deliueraunce at this present had in perpetuall memory the vj. of August béeing a holy day in the remembraunce therof Thus this little Cittie which in antiquitie is not inferiour to other hath from time to time felt the smartes and chauÌ„ges of all times and indured great troubles daungers extremities and perilles and yet God regarding their faith obedieÌ„ce to their Prince and common welth before all other sacrifices hath defended and preserued them alwaies rewarding them with immortall Fame for which his great benefits his name be praised for euer and euer The sundry and seuerall names of the Cittie of Excester and the interpretation of the same COrinea or Corinia is the first and eldest name of this Cittie and so named by Corineus who ariuing with Brutus into this laÌ„d and seasing or taking laÌ„d vpon these west parteê was by Brutus Lord of the same And he then building this Cittie as is thought called it by his owne name Corinia whiche beeing so then is this Cittie one of the first Townes or Cittyes buylded by the Brittons in this land Cayrpenhuelgoite is compounded of foure woords Cayr is a Fortresse or a walled Town pen is a hed or the chéef of any thing hovvel is good luck prosperitie or knowledge goyed is wood a forest or timber woork now these put togither after the English phrase is the prosperouse chéef Town in the wood Penhaltcayr is compounded of thrée woords Pen is the hed or chéef halt is high a top of a hil or the brim or edge of a thing cayr is a Town walled or a Fortresse these put togither doo signyfy the hed Town or Cittie vpon the Hil. Pencayr is compounded of two woords of Pen and Cayr which signify the chéef Cittie Cayrruthe Cayrrith is compounded of Cair and Rith Rith is tawnish or a dark red and so it signifyeth the red town Cittie or Fort. Cayrriske is likewise a compound of two woords Iske signifieth afresh water also a quil or a wing but in this place it is the name of the Riuer which fléeteth by the Cittie and so it signifieth the Cittie of Iske Isca was also the name of the Town and Isaca the name of the Riuer which fleeteth by it as Ptolomeus and certain latter writers folowing him doo suppose write though it should seeme rather the Cittie to be called Isaca and the Riuer Isca Muncketon was so called by the Saxons but vpon what reason it dooth not appéer others theÌ„ that they did at their comming chaunge and alter the names of all or moste parte of places in this land giuing new names either of Townes or places of the Contrey from wheÌ„ce they came or of their owne deuise or els King Etheldred or King Edgar when they had builded eche of them a Monastery for Muncks did giue that name Exeter was the name which King Adelstane gaue vnto it when he soiourned in this Town calling it so of the riuer Exe and then it is to say Exeterra the town or soyle of Exe â–ª Exancestre is thought to be so called by the Saxons who commonly and for the moste parte named such Fortes and holdes as they buylded by this woord Cestria as Cicestria Dorcestria Osestria and many other like for Cestir in the Saxon tung is a Forte a Town or a Cittie Excestrum or Excestre is the name moste now in use and so â—amed as some write of the Riuer whiche they write 〈◊〉 named Excestrum Brutus Cadwalader Corinnia Cairpenhulgoit Penhaltcair Pencayr Cayrruth Cayrriske king Coil Bale Muncketon Adlestane Exeterra Excestre Exancestre Courtney Churche of Exon. Ethelvvol phus Etheldred Edgar Canutus S. Edward Leofricus Edvvin Cadvvalline Alphred Svveno VVilliam CoÌ„querer King Stephen Baldwin Ridiuers King Richard Duke of York Duke of Glocestre Vere Delapole Lord Din ham Lord Fitzvvarren Baron of Carevve Duke of Clarence Neuel erle of VVarvvick king Henry King Edvvard Faults escaped in the Printing Folio side line fault correction 4. 1. 9. Republica e Republica 6. 2. 12. aduisedly vnaduisedly 21 1. 18. thrir commission their commission 33. 1. 7. Also no person Also as no person eodem 2. 12. aud there to doo and there to doo 41. 1. 19. iu a prouince in a prouince eodem 2. 1. Corinibia Cornubia eodem 2. 11. PoÌ„ticus Virimus Ponticus Virumus 42. 1. 5. dominations denominations eodem 1. 11. glory and renown glory and renown eodem 2. 11. It is all togither It is not all togither eodem 2. 21. aad made swéet and made swéet eodem 2. 34. canalis canelles 43. 1. 12. The Cite the scite eodem 1. 23. the signiory the segniory eodem 2. 1. and otber and other eodem 2. 10. béeing callen béeing called 44. 1. 4. one Sainct James one at Sainct James 45. 2. 21. exhaunsed exhausted 46. 1. 35. as very obsequions are very obsequious 47. 1. 2. laceratus sunt laceratus fuit eodem 1. 18. pacisicare pacificaret eodem 1. 24. reconciliati sunt reconciliati sunt 48. 1. 20. maximus maximis 49. 1. 35. with mortal Fame with immortal fame 50. 2. 34. requied required 51. 1. 9. leauing nothing leauing nothing eodem 2. 29. in such destesse in such distresse
their hands did preuily flée away into Scotland and froÌ„ thence into Flanders where they dyed 9 It was also in great troubles in the time of King Edvvard the fourth for in the x. yéer of his reign Anno. 1469. when the states of King Henry the vj. and King Edvvard the fourth were doutful The Duchesse of Clarente the Lord Dinham the Lord Fitzvvarren and the Baron of Carewe with others who took parte with Henry the vj. came to this Cittie accompanyed with a thousand fighting men the Duches béeing great with childe and lodged in the Bishops place But Sir Hugh Courtney Knight who fauored and was of the parte of King Edward hearing of this raised an armye of his fréends and Allies besieged the Cittie brake down the Bridges and stopped all the waies comming towards the same by meanes wherof no Uictualles could come to the market And béeing encamped about the Cittie sent vnto the Mayor requiring him either to open the Gates or to deliuer the gentlemen whiche were within The gentlemen which were within they of their parties either mistrusting the Mayor or Comons or not willing to be ruled vnder his gouernment requied the keyes of the gates to be deliuered into their custody and all things to be doon as at their appointment In which perplexitie and doutful estate the Mayor and his brethern consulting did resolue and determine neither to yéeld to the request of them which were without nor yet to satisfie their requests which were within but pacifying bothe partyes with such honest and quiet meanes as they might did conclude to keep the Cittie and them selues as to their allegiance appertained to the vse of the Crown wherfore foorthwith they rampred the Gates fortified the Walles and armed their Souldiers and set all things in good order leauing nothing vndoon which might be for the preseruation of the state and common welth of the Cittie But in small processe of time the prouision waxed short and victualles began to be scant whereof it was feared a famine would insue the same béeing so hard a thing as so great a number of people would not endure and abide Yet notwithstanding partely by the good peswasions of the Magistrates and hauing a regarde of their owne dutyes and estates and hoping this troublesome time would not long indure did continewe firme and trusty in their cause vntil at length by way of intreatie and mediation of certain Chanons of the Close the siege was after xij dayes remooued and raised whervpon very shortly did insue the féeld at Edgecourt where the Duke of Clarence and the Earle of VVarwick béeing put to the worst did flée to this Cittie entring in the third of April lying in the Bishops Pallaice for a few dayes vntil they prouided Shippes at Dartmouth fit for their passage to Calleys The King hauing vnderstanding whiche wayes his enemyes were gon followed and pursewed them with an armye of xl thousand men and came to this Cittie the xiiij of Aprill Anno. 1470. but he came to late the Duke and the Earle béeing gone to the Seaes before his comming wherfore the King after he had reposed him self héer thrée dayes returned 10 It was likewise in great trouble béeing besieged the .x. j. yéere of the reign of King Henry the vij Anno 1498. by one Parkin VVarbeck who in the beginning of September came to this Cittie and encamped it with Ordinaunce battred the walles fired the gates vndermined the walles and scaled the same but by the noble courage of the Citizens he had small successe béeing manfully resisted vntil suche time as the King aduertised therof did send the Lord Edvvard Courtney Earle of Deuon and the Lord VVilliam his Sonne with other Noble men who reskewed the Cittie and deliuered it from the enemye 11 Finally and last of all it was besieged in â–ª the third yéere of King Edvvard the sixt Anno. 1549. by the Commons of Deuon and Cornvvall who not contenting them selues with the state of Religion then established clustered them selues in companyes appointed to them selues Captaines and minded by their force to vndoo that which the Prince by Lawe and Act of Parlement had established wherfore to redéeme all such places of force welth and defence into their owne hands whiche might in any respect serue for their ayde and defence came to this Cittie the second of July 1549. and encamped them selues about the same in great numbers during the time of their abode besieging great troubles arose soÌ„etimes assaultê made sometimes the gates fired soÌ„etimes the walles vndermined some times skirmishes made some great laromes to defeÌ„d the walles against scaling finally nothing was left vndoon which the enemyes might deuise for the obteining of their purpose And albeit there waÌ„ted not lusty stomakes of the Citizens to withstaÌ„d this outward force yet in processe of time such scarcitie of Uitualles did encrease Bread waxed so scant that the people began to waxe wery and lothe to abide the extremitie therof whiche was so extreme that it was feared either that the people must yéeld to the enemye or perish with famin How beit the Magistrates though sory in such destesse yet hauing a speciall regarde of their dutie toward the Prince and their charge to the common welth left no meanes vnsought to quiet the people and stay them in their deutye and obidience Wherfore comforting the people with fair promises and liberall reléeuing their necessities did in such sort and order handle the matter that euery body with one assent was resolued in hope of some spéedy releef to abide the end and in no wise to giue place to the enemye but to continue faithful to the Prince and trusty to their common welth And yet in the meane while the gouernours left no deuises and prouisions which might be for the reléefe and comfort of the poore hungrye bellyes wherfore the corne and Meale consumed they caused of course and olde refused Bran bread to be moulded vp in clothes for otherwise it would not stick togither Also they caused some excurtions to be made out of the Cittie for the praying and taking of such Cattel as were néer about the walles which béeing taken was distributed emong the poor Likewise the Prisoners in captiuitie were contented to be fatisfied with such victualles as could bée prouided and albeit mannes nature can scarcely abide to féed vpon the flesh of a Horse yet these poor men were fed therwith and wel contented The noble King and Councel aduertised of this distresse did at length after xxxv dayes send the honorable S. Iohn Russel Knight Lord Russel Lord priuy Seale and afterwards Earle of Bedford with a company and band of Souldiers who after sundry conflicts had with the enemyes came to this Cittie the vj. of August reskewing and deliuering the same from the enemye and set them at libertie For the which as God was moste worthy of all praise and glory so is the same his
accounting one thousand paces to a Mile is a mile and halfe and some what more The scituation of it is very plesaunt and amenous béeing set vpon a little hil emong many hilles the Contrie round about béeing Mountanose and ful of hilles It is pendeÌ„t towards the Sowth and West partes after and in such sort that be the Stréets neuer so foule or filthy yet with a shower of rain they are clensed aad made swéet And albeit commonly hilles are dry yet nature is so beneficial to this hil that it is ful of springê and by that menes euery parte of the Cittie is furnished with welles and Tyepittes the commoditie wherof hath wel appéered in sundry times of necessitie but especially in the late Commotion whiche was in the yéer of our Lord. 1549. for though then the enemy by spoiling of the Pipes wherby water was conuayed to the fountains of the Cittie from certaine Springs distant not a Mile from the same did abridge them of that water yet moste comfortably did they inioy the welles and Tyepittes within the walles whiche abundantly fléeted with waters to the satisfying of all the people therin There are also within this Cittie certain Fountains called Conduits vnto which through certain canalis or Pipes of Lead waters are conueyed from Springs rising out of certain places and féelds without this Cittie and these waters are of moste price the same by reason of the cariage béeing purified and made lighter then the waters springing within the Cittie and by that menes more fit for the dressing of meates Of these Fountains one béeing of great antiquitie and of later réedifyed staÌ„deth in the middle of the Cittie at the méeting of foure principall Streets therof and wherof it taketh his name beeing called the Conduit at Quarterfoies or Carsoxe and this serueth eche parte of the Cittie a like At the higher parte of this Cittie is a very olde and auncient Castle called by the name of Rugemont that is to say the red hil taking that name of the red Earth whervpon it standeth The Cite of it is eminent and aboue bothe the Cittie and countrie adioyning for they doo all lye as vnder the lee therof It hath a goodly prospect towards the Seas for betwéen that and it is no hil at all it is strongly diched round about and was so builded as is thought by Iulius Caesar or rather by the Romains after him for they had their recourse to it for their defence and refuge many yéeres The same also was sometimes the Palaice of such Kings as to whome the Kingdome of west Sex or west Saxons was alloted vnto After that it was the habitation of the Earles of Cornwall and last of all to the Dukes of Exon and of Cornwall for to those estates the signiory of this Cittie did appertain the same béeing parcel sometimes of the Earledome but now of the Duchie of Cornewall It. is now in meruelous ruin and decay not easely by force to be gotten were it réedified and inuironed At the lower end and parte of this Cittie without the walles fléeteth a goodly Riuer called in British Iske Ptholomeus by misinformation calleth it Isaca but the olde writers name it Esle Exe Exâ— or Excestrum which names be yet retained It hath his spring or hed in a certain Moer or desert distant from this Cittie neer about xxiiij miles called Exemore it floweth into the main Seas but by the way is increced with sundry Riuers Brookes and Lakes namely Creedy Collome and others in it is great plenty of Salmon Trout Peal dace Pike and other fresh water Fish whiche are had in the lesse price for that the Seas béeing so néer doo furnish the Cittie and the cuntrey abundantly with sundry kindes of Sea Fish moste delicate The main Sea it self is not distant from the Cittie abooue eight miles out wherof commeth an Arme seruing for the Port of the same which sometimes as appéereth by olde and auncient records did flow vp to the walles of the Cittie where bothe Shippes were wunt to be laden and vnladen of all kinde of Merchandise at a proper place appointed for the same which at this presents kéepeth his olde and ancient name béeing callen the VVater gate The decay therof happened in the yéer of our Lord. 1312. by one Hugh Courtney the third of that name and Earle of Deuon who béeing offended and incenced against this Cittie his wrathful humour could not be satisfied vnlesse he might impair the state of that common welth and therfore séeing and vnderstanding emong other commodities the vse of the Hauen to be one of the chéefest did neuer quiet him self vntil he had destroyed the same Wherfore in the yéer of our Lord. 1313. béeing the fifth yéer of the reign of King Edward the second he enterprised his pretenced deuise and mischéef For where as the Lady Awmerle Countesse of Deuon his Ancestrix had builded certain Weares vpon the Riuer of Exe th' one within the mannor of Exminster béeing in the west side of the Riuer and th' other within her manor of Topsham béging in the East side of the Riuer leuing betwéen the said twoo weres a certain aparture or open roume of thirtye foot through which all Botes Shippes and Uessails without let might haue their vsuall passage and repassage towards and from this Cittie The said Earle to abridge destroy this commoditie did leuye build a new Weare in the said open place stopping filing and quirting the same with trees timber and Stones in such sort that no vessail could passe or repasse After him Edward Courtney Earle of Deuon and Nephew to the said Hugh did not onely maintaine and continew the fact of his ancester and grandfather by dayly repairing and defending the same but also woorking an vttter destruction for any passage for Shippes thencefoorth to the Cittie vnder preteÌ„ce to buyld certain Milles did erect and make two other weares the one Sainct Iames ouerthwart the Riuer and the other at Lamperford by meanes wherof not onely the Cittie susteined the whole losse of their haueÌ„ but the whole Contrey adioyning for which iniuryes vpon complaints made writs and commissions of inquiry were sent out the said Earles for the same by verdict and presentment at seuerall times found guilty but such was his authoritie and power that it auailed nothing Neuerthelesse the said Earle Hugh the water course vnto the Cittie thus destroyed buylded a place called a Key for the charge and discharge of all Wares and Merchandise within that port at a Town of his owne called Topsham distant from the Cittie about thrée miles from whence euer sithence all wares and Merchandises haue béen caryed and recaryed to and from the Cittie by Horse Cart or Wain though to the gain of the Earle and his Tenaunts yet to the great trouble and hindraunce of this Cittie and Merchaunts therof Neuerthelesse the port hath euermore yet dooth retain his olde and ancient name béeing called the Port of