundis major Ger. Vaccinai nigra fructu majore Park The great Bilberry-bush In the same place with the precedent but where the ground is moist and marshy An Additional account of some more rare Plants observ'd to grow in Westmoreland and Cumberland by Mr. Nicolson Arch-deacon of Carlisle Cannabis spuria fl magno albo perelegante About Blencarn in the parish of Kirkland Cumberland Equisetum nudum variegatum minus In the meadows near Great Salkeld and in most of the like sandy grounds in Cumberland Geranium Batrachoides longiùs radicatum odoratum In Mardale and Martindale Westm Hesperis Pannonica inodora On the banks of the Rivulets about Dalehead in Cumberland and Grassmire im Westmoreland
Biwell which in the reign of King John was the Barony of Hugh Balliol for which he stood oblig'd to pay to the Ward of Newcastle upon Tine thirty Knights Services Below this Castle there is a most comely Weare A Weare for catching of Salmons and in the middle of the river stand two firm Pillars of stone which formerly supported a Bridge Hence Tine runs under Prudhow-Castle in old writings Prodhow Prudhow which is pleasantly seated on the ridge of a hill This till I am better inform'd I shall guess to be Protolitia Protolitia which is also written Procolitia and was the station of the first Cohort of the Batavi 'T is famous for gallantly maintaining it self in the days of Henry the second against the siege of William King of Scots who as Nubrigensis expresses it toil'd himself and his Army to no purpose Afterwards it belong'd to the l The first of this family I meet with was Gilbert of whom the Historian gives this honourable character Ipso quoque tempore i. Anno 1245. obiit quidam praeclarus Baro partium Angliae Borealium custos flos singularis scilicet Gilebertus de Humfranvilla parvulum quendam relinquâ—â— haeredem Cujus Custodiam statim concessit Rex Comiti Legrecestriae c. Sir Robert Umfravil was Sheriff of the county in the 46th and 51st years of Edw. 3. and in the 2d and 6th of Hen. 4. Another Sir Robert Umfravil a younger son I think to the said Sheriff was Vice-Admiral of England A. D. 1410. and brought such plenty of Prizes in cloth corn and other valuable commodities from Scotland that he got the by-name of Robin Mend-market J. Stow in Hen. 4. Umfranvils Umfranvils an eminent Family out of which Sir Gilbert a Knight in the reign of Edward the first was in right of his wife made Earl of Angus in Scotland The true heiress of the blood as our Lawyers express it was at length married into the family of the Talboys and after that this Castle was by the King's bounty conferr'd upon the Duke of Bedford But to return to the Wall Beyond S. Oswald's the Foundations of the two Forts which they call Castle-steeds are to be seen in the Wall and then a place call'd Portgate Portgate where as the word in both Languages fairly evinces there was formerly a Gate or Sally-port through it Beneath this and more within the Wall stands Halton-hall the present seat of the ancient and valourous family of the m This family has been a good while in this County William Carnaby Esq having been Sheriff of it in the 7th year of Hen. 6. But 't is likely it came from Carnaby near Bridlington in the East-Riding of York shire Carnabies and hard by Aidon-Castle which was part of the Barony of the fore-mention'd Hugh Balliol Now since a great many places on the Wall bear the name of Aidon Aidon and the same word in the British tongue signifies a Military Wing Ala militaris or Troop of Horse many whereof were as the Liber Notitiarum teaches us placed along the Wall let the Reader consider whether these places have not thence had their names as other Towns had that of Leon where Legions or whole Regiments were quarter'd However near this place was digg'd up a piece of an old stone wherein was drawn the pourtraiture of a Man lying on his bed leaning upon his left hand and touching his right knee with his right together with the following Inscriptions NORICI AN. XXX ESSOIRVS MAGNVS FRATER EIVS DVPL ALAE SABINIANAE M. MARI VS VELLI A LONG VS AQVI S HANC POSVIT V. S. L. M. Beyond the Wall rises the river Pont and running down by Fenwick-hall the seat of the eminent and valiant family of the Fenwicks Fenwick for some miles fronts the Wall and had its banks guarded by the first Cohort of the Cornavii at Pons Aelii Pons Aelii built by the Emperour Aelius Hadrianus and now called Pont-Eland Pont-eland Here Henry the third concluded a peace with the King of Scots in the year 1244. and near it the first Cohort of the Tungri lay at Borwick Borwick which the Notitia Provinciarum calls Borcovicus Borcovicus From Port-gate the Wall runs to Waltown which from the agreeableness of the name and its twelve miles distance from the eastern sea I take to be the same Royal Borough which Bede calls n In the Saxon at wallâ— Ad murum Ad mâ—â—â—â— where Segebert King of the East-Saxons was baptiz'd into the Christian Church by o Holland rightly observes that Sigebert was baptiz'd by Finanus who also at the same place baptiz'd Peada King of the Mercians together with his whole train of Courtiers and Attendants Bede lib. 3. cap. 21. Paulinus Near this is a Fort call'd Old Winchester Oâ—d â—â—â—chester which I readily believe to be Vindolana Vinâ—oâ—â—â—â— where as the Liber Notitiarum says the fourth Cohort of the Galli kept a Frontier-garrison Thence we went to Routchester where we met with evident remains of a square Camp joyning close to the Wall Near this is Headon which was part of the Barony of p In an original Charter dated the first year of K. Stephen conveying some Lands to the Church of Winchester subsign'd by a great many Barons we have Signum Walteri de Bolebec Bar. Seld. Tit. of Hon. par 2. c. 5. p 571. One Isabel de Bolebec Countess of Oxford first founded a Covent of Dominicans in that City for which the University had no reason to reverence her memory Hugh de Bolebec who by the mother B â—â—â—y 〈◊〉 was descended from the noble Barons of Mont-Fichet and had no other issue than daughters marry'd to Ralph Lord Greistock J. Lovell Huntercomb and Corbet And now near the meeting of the Wall and Tine Nâ—wcaâ—â—â—â— upâ—n 〈◊〉 stands Newcastle the glory of all the Towns in this Country 'T is enobled by a Haven on the Tine which is of that depth as to carry vessels of very good burthen and of that security that they are in no hazard of either storms or shallows g It s situation is climbing and very uneven on the northern bank of the river which is cross'd by a very fair bridge As you enter the town from hence you have on the left hand the Castle overtopping you and thereafter a very steep brow of a hill On the right you have the Market-place and the best built part of the Town from which to the upper and far larger part the ascent is a little troublesome 'T is beautified with four Churches r and defended by exceeding strong walls wherein are seven gates and a great many turrets What it was anciently is not yet discover'd I am very inclinable to think 't was Gabrosentum since Gateshead which is as it were its suburbs is a word of the same signification with that British name deriv'd from Goats as has been
to him King Aelfred was under a necessity of coming to Terms with them and so he and they divided the Land assign'd it to the Danes who within a few years were thrown out by Athelstane Yet even after this the People made a King of Eilric the Dane who was forthwith expell'd by King Ealdred Henceforward the name of King was no more heard of in this Province but its chief Magistrates were call'd Earls whereof these following are successively reckon'd by our Historians Osulph Oslac Edulph Waldeof the Elder Uchtred Adulph Alred Siward Tostius Edwin Morcà r and Osculph Amongst these Siward was a person of extraordinary valour who as he liv'd so he chose to dye in his Armour Ingulph p. 511. b. An. 1056. His County of York was given to Tostius Brother to Earl Harold and the Counties of Northampton and Huntingdon with his other lands bestow'd on the noble E. Waldeof his son and heir I have here given you the very words of Ingulphus because there are some who deny that he was Earl of Huntingdon To this let me also add what I have met with on the same subject in an old Parchment Manuscript in the Library of John Stow a most worthy Citizen and industrious Antiquary of the City of London Copsi being made Earl of Northumberland by William the Conquerour dispossess'd Osculph who nevertheless soon after slew him Afterwards Osculph himself was stabb'd by a Robber and dy'd of the wound Then Gospatrick bought the County of the Conquerour by whom he was also presently divested of the Honour and was succeeded by Waldeof the son of Siward He lost his head and was succeeded by Walcher Bishop of Durham who as well as his successor Robert Comin was slain in an insurrection of the Rabble mm The title was afterwards conferr'd on Robert Mowbray who destroy'd himself by his own wicked Treason 10 When he devis'd to deprive King William Rufus of his Royal Estate and to advance Stephen Earl of Albemarle a son to the Conqueror's sistâ—r thereunto Then as the Polychronicon of Durham tells us King Stephen made Henry the son of David King of Scots Eâ—rl of Northumberland and his son William who was also himself afterwards King of Scots wrote himself William de Warren Earl of Northumberland for his mother was of the family of the Earls of Warren as appears by the Book of Brinkburn-Abbey Within a few years after Richard the first sold this County to Hugh Pudsey Bishop of Durham for life but when that King was imprison'd by the Emperour in his return from the Holy War and Hugh advanc'd only two thousand pounds in silver towards his ransom Lib. Dunelm the King took this slender contribution so ill knowing that under colour of this ransom he had rais'd vast sums that he depriv'd him of the Earldom At present that Honour is enjoy'd by the family of the Percies Percies descended from Charles the Great who being descended from the Earls of Brabant got the sirname and inheritance of the Percies together which was done by the true Off-spring of Charles the Great by Gerberg daughter to Charles younger brother of Lotharius the last King of France of the Caroline stock Josceline younger son of Godfrey Duke of Brabant who marry'd Agnes daughter and sole heir of William Percie This William's great grandfather call'd also William Percie came into England with William the Conquerour who bestow'd on him lands in Tatcaster Linton Normanby and other places This Agnes covenanted with Josceline that he should take upon him the name of Percie but should still retain the ancient Arms of Brabant which were a Lion Azure chang'd afterwards by the Brabanters in a Field Or. The first of this family that was made Earl of Northumberland was Henry Percie the son of Mary daughter of Henry Earl of Lancaster This Noble-man signaliz'd his valour in the wars under Edward the third and was by him rewarded with large Possessions in Scotland He was very much enrich'd by his second wife Matilda Lucy who oblig'd him to bear the Arms of the Lucies and by Richard the second was created Earl of Northumberland His behaviour was very ungrateful to this his great Benefactor for he deserted him in his straits and help'd Henry the fourth to the Crown He had the Isle of Man bestow'd on him by this King 11 Who also made him Constable of England against whom he also rebell'd being prick'd in Conscience at the unjust deposing of King Richard and vex'd at the close confinement of the undoubted Heir of the Crown Edmund Mortimer Earl of March his kinsman 12 Grievously complaining and charging him King Henry with Perjury That whereas he had solemnly sworn to him and others that he would not challenge the Crown but only his own Inheritance and that King Richard should be govern'd during his life by the good Advice of the Peers of the Realm he to the contrary had by imprisonment and terrour of death enforc'd him to resign his Crown and usurp'd the same by the concurrence of his faction horribly murdering the said King and defrauding Edward Mortimer Earl of March of his lawful right to the Crown whom he had suffer'd to languish long in prison under Owen Glendowr reputing those Traytors who with their own money had procur'd his enlargement Hereupon he first sent some Forces against him under the command of his brother Thomas Earl of Worcester and his own forward son Henry sirnam'd Whot-spur who were both slain in the battel at Shrewsbury Upon this he was attainted of High-Treason but presently receiv'd again into the seeming favour of the King who indeed stood in awe of him He had also his estate and goods restor'd him except only the Isle of Man which the King took back into his own hand Yet not long after the popular and heady man again proclaim'd war against the King as an Usurper having call'd in the Scots to his assistance And now leading on the Rebels in person he was surpriz'd by Thomas Rokesby High-Sheriff of York shire at Barham-moor where in a confused skirmish his Army was routed and himself slain in the year 1408. Eleven years after Henry the fifth by Act of Parliament restor'd the Honour to Henry Percie his Grandchild by his son Henry Whotspurre whose mother was Elizabeth the daughter of Edmund Mortimer the elder Earl of March by Philippa the daughter of Lionel Duke of Clarence This Earl stoutly espoused the interest of Henry the sixth against the House of York and was slain in the Battel of St Albans His son Henry the third Earl of Northumberland who married Eleanor the daughter of Richard Baron of Poynings Brian and Fitz-Paine lost his life in the same quarrel at Towton in the year 1461. When the House of Lancaster and with it the Family of the Percies was now under a cloud King Edward the fourth created John Nevis Lord Montacute Earl of Northumberland but he quickly resign'd that Title being made
Falkirk but we need not here be particular in the Description of it designing a separate discourse upon that subject at the end of this Kingdom SELGOVAE BEneath the Gadeni to the South and West where now lie the small Territories of Liddesdale Eusdale Eskdale Annandale and Nidisdale q To which add Wachopdale so called from Rivulets running through them which all lose themselves in Solway-Frith were anciently seated the Selgovae the reliques of whose name seem to me whether to others too I knâ—w not to remain in the name Solway IN Liddesdale â—â—ddâ—sâ—â—â—e we have a high prospect of Armitage so called because anciently dedicated to a solitary life But now it is a very strong Castle which belonged to the Hepburnes who deduce their Original from a certain English Captive whom the Earl of March for delivering him out of a danger much enriched They were Earls of Bothwell â—â—rls of â—â—thwell and for a long time Admirals of Scotland by inheritance But by a sister of James Earl of Bothwell last of the Hepburnes â—â—pburnes married to John Prior of Coldingham a natural son of K. James 5. who had several such issue both title and estate devolved to his son Hard by is Brakensey â—â—akensey the seat of the warlike Family of Baclugh â—â—â—d â—â—clugh sirnamed Scot with many other little Forts of men of Arms up and down the Country In Eusdale Eusdale I should be apt to think from the affinity of the name that the ancient Uzellum Uzellum mentioned by Ptolemy lay upon the River Euse In Eskdale Eskdale some are of opinion that the Horesti Horesti dwelt into whose borders Julius Agricola after he had subdued the Britains that inhabited this Tract led the Roman Army especially if we read Horesci for Horesti For the British Ar-Esc signifies a place by the River Eske As for Aesica in Eskdale I have spoken of it before in England and need not repeat it here a ANNANDALE JOined to this on the west-side lies Annandale Annandale that is the Valley or Dale upon the river Annan into which the access by land is very difcult The places of greatest note are a Castle upon Lough-Maban Lough-Maban which is three parts surrounded with water and strongly walled And Annandale Town almost upon the very mouth of the river Annan divested of all its glory by the English War in the reign of Edward 6. In this Territory the Jonstons The Jonstons are men of greatest name a family born for Wars between whom and the Maxwells who by ancient right preside over the Stewartry The Stewartry of Annandale for so 't is term'd there hath been too long an open enmity and defiance even to bloodshed This Valley Edgar King of the Scots upon his restoration to his Kingdom by the Auxiliaries he had out of England gave for his good services to Robert Brus The Bruses Lord of Cleaveland in the County of York who bestowed it by the King's permission upon Robert his younger son being unwilling himself to serve the King of Scots in his Wars From him are branched the Bruses Lords of Annandale of whom Robert Bruse married Isabella the daughter of William King of Scots by the daughter of Robert Avenel his son likewise Robert the third of that name married the daughter of David Earl of Huntingdon and Garioth whose son Robert sirnamed the Noble upon the failure of the issue of Alexander the third King of Scotland challenged in his mother's right the Kingdom of Scotland before Edward I. K. of England as the direct and superior Lord of the Kingdom of Scotland as the English give out or as an Honorary Arbitrator as the Scots will have it as being more nearly related in degree and bloud to King Alexander the third and to Margaret daughter to the King of Norway although a second sister's son Who soon after resigning up his own right granted and gave over to his son Robert Brus Earl of Carrick and to his heirs I speak out of the very Original all the right and claim which he had or might have to the Kingdom of Scotland But the point was determined in favour of John Baliol who sued for his right as descended from the eldest sister though in a more remote degree in these words Because the person more remote in the second degree descending in the first line is to be preferred before a nearer in the second line in the succession of an inheritance that cannot be parted Nevertheless the said Robert son to the Earl of Carriot by his valour possess'd himself of the Kingdom and establish'd it in his posterity A Prince who as he was illustrious for his glorious Actions so did he successfully triumph over Fortune so often his Adversary with a courage and presence of mind invincible b NIDISDALE CLose to Annandale on the West lies Nidisdale abounding in arable and pasture grounds so named from the River Nid The River Nid by Ptolemy falsely written Nobius for Nodius or Nidius of which name there are other Rivers in Britain full of muddy shallows as this Nid is It springs out of the Lake Lough-Cure upon which stood anciently Corda Corda a Town of the Selgovae It takes its course first by Sanqhar a Castle of the Creightons The Creightons Barons of Sanqhar who were long honoured with the Title of Barons of Sanqhar and the authority of hereditary Sheriffs of Nidisdale next by Morton Earls of Morton which gave the Title of Earl to some of the family of Douglass of which others are seated at Drumlanrig upon the same River near the mouth whereof stands Dunfreys Dunfreys between two Hills the most flourishing Town of this Tract which still shews its ancient Castle a Town famous for its woollen Manufacture and remarkable for the murder of John Commin a man of the greatest Interest amongst the Scots whom Robert Brus lest he should oppose his coming to the Crown ran through in the Church and easily got a pardon of the Pope for a murder committed in a sacred place Nearer to its mouth Solway a Village still retains somewhat of the old name of Selgovae Upon the very mouth is situated Caer-Laverock Caer-Laverock Ptolemie's Carbantorigum a Fort looked upon as impregnable when K. Edw. I. accompanied with the flower of the English Nobility besieged and took it But now 't is a weak Mansion-House of the Barons Maxwell who being of ancient Nobility were long Wardens of these Western Marches and lately advanced by a marriage with a Daughter and Coheir of the Earl of Morton whereby John Lord Maxwell was decâ—ared Earl of Morton as also by the Daughter and Heir of Hereis Lord Toricles whom J. a second son took to wife and had by her the title of Baron Hereis Barons Hereis In this valley also upon the lake lies Glencarn Glencaâ—â— of which the Cunninghams about whom I shall speak
the river Dea mentioned by Ptolemy which yet keeps its name being call Dee is Kircowbright â—â—â—cowâ—â—â—ght the most convenient haven of this Coast and one of the Stewartries of Scotland which belongs to the Maxwells Then Cardines a Fort upon the river Fleet built upon a craggy and high rock and fortify'd with strong Walls Hard by the river Ken by Ptolemy Jena but corruptly falls into the Sea Next Wigton a Port with a very narrow entrance between the two streams Baiidnoo and Crea reckoned among the Sheriffdoms over which * Agnew ex Insula Agnew of the Isle presides It formerly had for its Earl Archibald Douglas famous in the French War and now hath by the favour of King James John Fleming who derives his pedigree from the ancient Earls of Wigton Earls of Wigton Near this Ptolemy fixes the City Leucopibia Leutopibia which I know not really where to look for Yet by the place it should seem to be that Episcopal See of Ninian which Bede calls Candida Casa and the English and Scots in the same sence a It is in Saxon Hwit-erne the latter part erne in Saxon signifying any sort of vessel and so our English word Ink-horn called by our Northern men Inkern originally implies no more than a vessel in general for ink Whit-herne What then if Ptolemy as he did usually translate Candida Casa Candida Casa which was the name the Britains gave it into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek that is white Houses instead of which the Transcribers have obtruded Leucopibia upon us In this place Ninia or Ninian St. Ninian the Britain a holy man the first that instructed the Southern Picts in the Christian Faith in the reign of Theodosius the Younger had his residence and built a Church dedicated to St. Martin the form whereof as Bede observes was contrary to the British buildings The same Author tells us that the English in his time held this Country and when the number of the Faithful encreased an Episcopal See was erected at this Candida Casa A little higher there is a Peninsula with the Sea insinuating it self on both sides which by a narrow neck is joyned to the main land This is properly call'd Novantum Chersonessus and Promontorium Novantum Promontorium commonly the Mull of Galloway Beyond this Northward is an open Bay full of Islands and of a mighty compass into which abundance of rivers on all sides have their influx But first of all from the very point of the Promontory Abravanus which being a little misplac'd is so termed by Ptolemy for Aber-ruanus that is the mouth of the river Ruan For at this time 't is call'd the river Rian and the Lake out of which it runs Lough-Rian admirably well stockt with herrings and a sort of * Saxatiles pisces Gudgeons This Galloway had its own Princes and Lords Lâ—rds of Galloway in ancient times of whom the first recorded in Chronicle was Fergusius in the reign of Henry the first of England who gave for his Arms A Lion Rampant Argent crowned Or in a Shield Azure After many Troubles he had raised he was driven to such streights by King Malcolm as to give his Son Uchtred for an hostage and being grown weary of the world to take upon himself the habit of a Canon at Holyrood House at Edenborough As for Uchtred Gilbert his younger brother took him Prisoner in a fight and after he had cut out his Tongue and pulled out his Eyes most miserably deprived him both of life and estate But within some few years after Gilbert was dead Roland the Son of Uchtred recovered his father's inheritance who of a sister of William Morvill Constable of Scotland begat Alan Lord Galloway and Constable of Scotland Alan by Margaret the eldest daughter of David Earl of Huntingdon had Dervogilda the wife of John Balliol and mother of John Balliol King of Scotland who contended with Robert Brus for that Kingdom and by a former Wife as it seems he had Helen married to Roger Quincy an English man Earl of Winchester who upon that account was Constable of Scotland as was likewise William Ferrers of Groby grand-son of the said Roger by a daughter and coheir But these English soon lost their inheritance in Scotland as also the dignity of Constable which the Commins Earls of Bughuan had Now Gâ—â—loway is an Earâ—dom in the Faâ—â—ly of tâ—â— Stewarâ—â— descended likewise of a daughter of Roger Quincy untill it was transferred unto the Earls of Arrol But b 'T is now an Earldom in the Family of the Stewarts the title of Lord of Galloway fell afterwards to the Family of Douglass a CARRICT CArrict follows next a Country fruitful in pastures and abundantly furnished with commodities both by land and sea Here Ptolemy places both c Probably the same with the bay of Glenluce Rerigonium a creek and Rerigonium a Town For which in a very ancien Copy of Ptolemy printed at Rome in 1480 we have Berigonium Berigonium So that I cannot chuse but think it was that which is now called Bargeny Bargeny A Lord it hath of the Family of the Kennedyes The Kennedyes which came out of Ireland in the reign of Robert Brus noble numerous and powerful in this tract The head of it is Earl of Cassils Earls of Cassils the name of a Castle upon the River Dun which is his seat upon whose banks he hath another call'd Dunnur Castle he is likewise hereditary Bailiff of this Province â—aily of Carrict For this with Kyle and Cunningham are the three Baileries of Scotland because they that govern these with ordinary power and jurisdiction are called Bailiffs a term coin'd in the middle age and signifies amongst the Greeks Sicilians and French a Conservator or Keeper Earls oâ— Carricâ— Lib. Mâ— ros But Carrict in former times had its Earls Not to mention Gilbert of Galloway's Son to whom King William gave Carrict entire to be possessed for ever we read that Adam of Kilconath about 1270 was Earl Carrict and died in the Holy War whose only Daughter Martha fell deeply in love with Robert Brus a beautiful young Gentleman as she saw him a hunting made him her Husband brought him the title and estate of Earl of Carrict and bore him Robert Brus that famous King of Scotland the founder of the royal Line But the title of Earl of Carrict being for some time left to the younger Sons of the Family of Brus afterwards became an addition to the other Honors of the Princes of Scotland KYLE KYle is next lying more inwardly upon the Bay a plentiful Country and well inhabited An. 750. In Bede's Auctarium or Supplement it is called Campus Cyel and Coil where it is recorded that Eadbert King of the Northumbers added this with other Territories to his Kingdom In Ptolemy's time d Now possibly called Loch-Rian Vidogara Nidogara was a
and although some of the Churches are defaced yet wants it not its beauties so divided too that almost every street is inhabited by a several trade apart and is furnished by the Tay every tide with commodities from sea in their light Vessels b. It gives the Title of Earl to the Family of Perth chief of the name of Drommonâ— Upon it J. Johnston so often mentioned PERTHUM Propter aquas Tai liquidas amoena vireta Obtinet in medio regna superba solo Nobilium quondam Regum clarissima sedes Pulchra situ pinguis germine dives agri Finitimis dat jura locis morémque modúmque Huic dare laus illis haec meruisse dari Sola inter patrias incincta est moenibus urbes Hostibus assiduis ne vaga praeda foret Quanta virum virtus dextrae quae praemia nôrunt Cimber Saxo ferox genus Hectoridum Felix laude novâ felix quoque laude vetustâ Perge recens priscum perpetuare decus Near Tay's great stream amongst delightful plains Majestick Perth in royal splendour reigns For lofty Courts of antient Kings renown'd Fair is the site and ever rich the ground Hence laws and manners neighb'ring parts receive Their praise 't is to deserve and hers to give No walls like her her sister towns can show Which guard her riches from the bord'ring foe How stout her Knights what noble spoils they won The Britains Saxons and the Danes have known Renown'd in eldest and in latest days Oh! may her glories with her years encrease And new deserts advance her antient praise And now lately King James 6. hath advanced Perth to an Earldom upon his creating James Baron Dromond Earl of Perth Earl of Perth Near Perth is Methven Barâ—â— Methven which Margaret of England Dowager to King James 4. purchased with ready money for her third husband Henry Stewart of the Blood Royal and his Heirs and withal obtained of her son James 5. the dignity of a Baron for him A little lower is Rethven a Castle of the Rethvens Râ—â—hven on Râ—eâ—erâ— a name to be accursed and raz'd out of all memorials since the States of the Kingdom past a decree that all of that name should lay it down and take a new one after that the Rethvens Brothers in an execrable and horrid conspiracy had plotted the murther of the best of Princes James 6. who had created their father William Earl of Gowry but afterwards upon his going insolently to prescribe Laws to his Sovereign and being convicted of High Treason beheaded him But I may seem to have said too much of persons condemned to eternal oblivion and yet the mentioning such wicked generations may be of use to caution posterity As for Gowry Gowry so much celebrated for its Corn-fields and the excellency of its soil it lyes along the other side of the Tay being a more level country In this Tract over against Perth on the farther side of Tay stands Scone Sâ—â—ne a famous Monastery in times past and honoured with the Coronation of the Kings of Scotland ever since King Keneth having hard by made a general slaughter of the Picts placed a stone here enclosed in a wooden chair for the Inauguration of the Kings of Scotland It had been transported out of Ireland into Argile and King Edw. 1. of England caused it to be convey'd to Westminster Concerning which I have inserted this Prophecy so common in every man's mouth since it hath now proved true as few of that sort do Ni fallat fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Inveniunt lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem Or Fate 's deceiv'd and heaven decrees in vain Or where they find this stone the Scots shall reign Now by the special favour of King James Scone gives the title of Baron to c He erected here stately buildings which are possessed by his heirs under the title of Vicounts of Stormont Theatr. Scotiae p. 46. David Murray Where the Tay now grown larger dilates it self Arrol Arrol hangs over it the seat of the noble Earls of Arrol Earls of Arrol they have been hereditary High Constables of Scotland ever since the Bruses times and deduce their original which is certainly very antient from one Hay a man of prodigious strength and courage who together with his sons in a dangerous battle against the Danes at Longcarty catching up an Ox-yoke by fighting valiantly and encouraging others rallied the retreating Scots so as they got the day Which victory and deliverance both the King and the States ascrib'd to his singular valour Whereupon several excellent lands were assign'd hereto him and his posterity who in testimony of this action have set a Yoke for their Crest over their Coat of Arms 13 Three Escutcheons gules in Argent As for Huntley-Castle Huntley-Castle hard by I have nothing to write of it but that it has given name to a very great and honourable family of which hereafter g ANGVS UPon the aestuary of the Tay and up a little way within it along the North-Eske lyes Angus called by the genuine Scots Aeneia extending it self into fields bearing wheat and all other sorts of grain large hills lakes forests pastures and meadows and beautified with several sorts and castles In the first entrance into it from Gowry stands Glamis â—â—o Glaâ—â—â— a Castle and the Barony of a Family sirnamed Lyons which have been famous ever since J. Lyon a great favourite of King Robert 2. received this and the dignity of a Baron with the King's daughter in Marriage and therewith as I find written the sirname of Lyon with a Lyon in his Arms within a Treassure Floury â—e shield 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 and â—reassure â—â—ry B. as the Kings themselves bear but in different colours Patrick now Lord Glamis very lately obtained the honour of Earl of Kinghorn from King James 6. At a little distance is Forfar â—isdom 〈◊〉 â—orfâ—r where for the administration of Justice the Barons Greies are hereditary Sheriffs 〈◊〉 â—ry who are descended from the Greies of Chillingham in Northumberland and came into Scotland with King James 1. when he returned out of England Upon the first of whom nam'd Andrew the King bountifully conferr'd the Lordship of Foulis with Helena Mortimer for his Wife â—â—ndee 〈◊〉 â—tene 〈◊〉 verb. â—â—if Near the Tay's mouth is Dundee d This Town has a good Trade fine buildings and an Hospital for the poor At present it gives the Title of Marquiss to the chief Family of the Grahams which the antients called Alectum others Taodunum a town well frequented and whose Constable by a peculiar privilege is Standard-bearer to the Kings of Scotland Hector Boetius â—â—â—tor â—â—â—tius who was here born expounds the name Dundee Donum Dei by allusion This person in that age when learning began again to flourish wrote an elegant history of Scotland out of such hidden monuments of Antiquity that Paulus Jovius wonder'd there should be
the honour of the Earl of Huntley from K. James the second in the year 1449. l MVRRAY BEyond the mountain Grampius which by a continual range of close join'd hills as it were extends its ridge with many risings and sinkings to this very country the Vacomagi in ancient times had their habitation upon the Bay of Vararis Vacomagi Sinus Vararis where now Murray Murray Frith lies in Latin Moravia noted for its fertility pleasantness and profitable product of fruit-trees The Spey a noble river opens a passage through this countrey into the sea wherein it lodges it self after it hath watered Rothes Castle whence the Family of Lesley derive their title of Earl ever since K. James the 2d advanced Geo. Lesley to the honour of Earl of Rothes Of this Spey thus our Poet Necham Spey loca mutantis praeceps agitator arenae Inconstans certas nescit habere vias Officium lintris corbis subit hunc regit audax Cursus labentis nauta fluenta sequens Great Spey drives forward with impetuous force Huge banks of sand and knows no certain course Here for a boat an Osier-pannier row'd By some bold peasant glides along the flood The river Loxa mentioned by Ptolemy now call'd Losse hides it self hard by in the sea Near this we have a sight of Elgin in which as also in Forres adjoining J. Dunbar of Cumnock descended from the House of the Earls of March does justice as hereditary Sheriff But when it is now ready to enter the sea it finds a more plain and soft soil and spreads it self into a lake well stored with Swans wherein the Herb Olorina grows plentifully Here upon it stands Spiny Barons Spiny Castle of which Alexander of the House of Lindsay is now the first Baron As also Kinloss Baâ—on Kinloss a near neighbour formerly a famous Monastery call'd by some Kill-flos from certain flowers there miraculously springing up on a sudden where the corps of King Duff murdered and here hidden was first found * In the year 972. hath for its Lord Edward Brus Master of the Rolls in England and one of His Majestie 's Privy Council created by K. James the 6th Baron Brus of Kinloss a Now Earls of Elgin Thus much for the shore More inward where Bean Castle now stands look'd upon to be that Banatia Banatia mentioned by Ptolemy there was found in the year 1460 a Marble Vessel very finely engraved and full of Roman coins Hard by is Nardin or Narne Narne Sheriffdom an Hereditary Sheriffdom of the Cambells of Lorn where in a Peninsula there stood a fort of a mighty height built with wonderful works and formely held by the Danes A little off is Logh-Nesse a very large lake three and twenty miles long the water whereof is so warm that even in this cold and frozen climate it never freezes from this by a very small Isthmus of hills the Logh Lutea or Lothea which by Aber lets it self into the western Ocean is divided Upon these lakes there stood anciently two noted fortifications called from the loghs one Innerness the other Innerlothy Innerness hath the Marquess of Huntley for its hereditary Sheriff who hath a large Jurisdiction hereabout * See thâ— Additions But take here what J. Johnston writes upon these two places INNERNESS and INNERLOCHY Imperii veteris duo propugnacula quondam Primaque regali moenia structa manu Turribus oppositis adverso in limine spectant Haec Zephyrum Solis illa orientis equos Amnibus hinc atque hinc cincta utique piscibus amnes Foecundi haec portu perpete tuta patet Haec fuit at jacet heu jam nunc sine nomine tellus Hospita quae Regum est hospita facta feris Altera spirat adhuc tenuis sufflamina vitae Quae dabit fati turbine victa manus Dic ubi nunc Carthago potens ubi Martia Roma Trojaque immensae ditis opes Asiae Quid mireris enim mortalia cedere fatis Corpora cum videas oppida posse mori Two stately forts the realm's old guardians stood The first great walls of royal builders prov'd Their lofty turrets on the shores were shown One to the rising one the setting sun All round well stock'd with fish fair rivers lay And one presents a safe and easie bay Such once it was but now a nameless place Where Princes lodg'd the meanest cattel graze T'other survives and faintly breaths as yet But must e're long submit to conqu'ring fate Where 's haughty Carthage now with all her power Where 's Rome and Troy that rul'd as great before Where the vast riches of the Asian shore No wonder then that we frail men should die When towns themselves confess mortality In the reign of K. Robert Brus Thomas Randolph his sister's son a person that took infinite pains for his country and met with much opposition was very famous under the title of Earl of Murray Eâ—rlâ— of â—â—â—ray In the reign of K. Rob. 2. John de Dunbar had the King's daughter and with her the Earldom of Murray as an amends for her lost virginity Under K. James the 2d William Creichton Lord Chancellor of the Kingdom and Archibald Douglass had a violent contest for this Earldom when against the laws and ancient customs of the Realm Douglass who had married the younger daughter of James de Dunbar Earl of Murray was preferr'd before Creichton who had married the elder by the power and great interest that William Earl Douglass had with the King which was so very great that he did not only advance this brother to the Earldom of Murray but another brother likewise to the Earldom of Ormond and two of his Cousins to the Earldoms of Angus and Morton But this his greatness a thing never to be trusted to when so exorbitant was his ruin soon after Under King James the 5th his own brother whom he had constituted Vicegerent of the Kingdom enjoyed this honour And within our memory James a natural son of K. James the 5th had this honour conferr'd upon him by his sister Qu. Mary who ill requited her when having gotten some few of the Nobility on his side he deposed her a most wicked precedent for crowned Heads But the punishment of heaven soon fell upon him being quickly after shot through with a musquet bullet His only daughter brought this title to her husband James Steward of Down descended of the Blood Royal to wit of the Dukes of Albany who being slain by some that envied him left behind him his son James his successor in this honour m LOQHVABRE ALl that tract of land beyond the Nesse which bends down to the western coast and joins to the lake Aber is thence called Loghuabre that is in the ancient British Tongue The Mouth of the Lakes That which lies towards the northern coast Rosse Loghuabre abounds much in pastures and woods and hath some veins of iron but very little produce of corn It
is inferior to none for its lakes and rivers admirably well stock'd with fish Upon Logh-lothy stands Innerlothy 〈…〉 strengthned with a fort and formerly of much note occasioned by the great resort of Merchants thither but having been ruined by the depredations and insults of the Danes and Norwegians it hath been so abandoned and disused for many ages that there scarce remains now any appearance of it which is intimated in the verses I produced a little above I never yet read of any Earls that Loghuabre hath had â—â—qhuo â—ne of 〈◊〉 but about the year 1050 of one Banqhuo a most noted Thane made away by Macbeth the Bastard after by murder and blood-shed he had seized the Kingdom out of fear and jealousie For he had found by a prophecy of certain â—â—agaâ— Witches that the time would come when after Macbeth's line was expired Banqhuo's posterity should one day obtain the Kingdom and by a long succession reign in Scotland Which indeed fell out accordingly For Fleanch Banqhuo's son who unknown in the dark escaped the snares that were laid for him fled into Wales where for some time he kept himself close and having afterwards married Nesta the daughter of Griffith ap Llewelin Prince of North-Wales he begat Walter who returning into Scotland The Original of the family of Stewart suppress'd the rebellion of the Islanders with the reputation of so much bravery and managed the King's revenues in these parts with so great prudence that the King made him Stewart of the whole Kingdom of Scotland Whereupon this name of an Office gave the sirname of Stewart to his posterity which spreading through all parts of Scotland in many noble branches being advanced to several honours hath long flourished there Three hundred and thirty years ago Robert Stewart a descendant of this House in right of Marjorie his mother daughter of K. Robert Brus obtained the Kingdom of Scotland And now lately James Stewart the 6th of that name King of Scotland in right of Margaret his Great Grandmother daughter of Henry the 7th by the divine appointment of the ruler of all things with the general applause of all Nations is advanced to the Monarchy of Great-Britain 15 And the Isles adjacent ROSSE ROsse so call'd from an old Scottish word which some interpret a Promontory others a Peninsula was inhabited by a people called Cantae 〈◊〉 Canâ—â— which term in effect intimates as much in Ptolemy's time This extends it self to such a wideness that it hath a prospect of both Oceans On that side where it looks upon the Vergivian or western Ocean it rises up in many swelling mountains with woods here and there full of stags roebucks fallow deer and wild fowl On the other side next the German sea it is more fruitful having much corn and meadow grounds and is much better cultivated 〈◊〉 â—are◠〈◊〉 â—â—naâ—â— In the very entrance into it Ardmanoch no small territory which gives the title of Baron to the second sons of the Kings of Scotland shoots up in very high mountains always covered with snow I have been told by some persons very strange stories of their heighth The heighth of hills and the depth of the sea Plutarch in P. Aemil concerning Olympus and yet the ancient Geometricians have written that neither the depth of the sea nor the heighth of the mountains exceed by line and level 10 stadia that is a mile and a quarter Which notwithstanding they that have beheld Tenariff amongst the Canary Islands 15 leagues high and have sailed in the neighbouring sea will by no means admit for a truth In these parts stands Lovet a Castle and Barony of the noble family of the Frasers made Barons as 't is reported by K. James 2d for the singular services they had done the Crown of Scotland Which family in a quarrel had been entirely extinguished by the Clan Ranalds a most bloody people had not fourscore of the principal of them by the providence of God left their wives big with child at home who being delivered of so many sons renewed and restored it At Nesse-mouth stood Chanonry formerly a noted place so called from a rich College of Canons in the flourishing times of the Church in which there is erected a See for the Bishop of Rosse * Sâ—e the Adâ—itiâ—ns Hard by Cromartie is placed where Urqhuart a Gentleman of noble extraction administers Justice as hereditary Sheriff of this District and this is so commodious and so safe a Harbour for any Fleet though never so great that Mariners and Geographers give it the name of Pertus Salutis Pâ—râ—us Sâ—â—uâ—is or the Haven of safety * S â— the Aâ—ditioâ—â— Above it is Littus Altum Lâ—â—â—us Altum mentioned by Ptolemy called now as it seems Tarbarth for there the shore rises to a great heighth enclosed on one side with Cramer a very secure port on the other with the river Celnius now Killian The River Câ—â—nius Killian And thus much of the places lying towards the Eastern Ocean Into the Western Sea runs the river Longus mentioned by Ptolemy now called Logh-Longas next the Cerones Cerones anciently dwelt where now Assen-shire is a Country divided into several parcels by the breakings in of the sea It would be a very difficult piece of work to make up a perfect succession of the Earls of Ross Eâ—rls of Ross out of the several Historians About 400 years ago Ferqhuard flourished under this title but upon the failure of issue male it came by a daughter to Walter Lesley for his valiant atchievements under Lewis the Emperor deservedly stiled the Noble or Generous Knight by whom he had Alexander Earl of Ross and a daughter married to Donald Lord of the Western Isles This Alexander had issue one only daughter who passed over all her right and title to Robert Duke of Albany which so enrag'd Donald of the Isles that in the reign of James the 3d he proclaimed himself King of the Isles and Earl of Ross and harrassed all the Country round about with fire and sword At length King James the 3d by Authority of Parliament in the year 1476 so firmly annext the Earldom of Ross to the Crown that it might not be lawful for his successors to alienate from it either the Earldom it self or any part thereof or upon any account grant the same to any person but only to the King 's second sons lawfully begotten Whereupon Charles the King's second son Duke of York now uses and enjoys that title SVTHERLAND BEyond Ross lies Sutherland looking towards the German Ocean a countrey more fit for breeding of cattle than bearing of corn Here there are hills of white marble Hills of white Marble a thing very unusual in so cold a climate but it is almost of no use because that excess in buildings and that vain ostentation of riches has not yet reached these remote countreys Here stands Dunrobin
killed with a stone and buried in Iona. 1230. Olave came with Godred Don and the Norwegians to Man and they divided the Kingdom Olave was to have Man Godred being gone to the Isles was slain in Lodhus So Olave came to be sole King of the Isles 1237. On the twelfth of the Calends of June died Olave the son of Godred King of Man in St. Patrick's Isle and was buried in the Abbey of Russin He reigned eleven years two in the life time of his brother and nine after His son Harald then fourteen years old succeeded him and reigned twelve years In the first year of his reign he went to the Isles and made Loglen his Kinsman Keeper of Man In the autumn following Harald sent three sons of Nell viz. Dufgald Thorquel and Molmore and his friend Joseph to Man to consider of affairs Accordingly on the twenty fifth day they met at Tingala where upon a quarrel that then happened between the sons of Nell and Loglen there arose a sore fight on both sides in which Dufgald Mormor and the said Joseph lost their lives In the spring following King Harald came to the Isle of Man and Loglen who fled into Wales with Godred the son of Olave his pupil was cast away with about forty others 1238. Gospatrick and Gillescrist the son of Mac-Kerthac came from the King of Norway into Man and kept out Harald converting the tributes of the Country to the service of the King of Norway because he had refused to appear in person at the Court of that King 1240. Gospatric died and was buried in the Abbey of Russin 1239. Harald went to the King of Norway who after two years confirmed to him his heirs and successors under his Seal all the Islands that his Predecessors had enjoyed 1242. Harald returned out of Norway to Man was honourably received by the Inhabitants and made peace with the Kings of England and Scotland 1247. Harald as his father had been before him was Knighted by the King of England and returned home with many presents The same year the King of Norway sent for him and a match was made between Harald and his daughter In the year 1249 as he was on his voyage home with with her accompanied with Laurence the elect King of Man and many of the Nobility and Gentry he was cast away by a sudden storm near the coasts of Radland 1249. Reginald the son of Olave and brother to Harald began his reign the day before the Nones of May and on the thirtieth day thereof was slain by one Yvar a Knight and his accomplices in a meadow near Trinity Church on the south side His Corps were buried in the Church of S. Mary of Russin Alexander King of Scots prepared a great fleet about this time intending to conquer the Isles but a feavor seized him in the Isle of Kerwaray whereof he died Harald the son of Godred Don assumed the title of King of the Islands banished all the Noblemen that Harald King Olave's son had preferred and instead of them recalled such as were fled from him 1250. Harald the son of Godred Don upon letters mandatory from the King of Norway went to him and was imprisoned for his unjust usurpation The same year Magnus son of Olave and John the son of Dugald who named himself King arrived at Roghalwaht but the people of Man taking it ill that Magnus had not that title beat them off their coast and many of them were cast away 1252. Magnus the son of Olave came to Man and was made King The next year after he went and took a voyage to the Court of Norway and tarried there a year 1254. Haco King of Norway made Magnus the son of Olave King of the Isles confirming them to him and his heirs and expresly to his brother Harald 1256. Magnus King of Man went into England and there was Knighted by the King 1257. The Church of S. Mary of Russin was consecrated by Richard of Sodore 1260. Haco King of Norway came to Scotland and without effecting any thing died in his return to Orkneys at Kirwas and was buried at Bergh 1265. This year died Magnus the son of Olave King of Man and of the Islands at Russin castle and was buried in S. Mary's Church there 1266. The Kingdom of the Isles was translated by means of Alexander King of Scots What follows was written in a different and later Character 1270. On the seventh of October Alexander the King of Scots's navy arrived at Roghalwath and before sun-rise next morning a battle was fought between the Inhabitants of Man and the Scots who slew five hundred thirty five of the former whence that of a certain Poet L. decies X. ter penta duo cecidere Mannica gens de te damna futura cave 1313. Robert King of Scots besieged the castle of Russin which was defended by Dingawy Dowyll and at last took it 1316. Upon Ascension-day Richard de Mandevile and his brothers with others of the Irish Nobility arrived at Ramaldwath desiring a supply of money and victuals being stript of all by continual depredations When the Commonalty denied it they took the field in two bodies against those of Man advancing still till they came to the side of Warthfell-hill in a field where John Mandevile was posted Upon engaging they carried the victory spoiled the Isle and the Abbey of Russin Thus far out of that ancient Book and after a whole months ravagement they returned home full fraught with pillage The end of the Chronicle of the Kings of Man A Continuation of the foregoing History collected out of other Authors ALexander the third King of Scots having made himself master of the Western Islands partly by his sword and partly by purchase from the King of Norway at last invaded Man also as one of that number and by the valiant conduct of Alexander Steward entirely subdued it and set a King over the Isle upon this condition that he should be ready to assist him with ten ships in any of his wars by Sea when ever he demanded them However Mary the daughter of Reginald King of Man who was the Liege-man of John K. of England address'd her self to the King of England for justice in this case Answer was made That the King of Scots was then possess'd of the Island and she ought to apply her self to him Lords of Man Her grandchild by a son John Waldebeof for Mary married into this family notwithstanding this sued again for his right in Parliament held the 33d of Edw. the first urging it there before the King of England as Lord Paramount of Scotland Yet all the answer he could have was as it is in the very Record That he might prosecute his title before the Justices of the King's Bench let it be heard there and let justice be done But what he could not effect by law his kinsmanâ— 1 Sir William Hol. William Montacute for he was of the royal
Trinity appear'd to him saying Why hast thou cast me out of my own Seat and out of the Church of Doun and plac'd there my S. Patrick the Patron of Ireland For John Curcy had expell'd the Secular Canons out of the Cathedral Church of Doun and introduc'd the black Monks of Chester in their room And the Holy Trinity stood there upon a stately Shrine and John himself took it down out of the Church and order'd a Chappel to be built for it setting up the Image of S. Patrick in the great Church which displeas'd the most-high God Wherefore he bid him assure himself he should never set foot in his Seignory again However in regard of other good Deeds he should be deliver'd out of Prison with Honour which happen'd accordingly For a Controversy arising between John King of England and the King of France about a Lordship and certain Castles the King of France offer'd by a Champion to try his Right Upon this the King call'd to mind his valiant Knight John Curcy whom he cast in Prison upon the information of others so he sent for him and ask'd him if he were able to serve him in this Combat John answer'd He would not fight for him but for the Right of the Kingdom with all his Heart which he undertook to do afterwards And so refresh'd himself with Meat Drink and Bathing in the mean while and recover'd his Strength Whereupon a day was appointed for the Engagement of those Champions namely John Curcy and the other But as soon as the Champion of France heard of his great Stomach and mighty Valour he refus'd the Combat and the said Seignory was given to the King of England The King of France then desired to see a Blow of the said Curcy Whereupon he set a strong Helmet * Plenan loricis full of Mail upon a large Block and with his Sword after he had look'd about him in a grim manner struck the Helmet through from the very Crest into the Block so very fast that no one therâ— was able to pull it out till he himself at the request of the twâ— Kings did it easily Then they ask'd him Why he look'd so gruâ— behind him before he struck So he told them If he had fail'd iâ— giving it he would have certainly cut them all off as well Kingâ— as others The Kings made him large Presents and the King of Englanâ— restor'd him also to his Seigniory viz. Ulster John Curcy attempteâ— 15 several times to sail over into Ireland but was always in danger and the Wind cross'd him so he waited awhile among the Monk of Chester and at last sail'd into France and there died MCCV. The Abby of Wetheny in the County of Limerick was founded by Theobald the Son of Walter Butler Lord oâ— Carryk MCCVI. The Order of Friars Minors was begun near the Ciâ—â— Assisa by S. Francis MCCVIII William de Brewes was banish'd out of England anâ— came into Ireland England was interdicted for the Tyranny 〈◊〉 King John A great defeat and slaughter was given at Thurles iâ— Munster by Sir Geffery Mareys to the Lord Chief Justice of Inland's Men. MCCX John King of England came to Ireland with a greâ—â— Fleet and a strong Army and the Sons of Hugh Lacy viz. thâ— Lord Walter Lord of Meth and Hugh his Brother for their Tâ—ranny but particularly for the Murder of Sir John Courson Loâ—â— of Rathenny and Kilbarrock for they had heard that the saâ—â— John accus'd them to the King were driven out of the Nation So they fled into France and serv'd in the Monasteries of S. Taurâ—â— unknown being employ'd in Clay or Brick-work and sometimâ—â— in Gardens as Gardeners But at length they were discover'd bâ— the Abbot who intreated the King on their behalf for he haâ— baptiz'd their Sons and had been as a Father to them in manâ— things So Walter Lacy paid two thousand fâ—ve hundred Markâ— and Hugh Lacy a great Sum of Mony likewise for their Ransom and they were restor'd again to their former Degree and Lordshiâ— by the Abbot's Intercession Walter Lacy brought with him Johâ— the son of Alured i.e. Fitz-Acory Son to the aforesaid Abboâ— whole Brother and Knighted him giving him the Seignory 〈◊〉 Dengle and many others Moreover he brought Monks with hiâ— out of the said Monastery and bestow'd many Farms upon theâ— with the Cell call'd Foury for their Charity Liberality and gooâ— Counsel Hugh Lacy Earl of Ulster built a Cell also for tâ—â— Monks in Ulster and endow'd it in a place call'd John King 〈◊〉 England having taken many Hostages as well of the English as 〈◊〉 the Irish and hang'd a number of Malefactors upon Gibbets aâ—â— setled Affairs return'd into England the same Year MCCXI. Sir Richard Tuyt was crush'd to death by the fall of Tower at Alone He founded the Monastery de Grenard MCCXII The Abby of Grenard was founded This saâ—â— year died John Comyn Archbishop of Dublin and was burieâ— within the Quire of Trinity Church he built S. Patrick's Churâ—â— at Dublin Henry Londres succeeded him sirnam'd Scorch-Villeyâ— from an Action of his For having call'd in his Tenants one daâ— to know by what Tenure they held of him they show'd him the Deeds and Charters to satisfie him whereupon he order'd them to be burnt and hence got the name of Scorch-Villeyn given him by his Tenants This Henry Archbishop of Dublin was Justiciary of Ireland and built Dublin-castle MCCXIII William Petit and Peter Messet departed this life Peter Messet was Baron of Luyn hard by Trim but dying without Heir-male the Inheritance fell to the three Daughters of whom the Lord Vernail married the eldest Talbot the second and Loundres the third who by this means shar'd the Inheritance among them MCCXIX The City of Damieta was miraculously won on the Nones of September about Midnight without the loss of one Christian The same year died William Marshall the Elder Earl Marshal and Earl of Pembrock * The Genealogy â—f the Earl Marshall who by his Wife the Daughter of Richard Strongbow Earl of Strogul had five Sons The eldest was call'd William the second Walter the third Gilbert the fourth Anselm and the fifth Richard who lost his Life in â—he War of Kildare every one of them successively enjoy'd the â—nheritance of their Father and died all without Issue So the Inâ—eritance devolv'd upon the Sisters namely the Daughters of their Father who were Maud Marshall the Eldest Isabel Clare the seâ—ond Eva Breous the third Joan Mount Chensey the fourth and Sibill Countess of Firrars the fifth Maud Marshall was married to Hugh Bigod Earl of Norfolk who was Earl Marshal of England â—n right of his Wife By whom he had Ralph Bigod Father of John Bigod the Son of the Lady Bertha Furnival and * The Widow of Gilbert Lacy. Isabel Lacy Wife to John Lord Fitz-Geffery by whom after the death of Hugh de Bigod Earl of Norfolk she had John de Guaren Earl of Surry
and his Sister Isabel de Albeny Countess of Arundel Isabel the second Sister was married to Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester she had Richard de Clare Earl of Glocester and the Lady Anise Countess of * Perhaps â—evonia Averna â—â—â—e uxoris who was Mother of Isabel the †Mother of the Lord Robert Brus Earl of Carrick in Scotland afterwards King of that Nation â—is place 〈◊〉 corrupâ—â—d From Eva Brus the third Sister descended Maud the Mother of the Lord Edmund Mortimer Mother of the Lady Eva de Cauntelow Mother of the Lady Milsoud de Mohun who was Moâ—â—er to Dame Eleanor Mother to the Earl of Hereford Joan â—arshall the fourth Sister was married to the Lord Guarin of Mount â—hinsey and had Issue Joan de Valens Sybil Countess of Ferâ—â—s the fifth Sister had Issue seven Daughters the eldest call'd â—â—gnes Vescie Mother of the Lord John and the Lord William Vesâ—â—e the second Isabel Basset the third Joan Bohun Wife to the â—ord John Mohun Son of the Lord Reginald the fourth Sibyl â—ohun Wife to the Lord Francis Bohun Lord of Midhurst the fifth Eleanor Vaus Wife to the Earl of Winchester the sixth * Agatha Agas Mortimer Wife to the Lord Hugh Mortimer â—â—e seventh Maud Kyme Lady of Karbry These are all both â—ales and Females the Posterity of the said William Earl Marshal MCCXX. The Translation of S. Thomas of Canterbury The â—â—me year died the Lord Meiler Fitz-Henry founder of Connal â—nd was buried in the Chapter-House of the said Foundation MCCXXIV The Castle of Bedford was besieg'd and the Castle â—f Trim in Ireland MCCXXV Died Roger Pippard and in the year MCCXXVIII â—â—ed William Pippard formerly Lord of the Salmon-leap This â—ear died likewise Henry Londres alias Scorch-Villeyn Archbishop â—f Dublin and was buried in Trinity-church there MCCXXX Henry King of England gave Hubert Burk â—â—e Justiceship and the Third Penny of Kent and â—ade him also Earl of Kent Afterward the same Hubert was â—â—prison'd and great Troubles arose between the King and his â—â—bjects because he adher'd to Strangers more than to his own naâ—â—ral Subjects MCCXXXI William Mareschall the younger Earl Marshal and â—arl of Pembrock departed this life and was buried in the Quire â—f the Friers Predicants in Kilkenny MCCXXXIV Richard Earl Mareschall Earl of Pembrock and â—rogull was wounded in a Battel in the Plain of Kildare on the â—â—st day before the Ides of April and some few days after died in Kilkeny and there was buried hard by his * Girmanum natural Brother viz. William in the Quire of the Friers Predicants Of whom this was written Cujus sub fossa Kilkennia continet ossa MCCXL Walter Lacy Lord of Meth died this year in Engâ—â—nd leaving two Daughters to inherit his Estate of whom the â—â—rst was married to Sir Theobald Verdon and the second to Gefâ—ery de Genevile MCCXLIII This year died Hugh Lacy Earl of Ulster and â—as buried in Cragsergus in the Convent of the Friers Minors â—eaving a Daughter who was married to Walter Burk Earl of Ulster The same year died Lord Gerald Fitz-Maurice and Lord â—ichard de Burgo MCCXLVI An Earthquake about nine of the Clock over all â—he West MCCXLVIII Sir John Fitz-Geffery came Lord Justiciary into â—reland MCCL. Lewis King of France and William Long-Espee were â—aken Prisoners with many others by the Saracens In Ireland Maccanewey a Son of Belial was slain in Leys as he deserv'd In the year MCCLI. The Lord Henry Lacy was born Upon Christmas-day likewise Alexander King of Scots in the 11th year of his Age was then contracted with Margaret the daughter of the King of England at York MCCLV Alan de la Zouch was made and came Justiciary into Ireland MCCLVII This year died the Lord Maurice Fitz-Gerald MCCLIX Stephen Long-Espee came Justiciary into Ireland The green Castle in Ulster was demolish'd William Dene was made Justiciary of Ireland MCCLXI The Lord John Fitz-Thomas and the Lord Maurice his Son were slain in Desmond by Mac Karthy Item William Dene Justiciary dy'd and Sir Richard Capel put in his room the same year MCCLXII Richard Clare Earl of Glocester died this year as also Martin de Maundevile on the morrow of S. Bennet's day MCCLXIV Maurice Fitz-Gerald and Maurice Fitz-Maurice took Prisoners Richard Capel the Lord Theobald Botiller and the Lord John Cogan at Tristel-Dermot MCCLXVII David de Barry was made Justiciary of Ireland MCCLXVIII Comin Maurice Fitz-Maurice was drown'd The Lord Robert Ufford was made Justiciary of Ireland MCCLXIX The Castle of Roscoman was begun this year Richard of Exeter was made Justiciary MCCLXX The Lord James de Audley came Justiciary into Ireland MCCLXXI Henry the son of the King of Almain was slain in the Court of Rome Plague Famine and Sword rag'd this year particularly in Meth. Nicholas de Verdon and his Brother John were slain Walter de Burgo Earl of Ulster died MCCLXXII The Lord James Audley Justiciary of England was kill'd by a fall from his Horse in Tothomon and was succeeded in this Office by the Lord Maurice Fitz-Maurice MCCLXXIII The Lord Geffery Genevile return'd from the Holy Land and was made Justiciary of Ireland MCCLXXIV Edward the son of King Henry was anointed and crown'd King of England by Robert Kilwarby a Frier-Predicant Archbishop of Canterbury upon S. Magnus the Martyr's day in the Church of Westminster in the presence of all the Nobility and Gentry His Protestation and Oath was in this form I Edward son and heir of King Henry do profess protest and promise before God and his holy Angels from this time forward to maintain without partiality the Law Justice and Peace of the Church of God and the People subject unto me so far as we can devise by the counsel of our liege and legal Ministers as also to exhibit due and canonical Honour to the Bishops of God's Church to preserve unto them inviolably whatsoever has been granted by former Emperors and Kings to the Church of God and to pay due Honour to the Abbots and the Lord's Ministers according to the advice of our Lieges c. so help me God and the holy Gospels of the Lord. This year died the Lord John Verdon and the Lord Thomas de Clare came into Ireland And William Fitz-Roger Prior of the Hospitallers was taken Prisoner at Glyndelory with many others and more slain MCCLXXV The Castle of Roscoman was built again The same year Modagh was taken Prisoner at Norragh by Sir Walter le Faunte MCCLXXVI Robert Ufford was made Justiciary of Ireland upon the surrender of Geffery de Genevill MCCLXXVII O Brene slain MCCLXXVIII The Lord David Barry died this year as also the Lord John Cogan MCCLXXIX The Lord Robert d'Ufford went into England and appointed Frier Robert de Fulborne Bishop of Waterford to supply his place In whose time the Mony was chang'd A Round Table was also held at Kenylworth by Roger Lord Mortimer MCCLXXX Robert d'Ufford return'd from England
being still Justiciary as before His Wife died this year MCCLXXXI Adam Cusak younger kill'd William Barret and many others in Conaught Frier Stephen Fulborn was made Justiciary of Ireland The Lord Robert d'Ufford return'd into England MCCLXXXII This Year Moritagh and Arte Mac-Murgh his Brother were slain at Arclowe on S. Mary Magdalen Eve And Roger Lord Mortimer died MCCLXXXIII The City of Dublin was in part burnt and the Belfrey of Trinity Church upon the third day before the Nones of January MCCLXXXIV The Castle of Ley was taken and burnt by the petty Kings of Offaly the morrow after S. Barnaby's Day Alphonsus the King's Son twelve years old departed this Life MCCLXXXV The Lord Theobald le Botiller died on the 6th of the Kalends of October in the Castle of Arclowe and was buried there in the Convent of the Friers Predicants Gerald Fitz Maurice was taken Prisoner by his own Irish Subjects in Ofaly with Richard Petit and S. Deget and many others and at Rathode was a great slaughter MCCLXXXVI Le Norragh and Arstol with other Towns were successively burnt by William Stanton on the 16th of the Kalends of December About this time Eleanor Queen of England mother of King Edward took a religious habit at Ambresbury upon the day of S. Thomas's translation having her dower confirmed by the Pope and assur'd to her for ever Calwagh was taken Prisoner at Kildare The Lord Thomas Clare departed this Life MCCLXXXVII This year died Stephen Fulborn Archbishop of Tuam and was succeeded in the Office of Justiciary for a Time by John Sampford Archbishop of Dublin This year the King of Hungary renounc'd Christianity and turned Apostate and having fraudulently assembled his Nobility under pretence of a Parliament Miramomelius a potent Saracen came upon them with an Army of 20000 men and took the King and all the Christians there away prisoners on S. John Baptist's eve As the Christians were carried along the weather turn'd cloudy and a tempest of Hail fell suddenly and killed many thousands of the Infidels So the Christians return'd to their own homes and the Apostate King went alone with the Saracens The Hungarians crown'd his Son King and continued in the Catholick Faith MCCLXXXIX Tripoly a famous City was demolish'd after great effusion of Christian blood by the Sultan of Babylon Who commanded the Images of the Saints to be dragg'd at the horses tails through the ruinous City in contempt of Christ MCCXC Inclyta stirps Regis sponsis datur ordine legis The issue of the King becomes a Spouse The Lord Gilbert Clare took to Wife the Lady Joan de Acon a daughter of our Lord King Edward in the Abby of Westminster and the marriage was celebrated in May And John the Duke of Brabant's son married Margaret the said King's daughter also in the Church aforesaid in July This year the Lord William Vescie was made Justiciary of Ireland and enter'd upon the Office on S. Martin's day Item O Molaghelin King of Meth was this year slain MCCXCI Gilbert Clare the son of Gilbert and the Lady Joan de Acon was born on the 11th of May betimes in the morning Item there was an army led into Ulster against O Hanlan and other Princes that had broke the Peace by Richard Earl of Ulster and William Vescie Justiciary of Ireland Item The Lady Eleanor formerly Queen of England and mother of King Edward died this year on S. John's day after a laudable life spent four years eleven months and six days in a religious habit as she had desir'd in the Abby of Ambresbury where she was a profess'd Nun. Item the news came to our Lord Pope Martin on the eve of S. Mary Magdalen concerning the city of Acon in the Holy Land which was the only place of refuge for the Christians that it was besieg'd by Mislkadar the Sultan of Babylon with a numerous army He besieg'd it hotly for about forty days viz. from the 8th day before the Ides of April till the 15th before the Kalends of July At last the Wall was pull'd down by the Saracens and they entred the city in great numbers many Christians being slain and some drown'd in the sea for fear Among whom was the Patriarch and his Train The King of Cyprus and Oto de Grandison escap'd in a ship with their followers Item This year the Lord Pope Martin granted our Lord King Edward the tenth of all Ecclesiastical Benefices in Ireland for seven years together as a supply towards a relief for the Holy Land Item the eldest son of the Earl of Clare was born the same year MCCXCII Edward King of England again entred Scotland and was chosen King John Lord Balliol of Gallweya obtain'd the whole Kingdom of Scotland by right of inheritance and did homage to our Lord Edward King of England at Newcastle upon Tine on S. Stephen's day Florentius Earl of Holland Robert Brus Earl of Carrick John Hastings John Comin Patrick de Dunbar John Vescie Nicholas Souls and William Roos who were then at difference in the said Kingdom submitted themselves to the judgment of King Edward Item A fifteenth of all the Goods of Laymen in Ireland was granted to our Lord the King of England to be collected on the Feast of S. Michael Item Sir Peter Genevile Knight died this year Item Rice ap Meredyke was brought to York and there dragg'd at the horses tails c. MCCXCIII A general and open war was this year waged at sea with the Normans Item no small number of the Normans was cut off in a sea-engagement by the Barons of the Ports of England and others their coadjutors between Easter and Whitsuntide For this a war broke out between England and France whereupon Philip King of France directed his letters of citation to the King of England to appear in person at his Parliament to answer what the King had to say to him but finding no compliance with this order he forthwith by the counsel of his Parliament declar'd him outlaw'd and condemn'd him Item Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester and his wife came into Ireland about the feast of S. Luke MCCXCIV William Montfort in the King's Council holden at Westminster before the King died suddenly He was Dean of S. Paul's in London The Bishops and Clergy who doubted what the King would expect from every one of them had instructed him as a person whom the King would confide in what to signifie from them to him as soon as he return'd to the King and was addressing himself to speak as he had design'd he grew speechless fell down and was carried out by the King's servants in a miserable condition Upon this sight people grew fearful and began to take him for the great procurer of the tenths of ecclesiastical benefices to the King and of the scrutiny and search after the fold of Christ as also of the contributions granted the King afterward Item The city of Bordeaux with the adjacent country of Gascoign was taken
defeated This occasion'd a general Insurrection in Scotland of both Earls and Barons against the King of England There was also at this time a Quarrel between the King of England and Roger Bigod Earl Marshal but this was soon made up S. Lewis a Frier minor Son of the King of Sicily and Archbishop of Cologn died this year This year also the son and heir of the King of Maliager i.e. of the Islands of Majorac instituted the Order of the Friers-minors at the direction of S. Lewis who bid him go and do it Item Leghlin in Ireland with other Towns were burnt by the Irish of Slemergi Item Calwagh O Hanlen and Yneg Mac-Mahon were slain in Urgale MCCXCVIII Pope Boniface IV. on the morrow of the Feast of S. Peter â—â—d S. Paul all things being then quiet made Peace between England â—â—d France upon certain Terms Item Edward King of England â—â—d an Army again into Scotland to conquer it There were slain 〈◊〉 this Expedition about the Feast of S. Mary Magdalen many â—â—ousands of the Scots at Fawkirk The Sun appear'd that day 〈◊〉 red as Blood in Ireland while the Battel at Fawkirk continu'd â—â—em about the same time the Lord King of England gave his Knights the Earldoms and Baronies of those Scots that were slain â—n Ireland Peace was concluded between the Earl of Ulster and the Lord John Fitz-Thomas about the Feast of Simon and Jude Also â—â—e morrow after the Feast of the seven Sleepers the Sun-beams â—ere chang'd into a bloodish colour all the morning to the great â—dmiration of every one Item This year died Thomas Fitz-â—aurice Knight and Sir Robert Bigod sometime Justiciary in the â—ench Item In the City Artha as also Reath in Italy during â—â—e stay of Pope Boniface there happen'd so great an Earthquake â—â—at Towers and Palaces fell down and the Pope and his Cardiâ—als fled out of the City with great consternation Item on the Feast of Epiphany there was an Earthquake in Engâ—â—nd from Canterbury to Hampton but not so violent MCCXCIX Theobald Lord Botilter the younger died in the Mannor of Turby on the second day before the Ides of May His Corps were convey'd towards Weydeney i. e Weney in the County of Limerick on the 6th day before the Calends of June Item Edward King of England married the Lady Margaret Sister to the noble King of France in Trinity-church at Canterâ—ury about the Feast of the Holy Trinity Item the Sultan of Baâ—ylon with a great Army was defeated by Cassan King of Tarâ—â—ry MCCXCIX On the day after the Purification there was an inâ—â—â—ite number of Saracen-horse slain besides as many Foot Item There was this same year a Fight of Dogs at Genelon-castle in â—urgundy the number of the Dogs were 3000 and all kill'd but â—â—e Item This year many Irish came to the Castle of Roch â—efore the Annunciation to give some disturbance to the Lord Theâ—bald de Verdon MCCC The * Numisma Pollardorum Pollard-mony was prohibited in England and Ireland Item King Edward enter'd Scotland with an Army in Autumn but was stay'd by an order from Pope Boniface and to excuse himself sent certain Envoys to the Court of Rome Item Thomas son â—o the King of England was born at Brotherton by Margaret the King of France's Sister on the last day of May. Item Edward Earl of Cornwall dy'd this year without issue and was buried in â—he Abby of Hailes MCCCI. Edward King of England enter'd Scotland with an Army Sir John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland and Sir John Fitz-Thomas Peter Bermingham and many others set sail from Ireâ—and to assist him Item A great part of the City of Dublin was â—urnt down together with the Church of S. Warbutga on S. Caâ—â—mb's day at night Item Sir Jeffrey Genevil married the daughâ—er of Sir John Montefort and Sir John Mortimer married the daughter and heir of Sir Peter Genevil and the Lord Theobald Verdon married the daughter of the Lord Roger Mortimer The People of Leinster took up Arms in the Winter and burnt the Towns of Wyklo and Rathdon c. but they suffer'd for 't for the greater â—art of their Provisions at home was burnt up and their Cattel â—ole so that they had certainly famish'd if a sedition had not hapned among the English at that juncture Item A small company of the Brenies were defeated this year by the Tolans and 300 of those Robbers were cut off Item A great part of Mounster was wasted by Walter Power and many Farm-houses burnt MCCCII This year died the Lady Margaret Wife to Sir John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland on the 3d day before the Ides of April And in the week following Maud Lacy the Wife of Sir Geffery Genevil died also Item Edmund Botiller recoverd the Mannour de S. Bosco Holywood forte with the Appurtenances thereunto belonging from Sir Richard Feringes Archbishop of Dublin by a Fine in the King's bench after the feast of S. Hilary Item the Flemings defeated the French in Flanders at Courtenay the Wednesday after the feast of S. Thomas In this Engagement were slain the Earl of Artois the Earl of Albemarle the Earl of Hue Ralph de Neel Constable of France Guy de Nevil Marshal of France the Earl of Hennaund's son Godfrey de Brabant and his son William de Fenles and his son James de S. Paul lost his hand and fourty Baronets were kill'd that day with Knights Squires c. without number The Tenths of all Ecclesiastical Benefices in England and Ireland were exacted by Pope Boniface for three years as a Subsidy for the Church of Rome against the King of Arragon Item upon the day of the Circumcision Sir Hugh Lacy made an inroad upon Sir Hugh Vernail and drove off his Beasts This year Robert Brus Earl of Carrick married Elizabeth the daughter of Sir Richard Bourk Earl of Ulster Item Edward Botiller married the daughter of Sir John Fitz-Thomas The City of Bourdeaux with others thereabouts which Edward King of England had formerly lost by a sedition of the French were now restor'd upon S. Andrew's-eve by the means of the Lord John Hastings MCCCIII Richard Bourk Earl of Ulster and Sir Eustace Power invaded Scotland with a strong Army But after that the Earl himself had made 33 Knights in the Castle of Dublin he passed over into Scotland to assist the King of England Item Gerald the son and heir of Sir John Fitz-Thomas departed this life This year the King and Queen of France were excommunicated with all their Children by Pope Boniface who also confirm'd the privileges of the University of Paris Soon after the Pope was taken Prisoner and kept as it were in Prison three whole days Soon after the Pope dy'd The Countess of Ulster died likewise about this time Item Walran Wellesly and Sir Robert Percivall were slain this year on the 11th day before the Kalends of November MCCCIV A great part of Dublin was burnt down viz. the Bridge-street a good part of
the Key the Church of the Preaching Friers the Church of the Monks and no small part of the Monastery about the Ides of June namely on the feast of S. Medard Item This year was laid the foundation of the Quire for Friers-Predicants in Dublin by Eustace Lord Pover on the feast of the Virgin S. Agatha Item After the purification the King of France invaded Flanders in person with a brave Army He behav'd himself gallantly in this War and in one Battel had two or three Horses kill'd under him But at last he lost the Cap under his Helmet which the Flemings carried off upon a Spear in derision and in all the great Fairs in Flanders it was hung out at a high Window of some great House or other like the Sign of an Inn or Tavern as the Token of their Victory MCCCV Jordan Comyn and his Accomplices kill'd Moritagh O Conghir King of Offaley and Calwagh his * Germanum whole Brother and certain others in the Court of Sir Peter Bymgeham at Carryck in Carbery Likewise Sir Gilbert Sutton Seneschal of Weisford was slain by the Irish near the Village of Haymond Grace which Haymond fought stoutly in this Skirmish and escap'd by his great Valour Item In Scotland the Lord Robert Brus Earl of Carrick without regard to his Oath of Allegiance to the King of England kill'd Sir John Rede Comyn within the Cloister of the Friers-minors of Dunfrese and soon after got himself crown'd King of Scotland by the hands of two Bishops the one of S. Andrews and the other of Glasco in the Town of Scone to the ruin of himself and many others MCCCVI In Offaley near Geshil-castle a great defeat was given to O Conghor by O Dympcies on the Ides of April O Brene K. of * Tothomoniae Towmond died this year Donald Oge Mac-carthy Donald Ruff King of Desmond A sad overthrow was given to a Party of Piers Brymegham in the Marches of Meth on the fourth day before the Kalends of May. Balimore in Leinster was burnt by the Irish and Henry Calfe slain there at the same time whereupon a War broke out between the English and the Irish in Leinster and a great Army was drawn together from all parts against the Irish Sir Thomas Mandevil a gallant Soldier in this Expedition had a sharp conflict with the Irish near Glenfell wherein he fought bravely till his Horse was slain and won great honour for the saving the lives of several others as well as his own Item Thomas Cantok Chancellour of Ireland was consecrated Bishop of Ymelasen in Trinity-Church at Dublin with great honour the Elders of Ireland were present at this Consecration and there was such great feasting both for the rich and for the poor as had never been known before in Ireland Item Richard Feringes Archbishop of Dublin died on S. Luke's-eve and was succeeded by Master Richard Haverings who held that See almost five years by the Pope's dispensation At last he resign'd his Archbishoprick and was succeeded by John Lech The cause of this resignation as the Archdeacon of Dublin his nephew a man of note hath said was a dream which he had one night wherein he fancied That a certain monster heavier than the whole world stood upright upon his breast and that he renounc'd all the goods he had in this world to be rid of it When he waken'd he began to reflect how this was certainly the Church of Dublin the fruits whereof he had received without taking pains to deserve them Upon this he went to the Lord the Pope as soon as he could with whom he was much in favour and relinquish'd his Archbishoprick For he had as the same Archdeacon averr'd other benefices of greater value than the Archbishoprick itself Item On the feast of Pentecost at London King Edward conferr'd Knighthood upon his son Edward and four hundred more sixty of whom were made by the said Edward of Carnarvan as soon as he was knighted He held his feast in London at the new Temple and his father gave him the Dutchy of Aquitain Item On the feast of S. Potentiana the Bishops of Winchester and Worcester by an order from the Pope excommunicated Robert Brus the pretended King of Scotland and his party for the death of John Rede Comyn This year upon S. Boniface's day Aumar de Valence Earl of Pembroch and Lord Guy Earl cut off many of the Scots and the Lord Robert Brus was defeated near the town of S. Johns This year about the nativity of S. John baptist King Edward went by water from Newark to Lincoln toward Scotland Item This year the Earl of Asceles the Lord Simon Freysell the Countess of Carryck and the pretended Queen of Scotland daughter to the Earl of Ulster were taken Prisoners The Earl of Asceles and the Lord Simon Freysell were torn to peices The Countess remain'd with the King in great honour but the rest died miserably in Scotland Item About the feast of the Purification two brothers of Robert Brus that were both pyrats were taken prisoners with sixteen Scots besides as they landed to plunder the country the two brothers were torn to pieces at Carlile and the rest hanged Item Upon S. Patrick's day Mac Nochi and his two sons were taken prisoners near the New Castle in Ireland by Thomas Sueterby O boni and there Lorran Obons a great robber was beheaded MCCCVII On the third before the kalends of April Murcard Ballagh was beheaded by Sir David Caunton a valiant Knight near Marton and soon after Adam Dan was slain On Philip and Jacob's day Oscheles gave the English a bloody defeat in Connaght Item The castle of Cashill was pull'd down by the rapparies of Offaly and on the eve of the translation of S. Thomas they also burnt the town of Lye and besieg'd the castle but this was soon rais'd by John Fitz-Thomas and Edward Botiller Item This year died King Edward the first and his son Edward succeeded him who buried his father in great state at Westminster with honour and reverence Item Edward the younger married the Lady Isabell the King of France's daughter in S. Mary's church at Bologn and shortly after they were both crown'd in Westminster Abby Item The Templars in foreign parts being condemn'd for heresie as it was reported were apprehended and clapt in prison by the Pope's mandate In England likewise they were all taken the very next day after Epiphany In Ireland also they were taken into custody the day after the Purification MCCCVIII On the second of the ides of April died the Lord Peter de Bermingham a noble champion against the Irish Item On the 4th of the ides of May the castle of Kenin was burnt down and some of the guards slain by William Mac Balthor Cnygnismy Othothiles and his partisans Item On the 6th day before the ides of June the Lord John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland was defeated with his army near Glyndelory In this encounter were slain John
call'd Hogelyn John de Northon John de Breton and many others Item On the 16th before the kalends of July Dolovan Tobyr and other towns and villages bordering upon them were burnt down by the said malefactors Item Soon after this a great Parliament was held at London wherein a sad difference arose between the Barons upon the account of Pieirs Gaveston who was banish'd out of the Kingdom of England the day after the feast of S. John the baptist's nativity and went over into Ireland about the feast of the Saints Quirita and Julita together with his wife and sister the Countess of Glocester and came to Dublin in great state and there continued Item William Mac Baltor a stout robber and incendiary was condemn'd in the court of our Lord the King at Dublin by the Lord Chief Justice John Wogan on the 12th before the kalends of September and was drawn at a horse's tail to the gallows and there hang'd as he deserv'd Item This year a marble cistern was made to receive the Water from the conduit-head in Dublin such as was never before seen here by the Mayor of the City Master John Decer and all at his own proper expences This same John a little before made a bridge to be built over the river Aven-Liffie near the priory of S. Wolstan He also built the Chappel of S. Mary of the Friers minors wherein he was buried and the Chappel of S. Mary of the Hospital of S. John in Dublin Item This John Decer was bountiful to the convent of Friers Predicants in Dublin For instance he made one stone-pillar in the Church and laid the great stone upon the high altar with all its ornaments Item He entertain'd the friers at his own table on the 6th day of the week out of pure charity as the seniors have reported to their juniors Item The Lord John Wogan took ship in Autumn to be at the parliament of England and the Lord William Bourk was appointed Keeper of Ireland in his room Item This year on the eve of S. Simon and Jude the Lord Roger de Mortimer and his Lady the right heir of Meth the daughter of the Lord Peter son of Sir Gefferey Genevil arriv'd in Ireland As soon as they landed they took possession of Meth Sir Gefferey Genevil giving way to them and entring himself into the order of the Friers predicants at Trym the morrow after S. Edward the Archbishop's day Item Dermot Odympsy was slain at Tully by the servants of Sir Piers Gaveston Item Richard Bourk Earl of Ulster at Whitsontide made a great feast at Trym and conferr'd Knighthood upon Walter Lacie and Hugh Lacie In the vigil of the Assumption the Earl of Ulster came against Piers Gaveston Earl of Cornwal at Drogheda and at the same time turn'd back towards Scotland Item This year Maud the Earl of Ulster's daughter imbark'd for England in order for a marriage with the Earl of Glocester which within a month was consummated between them Item Maurice Caunton kill'd Richard Talon and the Roches afterwards kill'd him Item Sir David Caunton was hang'd at Dublin Item Odo the son of Cathol O Conghir kill'd Odo O Conghiâ— King of Connaght Item Athi was burnt by the Irish MCCCIX Peter Gaveston subdued the O Brynnes in Ireland and rebuilt the new castle of Mackingham and the castle of Kemny he also cut down and scour'd the pass between Kemny castle and Glyndelagh in spite of all the opposition the Irish could make and sâ— march'd away and offer'd in the Church of S. Kimny The same year the Lord Peter Gaveston went over into Englanâ— on the eve of S. John Baptist's Nativity Item The Earl of Ulster's son's wife daughter of the Earl oâ— Glocester came into Ireland on the 15th of October Item On Christmas-eve the Earl of Ulster returned out of England and landed at Drogheda Item On the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sir John Bonevil was slain near the town of Arstol by Sir Arnold Pover and his accomplices and buried at Athy in the Church of the Frierâ— predicants Item A Parliament was held at Kilkenny in the octaves of thâ— Purification of the Blessed Mary by the Earl of Ulster John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland and others of the nobility wherein a difference among certain of the great men was adjusted and many proviso's made in the nature of statutes that might havâ— been of good consequence to the Kingdom if they had been observ'd Item Shortly after Sir Edward Botiller return'd out of England where he had been knighted at London Item The Earl of Ulster Roger Mortimer and Sir John Fitz-Thomas went over into England Item This year died Sir Theobald Verdon MCCCX. King Edward and Sir Peter Gaveston took theiâ— march for Scotland against Robert Brus. Item There was this year a great scarcity of corn in Ireland * Eranca an eranc of corn sold at the rate of twenty shilling and upwards Item The Bakers of Dublin were punish'd after a new way foâ— false weights For on S. Sampson the Bishop's day they werâ— drawn upon hurdles at the horses tails along the streets of thâ— City Item In the Abby of S. Thomas the Martyr at Dublin Sir Neiâ— Bruin Knight Escheator to our Lord the King in Ireland departed this life his corps was buried at the Friers-minors in Dublin witâ— such a pomp of tapers and wax-lights as never was before seen iâ— this Kingdom This year a Parliament was held at Kildare wherin Sir Arnold Pover was acquitted of the death of the Lord Bonevil for it waâ— found Se defendendo Item On S. Patrick's day Mr. Alexander Bickenor was witâ— the unanimous consent of the Chapter made Archbishop of Dublin Item The Lord Roger Mortimer in the octaves of the nativity of the Blessed Virgin return'd into Ireland Item This year died Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln MCCCXI In Thomond at Bonnorathie the Lord Richarâ— Clare gave the Earl of Ulster's party a very strange defeat Thâ— Lord William Bourk and John the Lord Walter Lacy's Son werâ— taken prisoners with many others This battle was fought on thâ— 13th before the kalends of June and great numbers both of thâ— English and the Irish slain in it Item Tassagard and Rathcante were invaded by the rapperies namely the O Brinnes and O Tothiles the day after S. John Baptist's nativity Whereupon in the Autumn soon after a greaâ— army was rais'd in Leinster to defeat them both in Glindelory anâ— in other woody places Item In August a Parliament was holden at London between thâ— King and the Barons to consider the state of the Kingdom and thâ— King's houshold and a committee of six Bishops six Earls and six Barons was appointed to consult the good of the Realm Item On the 2d day before the Ides of November the Lord Richard Clare cut off 600 Galegolaghes Item On All saints day last past Peter Gaveston was banished out of England by the Earls and Barons and many good statutes were
made by them for the benefit of the Kingdom Gaveston quitted the Realm about the feast of All-saints and went into Flanders from whence about four months after he return'd soon after Epiphany privately into England keeping so close to the King that the Barons could not easily come near him He went with the King to York making his abode there in the Lent whereupon the Bishops Earls and Barons of England came to London to consider the state of the Kingdom lest the return of Gaveston might breed disturbance in the state Item Sir John Cogan Sir Walter Faunt and Sir Jehn Fitz Rery died this year and were buried in the Church of the Friers predicants in Dublin Item John Macgoghedan was kill'd by Omolmoy Item This year died William Roch kill'd at Dublin by an arrow which an Irish-highlander shot at him Item Sir Eustace Pover departed this life Item On the eve of S. Peter's Chair a riot was occasion'd in Urgaly by Robert Verdon Item Donat O Brene was traiterously kill'd by his own men in Tothomon MCCCXII Sir Peter Gaveston went into the castle of Scardeburg to defend himself against the Barons But soon after the kalends of June he surrendred himself to Sir Aumare Valence who besieg'd him upon certain conditions Valence was carrying him to London but the Earl of Warwick intercepted him at Dedington and brought him to Warwick where on the 13th before the kalends of July after a consultation among the Earls and Barons he was beheaded and buried in the Church of the Friers predicants in Langley Item The Justiciary of Ireland John Wogan set out at the head of an army against Robert Verdon and his accomplices and â—o the 6th before the ides of July was sadly defeated In this Battle Nicholas Avenel Patrick Roch and many others were cut off Upon this the said Verdon and many of his followers surâ—endred themselves to the King and went into his prison at Dublin â—n hopes of favour and pardon Item On thursday the day after S. Lucy the virgin in the 6th year of King Edward the moon appear'd to be of several colours and that day it was resolv'd that the Order of the Templars should be abolish'd Item The Lord Edmund Botiller was made lieutenant to John â—ogan Justiciary of Ireland In the Lent following he besieg'd the O Brinnes in Glindelory and forc'd them to surrender nay had â—â—terly destroy'd them if they had not submitted themselves Item The day after the feast of S. Dominick the Lord Mauâ—ice Fitz-Thomas married Catharine the Earl of Ulster's daughter â—t Green Castle and Thomas Fitz-John married another daughter of the Earl's on the day after the assumption but in the same place Item The Sunday after the feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross the daughter of the Earl of Glocester wife to the Lord John Burk was deliver'd of a son MCCCXIII Frier Roland Joce Primat of Armagh arriv'd in the isle of Houth the day after the annunciation of the blessed Mary and in the night got privately out of his bed took up his Crosier and advanc'd it as far as the Priory of Grace-dieu where â—e was encountred by some of the Archbishop of Dublin's servants â—ho made him leave his Crosier and drove the Primat himself out â—f Leinster Item A Parliament was held at London but little or nothing â—one towards a peace The King left them and went into France 〈◊〉 compliance with an order from that Court taking the sign of â—â—e Cross upon him with many of his Nobles Item Nicholas Fitz-Maurice and Robert Clonhul were knighted â—y the Lord John Fitz-Thomas at Adare in Munster Item On the last of May Robert Brus sent out some gallies with â—apperies in them to pillage Ulster but the people made a stout â—esistance and drove them off It is reported that Robert himself â—â—nded with them by the Earl's permission in order to make a â—â—nce Item This Summer Master John Decer a Citizen of Dublin â—aused a bridge to be built as was very necessary reaching from â—â—e Town of Balyboght to the causey of the Mill-pool of Clontarf â—hich before was a very dangerous passage But after great charge â—he whole bridge arches and all was wash'd down by an inâ—ndation Item On the feast of S. Laurence died John Leeks Archbishop â—f Dublin two were elected for the succession such was the heat â—nd difference of the electors Walter Thornbury the King's Chancellor in Ireland and Master Alexander Bicknore Treasurer â—f Ireland But Walter Thornbury with about an hundred and â—â—fty six more were cast away at Sea the night following Bicknor â—as at that time expecting the Pope's favour and was afterwards â—ade Archbishop of Dublin Item The Lord Miles Verdon married the daughter of the Lord â—ichard de Exeter Item This year the Lord Robert Brus demolish'd the Castle of Manne and on S. Barnaby's day overcame the Lord Donegan Odowill On the feast of Marcellus and Marcellianus the Lord John Burk the heir of Richard Earl of Ulster died at Gallway Item The Lord Edmund Botiller on Sunday being S. Michael's day made thirty Knights in Dublin Castle MCCCXIV The Hospitalers had the lands of the Templars in Ireland bestow'd upon them Item The Lord John Parice was slain at Pount Item On S. Silvester's day the Lord Theobald Verdon came Justiciary into Ireland Item Sir Geffery Genevile a Frier died this year on the 12th before the kalends of November and was buried in his order of Friers predicants of Trym he was also Lord of the liberty of Meth. Item Upon S. Matthew's day this year Loghseudy was burnt and on the Friday following the Lord Edmund Botiller receiv'd his Commission to be Justiciary of Ireland MCCCXV On S. John the Baptist's day the Earl of Glocester was kill'd in an engagement with the Scots and many others were kill'd and taken prisoners The Scots grew insolent upon this success and possess'd themselves of much land and tribute in Northumberland Item Shortly after they invested Carlisse where John Douglas was crush'd to death by a wall that fell upon him This year the Scots not contented with their own possessions arriv'd in the north part of Ireland at Clondonne to the number of 6000. fighting men and expert soldiers namely Edward Brus whole brother to Robert King of Scots with the Earl of Morreth John Meneteth John Steward the Lord John Cambel Thomas Randolfe Fergus de Andressan John de Bosco and John Bisset who possess'd themselves of Ulster and drove the Lord Thomas Mandevile and other subjects out of their estates The Scots entred Ireland on the Feast of S. Augustin the English Apostle in the month of May near Cragfergus in Ulster the first encounter between the English and them was hear Banne wherein the Earl of Ulster was put to flight and William Burk John Stanton and many others were taken Prisoners many were kill'd and the Scots got the day The second encounter was at Kenlys in Meth where Roger Mortimer and his soldiers
were above 500 this happened about the evening near Connyng and the water call'd Dodyz in Dublin-haven The Lord Anthony Lucy with his own Servants and some of the Citizens of Dublin among whom was Philip Cradoc kill'd above 200 of them and gave leave to any body to fetch away what they would The Lord Anthony Lucy Chief Justice of Ireland appointed a common Parliament to be held at Dublin on the Octaves of S. John Baptist whither some of the best of the Irish Nobility came not However he remov'd to Kilkenny and prorogued the Parliament to S. Peter's feast Ad vincula hither came the Lord Moris Fitz-Thomas and many more Noblemen who were not there before and submitted to the King's mercy And the King for his part very graciously forgave them whatever they had done against him under a certain form In August the Irish by treachery took the Castle of Firnis which they burnt The Lord Moris Fitz-Thomas of Desmond by an order of Council was taken the day after the Assumption of our blessed Virgin at Limerick by the Chief Justice and by him brought to the Castle of Dublin the 7th of October In September Henry Mandevill by vertue of a Warrant from Simon Fitz-Richard Justice in the King's-bench was taken and brought to the Castle of Dublin In November Walter Burck and his two Brothers were taken in Connaught by the Earl of Ulster and in February were by him brought to the Castle of Northburg In February the Lord William Bermingham and his son Lord Bermingham were taken at Clomel by the said Justice notwithstanding he had before granted them his Majesty's Pardon and the 19th of April were conducted to Dublin-castle The Irish of Leinster plunder'd the English and burnt their Churches and in the Church of Freineston burnt about eighty Men and Women and a certain Chaplain of that Church whom with their Javelins they hinder'd from coming out tho' in his holy Vestments and with the Lord's body in his hand burning him with the rest in the Church The news of it came to the Pope who sert his Bull to the Archbishop of Dublin commanding him to excommunicate those Irish and all their adherents and retinue and to interdict their Lands Now the Archbishop fulfill'd the Pope's commands but the Irish despised the bull excommunication interdiction and the Church's chastisement and continuing in their wickedness did again make a body and invaded the county of Weisford as far as Carcarn and plundred the whole country Richard White and Richard Fitz-Henry with the Burghers of Weisford and other English made head against them and kill'd about 400 of the Irish besides a great many more were in the pursuit drown d in the river Slane MCCCXXXII The eleventh of July William Bermingham by my Lord Chief Justice's order was put to death and hanged at Dublin but his son Walter was set at liberty Sir William was a noble Knight and very much renown'd for his warlike exploits alas what pity it was for who can commemorate his death without tears He was afterwards buried at Dublin among the Predicant Friers The Castle of Bonraty was taken and in July was rased to the ground by the Irish of Totomon Also the Castle of Arclo was taken from the Irish by the Lord Chief Justice and the citizens of Dublin with the help of the English of that Country and was the 8th of August a rebuilding in the King's Hands The Lord Anthony Lucy Chief Justice of Ireland was put out of his place and in November returned into England with his wife and children The Lord John Darcy succeeded him and came into Ireland the 13th of February There was about this time a great slaughter of the Irish in Munster made by the English inhabitants of that Country and Briens O-Brene with Mac-Karthy was beaten Item John Decer a citizen of Dublin died and was buried in the Church of the Minor Friers he was a man who did a great deal of good Also a disease called Mauses reigned very much all over Ireland and infected all sorts of People as well old as young The hostages who were kept in the Castle of Limeric kill'd the Constable and took the Castle but upon the citizens regaining of 〈◊〉 they were put to the sword The Hostages also took the Castle â—f Nenagh but part of it being burnt it was again recover'd â—nd the Hostages restored A of wheat about Christmas â—as sold for 22 shillings and soon after Easter very common for 〈◊〉 pence The Town of New-Castle of Lions was burnt and plunâ—ered by the O-Tothiles MCCCXXXIII John Lord Darcy the new Chief Justice of â—reland arrived at Dublin The Berminghams of Carbery got a great booty of above 2000 Cows from the O-Conghirs The Lord John Darcy ordered the â—ass at Ethrgovil in Offaly to be cut down that he might stop O-Conghir The Lord Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Desmond after he had â—een imprison'd a year and an half in Dublin was let out having â—ot some of the best of the Irish Nobility as mainprizes to be bound â—or him under penalty of their lives and estates if the said Lord â—hould attempt any thing against the King or did not appear and â—â—and trial Item William Burk Earl of Ulster on the 6th of June between New-Town and Cragfergus in Ulster was most treacherously kill'd â—y his own company in the twentieth year of his age Robert son â—o Mauriton Maundevile gave him the first blow As soon as his â—ife heard of it who was then in that part of Ulster she prudently â—mbark'd with her son and daughter and went for England The Lord John Darcy to revenge his murder by the advice of the Parliament then assembled shipp'd his Army with which the first of â—uly he arriv'd at Cragfergus The people of that Country were â—o glad at his arrival that they took courage and unanimously reâ—olv'd to revenge the Earl's death and in a pitch'd battle got a â—ictory some of them they took others they put to the sword When this was over the Lord Chief Justice went with his Army â—nto Scotland leaving M. Thomas Burgh then Treasurer to supply â—is place Item Many of the Irish Nobility and the Earl of Ormond with â—heir retinue assembled on the 11th of June at the house of the Carmelite Friers in Dublin during this Parliament as they were going out of the Court-yard of the Friers House Murcardus or Moris Nicholas O-Tothil's son was in the croud suddenly murder'd â—pon which the Nobility supposing there was treason in it were very much affrighted but the Murtherer made his escape without being known so much as by name Item The Lord John Darcy return'd Chief Justice of Ireâ—and Item In February the Lord Walter Bermingham son to the Lord William was let out of Dublin Castle Item The Lord Moris Son of Thomas Earl of Desmond by a â—all off his horse broke his leg Item It happen'd to be so dry a Summer that at the feast of S. Peter ad
his abodâ— there Item In November Walter L. Bermingham Chief Justice of Ireland and Moris Lord Fitz-Thomas Earl of Kildare took up arms againsâ— O Morda and his Accomplices who had burnt the castle of Ley and Kilmehed and invaded them so fiercely with fire sword and rapin that altho' their number amounted to many thousands and they made a resolute defence yet at last after much blood and many wounds they were forc'd to yield and so they submitted to the King's mercy and the discretion of the Earl MCCCXLVII The Earl of Kildare with his Knights and Barons set out in May to join the King of England who was then at thâ— siege of Caleys which the Inhabitants surrendred to the King oâ— England the 4th of June Item Walter Bonevile William Calf William Welesly and many other brave English Welch aad Irish Gentlemen died of thâ— Distemper which then rag'd at Caleys Item Mac-Murgh viz. Donald Mac-Murgh son to Donald Artâ— Mac-Murgh King of Leinster was most perfidiously killed by hiâ— own men on the 5th of June Item The King knighted Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Kildare who married the daughter of Barth de Burgwashe Item On S. Stephen the Martyr's day the Irish burnt Monaghan and ruined the Country about it Item D. Joan Fitz-Leones formerly wife to Simon Lord Genevilâ— died and on the second of April was buried in the Convent-churcâ— of the Friers-Predicants at Trym MCCCXLVIII The 22d year of Edward III. a great Pestilence which had been before in other Countries got into Ireland and rag'd exceedingly Item This year Walter Lord Bermingham Chief Justice of Ireland went into England and left John Archer Prior of Kylmainan to officiate for him The same year he return'd again and had the Barony of Kenlys which lies in Ossory conferr'd upon him by the King to requite his great service in leading an Army againsâ— the Earl of Desmond with Raulf Ufford as before 't was said this Barony belong'd formerly to Eustace Lord Poer who was convicted and hang'd at the castle of the Isle MCCCXLIX Walter Lord Bermingham the best accomplish'd Justiciary that ever was in Ireland surrender'd his office and was succeeded in the same by Carew Knight and Baron MCCCL. In the 25th year of his Reign Sir Thomas Rokesby Knight was made Lord Chief Justice of Ireland Item This year on S. Margaret the Virgin 's Eve Sir Walteâ— Bermingham Knight for some time an excellent and worthy Justiciary of this Kingdom died in England MCCCLI Died Kenwrick Sherman sometimes Mayor of the City of Dublin and was buried under the Belfrey of the Friers-Predicants which he himself had built as he had likewise glaz'd the great window at the head of the Quire and roof'd the Church among many other pious Works He died in the same convenâ— on the 6th of March and leaving an Estate to the value of three thousand marks he bequeath'd great Legacies to all the Clergy both religious and secular for within twenty miles round MCCCLII Sir Robert Savage Knight began to build several Castles in many places of Ulster and particularly in his own Mannors telling his son and heir apparent Sir Henry Savage That they would thus fortifie themselves lest the Irish should hereafter break in upon them to the utter ruin of their estate and family and to the dishonour of their name among other Nations His son answer'd That where-ever there were valiant men there were forts and castles according to that saying Filii castrametati sunt the sons are encamp'd i.e. brave men are design'd for War and that for this reason he would take care to be among such which would prove the same in effect as if he liv'd in a castle adding That he took a castle of Bones to be much better than a castle of Stones Upon this Reply his Father gave over in great vexation and swore he would never more build with stone and mortar but keep a good house and great retinue about him foretelling however That his Posterity would repent it as indeed they did for the Irish destroy'd the whole Country for want of castles to defend it MCCCLV In the 30th of the same Reign Sir Thomas Rokesby Knight gave up his office of Chief Justice on the 26th of July the succession whereof was given to Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Desmond in which he continued till his death Item On the conversion of S. Paul the said Moris Lord Fitz-Thomas departed this life in the castle of Dublin to the great grief of his Friends and Kindred and all others that were peaceably inclin'd First he was buried in the Quire of the Friers-Predicants of Dublin and afterward in the Covent of the Friers-Predicants of Traly As to his character he was certainly a just Judge and stuck not at condemning even those of his own blood or family more than perfect Strangers for Theft Rapin and other Misdemeanors the Irish stood in great awe of him MCCCLVI In the 31st year of this Reign Sir Thomas Rokesby was the second time made Chief Justice of Ireland who kept the Irish in good order and paid well for the Provisions of his House saying I will eat and drink out of Wood-Vessels and yet pay both gold and silver for my food and cloths nay and for my Pensioners about me This same year the said Sir Thomas Lord Chief Justice of Ireland died in the castle of Kylka MCCCLVII In the 32d of this King's reign Sir Almarick de Saint Armund was made Chief Justice of Ireland and enter'd upon his office About this time arose a great dispute between the Lord Archbishop of Armagh Richard Fitz-Ralfe and the four orders of Friers-mendicants in conclusion the Archbishop was worsted and quieted by the Pope's authority MCCCLVIII In the 33d year of the same reign Sir Almarick Saint Amuad Chief Justice of the Kingdom went over into England MCCCLIX In the 34th year of this King's reign James Botiller Earl of Ormond was made Chief Justice of Ireland Item On S. Gregory's day this year died Joan Burk Countess of Kildare and was buried in the church of the Friers-minors in Kildare by her Husband Thomas Lord Fitz-John Earl of Kildare MCCCLX In the 35th year of this same reign died Richard Fitz-Raulf Archbishop in Hanault on the 16th of December His bones were convey'd into Ireland by the reverend Father in God Stephen Bishop of Meth and buried in S. Nicholas's church at Dundalk where he was born yet it is a question whether these were his very bones or the reliques of some one else Item This year died Sir Robert Savage of Ulster a valiant Knight who near Antrim slew in one day 3000 Irish with a small Party of English but it ought to be observ'd that before the Engagement he took care to give his men a good dose of Ale or Wine whereof it seems he had good store and reserv'd some for his Friends likewise Besides this he order'd That Sheep Oxen Venison and Fowl both wild and tame should be kill'd
and made ready to entertain the Conquerors whosoever they should be usually saying upon this occasion That it would be a shame if such Guests should come and find him unprovided It pleasing God to bless them with the Victory he invited them all to Supper to rejoice with him giving God the thanks for his success telling them He thought the things look'd as well upon his Table as running in his Fields notwithstanding some advis'd him to be saving He was buried in the Convent-church of the Friers-predicants of Coulrath near the river Banne Item The Earl of Ormond Chief Justice of Ireland went into England and Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Kildare was made Chief Justice of Ireland by a charter or commission after this manner Omnibus c. To all whom these Presents shall come greeting Know ye that we have committed to our faithful and loving Subject Moris Earl of Kildare the office of Chief Justice of our Kingdom of Ireland together with the Nation it self and the Castles and other Appurtenances thereunto belonging to keep and govern during our will and pleasure commanding that while he remains in the said office he shall receive the sum of five hundred pounds yearly cut of our Exchequer at Dublin Vpon which consideration he shall perform the said office and take care of the Kingdom and maintain twenty Men and Horse in arms constantly whereof himself shall be one during the enjoyment of the said commission In witness whereof c. Given at Dublin by the hands of our beloved in Christ Frier Thomas Burgey Prior of the Hospital of S. John of Jerusalem in Ireland our Chancellor of that Kingdom on the 30th of March being the 35th year of our reign Item James Botiller Earl of Ormond return'd to Ireland being made Lord Chief Justice as before whereupon the Earl of Kildare resign'd to him MCCCLXI Leonel son to the King of England and Earl of Ulster in right of his Wife came as the King's Lieutenant into Ireland and on the 8th of September being the Nativity of the blessed Virgin arriv'd at Dublin with his Wife Elizabeth the Daughter and Heir of William Lord Burk Earl of Ulster Another Pestilence happen'd this year There died in England Henry Duke of Lancaster the Earl of March and the Earl of Northampton Item On the 6th of January Moris Doncref a Citizen of Dublin was buried in the Church-yard of the Friers-predicants in this City having contributed 40 l. towards glazing the Church of that Convent Item There died this year Joan Fleming wife to Geffery Lord Trevers and Margaret Bermingham wife to Robert Lord Preston on S. Margaret's eve and were buried in the Church of the Friers-predicants of Tredagh Item Walter Lord Bermingham the younger died on S. Lawrence-day who left his Estate to be divided among his Sisters one of whose Shares came to the aforesaid Preston Item Leonel having arriv'd in Ireland and refresh'd himself for some few days enter'd into a War with O Brynne and made Proclamation in his Army That no Irish should be suffer'd to come near his Army One hundred of his own Pensioners were slain Leonel hereupon drew up both the English and the Irish into one body went on successfully and by God's mercy and this means grew victorious in all places against the Irish Among many both English and Irish whom he knighted were these Robert Preston Robert Holiwood Thomas Talbot Walter Cusacke James de la Hide John Ash and Patrick and Robert Ash Item He remov'd the Exchequer from Dublin to Carlagh and gave 500 l. towards walling the Town Item On the feast of S. Maur Abbot there happen'd a violent Wind that shook or blew down the Pinnacles Battlements Chimnies and such other Buildings as overtop'd the rest to be particular it blew down very many Trees and some Steeples for instance the Steeple of the Friers-predicants MCCCLXII In the 36th year of this King's reign and on the 8th of April S. Patrick's church in Dublin was burnt down through negligence MCCCLXIV In the 38th year of this reign Leonel Earl of Ulster arriv'd on the 22d of April in England leaving the Earl of Ormond to administer as his Deputy On the 8th of December following he return'd again MCCCLXV In the 39th of this reign Leonel Duke of Clarence went again into England leaving Sir Thomas Dale Knight Deputy-keeper and Chief Justice in his absencc MCCCLXVII A great feud arose between the Berminghams of Carbry and the People of Meth occasion'd by the depredations they had made in that Country Sir Robert Preston Knight Chief Baron of the Exchequer put a good Garrison into Carbry-castle and laid out a great deal of mony against the King's Enemies that he might be able to defend what he held in his Wife 's right Item Gerald Fitz-Moris Earl of Desmond was made Chief Justice of Ireland MCCCLXVIII In the 42d year of the same reign after a Parliament of the English and Irish Frier Thomas Burley Prior of Kylmaynon the King's Chancellor in Ireland John Fitz-Reicher Sheriff of Meth Sir Robert Tirill Baron of Castle-knoke and many more were taken Prisoners at Carbry by the Berminghams and others of that Town James Bermingham who was then kept in Irons as a Traytor in the castle of Trim was set at liberty in exchange for the Chancellor the rest were forc'd to ransom themselves Item The Church of S. Maries in Trim was burnt down by the negligent keeping of the fire in the monastery Item On the vigil of S. Luke the Evangelist Leonel Duke of Clarence died at Albe in Pyemont He was first buried in the city Papy near S. Augustin and afterwards in the Convent-church of the Austin Fryers at Clare in England MCCCLXIX In the 43d year cf this reign Sir Willium Windefore Knight a Person of great valour and courage being made the King's Deputy came into Ireland on the 12th of July to whom Gerald Fitz-Moris Earl of Desmond resign'd the office of Chief Justice MCCCLXX In the 44th year of this reign a Pestilence rag'd in Ireland more violent than either of the former two many of the Nobility and Gentry as also Citizens and Children innumerable died of it The same year Gerald Fitz-Maurice Earl of Desmond John Lord Nicholas Thomas Lord Fitz-John and many others of the Nobility were taken Prisoners on the 6th of July near the Monastery of Magie in the County of Limerick by O-Breen and Mac Comar of Thomond many were slain in the Fray Whereupon the Lieutenant went over to Limerick in order to defend Mounster leaving the War against the O-Tothiles and the rest in Leinster till some other opportunity This year died Robert Lord Terell Baron of Castle Knock together with his son and heir and his Wife Scolastica Houth so that the Inheritance was shared between Joan and Maud the sisters of the said Robert Terell Item Simon Lord Fleming Baron of Slane John Lord Cusak Baron of Colmolyn and John Taylor late mayor of Dublin a very
Burthred 482 491. Burton 434 448 473 533 728 740. Burnwel 353. Burwell 408. Busby 487 707. Bushbury 538. Busseys 465. Bustlers 406. Busy-gap 848. Buth 914. Buthe 1069. Butterby 776. Butiphant 980. Butler 100 239 243 294 296 319 342 346 454 503 543 545 593 594 789 793 983 984 988. Buttermeer 803. Buttevillein 437. Buttington 651. Buxton 494. Bwlch 645. Bwrdh Arth. 628. By Bye and Byan their Signification 397 472 511. Bygon 217. By-Laws what they signifie 397. Byrth-over 498. Byrdhyn fl 593. Byrig its signification 91. Byrks 724. Byrons 481. Byrsa 472. C. CAdbury 59. North 59 78. Cadells 998. Cadir 919. Cadleys 996. St. Cadoc ap Gwyelliw 691. Cadvan a British King 691. Cadwalla 709 725 853 854. Cadwellon 691. De Cadurcis or Chaworth 62. Sibylla 93. Coeling 8. Caer 30 603 654 689. Caer-Caradock 54â— 551. Caer-diff â—09 610. Caer-guid 899. Caer-hendinas 549 554. Caer-Laverock 907. â—aerliph Will. 272. â—â—er-mardhin 622 630. â—aer-narvon 665 666 673. â—aer-Palladur 70. Caer-vorran 793 807 848 869. Caesar-Augusta 343. Caesarea or Cherburg 343. Caesar 's Hill 181. Altar 205. Caesar Julius 155 172 187 188 197 199 120 203 204 205 213 221. Vid. Julius â—AESAROMAGVS 342 343 155 357. Caesars who call'd clxxii Cahaignes 280. Cahans 1018. Caâ—are 995. Cainc what 185 186. Cainsham 67 72 76 82. Caishoe Hundred 296. Caishobery 302. Cains John 404 413. Caius a famous Roman 656. Caius Bericus 347. Calais 208 209 777. CALATERIVM NEMVS 755. Calc what 714. CALCARIA 714 715. Caldecoâ— 597 714 732. Calder riv 707. Cadley 1049. Caldstream 901. Caldwell 762. Calebeg 1021. Caledon 506. CALEDONIA 925 926 935. CALEDONII 986. Caligula xliv 308. Callan riv 988. Callan town ib. Callidromos 235. Callipolis 235. Callistratia 235. Caln 87 102. Calphurnius 631. Calshot-castle 116 131. Calthrops 371. Caltosts a Family 484. Calves-heath 537. Caly 384. Cam xxiv Cam 236 403. Cam what in Danish 11. what 〈◊〉 British 403. Camalet 58 76 77. Câ—naâ—â—c 575. CAMALODVNVM xlv xlvi lii c. 347 357 706. Cambeck 835 839. Cambell 914 943. CAMBODVNVM 709 711 727. CAMBORITVM 403 404. Cambria xi 573. Cambridge in Glocestershire 236. Cambridge 404 c. Camden a Town 238 239. Viscount of ib. Camels 155. Camel riv 11 403. Camelet West 59. East ib. Camelford 11. Camelot 921 957. Camera Dianae 315 330 331. Camois Barons 172. John ib. Campbell-town 952. Camvils 506. Camulus 348. Camus 's Cross 953. Cancfield 796. Candida casa 910. Candish or Cavendish Will. 491. Candorus 14. Canford 50. CANGANI 185 186. CANGI 67 75 76 77 377 564. Cank or Canock-wood 531 532 556. Canninges 77. Cannings Hundr 67 75 77. Cannington 67 75 77. Canole-coal 771. CANONIVM 346. Canons Resident 92. Cantaber 404. Cantabri 977. Cantire 931. Cantlows 61 172 437 592 598. Cantelupo Geo. de 28 526. Tho. 576. Nich. 469. Canterbury 296 c. Hubert Archb. of 98. 354. Archbishops Primatâ—s of all England 720. CANTIVM 185. CANTIVM Proâ— 203. Cantrev-bychan 589 622. Cantrev-mewr 622. Canvey Island 341. Canvils 439. Canute 40 121 159 203 234 246 316 328 368 468 772 774. Capel-King 630. Capellar-hill 581. Capel-Shnan 635. Capels 359. Caracalla 785 Caradauc Urichfâ—aâ— 541. Caradocks 60. Caratacus xlvii 307 347 541 641 643. Carausius lxxiii 284 312. CARBANTORIGVM 907. Carbray 979. Cardigan 642. Cardines 909. Careg-cowse 6 20. Caren what 20. Carentocus 58. Carenton ibid. Caresbrook-castle 128 134. Caresdike 475. Careswell 534. Carew-castle 630. Carew Rich. 10 16. George Lord 39. Sir George 903. Geo. Dean 39. Sir Francis 159. Nich. Bar 31 159. John 177. Thomas 978. George 980. Nich. 987. Peter 988. Carews 29 141 159 630 987. Careâ—s 513 610. Cargaâ—l 7. Caâ—house 724. Carick Mac-Griffin 984. Carigfergus 1016. Carion 186. CARINI 947 Carleton 384 396 443 449. George 369. Ralph de 384 396. Carlingford 1009. Carlisle 833. â—4 Carmelites first in England 860. Carminows 7. Carn what 18 77. Carnabies 855. Carn-brag ibid. Carn chy ibid. Carn innis ibid. Carn-margh ibid. Carn-ulac ibid. Carnon of Carna 17. Carpenter John 248. Car Sir Rob. 85. Carrs 862. Car Riv. 43. Carram 861. Carre T. 74. Carreck 992. Carrict 911. Carriden 899. Corrocium 756. De Carss 923. Carthage 30. Carthaginians never in Britain cix Carth-cart riv 908. Cartismandun xxx 347 541 703 704. Cartmel 795. Cartwright Jo. 512. Carvilius 186. Carvils a Fam. 392. Carus and Carinus lxxiii Carys 29 41 302. Cary Sir Henr. 296 319. Sir Edw. 302. George Baron 319. Cary-castle 61. Cary-Lites ibid. Cashalton 158. Caslys 528. Cassandra 367. CASSII 277 278 295. Cassibelin's Town 296. Cassil 983. Cassibelaunus 277 278 368. CASSITERIDES 1111. Cassivelannus Longimanus 678. De Castel a Frenchman 29 45. Caster 424 435. Casterley 111. Castilion Joh. Baptâ— 141. Castle-Ashby 434. Castle-cary 56 61 712. Castle-croft 530. Castle-dun 916. Castleford 711 749. Castelhpain 585. Castelham 591. Castelh Colwen 585. Castle conel 984. Castelh-corndochen 663. Castle-comb 87. Castle-danis 11. Castle-dinas 590. Castleden 498. Castlegarde 28 34 205. Castle-green 48. Castle-hill 54 510 538. Castle-how 811. Castle-knock 993. Castle in the Peak 495. Castle-martin 990. Castle-mill 290. Castle-park 580. Castelh-prysor 663. Castle-ruff 219. Castle-steeds 835 839 855. Castle-thorp 285. Castles in England 862. Ireland 1020. Castleford Tho. de 729. CASTRA CONSTANTIA 1107. Castor 385 388 396 471. CASTRA ALATA 897. CASTRA EXPLORATORVM 841. Catabathmos 231 232. Catapultae 672. CATARRATCONIVM 761. Caterlogh 988. Catesby 432 520. Catarick 761 767 768. Catharin Daughter of W. Herbert 214 Widow of Th. Lord Berkley 249. Wife of Henry V. 318. Wife of Henry VIII 437. Dutchess of Suffolk 479. Wife of John Talbot 549. S. Catharine's Well 905. Cathbregion 59. Catigern 193. Cathness Earl of 947. CATINI ibid Catlidge 408 415. Catmose vale 455. Catteshul 154. CATTI 277. CATTIEVCHLANI 277 278 307 566. Catti-hill 537. Cattimarus 277. Cattle the Riches of Ireland 985. Cattle-stealers 908. CATVELLANI 231. CATVRACTONIVM 761 767. Catus Decianus 365 Caude 833 Caudebeck ibid. Caves Family 439. Cavels 12. Cavenaughs 988 992. Cavendishes 36 872. Cavendish Will. 493 711. Caverns 342 622 623. Caversfield 284. Caversham 281. Caun 77. Caurse-castle 543. Cauzes 484. Cawood 722. Caxton 403. Cay-hill 89. Ceada 341 344. S. Ceada see Chad. Ceadwalla see Cadwalla Ceaster 193. Ceaulin 70 85 100 111 159 238 240 266. Cecil Rob. 51 456. de Fortibus 61. Sir Tho. 159. Tho. Earl 442. William Lord 126 296 305 438 442 463 476 574. Cecils 32 94 107 760. Cecil Daughter to W. Baron Bonevil 33 67. Daughter to Jordan Fitz-Stephens 29. Countess of Oxon 319. Wife to J. Bourchier 62. Daughter of Hugh d'Albeney 668. Cedda 373. Cedwalla 117 129 168. Celd 217. Celibacy first enjoyn'd Priests 27 519 547. CELNIVS fluv CELTAE xii xv xvii xxi xxiii Celtiberians 185 186. Celurca 938. CENIMAGNI 77 365 365 395. CENIO 7. CENIONIS ostium ibid. Ceol 111. Ceolfrid 784. Cerdick 100 114 129 280 389. Cerdickford 114. Cerdicksand 389. Ceremonies at the investiture of the Princes of Wales 695 696. at the
3. had seiz'd their lands into his hands he granted the Rape of Hastings first to Peter Earl of Savoy then to Prince Edward his son and after upon his surrender to John son to the Duke of Little Britain upon certain exchanges of lands pertaining to the Honour of Richmond which Peter Earl of Savoy had made over for the use of the Prince Long time after when the Dukes of Britain had lost their lands in England for adhering to the French King King Henry 4. gave the Rape of Hastings with the mannour of Crowherst Burgwash c. to Sir John Pelham the elder upon whose loyalty wisdom and valour he much relied Furthermore as there were certain great Gentlemen in this County at the beginning of the Norman times sirnam'd de Hastings one of whom Matthew de Hastings held the mannour of Grenocle by this tenure â—â—uisitio 5. â—w 1. That he should find at this haven an Oar whenever the King would cross the seas so the noble family of the Hastings now Earls of Huntingdon enjoys this title of Hastings For King Edward 4. bestow'd it with certain Royalties upon William Hastings his Chamberlain â—illiam â—d Haâ—â—â—ngs who is commended by Cominaeus for that having receiv'd a yearly pension from Lewis xi the French King he could not by any means be perswaded to give him an acquittance under his own hand I will in no case said he that my hand be seen among the accounts of the French King's treasury But this man by falling too deep into the friendship of Kings quite overwhelmed himself For whilst he deliver'd his mind too freely in a Cabinet-Council with the Usurper Richard 3. he was unexpectedly hurried away and without trial beheaded immediately l He had notwithstanding an honourable burial in S. George's Chapel in Windsor leaving issue Edward Lord Hastings his son and heir Neither must we forget to take notice â— H. 6. â—on Hoo â—d Haâ—â—â—ngs that King Henry 6. ennobled Tho. Hoo a worthy person whom he also chose into the Order of the Garter with the Title of Baron Hoo and Hastings whose daughters and heirs were marry'd to Geoffrey Bollen from whom by the mothers side Queen Elizabeth was descended to Roger Copeley John Carew and John Devenish Thence the shore retires backwards and is hollow'd inwards being full of many windings and creeks within which stands Winchelsea Winchelsea built in the time of K. Edward 1. when a more ancient town of the same name in Saxon Wincelsea was quite swallow'd up by the raging and tempestuous Ocean in the year 1250. at which time the face of the earth both here and in the adjoyning coast of Kent was much alter'd It 's situation I will set before you in the very words of Tho. Walsingham Situate it is upon a very high hill very steep on that side which looks towards the sea or overlooks the Road where the Ships lie at Anchor Whence it is that the way leading from that port to the haven goes not streight forward lest it should by a down-right descent force those that go down to fall head-long or them that go up to creep rather on their hands than walk but lying sideways it winds with crooked turns in and out to one side and the other At first it was inclos'd with a mud after with a very strong wall but scarce began to flourish till it was sack'd by the French and Spaniards and by the sea 's shrinking back from it as it were on a sudden faded and fell to decay 28 And now only beareth the countenance of a fair town and hath under it in the level which the sea relinquished a Castle fortify'd by Henry 8. and large marshes defended from Sea-rages with works very chargeable h By which accident and the benefit of the sea it 's neighbour Rye Rye began to flourish or rather to reflourish for that it flourish'd in ancient times and that William of Ipres Earl of Kent fortify'd it Ipres Tower and the immunities and privileges that it had in common with the Cinque-Ports do sufficiently shew But either by reason of the Vicinity of Winchelsea or the sea 's recess it was inconsiderable for a long time But when Winchelsea decay'd and King Edward 3. wall'd it about it began to recover it self and within the memory of our fathers the Ocean to make a rich amends for the injury it had done swell'd with an extraordinary tempest and broke so violently in insinuating it self in form of a bay that it made a very convenient Port which another tempest likewise in our age did not a little contribute to Since which time it has greatly re-flourish'd with inhabitants buildings fishing and navigation and is now the usual passage from hence to Normandy 29 Yet now it beginneth to complain that the sea abandoneth it such is the variable and interchangeable course of that element and in part imputeth it that the river Rother is not contain'd in his Chanel and so loseth it's force to carry away the sands and beach which the sea doth inhear into the haven Notwithstanding it hath many Fishing vessels and serveth London and the Court with variety of Sea-fish But as to it's name whether it takes it from Rive a Norman word which signifies a Bank I cannot easily say Yet since in Records it is very often call'd in Latin ripa and they who bring fish from thence are termed Ripiers I encline the rather this way and should encline more if the French us'd this word for a shore as Pliny does Ripa 30 These two towns neither may it seem impertinent to note it belong'd to the Abbey of Fescampe in Normandy But when K. Henry 3. perceiv'd that Religious men intermingled secretly in matters of state he gave them in exchange for these two Chiltenham and Sclover two manours in Gloucestershire and other lands adding for the reason that the Abbots and Monks might not lawfully sight with temporal Arms against the enemies of the Crown Into this haven the river Rother or Rither hath it's influx which springing at Ritheramfeld River Rother for so the old English call'd that town which we call Rotherfeld runs by Burgwash formerly Burghersh Lords Burghersh which had Lords so sirnam'd amongst whom was that Sir Bartholomew Burgwash a mighty man in his time who being found by most solemn embassies and the wars in Aquitain to be a person of great prudence and undaunted valour was thought fit to be created a Baron of England and to be admitted into the Order of the Garter at the very first institution even amongst the Founders as also to be Constable of Dover-Castle and Warden of the Cinque-Ports And his son of the same Christian name no way degenerating from his father liv'd in a great deal of splendor and honour but left but one only daughter behind him marry'd into the family of Le Despencer descended m Call'd S. Mary's of Robertsbridge and
contracted marriage being the first of our Kings since the Conquest that married his Subject But thereby he drew upon himself and her relations a world of troubles as may be seen in our Histories The said Richard Widdevil Lord of Rivers Grafton and De la Mote was by Edward the fourth now his Son in law avanc'd these are the very words of the Charter of Creation to be Earl of Rivers Earls Rivers by the cincture of a Sword to have to him and his heirs males with the fee of 20 l. by the hands of the Sheriff of Northampton And soon after he was with great state and solemnity constituted Constable of England 7 Edw. 1. Câ—nstable â—â—gland I speak out of the original Patent To occupy manage and execute the said Office by himself or his sufficient Deputies for term of life receiving yearly 200 pound out of the Exchequer with full power and authority to take cognizance and proceed in causes of and concerning the crime of High Treason or the occasion thereof also to hear examine and in due time determine the causes and business aforesaid with all and singular matters thence arising thereunto incident or therewith conjoyned summarily and from the Bench without noise or formal judgment having only regard to the truth of the fact and with the King's hand or power if it shall be thought convenient in our behalf without all appeal 2 Moreover about that time he was made Lord Treasurer of England But after his having enjoy'd these honours for a good while he was beat in the battel of Edgcote fighting for his Son-in-law and soon after intercepted and beheaded And altho' this family died as it were and ended in his sons Anthony Earl Rivers being beheaded by Richard the third and Richard and his Brothers dying issueless yet from the daughters sprang very fair and noble branches For from them issued the Royal Line of England the Marquisses of Dorset Earls of Essex Earls of Arundel Earls of Worcester Earls of Derby and Barons Stafford b Behind Grafton is Sacy Forest Sacy Forest a place set apart for game More Eastward the villages lye scatter'd thick every where amongst which these are of greatest note Blisworth the seat of the Wakes descended from the famous family of the Barons of Wake and Estoteville Pateshull which gave name formerly to a noted family Greenes-Norton so nam'd of the Greenes persons fam'd in the last age for their wealth call'd before Inq. 44. Edw. 3. if I mistake not b A Manuscript Collection of Tenures by Serjeanty in the hands of Henry Worsley of Lincolns-Inn Esquire puts this service under Ashby in this County Norton Dany and held in Capite of the King by the Service of lifting up the right hand towards the King yearly on Christmas-day in what place soever he then was in England Wardon Wardon a Hundred which had its Lords descended from Guy de Reinbudcourt a Norman whose estate came by the Foliots to Guiscard Leddet whose daughter Christian bare unto her husband Henry de Braibrook a numerous issue But Guiscard the eldest assum'd his mothers sirname Leddet Shortly after this great estate was divided by females between William and John Latimers of Corby brothers From the last the Griffins in this County had their original as from the first the Latimers Barons Barons Latimer of good antiquity in Yorkshire Higher in the Country northward arises the river Aufona or Avon for Avon in the British tongue is a general name of all rivers call'd Nen The river Nen. by the inhabitants and passes from the west-side of this County making many reaches by the winding of its banks in a manner through the midst of this Province to which it is a continual blessing A very noble river it is and if my judgment be worth any thing garison'd in old time by the Romans For when that part of Britain on this side the river was in the Emperour Claudius's time brought under the Roman Government so that the inhabitants thereof were termed Allies to the Romans when the Britains also beyond the river made frequent incursions into this their Country and carried all before them and these Allies themselves more easily bearing the Commands than Vices of the Romans on every turn conspir'd with those beyond the river then P. Ostorius says Tacitus cinctos castris Antonam Aufonas I would read it if I might be so bold Sabrinam cohibere parat That is if I misunderstand not the place he by placing Forts up and down upon these rivers undertakes to restrain the Britains beyond the river and those of this Province from assisting one another against the Romans What river this shou'd be none can tell Lipsius the Apollo of our age hath either dispell'd this mist or I my self am in a cloud He points out Northampton and I am of opinion that Antona has been foisted into Tacitus instead of Aufona upon which Northampton is seated For the very heart or middle of England is counted to be near it where out of one hill spring three rivers running different ways Cherwell to the south Leame to the west which as it hastens to the Severn is receiv'd by another * 〈◊〉 Avon and this Avon or Nen to the east Of which these †Antâ—â—a two Avons so cross England overthwart that whoever comes out of the northern parts of this Island must of necessity pass over one of the two When therefore Ostorius had fortified the Severn and these two Avons he had no cause to fear any danger out of Wales or the north parts of Britain either to his Romans or Allies who at that time had reduced only the nearest parts of this Isle into the form of a Province as Tacitus himself witnesses in another place c Those great fortifications and military fences to be seen at Gildsborough and Dantrey Gâ—â—dsâ—â—roâ—gh Danâ—â—â—y between the springs of the two Avons which run different ways and where only there is passage into the hither part of Britain without any rivers to hinder it may seem to be some of the sorts which Ostorius erected That at Gildsborough is great and large but this other at Dantrey is greater and larger for being four-square upon an high hill from whence all the Country beneath may be seen far and near and having on the east-side a Mount they call it Spelwell it encloses within a cast-up bank two hundred acres or thereabouts Within which the Country people find now and then Coins of the Roman Emperours certain proofs of it's antiquity They are much mistaken therefore who will have it to be a work of the Danes and that the town under it was thence nam'd Dantrey now well known for it's Inns and had formerly a Religious-house of Augustin Fryers which as 't is reported H. de Fawesly sounded At the head of the Avon or Nen to make a step backwards stands Catesby Catesby that gave name to