is found a hard stone which we term Emerill This stone is serviceable for many purposes and many Trades as Glasiers c. but especially for the Gold-smiths and Lapidaries to cut their precious stones Jersey THis Island is in length ten miles and in bredth six miles the whole circuit of the Island being thirty eight miles Pembroke-shire in this shire nothing remarkable Caermarden-shire IN the ruins of Carreg-Castle which stood mounted on a high hill under which many Vaults and spacious Caves far into the ground are seen wherein is thought the people unable to fight were therein secured in time of their Wars Where also is a Well that in this place twice in four and twenty hours ebbing and twice flowing resembleth the unstable Motions of the main Sea Glamorgan-shire THings of strange note that in a Rock or Cliff upon the Sea-side and Island of Barry lying near the South-east point of this Country is heard out of a little chink the noise as it were of Smiths at their work one while the blowing of Bellows to increase the heat then the stroaks of the hammer and sound of the Anvil sometimes the noise of the Grind-stone in grinding of Iron Tools then the hissing sparks of Steel-gads as they fly from their beating with the puffing noise of flames in a Furnace More Westward from hence upon the River Ogmore and near unto Newton in a sandy plain about an hundred paces from Severn there springeth a Well though not of the clearest water whereat the flowing and fulness of the Sea can hardly any water be gotten but at the ebb and fall of the Tide it walloweth up a main And upon the same shore more North and by West on the top of a hill called Minyd-Margan is erected a Monument inscribed with a strange Character and as strange a conceit held thereof by the by-dwellers whose opinions are possessed that if any Man read the same he shall shortly after dye Monmouth OUr King Henry the V the great Triumpher over France was born in Monmouth Brecknock-shire THe Welshmen relate of a Prince named Brechavius the Father of an holy off-spring whose twenty four Daughters were all of them Saints From the top of a Hill in Welsh called Mounch-devuy or Cadier Arthur if any man from the North-east Rock cast their Cloaks Hats and Staves notwithstanding will never fall but with the Air and wind return back and blow up neither will any descend from that Cliff being so cast unless it be stone or some Metalline substance affirming the cause to be the Clouds which are seen to rack much lower than the top of that hill As strange a tale is told of the Mâ—â—y Llynsavathan two Miles East from Brecâ—nock which at the breaking of her frozen Ice maketh a fearful sound like unto Thunder In which place as is reported sometimes stood a fair City which was swallowed up in an Earthquake and resigned her Stone-walls unto this deep and broad water Radnor-shire NEar Knigton a Market Town is Offaes Ditch which runs along by the Mountain which was a bound set to separate the Welsh from the English A Law was made that it should be present death for the Welsh to pass over the same Cardigan-shire IN Tyui the Beaver hath been found a Creature living both by land and water whose stones the Physicians hold in great price His fore-feet are like unto a Dogs but the hinder whole skinned as is the Goose like Oars giving him swift motion in swiming his tail broad and Gristly he useth a stern wherewith on the sudden he can divert his swift floating course Mount-Gomery-shire nothing there remarkable Merioneth-shire HIlls there are so high as it is affirmed by one that shepherds upon their tops falling at odds in the Morning and challenging the field for fight before they can come together to try out the Quarrel the day will be spent and the heat of their fury shut up with their sleep Denbigh-shire THis is worth observing both for Admiration and Antiquity that in the Parish of Llan-sunan within this County there is a place compass cut out of the main Rock by mans hand in the side of a stony hill wherein there be four and twenty seats to sit in some less some bigger where Children and young men coming to seek their Cattel use to sit and to have their sports And at this day they commonly call it King Arthurs Round Table Flint-shire THis Country hath many shallow Rivers in it but none of fame and note but d ee and Cluyde How he it there is a Spring not far from Rudland Castle of great report and antiquity which is termed Holy-well and is commonly called St. Winefrids Well of whom antiquity thus reporteth that Winefrid a Christian Virgin very fair and vertuous was doted upon by a young lustful Prince or Lord of the Country who not being able to rule his head-strong affections having many times in vain attempted and tryed her chastity both by rich Gifts and large Promises could not by any means obtain his desires he therefore in a place of advantage suddenly surprized and ravished her weak yet resisting body After the deed done the cruel Tyrant to stop her crys and acclamations slew her and cut off her head out of which place did suddenly arise a Spring that continueth to this day carrying from the Fountain such a forcible stream and currant as the like is not found in Christendom Over the head of the Spring there is built a Chappel of Free-stone with Pillars curiously wrought and ingraved in the Chancel whereof and Glass window the Picture of the Virgin is drawn together with the Memorial of her life and death To this Fountain Pilgrims are accustomed to repair in their zealous but blind devotion and divers others resort to Bathe in holding firmly that the water is of much vertue There be many Red stones in the bottom of this Well and much green Moss growing upon the sides the superstition of the people holding that these Red spots in the stones were drops of the Ladies bloud which all the water in the Spring can never wash away and that the Moss about the Wall was her hair which though some of it be given to every stranger that comes yet it never wasteth But howsoever this be carryed for truth by the Tradition of time the Moss it self smells exceeding sweet Carnaervon-shire KIng Edward the second was born at Carnaervon in a Tower of the Castle he was the first Prince of Wales of the English Line There are in this shire two Pools called the Mears the one of which produceth great store of fish but all having only one eye and in the other there is a moveable Island which as soon as a man treadeth on it forthwith floateth a great way off whereby the Welsh are said to have often escaped and deluded their Enemies assailing them Anglesea-Island THe length of this Island is twenty miles in bredth seventeen miles the whole circumference amounting
at Battle when the hazard of England was tryed in one days fight and Harold the King gave place to his Conqueror by losing his life among sixty seven thousand nine hundred seventy four English men besides whose bloud so spilt gave name to the place in French Sangue Lac. And the Soil after Rain becoming of a reddish colour caused William of Newbery to write that if there fell any small sweet showers in the place where so great a slaughter of the English was made presently sweateth forth very fresh bloud out of the Earth as if the evidence thereof did plainly declare the voice of bloud there shed and cryed still from the Earth unto the Lord. William the Bastard Duke of Normandy making his claim to the Crown of England by Affinity Adoption and Promise arrived at a Port in Sussex called Pensey with 896 ships furnished for War the 28 th of September in the year 1066. And the 14th of October following being Saturday near Hastings in the same County joyned Battel with Harold King of England who in the Field Valiantly fighting was there slain by the shot of an Arrow into his brains and with him dyed his two Brethren and 67974 men besides The place where they fought ever since doth in Memory thereof bear the name of Battel where the Heptarchy of the Saxons was brought to their last Period Having all their Laws altered their Nobles displaced and all men disherited all seized into the Normans hand who made himself Lord of all and on the day of Christ his Nativity in the same year was Crowned at Westminster King of England which he governed the space of 20 years 8 Months and 16 days But Places of other Note in this County is that from Basham Earl Harold taking the Sea for his delight in a small Boat was driven upon the Coast of Normandy where by Duke William he was retained till he had sworn to make him King after Edward Confessors Death which Oath being broken the Bastard arrived at Pensey and with his Sword revenged that perjury SURREY THis County is stored with many Princely Houses yea and five of His Majesties so Magnificently built that of some she may well say no Shire hath none such as is None-such indeed And were not Richmond a fatal place of Englands best Princes it might in Esteem be ranked with the Richest For therein dyed the great Conqueror of France King Edward the third the beautiful Anne Daughter to Charls the Fourth Emperour and intirely beloved Wife to King Richard the second the most wise Prince King Henry the seventh and the Barest of her Sex the Mirrour of Princes Queen Elizabeth the Worlds Love and Subjects Joy In Chertsey Abbey King Henry the sixth who was deposed and made away in the Tower of London was first Interred without all Funeral Pomp but for his holy life was imputed a Saint and lastly translated and Intombed at Windsor Hant-shire NEar Ringwood from God and peoples service to Beast and Luxury thirty six Parish Churches were converted and pulled down by the Conqueror and thirty miles of circuit inforrested for his Game of Hunting Wherein his Sons Richard and Rufus with Henry the second son to Duke Robert his first felt by hasty death the hand of Justice and Revenge For in the same Forrest Richard by a blasting of a pestilent Air Rufus by a shot taken for a Beast and Henry as Absalom hanged by a bough came to their untimely ends At so dear a rate the pleasure of Dogs and harbour for Beasts were bought in the bloud of these Princes In the City of Winchester was Richard and Rufus Interred their bones by Bishop Fox were gathered and shrined in little gilt Coffers fixed upon a wall in the Quire where still they remain carefully preserved The Wars betwixt Maud the Empress intituled Lady of England unto whom all the Nobility had sworn Allegiance And King Stephen Earl of Bolloign her Cousin German was prosecuted with such variable Fortunes in many conflicts on both parts that Stephen himself was by her taken Prisoner and retained in Irons with other extremities used But the success of War altering Maud the Empress to save her own life adventured through the Host of her Enemy laid in a Coffin fained to be dead and so was carryed in a Horse-Litter from Winchester to Lutegershall Vices and Glocester and thence to Oxford whence the year following she escaped as dangerously by deceiving the Scout Watch in a deep Snow Anno 1141. Wight Island IT is reported that in the year 1176. and twenty three of King Henry the second that in this Island it rained a shower of bloud which continued for the space of two hours together to the great wonder and amazement of the people that beheld it with fear Devonshire FRom the Port of Plymouth Sir Francis Drake that potent Man at Sea setting forth in the year 1577. In the space of two years and ten Months did compass the circle of the Earth by Sea Henry Holland Grand-Child to John 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 it is reported 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 shipwrack so uncertain is Fortune in her endowments and the state of Man notwithstanding his great Birth Cornwall BEsides the abundance of Fish that do suffice the Inhabitants the Pilchard is taken who in great Skuls swarm about the Coast whence being transported to France Spain and Italy yield a yearly Revenue of gain unto Cornwall There are Rocks that are not 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 Walnuts inferiour to the Orient only in blackness and hardness Memorable matters for Antiquity and strangeness of sight are these at Boskenna is a Trophy erected which are eighteen stones placed round in compass and pitched twelve foot each from others with another far bigger in the very center These do shew some Victory there attained either by the Romans or else King Athelstone At the foot of the Rocks near unto St. Michaels Mount in the Memory of our Fathers were digged up Spear-heads Axes and Swords of Brass wrapped in Linne the Weapons that the Cimbrians and ancient Britains anciently used There also the Wring-Cheese doth shew it self which are huge Rocks heaped one upon another and the lowest of them the least fashioned like a Cheese lying pressed under the rest of those Hills which seemeth very dangerous to be passed under But near to Pensans and unto Mounts-bay a far more strange Rock standeth namely Main-Amber which lyeth mounted upon others of meaner size with so equal a counterpoize that a Man may move it with the push of his finger but no strength remove it out of his
redeem it at a price with Money In witness whereof there are many Horse-shooes nailed upon the Shire-hall door some of large size and ancient fashion Leicester-shire KIng Richard the third vid. Crouch-back Richard the Usurper who from the City of Leicester set forth in one day in great Pomp and in battel-aray to keep the Crown sure upon his own helmet in a sore fought field yielded both it and his life unto the Head and Hands of Henry of Richmond his Conquerour and the next day was brought back like a Hog naked and torn and with contempt without tears obscurely buryed in the Gray-Fryers in this City whose suppression hath suppressed the Plot place of his Grave and only the Stone-Chest wherein he was laid a drinking trough now for Horses in a common Inn retaineth the Memory of that great Monarchs Funeral And so did a Stone in the Church and Chappel of St. Maries inclose the Corps of the proud and pontifical Cardinal Wolsey who had prepared for himself a far more richer Monument Lutterworth Where the famous John Wickliffe Englands Morning-Star dispersed the clouds of all Papistical darkness by preaching the Gospel in that his charge and stile of his Pen so piercing in power that the Man of sin ever since hath been better known to the world Lincoln-shire THis Country affordeth great Plenty of Fowl and Fish exceeding any other in the Realm wherein at some times and season of the year hath been taken in Nets In August at one draught above three thousand Mallards and other Fowls of the like kind At Harlaxton was plowed up a brazen Vessel wherein was inclosed a Golden Helmet of an ancient fashion set with precious stones which was presented to Katherine of Spain Wife and Dowager to King Henry the eight At Bullingbrooke was King John poysoned by Simon a Monk of Sâ—â—nsted Abbey and of Queen Eleanor wife to King Edward the first the Mirrour of Wedlock and Love to the Commons who at Harby near Bullingbrooke his Birth place ended her life Nottingham-shire IN this Town are many strange Vaults hewed out of the Rocks and those under the Castle of an espâ—cial note one for the story of Christs passion engraven in the Walls and cut by the hand of David the second King of Scots whilst he was therein detained prisoner Another wherein the Lord Mortimer was surprized in the Non-age of King Edward the third ever since bearing the name of Mortimers Hole these have their stairs and several rooms made artificially even out of the Rocks as also in that Hill are dwelling Houses with winding stairs windows chimneys and room above room wrought all out of the same Rock Darby-shire THings of strange note are the hot water Springs bursting forth of the ground at Buxton where out of the Rock within the compass of eight yards nine Springs arise eight of them warm but the ninth very cold These run from under a fair square building of free stone and about threescore paces off receive another hot Spring from a well near unto which another very cold Spring bubled up daily experience sheweth they are good for the stomach and sinews and very pleasant to bathe the body in Not far thence is Elden hole the Waters that trickle from the top of that Cave which indeed is very spacious but of a low and narrow entrance do congeal into stone and hang as Ickles in the roof very white and somewhat Christal-like And seven miles thence upon a Mounted hill standeth a Castle under which there is a hole or Cave in the ground of a marvellous capacity which is commonly called the Devils Arse in the Peak Shrop-shire hath nothing remarkable The County Palatine of Chester CHeshire having been made a Principality by Richard the 2d and styled himself Prince of Chester King Henry the 3d. gave it to his eldest Son Prince Edward against whom Lewlin Prince of Wales gathered a mighty Band and with them did the Country much harm even unto the Cities gates With the like Skar Fiers it had oft times been afrighted which they lastly defenced with a Wall made of the Welsh mens heads on the South side of Dee in Hanbridge Chester in the days of King Edgar was in most flourishing Estate wherein he had the Homage of eight other Kings who rowed his Barge from St. Johns to his Pallace himself holding the Helm as their Supreme Lancashire BY the civil Wars of York and Lancaster was bred and brought forth that bloudy division and fatal strife of the Noble Houses which for many years together molested the peace and quiet of the Land and defiled the earth with bloud there were thirteen fields fought and three Kings of England one Prince of Wales twelve Dukes one Marquess eighteen Earls one Viscount 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 York-shire HAlifax once called Horton and touching the alteration of the name this pretty story is related of it namely that a Clerk for so they call him being far in Love with a Maid and by no means either of long praises or large promises able to gain like affection at her hands when he saw his hopes frustrate and that he was not like to have his purpose of her turned his love into rage and cut of the Maids head which being afterwards hung upon an Ewe tree common people counted it as an hallowed Relique till it was rotten And afterward such was the credulity of that time it maintained the opinion of reverence and Religion still for the people resorted thither on Pilgrimage and perswaded themselves that the little veins that spread out between the bark and body of the Ewe-tree like fine threds were the very hairs of the Maids head Hereupon it was called by this name Haligfax or Haly-fax that is Holy-hair Under Knaushrouh there is a Well called Dropping-well in which the Waters spring not out of the veins of the earth but distil and trickle down from the Rocks that hang over it it is of that vertue and efficacy that it turns Wood into Stone for what Wood soever is put into it will be shortly covered over with a stony bark and be turned into stone as hath been often observed St. Wilfrids Needle a place very famous in times past for the narrow hole in the close vaulted room under the ground by which womens honesties were wont to be tryed for such as were chaste pass through with much facility but as many as had plaid false were miraculously held fast and could not creep through The West Riding of York-shire THose Mountains near unto Richmond on the top whereof are found certain stones much like unto seawinkles Cockles and
any that would withstand the fury of their insulting pride whereupon they out of the City came and entred the Romans Army like a flood and in their desperate madness all was overwhelmed that durst withstand them the Walls then could not be assaulted the enemies fearful Engines was then by them set on fire and bravely fighting they bravely made their enemies to retire The Battel done back go these hair-braind men and divide again and each becomes the others foe and then pell mell they go to it and begin to disorder and bring all things to confusion with fire their Corn and Victuals they consumed all their provision in a moment spoiled and wasted which if well kept might have lasted them many years upon which the Famine like a Tyrant roams and rages and makes all both Old and Young Rich and Poor to starve and dye with fleshless Anatomies This was a Plague of Plagues a Woe of Woes death on every side did inclose them this being their condition they knew not what to do to sally forth they durst not for then their lives they were sure to lose to stay within for want of food they starved out they could not go for the Gates were shut and strongly warded their throats were cut if any staid within so that if they stay or go or go or stay every way Destruction they are sure to meet with But of all torments hunger is the worst for that will burst through the stony Walls therefore these people having been with War Woe and want on every side beset do now begin to consult and strive how they might get to the Romans for there was their hopes that in their swords they should find more mercy then their still dying famisht state afforded them And indeed when man is opprest then is wit most sharpest and then wisdom amongst evils chuseth the least Now they knowing Vespasian for a noble Prince and one that did not glory in their Woe they thought it best to try his clemency and not with hunger and famine to die and therefore despairing of all hopes resolved with Ropes to slide down the Walls which a number of them did and fled to Titus who bemoaned the sadness of their condition and relieved and took them to his grace and favour Thus when all hopes failed they were by their foes preserved to the number of at least 40000. The City Souldiers searched every house where they thought any Victuals were conveyed and if they found any the owners were most certainly beaten for concealing it but if they saw a man look plump and fat his throat they would surely cut for they thought him too much pampered and too full fed they would therefore strike him dead to save meat and drink The Richest and Noblest that was born both of Men and Women gave all they had for one poor strike of Corn and hid themselves and it under the ground in some close Vault and there they would eat it under the ground unground if any could get flesh they would eat it raw Thus the weaker were over-awed and kept under by the stronger No respect of persons where hunger came natural affection was then banished then the Husband did his own Wife reject the Wife she snatches the meat from her Husband all pity from the Mother was exiled she from the Child tears and takes the Victuals the Child plays the thief with the Parents and steals the food though with grief the Parents pine away There was neither Free-man nor Bond-man Fathers nor Mothers Wives Husbands Masters Servants Brothers Sisters be it propinquity or strong affinity no Law or reason or rule could bear sway and indeed obeysance must be given where strength commands the pining Servant will not know his Master the Son will not shew his duty to his Father the Commons regardless to the Magistrate each for one and but for one he cared disordered like the cart before the horse force caused all respect to yield These Miscreants with vigilancy did watch where a door was locked or latched that they could spy for there they supposed the people were at meat and in their out-rage the doors they would beat open where entring if they found them feeding they would tear it in haste out of their throats half eaten and half uneaten these wretches would constrain the people to cast it up again they hauld them about the house by the ears to force them to bring out their Victuals which they supposed they had some by the Thumbs they hanged up and some by the Toes some had many blows others were pricked with Bodkins sadly were they tormented to reveal their meat when they had none to conceal and in truth all was fish that came into their net and all was food that could be got by fraud or force Grass Hay Barks Leaves of trees Cats and Dogs Frogs Worms Rats Mice Snails Flies and Maggots all stinking and contagious roots the covering of their Coaches Boots and Shoes and the dung of Fowls and Beasts were Feasts for these poor miserable starved wretches things loathsome to be named in time of plenty is now dainties among these starved distressed Jews This Famine run beyond all natures bounds as before I have hinted and confounded all Motherly-affection no compassion was there had to bloud or birth It forced a woman to kill her only Son she ript and dis-joynted him and dis-joynted him limb from limb she drest she roasted she broiled and boiled him she eat him she interr'd him in her womb his life by nature proceeded from her and she her self most unnaturally did feed upon him he was her flesh her bloud her bones and therefore she eating him her self her self made food No woe can equal her misery no grief can match her sad calamities the Souldiers they smelt the meat upon which they straitly assembled which when they saw they trembled and with staring hairs and ghastly looks were thereat so affrighted and amazed that thereupon they presently left the house This horrid action did more with them then any force of man could ever do for this sad sight over came them Oh then thou that dost live like a fatted Brawn and cramst thy guts as long as thou canst thou that dost eat and drink away thy time accounting it no crime for gluttony to be thy God thou that must have fowl of all sorts and hast the bowels of the Ocean searched to satisfie thy appetite and hast thy dainties from all parts and places near and remote and all to satisfie thy devouring throat whose pamper'd paunch never leaves to feed and quaff Think on Jerusalem perhaps it will move thee in the midst of thy Diet and riotous courses to a more temperate and sober demeanor And you brave Dames adorned with Jems and Jewels that must have Grewels and Caudles Conserves and Marchpanes that too in sundry shapes made as Castles Towers Horses Apes and Bears think on Jerusalem in the midst of all your glory and