some would have so named from a Roman Milliarium here placed yet I rather inclined to agree with our Author in his conjecture For Stanes doth not lye upon the Roman way betwixt London and Pontes or any other of that kind upon which the Milliaria or mile-stones were only set An Army of Danes in the year 1009. after they had burnt Oxford returning on the Thames side and hearing that an Army from London was coming against them past the River at this Town as the Saxon Chronicle tells us â—â—â—dem Aâ—no and so went into Kent to repair their Ships c Below Lalam where Caesar crossed the Thames within view of the River stands Harrow Hâ—rrow on the hill being the highest ground in this whole County and therefore made choice of by William Bolton the last Prior of great St. Bartholomew's in Smithfield to build him a house on to preserve him from a Deluge which was prognosticated from certain Eclipses in watery signs and was to happen in the year 1524. With this not only the vulgar but also learned men were so unreasonably infatuated that they victuall'd themselves as both Hall and * Chron. in An. p. 1014. Speed confidently report and went to high grounds for fear of being drown'd Amongst whom was this Prior who not only provided himself with a house here at Harrow but carried all sorts of provisions with him thither to serve him for the space of two months Mr. †Survey p. 417 419. Stow I acknowledge would have all this to be a fable and that Prior Bolton being also Parson of Harrow did only repair his Parsonage-house and build a Dove coat to serve him with that sort of fowl after he was spoiled of his Priory but the date of this Deluge and the dissolution of the Priory which was not till Anno 1539. 30 Hen. 8. not well agreeing I know not what to say to it but leave it to the Reader 's decision d As for the Royal Palace of Hampton Court Hampton Court inviron'd both House and Parks on three sides with the River Thames and consequently enjoying as pleasant a situation as the prudence of its first founder Cardinal Wolsey could select for it it was indeed as our Author says a piece of work of great magnificence for the age it was built in but the additions made to it by their present Majesties do so far excel what it was before that they evidently shew what vast advancements Architecture has receiv'd since that time The gardens also are improv'd to a wonderful degree not only in the walks both open and close and the great variety of Topiary-works but with Green-houses too having stoves under them so artificially contriv'd that all foreign plants are there preserved in gradual heats suitable to the Climes of their respective Countries whereof they are natives In short the whole seems to be design'd with so much magnificence that when it is finisht the noblest Palaces must fall short of it e Somewhat lower upon the river lyes the town of Brentford B entford where the Thames was anciently so easily forded and is so still I mean at old Brentford there being now at low ebb not above three foot water that beside the instance mention'd by our Author * Chron. Sax. in Anno 1016. King Edmund past the Thames again at the same place and went thence into Kent after the Enemy where he prevail'd so against them that he drove them into Shepey Ibidem Since which time I do not find any thing of moment that ever happen'd here till 1642. when King Charles 1. coming after his victory at Edghill with his forces from Oxford towards London with the loss but of ten men beat two of the best Regiments of the Parliament-forces out of this town kill'd their Commander in chief took 500 Prisoners as many Arms eleven Colours fifteen pieces of Canon and then marcht to Oatlands Reading and so back again to Oxford In which action the right honourable Patric Ruthen Earl of Forth in Scotland performing the part of an expert and valiant Commander was first made General of the King's Army and in further consideration of his eminent services by Letters Patents bearing date at Oxford May 27. 20 Car. 1. advanced to the dignity of an Earl by the title of Earl of Brentford in this County upon account no doubt of that particular service he did here Near the Roman high-way which passes through this town and so over Hounslow-heath toward Pontes lyes the village of Arlington Arlington alià s Harlington which having been the ancient seat of the Bennets and particularly of Sir Henry Bennet principal Secretary of State and one of the Privy Council to King Charles the second when his Majesty thought fit to set a mark of Honour on him for the many signal services he had done the Crown in the Court the Camp and in foreign Embassies this place was thought of as most proper for his title whereof he was first created Baron afterwards Earl and quickly after made Knight of the most noble order of the Garter and in Sept. 1674. Lord Chamberlain of the House-hold f Below Brentford on the other side of the river lyes Fulham Fulham in Saxon Fullan-hamme and Fullan homme remarkable not only for the Bishop of London's house there but as the Saxon Chronicle and that of Mailros both tell us for an Army of the Danes wintering there An. Dom. 879. whence they decampt the same year and went into Flanders then call'd Fronc-land and encampt themselves at Gaunt where they remain'd another year g And below that Chelsey Chelsey where a College was once design'd for Students in Divinity and others who were to make it their whole business to oppose the Church of Rome as appears by an Act of Parliament 7 Jac. 1. and a Declaration set forth by the same King An. 1616. specifying what mov'd the King and State to found this College and why here rather than at either of the Universities for account whereof I refer the Reader to Mr. * P. 257 c. Stow's Survey For the furtherance whereof the King sent his Letters to the Archbishop of Canterbury to move all the Bishops and whole Clergy of his Province to put to their helping hands which though actually done and in a time of deep peace and †S. Hern's Dâ—â—mus Carthuâ—iana p. 58. though eagerly sollicited by Dr. Sutcliff Dean of Exeter the first design'd Provost and our Author Mr. Camden who was one of the Fellows of it yet the building it self not to mention the want of endowments could never be further advanced than the outward shell of a College In which condition it stood till the Restoration of King Charles the second who quickly after erecting another Royal Society at London for promoting natural knowledge gave it to them but they never attempting any thing toward finishing or using it conveyed it back to the same King to
ridge to the north and separate this County of Oxon from that of Bucks at the foot whereof are seated many little towns of which the most remarkable are Watlington a small Market-town belonging formerly to Robert D'oily tt Shirburne Shirburne where was heretofore a small Castle of the Quatremans now a seat of the Chamberlains descended from the Earls of Tankervil who bearing the office of Chamberlain to the Dukes of Normandy their posterity laying aside the old name of Tankervil call'd themselves Chamberlains from the said office which their Ancestors enjoy'd 24 To omit Edgar Algar and other English-Saxons Official Earls of Oxford The title of Earl of Oxford Earls of Oxford has long flourisht in the family of Vere who derive their pedigree from the Earls of Guisnes and their name from the town of Vere in Zealand They owe the beginning of their greatness in England to K. Henry the first who advanced Alberic de Vere for his great prudence and integrity to several places of honour and profit as to be Chamberlain of England and Portreve of the City of London and to his son Henry Duke of Normandy son of the daughter of King Henry and right heir to England and Normandy this was the title he used before his establishment in this kingdom to divert him from King Stephen who had usurpt the Crown and to oblige him to his own party he granted and restor'd the office of Chamberlain which he had lost in those civil wars and offer'd him the choice of these four Earldoms Dorset Wilts Berks and Oxon. And after this Maud the Empress and her son Henry then in possession of the Throne by their several Charters created him Earl of Oxford Of his posterity not to mention every particular person the most eminent were these that follow Robert de Vere who being highly in favour with King Richard the second was by him advanct to the new and unheard of honours of Marquess of Dublin and Duke of Ireland of which he left as one well observes nothing but some gaudy titles to be inscribed upon his tomb and matter of discourse and censure to the world For soon after through the envy of the other Courtiers he was degraded and miserably ended his life in banishment 25 John the first of that name so trusty and true to the House of Lancaster that both he and his son and heir Aubrey lost their heads therefore together in the first year of King Edward 4. John de Vere a man of great ability and experience in the arts of war and as eminent for his constant fidelity to the Lancastrian party fought often in the field against K. Edward the fourth for some time defended St. Michael's mount and was the chief assistant to King Henry the seventh in obtaining the Crown Another John in the reign of Henry the eighth in all parts of his life so temperate devout and honest that he was distinguisht by the name of John the Good He was great Grandfather to the present Earl Henry the eighteenth Earl of this family and Grandfather to the two noble Brothers Francis and Horatio Vere who by their admirable courage and military conduct and their many brave and fortunate exploits in the Low-Countries have added no small lustre to their ancient and honourable family This County contains 280 Parish Churches ADDITIONS to OXFORDSHIRE a THE County of Oxford call'd by the more early Saxons Oxna-ford-scyre and afterwards Oxen-ford-scyre does by its situation particularly the north-east parts of it Otmore and the adjacent places exactly answer the original of * See Camd. at the beginning Glocestershire Dobuni as lying low and level Though most parts of it bear corn very well yet its greatest glory is the abundance of meadows and pastures to which the rivers add both pleasure and convenience For beside the five more considerable ones the Thames Isis Cherwell Evenlode and Windrush †Plot. p. 18. it has at least threescore and ten of an inferiour rank without including the smaller brooks What our Author says of the hills being clad with woods is so much alter'd by the late Civil wars that few places except the Chiltern-country can answer that character at present for fuel is in those parts so scarce that 't is commonly sold by weight not only at Oxford but other towns in the northern parts of the shire b To follow our Author Burford Buâ—ford in Saxon Beorgford not Beorford as it is famous for the battel mention'd by our Author fought probably on the plaâ—e call'd Battle-edge west of the town so also for a Council conven'd there by the Kings Etheldred and Berthwald An. 685. at which among many others Aldhelm Abbot of Malmsbury afterwards Bishop of Shirburne being present was commanded by the Synod to write a Book against the error of the Brittish Churches in the observation of Easter Which I the rather take notice of here because Sir Henry Spelman calls it only Synodus Merciana An. 705. without fixing any certain place or the exact time whereas both are evident from ‖ De Pontif. lib. 5. Malmsbury and the Leiger-book of that Abby There has been a Custom in the town * Plot. p. 349. of making a Dragon yearly and carrying it up and down the streets in a great jollity on Midsummer-eve which is the more remarkable because it seems to bear some relation to what our Author says of Cuthred's taking from the enemy a banner wherein was painted a golden Dragon only to the Towns-men's Dragon there is a Giant added for what reason not known c Next is Ensham Ensham in Saxon Egonesham the eminence whereof in those times is confirm'd by the early mention of it and by Aethelred's Charter mention'd by our Author which terms it Locus celebris Here it was that in the year 1009. the same King Aethelred by the advice of Alphege Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Wulstan Arch-bishop of York held a General Council wherein many Decrees were establisht relating to the government of Church and State it is call'd by †Concil â— â— p. 510. Sir Henry Spelman Aenham c Our next guide is the river Evenlode not far from which near Chastleton is a Fortification which the learned Dr. Plot imagines might be cast up about the year 1016. when Edmund Ironside met Canute the Dane Châ—stâ—eton but if that conjecture be built purely upon its being near the Four-shire-stone which generally goes for the old dceorstan where the battle was fought the place of the battle being ‖ See Aâ—â—â— to Wâ—tshire undeâ— Shâ—râ—â—â— as it probably ought remov'd from this place that opinion is destroy'd d More to the North is the Monument of Roll-rich R ll-rich-stones * Plot. p. â—â— a single Circle of stones without Epistyles or Architraves and of no very regular figure †〈◊〉 Except one or two the rest of them are not above four foot and a half high What the
from the Church as a Feudatory and Vicegerent and obliged his Successors to pay three hundred Marks to the Bishop of that See Yet the most eminent 1 Sir Thomas Hol. Thomas Moor who sacrificed his life to the Pope's Prerogative denies this to be true For he says the Romanists can shew no grant and that they have never demanded the said money nor the Kings of England acknowledged it However with submission to this great man the thing is really otherwise as most clearly appears from the Parliament-Rolls which are evidence incontestable For in a Parliament in Edward the third's Reign the Chancellor of England informs the House That the Pope intended to cite the King of England to a tryal at Rome as well for homage as for the tribute due and payable from England and Ireland and to which King John had bound both himself and his Successors and desired their opinion in it The Bishops required a day to consider of this matter apart as likewise did the Lords and Commons The next day they met again and unanimously voted and declared that forasmuch as neither King John nor any other King whatsoever could put the Kingdom under such a servitude but by the consent and agreement of a Parliament which was never had and farther that since whatsoever he had done in that kind was directly contrary to the Oath which he solemnly took before God at his Coronation if the Pope would insist upon it they were resolved to oppose him with their lives and fortunes to the very utmost of their power Such also as were learned in the law made the Charter of King John to be void and insignificant by that clause of reservation in the end saving to us and our heirs all our rights liberties and regalities But this is out of my road From King John's time the Kings of England were stiled Lords of Ireland till within the memory of our fathers Henry the eighth was declared King of Ireland by the States of that Realm assembled in Parliament the title of Lord seeming not so sacred and venerable to some seditious persons as that of King In the year 1555 when Queen Mary offered the subjection of the Kingdom of England by the hands of her Ambassadors to Pope Paul the fourth this name and title of Kingdom of Ireland was confirmed by the Pope in these word To the praise and glory of Almighty God and his most glorious mother the Virgin Mary to the honour of the whole Court of Heaven and the exaltation of the Catholick Faith We at the humble request of King Philip and Queen Mary made unto us by the advice of our brethren and by virtue of our full Apostolical authority do erect the Kingdom of Ireland and do for ever dignifie and exalt it with the title honours powers rights ensigns prerogatives preferments Royal praeeminencies and such like privileges as other Christian Realms have use and enjoy or may have use and enjoy hereafter Having accidentally found a Catalogue of those English Noble men who went in the first invasion of Ireland and with great valor subdued it to the Crown of England lest I should seem to envy them and their posterity the glory of this atchievment I will here give you them from the Chancery of Ireland for so 't is entitled The Names of such as came with Dermic Mac Morrog into Ireland Richard Strongbow Earl of Pembroke who by Eve the daughter of Morrog the Irish petty King aforesaid had an only daughter who brought to William Mareschall the title of Earl of Pembroke with a fair estate in Ireland and had issue five sons who in order succeeded one another all childless and as many daughters who enriched their husbands Hugh Bigod Earl of Norfolk Guarin Montchensey Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester William Ferrars Earl of Derby and William Breose with children honours and possessions Robert Fitz-Stephens Harvey de Mont Marish Maurice Prendergest Robert Barr. Meiler Meilerine Maurice Fitz-Girald Redmund nephew to Stephen William Ferrand Miles de Cogan Richard de Cogan Gualter de Ridensford Gualter sons of Maurice Girald Alexander sons of Maurice Girald William Notte Robert Fitz-Bernard Hugh de Lacy. William Fitz-Aldelm William Macarell Hunfrey Bohun Hugh de Gundevill Philip de Hasting Hugh Tirell David Walsh Robert Poer Osbert de Harloter William de Bendenge Adam de Gernez Philip de Breos Griffin Nephew of Stephen Ralph Fitz-Stephen Walter de Barry Philip Walsh Adam de Hereford To whom out of Giraldus Cambrensis may be added John de Curcy Hugh Contilon Redmond Cantimore Edmond Fitz-Hugh Miles of St. Davids and others The Government of the Kingdom of IRELAND SInce Ireland has been subject to the Crown of England the Kings of this Realm have ever sent their Vice-Roys to manage the publick affairs there who at first in their Letters Patents or Commissions Loâ—d Depâ—â—ies of â—â—â—â—and were stilled Keepers of Ireland after that Justices of Ireland or at pleasure Lieutenants and Deputies Their jurisdiction and authority is really large and Royal they make war and peace have power to fill all Magistracies and other Offices except some very few to pardon all crimes but those of high treason and to confer Knighthood c. These Letters Patents when any one enters upon this honourable office are publickly read and after the new Deputy has took a solemn oath of a certain set form for that purpose before the Chancellor the sword which is to be carried before him is delivered into his hands and he is seated in a Chair of state attended by the Chancellor of the Realm the Members of the privy-Privy-Council the Peers and Nobles of the Kingdom the King at Arms a Serjeant at Arms and other Officers of State So that whether we consider his jurisdiction and authority or his train attendance and splendor there is certainly no Vice-roy in Christendom that comes nearer the grandeur and majesty of a King His Council are the Chancellor of the Realm the Treasurer and such others of the Earls Barons and Judges as are of the Privy-Council Orders or degrees iâ— Ireland For Ireland has the same orders and degrees of honour that England has Earls Barons Knights Esquires c. The Courts or Tribunals of IRELAND THE supream Court in Ireland is the Parliament which Parliament at the pleasure of the King of England is either called or dissolved by his Deputy â—as an 〈◊〉 12. and yet in Edward the second 's time it was enacted That Parliaments should be held in Ireland every year 2 Which seemeth yet not to have been effected Here are likewise observed foure Law-terms in the year as in England and five Courts of Justice held 〈◊〉 the a The Court was called The Court of Castle-chamber because it was usually kept in the Castle of Dublin but has never been held since the Court of Star-Chamber was supprest in England Star-Chamber the Chancery King's-Bench Common Pleas and the Exchequer Here are
into possession by the King of France upon certain conditions but was detain'd unjustly and treacherously John Archbishop of Dublin and some other great men were sent to the Kinâ— in Almain upon this account After they had receiv'd their answer in Tordran the Archbishop return'd into England and died oâ— S. Leodegarys day The bones of which John Sampford werâ— interr'd in S. Patrick's Church in Dublin on the 10th day beforâ— the Kalends of March. The same year there arose a debate between William Lord Vescy then Justiciary of Ireland and the Lord John Fitz Thomas and the said Lord William Vescy went into England and lefâ— Sir William de la Hay to officiate as Justiciary But when botâ— them were before the King for combat upon an appeel for treason William Vescy fled into France and would not fight Whereupon the King of England gave all the Seigniories that belong'd to him to Sir John Fitz Thomas viz. Kildare Rathemgan and manâ— others The same year Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester return'd ouâ— of Ireland into England Likewise Richard Earl of Ulster sooâ— after S. Nicholas's day was taken prisoner by Sir John Fitz Thomas and kept within the castle of Ley till the feast of S. Gregory Pope but was then set at liberty by the Council of our Lord thâ— King in a Parliament at Kilkenny John Fitz Thomas gave aâ— his lands for taking him viz. Slygo with other Possessions belonging to him in Conaght Item this year the castle of Kildare was taken but Kildarâ— and the Country round it was wasted by the English and the Irish Calvagh burnt all the Rolls and Tallies of the said Earl This yeaâ— and the two next following there was much dearth and Pestilencâ— throughout Ireland Item William Lord Dooddyngzele was made Justiciary of Irelanâ— MCCXCV Edward King of England built the Castle de Beâ— Marisco i.e. Beaumaris in Venedocia which is call'd the motheâ— of Cambria but commonly Anglesey and enter'd it immediatelâ— after Easter subduing the Venedotes i.e. the able men of Anglesey and making them subject to him Soon after this viz. about thâ— Feast of S. Margaret Madock at that time Prince elect of Waleâ— submitted himself to the King's mercy and was brought to Londoâ— by John de Haverings where he was clapt in the Tower to waâ— the King's grace and favour This year died William Dooddingzeâ— Justiciary of Ireland the day after S. Mary of Egypt Sir Thomas Fitz-Maurice succeeded him Also about the same time thâ— Irish in Leinster destroy'd that Province burning the new Castâ—â— with other Villages Item Thomas de Torbevile a seducer oâ— the King and betrayer of his Country was drawn through the middle of London lying out at length and guarded with four Toâ—mentors in Vizards who revil'd him as we went along At lasâ— he was gibbeted and deny'd the privilege of Burial having nonâ— to attend his Funeral but Kites and Crows This Thomas waâ— one of them who in the Siege of the Castle of Rions was takeâ— and carry'd to Paris Whereupon he promis'd the Nobility oâ— France that he would deliver to them the King of England anâ— leaving his two Sons as Pledges came over and told the King oâ— England and his Council how narrowly he escap'd out of Prisoâ— When he had inform'd himself of the designs of the King anâ— state of the Kingdom he sent the whole in writing to the Provoâ— of Paris Of which being convicted he was executed iâ— the manner aforesaid About the same time the Scoâ— having broken the Peace which they had covenanted with oâ—â— Lord King of England made a new league with the King oâ— France and conspiring together rose up in Arms against their owâ— sovereign Lord and King John Baillol and shut him up in the midland parts of Scotland in a Castle encompass'd with Mountain This was done in pure spight and contempt to the King of England because he had set the said John over them without theâ—â— will and consent The King of England brought another Army 〈◊〉 Scotland the Lent following to chastise the Scots for their presumption and arrogance against their own Father and King Sâ— John Wogan was made Justiciary of Ireland and the Lord Thomas Fitz-Maurice give place to him This Wogan made a Trucâ— for two years between the Earl of Ulster and John Fitz-Thomas and the Geraldines About Christmas-day this year Gilbert Clarâ— Earl of Glocester departed this life Item the King of Englanâ— sent his Brother Edmund with an Army into Gascoign MCCXCVI The Lord Edward King of England on the thirâ— day before the Kalends of April viz. upon Friday that fell oâ—â— then to be Easter-week took Berwick with the slaughter of seveâ— thousand Scots and not of above one of the English Knights viâ— Sir John of Cornwall and seven Footmen more Shortly after abouâ— the 4th of May he enter'd the Castle of Dunbar and took abouâ— forty of the Enemy Prisoners who submitted themselves to thâ— King's mercy having before defeated the whole Army of the Scots that is to say slain seven hundred Horse with the loss of Footmeâ— only on the English side Item upon S. John's-day before Port-latin about 15000 Welchmeâ— were sent to invade Scotland by the King's Order At the same timâ— the Nobility of Ireland viz. John Wogan Justiciary Richard Bourâ— Earl of Ulster Theobald Butler and John Fitz-Thomas witâ— others came to assist in this Expedition to Scotland The Kinâ— of England also entertain'd them with others of the English Nobility upon the third day before the Ides of May viz. Whitsuâ—day with a great Feast in the castle of Rokesburgh Item on thâ— next Wednesday before S. Barnabas he enter'd the Town of Edinburgh and won the castle before the Feast of S. John Baptist shortly after in the same Summer all the castles in Scotland were surrender'd up to him Item John Balliol King of Scotland came tho' much against his will to the King of England upon the Sunday next after the Translation of S. Thomas the Archbishop attended with many Earls Bishops and Knights and they surrender'd all to the King but their lives and limbs and their Lord John Balliol gave up all his Right and Title in Scotland to the King of England who sent him under a safe guard towards London Item Edmund Brother to the King of England died this year in Gascoign MCCXCVII Our Lord Edward King of England sail'd into Flanders with an Army against the King of France where after much expence and altercation a form of Peace was concluded between them upon condition they should stand to the award and judgment of the Pope From the one side and the other certain Messengers were sent to the Court of Rome but while the King was in Flanders William Walleis according to a general Resolution of the Scots came with a great Army to Strivelin-bridge to engage John Earl of Warren in which Battel many were slain on both sides and many drown'd but however the English were
in legibus QUI VENERANDA CHRISTIANORUM FIDE ROMANUM MUNIVIT IMPERIUM DIVUS DIVAE MEMORIAE DIVINAE MEMORIAE c. That is An Emperor most valiant most blessed most pious happy Redeemer of the City Founder of Peace Establisher of the Commonwealth Encreaser of the publick Liberty Restorer of the City of Rome and the whole World Great Greatest Invincible Most Invincible Perpetual Ever Augustus Best Governour of humane affairs Most Valiant Most Merciful And in the Laws with these Who fortified the Roman Empire with venerable Christianity Sacred Of blessed memory Of divine memory c. And he is the first Emperor that I can find who in Coins and publick Memorials was ever stiled Dominus noster yet at the same time I am not ignorant that Dioclesian was the first after Caligula that would allow the title of Dominus to be publickly given him However it seems to have been a great over-sight and imprudence in this mighty Emperor that he open'd a passage to the Barbarians into Britain Germany and Gaul For when he had reduc'd the northern nations to that degree that they were not able to annoy him and had newly built the city of Constantinople that he might suppress the mighty growth of the Persians who then began to rival the Roman empire he drew the legions from the frontier garisons partly into the east building forts and castles to supply the want of them and partly to remote cities so that presently after his death the Barbarians forced the towns and castles and broke into the Roman Provinces For this reason Zosimus gives him the character of the first and greatest subverter of that flourishing Empire Government in Britain under the later Emperors But after that Constantine had new modelled the Empire it will not be improper to observe here in short how Britain was govern'd under him and in succeeding times He appointed certain Praefecti Praetorio over the East Illyricum Italy and Gaul and two Masters of the soldiers the one over the horse and the other over the foot in the West who were call'd Praesentales As for Civil matters they were administer'd in Britain by the Praefectus Praetorio of Gaul who supply'd that Office by a deputy honour'd with the title of Spectabilis Vicegerent of Britain Under him were two Consular Deputies answerable to the number of the Provinces and three Praesides who were to determine all causes whether Criminal or Civil As for military matters they were under the rule and management of the Master of the foot in the East and to him were subject the Count of the Britains the Count of the Saxon shore throughout Britain and the Dux Britanniarum who had each of them the title of Spectabilis The Count of Britain Count of Britain seems to have presided over the inner parts of the Island and had the command of seven companies of foot and nine cornets of horse about him The Count of the Saxon shore Count of the Saxon shoâ—e who was to defend the coast against the Saxons and by Ammianuâ— Marcellinus is call'd Comes Traclus Maritâ—mi had seven companies of foot two †Vexillationes troops of horse the second legion and a cohort under him The Duke of Britain who was to take care of the marshes and defend them against Barbarians had the command of 38 garisons consisting in all of 14000 foot and 900 horse so that at that time if Pancirolus has cast up this account right Britain had 19200 foot and 1700 horse or thereabouts There were besides these Officers Count of the Imperial Largesses the Comes Sacrarum Largitionum who had the care of all the Emperor's gifts and largesses He had under him in Britain a Rationalis Summarum Britanniae or Receiver-General Praepositus Thesaurorum Augustensium in Britannia or Lord-Treasurer and a Procurator Gynegii in Britannia or an Overseer of the Gynegium in Britain the place where the Cloaths of the Emperor and army were woven Also the Comes rerum privatarum or Keeper of the Privy Purse had here in Britain his Rationalis rei privatae or private Auditor not to mention the Procurator Ludi Gladiatorii or Overseer of the Fencing-School in Britain mention'd by an old inscription with others of an inferior rank Upon the death of Constantine Constantine Emp. Britain fell to his son Constantine who being spurr'd on by an ambition of soveraignty to invade the rights of others was slain by his brother Constans Constans Emp. Being exalted with this victory Constans possess'd himself of Britain and the other Provinces and came hither with his brother Constantius Hence that address of Julius Firmicus not the Pagan Astrologer but the Christian to them In the winter a thing which was never done hitherto nor will hereafter you have triumph'd over the boisterous and swelling waves of the British Ocean A sea unknown to us hath trembled and the Britains are surpris'd at the unexpected coming of their Emperor What further would you atcheive The elements themselves do yeild themselves conquer'd by your virtues This Constans conven'd the Council at Sardica against the Arrians which consisted of 300 Bishops among whom were the Bishops of Britain who after they had condemn'd the hereticks and confirm'd the Nicaene-Creed voted Athanasius innocent But the young Prince Athanasius in Apol. 2. without any farther application to state affairs grew dissolute and voluptuous this made him burthensome to the Provincials and unacceptable to his army so that Magnentius Count of the Jovij and the Herculei Magnentius called also Tapâ—rus set upon him in a village called Helena as he was hunting and there slew him fulfilling the prophesie that he should end his life in his Grandmother's lap from whom that town was denominated This Magnentius was born amongst the Laeti in Gaul but his Father was a Britain and now upon the murder of Constans he assumed the Imperial robes in Gaul and drew Britain to side with him but for three years together was so warmly oppos'd by Constantius that at last he laid violent hands upon himself one of the most fortunate of Princes for favourable weather plentiful harvests and peace and quietness with the Barbarians things of great moment in the rate and estimate of Princes among the vulgar But for what reason this Magnentius is called in an old Inscription long since dug up at Rome Taporus I leave others to enquire Fonthus it is read there speaking of the Obelisk erected in the Circus Interea Taporo Romam vastante tyranno Angelus Rocha Augusti jacuit donum studiumque locandi Under vile Taporu's tyrannick sway The royal present unregarded lay At this time Gratian sirnamed Funarius Gratianus Funarius was General in Brirain who was father of Valentinian the Emperor He was called Funarius from a Rope A. Marcellinus which in his youth he had to sell and though five soldiers attempted to take it from him yet they could not with
Cair Dorin Dorchester Dorchester call'd by Bede Civitas Dorciniae and by Leland Hydropolis which is a name of his own invention but well adapted to the nature of the place Dour signifying water in the British tongue That this was formerly a station of the Romans several of their Coins found frequently in this place do sufficiently attest and our Histories tell us it was once a Bishop's See founded by Birinus the Apostle of the West-Saxons who having baptiz'd Cinigilse a petty King of the West-Saxons to whom Oswald King of Northumberland was Godfather the two Kings as Bede tells us gave the Bishop this City to constitute here his Episcopal See This Birinus as we learn from the same Bede was f Whereupon we find in the MS. History of Alchester A round hill there still appears where the superstitious ensuing ages built Birinus a shrine teaching them that had any Cattel amiss to creep to that shrine for help esteem'd in that age as a miracle of piety and strictness of life whence an old Poet who wrote his life in verse does thus extol him Dignior attolli quà m sit Tyrinthius heros Quà m sit Alexander Macedo Tyrinthius hostes Vicit Alexander mundum Birinus utrunque Nec tantum vicit mundum Birinus hostem Sed sese bello vincens victus eodem Alcides less than thee shall men proclaim And Alexander own thy greater fame Tho that his foes and this the world o'recame With foes and world Birinus did subdue Himself the vanquisht and the victor too This See after four hundred and sixty years continuance lest the name and authority of a Bishop might grow contemptible from so mean and inconsiderable a place against which a Council of Bishops had g An. 1072. lately provided was translated to Lincoln by Remigius in the time of William the Conquerour At which time says William of Malmsbury who flourisht in that age Dorchester was a small and unfrequented village yet the beauty and state of its Churches was very remarkable as well for the ancient work as the present care taken of them After this removal of the Bishop's Chair it began sensibly to decay and of late the great road to London which lay through the town being turn'd another way it is so weakned and impoverisht that though it was formerly a city it scarce now deserves the name of a town Nor has it any thing to boast of but the ruins of its former greatness of which we find some signs and tokens in the adjacent fields qq Near this place Tame and Isis with mutual consent joyn as it were in wedlock and mix their names as well as their waters being h See the Additions to Wiltshire about the beginning henceforth call'd Tham-Isis or the Thames Tame and Isis joyn in like manner as the rivers Jor and Dan in the Holy Land and Dor and Dan in France from which composition are Jordan and Dordan This seems to have been first observ'd by the Author of the Eulogium Historiarum Of the marriage of Tame and Isis I present you here with some verses from a Poem of that title which you may read or pass over as you please Hic vestit Zephyrus florentes gramine ripas Floraque nectareis redimit caput Isidis herbis Seligit ambrosios pulcherrima Gratia flores Contexit geminas Concordia laeta corollas Extollitque suas taedas Hymenaeus in altum Naiades aedificant thalamumque thorumque profundo Stamine gemmato textum pictisque columnis Undique fulgentem Qualem nec Lydia Regi Extruxit Pelopi nec tu Cleopatra marito Illic manubias cumulant quas Brutus Achivis Quas Brennus Graecis rigidus Gurmundus Hibernis Bunduica Romanis claris Arthurius Anglis Eripuit quicquid Scotis victricibus armis Abstulit Edwardus virtusque Britannica Gallis Hauserat interea sperati conjugis ignes Tama Catechlanûm delabens montibus illa Impatiens nescire thorum nupturaque gressus Accelerat longique dies sibi stare videntur Ambitiosa suum donec praeponere nomen Possit amatori Quid non mortalia cogit Ambitio notamque suo jam nomine * Tame villam Linquit Norrisiis geminans salvete valete Cernitur tandem Dorcestria prisca petiti Augurium latura thori nunc Tama resurgit Nexa comam spicis trabea succincta virenti Aurorae superans digitos vultumque Diones Pestanae non labra rosae non lumina gemmae Lilia non aequant crines non colla pruinae Utque fluit crines madidos in terga repellit Reddit undanti legem formamque capillo En subito frontem placidis è fluctibus Isis Effert totis radios spargentia campis Aurea stillanti resplendent lumina vultu Jungit optatae nunc oscula plurima Tamae Mutuaque explicitis innectunt colla lacertis Oscula mille sonant connexu brachia pallent Labra ligant animos tandem descenditur una In thalamum quo juncta Fide Concordia sancta Splendida conceptis sancit connubia verbis Undique multifori strepitat nunc tibia buxi Flucticolae Nymphae Dryades Satyrique petulci In numeros circum ludunt ducuntque choreas Dum pede concutiunt alterno gramina laeti Permulcent volucres sylvas modulamine passim Certatimque sonat laetum reparabilis Echo Omnia nunc rident campi laetantur Amores Fraenatis plaudunt avibus per inania vecti Personat cythara quicquid vidêre priores Pronuba victura lauro velata Britôna Haec canit ut toto diducta Britannia mundo Cum victor rupes divulserit aequore Nereus Et cur Neptuni lapidosa grandine natum Albionem vicit nostras delatus in oras Hercules illimes libatus Thamisis undas Quas huc adveniens aras sacravit Ulysses Utque Corinaeo Brutus comitatus Achate Occiduos adiit tractus ut Caesar anhelus Territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis c. And after a few other verses Dixerat unito consurgit unus amore Laetior exultans nunc nomine Tamisis uno Oceanumque patrem quaerens jactantior undas Promovet Here with soft blasts obliging Zephyrs pass And cloath the flowry banks with long-liv'd grass The fragrant Crown that her glad hands have made Officious Flora puts on Isis head The beauteous Graces have their business too They brush the weeping flowers from their ambrosial dew Which joyful Concord does with pleasing care Weave into Chaplets for the God-like pair While Hymen's mounted Taper lights the air In a fair vault beneath the swelling stream The Marriage-bed the busie Naiads frame Where brightest gems the painted columns grace And doubly shine with their reflected rays No such great Pelops kingdom could afford Nor lavish Cleopatra for her Lord. On this the Virgins in vast numbers pile Proud spoils and trophies of the conqu'ring Isle What Bundwic Gurmund Brennus Brute brought home From Greece from Gaul from Ireland and from Rome What mighty Arthur from the Saxons won What Edward from the Scots and
seat of the Constables of England in the latter end of the Saxons and afterwards too as the Ely-book informs us 12 At this town the first William Mandevill Earl of Essex began a castle and two c. To the sâ—me place two very powerful Nobles when they could not keep themselves between the two extreams of base flattery and down-right obstinacy to their Prince do owe their death Thomas de Woodstock Duke of Glocester and Earl of Essex 13 Who founded here a College and John Holland Earl of Huntingdon brother by the Mother's side to King Richard 2. and once Duke of Exeter though he was afterwards depriv'd of that honour The former for his rash contumacy was hurried from hence to Calais and strangled the other was beheaded in this very place for rebeilion by command of Henry 4. So that he seems as it were to have satisfied Woodstock's ghost of whose fall he was accounted the main procurer Hence the Chelmer not far from Leez runs by a little Monastery built by the Gernons at present the seat of the Lords Rich who owe their honour to Richard Rich Bâ—â—ons â—â—ch a man of great prudence and Chancellour of England under Edward the sixth Hatfâ—â—ld-Peverel al. Peperking A little lower is seated Hatfield-Peverel call'd so from the owner of it Ranulph Peverel who had to wife one of the most celebrated beauties of the age daughter to Ingelric a noble Saxon. The Book of St. Martins in London She founded here a College now ruin'd and lyes in-tomb'd †In fenestrâ in the window of the Church whereof a little still remains By her he had William Peverel Governour of Dover-castle and 14 Sir Payne Pain Peverel L of Brun in Cambridgeshire The same woman bore to William the Conquerour whose Concubine she was William Peverel L. of Nottingham But to return to the Chelmer Next it visits Chelmerford vulgarly Chensford Chensford which by the distance from Camalodunum should be the old Canonium Canonium f This is a pretty large town seated almost in the middle of the County between two rivers which here joyn their friendly streams Chelmer from the east and another from the south of which if as some will have it the name be Can we may safely enough conclude this place to have been Canonium It was famous in the memory of our fathers for a little Monastery built by Malcolm King of Scotland At present 't is remarkable only for the Assizes which are here kept This place began to recover some repute when Maurice Bishop of London to whom it belong'd in the time of Henry 1. built here a bridge and brought the great road through this town Before it lay through Writtle Writle formerly Estre famous for the largeness of the parish which King Henry the third gave to Robert Bruce Lord of Anandale in Scotland who had married one of the daughters and heirs of John 15 Sirnamed Scot. the last Earl of Chester because he was unwilling the County of Chester should be possessed only by a couple of women But the posterity of Bruce forsaking their Allegiance Edward the second granted this place to Humfrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex Of late when King James at his first coming to the Crown advanced several deserving persons to the honourable degree of Barons among others he created John Petre a very eminent Knight Baron Petre of Writtle whose father 16 Sir William William Petre a man of extraordinary prudence and learning was not so famous for the great offices he had bore in the Kingdom having been of the Privy Council to Henry the eighth Edward the sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth and often Embassador to foreign States as for his liberal education and encouragement to learning at Oxford and for the relief of the poor at d This Place in the Bull of Pope Paul 4. whereby he granted the aforesaid William Petre the sale of several Monasteries belonging to Religious-houses dissolv'd by King Henry 8. is call'd Ging-Abbatissâ—e alià s Ging ad Petram vel Ingerstone And in the neighbourhood are several Villages whereof Ging or inge make part of the name as Ging-grave Menas-inge Marget-inge and Frier-inge Engerston 17 Where he lyeth buried near this place Froshwell call'd more truly Pant and afterwards Blackwater rising out of a little spring near Radwinter which belong'd to the Lords Cobham after it hath run a great way and met with nothing considerable except e Dr. Fuller is mistaken when he says it is in the gift of the Lords of the Manour of Dorewards-hall for it ever was in the Patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury as the learned Mr. Ousley inform'd me from Records and the whole Town belong'd to the Priory of Christ's-Church at Canterbury till the dissolution The relation it has to this See has made it been always fill'd with men eminent for learning and the present Incumbent Nathaniel Sterry B. D. is inferiour to none of his Predecessors Bocking a very rich Parsonage Cogshal built by King Stephen for Cluniack Monks And the habitation of ancient Knights thence sirnamed de Cogeshall from whose Heir-general married into the old family of Tirrell there branched forth a fair propagation of the Tirrels in this shire and elsewhere Then goeth on this water by Easterford some call it East-Sturford and Whittam built by Edward the elder in the year 914. which is said to have been the Honour of Eustace Earl of Bologn meets with the Chelmer which coming down with its whole stream from a pretty high hill not far from Danbury that was long the habitation of the noble family of the Darcies passeth by Woodham-Walters Woodham-Walters the ancient seat of the Lords Fitz-Walters as eminent for the nobility as the antiquity of their family Barons Fitz-Walters being descended from Robert younger son to Richard Fitz-Gislbert Earl And in the last age grafted by marriage into the family of the Ratcliffs who being advanced to the dignity of Earls of Sussex have now a noble seat not far from hence call'd New-hall New-hall This belong'd formerly to the Butlers Earls of Ormond then to 19 Sir Thomas Thomas Bollen E. of Wiltshire of whom King Henry 8 procur'd it by exchange Leland in Cygnea-Cantio and having been at a great deal of charge to enlarge it gave it the new name of Beau-lieu though this never obtain'd among the common people Now the Chelmer with the confluence of the other waters being divided by a river-Island and losing its old name for that of Blackwater or Pant salutes the old Colony of the Romans Camalodunum Câ—maloduâ—â—m which has made this shore famous call'd by Ptolemy Camudolanum by Antoninus Camulodunum and Camoludunum but that the true name is Camalodunum we have the authority of Pliny Dio and of an ancient marble to evince In the search of this City how strangely have some persons