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A61053 A prospect of the most famous parts of the vvorld Viz. Asia, 3 Affrica, 5 Europe, 7 America. 9 With these kingdomes therein contained. Grecia, 11 Roman Empire, 13 Germanie, 15 Bohemia, 17 France, 19 Belgia, 21 Spaine, 23 Italie, 25 Hungarie, 27 Denmarke, 29 Poland, 31 Persia, 33 Turkish Empire, 35 Kingdome of China, 37 Tartaria, 39 Sommer Ilands, 41 Civill Warres, in England, Wales, and Ireland. You shall find placed in the beginning of the second booke marked with these [3 asterisks in triangle formation] and (5) together with all the provinces, counties, and shires, contained in that large theator of Great Brittaines empire. / Performed by John Speed. Speed, John, 1552?-1629.; Goos, Abraham,; Gryp, Dirck,; Speed, John, 1552?-1629. Theatre of the empire of Great Britaine. 1646 (1646) Wing S4882A; ESTC R218797 522,101 219

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tongue which is the Towne of the Bernicians Howsoever this is better to be said then trusted and whencesoever it hath the name it is seated betweene two mightie Kingdoms shooting far into the Sea with the which and the River Tweed it is almost encompassed and whensoever any discord fell betweene the two Nations this place was the first thing they tooke care of It hath indured the brunts of divers inroades and incursions and been oftentimes both possessed and repossessed of the Scots and English But since it was reduced under the command of Edward the fourth our Kings have from time to time so strengthened it with new workes and fortifications as they cut off all hopes of winning it The Governour of this Towne is also Warden of the East Marches against Scotland The longitude of it according to Mathematicall observation is 21 degrees and 43. minutes the latitude 55. degrees and 48. minutes 10 The Inhabitants of this Countie are a warlike people and excellent light horsemen and are made fierce and hard by the severall encounters of the Scots and not much unlike them in neither betwixt whom in this County many battels have beene fought and the successes oftentimes waved thorow very doubtfully the victory sometimes falling to the Scots sometimes to the English At Otterburne was one in which three or foure times it stood doubtfully indifferent till in the end the Scots got the upper hand of the English Howbeit their glory was not made so illustrious by this Conquest but that it was as much darkned by the foile they received at Anwicke where William King of the Scots was taken and presented prisoner to Henry the 2. As also by that battell at Brumridge where King Athelstan fought a pitcht field against Anlase the Dane Constantine King of Scots and Eugenius king of Cumberland and that with such fortunate successe as it hath left matter sufficient to fill the pens of Historians Flodden field also memorable in the death of Iames the fourth king of Scots who was there slaine and his Armie overthrowne in a sharpe fight as hee displayed his Banner in great hope against England when king Henry the 8. lay at the siege of Turnay in France 11 Other battels in this Countie have been as that at Hexam called by Bede Hangustald wherein Iohn Nevill Marquesse Montacute encountred the Leaders of the Lancastrian faction with much courage and with greater successe put them to flight for which hee was made Earle of Northumberland by Edward the fourth As also that at Dilston by Bede called Dinelsburne where Oswald having the faith of Christ for his defence and armour slew Cedwall the Britaine in a set battell himself straight-wayes becomming a professed Christian and causing his people to be instructed in Christian Religion 12 Many memorable Antiquities are found in this Countrey along the wall and in other places As pieces of Coyne Inscriptions broken and unprefect Altars c. the ruines of the wall yet to be seene but none that deserves more to be remembred then Wall-Town by Bede called Ad Murum for that Segbert King of the East-Saxons was in it baptized in the Christian faith by the hands of Paulinus and Halyston where the same Paulinus is said to have baptized many thousands in the faith of Christ in the Primitive Church of the English Nation 13 Busy-gap is a place infamous for robbing and theeving and is therefore rather remembred as a cautiatory note for such as have cause to travell that way then for any proper matter of worth it hath that merits place with other parts of this Province Other matters of observation are onely these that North Tyne running through the Wall waters two Dales which breede notable light Horsemen and both of them have their hilles hard by so boggie and standing with water on the top that no Horsemen are able to ride thorow them and yet which is wonderfull there be many great heaps of stones called Lawes which the neighbouring people are verily perswaded were cast up and laid together in old time in remembrance of some that were slain there There is also a Martiall kinde of men which lie out up and downe in little cottages called by them Sheales Shealings from Aprill to August in scattering fashion summering as they terme it their cattell and these are such a sort of people as were the ancient Nomades The last not least matter of note is this that the Inhabitants of Morpeth set their owne Towne on fire in the yeare of Christ 1215. in the spight they bare to King Iohn for that he and his Rutars over-ran these Countries This Countie hath five Market-Townes in it for her trade of buying and selling 26. Castles for her strength and fortification and 460. Parish-Churches for divine service NORTHUMBERLAND A ABsheles Acam Ackton Acton Akelynton Allanton Allenton Almeburne ALNEWICK Alnham East Al●ow flu West Allow flu Anbell Ancraft Angetton Anter-Chester Aperley Ashington Asper sheles Averwick Aumond hill Aydon Castle Aylmouth Aylnammore B Bamburg Barmore Barodon Barraford Barrinton BARWICK Barwick Great Bavinton Bearle Bedenell Bedlinton Bedford Bellister castle Bellerley The Bellyn Belkerk Belsey castle Beltingham Beneley Bentham Benwell Berling Great Bewick Little Bewick Bewfront Bichefield Bickerton Biker Billingham Billistone Bilton Bingfield Brikes Biwell castle Blacklaw Black-brea Black-bedon Blakedon Black-hall Blake law Blakeworth Blenkensop Castle Blithe flu Blithes Newkes Bolam Bottle Castle Bowesden Bowmet Bowton Bradford Bradley hall Brankeston Bransaugh Branton Branton Brearidge Brenkhorn Brinkley Brome parke Bromeridge Bromish flu Brumley Brunton Bruntons Buckton Budle Burdop Burrodon Burtley Burton Buston Busigap Buteland Butterhagh C Caddon Callalee Callie parke Cammas Captheaton Carehouse North Carleton South Carleton Carram Carrow towre Carswell The Carter Castley Catchaside Catchborne Causey Cerbridge Charleton Chatton Chesterwood Cheswick Chetlop Burne Cheviot hils East-Chevinton West-Chevinton Chillingham Chirden Chipechase Chirtons Cholerton Claroo Cockley Cockley towne Cocket flu Coket Iland Cocklaw hill Cold-Marton Conwood chapel Colwell Cornwale Corsenside Cortington castle Cotewall tower Coupland Cowpon Cragshels Cramlinton Crawley Crawstor Christenbury cra Crocklaw Cronkley Cunningarth D Dala Castle Dareshall Dawton Deddington Denijk Denton Detcham Dichborns Dilston Dissingtons Doteland Donols flu Downeham Doxford Druriche Duke pul Dunkefield Dunnington Dunston Dunterley Dunstaburgh Castle Durtreborn E Eawden Edderston Edington Edlingham castle Eglingham Eland hall Eldes Elford Elihaugh Elis. Elishaw Ellesden Ellingham Ellyke Elmeley Eltringham Embleton Emmothilis Emmouthough Erington Erisden Eslington Espley Essheales Etall Etall Castle Evart F Fallowfield Farley Farnlaw Fauston hall Fauterley Fawlee Faulick Fawnes Felkinton Felton Fennam Fennik Fennik hall Fetherston haugh Flights fell Flodden hill Font flu Ford Castle Fowbre Framlington G Garretlee The Gelecrag Gijsons Gilderdale Glanthisse Glanton Gloucester The Grange Grange Greene. Greenchester Greene haugh Greene hatherly Greene Leighton Greenested Grindridge North Gosford South Gosford Goswick Grotehugh
consumption of sundry most noble and ancient houses of England and both parties wearied with warres the conclusions of peace which ensued are reported in regard of the precedent murders to be written with bloud The third sort of these quarrels in these Civill warres and dissentions were factious dissentions between Princes themselves of the bloud Royall ambitiously aspiring to the Crown of this Kingdome and titles of Kings thereof Of which kind there have beene two most notable knowne amongst us The first fell betwixt Stephen of Bloyse Earle of Bolloigne wrongfully succeeding his uncle King Henry the first in the Crown of England on the one partie and Maud the Empresse Daughter and sole heire to the said King Henry and Henry D. of Normandie his sonne and heyre who afterward succeeded the same King Stephen on the other part which was followed with such variable successe of fortune in many conflicts on both parts that K. Stephen himselfe was taken prisoner and laid in Irons with extremitie used and the Empresse to save her life dangerously adventured thorow the Scouts of the Enemy in the snow slenderly guarded and before that was driven to such distresse that faining to be dead she was laid as a livelesse coarse in a Coffin and so conveyed away in a Horse-litter But the second and last of these two being the greatest of all the rest was that which happened betweene the House of Yorke descended of Lio●ell of Andwerp D. of Clarence second sonne to K. Edward the third and the House of Lancaster issued of Iohn of Gaunt the third sonne living of the same King The occasion of a civill warre that raged most cruelly for a long time together but at that time most extreamely when there raigned two Kings of either Family one of Lancaster Henry the sixt another of Yorke Edward the fourth betweene whom with the favourers and followers there were twelve severall Battailes fought in little more then twelve yeares space In so much as one of our own Writers Edward Hall the great Chronicler saith that in these Civill warres betwixt these two Families it cost more English bloud then twice had done the winning of France and of forraine Writers Philip Comines Lord of Argentine in France reporteth that it consumed no lesse then fourescore Princes of the bloud Royall and Paulus Iovius a Bishop of Novo Como in Italy resembleth the state of these warres to the most tragicall story of the Citie Thebes So let these few examples shewed in these 3. generall heads suffice in this briefe Description instead of many that might be brought for by these we may judge of the rest Now the benefit that may be gathered by perusing the severall sorts of them shall be to consider in the first the blessing of God poured upon us in preserving our Countrey and Nation against the severall Invasions of forraine enemies notwithstanding their severall and many attempts In the second the fall and ruine of rebellious Subjects taking Armes against their annointed Kings Princes and Governours And in the third the power of God and his heavie punishments in●licted upon us for our sinnes in making the one partie the scourge or maule of the other with revenging murder by murder working the depopulation of our fruitfull Countrey and ruinating of our Cities at home with losse and revolting of the territories in subjection unto us by just title of inheritance and conquest abroad And in all of them representing unto us the lamentable Stories of the times fore-passed and gone to compare with the same the peaceable estate of the happy times possest and present wherein Martiall men have leisure to winne honour abroad the rest to live in quiet and wealth at home all factions forgotten and all rebellions surceased and repressed and for these blessings to yeeld due thankes unto Almightie God that hath provided for us such a Prince and so directed her in her governement over us that with ease and pleasure we may both behold the one and enjoy the other esoecially in these dangerous dayes of these latter times when all hostility and outrage of civill warres broiles and dissentions have seemed by the power of the Almightie hand of God stretched forth in our defence to have beene transported out of this Iland over the Seas into other Countries in so much as notwithstanding this calme securitie of our owne at home our neighbour-Nations of all sides abroad either through the licentious tyrannie of ungodly Princes that have laid persecution upon their Subjects or the mutinous dissentions of disobedient people that have raised Rebellions against their Princes have beene so turmoyled with garboyle of warres as they have been pitifully enforced to pray and seeke ayd at her Majesties hands and to submit themselves under the protection of her whom with us they acknowledge to be the very De●endresse of the Christian Faith and Peace and the most naturall Nurse to the true Church of God By all loyall dutie therefore we are indebted to yeeld obedience unto her Majesty and to her Majesties most religious government by which we have received such peace as the world doth admire and following ages to her eternall fame shall record and with faithfull hearts pray that peace may ever dwell within her wals and prosperity abide within her Pallaces and that the abundance of her peace may continue as long as the Sunne and Moone endureth Cease civill broyles O Englands subject cease With streames of bloud staine this faire soyle no more As God so Kings must be obey'd with peace Yeeld thou thy due to them their right restore Wash with repentance these thine acts before Give loyall pledge with might resist her wrongs That raignes thy Prince to her thy Sword belongs 1 AT Battaile the 14 of October being Saturday the yeare of Christ 1066. William Duke of Normandy obtained this Land by Conquest and slew Harald King thereof with Gerth and Leofwin his brethren with 67974. Englishmen 2 Yorke burnt and 3000. of the Citizens and Normans slaine by the Danes under the leading of Harald and Canutus sonnes to Sweno King of Denmarke for the recovery of the Crowne to the Danish bloud 1069. W. C. reg 3. 3 Malcolme King of Scots invaded Tefidale Holdernesse and Cumberland charging his Souldiers to spare neither sex nor age of the English Nation A● 1071. but the yeare following was himselfe forced to do homage to W. C. reg 5. 4 Elie surprised and wonne by the Conquerour the last part of this Land that stood out against the Normans under Hereward their most valiant Captain An. reg Conq. 7. 1073. 5 The first seating of the English in Wales through the dissention of their Princes who being called for partakers tooke from the Welch that which they could not againe recover 1090. reg 1. Ruf. 3. 6 At Al●wick Malcolme King of Scots invading Northumberland with his sonne Edward was slaine and all his boast discomfited by Rob. Mowbray Earle of North. reg Ruf. 5. 1029. 7
whole Ilands division by most certaine Record was anciently made when Iulius Agricola drew a Trench or Fortification upon that narrow space of ground betwixt Edenborough Frith and Dunbretton Bay making the Southerne part a Province unto the Romane Empire Afterwards Hadrian the Emperor seeing perhaps the Province too spacious to be well governed without great expense drew backe these limits almost fourescore miles shorter even to the mouth of the River Tyne whence he fortified with a wall of admirable worke unto Carleile which stood the Lands border while it stood as a Romane Province yet the conquering Saxons did spread againe over those bounds and as seemeth enlarged their government to that first Tract as by this Inscription in a Stone Crosse standing upon a Bridge over the water of F●ith appeareth I am a free March as Passenger may ken To Scots to Britaines and to Englishmen 10 But afterward William the Conquerour and Malcolme King of Scotland falling to an agreement for their limits arreared a Crosse upon Stanemore where on the one side the portraiture and Armes of the King of England was sculptured and of the King of Scots on the other a piece whereof is yet remaining there neere to the Spittle thence called the Rey-Crosse there erected to be a Meare-stone to either Kingdome His Successors also abolished the two partitions in the West whereby the Welsh became one Nation and Kingdome with the English It is also said that King Stephen to purchase friendship with the Scottish Nation gave unto their King the Countie of Cumberland who with it held both Westmorland and Northumberland but as Nubrigensis writeth he restored them to King Henry the second wisely considering his great power and right to those parts 11 The last knowne borders were from the Sulway in the West-bay along the Cheviot hils unto the water of Tweede by Barwicke in the East to maintaine which on each part many lawes have been made and many inrodes robberies and fewdes practised all which by the hand of GOD is now cut off and by the rightfull succession of King IAMES our Soveraigne who hath broken downe the partition of this great Island and made the extremes of two Kingdomes the very midst of his great united Empire KENT the first Province appearing in the South of this Kingdome is bounded upon the North with the famous River Thamisis on the East with the German Ocean on the South with Sussex and the narrow Seas and upon the West with Sussex and Surrey The length thereof extended from Langley into the West unto Ramsgate East-ward in the Isle of Thanet is about 53. English miles From Rother in the South unto the Isle of Graine North-ward the bredth is not much above 26. and the whole circumference about 160. 2 In forme it somewhat resembleth the head of a hammer or Battle-axe and lyeth corner-wise into the Sea by Strabo Caesar Diodorus and Ptolomie called Cantium of Cant or Canton an Angle or Corner either of Caino a British word which signifieth Bushes or Woods whereof that Country in those former times was plentifully stored 3 The Ayre though not very cleare because of the vapours arising from the Sea and Rivers that environ the same is both wholesome and temperate as seated nearest to the Equinoctiall and the furthest from the North-Pole not touched with cold as the other parts of the Land are 4 The Soyle towards the East is uneven rising into little hils the West more levell and woody in all places fruitfull and in plenty equals any other of the Realme yea and in some things hath the best esteeme as in Broad-cloathes Fruits and feedings for Cattle Only Mines excepting Iron are wanting all things else delivered with a prodigall heart and liberall hand 5 Sundry navigable Rivers are in Kent whereof Medway that divideth the Shire in the midst is chiefe in whose bosome securely rideth his Majesties Navy Royall the wals of the land and terrours of the Seas besides ten others of name and account that open with twenty Creekes and Havens for Ships arrivage into this Land foure of them bearing the name of Cinque Ports are places of great strength and priviledges which are Dover Sandwich Rumney and Winchelsey among which Dover with the Castle is accounted by Matthew Paris the Monke the Lock and Key to the whole Realme of England and by Iohn Rosse and Lidgate is said to be built by Iulius Caesar fatall only for the death of King Stephen and surrender of King Iohn therein hapning 6 A conceit is that Goodwin-Sands were sunk for the sins of himself and his sons Shelves indeed that dangerously lye on the North-east of this County and are much feared of all Navigators These formerly had been firme ground but by a sudden inundation of the Sea were swallowed up as at the same time a great part of Flanders and the Low Countries were and the like also at the same time befell in Scotland as Hector Boetius their Historiographer writeth A like accident hapned in the yeare 1586. the fourth day of August in this County at Mottingham a Towne eight miles from London suddenly the ground began to sinke and three great Elmes thereon growing were carried so deepe into the bowels of the earth that no part of them could any more be seen the hole left in compasse fourscore yards about and a line of fifty fadomes plummed into it doth find no bottome 7 The Kentish people in Caesars time were accounted the civillest among the Britains and as yet esteeme themselves the freest Subjects of the English not conquered but compounded with by the Normans and herein glory that the King and Commons of all the Saxons were the first Christians converted in Anno 596. yea and long before that time also Kent received the Faith for it is recorded that Lucius the first Christian British King in this Island built a Church to the name and service of Christ within the Castle of Dover endowing it with the Toll of the same Haven 8 This County is enriched with two Cities Bishops See strengthned with 27. Castles graced with eight of his Majesties most Princely Houses traded with 24. Market-towns and beautified with many stately and gorgeous buildings The chiefest City therof the Metropolitan and Archbishops See is Canterbury built as our British Historians report 900. yeares before the birth of Christ by Henry of Huntington called Caier-Kent wherein as M. Lambard saith was erected the first Schoole of professed Arts and Sciences and the same a Pattern unto Sigibert King of the East Angles for his foundation at Cambridge notwithstanding by the computation of time this Sigibert was slain by Penda King of Mercia 30. years before that Theodore the Grecian was Bishop of Canterbury who is said to be the erector of that Academy But certain it is that Austen the Monk had made this
fairest possessions do imitate the people of Lancashire both in their honest cariage good hous-keeping Howbeit the common sort of people both in their language and manners come nighest unto the Irish although they somwhat relish and savour of the qualities of the Norwegians 7 Things not worthy to be buried in the grave of oblivion are that this Iland in the midst thereof riseth up with hills standing very thicke amongst which the highest is called Sceafull from which upon a cleare and faire day a man may easily see three Kingdoms at once that is England Scotland Ireland This I le prohibits the customary manner of begging from doore to doore detesting the disorders as well Civill as Ecclesiasticall of neighbour-Nations And last not least that deservs to be committed to memory is that the womē of this Countrey wheresoever they go out of their doors gird themselves about with the winding-sheet that they purpose to be buryed in to shew themselves mindefull of their mortalitie and such of them as are at any time condemned to die are sowed within a sack and flung from a rock into the sea 8 The whole I le is divided into two parts South and North whereof the one resembleth the Scotish in speech the other the Irish. It is defended by two Castles and hath seventeen Parishes five Market-Townes and many Villages ¶ A Table of the Townes Villages Castles Rivers and Havens within the I le of Man Alphabetically gathered A Kirk Andrew The point of Aire B Baladoul Balalough Kirk Balalough Balicaken Balisaly Abbey Balisaly Town Friry Bewmakan Kirk Bridge Kirk Brodon C Caltregh The Calfe of Man Castle Town Bay Kirk Christ. Kirk Christ. Chappell Clanmoy flu Cobbe Borne Corte Cranston D Dauby point Dauby Town Douglas point DOUGLAS towne Douglas haven E Egnes F Fleshik G Glan-Brow Glan-Cam I Kirk Jarman Jeorby point Saint Johns Chappell K Saint Katherins Chappel Kirk Kerbrey L The point Lang-nouse Laxi-Bay Laxi-point LAXI TOWNE Kirk Lennon Loughe M Kirk Magh haul Kirk Magh-hauls head Malarlough Kirk Mali. Kirk Migh-hil Kirk Migh-hill flu Saint Migh-hills Island Min-hugh Kirk Mortown The Mull-hills N Neb flu The Nunnery O Kirk Onkon P Kirk Patriark Kirk Patriark of the Peel PEEL-Town Peel-Castle Polt Bash. Port Earn Portell Morrey Portwick R Ramsey RAMSEY Town Ramsey haven RUSHIN Castle S Scarthlat Shellack point Snafeld Solbe mouth Solbe flu Spalork The Stack Kirk Stanton V Vark W Watch-hill The white Water Black Water Whetston THE ISLE OF MAN Exactly desribed and into several Parishshes diuided with euery Towne Village Baye Creke and Riuer therein conteyned The bordringe Coasts wherewith it is circulated in their Situations self and by the Compase accordīgly shewed with their true distance from euery place vnto this Island by a seuerall scale obserued IT is here very pertinent to the purpose to insert a small History of this Iland that the atchievemēts heretofore had may not be utterly buried although they are waxen very old almost torn from remēbrance by the teeth of Time It is confessed by all that the Britains held this Iland as they did all Britain But when the Nations from the North over fl●wed these South parts like violent tempests it became subiect to the Scots Afterwards the Norwegians who did most hurt from the Northern sea by their manifold robberies made this Iland and the He●rides to be their haunt and erected Lords and petty Kings in the same as is expressed in this Chronicle Written as is reported by the Monkes of the Abbey of Russin A Chronicle of the Kings of MAN ANno Dom 1●65 Edward of blessed memory King of England departed this life and Harald the sonne of Godwyn succeeded him in the Kingdome against whom Harald Harfager King of Norway came into the field and fought a battle at Stainford bridge but the English obtaining the victory put them all to f●ight Out of which chase Godred surnamed Crovan the son of Harald the Black of Iseland came unto Godred the sonne of Syrric who reigned then in Man and honourably received him 2 The same yeer William the Bastard conquered Enggland and Godred the sonne of Syrric died his sonne Fingall succeeding him 3 An. 1066. Godred Crovan assembled a great Fleet and came to Man and fought with the people of the Land but received the worst and was overcome The second time renewing his forces and his Fleet he sayled into Man joyned battell with the Manksmen but was vanquished as before and driven out of the field Howbeit what he could not at first bring to passe with power in those two severall Onsets he afterward effected by policie For the third time gathering a great multitude together he arrived by night in the haven called Ramsey and hid three hundred men in a Wood which stood upon the hanging hollow brow of an hill called Sceafull The Sun being risen the Manksmen put their people in order of battle and with a violent charge encountred with Godred The sight was hot for a time and stood in a doubtfull suspense till those three hundred men starting out of the Ambush behinde their backs began to foyl the Manksmen put them to the worst and forced them to flie Who seeing themselves thus discomfited and finding no place of refuge left them to escape with pitifull lamentation submitted themselves unto Godred and besought him not to put to the sword such poore remainder of them as was left alive Godred having compassion on their calamities for he had been nursed for a time and brought up among them founded a retreat and prohibited his host any longer pursuit He being thus possessed of the I le of Man dyed in the Iland that is called Ile when he had reigned sixteen yeers He left behinde him three sonnes Lagman Harald and Olave 4 Lagman the eldest taking upon him the Kingdome reigned seven yeares His brother Harald rebelled against him a great while but at length was taken prisoner by Lagman who caused his members of generation to be cut off and his eyes to be put out of his head which crueltie this Lagman afterwards repenting gave over the Kingdom of his own accord and wearing the badge of the Lords Crosse took a journey to Ierusalem in which he died 5 An. 1075. all the Lords and Nobles of the Ilands hearing of the death of Lagman dispatched Ambassadours to Murecard O●brien King of Ireland and requested that he would send some worthy and industrious man of the Blood Royall to be their King till Olave the son of Godred came to full age The King yeelding to their request sent one Dopnald the son of Tade and charged him to govern the Kingdome which by right belonged to another with lenitie and gentlenesse But after he was come to the Crowne forgetting or not weighing the charge that his Lord and Master had given him swayed his place with great tyrannie committing many outrages and cruelties and so
Flanders though but a single Province in this Belgia yet of that esteeme as the whole Countrey bears her name and may indeed well enough upon the same reason as she took it up For as the most will it had its Etymon à flatibus fluctibúsque quibus tota haec obnoxia est regio 5 For on the North it is bounded with a part of the great Sea and on the West with the maine Ocean On the East with the Rivers Rhene and Mosa and on the South with Loraigne Campaigne and Picardie parts of the Kingdome of France It is accounted to be in circuit 1000. Italian miles no Countrey abounds more with Lakes Pooles and Rivers of great note The principall are Rhene Mosa and Scaldis 16. others are specially named by Maginus and more intimated which afford them great store of fish as well for their owne use as supply for traffique to other Nations 6 Yet by reason of her watery situation it must needs be that the aire is exceeding moyst and therefore unwholesome but not so as heretofore For the multitude of Inhabitants and those wonderfully industrious have laboured out many of her marishes and drawne their Pooles into running channels and by this means fewer vapours arise in so much that now the Natives at last may very well agree with the temper which as Maginus gives it incolarū sanitati nec non digestioni conducit Their Summer is pleasant not extreme hot nor abounds it with such troublesome flies and gnats as ours doth There is seldome any thunder heard or lightning seene or earth-quake felt The reason is the same for all The Winter is not altogether so tolerable but brings with it bleake windes and much raine Yet betwixt both the Countrey is moderately fertile yeelds Corne and fruit in some places more and in some lesse very few Grapes and those make but a hard Wine no store of Mines and yet they are as rich as those which have 7 For the people are very thrifty painfull and ingenious in the invention of many pretty things which draw many other Nations to them for Traffique and they lie as sit for it having free accesse by Sea to and from all the chiefe parts as of Europe so also Asia Africa and America and are as skilfull to trace the Seas at pleasure The have the name for the first Authors of the Compasse Clock and Printing They are excellent Artificers for working of pictures in glasse for laying colours in Oyle for Tapestry and other hangings in briefe for any Oeconomicall commoditie either for use or ornament and in their owne private Families excell any other people The men are of a goodly presence of a cold or at least no cholerick temper They neither love nor hate any extreamely but will soone forget both a good turne and they say an injury They are not very open or easie of beliefe not apt to be deceived Not very proud nor exceeding base Not much given to Venus but more to Bacchus especially when he presents himselfe upon an English Beere-Barrell For they will hardly make a bargaine before they be well whetted This is their common Character but for the best part of it we have found it farre other as in their commerce with us in the East Indies we have found whereby their extreame dealings with our Nation they have made knowne their unthankefulnesse for the many benefits our English hath shewed them But I returne to their better qualities Their women are faire somewhat bold and free in their carriage but yet sober and honest excellent housewives and in some places traffique abroad while their men play the Cotqueans at home 8 As in their other businesse so in their studies they are very laborious and indeed trouble the world with writing more then they have thanks for as if they had a right since they were the inventers of the Presse to use it at pleasure for so they doe And send forth every cōmon exercise performed by their boyes towards a degree with a clutter of tedious Anagrams prefixed But yet it hath heretofore bred many excellent men in their faculties Iustus Lipsius Erasmus Rodulphus Agricola Ortelius Mercator And at this day how many others good members of the Reformed Church within compasse of the States government The rest which are under the Arch-Duke must appeare Romane Catholikes In divers parts of Belgia the Christian Religion was planted by Wilbrod an English man 9 The last qualitie required in a Nation of esteeme as they are is valour And indeed I may well place it last For so it grew upon them since the long warre which they have had w●th the Arch duke Before they lived for the most part in peace and as they had but little use of Chivalry so they had as little heart to it but were counted a heavy dull people To say truth they have hardly yet recovered that censure for in the managing of their Land-fights especially they are content enough to give way to other Nations and will hardly second them in any dangerous attempt The English have both acted and suffered their parts in the behalfe of the Low-Countries and that me thinkes might have beene remembred in the midst of their tyrannicall usage of our Merchants 10 These Netherlands toward our latter times were divided into 17. Provinces whereof the most part had severall Rites and Governours foure Dukedomes seven Earledomes five Baronies and one Marquiship But by the mixt marriages of the heires to the sundry Titles the whole at last fell upon one was made an entire Government and knowne by the name of the Dukedome of Burgundie Yet still doth each Province retaine her proper Laws libertie of Religion and other Customes which their Rulers in succession were sworne to maintaine for their parts and the people againe for their securitie had this maine prerogative left them from the beginning that if their Prince should at any time attempt the contrary they might after Declaration proceed to the choyce of a new Governour These Conditions confirmed it continued for a while peacefully and by marriage with Mary Heire and last of the house of Burgundie it fell to Maximilian of Austria Emperour of the Germans And his Successour Philip matching in the like sort with Ioan heire to the Kingdome of Spaine joyned both together in his eldest sonne Charles the fift who by the Mother was intituled to Spaine and by his Father to Burgundy or Netherlands as for Austria it passed to another brother Thus came it subject to the King of Spaine And while yet the Emperour enjoyed it they felt no misery of civill wars among themselves When he left it he commanded this charge withall to his sonne Philip the second that he should intreat the Low-Countries well But this he either forgot or neglected and taking it in foule scorne to be so curbed by the conditions of his Predecessors began first with a pretence to Religion and at last embroyled them in a bloudy warre
Crosse of Saint George the Royall Ensign of England and a Rose the Kings badge as his faithfull Souldier receiving his pay dayly for himselfe and followers according to their degrees and estates Neither were the atchievements of Land services crowned with more plumes of Victories in the Helmets of the English then were their Sea services defensive and offensive both at home and abroad Their Navie Royall rightly te●rmed the Lady of the Seas and their Sea-Captaines farre out-stripping Vlysses in their Travailes and Descriptions for twise in our time hath the Sea opened her passage through the Straights of Magellan for Drake in his Pellican and Candish in his Desire to passe into the South World and to incirculate the Globe of the whole Earth whereby themselves and Souldiers all English have in those great deepes seen the wonderfull workes of the LORD But upon this subject I could willingly insist were it not that the argument of this present Description intends rather to speake of the Domestick and Civill warres of England then of the forraine and farre-fetched victories that have adorned and attended the Trophies of the English From the prosecution of the former and promulgation of the latter how unwillingly my Penne is drawne the roughnesse of the style and the slender performance of the whole doth manifestly shew They being for the most part civill Battailes fought betweene meere English-men of one and the same Nation wherein the parties victorers besides the losse of their owne side procured on the other the fall and ruine of them that were all of his owne Countrey many of them of his owne acquaintance and alliance and most of them perhaps his owne friends in any other cause then that in which he contended for But from this generall argument to proceed to some particulars it shall not be amisse to make some division of them according to their severall qualities of the severall quarrels in them which are found to be divers and of three severall natures Whereof the first were the invasions attempted by forraine Princes and enemies against the Kings and people of this Realme The second were meere Rebellions of Subjects against their annointed Princes And the third dissentious factions betwixt Princes of the bloud Royall of these three all these effusions of bloud have consisted And to begin with the first battell in this plot which was the first beginning of government of this state as it yet continueth Such was the attempt of William Duke of Normandy against King Harold the sonne of Earle Goodwin who prevailed so against him in fight at Battaile in Sussex a place so called by this event as the said Duke was afterward King of this Land and brought the whole Nation under his obedience as it hath beene continued to his posteritie ever since Such was the arrivall of Lewes son and heire to Philip King of France against Iohn King of England who being carried by his owne ambition accompanied with French Forces and assisted by the rebellious Barons of this Realme after variable fortune of fight in severall skirmishes battels and assaults was forced in the end without all honour or hope to prevaile to make a very shamefull retreate into his owne Countrey Such was also the entry made by Iames the fourth King of Scots against King Henry the eight of famous memory his brother in law and sworne allie at that time absent in the wars of France who contrary to his oath and alliance formerly made entred the North frontiers of England with a mightie Armie had the same discomfited and overthrowne and was himselfe slain in the field by the English forces under the leading of the Earle of Surrey at that time Lieutenant generall for King Henry And especially such was the late enterprise remaining fresh in memory of Philip late King of Spaine against our dread Soveraigne Lady now raigning in the yeare of our Lord 1588. attempting by his invincible Navie as he thought and so termed under the conduct of the Duke of Medina Celi which with great pride and crueltie extended against us arrived on our coasts to Englands invasion and subversion had yet neverthelesse here in the narrow Seas the one part of his Fleete discomfited taken and drowned and the other part forced to their great shame in poore estate to make a fearefull and miserable ●light about the coast of Ireland homeward so that of 158. great ships furnished for war came to their own coast of Spaine but few and those so torne and beaten by the English Cannons that it was thought they were unserviceable for ever and eleven of their ensignes or banners of Idolatry prepared for triumph and pride in Conquest were contrariwise to their shame and dishonour shewed at Pauls-Crosse and in other places of this Realme to Gods glory our joy and their endlesse infamy The INVASIONS OF ENGLAND And IRELAND With al their Ciuill Wars Since the Conquest The second sort of quarrels in these warres were meere rebellions of subjects against their annointed Princes and Governours and of these some have beene private and some generall Of the first kind for private occasions was that of Thomas Earle of Lancaster against King Edward the second his cosin-germane upon mislike of the Spencers greatly favoured by the King and as much envied of him who having his forces defeated at Borrow-bridge was there taken prisoner and after beheaded at Pomfret Of the same kind was that of Henry Lord Piercie surnamed Hot-spurre and Thomas Piercie Earle of Worcester his Vncle against King Henry the fourth at Shrewesburie where the said Lord Henry was slaine and the other taken prisoner and after beheaded in the same Towne So was that of Michael Ioseph the Black-smith in Cornewall and his company against King Henry the seventh for a Subsidie granted in Parliament to the same King who gathered a head of Rebellion so strong that at Black-heath neare London they abode battell against their Soveraigne but were there taken and afterward drawne headed and quartered at Tiburne Also such was that of Robert Ket the Tanner of Windham in Norfolk against King Edward the sixt pretended against inclosures and liberty to the weale publike was at Norwich taken in the field and afterward hanged on the top of the Castle of the same Towne And lastly so was that of Sir Thomas Wiat and the Kentish-men against Queene Mary for the bringing in of Philip of Spaine they being cut off at S. Iames and himselfe yeelded at the Court. Of the latter sort of Rebellions being generall were those of the Barons against K. Iohn and King Henry the third his sonne in their severall Raignes Against the father in bringing in of forraine powers and working a resignation of the Crown and Diadem to the great blemish of their King and Kingdome And against the sonne so prosecuted their attempts that their warres to this day are called and knowne by the name of the Barons-warres which had so lamentable consequence as that after the overthrow and
of King Henry the second first took breath 7 Which Citie is and long hath been the glorious seat of the Muses the British Athens and learnings well-spring from whose living Fountaine the wholsome waters of all good literature streaming plenteously have made fruitfull all other parts of this Realme and gained glory amongst all Nations abroad Antiquitie avoucheth that this place was consecrated unto the sacred Sciences in the time of the old Britaines and that from Greekelad a Town in Wilt-shire the Academie was translated unto Oxford as unto a Plant-plot both more pleasing and fruitfull whereto accordeth the ancient Burlaeus and Necham this latter also alledging Merlin But when the beauty of the Land lay under the Saxons prophane feete it sustained a part of those common calamities having little reserved to uphold its former glorie save onely the famous monument of Saint Frideswids Virgine-Conquest no other Schoole then left standing besides her Monasterie yet those great blasts together with other Danish stormes being well blowne over King Elfred that learned and religious Monarch recalled the exiled Muses to their sacred place and built there three goodly Colledges for the Studies of Divinitie Philosophie and other Arts of humanitie sending thither his owne sonne Ethelward and drew thither the young Nobles from al parts of his kingdome The first Reader thereof was his supposed brother Neote a man of great learning by whose direction King Elfred was altogether guided in this his goodly foundation At which time also Asserius Menevensis a Writer of those times affaires read the Grammar and Rhetoricke and affirmeth that long before them Gildas Melkin Ninius Kentigern S. German and others spent there their lives in learned studies From which time that it continued a Seed plot of learning till the Norman Conquest Ingulphus recordeth who himselfe then lived No marvell then if Matthew Paris calleth Oxford the second Schoole of Christendome and the very chiefe Pillar of the Catholique Church And in the Councel holden at Vienna it was ordained that in Paris Oxford Bononia and Salamanca the onely Vniversities then in Europe should be erected Schooles for the Hebrew Greeke Arabick and Chaldean Tongues and that Oxford should be the generall Vniversitie for all England Ireland Scotland and Wales which point was likewise of such weight with the Councel of Constance that from this precedence of Oxford Vniversitie it was concluded that the English Nation was not onely to have precedence of Spaine in all Generall Councels but was also to be held equall with France it selfe By which high prerogatives this of ours hath alwaies so flourished that in the dayes of King Henry the third thirtie thousand Students were therein resident as Archbishop Armachanus who then lived hath writ and Rishanger then also living sheweth that for all the civill warres which hindered such places of quiet studie yet 15000. Students were there remaining whose names saith he were entered in matricula in the matriculation Booke About which time Iohn Baliol the father of Baliol King of Scots built a Colledge yet bearing his name Anno 1269. and Walter Merton Bishop of Rochester that which is now called Merton Colledge both of them beautified with buildings and enriched with lands and were the first endowed Colledges for learning in all Christendome And at this present there are sixteen Colledges besides another newly builded with eight Hals and many most faire Collegiat Churches all adorned with mest stately buildings and enriched with great endowments noble Libraries and most learned Graduates of all professions that unlesse it be her sister Cambridge the other nursing breast of this Land the like is not found againe in the world This Citie is also honoured with an Episcopall See As for the site thereof it is removed from the Equator in the degree 52. and one minute and from the West by Mercators measure 19. degrees and 20. minutes 8 As this Countie is happy in the possession of so famous an Academie so it is graced with most Princely Palaces appertaining to the English Crown whereof Woodstocke is the most ancient and magnificent built to that glory by K. Henry the first and enlarged with a Labyrinth of many windings by K. Henry the second to hide from his jealous Iuno his intirely beloved Concubine Rosamond Clifford a Damosell of surpassing beauty where nowtwithstanding followed by a clew of silke that fell from her lap she was surprised and poysoned by Queen Eleanor his wife and was first buried at Godstow Nunnery in the midst of the Quire under a Hearse of Silke set about with lights whom Hugh Bishop of Lincolne thinking it an unfit object for Virgins devotion caused to be removed into the Church-yard but those chaste sisters liked so well the memory of that kinde Lady as that her bones were translated againe into their Chappell Bensington is another of his Majesties Mannors built by Will. de la Pole Duke of Suffolke but now in neglect through the annoyance arising from the waters or marishes adjoyning Houses built for devotion and for abuse suppressed and againe put downe the chiefe in account were Enisham Osney Bruerne Godstow Burchester and Tame besides Saint Frideswides and very many other stately houses of Religion in the Citie The Divsiion of this Shire is into fourteene Hundreds wherein are seated ten Market Townes and two hundred and fourescore Parish-Churches whose names are Alphabetically inserted in the Table ensuing OXFORDSHIRE described with the Citie and the Armes of the Colledges of that famous Vniuersity Ao. 1605. HVNDREDS in Oxford-shire 1. BAnbury 2. Bloxham 3. Chadlington 4. Wotton 5. Ploughley 6. Bullington 7. Bampton 8. Tame 9. Lewknor 10. Pirton 11. Dorchester 12. Ewelme 13. Langtree 14. Binfeild A Adderbury Blox Addington Plough Adwell Lewk Alvescott Bamp Ambesden Bulling Ardeley Plough Arnecott Bulling Ascott Chad. Ascott Tame Assenton Pirt. Astoll Bam. Astoll Lye Bam. Aston Steeple Wot Aston Bam. Aston North Wot Aston Rowen Lewk Aulkerton Blox B Bampton Bampt. BANBVRY Ban. Balscott Blox Barford S. Iohns Blox Barford S. Michael Wot Steple Barton Wot March Baulden Bulling Toot Baulden Bulling Baynton Plough Beckley Bulling Beckley Parke Bulling Begbrocke VVot Bensington Ewel Berington little Bamp Berwicke Priorie Ewelme Berwicke Sulham Ewelme Bixbrand Binf. Bix Gobon Binf. Blacke Burton Bamp Blackthorne Bulling Bladon VVot Bletchington Plough Bloxome Blox Blunt Lewk Bodicott Blox Bolney Bin. Bradwe Bamp Brickenton Bamp Bridsett Bulling Bright Hampton Bramp Brisemorton Bamp Britwell Priory Ewelme Britwell Baldwin Ewelme Britwell Fulham Lewk Broken Chad. Brooke Hampton Ewelm Broughton Blox Broughton Poges Bamp Bruerne Chad. Bucknell Plough Burcester Plough Burcester Kings Plough Burcott Dor. BVRFOBD Bam. Burton great Banb. Burton little Banb. C Carbridge Bamp Cassington Wot Caswell Bamp Caverfeild Plough Caversham Binf. Chackenton Lang. Chadlington Chad. Chalgrave Ewelm Chapell on the Heath Chad. Charleton Plough Charswell Wot Charwell Flu. Chastleton Chad. Chawfer Lewk Cherlbury Ban. Chesterton Plough Chilson Chad. Chillworth Bulling
fiftie pases so that the circumference cannot be great 3 The aire is not very good either for health or delight as being seated on those parts that are subject to extremitie of cold and greatly troubled with vapors and foggy mists that arise from the Seas 4 The soyle cannot be rich being rockie and full of stones and unfit for Corne and tillage It is neither commended for hils to feed sheepe nor pastures to fat cattle neither hath it vallies replenished with sweet springs or running rivellets onely one excepted descending from a standing pond The onely thing this Iland yeeldeth is a fit and accommodate aptitude for Fishing and Fowling 5 Notwithstanding this is very worthy of note concerning the same which Alcuin wrote in an Epistle to Egelred King of Northumberland namely that it was a place more venerable then all the places of Britaine and that after the departure of S. Paulinus from Yorke there Christian Religion began in their Nation though afterwards it there felt the first beginning of miserie and calamitie being left to the spoile of Pagans and Miscreants 6 It is also remembred of this Iland that sometimes there hath been in it an Episcopall See which Aidan the Scot instituted being called thither to preach the Christian Faith to the people of Northumberland being much delighted with the solitary situation thereof as a most fit place for retire But afterwards when the Danes rifled and robbed all the Sea-coasts the Episcopall See was translated to Durham 7 This Iland so small in account either for compasse or commoditie and so unpeopled and unprofitable cannot be numerous in Townes and Villages It hath in it onely one Towne with a Church and a Castle under which there is a commodious Haven defended with a Block-house situate upon an hill towards the South-East FARNE I LE THis I le South-Eastward seven miles from Holy Iland sheweth it selfe distant almost two miles from Bambrough Castle On the West and South it beareth upon Northumberland and on the North-East side it hath other smaller Ilands adjoyning to it as Wid-pens and Staple Iland which lie two miles off Brondsman and two lesser then these which are called the Wambes 2 The forme of this I le is round and no larger in compasse then may easily be ridden in one halfe of a day The bredth of it is but five miles and the length no more The whole circumference extends it selfe no further then to fifteene miles 3 The aire is very unwholesome and subject both to many Dysenteries and other diseases by reason of the mistie fogges and exhalations that are thereunto drawn up from the Ocean It is many times troubled with unusuall tempests of windes with boisterous fury of stormy raines and with severall and uncouth rages of the Sea 4 The soyle cannot be fertile being encircled about with craggy clifts neither hath it in it much matter either of pleasure or profit It can neither defend it selfe from cold lacking fuell as Wood Cole Turfs c. nor from famine wanting food as Corn Pastures Cattle c. The best commodity it yeelds is Fish and Fowle 5 This thing neverthelesse is worthy to be remembred of it which Beda writing of the life of Cuthbert Bishop of Lindisfarne that Tutelar Patron of the Northerne Englishmen reporteth namely that in this I le he built a Citie fitting his government and erected certaine houses in the same the whole building standing almost round in compasse reaching the space of foure or five pearches The wall about it he made higher then a mans height to with-hold and keepe in the wanton lasciviousnesse both of his thoughts eyes and to elevate the whole intention of his minde up to heavenly desires that he might wholly give himself to the service of God But these are all made the ruines of time as sithence many other Monuments have been of worthy antiquite 6 I cannot report that there are now many houses standing in it much lesse Townes or Villages Onely this that it hath a Tower or place of Fortification belonging unto it placed well neere in the middle part of the I le HOLY ILAND FARNE GARNSEY IARSEY GARNSEY THis Iland lyeth about five Leagues North-West from Iersey and is compassed like to her neighbour with the British Sea It lyeth in length from Plymouth Bay South-West to Lancrosse de Anckers North-East thirteene miles in bredth from Saint Martins point South-East to the Howe North-west nine miles and is in circuit thirtie sixe miles The Emperour Antonine having the rule and domination of France at that time called Gaule from whence the word Gallia is derived did name this Iland Sarnia which afterward by the change of Times and corruption of Languages was long since and is at this day called Garnsey 2 This I le in forme and fashion standeth in the Sea much like to a Parke that is incompassed round about with a Pale of Rocks being very defensible unto the Iland from the attempting Invasion of enemies 3 The Aire and Climate of this I le hath little or no difference in temper or qualitie from that of Iersey And this deserves to be remembred of it that in this I le is neither Toade Snake Adder or any other venemous creature and the other hath great plentie 4 It standeth for the most part upon a rocke very high in many places from the Sea Neverthelesse the Soile is very fruitfull yeelding forth great plentie of grasse for their Sheepe and other Cattell which they have to serve all uses Their fields in the Summer time are so naturally garnished with flowers of all sorts that a man being there might conceit himselfe to be in a pleasant artificiall garden 5 The Inhabitants are not so much given to tillage as they of Iersey though the soyle be as fruitfull They have of late taken great delight in planting and setting of trees of all sorts and especially of Apples by reason whereof they make much Cider Their commodities are alike and their helps from the Sea no lesse or rather more 6 In this I le are many great steepe rocks among which is found a hard stone called by the Frenchmen Smyris which we terme Emerill This stone is serviceable for many purposes and many Trades as Glasiers c. but especially for the Goldsmiths and Lapidaries to cut their precious stones 7 It hath a head of Land upon the North part thereof the passage into which is so narrow that a man would thinke that at every Tide the Sea beating strongly on both sides it were in a continuall danger to be sundred from the other part of the I le This place is called S. Michael in the Vale where in former times stood a Priory or a Covent of Religious persons the ruines whereof are at this day to be seene 8 The government of this I le in nature and forme resembles the other of Iersey of whom shall be said The people are in their Originall and Language alike also but
sterilitie of soile and make the fields bring forth a kind of Rye or Amellcorne in such plenty as is hardly to be beleeved 5 The ancient Inhabitants of this Countrey were the Ordovices who be also named Ordovices or Ordovicae a puissant and courageous people by reason they kept wholly in a mountainous place and took heart even of the soyle it selfe for they continued longest free from the yoke both of Roman and also of English dominion They were not subdued by the Romans before the dayes of the Emperor Domitian for then Iulius Agricola cōquered almost the whole Nation nor brought under the command of the English before the Raigne of King Edward the first but lived a long time in a lawlesse kind of libertie as bearing themselves bold upon their owne magnanimitie and the strength of the Countrey 6 The Mountains of this Countrey yeeld sufficiencie of Neat Sheep and Goats The Vallies in most places are very plenteous of Corn especially Eastward on this side betwixt the rivers of Alen and Dee but the more Westerly part is healthy and altogether barren The heart of the Shire shews it self beneath the hils in a beautifull and pleasant Vale reaching seventeen miles in length from South to North five miles or ther-abouts in breadth and lieth open onely toward the Sea It is environed on every side with high hils amongst which the highest is Moillenlly on the top whereof is a warlike Fense with Trench and Rampire and a little Fountain of clear water From these hils the River Cluyd resorts unto this Vale and from the very Spring-head increased with becks and brooks doth part it in twain running through the midst of it whereof in ancient time it was named Strat Cluyd for Marianus maketh mention of a King of the Strat Cluyd of the Welsh And at this day it is commonly called Diffryn Cluyd that is The Vale of Cluyd This thing is worthy observation as a matter memorable both for admiration and antiquitie that in the Parish of Llan-sanan within this Countrey there is a place compasse cut out of the main Rocke by mans hand in the side of a stony hill wherein there be foure and twenty seats to sit in some lesse some bigger where children and young men coming to seek their cattell use to sit and to have their sports And at this day they commonly call it Arthurs round Table 7 Henry Lacy Earle of Lincolne obtaining Denbigh by the grant of King Edward the first after the conviction and beheading of David brother of Llewellin for high treason was the first that fortified it w th a wal about not large in circuit but very strōg and on the south-side with a fair castle strengthned with many high towers But he gave it over left the work unfinished conceiving griefe as a sorrowfull father that his onely sonne came to untimely death and was drowned in the Well thereof The same of this Town spreads it selfe farre for repute as being reckoned the most beautifull place in all North-Wales it is of no lesse report for the castle adjunct unto it is impregnable for fortificatiō And this strange accident hapning there in the yeer 1575 deserves not to be omitted being left as a continual remembrance of Gods mercifull providence and preservation at that time that where by reason of great Earth-quakes many people were put into great fear and had much harme done unto them both within and without their houses in the Cities of York Worcester Glocester Bristow Herefored and in other Countries adjacent yet in the Shire-hall of Denbigh the bel was caused to toll twice by the shaking of the earth and no hurt or hindrance at all either done or received The governmēt of this town is managed by two Aldermen two Bailiffes who are yeerly elected out of twenty five Burgesses that are their assistants It hath one Recorder one town-Clerk and two Sergeants at Mace and by observation of the Mathematicks the Pole is elevated in the degree of Latitude 53. 49. scruples and from the first West point in Longitude 16. and 45. 8 This County with them of Flint and Carnarvon-shires are not divided by pricks into their several hundreds in their Cards according to the rest of this work the want of their particulars in the Parliament Rowls so causing it which for the good of these 3. Shires I earnestly sought to have supplied from the Nomina Villarum in their Sheriffes books had promise of them that might easily have procured the same But whether a fearlesse jealousie possessed their spirits lest the riches of these Shires by revealing such particulars should be further sought into I cannot say yet this I have observed in all my Survey that wher least is to be had the greatest fears are possessed Take these Shires therefore to be done as I could and not as I would that wish both the wealth of them all and their esteem to be of better regard by those that may do them good 9 This Shire then is divided into twelve Hundreds for the readier ordering of businesses necessary to the State of the Countrey wherein are placed 3. Market Towns fit for buying and selling and other negotiations It hath 5. Castles to defend her selfe and to offend her enemies and 57. Parishes for Gods divine service and worship as this Table more particularly expresseth DENBIGH SHIRE ¶ An Alphabeticall Table of all the Tovvnes Rivers and memorable places mentioned in Denbigh-Shire HVNDREDS in Denbigh-shire 1. BRomfeild 2. Yale 3. Chirkland 4. Issallet 5. Vchallet 6. Istulas 7. Vochdulas 8. Kynmerche 9. Ruthin 10. Llannerche 11. Collion 12. Dogvylyn A Abenbury Abergele Aled Flu. Alen Flu. Alen Bachan Flu. Almere Alwen Flu. B Bachinbid Barrog Barhavern Bers Bettus Bodederis Landegley Breynegloys Bystock C Place Cadogan Chirk Chirk Castle Christioneth Flu. Clawedok Flu. Clawedok Flu. Clocanok Cluyd Flu. Cluyd Flu. Comon wood D Dasart Castle Denas brayn DENBIGH Derwen E Eglos Egluyseg Elwy Flu. F Foxholes Chappell Funhown vaier G Chappell Garmon Gresford Gwenurow Flu. Gwetheryn Gyrow Flu. H Hauotawern Hendray Hespyn Flu. Heullan Holt parke Holt Castle Holyn I Iscoid Chappell K Kenlet Flu. Keriog Flu. Chappell Ky L Llanarmon Llanarmon Llanarmon Defrine Keriog Llanbeder Llancadwalater Llanddlas Llandisilio in Devouret Llandurnog Llanegwa●t Abbey Llanelian Llanelidan Llanganhaual Llangedwin Llangiruew Langollen Llangum Llangwiuen Llanhiclian Llankerigedredion Llanrayder Llanrust Llansanfrayd in Glyn. Llansanfraid Llansaiman Llanshanshare Llansyllyn Llanthiged Llanvaier Llanvarog Llanverres Llanusyd Llannunnis Llanyader Amoughnant Llaruth Llavaier Lleuenye Lleueny Flu. Lleueny Llynaled M Manyan Flu. Markwiell Maysmynan Melendydar Flu. Moyluinlle hill Chappell Moynglathe N Nanclin Neag Flu. Newhall P Chappell Pentreuidog Pergwerne Plasward R Ru●bon RVTHIN Ryader Flu. S Snediok parke T Tauat Tiherion V Vagli Veneghtid W Wheler Flu. Whitchurch WREXHAM Y Place Ycha Yspity FLINT-SHIRE stretching out in length broad
the Disciple of Elvodugus doth tell and their own Histories of Nemethus and Delas besides Cisnerus and others doe shew who were first knowne by the name of Scots as is gathered out of Porphyry alledged by S. Ierome in the Raigne of Aurelianus the Emperour Gildas calleth them the Irish Spoilers Giraldus A Scotish Nation d●scended from Ireland which in regard of them by Eginhardus is termed The Ile of Scots by Beda The I le inh●bited by the Scots and by other Historians Scotland the great as their seat in Britaine was called Scotland the lesse 8 These when the Romane Empire was farre in the wane burst into Britaine under Reuda their Captaine who entring amitie with the Picts possessed the North part of the Iland and assisted them against the Britaines then ready to fall when the Romanes were gone But these afterward entertaining dissensions amongst themselves put the hazard of their estates on the tryall and chance of one dayes battell fought betwixt them in the yeere of Salvation 740. wherein the Picts not onely lost their lives but soone after even their very name also and Fortune crowning the Scots with victory advanced their Kingdome unto such fame and strength that the same hath long continued without any absolute Conquest or surprise against the assaults of whatsoever enemies 9 Scotlands South part in Galloway washed with the water of Solway Bay toucheth the degree 56. of Latitude and thence inbosoming many Loughes and In-lets upon the East and West extendeth it selfe unto the degree 60. and 30. minutes whose Longitude is likewise laid betwixt the degree 13. and 19. and the same growne very narrow being so neere the North-Pole as lying directly under the hindermost Stars of the Greater Beare 10 The whole Kingdome is divided into two parts by the great River Tay the South whereof is the more populous and more beautified in manners riches and civiliti●● the North more rude retaining the customes of the Wild-Irish the ancient Scot in whose severall Territories these Counties ensuing are contained   South   North. Teifidale Galloway Stirling Loqunbreo Buquhan Merch. Carricke Fife Braidalbin Murrey Laudien Kyle Strathern Perth Rosse Liddesdale Cunningham Menteith Athol Sutherland Eskedale Arran Argile Aug●is Cathanes Annandale Cluidesdale Cantire Merns Strathnavern Niddesdale Lennox Lorne Mar.   THE KINGDOME OF SCOTLAND Amongst the things worthy of note of Antiquitie in this Kingdome most memorable was that Fortification drawn from Abercorne upon the Frith of Edenborough unto Alcluyd now Dunbritton opening upon the West Sea where Iulius Agricola set the limit of the Romane Empire past which saith Tacitus there was not other bounds of Britaine to be sought for and that here the second Legion Augusta and the twentieth Legion Victrix built a part of the Wall certaine Inscriptions there digged up and reserved at Dunloyr and Cader doe witnesse as also an ancient coped Monument of an high and round compasse which as some thinke was a Temple consecrated unto the god Terminus others a Trophey raised by Carausius who fortified this Wall with seven Castles as Ninius doth declare 12 At this place began the great and darke Wood Caledonia famous for the wilde white Buls that therein were bred whose Manes were Lion-like thicke and curled of nature fierce and cruell and so hatefull to mankinde that they abhorred whatsoever was by them handled or breathed upon these Woods stretched farre and wide with many turnings darke shades and dreadfull dens and so famous in the Romane Writers that they often used that name for all Britaine whose inhabitants were the last in this Iland that yeelded their necks to the yoake of subjection as shall appeare in our following Story 13 Ninius a Britaine is recorded to have converted the South-Picts unto the Faith of Christ in the Raigne of Theodosius the younger and the Church in Galloway bearing his name doth witnesse it so likewise in the same age Palladius sent from Pope Coelestine becam● an Apostle unto the Scots whose reliques lay enshrined at Fordon in Mernis as was verily supposed but that Christianitie had been formerly planted in this uttermost Province is testified by Tertullian in saying the Britaines had embraced the faith further then the Romans had power to ●ollow or persecute them whereupon Peter Monke of Clun in Spaine concludeth their conversion to be more ancient then the Southern Britaines 14 But touching things observable for the present surely admirable is the report of the plentie of Cattle Fish and Fowle there abiding their Neat but little yet many in number Fish so plentifull that men in some places for delight on horse-backe hunt Salmons with Speares and a certaine Fowle which some call Soland Geese spreading so thicke in the Aire that they even darken the Sunnes light of whose flesh feathers and oyle the Inhabitants in some parts make great use and gaine yea and even of Fishes brought by them abundant provision for dyet as also of the sticks brought to make their nests plentifull provision for fewell 15 With these as of wonders I might speake of the natures of those two famous Loughes Lomund and Nessa the latter whereof never freezeth in Winter though never so extreame and the waters of the other most raging in the fairest and calmest weather wherein also floateth an Iland that removeth from place to place as the winde forceth her spongeous and unfastened body In Buquhan upon the banks of Ratra is a Well whose trickling drops turne in Pyramidy-wise into hard stone and another neere Edenborough that floateth with Bitumen In Dee and Done besides the admired plentie of Salmons is found a Shell-fish called the Horse-muskell wherein Pearles are engendred most precious for Physicke and some of them so Orient that they give not place to the choisest 16 No lesse strange then any the fore-mentioned waters but more lamentable is the remembrance of the great inundation hapning by the sudden rising of Tay which bare away the Walles and Towne of Berth and with it the Cradle and young son of King William into the Sea wherein the Royall Infant with many others perished the King and his Courtiers hardly escaping the danger with life The ●uine of this Towne raised another more famous and more commodiously seated even Perth since called Saint Iohns-Towne 17 Ilands and Inlets yeelding both beautie and subjection to this Scottish Kingdome are the Westerne the Orknayes and the Shetlands reckoned to be above three hundred in number their Inhabitants for the most part using the frugalitie of the ancient Scot. 18 The Westerne lying scattered in the Deucalidonian Sea were anciently ruled by a king of their owne whose maintenance was out of their common Coffers and the Regall authoritie never continued in Lineall succession for to prevent that their Kings were not permitted to have wives of their owne but might by their Lawes accompany with other mens as the like Law was in the other parts of Scotland that the Virginitie of all new wives should be
names of Waters Isles Mountaines and Places meerely British words yet remaining and the testimony of Tacitus who saith that their manners were fashioned to the Britaines inforceth so much and Ptolemie before him calleth that Island by the name of Little Britaine all which shew a former interest for Ireland then that which by conquest under Henry the second was made 13 That it ever was subject to the Romanes is doubtfull though Agricola did wish it and Tacitus held most necessary yea and in the division of their Empire Ireland with Britaine and Thule fell unto Constantine the sonne of Constantine the great yet their manners unreclaimed and barbarisme retained long after those dayes doe witnesse no such civilitie sowne to be in that plot But when Romes great Empire beganne to grow lesse the Scots or Scythians grew mighty in Ireland and as Or●sius writeth that Island was wholly inhabited by the Scottish Nation in the daies of Honorius and Arcadius the Emperours whose warres and slaughter Claudian doth lightly touch in this his Verse Scotorum cumulos flevit glacialis Ierne The frozen Ireland wept to see her Scots all slaine on heapes to be 14 As these for the most part by the testimonie of Ninius were the ancient Inhabitants so by other ancient Writers their customes and manners are thus set forth Strabo saith The Inhabitants of Ireland are more rude then the Britaines they feed upon the flesh of men yea and think it a point of worth to eat their dead parents want ōly they accompany with Women making no difference of other mens wives their owne sisters nor of their naturall mothers but of these things saith he we have no certain witnesse of sufficient credit Pomponius Mela recordeth that the Irish are uncivill ignorant of vertues and void of Religion And Solinus affirmeth that after victory they drink the bloud of the slain and be smeare their own faces therewith so given to warre that the mother at the birth of a man-child feedeth the first meat into her infants mouth upon the point of her husbands sword and with heathenish imprecations wisheth that it may die no otherwise then in warre or by sword 15 But from these ancient and barbarous manners let us come to the conditions of their middle time whom Giraldus Cambrensis describeth as followeth The Irish saith he are a strong and bold people martiall and prodigall in war nimble stout and haughtie of heart carelesse of life but greedy of glory courteous to strangers constant in love light of belief impatient of iniury given to fleshly lusts and in enmity implacable At the baptizing of their infants their manner was not to dip their right armes into the water that so as they thought they might give a more deep and incurable blow never calling them by the names of their Parents whilest they lived together but at their death took it upon them Their women nursed not the children they bare and they that nursed others did affect and love them much more then their owne 16 So much were they given to fantasticall conceits that they held it very ominous to give their neighbours fire upon May-day to eat an odde egge endangered the death of their horse and before they cast in their seed they send salt into the field to hang up the shels in the roofe was a preservative of the chickens from the kite to set up greene boughes at their doores in the Moneth of May increased their kines milke and to spit upon Cattle the held it good against Witchery whereof Ireland was full 17 Superstitious Idolatry among the wild Irish was common yeelding divine honour unto the Moone after the change unto whom they both bowed their knees and made supplications and with a loud voice would thus speake unto that Planet We pray thee leave us in as good estate as thou found'st us Wolves they did make their Godsips terming them Charl Christ and so thought themselves preserved from their hurts the hoofes of dead horses they accounted and held sacred about childrens necks the hung the beginning of Saint Iohns Gospel a crooked naile of an horse-shooe or a peece of a Wolves skinne and both the sucking-child and nurse were girt with girdles finely platted of womens haire so far they wandred into the wayes of errour in making these armes the strength of their healths 18 Their wives were many by reason of divorcements and their maids married at twelve yeares of age whose customes were to send their lovers bracelets platted and curiously wrought of their owne haire so farre following Venus in the knots of these allurements The men wore linnen shirts exceeding large stained with Saffron the sleeves wide and hanging to their knees strait and short trusses plated thick in the skirts their breeches close to the thighes a short skeine hanging point downe before and a mantle most times cast over their heads The women wore their haire platted in curious manner hanging downe their backs and shoulders from under solden wreathes of sine linnen rolled about their heads rather loading the wearer then delighting the beholder for as the one was most seemly so the other was unsightly their necks were hung with chains and carkaneths their armes wreathed with many bracelets and over their side-garments the shagge-rugge mantles purfled with a deepe Fringe of divers colour● both sexes accounting idlenesse their onely libertie and ease their greatest riches 19 In warres they were forward and fought with Battle-axes whose bearers were called Galloglasses the common souldier but lightly armed who served with darts and sharpe skeines their Trumpet was a Bag-pipe and word for encounter Pharroh which at the first onset with great acclamation they uttered and he that did not was taken into the ayre and carried into the vale of Kerry where transformed as they did beleeve he remained untill he was hunted with hounds from thence to his home 20 For the dying and dead they hired women to mourne who expostulated with the sick why he would die and dead at his Funerall such outcries were made such clapping of hands such howlings and gestures that one would thinke their sorrowes unrecoverable holding the opinion of Pythagoras for the soules departed 21 Their diet in necessitie was slender feeding upon water-cresses roots mushromes shamrogh butter tempered with oat-meale milke whey yea and raw flesh the bloud being crushed out their use was also to let their kine bloud which standing a while and coming to a jelly with butter they did eate as a very good dish 22 That the Gospel of Christ should be preached in Ireland by Iames the Apostle I will not affirme though Vincentius hath said it neither will I with the Scots bring the Islands conversion from a Christian woman who as their Historians doe avouch first instructed the Queene and the Queene her husband and he againe his Subjects till all became Christians But most true
some other corners of the Countrey where the people leave the right armes of their Infants males unchristned as they terme it to the end that at any time afterwards they may give a more deadly and ungracious blow when they strike which things doe not onely shew how palpably they are carried away by traditious obscurities but doe also intimate how full their hearts be of inveterate revenge 7 This Province presents no matter more worthy of memorie then the Battell of Knoc-toe that is The hill of axes under which the greatest rabble of Rebels that were ever seene before in Ireland raised and gathered together by the Arch-Rebels of that time William Burk O-Brien Mac-Nemare and O-Carrol were after a bloody overthrow discomfited and put to flight by the noble service of Girald-Fitz Girald Earle of Gildare And the suppression of certaine Irish the posteritie of Mac-William who usurping a tyranny in these parts raged sometimes upon themselves with mutuall injuries and oppressed the poor people a long time with extorting pilling and spoiling so as they left scarce one house in the countrey unrifled or unrased but were bridled and repressed even in our remembrance by the severitie and resolution of the Commissioner of those times who in his wisedome and policie well understood that their excessive insolence and those their unjust doings would be a meanes to draw the people away from the due obedien● to their Prince such therefore as refused to obey the Lawes and sided with the tumultuous with all care and diligence hee soone scattered forcing their Forts and driving them into woods and lurking-holes for troubling the blessed estate of tranquillitie till the Lord Deputie who tooke pitie of them upon their humble supplication commanded by his missives that they should be received upon tearmes of peace But they being a stiffenecked people tooke Armes againe entred afresh into actuall rebellion drave away booties made foule uprores and upon faire promises procured the aide of the Scottish Ilanders from out of the Hebrides whereupon the Governour assembled an Armie and pursued them with such powerfull violence through the Woods and Forrests that after sixe or seven weekes being grievously hunger-bitten they submitted themselves in all humilitie The Auxiliary Forces also of the Scots he by day and night affronted so neere and followed so hardly that hee put them to flight after he had killed and drowned about 3. thousand of them in the River Moin 8 About the yeare 1316. there was such a great slaughter made of the Irish in this Province of Connaught through a quarrell that arose there betweene two Lords or Princes that there were slaine on both sides about 4000. men and so great a tribulation at that time came upon the people that they did devoure and eat one another so as of ten thousand there remained not above three hundred living And it is reported for truth that the people were then so hunger-starved that in Church-yards they took the dead bodies out of their graves and in their sculs boyled the flesh and fed upon it yea and that women did eat their owne children Thus appeared the ire and anger of God in punishing their sins and seeking their conversion 9 Places memorable are Inis Ceath well known by the Monasterie of Colman a devout Saint founded for Scots and Englishmen and Inis Bovind which Bede calleth White Calfe Isle Also Maio a Monasterie built as Bede writeth for thirtie men of the English Nation Likewise the Baronie of Boile under Curlew hilles where in times past was a famous Abbey built together with the Abbey of Beatitude in the yeare of Grace 1152. These Abbeyes and Monasteries erected at the first for religious services and through ignorance and other obscurities diverted since unto superstitious uses are now made the ruines of time 10 The Province of Connaught is at this day strengthned with 14. Castles traded with 9. Market-Townes and divided as ensueth Counties Clare Maio. or Slego Twomond Letrim Galway Rescomen THE PROVINCE OF CONNAUGH with the Citie of GALWAYE Described The Division of CONNAVGHT 1. SLego 2. Maio. 3. Roscomen 4. Letrim 5. Longford 6. Galway 7. Clare or Twomond A Agarro Gal. Akill Island Maio. Baron of Akill Maio. Can Akill Maio. Akill-beg Maio. Alyne Lough Letr Anney Flu. Ara Clar. Aran Isles Gal. Ardelon Gal. ARDRAGH Long. Arne knock Gal. ATLON Rosc. Atlone Barony Rosc. Aurork Letr O. B Barony of Balantaber Rosc. Balantcourt Gal. Balee Cloude Clar. Balendock Gal. Banrale Clar. Banron Clar. B. Barnary Gal. Barrag Long. Barrogh bay Maio. Mac Bavy Rosc. Beg Gal. Beghan Clar. B. Mac Belec Sleg Beltree clar Bellemore Baron rosc. Ben Gal. Benicolben mountaines sleg. Benicolben sleg. Biley Maio. Bimpall long Black-rock gal Black-rock Maio. Blough long Borace castle maio Borace Flu. Boure long Barony of Mac Boyle rosc. Boyley ros M. Can Brain clar Bren rosc. O. West Brenny letr S. Bride gal Le Broke long Browater Flu. Bursse mountaines long Mack W. Burck maio C Caherdon gal Caherdogh clar Caherdoghan clar Calbadei gal Can Calew clar Camagh long Camme letr L. Lough Cane letr Cang maio m. Lough Carble gal Caregoly clar Carew M. ville uterhday maio Carey gal Cariknew clar Carleby Ca. Clar. Carmin clar Carohesk clar Carowmore gal Cashell clar Caslelan clar b. Clanerok M. Owe Fease Rosc. Clan-hores maio Clanquistulo maio Earle of Clanricket gal Clare gal Barony of Clare gal CLARE clar Mac Clare clar Clare gal Ca. Clay clar Can Clegan gal Clenebo gal Ca. Cleray clar Enis Clere maio Clogh rosc. c. Clombrok gal Clonebegin rosc. Clonefort gal Cloneghisse long Cloney long Clonresh rosc. Colman clar c. Ca. Colyn clar Comer Don rosc. ● Comer Roe rosc. ● Conogher Og gal Corbra clar Corkumo clar Corneguh rosc. Cotrine clar Cow Bay maio Cragh gal b. Crenay maio Crobraken clar Croghnene gal Cronis gal Cuell clar c. Curlewes mountaines letr D Daghan clar Darra gal Darra lands sleg. ● Deane clar c. Mac Deran rosc. Lough Derg clar Mac Dermont rosc. Deser Calo● gal Dingham clar Mac Dinhanbeg clar Doc clar c. The Dogge gal Dolphin gal Donasse clar Arras Dondenell maio Dondey maio o. Ca. Done clar Donebeg clar Donegate clar Barony Donmore maio Hugh Mac Donel. O. kely gal Donel clar c. Donell M. Reugh clar Donnelleg Cast. gal Donemany rosc. Donemore clar Donen castle maio Donsanan clar Donoghan clar The two Mac Donoghes lands sleg. Donolans gal ● Donsand gal Dosleepe maio Ca. Downe gal Ca. Downe clar Drelome long Drogh gal Dromayne long Dunbroyle sleg. Dundroes sleg. Barony of Dunkelir gal E Enisky clar Enis Pyke sleg. Ereconge gal Lough Esk letr F Fadda sleg. False Sound Gal. Farolban long ● Farset flu Fartbeg maio Fartmore maio Feg Mac. mahound clar Fenna long Fergus flu Fermore hills maio Feunon clar Flera maio G Gallough gal GALWAL Gal. The Bay of Galway gal Gally rosc.