was resumed by Henry the eight and now by the Heir of Darcy matched to the Lord Clifton is become the seat of the Barony This Hundred had in it no house of Religion but Stolney a Priory of seven black Cannons of the order of S. Augustine founded by the Bigrames and at the Suppression valued at 62 l. 12 s. 3 d. ob It stood within the reach of the great Mannor Kimbolton once an Hundred which was the Land of Earl Harold the Usurper after by grant it came with the Chase of Swinesheved to Fitz-Peter from whom by Magâ—avil to Bohum who in time of the tumulâ—uous Barons built there a Forcelet and so to Staffard by whose attainture forfeited it was given by Henry the eight to the Family of Wingfield that now possesseth it At Bugden the See of Lincoln hath a seat and was Lord of Spaldwick and the Soke given in compensation from the Church of Ely when rent from them it was by the first Henry made a Bishoprick until of late that Church gave up their interest in Spaldwick to the Crown Brampton was given by King Iohn at Mirabel to Earl David and by Ada his youngest Daughter fell to Hastings Earl of Pembroke and now is reverted to the King To the same Earl David by gift of the former King came Alcumesbury and by the bounty of Iohn Scot his son to Segrave and so the Lord Barkley the late possessor To Serlo de Quincy Earl of Winchester was Keston by Henry the second given by whose Heir general â—errars it came to the late Earl of Essex and by exchange to the Crown 10 TOULESLANDHUNDRED taketh name likewise of a Town therein situate in the out Angle of this to the memory of S. Neotus a Monk of Glastenbury but the supposed son to Ethelwolfe King of the VVest-Saxons whose body from Neostock in Cornwall was transferred to Arâ—alphesbury then of Arnulphus a holy man now Enesbury named Earl Alrick and Ethelsteda turned the Palace of Earl Elfred into a Monastery of black Monks which was razed by the Danes but out of the ashes of this Roisia wife to Richard the son of Earl Gilbert to God our Lady de Becco and S. Neot as a Cell to the Abbey of Becco in Normandy erected up of black Monks in the year 1113 the late Priory of S. Nedes suppressed by Henry the eight and valued at 256 l. 15 d. q. At Southo the Land of Eustachius the Sheriff Lovetote made the seat of that Seigniory on which in this Shire 13 Knights Fees and a half depended but from his line by gift of Verdon and Vesâ—y drowned were these in the honour of Gloucester Near to this at Cretingsbury dwelt Sir Adam de Cretings famous in Edward the thirds wars of France whose Heir General Wautoâ— doth now possess it Staunton given by the first VVilliam to Gilbert de Gaunt after the death issueless of De Rupes escheated to the King who gave it to Iohn his â—ister Queen of Scots She on the Abbey of Tarant bestowed part the rest reverting being given to Segrave descended to the Barons of Berkly Godmanchester or Gormanchester so named of that Dane to whom Aelfred at his conversion granted some regiment in these parts was the old Land of the Crown now the Inhabitants in Fee farme by grant of King Iohn pro Sexies viginti libris pondere numero It is flat seated by as fruitful and flowry Meadows as any this Kingdom yieldeth and is the most spacious of any one Parish in fertile tillage oft having waited on their Soveraign Lords with ninescore Ploughs in a rural pompe Some from the name Gunicester which this often beareth in record suppose it the City where Machutus placed his Bishops Chair But for certain it was the Roman Town Durosipont of the Bridges named so many hundred years until the light of our Britain story overshone it forgotten Thus as this City so the old Families have been here with time outworn few onely of the many former now remaining whose sirnames before the reign of the last Henry were in this Shire of any eminency But Non indignemur mortalia Nomina solvi Cernimus exemplis Oppida posse mori Let 's not repine that Men and Names do die Since stone-built Cities dead and ruin'd lie This Description I received from a right worthy and learned Friend RVTLANDE SHIRE RUTLAND-SHIRE CHAPTER XXIX RUTLAND-SHIRE the least of any County in this Realm is circulated upon the North with Lincoln-shire upon the East and South with the River VVeland is parted from Northampton-shire and the West is altogether held in with Leicester-shire 2 The Form thereof is round and no larger in compass than a light horse man can easily ride about in a day upon which occasion some will have the Shire named of one Rut that so rode But others from the redness of the Soyl will have it called Rutland and so the old English-Saxoâ—s called it for that Roet and Rut is in their Tongue Red with us and may very well give the name of this Province seeing the earth doth stain the wool of her Sheep into a reddish colour Neither is it strange that the stain of the Soyl gives names unto places and that very many for have we not in Che-shire the Red Rock in Lanca-shire the Red Bank and in Wales Rutland Castlâ— To speak nothing of that famous Red Sea which shooteth into the Land betwivt Egypt and Arabia which gave back her waters for the Israelites to pass on foot all of them named from the colour of the Soile 3 The longest part of this Shire is from Caldecot in the South upon the River Ey unto Thistleton a small Village seated in the North not fully twelve miles and from Timwell East-ward to Wissenden in the West her broadest extent is hardly nine the whole circumference about forty miles 4 The Air is good both for health and delight subject to neither extremity of heat nor cold nor is greatly troubled with foggy mists The Soil is rich and for Corn and tillage gives place unto none Woods there are plenty and many of them imparked Hills feeding heards of Neat and flocks of Sheep Vallies besprinkled with many sweet springs Grain in abundance and Pastures not wanting in a word all things ministred to the content of life with a liberal heart and open hand Only this is objected that the Circuit is not great 5 The draught whereof that I may acknowledge my duty and his right I received at the hands of the right Honourable Iohn Lord Harrington Baron of Exton done by himself in his younger years Near unto his house Burley standeth Okam a fair Market-Town which Lordship the said Baron enjoyeth with a Royalty somewhat extraordinary which is this If any Noble by birth come within the precinct of the said Lordship he shall forfeit as an homage a shooe from the horse whereon he rideth unless he redeem it at a price with money In witness whereof there are
Son of Syrric who raigned then in Man and honourably received him 2 The same year William the Bastard conquered England and Godred the Son of Syrric died his Son Fingal succeeding him 3 An. 1066. Godred Crovan assembled a great Fleet and came to Maâ— and fought with the people of the Land but received the worst and was overcome The second time renewing his Forces and his Fleet he sailed into Man and joyned Battel with the Manksmen but was vanquished as before and driven out of the Field Howbeit what he could not at first bring to pass with power in those two several onsets he afterward effected by policy For the third time gathering a great multitude together he arrived by night in the haven called Ramsey and hid three hundred men in a Wood which stood upon the hanging hollow brow of an Hill called Sceafull The Sun being risen the Manksmen put their People in order of Battel and with a violent charge encountred with Godred The fight was hot for a time and stood in a doubtful suspence till those three hundred Men starting out of the Ambush behind their backs began to foil the Manksmen put them to the worst and forced them to flie Who seeing themselves thus discomfited and finding no place of refuge leâ—t them to escape with pitiful lamentation submitted themselves unto Godred and besought him not to put the Sword such poor remainder of them as was left alive Godred having compassion on their calamities for he had been pursed for a time and brought up among them sounded a Retreat and prohibited his Host any longer pursuit He being thus possessed of the Isle of Man died in the Island that is called Isle when he had raigned sixteen years he left behind him three sons Lagman Harald and Olave 4 Lagman the eldest taking upon him the Kingdom raigned seven year His brother Harald rebelled against him a great while but at length was taken Prisoner by Lagman who caused his members of generation to be cut off and his eyes to be put out of his head which curelty this Lagman afterwards repenting gave over the Kingdom of his own accord and wearing the Badge of the Lords Cross took a journey to Ierusalem in which he died 5 An. 1075. All the Lords and Nobles of the Islands hearing of the death of Lagman dispatched Ambassadors to Murccard Oâ—brien King of Irelaâ—d and requested that he would send some worthy and industrious man of the Blood-Royal to be their King till Olave the son of Godred came to full age The King yielding to their request sent one Dopnald the son of Tade and charged him to govern the Kingdom which by right belonged to another with lenity and gentleness But after he was come to the Crown forgetting or not weighing the charge that his Lord and Master had given him swayed his place with great Tyranny committing many outrages and cruelties and so raigned three years till all the Princes of the Islands agreeing together rose up against him and made him flie into Ireland 6 An. Dom. 1111. Olave the son of Godred Craven aforesaid began his Raign and raigned forty years a peaceable Prince He took to wife Affrica the daughter of Fergus of Galway of whom he begat Godred By his Concubines he had Raignald Lagman and Harald besides many daughters whereof one was married to Summerled Prince of Herergaidel who caused the ruine of the Kings of the Islands On her he begat four sons Dulgal Raignald Engus and Olave 7 An. Dom. 1144. Godred the son of Olave was created King of Man and raigned thirty years In the third year of his Raign the People of Dublin sent for him and made him their King Which Murecard King of Ireland maligning raised War and sent Osibeley his half brother by the Mothers side with 3000 Men at Arms to Dublin who by Godred and the Dublinians was slain and the rest all put to flight These Atchievements made Godred returned to Man and began to use Tyranny turning the Noblemen out of their Inheritances Whereupon one called Thâ—rsin Otters son being mightier than the rest came to Summerled and made Dulgal Summerleds son King of the Islands whereof Godred having intelligence prepared a Navy of 80 Ships to meet Summerled And in the year 1156 there was a Battle fought at Sea on Twelfth day at night and many slain on both sides But the next day they grew to a pacification and divided the Kingdom of the Islands among themselves This was the cause of the overthrow of the Kingdom of the Isles 8 An. 1158. Summerled came to Man with a Fleet of fifty three Sail put Godred to flight and wasted the Island Godred upon this crossed over to Norway for aid against Summerled But Summerled in the mean time arriving at Rhinfrin and having gathered together a Fleet of 160 Ships coveting to subdue all Scotland by the just Iudgment of God was vanquished by a few and both himself and his son slain with an infinite number of people 9 The fourth day after Raignald began to raign but Godred coming upon him out of Norway with a great number of Armed Men took his Brother Raignald and bereft him both of his Eyes and Genital Members On the fourth Ides of November An. Dom. 1187. Godred King of the Islands died and his body was translated to the Isle of Ely He left behind him three sons Raignald Olave and Tvar He ordained in his life time that Olave should succeed him because he only was born legitimate But the people of Man seeing him to be scarce ten years old sent for Raignald and made him their King This caused great division and many turbulent attempts between the two Brethren for the space of thirty eight years which had no end till at a place called Tingualla there was a Battel struck between them wherein Olave had the Victory and Raignald was slain The Monks of Russin translated his Body unto the Abbey of S. Mary de Fournes and there interred it in a place which himself had chosen for that purpose 10 An. 1230. Olave and Godred Don who was Raignalds son with the Norwegiaus came to Man and divided the Kingdom among themselves Olave held Man and Godred being gone unto the Islands was slain in the Isle Lodaus So Olave obtained the Kingdom of the Isles He died the twelfth Calends of Iune Anno 1237. in Saint Patricks-Islands and was buried in the Abbey of Russin 11 Harold his Son succeeded him being fourteen years of Age and raigned 12 years In the year 1239 he went unto the King of Norway who after two years confirmed unto him his Heirs and Successors under his Seal all the Islands which his Predecessors had possessed 12 An. 1242. Harald returned out of Norway and being by the Inhabitants honourably received had peace with the Kings of England and of Scotland The same year he was sent for by the King of Norway and married his Daughter In the year 1249 as he returned
Empire of the Romans in Britain began to decline and go downward some out of Ireland entred into this Isle by stealth and â—estled themselves there as may be gathered by certain mounts of earth entrenched about and yet to be seen which they call the Irish-mens Cottages as also by a place named of the Irish-men yâ— Hiericy Gâ—idid who did there as is recorded put the Britains to flight under the leading of Sirigus The Norwegians also were often infestuous to this Island but King Ethelreds Fleet having in the year 1000 scoured the Seas round about this Isle far exceeded all both Irish and Norwegian depopulations for they wasâ—ed the Country in all hostile manner 7 After this two Hughs both Normans did greatly afflict this Island The one being Earl of Chester the other of Shrewsbury at which very time Magnus the Norwegian arriving there shot Hugh Earl of Shrewsbury through with an Arrow and departed afâ—er he had ransacked the Island It was afterwards grievouslâ— infested by the Englishmen who never gave over from time to time to invade it until in the Reign oâ— King Edward â—â—e first it was wholâ—y broâ—ght under his subjection 8 The principal Town in this Isle is Beaumarish which the said King Edward the First built in the East-side thereof and for the fâ—â—r situation thâ—uâ—h in a Mooâ—ish-place gave it the name which it now beareth whereas in times past it was called Bonover which â—e also fortified with a goodly Caâ—tle 9 The Mayor is the chiefest Magistrate of the Town who is yearly chosen and hath the assistance and help of two Bailiffs two Sergeants at Mâ—ce and one Town-Clerk by whose careful diligence the affairs of this Town are orderly managed and commanded whose Latitude is 54 and Longitude 15 45 minutes 10 Not far from hence is Lhaanvais in times past a fair Religious House of the Friers Minors which although it be now in a manner rased out of memory yet antiquity maketh mention that it hath been of great regard among the Kings of England who hâ—ve shâ—wed themselves very bountiful Patrons unto that Covent both in respect of the sanctimonious life of such as conversed there as also because there the Bodies of very eminent persons as the Daughter of King Iohn the Son of a King of the Danes as likewise of many great Lords Knights and Squires were enterred that were slain in the Wars againâ—t the Welsh in the time of many illustrious Kings of England 11 This Isle is reckoned to have had anciently many Villagâ—s in it even to the number of three hundred threescore and three and the same even at this day is very well peopled The division of this Isle for disposition of affairs that belong either to the state of the Crown or to the condition of the Country is into six Hundreds in which are seated two Market-Towns and seventy four Parish-Churches for Gods Divine Honour and Worship CAERNARVON-SHIRE CHAPTER XIV CAERNARVON-SHIRE in Welsh Sire Caer-ar-vâ—n so called because it is just over against Anglesey which the Britains call Mon and in composition was termed also Snowden-Forrest before Wales was laid into Shires the North-side whereof and the West butteth upon the Irish-Sea the South-side is inclosed with Merioneth and the East with Denbigh shires from which it is severed by the River Conwey 2 The form thereof is much like a wedge long and narrow towards the South and growing still wider towards the North so that from Pevâ—nkel-point Southward to Orms-head-point Northward are forty miles from the River Conwey Eastward to the River Llâ—noy Westward miles twenty and the whole circumference one hundred and ten miles 3 The Air is sharp and piercing by reason that the Country hath not natural Provision to ensconce her self against the extremity of Winds and Weather but especially as may be thought through the continuance of the Snow on the Hills which also exclude the Suns aspect and warmth 4 The Soil cannot be much commended for the fertility except those parts of the Sea-coasts which lie on the West towards Ireland but for the heart of this Shire it is altogether mountainous as if nature had a purpose here by rearing up these craggy Hills so thick together strongly to compact the joynts of this our Island and to frame the Inland part thereof for a fit place of refuge to the Britains against those times of adversity which afterward did fall upon them for no Army though never so strongly or scarce any Travellers though never so lightly appointed can find passage among those so many rough and hard Rocks so many Vales and Pools here and there crossing all the ways as ready obstacles to repel any Inroads of forrain assailants These Mountains may not unfitly be termed the British Alps as being the most vast of all Britain and for their steepness and cragginess not unlike to those of Italy all of them towring up into the Air and round encompassing one far higher than all the rest peculiarly called Snowdon Hills though the other likewise in the saâ—â—e sense are by the Welsh termed Craig Eriry as much as Snowy Mountains taking their name as doth by Plinies testimony Niphates in Armenia and Imaus in Scythia For all the year long these lie mantelled over with Snow hard crusted together though otherwise for their height they are open and liable both to the Sun to dissolve them and the Winds to over-sweep them 5 The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were the Oâ—â—ovices of whom we have sufficiently spoken in the description of the former Provinces neither need I insist either upon the pleasures or profits that this Country yieldeth by reason of the great affinity it hath both of Climate and Commodities with Denbigh-shire and Flint-shire before mentioned But this beyond the other in some places breeds certain Shel-fishes which being conceived by an heavenly dew bring forth Pearls in ancient times more reckoned of than now they are 6 Touching places of note that City is very ancient which the Emperour Antonine callâ—â—h Segontium taking name of a River running by which at this day is called Sâ—â—ent some Reliques of the Walls whereof do yet appear neer unto a little Church consecrated to the honour of Saint Publicius This City Ninius calleth Caer Custenith which some interpret the City of Constantine Indeed Matthew Westminster saith how true I know not that Anno 1283. here was found the body of Constantius Father to Great Constantine which King Edward thâ— first caused to be sumptuously bestowed in the Church of the new City which he raised out of the ruins of the old and is now called Caernarvon which giveth name to this whole Shire The Town it self yieldeth a most excellent prospect towards the Sea and is incompassed in a manner round with the Walls of the Castle so as we may say it is a City within a Castle which taketh up the whole West-side of it and great pity it is that so famous a work should not be perpetuous
turneth Scotos into Scyttan and so saith Walsingham from one and the same original Scythae Scytici Scota Scotici take their names as from Geta Getici Gothi Gothici have done The Southren parte of Scotland wherin is y e strange Lake Lomund Petrus Kaerius caelavit 6 Their Manners were alike saith Diodorus Siculus and Strabo and their Garments not much different as by Sidonius Apollinaris may be gathered where he seemeth rather to describe the modern Wild-Irish than the antike Gete Notwithstanding this Nations Original by some hath been derived from Scota the supposed Daughter of the Egyptian King Pharaoh that nourished Moses afterwards married unto Gaithelus the Son of Cecrops Founder of Athens who first seating in Spain passed thence into Ireland and lastly into Scotland where his Wife Scota gave Name to the Nation if we believe that they hit the mark who shoot at the Moon 7 But that the Scythians came into Spain besides the Promontory bearing their name Scythicum Silius Italicus a Spaniard born doth shew who bringeth the Concani a Nation therein seated from the Massagetae which were the Scythians and the Sarmatae whom all confess to have been Scythians were the builders as he saith of the City Susanna in Spain And how from Spain they possessed themselves of Ireland at the time when the Kingdom of Iudah flourished Ninius the Disciple of Elvodugus doth tell and their own Histories of Nemethus and Delas besides Cisnerus and others do shew who were first known by the name of Scots as is gathered out of Porphyry alledged by S. Ierome in the Reign of Aurelianus the Emperour Gildas calleth them the Irish-Spoilers Giraldus A Scottish Nation descended from Ireland which in regard of them by Eginhardus is termed The Isle of Scots by Beda The Isle inhabited by the Scots and by other Historians Scotland the great as their seat in Britain was called Scotland the less The Eastern part of Scotland wherin ther are diuers Shires and the Vniversity of Aberdyn Petrus Kaerius caelavit 9 Scotlands South-part in Galloway washed with the water of Solway-Bay toucheth degree 56 of Latitude and thence imbosoming many Loughs and Inlets upon the East and West extendeth it self unto the degree 60 and 30 minutes whose Logitude is likewise laid betwixt the degree 13 and 19 and the same grown very narrow being so near the North-Pole as lying directly under the hinder-most Stars of the Greater Bear 10 The which Kingdom is divided into two parts by the great River Tay the South whereof is the more populous and more beautified in manners riches and civility the North more rude retaining the customs of the Wild-Irish the ancient Scot in whose several Territories these Counties ensuing are contained South Teifidale Merch Laudier Liddesdale Eskedale Anuandale Niddesdale Galloway Carricke Kyle Cunningham Arrar Cluidesdale Lennox Stirling Fife Stratberne Menteith Argile Cantire Lorne North. Loquabrea Braidalhin Perth Athol Anguis Merns Mar Buquhan Murrey Rosse Sutherland Cathanes Strathnavern Part of Scotland it is called of the înhabitance Stranauerne with his borderers Petrus Karius caelavit 1599. 11 And these again are subdivided into Sheriffdomes Stewardships and Bailiwicks for the most part Inheritory unto honourable Families The Ecclesiastical Government is also subject under two Metropolitan Arch-Bishops which are of S. Andrews the Primate of Scotland and of Glasco whose Iurisdictions are as followeth S. Andrews Dunkeld Aberdon Murray Dunblan Brechin Ross Cathenes Orkney Glasco Galloway Argile Iles. Amongst the things worthy of Note of Antiquity in this Kingdom most memorable was that Fortification drawn from Abercorne upon the Frith of Edenborougâ— unto Alcluyd now Dunbritton opening upon the West-Sea where Iulius Agricola set the limit of the Roman Empire past which saith Tacitus there was no other bounds of Britain to be sought for and that here the second Legion Augusta and the 20 Legion Victrix built a part of the Wall certain Inscriptions there digged up and reserved at Dunloyr and Cader do witness as also an ancient coped Monument of an high and round compass which as some think was a Temple consecrated unto the God Terminus others a Trophy raised by Carausius who fortified this Wall with seven Castles as Ninius doth declare The Iles of Hebrides w th ther borderers Petrus Kaerius caelavit 13 Ninian a Britain is recorded to have converted the South-Picts unto the Faith of Christ in the Reign of Theodosius the youâ—ger and the Church in Galloway bearing his name doth witness it so likewise in the same age Palladius sent from Pope Celestine became an Apostle unto the Scots whose Reliques lay enshrined at Fordon in Mernis as was verily supposed but that Christianity had been formerly planted in this uttermost Province is testified by Tertullian in saying the Britains had embraced the Faith further than the Romans had power to follow or persecute them whereupon Peter Monk of Clun in Spain concludeth their conversion to be more ancient than the Southern Britains 14 But touching things observable for the present surely admirable is the report of the plenty of Cattel Fish and Fowl there abiding their Neat but little yet many in number Fish so plentiful that men in some places for delight on Horse-back hunt Salmons with Spears and a certain Fowl which some call Soland-Geese spreading so thick in the Air that they even darken the Suns light of whose Flesh Feathers and Oyl the Inhabitants in some parts make great use and gain yea and even of Fishes brought by them abundant Provision for Diet as also of the Sticks brought to make their Nests plentiful provision for Fuel CATHANES and ORKNAY INS Petrus Kaerius caela 16 No less strange than any the fore-mentioned waters but more lamentable is the remembrance of the great inundation hapning by the sudden rising of Tay which bare away the Walls and Town of Berth and with it the Cradle and young Son of King William into the Sea wherein the Royal Infant with many others perished the King and his Courtiers hardly escaping the danger with life The ruine of this Town raised another more famous and more commodiously seated even Berth since called Saint Iohns-Town 17 Islands and Ilets yielding both beauty and subjection to this Scottish-Kingdom are the Western the Orkneys and the Shetlands reckoned to be above three hundred in number the Inhabitants for the most part using the frugality of the ancient Scot. 18 The Western lying scattered in the Deucalidonian Sea were anciently ruled by a King of their own whose maintenance was out of their common Coffers and the Regal Authority never continued in lineal succession for to prevent that their Kings were not permitted to have Wives of their own but might by their Laws accompany with other mens as the like Law was in the other parts of Scotland that the Virginity of all new Wives should be the Landlords prey till King Malcolme enacted that half a mark should be paid for redemption The residence of those fore-mentioned Kings was chiefly
length The compass is reckoned by us to be 1890 English miles It is begirt on every side with Seas unless on the Eastern and there it is joyned to France by a kind of Isthmus when the Pyrenaean Mountains cross from one Sea to the other and set the limits to both Kingdoms On the West it is bounded with the Atlantick Ocean on the North with the Cantabrick and on the South with the Fretum Herculeum South East with the Mediterraneum Till within this 800 years it continued mangled and broken by many turns of Fortune Since it hath felt variety enough now it is wholly subject to one Monarch though it yet carry the name of three Kingdoms Aragou Castile and Portugal The Land yields all sorts of Wines Sugar Fruits Grain Oyls Metals especially Gold and Silver It is fertile enough for the Inhabitants For indeed they are not many nor have they so great Cities as there are in other Regions in Europe Besides the conditions of those for the most part are base The meanest proud the best superstitious and hypocrites most of them lascivious Give them their own they are good Souldiers not so much for their valour in performing as patience to endure labours hunger thirst and by this means oft-times weary out an enemy rather than Conquer him 10 France the second Region of Europe beginneth from the West at the Pyrenean Mountains and is bounded on the East with Germany on the North with our English Seas and South-ward with the Mediterraneum South East with the Alpes which divide it from Italy It was once tributary to Rome as most of these parts besides and had its division into Provinces as they pleased Now the chief are Loraign Burgundy Savoy and these have their free Princes the rest are Norway Brittany Berry Aquitane Picardy Poictou Languedock Anjow Gascoin Province Compagne and many more The Country is very fruitful and calls her neighbouring Nations to her for Traffique Their special Commodities are Wine Corn and Salt Well peopled and hath very many illustrious Cities But the Inhabitants are naturally light in their carriage almost Counter-point to the Spaniard yet of great â—ame both in learning and wars Commended by all strangers for compleat Courtship 11 Belgia hath France on the South on the North Denmark on the East Germany and the main Ocean on the West It is known best with us by the Name of Low Countreys or Netherlands The compass of it is about a thousand miles It is divided into 17 Provinces And of these four are Dukedoms seven Earldoms five Baronies and one Marqueship The Dukedoms are 1 Brabant and in this is Antwerp 2 Luick 3 Lutzenburg here stands the vast Forrest of Ardeuna 4 Gelderland The Earldomâ— 1 Flanders 2 Artois 3 Hainalt 4 Holland 5 Zealand 6 Zutphen 7 and Hamme The Baronies 1 Friezland 2 Vtreck 3 Mechlin 4 Overissell 5 Groueling The Marqueship is that of the holy Empire The Land is good and affordeth great store of Butter Cheese and breeds Oxen of incredible bigness and weight The people too are very industrious and excellent Mechanicks The men commonly are of a goodly Porrtaiture yet of more fame for their wars than their volour but are forced to maintain their liberty by the Sword good Sea-men indeed and in that they bear some sway Their Governours are called the States of the Low Conntries The General of their Forces is the Prince of Orange 12 Germany lyeth East-ward from Belgia and on her own East is bounded with Hungary and Polonia and the River Vistula and the North with the Germane Ocean and on the South with the Alpes that divide her from Italy In the middle is situated the Kingdome of Bohemia compassed with the Sylva Hircinia and in this stands Prague where the Emperour commonly keeps his Court. And comprehends many Provinces of note Saxony Brandenberge Pomerania Bavaria Silesia Franconia Austria Helvetia East-Friezland Westphalia Cleveland Alsatia Brunswick and Hassia It hath now the name of the Empire as once Rome had but it comes far short of her in glory The right to it descends not by succession but by choice of six Electors Arch-Bishops of Triers Mentes and Cullen Count Palatine of Rhene Duke of Saxony and Marquess Brandenbâ—â—g In case of equality the King of Bohemia hath a suffrage which carries it It is a rich Country in Corn Wine Fruits Mines and hath in it healthfull Bathes The people warlike and ingenious for the invention of many useful implements 13 Italy hath Germany on the North divided by the Alpes on the South the Mediterraneum on the East the Adriatique Sea and on the West Mare Tyrrhenum In length it is 1010 miles and in the broadest place 420. It was once intirely one Now it is divided into many States and Provinces The chief are the Kingdom of Naples the Territory of Rome Lumbardy Tuscain the Seignory of Vâ—nice Verona and others of great fame For indeed the whole Country is of admirable fertility and called by good Authors The Paradise of the earth The Inhabitants grave and frugal yet hot and lascivious 14 Denmark is joyned to Germany on the South and on the West hath the Mare Germanicum and so almost is invironed with Sea and is a Peninsula In the Continent are two Provinces of note Irglant and Holsten The other are petty Islands for the most part The chief Zealand and Loiland The Country breedeth goodly Horses and store of Cattel The people are good Souldiers and subject to one King 15 Hungaria hath part of Germany on the West on the East the River Tibiscus and Walachia on the North with Poland and on the South with the River Saure South West with Sclavonia The great Danubius cuts her in the middle and names her parts Citerior and Vlterior The chief Provinces are 1 The Country of Soliense where the earth sends forth such a ftench that it poysoneth the very Birds which fly over it 2 An Island in Danubius exceeding fertile And so indeed is the whole Country The people are generally strong but shew the Ancientry to be of the Scythians by their barbarous manner and neglect of learning Their daughters portion are only a new attire and their Sons equally inherit without priviledge of birth-right The Emperour of Germany and the Turk share it betwixt them 16 Polonia and Silesia a Province of Germany on the West on the East the River Boristhenes or Neiper on the North the Baltick Sea and Hungary on the South It is in compass 2600 miles The chief Provinces which belong at least to Poland are Livâ—nia Lituania Volinia Samogiiia Podolia â—ussianigra Mazoria Prussia Podlassia The Dukedomes of Optwittes and Zotor Polonia propria The Land abounds with Honey Wax Mines of Copper and Iron It breeds store of Horses fit for service Their Religion is promiscuous of all kinds from the true worship to the very Atheist which acknowledgeth no God yet they are governed by one King which doth not succeed but is chosen by
was forced by Evander the Arcadian a man of that admirable eloquence that he was called the son of Mercury but had by chance slain his Father and was therefore expulsed his inheritance and advised into Italy by his Mother a great Prophetess of those times He removed the Aborigines from their seat and planted his companions in the same plot of ground where after Rome was built and in the Mons Palatinus founded a little Town which he called Palâ—auteum in memory of his great grandâ—father And this was about the year 2710. 6 About 60 years after Aeneas arrived in this Countrey from the siege of Troy was entertained as an amorous suitor by Lavinia with consent of her Father Latinus and after the death of his corrival Turnus King of the Rutilians was setled heir to the Latin Monarchy after his Father 7 From Aeneas to Numitor the succession went on not without some rubs but suffered no great breach for almost four hundred years When the title should have fallen to him being the elder and true heir he was spoiled of the Kingdom by his younger Amulius Sylvius nor could it be recovered till time had given growth and strength to Romulus and Remus his grand-children by his daughter Rhea 8 The birth and breeding of these two brothers is well known we need not enlarge their story farther than thus They were the sons of Rhea a Virgin which was cloystered up into the Temple of Vesta by her Uncle Amulius Sylvus that she might not bring forth an heir to endanger his Title Notwithstanding means was found so that she conceived at once two children by Mars and was delivered among her Sister Vâ—stals For this her self as the censure was upon such delinquents was buried alive her boys exposed to be destroyed but were preserved by Faustulus the Kings Shepherd and nursed by his wife Laurentia or Lâ—pa for her bad life 9 When years and their supposed father had taught them their pedegree and the base tyranny of their Uncle they began with revenge upon him for their mothers quick burial for their own intended murder and their Grandsires injury To be brief they slew their great Uncle Amâ—lius Sylvius and turned the Kingdom to the rightful 〈◊〉 10 Thus when they had once dealt in disposing of Empires they could not easily return to the Shepherds hook but bethought them of the like fortune for their own advancement and stirred not far to make good their purpose but in the very Mons Palatinus the place where they suckt their nurse they drew together a monstrous head of debaucht Shepherds and built the City which is now called Rome from Romulus who in strife for the name or as some say for a disdainful skip over the new walls slew his brother Rhemus and was left the sole Founder and Commander of this rascal crew for so indeed it was and held in that contempt by their borderers that they could not by intreaty get wives from them to continue their succession till by a guile they had enticed the Sabines to their Pastimes ravisht their women and afterward by degrees either made their peace or wan it with the sword from the people round about them 11 Thus began the Empire of Rome and was governed at first by 7 Kings in a direct succession to Tarquinius Superbus who lost both himself and Kingdom by his own pride and his Son Sextus rape upon Lucretia It was next taken up by Consuls two annually chosen out of the Patritii or principal Citizens The third rank were of Decemviri but they again were dispossest for the like rape of Appius upon Virginia and Tribunes were constituted of Consulary authority Then Consuls again in another course and for a while Dictators which when Caesar had once clapsed he soon made to himself a power Imperial and though after five years it cost him his life which he enchanged with Brutus and Cassius for 23 wounds in the Senate-house yet the liberty of Rome was never so fully recovered but that soon after the Government fell upon Angustus by the death of Anthony and deposing of Lepidus who for a while were joyned with him into the Triumviratus 12 Thâ—s hold was scarce ever lost clearly to this day though by the changing of the seat Imperial from Rome to Bizantium in the reign of their forty third Constantinus by the division into the Eastern and Western in the time of Theodotius by the many invasions of the Goths Huns Vandals Alani Burgundians and Lombards it comes now far short of that full glory in which it once shined 13 Yet is Italy still as before a happy soyl pleasant and fertile at all times moderate weather and healthful air full of variety as well of living creatures as Plants Corn Wine Oyl Linnen Herbs c. And can afford into other Countries Rice Silks Velvets Sattins Taffataes Grogram Rash Fustians Gold-wire Armour Allom Glasses c. The rich are very rich for wealth will come with much labour in great abundance but the poor are extream poor for they are most of them very idle 14 Her chief Rivers are Padus or Poe Athesis Rubica Tyberis Arnus c. And her chief Mountains are the Alps and Mons Appennius The first are in height 5 dayes journey covered with snow and from thence have their name à nivibus albis They have two passages from Germany into the Countrey and three out of France From Germany by the Valtoline and by Trent Out of France through Provence and Liguria through the hills Genura to Lombardy and through the Countrey of Turaign The Appennine Mountains run at length with Italy like the ridge of a mans back and is called indeed Spina The measure of Italy is from North-west to South-East about 1020 miles and from the two Seas cross in some places 410. 15 The Inhabitants are of a sad temper solid judgement witty Politick and frugal yet they are as deeply engaged to their peculiar vices hot letchers and those seldome stand quit from that horrible torture of jealousie over their Wives for it measures others actions by its own rule Both in them are incredible and makes treachery and murder seem no fault in their eye if they be provoked by suspition Little friendship with them but for advantage and a man must beware that he venter not farther upon those terms than he may well step back lest he be betrayed perhaps forced to a love worse than their hate for they are most unnatural in their lust The Women when they have their free liberty differ not much but their close keeping either hinders or at least hides their faults so as they appear modest lovely and witty for as much as they dare speak 16 For war and learning it bred in times past the mirrour of both Camillus Fabius Maximus Scipio Pompey Caesar Cicero Livie Tacitus Virgil Ovid and many hundreds which yet prompt our tongues and pens with examples of goodness in several kinds Nor hath it lost that
Austria on the East with the River Tibiâ—cus on the North with Poland and Russia and on the South with the River Savus 8 The Land thus limited it is hard to believe what most Geographers report of her fertility That she yields Corn thrice in one year almost without any tillage or care of the husbandman Fruit of all kinds in great abundance and Grapes which make an excellent wholsome and rich Wine It breeds Cattel in such plenty that this one Countrey besides store for her own Inhabitants sends Sheep and Oxen into for eign Nations which lye about her and might say they suffice to feed all Europe with flesh Venison is not here any Dainty Does Hares Goats Boars are every mans meat and the game common as well to the Boors as Gentry And so for Phesant Partridge Black-birds Pigeons most Fowl wild and tame 9 The earth is enricht with variety of Mines which yields her plenty of Iron Steel Copper Silver and Gold Lead she hath not and scarce at all any Tin Her Rivers are equally commodious as well for their own wealth as fit conveyance of foreign Merchandise by shipping into their quarters The chief and only one indeed which belongs properly to this Region is Tibiâ—cus or Teissa and this imparts not her streams to any other Countrey but fully and freely pays her tribute to the Hungarian more Fish than can be spent yearly within their own limits It passeth proverbially upon this River that two parts of it are water and a third Fish The rest which are common to this with other Countries are Danubius here Ister and Savus and Darvus all of them well stored with water provision and in some places cast up a sand mixt with very good Gold Here are besides many waters of excellent vertues whereof some turn wood into Iron others Iron into Brass some very medicinal for sundry diseases others again so pestiferous that they kill the creature which doth but taste them The like is reported of an Hiatus in the ground unaccessible by any but the â—owls of the air and those fall suddenly dead with the stench which ascends from it 10 The people for the most part are strong fierce revengeful harsh to strangers briefly ill-mannered and worse learned For they affect not either liberal Arts or mechanick Trades Yet it affords one of the most reverend Fathers of our Church good Saint Hierome Their greatest pride is their name of a warlike Nation and the basest infamy to put up the tearm of Coward Yet the person charged may not acquit himself upon his upbraider but must make good his honour in single combate with a Turk when he hath overcome him and not till then he may by order of the Country wear a Feather as a note of his true Gentry The sons only are inheriters If it chance that the males fail the estate descends not to the Daughters but is forfeit to the common treasury They have no portions with their wives but a wedding garment and till they are married neither one nor th' other are accustomed to lye in beds Their language is the Scythian and their Religion divers some Papists more Protestants They received Christianity above six hundred years since 11 Hungary hath been heretofore divided in citeriorem ulteriorem The former circa and the other ultra Danubium And both again had their division into fifty Counties as Maginus calls them Her most illustrioâ— Cities are 1 Buda the Metropolis and seat of their Kings before it was taken by the Turk For pleasant situation wholsome air fertile fields about her stately buildings and whatsoever else may commend her Quadus sets her equal with any other in Europe Vadianus mentions here a stature of Hercules which himself saw made of brass so artificially that the very veins were lively expressed besides the ruines of other rich work a goodly Library furnisht by Matthias Corvinus King of Hungaria But at his being there it was not in the glory that it had been and not long after was for the most part utterly wasted by the inhumane Turks it is commonly called Osâ—en and is thought by some to be the same with Câ—rta in Ptolomies descriptions 12 2 Southward from Buda stands Albanum an ancient Town which of late they have called Alba now Alba Regalis for it was the place where their Kings were both Crowned and buried 3 Strigonium Grau an Arch-bishops seat and Metropolitan of Hungary It hath had the several chance of war was won by the Tark in the year one thousand five hundred forty three and recovered one thousand five hundred ninety five In which last action our noble Sir Thomas Arundel took with his own hand the Turkish Banner and was honoured by the Emperour Rodulphus with the title of a Count there and here by his own Sovereign Lord Arundel of Wardour 4 Quinque Ecclesiae a Bishops See taken by the Turk one thousand five hundred forty three 5 Comara in a small Island which takes her name from the Town And herâ— it is reported that the grass exceeds in length the height of a man 6 â—avarium not far from Comaâ—â— and is called Rab. 7 Neuhensel where â—â—ucquoy was slain in the year one thousand six hundred twenty one having adventured too far upon the Hungarians Ambush with iâ—tent onâ—y to have received the order of their Forces and fittest place for access to bid them battel And thus of the Kingdom of Hungary as it is strictly bounded with its own proper limits 13 Dacia is on the East of Hâ—ngary and is divided on the North from Sarmatia by the Carpathian Mountains on the South from Greece with Haemus and on the East reâ—â—heth the Pontus Euxinus The first Inhabitants were the Maesti of Asia Afterward the Daci or as Strabo calls them the Dari a Nation of so slavish a disposition that the Athenians brought them into a Proverb and in their Comedies presented their Sycophants under no other name than Dâ—â—ri The Country is fruitful and enricht with Mines their Horses are very comely aâ—d their manes so long that they touch the ground Their last King before it was made a Province to the Romans was Decebalus who as Dion delivers it affrighted the Emperour from an assault which he intended with an incredible number of stakes stuck up in battel array and attired in his Souldiers old habits A wooden shift it was but served him for the present yet after he was vanquished by Trajan and being sunk by the fortune of war below the hope of recovering his Kingdom fell upon his own sword It is now divided into 1 Transylvania 2 Moldavia 3 Walachia 4 Servia 5 Rascia 6 Bulgaria 7 Bosnia 14 Transylvania is the Province of Dacia and was it self called Dacia Mediterranea and Ripensis Dacia Since Transylvania because it was compassed with Woods and septem Castra from her seven Castles of defence upon the Frontiers built by the Saxons who questionless gave her the German name
hath oftentimes done The rest are not many and those but weakly peopled For the often incursions of the Tartars their speedy Horse to ride a great compass in a little time their 〈◊〉 of Faith upon terms of composition and their cruelty when they have got a victory causeth the Inhabitants of those parts to fly them at a great distance and leave their Land waste since they dare not trust their peace nor are able to withstand their war PERSIA P. Karius Caelavit The Description of the Kingdom of PERSIA THis Empire was one of the first and most potent in the Eastern world and though since in several ages she hath felt the variety of fortunes to which all Kingdomes are subject and been forced to deliver up her glory to the succeeding Monarchies of the Macedonians Parthians Turks and Sarazens yet now at last is she recovered to her own heighth and greatness and the name of Persia reacheth farther than ever if we take in as most Geographers do the Regions of Media Assyria and the rest which were heretofore the seat of several illustrious Kingdomes 2 Surely the first which inhabited any part of this compass were the Medes a people of great antiquity who reach both their original and name from Madai the son of Iapheth for it was not long after the floud that they were subdued by Ninus King of the Assyrians one and t'other Media I mean and Assyria though then they had apart their peculiar governments yet both were but a parcel of this Countrey which is now known by the name of Persia. 3 To Ninus and his successors they continued faithful for many years till the effeminate weakness of Sardanapalus gave opportunity to the ambition of Belochus governour of Babylon and Arbaces of Media to divide his Empire betwixt them which they did in the year of the world three thousand one hundred forty six and then began the Monarchy of the Medes which spread it self through the the greatest part of Asia and for above two hundred years gathered strength till the time of Astiages who dreamed himself out of his Empire as Iustine relates the story 4 Persia propriè dicta from whence this whole Country at last took name was at this time but an obscure Kingdom in respect of what now it is and tributary to the Medes Her Prince was Cambyses the Father of the great Cyrus by Mandanes daughter to Astiages when she was great and expected the time of her deliverance her Father touched with a perplexed dream that she made so much water as would drown all Asia interpreted it that her issue should be the overthrow of his state and therefore delivered the child which was born to her into Harpagus his charge to be destroyed and he to the Kings Herdsman who unawares to Both preserved the guiltless infant so that at last he took revenge upon his cruel Grand-father and laid a foundation for the Persian Monarchy 5 In this attempt his anger wrought him no farther than his enemy for he left the government of Media still to Cyaxares the son of Astyages and afterward married his daughter joyned with him in his conquests and till his death gave him preheminence of title They were both engaged in the taking of Babylon slaughter of Baltazar and destruction of the Chaldâ—ans The Scripture gives this victory to Darius Medus who as most hold was no other than Cyaxares and he only named as the principal of the two while he yet lived though Cyrus had his part in the action after his Uncles death enjoyed it as his own and made perfect the Monarchy of the Persians in the year of the world 3046. 6 About thrity seven years after the succession was broke for want of lawful heirs to Cambyses their second King and therefore their Princes consulted to salute him whose Horse first neighed at a set meeting upon the Court green before the Sun-rising Darius Histaspes was one and by the subtiliy of his Horse-keeper carried the Crown for the night before in the same ground he had coupled a Mare with the Horse that his Master should ride which when the lustful Steed missed the next morning being full of spirit no sooner had he set footing upon the place but with much eagerness he snuffed and neighed after his Mare and gave the quue to the other Princes to proclaim Darius King of the Persians This was he whom the Scripture calls Ahasuerus he was Hâ—sters husband 7 Thus is the Empire now setled and entailed by descent after him to that famous Xerxes who made war upon Greece with an incredible Army joyned Asia to Europe with a bridge and dammed up Hellespont with his Navy yet was at last vanquished by four thousand at Thermopyle and after by Themistocles forced to make his flight in a small boat towards his own Countrey contemned of his subjects and within a few years slain in his Palace by Artabanus His immediate successour was Artaxerxes Lengimanus who sent the Prophet Esdras to re-edifie the Temple and so on to Darius the last Persian of that course who was ost vanquished by Alexander the Great and left the Monarchy of the world to the Macedonians After the death of their victorious Captain it was divided among many of the most potent Princes of Greece 8 But when the Persians saw the force of their enemy thus severed they began to conceive a hope of recovering their liberty and so they did indeed under the conduct and command of the Parthian Arsaces but. found themselves little bettered in their condition as being now become new slaves to a more harsh tyrant and therefore in the year two hundred twenty eight after the Incarnation they made a second attempt to quit themselves from the Parthians they took their time when their Masters were sore afficted with a strong enemy from Rome which had broke their Forces to their hands so that by the admirable prowess of another Artaxerxes they made good their Conquest upon the Parthians and adventured so far with the Romans themselves that their name began to grow terrible and the Emperour Constantine forced to fortifie his Provinces which lay towards the East and his might be some cause too why he removed his seat to Constantinopolis 9 After this fell into the hands of the Saracenical Caliphs in the year six hundred thirty four and to the Turks in the year one hundred and thirty next to the Tartars and so again to the Parthians by the help of Gempsas who redeemed both his own and this from the Tartarian and briefly after many turns it became the possession of Ismaâ—l Sophy of Persia whose race continues it to this day 10 The bounds of this Empire on the North are the Caspian Sea and the River Oxus on the South the Sinus Persicus and the Maâ—e Indicum heretofore called Rubrum on the West the Turkish confines as far as the River Tigris and the lake Giocho on the East the River Indus and the Kingdom of
homeward with his Wife he was drowned in a Tempest neer unto the Coasts of Radland 13 An. Dom. 1249. Raignald the Son of Olave and brother to Harold began his raign and on the thirtieth day thereof was slain by one Tvar a Knight in a Meadow neer unto the holy Trinity-Church and lieth buried in the Church of S. Mary of Russin 14 In the year 1252. Magnus the son of Olave came to Man and was made King The next year following he went to the King of Norway and stayed there a year 15 In the year 1265. Magnus Olaves son King of Man and of the Islands departed this life at the Castle of Russin and was buried in the Church of S. Mary of Russin 16 In the year 1266 the Kingdom of the Islands was translated by reason of Alexander King of Scots who had gotten into his hands the Western Islands and brought the Isle of Man under his dominion as one of that number 17 An. 1340. William Montacute Earl of Salisbury wrested it from the Scottish by strong hand and force of Arms and in year the 1393 as Thomas Walsingham saith he sold Man and the Crown thereof unto William Scroope for a great summe of money But he being beheaded for high Treason and his Goods confiscate it came into the hands of Henry the Fourth King of England who granted this Island unto Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland But Henry Piercy entring into open Rebellion the fifth year following the King sent Sir Iohn Stanley and William Stanley to seize the Isle and Castle of Man the inheritance whereof he granted afterwards to Sir Iohn Stanley and his Heirs by Letters Patents â—with the Patronage of the Bishoprick c. So that his Heirs and Successors who were honoured with the Title of Earls of Darby were commonly called Kings of Man HOLY ISLAND GARNSEY FARNE IARSEY HOLY-ISLAND CHAPTER XLV THis Island is called Lindisfarne by the River Lied that is opposite unto it on the Coast of Northumberland Beda termed it a Demâ—-Island The Britains name it Iuis Medicante for that it twice every day suffereth an exordinary inundation and over-flowing of the Ocean in manner of an Island which twice likewise makes it continent to the Land and returning unto her watry habitation lays the Shore bare again as before It is called in English Holy-Island for that in ancient times many Monks have been accustomed to retired themselves thither and to make it their receptacle for solitude having on the West and South Northumberland and more South Eastward the Island Farne 2 The form of it is long and narrow the West-side narrower than the East and are both conjoyned by a very small spang of Land that is left unto Conies The South is much broader than the rest It is from East to West about two thousand two hundred and fifty paces and from North to South twelve hundred and fifty paces so that the circumference cannot be great 3 The Air is not very good either for health or delight as being seated on those parts that are subject to extremity of cold and greatly troubled with vapouâ—s and foggy mists that arise from the Seas 4 The Soil cannot be rich being rocky and full of Stones and unfit for Corn and Tillage It is neither commended for Hills to feed Sheep nor Pastures to fat Cattel neither hath it Vallies replenished with sweet Springs or running Rivolets only one excepted descending from a standing Pond The only thing this Island yieldeth is a fit and accommodate aptitude for Fishing and Fowling 5 Notwithstanding this is very worthy of note concerning the same which Alcun wrote in an Epistle to Egelred King of Northumberland namely that it was a place more venerable than all the places of Britain and that after the departure of S. Paulinus from York there Christian Religion began in their Nation though afterwards it there felt the first beginning of misery and calamity being left to the spoil of Pagans and Miscreants 6 It is also remembred of this Island that sometime there hath been in it an Episcopal See which Aidan the Scot instituted being called thither to Preach the Christian Faith to the People of Northumberland being thus delighted with the solitary situation thereof as a most fit place for retirement But afterwards when the Danes rifled all the Sea-Coasts the Episcopal See was translated to Durham 7 This Island so small in account either for compass or commodity and so unpeopled and unprofitable cannot be numerous in Towns and Villages It hath in it only one Town with a Church and a Castle under which there is a commodious Haven defended with a Block-house situate upon an Hill towards the South-East FARNE-ISLE THis Isle South-Eastward seven miles from Holy-Island sheweth it self distant almost two miles from Brambrough Castle On the West and South it beareth upon Northumberland and on the North-east-side it hath other smaller Islands adjoyning to it as Widopons and Staple-Island which lie two miles off Bronsinan and two lesser than these which are called the Wambes 2 The Form of this Iâ—le is round and no longer in compass than may easily be ridden in one half of a day The breadth of it is but five miles and the length no more The whole circumference extends it self no further than to fifteen miles 3 The Air is very unwholsom and subject both to many Dysenteries and other Diseases by reason of the miâ—ty Fogs and Exhalations that are thereunto drawn up from the Ocean It is many times troubled with unusual Tempests of Winds with boisterous â—ury of stormy Rains and with several and uncouth rages of the Sea 4 The Soil cannot be fertile being incircled about with craggy Clifts â—either hath it in it much matter either of pleasure or profit It can neither defend it self from Cold lacking Fuel as Wood Coal Turffs c. Nor from Famine wanting Food as Corn Pastures Cattel c. The best Commodity it yields is Fish and Fowl 5 This thing nevertheless is worthy to be remembred of it which Beda writing of the Life of Cuthbert Bishop of Lindisfarne that Tutelar Patron of the Northern Eâ—glishmen reporteth namely that in this Isle he built a City fitting his Government and erected certain Houses in the same the whole building standing almost round in compass and reaching the space of four or five Pearches The Wall about it he made higher than a Mans height to with-hold and keep in the wanton lasciviousness both of his thoughts and eyes and to elevate the whole intention of his mind up to heavenly desires that he might wholly give himself to the service of God But these are all made the ruins of time as sithence many other Monuments have been of worthy Antiquity 6 I cannot report that there are now many Houses standing in it much less Towns or Villages Only this that it hath a Tower or Place of Fortification belonging unto it placed well-neer in the middle part of the Isle GARNSEY THis Island