1598. SPECULI BRITANIAE Pars The descripsion of Hartford-shire By John Norden Amplissimo honoratissimoque, D. Edwardo Seamor militi, Baroni Beauchamp, Comiti Hertfordiae literarum fautori maximo. SI hoc tibi (ornatissime) itinerarium, alicuius novitatis pretextu, vel rei non anteactae vel praefatae obferreviderer: Nonnè tempus & veritas ipsa hac in me sapientis irruant sententia: Nihil esse sub sole nowm? Imò vero mill homines in me testes insurgant, asserentes hoc opus meum tardé post non nullorum proficisci. Fac sit. Ego post omnes, hoc meum incultissimum in lucem duco. Et cúm summi honoris tui tituli typum, in publicum secum fert▪ Officio me vinctum putabam tuae amplitudini primùm libenter exhibere, tuumque & in opus & operarium, ut praesidium digneris instanter obsecrare. Summis honoribus vivas, Summisque consolationibus a deo opt. max. Tuae celcetudini paratus. I. Norden. To Gentlemen well affected to this travail. FOrasmuch as many men are borne to many mysteries, and they bend their endeavours to sundry ends. My lot lighting upon this labour, for which many other are more fit, am not perchance so well furnished with such necessary varieties as will please all men. And therefore I will thankfully accept, any gentle reformation of my wants and imperfections, And who so will lend his assistance to further my simple endeavours, according to the course and method herein intended, I shall most willingly repay him his own with advantage, and yield every coadjutor his condign commemoration in the work. Non uni omnia. Multis plurima. Things to be considered in the use of this book and Map. THe figures and letters, which follow the names of the places in the alphabetical tables, are a ready mean whereby to find, any place desired in the Map, by referring them to meet, in the squares, very familiarly: without which help a place unknown would be long to find in the Map. Between the lines is 2. miles, by which a distance may be found without compasses Corrections. In pag. 2. line 36. for oppiden read oppidum. In pag. 3. Among the market towns, Hatfeyld is omitted. In pag. 6. line 18. for Wendod read Wendon. In pag, 6, line 26. for Lave read Luye. In pag. 6. line 42. for nosome read noisome. In pag. 12. line 30. for tromules read tremulis. ER HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE SEMPER EADEM royal blazon or coat of arms The Description of Hartfordshire. HARTFORDSHIRE taketh The denomination of the Shire. name of the Town called HARTFORD and the Town of the passage over the River. The passage as (M. Camden supposeth) is HERUDFORDE, Vadum rubrum. Vadum ceruinum. It may be also, both consonant to the sound and to the nature and situation of the place, vadum ceruinum. THE PASSAGE OF DEER of that kind whereof the chief males were ealed Hearts, in former ages: at this day Stags. The disposition of this part of the country, to forest and weldish grounds, fit for the fostering of such kind of wild beasts, doth much more argue it to be HARTESFORDE, then HERUD, for THE RUDFORD. As I conjecture. Hartingfordberye. Moreover, not far from the town, is a place called HARTINGFORD, which signifieth vadumad ceruinum pratum, or ad ceruinum pascuum. This Shire was part of that country where Ptolomey placed the Cattieuctani Cattieuctani: who possessed the greatest part of this Buckingham and Bedfordshires. Situs. It hath on the East Essex, on the north Cambridshire and Bedfordshire, West and South Buckinghamshire and Middlesexe. As touching vicecountile jurisdiction, before and long after the Sometime annexed unto Essex, time of Edw. 3. it was annexed to Essex. And one Sheriff supplied both Countics, as did also one escheator. Concerning the Soil: The Soil. It is for the most part, chalky, though the upper crust in the South and West parts, be for the most part of red earth mixed with gravel, which yet by reason of the white marvel under it, yieldeth good wheat and oats: But of it own nature most inclined to ●ood, and coupisses, affording also fair ways. In the North part of the Shire, as in the hundreds of Hitche, and Oddesey, the soil is very apt to yield corn, and dertie ways, especially that part which is accounted parcel of a veil called of the country men the veil of Ring-tayle or Wring-tayle or The veil of Ringtayle. rather Ringdale, which extendeth itself also into Cambridg-shire. And affordeth no small store of wheat and malt towards the provision of London. This Shire at this day is, and more hath been heretofore, much replete with parks woods and rivers. But for deep feedings or Parks, woods & rivers. Sheep pastures. Meadows. large sheep pastures, I could take notice of few, and they especially about KNEBWORTH the best sheep gates within the Shire, Meadows here and there, are dispersed upon the rivers sides: But many of them cold and mossy, especially about RICKMANSWORTH. The LEA challengeth the commendation for the best meadows, the North part of the Shire is much unfurnished. To speak of the Soil as in deed it is most generally, for my part I take it but a barren country, in respect of some other The soil most generally barren. Thorrowfares' the cause of good markets. Shires, without the industrious toil & charge of the thirsty husbandman. It is much benefited by thorrow fares to and from London Northwards, and that maketh the markets to be the better furnished with such necessaries, as are requisite for Inns, for th'entertainment of travailers. And I take it (though it be one of the least) no one Shire in England for the quantity comes near it for thoroughfare places of competent receipt. The air for the most partis very salutary, and in regard thereof, The air. many sweet and pleasant dwellings, healthful by nature and profitable by art and industry are planted there: And above other Shires there are many ancient Sites, houses in former ages famous, commonly called BERRIES, which are in other Shires Berries. called Halls, Courtehouses, and Mannorplaces. The most part of these BERRIES are Manors or Lordships of themselves, the word BERRYE sodem significat: a dwelling place or place of BERRY quid. abode, inde Connie berries, a refuge for Connyes. But the word bury is often confounded with Burrough, Bury and Berge: every of which have their distinct significations: BURROW bury often confounded. borough, Bury, Berge, quid Berries why decayed. The division of the Shire into hundreds. oppidem: BURYE, sepulchrum: BERG, montem significat: And bury sometime is taken pro castro▪ et exercitus castrametatione. And therefore in regard of the antiquity of these Berries, I thought it not superfluous, to observe the most of name, and to insert them in the Map, though now they carry not equal glory in outward show, with some of inferior condition: for the most part of them having lost their ancient Lords, or the Lords let them for so lofty rents, as that they are sacked of their antic royalties, and bereft of their former beauty. This Shire is divided into 7. hundreds and ½ namely: ODDESEY hundred, which taketh name of an ancient house called ODDESEY GRAUNGE which standeth Oddesey. near old WATLINE-STREET, and abutteth part on Bedfordshire, and part on Cambridgshire, and aboundeth especially with corn. EDWINESTRE hundred bordereth upon Essex. BRAWGHING hundred taketh name of a parish of that Edwinestree. Brawghing. Hartford. name, and boundeth upon Edwinestree. HARTFORD hundred is named of Hartford the provincial town of the Shire. BROADWATER hundred, so termed of a little hamlet Broadwater of 2. or 3. houses near Steven edge. COISHOO hundred, or CAEGSHOO, is named of Caishoo Cassijs. an ancient bury, called Caishoo-berye, de CASSIIS of a people mentioned by Caesar resident in this hundred as M. Camden affirmeth. See more of this under that name in the table of parishes. DACORUM hundred, (as I am out of doubt) the Daces of the Dacorum. Danes, who in this hundred, after many spoils committed by them were overthrown by Adelnulph, and Adelbalde his son about the year of Christ 8 29. And in memorial of their overthrow, and stop of their further passage that way at that time, the place where the fight was is to this day called DANE END Dacorum clades. And near it in the highway towards Steven edge, are DACORUM clades. Hitch. many burials, great heaps of earth, under which are interred, such as were slain, at that conflict as may be supposed. HITCH half hundred, so called of a wood called HITCH-WOOD, and not of Hitchin town, which indeed is HITCHENDE, terminus de Hitch, and not Hitch-ing, as it is corruptly termed, and the hundred is HITCH-HAULFE hundred not Hitchnie nor Hitching half hundred. This Shire is well furnished with market towns, the most of them plentiful of all things necessary for the people's relief: namely. SAINT ALBON, which hath market on the Market towns. Saturday. BARNET on the Monday. BARKHAMSTED on the Monday. BALDOCK a little market on the Thursday. BUNTINGFORD on the Monday. BARKWAY on the Friday. HEMSTED on the Thursday. HARTFORD on the Saturday. HODDESDON on the Thursday. HITCH-END on the 〈…〉 RYCKMANSWORTH on the Saturday. ROYSTON on the Wednesday. STORTFORD, a very good market on the Thursday SABRIDGWORTH on the Wednesday, TRINGE a little market on the Friday. WAYRE on the Tuesday. WATFORDE on the In number 18. The Fairs for the most Fairs. part in this Shire. viz. 2 At RICKMANSWORTH on Lady day in harvest: and on Rickmansworth, Watford the second of july. 2 At WATFORD on Trinity Monday, et per duas dies proximè sequentes, and on the decolation of john Baptist. 2 At BARKHAMSTED on saint Peter's day, and saint Barkhamsted james day. 1 At TRING S. Peter's day. Tring 1 At HEMSTED at the day of Holie-crosse. 3 At saint ALBAN on Michaelmas day, on Th'annunciation of S. Alban. Mary, and upon saint Alban day, which is 3. days after Midsummer, 1 At the PRAY, called Sancta Maria de pratis, on It The Pray. is held sometime in the town of S. Alban, or in Keyfeild near Sop well. 3 At HITCH-END on the Wednesday in Easter week, on Hitch-end. Michael's day, and on S. Edw. day. 1 At BENNINGTON on S. Peter's day. Bennington Hatfeild. Hartford. 1 At HATFEYLD on S. George's day. 4 At HARTFORD on S. john Baptist day, on Simon and judes day, on the friday before Passion sunday, and our Lady day 4. September. 3 At BALDOCK on S. Matthyas day, saint andrew's day, Baldock and on saint Matthewes day. 2 At SABRIDGWORTH on S. George's day, and on saint Sabridgeworth. Stortforde Dionise day. 3 At STORTFORD on Michael's day, on ascension day, and on corpus Christi day, 1 At WAYRE on the nativity of Marie. Wayre. Hoddesdon Royston. 1 At HODDESDON S. Peter's day. 3 At ROYSTON on Ash-wednesday, on the Wednesday in Whitsun week, and at Thomas Beckets' day. At Chipping Bernet on At S. Giles on Bernet. The division of the Shire. THe justices of the Shire for the more ease of themselves and The Shire divided into 3. parts the common people, have by consent divided the whole Shire into 3. parts or divisions, for the determination of matters of meanest moment. 1 The first division is of CAISHOO and DACORUM hundreds, and for this the justices of that limit meet sometime at Welwine and sometime at Steven-edge. 2 BROADWATER and HITCH half hundred meet at S. Alban. 3 HARTFORD, BRAWGHING, ODDESY and EDWINESTREE meet at Hartford or Hoddesdon. But for matters of greatest importance the justices meet all at Hartford, where is also the common jail for the Shire, and in the Hartford the Provincial town and most general place of meeting. Castle the jail delivery, except only for the liberty of S. ALBAN which both for ecclesiastical & evil government, hath peculiar power within itself, whose jurisdiction reacheth into these parishes, namely: S. ALBAN. wherein are parishes. S. michael's S. Stevons. S. Peter. WATFORD. RICMANSWORTH. NORTON near Baldock. NEWNHAM. S. Alban liberty. RIDGE. HEXTON. WALDEN abbots. SARRET. LANGLEY abbots. ELSTRE or Eglestre. BUSHIE. CUDYCOT. or Casticot, of some Caudecot. SHEPEHALE. SANDRIDGE. REDBURNE. BARNET. S. andrew's in S. Alban. Goole and jail delivery for the liberty. The deanery of S. Alban, Brawghing These have jail and jail delivery at S Alban, 4. times in the year, namely the thursday after the quarter Sessions, at Hartford, which is always on the Monday. For Ecclesiastical government, these former belong to the Diocese of LONDON, and is called the deanery OF S. ALBAN, together also with the Deanerye of Brawghing. The rest of the Shire belongeth to the sea of LINCOLN and containeth the Deaneries of BARKHAMSTED. Deaneries belonging to the Sea of Lincoln. Rivers. Stort. HITCH-END. HARTFORD. BALDOCK. To speak something of the Rivers that water this Country, the STORT may be first mentioned, because it lieth farthest in the East, and is the Bound between this Shire and Essex: But that this Shire steppeth over the river, both at Stortford, and near Sabridgworth, and fetcheth within her limits about Stortford, the Castle of Waymore Hockerell, the parsonage of Stortford, with other things in Essex side, and at Sabsworth or Sabridgeforde it depriveth Essex of a house called HYDE-HALL. Some, as I take it in terming this Stort the STOVR are not Stour. merely mistaken, for though the Stowrens parteth Suffolk and Essex, and riseth at STOUR-MER, the Stort riseth in Essex also near WENDON LOWGHES and signifieth Wendod water, and begins to divide the two Shires between Stortford and Fernham about a mile above Stortford: And may in deed not amiss be called Stowret, THE LESSER OR LITTLE STOWR. Stowret. And the passage over the river near Waymore Castle is called STOWRETFORD, briefly STORTFORD, whereof the Town taketh name, and is called STORTFORD for Stowretsord. And under the name of the Stowret or Stort, it maintaineth Stowretford. that division, till it come beneath an ancient house called the REE, where it meeteth with the LEA or LAVE, who as the The Ree. more worthy bereaves the little Stort of her title and glory, and under the name of the Lea, they both in one hasten to WALTHAM ABBEY, and there bid HARTFORDSHIRE vale, continuing her most mild course as stickler between Essex and Middlesex, until she present herself to famous Thames. The LEA is the most famous River within this Shire: And Lea. bringeth as it were a testimonial of her worh from the Saxons, who entitled her LIGEAN or LIGEAM Lea water. And it may Ligean. be supposed & probably gathered, that she yielded in those pristine ages, some praiseworthy fruits unto that antic nation, as her free entertainment of boats and ships, from the Thames even to Hartford, for the more easy entercarriage of things between London & it, though now, & many years past, (as discontent) she Boats to Hartford. hath refused that public service affording only, of late, access for small boats or barges to WAYRE, a benefit necessary and no way no some. This River hath many branches, but her head first seemeth to look into the light, not far from an ancient house, called of the spring there, LEA-MER, corruptly LAMER, which signifieth eamer. the head, spring or well of LEA. As the Stowre which passeth between Suffolk and Essex, beginneth at STOUR-MER, the Stour-mer. head or spring of Stoure. The Lea coasteth as it were through the Centre of the Shire, dividing it near into two equal parts, and in her passage, among Whitwell. Marran. Bene. Benefician. other, she receiveth the WHITWELL river, whose ancient name is MARRAN. Entering the Lea west off Hartford, and between that and Wayre, the BEEN or ancient BENEFICIAN, a river that riseth not far from BEINENTON or BENINGTON increaseth the Lea, not far from a place alluding also to that name called BENGEHOO or rather BENEHOO Benge koo. the river of Bene by interpretation. A third branch, which first riseth about Barkeway, Austie, and Buntingford, maketh way by Brawghing, and near Bengehoo entereth the Lea. A fourth branch, riseth about the Pelhames, making way by the Hadhames, and East off Wayre greeteth the Lea. The RFDBURNE river riseth not far from Flamsted an Redburne. ancient Barony, and thence passeth by Redburne, and in her way towards the decays of old Verlam, it greeteth the Lady of Pree S. MARIA DE PRATIS a Nunnery and a kind neighbour Sancta Maria de pratis. to Alban Abbey. This fall of water, was called VERLAME, as Antiquaries observe, and thereof VEROLANIUM, and VERLAMECESTER: whereby it may be gathered that the former Flamsted where this Verlame water first appeareth, should be rather VERLAMSTED then Flamsted: Flamsted being more Flamsted for Verlamsted. fortè. easy to be pronounced, and so drowning verlam with flame, as in many words f. is taken for the u. consonant, and that u. for f. especially among the common people, that pronounce vather sometime for father. This Verlam river or the Redbourne was the food that relieved that famous great pool which was between Verlamcester and Holmehurst hill where Alban town standeth: Of which pool so many conjectures havebeene, that it should be part of the flowing Thames, whereof is spoken hereafter in S. Alban. This Verlame or Redburne River not much below Alban town, offereth herself to the COLNE, a river that there embraceth Colne. her, and drowning both the names of Verlame and Redbourne, usurpeth the whole ritle and glory to herself, and immediately begetteth COLNEY and COLNEY-STREET, and passing on she Colney. Colney-street visiteth WATFORD or WATLINGFORD, the ancient ruins of Morhouse, Rickmansworth, Uxbridge and another of her begotten called COLNEBROOKE, and so without stay she Colnebrooke. submitteth herself to the Thames, the maimed evouring gulf of all these petite streams. This river ere it comes to Riokemansworth devoureth Caishoo river Caishoo. and another that falls out of Buckinghamshire. Beacons or Beaukens within the Shire. THe Steeple of S. Peter's in S. Alban. Beacons. Graveley Beacon. Tharfield Beacon. Amwell Beacon. Hartford Town hath long. 20. degrees and latitude 52. degrees. ⅙′ Longit. & lat. Parishes in number. Within this Shire are 120. parishes and 15. Chapels of ease, yet in use, some of them carrying the name of parishes. In the whole 135. HARTFORDSHIRE map of Hertfordshire · HONI· SOIT· QVI· MAL· Y· PENCE· royal blazon or coat of arms Joannes Norden perambulaunt & descripsit 1598. Wilhelmus kip Sculpsit. An alphabetical Table of the towns Parishes and Hamlets for the most part within the Shire. AYOT. h. 18. called Ayot Laurence, near which place Adelnulph and Adelbaide his son gave the Anno. 829. Danes an overthrow: the place to this day where they were slain, is called DANE-END Dacorum clades. Dacorum clades. AYOT h. 20. called Ayet Mountfitchet or little Ayot. ALDBERIE d. 30. Villa vel aula antiqua. ALDBERYE i 18. eiusdem significationis. AFFLEY e. 14. ALDNHAM m. 18. Idem quod ALDBERYE. S. ALBAN. k. 18. Villa Albani. ALBANS TOWN first founded by Offa K. of the Mercees, in perpetual memory of Albans town founded. 790▪ or 793. Holmchurst. Dours-waldt Alban in the 33 year of his reign. The Town is said to be builded in the place where Alban was martyred, namely upon a hill in a wood called HOLMEHURST of Beda DOURSWALDT: which is the wood near the water, meaning the great Stagne, which was between Verlame and the place of Alban execution. Alban was a Citizen of Verolam, and by blood a Roman, and gave entertainment to Amphibal at his coming to that city. by whom he was from Paganism converted to the Christian faith, Capgrave. for which he suffered as Capgrave affirmeth, whose further frivolous reports of the miracles wrought by this holy Convert, living and dead, I leave as idle or needless▪ only it seemeth probable that such a man there was executed at that place, and for his eternal commemoration, this Alban Monastery was founded, and consequently the town, both consecrate to his own name. And endowed with many large privileges and daily augmented and successively confirmed, by the charters of many Kings of this Land The King's ancient confirmation of charters. The Monastery enlarged. The privileges of S. Alban. whereof I have seen and read not a sew; signed only signo crucis without further ceremony of sealing. This Monastery hath been enlarged by sundry Abbots of this place, as especially by Eldred and Edmer about Eadgars' time, and in Edward 3. time, who gave the then Abbot Licentiam ad confirmardam et kernellandam Abathiam de calce et petra: in the 31. year of his reign over England, and of his reign over France the 18. Such were the privileges of this place, that the King could make no secular officer over them, but by their own consent. They were acquitted of all Toll through England. They made justices ad audiendum et terminandum, within themselves, and no other justice could call them for any matter out of their liberty. They made also Bailiffs and Corroners. No Bishop had any jurisdiction to correct any person among them for any matter spiritual or temporal. They had the execution and return of all writs, and the goods of all Outlaws: and that is yet continued to the Town by the Present Privileges of the town grant of Edward 6. And no man may be empaneled out of the Town. They had jail and jail delivery within the town: and the town at this day hath the like, namely one jail for the liberty, gale and jail delivery. Th'incorporation. and another for the town. For the jail delivery, the Steward of the town is always in commission, but not by their Charter. The town is governed by a Mayor and 10. Burgesses, a steward and a Chamberlain. There are in the town 4. Wards and in every Ward a Constable and 2. Churchwardens. In the Abbey church of this place is a Font of brass brought out of Scotland by Sir Richard Lée: as may appear by a circumscription about the same font, as if the font did proclaim the same in it own person in these words. Cum letha oppidum apud Scotos non incelebre et Edenburgus primaria A Font brought out of Scotland. apud eos civitas, incendio conflagrarent, Richardus Leus eques aur atus me flammis ereptum ad Anglos perduxit. Huius ego beneficij memor non nisi Regum liberos lavare solitus, nunc meam operam etiam infimis Anglorum libenter condixi. Leus' victor sic voluit. Anno Domini. M. D. XLIIII. & Henrici octavi. XXXVI. In this Abbey church lieth buried famous Sir john Mandevile Sir john mandevile. lively form in a marble stone: whose travails in foreign regions and rare reports, are at this time admired through the world. There lie also many Nobles, who lost their lives in the conflicts Nobles buried. in and near this town, between the houses of Lancaster and York. In the Northwest end of the town was sometime a stately castle, and called KINGSBERRIE, which is as much, as the Kingsberie castle. kings house or castle, for BERRYE castrum et castrametationem significat: the ruins thereof do yet somewhat appear, the place now supplied with a farm house. The Abbot of that place in the time of K. Stephen made suit unto the K. to overthrow and supplant the same castle, for that (as he suggested) Antiquis temporibus latebant quidam regales nequam homines, Abbatis minus infesti et damnosi. At whose instance the castle was forthwith overthrown. A graat Mere between Verlame and S. Alban. There was sometime a great Mere or stagne, between this town and old Verolamium▪ and many have constantly, but idly affirmed, that the Thames hath had issue that way, and navigable so far, a thing merely fabulous, though it be true, that an anchor was sometime found there. It was indeed Stagnum maximum an ample and large fishpool of the Kings, and belonged to his castle of Kingsberie before spoken of: And the King for his recreation, and delight lying there, did often pass by boat, to and fro within the same, according to the order of the noble men and gentlemen of Rome, who did usually, make fair fishpondes about their houses, to recreate themselves therein: and these with exceeding cost, as Marcus Varro writeth especially of the wonderful large and costly fishpondes of Hortentius, Hircius and Lucullus. And of these, and such other princely Romans, did these Verlame Citizens, take precedent for this great pond, which coming afterwards to the king of the land, he often took his repasle therein, accompanied commonly with no small troop of his nobles, and therefore the boats, were provided of large hull, furnished with cable and ancer, that at the king's pleasure, the boat might be moared in any part of the pool, whereby, how easy it is to lose an ancre in the mere reason may judge, and this was the occasion of the loss, of the ancre doubtless that was found there, and not ordinary recourse of ships as some vainly suppose. And yet as Ovid saith: & vetus inventa est in montibus anchora summis. This fishpool The pond bought of the king & drained dry continued in this pride, till the time of Alfric the seventh Abbott of this Monastery, who bought the same of the king, and by industry and charge caused it to be drained dry: And the more to argue it to be but a fishpool there remaineth yet one witness, a street in the town lying towards it called FISHPOOLESTREETE. Fishpoole street. If any boats in former times, came thither, they came from Staenes and up the Colne river to Rickmansworth, to Watforde and so to S. Alban, but in no sense to the place where the ancre was found, for that the fall of the water there was such as it could yield no access for shipping against the same. There is indeed a field below S. Alban called key feyld, and below Rickmansworth, a place upon the river called Westhythe, which may in sort argue some such passage for boats, but for the first it may be aswell pascuum, vaccinum a pastor for kine, or kine, as a strand for fastening of boats or ships & more like. And Westhithe may be as well taken for a house as for a harbour of ships. And yet these simple probabilities might work that conceit in Gildas, who was the author of this error. In and about this town, have been sundry battles conflicts S. Alban spoiled. and spoils, as in the time of Henry 3. one Falcatius de Brent a notorious robber, with a company of wicked persons came too this town by night, spoiled the same and murdered many: and would have set the Abbey on fire, But the Abbot feed him with 100 pound to departed. This was a dangerous time when thieves and murtheres must be hired for reward and not constrained by justice, to desist from violence and blood. In the same year it was ransacked again by the souldiees, that went under the conduct of Earl Patric, Sayre and others to remove The 2 spoil of S. Alban. the siege of Mount Sorrell. Moreover, about the year 1455. Henry 6. of the family of Lancaster with many of his nobles, at this town met with Richard Duke of York, and his adnerentes, where the king was taken, and A batte'l at S. Alban. a great slaughter made upon his men, even of best account. But afterwards within 4. years near the same, at a place called by the inhabitants BERNET FEYLD but I take it rather Brentes field, of the former Falcatius de Brent, such as stood affected to the family of Lancaster, under the conduct of Margaret the Queen, mightily prevailed against the complices of the house of York, to the infranchesing of the Captaives king, and overthrow of many of The 2. battle near S. Alban. the adverse part. In the middle of this town is a cross, very stately erected about the year of Christ 1290. by Edward 1. as in many other places, in memorial of the death and doleful carriage of his Queen, from. Herdbie near Lincoln where she died, towards Westminster where she was buried. At this place was executed that Libellor and stirrer of the commons named john Ball in the time of Richard the 2. john Ball executed. The term is sometime kept in the Abbey chutch where all places are orderly provided for the same. AMWELL. h. 28. which signifieth fontem amnensem a well by the rivers side. ANSTIE. b. 30. At this place are the ruins and deep trenches of a strong castle, situate aloft on a steep hi●l, and was called HANST-HYE castle depraecipitio. I take it of the stepenesle of it. Hanst-hye castle. ASPENDEN. d. 24. so called either detremules of the Asp trees, or for that it hath been caverna viperina a place of venomous worms. ASTON. f. 22. ASHWELL. b. 20. fons inter fraxinos. M. Camdtn taketh it to be, that which Antoninus termth in his ltenerari MAGIOVINIUM Magiovinium. And he proveth it by the signification of the word Magionirdum, changing only n. for u. which then signifieth a nursery for Ashes, and so much doth the nature of the place fitly import▪ ASHRIDGE. i. 10. jugum fraxinium, at this place was an hermitage built by Edward Beanforde Earl of Cornwall, wherein (so it 1291. was esteemed) Edward 1. kept a royal Christmas. Wherein also our most worthy and ever famous Queen Elizabeth lodged as in her own, (being then a more stately house) at the iime of Wyatts 2. Elizabeth attempt in Queen mary's days. And from this place she was in all post sent for to the court, by such severe commissioners, that though she were then sick, she was forced to take her journey with them. The worthy history whereof to our perpetual joy, for that the high jehovah seeing her innocency preserved her to the regal throne, is at large set down in our Chronicles. This place is lately beautified by the Lord Cheyney. B. BARHAMSTED. k. 8. or rather BERGHAMSTEDT villa sita inter montes BERG in the Saxon tongue is a hill, HAM a town, and STEDT or STADT a place or seat, and the Berg quid hom quid stedt quid situation of this place agreeth to the former interpretation. Near unto this town was a strong castle, the ruinous walls and some buildings thereof yet remain. It was builded (as M. Camden affirmeth) by the Normans. The Conqueror, in deed stayed there, as histories report, as he passed through the country, And thither resorted unto him many Lords and nobles of the Realm, At which time, it is like, he gave Barkhamsted castle. order for the erecting of the castle, if it were not a castle when he made stay there, the beauty and strength of the castle, is now advanced on a lofty hill, stataly and pleasant not far from the old site, not holding the former form of a castle, but is become with addition and charge a beautiful house, by Sir Edward Carry knight M. of her majesties jewel house. Lewes of Frauncè besieged this castle against Henry 3. the first year of his reign, in the time of which siege certain knights and soldiers sallied out of the castle, and deprived the adversary of The castle besieged. sundry pillage, and safely returned. But afterward at the kings commandment it was yielded up to Lewes. Richard king of Almane died in this castle who was also Earl of Cornwall, and brother to Henry 3. And Cicelie mother to Edward the fourth. And wife too the Duke of York, to whom the Rich. king of Almain died castle belonged, ended her days in this place in the time of Henry 7. after she had seen the deserved fall of usurping Richard▪ who was also borne in this castle, some say at Fotheringay. There is in the town of Barkhamsted a fair free School built of brick, by doctor Incent sometime deane of Paul's, the stipend Ric. 3. borne A free school. of the Master is 20. pound per annum, of the usher 10. pound confirmed by act of parliament. It is a market town, and standeth most upon making of malt, it hath two fairs in the year. BARKHAMSTED. i. 26. or Berghamsted ut supra. BARKEWAY. b. 28. I have seen it in an ancient record BERGWANT which is as much as viain montem the way to the Bergwant. hill, it is a market town. In November last much defaced with sire. BARLEY, a. 28▪ or BERGLEG ager montosus. BARFEYLD b. 24. I have read it in the Saxon Berȝfeldt, and signifieth the same that Bergleg doth. BALDOCK d. 20. a market town standing between the hills, little furnished with any matter of moment, only it yieldeth maltmakers not a few, the praise of the place is the chalky soil fit for corn. BAYFORD i. 26. BERNET n. 26. or BERGNET monticulus, called high Bernet of the situation on a hill, and chipping Bernet of the market famous for cattle, there bought and sold every monday. BERNET n. 18▪ called East Bergnet. BERNET feyld k. 16. a place vulgarly so called, but corruptly as I take it, it should be rather Brentes feyld, of that Fulcatius de Brent Brentes-feyld. spoken of before in S. Alban, who with a troop of wicked men, about this place rob and murdered many. In this feyld, was the matter handled by deadly blows, between Queen Margaret leading the favourers of the house of Lancaster, Queen Margaret's victory. and the complices of the house of York, & where she redeemed the king that was taken before at the battle of S. Alban, And gave the kings and her enemies a sound requital. BENINGTON e. 24. or BENIGNTON villa Benigna, either of the bounty of the inhabitants, or the pleasant and profirable situation of the place. As Blithe in the North parts de iucunditate of mirth and good fellowship. But it may be BENETON of a river called BEEN, or Bene. Benefician. BENEFICIAN which riseth near it, which carrieth great probability. BENGEHOO h. 26. or rather BENEHOO which is rightly interpreted the river of Bene, BENEHOO for Benegoe in the German tongue, HOO with us being pronounced for GOW Go & Hoo. idem. which is in the French EAV, with us water. BEDMONT l. 16. a hamlet called Bedmont pond de Stagno of the pool near it BELLBARR l. 24. BIGRAVE c. 20. a parish wherein is only the bury, of Manor house and none other. BOURNE-END k. 10. BOVINGDON m. 10. BROAD-WATER f. 20. a little hamlet whereof Broad-water hundred taketh name, so called not of the continual water for the place is commonly dry: But at great floods the fall of the land water maketh it a great Sea. BRAGBERG-END f. 22. BRADFEYLD a hamlet sometime a chapel of ease now ecayed. BRANFEYLD k. 24. It was given by one Hardewine de Sealeris and Odell his wife to th'advancement of Alban Monastery. BROWGHING d. 28. or BRAWGHING, A liberty having other members, And thereof Brawghing hundred taketh name. BEOX-BORNE i 30, or BROOKES-BORNE de aqua. BUSHY o. 18. aptly so called de Dumis of the Bushes, and woods there, heretofore abounding. BURWELL f. 24. or BURGHWELL BUNTINGFORD a. 26. a large hamlet and a good thoroughfare: also a market town, standing as it is said in four several parishes, namely in Layston, Widiall, Throcking, and Aspenden. And hath two fairs in the year. BUCKLAND b. 26. fortè de fagis. C. CALK-COTE b. 18. rightly so called de creta vel calce, and signifieth cretaceam casam, a house standing in a chalky soil. cretacea casa. CAISHOO n. 16. or CAEGSHO, M. Camden deriveth the name de Cassijs of a people mentioned by Caesar who had their abode in this part as is supposed. Caishoo should import a water, called CAIS or Caegs the name, Cassijs. it may be, of the river that passeth through this hundred, called CAISHOO or Caegeshoo hundred, called of Hollenshed GADES and gives name to the Gadesdens', where the river riseth: And so by corruption of pronunciation they call it Caishoo for Gadeshoo, Gades Gades. Cais. Gaegs. river or else is GADES mistaken for CAIS or CAEGS and so for Caisden or Caegsden pronounced Gadesden, for doubtless the river giveth name to Caishoo or Caegshoo, or Gadeshoo-berye. Offa king of Mercia gave unto the monastery of S. Alban, a place by the name of Caegshoo, whether it were the whole hundred Caegshoo-bery or some place else now decayed, I can not affrime. But I take it most like to be the whole hundred for that the most of it belongeth to the liberty of S. Alban. CHIPPERS FEYLD m. 12. COLNEY l. 20. COLNEY-STREET l. 18, these take name of Colney stream, which giveth name also to Colnebrooke, a town standing both in Buckinghamshire and Middlesex. CODERYD a. 24. or Caude-rydge jugum frigidum. CHESFEYLD e. 20. fort CHOISFEYLD Ager delectus, for the rich situation in so fertile a corn soil. CHESTON l. 30. cur non Chestin? castanetum of chessenut trees. chestin. CORNERHALL a hamlet so called for the sudden turning in it from Hemsted way to Barkhamsted. CLOTHALL d. 20. de Carbonarijs. COLGREENE h. 24. COLLIERS-END f. 26. COLSEHILL green o. 8, a hamlet of Hartfordshire, yet within Buckinghamshire four miles from the nearest part of Harifordshire▪ CUMBERLOW green d. 22. Casa frigida. CUDICOTE g. 20. or CAUDE-COTE casa frigida. D. DANE-END i 26. terminus velclades Dacornm. DANE-END h. 16. of these see more in the definition of the hundred DACORUM. DIGSWELL h. 22. DATCH-WORTH g. 22. E. EASTWIKE g. 32. vicus orientalis. ELSTREE n. 20. in OFFAES' grant EAGLESTRE Nemus aquilinum: a place wherit may be thought Eagles bred Nemus aquilinium. in time past, for though it be now hilly and heathy-it hath been replenished with stately trees, fit for such fowl to breed and harbour in. It is parcel of the liberty of S. Alban. EPPALETS e. 16, or HIPPOLETTS, vulgarly PALLETS, this place was dedicated to a supposed Saint of that name, Eppalets was a good horseleech. that in his life time was a good tamer of colts, and as good a horseleech: And for these qualities so devoutly honoured after his death, as all passengers by that way on horseback, thought themselves bound to bring their steeds into the church, even, up to the high altar, where this holy horseman was shrined, and where a Priest continually attended, to bestow such fragments of Eppolettes miracles, upon their untamed colts and old wanton, and forworn jades, as he had in store, And did avail so much the more or less, as the passengers were bountiful or hardhanded, but he that was coy of his coin had but a cold and counterfeit cure. ESENDEN i. 24. or EAUSENDEN. F. FLAMSTED i. 14, It may be VERLAMSTED, a place Verlamsted. upon the river Verlame for there it riseth, which of the ancients was called Verlame water, of us Redburne stream which runs between the Ruins of Verlamcester and S. Alban, Verlamsted is more tedious in pronunciation then is Flamsted, and therefore Flamsted held in use, and soundeth locum Flamenus. And was sometime a barony so called. FLAVNDEN n. 10. FINCHES-END e. 22. G. GADESDEN i 10. or CAISDEN called GADESDEN magna. It taketh name of the River Gades or Cais see more of this before in Caishoo. GADESDEN i 10. called Gadesden parva. GELDS-DEN g. 32. GRAVELEY e. 18. or GRAVESLEY terra praepositi, the Graveley cum Chesfeyld. Reeves land: Chesfeyld is annexed unto it, and in all charges is called Graveley cum Chesfeyld. GRAVESEND d. 32. limbs prepositi the Reeves end or the bound of the precinct of the Reeves office, this officer at this day in many parts Westward is yet in force, especially in ancient demeisne Land. H. HARDING h. 16. in record HARPEDEN or HARPENDEN. HATFEYLD k. 22. or HAUTFEYLD Campus alius called bishops Hautfeyld for that it did sometime belong to the bishop of Elye. It is now her Majesties, and will be for ever famous, for that it Queen Elizabeth. first offered forth our most worthy Elizabeth to the Regal diadem, and to receive the triumphant sceptre of this Realm, happy in her Royal Majesty. And therefore let Hautfeyld be ever famous. HARTFORD h. 26. after M. Camden HERUDFORD for the THE RUDFORD. But under correction (reverenoing his judgement) Irather take it vadum ceruinum. HARTSFORD a passage for Deer, more Vadum ceruinum. like than Oxeford should be de vado Boum, where in deed it is Ousford A passage or ford over the River Ouse, which giveth name to Owsney. More is said of Hartford before in the definition of the Shire. There is in this town a Castle never of great strength, built as The castle is thought by Edward 1. and much increased by the houses of Clare and Lancaster, and is at this day accounted parcel of the Duchy of Lancaster. Rogerus de Clare was created Earl of this place in the time of Roger de Clare. Henry 2. The Castle and Town standeth upon the Lea, which is said to Passage for Ships. have yielded passage for shipping even to the walls of the Castle, which I dare, neither to affirm or deny, having seen no record to prove the one or impossibilities for the other, more is said of the Lea and of the passage for ships, before in handling the Rivers. This Town hath been of greater state, estimation and beauty then now it is, And had four parish churches; namely S. Michael's, & S. mary's decayed, only All Saints and S. andrew's stand. It hath been most robbed of her glory, by Wayres' advancement The cause of Hartfords' decay. The corporation. which since the turning of the high way through it hath flourished more and more, and this daily withered. It hath a corporation, a Bailiff, elcuen Burgesses, and a Sergeant, the jail for the Shire is in this town, and the jail delivery in the castle, and upon occasion, namely when the sickness visiteth London, the term for the most part is kept here in the castle, to the The term. great relief of the poor town. It hath market Saturday, and 4. fairs in the year. HARTINGFORD-BERY h. 24 whereof see in the definition of the Shire. HAUT-WICK c. 24. de alto situ. HADHAM f. c2 called Hadham magna where the Bishop of London hath an ancient house. HADHAM c. 32. called Hadham parva. HADHAM c. 30. called Hadham on ash a hamlet, standing on a brook of that name. HEMSTED k. 12. or Hempsted locus cannabinus forte of hemp. Etheldred granted it to the monastery of S. Alban by the name of HENAMSTED. HENXWORTH b. 20. HYDE o. 12. called West-hide or hithe. HIGH-STREET l. 14. HITCHING c. 16 or HITCHINE more rightly HITCH-END, because it lieth at the end of a famous wood called HITCH Hitch wood of which also the hundred of Hitch, called HITCH HALF HVNDRED taketh name, and not of the town which is quasi terminus the utter edge or end of that wood, though time have extinguished that part of the wood, which lay towards the town. It cannot be Hitch-ing which soundeth de pratis, unless it be in that sense, as Lucus is a thick wood de lucendo of yielding light being altogether dark. So Hitchinge of meadow ground because it hath no meadow, and yet standeth in a valley between the hills. The town is the Queens, and a very bountiful corn Market. It is governed by a Bailiff, and four Constables, whereof two are called for the town, and two for the foreign. In the town is made great store of Malt. About the town is a kind of chalk, which they call Hurlocke a Hurlock. stony Marle, more fit to make lime then to soil the ground, yet being mixed with a more fragile and gentle Marl, which also aboundeth there, they find it very helpful to their corn fields. HITCH-WOOD f. 16, HILL-END h. 16. HIGH-BRIDGE o. 16 a bridge near Moar house over Colney stream. HOW-END g. 18. or HOO-END the head of the River. HIGHCROSSE f. 26▪ HORMEADE c. 28. or HORMEHEAD magna as the head of the river or brook so called. HORMEAD c. 28. or HORME-HEAD parva. HODDESDON i. 30. a market town and a thorough fare from the north parts to London. HOCKERELL c. 36. a little hamlet belonging to Stortforde on Essex side but in Hartfordshire. HUNSDON i. 32. This place giveth unto the R. Ho. Sir George Carey knight, now Lord Chamberlain to her Ma. the title of BARON of HUNSDOD. It is an ancient house, and lately begun Baron of Hunsdon. to be enlarged with a stately gallery, fair lodgings and offices, by the right honourable. Hen. late Baron of the same place, and in his life time, also Lord Chambersaine to her Majesty. HICKLINGFORD d. 16. of some HITCH-INGFORD of some ICKLINGFORD. I. ICKLINGFORD vide Hicklingforde. K. KENSWORTH h. 12. KELSHULL b. 24▪ in record KELSWALDE. KNEBWORTH g. 20. KEMPTON g. 16. or KIMETON. KINESBURNE k. 14 or KINESBOURN of the river so Kime river. called whose head is near it. L. LAYSTON c. 26. LANGLEY m. 12. called KINGES-LANGLEY. At this place Richard 2. and Queen Anne his wife, with many Richard 2. buried Edmond of Langley. of their nobles kept a Royal Christmas. And when the king decea said he was buried in the church there, But afterwards he was removed to Westminster by Henry 5. At this house Edmond Duke of York was borne, and thereof called Edmond of Langley, where also he was buried and many other of that family. LANGLEY m. 14. called ABBOTESLANGLEY. LANGLEY f. 18. LADWELL d. 16. LEVESDEN m. 16. LETCHEWORTH d. 18. LONG MEERSTON i. 4. So called for that it is terminus extremus huius Hartfordiensis agri. LULLEY f. 12. or rather Low ley, de solo depresso, of the lowground M. MAGIOVINIUM see Ashwell. MARKAT h. 13. corruptly so called for MER-GATE which is Scatebra an issue or outgate of water called in Sussex and Surrey a Bourne that breaketh out of the earth, at sometimes, A Bourne. foregoing (as hath been observed) some dismal accident as yielding tears for the evils to come, And of all men held malum omen and this is termed WOMERE, a water presaging sorrow to Womere. Malum omen. come▪ as in the time of Edw. 4 when it broke forth 19 February & ran till the 14. of june following, But for these kind of waters some willyeeld natural reasons of the cause, but for my part I will not deny but some divine mystery may be hidden therein. MICHAEL'S k. 16. called S. Michael's near S. Alban. MYMS l. 22. called North Myms. MEERSTON vide Long Meerston. MUNDON e. 26. called MUNDON furnivall and great MUNDON. MUNDON e. 26. called Mundon frewell and little Mundon. MUNKES-WOOD f. 22. N. NAST-HIDE k. 20. NORTH-CHURCH k. 8. NORTON c. 10. NEWN-HAM c. 20. villa nova. NORTH-HALL l. 26. corruptly for North-haw nemus boreal. The famous and rightly honourable Henry Earl of Warwick deceased, there raised a stately house from the ground, and contrived it in very beautiful order, gracing it with delightful gardens and walks with sundry other pleasant and necessary devices, now held and possessed by that most virtuous his Lady, the Countisse of Warwick. NEW-GATE-STREET k. 26. derianova. O. ODDESEY See the definition of Oddesey hundred. P. PERITON d. 14. or PIRTON. PRAY k. 16. or the Prey called Sancta Mario de pratis, of the meadows, and was a house of Nuns a sweet neighbour to the Munckes of S. Alban. PUNCHIN-END k. 10. POTTERS crouch l 16. PUCKRIDGE e. 28. a thorough fare, called of Lealande PULCHER CHURCH. Pulcher church. PELHAM c, 32. called Stoken Pelham. PELHAM b. 30. called Pelhamarsa, burnt Pelham, some fragments do yet appear of the foundations of sundry buildings, which were consumed by that fire, wherofit taketh the adiuncte arsa. In the walls of this church lieth a most ancient monument, A monument a stone wherein is figured a man, and about him an Eagle, a Lion, and a Bull having all wings, and a fourth of the shape of an Angel, as if they should represent the four Evangelists: under the feet of the man is a cross Floury, and under the cross a Serpent, he is thought to be sometime the Lord of an ancient decayed place, well moated not far from this place called SHONKES. PELHAM c. 30. called PELHAM furnix. All these Pelhams' seem to take name de scatebris, of the bells and Pelham undedicta. water springs, which abound about and within them. PUTNHAM i. 4. It signifieth a town of wells and water springs. R. REDBURNE i. 14. aquarubra. Before the Conquest by the Normans, it did belong to the Abbey of S. Alban, and at that general spoil and confusion of things it was taken away, and Lanfranck being afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury wrought the restoration of it again, about the beginning of Rufus reign. 1089. This Church was defaced and spoiled, with many other there abouts in the time of Henry 3. At this place were found the relics of Amphiball, who is said The relics of Amphiball. to be the instructor and convertour of Alban from Paganism, of whose relics such was the regard, that the abbots of the monastetie of Alban had, that they should be devoutly preserved, that a 1366. decree was made, by Thomas then Abbott, that a prior and three monks should be appointed to this holy function, whose allowance in those days amounted yearly to 20. pound or upwards, as much as three hundred pound in this age. Such was the price and Seca devotio. estimation of the loathsome relics of dead men's bones. RADWELL c, 18. RICKMANSWORTH o, 14. or Rich man's worth I have red it Rickmersford And as I take it the truest title, for that in former ages the d was pronounced th' as ath for add quoth for quoth and forth for ford, and so for Richmansforde is pronounced Richmansforth, not Rickmansworth. It standeth in a low ground watered on all sides, yet not highly to be commended for great fertiletie, for the lowest and best meadows are but a black moarish earth cold and mossy, for the most part, And the higher grounds especially on the north side of the town stony and barren, king Ethelred granted it to the monastery K. Ethelred of S. Alban by charter. It is a market town but of no great repair. The town is governed by two constables and two headboroughs. ROYSTON a, 24. Roisiae oppidum, Royes' town, this Royes about the time of king Stephen, was Countisse of Norff. and erected a cross of stone in the high way, where Royston now standeth. And the place was called CRUX ROISIAE, Roys cross, and under that name Crux Roisiae. t continued until Eustachius de Mark built a cloister there. And from that time it began to be more and more peopled, and to be furnished with houses and Inns. And Rich. I. made it a market town Made a market. now famous for corn, standing in a very plentiful soil: And is a very fit receptacle for traveilers that from the North parts have recourse to London. The town was almost consumed with fire in the time of Henry the fourth. In the time of Henry 6. such was the plenty of corn, that in this Where tweluepéce the quarter place the best where was sold for twelve pence the quarter, three half pence the bushel. The price was not then so low as it is now aloft, for it is at this present in the same place at eight shillings the bushel. RIDGE m, 22. de iugo of the hill or Ridge whereon it standeth REED b, 26. de loco arundinoso. RUSHDEN c, 24. vallis Scirpina a low rushy ground. S. SARRET n, 14. It was granted by Ethelred, to S. Alban by the name of SYRET. SANDON c, 24. mons arenosus. It belongeth to Paul's. SANDRIGE k, 18. It differeth not in signification from Sandon. SAWCOMBE f, 26. SABSWORTH f, 34. or SABRIDGEFORDE a market Town, standing near the Stort. sleeps HID k, 20. a little hamlet. SHENLEY m, 20. sheeps HALE f, 22. Ager ovibus salutaris. SPELBROOKE e, 34. STEPHEN'S l, 16. called S. Stephen's near S. Alban. STEVEN-EDGE e, 20. or STEPHEN-EDGE, de acclivitate of the steep standing of it on the edge of a hill, of some Steven-haut or Stepen-haut. The principal part of this town is from the church. ½. mile, and is a pretty thorrow fare. There hath been in time past a market. It is a liberty and belongeth to the Bishop of London, having A liberty pillory and gallows within itself, but how far the power for execution extendeth, mihi latet. STAPLEFORD g, 24. or STABLEFORD. STANDON e. 28. or STENEDON mons saxosus there is a free School for the town, the stipend yet in suspense, the Fishmongers A freeschole of London contribute twenty pound ut ferunt. STANSTED h, 32. or STENSTEDT locus glariatus of the gravely soil, called Abbots Stansted. STANSTED h, 32. in time passed called Le Veil, now Old Lee veil Stansted and corruptly Stansted Theele. STORTFORD e, 34. so called of the passage or ford over the River Stort. There is near this town, on the east side of the river a little ruinous Waymore castle. castle, called the Castle of Waymour standing in an Island, upon a little firm artificial mount very steep and though of small circuit, yet in former days strong, within it is a dungeon deep and dark, called the Conuictes prison, arguing some great privileges in Conuictes prison. Given by William the Conqueror time past to belong thereunto. William the Conqueror gave both the town and the Castle to the Bishop of London, and to this day it belongeth to that Sea, and thereof is called Bishops Stortforde. The town standeth on the side of a hill, declining towards the river, And some fruitful grounds are about the same. It hath market on the Thursday and three fairs in the year. SULLONIACA n, 22. the ruins of an old city or famous place, mentioned by ANTONINVS in his Itenerary, which he placeth twelve miles a Longidinio from London, and nine miles a verolamio a city sometime near S. Alban: And where others have heretofore placed this Sulloniacae at Chipping Barnet, regarding only the foresaid distances M. Camden by diligent observation hath found that it should stand upon Brokeley hills West of Bernet, whereby I being occasioned made inquisition thereof in my travail, and was informed of the place where these snpposed ruins appear, namely some fragments of the situation of some decayed buildings, where sundry pieces of Romish coin have been taken up, as was informed me. This place indeed near agreeth with the former distances of Antoninus, and standeth east of a regal ancient highway called Watling-streete or via consularis. T. THOMAS Chapel c, 14. called S. Thomas chapel. TEWING h, 22. or TWEY-ING de binis pratis. TRINGE k. 6. a little market town on the Friday. THROCKING c, 24. THUNDREDGE f, 28. THORLEY f, 34. or THORNLEY terra spinosa. TOTTER-EDGE f, 28. parcel of the hundred of Broadwater yet eight miles from the nearest part of that hundred. Londoners have much beautified this place with their neat buildings. TWO-WATERS i, 13. a little hamlet so called de binis aquarum fluctibus, of the two rivers that meet there. V VEROLAMIUM k, 18. the ruins of a most ancient city called of the Britons Cair Maricipit, Cair Municip, Cair Watteline of Ptolomey Verolanium, of the Saxons ƿerlamcester 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, a City upon the river Werlame or Verlame. This ancient decayed City seemeth at this day to publish her pristine state and strength, on the west side of S Alban, by the relics of her defensive walls, And at this day although Sedges sit ubi erat Werlamcester, yet the sundry Roman coins tumbled out of their Roman coin. obscure dens, by the painful plough, do, as it were, proclaim unto us, so many hundred years after her fall, that it is no fable that is written of her antiquity. The brass moneys whereof I have much but seem far more, Import the antic names, and pictures, not only of sundry Emperors, but of some of their Empresses also: which in those ages swayed the Roman monarchy, which argueth it to be quondam, CAIR MUNICIP or Municipium, a city, enfranchised and endowed, Municipium quid. not only, with the aid of the Romans by money, but with their romish privileges also, the inhabitants, for the most part being of the ancient british line: who deserving well at the hands of the Romans▪ were made Municipes as it were free denizens of Rome, having their laws orders and officers, free among them, permitted to live under their aid and protection, until through the fury The subversion of Verlame. of the Saxons and Danes it was sacked and subverted, and of a haughty city made an heap of stones, which as a Chaos laid afterwards long smothered in the ashes of her own double and ruins, without regard, what it was or had been. At length one Eldred Abbot of the Eldred searched the ruins of Verlame. new Monastery of S. Alban, coveting to advance the state of his monastical sea, began to embowel this ruinate heap, to search what curious conceits, he might find to beautify S. Alban sell. And found in short time great variety, of stone work of sundry kinds, and pillars of metal as of Brass, and Latton, towch and Alabaster. All which laid in heaps Eldred beheld to his no small joy, but employed them not according to his purpose intended, for death prevented him: But as curious a searcher as he succeeded him one Eadmere, who had both a will and workmen, to sound further Eadmere continued the search. An argument of verlam's paganism. into the bottom of this unknown gulf, not ceasing till he saw the very entrails of this confused Chaos, in whose most hiddenvautes, he found sundry Idols, and altars not a few, superstitiously adorned for the honour of these unknown gods of the Pagans, some of these Idols were of pure gold, some of other metal, and withal he found great store of household stuff, and other things witnessing the glory both of the city and the citizens of the same. Besides sundry pots of gold, brass earth, glass and other metal, Pots with ashes of the dead. some frawght with the ashes of the dead, some with the coin of the ancient Britons and Roman Emperors. And in a stone were found certain British books, whereof one imported the history of Alban martyrdom. In the ruinous walls of this City groweth liquorice. Liquorice. There are within the walls at this day the ruins of an old church called S. Germane. S. Germane. The cause why it was called of the Brytons CAIR WATTELINE was an ancient high way, begun by Dunwallow and finished by Guitheline, called as some think GVITHELINSSTREET corruptly WATTELINE-STREET which came Watteline street. by this city from Dover leading Northwards. About 70. years passed this high way, was found at this place (though mentioned in history many years before) 18. foot broad and 10. foot deep, now almost level with the feyldes as is also the City. Tantum aevi longinqua valet mutare vetustas. Virgil. Plato. And as Plato saith. Aewm cuncta rapit furtivaque tempora mutant. Naturam sortem nominaque & faciem. Alban was a citizen of this city, and being host unto Amphiball Albana citizen of Verlame. became converted, from paganism to the knowledge of Christ, and for the same was condemned and suffered, as is set down before in S. Alban. W. WALDT-DEN f. 16. called kings Walden, vallis siluestris the woody deane. WALDT-DEN f. 18. called Walden S. Paul. WATFORDE o. 16. cur non WATELINEFORDE for that the Watteline-streete crosseth the Colne near this place, and Wat telineforde. so coasteth to old Verlame as is said before. This town hath market on the tuesday well replete with country necessaries, and hath two fairs in the year. There is an alms house erected by the Lady Bryget Countisse of Bedford. WALK-HORNE c. 22. or Wake-hurne. WALLINGTON c. 22. de aquarum scatebris. WATTON f. 24. called Watton at stone. WARE h. 26. or WAYRE de Cataractis of the wayres and water stops near it, rather than the Mercimonijs as some will have wayre drowned. it of wares or merchandise, It was drowned in anno 1408. by the great inundation of waters that from the upland pass by the town, and since, and before, there was great provision made by wayres and slcuces, for the better preservation of the town, and the grounds belonging unto the same. It began to be most famous in king john's time, in the furious when it began to be famous. broils of the Barons, for being then but a hamlet of small moment the high way towards the North parts, was laid through it by the means of the Lord de Wake, and by little and little by that means, increased and much obscured, ancient Hartford. Edward the first gave first order and direction for the founding of Frst founded. it about anno 914. WAADESNELL g. 28. WALTHAM cross m. 30, or WALDT-HAM de cruse of the cross which Edward 1. erected in memorial of his Queen's death, and conveyance of her corpses from the place where she died to westminster. WALSWORTH d. 16. WATTELINE-STREET See Verolamium▪ WAYMORE Castle See Stortford. WESTWIKE k. 14. vicus occidentalis in regard of Eastwike before mentioned. WELBERIE k. 14. called also wells, of the springe called Owghton head. WESTON d. 20. WESTMILL d. 26. WHEATHAMSTED i. 18. locus frumentarius inde joannes de loco frumentario, famous in the time of Henry 6. WILSTERNE k. 4. WIGGINGTON k. 6. WHITEWELL i. 8. fons albus a hamlet that giveth name to the river that riseth there, and passeth by Welwine Digswell, etc. and so to the Lea. WHORWELL a decayed hamlet in Kelshull parish, furnished in time passed with many houses. WYMLEY l. 18. or WIMONELEY magna, where are the ruins and ditches of a castle which did sometime belong to the fitz-Taeces. WYMLEY e. 18. or wimonly parva. WILLION d. 18. WYDYALL c. 28. of some Wythiall of some Wiggell. WIDFORD g. 30. or-WYDEFORD so rightly termed de vado spatioso. Wood-greene l. 30. WORMELEY k. 30. Y. YARDELEY d. 24. belonging to Paul's. An alphabetical Table of the Houses, and ancient Berries of name for the most part in Hartfordshire, according to the vulgar names. A. ANsaberie. f. 18. Alsewike. d. 28. Abbottes-berye. a. 28. B. BEeche-woode. h 12. Bournehall. n. 16. Beamondes k. 18. Bibswell. h 18. Broket-hall. i▪ 20. Bersted, m. 10. Bedwell park k. 24. Beachames. c. 26. or Beauchampe. Bigging. b 28. Bartrames. f. 28. Bace. k. 30. called le Base. Briggens h. 32. Bleakswayre g. 30. Beaches. b. 32. C. CHandoys. l. 12. Casio-berie. n. 16. vide definitionem Centuria CAISHOW. Corney-berye. d. 26. Coken-hatche. a. 28. Cassalberie. f. 28. D. DArnells. d, 20. F. Friars. e. 28. G. Grove. n. 14. Gorehamberie. k. 16. Gowr-ham, or Guer-hambery. A house raised from the foundation by the right worthy Sir Nicholas Bacon knight deceased, sometime Lord keeper of the great seal of England to our most mighty Queen Elizabeth, who for his excellent virtues and rare wisdom liveth yet, in honourable memory amongst the most honourable. Gubhyns l, 24. Saint Gyles. l. 28. H. Hid. k. 14. High- over. d. 16. Harpesfeyld-hall. k. 20. Hatfeyld-wood-hall. i. 22. Holmeley. e. 22. An ancient decayed place, sometime famous as appeareth by the ruins. Hide-hall. c. 24. holwel. i. 24. Haley. h. 28. Hetesham-hall. c. 32. or Hetcham hall. K. Kinges-wood-berie, d. 22. An ancient place, sometime double moated. L. THe Lea. m. 16. Laomere. h. 18. or Leamere. A house very ancient standing not far from the head of famous Lea river, it is corruptly called Lammer. Ludwike hall. i. 24. M. MIchelfeyldhall. o. 12. Maiden croft. c. 16. Mereden. h. 24. Minsing-berye. a. 26. Mutforde. c. 28. mattocks. g. 30. N. NEw-barne. l. 18. New fells. 3. 28. New-hall. g. 28. New-place. g. 32. O. ODdesey-graunge. b. 22. Thereof doth Oddesey hundred take name. Owls. d. 28, P. PVtteridge. f. 14. Penley. k. 6. Pansanger. h. 24. Popes. k. 24. Potterells. l. 24. Punsbourne. k. 26. Pissoberie. f. 36. Patmere hall. d. 32. Q. QVickswood. d. 22. Quenberye. d. 28. R. Risen hall. m. 12. Romerwike. e. 14. Itlyeth within Bedfordshire, but is of Hartfordshire. Ricknesse. g. 26. Revels. g. 26. Redgewells. c. 28. The Rye. i. 32. or le Ree. S. SHandoyse vide Chandois. Sincklees. o. 18. Sopwell. l. 18. Salsberie. m. 20. The Seal. h. 26. Lee seal Satrydge. f. 28. Shingle hall. f. 34. T. THibauldes. l. 30. or Theobalde, A most stately house erected from the first foundation by the right honourable Sir William Cicill knight, Lord Theasoror of England. To speak of the state and beauty thereof at large as it deserveth, for curious buildings, delightful walks, and pleasant conceits within and without, and other things very glorious and ellegant to be seen, would challenge a great portion of this little treatise, and therefore, lest I should come short of that due commendation that it deserveth, I leave it as indeed it is, a princely seat. Temple. g. 26. Temple. e. 16. Tittenhanger. l. 20. Tannys. d. 24 Tunwall. g. 26. Tidnhamberie. f. 34. V VPhall. c. 28. W. weld. m. 20. or Weldt Woodhall. f. 24. Waterforde hall. h. 26. Widborow-hill. k. 28. White-barnes. e. 30. Many other houses and berries, there are within this Shire, but for that they have no known proper names, but termed of the parishes wherein they are, as Langley berry, North haw, and such like. I have omitted the mentioning of them in this catalogue, being easily found by the table of parishes, with reference to the places wherein they may be found in the map, though without further name added unto them, than the name of the parish wherein they stand, which doth sufficiently distinguish them.