Grand-child to Iohn Holland half-brother to King Richard the Second siding with Lancaster against Edward the fourth whose Sister was his wife was driven to such misery as Philip Comineus repotteth that he was seen all torn and bare-footed to beg his living in the Low Countries And lastly his body was cast upon the shore of Kent as if he had perished by ship-wrack so certain is Fortune in her endowments and the state of man notwithstanding his great birth 9 Religious Houses in this Shire built in devotion and for Idolatry pulled down were at Excester Torhay Tanton Tavestokes Kirton Hartland Axminster and Berstuble 10 And the Counties divisions are parted into thirty three Hundreds wherein are seated thirty seven Market-Towns and three hundred ninety four Parish-Churches Cornwaile CORNVVALL CHAPTER X. CORNWALL as Matthew of Winchester affirmeth is so named partly from the form and partly from her people for shooting it self into the Sea like an Horn which the Britains call Kâ—rne and inhabited by them whom the Saxons named Wallia of these two compounded words it became Cornwallia Not to trouble the Reader with the Fable of Corinnus cousin to King Brute who in free gift received this County in reward of his prowess for wrestling with the Giant Gogmagog and breaking his neck from the Cliffe of Dover as he of Monmouth hath fabuled 2 Touching the temperature of this County the Air thereof is cleansed as with Bellowes by the Billowes that ever work from off her environing Seas where thorow it becometh pure and subtile and is made thereby very healthful but withall so piercing and sharp that it is apter to preserve than to recover health The Spring is not so early as in more Eastern parts yet the Summer with a temperate heat recompenseth his â—low fostering of the fruits with their most kindly ripening The Autumne bringeth a somewhat late Harvest and the Winter by reason of the Seas warm breath maketh the cold milder than else-where Notwithstanding that Countrey is much subject to stormy bâ—asts whose violence hath freedome from the open waves to beat upon the dwellers at Land leaving many times their houses uncovered 3 The Soyl for the most part is lifted up into many hills parted asunder with narrow and short valâ—â—es and a shallow earth doth cover their outside which by a Sea weed called Orewood and a certain kind of frâ—â—sul Sea-sand they make so rank and batten as is uncredible But more are the riches that out of those hills are gotten from the Mines of Copper and Tinn which Countrey was the first and continueth the best stored in that merchandize of any in the world Timaeus the Historian in Pliny reporteth that the Britains fetched their Tinn in Wicker boats stitched about with Leather And Diodorus Siculus of Augustus Caesars time writeth that the Britains in this part digged Tin out of stony ground which by Merchants was carried into Gallia and thence to Narborne as it were to a Mart. Which howsoever the English Saxons neglected yet the Normans made great benefit thereof especially Richard brother to King Henry the third who was Earl of Cornwall and by those Tinn-works became exceedingly rich for the incursions of the Moores having stopped up the Tinn-Mines in Spain and them in Germany not discovered before the year of Christ 1240. these in Cornwall supplyed the want in all parts of the world This Earl made certain Tinn-Laws which with liberties and priviledges were confirmed by Earl Edmund his son And in the days of King Edward the third the Common-weale of Tinn-works from one body was divided into four and a Lord Warden of the Stanniers appointed their Iudge 4 The Borders of this Shire on all parts but the East is bound in with the Sea and had Tamer drawn his course but four miles further to the North betwixt this County and Devonshire it might have been rather accounted an Island than stood with the Mayne Her length is from Launston to the Lands-end containing by measure 60 miles and the broadest part stretching along by the Tamer is fully forty lessening thence still lesser like a horn 5 The Antient inhabitants known to the Romans were the Danmonii that spread themselves further into Devon-shire also by the report of Diodorus Siculâ—â— a most courteous and civil people and by Michael their Poet extolled for valour and strength of limbs nor therein doth he take the liberty that Poets are allowed to add to the subject whreof they write but truly repotteth what we see by them performed who in activity surmount many other people When the Heathen Saxons had seated themselves in the best of this Land and forced the Christian Britains into these rocky parts then did Cornwall abound in Saints unto whose honour most of the Churches were erected by whose names they are yet known and called To speak nothing of Visula that Counties Dukes daughter with her company of canonized Virgin-Saints that are now reputed but to trouble the Calender These Britains in Cornwall so fenced the Countrey and defended themselves that to the reign of Athelstaâ—e they held out against the Saxons who subduing those Western Parts made Tamer the Bounder betwixt them and his English whose last Earl of the British Bloud was called Candorus 6 But William the Bastard created Robert his half-brother by Herlotta their mother the first Earl of the Normans race and Edward the Black Prince the ninth from him was by his Father King Edward the third invested the first Duke of Cornwall which Title ever since hath continued in the Crown 7 The Commodities of this Shire ministred both by Sea and Soile are many and and great for besides the abundance of Fish that do suffice the Inhabitants the Pilchard is taken who in great shuls swarm about the Coast whence being transported to France Spain and Italy yield a yearly revenue of gain unto Cornwall wherein also Copper and Tinn so plentifully grow in the utmost part of this Promontory that at a low water the veins thereof lie bare and are seen and what gain that commodity begets is vulgarly known Neither are these Rocks destitute of Gold nor Silver yea and Diamonds shaped and pointed Angle wise and smoothed by Nature her self whereof some are as big as Wallnuts inferiour to the Orient only in blackness and hardness Many are the Ports Bayes and Havens that open into this Shire both safe for arrivage and commodious transport whereof Falmouth is so copious that an hundred Ships may therein ride at Anchor apart by themselves so that from the tops of their highest Masts they shall not see each other and lie most safely under the Winds 8 This County is fruitful in Corn Cattle Sea-fish and Fowl all which with other provision for pleasures and life are traded thorow twenty two Market-Towns in this Shire whereof Lauston and Bodman are the best from which last being the middle of the Shire the Pole is elevated to the degree of Latitude 50 35 minutes and for Longitude
which last was built with great cost by Richaâ—d Earl of Cornwall King of the Romans wherein himself and his Dutchesse was interred Their Son Earl Edmund brought out of Germany the bloud of Hales supposed and said to be part of that whicâ— Christ shed upon his Cross. In this place with great confluence and devotions of Pilgrimage it was sought and worshiped till time proved it a meer counterfeit when the glorious light of the Gospel revealed to eye-sight such gross Idolatries and the skirts of Superstition were were turned up to the shew of her ownâ—shame 12 Dukes and Earls that have born the title of Glocester the first of every Family are by their Arms and Names expressed ever fatal to their Dukes though the greatest in bloud and birth The first was Thomas VVoodstock son to King Edward the third who in Callis was â—mothered in a Feather-bed to death The second was Humfrey brother to King Henry the fifth by the fraudulent practice of the malignant Cardinal and Queen made away at S. Edmundsbury And the last was Richard brother to King Edward the fourth who by the just hand of God was cut off in battle by King Henry the Second 13 This Shires division is principally into four parts subdivided into thirty Hundreds and thâ—m again into two hundred and eight Parish-Churcâ—es Hereford SHIRE HEREFORD-SHIRE CHAPTER XXIV HEREFORD-SHIRE formerly accounted within the limits of Wales lyeth circulated upon the North with Worcester and Shrop-shires upon the East with Malvern Hills is parted from Glocester-shire upon the South is kept in with Monmouth-shire and upon the West in part with the Haiterall Hills is divided from Brecknock and the rest confined with Radnor-shire 2 This Counties climate is most healthful and temperate and Soyl so fertile for Corn and Cattle that no place in England yieldeth more or better conditioned sweet Rivers ruâ—ning as veins in the body do make the Corn-bearing grounds in some of her parts rightly to be termed the Golden Vale and for Waters Wool and Wheat doth contend with Nilus Colchos and Egypt such are Leâ—ster Irchenfield the banks of Wye Luge and Frome 3 The ancient people known to the Romans whose power they well felt before they could subdue them were the Silures placed by Ptolomy in this Tract and branched further into Radnor Breckâ—ock Monmouth and Glamorgan shires at this day by us called Southâ—wales and by the Welsh Deheubarth Their Original as Tacitus conjectureth by their site coloured countenances and curled hair was out of Spain and both as he and Pliny describes them were fierce valiant and impatient of servitude which well they shewed under Caratacus their Captain and nine years scourge to the Roman assaulters for whose only conquest and that made by treachery the Victor in Rome triumphed with more than a usual Aspect and with so equal an hand bare the Scoale of Resistance that their own Writers evermore term it a dangeâ—ous War For the Legion of Marius Valence they put to â—light and that with such havock of the Associates that Asterius the Lievtenant of Britain for very grief gave up the ghost and Veranius under Nero assaulted them in vain But when Vâ—spasian was Emperour and expert Souldiers imployed in every Province Iulius Frontinus subdued these Silures unto the Romans where continually some of their Legions afterward kept till all was abandoned in Valentinians â—ime 4 The Saxons then made themselves Lords of this Land and this Province a part of their Mercians Kingdom yea and Sutton the Court of great Offa their King 5 But Hereford after raised of the ruines of the old Ariconium now Kencâ—ester shaken in pieces by a violent earthquake grew to great fame thorow a conceived sanctity by the burial of Etâ—elbert King of the East-Angles slain at Sutton by Offa at what time he came thither to have espoused his Daughter whose grave was first made at Merden but afterwards câ—nonized and removed to this City when in honour of him was built the Cathedral Church by Milfrid a petty King of that County which Gruffith Prince of south-South-Wales and Algar an Englishâ—â—an rebelling against Edward Confessor consumed with fire but by Bishop Remelâ—n was restored as now it is at what time the Town was walled and iâ— so remaining in good repair having six gates for entrance and fifteen Watch-Towers for defence extending in compass to fifteen hundred paces and whence the North Pole is observed to be raised 52 degrees 27 minutes in Latitude and is set from the first point of the West in Longitude 17 degrees and 30 minutes being yearly governed by a Mayor chosen out of one and thirty Citizens which are commonly called the Election and he ever after is known for an Alderman and clothed in Scarlet whereof four of the eldest are Iustices of Peace graced with a Sword-bearer a Recorder a Town-Clerk and four Sergeants with Mace The greatest glory that this City received was in King Athelstans days where as Malmesbury doth report he caused the Lords of â—ales by way of Tribute to pay yearly besides Hawkes and Hounds twenty pound of Gold and three hundred pound of Silver by weight but how that was performed and continued I find not 6 Things of rare note in this Shire are said to be Bone-well a Spring not faâ— from Richards Castle wherein are continually found little Fishes bones but not a â—in seen and being wholly cleansed thereof will notwithstanding have again the like whether naturally produced or in veins thither brought no man knoweth 7 But more admirable was the work of the Omnipotent even in our own remembrances and year of Christ â—esus 1571 when the Marcley Hill in the East of this Shire rouzed it self out of a dead sleep with a roaring noise removed from the place where it stood and for three days together travelled from her first â—ite to the great amazement and fear of the beholders It began to journey upon the seventh day of February being sunday at six of the Clock at night and by seven in the next morning had gone forty paces carrying with it Sheep in their coats hedge-rows and trees whereof some were overturned and some that stood upon the plain are firmly growing upon the hill those that were East were turned West and those in the West were set in the East in which remove it overthrew â—â—â—â—aston-Chappel and turned two high-ways near an hundred yards from their usual paths formerly trod The ground thus travelling was about twenty six Acres which opening it self with Rocks and all bare the earth before it for four hundred yards space without any stay leaving that which was Pasturage in place of the Tillage and the Tillage overspread with Paâ—turage Lastly overwhelming her lower parts mounted to an hill of twelve fathoms high and there rested her self after three days travel remaining his mark that so laid hand upon this Rock whose power â—ath poysed the Hills in his Ballance 8 Religious Houses built by the devotions of Princes and
the degree of Latitude 54 yet the warmth from the Irish-Seas melteth the Snow and dissolveth Ice sooner there then in those parts that are further off and so wholsome for life that the Inhabitants generally attain to many years 4 The Soyl is fat fruitful and rich yielding abundantly both profit and pleasures for Man The Champion grounds make glad the hearts of their Tillers The Meadows imbroydered with divers sweet smelling Flowers and the Pasture makes the Kines Udder to strout to the Pail from whom and wherein the best Cheese of all Europe is made 5 The ancient Inhabitants were the CORNAVII who with Warwick-shire Worcester-shire Stafford-shire and Shrop-shire spread themselves further into this County as in Ptolomy is placed and the Cangi likewise if they be the Ceaâ—gi whose remembrance was found upon the Shore of this Shire on the surface of certain pieces of Lead in this manner inscribed IMP. DOMIT. AU. GER DF CEANG. These Cangi were subdued by P. Ostorius Scapula immediately before his great Victory against Caractacus where in the mouth of Deva he built a Fortress at the back of the Ordovices to restrain their power which was great in those parts in the Reign of Vespasian the Emperour But after the departure of the Romans this Province became a Portion of the Saxon-Mercians Kingdom notwithstanding saith Ran Higdan the City it self was held by the Britains until all fell into the Monarchy of Egbert Of the dispositions of the fince Inhabitants hear Lucan the Monk who lived prelently after the Conquest speak They are found saith he to differ from the rest of the English partly better and partly equal In feasting they are friendly at meat chearful in entertainment liberal soon aâ—gry and soon pacified lavish in words impatient of servitude merciful to the afflicted compassionate to the poor kind to their kindred spary of labour void of dissimulation not greedy in eating and far from dangerous practises And let me add thus much which Lucian could not namely that this Shire hath never been stained with the blot of Rebellion but ever stood true to their King and his Crown whose loyalty Richard the Second so far found and esteemed that he held his Person most safe among them and by the Authority of Parliament made the County to be a Principality and stiled himself Prince of Chester King Henry the Third gave it to his eldest Son Prince Edward against whom Lewlin Prince of Wales gathered a mighty Band and with them did the County much harm even unto the Cities Gaâ—es With the like scare-fires it had oft times been affrighted which the ylastâ—y defenced with a Wall made of the Welsh-mens Heads on the South side of Dee in Hambridge The Shire may well be said to be a Seed-plot of Gentility and the producer of many most ancient and worthy Families neither hath any brought more men of valour into the Field than Chess-shire hath done who by a general speech are to this day called The chief of Men and for Natures endowments besides their nobleness of minds may compare with any other Nation in the World their Limbs straight and well-composed their complexions fair with a chearful countenance and the Women for grace feature and beauty inferiour unto none 6 The Commodities of of this Province by the report of Ranulphus the Monk of Chester are chiefly Corn Cattle Fish Fowl Salt Mines Metals Mears and Rivers whereof the Banks of Dee in her West and the Vale-Royal in her midst for fruitfulness of pasturage equals any other in the Land either in grain or gain from the Cow 7 These with all other provision for life are traded thorow thirteen Market-Towns in this Shire whereof Chester is the fairest from whom the Shire hath the name A City raised from the Fort of Ostorius Lieutenant of Britain for Claudius the Emperour whither the twentieth Legion named Victrix was sent by Galba to restrain the Britains but grown themselves out of order Iulius Agricola was appointed their General by Vespasian as appeareth by Moneys then Minted and there found and from them no doubt by the Britains the place waâ— called Cder-Legion by Ptolomy Denanâ— by Antonine Dena and now by us West-Chester but Henry Bradshaw will have it built before Brute by the Giant Leon Gaver a Man beyond the Moon and called by Marius the vanquisher of the Picts Over Deva or Dee a fair Stone-bridge leadeth built upon eight Arches at either end whereof is a Gate from whence in a long Quadrant-wise the Walls do incompass the City high and strongly built with four fair Gates opening into the four Winds besides three 〈◊〉 and seven Watch-Towers extending in compass one thousand nine hundred and forty paces On the South of this City is mounted a strong and stately Castle round in form and the base Court likewise inclosed with a circular Wall In the North is the Minster first built by Earl Leofrike to the honour of S. Werburga the Virgin and after most sumptuously repaired by Hugh the first Earl of Chester of the Normans now the Cathedral of the Bishops See Therein lyeth interred as report doth relate the body of Henry the Fourth Emperour of Almane who leaving his Imperial Estate lead lastly therein an Hermites life This City hath formerly been sore defaced first by Egfrid King of Northumberland where he slew twelve hundred Christian Monks resorted thither from Bangor to pray Again by the Danes it was sore defaced when their destroying feet had trampled down the beauty of the Land But was again rebuilt by Edelfleada the Mercian Lady who in this County and Forrest of Delamer built two fine Cities nothing of them now remaining besides the Chamber in the Forrest Chester in the daies of King Edgar was in most flourishing estate wherein he had the homage of eight other Kings who rowed his Barge from S. Iohns to his Palace himself holding the Helm as their Supream This City was made a County incorporate of it self by King Henry the Seventh and is yearly governed by a Major with Sword and Mace born before him in State two Sheriffs twenty four Aldermen a Recorder a Town-Clerk and a Serjeant of Peace four Sergeants and six â—eomen It hath been accounted the Key into Ireland and great pity it is that the Port should decay as it daily doth the Sea being stopped to secure the River by a Causey that thwarteth Dee at her bridge Within the Walls of the City are eight Parish-Churches St. Iohns the greater and lesser in the Suburbs are the VVhite-Fryers Black-Fryers and Nunnery now suppressed From which City the Pole is elevated unto the degree 53 58 minutes of Latitude and from the first point of the West in Longitude unto the 17 degree and 18 minutes 8 The Earldom whereof was possessed from the Conquerour till it fell lastly to the Crown the last of whom though not with the least hopes is Prince Henry who to the Titles of Prince of VVales and Duke of Cornwall hath
Country as it is thus on the one side freed by the natural resistance of the Sea from the force of Invasions so is it strengthened on the other by many Castles and fortified places that take away the opportunity of making Roads and Incursions in the Country And as it was with the first that felt the fury of the Saxons cruelty so was it the last and longest that was subdued under the Wâ—st-Saxons Monarchy 9 In this Province our noble Arthur who died laden with many Trophies of honour is reported by Ninius to have put the Saxons to flight in a memorable Battel near Duglasse a little Brook not far from the Town of Wiggin But the attemps of War as they are several so they are uncertain for they made not Duke Wade happy in his success but returned him an unfortunate enterpriser in the Battel which he gave to Ardulph King of Northumberland at Billango in the year 798. So were the events uncertain in the Civil Wars of York and Lancaster for by them was bred and brought forth that bloody division and fatal strife of the Noble Hoâ—ses that with variable success to both Parties for many years together molested the peace and quiet of the Land and defiled the earth with blood in such violent manner that it exceeded the horror of those Civil Wars in Rome that were betwixt Marius and Scylla Pompey and Caesar Octavius and Antony or that of the two renowned Houses Valoys and Burbon that a long time troubled the State of France for in the division of these two Princely Families there were thirteen Fields fought and three Kings of England one Prince of Wales twelve Dukes one Marquess eighteen Earls one Vicount and three and twenty Barons besides Knights and Gentlemen lost their lives in the same Yet at last by the happy Marriage of Henry the Seventh King of England next Heir to the House of Lancaster with Elizabeth daughter and Heir to Edward the Fourth of the House of York the white and red Roses were conjoyned in the happy uniting of those two divided Families from whence our thrice renowned Soveraign Lord King Iames by fair sequence and succession doth worthily enjoy the Dâ—adem by the benefit of whose happy government this County Palatine of Lancaster is prosperouâ— in her Name and Greatness 10 I find the remembrance of four Religious Houses that have been founded within this County and since suppressed both fair for Structure and Building and rich for seat and Situation namely Burstogh VVhalleia Holland and Penwortham It is divided into six Hundreds besides Fourness Felles and Lancasters Liberties that lie in the North part It is beautified with fifteen Market-Towns both fair for situation and building and famous for the concourse of people for buying and selling It hath twenty six Parishes besides Chappels in which they duly frequent to Divine Service and those populous as in no part of the Land more York SHIRE YORK-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXVIII AS the courses and confluents of great Rivers are for the most part fresh in memory though their heads and fountains lie commonly unknown so the latter knowledg of great Regions are not traduced to oblivion though perhaps their first originals be obscure by reason of Antiquity and the many revolutions of times and ages In the delineation therefore of this great Province of York-shire I will not insist upon the narration of matters near unto us but succinctly run over such as are more remote yet neither so sparingly as I may seem to diminish from the dignity of so worthy a Country nor so prodigally as to spend time in superfluous praising of that which never any as yet dispraised And although perhaps it may seem a labour unnecessary to make relation of ancient remembrances either of the Name or Nature of this Nation especially looking into the difference of Time it self which in every age bringeth forth divers effects and the dispositions of men that for the most part take less pleasure in them than in divulging the occurrents of their own times yet I hold it not unfit to begin there from whence the first certain direction is given to proceed for even of these ancient things there may be good use made either by imitation or way of comparison as neither the reperition nor the repetition thereof shall be accounted impertinent 2 You shall therefore understand That the County of York was in the Saxon-tongue called Ebona ycyne and now commonly York-shire far greater and more numerous in the Circuit of her miles than any Shire of England She is much bound to the singular love and motherly care of Nature in placing her under so temperate a clime that in every measure she is indifferently fruitful If one part of her be stone and a sandy barren ground another is fertile and richly adorned with Corn-fields If you here find it naked and destitute of Woods you shall see it there shadowed with Forrests full of Trees that have very thick bodies sending forth many fruitful and profitable branches If one place of it be Moorish miry and unpleasant another makes a free tender of delight and presents it self to the Eye full of beauty and contentive variety 3 The Bishoprick of Durham fronts her on the North-side and is separated by a continued course of the River Tees The German-Sea lyeth sore upon her East-side beating the shores with her boisterous Waves and Billows The West part is bounded with Lancashire and Westmerland The South-side hath Cheshire and Darby-shire friendly Neighbours unto her with the which she is first inclosed then with Nottingham and with Lincoln-shires after divided with that famous Arm of the Sea Humber Into which all the Rivers that water this Country empty themselves and pay their ordinary Tributes as into the common receptacle and store-house of Neptune for all the watry Pensions of this Province 4 This whole Shire being of it self so spacious for the more easie and better ordering of her Civil Government is divided into three parts which according to three quarters of the World are called The West-Riding The East-Riding and The North-Riding West-Riding is for a good space compassed with the River Ouse with the bounds of Lancashire and with the South limits of the Shire and beareth towards the West and South East-Riding bends it self to the Ocean with the which and with the River Derwent she is inclosed and looks into that part where the Sun rising and shewing forth his Beams makes the World both glad and glorious in his brightness North-Riding extends it self Northward hemmed in as it were with the River Tees and Derwent and a long race of the River Ouse The length of this Shire extended from Horthill in the South to the mouth of Tees in the North are neer unto seventy miles the breadth from Flambrough-head to Horn-Castle upon the River Luâ— is fourscore miles the whole Circumference is three hundred and eight miles 5 The Soil of this County for the generality is reasonable fertile
Morda in the West twenty and five miles the whole in circuit about extending to one hundred thirty four miles 3 Wholesome is the Air delectable and good yielding the Spring and the Autumn Seed-time and Harvest in a temperate condition and affordeth health to the Inhabitants in all seasons of the year 4 The Soil is rich and standeth most upon a reddish Clay abounding in Wheat and Barley Pit-coals Iron and Woods which two last continue not long in league together It hath Rivers that make fruitful the Land and in their Waters contain great store of fresh-fish whereof Severn is the chief and second in the Realm whose stream cutteth this County in the midst and with many winding sporteth her self forward leaving both Pastures and Meadows bedecked with flowers and green colours which every where she bestoweth upon such her attendants 5 This River was once the bounds of the North-Britains and divided their possession from the Land of the Saxons until of latter times their began to decay and the Welsh to increase who enlarged their lists to the River Dee So formerly had it separated the Ordovices from the Cornavâ—â— those ancient Inhabitants mentioned by Ptolomy The Ordovices under Caractacus purchased great honour whilst he a Prince of the Silures removed his Wars thence among them where a while he maintained the Britains liberty with valour and courage in despite of the Romans His Fort is yet witness of his unfortunate Fight seated near Clune-Castle at the confluence of that River with Temd where in remembrance of him the place is yet called Caer-Caradoc a Fort of his won by P. Ostorius Lieutenant of the Romans about the year of Grace 53. The Cornavii were seated upon the North of Severn and branched into other Counties of whom we have said 6 But when the strength of the Romans was too weak to support their own Empire and Britain emptied of her Souldiers to resist the Saxons set foot in this most fair Soil and made it a part of their Mercian Kingdom their line likewise issued to the last period and the Normans beginning where these Saxons left the VVelshmen took advantage of all present occasions and brake over Severn unto the River Dee to recover which the Normans first Kings often assayed and Henry the Second with such danger of Life that at the Siege of Bridge-North he had been slain had not Sir Hubert Syncler received the Arrow aimed at him in stepping betwixt that Shaft and his Soveraign and therewith was shot thorow unto death In the like danger stood Henry Prince of Scotland who in the strait Siege of Ludlow begirt by King Stephen had been plucked from his Saddle with an Iron-hook from the Wall had not Stephen presently rescued him Anno 1139. 7 This then being the Marches of England and VVales was sore afflicted by bloody broils which caused many of their Towns to be strongly walled and thirty two Castles to be strongly built Lastly into this County the most wise King Henry the Seventh sent his eldest Son Prince Arthur to be resident at Ludlow where that fair Castle became a most famous Princes Court And here King Henry the Eight ordained the Council of the Marches consisting of a Lord President as many Counsellors as the Prince shall please a Secretary an Attorney a Soliciter and four Iustices of the Counties in Wales in whose Court were pleaded the Causes depending and termly tried for the most part in presence of that honourable President 8 But the Shire-Town Shrewsbury for circuit trade and wealth doth far exceed this and is inferiour to few of our Cities her buildings fair her streets many and large her Citizens rich her trade for the most part in the Staple Commodities of Cloth and Freeses her Walls strong and of a large compass extending to seventeen hundred paâ—es about besides another Bulwark ranging from the Castle down unto and in part along the side of Severn thorow which there are three entrances into the Town East and West over by two fair Stone-Bridges with Towers Gates and Bars and the third into the North no less strong than them over which is mounted a large Castle whose gaping chinks do doubtless threaten her fall This Town is governed by two Bailiffs yearly elected out or twenty four Burgesses a Recorder Town-Clerk and Chamberlain with three Sergeants at Mace the Pole being raised hence from the degrees of Latitude 53 16 minutes and from West in Longitude 17 degrees 27 minutes 9 Yea and ancienter Cities have been set in this Shire such was Râ—xalter or Wroxcester lower upon Severn that had been Vriconium the chiefest City of the Cornavii Vfocâ—nia now Okenyateâ— near unto the Wrekin and under Red-Castle the Ruins of a City whom the Vulgar report to have been famous in Arthurs daies but the pieces of Romish Coins in these three do well assure us that therein their Legions lodged as many other Trenches are signs of War and of Blood But as Swords have been stirring in most parts of this Province so Beads have been hid for the preservation of the whole and places erected for the maintenance of Votaries in whom at that time was imputed great holiness in Shrewsbury many at Coulmere Stow Dudley Bromfield Wigmore Hamond Lyleshill Bildas Bishops-Castle and Wâ—nloke where in the Reign of Richard the Second was likewise a rich Mine of Copper But the same blasts that blew down the Buds of such Plants scattered also the Fruits from these fair Trees which never since bare the like nor is likely any more to do That only which is rare in this Province is a Well at Pitchford in a private mans yard whereupon floateth a thick Skum of liquid Bitumen which being clear off to day will gather the like again on the Morrow not much unlike to the Lake in the Land of Iewry This Shire is divided into fifteen Hundreds wherein are seated fourteen Market-Towns and hath in it one hundred and seventy Churches for Gods sacred and divine Service CHESTER Petrus Kaerius caeelavit The County Palatine of CHESTER CHAPTER XXXVI CHESSE-SHIRE the County Palatine of Chester is parted upon the North from Lancashire with the River Mercey upon the East by Mercey Goit and the Dane is separated from Darâ—y and Stafford-shires upon the South toucheth the Counties of Shrop-shire and Flint and upon the West with Dee is parted from Denbigh-shire 2 The form of this County doth much resemble the right Wing of an Eagle spreading it self from Wirall and as it were with her Pinion or first Feather toucheth York-shire betwixt which extreams in following the windings of the Shires divider from East to West are 47 miles and from North to South twenty six miles The whole Circumference about one hundred forty two miles 3 If the affection to my natural producer blind not the judgment of this my Survey for Air and Soyl it equals the best and far exceeds her Neighbours the next Counties for although the Climate be cold and toucheth
in it for the celebration of Divine Service CUMBERLAND CHAPTER XLI CUMBERLAND the furthest North-West Province in this Realm of England confronteth upon the South of Scotland and is divided from that Kingdom partly by the River Kirsop then crossing Eske by a tract thorow Solomâ—-Moss until it come to the Solwaye-Frith by Ptolomy called the Itune-Bay The North-West part is neighboured by Northumberland more East-ward with Westmerland the South with Lancashire and the West is wholly washed with the Irish-Seas 2 The form whereof is long and narrow pointing wedg-like into the South which part is altogether pestred with copped hills and therefore hath the name of Cop-land The middle is more level and better inhabited yielding sufficient for the sustenance of man but the North is wild and solitary cumbred with Hills as Copland is 3 The Air is piercing and of a sharp temperature and would be more biting were it not that those high Hills break off the Northern storms and cold falling Snows 4 Notwithstanding rich is this Province and with great varieties thereof is replenished the Hills though rough yet smile upon their beholders spread with Sheep and Cattel the Vallies stored with Grass and Corn sufficient the Sea affordeth great store of Fish the Land overspread with variety of Fowls and the Rivers feed a kind of Muskle that bringeth forth Pearl where in the mouth of the Irt as they lie gaping and sucking in Dew the Country people gather and sell to the Lapidaries to their own little and the buyers great gain But the Mines Royal of Copper whereof this Country yieldeth much is for use the richest of all the place is at Keswick and Newland where likewise the Black-Lead is gotten whose plenty maketh it of no great esteem otherwise a commodity that could hardly be missed 5 The ancient Inhabitants known to the Romans were the Brigantes whom Ptolomy disperseth into Westmorland Richmond Durham York-shire and Lancashire But when the Saxons had overborn the Britains and forced them out of the best to seek their resting among the vast Mountains these by them were entred into where they held play with their enemies maugre their force and from them as Marianus doth witness the Land was called Cumber of those Kumbri the Britains But when the State of the Saxons was sore shaken by the Danes this Cumberland was accounted a Kingdom of it self for so the Flower-gatherer of Westminster recordeth King Edmund saith he with the help of Leoline Prince of south-South-Wales wasted all Cumberland and having put out the eyes of the 〈◊〉 soâ—s of Dunmail King of that Province granted that Kingdom unto Malcolm King of Scots whereof their eldest sons became Prefects This Province King Stephen to purchâ—se favour with the Scots what time he stood in most need of aid confirmed by gift under their Crown which Henry the Second notwithstanding made claim unto and got as Nubrigensis writeth and laid it again in the Marches of England since when many bickerings betwixt these Nations herein have hapned but none so bitter against the Scottish-side as was that at Salome Moss where their Nobility disdaining their General Oliver Sinclere gave over the Battel and yielded themselves to the English which dishonour pierced so deeply into to the heart of King Iames the fifth that for grief thereof he shortly after died 6 Many memorable Antiquities remain and have been found in this County for it being the Confines of the Romans Possessions was continually secured by their Garrisons where remains at this day part of that admirable Wall built by Severus also another Fortification from 〈◊〉 to Elâ—â—-Moâ—th upon the Sea-shore toward Ireland by Stillicâ— raised when under 〈◊〉 he suppressed the rage of the Picts and Irish and freed the Seas of the Saxon Pirates Upon Hard-knot hill Moresby Old-Carleil Pap-Castle along the Wall and in many other places their ruines remain with Altars and Iâ—scriptions of their Captains and Colonies whereof many have been found and more as yet lie hid 7 The chiefest City in this Shire is Careile pleasantly seated betwixt the Rivers Eden Petterelâ— and Caud by the Romans called Luguvallum by Beda Luell by Ptolomy Leucopibia by Ninius Caer-Lualid and by us Carlile This City flourishing under the Romans at their departure by the furious outrages of the Scots and Picts was dejected yet in the daies of Egfrid King of Northumberland was walled about but again defaced by the over-running Danes lay buried in her own ashes the space of two hundred years upon whose ruines at length Rufus set his compassionate eye and built there the Castle planting a Colony of Flemings to secure the Coasts from the Scots but upon better advisement removed them into Wales After him Henry his Brother and Successor ordained this City for an Episcopal See whose site is placed in the degree of Longitude from the first West part 17 and 2 scruples and the Pole thence elevated from the degree of Latitude 55 and 56 scruples 8 West from hence at Burgh upon the Sand was the fatal end of our famous Monarch King Edward the First who there leaving his Wars unfinished against Scotland left his troubles and soon missed life to his untimely and soon lamented death 9 And at Salkelds upon the River Eden a Monument of seventy seven Stones each of them ten foot high above ground and one of them at the entrance fifteen as a Trophy of Victory was erected These are by the By-dwellers called Long-Meg and her Daughters 10 This Country as it stood in the Fronts of Assaults so was it strengthened with twenty-five Castles and preserved with the Prayers as then was thought of the Vâ—taries in the Houses erected at Carlilâ— Lâ—ncroft Wether all Holme Daker and Saint Bees These with others were dissolved by King Henry the Eight and their revenues shadowed under his Crown but the Province being freed from the charge of Subsidie is not therefore divided into Hundreds in the Parliament Roles whence we have taken the divisions of the rest only this is observed that therein are seated nine Market-Towns fifty eight Parish-Churches besides many other Chappels of Ease NORTHUMBERLAND NORTHUMBERLAND CHAPTER XLII THE County of Northumberlaâ—d hath on the South the Bishoprick of Durham being shut in with the River Derwent and with Tyne the North is confined upon Scotland the West upon part of Scotland and part of Cumberland the East-side lyeth altogether upon the Sea called Mare Germanicum 2 The form thereof is Triangular and differs not much in the sidings for from her South-East unto the South-West point are near unto 40 miles from thence to her North-point are sixty miles and her base along the Sea-shore 45 miles The whole in circumference is about one hundred forty five miles 3 The Air must needs be subtile and piercing for that the Northernly parts are most exposed to extremity of weathers as great winds hard froâ—ts and long lying of snows c. Yet would it be far more sharp than it is were
The second part occupied all the Land Northward from Humber to the Orkney-Sea called by the Latines Marâ— Caledonium or Dâ—ucâ—lâ—â—oâ—ium now famously known by the name of Scotland The third part was this lying betwixt the Irish-Seas the Rivers Sâ—verne and Dee and was called Câ—mbria which name doth yet continue with them though we the Eâ—glish call it Wales as the People Welshmen which is strange and strangers for so at this day the dwellers of Tyroll in the higher Germany whence our Saxons are said to have come do name the Italian their next neighbour a Welshman and his language Welsh 2 This opinion Verstegâ—n doth altogether contradict rather judging by the ancient Tâ—utâ—â—ick tongue which the Germans spake and wherein the G is pronounced for W that these Sâ—xoâ—s called them Gallish from the Gaules whence their original proceeded rather than Wallish from strangers which he thinketh could not be considering their habitations so neer unto them and that the like was in use he proveth by the words of Erench Gardian for Wardian Cornugalles for Câ—rwâ—lles yea and Galles for Walles calling our most famous Edward Prince of Galles not Prince of Wâ—lles insomuch that the County of Lombardy bordering along upon the Germans was of them called Gâ—lliâ—ciâ— cis-alphina and at this day Welsh-land So likewise do the Netherlands call the Inhabitants of Henalt and Artois Wallen or Walloâ—s and some part of Brabant and Flanders Welsh-Brabant and Welsh-Flaâ—ders and all because of the Language and Lineage of the Gauls Neither do the meer Natives of Wales know any other name of their Country than Cambria of themselves than Cambri or Cumri or of their Language than Cambraoc But leaving this opinion free to his affection we will proceed 3 Wales therefore being anciently bounded as before the Saxons did afterwards win by force from the Britains all the plain and Champion Country over the River Dee and especially Offa King of Mercia made their limits straighter by making a Ditch of great breadth and depth to be a Mear betwixt this Kingdom and Wales This Ditch is in many places to be seen at this day and bears the name of Clawh Offa that is Offaes Ditch The Country between it and England is commonly called the Marches and is for the most part inhabited by Welshmen especially in North-Wales even to the River Dee This admirable Trench began at Bassiâ—gwerke in Elintshire between Chester and Ruthland and ran along the Hills to the South-Sea a little from Bristow reaching above an hundred miles in length 4 Silvester Giraldus makes the River Wye to be the Mear between England and Wales on the South part called South-Wales whence he ascribeth the breadth of Wales unto Saint Davids in Menâ—viâ— to be an hundred miles and the length from Caerleon upon Vske in Gwentland to Holly-head in Anglesâ—y an hundred miles he might have said thirty more 5 About the year of Christ 870 our Alfred reigning in England Rodericus Magnus King of VVales did divide it into three Talaiths Regions or Territories which were called Kingdoms This Rodericus Magnus gave Venâ—dâ—tia Gwyneth or North-Wales to Anarawd his eldest son to Cadeth his second son Demeâ—ia Debeuâ—arth or South-VValls and to Mervin his third son Powys 6 North-VVales had upon the North-side the Irish-Sea from the River Dee to Bassingwerke to Aberdyvi upon the West and South-West the River Dyvi which divideth it from South-VVales and in some places from Powysland And on the South and East it is divided from Powys sometimes with high Hills and sometimes with Rivers till it come again to the River Dee It is generally full of high Mountains craggy Rocks great Woods and deep Vallies many strait dangerous places deep and swift Rivers 7 This Land was of old time divided into four parts Mon Arvon Meryonith and y Bervedhwlan or the middle Country and each of these were again divided into several Countries and they subdivided into their Cymeden or Commots wherein we follow that division which was in the time of Llewylyn ap Ruffin last Prince of VVales according to a Copy imparted to me by a worshipful Friend and learned Antiquary as seeming far more exact than that of Doctor Powels 8 Aâ—glâ—sey the chiefest is separated from the main Land with the River Moenai wherein at Aberfraw was the Princes Court now a mean Village In this Island is a fair Town called Beaumarish And common passage to Ireland at Caergybi in English Holly-head 9 Arvâ—n the second part of north-North-VVales is now called Carnarvanshire the strongest Country within that Principality giving place to none for fertility of the ground or for plenty of Wood Cattel Fish and Fowl c. Here are the Towns of Caernarvan in old time called Caer-Segoâ—t and Bangor the Bishops See with divers other ancient Castles and places of memory This portion hath on the North the Sea and Moeâ—ai upon the East and South-East the River Conwey which divideth it from Denâ—igh-shire and on the South-West is separated from Merionyth by Rivers Mountains and Mears 10 Merionyth was the third part of Gwyneth and keepeth the name till this day it is full of Hills and much noted for the resort of People that repair thither to take Herrâ—ngs Upon the North it hath Arvon and Denbigh land upon the South Caerdigan-Shire and upon the East Montgâ—mâ—ry-shire heretofore part of Powis In this County standeth the Town of Harlech and a great Lake called Llyn-Tegyd This Country is likewise full of Cattel Fowl and Fish and hath in it great store of red Deer and Roes but there is much scarcity of Corn. 11 Y Bervedhwland was the fourth part of Gwyneth and may be called in English The middle Country is inclosed with Hills on the East West and South-parts and with the Sea Northward It is plentiful of Cattel Fish and Fowl as also of Corn and is divided in the midst with the River Clwyd to which run a number of other Rivers from the Hills In this part is Dyffryn-Clwyd the fairest Valley within Wales containing eighteen miles in length and seven in breadth In which is the Town and Castle of Ruthlâ—n near unto the Sea and not far thence S. Assaph an Episcopal seat between the Rivers Clwyd and Elwy Herein stands the fair Town and goodly Castle of Denbigh situated upon a Rock the greatest Market-Town of North-Wales and from thence is seen the Town and Castle of Ruthyn fair for prospect and fruitful for fite This part of North-Wales hath the Sea upon the North d ee toward the East Arvon The River Conwey and Mâ—riâ—nyth upon the West and the Country then called Pâ—wys upon the South And these were the Mears and Bounds of the four Parts of Venedâ—tia Gwyneth or North-Wales 12 The second Talaith or Kingdom was Mathraval or Powys To this belonged the Country of Powys and the Land between Wye and Sevâ—rne It hath South-Wales upon the South and West with the Rivers Wye and Tywy and other Mears upon the North
not a little glory of their Merlin who as they say was therein born the Son of a bad Angel or of an Incubus Spirit the Britains great Apollo whom Geffery ap Arthur would rank with the South-saying Seer or rather with the true Prophets themselves being none other than a meer Seducer and Phantastical Wizard which howsoever Alani de Insulis in his Commentaries hath laboured to unlock those dark and hidden Similies wherewith his Book is pestred and full yet was it not without cause forbid the reading by the Council of Trent as vain and not worthy of Countenance or Credit At the entrance of the Normans this Town was brought under their obedience and for a long time was distressed with the Calamities of War yet afterwards was made by the English Princes the Chancery and Exchequer of all southâ—Southâ—Wales And at this day is yearly governed by a Maior who ever after is an Alderman and Iustice of the Peace two Sheriffs elected out of sixteen Burgesses all of them in Scarlet a Sword-Bearer a Town-Clerk and two Sergeants with Maces from whence the Pole is raised 52 degrees 15 minutes in Latitude and for Longitude is in the degree 15 and 30 minutes from the first point in the West according to Mercator 7 East from this place are the ruines of Carreg-Castle which stood mounted on a high Hill under the which many Vaults and spacious Caves far into the ground are seen wherein is thought the People unable to â—ight were therein secured in time of their Wars Where also is a Well take the report from Giraldus who writeth it that in this place twice in four and twenty hours â—bbing and twice flowing resembleth the unstable motions of the main Sea 8 This Shire is watred with twenty eight Rivers and Rivelets of name strengthned with ten Castles traded in six Market-Towns divided into six Hundreds wherein are seated fourscore and seven Parish-Churches GLAMORGAN Shire GLAMORGAN-SHIRE CHAPTER VII GLAMORGAN-SHIRE as some think named from Prince Morgan the possessor thereof or according to others is taken from Morgan an Abbey founded by William Earl of Glocester upon the Sea-shoar in the South of this Shire lyeth bounded upon that part altogether with the British-Sea the West by Logor is parted from Caermarden-shire the North butteth upon the County of Brecknock and the East by Remney is divided from Monmouth 2 The form of this Shire groweth still wider from her West-point spreading her broadest touch in the East betwixt which extreams I find by measure to be well-near forty English miles and from North to South not altogether twenty miles the whole in circumference about one hundred and twelve miles 3 The Air is temperate and gives more content to the mind than the Soil doth fruit or ease unto Travellers The Hills being high and very many which from the North notwithstanding are lessened as it were by degrees and towards the Sea-coasts the Countrey becometh somewhat plain which part is the best both for plenty of Grain and populous of Inhabitants The rest all Mountain is replenished with Cattel which is the best means unto wealth that this Shire doth afford upon whose Hills you may behold whole Heards of them feeding and from whose Rocks most clear springing waters thorow the Vallies trickling which sportingly do pass with a most pleasant sound and did not a little revive my wearied spirits among those vast Mountains imployed in their search whose infancy at first admitted an easie step over but grown unto strength more boldly forbad me such passage and with a more stern countenance held on their Iourney unto the British-Seas and Taâ—e among these is accounted for a chief 4 Upon whose fall and East-bank the fairest Town of all South-Wales is seated the Britains Caerdid the English Caerdiffe which Fitz-Haimon fortified with a Wall and Castle in the Reign of King Rufus when he and his Norman-Knights had overcome Rhese the Prince of these parts and thrust out Iustine from his lawful possession This Town he made his own Seat and Court of Iustice enjoyning his Consorts to give Aid to this honour and to hold their Portions in Vassallage of him Strong was the Castle as by the trust therein reposed may well appear where the youngest brother Beaâ—clark kept Captive the eldest Curthose both of them Sons to the Conquerour the space of twenty six years This Castle is large and in good repair whence the Town-Wall went both South and East to the Rivers side thorow which four Gates enter into the four Winds and contain in compass nine hundred and twenty paces and along the River a sure defence upon her West-side three hundred more so that the Town containeth in circuit twelve hundred and fourscore paces But as the Tave is a friend to the Town in making a Key for arrivage of shipping so is she a foe to S. Maries Church in the South with undermining her Foundations and threatning her fall The Town is governed by a Mayor yearly elected out of twelve Aldermen assisted with other twelve Burgesses a Town-Clerk four Constables and two Sergeants with Maces whose site is observed from the North-Star to lie in the degree of Latitude 51 and 49 scruples and from the â—irst point in the West 16 and 53 scruples 5 In the same graduation almost is sited the City Landaf wherein is a Castle and Cathedral Church dedicated to S. Telean Bishop of the same without any other memorable matter worthy the speaking of 6 But things of strange Note are these by the report of Giraldus who affirmeth that in a Rock or Cliffe upon the Sea-side and Island Barry lying near the South-East point of this County is heard out of a litttle chink let him take heed what he faith the noise as it it were of Smiths at their work one whiles â—he blowing of Bellows to increase the heat then the strâ—aks of the Hammer and sound of the Anvil sometimâ—s the noise of the Grind stone in grinding of Iron Tools then the hissing Sparks of Steelâ—gads as they flie from their â—eating with the puffing noise of Flames in a Furnace And whether this is the place whereof Clemens Alexandrinus speaketh I deâ—ermine not where in his Writings he hath these words They that have recorded Histories saith he do say that in the Isle of Britain there is a certain Hole or Cave under thâ— bottom of an Hill and on the top thereof a gaping Chink into the which when the Wind is gathered and tossed to and fro in the Womb or concavity thereof there is heard above a sound of Cymbals for the Wind being driven back from his hole is forced to make a loud sound as her vent 7 More Westward from hence upon the River Ogmore and neer unto Newton in a sandy plain about an hundred paces from Severne there springeth a Well though not of the clearest water where at the flowing and fulness of the Sea can hardly any water be gotten but at the Ebb and Fall oâ—
or ever become the ruin of time which is much feared for the merciless underminings of the Sea that with her daily and forcible irruptions never ceaseth to wash away the Foundations of the Key The People of this Town are well approved for courtesie and also Civil Government which is administred by the Constable of the Castle who is ever Mayor by Patent having the assistance of one Alderman two Bailiffs two Sergeants at Mace and one Town-Cleâ—k The Townsmen do not a little glory that King Edward the Second was born there in a Tower of the Castle called Eagle-Tower and surnamed of Caer-nar-von he being the first Prince of Wales of the English Line The site of this Town according to Mathematical observation is in the degree of Longitude 15 and 50 scruples from the first West point and the Pole elevated in Latitude 53 and 50. Bangor the Bishops See though it be now but a small Town yet it was in time past so large that for the greatness thereof it was called Banchor-Vaur that is Great-Banchor which Hugh Earl of Chester fortified with a Castle But it hath been long since utterly ruinated and laid level with the ground insomuch as there is not any footing to be found or oâ—her monuments left thereof although they have been sought with all diligent enquiry This Bishops See hath been the Diocess of ninety six Parishes But the ancient Church which was consecrated unto Daniel sometime Bishop thereof was defaced and set on fire by that notorious Rebel Owen Glendowerdwy who had a purpose also to destroy all the Cities of Wales for that they stood for the King of England And though the same Church was since repaired about the time of King Henry the seventh yet hath it scarce recovered the resemblance of her former dignity The River Conwey which limiteth this Shire on the East-side is in Ptolomy by corruption or ignorance of Transcribers called Toissonius instead of Cononius whence Canonium a Town mentioned by Antonine took name and albeit both it and its name be now utterly extinct yet is there a covert remembrance thereof in the new name of a poor Village standing among the rubbish thereof called Caer-hean that is the ancient City Out of the Spoil whereof King Edward the first built a new Town at the Rivers mouth termed thereupon Aber-Conwey that is the mouth of Conwey which being formerly fortified by Hugh of Chester and strongly situate and senced both with Walls and a fair Castle by the Rivers side deserves rather the name of a City than a Town if it were more populous and traffiqued with Inhabitants Neither must I here forget Nowin though but a small Market-Town for that it pleased the English Nobles Anno 1284 to honour it and the memory of King Arthur with triumphant celebrity after they had subdued the rebellious Ringleaders of Wales 7 Other matters of memorable note this Country affordeth not much unless perhaps this That just over-against the River Conwey where it issueth into the Sea there sometimes stood an ancient City named Diganwey which many years ago was consumed by Lightning and so made utterly desolate as many other Monuments have been of ancient and worthy memory As likewise that in the Pool Lin-Peris there is a kind of Fish called there Tâ—rcoth having a red Belly no where else seen For touching these two other miracles famoused by Giraâ—dus and Gervasius that on those his high Hills there are two Pools called the Mears the one of which produceth great store of Fish but all having only one Eye and the other there is a moveable Island which as soon as a man treadeth thereon it forthwith floateth a great way off whereby the Welsh are said to have often scaped and deluded their Enemies assailing them these matters are out of my Creed and yet I think the Reader had rather believe them than to go to see whether it be so or no. It is traded with five Market-Towns fit for bargaining buying and selling fortified with four Castles and hath sixty eight Parish-Churches in it where the Inhabitants concur and meet together for the celebration of Divine-Service THE KINGDOME OF SCOTLAND SCOTLANDS General Description CHAPTER I. SCOTLAND the second Kingdom of Great-Britain and the North part of the Island hath on the East the German-Ocean on the North the Orkneys and Deucalidon-Sea the West affronted with Ireland and the South hath the River Tweed the Cheviot-Hills and the adjacent Tract reaching to the Sulway-Sands whereby it is separated from England 2 This Kingdom is fair and spacious and from these South borders spreadeth it self wide into the East and West till again it contracts it self narrower unto the Northern Promontories furnished with all things befitting a famous Kingdom both for Air and Soil Rivers Woods Mountains Fish Fowl and Cattel and Corn so plenteous that it supplyeth therewith other Countries in their want The People thereof are of good feature strong of body and of couragious mind and in Wars so venturous that scarce any service of note hath been performed but that they were with the first and last in the Field Their Nobility and Gentry are very studious of learning and all civil knowledge for which end they not only frequent the three Universities of their own Kingdom S. Andrews Glasco and Edoâ—borough the Nurseries of Piety and Mansions of the sacred Muses but also much addict themselves to travel into forain Countries The South ê‘ t of ScotlaÌ„d wherin are contayned Edinbrough St. Andrew and Glasco Archbishoâ— 4 Yet in the mean while lest I should seem too defective in my intendments let me without offence in this third though short Book give only a general view of that Kingdom upon observations from others which to accomplish by mine own survey if others should hap to fail and my crazy-aged body will give leave is my chief desire knowing the Island furnished with many worthy remembrances appertaining both unto them and us whom God now hath set under one Crown and the rather for that their more Southern People are from the same Original with us the English being both alike the Saxoâ— branches as also that the Picts anciently inhabiting part of that Kingdom were the inborn Britains and such as thither fled to avoid the Romans servitude whose names began first to be distinguished under Dioclesian the Emperor when they were termed Picts for painting their Bodies like the Britains as saith Flavius Vigetius which is more strengthned for that the Northern Britains converted by Saint Columb are called Britain-Picts 5 But the Highland-men the natural Scot indeed are supposed to descend from the Scythians who with the Getes infesting Ireland left both their issue there and their manners apparent in the Wild-Irish even to this day And from Scytha as is thought the name of Scot grew for so the Netherlanders by Scutten express indifferently the Scythian or Scot so Gildas called the Irish-Britains Scythians so King Elfred in translating the History of Orosius
West-point about 80 miles from thence to her North-west about 70 miles and her East Coast along the Irish Sea-shore eighty miles the circumference upon two hundred and seventy miles 3 The air is clear and gentle mixt with a temperate disposition yielding neither extremity of heat or cold according to the seasonable times of the year and the natural condition of the Continent The soil is generally fruitful plentiful both in fish and flesh and in other victuals as butter cheese and milk It is fertil in Corn Cattle and pasture grounds and would be much more if the husbandman did but apply his industry to which he is invited by the commodiousness of the Country It is well watered with Rivers and for the most part well wooded except the County of Divelin which complains much of that want being so destitute of wood that they are compelled to use a clammy kind of fat turff for their fuel or Sea-coal brought out of England 4 The Inhabitants of these parts in Ptolomies days were the Brigantes Menapii Cauci and â—lani from which Blani may seem to be derived and contracted the latter and modern names of this Country Lâ—in Leighnigh and Leinster The Menapii as the name doth after a sort imply came from the Menapians a Nation in Low Germany that dwelt by the Sea-Coasts These Brigantes called also Brigants Florianus del Campo a â—paniard labours to fetch from the Brigants of his own Countrey of whom an ancient City in Spain called Brigantia took the name But they may seem rather to derive their denomination from the River Birgus about which they inhabited for to this the very name is almost sufficient to perswade us 5 The commodities of this Country do chiefly consist in Cattle Sea-fowl and Fish It breeds many excellent good horses called Irish Hobbies which have not the same pace that other horses have in their course but a soft and round amble setting very easily 6 This Country hath in it three Rivers of note termed in old time the three sisters Shour Neor and Batraeo which issue out of the huge Mountain called by Giraldus Bladinae Montes as out of their mothers womb and from their rising tops descending with a downfal into several Channels before they empty themselves into the Ocean joyn hand in hand altogether in a mutual league and combination 7 Places very dangerous for shipping are certain flats and shallows in the Sea that lie over against Holy-point which the Mariners call the Grounds Also the shelves of sand that lie a great way in length opposite to Newcastlâ— which over looketh them into the Sea from the top of an high hill adjoyning 8 In this Province are placed many fair and wealthy Towns as Kilkenny which for a Burrough-Town excels all the midland Burroughs in this Island Kildare which is adorned with an Episcopal See and much graced in the first infancy of the Irish Church by reason of Saint Brigid a venerable Virgin had in great account and estimation for her virginity and devotion as who was the Disciple of S. Patrick of so great fame renown and antiquity also Weisford a name given unto it by these Germans whom the Irish term Oustmans a Town though inferiour to some yet as memorable as any so that it became the first Colony of the English and did first submit it self unto their protection being assaulted by Fitz Stephen a Captain worthily made famous for his valour and magnanimity 9 But the City which fame may justly celebrate alone beyond all the Cities or Towns in Ireland is that which we call Divelin Ptolomy Eblana the Latinists Dublinium and Dubliniâ— the West-Britaines Dinas Dublin the English-Saxons in times past Duplin and the Irish Balacleigh that is the Town upon hurdles for it is reported that the place being fennish and moorish when it first began to be builded the foundation was laid upon hurdles 10 That it is ancient is perswaded by the authority of Ptolomy That it was grievously rent and dismembred in the tumultuous wars of the Danes and brought afterwards under the subjection of Edgar King of England which his Charter also confirmeth wherein he calleth it the noble City of Ireland is written by Saxo Grammaticus That it was built by Harold of Norway which may seem to be Harold Harsager when he had brought the greatest part of Ireland into an awful obedience unto him we read in the life of Griffith ap Sinan Prince of Wales At length it yielded unto the valour and protection of the English at their first arrival into Ireland by whom it was manfully defended from the fierce assaults as well of Auscoulph Prince of the Dublinians as afterwards of Gotard King of the Isles since which time it hath still augmented her flourishing estate and given approved testimony of her faith and loyalty to the Crown of England in the times of any tumultuous straights and commotions 11 This is the Royal Seat of Ireland strong in her munition beautiful in her buildings and for the quantity matchable to many other Cities frequent for traffick and intercourse of Merchantâ— In the East Suburbs Henry the second King of England as Hoveden reporteth caused a royal Palace to be erected and Henry Loundres Archbishop of Divelin built a Store house about the year of Christ 1220. Not far from it is the beautiful Colledge consecrated unto the name of the holy Trinity which Queen Elizabeth of famous memory dignified with the priviledges of an University The Church of S. Patrick being much enlarged by King Iohn was by Iohn Comin Archbishop of Dublin born at Evesham in England first ordained to be a Church of Prebends in the year 1191 It doth at this day maintain a Dean a Chanter a Chancellor a Treasurer two Archdeacons and twenty two Prebendaries This City in times past for the due administration of Civil Government had a Provost for the chief Magistrate But in the year of mans redemption 1409 King Henry the fourth granted them liberty to chuse every year a Major and two Bailiffes and that the Major should have a gilt sword carried before him for ever And King Edward the sixth to heap more honour upon this place changed the two Bailiffs afterwards into Sherifâ—s so that there is not any thing here wanting that may serve to make the estate of a City most flourishing 12 As the people of this Country do about the neighbouring parts of Divelin come nearest unto the civil conditions and orderly subjection of the English so in places farther off they are more tumultuous being at deadly feuds amongst themselves committing oft-times Man slaughter one upon another and working their own mischiefs by mutual wrongs for so the Irish of Leinster wasted Leinster with many Towns in the same Province in the year 1294. And in the year 1301 the men of Leinster in like manner raised a war in the winter season setting on fire the Town of Wykinlo Rathdoâ— and others working their own plague and punishment by burning
are Breselare and Neisse 32 Moravia on the East of Bohemia and South of Silesia Her chief Cities are Almusium Olmutz and Brin 33 Pomerania It is bounded on the East with Iâ—tula on the North with the Baltick Ocean Her Metropolis is Stetin Oâ—hers châ—ef are Wolâ—â—st Wallin c. On the West of this Region stands 34 Mecklingburg or Mâ—galopâ—lis a place Provincial of it self and hath Towns of note Malâ—hawe Rostock c. 22 35 Aâ—stria an Arch-Dukedome it lieth upon Hungary and is esteemed by the Germans the Easteâ—n bâ—â—nd of the Empire It was formerly called Pannonia superior It is a rich Country Her chief Cities are Viâ—nna famous for beauty wealth and learning Emps St. Leopald c. There are reckoned to this Region the Provinces of Styria Carinthia Carinola and by some Tirolum BOHEMIA Petrus Kaerius Caelavit The Description of the Kingdome of BOHEMIA IN our Description of Germany we reckoned Bohemia but as a Province among the rest and therefore she was mentioned there with no more solemnity than the other parts were We purpose here to declare it an intire Kingdom of it self which besides her own compass as she is most commonly limited by Geographers hath under-subjects Dukedoms and Marquisates such as do her homage and make her well worthy of a more particular History than we had before room for 2 The ancient Inhabitant of these parts was the Bemorum magna gens as Ptolomy calls it and placeth it somewhat South toward Danubius under Suna sylva After them the Boii a people of Gallia Lugdunensis which had been before conquered by Caesar saith Quadus and packt over the Alpes to seek them a new seat in Italy But when they found the Romans too hot for their abode there they were forced to trudge farther and to pass the River Rhene into Germany as Strabo witnesseth where they found them a fit place to lurk in compassed with a large Wood called the Sylva Hircinia and like enough they joyned in with the Bemi to make up the name of Bohemia But neither here did they enjoy their peace long for they were in time nestled out by a potent people of Swevia called Marcomanni and they again had the like measure from the Sclavonians a barbarous crue which came in upon them under the conduct of an exiled murderer of Croatia one Zechius about the year five hundred and fifty 3 From that time there hath been no general expulsion but the present Bohemians are the progeny of those Sclavonians whose very language and customs are in use among them at this day Doubtless it was at first a rude Common-wealth that had no other Governours but so ungoverned a multitude for so they continued above an hundred years after Zechius But when they had for a time endured the misery of such a confusion they were content to agree upon some one for their Prince that might rule them and the first which they elected was Croâ—us a man of grâ—at esteem among them for his wisdom and goodness 4 Till the time of Vratislaus it had the title of a Dukedome only He was the fiâ—st King and was created by Henry the fourth of Germany Anno one thousand eighty six Yet after that again for the succession of six Princes it was governed by Dukes For the second King was Vladislaus the third crowned by Frederick the Emperour in the year one thâ—usand one hundred fifty nine and the third Primaslaus crowned by the Emperour Phillip one thousand one hundred nienty nine after six other Dukes from his Predecessor Vlaâ—islaus the third It hath been now long since fully setled into a Kingdom and is the title of the right noble Frederick Count Elector Palatine of the Rhene and husband to the illustrious Elizabeth daughter to our late Soveraign King Iames. They were both crowned at Prague in the year one thousand six hundred and nineteen but have been enforced ever since to maintain their right by continual wars against Fâ—rdinand the second who by vertue of an adoption which declared him successor to Matthias laies claim to the Crown of Boâ—â—mia But the â—asâ— was before deâ—ided in their third Vladislaus who though as deeply 〈◊〉 to tâ—e Kingdom as 〈◊〉 coâ—ld be yet for that he had past no lâ—gall â—lâ—ctâ—on accâ—â—ding to â—â—â—ir Custâ—mes and Priviledgâ—s he was deposed by the States and Vladislâ—us chose in his room 5 There remains no great difficulty concerning the naâ—e It appears suffâ—cienâ—ly to proceâ—d either from her first people or first Prince who as some report was one Boemus And it is worth observinâ— that though this Land hath in sundry ages being so oftâ—n ranâ—aâ—kt and poâ—â—st by sâ—rangers and Tyrants yet in her name she constantly preserves the memory only of her fâ—â—st Natives and hath not suffered that change as we have done from Albion to Britain from Britain to Eâ—gland Aâ—d so indeed it is with almost all which have been equally subject to the like Invaâ—â—ons 6 The situation of this Kingdom is almost in the midst of Germany and is easily desâ—ried in ouâ— common Maps by the Hircinian Forest held in the Romans time to be nine dayes journey in breadth and in length at lâ—ast forty So Caeser in his sixth Com. It â—oseth Boâ—emia on every side insomuch that to shâ—w they are not unlike an Aâ—phitâ—eater it is Mâ—ginus his comparison The several parts of thâ—s Wood are known by divers names which they take from the Country adjacent The portion North west is by Sâ—rabo called Gaâ—reta Sylva that South toward Danubius Luâ—a Sylva by Ptolomy non Sâ—lva Passarica and so the rest Without this Wall of Bohemia as Qâ—adus calls it her limits are on the West Franconia on the North Lâ—satia and Misâ—ia on the South â—avaria and Austria on the East â—oravia and Silesia The figure of it is in a manner circular and the Diameter is esteemed three daâ—es journey to a quick traveller The circuit contains five hundred and fifty miles of good ground fertile and pleasant enricht as well by her Rivers as Land commodities 7 Her principal are 1 Albis Elve which hath hâ—s rising in the Hircinian Wood and the name from eleven Fountains which meet in oâ—e at the head of the River For Elve or Elbe in the German Tongue signiâ—ies eleven It runs through a great part of the Country and by the chief City Prague and at last vents it selfe into the German Ocean Of this Lucan thus Fundat ab extremo flavos Aquilene Suevos Albis indomitum Rheni caput 2 Multaria Mulda 3 Egra which gives a name to a Town 4 Sassâ—va 5 Gisera 6 Missa 7 Vatto They are received all into the River Albis yield excellent Salmon and plenty And if we will believe report there is oft times found in the sands lumps of pure gold which need no other refining and very precious shels of great value 8 It seems the water supplies that only defect which is to be found in their Land For it is