in a little Town in this County it rained blood the red drops whereof appeared in sheets hung out to dry In the 22 of Q. Elizabeth 1580. there fell such great rains in September and October as caused very great floods in divers parts of the Kingdom in Newport the Cottages were born down and the Corn lost in Bedford the water came up to the Market place where their Houshold stuff swum about their Houses their Wood Corn and Hay were carried away and the Town of St. Needs in Huntingtonshire was suddainly overflowed while the Inhabitants were in bed the waters brake in with such violence that the Town was all defaced the Swans swum down the Market-place Godmanchester was also overflown their Houses being full of water and their Cattel destroved At St. Needs in K. Hen. 7ths time there fell Hailstones which were measured 18 inches about At Asply near Woburn in this County there is a little Rivolet the Earth whereof it is reported turneth Wood into Stone and that a wooden Ladder was to be seen in the Monastery hard by which having lain a great while covered all over with it was digged out again all Stone Take the strange operation of it from his Pen who though a Poet is a credible Author The Brook which on her bank doth boast that earth alone Much noted in this Isle converteth wood to stone This little Asplyes Earth we anciently instile ' Mongst sundry other things a wonder of the Isle There is another of the same nature in Northamptonshire of which hereafter In 1507. Thomas Chase a Religious sober Man being a very zealous opposer of Popish Idolatry and Superstition was thereupon brought before the Bishop at Woburn by means of some malicious Informers who proposed divers questions to him intermixt with many Taunts Jears and Reproaches Chase answered him very undauntedly defending the Truth against Popish errors boldly for which he was committed into the Bishops Prison called Little Ease where he lay cruelly manacled with Chains and Fetters and almost starved for hunger which when the Bishop saw did not prevail upon him but that the more severely he was used he was the more fervent in defending the Protestant Faith he resolved privately to murder him for fear of an uproar amongst the People and accordingly soon after ordered him to be strangled and pressed to death in the Prison he still heartily calling upon God to receive his Spirit the Bishop causing it to be reported that he had hanged himself in Prison This was in the Reign of K. Henry 7. In 1506. One William Tilsworth was condemned by Dr. Smith Bishop of Lincoln for Heresy and burnt in this County at his burning his only Daughter a Religious Woman and Wife to one Clark was compelled by the bloody Papists to set fire with her own hands to her dear Father and at the same time John Clark her Husband with many others did pennance by bearing Faggots and were burnt in the Cheek with an hot Iron and about two years after Thomas Bernard Husbandman and James Melvin Labourer were both burnt for the Protestant Religion in one Fire in this Shire The chief Town of this County is Bedford most fruiâ—fully and pleasantly seated without the Town there formerly stood a Chappel upon the bank of the River Ouse wherein as some Authors affirm the Body of Ossa the great Mercian King was interred but by the overswelling of that River was carryed away and swallowed up whose Tomb of Lead as if it were some Phantastical thing appeared often to them that sought it not but to them that seek it saith Ross it is invisible In K. Henry 3. his Reign while a Parliament was sitting at Northampton an unsufferable outrage was complained of to them committed by one Falcacius a Norman by birth who seized upon Henry Braybrook a Judge as he was upon the Bench at the Assizes at Dunstable and clapped him close Prisoner in Bedford-Castle with a strong Guard upon him because 30 Verdicts had passed against him upon Tryals at Law for Lands which he had forceably entred upon the Judges Wife came to the Parliament and with her Tears and complaints so moved them with pitty and indignation that all other matters laid aside the Clergy as well as Laity attended the King to besiege the Castle Falcacius being Governor thereof was gone himself into Wales with hopes of raising more Forces to maintain his Rebellion but had left his Brother Lieutenant in his room with a desperate crew of Villains and all manner of Ammunition and Provision sufficient for a whole years Siege yet after 2 Months the Castle was taken by Storm the Lieutenant and all his Companions hanged and the Castle itself pull'd down to the ground as a den of Thieves and to deter all others for the future from committing such Villanous and Treasonable Crimes This Falcacius as we said was a French-man born and a Bastard and came over in K. Johns time in a very mean condition by whom for his Courage he was made Governor of Bedford Castle to defend it against the Barons where by plunder and Rapine he got a great deal of mony together K. John likewise forcing a Lady who was a great Heiress to Marry him no less to her own discontent than disparagement but now when his Castle was thus unexpectedly levelled to the Earth and all his Estate seized to the King he prevails with the Bishop of Coventry to bring him to the King at Bedford where throwing himself at the Kings feet he implores his mercy for his forme good Services which he with difficulty obtained but upon condition to be sent into perpetual banishment which was done accordingly and the King was so incensed at the keeping of his Castle against him that he thereupon commanded all Frenchmen to depart by a a time limited under a very severe penalty In the 7th of Queen Elizabeth Henry Cheyney High Sheriff of Bedfordshire was created Baron of Tuddington in this County in his Youth he was very wild and ventrous witness his playing at Dice with Henry 2. King of France from whom he won a Diamond of great worth at a cast and being demanded by the King what shift he would have made to repair himself in case he had lost the cast I have said young Cheyney in a huffing bravery Sheeps Tails enough in Kent where he had an Estate with their Wool to buy a better Diamond than this in his latter age he was much reduced and very grave dying without issue Dunstable is seated in a chalky ground well Inhabited and full of Inns hath four Streets answerable to the four Quarters of the world in every one of which there is a pond of standing water for the publick use of the Inhabitants a Tale of vain credit is reported of this Town that it was built to bridle the outragiousness of a strong Theif called Dun by K. Henry 1. but certain it is that the place was held by the Romans yet Sir
Inscription alluding to the Mettal In Martins-Comb I long lay hid Obscure deprest with grossest Soil Debased much with mixed Lead Till Bulmer came whose skill and toil Reformed me so pure and clean As richer no where else is seen This County hath many commodious Havens for Ships among which Totnes was famous for Brutes first entrance if Geffry Monmouth say true and another Poet who writes thus of Brute The Gods did guide his Sail and Course The Winds were at command And Totnes was the happy shore Where first he came to land But it is more certain and withal more lamentable that the Danes first entred at Teignemouth to invade this Land about 787 unto whom Brightrick King of the West Saxons sent the Steward of his house to know their demands whom they villanously slew yet were they forced back to their Ships by the Inhabitants With more happy success hath Plimouth set forth men of renowned Fame and prevented the entrance of Invaders as in the Reign of that eternised Queen the Mirrour of Princes Elizabeth of everlasting memory for from this Port Sir Francis Drake that famous Knight and most valiant Sea Captain set forth to Sea in 1577 and entred into the Streights of Magellane and in Two Years and Ten Months through various changes of Fortune Divine Providence being his Guide and valour his Consort sailed round about the World of whom one writ thus Drake peragrati novit quem terminus orbis c. Drake whom the incompast World so fully knew Whom both the Poles of Heaven at once did view If Men are silent Stars and Sun will care To Register their Fellow-Traveller As he lived most part of his Time so he died and was buried at Sea when his Corps was cast out of the Ship one made this Tetrastick on him Though Romes Religion should in time return Drake none thy Body will ungrave again There is no fear Posterity should burn Those Bones which free from Fire in Sea remain And the Lord Charles Howard High Admiral did not only from Plimouth impeach the entrance of the proud Invincible Spanish Armado in 88. but with his Cannons marked them so as shewed who had had the handling of them as tokens of their own Shame and his immortal Honour The Commodities of this Shire consist much in Wool and Clothing Corn is likewise very plenteous as likewise Fish and Fowl The City of Exeter is the Shire Town environed with Ditches and strong Walls a mile and half in Circuit wherein are 15 Parish Churches and a Castle called Rugemont which commands the whole City and Country about it and hath a pleasant prospect into the Sea The River Lid by Lidford runs under ground the stream sinking so deep that it is altogether invisible but it supplies to the Ear what it denies to the Eye so great is the noise thereof In the Parish of North-Taun on near an House called Bath there is a Pit but in the Winter a Pool not maintained by any Spring but the fall of rain water and therefore commonly dry in Summer of which Pool it hath been observed saith Dr. Fuller that before the death or change of any Prince or some other strange accident of great importance or any Invasion or Insurrection it will though in a hot and dry season without any rain overflow its banks and so continue till that which it prognosticated be past and fulfilled and the Relater who published his book 1648. reports That it overflowed four times in 30 years past There is another thing in this County called the Hanging Stone being one of the bound stones which parteth Comb-Martin from the next Parish it took the name from a Theif who having stoln a Sheep and tyed it about his neck to carry it on his back rested himself a while upon this Stone which is about a foot high till the Sheep strugling slid over the Stone on the other side and so strangled the man which appeareth rather to be a Providence than a casualty in the just execution of a Malefactor We may add to these wonders the Gubbings which is a Scythia within England and they pure Heathens within this place lyeth nigh Brent Tor on the edge of Dartmoor it is reported that about 200 years ago two Strumpets being with Child fled thither to hide themselves to whom certain debauched Fellows resorted and that this was their Original they are a People who live by themselves exempt from all Authority Ecclesiastical and Civil they dwell in Cottages like Swine being rather holes than Houses having all in common and multiplied without Marriage into many Hundreds their Language is the dross of the dregs of the Devonshire Speech and the more learned a man is the less they can understand him during our Civil Wars no Souldiers were quartered among them for fear of being themselves quartered by them their Wealth consists of other mens Goods and they live by stealing the Sheep on the Moor and vain it is for any to search their Houses being a work beneath the pains of a Sheriff and above the Power of any Constable their swiftness is such that they will outrun many Horses they are so healthful that they outlive most men living in the ignorance of Luxury the extinguisher of life they hold together like Burs and if you offend one all will revenge his Quarrel In the year 959. Edgar one of the Saxon Kings of this Land hearing of the admirable beauty of Elfrida the only Daughter of Ordgarus Duke of Devonshire and Founder of Tavistock Abby in that County he sent his great Favourite Earl Ethelwold who could well judge of beauty to try the truth thereof with Commission that if he found her such as Fame reported he should bring her with him and he would make her his Queen the young Earl upon sight of the Lady was so surprized that he began to woe her for himself and had procured her Fathers good will in case he could obtain the Kings consent hereupon the Earl posted back to the King relating to him That the Lady was fair indeed but nothing answerable to the report that went of her yet desired the King that he might Marry her as being her Fathers Heir thereby to raise his Fortune The King consented and the Marriage was solemnized soon after the fame of her beauty began to spread more than before so that the King much doubting he had been abused resolved to try the truth himself and thereupon taking occasion to hunt in the Dukes Park came to his house whose coming Ethelwold suspecting acquainted his Wife with the wrong he had done both her and the King in disparaging her beauty and therefore to prevent the Kings displeasure intreated her by all manner of persuasions he could possibly use to cloth her self in such attire as might least set her forth but she resolving to be revenged and considering that now was the time to make the most of her beauty and longing to be a Queen would
Air and clean ways it is full of many Gentile Habitations it hath good Box Walnuts Fullers Earth and Corn excellent Tapestry is also used at Moreclack in this County Kingston was formerly the seat of many Kings and Gilford hath been much larger being formerly the Royal Mansion of divers Saxon Monarchs There are two most beautiful Palaces in this Shire Richmond and Nonsuch The Medicinal Waters at Ebsham or Epsum are much frequented which were found out about 1618. upon this occasion one Henry Wicker in a dry Summer and great want of water for Cattle discovered some water standing in the footing of some Beast he at first suspected it to be their Urine but was quickly confuted by the clearness thereof he therefore with his staff digged a square hole about it and so departed returning next day he could hardly find the place in so wide a Common at last he found the hole running over with most clear water which the Cattle though very thirsty would not drink of as having a Mineral Tast It is concluded to run through some veins of Allom and at first was used only for healing outward sores which it performed but since hath been inwardly taken and with good effect in many diseases The convenient distance from London addeth to the reputation of these waters and no wonder if Citizens coming thither from the worst of Smoaks into the best of Airs find in themselves a perfect alteration There is a River in this County which at a place called the Swallow sinketh into the Earth and riseth again some two Miles off near Leatherhead which the Country People say was experimented in a Goose which was put in and came out again alive though without Feathers Nor may we forget a Vault nigh Rygate of very fine sand capable of receiving 500 men which Castle under ground was in ancient time the Mansion of some great Person having several Rooms therein If it be meerly natural it doth curiously imitate Art if purely artificial it doth most lively represent Nature We read that K. Edward 3. that glorious Conqueror after he had reigned 50 Years and 4 Months being in the 60th Year of his Age 1377. fell into his last sickness at Richmond where when he was observed to be drawing on his Concubine Alice Pierce came to his Bed side and took the Royal Rings from his Fingers and leaving him gasping for breath went away The Knights Esquires and Officers of his Court rifled whatever they could and hasted away also only a poor Priest lamenting the Kings Misery that amongst all his Counsellors and servants there was none to assist him in his last Moments entred his Chamber exhorting the King to lift up his Eyes and Hands to God to repent him of his sins and to implore the Mercy of Heaven and its forgiveness the King had before quite lost his Speech but at these words taking strength uttered his mind though imperfectly in these matters and made signs of contrition wherein his voice and speech failed him and scarce pronouncing this word Jesu yielded up the Ghost In 1491. K. Hen. 7. held solemn Justing at Richmond which continued for a Month wherein Sir James Parker running against Mr. Hugh Vaughan by reason of a faulty Helmet he was struck into the month at the first course so that his Tongue was thrust into the hinder part of his Head and died immediately in the place In 1602. Q. Elizabeth feeling some Infirmities of old Age and Sickness retired her self to Richmond at which time as a sad Omen she commanded the Ring to be filed off her Finger wherewith she was solemnly at first inaugurated into the Kingdom and since that time had never taken it off it being grown into the Flesh in such a manner that it could not be drawn off without filing at the beginning of her sickness the Almonds of her Jaws began to swell her Appetite to fail her and she was very melancholy which some imputed to her loss of Essex others because she heard that divers of the Nobility sought the favour of the K. of Scots adoring him as the rising Sun and neglecting her but however a numness seised her and she would discourse with none but Dr. Whitgift A. B. of Canterbury with whom she prayed fervently till her Speech failed her which was a day before her death she being so ill it was thought fit the Secretary and Admiral should go to her and know her mind concerning a Successour to whom she answered My Throne hath been the Throne of Kings I would have no mean Person succeed me The Secretary requesting her to speak more plainly I will said she have a King succeed me and what King but the King of Scots my nearest Kinsman After this the Archbishop exhorting her to think upon God That I do said she nor do my thoughts ever wander from him And when her Tongue no longer served her it was evident by the lifting up of her Hands and Eyes that her thoughts were fixed upon him and so on the 24 of March being the last day of the Year 1602. she yielded up her Soul to God when she had lived 69 Years 6 Months and 7 Days whereof she had reigned 44 Years 4 Months Her Body was embalmed wrapped in Lead and brought to White-Hall from whence April 28. following it was buried at Westminster Abby at which time the City of Westminster was surcharged with a multitude of all sorts of People in the Streets Houses Windows and Leads who came to see the Funeral and when they beheld her statue lying in Royal Robes with a Crown upon her Head there was such a general sighing groaning and weeping as the like hath not been seen nor known in the memory of man neither doth any History mention any People time or state to make the like lamentation for the death of their Soveraign It is said there were 1600 Mourners in black at her Funeral Thomas Cromwell was born at Putney in Surrey his Father was a Blacksmith and therefore could bestow no great matter on his Education yet such was his wit and activity that he made his own Fortune He was in the service of Cardinal Wolsey after whose death he is recommended to K. Henry 8. who finding the quickness of his understanding advised with him in many difficult matters and upon occasion he informed the King how his Princely Authority was abused by the Pope and his Clergy who being sworn to him were afterward dispensed with and sworn anew to the Pope so that he was but half a King c. He also shewed him that the Clergy by their Oath were fallen into a Premunire and their Goods Lands Chattels and Possessions were fallen to the King which he afterward demonstrated to the Bishops to be true who gave the King above an hundred thousand pound for Composition after this by his persuasion the King suppressed all the Abbies and Monasteries in England and commanded the Bible to be Printed and read in the
and likewisâ— King Charles the Martyr In the Reign of K. Henry 8. 1544. Anthony Persons a Priest Robert Testwood a Singing man of the Quire and Henry Filmer Churchwarden of Windsor who had Articled against their Superstitious Vicar were all three burnt together at Windsor for the Protestant Profession when Persons was fastned to the Stake he laid a great deal of Straw on the top of his head saying This is Gods Hat I am now armed like a Souldier of Christ Robert Testwood was condemned for dissuading the People from Pilgrimages for walking in Windsor Chappel he saw multitudes of Pilgrims that came flocking out of Devonshire and Cornwall with Candles and Images to offer at the Shrine of King Henry of Windsor Testwoods Spirit was much moved to see this Idolatry and thereupon he mildly exhorted them to leave that false Worship performed to dumb Images and to learn to Worship the living God aright shewing them how God plagued his own People the Jews for going a Whoring after such stocks and Stones and would certainly plague them and their posterities if they did not reform This so much prevail'd upon some that they said They would never go on Pilgrimage again Testwood going farther saw another Company licking and kissing a white Lady of Alabaster that stood behind the high Altar rubbing their hands upon it and then stroking their heads and faces therewith which so provoked him that with a Key he had in his Hand he struck off a piece of the Images Nose saying See good People this is nothing but a piece of Earth that cannot help itself how then is it like to help you When these three were burning King Hen. 8. came by the place on Horseback and having an account of their Christian and patient death the King turning his Horses â—ead said Alas poor Innocents a better speech it had â—een from a private Person than a Prince who is bound â—y his Office not only to pity but protect oppressed â—nnocence however by this occasion other persecuted People were pardoned and preserved There is a Proverb in this County that the Vicar of Bray will be Vicar of Bray still Bray is a Village well known in this Shire and the Ancient Vicar thereof living under K. Henry 8. K. Edward the 6. Q. Mary and Q. Elizabeth was at first a Papist then a Protestant then â— Papist then a Protestant again he had seen some Martyrs burnt two miles off at Windsor and found this Fire too hot for his tender temper this Vicar being â—axed by one for being a Turncoat and an unconstant Changeling No said he that 's your mistake for I always kept my Principle which is this to live and die the Vicar of Bray and no doubt there are some still of the same saving Principles who though they cannot turn the wind will turn their Mills and set them so that wherever it bloweth their Grist will certainly be grinded In the Reign of K. Will. Rufus 1100. at Finchamsted in this County a Well boyled up with streams of blood and continued so 15 days together and the waters discoloured all others where they came and great flames of fire were seen in divers places at several times In the year 1348 there was a very great Plague all over Europe and then was Wallingford being a bigger and more considerable Town than now it is almost dispeopled with it In 1237. Ottoâ—on a Cardinal came as Legate from the Pope to K. Henry 3. and lying at Osney Abby there happened a difference between his Servants the Schollars at Oxford in which contention a Brother of his was slain and the Legate for fear got him into a Steeple till the Kings Officers coming from Abingdon conveyed him to Wallingford after which the Cardinal cursed and interdicted the Schollars and University so that the Colledges grew desolate and the Students were dispersed into other places for half a yearâ— time till the Monks and Masters of the University were forced to go bare-footed and bare-headed a great way to the Legates Lodgings and there upon their humble submission and great Mens intercession they were pardoned and absolved and the University restored to its former Estate such was the pride of the Superior and the base-spirit edness of the Inferiour Clergy in these days of Popery and Slavery In the time of Hen. 6. 1431. certain lewd Persons began an Insurrection at Abington which might have occasioned much mischief if the chief Author thereof one Mundevile a Weaver had not been taken and hanged In the year 1647. Several freakish and enthusiastick Women at Newbery in this County pretended to Divine Revelations and Dreams wherein very glorious things were discovered to them and the chief of them had such strange gestures and Fits as astonished the Spectators this Woman declared she had a Revelation that such a night she should be taken up into Heaven at which time many of her deluded Followers assembled together and took their solemn leave of her with Tears and the hour being come out they all go to see her ascension it was a Moonshine night and as they expected when an Angel should fetch her up in a Chariot a Cloud covers the Moon whereupon they all cry out Bebold he comes in the Clouds but the Cloud soon vanished and thereby their hopes were frustrated after a while comes a flock of Wild-Geese a great way off upon which they again cry out He comes he comes but when the Wild-Geese were gone they were fain at length to return home again as wise as they came having made themselves ridiculous to the Spectators Reading is the chief Town in this Shire It is divided into 20 Hundreds wherein there are 12 Market Towns 140 Parishes and out of it are Elected 9 Parliament Men that is for the County 2 New-Windsor 2 Reading 2 Wallingford 2 Abington 1. Eaton is adjoining to Windsor by a wooden Bridge over the Thames wherein there is a fair Colledge of that name and a famous School of good Learning founded and built by K. Henry 6 in which besides the Provost 8 Fellows and the singing Choristers there are 60 Schollars instructed in Grammar and in due time preferred to the University of Cambridge this County is in the Diocess of Salisbury and gives the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable Thomas L. Howard BEDFORDSHIRE hath Northamptonshire on the North Huntington and Cambridgeshire on the East Hartfordshire on the South and Buckinghamshire on the West thereof in the year 1399. just before the Wars broke out between the Houses of Lancaster and York on New-years-day the deep River which runs between Suelstone and Harwood two Villages not far from Bedford Town called Cuse suddenly stood still and divided itself so that by the space of three miles the bottom remained dry and backwards the waters swel'd up to a great height which wonder many judicious Persons thought did presage the division of the People falling away from the King and a while after
are all deceased it is in the Diocess of Ely CHESHIRE hath Lancashire on the North Denby Flintshire and the Irish Ocean on the West Darby and Stafford shires on the East and Shropshire on the South it produces the best Cheese also Milstones Fish Fowl and all sorts of Cattel in K. Richar 2. time it was made a Principality the City of Chester is the chief Town and in the daies of King Edgar was in a very flourishing condition he having the homage of 8 other Kings who rowed his Barge from St. Johns to hâ— Pallace himself holding the helm as their Supream a fair stone Bridge is built over the River Dee upon 8 Arches at either end whereof is a Gate from whence the walls incompass the City high and strongly built with four fair Gates opening to the 4 winds besides 3 Posterns and 7 Watch Towers it is reported by credible and believed by discreet Persons that there is a Pool adjoining to Brereton the seat of the Honourable Family of the Breretons wherein Bodies of Trees are seen to swim for certain days together before the death of any Heir of that house and after the Heir is dead they sink and are never seen more till the next occasion neither must we forget the many Fir-trees found buried under ground on the Southside of Cheshire by the River Wever which the common People imagine to have lain buried there ever since Noah's Flood the Inhabitants cut pieces of such wood very small and use them instead of Candles which give a good light the Author adds That such wooden Candles have long snuffs and yet saith he which indeed is a wonder in falling down they do no harm though they light into Tow Flax or the like yet let not this incourage careless Servants since this Country has been sadly sensible of casualties by Fire Nantwich a fair Market Town therein being twice burnt to the ground in 150 years In 1657. July 8 In the Parish of Bickly in this County about 3 in the afternoon was heard a very great noise like Thunder afar off which was much wondred at because the sky was clear from Clouds soon after says the Author a Neighbour comes and tells me if I would go with him I should see a very strange thing so coming into a Field called Layfield we found a very great bank of Earth which had tall Oaks growing on it now quite sunk under ground Trees and all at first we durst not go near it because the earth for near 20 yards about was much rent and seemed ready to fall in but since that time saith he my self and some others by Ropes have ventured to look down and saw water at the bottom about 30 yards from us under which is sunk all the Earth about it for 16 yards round at least with 3 or 4 tall Oaks and certain other small Trees and not a sprig of them to be seen above water four or five Oaks more were expected to fall every moment and a great quantity of Land beside it never ceasing more or less and when any considerable clod fell it was much like the report of a Canon we could discern the ground hollow above the water a great way but how far or how deep is not to be found out by man the water was salt like that of the Sea from whence some imagine it came through certain large passages under ground but it is probable to be no other than that which issues from those salt Springs about Nantwich and other places in this County may we not also judge that those Trees which are digged up in some places hereabout were buried in the Earth by some such accident as this is July 30. 1662 was a very stormy and Tempestuous day in many parts of Cheshire and Lancashire at Ormskirk there was such a storm of hail as brake the Glass-windows and did much hurt to their Corn Mr. Heywood measured an Hailstone after some of it was wasted and found it four inches about others being thought larger the same day in the afternoon in the Forrest of Maxfeild in Cheshire there arose a great Pillar of smoke in height like a Steeple and judg'd 20 yards broad which making a most hideous noise went along the ground 6 or 7 miles levelling all in the way it threw down Fences and Stonewalls and carried the Stones a great distance from their places but happening upon Moorish ground not inhabited it did the less hurt the terrible noise it made so affrighted the Cattel that they ran away and were thereby preserved it passed over a Cornfield and laid all as even with the ground as if it had been troden down with Feet it went through a Wood and turned up above an hundred Trees by the Roots coming into a Field full of Cocks of Hay ready to be carried in it swept all away so that scarce an handful of it could afterward be found only it left a great Tree behind in the middle of the Field which it had brought from some other place from the Forrest of Maxfield it went up by a Town called Taxal and thence to Waily Bridge where and no where else it overthrew an house or two yet the People that were in them received not much hurt but the Timber was carried away no body knew whither from thence it went up the Hills into Derbyshire and so vanished this account was given by Mr. Hurst Minister of Taxal who had it from an Eye-witness Dr. Walter Needham an eminent and learned Physician in a late discourse of Anatomy gives a Relation of a Child that cryed in its Mothers Womb which is as followeth A long time saith he I could scarce believe that there were such cryings till I was informed of that which I now set down by a Noble Lady in Cheshire as this Honourable Person sate after meat in the Dining Room with her Husband their Domestick Chaplain and divers others she was sensible of an extraordinary stirring in her Belly which so lift up her cloths that it it was easily discernable to those that were present she was then with Child and in her seventh month upon a suddain there was a voice heard but whence it should come they were not able to conjecture not suspecting any thing of the Embrio in her Womb soon after they perceived the Belly and Garments of the Lady to have a second and notable commotion and withal heard a cry as if it proceeded from thence while they were amazed at what had passed and were discoursing together of this Prodigy all that before had happened did a third time so manifestly appear that being now become more attentive they doubted not but that the cry came from her Womb the Girl that was so talkative in the Womb of her Mother doth yet live and is likely enough so to continue I cannot doubt saith he of the Truth of so eminent a story receiving the confirmation of it from so credible Persons There is a Proverb
in this Country Cheshire Chief of Men which I hope does not carry a Challenge with it as ingrossing Manhood to themselves for then the Men of Kent will undertake these Chief of Men and another Proverb will cross this That no man is so good but that another may be as good as he indeed the Cestrians have behaved themselves valiantly in their undertakings which was well known to K. Richard 2. who in dangerous times sent for 2000 Cheshire Men all Archers to attend him which number in time of a suspicious Parliament was doubled by him all of them being allowed Bread and Bâ—er and six pence a day besides which was large wages in those days pity it was that the valour of these Cheshire Men was once wasted against themselves in a terrible Battel betwixt K. Hen. 4. and Henry Piercy Sirnamed Hotspur which is not ill described by Mr. Drayton the Poet alluding to the names of several considerable Families in this County There Dutton Dutton kills a Doue doth kill a Doue A Booth a Booth and Leigh by Leigh is overthrown A Venables against a Venables doth stand And Troutbeck fighteth with a Troutbeck hand to hand There Molineux doth make a Molineux to die And Egerton the strength of Egerton doth try Oh Cheshire wer't thou mad Of thine own native gore So much until this day thou never shedst before This County is divided into 7 Hundreds wherein there are 13 Market Towns 86 Parish Churches and 38 Chappels of ease and out of it are Elected four Parliament Men two for the County and two for the City of Chester it is in the Diocess of Chester CORNWALL so called partly from its Form and partly from the People for shooting itself into the Sea like a Horn which the Brittains called Kern and inhabited by those whom the Saxons called Wallia of these two compounded words it became Cornwallia it is fabuled that Corineus Cousen to King Brute had this County freely given him for his valour in wrestling with the Giant Gogmagog and breaking his Neck from the cliff of Dover it hath Devonshire on the West divided from it generally by the River Tamer incompassed with the Sea on all other sides affording plenty of Harbours so that Forreigners in their passage to or from Spain Ireland the Levant East or West Indies sometimes touch here sometimes are driven hither against their Will but never without the profit of the Inhabitants according to the common Proverb where the Horse lieth down there some hairs will be found Cornish and Devonshire Men are more active in wrestling and such boisterous exercises than other Counties in England and likewise more brauny stout and able of body there was one Kiltor who lying upon his back in Lanceston Castlegreen threw a stone of some pounds weight over the top of one of the high Towers of that Castle and one John Romane a thick short Fellow would carry the whole Carkass of an Ox John Bray likewise carried at one time for a considerable space almost six Bushels of Wheaten Meal reckoning 15 Gallons to the Bushel and the Miller a luberly Fellow of 24 years of Age upon the whole of whom Cambden observes That the Western People of most Countries are the tallest and stoutest and it is certain that the Eastermost People of the world the Chineses are the most effeminate and unwarlike in the world it is also observed that Rocky and Mountainous places breed stout hardy warlike and tall People as the Highlanders in Scotland and the Suitzers and Grisons Mr. Carew in his survey of Cornwall assures us upon his own knowledge that 90 years of Age is ordinary in every place and in most Persons accompanied with an able use of the body and their senses one Polzew saith he lately living reached to an 130 a Kinsman of his to 112 one Beuchamp to 106 and in the Parish where himself dwelt he professed to have remembred the decease of four within 14 weeks space whose years added together made up the sum of 340 the same Gentleman made this Epigram or Epitaph upon one Brawn an Irish man but a Cornish Beggar Here Brawn the quoâ—dam Beggar lies Who counted by his Tale Some sixscore Winters and above Such virtue is in Ale Ale was his meat his drink his cloth His Physick too beside And could he still have drank his Ale Then sure he had not dy'd And one Chamond who liv'd at Stratton in this County was Uncle and great Uncle to at least 300. There was within these hundred years one Mr. Alwell Parson of St. Tues in Cornwall who likewise practised Physick but so strange was his method not to say his humor that though sometimes he used blood-letting and administred Manus Christi and the like Cordials yet for all diseases he did chiefly prescribe Milk and very often Milk and Apples by which he performed many strange and desperate Cures and got great reputation from many Patients of the Neighbouring Countries but it is doubtful whether Mr. Atwells Physick or the pure air of Cornwall did the work This Country abounds with Pilchards and also with Copper and Tinn which grow so plentifully in the utmost part of this Promontory that at low water the veins thereof lie bare and in the time of Edw. 1. and 3. Silver hath been found in this Shire to the great profit of these Princes nay Tinners do now find little quantities of Gold and sometimes Silver among the Tinn Oar which they sell to the Goldsmiths Diamonds are found in many places cleaving to those Rocks out of which the Tinn is digged they are smoothed squared and pointed by nature their quantity is from a Pease to a Walnut the Tinners many times dig up whole huge Trees of Timber at the bottom of the Mines which they think were there buried ever since the Flood they find also Pick axes of Holm Box and Hartshorn and sometimes certain small tool heads of Brass and once a brass Coin of the Emperour Domitian an argument that the Romans formerly wrought in them these Mines are discovered by certain Tinn-stones round and smooth found lying on the ground but if we believe reports there is a more easy way and that is by Dreams by which it 's said works of great value have been found as in K. Edward 6th time a Gentlewoman Heiress to one Titsculiard dreamed a handsome man told her that in such a Tenement of her Land she should find Tinn enough to inrich her self and her posterity who telling her Husband upon Tryal he found a Tinnwork there which in 4 years was worth to him almost 4000 pounds it is said likewise that one Taprel of St. Niot by a dream of his Daughters was wished to such a place which he farmed of the Lord of the Soil and found a Tinnwork accordingly which made him a rich man which Stories if true make much for the credit of Womens dreams From the bottom of the Tinn-works if they be of any depth you may
ominous and presaging our civil Dissentions There is a Proverb in this County He may fetch a Flitch of Bacon from Dunmow This Proverb dependeth on a custom practised in the Priory of Dunmow which was founded by Juga a noble Lady for black Nuns 1111. But it seems the property of it was after altered into a Male-Nunnery the Friars whereof were sometimes it appears very merry for they ordained That if any person from any part of England would come thither and humbly kneel on two stones yet to be seen at the Church door before the Convent and solemnly take the ensuing Oath he might demand a Gamon or Flitch of Bacon which should be freely given him You shall swear by the custom of our Confession That you never made any nuptial Transgression Since you were married Man and Wife By houshold Brawls or contentious Strife Or otherwise in Bed or at Board Offended each other in deed or Word Or since the Parish Clerk said Amen Wished your selves unmarried agen Or in a Twelve Month and a day Repented not in thought any way But continued true and in desire As when you join'd hands in Holy-Quire If to these conditions without all fear Of your own accord you will freely swear A Gamon of Bacon you shalt receive And carry it hence with love and free leave For this is our custom at Dunmow well known Though the sport be ours the Bacon's your own It appeareth in an old book on Record that Richard Wright of Badesworth in Norfolk in the 23. of Heâ— 6. when John Canon was Prior and that Stephen Samuel of Little Easton in Essex the 7th of Edward 4. and Thomas Lee of Coxhall in Essex the 2. of Hen. 8. took the aforesaid Oath demanded their Bacon on the premises and received it accordingly Randolph Peveril of Hatfield-Peveril in this County was in great esteem with K. Edward the Confessor who was very bountiful to him as having married the Daughter of Inglerick his Kinsman who was of great Nobility among the English Saxons this Lady was of such admirable beauty that she therewith conquered William the Conqueror who desired nothing more than to be a Prisoner in her Arms to obtain which he inriched St. Martins Le Grand in London first founded by her Father and her Uncle K. Edward he then preferred her two Brothers William Peveril to be Keeper of Dover Castle and Pain Peveril he made Baron of Bourn in Cambridgshire having thus preferred her Kindred he began to sollicite her by the Messengers of the Devils Bed-Chamber that is subtil insinuating Pimps and Bawds and sometimes he himself visited her like Jupiter in a golden shower by these forceable demonstrations of love and unavoidable allurements especially from a King she was at length brought to his unlawful Bed unto whom she bore a Son named William who was Lord of Nottingham but his Mother being afterward touched with remorse of Conscience to expiate her guilt was taught by the Doctrine of those times to found a Colledge in the Village of Harpsfield which she consecrated to the honour of God and St. Mary Magdalen wherein setting apart all worldly affairs she spent the remainder of her days and died about the year 1100. In the 17th of Henry 2. there was seen at St. Osythes in Essex a Dragon of wonderful bigness which wherever it moved burnt the Houses and places about it In the Reign of Hen. 3. the King commanded Hubert de Burg Earl of Kent to be apprehended who having notice thereof rose at midnight and fled into a Church in Essex the Officers found him upon his knees before the High Altar with the Popish Sacrament in one hand and a Cross in the other however they seized him and carried him away Prisoner to the Tower of London Roger Niger then Bishop made great complaint to the King of this violence and wrong done to Holy Church and would not be satisfied till the Earl was carried back to the same Church again though well guarded there however this it is thought saved the Earls life for the Kings anger cooled and he was soon after reconciled to him In the year 1510. in the Marshes of Dengey Hundred near South-Minster in this County there suddenly appeared an infinite number of Mice which over-run those Marshes tearing up the Grass by the roots and so poysoned it with their venemous Teeth that the Cattle which grazed thereon died but at length a great number of strange painted Owls came no man knew whence and devoured all the Mice it is reported that there happened the like in Essex in 1648. There were no less than forty four Persons who suffered Martyrdom for the Protestant Religion in this County among whom was William Hunter a young man of 19 years old born of religious Parents who instructed him in the Truth and sent him to be an Apprentice in London where refusing to go to Mass and receive the Sacrament he went home to his Parents at Burntwood and one day going into a Chappel there he found a Bible which while he was reading a Summoner came in and asked him whether he could expound the Scripture he answered He did only read it to his Comfort the Sumner replied It was never a merry world since the Bible came forth in English Hunter answered Say not so for Gods sake for it is Gods Book out of which every one ought to learn how to please God and therefore I pray God that we may have the Blessed Bible amongst us Ay said the Sumner I know your mind well enough you are one of those that do not like the Queens Laws but you and many more must turn over a new leaf or you will broil for it pray God give me grace said Hunter that I may believe his word and confess his name whatever comes of it Nay said the Sumner you confess the Devils name and will all go to him The Sumner then fetcht a Priest out of a blind Alehouse who finding Hunter reading reviled him for it and then asked him what he thought of the blessed Sacrament of the Altar whether there were not really Christs Body and Blood Hunter said He found no such thing in Scripture ah quoth the Vicar now I find you are an Heretick Hunter replyed Would you and I were both tyed to a Stake to try whether of us would stick closest to our Faith The Priest left him and informing against him he was seized and brought before Bishop Bonner who finding that he stood firm to his Principles caused his Officers to set him in the Stocks in his Gate-house where he lay 2 days and had nothing but a crust of brown bread and a cup of cold water after Imprisonment three quarters of a Year the Bp. condemned him and sent him to Burntwood to be burnt where his Father and Mother came to him beseeching God he might continue constant to the end His Mother added she was happy in bearing such a Child who could find in his heart
to lose his Life for Christ's sake At the stake he kneeled down and read the 51st Psalm then the Sheriff said to him Here is a Letter from the Queen if thou wilt recant thou shalt live otherwise thou shalt be burnt No quoth William I will never recant and so he was fastened to the stake He then said Good People pray for me while you see me alive adding Son of God shine upon me and the Sun immediately shone out of a thick Cloud so full in his face that he was forced to turn his head aside fire being kindled he lift up his Hand to Heaven saying Lord Lord receive my Spirit and so ended his Life in the Flames John Lawrence was burnt at Colchester whose Legs being lame with Irons and his Body weak with cruel usage he was carried to the Stake in a Chair and burnt therein at his burning many young Children being about the fire cried out to him Lord strengthen thy servant and keep thy Promise which was lookt on as a product of Divine Providence who out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings hath ordained strength Thomas Hawks Gentleman was first brought into trouble for refusing to baptise his Child after the Popish fashion This man going to the stake promised his Friends to give them some solemn Token of the clearness and comfort of his Conscience in performance whereof whilst his Body was burning he raised up himself and though having the sense yet having no fear of the Fire joyfully clapped his hands over his head to the Admiration of all the Beholders There was an Idol called the Rood of Dover-Court in this County to which multitudes of People went in Pilgrimage Divers zealous Protestants at Dedham being much troubled to see the Almighty so dishonoured by wicked Idolatry went from thence in a Frosty Moonshine Night 10 Miles to the place where the Idol was where they found the Church Doors open the Popish Clergy boasting the power of this Rood was such that no man could shut the doors of the Church where it stood These Persons taking the Image from the place where it stood carried it a quarter of a Mile off and there burnt it to ashes for which three of them were by the bloody Papists hanged in Chains In 1605. a great Porpus was taken at Westham in a little Creek alive a Mile and half within the Land and within a few days after a Whale came up the Thames whose lenght was seen divers times above Water and judged to exceed the largest Ship in the River but when she tasted the Fresh-Water and scented the Land she returned into the Sea This County contains 20 Hundreds 21 Market Towns and 415 Parish Churches It is in the Diocess of London and elects 8 Parliament men for the County 2. Colchester 2. Harwich 2. Malden 2. and gives the Title of Earl to Arthur L. Capel GLOCESTERSHIRE hath Worcester and Warwickshire on the North Oxford and Wiltshire on the East Somersetshire on the South Herefordshire with the River Wye on the West the River Severn runs through it and Malmsbury the old Historian thus describes it The ground of this Shire throughout saith he yieldeth plenty of Corn and bringeth forth abundance of Fruits the one only through the natural goodness of the ground the other by diligent manuring and tillage insomuch that it would provoke the most lazy Person to take pains Here you may see the High ways and common Lanes full of Apple-trees and Peer-trees not ingrafted by the industry of Mans hand but growing naturally of their own accord the ground itself is so inclined to bear fruit and those both in taste and beauty far exceeding others and will endure till a new supply come There is not any County in England so thick set with Vineyards as this is so plentiful of increase and so pleasant in taste the very Wines made thereof have no ill taste and are little inferiour to the French the Houses are innumerable the Churches very fair and the Towns standing very thick but that which addeth a greater glory to it is the River Severn than which there is not any in the Kingdom exceeds it for breadth of Channel swiftness of stream or for Fish better stored There is in it a daily rage and fury of the Waters which I know not whether to call a Gulf or Whirlpool of Waves raising up Sands from the bottom winding and driving them upon heaps and sometimes overflowing its banks roveth a great way on the bordering grounds and then returneth again into its usual Channel unhappy is the Vessel which it taketh full upon the side but the Watermen being aware of it when they see it coming turn their Vessels and cut through the midst of it and thereby avoid the danger Thus far he This encounter of the salt and fresh water as is supposed here mentioned is called in this Country the Higre and by some the Eagre for the keenness and fierceness thereof which is such that it is equally terrible with the flashings and noise to those that see and hear it much more to them who feel it of which there can be no reason rendered since the Thames where we find the same cause hath no such disturbance Hear how the Poets describe this Higre Vntil they be imbraced In Severns Soveraign Arms with whose tumultuous Waves Shut up in narrower bounds the Higre wildly raves And frights the stragling Flocks the Neighbouring shores o flie Afar as from the Main it comes with hideous cry And on the angry front the curled foam doth bring The Billows ' gainst the Banks when fiercely it doth fling Throws up the slimy Ouze and makes the scaly brood Leap madding to the Land affrighted from the flood O'returns the toyling Barge whose Steersman doth not launch And thrusts the furrowing beak into her dreadful paunch We read that in the 2. of King Richard 3. at that time when the Duke of Buckingham intended to pass with his Army over the Severn there was so great an Inundation of Water that men were drowned in their Beds Houses were overturned Children were carried about the Fields swimming in their Cradles and Beasts drowned even upon the Hills which rage of the Waters continued for the space of 10 days and is called to this day in those parts The Great Water In the 17 of Q. Elizabeth Feb. 24. being a hard frost after a flood which was not great there came down the River of Severn such a swarm of Flies and Beetles that they were judged to be above an 100 Quarters the Mills thereabout were dammed up with them for the space of 4 days and then were cleansed by digging them out with Shovels In 1607. a mighty West-wind which continued 16 hours brought the Sea into the Severn after a great rain and at a spring Tyde with such violence that the River began to overflow its banks from as far as the Mount in Cornwall along on both sides up into Somersetshire and
Glocestershire in some places the waters rose three foot in others 5 and 7 and in some Towns and Villages they rose higher than the tops of the Houses so that notwithstanding whatever course could be taken there were 80 Persons drowned besides much Cattle divers Churches and several Parishes overwhelmed thereby it did likewise a great deal of harm in Wales the damages being reckoned above 20 thousand pound In the year 755 Kenwulf King of the West Saxons giving himself up to all manner of Vice and Debauchery coming to Merton in this County to visit a Wench that he kept was there slain and buried at Winchester About the year 1020. Godwin the subtle Earl of Kent cast a covetous eye on the fair Nunnery of Berkly in Glocestershire and thus contrived it for himself he left there a handsome young man as seemingly sick for their Charity to recover the Abbess was a fair and noble Lady Godwin seeking not her but hers gives the young man charge so long to counterfeit till he had debauched the Abbess and as many of the Nuns besides as he could intice to his pleasure and left him withal Rings Jewels Girdles and such toys to give them still when they came to visit him the young man willing to undergo such a task so plaid his part that in a short time he got up most of their Bellies and when he had done told his Lord how he had sped the Earl goes instantly to Court tells the King that such a Nunnery was become a Bawdy House procures a Visitation gets them turned out and begs the Land for his own use At another time this Godwin had a mind to another rich Mannor in Sussex called Boscham and complemented it out of Robert Archbishop of Canterbury in this manner coming to the Archbishop he said Da mihi Basium that is Give me a buss or kiss an usual favour from such a Prelate the Archbishop answers Do tibi Basium I give thee a kiss and therewith kissed him upon which Godwin presently goes to Bascham and takes possession thereof and though here was neither any real intention in him that passed it away nor valuable consideration to him but a meer circumvention yet such was Godwins power and the Archbishops poorness of Spirit that he quietly enjoyed it these rich and ancient Mannors of Berkly and Boscham though distant ten miles asunder are both now met in the Right Honourable George Earl of Berkly as Heir Apparent thereof his Ancestors being long since possessed of them In the Reign of K. Edward 1. the Monastery of Glocester was burnt down to the ground In King Henry 8. time James Bainham Son to Sir Alexander Bainham of this County was burnt for professing the Gospel he was bred in Learning and had knowledge of the Greek and Latin Tongues of a virtuous disposition and Religious Conversation much addicted to Prayer and a diligent Reader of the Holy Scriptures he applied himself to the study of the Law wherein he was very merciful to his Clients ready to give Council to Widdows Fatherless and Afflicted without mony or reward at last he was suspected and complained of to Sir Tho. More then Lord Chancellor and being brought to his House at Chelsey Sir Thomas laboured with frowns and flatteries to withdraw him from the truth which not prevailing he caused him to be tied to a Tree in his Garden called by him the The Tree of Truth and then most cruelly scourged him to make him renounce his opinion this not succeeding Sir Thomas himself saw him cruelly racked in the Tower till he was lamed because he would not accuse some of his acquaintance nor discover where his Books lay then was his Wife Imprisoned and his Goods confiscated yet at last he was persuaded to abjure and solemnly carried a Torch and a Faggot in St. Pauls Church but hereby he rather exchanged than escaped fire feeling such a fire in his own Conscience that he could not be quiet till he had asked God and all the world forgiveness which he did 1st in the Protestant Congregation who met privately in a Ware-house in Bow-lane the next Lords day he went to St. Austins the next Parish Church to St. Pauls that the Antidote might be brought as near as he could conveniently to the place of his poyson where standing up in a Pew with an English New Testament in his hand he declared openly before all the People with abundance of Tears That he had denied God and prayed all the Congregation to believe him and to be warned by his fall not to do the like for said he if I should not return again to the Truth this Word of God holding up his New Testament would damn me both body and soul in the day of Judgement and therefore he intreated them all rather to dye presently than to do as he had done for he would not feel such an hell in his Conscience again for all the World After this he was soon apprehended again and cruelly handled by the Bishop of London putting him in the Stocks and whipping him barbarously for a fortnight together to force him again to recant but all in vain so that he was condemned to be burnt and being in the midst of the Flames which had half consumed his Arms and Legs he spake these words O ye Papists behold you look for Miracles and here now you may see a Miracle for in this Fire I feel no more pain than if I were in a bed of Down but it is to me as a bed of Roses There was in this County one William Dangerfield who with his Wife was imprisoned for the Protestant Faith and was so cruelly used by the Bishop that his legs were almost eaten off with the Irons after a while the Bishop sent for him and told him his Wife had recanted who was as well learned as he and therefore persuaded him to sign a Recantation which they brought having signed it they let him go to his Wife and shewing his Recantation her heart was ready to break crying out Alas Husband thus long we have continued one and hath Satan now so far prevailed with you as to cause you to break your Vow which you made to God in Baptism This so far prevailed with him that he repented of his Apostacy and not long after through the extream cruelty used to them they both dyed in Prison In 1575. Feb. 16. between 4 and 5 in the afternoon great Earthquakes happened in Glocester Worcester Hereford York Bristow and the parts adjacent which caused the People to run out of their Houses for fear they should have fallen on their heads in Tewksbury Bredon and other places the dishes fell off the shelves and books in mens studies fell down before them in Norton Chappel the People being at Prayers and feeling the ground move ran out for fear it should have fallen on their heads part of Rithing Castle fell down and likewise divers brick Chimnies in several Gentlemens Houses In
as some think which occasions vapours to break violently out of the Earth The Natives who dwell about these Meers are healthy and live long but strangers are subject to much sickness In the Year 1580. Sept. 23. at Fennystanton in this County one Agnes Wife to William Linsey was delivered of an ugly strange Monster with a black Face Mouth and Eyes like a Lion which was both Male and Female In 1584. there happened a strange thing at Spaldwick in this Shire Mr. Dorrington one of the Gentlemen Pensioners to Q. Elizabeth had a Horse which died suddenly and being opened to see the cause of his Death there was found in his heart a Worm of a wondrous form as it lay together in a kall or skin it resembled a Toad but being taken thence the shape was hard to be described the length of it divided into 80 Grains which spread from the Body like the branches of a Tree was from the snout to the end of the longest grain 17 Inches having 4 Issues in the grains from whence dropped a red Water the Body was 3 Inches and an half about the Collar being like that of a Mackrel this prodigious Worm crawling about to have got away was killed with a Dagger and being dried was shewed to many Honourable Persons as a great rarity We read that Henry Holland Duke of Exeter and E. of Huntington who married the Sister of K. Edward 4. was driven to such want that passing into Flanders Philip de Comines saith he saw him running on Foot and bare leg'd after the Duke of Burgundy's Train begging his Bread for God's sake whom the Duke of Burgundy at that time did not know though they had married two Sisters but hearing afterward who it was allotted him a small pension to maintain him till not long after he was found dead upon the shore of Dover and stripped all naked but how he came by his death could never by any inquiry be brought to light It is observed by Mr. Speed that the ancient Families of this County have been more outworn proportionably than in any other few now remaining whose Sir-names were eminent in the Reign of K. Hen. 8. the reason whereof may probably be because this Shire being generally Abby Lands after their dissolution many new purchasers planted themselves therein But Let 's not repine that Men and Names do die Since Stone-built Cities dead and ruin'd lie This County is divided into 4 Hundreds wherein are 6 Market Towns and 69 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Lincoln out of it are elected 4 Parliament men for the County 2. for Huntington 2. It gives the Title of Earl to Theophilus L. Hastings KENT in the Saxon Heptarchy was an entire Kingdom by itself an honour which no other County attained to it hath the Thames on the North the Sea on the East and South Sussex and Surrey on the West from East to West it is 53 Miles and from North to South 26. The upper part of it they say is healthful but not so wealthy the middle they account both healthful and wealthy the lower they hold to be wealthy but not healthy as which for a great part thereof is very moist It is every where almost full of Meadows Pastures and Corn fields abounding wonderfully in Apple-trees and Cherry-trees the Trees are planted after a very direct manner one against another by square most pleasant to behold It is plentiful of Fowl Fish and all sorts of grain It hath Villages and Towns exceeding thick and well peopled safe Roads and sure Harbours for Ships with some Veins of Iron and Marble The Air is somewhat thick and foggy by reason of Vapours arising out of the Waters This County hath 2 Cities and Bishops Seas was strengthened formerly with 27 Castles graced with 4 of the Kings Houses The Kentish People in Caesars time were accounted the civilest among the Brittains and had the Priviledge to lead the Van in all Battles for their valour shewed against the Danes and those of Cornwall Devonshire and Wiltshire the Rear They esteem themselves the first Christians since their King and People received the Christian Faith before any other of the Saxons in 596. yea and long before that time Kent received the Gospel for it is recorded that Lucius the first Christian Brittish King in this Island built a Church for the service of Christ at Dover endowing it with the Toll of that Haven They glory that they were never conquered but were compounded with by the Norman Conqueror of whom our English Poet writes thus Stout Kent this praise to thee doth of most right belong Thou never wast enslaved impatient wert of wrong Who when the Norman first with Pride and Horrour sway'd Threwst off the servile Yoak upon the English laid And with a Courage great most bravely didst restore That Liberty so long enjoy'd by thee before Not suffering foreign Laws should thy free Customs bind And thereby shewedst thy self o' th noble Saxon kind Of all the English Shires be thou sirnam'd the free And foremost ever placed when they shall marshall'd be Of their throwing off the Norman Yoke Mr. Sâ—â—den thus explains it When the Norman Conqueror had the day he came to Dover Castle the Look and Key of the Kingdom that he might with safety subdue Kent also a most strong and populous Province and secure himself from the Invasion of Enemies which when Stygand Archbishop of Canterbury and the Abbot of St. Austins who were the chief Lords and Governours of Kent understood they assembled the Commons and told them of the dangers of their Country the miseries of their Neighbours the Pride of the French and that the English till then were born free and the name of Villains or Bondsmen not heard among them but now slavery only attends us said he if we submit to the insolency of our Enemies And therefore these two Prelates offered to command them and to dye with them in the defence of their Freedom and Country whereby the People were so extreamly encouraged that they concluded to meet at a day appointed at Swanscomb two Miles West from Gravesend where being come accordingly and keeping themselves private in the Woods they waited the coming of William the Conqueror filling up all the way by which he was to pass with each of them a great green Bough in his hand whereby they might hide their number from being discovered and if occasion were fall upon the Normans the next day the Duke came by Swanscomb and was much amazed to see a Wood as it were marching toward him for being as he thought free from the Enemy he was now beset on all sides with Trees and knew not but all the other vast Woods thereabout were of the same nature neither had he leisure to avoid the danger for the Kentish men immediately enclosing his Army about displayed their Banners and throwing down their Branches at the sound of a Trumpet prepare their Bows and Arrows ready for
the Sun was risen and shined clear He gave his Master time to pray before he took him but thou didst kill thy Brother sleeping not suffering him to wake or speak only to sigh and groan and that most sadly yet all moved thee not c. This young man was soon after deservedly Executed for this horrid Fratricide so this worthy Knight lost both his Sons at one time Two Watermen of Gravesend one named Smith and the other Gurnay being some years before hired by a Grasier to carry him down to Tilbury Hope intending to go to a certain Fair in Essex to buy Cattle these Villains by the way perceiving he had mony conspired to take away his life and accordingly one of them cut his throat and the other taking his mony threw him over-board This Murther was concealed divers years but in 1656. these Murtherers being drinking together fell out and one of them in his passion accused the other of Murther and he again accused him upon which being apprehended and examined they confessed the Fact were condemned at Maidstone Assizes and hanged in Chains at Gravesend In 1658. June 3. A Whale came up the Thames as high as Deptford and being discovered at Greenwich many Boats made out after her and a Marriner struck her with an harping Iron whereupon she spouted forth much water and blood and roared like a Lyon and so beating her self up and down till she came below Greenwich she there turned up her Belly and died she was 59 foot long and 15 foot high as she lay on her Belly September 3. following Oliver Cromwell dyed three days before which there was such a Tempestuous and violent wind as overthrew divers Houses brake and overturned many Trees by the roots and did much mischief In 1660. August 4. At Dover from 10 a clock at night till 2 next morning were such storms of Hail accompanied with Thunder and Lightning as the like was never known some of the Hailstones that fell were as big as Walnuts and were measured 4 inches about the damage was reckoned 50 pound in glass Windows which were broken In 1662. July 2. about 3 in the afternoon there happened a very strange whirlwind in Mason Dufield between the Town and Castle of Dover at the upper end of which Field the wind took up divers sheafs oâ—wards of Pease a vast height into the Air and carried them over the Town into the Seâ— and it was judged they were carried two or three miles before they fell into the Sea it also took up some Calves and other small Cattle and threw them into a Ditch a Hoy likewise in the Road was almost overset by it Upon Aug. 4. following several great Spouts were seen in Dover Road about quarter Seas over some affirm they were 7 and about half a mile asunder and ran about half an hour they were big at both ends and slender in the middle some Seamen affirmed they were bigger than those in the Streights and are very unusual in these Seas The County of Kent is divided into 5 Laths and 67 Hundreds wherein are 29 Market Towns and 408 Parish Churches it is in the Diocess of Canterbury and Rochester and gives the Title of Earl to Anthony L. Gray as Dover doth to John L Cary Thanet to Nicholas L. Tufton Rochester to John L. Wilmot and Sandwich to Edward L. Montague It elects 10 Parliament Men. LANCASHIRE hath the Irish Sea on the West Yorkshire on the East Cheshire parted with the River Mersey on the South and Westmoreland on the North It is a County Palatine and is replenished with all necessaries for the use of man yielding without any great labour Corn Flax Grass Coals and is plentifully furnished with Fish Flesh and Fowl the Brigantes the ancient Inhabitants of this County were subdued by the Emperor Claudius who secured it by Garrisons as appears by the many Inscriptions found in Walls and by certain Altars erected in honour of some of their Emperours it is famous for the four Henrys the Fourth Fifth Sixth and Seventh all derived from John Duke of Lancaster the Shire Town is Lancaster more pleasant in situation than rich in Inhabitants the beauty thereof is in the Church Castle and Bridge Manchester is a Town of great Antiquity from Main a Brittish word which signifieth a Stone it is seated upon a stony hill and beneath the Town there are most famous quarries of Stone it far excelleth the Towns lying about it for the beautiful shew it maketh for resort to it and for clothing in regard also of the Market place the fair Church and Colledge In this Province King Arthur is reported to have put the Saxons to flight in a memorable Battle near Duglas a little Brook near the Town of Wiggan In this Shire not far from Fourness Fells or Hills is the greatest standing water in all England called Winander Mere which is wonderful deep and 10 miles over and all paved with Stone as it were on the bottom it breeds a Fish called a Chare no where else to be found At Ferneby the People use Cannal or Turss both for Fewel and Candle which when they dig they find under them a certain black water upon which swims a fat oily matter and therein are little Fishes which the Diggers catch on the very top of Pendlehill grows a peculiar plant called Cloudesberry as though it came out of the Clouds this Hill some years ago did the Country near it much harm by reason of an extraordinary deal of water gushing out of it it is also famous for an infallible sign of rain whensoever the top of it is covered with a mist there are three great Hills here not far distant from each other seeming to be as high as the Clouds which are Ingelburrough Penigent and this Pendle In the Reign of Q. Mary Bishop Bonner put out a Mandate to the Priests within his Diocess commanding that comely Roods or Images should again be set up in all Churches the same injunction was published in other Diocesses in pursuance whereof the Churchwardens of Cockram in Lancashire had agreed with a Carver to make them a Rood to set up in their Church at a certain price the Carver accordingly made one but the Image being of an ugly grim countenance they disliked it and refused to pay the Workman who thereupon brought them by a Warrant before the Mayor of Lancaster who was a favourer of the Protestant Religion when they came before him he asked them why they did not pay the man according to agreement they replied they did not like the grimness of his Visage saying They had a Man formerly with a handsome face and would have had such another now well said the Mayor though you like not the Rood the poor mans labour has been never the less and it's pity he should lose by it But I 'le tell you what you shall do pay him the money you promised him and if it will not serve you for a God
his coming all Owen Glendours Army forsook him so that lurking in the Woods for fear of being taken he was there miserably famished Many of his Associates were taken and put to death and thus in the fourth year of his Reign all the great troubles of this K. Henry ended The Groaning Tree in Lincolnshire Pa. 137. The Lady riding naked through Coventry Pa. 207. From head to heel his Body had all over A quickset thickset natural hairy cover Change of Air Diet or the trouble of many Visitants are thought to hasten his end He died Nov. 15. 1634. and was buried in the Abby Church Shropshire is divided into 15 Hundreds wherein are 15 Market Towns 170 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Hereford and Litchfield it elects 12 Parliament Men and Shrewsbury gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Talbot the 12 of that Family SOMERSETSHIRE hath the Severn Sea on the North Glocester on the North-East Wiltshire on the East Devonshire on the West and Dorsetshire on the South It abounds in Cattle Chease Lead and Corn of which it is so very fruitful that the Inhabitants tell you several single Acres of Land in this shire will serve a good round Family with Bread for the Year as affording a Bushel of Wheat for every week therein which is not easily to be parallel'd in other places This Country is famous for three Cities Bath Wells and Bristoll the first takes its name from the hot Baths which some call The Waters of the Sun It is recorded that Bladud the Son of Lud King of the Brittains in the year of the world 3100 built this City and conveyed the admirable virtues into these Waters by Magick Art and that he was so much addicted to Necromancy as he wrought Wonders thereby insomuch that he made himself Wings and attempted to fly like Dedalus but the Devil ever a deceiver forsook him in his Journey so that he fell down and broke his Neck This City is seated in a plain invironed round about with Hills almost of one height out of which certain Rills of fresh water flow continually to the great benefit of the Citizens within the City there bubble or boyl up in three several places hot springs of Water of a Sea-coal colour sending up from them thin vapours and a kind of strong scent withal by reason it is strained through veins of Brimstone and a clammy kind of Earth called Bitumen These Springs are very Medicinal and of great virtue to cure Bodies overcharged and benummed with corrupt Humors by their heat causing much sweat They are much frequented by Persons of all Qualities and almost for all diseases of aâ—l these the Cross Bath is of a most mild and temperate Nature having 12 seats of Stone in the sides of it and is inclosed within a wall The second distant about 200 paces is much hotter whence called the Hot Bath adjoyning to which is the Spittle or Lazar House for the relief of poor diseased Persons The third and greatest is called the Kings Bath walled also round about with 32 Seats of Arched Work therein This City is fortified with Walls wherein are set Antique Images and Roman Inscriptions and hath in it a fair large Cathedral Church The City of Wells so called from the Springs or Wells that boil up there hath a very beautiful Cathedral near which there is a Spring called St. Andrews Well from whence comes such a confluence of Water that it soon makes a swift brook The Church is throughout very beautiful but the Frontispiece of the West end is very excellent for it riseth up from the foot to the top all of Imagery carved in Srone of a curious and antique fashion very artificially embowed Bristow hath the River Avon passing through it and was incompassed with a double wall it is beautiful with Buildings publick and private and hath common Sewers or Sinks made to run under ground for the conveyance of all filthiness There are within the City and Suburbs 26 fair Churches whereof 18 are Parish Churches There is no Dunghill in all the City nor Sink all being conveyed under ground they carry all upon fleds without Carts the water at the Key sometimes ebbs and flows 40 foot in height This City is Populous Rich and well Inhabited and next to London and York may justly challenge the Superiority having a very commodious Haven which admits Ships under Sail into the very bosom thereof In this County K. Arthur was buried for being murdered by Mordred at Cambula near Tintagel Castle in Cornwall as is aforementioned he was carried from thence to Glastenbury in Somersetshire and was there buried in 542. and 600 years after was found and taken up on this occasion King Henry 2. in the last year of his Reign being at Pembroke chanced to hear certain Songs in praise of the worthy Acts of King Arthur sung by a Welch Bard or Poet to his Harp wherein it is mentioned that he was buried in Glastenbury Church-yard between two Pillars there standing whereupon King Henry caused the ground to be digged and at seven foot deep was found a huge broad Stone whereon was fastened a leaden Cross on the lower side of the Lead in rude and barbarous Characters was written Hic jacet c. Here lies King Arthur buried in the Vale of Avelona And digging nine foot deeper his Body was found in the Trunk of a Tree the bones very large and in his skull were perceived ten wounds one very great and plain His Queen Guenever a Lady of excellent beauty lay by him whose Hair curiously plaited and of a golden colour shewed perfect and whole till touched but then it fell to ashes The Cross of Lead with the Inscription was taken off and kept in Glastenbury Church and the bones of King Arthur were put into a fair Tomb of Marble and his Queen laid at his feet in the same Church but were all raced at the general suppression of Abbies by Henry 8th In the 22. of Queen Elizabeth 1580. a strange Apparition happened in Somersetshire 60 Parsonages all clothed in black a furlongs distance from those that beheld them who continued some time and then vanished and immediately another strange company in like manner number and colour appeared in the same place and encountred each other and then vanished and the 3d time appeared that number again all in bright Armour and encountred one another and so vanished away This was examined before Sir George Norton and swore by four honest men that saw it to be true In Her 38th year Dec. 5 being Sunday a great number of People being Assembled in the Cathedral Church of Wells in Somersetshire in the fore-noon during Sermon a sudden darkness fell among them and a great Tempest with Thunder and Lightning followed which threw the People on the ground and all the Church seemed to be in a flame and there was a lothsome stink some Stones were stricken out of the Bell Tower and the
wires and Iron of the Clock melted the Tempest being over and the people recovering their senses some of them were found marked with strange Figures on their Bodies and their Garments not perished neither were any marked who stood in the Chancel In January 1648. there was seen a great fiery Meteor in the Air near Bristol on the South side of the City for divers nights together long in shape and shooting out fiery streams East and West this happened saith Mr. Clark a week before the death of K. Charles 1. and I had it from an Eye witness In August 1655. a Carpenter living at Pennard in this County went to a Fair at Lidford not many miles off to set up some Stalls and left his Wife and four small Children at home but at his return he found all his four Children murthered the eldest being about nine years old and put into a Chest it was supposed to be done by his Wife the Childrens own Mother because she was not to be found Wockey hole in Mendip Hills near two miles from Wells is very remarkable It is an underground concavity admirable for its spacious Vaults stony Walls and creeping Labyrinths I have been at but never in this wonderful Cave saith Dr. Fuller and therefore must use the description of a Learned Eye-witness Entring and passing through a great part of it with many Lights among many other strange Rarities worth observing we found saith he the water which continually dropped from the roof of the Rock made some impression in it but was not turned into Stone as appeared by the shape colour and hardness thereof it being of a more clear and glassy substance than the Rock itself though doubtless in time it will turn to the same substance and thereby the Rocks will be increased John Courcy Baron of Stoke-Courcy in this County was the first Englishman who subdued Vlster in Ireland and therefore deservedly created Earl thereof He was afterward surprized by Hugh Lacy Corrival for his Title sent over into England and imprisoned by King John in the Tower after this a French Castle being in controversy was to have the Title thereof tryed by Combate the Kings of England and France beholding it Courcy who was of a lean lank body with staring Eyes is sent for out of the Tower to undertake the Frenchman and because weakned by Imprisonment a large allowance of Victuals is given him to recruit his strength The Monsieur who was to fight with him hearing how much he eat and drank and guessing at his courage by his stomach took him for a Canibal who would devour him and was therefore afraid to encounter him Afterward the two Kings being desirous to see some proofs of Courcies strength caused a steel Helmet to be laid on a block before him Courcy looking about him with a stern and grim Countenance as if he intended to cut it with his Eyes as well as with his Arms cut the Helmet in two pieces at one blow striking his Sword so deep into the wood also that none but himself could pull it out again Being demanded the cause why he looked so sternly he replied Had I failed of my purpose I would have killed the two Kings and all the rest in the place words well spoken because well taken saith Dr. Fuller all Persons present being then highly in good humor He died in France 1210. The County of Somerset is divided into 42 Hundreds wherein are 30 Market Towns 385 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Bath and Wells It elects 18 Parliament men and gives the Title of Duke to Charles L. Seymour Bath the Title of Earl to John L. Greenville and Bristol to John L. Digby STAFFORDSHIRE hath Cheshire on the North Darbyshire on the East Warwick and Worcester shires on the South and Shropshire on the West The Commodities of this County consist chiefly in Corn Cattle Alabaster Wood Iron Pitcoal and Fish whereof the River Trent is very full Stafford Town was built by King Edward the Elder incorporated by King John Litchfield is far greater of much more fame it is a very ancient City known to Reverend Bede by the name of Lichidfield that is The Field of dead Bodies by reason of the number of Christians there Martyred in the bloody Persecution of Dioclesian The City is low seated of a good largeness and Fair withal divided into two parts by a shallow Pool of clear water which are joined by two Bridges made over them having sluces to let out the water the South part is the greater consisting of divers Streets having in it a School and an Hospital of St. John founded for the relief of the Poor The farther part is the less but beautified with a goodly Cathedral Church which is incompassed with a very fair Wall like a Castle this Church mounteth up on high with three Pyramids or Spires of Stone making an excellent shew and for elegant and proportionable building yieldeth to few Cathedrals in England but by the late confusions it was much defaced In the 35th of Queen Elizabeth 1591. there was a great Tempest in Staffordshire whereby the shaft of the Steeple in Stafford Town was rent in pieces all along through the middle and thrown upon the Church wherewith the roof was so shattered that a 1000 pound would not repair it Many Houses and Barns were overthrown in divers places in that Shire In Cauck Wood above 3000 Trees were blown down and likewise more than 50 Steeples soon after there was a strong North-wind and a very great rain which continued 24 hours In 1662. July 30. between two and three a clock in the afternoon there happened a great storm at Eardly in this County accompanied with Thunder which made such a continual strange noise in the Air that it struck a terror into all that heard it of which there was no intermission for a long time also there fell a shower of Hailstones as big as Hens Eggs some 5 6 and 7 Inches about I my self saith the Relator measured one after the Storm was over and a good part of it melted yet then it was five inches about There was a Gentleman who measured some of them by a good big Watch and they were full as big as it within half a mile of this place the Hailstones lay upon the ground a quarter of a yard thick there was a Man getting in a Load of Hay and his Horses as well as all others would not be ruled but ran about as mad which forced the man to continue in the storm and his back shoulders and arms were black and blew with the Hail it did much hurt to the Barley and struck it out of the Ear as if threshed it beat down other Corn as it stood on the ground all to pieces it also killed abundance of Fowl Sheep and Lambs some of the Hailstones tasted Salt like Sal Prunella and were kept long after without being at all wasted The people were very much amazed and
above 1400 years old they contained the whole History of the Roman Empire from Julius Caesar till after Constantine the great each of the Silver pieces weighed about 7 d. and each of the Gold about 15 or 16 shillings I took some few of the Silver and one of the Gold pieces and sent the rest to the Lady of Robert L. Brook who is Lord of the Town At Shugbury in this County at a place called Barnhill the precious stone Astroites is found in great plenty which being put into Vinegar will move up and down till they have composed themselves into a Triangle At Offchurch was the Palace of Offa the great Mercian King At Lemington though far from the Sea a spring of salt-Salt-Water boileth up and at Newnham is a Fountain whose Waters are very sovereign against the Stone Green-Wounds Ulcers and Impostumes and being drunk with salt loosens but with sugar binds the Body it was found out by one Charles Daws in 1579. who having received a great wound in his Arm by a Hatchet it was perfectly cured in a few days by washing it in this Water one special effect thereof is that it turneth wood into stone Not far from Warwick is Guy Castle where the famous Guy Earl of Warwick after many valorous exploits retired and led an Hermits Life and was at last buried in a Chappel there which remains to this day Michael Drayton the famous English Poet was born at Athelston in this County and died 1621. of whom this Epitaph was made Do pious Marble let thy Readers know What they and what their Children owe To Drayton's name whose sacred Dust We recommend unto thy Trust Protect his memory and preserve his story Remain a lasting Monument of his Glory And when thy Ruines shall disclaim To be the Treasurer of his Name His Name that cannot fade must be An everlasting Monument to thee The County of Warwick is divided into 5 Hundreds wherein are 15 Market Towns 158 Parish Churches and is in the Diocesses of Litchfeild and VVorcester it elects 6 Parliament Men and gives the Title of Earl to Edward L. Rich. WESTMORELAND hath Cumberland on the West and North Lancashire on the South Yorkshire and Durham on the East It is Western Moorish Country from whence it hath its Name The soil thereof for the most part is barren and can hardly be made fruitful by the Industry of the Husbandman Kendal the chief Town hath a very great Trade and Resort with two broad and long streets crossing each other herein are made excellent cloths which are very well esteemed of throughout the Kingdom Places most memorable are Verterae and Appleby famous in the time of the Romans but since very much decayed There is mention but of one Monastery in this County near the River Loder where there is a Spring that Ebbs and Flows many times a day and it is thought that some notable and famous Exploit hath been performed in that place there being many huge stones in the form of Pyramids some 9 Foot high and 14 Foot thick ranged directly on a Line at an equal distance for a Mile together which seems to have been Placed there as a memorial but of what Action there is not the least remembrance At Ambleside near the upper corner of Winander Meer which is a great Water there appears at this day the Ruines of an ancient City which by the Brittish Bricks the Roman Money often there sound by paved High-ways leading to it and other circumstances seems to have been a work of the Romans The Fortress fenced with a Ditch and Rampart was in length 132 Ells and in breadth 8. In the River Can near Kendal are two Waterfals where the Waters descend with so great a downfall as causes a mighty noise from whence the neighbouring Inhabitants prognosticate of the Weather for when that on the North sounds more clear and with a louder Eccho in their Ears they certainly look for fair Weather to follow but when that on the South doth the like they expect foggy Mists and Rain Henry Curwin was born in this County and made by Q. Mary A. B. of Dublin It is observable that though many of the Protestant Clergy in Ireland were imprisoned and much molested yet no one Person of what quality soever did suffer Martyrdom therein and hereon depends a remarkable story which hath been solemnly avouched by the late Reverend Dr. Vsher A. B. of Armagh that about the 3d of Q. Mary a Pursivant was sent with a Commission into Ireland to impower some eminent Persons to proceed with Fire and Fagot against poor Protestants It happened by Divine Providence this Pursivant coming to Chester lodged in the House of a Protestant Inn-keeper who having some secret notice of his business privately took the Commission out of his Cloak-Bag and put the Knave of Clubs in the room of it some Weeks after the Pursivant appeared before the Lords of the Privy Council at Dublin of whom Bishop Curwin was Principal where he produced a Card instead of a pretended Commission for which affront they caused him to be committed to Prison as supposed to be done on design to deride them where he lay 4 Months and at last with much ado got his Inlargement then over he returned into England and quickly getting his Commission renewed goes with all speed into Ireland again but before his Arrival there he is prevented with the News of Q. Marys Death and so the Lives of many and the Liberties of more poor Servants of God were preserved This Bishop Curwin died 1567. Westmoreland is divided into 4 Wards wherein are 8 Market Towns 26 Parish Churches and is in the Diocesses of Chester and Carlile it elects 4 Parliament Men and gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Fane WILTSHIRE hath Glocestershire on the North Berkshire and Hampshire on the East Dorsetshire on the South and Somersetshire on the West both for Hills and Valleys abounding in Wood Sheep Wool and all things else Salisbury is the chief City therein in which there is a stately and beautiful Cathedral with an exceeding high spired Steeple not founded on the ground but on 4 Pillars The Windows of the Church as they reckon them answer just in number to Days the Pillars great and small to the Hours and the Gates to the Twelve Months of the whole Year according to the Poet. How many Days in one whole Year there be So many Windows in one Church we see So many Marble Pillars there appear As there are hours throughout the fleeting Year So many Gates as Moons one Year doth view Strange Tale to tell yet not so strange as true It hath a Cloister beside on the South side for largeness and fine Workmanship inferiour to none joined to the Bishops Pallace on the other side is an high Bell-Tower exceeding strong standing by itself There are Rills and Sewers of Water run through every street of the City which is very well inhabited and accomodated with
thing descend save a stone or some metalline substance And that the Meer Llynsavathan within two Miles of Brecknock was once a fair City till swallowed up by an Earthquake which is not improbable because all the high ways of this Shire do lead thither and Ptolomy speaks of a City called Loventrium hereabout which is not now to be found they say likewise that at the end of Winter when after a long frost the Ice of this Lake breaks it makes a fearful noise like Thunder Giraldus Cambrensis reporteth there is a Fountain in Carmarthenshire which conformable to the Sea Ebbs and Flows twice in 24 hours There are in this County strange Vaults under ground supposed to be the Castles of People who were conquered in the Wars Dr. Ferrar was Bishop of St. Davids in K. Edward 6. time but in the Reign of Queen Mary he was sent for and examined about his Faith by the Bishop of Winchester who told him that the Queen and Parliament had altered Religion and therefore required him to embrace the same to which he answered That he had taken an Oath never to consent or agree that the Bishop of Rome should have any Jurisdiction in this Realm The Bishop of Winchester called him froward Fellow and false Knave and so returned him to Prison again He was afterward examined before Henry Morgan pretended Bishop of St. Davids who requiring him to subscribe to several Articles he refused it or to recant any thing whereupon he read the Sentence of Condemnation against him then he was degraded and deliver'd to the secular Power by whom he was carried to Caermarthen there to be burned a little before his Execution there came one to him who much lamented the painfulness of his Death to whom Dr Ferrar answered That if he saw him once stir or move in the pains of his burning he should then give no credit to the Doctrine he had taught and he was as good as his word standing so patiently in the midst of the Flames that he never moved holding up his stumps till one with a staff dashed him on the head whereby he fell down and quietly resigned his Spirit to God There was at Bangor in Carnavanshire a great Monastery in which were many religious Monks who lived by the sweat of their Brows and the labour of their hands far unlike the Monks since Out of this Monastery the Monks went to Westchester to pray for the good success of their friends against the Heathen Saxons continuing 3 days in fasting and Prayer Elfride the Saxon King seeing them so fervent in their Prayers asked what kind of men they were and being told that they prayed for their Enemies then said he Though they carry no weapons yet they fight against us and with their Prayers and Preaching prosecute us therefore after he had overcome the Brittains he commanded his Souldiers to fall upon the unarmed Monks of whom he murthered 1100 only 50 of them escaping But God left not their death long unrevenged for this cruel King was soon after killed in the field by the Christian Edwin who succeeded him in the Kingdom It is said that there is a Lake in Snowden-Hills in this County which hath a floating Island therein but it seems it swims away from the sight of those who endeavour to discover it they tell also of Fishes found here which have but one Eye which yet men with two Eyes could never behold The highest hill in Denbyshire called Moilenly hath a Spring of clear Water on the Top In 1660. a very great well near Chirk Town in this County was dried up In Flintshire is that excellent Well called St. Winifrids Well or Holy well so famous for cure of Aches and Lameness When K. Richard 2. came to Flint castle being there received by Henry Duke of Lancaster as he was going from thence they let loose a Greyhound of the Kings as was usual whenever the King got on Horseback which Greyhound used to leap upon the Kings Shoulders and fawn very much upon him but at this time he leaped upon the Duke of Lancaster and fawned upon him in the same manner as he used to do on his Master the Duke asked the King what the Dog meant or intended It is an ill and unhappy O men to me said the King but a fortunate one to you for he acknowledges thee to be King and that thou shalt reign in my stead This he said with a presaging mind upon a light occasion which yet in short time came to pass It is reported that in an Island in Glamorganshire there appeareth a Chink in a Rock or Cliff to which if you lay your Ear you may easily hear a noise like Smiths at work one while blowing of the Bellows another while striking of the Hammer the grinding of Iron Tools the hissing of Steel Gads yea the puffing noise of a Fire in a Furnace There is also at Newton on the Bank of the River Ogmore in this Shire a Well where at full Sea in the Summer you can scarce get a dishful of Water whereas at the Ebb you may easily get a pail-full On the top of a hill called Mynd-Morgan is a Monument with a strange character which the Inhabitants thereabout say if any man read the same he will dye shortly after whereby I suppose they mean that it is impossible to be read There is a Lake in Merionethshire near Bala containing near 160 Acres of ground into which the River Dee runs and goes through it without mixing their Waters This Pemble-Meer doth not swell with all the Waters and Land-floods which fall from the Mountains unto it but a small blast of Wind will make it mount above its bounds and Banks I know not whether it be worth relating what is known for a truth of a Market Town called Dogelthy in this Shire 1. That the Walls thereof are 3 miles high that is The Mountains that surround it 2 That men come into it over the water but go out of it under the water because they go in over a fair Bridge but the water falling from a Rock is conveyed in a wooden Trough under which Travellers must make shift to pass 3. The Steeple thereof doth grow therein since the Bells if they have more than one hang in an Yew-tree 4. There are more Ale-Houses than Houses for Tenements are divided into 2 or 3 Tipling-Houses and Barns without Chimneys are used to that purpose In the Year 1661. Dec. 20. about Sunsetting the Inhabitants of Weston in Montgomeryshire discovered a great number of Horsemen about 400 paces from them marching two a Breast in Military order upon the Common and were half an hour before the Reer came up seeming to be about 500 in all the spectators were amazed thinking them to be an Army of Roundheads going to release the Prisoners at Montgomery there being at that time several Ministers and Gentlemen in Prison and therefore several of them went to the top of the next
the Learned about the generation of these Geese some holding that they were bred of the leaves of the Barnacle Tree falling into the Wayters others that they are bred of moist rotten wood lying in the Waters but it is since found that they come of an Egg and are hatched like all other Geese There is a water in this Country called Merton Lake part of whose Waters are frozen in Winter and part not In the Lake of Lennox being 24 miles in compass the Fish are generally without Finns and yet there is great abundance of them It is said that when there is no wind stirring the waters of this Lake are so Tempestuous that no Marener dares venture on it They write also of a deaf stone 12 foot high and 33 foot thick of this rare quality that a Musket shot off the one side cannot be heard by a man standing on the other these wonders are reported by Hector Boetius and if not true let him bear the blame Near Falkirk remain the ruines and marks of a Town swallowed up by an Earthquake and the void place is filled with water saith Lithgow The Lough Lâ—mond turneth sticks into stones in which are several Islands and one of them which is full of Grass Rushes and Reeds swims about the Lake near a place called Dysert in Fife by the Sea side is a Heath where there is great plenty of earthly Bitumen In the Country of Argile at this day saith Cambden are Kine and red Deer ranging wild upon the Hills Between the Coast of Cathness and Orkney is a dreadful Frith or Gulf in the North end of which by reason of the meeting of 9 contrary Tides or Currents is a Male stream or great Whirlpool which whirleth continually about and if any Ship Boat or Bark come within the reach thereof they must quickly throw over something into it as a Barrel a piece of Timber or the like or else the Vessel will inevitably be swallowed up which the Cathness and Orkney Mareners know very well and observe it as a constant custom to redeem themselves that way from danger Toward the North of Scotland saith Speed there be Mountains all of Alabaster and some all of Marble At the mouth of the River Frâ—th in the main Sea is a very high Rock out of whose top a spring of water runs abundantly The Snow lies all the year upon the Hills in Ross A large piece of Amber saith Cambden as big as a Horse was found not long since upon the Coast of Buquan in which County they say Rats are never seen and if any be brought thither they will not live It is credibly reported saith Ortelius that there is a Stone found in Argile which if covered a while with Straw or Flax it will set it on fire The Snow lies all the year long upon the Hills in Ross It is recorded that Sergius K. of Scots was so addicted to Harlots that he neglected his own Wife and drove her to such poverty that she was forced to wait upon another Noblewoman for her living whereupon watching her opportunity she slew her Husband in Bed and her self after The Castle of Edenburgh was built by Cruthenus King of the Picts and called Maiden Castle because the Daughters of the Pictish Kings were there kept working with their Needles till they were married Ethus King of Scots was almost as swift in running as a Stag or Greyhound and therefore called Wing-footed but utterly unfit for Government being cowardly and a slave to Pleasure In the time when the Barbarous and bloody Danes raged in England they came to Coldingham a Nunnery on the hither part of Scotland where Ebba the Prioress with the rest of the Nuns cut off their own Noses and Lips chusing rather to preserve their Virginities from the Danes than their beauty or favour whereupon these cruel Heathens burnt their Monastery and all of them therein Malcolm King of Scots was a very magnificent and couragious Prince in 1067. of which he gave proof in the beginning of his Reign for being informed of a Conspiracy against his life he dissembled the knowing of it till being abroad one day a hunting he took one of the chief Conspirators aside challenged him as a Traitor adding Here now is a fit place to do that manfully which you intended to perform by Treachery now if you have any valour kill me honourably and none being present you can incur no danger With this Speech of the King the man was so daunted that he fell at his Feet confessed his fault asked forgiveness and proved ever after Faithful and Loyal This King repealed that barbarous Statute of K. Eugenius 3 by the persuasion of his Virtuous Lady Margret Sister to K. Edward Atheling which ordained That when a man was married his Lord should lye with his Bride the first night He allowing it to be redeemed with half a Mark of Silver which sum is to this day put into the Leases which the Lords make to their Vassals this King besieging Aldwich Castle an English Knight unarmed only with a light Spear in his hand on the end of which he carried the Keys of the Castle came riding into the Camp where being brought to the King and bowing his Spear as though he intended to present him with the Keys ran him into the left Eye and left him for dead and by the swiftness of his Horse escaped hence some say came the great Family of the Pierceys His Queen hearing of her Husband and Sons death beseeched the Almighty that she might not survive them and had her desire dying within a days after In 1137. Kentigern was Bishop of Glasgow a man of rare Piety and exceeding bountiful to the poor It is recorded that an Honourable Lady having lost a Ring which her Husband gave her as she crossed the River Clayd her Husband grow Jealous as if she had bestowed it on one of her Lovers upon which she went to Kentigern intreating his help for the safety of her honour who after he had used his Devotionâ— went to the River and spoke to one who was fishing to bring him the first Fish he caught which he doing the Ring was found in the Fishes Mouth and the Bishop sent it to the Lady who was thereby freed of her Husbands Jealousy This good Bishop saith A. B. Spotswood lived till he was 185 years old In 1550. The Persecution waxing hot in Scotland against the Protestants many Prodigious signs were observed saith A. B. Spotswood a Comet like a fiery broom or besom flamed the whole months of November December and January great Rivers in the midst of Winter were dryed up and in Summer swelled so high that divers Villages were therewith drowned and numbers of Cattle feeding in the low grounds were carried into the Sea Whales of an huge bigness were cast up in divers parts of the River Forth Hailstones as big as Pigeons Eggs fell in many places which destroyed abundance of Corn And which was