Admirable CURIOSITIES Rarities & Wonders in England Scotland & Irland  
K Canutus Commanding The Sea. pa. 86  
K. Henry 3. Preaching to the Monks pa. 88    

ADMIRABLE CURIOSITIES Rarities, & Wonders IN England, Scotland, and Ireland, OR, An Account of many Remarkable Persons, and Places, and likewise of the Battles, Seiges, Prodigious Earthquakes, Tempests, Inundations, Thunders, Lightnings, Fires, Murders, and other considerable Occurrences, and Accidents for several Hundred Years past. Together with the Natural, and Artificial Rarities in every County, and many other observable matters;  
As they are recorded by the most Authentic, and Credible Historians of former and latter Ages;  
Adorned with the Lively Description of several Memorable things therein contained, Engraven on Copper Plates.  
By R.B. Author of the History of the Wars of England, etc. and Remarks of London, etc.  
London Printed by Tho. Snowden, for Nath. Crouch at the Bell, next to Kemp's Coffee-house in Exchang-Alley, over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill. 1682.   

TO THE READER.  
HAving already published a brief Treatise called, Historical Remarks of London and Westminster, which hath found general acceptation, I was encouraged to prosecute the same design, upon every County in England, as also in Wales, Scotland and Ireland, wherein the Reader cannot be so unreasonable to expect an exact description of every Town or considerable place, that having been already performed at large by divers others; this being only a Collection of the Natural, and Artificial Curiosities, Rarities and Wonders, & likewise of several Remarkable Places, and Persons, with the Prodigious Accidents in each County, as I find them in Mr. Fox, Dr. Heylin, Dr. Fuller, Sir Rich. Baker, Mr. Speed, Mr. Clark, and several other Authors of credit, which I have not particularly named to every Relation, because it would have taken up too much room most of the particulars herein being very well known to the Learned, and for others it will not signify much, since this is published for the sake of those that are desirous of knowledge, but are not in a capacity to buy a multitude of Books; now though the Title speaks of Battles and Seiges, yet I have purposely omitted all of that kind which have happened in our late Civil Wars, as having already published a book of the same price with this, wherein is a succinct Account of all the Transactions during the Reign of K. Charles the 1. till His Majesty's Happy Restoration; I desire it may please all, since I intent to offend none, but only to serve the Public and myself, wherein if I find success, I shall be very well satisfied, neither can the Reader be much displeased to have so much variety for so little money, and to find that notwithstanding some think there are no wonders but in other Countries, he may yet observe there are it may be as strange things at home as in other places.  
R. B.   

Of BRITAIN.  
THE Island of Britain is of all others the most famous, and has been accounted the greatest in the World; it comprehendeth all those Islands both great and less, which lie in compass about it, the length thereof from South to North (that is from Lysard Point in Cornwall, to the North of Scotland) is 624 miles, and the breadth thereof from the Lands end in Cornwall to the Isle of Thanet in Kent about 300 English miles; It is a Country always very temperate, and was highly esteemed by the Romans, as appears by what hath been said concerning it, by one of their Orators, who calls it, the happy and most fortunate Island, endued by nature with all the blessings of Heaven and Earth, in that therein is neither extreme cold in Winter, nor scorching heats in Summer, and that which is most comfortable, long days, and very lightsome nights; wherein there is such an abundance of Grain, as may suffice both for Bread and Wine; the Woods thereof are without wild Beasts, the Fields without noisome Serpents, but therein are vast numbers of Milch Beasts, and Sheep weighed down with their own Fleeces. To which may be added what Alfred the Poet of Beverly writ long since of Britain.  

Insula praedive●, quae toto vix eget orbe, etc.   

A wealthy Island which no help desires,  
Yet all the world supply from her requires,  
Able to glut King Solomon with pleasures;  
And surfeit Great Augustus with her Treasures.   
As to the name Britain there is no great certainty of its Original; that which hath passed for currant in former times (when almost all Nations did pretend to be of Trojan Race) was, that it took this name from Brutus, affirmed to be the Son of Silvius, Grandchild of Aeneas, and third King of the Latins of the Trojan Blood, which Brutus having unfortunately killed his Father, and thereupon flying from Italy with his Friends and followers, after a long Voyage, and many wander, is said to have fallen upon this Island, and to have conquered here a race of Giants, and having given unto it the name of Britain, to leave the Sovereignty thereof to his posterity, who quietly enjoyed the same, till subdued by the Romans; but this Tradition has been since laid aside, as altogether fabulous, since the Roman Historians never mention either Brutus or the Giants, Caesar telling us, that he found the Britain's under many Kings, and never under the command of one sole Prince, but in times of Danger; it is therefore more probable that it was derived from Britt, which in the British Language signifies Painted, and the word Tain a Nation, agreeable to the custom of the Ancient Britain's, who used to discolour and paint their Bodies, that they might seem more terrible in the Eyes of their Enemies, such as the Romans called afterwards Picts, or Painted Men; other particulars may be observed in the description of those parts into which it is now divided, that is, 1. England. 2. Wales. 3. Scotland.  
ENGLAND is bounded on the East with the Germane; on the West with the Irish; on the South with the British Oceans; and on the North with the Rivers of Tweed and Solway, and thereby parted from Scotland, environed with Turbulent Seas, guarded by inaccessible Rocks, and where these are wanting, preserved against all Foreign Invasions by strong Forts, and a puissant Navy. The whole Island was first called Albion, either from the story of one of the Giants so called, or Ab albis Rupibus, the white Rocks toward France, which name continued till the time of Egbert the first Saxon Monarch, who called the Southern parts thereof England, from the Angles, who with the Juits and Saxons conquered it; Pelagius being Bishop of Rome, Gregory seeing some beautiful Children in the Market place of Rome to be sold, he inquireth what Country they were of, who answered Angli (Englishmen) and were Heathens; what pity is it (said he) that the Inhabitants being so fair and Angelical of Countenance, should yet be subject to the Prince of Darkness; ask further of what Province they were, they answered Deira (a Province in England then so called) These People (saith he) are to be delivered de Ira Dei, from the Wrath of God; and understanding the name of one of the Youths was Awl, They ought (says he) to sing Allelujah to the living God; upon this Gregory was mighty desirous to come hither to convert these Heathens, but could not at that time, yet after Pelagius his death being chosen Bishop of Rome, and remembering his former intentions he sent Austin with about 40 more Preachers to undertake this work. This Nation enjoys a soil equally participating of ground fit for Tillage or Pasture; most of her other Plenties and Ornaments are expressed in this old verse following.  

Anglia Mens, Pons, Fons, Ecclesia, Foemina, Lana,   

For Mountains, Bridges, Rivers, Churches fair,  
Women, and Wool, England is past compare.   
For the Mountains here and there lift up their lofty heads, and give a gallant prospect to the lower grounds; all of them having Mines in their Bowels, or else are clothed with Sheep, or adorned with Woods; the Bridges are in number 857, the chief whereof are Rochester Bridge over Medway; Bristol Bridge over Avon; and London Bridge over the Thames; the Rivers are 325, the Principal being the Thames, of which a Germane Poet thus truly spoke, 

Tot Càmpos, Sylvas, tot Regia tecta, tot Hortos, etc.   

We saw so many Woods and Princely Bowers,  
Sweet Fields, brave Palaces, and stately Towers;  
So many Gardens dressed with curious care,  
That Thames with Royal Tiber may compare.    
The Churches before the General Suppression of Abbles, were most exquisite. The Women are generally handsomer than in other places, sufficiently endowed with natural Beauties, without the Adulteration of Art. In an absolute Woman (say the Italians) are required the parts of a Dutch Woman from the Girdle downward, of a French Woman from the Girdle to the Shoulders, over which must be placed an English Face; as their Beauties so likewise their Prerogatives are the greatest of any Nation, neither so servilly submissive as the French, nor so jealously guarded as the Italian, but keeping so true a decorum, that as England is termed the Purgatory of Servants, and the Hell of Horses, so it is acknowledged the Paradise of Women: And it is a common byword among the Italians, That if there were a Bridge built over the narrow Seas, all the Women of Europe would run into England: For here they have the upper hand in the Streets, the upper place at the Table, the Thirds of their Husband's Estates, and their equal share in all Lands; which are Privileges wherewith other Women are not acquainted; they were of high esteem in former times amongst Foreign Nations, for the modesty and gravity of their Conversations, but the Women of these times are so much addicted to the light Garb of the French, that they have lost much of their honour and reputation among sober Persons abroad, who before admired them. The Wool of England is of exceeding fineness, of which are made excellent broad , dispersed over all the World, to the great benefit of England, as well in return of so much Money which is made of them, as in setting to work so many poor People, who from it receive sustenance.  
Having thus briefly gone through the Method of the old Verse, it is time now we should look upon the Men, and they are commonly of a comely Feature, and a gracious Countenance, for the most part grey Eyed, pleasant, beautiful, bountiful, courteous, and much resembling the Italians in Habit and Pronunciation; In matters of War they are both able to endure, and ready to undertake the hardest Enterprises, and for their Courage are deservedly renowned throughout the World. K. Edw. 3. and his Son did carry their victorious Arms through all France: K. Hen. 6. was crowned King at Paris: The D. of Bedford was Regent of France, and being slain in a Battle, was buried in Rouen, whose Monument when Charles 8. K. of France came to see, a Nobleman standing by, advised him to raze it, Nay, (answered he) let him rest in peace now being dead, of whom in War, whilst he lived, all France stood in fear. Marshal Byron said, He liked not the English March, (being beaten by the Drum) because it was so slow; Sir Roger Williams, a gallant Soldier, answered him, That as slow as it was, yet it had gone through all France. Our Wooden Walls, the Ships, are a great security to this Nation, the English having been generally accounted the strongest in the World: What service did our Ships do us in 88 Sir. Francis Drake, and after him Thomas Cavendish Esq, within the space of Three Years, and Three Months, traveled about the Globe of the whole Earth. Sir Richard Greenvill in a Ship of Q. Elizabeth's fought against a great Navy of the Spaniards, and his single Vessel was fought within turns by 15 other great Ships, whereof the great St. Philip of 1500 Tuns, Prince of the 12 Sea Apostles, was one, yet this valiant Knight sunk Two of their best Ships, and killed a Thousand Men: He is called by the Spaniards still, Don Richard of the Greenfield, and they fright their Children with him. Our Nation without Vanity may assume to itself the Praise, considering its narrow Limits, to have produced as many Scholars, admirable in all degrees of knowledge, as any Country on this side the Alps, and received the Christian Faith as some say from St. Peter and Paul; and Lucius was the first Christian King of any in Europe. Among many other worthy Men, Bishop Jewel, Bishop Andrews, Bishop Whitgift, and Dr. John Reynolds are very famous, of the last of whom the following account is very remarkable; this Jo. Reynolds had a Brother named William, who was at first bred up a Protestant of the Church of Eng. and John was trained up in Popery beyond the Seas; William out of an honest zeal to reduce his Brother to this Church, made a Journey to him, where after a conference between them, it so fell out that John being overcome by his Brother's Arguments returned into Eng. where he became a very strict, and serious Protestant, and William being convinced by the reasons of his Brother John stayed beyond Sea, where he proved a very rigid and violent Papist: of which strange accident Dr. Alabaster who had tried both Religions (and among others had some notable whimsies) made this ingenious Epigram, 

Bella inter geminos plusquam Civilia fratres, etc.   

In point of Faith some undetermined jars  
Betwixt two Brothers kindled Civil Wars;  
One for the Church's Reformation stood,  
The other thought no Reformation good:  
The points proposed, they traversed the Field  
With equal skill, and both together yield.  
As they desired his Brother each subdues,  
Yet such their Fate that each his Faith did lose;  
Both Captives, none the Prisoners thence to guide,  
The Victor flying to the vanquished side,  
Both joyed in being Conquered (strange to say)  
And yet both mourned because both won the day.    
The Government of England is Monarchical, of a perfect, and happy Constitution, wherein the King hath his full Prerogative, the Nobles all due respect, and the People amongst other blessings, extremely happy in this; That they are Masters of their own purposes, and have a strong hand in making their own Laws. Of all the Seniories in the World (saith P. Comines the French Historian) the Realm of England is the Country where the Commonwealth is best governed, the People least oppressed, and the fewest Houses and Buildings destroyed in Civil War. It is a Country always most Temperate, the Air is thick, and much subject to winds, rain, and dark Clouds, and therefore Gundamore the Spanish Ambassador here in K. James' his time, bid the Spanish Post when he came to Spain commend him to the Sun, for he had not seen him here a great while, and in Spain he should be sure to find him. The Ocean which beateth upon the Coast of this Island aboundeth with all manner of Fish, and the Meadows and Pastures with Corn, Cattle, and all other necessaries; a Spaniard boasting, That they had excellent Oranges, Lemons, and Olives growing in their Country which ours wanted; Sir Roger Williams replied, It is true (said he) they do not grow here, yet all this is but sauce, whereas we have dainty Veal, and well fed Capons to eat with them, with many other delicate Dishes worth the name of Victuals indeed; There are more Parks, Forests and Chases in England than in all Christendom beside, there are in no place of the World greater and larger Dogs than here, which caused them to be most in request by the Romans both for their baitings in their Amphitheatres, and in all other their hunt; the English Cock is a bold and stout Fowl, and will fight valiantly with his Adversary, and presently crows when he obtains the Victory, which seldom happens till death parts them. There are 44 Shires and Counties in England, every Shire consisting of so many Hundreds, etc. and every Hundred of a number of Burroughs, Villages or tithings, etc. But this may suffice by way of Preface, the design of this small Tract being not to give a particular, or exact description of every County, and the Towns and Villages therein (since that has been largely performed by Mr. Speed, Mr. Blome and others) but only to contract in a little volume, and price, the Natural, and Artificial Curiosities and Rarities in England, Scotland and Ireland, with Remarks upon some famous Persons and Places, as also an account of the Earthquakes, Tempests, Seiges, battles, and other strange Accidents, and Occurrences that have happened in each County, whereby my Countrymen may observe that there is hardly any thing worth wondering at abroad in the world, whereof Nature or Art hath not written a Copy in these Islands; and therefore I shall not confine myself so much to methodise matters as to time, as not to let slip any thing considerable; and because I suppose most Men have a desire to read something of their own Country first, I have (according to the method of Dr. Fuller and others) placed the Counties Alphabetically for the more ready finding of them, and will therefore begin with  
BERKSHIRE (whether so called from a striped or bark-bared Oak is uncertain) is bounded by Wiltshire on the West, Hamshire on the South, Surry on the East, Oxford and Buckinghamshire on the North thereof; the air is temperate, sweet, and pleasant, the soil plenteous of Corn, Cattle, Waters, and Woods, so that for profit and pleasure it gives place to none; The most remarkable place in this County is Windsor Castle, a most Princely Palace both for strength and State, and hath in it a College for Learning, a Chapel for Devotion, and an Alms-house of decayed Gentlemen for Charity; it is reported to have been built by K. Arthur, and K. William the Conqueror was so desirous of it, that by composition with the Abbot of Westminster, whose then it was, he made it to be the King's Possession; in this Castle the Victorious K. Edward 3. was born, and herein after he had subdued the French and Scots, he kept at one time John K. of France, and David King of Scotland as his Prisoners; after which he graced it with greater Majesty by instituting the Honourable Order of the Garter, the Institution whereof some ascribe to a Garter occasionally falling from the Countess of Salisbury, though others affirm the Garter was given in testimony of that Bond of Love and Affection, wherewith the Knights and Fellows of it were to be bound severally one to another, and all of them to the King; nay some others make it yet more ancient, relating that when K. Richard the 1. was at War against the Turks and Saracens in the Holy Land, and that the tediousness thereof began to discourage his Soldiers, he to quicken their Courage, tied about the Legs of several choice Knights a Garter or small Thong of Leather, the only stuff he had at hand, that as the Romans used to bestow Crowns and Garlands for encouragements, so this might provoke them to stand together, and fight valiantly for their King, and for their honour. K. Edward the Third found a Chapel erected in this Castle by K. Hen. 1. and other Princes, with maintenance for eight Canons, to whom he added a Dean, 15 Canons more, and 24 poor Impotent Knights, and other Officers, and Servants; these were to pray for the good Estate of the Sovereign, and Brethren of the most Noble Order; the Sovereign and Knights had their particular Laws and Constitutions, and K. Edward likewise appointed divers Ceremonies, and distinct habits, and St. George the pattern of Christian Fortitude is entitled to the Patronage of this Order, and the beautiful Chapel in Windsor Castle, (where his day, being April 23. is usually celebrated every year, and new Knights commonly installed,) was consecrated by that King to his memory; there are of this Order twenty six Knights, of which the Kings of England are one, and it is so much desired for its worthiness, that 8 Emperors, 21 Foreign Kings, 23 Foreign Dukes and Princes, besides divers Noblemen of other Countries have been Fellows of it; The Ensign is a blue Garter buckled on the left Leg, on which these words are embroidered, Honi soit qui mal y pense, Evil to him that Evil thinks; About their Necks they wear a blue Ribbon, at the end of which hangeth the Image of St. George; the Hall of this Palace is remarkable for greatness, Winchester Tower for height, and the Terrace on the Northside for pleasure: but his present Majesty K. Charles the Second hath added such magnificence to it both within and without, that now for Grandeur, State and Pleasure, it exceeds it may be any Palace of ever a Prince in Europe. The Chapel is graced with the Bodies of King Henry 6. and K. Edward 4. & those whom the whole Kingdom was too little to contain, (the one being of the House of Lancaster, and the other of York) lie now united in one mould, with the branch of both these Houses, K. Henry 8. who there lies interred; and likewise King Charles the Martyr.  
In the Reign of K. Henry 8. 1544. Anthony Persons a Priest, Robert Testwood a Singing man of the Choir, 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 fastened to the Stake, he laid a great deal of Straw on the top of his head, saying, This is God's Hat, I am now armed like a Soldier 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; showing 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 prevailed 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 patiented death, the King turning his Horses ●ead, said, Alas poor Innocents'! a better speech it had ●een from a private Person than a Prince, who is bound ●y his Office, not only to pity, but protect oppressed innocence's; 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. Marry, and Q. Elizabeth was at first a Papist, then a Protestant, then ● 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 ●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 boiled 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. Otto●on a Cardinal came as Legate from the Pope to K. Henry 3. and lying at Osney Abbey, there happened a difference between his Servants, & the Scholars at Oxford, in which contention a Brother of his was slain, and the Legate for fear got him into a Steeple, till the King's Officers coming from Abingdon, conveyed him to Wallingford, after which the Cardinal cursed and interdicted the Scholars and University, so that the Colleges grew desolate, and the Students were dispersed into other places for half a year● time, till the Monks and Masters of the University were forced to go , and bareheaded a great way to the Legates Lodgings, and there upon their humble submission, and great men's 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 Inferior 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 enthusiastic Women at Newberry 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. Eton is adjoining to Windsor by a wooden Bridge over the Thames, wherein there is a fair College 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 Scholars instructed in Grammar, and in due time preferred to the University of Cambridge; this County is in the Diocese of Salisbury, and gives the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable Thomas L. Howard.  
BEDFORDSHIRE hath Northamptonshire on the North; Huntingdon, 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 swelled 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 in a little Town in this County it reigned 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 Household stuff swum about their Houses, their Wood, Corn, and Hay were carried away; and the Town of St. Needs, in Huntingtonshire was suddenly overflowed, while the Inhabitants were in bed; the waters broke in with such violence, that the Town was all defaced, the Swans swum down the Marketplace; Godmanchester was also overflown, their Houses being full of water, and their  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 Rivulet 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, intermixed with many Taunts, Jeers, and Reproaches; Chase answered him very undauntedly, defending the Truth against Popish errors boldly, for which he was committed into the Bishop's 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 hearty 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 Clerk, 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 penance 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 fruitfully and pleasantly seated; without the Town there formerly stood a Chapel 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 carried away, and swallowed up, whose Tomb of Lead (as if it were some Fantastical 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 Trials at Law for Lands which he had forceably entered upon; the Judge's Wife came to the Parliament, and with her Tears and complaints so moved them with pity 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 pulled down to the ground as a den of Thiefs, and to deter all others for the future from committing such Villainous and Treasonable Crimes. This Falcacius (as we said) was a Frenchman born, and a Bastard, and came over in K. John's 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 money 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 leveled 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 King's feet, he implores his mercy for his form 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 departed 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 venturous, 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) Sheep's 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 public 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 Thief called Dun, by K. Henry 1. but certain it is, that the place was held by the Romans, yet Sir John Heyward saith, Dun was a famous Thief among others, and Commander over the rest, and of him the place was called Dunstable. This County is divided into 9 Hundreds, wherein are 10 Market Towns, and 116 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of London; it Elects only 4 Parliament Men, two for the County, and two for the Town of Bedford, and gives the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable William L. Russel.  
BVCKING HAMSHIRE hath on the East Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire, on the West Oxfordshire, on the North Northamptonshire, and Huntingdonshire, and on the South Hertfordshire; it hath its name from the plenty of Beech-Trees, which the Saxons called Bucken, with which the Country was formerly so overrun, that it was altogether impassable, and became a refuge for Thiefs and Robbers, and occasioned that Proverb in this Country, Here a Bush, and there a Thief, for which cause they were cut down. In 1665. Jan. 20. about six a clock at night there was an Earthquake in some parts of Buckinghamshire, which was attended with an unusual kind of noise in the Air, but was quickly over; it much frighted some People on the sudden, to feel their Chairs and Stools quake under them, and to hear Tables, and such things to clatter in the rooms; and the whole House to shake, this Information (saith Mr. Clark in his Examp. p. 2.) I had from an honest Minister in that County.  
K. William the Conqueror gave a Manor and certain Yardlands in Buckinghamshire to a Person upon this Condition, That the Possessor or Owner thereof should find Straw or Litter for the King's Bed whensoever he came that way; which shows what an alteration there is as to matter of Grandeur since that time. The best and biggest bodied Sheep in England, are in the Vale of Aylsbury in this County, where it is nothing to give Ten pound or more for a Breed-Ram, so that should a Foreigner hear the price thereof, he would guests that Ram to be rather some Roman Engine of Battery, than the Creature commonly so called; I know not (saith Dr. Fuller) whether his Observation with the reason thereof be worth the inserting, who first took notice that our Cattle for food are English, when feeding in the Field, but French when fed on in a Family, as for example. English. 1. Sheep. 2. Ox. 3. Calf. 4. Hog. 5. Pig. French. 1. Mutton. 2. Beef. 3. Veal. 4. Bacon. 5. Pork. Whereof the Author assigns this Reason, that after the Norman Conquest the French so Tyrannised over the English Tenants, that they forced them to keep and feed their , but the Mounsieurs eat all the good meat after it was killed, and dressed to their hands. Foreigners much admire at our English Sheep, because they do not (as those in other Countries) follow their Shepherds like a pack of Dogs, but wander all abroad; and the Popish Priests tell their ignorant Flocks, That this disobedience of our Sheep happened to us, because we have left their great Sheperd the Pope, (a very profound reason) whereas our Sheep did the same long before our Separation from Rome, because being freed from the fear of Wolves (which infest their Flocks beyond Sea) they feed safely in the Fields wanting neither Guide to direct them, nor Guard to defend them.  
Roger Wendover was born at a Market Town of that name in this County. and was bred a Benedictine in St. Alban, where he became the King's Historian, and it is observable, that our English Kings had always a Monk, generally of St. Alban (as being near London, the Staple of News and Books) to write the most remarkable Passages of their Reign, and some add, that their Chronicles were locked up in the King's Library, and were never suffered to be opened in that Kings, nor his Son's life, if so they had a great encouragement to be impartial, not fearing a blow on their Teeth, though coming near to the heels of Truth; as being hereby in some kind tied up from doing them any hurt; this Roger began his Chronicle at the Conquest, and continued it to 1235. which Matthew Paris and others carried down further after his death. The Lady Hester Temple, Wife to Sir Thomas Temple, was born at latimer's in this County, she had 4 Sons, and 9 Daughters, who lived to be Married, and so exceedingly multiplied, that this Lady saw Seven hundred extracted from her own Body; Vives tells of a Village in Spain of about an 100 Houses, whereof all the Inhabitants issued out of one certain old Man who then lived, and says, the Spanish Language did not afford ● name whereby the youngest should call the Elder, ●●nce they could not go above the Great Grandfather's ●ather; but had the Offspring of this Lady been contracted into one place, they were enough to have peopled a City of a competent proportion, though her issue ●as not so long in Succession as broad in extent, this ●ady died in 1656. Sir Edward Cook that famous commentator of the Law was born in this Shire. One time a Parliament was called, and the Court Party being jealous of Sir Edward's Activity against them, as not having digested the discontent he had received from thence, hereupon to prevent his Election as a Member, and con●ine him to this County, he was pricked Sheriff thereof; he ●hereupon scrupled to take the Oath, alleging many ●hings against it, and particularly that the Sheriff is bound ●hereby to prosecute Lollards, wherein the best Christians may be included; but no excuses would serve his ●urn, he must serve the Office, however his Friends be●eld it as an injurious degradation of him who had been ●ord Chief Justice to attend on the Judges at the Assizes.  
Buckingham is the Shire Town of this County, fruitfully seated upon the River Ouse, and was fortified formerly with Rampires, and a strong Castle mounted on a ●igh Hill, whereof nothing now remains but some small signs of such a place. It is divided into 8 Hundreds, wherein are 15 Market Towns, 185 Parish Churches, ●nd is in the Diocese of London; out of it are Elected 14 Parliament Men; For the County 2. Buckingham 2. Chip●in-Wiccomb 2. Alisbury 2. Agmondisham 2. Wendover 2. and Marlowe 2. It gives Titles to George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, and Robert Bruce, Earl of Alisbury.  
Lord When shall I be cleared  
Q. Emma goes blindfold & barefoot over 9 Burning plowshares at Winchester. Pa. 87.  
Upon Midsummer Eve, 1626. a Codfish was brought to the Market in Cambridge, and there cut up for Sale, and in the Maw thereof there was found a Book in Twelves, bound up in Canvas, containing several Treatises of Mr. John Friths; this Fish was caught upon the Coasts of Lin, called Lindeeps, by one William Skinner; the Fish bei g cut open, the Garbage was thrown by, which a Woman looking upon, espied the Canvas, and taking it out, found the Book wrapped up in it, which was much soiled, and covered over with a kind of slime, and congealed matter; this was looked upon with great admiration, and by Benjamin Prime, the the Bachelor's Beadle, who was present at the opening of the Fish, was carried to the Vicechancellor, who took special notice of it, examining the particulars before mentioned; the leaves of the Book were carefully opened and cleansed, the Treatises contained in it were, A Preparation for the Cross, a Preparation for Death, the Treasure of Knowledge; a Mirror or Looking-glass to know themselves by; a brief Instruction to teach one willingly to die, and not to fear death; they were all reprinted, and how useful the reviving of these Treatises by such a special Providence hath been, may be easily discerned by such as have lived since these times. In the Year 1640. a Pond in Cambridge became red as Blood, the water whereof being taken up in Basins, remained still of the same colour, and many strange sights were seen in the Air, as Armies fight against each other, which were looked on as sad Presages of our ensuing Troubles.  
Ely another City in this County, was formerly a place very famous for a Nunnery there founded by Audrey, Wife to one Tombret a Prince in this Province, who had this place as a part of her Dowry, and she after his death Marrying with a King of Northumberland, in a short time left her Husband and the Rights of Marriage, and according to the Superstition of those dark times, built this Monastery, and became herself first Abbess thereof; this in the Danish Desolations was destroyed, but soon after rebuilt by Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester, who stored it with Monks, to whom K. Edgar granted the Jurisdiction over four Hundreds and an half within these Fens, which to this day are called The Liberties of St. Audrey; after whose example many Nobles so enriched it with Revenues, that the Abbot thereof laid up yearly in his own Coffers 1400 pounds; and soon after the Monks thereof repaired their old Church with new and stately buildings, which now is the Cathedral of the Diocese, and for beauty gives place to no other in the Land; Ely Minster presenteth itself afar off to the Eye of the Traveller, and on all sides at a great distance not only promiseth, but giveth earnest of the magnificence thereof; the Lantern therein built by Bishop Hotham, (wherein the labour of Twenty Years, and Five Thousand ninety four pounds, eighteen Shillings ten pence half penny farthing was expended) is a Masterpiece of Architecture; when the Bells ring, the Wood-work thereof shaketh and gapeth (which is no defect but the perfection of Architecture) and exactly falleth into the joints again; rare also is the Art in the Chapel of St. Mary's, and the other of Bishop West, wherein the Master Masons in King James his time, on serious inspection sound finer Stonework than in K. Henry 7. Chapel at Westminster.  
In 1190. K. Richard 1. went into the Holy Land, and at his going left in chief place of Authority at home William Longshamp Bishop of Ely, who carried himself so, that though the things he did were justifiable, yet the pride wherewith they were done was unsufferable, seldom riding abroad without 500 or a 1000 Men in his Train, not for safety, but for State, and though others were left in power besides, yet he made but cyphers of them, ruling all as he pleased; this insolency was insufferable, so that some holding for, and others against him the Kingdom was in danger to be rend in sunder, till at last the Bishop finding himself too weak for his Enemies, thought it best to fly out of the Kingdom, whereupon for his greater safety disguising himself in women's Apparel, and carrying a piece of Linen Cloth under his Arm, he designed in this manner to take Shipping, and go beyond Sea; but being discovered, and known, the Women in revenge of the abuse done to their  in making them the instruments of his deceit, fell upon him, and beat him so, that it might have beaten Humility into him for ever after; this disgrace made him glad to get into France his Native Country, where to little purpose he wooed the King and Queen for Reparation.  
Edward Norgate, Son of Dr. Robert Norgate, was born in Cambridge, and being very judicious in Pictures, was employed into Italy to buy some for the E of Arundel; returning by Marseilles, he miss the money he expected, and being unknown, neither knowing any man there, he was observed by a French Gentleman (deservedly so styled) to walk in the Exchange (as we may call it) of that City, many hours every morning and evening, with swift Feet, and sad face forward and backward, to him the civil Monsieur addressed himself, desiring to know the cause of his discontent, & promised if it were in his power, to help him with his best advice, and assistance. Norgate communicated his condition, to whom the other answered, Pray Sir take my Counsel, I have taken notice that you have walked at least twenty miles a day upwards and downwards, which if it had been spent in going forward, would in a few days have brought you into your own Country I will if you please furnish you with a light habit, and a competent sum of Money for a Footman, to enable you to walk home; Norgate very cheerfully consented, & being accommodated accordingly, footed it through the body of France, being more than 500 English miles, and so leisurely with ease, safety, and health, returned into England; he became after the best Limner in our Age, was an excellent Herald, and which was the Crown of all, a right honest man, he died in 1649.  
I may here insert (saith Dr. Fuller) an artificial wonder, of what is commonly called Devils Ditch, Country People conceiting that it was made by the Devil (the lie to be sure was) whereas it was the work of some King or Kings of the East Angles; see the laziness of posterity, who are so far from imitating the industry of their Ancestors, that they even libel the pure effects of their pains as Hellish Achievements! probably it was made to divide and defend their Dominions from the King of Mercia, or possibly to keep the People in employment, and for diverting mutinous thoughts; Laziness being the Mother of disloyalty, industry of obedience; this County by reason of the Fens hath but a sickly air; the soil yields good Barley, and store of Saffron; the Herb called Scordium (or Water Germander) groweth very plentifully in this County, of which Diascordium is made; in the Country about the Fens (saith Speed) Waterfowl is so plentiful and cheap, that five men may be well satisfied with that kind of Fare for less than an half penny; when they have mown their grass in the Fens, as much as will serve, they set fire on the rest in November, that it may come up again in abundance. This County is divided into 17 Hundreds, wherein are eight Market Towns, and 163 Parishes, and elects, 6 Parliament Men, that is, for the County 2; University 2; Town of Cambridge 2; and has given the Title of Duke to four Sons of the Duke of York successively, who are all deceased; it is in the Diocese of Ely.  
CHESHIRE hath Lancashire on the North; Denby, Flintshire, and the Irish Ocean on the West; Derby and Stafford shires on the East; and Shropshire on the South; it produces the best Cheese, also Millstones, Fish, Fowl, and all sorts of ; in K. Richar 2. time it was made a Principality; the City of Chester is the chief Town, and in the days of King Edgar was in a very flourishing condition, he having the homage of 8 other Kings, who rowed his Barge from St. John's to h● Palace, himself holding the helm as their Supreme; a fair stone Bridge is built over the River Dee, upon 8 Arches, at either end whereof is a Gate, from whence the walls encompass 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 encourage 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 wondered 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) myself 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 broke 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 Forest of Maxfeild in Cheshire there arose a great Pillar of smoke, in height like a Steeple, and judged 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 , 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 trodden 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 Forest 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 cried in its Mother's Womb, which is as followeth; A long time (saith he) I could scarce believe that there were such cry, till I was informed of that which I now set down by a Noble Lady in Cheshire; as this Honourable Person sat after meat in the Dining Room with her Husband, their Domestic Chaplain, and divers others, she was sensible of an extraordinary stirring in her Belly, which so lift up her , that it it was easily discernible to those that were present (she was then with Child, and in her seventh month) upon a sudden there was a voice heard, but whence it should come they were not able to conjecture, not suspecting any thing of the Embryo 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 engrossing 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 undertake, 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 B●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 Battle betwixt K. Hen. 4. and Henry Piercy Surnamed 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 Dove doth kill a Dove;  
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 were't thou mad? Of thine own native gore,  
So much until this day thou never sheddest before.  
This County is divided into 7 Hundreds, wherein there are 13 Market Towns, 86 Parish Churches, and 38 Chapels 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 Diocese 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 Britain's called Kern, and inhabited by those whom the Saxons called Wallia, of these two compounded words it became Cornwallia, it is fabuled that Corineus' Cousin 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, encompassed with the Sea on all other sides, affording plenty of Harbours, so that Foreigners 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 brawny, 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 Roman a thick short Fellow, would carry the whole Carcase 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 Chinese, 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 dwelled, he professed to have remembered the decease of four within 14 week's 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 quondam 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 Physic too beside;  
And could he still have drank his Ale,  
Then sure he had not died.  
And one Chamond who lived 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 Physic, but so strange was his method (not to say his humour) that though sometimes he used blood-letting, and administered Manus Christi, and the like Cordials, yet for all diseases he did chief 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 Physic, 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 Emperor 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) dreamt, a handsome man told her, that in such a Tenement of her Land she should find Tinn enough to enrich herself and her posterity; who telling her Husband, upon Trial 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 women's dreams. From the bottom of the Tinn-works if they be of any depth, you may see the Stars at noonday in clear weather; the labour is so hard, and tedious, that they cannot work above 4 hours in a day, they sometimes meet with lose earth, yet otherwhile they light upon such hard Rocks, that a good workman can scarce hue above a foot in a week; sometimes again they meet with great streams of water, and sometimes with stinking damps that distemper their heads for the present, though not dangerously; I hear of no Medicinal Water in this Country, but only one, and since he that telleth a miraculous truth, must always carry the Author at his back (saith my Author) I will transcribe the words of B. Hall in his Mist. of Godliness, speaking of the good Offices of Angels to God's Servants; Of this kind, saith he, was that no less than miraculous cure which at St. Maderns in Cornwall, was wrought upon a poor Cripple, whereof besides the attestation of many Hundreds of the Neighbours, I took a strict and impartial examination in my last Visitation; this man for 16 years together was fain to walk upon his hands, by reason the sinews of his legs were so contracted, and upon Monitions in his dream to wash in that Well, was suddenly so restored to his Limbs, that I saw him able both to walk, and get his own maintenance, I found here was neither Art nor Collusion the thing done, the Invisible Author being God.  
In this County there are some stones called Hurlers, at a competent distance from each other, which are vainly reported to be men transformed into Stones; in St. Clears Parish there are upon a Plain 6 or 8 Stones, such as are upon Salisbury Plain, which like them too, will be mistaken in the telling: near Helford is a Rock lying on the ground, the top whereof is hollow like the long half of an Egg, this they say holdeth water, which ebbeth and floweth with the Sea, and indeed, saith the Author, when I came hither to see this Curiosity the Tide was half gone, and the Pit or hollowness half empty, There is a rock in this County called Mainamber, erected as some conceive by Ambrose that Valiant Britain upon some Victory obtained by him against the Romans, or other Enemies; this is a Masterpiece of Mathematics, and Critical Proportions, being a great Stone of so exact position on the top of a Rock that the push of a Finger will sensibly move it to and fro, and yet all the strength that men could make, was not thought sufficient to remove it out of the place; but know Reader (saith Dr. Fuller) that this wonder is now unwondred, for I am credibly informed that some Soldiers of late have utterly destroyed it, which shows how dangerous it is for Art to stand in the way of ignorance, surely Covetousness could not tempt them to it, though it was the ruin of a fair Monument in Turkey, where a Tomb was erected near the Highway (according to the fashion of that Country) on some Person of Quality, consisting of a Pillar, and on the top thereof a Chapter or great Globe of Stone, whereon was written in the Turkish Language; The Brains are in the Head; this stood many years undemolished (it being very criminal there to violate the Monuments of the dead) till one of less conscience, but more cunning than others, passing by it, resolved to unriddle the meaning of this Inscription, and breaking the hollow Globe open, found it full of Gold, and departed the richer, though not the honester; certainly if any such temptation invited the Soldiers to this Act they miss their mark therein.  
At Hall near Foy there is a Faggot all of one piece of wood, naturally grown so, it is wrapped about the middle with a band, and parted at ends into four sticks, one of which is divided into two others. In Lanhadron Park there grows an Oak that bears leaves speckled, and white; and so doth another called Painter's Oak; it is certain (saith our Author) that divers Ancient Families in England are forewarned of their death by Oaks bearing strange leaves. An Earthen Pot was found some years ago near Foy, gilded and graven with Letters in a great stone Chest, and full of a black Earth, the Ashes, it's thought, of some Ancient Roman. At Trematon in Cornwall in the Chancel of the Church a Leaden Coffin was digged up, in which being opened was found the proportion of a very big man's body, but being touched, turned to dust. It was thought to be the body of Duke Orgarus who, as Speed saith, married his Daughter to K. Edgar, for there was an Inscription on the Coffin that signified it was the body of a Duke whose Heiress was Married to a Prince. Likewise an exceeding great Carcase of a Man was found by the Tinners digging at a Village near the lands end called Trebegean; there is a story that passes of St. Kaines Well in this County, that whoever drinks first of this water, whether Husband or Wife, they are sure to get the Mastery; a fit Fable for the vulgar to believe; In the West parts of Cornwall during the Winter, Swallows are found sitting in old deep Tinn-works, and holes of the Sea-cliffs. On the Shore of this Shire about 30 or 40 years ago, a huge Mass of Ambergris was found by a poor Fisherman, of a very great value.  
King Arthur Son to Uter-pendragon, was born at Tintagel Castle in this County, and was afterward Monarch of Great Britain; he may fitly be termed the British Hercules in three respects. 1. For his Illegitimate Birth, both being Bastards, begotten on other men's Wives, and yet their Mother's honest Women, both deluded by Art-Magick, (the last by Merlin) by other men coming to them in the form of their Husbands. 2. In his painful life, one being famous for his twelve labours, and the other for his 12 Victories against the Saxons, and both of them had been greater had they been made less, and the reports of them reduced within the compass of probability. 3. In their violent and painful deaths, our Arthur being as lamentable, and more honourable, not caused by Feminine Jealousy, but Masculine Treachery, being murdered by Mordred near the place where he was born.  
As though no other place on Britain's spacious earth,  
Were worthy of his end, but where he had his Birth.  
As for his round Table, and his Knights about it, the Tale thereof has never met with much credit amongst the Judicious. The Cornish men in general have ever been held valiant, and therefore K. Arthur made them his Vanguard, as appears by the following Verses.  
Brave Arthur when he meant a Field to fight,  
Us Cornish men did first of all invite;  
Only to Cornish against Caesar's Swords,  
He the first blow in Battle still affords.  
Yet these People have sometimes abused their valour to Rebellion, as in the Reign of Hen. 7. where upon the account of raising a subsidy granted by Parliament against the Scots, they made a commotion, the Ringleaders being Thomas Flammock a Lawyer, and Michael Joseph a Smith, who having assembled an Army, went to Taunton, where they slew the Provost Peryn, one of the Commissioners of the Subsidy, and marching forward, James Tutchet, Lord Audly joined with them, and took on him to be their Leader, at last they came to Black-Heath (intending to come to the King at London) and there encamped on the top of the Hill; the King sent the Earls of Oxford, Essex, Suffolk, and others to encompass the Hill, that so none might escape, and himself encamping in Sr. George's Fields, he sent the Lord Dawbeny to set upon them, who won Debtford Bridge from them, though strongly defended, their Arrows being reported to be a full yard in length, and assaulting them every way, killed 2000, and took many Prisoners, divers of whom the King pardoned, but none of the Leaders; the L. Audly was drawn from Newgate to Tower-Hill in a Coat of his own Arms drawn upon Paper, reversed, and all torn, and there beheaded; Thomas Flammock and Michael Joseph were drawn, hanged and quartered, and their quarters set upon stakes. It is memorable with what comfort Joseph the Blacksmith cheered up himself at his going to Execution, saying, That yet he hoped by this, his name and memory should be everlasting; so dear even to vulgar spirits is perpetuity of name, though joined with Infamy, what is it then to noble Spirits when it is joined with Glory?  
They were likewise guilty of another Rebellion in the 2. of K. Edward 6, 1549. for injunctions being sent forth by that pious Prince for removing Images out of Churches, and that the Ministers should dissuade the People from praying to Saints, for for the dead, from use of Beeds, Ashes, and Processions, from Masses Dirges, praying in an unknown Tongue, etc. when Commissioners went abroad to see them executed, Mr. Body a Commissioner as he was pulling down Images in Cornwall, was suddenly stabbed with a knife into the body by a Popish Priest; hereupon the People flocked together from several parts of this Shire, and taking Arms, committed divers outrages, as they did also in several other Counties; these Religious Mutineers sent several Articles to the King, and among other things required to have the Latin Mass again, and the six Articles in K. Henry 8. time (called the bloody Articles) revived again; now though the King knew reasons would little prevail with unreasonable men, yet he sent them answers in writing, and a general Pardon if they would desist, and lay down their Arms; the answer about the 6 Articles is worth rehearsing; You require, saith the King, to have the Statute of the 6 Articles revived, do you know what you ask? Do you understand what safety and ease you enjoy without them? these Laws were indeed made, but as soon repent of, for they were too cruel and bloody to be endured by our People; oh poor Ignorant Subjects, how are you ensnared and deceived by subtle Traitors? We out of pity took them away, because they were bloody, and you out of Ignorance desire them again, you know full well they made us to be cruel and severe, and gave us cause to draw our Sword very often; they were like a whetstone to our Sword, and for your sakes only we left off to use them; and since our mercy inclineth us to write our Laws in Milk and Equity, how come you to be so blinded as to desire they should be writ in blood? But assure yourselves and be confident, that we make account of nothing under Heaven so much as this, to have our Laws obeyed, and this cause of God which we have undertaken to be throughly maintained, from which we will never remove a hairs breadth, nor give place to any Creature living, much less to any Subject, but therein we will venture our own Royal Person, our Crown, Treasure, Realm, and all our Estate, whereof we assure you of our high honour; and as to the Common Prayer which you are against, it cannot certainly offend any reasonable man that the service of God is changed from an unknown Tongue, since it is only to make him understand what before he knew not, and thereby to give his consent to those Prayers which he hath most need of, and to affect his Conscience therewith, since God requireth the heart only, and that we should offer a reasonable Service to him. He concludes; We for our parts desire to live no longer than to be a Father to our People, and as God hath made us your Rightful King, so hath he commanded you to be obedient, by whose great Majesty we solemnly protest, you shall feel the Power of the same God in our Sword, which how mighty it is, no Subject knoweth, how puissant no private man can judge, and how mortal no English heart can think; therefore embrace our Mercy while it is offered, lest the blood spilt by your means cry for vengeance from the Earth, and be heard in the ears of the Lord in Heaven. But the Rebels grew still more outrageous, coming before the City of Exeter, and demanding entrance; which being refused, they endeavoured to take it by storm, and firing the Gates, and Mining, but all in vain, yet they lay so long before it, that the Citizens within suffered great want of Victuals, making bread of the courfest bran, and feeding upon Horseflesh, in which extremity an aged Citizen bringing forth all his Provisions to the People, told them, That as he communicated to them his store, so he would partake with them in their wants, and that he would feed upon one Arm, and fight with the other before he would consent to put the City into the hands of the Seditious; but the L. Grey, and the L. Russel after many conflicts with the Rebels forced them to raise the Siege, and utterly routed them; the Sedition being thus suppressed, it is memorable what cruel sport Sir William Kingston the Provost Marshal made, by virtue of his Office upon men in misery; one Boyer Mayor of Bodmin in Cornwall had been amongst the Rebels, not willingly, but enforced; to him the Provost sent word he would come and dine with him, for whom the Mayor made great Provision; a little before Dinner the Provost took the Mayor aside, and whispered him in the ear, That an Execution must be that day done in the Town, and therefore required to have a pair of Gallows set up against Dinner was done; the Mayor provided them accordingly, presently after Dinner the Provost taking the Mayor by the hand, entreated him to show him the place where the Gallows was, which when he beheld, he asked the Mayor, if he thought them to be strong enough; yes, said the Mayor, doubtless they are; well then, said the Provost, get you up speedily for they are provided for you: I hope, said the Mayor, you do not mean as you speak; In faith, says the Provost, there is no Remedy, for you have been a busy Rebel; and so without respite or defence he was hanged to death; a most uncourteous part for a Guest to offer his Host. Near the same place dwelled a Miller that had been very active in that Rebellion; who fearing the approach of the Marshal, told a sturdy Fellow his Servant, that he had occasion to go from home, and if any man should inquire for the Miller, he bid him say, that himself was the Miller, and had been so for 3 years before; soon after the Provost came, and called for the Miller, when out comes the Servant, and said he was the man, the Provost demanded how long he had kept the Mill: These 3 years, answered the Servant; the Provost then commanded his men to lay hold of him, and hang him on the next Tree; at this the Fellow cried out, That he was not the Miller, but the Miller's Man; Nay Sir, said the Provost, I will take you at your word, and if thou be'st the Miller, thou art a busy Knave; if thou be'st not, thou art a false lying Knave, and however thou canst never do thy Master better service than to hang for him, and so without more ado he was dispatched.  
I will conclude the Remarks of this County with somewhat more Comical. At the Dissolution of Abbeys K. Ken. 8. gave away large shares to almost every one that asked: Amongst other Instances take this merry story. It happened that two or three Gentlemen, the King's servants, waited at the door, where the King was to come out, with a design to beg a large parcel of Abbey Lands; One Mr. John Champernoun, another of his servants, seeing them, was very inquisitive to know their suit, but they would not impart it to him; in the mean time out comes the King, they kneel down, so doth Champernoun, (being assured by an implicit Faith that Courtiers beg nothing hurtful to themselves) they present their Petition, the King grants it, they render him humble thanks, so doth Mr. Champernoun; afterward he requires his share; they deny it; he appeals to the King, who avows, that he meant they should have equal shares; whereupon his Companions were forced to allot him the Priory of St. German in Cornwall, valued at 243 pound a Year; so that a dumb Beggar met with a blind Giver, the one as little knowing what he asked as the other what he gave. This County is divided into nine Hundreds, wherein are 22 Market Towns, and 161 Parish Churches: It elects 44 Members to sit in Parliament, and is in the Diocese of Exeter.  
CUMBERLAND hath Scotland on the North, Northumberland and Westmoreland on the East, Lancashire on the South, and the Irish Sea on the West. We read that King Edmund, with the help of Leoline Prince of Wales, wasted all Cumberland, and having put out the Eyes of the 2 Sons of Dunmail, King of that Province, granted that Kingdom to Malcolm, K. of Scots, whereof their eldest Sons became Prefects. King Edward the 1st died at Carlisle in this County; for intending to invade Scotland, he raised a great Army, which he ordered to attend him at this City; but falling sick, and being sensible it would be his death, he commanded his Son (afterward Edward 2.) to be brought into his presence, to whom he left many good Precepts and Admonitions, exhorting him, To be merciful, just, and courteous, constant and true both in Word and Deed, that he should be pitiful to those in misery, that he should carry his bones with him about Scotland till he had subdued it; and that he should send his Heart into the Holy Land, with Sevenscore Knights, and Thirty two thousand Pound of Silver, which he had provided for that purpose; lastly, that upon pain of eternal damnation the said Money should not be expended upon any other use: soon after which he died.  
In the 17th Year of this Kings Reign the City of Carlisle, with the Abbey, and all the Houses belonging to the Friar's Minors, were consumed with fire. In the Reign of Q. Elizabeth a rich Vein of most pure and native Brass was found at Keswrick in Cumberland, which had lain neglected a long time. In April 1651, about 5 a Clock in the Afternoon, there was a general Earthquake in the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland, wherewith the People were so affrighted, that many of them forsook their Houses, and some Houses were so shaken, that the Chimneys fell down: Presently after the Scottish Army came into England to assist the Parliament, it reigned Blood which covered the Church and Churchyard of Bencastle in this County. At Salkelds upon the River Eden is a Trophy of Victory, called by the Country People, Long Meg and her Daughters; they are 77 stones, each of them 10 Foot high above ground, and one of them is 15 Foot in height. Skiddaw Hill riseth up with two mighty high Heads like Parnassus, and beholds Scruffell hill in Anandale within Scotland, there is a Rhyme that 
Skiddaw, Lauvellin, and Casticand  
Are the highest hills in all England.  These being two other Hills in this Tract; according as Mists rise or fall upon these Heads, the People thereby prognosticate of the change of Wether, and therefore they sing, 
If Skiddaw have a Cap,  
Scruffell knows full well of that.   
The Sea hath eaten a great part of the Land away upon the shores of these Western Shires, and Trees are sometimes discovered, when the Wind blows at low Water, else they are covered over with Sands, and the People thereabout say that they dig up Trees without boughs out of the mossy places in this Shire, which they find by the direction of the Dew in Summer, which they observe never falls on the ground under which they lie. Some Empiric Surgeons in Scotland take a journey to the Picts Wall the beginning of every Summer, to gather vulnerary Plants, which they say grow plentifully there, and are very effectual, being sown and planted by the Romans for Chirurgical Uses. There is a small Burrough called Solway Frith, under which, within the very Frith or Bayliff, the Inhabitants report the Engl sh and Scots fought with their Fleets at full Sea, and also with their Horsemen and Footmen at the Ebb. This Province was accounted a Kingdom of itself, and King Steven to purchase aid from the Scots, confirmed it by gift to that Crown, which Henry 2. claimed and regained from them, since which many bicker have happened between the two Nations in this Shire, but none so fatal to the Scots as the Fight at Salome Moss, where the Nobility disdaining to serve under their General Oliver Sinclare, gave over the Battle, and yielded themselves to the English, which dishonour so deeply wounded the heart of K. James the 5. that he died for grief soon after. There are many ruins of Castles, Walls and Forts in this County, with Altars and Inscriptions of their Captains and Colonels. This County is not divided into Hundreds as the rest, but therein are seated 9 Market Towns, 58 Parish Churches, and divers Chapels of ease. It Elects 6 Parliament Men; for the County 2. Carlisle 2. Cockermouth 2. and is in the Diocese of Chester and Carlisle.  
DERBYSHIRE hath Yorkshire on the North, Nottinghamshire on the East, Leicestershire on the South, Stafford and Cheshire on the West, the River Derwent runs through the middle of it; the best Lead in England is found in this County; as likewise Millstones, Crystal, Alabaster, and Whetstone, Pitcoal, and Iron. The most remarkable thing in this County is the Peak, wherein there is a Cave called the Devil's Arse, which is a great Rock or Castle upon an high hill, under which there is a Cave in the ground of a vast bigness; the name is occasioned by reason it seems to have two Buttocks sticking out like a Man's, bending to the ground, the Arch of the Rock is very high, and through it drops of water fall; having good store of Lights they enter into it, and going between two Rocks near together, lose the sight of day, the passage is so low, that they are fain to creep on their hands and knees, they then come to a dark River which runs slowly; beyond which they cannot pass; there is another high hill called Maim Tour, or Mam Tor, called so (saith one) because maimed, or ●roken at the top, and looks like an old ruined wall, from which the Sand falls continually down, and yet the hill is not in the least diminished, having as it seems a spring of matter from whence it is recruited.  
Eldenhole is a place remarkable, two miles distant from Castleton, a Town in the High Peak, the hole is about ●0 yards long, and 15 yards broad on the top, descending directly down into the Earth, but it is much strai●er when it cometh forty yards deep, you may see into it above 60 yards, which is as far as the light which cometh in at the mouth will admit; if you throw a stone into it, you may hear it strike 10 times on the sides of the Rock in its fall, and then you hear it no more; it is reported that the Earl of Leicester in Q. Elizabeth's time hired a poor Countryman to suffer himself to be let down with Ropes tied about him, and to hang in the middle while they threw down Stones, that thereby he might know the depth thereof; having a pole in his hand to keep the Stones from hurting him; being let down in this manner above an 100 yards, and the Stones thrown down, he was drawn up again; but whether the fear of the Rope breaking, or the Stones knocking him on the head from above, or the Ghosts and Spirits which are supposed to be there, was the occasion of his disturbance is uncertain, but it seems he fell stark mad, and died within 8 days after; and about 60 years since Mr. Henry Cavendish, who had spent his day● in Travel, having been at Jerusalem, and several other parts of the World, hearing of this place came to it, and caused Engines to be made to let a man down into the hole, and one George Bradley was let down accordingly in a Rope of 80 yards, and then another Engine was made to let him go fourscore yards further, and at the end thereof a third Engine whereby he was let down almost 80 yards further; at the top of the Rope was fastened a Bell, which he was to ring if he could go no further; when he was let down almost the third fourscore yards, he rung the Bell, and being drawn up he was much affrighted, remained speechless for a time, and was struck with lameness; after he recovered his speech he declared, that as he descended down, there were bones of Deer, Sheep, and other , and also of Men, and that he was a●●●●●●ted, but how or in what manner he could not 〈◊〉 he lived several years, but never was in his per●●● senses, nor sound of his Limbs▪  
Not far from hence there is a Fountain which eb● and f●●● like the Sea, though not the same hours, neither is it fa●●: At Burton there is a hot Bath, where out of the Rock, within the compass of 8 yards, nine Springs arise, eight of them warm, and the ninth very cold; these run from under a fair Stone Building, and about sixty paces off, receive another hot spring from a Well ●●closed with four flat Stones, called St. Ann, near which a very cold Spring bubbleth up; it is found by ●aily experience that great cures have been done by ●ese waters, as being good for the Stomach and Sinews, ●nd very pleasant to bathe the body in, the effects whereof ●e thus described by our Author.  
Unto St. Ann the Fountain sacred is,  
With waters hot and cold its Springs do rise,  
And in its Sulphur veins there's Medicinelies.  
Old men's numbed joints new vigour here acquire,  
In frozen Nerves this water kindleth Fire;  
Hither the Cripples halt some help to find,  
Run hence, and leave their Crutches here behind.  
The barren hither to be fruitful come,  
And without help of Spouse go Mother's home.  
Pools Hole is another Cave not far off, so called, say ●he Inhabitants, from a famous Thief of that name, who seizing upon Travellers, carried them in hither, and ●hen rob and murdered them; it is seated at the bottom of a Hill, and the entrance so narrow, that they ●re forced to stoop much, but farther in it is higher, ●ut very dark; when they go in with lights, the roof ●eems to shine with sparks of fire, going further over ●ocks and Stones which seem like Mountains and Val●es; there is a blind River, which murmurs against the Rocks, passing this over, they creep up another high Rock, where there is a dark Cave, on the ceiling whereof hang stones like Gammons of Bacon, there is also a yellow Stone like a Lion with a rough main, and another which resembles a grave old Man lying on a Bed; a ●ittle from hence is another Cave which is called Pools ●ed Chamber, all of plain Stone, wherein there is a Rock like a Bed, and a Stone like a Chamberpot.  
Joan Wast a blind Woman in the Town of Derby, was Martyred in this County, who was rather, saith Dr. Fuller, the object of any Man's mercy, than the Subject of his Cruelty; besides she was a silly soul, and indeed an Innocent though no Fool: This poor Woman had a clear apprehension of God's Truth, for the Testimony whereof she was condemned and burnt at the stake, by the command of Bains the bloody Popish Bishop, who a● he began with Ms. Joyce one of the best, and this Joan Waste one of the meanest birth in this Diocese, so no doubt, had Queen Mary lived, he would have made hi● cruelty meet in persons of a middle condition. Th● Ms. Joyce being asked by the Bishop why she would no● be present at the Mass, and receive the Sacraments, she answered, Because she found them not in God's Word, otherwise, said she, I would with all my heart reverence, esteem, and receive them. The Bishop replied, If thou wilt belie● no more than is written in the Scriptures thou art in a damnable condition: At which she was much amazed, telling him his words were ungodly and wicked; being condemned, and brought to the stake, she prayed earnestly three times, and especially that God would abolish the Idolatrous Mass, to which almost all the multitude and amongst them the Sheriff himself, cried Amen; the● taking a Cup of Beer, she said, I drink unfeignedly to all those that love the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that wish the abolishment of Popery; her Friends pledged her, and several of them did penance for it afterward; when the fire was put to her she neither strove nor struggled, but with her hands lift up to Heaven, she quickly gave up the Ghost.  
Sir Hugh Willoughby was born of a worthy and ancient Family at Rifely in this County; In the Reign of K. Edward 6. he was employed by the King and the Merchants of London to find out the North East passage to the East Indies, having three Ships provided for that purpose with a large Commission, which did not bear date from the Year of our Lord, but from the Year of the World 5515, because in their long Voyage they might have occasion to present it to foreign Princes: They departed from Deptford May 10. 1553, and after much fou● weather steered North-North-West; but Aug. 2. ● Tempest arose, whereby one of the Ships was divided from the rest, and they never saw it again: Sir Hugh holding on his Course discovered a Land, which for Ice he could not come near in the Latitude of 72 Degrees; This was then called Willoughby's Land, as well it might, since it had neither then nor since any Owner or Inhabitant pretending to the propriety thereof; It appeareth by a Will found in that Ship, which was the Admiral, in the Pocket of a Person of Quality, that in January 1554. Sir Hugh, and most of his company, were then in health, though all soon after frozen to death in a River or Haven, called Arzina in Lapland: The next Summer some other English Ships coming to the same place, found the Ship entire, and all the men frozen to death, with a particular account of all the passages of their Voyage. Lapland hath several times since been surrounded by the English, the West part whereof belongeth to the K. of Sweden, and the East to the Muscovite, they are generally Heathens, as poor in Knowledge as Estate, paying their Tribute in Furs, whose little houses are but great holes, wherein they generally live in the Ignorance of Money. Here let me insert a passage to refresh the Reader after this sad story: There is a custom in this barbarous Country, (as credible Merchants, who have been Eye-witnesses, report) that it is death to marry a maid without her Parents and Friends consent; therefore if any man have an affection for a Maid, a day is appointed for both of their Friends to meet, and see the young couple run a Race; the Maid hath the advantage of starting, and a third part of the Race, so that it is impossible, except she be willing herself, she should ever be overtaken; if the Maid outrun her Sweetheart the business is ended, he must never have her, nor make any further motion to her under a great penalty; but if the Virgin have any affection for him, though she at first may run hard to try the truth of his Love, yet she will pretend to stumble, or make a voluntary halt, before she comes to the end of the Race, so that he may overtake her: Thus none are compelled to marry against their Wills, which is the cause that in this poor Country the married People are richer in their own content than in other Lands, where so many forced matches make feigned Love and cause real unhappiness.  
In April 1660, about Chesterfield it reigned white Ashes, which fell in such quantities, that several Fields looked white as if Snow had covered them. The same Year, Nou. 20. the River Derwent was at Derby, and 5 Miles above, and 5 Miles below that Town, for 3 or 4 hours totally dried up, so that no water during that time came to any of the Mills upon the River; the Boats were all on ground, and the Fishes upon the Sand, so that the Children took them up in their hands, and in several places the people went over the Channel dryshod, which is more remarkable, because Derwent is an inland River, and never ebbs or flows, and it is at Derby generally an 100 Foot broad, and 7 or 8 Foot deep, and is an extraordinary quick, fierce stream. On Nou. 11. 1662., there happened a dreadful Whirlwind at Derby whereby t●at, Town was in 4 Minute's time damnified above 500 Pounds: It blew the Tiles off the Houses, threw down several Barns; Appletrees, and other Fruit-Trees were torn up by the Roots; it overturned great Stonewalls, and broke some Gates (though fastened with Iron Bars) into pieces; this strange Wind was accompanied with great flashes of Fire, and some affirmed that it reigned Blood also.  
The Ale of Derbyshire is very famous, as being counted the best and strongest in the Nation; it is the old Drink of England, though a French Poet in King Henry the Third's lays, merrily jested on it in these verses.  

Nescio quid Stygiae monstrum conforme paludi, etc.   

Of this strange drink so like the Stygian Lake  
(They fall in Ale) I know not what to make:  
Men drink o●●hi●●, and vent it passing thin,  
Much dregs therefore must needs remain within.   
This County is divided into six Hundreds, wherein are 10 Market Towns, 106 Parish Churches, and out of it are elected 4 Parliament Men, for the County 2. for the Town of Derby 2. It is in the Diocese of Exeter.  
DEVONSHIRE hath the narrow Sea on the South, the Severn on the North, Cornwall on the West, and Dorset and Somerset shires on the East; the Natives thereof are generally very ingenious in any employment, and Q. Elizabeth used to say of their Gentry, They were all born Courtiers with a becoming Confidence. There was Silver formerly found in great Plenty in the Parish of Comb-Martin, and in the Reign of K. Edw, the 1. Miners were fetched out of Derbyshire for digging thereof, which turned to considerable profit, as appeareth by a Record in the Tower of Lond. For Will. Wymondham accounted for 270 pounds' weight of Silver in his 22. Year, and in his 23. Year, he was fined 521 pounds 10 shillings weight; in his 24. Year there was brought to London in fined Silver in Wedges, 704 Pounds, 3 shillings, and 1 penny weight; in his 25. Year, though 360 Miners were pressed out of the Peak and Wales to dig it, yet great was that Years clear profit in Silver and Lead: In the Reign of Edw. 3 it appeareth by the Record of particular Accountants, that the profits of the Silver were very considerable toward the maintenance of that King's great Expenses in the French Wars: These Mines having been long neglected, it may be by reason of the Civil Wars between Lancaster and York, were again reentered on by one Bulmer, an Artist in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth, who presented a Silver Cup made thereof to the Earl of Bath, with this Inscription, alluding to the Metal, 
In Martins-Comb I long lay hid  
Obscure, depressed with grossest Soil,  
Debased much with mixed Lead,  
Till Bulmer came, whose skill and toil  
Reform 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 Brutus' first entrance, if Geoffrey 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 entered 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 villainously slew, yet were they forced back to their Ships by the Inhabitants. With more happy success hath Plymouth set forth men of renowned Fame, and prevented the entrance of Invaders, as in the Reign of that eternised Queen, the Mirror 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 entered into the straits 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, etc.   

Drake, whom the encompassed 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 Corpse was cast out of the Ship one made this Tetrastick on him: 
Though Rome's 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 Plymouth impeach the entrance of the proud Invincible Spanish Armado in 88 but with his Cannons marked them so, as shown 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 Thief, who having stolen a Sheep, and tied 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 struggling, 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 Gubbing, which is a Scythia within England, and they pure Heathens within, this place lieth nigh Brent Tor, on the edge of Dartmoor; it is reported that about 200 years ago, two Strumpets being with Child fled thither to hid 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 Soldiers were quartered among them, for fear of being themselves quartered by them; their Wealth consists of other men's 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 Burrs, 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 Abbey 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 surprised, that he began to woe her for himself, and had procured her Father's good will in case he could obtain the King's 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 Father's Heir thereby to raise his Fortune; The King consented, and the Marriage was solemnised; 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 Duke's 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 King's displeasure, entreated her by all manner of persuasions he could possibly use, to clothe herself in such attire as might lest 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 not be accessary to her own injury, but decked herself in her richest Ornaments, which so improved her beauty, that the King was struck with astonishment, and admiration at first sight, and was fully resolved to be quit with his perfidious Favourite, yet dissembling his passion, he went to hunting, where taking Ethelwold at an advantage, he ran him through with a Javelin, and having thereby made fair Elfrid a Widow, he took her to be his Wife. We read that Ordulphus Son of Ordgarus, Earl of Devonshire, (but whether this or no is uncertain) was a Giantlike Man, and could break open the bars of Gates with his hands, and stride 10 foot at once, but of what credit it is I know not.  
Agnes Priest was burnt for the Protestant Faith without the Walls of Exeter; her own Husband, and her Children were her greatest Persecutors, from whom she fled, because they would force her to be present at Mass; she was Indicted at the Assizes, and afterward presented to James Troublefield, Bishop of Exeter, and by him condemned for denying the Sacrament of the Altar; after her condemnation she refused to receive any money from well affected People, saying, She was going to a City where Money had no Mastery; she was a simple Woman to behold, little of stature, and about 50 years old; she was burnt in a place called Sothenhay, in November 1558.  
One Child, whose Christian name is unknown, was a Gentleman, the last of his Family, being of an ancient extraction at Plimstock in this County, and had great possessions; it happened that hunting in Dartmore, he lost both his Company and way in a deep Snow: having therefore killed his Horse, he crept into his hot bowels for warmth, and writ this with his blood, 
Whoever finds and brings me to my Tomb,  
The Land of Plimstock that shall be his doom.   
The night after it seems he was frozen to death, and being first found by the Monks of Tavistock, they with all possible hast provided to inter him in their own Abbey; his own Parishioners at Plimstock hearing thereof, stood at the ford of the River to take the body from them; but they must rise early, yea not sleep at all, who overreach Monks in matter of profit; for they cast a slight Bridge over the River, whereby they carried over the Corpse, and interred it; in remembrance whereof the Bridge, since better built, is called Guile-Bridge to this day. Nicholas, and Andrew Tremain were Twins, and younger Sons to Thomas Tremain of Colacomb in this County, Esq such was their likeness in all the parts of Face and Body, that they could not be distinguished but by their different habits, which they would sometimes exchange to make sport, which occasioned very merry mistakes; they felt like pain though at a distance, & without any notice given, they equally desired to walk, travel, sit, sleep, eat, drink together at the same time, as many credible Gentry of the Neighbourhood, by relation from their Father will attest; in this they differed, at Newhaven in France, the one was a Captain of a Troop, the other but a private Soldier; here they were both slain 1564. death being pitiful to kill them together, to prevent the lingering languishing of the Survivor; John de Beigny Lord of Ege-Lifford in this County, having been a great Traveller and Soldier in his youth retired home, married, and had 3 Sons in his stayed Age; of these the youngest went to fight against the Saracens in Spin, of whose valour his Father to his great content heard very high Commendations, which made him the more patiently endure his absence, but when death had bereft him of his two elder Sons, he was often heard to say; Oh that I might but once embrace my Son, I would be contented to die presently, His Son soon after returning unexpectedly, the old man instantly expired with an ecstasy of Joy; thus if Heaven should always take us at our word in all our wishes and random desires, we should be drowned in the deluge of our own passions. This Knight lived in the time of K. Edward 3. Thomas Stuckly was a younger Brother of an Ancient, wealthy Family near Ilfracomb in this County, a man of good parts, which himself knew too well; having prodigally misspent his Patrimony, he entered on several projects, the first was peopling of Florida, then newly found out in the West Indies; so confident was his ambition, that he blushed not to tell Q. Elizabeth, That he would rather choose to be Sovereign of a Molehill, than the highest Subject to the greatest Prince in Christendom; adding withal, That he was sure he should be a Prince before his death; I hope, said the Queen, I shall hear from you, when you are settled in your Principality; I will write unto you (quoth Stuckly;) In what Language, said the Queen; He replied, In the stile of Princes, To Our Dear Sister; But his project in Florida being blasted, he resolved treacherously to attempt what he could not Loyally achieve, and went over into Ireland, and from thence into Italy, where he got into the intimate favour of Pope Pius 5. boasting that with 3000 Soldiers he would beat all the English out of Ireland; the Pope gave him many Titles in Ireland, as Earl of Wexford, Marquis of Lemster, etc. and furnished him with 800 men, paid by the King of Spain for this Irish expedition; in passing to which, Stuckly lands in Portugal, just when Sebastian, the King thereof, with two Moorish Kings, were undertaking a Voyage into Africa; Stuckly scorning to attend, is persuaded to accompany them; landing in Africa, Stuckly gave this seasonable and necessary Counsel, That they should refresh their land Soldiers for two or three days, some of whom were sick and weak, by reason of the tempestuous Passage: But this would not be heard, K. Sebastian was so furious to engage; and so in the Battle of Alcaser, their Army was wholly defeated, where Stuckly lost his Life.  
A fatal Fight where in one day was slain  
Three Kings that were, and one that would be fain.  
This Battle was fought in 1578. where Stuckly with his 800 Men behaved himself most valiantly, till overpowered with multitude, and so ended this Bubble of Emptiness, and Meteor of Ostentation.  
In the troubles between K. Edward 2. and the Barons, one John Powdras, a Tanner's Son of Exeter, gave out, that he himself was the true Edward, eldest son of the late King Edward 1. and by a false Nurse was changed in his Cradle, and that the now K. Edward was a Carters Son, and laid in his place; for which forgery being taken, and hanged, drawn, and quartered, he confessed at his death, That he had a familiar Spirit in his House, in the likeness of a Cat, that assured him he should be King of England, and that he had served this spirit 3 years before, to bring his design about. K. Richard 3. called Crookback, lay some few days in Exeter Castle, and demanding the name of it, they told him Rugemont, whereat the Usurper was much startled, having been told by some Wizards, That he should never prosper after he had met a thing called Rugemont; but it seems either the Devil or his Oracle spoke low or lisping, being desirous to hid his Folly or Ignorance, or that K. Richard having a guilty Conscience, which is soon frighted, mistook him, seeing not Rugemont but Richmond, the Title of K. Henry 7. was the utter Destruction of this Usurper.  
In the Reign of K. Edw. 4. Sir John Hawksford, one of the Lord Chief Justices, living at Annory in this County, a man of great a Estate, and without Children, fell into a deep Melancholy, and one day calling to him the Keeper of his Park, charged him with negligence in suffering his Deer to be stolen, and thereupon commanded him, That if he met with any one in his Night-walk, that would not stand or speak, he should not fail to kill him whosoever he were. Having thus provided, and intending to end his doleful Days, he in a dark night conveyed himself secretly out of his house, and walked alone in his Park; the Keeper in his Circuit hearing one stirring and coming toward him, asked, who was there, but no answer being made, he commanded him to stand, which when he would not do, the Keeper shot him dead, and coming to see who it was, found it to be his Master. In 1588. Twiford was burnt down, occasioned by burning straw in a Chimney, which fired the House, and so the Town about one Afternoon, the fury whereof was so great, that in an hour and an half it consumed 400 Houses, to the loss of an Hundred and fifty thousand pounds, in Money, Plate, Merchandise, Householdstuff, and Houses; Fifty persons, Men, Women, and Children, were consumed therein, yet through Divine Providence, an Almshouse, with several poor people therein, was preserved, almost in the midst of the flames.  
In the Year 1638. Oct. 21. being Sunday in the Parish Church of Withy Comb, during Sermon time there happened a very great darkness, which still increased, so that they could not see to read; soon after a terrible and fearful Thunder was heard, like the noise of many great Guns, accompanied with dreadful Lightning, to the great amazement of the People, the Darkness still increasing that they could not see each other, when there presently came such an extraordinary flame of Lightning, as filled the Church with Fire, smoke and a loathsome smell like Brimstone; a Ball of fire came in likewise at the Window, and passed through the Church, which so affrighted the Congregation, that most of them fell down in their Seats, some upon their knees, others on their faces, and some one upon another, crying out of burning and scalding, and all giving up themselves for dead: Mr. George Lyde, Minister of the Parish, was in his Pulpit, and though much astonished, yet through Divine Mercy, had no harm, but was a sad spectator of the hurt and sufferings of others, the Lightning seizing on his Wife, and burning her , and many parts of her Body, and another Gentlewoman by her in the same manner, but her Maid and Child sitting at the Pue door had no hurt; another Woman attempting to run out of the Church, had her  set on fire, and was miserably scorched and burnt, and her Flesh torn off her back, almost to the very bones; another Woman had her flesh so torn, and her Body so terribly burnt that she died the same Night. One Master Hill had his head suddenly struck against the Wall in his seat, with such violence, that he died the same night, no other hurt being observed, his Son sitting by him received no hurt; at the same Instance another man had his Head cloven, his Skull rend into 3 pieces, and his Brains thrown upon the ground whole, the Hair of his Head, through the violence of the blow, stuck fast to a Pillar near him; some Seats in the Body of the Church were turned upside down, yet those which sat in them had little or no hurt: One man going out of the Chancel door, his Dog ran before him, who was whirled about toward the door, and fell down stark dead, upon which the Master stepped back, and was preserved: The Church itself was much torn and defaced with the Thunder and Lightning, a Beam whereof breaking in the midst, fell down between the Minister and Clark, and hurt neither; the Steeple was much rent, and it was observed where the Church was most rend, there the least hurt was done among the People; there were none hurt with the Timber or Stones, but one Maid, who it was judged was killed by the falling of a Stone, which might easily happen, since Stones were thrown down from the Steeple as fast as if it had been by an 100 Men: A Pinnacle of the Tower being thrown down, beat through into the Church; The Pillar against which the Pulpit stood being newly whited was turned black and sulphury; there were in all 3 persons killed, and 62 hurt, divers of them having their Linen burnt, though their outward Garments were not so much as singed; The Lightning being past, and the People in a terrible Maze, a Gentleman in the Town stood up and said, Neighbours in the name of God shall we venture out of the Church? To whom the Minister answered, Let us make an end with Prayer, for it is better to die here than in another place; But the People looking about them, and seeing the Church so terribly rend and torn over their heads, durst not proceed in the public Devotions, but went out of the Church. At the same time there were strange accidents else where; for a bowling Ally near the Churchyard was turned into Pits and Heaps, as if ploughed. And at Brixton near Plymouth at that time fell Hailstones as big as an ordinary Turkey-Egg, some of 5, 6, and 7 Ounces weight: And it was discoursed, that the like Judgement happened at Norton in Somersetshire; the truth of these things was attested by the Minister, and divers Inhabitants present.  
This County is divided into 33 Hundreds, wherein are 32 Market Towns, and 394 Parish Churches: Out of it are elected 26 Parliament Men; it is in the Diocese of Exeter, and gives the Title of Earl to William L. Cavendish, as Exeter doth to John L. Cecil.  
DORSETSHIRE hath Devonshire on the West, Somerset and Wiltshire on the North, Hantshire on the East, and the narrow Seas on the South: It abounds in Wheat, Cattle, Wool, Kerseys, and all other commodities necessary for the Life of Man; Dorchester is the chief Market Town, which was formerly walled, whereof some part yet standeth, especially upon the west and South sides; the Tract or Trench whereof in the manner of a Quadrant, contains 1700 paces, but was destroyed by the Danes. Other places are memorable for the Actions happening therein, though nothing now but Ruins, as Badbury now a Trench and decayed Castle only, though sometimes the Court of the West-Saxon Kings; such also is Cerne, where Austin the Monk, broke down the Altars and Idols of the Saxon God Hell, whom they devoutly worshipped as the preserver of their health; Shaftsbury likewise, wherein one Aquila, (either Man or Eagle) is reported to have prophesied of future times; In this City Edward, son of Edgar (who was murdered at Corf-Castle by his Stepmother, to make way for her own Son,) was buried.  
In the Reign of K. Edward 2 the great Earl of Lancaster married a Lady from Camford in this County, who was taken out of his house by one Richard Martin a deformed lame Dwarf, who challenged her for his Wife, alleging he had lain with her before the Earl married her, whereupon the Lady was examined, who voluntarily confessed it was all true, and thereupon the ugly Fellow in her right claimed the Two Earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury. In the Fourth of this Kings Reign the Church of Middleton, with all the Monuments, were consumed with Lightning, the Monks being at Matins. In the 22d of Edward 3. a Plague was brought from beyond Sea into the Towns and Villages of England, on the Seacosts of Dorsetshire, which raged so, both there and in other parts of England, that scarce the Tenth man was left alive in the Kingdom.  
In 1506. King Philip sailing out of Germany to take possession of the Kingdom of Spain, was driven by Tempest upon the Coasts of England, and landed at Weymouth to refresh himself, and was invited by Sir Tho. Trenchard, a worthy Knight of that County, to his House, who immediately sent word to King Henry 7. of his Arrival, who, glad to have his Court honoured by so great a Prince, sent the Earl of Arundel at present to wait upon him till himself should follow; the Earl attended him with a gallant Troop of about 300 Horse, and for more state came to him by Torch light; upon this Message, though K. Philip had many reasons to hasten his Journey, yet not to distaste K. Henry, he came Post to Windsor, where after great and magnificent Entertainment, K. Henry taking an opportunity, when they were both in a private room, laying his Hand civilly upon K. Philip's Arm, said, Sir, you have been saved upon my Coast, I hope you will not suffer me to wreck upon yours: The King of Castille ask him what he meant, I mean, saith the King, that hare-brained Fellow the Earl of Suffolk, who being my Subject is protected in your Country, and gins to play the Fool when all others are weary of it. The King of Castille answered, I had thought Sir your felicity had been above these thoughts; but if it trouble you I will banish him. K. Henry answered, That his desire was to have him delivered to him; with this the King of Castille a little confused, said, That can I not do with my honour: Well then, said the King, the matter is at an end; at last the King of Castille who much esteemed K. Henry, composing his Countenance, said, Sir, you shall have him; but upon your honour you shall not take his Life: I promise it upon my honour, said K. Henry; and he kept his promise, for he was not put to death during all his Reign; but yet he took such order, that in the Reign of his Son K. Hen. 8. he had his Head cut off. This Earl of Suffolk had lately gone over to Flanders to the Lady Margaret, K. Henry's sworn Enemy, which made the King doubt of his Intentions: The Earl was accordingly brought over, and sent to the Tower, and after K. Philip had received the Order of the Garter, and Prince Henry that of the Golden Fleece, the King of Castille departed home.  
In the 26. of Q. Elizabeth 1558. at a place called Blackmore, in the Parish of Armitage, in this County, a piece of ground containing 3 Acres, removed from its place, and went quite over another Close, with the Trees and Fences thereon, a great way off, stopping up an Highway which led to Cerne, the same Hedges enclosing it as before, and the Trees standing very upright thereon, only one Oak of almost 20 Load fell down; in the place from whence it removed there remained a great deep Pit. In 1613. Aug. 7. The Town of Dorchester was utterly consumed with Fire, which began in the house of a Tallow-Chandler, and destroyed the whole Town, save a few Houses near the Church, and all their Wares and Goods, to the value of Two Hundred Thousand Pounds, yet no man perished therein. In June, 1653. a black Cloud was seen over the Town of Pool, and soon after dissolved into a shower of Blood, which fell warm upon men's hands, some green leaves with those drops upon them were sent to London, and seen by many. The Forest of the White Hart is in this County, so called, because in the Reign of Henry 3. the King came hither to hunt, and having taken other Deer, he spared a most beautiful and goodly white Heart, which afterward Thomas de Lynd a Gentleman of this Country with others in his Company took and killed, for which the King put a mulct or Fine upon him, and the whole County, and the very lands which they held, pay even to this day every year by way of amercement a sum of Money into the Exchequer, which is called White Hart Silver; Myself, saith Dr. Fuller, have paid a share for the sauce, who never tasted any of the meat, so that it seems King's Venison is sooner eaten than digested.  
Mr. Ignatius Jordan was born at Lime Regis in this County; and when he was young, was sent to Exeter, to be brought up a Merchant; in this City having passed through the several inferior Offices, he at last came to be Mayor, and was a Justice of Peace 24 years together; yet his beginning was but very mean, which he was always ready to acknowledge for when some threatened him with Lawsuits, and that they would not give over while he was worth a groat, he cheerfully told them, That he should be then but two pence poorer, than when he came first to Exeter, for, said he, I brought but six pence with me hither; He would often say, He wondered what rich men meant, that they gave so little to the Poor, and yet raked so much together for their Children; do you not see, said he, what becomes of it? and would reckon up divers examples of such as heaped up much for their Children, and they in a short time consumed it all; on the other side, he spoke of such as had small beginnings, and afterward became rich, or of a competent Estate, giving a particular instance of himself, I came, said he, but with a groat or sixpence in my purse to this City, had I had a shilling in my purse, I had never been Mayor of Exeter. In his Troubles in the Star Chamber, when one told him, he was sorry that the Lord Keeper was against him; He answered, I have a greater Lord Keeper than him, the Lord is my Keeper, I will not be afraid, He was famous for Justice and Charity in his life, and at his death left very large Legacies to the poor, both of that City and County; he died in 1640.  
This County is divided into 29 Hundreds, wherein are 19 Market Towns, and 248 Parish Churches. It is in the Diocese of Bristol, Elects 20 Parliament Men, and gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Sackvil, (who is also Earl of Middlesex) as the Town of Dorchester doth the Title of Marquis to Henry L. Pierrepoint, and Shaftesbury the Title of Earl to Anthony L. Ashley.  
DURHAM. This Bishopric hath Northumberland on the North, divided by the Rivers Derwent and Tyne; and Yorkshire on the South; the Germane Ocean on the East; Cumberland and Westmoreland on the West; it abounds with Coals, Led and Iron; near Darlington in this County, whose waters are warm, there are three Pits wonderful deep, called Hell Kettles; these are judged to come of an Earthquake which happened in 1179. For on Christmas day say our Chronicles at Oxenhall, which is this place, the ground heaved up aloft like a Tower, and so continued all that day, as it were , till evening, and then fell with so horrible a noise, that it affrighted the Inhabitants thereabout, and the Earth swallowing it up, made in the same place three deep Pits; it is reported that Bishop Tonstall put a Goose into one of these Pits, having first given her a mark, and the same Goose was found in the River Tees, which if true, these Kettles have passages under ground; within the River Weer at Butterby near Durham, in Summer Time their issues a salt reddish water, which the Sun makes white, and growing thick becomes Salt, which the People thereabout always use.  
In the Reign of William the Conqueror, one Wolstan was Bishop of Durham, whom upon Lanfranks reporting to be insufficient for the place, for want of Learning, the King commanded to put off his Pontifical Robes, and to leave his Bishopric, when suddenly out of Divine Inspiration, saith our Historian, Wolston answered, A better than you O King bestowed these Robes upon me, and to him will I restore them; and therewithal going to Edward the Confessors Shrine, who had made him a Bishop, and putting off his Robes, he struck his Staff upon St. Edward's Monument, which stuck so fast, saith the Author, in the Stone of it, that by no strength it could be drawn forth, till he plucked it out himself, which so terrified both Lanfrank and the King, that they entreated him to take his Robes again, and keep his Bishopric.  
When K. Edward the 3. was Victorious in France, the Scots with David Bruce their King (by the incitement of the French King) invade England with an Army of Threescore and two Thousand Men, and marched as far as Durham, supposing that none but Priests and Shepherds, were left at home, because such a vast number were abroad upon Service; but they found it otherwise, for the Lords in the North, as Gilbert Vmfrevile, the Earl of Angus, Henry Piercy, Ralph Nevil, William Dayncourt, with the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Durham, and others of the Clergy, gathered such great Forces, and ordered them so well, that by the animation of Queen Philip, who though big with Child, road in Person through the English Troops, and with wise and gracious words encouraged them, that they obtained a very signal Victory; for meeting the Scots at Nevil's Cross in this Bishopric, they utterly defeated their great Army, and took David their King Prisoner, with the Earls of Fife, Menteith, Murray, Sutherland, Dowglas, the Archbishop of St. Andrews, and others, and slew fifteen thousand Scots; who yet could not be charged for want of valour, especially the King himself, who had two Spears hanging in his body, his leg desperately wounded with an Arrow, his Sword and other weapons beaten out of his hand; and yet disdaining to be taken Captive, endeavoured by provoking language to induce the English to kill him, and therefore when one John Copland, Captain of Roxborough Castle, advised him to yield, the King struck him so fiercely over the face with his Gauntlet, as beat out two of his Teeth; but since he could not force a death, he must submit to be a Prisoner, and was conveyed by Copland, and eight of his Servants out of the Field; the Queen retired to Newcastle to attend the event of the Battle, and understanding that K. David was taken, she sent Letters to the Captain to deliver up his Royal Prisoner, which he refusing, she sends over a complaint to K. Edward; who ordered him to come to Calais, where he made so discreet a defence, that he was sent back, and had 500 pound a year in Land given him in any place which he should choose near his own dwelling, with order to deliver up his Prisoner to the Queen, which he did accordingly at York with such a modest and ingenious Apology, as satisfied both the Queen and the Lords of the Council. King David was committed Prisoner to the Tower, and continued so eleven years, and then was set at liberty upon condition to pay one hundred thousand Marks in ten years, as a Ransom.  
Cicely Nevil, whose Fathers vast Estate, afforded him a Mansion House for every week in the year, cannot be here omitted, as being the clearest instance of humane frail felicity; she was youngest Daughter and Child to Ralph Earl of Westmoreland, (of which Family, Raby in this Bishopric was the chief Seat) he had twenty one Children in all, but she exceeded her Sisters in honour, being married to Richard Duke of York; she was blessed with three Sons, each born in a several Kingdom, Edward (afterward K. Edward 4.) born at Bordeaux in France; George at Dublin in Ireland, and Richard at Fotheringhay in England; this was her happiness, behold now her Miseries; she saw her Husband killed in Battle, George Duke of Clarence her second Son cruelly murdered in a Butt of Malmsey; K. Edward her eldest Son cut off by his own intemperance in the prime of his years, his two Sons butchered by their Uncle Crookbackt Richard, who himself not long after was slain in the Battle of Bosworth; she saw her own reputation publicly murdered at Paul's Cross by the procurement of her youngest Son Richard, taxing his eldest Brother for Illegitimate, and a Bastard; and yet our Chronicles do not charge her with haughtiness in her good, nor dejection in her ill Estate, an argument of an even and steady soul in all alterations; indeed she lived to see Elizabeth her Grandchild married to K. Henry 7. but little comfort acrued to her by that conjunction, the party of the Yorkists were so depressed by him; she lived 35 years a Widow, and died in the 10 of Hen 7. 14●5. and was buried by her Husband in the Collegiate Church of Fotheringay in Northamptonshire; which Choir being demolished in King Henry 8. time, their bodies lay in the Churchyard without any Monument, till Q. Elizabeth coming thither in Progress, gave order that they should be interred in the Church, and two Tombs erected over them; hereupon their Bodies wrapped in Lead were removed from their plain Graves, and their Coffins opened; the Duchess Cicely had about her Neck hanging in a Silver Ribbon a Pardon from Rome, which penned in a fine Roman hand, was as fair and fresh to be read as if it had been written but yesterday; this Lady was a great Benefactress to Queen's College in Cambridge.  
In former Ages the Bishops have had the Royalties of Princes over this County, and the Inhabitants have pleaded the privilege not to pass over the River of Tees or Tyne to serve in War, whose charge as they alleged, was to keep and defend the Corpse of St. Cathbert their great adored Saint, and therefore they called themselves The Holy Work Foulkes, and the repute of this Cuthbert and his supposed defence against the Scots was such, that several of our English Kings went in Devotion to his Tomb on Pilgrimage, and gave large Possessions to his Church; among others, zealous Canutus, the greatest of all, came thither , and at Cuthberts' Tomb both enlarged, and confirmed their Liberties. This County is not divided into Hundreds, but Wakes, which are 4, wherein are 118 Parishes, and is in the Diocese of Durham; It elects four Parliament Men, 2 for the County, and 2 for the City of Durham.  
ESSEX hath Kent on the South; divided by the River Thames, Suffolk on the North, severed by the River Stoure, Cambridge, Hertfordshire, and Middlesex on the West, the two latter for the most part parted by the River Ley, and the German Ocean on the East; this Shire produceth plenty of Saffron, especially about Walden, a fair Market Town, which Saffron may seem to have coloured with the name thereof; it hath also Oysters called Walfleet, the best in esteem, and are thought by Pliny to have been served in the Roman Kitchens, likewise , Stuffs, Hops, and is indeed a fair Country affording all things necessary to man's subsistence, only the Air of the Eastern part is not accounted very healthful; Those parts adjoining to the Sea, are commonly called the Hundreds of Essex, and are very fruitful in Cattle: However the vulgar Wits of this County much astonish strangers with the stock of poor People in these parts, affirming that they have Five Hundred Cows, and Nine Hundred Sheep, which are indeed but five Cows and nine Sheep in these Hundreds.  
The chief City of account is Colchester, built by Coilus the British Prince, 124 Years after Christ, wherein (saith Monmouth) the first Christian King, Empress and Emperor in the World were born, that is, his Son Lucius, Helena, and Constantine, of which thus the Poet sings.  
From Colchester there risen a Star,  
The Rays whereof gave glorious Light  
Throughout the World in Climates far,  
Great Constantine, Rome's Emperor bright.  
The most famous place for antiquity in this County is Camolodunum, now Maldon, which was the Royal Seat of Cunobolin, King of the Trinobantes, as by the Money therein minted appeareth, about the time of our Saviour's Birth, which City Claudius afterward won from the Britain's, and therein placed a Colony of Soldiers: In the East Promontory of this County in the Reign of Richard 2. the Teeth of a Giant were found (if they were not of an Elephant) of a very great size, and not far thence in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth more bones as monstruous were digged up. The Monks have recorded that a Pilgrim was sent by St. John Baptist to K. Edward the Confessor with a Ring, upon which account his house in this County was called Hau-a-ring; but the Clergy in those times made no Conscience to invent fictions daily for their own advantage: There were bones digged up at Ness near Harwich in this County, which with their bigness and length amazed the Beholders. I cannot see, saith Dr. Fuller, how such can maintain them to be the bones of men, who must confess that (according to the Proportion of the Doors and Roofs of ancient Building, which we have either seen or read of) if they were so big and tall, they must go into their Houses stooping, not to say creeping along; except those who affirm it be as careless of their credit as the Traveller was, who affirming he saw Bees as big as Dogs, and yet their Hives were of our ordinary size, and being demanded what shift they made to get in, Nay, said he, what know I, let them look to that. More probable it is, that these were bones of Elephants, store whereof were brought over into England by the Emperor Claudius. To these wonders it will not be amiss to adu the ensuing relation, written by Mr, Tho. Smith of Sewarstone near Waltham Abbey, a discreet person lately deceased; Toward the latter end of Q. Elizabeth, saith he, I served Sir Edward Donny, who lived in the Abbey of Waltham Cross in Essex, which at that time lay in ruinous heaps and Sir Edward beginning to re-edify it, one Tomkins, his Gardener, being employed therein, among other things discovered a fair Marble Stone, which was the cover of a Tomb of the same Stone, this cover being removed, there appeared the Anatomy of a man therein, the Bones only remaining in due order, and none of them out of place, and no other dust or filth whatsoever remaining in t●e Tomb; having well observed it, I told the Spectators, that if they did but touch any part thereof, it would fall in sunder, which being tried happened accordingly; for my part I am persuaded that as the Flesh and Entrails of this Anatomy to us became in visible, so would the bones likewise have been in some longer time. O what is man then which vanisheth thus away, like the Smoke or a vapour, and is no more seen? Whosoever thou art that shall read this passage, thou mayst find sufficient cause of humility: It is generally conceived, that this was the body of King Harold.  
This County hath no Cathedral, and the Churches therein cannot challenge to themselves any eminent Commendation; but for private houses Essex will own no Shire her superior, whereof Three are most remarkable. 1. Audly end built by the E. of Suffolk, which without compare was one of the best Subjects Houses in the Nation; yet is the Structure better than the standing thereof, as being somewhat low on the one side. 2. Newhall, built by the Ratcliffs, Earls of Sussex, which is extreme pleasant for the shady approach thereunto, and for the Parks round about it. 3. Copthal highly seated on an hill in the midst of a Park, built by the Abbot of Waltham, enlarged by Sir Thomas Heneage, and others; herein is a Gallery as well furnished, and more proportionable than any in England. In November 1639. there happened an Hurricane, or Whirlwind, which entering in at the great East Window, blew that down, and carried some part thereof, with the Picture of the L. Coventry (singled from many more which hung on both sides untouched) all the length of the Gallery, being about 56 Yards, out of the West Window, which it threw down to the ground; some observed the like Wind in other places about the same time, as ominous and presaging our civil Dissensions.  
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 Gammon 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 household 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 yourselves unmarried again,  
Or in a Twelve Month and a day  
Repent not in thought any way,  
But continued true, and in desire,  
As when you joined hands in Holy-Quire;  
If to these conditions without all fear  
Of your own accord you will freely swear,  
A Gammon 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 He●. 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 enriched St. martin's Le Grand in London, first founded by her Father, and her Uncle K. Edward; he than 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 solicit her by the Messengers of the Devil's Bedchamber, that is, subtle 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 College 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, burned 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, risen 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, than 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 King's 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 overrun those Marshes, tearing up the Grass by the roots, and so poisoned it with their venomous 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 Chapel 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 God's sake, for it is God's 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 Queen's 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 Devil's name, and will all go to him; The Sumner then fetched 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 Christ's Body and Blood; Hunter said, He found no such thing in Scripture; ah, quoth the Vicar, now I find you are an Heretic; Hunter replied, Would you and I were both tied 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 Gatehouse, 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 Laurence 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 looked 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 burned 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 length was seen divers times above Water, and judged to exceed the largest Ship in the River; but when she tasted the Freshwater, 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 Diocese 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 Appletrees and Peer-trees, not engrafted by the industry of Man's 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 inferior 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 ware 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 Eager, 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.  
— Until they be embraced  
In severn's Sovereign Arms, with whose tumultuous Waves,  
Shut up in narrower bounds, the Higre wildly raves,  
And frights the straggling Flocks the Neighbouring shores o fly,  
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 toiling 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 Tide) 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 risen three foot, in others 5, and 7, and in some Towns and Villages they risen 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 entice 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 played 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 Manor 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 mere circumvention, yet such was Godwins power, and the Archbishop's poorness of Spirit, that he quietly enjoyed it; these rich and ancient Manors 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 Gloucester 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 Widows, Fatherless and Afflicted without money or reward; at last he was suspected, and complained of to Sir Tho. More, than 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. Paul's 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 Warehouse in Bowlane; the next Lord's day he went to St. Augustine's, the next Parish Church to St. Paul's, that the Antidote might be brought as near as he could conveniently to the place of his poison, 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 entreated them all, rather to die 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 spoke 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 showing 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 repent of his Apostasy, and not long after through the extreme cruelty used to them, they both died in Prison. In 1575. Feb. 16. between 4 and 5 in the afternoon, great Earthquakes happened in Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford, York, Bristol, 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 men's 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 Chimneys in several gentlemen's Houses. In the year 1650. Nou. 30. being St. Andrews day, about Sunrising, the Sky opened in a dreadful manner in the South west, over Standish, a Town 5 miles from Gloucester, and there appeared a terrible fiery Sword shaking, with the Hilt upward toward the Heavens, and the point downward to the Earth; the Hilt seemed to be blue, the Sword of a great length moving to and fro, and coming lower toward the Earth, there was a long flame of fire toward the point sparkling, and flaming in a fearful manner to the great astonishment of the Spectators, who were many; at last the Heavens closing, the Sword vanished, and the fire fell to the Earth, and ran upon the ground; this, saith Mr. Clark, I had from an Eye-witness.  
Gloucester is the chief City of this County, and lieth stretched out in length over S●●●rn. The Cathedral Church is a beautiful building, con●●sting of a continued window work, but hath the loudest praises from the whispering place within, which is thus described by Sir Francis Bacon; There is a Church at Gloucester, saith he, (and as I have heard, the like is in some other Places) where if you speak against a Wall softly, another shall hear your voice better a great way off than near at hand, I suppose there is so● Vault or Hollow, or Isle behind the wall, and some passage to it toward the further end of that wall against which you speak so as the voice of him that speaketh, slideth along the wall, and then entereth at some passage, and communicateth with the air of the hollow; for it is somewhat preserved by the plain wall, but that is too weak to give an audible sound, till it hath communicated with the back air.  
In this Church lies the unfortunate Robert Duke of Normandy, eldest Son to William the Conqueror, in a painted wooden Tomb in the midst of the Choir, whose Eyes were plucked out in Cardiff Castle, wherein he was kept Prisoner 26 years. Here also the unhappy King Edward 2. lies buried, under a Monument of Alabaster, who in the 20 year of his Reign was deposed by Parliament; who sitting at London, sent several Bishops, Lords, and Gentlemen in the name of the body of the State (if that may be called a body, which then had no head there) to Kenelworth Castle to the King, to whom one of the Commissioners represented, That the Commonweal had received such irreconcilable dislikes of his Government, the particulars whereof had been opened in the General Assembly at London, that they were resolved never to endure he should be King any longer; that notwithstanding these dislikes had not extended themselves so far as for his sake to exclude his issue, but that with universal Applause and Joy, the Commonweal had in Parliament Elected his eldest Son the Lord Edward for King, that it would be a very acceptable thing to God if he did willingly give over an Earthly Kingdom for the common good and quiet of his Country, which they said could not otherwise be secured; that yet his honour would be never the less after his Resignation than it was before; only the Commonweal would never suffer him to Reign any longer, and finally they presumed to tell him, That unless he did freely of himself renounce his Crown and Sceptre, the People would neither endure him, nor any of his Children for their Sovereign but disclaiming all homage and fealty, would elect some other t● be their King, who should be of another Blood and Family; The King having heard their Message, fell down as half dead, and being somewhat recovered, we cannot say to himself, but to a sense of his misery, broke forth into Sighs and Tears; And being (saith Sir Thomas de la More) more ready to sacrifice his body for Christ's cause, than once to behold the disinheriting of his Sons, or to be the occasion of the perpetual disturbance of the Kingdom, as knowing (saith he) that a good Shepherd should give his life for his Flock, made answer at last to this effect, That he knew that for his many sins he was fallen into this Calamity, and therefore had the less cause to take it grievously; that he was very sorry that the People of the Kingdom were so exasperated against him, as that they should utterly abhor his having any longer the Rule and Sovereignty over them; he therefore besought all that were present, to forgive & spare him being so afflicted; that yet it was greatly to his good pleasure and liking, (seeing it could be no otherwise on his own behalf,) that his eldest Son was so gracious in their sight, and therefore he gave them thanks for choosing him to be their King; This being said, they proceeded to the short Ceremonies of his Resignation, which consisted principally in the surrender of his Diadem, and other Ensigns of Majesty for the use of his Son the new King.  
Edward being thus unkinged, the Ambassadors returned joyfully back to the Parliament at London with the resigned Ensigns, and an account of their employment; but he now deprived of his Royal Crown and Dignity remained with his Kinsman Henry E. of Leicester, wanting nothing but liberty, being shut up like a Monk, but his cruel Wife Q. Isabel, who had been one of the greatest Instruments of his misfortune, being told by her wicked Counsellor, Adam Torleton Bishop of Hereford, that the Earl was too kind to him, ordered Thomas Gourney, and John Martravers to take the King into their Custody, who carried him from Kenelworth to Co●●e Castle, and then to Bristol, where they shut him in the Castle, till upon discovery of a design laid to get him out, and send him beyond Sea, they conveyed him to Berkly Castle; by the way these Villains exercised divers Cruelties towards him, not permitting him to ride but by night, that he might not be seen of any, they forced him to ride bare headed, and when he would have slept, they hindered him, neither would give him such meat as he could eat, but such as he most loathed; they contradicted him in whatever he said, persuading him he was mad, and endeavoured by all manner of ways to break his heart, yea they often gave him Poison in his drink, but the strength of his nature overcame it; one of them made a Crown of Hay, and put it on his head, the rest made a scorn and May-game of him; they were afraid any of his Friends should meet him, and therefore to prevent his being known, they resolved to cut off both his hair and beard, and coming by a little Ditch, they commanded him to come off his Horse and be shaved; then setting him on a Molehill, a Barber came to shave him with a basin of cold water taken out of the Ditch: telling him, That must serve at present, To whom the miserable King looking sternly upon him, answered, That whether they would or no, he would have warm water for his beard, and therewithal to make good his word, he presently shed forth a shower of Tears; at length he was brought to Berk●y Castle, where he was courteously received by Thomas Berkly Lord thereof, who was allowed a 100 shillings a day for keeping him close Prisoner; But Q. Isabel being much troubled that her Husband lived, consults again with the wicked Bishop of Hereford, pretending that she was much troubled with frightful dreams, which presignified, that if her Husband should be again restored to his dignity, he would burn her for a Traitor, or send her into perpetual banishment; the Bishop, and several other great Men, both of the Nobility and Clergy, finding themselves likewise equally guilty, became uneasy while the King lived, and therefore sent chiding Letters to the Keepers, pretending they gave the King too much liberty, and kept him too high, and delicately, and withal added this line at the end of the Letter, contrived by the Bishop.  

Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est.   

To shed King Edward's blood  
Refuse to fear I count it good.   
Never was the fallacy of pointings, or ambiguity of Phrase more mischievously used to the destruction of a King, or for the defence of the Contrivers, than in this heinous Parricide, for it was so craftily contrived in a double sense, that both the Keepers might find sufficient warrant, and himself might find sufficient excuse, the Keeper's guessing at the meaning took it in the worst sense, and therefore putring the L. Berkly out of the Castle; they shut up the King in a close Chamber, where with the stinch of dead Carcases laid in the Cellar under him, he was almost poisoned, of which he made complaint to some Carpenters who worked at his Chamber-window; but these wretches perceiving this would not do the work, they rushed one night into his Chamber, and casting as many heavy bolsters upon him, as 15 men could carry, they pressed them down hard, and not content with that heated an Iron red hot, and through a Pipe like a Trumpet thrust it up into his body, that no marks of a violent death might be seen; but however they were heard, for when they were thus doubly murdering him, he was heard to roar and cry all the Castle over; Gourney and Martravers his Murderers expecting rewards, had the reward of Murderers, for the Queen and Bishop Torlton disavowing the Command threatened to question them for the King's death, whereupon they fled beyond Sea, and Gourney after three years being taken in France, and sent into England, was in the way upon the Sea beheaded, Martravers flying into Germany, had the grace to repent, but lived ever after miserably, thus died this unfortunate Prince in 1327, about half a year after his deposing; never certainly was any King turned out of a Kingdom in such a manner; many Kingdoms have been lost by the chance of War but this was lost before the Dice were cast, no blow struck, no battle fought; done forceably, and yet without force, violently and yet with consent, both parties agreed, yet neither pleased; for the King was not pleased to leave his Kingdom, and the Queen was not pleased to leave him his life, though he often declared in his Captivity; That nothing grieved him so much as that t● Queen his Wife would never be persuaded to come and see him, and swore very devoutly, That from the first time he saw he face, he could never like of any other Woman; by which it appears that neither Gaveston nor the Spencers (his wicked Favourites) had so far debauched him, as to make him false to his Bed, or disloyal to his Queen; but she was hardened against him, thinking it not safe to leave him a part by which he might afterward recover the whole; which was the chief occasion of his coming to this miserable end.  
The County of Gloucester is divided into 30 Hundreds wherein are 26 Market Towns, 208 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of Gloucester; out of it are elected 8 Parliament Men. For the County 2; for the City of Gloucester 2; Tewksbury 2; Cirencester 2.  
HANTSHIRE hath Berkshire on the North; Surry and Sussex on the East; the Sea on the South; Dorset and Wiltshire on the West; from North to South it is 54 miles, and from East to West 30. It is fruitful in Corn, plenteous in pasture, and for all advantages of the Sea wealthy and happy; Wools, , and Iron are the general Commodities of this County; Winchester is a City which flourished in the time of the Romans, and now indifferently peopled, and frequented by water; it is about a mile and an half in Circuit within the walls, which open at 6 Gates, and is adorned with magnificent Churches, and a Bishops See. Dr. Heylin tells us, That one of the Principal Orders of Knighthood is that of the round Table, instituted by Arthur, King of the Britain's, and one of the world's 9 worthies: It consisted of 150 Knights whose names are recorded in the History of King Arthur, the principal of them were Sir Lancelot, Sir Tristram, Sir Lamarock, Sir Gavin, etc. all placed at one round Table to avoid quarrels about Priority and Place; The round Table hanging in the great Hall of Winchester is falsely called Arthur's round Table, it being not of sufficient Antiquity nor containing but 24 Seats.  
In the Year 959. Edgar the Saxon King hearing the Daughter of a Western Duke exceedingly praised for her Beauty, he was so inflamed therewith, that he presently made a journey into those parts, and coming to Andover in this County, he commanded the Virgin to be brought to his Bed; the Mother being tender of her Daughter's honour, brought her Maid in the dark to the King, who pleased him as well in his lascivious dalliance; the morning approaching this late Maid made haste to rise, but the King being loath to part so soon with his supposed fair Lady, asked her why she made such haste; she told him, she had a great deal of work to do, and that her Lady would be very angry if she did not rise and dispatch it, but being kept longer than her time, she upon her knees did beseech the King to free her from her angry Mistress, alleging, That she who had been embraced by the King, ought not to serve any other: The King hereby perceiving the deceit was very angry, yet since he could not recall what was past, after having severely reproved the deceitful Lady, he turned it into a jest; but the Girl it seems pleased him so well, that he took her for his Concubine, whereby she ruled over them who lately commanded her, and loved her entirely, keeping to her alone till he was married to the fair Elfreda before mentioned. This King likewise debauched a Nun, named Wolfchild, on whom he begat Edith, afterward accounted a Saint: He committed the like folly with Ethelfleda, Duke Ordmars' Daughter, who for her extraordinary beauty was called The White, on whom he begot his eldest Son Edward, for which, Mr. Fox affirmeth he did 7 Years Penance, enjoined him by St. Dunstan. This Edward succeeded him in the Kingdom at 12 Years old, the beginning of whose Reign was miserably afflicted with barenness of ground, Famine, Murrain of Cattle, and a fearful Comet appeared, all which were thought to be the signs of Divine Displeasure, for the wrong done to the married Clergy, who were turned out of their Live and ancient Possessions, only for having Wives (contrary to the Law of God, and against all Justice and Reason;) whereto the unmarried Priests answered, That Christ respected neither the Person nor the place, but had only regard to th●se that took up the Cross of Penance and followed him; But they, good men, little understood the encumbrance of marrying, for otherwise they would have felt, that the condition of married men, was more truly taking up the cross, and enduring Penance, than their careless single Life. The Churchmen thus divided and rend, the Nobles as well as others took part of either side, as they were affected, and both parties raised great Armies in their own defence; the Fire thus blown from a spark to a flame, was like to have grown higher, but by mediation Arms were laid aside, and the cause was referred to a Council assembled at Winchester, where after long debate, when the cause was like to go against the unmarried Monks, the matter was referred to the determination of a Rood or Image of a Man, that stood against the Wall, by the persuasion of the great Oracle St. Dunstan, who desired them to pray devoutly, and to give diligent ear for an answer; the Idol being as good natured as they were devout, was very easily persuaded to give them this advice, God forbidden it should be so, God forbidden it should be so, you have judged well once, and to change that again is not good: This was Authority su●●●●ent to suppress the Priests, who now with their Wives went down the Wind; yet they made another Attempt, for persuading the People that this was bu●●● trick of the Monks, who placed a man behind the W●●●, that through a Trunk uttered these words through the mouth of the Rood, they therefore earnestly desired, ●hat the cause might be heard once more; this at last was granted, and appointed at Cleve in Wiltshire, whither the Prelates, and most of the Nobles and States of the Kingdom, besides innumerable Gentlemen and Commons, came; the Council being sat, and the Controversy growing hot, whether by the weakness of the Foundation, or the vast weight of the People, or both, the joists of the Chamber where they sat fell down, and the multitude with it, whereof many were hurt, and some killed; only Archbishop Dunstan, than Precedent, escaped, for the Post whereon his Chair was set stood wholly untouched, which the Monks said was not without a miracle, he being their mouth against the married Priests, whose cause fell now with this fall, and the People's affections drawn from them, they had liberty now to accompany with their Wives without Cure, though not without Care: And all this happened by the strange preservation of Dunstan upon the Post, which yet is not so strange, since the Monk's report, that the main Beam of his House being one time sunk out of its place, and the whole building like to fall and knock him on the Head, he made it return into its former place only by making the sign of the Cross thereon with his Fingers; so extreme powerful was he in such wooden miracles; which are not much to be wondered at, since it seems his very harp could do miracles, as when of itself it sung a Hymn very melodiously; yea the blessed Virgin herself is said to have come to solace him with her songs, and it was ordinary for Angels to sing familiarly with him, and for him to whip Devils that came to him in the Shapes of Dogs, Foxes, and Bears; but his greatest exploit was, when the Devil knowing that he was unmarried, came to tempt him in the shape of a handsome brisk Wench, but the Saint got her by the Nose with a pair of hot burning Pincers, and thereby spoiled a good Face, making her to rear in a dreadful manner; Thus these sottish Monks deluded the People with such ridiculous stories, and thereby rather disgraced than honoured those whom they designed to magnify.  
Southampton is a Town populous, rich and beautiful, from which the whole County derives its name; The famous King Canutus his flatterers persuaded him that he was greater than Alexander, Caesar, or Cyrus, and was possessed with more than humane Power; to convince these fawning Courtiers being one time at Southampton, he commanded his Chair of State should be set on the shore when the Sea began to flow, and then sitting down therein, in the presence of many of his Attendants he spoke thus to the Element, Thou Sea art part of my Dominion, and the ground whereon I sit is mine, neither was there ever any that durst disobey my command, or by breaking it escaped unpunished, I charge thee therefore that thou presume not to come upon my Land, nor wet these Royal Robes of thy Lord that are about me, But the Sea giving no heed to his threaten, but keeping on its usual course of Tide, first wet his Skirts, and then his Thighs, whereupon suddenly rising up, he thus spoke in the hearing of them all; Let all the world's Inhabitants know that vain and weak is the power of their Kings, and that none is worthy of the name of King, but he that keeps both Heaven, Earth, and Sea in obedience, and bindeth them in an everlasting Law of Subjection. After which time he would never suffer the Crown to be set upon his head, but presently crowned therewith the Picture of our Saviour on the Cross at Winchester; with such strong delusions were these devout Princes drawn away, by those crafty Priests who always made gain of their Godliness. This King after he had reigned 19 years in great glory, died at Shaftesbury, and was buried in the Church of the old Monastery at Winchester, to which Church he gave most Rich, and Royal Jewels, whereo● one is recorded to be a Cross worth as much as the whole Revenue of England amounted to in one year; this Church being new built, his bones with many other English Saxon Kings were taken up, and preserved in gilt Coffers fixed upon the walls of the Choir in that Cathedral Church.  
In the year 1053. King Edward the Confessor dispossessed his Mother Queen Emma of all her Estate, because after his Father's death she Married King Canutus, and seemed to favour her Children by him more than the former; he also committed her to Custody in the Abbey of Worwell; yea he so far harkened to an aspersion cast upon her of unchaste familiarity with Alwine, Bishop of Winchester, that to clear herself, she was fain to pass the Trial of Fire Ordeal, which was in this manner; nine Plowshares red hot were laid in unequal distance, which she must pass barefooted and blindfold, and if she passed them unhurt, she was judged Innocent; this terrible Trial she passed fairly without the least damage, to the great astonishment of all Beholders, using this Speech to her Leaders, O Lord when shall I come to the place of my Purgation? but having her eyes uncovered, and seeing herself clearly escaped, she fell upon her knees, and with Tears gave thanks to her deliverer, whereby she recovered her former honour, and in memory thereof gave 9 Manors to the Minster of Winchester according to the number of the Blow shares; this King was as unkind to his Wife, as to his Mother, for having Married Editha, the beautiful, and indeed virtuous Daughter of Earl Godwin, because he had taken displeasure against the Father, he would show no kindness to the Daughter, he had made her his Wife, but conversed not with her as his Wife, only at board, but not at bed, or if at bed, no otherwise than David with Abishag, and yet was content to hear her accused of Incontinency, whereof if she were guilty, he could not be Innocent, so that what the virtues were, for which after his death he should be reputed a Saint, doth not easily appear; it seems he was chaste, but not without injury to his Wife; Pious, but not without ingratefulness to his Mother; just in his present Government, but not without neglect of Posterity, for through his want of Providence in that point he left the Crown to so doubtful a Succession, that soon after his Decease it was translated out of English into French, and the Kingdom made servile to another Foreign Nation. In the year 1184. A Priest at Andover, praying before the Altar was slain with Thunder; likewise one Clerk and his Brother were burnt to death with Lightning; and soon after a shower of blood reigned in the Isle of Wight two hours together.  
In the year 1250. King Hen. 3. in whose nature it seemed an inseparable quality, to be violent in every thing he had a mind to have done, and that sometimes without due respect to his Majesty, as appears by what follows, This King having a design to advance his half Brother Ethelmare to the Bishopric of Winchester, was not satisfied in sending a strict command to the Monks to choose him, but goes to Winchester in Person, and the Clergy being met, he gets up into the Pulpit, and Preaches a Sermon to them, taking for his Text these words, Justice and Peace have kissed each other; from whence he raised this Doctrine, That whereas the rigour of Judgement and Justice belonged to him and other Kings, who were to Rule the Nations, so quiet, peace, and tranquillity belonged to the Clergy, and this day, saith he, I hope they will both kiss each other, for I doubt not but that both for your own good, and my desire, you will choose my Brother Bishop this day, with many other words to the same purpose, whereby the Monks perceiving the earnestness of his desire, held it in vain to deny him; and thereupon elected Ethelmare; but because he was no Priest, they did it with this reservation, If the Pope did allow thereof; but the Pope resolving to make his advantage thereof as well as the King, exacted 500 marks of Church Revenues for his Confirmation, which made Matthew Paris a Monk, to utter this bitter lamentation, O Pope the chief of Bishops, why dost thou thus suffer the Christian World to be defiled; worthily, worthily therefore art thou driven out of thine own City, and See; and like a Runagade, and another Cain, art enforced to wander up and down; O thou God of just vengeance, when wilt thou draw forth thy Sword, and imbrue it in the blood of such wretched Oppressors? The Pope it seems was then fled from Rome, for fear of the Emperor of Germany, and though he would neither reform these grand abuses in himself, nor others, yet Robert Crosthead, the stout and learned Bishop of Lincoln, resolved to reform the Monks and Fry●ers; but they appealing to the Pope, the Bishop went to him, and plainly told him, That all Offenders escaped punishment, because his heart was so open, and ready to receive Bribes from them; The Pope dismissed him, and sent him back with ●n angry Countenance, and reproachful words; he was ●t this time at Lions, where a while after the Council breaking up, Cardinal Hugo Preached a Farewell Sermon ●o the Citizens, and among other benefits which they ●ad reaped by the Pope's residence in their City, reckoned up this for a principal one, That whereas at their ●oming to Town, there were but three or four Bawdy Houses ●n Lions, now at their departure they left but one, but indeed ●hat reached from one end of the City to the other; whereby we may observe that France had some part of the Pope's Blessings as well as England.  
But it seems the People had not very good opinion of ●he proceed of this King Henry, both against the Lords and the Church, and not only Men, but Women undertaken to reprehend him for the same; for Isabel, Widow to the Earl of Arundel, a young Lady, having ●eceived a repulse from the King in a matter which she alleged was hers in Equity, presumed to speak thus to ●is face; O my Lord King, why do you turn away from Justice; we cannot now obtain right in your Court, you are placed as 〈◊〉 middle Person between God and us, but you neither govern ●s nor yourself, neither are you afraid to vex the Church divers ways at present as well as you have formerly, nor by several oppressions to afflict the Nobles of the Kingdom. The King ●eing fired at this free discourse, looking on her with a scornful and angry countenance, spoke thus to her with ●loud voice, O my Lady Countess, what, have the Lords of England given you a Charter, and hired you to be their Advocate and Orator, because they know you have your Tongue at will? No my Lord, said the Countess, They have made me no Charter, but the Charter which your Father made, and which yourself confirmed, swearing to keep the same inviolably, and constantly, and often extorting money upon promise that the Liberties therein should be faithfully observed, which yet you have not kept, but have broken without regard to Honour or Conscience, therefore you are found to be a manifest violater of you Faith and Oath; for where are now the Liberties of England so often fairly engrossed in Writing? so often granted? so often bought and paid for? I therefore though a Woman, and all the Natural Loyal People of the Land, appeal against you to the Tribunal of the dreadful Judge, and Heaven and Earth shall bear us Witness that we are used unjustly, and God the Lord of Revenges right us: The King, saith the Author, abashed at these words, asked her if she did not look to obtain her suit upon favour, since she was his Kinswoman; she replied, that seeing he had denied that which the Law gave, how could she hope to obtain her suit by favour? Therefore, said she, I do appeal to the presence of Christ against those also of your Counsellors, who bewitch and dull your Judgement, and draw you out of the path of Truth, gaping only after their own advantage. But the King, saith M. Paris, remained uncorrigible, and the Lady lost both her charges, hopes, and Travel.  
In the Year 1257. K. Henry 3. kept his Christmas at Winchester, where new grievances arose; the Merchants of Gascoign having their Wines taken from them by the King's Officers without satisfaction, complain to their Lord the Prince, he to his Father, who having been informed that their clamour was unjust, as relying upon the Prince's favour, he falls into a great rage with the Prince, and breaks out into these words, See now, my Blood and my own Bowels oppose me: The Prince's Servants likewise relying on their Master, commit many outrages, abusing men at their pleasure, neither was the Prince altogether free, for it is said that he caused the Ears of a young Man to be cut off, and his Eyes to be plucked out as he traveled by the way, which was the occasion of very great disturbances. In this Kings Reign a Child was born in the Isle of Wight, who at 18 Years old was scarce 3 Foot high, and therefore brought to the Queen, who carried him about with her as a Monster in Nature. In King Edward 3. time, Southampton was fired by the French, under the conduct of the King of Sicily's Son whom a Countryman encountered, and knocked him ●own with his Club; the Prince cried out Rancon, Ran●on, (that is, he would pay him a Ransom) but he neither ●nderstanding his Language, nor the Law that Arms ●oth allow, laid on him more severely still, saying; I ●now thee to be a Francon, (or Frenchman) and therefore ●hou shalt die, and thereupon knocked him at Head.  
In 1554. the conditions of the Marriage between Q. Marry, and K. Philip of Spain were agreed to in Parliament upon these Articles. 1. That K. Philip should admit of no stranger in any Office but only Natives. 2. That ●e should alter nothing of the Laws and customs of the Kingdom. 3. That he should not carry the Queen out of the Realm without her own consent, nor any of her Children without consent of the Council. 4. That if he outlived the Queen ●e should challenge no right in the Kingdom, but it should descend to the next Heir. 5. That he should carry none of the Crown Jewels out of the Kingdom, nor any Ships or Ordinance. Lastly, That neither directly nor indirectly he should ●ntangle England in the Wars between Spain and France. It was also proposed in this Parliament, that the Supremacy of the Pope should be restored, which was not assented to without great difficulty; for the 6 Years Reign of K. Edward 6. had spread a Plantation of the Protestant Religion in the hearts of many. The Marriage being thus agreed, several Lords and Gentlemen were sent to fetch over the Prince from Spain, who arrived at Southampton July 20. 1554. and was met by the Queen at Winchester, where they were openly married, the disparity of Years in Princes being not much regarded, though he were but 27, and she 38 Years old: Then the Emperor's Ambassador being present, declared that in Consideration of the Marriage, the Emperor had given to King Philip his Son the Kingdoms of Naples and Jerusalem, and thereupon Garter King at Arms, openly in the Church in the presence of the King, Queen, and Nobles, both of Spain and England, solemnly proclaimed the Title and Style of these two Princes as followeth; Philip and Mary, by the Grace of God, King and Queen of England, France, Naples, Jerusalem, and Ireland, Defenders of the Faith, Princes of Spain and Sicily: Archdukes of Austria, Dukes of Milan, Burgundy and Brabant; Counts of Habspurg, Flanders, and Tyrol.  
In 1608. June 26. In the Parish of Christ's Church in Hampshire, one John Hitchel a Carpenter, lying in bed with his Wife, and a young Child by them, was himself and the Child both burnt to death with a sudden Lightning, no fire appearing outwardly upon him, and ye● lay burning for the space almost of three days, till he was quite consumed to ashes, In 1619. there was one Bernard Calvert of Andover in this County, that rid from St. George's Church in Southwark to Dover, and from thence passed by Barge to Calais in France, and from thence returned back to St. George's Church the same day, setting out about three a clock in the morning, and returning about 8 a clock at night fresh and lusty; I was at London the same time, saith Mr. Clark, and saw the man.  
Portsmouth is a very convenient Port; The Isle of Wight belongs to this Shire, the whole County is divided into 39 Hundreds, wherein are 253 Parishes, and is in the Diocese of Winchester. Out of it are elected 26 Parliament Men; Southampton gives the Title of Duke to Charles Fitz-Roy, eldest Son to the Duchess of Cleaveland; Winchester the Title of Marquis to Charles L. Pawlet; and Portsmouth, that of Duchess to Lovise de Queronalle, a French Lady.  
HARTFORDSHIRE so called from Hartford, the chief Town therein, as Hartford is termed from the Ford of Hearts, a Hart Couchant in the waters, being the Arms thereof; It hath Essex on the East, Middlesex on the South, Buckinghamshire on the West, Bedford and Cambridgeshire on the North; it is a rich County in Corn, Fields, Pastures, Meadows, Woods, Groves, and clear Rivers, and is indeed the Garden of England for Delight, and it's usually said, That such as buy a House in Hartfordshire, pay two years purchase for the Air thereof; no County in all England can show so many good Towns in so little compass, their Teams of Horses are ofttimes deservedly advanced from the Cart to the Coach, being kept in excellent equipage, much alike in colour and stature, fat and fair, such is their care in dressing, and well feeding them; and to make an innocent digression, I could name the place and Person, saith Dr. Fuller, who brought his Servant before a Justice of Peace, for stealing his Oats and Barley; the Man brought his five Horses tailed together along with him, alleging for himself, That if he were the Thief, these were the Receivers, and so escaped.  
The most famous place in this County for Antiquity is Verolamium, now utterly ruined, and subverted, and the footsteps thereof hardly to be seen, though in very great account by the Romans, and one of their Free Cities; It was plundered by Boadicia, that ever eternised Queen of the Icenians, when Seventy Thousand of the Romans, and their Confederates perished by her Revenging Sword; The magnificence thereof for stately Architecture, and Grandeur, was discovered by the large and arched Vaults found in the days of King Edgar, which were filled up by Eldred, and Edmer, Abbots of St. Alban, because they were the Receptacles, and lurking holes of Whores and Thiefs; hear what our famous Spencer says of this once renowned City of Verulam.  
I was that City which the Garland wore  
Of Britain's pride delivered unto me,  
By Roman Victors; this I was of yore;  
Though nought at all but ruins now I be,  
And lie in mine own Ashes as you see,  
Verlam I was, what boots it that I was,  
Since now I am but weeds and wasteful grass?  
And another English Poet writes thus in the name of Watling, one of the 4 Imperial Highways.  
Thou saw'st when Verlam once her head aloft did rear,  
Which in her Cinders now lies sadly buried here,  
With Alabaster, Tuch, and Porphyry adorned,  
When well near in her pride great Troynovant she scorned.  
A nameless Author hath writ thus upon this forgotten City.  
Stay thy foot that passest by,  
And a wonder here descry;  
Churches that interred the dead,  
Here themselves are buried.  
Houses where men slept and waked,  
Here in Ashes underraked;  
And (to the Poet to allude)  
Here is Corn where once Troy stood;  
Or if you the Truth would have,  
Here's a City in a Grave.  
A wonder Reader, think it then,  
That Cities thus should die like men:  
And yet a wonder think it none,  
For many Cities thus are gone.  
Out of the ruins of this City risen the fair Town of St. Alban, remarkable for bringing forth Alban the Martyr; for about the year of Christ 180. King Lucius reigned in Britain, who hearing of the Miracles and Wonders done by the Christians in divers places, sent Letters to Eleutherius, Bishop of Rome, desiring to receive the Christian Faith; the good Bishop being glad of this request, sent him two Preachers, Faganus and Damianus, by whose faithful endeavours, it pleased God, the King and many of his People were Converted, and Baptised, the Temples of Idols, and other Monuments of Gentilism were subverted; thus the true Religion increased, and Superstition and Idolatry decreased, many Bishops being ordained, and set over the People, and all things settled in good order; after which this religious King sent again to Eleutherius for the Roman Laws, according to which he desired to govern his People; to which request Eleutherius returned this answer, That for the Roman and Imperial Laws, they might have their defects, but the Law of God could not; and thereupon advised him to study the Scriptures, and out of them by the Council of his Realm to enact Laws for the Government of his Kingdom; For, saith he, You are God's Vicar in your Kingdom, and therefore it behoves you to unite your People, to call them to the Faith and Service of Jesus Christ, to cherish and maintain them, to rule and govern them, and to defend them from all such as would do them wrong, etc. The Christian Faith thus received by the Britain's, flourished here 216 years, till the coming of the Saxons; But the Ramans' continuing Heathens, raised much trouble against the Professors thereof, especially after the death of Lucius, who dying without 〈◊〉, the Barons and Nobles disagreeing about a Successor, the Romans stepped in, and took the Crown into their hands, whereupon great ruin and misery ensued to the Kingdom; for sometimes the Idolatrous Romans reigned, and sometimes the Christian Britain's, according to the fortune of the War; The first remarkable Persecution which we hear of, was under Dioclesian, and Maximi●, when the Heathens raged so extremely, that in Britain, and some other Places, there are reckoned Seventeen Thousand Martyrs who suffered for the name of Christ; In this Persecution a famous Preacher called Amphibolus being searched for to be Imprisoned, he to escape the fury of his Persecutors, hid himself in the House of Alban aforementioned, who was a Citizen of Verulam, now St. Alban; this Alban was at that time a Heathen, but observing Amphibolus to continue day and night in watching and Prayer, he began to be convinced, and to hearken to the Divine Instructions and Exhortations of this good man, and forsaking Idolatry, he became a very sincere Christian; The Enemy having intelligence that this Minister was in his house, Soldiers were ordered to search for him, which Alban having notice of, he apparelled himself in the  of Amphibolus, and offered himself to the Soldiers, who bond him, and carried him before the Judge, who was at that time sacrificing to his Idols; The Judge perceiving the business, said, Since thou hadst rather convey away the Rebel and Traitor to our Gods, than deliver him up to undergo due punishment for his blaspheming our Deities, look therefore what Torments he should have suffered if he had been taken, the same shalt thou endure if thou refuse to practise the Rights of our Religion; Alban was regardless of these Threats, and being replenished with Divine Fortitude, boldly told the Judge to his face, That he would not obey his Commandment, Then said the Judge, Of what House and Stock art thou? Alban answered, It is no matter of what stock I am, but if thou desirest to know my Religion, be it known unto thee that I am a Christian, and that I employ myself in the exercise of their Holy Religion; The Judge then demanded his name; my Parents, said he, named me Alban, And I Honour and Worship the True living God who made all things of nothing. The Judge being enraged hereat, said, If thou desirest to prolong thy life, come and Sacrifice to our Gods; Alban answered, The Sacrifice you offer to the Devil profits you nothing, but rather purchaseth for you eternal pains in Hell-fire; The Judge was still more incensed hereat, and commanded the tormentors to beat him, thinking stripes might prevail more than words; yet Alban continued not only patiented, but joyful in the midst of all his Torments, the Judge perceiving that neither words nor blows would remove him from his Constancy, commanded him to be beheaded; The Executioner observing his fervent Faith and Prayers, fell down at his Feet, throwing away the Sword, desiring rather to die for him or with him, than to do Execution upon him, and suffered accordingly, whereby he was made a Martyr for that Faith, of which he was before a Persecutor; The other Officers were astonished and trembled to behold this strange Providence, but at last one of them took up the Sword, wherewith he cut off the Martyr Alban head.  
In this Town of St. Alban King Offa built a most stately Monastery, which we read was upon this occasion; In the Year 793 Offa the 11th King of the Mercians took to wife one Quenrid, of whom it is recorded, that her name was Drida, and that she was Kinswoman to the French King Charles the great, and was for some Offence banished his Realm; being put into a boat without Sail or Tackle, and arriving upon the Coasts of England was relieved by Offa, who was then a young Nobleman, and changed her name to Quenrid, of whom he became so much in love, that contrary to the Will of his Parents he married her; she being of a proud, cruel, and ambitious Nature, as appears by the sequel; For Ethelbert King of the East Angles, a wise and religious Prince, coming to the Court of King Offa, being persuaded by his Nobles to desire his Daughter in Marriage, was accompanied with a great Train suitable to his Quality; but Queen Quenrid, envious of his grandeur, persuaded her Husband, that he came thither upon some treacherous design, and therefore he with some of his Council, contrived his destruction, which some say was by causing him to fall into a deep Pit, digged to that purpose under his Chair of State, and that then being alone, one Gimbert took and bound him, and then struck off his Head, which he presented to the King and Queen: Thus was this Innocent Prince unjustly murdered, but not without divine Vengeance following the Actors; for the Queen, Author of this Villainy, died in three months after, and was so tormented in her sickness, that she bitten and tore her Tongue in pieces, which had been the Instrument of this Barbarity, and Offa at length being satisfied of the King's Innocence, and the heinousness of the Fact, gave the 10th part of his Goods to the Church, and according to the Devotion of that Age, built the Abbey of St. Alban and other Monasteries, and went afterward to do Penance at Rome, where he gave to the Church of St. Peter a Penny from every House in his Dominions, which were commonly called Romeshot, or Peterpences, and at last was transformed from a King to a Monk: Thus the Almighty punished not only him and his Wife, but the whole Land suffered for this horrid Murder, in being made the Pope's Vassals, for the Clergy seldom parting with any thing they get, the poor English were forced to pay this unjust Tax for many Hundred Years after: Nay further, the King and his Son also died within a year after this cruel Murder, whereby that Kingdom was translated from the Mercians to the Westsaxons.  
In the Reign of K. Henry 3. the Abbot of St. Alban ordered his Servant to fetch him a man's Wife in the Town, with whom he pretended earnest business; the Servant accordingly brought her to his Master's Chamber, and then withdrawing, the Abbot told her, that her  were but very mean, but if she would be ruled by him, she should wear as good  as any Woman in the Parish, and therewith began to be very brisk upon her; and finding persuasions would not prevail, endeavoured by force to debauch her, but all in vain, whereupon he kept her several days a Prisoner in his Chamber, which her Husband having notice of, fetches her from him, and tells his Neighbours he will sue the Abbot for imprisoning his Wife; which he hearing of, prosecuted the poor man in the Ecclesiastical Court for defamation, and thereby frighted him from any further proceed. Sir Thomas More (though a virulent Papist) reports a story of the like Nature, That a poor man found a Priest over familiar with his Wife, and because he told it abroad, and had no Witnesses to prove it, the Priest sued him in the Bishop's Court, and at length the Poor man under pain of being cursed and excommunicated, was enjoined to stand up in the Church the next Sunday, and say, Mouth thou liest; accordingly having repeated what he had reported of the Priest, he put his hand to his Mouth, and said, Mouth thou liest, and then laying his hands on his Eyes, he said, But Eyes, by the Mass, ye lie not a whit. In K. Henry the 7. time an Act was made to punish the incontinency of Priests, and Francis Petrarch an Archdeacon thus Anatomizes the Roman Clergy, which discovers the extreme Chastity of the Popish Bachelors.  
Here Venus with her wanton toys  
Is honoured with base Bawds and Boys,  
Whoredom, Adultery and Incest  
Are honoured here among the best.  
And counted but for sports and plays  
Even with the Prelates of these days.  
The Wife is ravished from her Spouse,  
And to the Sons of th' Church she bows.  
The poor good man must leave the Town,  
Such Ordinances are set down,  
And when her Belly riseth high  
By Clergymen who with her lie,  
The Husband must not dare complain,  
But takes his Wife with Child again.  
In the Reign of K. Hen. 6. 1454. the Duke of York raised a great Army, of which the King having notice, got considerable forces together, and marched to St. Alban; to whom the Duke and his Adherents came, desiring the King to deliver such Persons whom they would name, that they might be deservedly punished: To whom the King taking Courage returns this resolute Answer, That the Duke and his Accomplices were Traitors, and that rather than he would deliver up any Lord then attending him, he himself would that day live and die in their quarrel and defence: Whereupon the Duke and his Party went away dissatisfied, and the Yorkists fell immediately upon the King's Party in St. Alban, and the Earl of Warwick breaking through a Garden, a sharp Fight is immediately begun, which ended with very great loss on the King's side, the Dukes of Somerset, Buckingham and his Son, the Earls of Northumberland, Stafford, and the L. Clifford being slain, and buried at Saint Alban, with above 5000 common Soldiers; and the King himself unguarded is left in a poor thatched house, whither he retired from the danger of the Arrows: The Duke of York having notice where he was, goes with the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury, who all three upon their knees present themselves to him, making humble Petition for Pardon of what is past, and now seeing the Duke of Somerset, the common Enemy, is slain, they had what they aimed at: To whom the King throughly affrighted said, Let there be no more killing then, and I will do what you would have me: After which a Parliament was called, wherein the Duke of York was made Protector of the King's Person and of the Realm, though the King were 35 years old; This Battle of St. Alban was fought May 23. in the 33. Year of K. Henry's Reign, wherein the King himself was shot in the Neck with an Arrow. In 1461. another Battle was fought at St. Alban, between the Earl of March, Son to the Duke of York, and King Henry the 6. his Queen; for the Duke of York being slain at Wakefield, his Son Edward, E. of March, (afterward King Edward 4.) getting his forces together, beat the Queen's Army at Mortimer's Cross, before which Battle it is said, the Sun appeared to the Earl of March like three Suns, and suddenly joined altogether in one, for which it is thought he gave the Sun in its full brightness for his Badge or Cognizance: The Queen in the mean time encouraged by the death of the Duke of York, got some Northern Soldiers together, and marched toward London, and coming to St, Albans, the Duke of Norfolk, and the Earl of Warwick, with the forces of the Earl of March, (King Henry himself being Prisoner among them) encountered them, where after a stout resistance, the Queen's Army routed the other, of which about 2000 were slain; after which the King, Queen, and the Prince her Son met joyfully together, though their joy continued not long, King Henry being deposed soon after, and Edward Earl of March proclaimed King, and all this by the assistance of the Citizens of London and their Wives, who were much enamoured with the Beautiful E. of March. In our remembrance, saith Camden, near Fishpoolstreet in St. Alban, certain Anchors were digged up, which is very strange, and worth enquiring into. There is a Brook near St. Alban called Wenmere, or Womere, which never breaketh out but it foretelleth scarcity of Corn, or else some extraordinary dangerous times to ensue, as the Vulgar believe. At Ashwell in this County rise so many sources of Springs together, that they presently drive a Mill, and become a pretty big River.  
Sir Henry Cary, Kinsman to Queen Eliz. was made Baron of Hunsdon in this County, a valiant man, and lover of Men of their Hands, very choleric, but not malicious; one Mr. Cols once meeting him, this Lord on some former grudge gave him a box on the Ear, Cole presently returned him three or four for i●, upon which the Lords servants swarmed about Cole with their drawn Swords; You Rogues, said the Lord, cannot I and my Neighbour change a Blow or two but you must interpose: Thus the quarrel was begun and ended the same Minute. This Lord suppressed the first Northern Commotion, for which a Letter of Thanks was solemnly returned to him by the Queen, the first part whereof was written by the Secretary of State, but the Postscript was all of the Queens own hand, as followeth, I doubt much my Harry, whether that the Victory given me more joyed me, or that you were by God appointed the Instrument of my Glory, and I assure you for my Country's good the first might suffice, but for my Heart's contentation the second more pleaseth me; it likes me not a little, that with a good Testimony of your Faith, there is seen a stout courage of your mind, that more trusted to the goodness of your quarrel, than to the weakness of your number; well I can say no more, Beatus est ille servus, quem cum Dominus venerit, inveniet facientem sua Mandata: Happy is that servant whom when his Lord cometh he shall find doing his Commands; And that you may not think you have done nothing for your Profit, (though you have done much for your Honour) I intent to make this journey somewhat to increase your livelihood, that you may not say to yourself Perditur quod factum est ingrato, what is done for an ingrate person is lost.  
Your Loving Kinswoman, Elizabeth Regina.  
Three times was this Lord in Election to be Earl of Wiltshire, but some accident still hindered it; when he lay on his Deathbed the Queen gave him a gracious visit, causing his Patent for that Earldom to be drawn, his Robes to be made, and both to be laid upon his Bed; but this Lord who could never dissemble sick nor well, said, Madam, seeing you did not count me worthy of this honour while I was living, I count myself unworthy of it, now I am dying: He died 1596.  
The County of Hartford is divided into 8 Hundreds, wherein are 18 Market Towns, 120 Parish Churches, and is in the Dioceses of London, Chichester, and Lincoln; out of it are elected 6 Parliament men; for the County 2. for St. Alb●ns 2. for Hartford 2. and gives the Title of Marquis to Charles L. Seymour, who is also Duke of Somerset, etc.  
HEREFORDSHIRE hath Worcestershire and Shropshire on the North; Glocestershire on the East, Monmouthshire on the South, and Brecknock and Radnorshire on the West; the Air thereof is very healthy, as appears by the vivacity of the Inhabitants: Many aged People which in other Countries are confined to their Beds and Chimney Corners, are here found in the Fields both able and willing to work: The ingenious Sergeant Hoskin gave an Entertainment to K. James in this County, and provided 10 aged People to dance the Morris before him, all of them making up more than a Thousand Years, for what was wanting in one was supplied in the age of another; This County shares as deep as any in the Alphabet of our English Commodities, though exceeding in W. that is for Wood, Wheat, Wool, and Water; besides excellent fruit, especially Apples, of which the best Cider is made: There is a little Fountain called Bonewell, nigh Richard's Castle in this County, the Water whereof is always full of the Bones of little Fishes, or as others conceive of little Frogs, they being so small as hardly to be distinguished, and which addeth to the Wonder, this Spring can never be emptied of them, but as fast as some are drawn out others presently succeed: To this may be added a second Wonder of Marcley Hill in the East part of this County; for Feb. 17. 1571. the Earth began to open at 6 a Clock in the Evening, and this Hill with a Rock under it, made at first a mighty bellowing noise, which was heard a great way off, and then lifted up itself a great height, and began to travel, carrying along with it the Trees which grew upon it, the Sheepfolds, and flocks of Sheep abiding thereon at the same time; in the place from whence it first moved, it left a gaping distance 40 Foot wide, and 80 els long, the whole field was about Twenty Acres; passing along it overthrew a Chapel standing in its way, removed an Yew-tree growing in the Churchyard from the West to the East; with the like violence it thrust before it Highways, Houses, and Trees, it made tilled ground pasture, and again turned pasture into Tillage; having thus walked from Sunday in the Evening, till Monday Noon, it than stood still, and moved no more, mounting to a Hill 12 Fathoms high.  
In the Reign of William the Conqueror, Walter Bishop of Hereford attempted to force the Chastity of a Woman who was a Sempstress, whom out of pretence of working for him he brought into his Chamber, but she refusing to consent, wounded him in the Belly with a pair of Scissors, whereof he died. In 1233. a little before the Wars broke forth between K. Hen. 3. and his Barons, there appeared at Hereford five Suns at once, and a certain great Circle of a Crystal colour about two Foot in breadth, as it were compassing all England. In the Reign of King Hen. 4. 1402. Owen Glendour being by the Welsh made their King and Captain, having got together a considerable number, broke into the borders of Herefordshire, making spoil and Prey of the Country, as freely as if they had leave to do it, and indeed they had none to oppose them, but only the Lord Edmund Mortimer, who was at his Castle of Wigmore, he assembling the Country Forces, and joining Battle with them was overthrown by them, himself being taken Prisoner, and then fettered, and cast into a deep and vile Dungeon, from whence King Henry would not be persuaded to deliver him, but could rather have wished both him and his two Sisters in Heaven, they being all three Competitors for the Crown with him, It was thought, if Owen Glendour had as well known how to use the Victory, as to get it, he might at this time have gone far in freeing the Welsh from the English Yoke, but having killed a Thousand of the English, he thought he had done enough for that time, and so giving over the pursuit, retired; The Inhumanity of the Welsh Women was here memorable, who fell upon the dead Carcases of the English, first stripping, and then cutting off their Privy Members, and Noses, whereof the first they thrust into their Mouths, and the other they pressed between their Buttocks.  
Sir John Oldcastle L. Cobham was born in this County, a valiant man, and a great Follower of Wickliff, for which he lost his life; for this worthy Lord embracing his Doctrines, and being a zealous defender both of them and the Professors thereof, he thereby exposed himself to the utmost fury and malice of his Popish adversaries, and thereupon Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury, called a Synod of the Clergy, who charged him with 246 Articles of Heresy, and then made grievous complaints of him to K. Henry 5. who having patiently heard these bloodthirsty Wolves, desired them that because he was of Noble Blood, and was his Knight, they would endeavour to reduce him with gentleness, rather than rigour, promising also that himself would seriously discourse with him concerning these matters; and accordingly sent for the L. Cobham, advising him as an obedient Child to submit himself to the Church, and acknowledge his fault; To whom this Christian Knight answered, Most worthy Prince, I am always ready and willing to obey you, whom I know to be the Minister of God, bearing the Sword for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of those that do well; unto you next to my eternal God, I own all obedience, and submit all I have to you, being ready to obey at all times whatever you shall in the Lord command me, but as for the Pope and his Spiritualty, I own them neither suit nor service, knowing him by the Scriptures to be the Great Antichrist, the Son of Perdition, the open Enemy to God, and the Abomination standing in the Holy place; When the King heard this stout answer; he left him to the Bishops, not daring indeed to do otherwise, the Princes of that Age being miserably Priestridden and Enslaved by the Pope and his Clergy; Then the Archbishop proceeded further against him, persuading him to recant what he had written, or else threatening to condemn him as an Heretic; the L. Cobham answered, Do as you think best, for I am at a point, that which I have written I will stand to, to the death; Soon after the Archbishop came again, telling him he was ready to absolve him if he humbly desired it, No, said the Lord Cobham, I will not, for I never yet trespassed against you, and so kneeling down, and lifting up his Eyes and Hands toward Heaven, he said; I humbly confess my sins unto thee O Eternal, and everliving God; In my frail youth I offended thee O Lord, by Pride, Covetousness, Wrath, and Uncleanness, many men have I hurt in mine anger, and have committed many other horrible sins, for which good Lord I ask thee forgiveness; And then weeping, he stood up and said, Lo good People for breaking Gods Laws, and his Holy Commandments, the Prelates never yet cursed me; but for their own Laws and Traditions they handle me most cruelly, and therefore they and their Laws shall according to Gods promise be utterly destroyed. After this they proceeded to read the Sentence of Condemnation against him, to whom the L. Cobham with a cheerful countenance said, Though you judge my body which is but a wretched thing, yet I am sure you can do no more harm to my Soul than Satan could to Jobs, for he that created it will, I doubt not, of his infinite mercy save it, and as for the Confession of my Faith, I will stand to it even to the very death, by the Grace of my eternal God; And then turning to the People, he spoke thus to them with a loud voice; Good People for God's sake be well ware of these men, or else they will beguile you, and lead you blindfold into Hell with themselves, and so falling down upon his knees, he prayed for his Enemies, saying, Lord God Eternal, I beseech thee of thine infinite mercy to forgive my Persecutors, if it be thy blessed will, and so he was sent back to the Tower, from whence he soon after escaped into Wales, where he lay concealed four years, though a great sum of money was offered to bring him in alive or dead; But at last the Lord Powis, either for love of the money, or out of hatred to the True Christian Religion, sought divers ways to play the Judas, and at last obtained his purpose, apprehending him, and sending him to London, where he was soon after drawn through the Streets, to the new Gallows in St. Giles' Fields, and there first hanged, and then burnt on the Gallows, and this was the end of this Godly Martyr of Jesus Christ; and though the Papists charge him with Treason, yet we know it hath ever been the practice of the Devil and his Instruments to accuse God's Servants rather for Sedition than Religion, because they perceive Princes are generally more careful of their own Honour, than God's Glory; for thus they dealt with our Blessed Saviour, and St. Paul, who were accused for Disloyalty, and stirring up Tumults; But the Almighty did not suffer his death to go unpunished, for the Archbishop who sat in Judgement upon him, and condemned him, was soon after struck with a disease in his Tongue, that he could neither swallow any thing, nor speak a word some days before his death, by which means he was starved to death. Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, was born in this County in 1567. He was a Masterpiece of Court and Camp, and came with many advantages to the Court of Queen Elizabeth, who passionately loving his Person, sent him once an angry loving Letter for going into France, often saying, We shall have this young Fellow knocked on the head, as foolish Sidney was, by his own forwardness, and was impatient till his return; after this upon some misdemeanours he was brought to a private Trial, wherein some words in his Letters were produced against him, as that, No storm is more fierce than the indignation of an Impotent Prince, what, cannot Princess err? May they not injure their Subjects? These things being proved, he falling on his knees, professed he would not contest with the Queen, nor excuse the faults of his young years, protesting that he always meant well, and therewith shed so many tears as made the Spectators weep too; he was then censured, but the Queen soon forgave him, however he retired into the Country, and remembered himself to the Queen by the L. Howard in these words; That he kissed the rod, and the Queen's hands, which had only corrected, not overthrown him; yet he should never enjoy solid comfort till he might see those blessed Eyes, which had been his loadstars whereby he had happily steered his course while he held on his way at lawful distance; But now he resolved to eat grass with Nabuchadnezzar, till it pleased the Queen to restore his senses; she being overjoyed with these Speeches; Would to God, said she, his deeds would be answerable to his words; he hath long tried my patience, I must now make trial of his Humility; Upon which the Earl became so confident of the Queen's favour, that being denied a Suit about farming sweet wines, he conspired with others to seize her Person, and which more alienated her affections than any thing else, she heard he despised her Person, and that he had said, That the Queen was now old and decrepit, and withered as well in mind as in body; After this he made an Insurrection in London, which not succeeding he was sent to the Tower, and being arraigned (together with the Earl of Southampton) by his Peers, was found guilty, and Feb. 25. 1601. was to be the fatal day; in the mean time divers Ministers were sent to comfort him; The Queen now wavered in herself, one while remembering former kindnesses, she would not, and then again she would have him die, because of his stubborness in not ask her mercy, and his openly saying, That he could not live, but she must perish; So that she gave order for his death within the Tower, where he spoke to this Purpose; My Lords and Christian Brethren who are present witnesses of my just punishment; I confess to God's Glory, myself a most wretched Sinner, and that my sins in number exceed the hairs of my head, that good which I would have done, I did not, and the evil which I would not, that did I, for all which I beseech my Saviour Christ to be a Mediator, but especially for this my last crying sin; I beseech God, Her Majesty, and the State to forgive me, and bless her with a prosperous Reign, with a wise and understanding Heart, to bless the Nobles, and Ministers of the Church and State; I likewise beseech you and all the world to have a charitable opinion of me fo● my intention toward her Majesty, whose death I protest I never intended, nor any violence toward her Person, I thank God I never was an Atheist in not believing the Scriptures; nor a Papist to trust in my own merits, but am assured to be saved by the merits and mercies of Jesus Christ my Saviour, This Faith I was I brought up in, and herein I am now ready to die, beseeching you all to join your souls with me in Prayer, that my soul may be lifted up by Faith above all earthly things; and lastly I desire forgiveness of all the world, even as freely as from my heart I forgive all the world; And then kneeling down, said; I have been divers times in places of danger, where death was neither so present nor so certain, and yet even then I felt the weakness of my flesh, and therefore now in this last and great conflict I desire the assistance of God's Holy Spirit; and so, saith Mr. Speed; with a most Heavenly Prayer, and faithful constancy, as if his soul had been already in heavenly fruition, he laid himself on the block, and spreading abroad his arms (the appointed sign,) with three strokes his head was severed from his body, for which the Executioner was in danger of his life at his return, if he had not been secured by the Sheriff; of this great Favourite Dr. Fuller concludes, That his failings were neither so foul nor so many, but that the Character of a right worthy man most justly belongs to his memory, It is recorded that Walter E. of Essex, his Father, having wasted his Spirits with grief, fell into a Dysentery whereof he died, after he had requested such as stood by him, That they would admonish his Son (who was then scarce ten years old) that he should always propound and set before him the 36th year of his life, as the utmost he should ever attain to, which neither he nor his Father had gone beyond, and his Son never reached to, being beheaded in the 34th year of his Age, so that his dying Father seemed not in vain to have admonished him as he did, but to speak by Divine inspiration and suggestion.  
Hereford is the chief City of this County, seated amongst pleasant Meadows and Cornfields; Lemster is another Town, which hath the greatest fame for Wool, which they call Lemster Oar; of which Mr. Drayton thus writes.  
Where lives the man so dull, on Britain's furthest shore,  
To whom did never sound the name of Lemster Oar?  
That with the Silkworms web for smallness may compare,  
Wherein the window shows his Workmanship so rare;  
So doth this Fleece excel all others in the Land,  
Being neatly bottomed up by nature's careful hand.  
This County is divided into 11 Hundreds, wherein there are 8 Market Towns, 176 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of Hereford; Out of it are elected 8 Parliament Men; for the County 2. for Hereford 2. for Lemster 2. for Webly 2. and gives the Title of Earl to Leicester L. D' Eureux.  
HUNTINGTONSHIRE is surrounded with Northampton, Bedford, and Cambridgeshires, being small in extent, hardly stretching 20 miles outright, though measured to the most advantage; it is good for Corn and Tillage, and toward the East very plentiful for feeding Cattle; Huntingdon is the chief Town of all the County, called in their public Seal Huntersdune, The Hill or Down of Hunters, and gives name to all the Shire; Godmanchester is a very great Country Town, and of as great repute for Tillage; no place having more Ploughs, or more stout Husbandmen, for they boast that in former times they have received the Kings of England as they passed in their progress this way, with ninescore Ploughs, brought forth in a rustical kind of Pomp, as a Gallant show; when K. James came first into England, the Bailiffs of this Town presented him with 70 Team of Horses, all traced to fair new Ploughs, to show their Husbandry; of which when the King demanded the reason, they told him, That it was their ancient Custom, whensoever any King of England passed through their Town, so to present him; And added further, That they held their Lands by that Tenure being the King's Tenants; The King was much pleased herewith, bidding them use well their Ploughs, and said, he was glad he was Landlord of so many good Husbandmen in one Town. St Ives is another Town in this County, reported to be so named from Ivo, a Persian Bishop, who, it's said, about the Year of Christ 6●0 traveled through England, Preaching diligently the Christian Religion; and dying in this place left his name thereunto.  
There are two little Springs at Ayleweston in this County, the one fresh and the other somewhat brackish; the latter they say is good for Scabs and Leprosy, and the other for dim sights: The Lake of Wittlesmere, and other Meers near it in this Shire, do sometimes rise tempestuously in calm and fair Wether, and make Water-quakes by reason the ground near it is rotten and hollow, 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 showed to many Honourable Persons as a great rarity.  
We read that Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter, and E. of Huntingdon, 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 legged, 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 Surnames were eminent in the Reign of K. Hen. 8. the reason whereof may probably be, because this Shire being generally Abbey 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 Diocese of Lincoln; out of it are elected 4 Parliament men; for the County 2. for Huntingdon 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 Appletrees 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 King's Houses; The Kentish People in Caesar's time were accounted the civilest among the Britain's, and had the Privilege to lead the Van in all Battles for their valour showed 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 British 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 Horror swayed,  
Threw'st off the servile Yoke upon the English laid,  
And with a Courage great most bravely didst restore  
That Liberty so long enjoyed by thee before,  
Not suffering foreign Laws should thy free Customs bind,  
And thereby show'dst thyself o'th' noble Saxon kind:  
Of all the English Shires be thou surnamed the free,  
And foremost ever placed when they shall marshaled be.   
Of their throwing off the Norman Yoke, Mr. S●●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. Augustine's, who were the chief Lords and Governors 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 die with them in the defence of their Freedom and Country, whereby the People were so extremely 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 hid 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 a Fight; so that the Conqueror, who just before thought he had the whole Kingdom absolutely at Command, began now to despair of his own Life; of which Consternation the two valiant Prelates taking advantage, presented themselves to the Duke, and thus addressed him in behalf of their followers: Most noble Duke, behold here the Commons of Kent are come forth to meet and receive you as their Sovereign in peace, upon condition they may for ever enjoy their ancient Liberties, Freedoms, and Estates, which they received from their Forefathers; If these be denied, they are here ready to give you battle immediately, being fully resolved rather to die, than to part with our ancient Laws, or to live in slavery and bondage, the name and nature whereof as it hath been hitherto unknown to us, so we will rather every man lose his Life than ever endure it. The Conqueror driven to a straight, and loath to hazard all upon so nice a point, their demands being not unreasonable, rather wisely than willingly granted their desires, and Pledges on both sides are given for performance, Kent yielding her Earldom and Castle of Dover to her new King William: Among other Customs they retain one called Gavelkind, that is, Give all kin, whereby Lands are divided among the Male-childrens, or, if there be no Sons, among the Daughters, by which every man is a Freeholder, and hath some part of his own to live upon: By virtue of this also they are at full age, and enter upon their Inheritance at 15 Years old, and it is lawful for them to alienate or make it over to any, either by Gift or sale, without the Lords Consent: By this likewise the Son, though his Parents be hanged for Felony or Murder, succeedeth them nevertheless, in such kind of Lands according to that Rhyme, 
The Father to the Bough,  
And the Son to the Plough.   
K. William after this to secure Kent to himself, placed a Constable in Dover Castle, and according to the manner of the Romans, made him also Lord of the Cinqueports. which are Hastings, Dover, Hith, Rumney and Sandwich, unto which are joined Winchelsey and Rye, as principal Ports, and other small Towns as Members, which because they are bound to serve in the Wars by Sea, enjoy many great Privileges, being free from the payment of Subsidies, and from Wardship of their Children, and are not sued in any Court but within their own Towns; and of the Inhabitants therein, such as they call Barons, at the Coronation of Kings and Queens support the Canopies over them, and have a Table by themselves on the King's Right hand, and the L. Warden, who is always of the Nobility, hath the Authority of Chancellor and Admiralty within his Jurisdiction, in very many cases, and hath many other Rights.  
Canterbury is the chief City of this County, ancient and famous no doubt in the time of the Romans; The Archbishop of Canterbury was called, Totius Angliae Primas, Primate of all England, the Archbishop of York only Primas Angliae, Primate of England; he is the first Peer of the Realm, and hath the Precedency of all Dukes not of the Royal Blood or great Officers of State, Anselm in recompense of his service in opposing the Marriage of Priests, and resisting the King about investing Bishops, had this accession of honour given him by Pope Vrbane, That he and his Successors should have place at the Pope's right foot in all General Councils, the Pope adding these words, We include him in our Orb, as Pope of another world. This City hath had a rare Cathedral, it is in the midst of the Town, the body within being near as large as St. Paul's in London was; between the body and the Choir there hangeth a Bell called by the name of Bell Harry, being one of those which Henry 8. brought out of France; there are also four Spires like St. Sepulchers London; on each side of the great West Gate are 2 other Steeples, the one called Dunstan, and the other Arnold Steeples, in each of which are a very pleasant ring of Bells; in the same Cathedral there was the famousest window in England, for which they say the Spanish Ambassador offered Ten Thousand pound; being the whole History of Christ from his Nativity to his Passion, but it was afterward battered to pieces; In the Choir of the Cathedral, Edward, called the Black Prince, is buried in a Monument of Brass; underneath this Cathedral there is a great Congregation of French Protestants, the Dutch also have a Church in that Place, which is called the Bishop's Palace; there are many other Churches in the City and Suburbs.  
The Rebellion under Kett the Tanner in the Oak of Reformation near Norwich. Pa. 149.  

Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit  
Fac nos (Christ) scandere quo Thomas ascendit.   

For the blood of Thomas which he for thee did spend,  
Grant us (Christ) that we may climb where Thomas did ascend   
The Pope likewise writ to the English Clergy to make a new Holiday for St. Thomas, as they expected pardon through his Intercession to God for them; At Halbaldown in Kent there was an Hospital erected by Archbishop Lanfrank, wherein was reserved the upper leather of an old shoe, which they said had been worn by St. Thomas Becket, and being set fair in Copper and Crystal, was offered to be kissed by all Passengers. In the Reign of Edward 3. there was great variance between the A. Bishops of Canterbury and York, and the Londoners were cursed by the A. B. of Canterbury, because they suffered he of York to carry his Cross in that City, but the King ended the difference, ordering they should both freely carry the Cross in each others Province, but that in sign of subjection, the A. B. of York should send the Image of an Archbishop, bearing a Cross, or some other Jewel wrought in fine gold, to the value of 40 pounds to Canterbury, and offer it publicly there upon St. Thomas Beckets Shrine; They likewise report that Thomas lying in an old House at Otford, and finding it want a Spring, he struck his Staff into the dry ground, from whence issued Water, and is called to this day St. Thomas Well; and that a Nightingale disturbing his Devotions one time in that place, he commanded that from thenceforth no bird of that kind should dare sing there; many other such ridiculous miracles are reported, which were invented by Popish Knaves, and believed by none but Popish Idiots. In 1386. William Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury summoned certain of his Tenants to answer an heinous and horrible Trespass, as he called it, which was, That they brought Straw to litter his Horses, not in Carts as formerly, but in Bags; for which wicked Offence, having confessed their fault, and asked him forgiveness, he enjoined them this Penance, That going leisurely before the Procession barefoot, and bare legged, each of them should carry upon his Shoulder a Bag stuffed with Strew hanging out, whereupon these Rhimes were made: 
This Bag full of straw I bear on my Back,  
Because my Lord's Horse his Litter did lack;  
If you be not the better to my Lord Grace's Horse.  
You are like to go barefoot before the Cross.   
In the Reign of K. James Dr. George Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury, being hunting in a Park, and shooting at a Deer, his Arrow by mischance glanced and killed a man; upon which Fact it was much debated, whether by it he were not become irregular, and aught to be deprived of his Archbishopric, as having imbrued his hands (though unwillingly) in Blood; but Bishop Andrews of Winchester, and Sir Hen. Martin Advocate, defended him, giving such reasons for mitigation of the Fact, that he was cleared from all imputation of crime, and thereupon judged regular, and in state to continue in his Archiepiscopal Charge; yet out of a religious tenderness of mind, he kept that day in which the mischance happened as a solemn fast all his life after. In the Year 1553. Nicholas Wotton, Dean of Canterbury being then Ambassador in France, dreamt that his Nephew Thomas Wotton was inclined to be a Party in such a Project, as if he were not suddenly prevented, would turn to the loss of his Life, and ruin of his Family; the night following he dreamt the same again, and knowing that it had no influence upon his waking thoughts, and much less the desires of his heart, he did then more seriously consider it, and resolved to use so prudent a Remedy by way of prevention, as might be no great inconvenience to either party, and thereupon writ a Letter to Queen Mary, that she would cause his Nephew to be sent for out of Kent, and that the Council might interrogate him in such feigned Questions as might colour his Commitment into a favourable Prison, of which he would hereafter give Her Majesty the true Reason; this was done accordingly, and soon after the Queen being married to K. Philip, divers persons declared, and raised forces against it, among whom Sir Thomas Wyatt of Kent (with whom the Family of the Wottons had an entire Friendship) was the Principal, who being defeated, suffered death with many others, for the same; and of this number Mr. Wotton in all probability had been, for he afterward confessed to his Uncle that he had some strong intimation of Wiat's design, and believed he should have been engaged in it, if his Uncle had not so happily dreamt him into a Prison. Thus much for Canterbury.  
Rochester is another City and Bishops See in this County; the Cathedral is low and little, saith Dr. Fuller, proportional to the Revenues thereof, yet hath it, though no Magnificence, a venerable aspect of antiquity therein: There was a Castle built in K. William's time, but now all in ruins: In the woeful Wars of the Barons when K. John was viewing this Castle held against him by the E. of Arundel, he was espied by a very good Archer, who told the Earl thereof, adding, That if he would but say the word, he would quickly dispatch the cruel Tyrant; God forbidden, vile Varlet, said the Earl, that we should procure the death of the Holy One of God: Why, said the Soldier, he would not spare you if he had you at the like advantage: No matter for that, said the Earl, let Gods Will be done, he will dispose thereof, but let us not hurt the King. Chatham joins to this City, and is now one of the Royal Docks for building Ships, of which this story is recorded: It happened the dead Corpse of a man was cost ashore in this Town, and being taken up was buried decently in the Churchyard, now there was an Image or Rood in the Church, called our Lady of Chatham, this Lady, say the Monks, went next night and roused up the Clerk, telling him that a sinful person was buried near the place where she was worshipped, who offended her Eyes with his ghastly grinning, and unless he were removed, to the great grief of good People she must remove from thence, and could work no more miracles, therefore desired him to go with her to take him up, and throw him into the River again; which being done, soon after the Body floated again, and was again taken up and buried in the Churchyard; but from that time all miracles ceased, and the place where he was buried did continually sink downward; this Tale is still remembered by some aged People, receiving it by tradition from the Popish times of darkness and Idolatry. In the Reign of K. Will. Rufus all the Lands in Kent sometime belonging to Earl Godwin were by breaking in of the Sea covered with sands, and are called Godwins Sands to this day; It is said, that Thira a Dane, Godwins Wife, used to make Merchandise of the beautiful Virgins of England, by selling them to Denmark at a dear rate, seeking thereby to satisfy her own Covetousness and the Danes Lusts, which practice she continued till Divine Vengeance fell upon her by a Thunderbolt from Heaven, whereby she was slain. In 1199. The Town of Malling in Kent with the Nunnery were consumed with Fire. In 1216. about Maidstone a certain Monster was found struck with Lightning which had an head like an Ass, a belly like a Man, and all other parts far differing from any other Creature. 〈◊〉 the first of Q. Marry the bravest Ship than in England, called the Great Harry, being of Burden a Thousand Tun, was burnt by negligence at Woolwich: About the same time the Parson of Crondall near Canterbury preaching upon a Shrove Sunday, went besides his Text into an impertinent discourse in commendation of the Pope's Articles lately set forth, and in disgracing the Protestant Religion, speaking thus to the People; My Masters and Neighbours, rejoice and be merry, for the Prodigal Son is come home; for I know your hearts well enough, that the most of you are like myself, and I shall tell you what happened to me this Week; I have been with my Lord Cardinal Pool, and he hath made me as clean from my Sins as I was at the Font-stone, and he hath also appointed me to publish unto you the Bull of the Pope's Pardon, (reading it to them, and adding,) he thanked God that ever he lived to see that day, and he believed by virtue of that Bull he was clean from sin as the Night he was born; which words he had no sooner uttered, but he was struck with sudden death, and never stirred more, to the astonishment of the Spectators.  
In 1575. a vast mighty Whale was cast upon the Isle of Thanet in Kent, Twenty els long, and 13 Foot broad from the belly to the backbone, and his Tail as broad; the nether Jaw was 12 Foot, and as much between the Eyes, some of his Ribs were 15 Foot long, and so was his Tongue; one of his Eyes being taken out of his Head was more than a Cart with 6 Horses could draw, the Oil being boiled out of the Head was Parmacitte. In 1548. one Mr. Mr. Arden of Kent by procurement of his Wife was murdered in his own House; being dead, his Body was carried out and laid on the ground in a Close hard by, where this is memorable; that for two Years after, the ground where his Body lay bore no grass, but still represented as it were a picture of his Body, only in the space between his Legs and Arms there grew Grass, but where any part of his Body touched, none at all; yet this miraculous accident was not, it may be, so much for the Murder, as for the Curses of a Widow Woman, out of whose hands this Mr. Arden had bought this very Close, to her utter undoing; and thus Divine Justice even in this World oftentimes works Miracles upon Offenders, for a merciful warning to others, if they will be so wise to take it. In 1585. Aug. 4. a marvellous accident happened in the Hamlet of Mottingham near Eltham, in this County, in a field belonging to Sir Percival Hart; betimes in the morning the ground began to sink so much, that three great Elm Trees were suddenly swallowed into the Pit, the Tops falling downward into the hole, and before 10 a Clock they were so overwhelmed, that no part of them could be discerned, the place being suddenly filled with Water; the compass of the whole was about 80 Yards, and so deep, that a sounding line of 50 fathoms could hardly find or feel any bottom, ten yard's distance from this place there was another piece of ground sunk in the same manner near the Highway, and so nigh a dwelling House, that the Inhabitants were greatly terrified thereby.  
In 1602. April 20. Thirteen Persons were slain by misfortune at the Gunpowder Mill at Redriff, and much more hurt done in divers places. Nicholas Wood of Harrison in this County, Yeoman, did with ease eat a whole Sheep of 16 shillings price, and that raw, at one meal; another time he eat 30 dozen of Pigeons; at Sir William Sidlys' he eat as much as would have sufficed 30 men; at the Lord Wotton's in Kent, he eat at one meal 84 Rabbits, which number would have sufficed 168 men, allowing to each half a Rabbit; he suddenly devoured 18 yards of black pudding, London measure, and having once eat 60 pound weight of Cherries, he said they were but washmeat; he made an end of a whole Hog at once, and after it swallowed three pecks of Damasons, this was after break-fast, for he said he had eat one pottle of milk, one pottle of pottage with Bread, Butter, and Cheese before: he eat in my presence, saith Tailor the Water Poet, six penny Wheaten Loaves, three six penny Veal Pies, one pound of sweet Butter, one good dish of Thornback, and a shiver of a peck Household Loaf an inch thick, and all this in the space of an hour; the House yielded no more, and so he went away unsatisfied; one John Dale was too hard for him at a place called Lenham, he laid a Wager he could fill Woods belly with good wholesome Victuals for 2 Shillings, and a Gentleman waged on the contrary, that when he had eaten out Dales two shillings, he should then presently eat up a whole good Sirloine of Beef; Dale bought six pots of mighty Ale, and 12 new penny white Loaves, which he sopped therein, the powerful fume whereof conquered this Conqueror, and laid him in a sleep, to the preservation of the roast Beef, and unexpected winning of the wager; he spent all his Estate to provide provant for his belly, and though a landed Man, and a true Labourer, died very poor about 1630.  
In 1652. One Adam Sprackling Esq lived at St. Laurence in the Isle of Thanet, he had a fair Estate, and Married Sir Robert Lewkners' Daughter, but growing extremely debauched, brought himself into many troubles, and spent his Estate; This Gentleman coming home one night, fell into a great rage against his Wife, who was a very virtuous Lady, and resolving to mischief her, he first struck her with his Dagger, hurting her Jaw, which she bore patiently, saying little to him; He raged still more against her, and she rising to go away, he struck her with a chopping knife on the wrist, and cut the bone in sunder; he than dashed her on the forehead with the Iron Cleaver, whereupon she fell down bleeding, but recovering herself on her knees, she prayed God to forgive her Husband his Sins, as she did; and likewise to pardon her own sins; while she was thus praying, her bloody Husband chopped her head in the midst, even to the very brains, so that she fell down dead immediately, than did he kill 6 Dogs, 4 of which he threw by his Wife, and chopped her twice into the Leg after she was dead; being apprehended for this horrid murder, he was carried to Sandwich Goal, and was Tried, Condemned and Executed for the same, dying very desperately; and refusing to discourse either with Ministers or Gentlemen who came thither to speak to him.  
In 1655. Sir George Sonds of Kent had two Sons grown up to that Age, wherein he might have expected most comfort from them, but the younger of them having no apparent cause, or provocation, either from his Father or Brother, did in a most unnatural and barbarous manner murder his elder Brother, concerning which, Sir George in a Narrative written by himself, useth these expressions; For my Son's wickedness, I must needs say cain's was not greater, for he did it in the Field, and first talked with his Brother, and had some pretence of reason for it, and because Abel, and his offering was more respected, but thou, says he, didst murder thy Brother basely and inhumanly, not in the Field, but in his Bed, thou didst not talk and dispute it with him, but didst kill him sleeping, and couldst hear nothing but sad groans from him; nor didst thou do it with a Sword or manly weapon, but with a butcherly Cleaver didst beat out his brains, and as if that had been too little, with a most cowardly Stiletto didst stab him 7 or 8 times in and about the heart; thou couldst have no such pretence as Cain had, for thou wast ever equally respected with thy Brother; Even profane Esau came short of thee, he did but resolve to kill his Brother, but when he met him he repent and embraced him, but thou didst go through with thy work, in the height of malice, and when thou hadst brought me to him, after thou hadst slain him, I saw not any relenting in thee, not one tear to drop from thine eyes for that foul Fact; Judas did betray his innocent Master, but thou didst more, for thou didst kill thy innocent Brother; Judas did but deliver up his Master to the Judge for Trial; but thou wast Judge and Executioner thyself; He might plead that the Devil (after he had taken the Sop) entered into him, and that he was hired for 30 pieces of Silver; thou hadst no Devil, nor any hire but thy own malicious nature; he did it in the dark night, as ashamed that the Light should see so foul a Fact; But thou in the fair morning when 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, etc. 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 Grazier 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 money, conspired to take away his life, and accordingly one of them cut his throat, and the other taking his money, threw him overboard; This Murder was concealed divers years, but in 1656. these Murderers being drinking together, fell out, and one of them in his passion accused the other of Murder, 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 Mariner struck her with an harping Iron, whereupon she spouted forth much water and blood, and roared like a Lion, and so beating herself 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 died, 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 sheaves onwards of Pease, a vast height into the Air, and carried them over the Town into the Se●; 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 straits, 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 Diocese of Canterbury and Rochester; and gives the Title of Earl to Anthony L. Grace; 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 brigants 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 Emperors; 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 British 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 show it maketh, for resort to it, and for clothing, in regard also of the Market place, the fair Church and College.  
In this Province King Arthur is reported to have put the Saxons to flight in a memorable Battle near Douglas, 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 Fuel 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. Marry, Bishop Bonner put out a Mandate to the Priests within his Diocese, commanding that comely Roods or Images should again be set up in all Churches, the same injunction was published in other Dioceses; 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 man's labour has been never the less, and its pity he should lose by it; But I'll tell you what you shall do, pay him the money you promised him, and if it will not serve you for a God, you may make a Devil of it; At which answer they laughed and departed.  
In the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, a certain Jesuit in Lancashire, as he was walking by the way, lost his Glove, and one that came after him finding it, followed him apace, with an intention to restore it, but he fearing the worst, being inwardly pursued with a guilty conscience, ran away, and hastily leaping over an Hedge, fell into a Marlepit, which was on the other side, in which he was drowned; In 1613. April 17. in the Parish of Standish in Lancashire, a Maiden Child was born, having four legs, four Arms, two Bellies joined to one back, one head with two faces, the one before, the other behind like the Picture of Janus. In 1662. July 4. At Litham about two miles from Preston in this County a very strange Fish was cast upon the Shoar; it was about four yards in length, and as big as an ordinary Horse, the forefeet were as long as a man's Arm; the hinder feet much shorter, but broad like the Finns of a Fish, it roared most dreadfully like a Bear, it continued alive for some time, and multitudes of People came to view it. Also much about the same time, and nine miles from this place, many credible Persons often saw a very dreadful Serpent come forth out of a Wood, the length thereof being about five or six yards, and they judged it to be bigger than the biggest Cart Axel Tree; it was so great that some who viewed the place where it sometimes lay, near a Well at Dunkin Hall, affirm, that it made such an impression on the ground, as if an Ox or some more large and pounderous Beast had lain there. The Thirtieth of the same month at Ormskirk, there happened such a storm of Hail, as was hardly ever seen, it beat down the Apples, spoiled the Corn, broke the glass Windows, on that side of the Houses the wind was of, and cut the lead in pieces; some Hailstones were taken up 8 Inches about, and some as big as Pullet's Eggs; all the French Wheat was utterly spoiled, and the other Wheat and Barley in the three adjacent Parishes much damaged.  
This County is divided into 6 Hundreds, wherein are 26 Market Towns, and 61 Churches, and is in the Diocese of Chester; it elects 14 Parliament men; Manchester gives the Title of Earl to Robert L. Montague.  
LEICESTERSHIRE hath Lincoln and Rutland Shires on the East, Derby and Nottingham Shires on the North, Warwickshire on the West, and Northamptonshire on the South: It is a Champion Country, and abounds with Corn, Cattle, and Coals; the chief City Leicester stands almost in the heart of the County, which by Etheldred the Mercian King was made an Episcopal See, but being removed, the Beauty of the Town decayed, yet the renowned Lady Ethelfleda casting an Eye of compassion upon it, re-edified the Buildings, and compassed it about with a strong Wall, whereby the Trade of the City was much increased: But in the Reign of Hen. 2. Robert Earl of Leicester rebelling against him, the King besieged, took, and plundered it, throwing down the Walls, which seemed hard to be done, some parcels of them remaining like hard Rocks by reason of the excellent Mortar; The King then commanded the City to be set on fire and burnt, the Castle to be razed, and an heavy Imposition was laid upon the Citizens, who with great Sums of Money bought their own Banishments. In the ninth Year of K. Henry 5. a Parliament was called at Leicester, wherein an 110 Priories were suppressed, because they spoke ill of his Conquests in France, and their Possessions given to the King.  
In 1485. King Richard, called Crookback, set out of this City in the morning to meet the Earl of Richmond, (afterward K. Henry 7.) and chose Bosworth Field to try his fortune with him for the Crown of England that day; the Van of his Army was led by the Duke of Norfolk consisting of 1200 Bowmen, flanked with 200 Curiassers under the E. of Surrey; the main Battle K. Richard led himself, being 1000 Billmen, empaled with 2000 Pikes; the King expected the L. Stanly's 2000 Horse to come for his assistance, of whose Fidelity to him the King having some doubt, he had before got his Son the Lord Strange as a pledge of his Loyalty with him; Stanley not appearing, K. Richard sent a Letter to him to come presently into his presence, or else he swore by Christ's Passion he would strike off his Son's head before he dined; to which the L. Stanley returned answer, That if he did so he had more Sons alive, and he might do his pleasure; but to come to him he was not determined: Which Answer when K. Richard heard, he commanded the L. Strange to be immediately beheaded, but it being at the very time when both Armies were in sight of each other, his Lords persuaded him it was now time to fight, and not to put to Execution, and so the L. Strange escaped. The Earl of Richmond likewise sent to the L. Stanley, to repair presently to him, but he sent word, he must expect no aid from him till the Battles were joined, and therefore advised him with all possible speed to give the onset; which Answer somewhat staggered the Earl, because his number did but a little exceed one half of the Kings, yet to make the best show he could, by the advice of his Council of War, he made the Front of his Army thin and broad, of which the Earl of Oxford had the leading, the Earl himself leading the Battle; soon after the Fight begun, and the Arrows being spent on both sides, they came to handstroaks, and just then came in the Lord Stanley to the Earls assistance; while they were thus contending K. Richard was informed, that the Earl of Richmond with a small number was not far off, and thereupon being of an invincible courage, whereof he was now to give the last proof, he made toward him, and gave such a furious assault, that first with his own hands he slew Sir William Brandon who bore the Earls Standard, next he unhorsed and overthrew Sir John Chyney a stout man at Arms; and then assaulted the Earl of Richmond himself, who unexpectedly, for all the King's fury, held him off at the Lances point till Sir Wm. Stanley came in with 3000 fresh men, and then oppressed with multitude K. Richard was there slain; It is said, that when the Battle was near lost a swift Horse was brought him, with which he might have saved himself by flight, but Richard out of his undaunted courage refused it, saying He would that day make an end of all Battles or else lose his Life. In this Battle Henry E. of Northumberland who led King Richard's Rear, never struck stroke, as likewise many others who followed K. Richard more for fear than love, and so he who had deceived many, was at this time deceived by many; which was not unforeseen by some who caused a Rhyme to be set upon the Duke of Norfolk's Tent, the night before the Fight, which was this, 
Jack of Norfolk be not too bold,  
For Dickon thy Master is bought and sold.   
Yet notwithstanding this warning, this noble Duke continued firm to K. Richard, and lost his Life in his quarrel: The whole number slain in this Battle on K. Richard's side was about 1000 Persons; Sir Wm. Catesby one of the chief Counsellors of K. Richard, with divers others, were two days after beheaded at Leicester: This Battle was fought Aug. 20. 1485. continuing a little above two hours: The Earl Knighted several persons in the Field, and then kneeling down he rendered hearty Thanks to Almighty God for the Victory he had obtained, and commanded all the wounded men to be cured; whereat the People rejoicing clapped their hands and cried K. Henry, K. Henry, of which joy Sir W. Stanley taking opportunity, he took the Crown of K. Richard, which was found among the spoils in the Field, and set it on the Earls Head, as though he had been elected King by the voice of the People. The Body of K. Richard after he was slain was script and left naked to the very skin, not so much as a rag being left about him to cover his nakedness, and being taken up was trussed behind a pursuivant at Arms, his Head and Arms hanging on one side the Horse, and his Legs on the other; thus all besmeared with Blood and dirt, he was brought to the Grey Friars Church in Leicester, and there for some time lay a miserable spectacle, and afterward with small Funeral Pomp was there buried; But K. Henry 7. afterward caused a Tomb to be set over the place, with his Picture in Alabaster, which at the suppression of that Monastery was utterly defaced, since when his Grave overgrown with Nettles and Weeds, is not to be found, only the stone Chest wherein his Corpse lay, is now made a drinking Trough for Horses at a common Inn in Leicester, and retaineth only the memory of this Monarch's greatness; but his body is reported to have been carried out of the City, and contemptuously laid under the end of Bow-Bridge near that Town; it is likewise said, that upon this Bridge there stood a stone of some height, against which, K. Richard as he passed toward Bosworth, by chance struck his spur, which a Witch or wise Woman observing, she should say; That where his spur struck, his head should be broken, as they say it was, when he was brought back dead. He lived 37 years, and reigned two years and two months; it is memorable that this Sir William Stanley, who so seasonably saved K. Henry's life, and set the Crown on his head, was about 11 years after upon pretence of some dangerous words, beheaded at Tower-hill by order of the same King Henry.  
Mr. Wanly writes, that in St. Martin's Church in Leicester, there is this very remarkable Epitaph to be seen; Here lies the body of John Heyrick of this Parish, who died 1589. aged 76 years, who lived with his Wife Mary in one House full 62 years, and had issue by her, 5 Sons, and seven Daughters, and in all that time never buried Man, Woman nor Child, though they were sometime 20 in Household; the said Mary lived to 97 years, and died 1611. She did see before her departure, of her Children, and children's Children, and their Children to the number of 142. Matthew Paris relates of a Maid in Leicestershire, who being exactly watched, was found in seven years together, neither to eat nor drink, but only that on Sundays she received the Sacrament, and yet continued fat, and good liking; which if true, we may well believe that in the Resurrection our life may be maintained without meat or drink. About Lutterworth in Leicestershire, a Miller had murdered one in his Mill, and privately buried him in a ground hard by; this Miller removed into another Country, and there lived a long space, till at last guided by the Providence of God for the manifestation of his Justice, he returned unto that place to visit some of his Friends; while he was there, the Miller who now had the Mill, had occasion to dig deep in that very place, where he found the Carcase of a man; this known, it pleased God to put it into their hearts to remember a Neighbour of theirs who 20 years before was suddenly miss, and since that time not heard of; and bethinking themselves who was then Miller of that Mill, behold he was ready in Town, not having been there for many years before; this man was suspected, & thereupon examined, & without much ado confessed the Fact, & was accordingly executed for the same. In 1660. Sep. 3. near Worthington in this County there happened a dreadful Whirlwind which tore up a great Tree by the Roots, casting it four or five yards from the place, rend off the great limbs of an Appletree, and threw down a House in the Street; the Chapel was much shaken, and the Chancel in danger of falling; than it passed on with great force and noise to Worthington Hall, where it overturned five Bay of Barn-building, and a Gatehouse, it blew down a stack of Chimneys, and hurried a man into the Garden, who by catching hold of a Tree stayed himself; at another Town, it rend a House, where a woman and three Children were miraculously preserved, to which it brought a great Log of Wood, no body knew from whence; it carried away a Hive of Bees, and a load of Thorns, which could not be heard of, and turned up 20 Load of Wood by the roots; this whirlwind ran about three miles in length, and not above 20 yards in breadth, some said there were flames of fire seen in it. Upon the 24. of January following, between six and seven a clock at night there was a very great Earthquake in most parts of Leicestershire, which came at first like a noise in the Air at great distance, it shook the Houses very much, and in some places men could hardly stand without holding; the continuance thereof was about a quarter of an hour. Near Lutterworth is a spring so cold, that in a short time it turneth straw and sticks into stone; John Wickliff was sometime Parson of Lutterworth Church, a man of singular and polite wit, and much conversant in the Scripture; his bones were afterward taken up and burnt by the Papists. Sir Robert Belknap, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in K. Richard 2. time was of this County, and that K. having a design to destroy certain Lords, sent for the Judges to Nottingham, where the Kings many questions were in fine resolved into this, Whether he might by his Regal Power revoke what was acted in Parliament; to this all the Judges, Sir William Skipwith alone excepted, answered Affirmatively, and subscribed it, though this Belknap did it unwillingly, as foreseeing the danger, and putting to his Seal, said these words; There wants nothing now but an Hurdle, an Horse, and an Halter to carry me where I may suffer the death I deserve; for if I had not done this, I should have died for it, and because I have done it, I deserve death for betraying the Lords. Yet it had been more for his credit to have adventured Martyrdom in defence of the Laws, than to hazard the death of a Malefactor in the breach thereof; but Judges are but men, and most men desire to decline that danger which they think nearest to them; but he and the other Judges were condemned for High-Treason in the next Wonder working Parliament, and hardly had escaped death, if the Queen had not earnestly interceded for them.  
The County of Leicester is divided into six Hundreds, wherein are 200 Parish Churches, and 12 Market Towns; it is in the Diocese of Lincoln, and gives the Title of Earl to Robert L. Sidney.  
LINCOLNSHIRE hath Yorkshire on the North, the Germane Ocean on the East, Cambridge, and Northampton Shires on the South, and Leicestershire on the West; it abounds in Fish, Fowl, Corn, Cattle and Flax. Lincoln is the chief Place, well inhabited and frequented; It stands upon the side of a Hill, where the River Witham bends his course Eastward, and being divided into three small Channels, watereth the lower part of the City; in the highest part thereof is the Cathedral, a stately structure, being built throughout with singular and rare Workmanship, especially the West end, it is very ancient, and had 50 Parish Churches in it, whereof at this day only 15 remain besides the Minster; In the year 1180. a great Earthquake overthrew many Buildings, amongst which the Cathedral Church of Lincoln was rend in pieces by it; about this time the Bishopric of Lincoln was so long void, that a certain Hermit of Tame prophesied there should be no more Bishops of Lincoln, but he proved an untrue Prophet, for after 16 years' vacancy, Geoffrey the King's Bastard Son was preferred thereunto, of whom it was said, That he was more skilful in fleecing than feeding his Flock; this Gallant Bishop would usually in discourse protest, By the honour of his Father, but one of the King's Chaplains told him, Pray Sir remember sometimes the honesty of your Mother, as well as the Royalty of your Father; he used to put in his Episcopal Seal, The Seal of Geoffrey Son of the K. of England A poor Country Husbandman coming to Robert Grostead Bishop of Lincoln challenged kindred of him, and thereupon desired him to prefer him to such an Office, which he was very unfit for; Cousin, said the Bishop, If your Cart be broken, I will mend it, if your Plough be old, I will give you a new one, or seed to sow your Land, but a Husbandman I found you, and a Husbandman I will leave you. In 1537. King Henry the 8. by advice of the L. Cromwell, sent abroad injunctions, whereby the People were permitted to read the Bible, and to have the Lords Prayer, the Creed, the Ten Commandments, and all the Articles of the Christian Faith in English, to be taught by all Parsons and Curates to their Parishioners; which so enraged the stupid Papists, that in Lincolnshire Twenty Thousand of them assembled together, against whom the King himself went in Person, who by persuasion winning their Chief Leaders, brought the rest upon pardon to submit themselves; but when he had himself done the work of mercy, he afterward sent the Duke of Suffolk, Sir John Russel and others to do the work of Justice, who caused Nicholas Melton, and a Monk who called himself Captain Cobbler, with 13 other Ringleaders of the Sedition to be apprehended, and most of them executed. In 1564. a monstrous Fish was driven on the shore at Grimesby in this County, being 19 yards in length, his tail was 15 foot broad, and six yards between his Eyes, 15 men stood upright in his mouth to get the Oil.  
Job Hartop was born at Bourn in this County, and went in 1568. with Sir John Hawkins his General, to make discoveries in New Spain; He was a Gunner in one of Queen Elizabeth's Ships, called The Jesus of Lubeck; long and dangerous was his Voyage, eight of his men being killed at Cape-Verd, and the General himself wounded with poisoned Arrows, but was cured by a Negro, who drew out the Poison with a clove of Garlic; he first writ of that strange Tree which may be termed, The Tree of Food, affording a Liquor which is both meat and drink; The Tree of Raiment, yielding Needles wherewith, and Thread whereof Mantles are made, The Tree of Harbour, Tiles to cover Houses, being made out of the solid parts thereof, so that it beareth a selfsufficiency for man's maintenance. Job was his name, and patience was with him, so that he may pass for a Confessor of this County, for being with some others by this General left on land for want of Provisions, after many miseries they came to Mexico, he continued a Prisoner twenty three years, that is, 2 years at Mexico; one year in the Contractation House in Sevil, another in the Spanish Inquisition in Triana, 12 years a Galley Slave, four years with the Cross of St. Andrews at his back in the Everlasting Prison, and three years a drudge to Hernando de Soria, to so high a sum did the inventory of his sufferings amount; so much of his patience, now see the end the Lord made with him; whilst enslaved to the aforesaid Fernando, he was sent to Sea in a Flemish Vessel, which was afterward taken by an English Ship, and so he was safely landed at Plymouth Dec. 2. 1590. And died soon after. Sir William Mounson was extracted out of an Ancient Family in this Shire, and was from his Youth bred in Sea Service, wherein he attained to great perfection; Queen Elizabeth having cleared Ireland of the Spanish Forces, and desiring carefully to prevent a Relapse, altered the Scene of War from Ireland to Spain, from defending to invading; and Sir Richard Levison being Admiral, and Mounson Vice Admiral, they in 1602. went to Portugal, where without drawing a Sword they quite killed Trading on those Coasts, no Ships daring to go in or out of their Harbours; there they had Intelligence of a vast Carack ready to land in Sisimbria, which was of 1600 Tun, richly laden out of the East-Indies, & resolved to assault it, though it seemed placed in an invincible posture; of itself it was a Giant in comparison of our Pigmy Ships, and had in her 300 Spanish Gentlemen; the Marquis De Sancta Cruse lay hard by with 13 Ships, and all were secured under the Command of a strong and well fortified Castle; but nothing is impossible to the English Valour, and God's blessing thereon; After an hot dispute, which lasted for some hours, with the Invincible Arguments of Fire & Sword, the Carack was conquered, the wealth taken therein amounting to the value of Ten Hundred Thousand Crowns of Portugal Account; But though the Goods gotten therein might be valued, the good gotten thereby was inestimable, for ever after the Spaniards beheld the English with admiring Eyes, and quitted the thoughts of Invasion; this worthy Knight died about the midst of the Reign of King James.  
In 1614 Such great Inundations of Water happened in Lincolnshire and the parts adjacent, that the Sea entered 12 miles into the Land. I have a Letter by me saith Mr. Clerk, dated July 7. 1606. written by one Mr. Bovy, to a Minister in London, where he thus writes; Touching News, you shall understand, that Mr. Sherwood hath received a Letter from Mr. Arthur Hildersham, which containeth this following Narrative; That at Brampton in the Parish of Torksey, near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, an Ash-Tree shaketh both in the Body and Boughs thereof, and there proceeds from thence sighs and groans, like those of a man troubled in his sleep, as if it felt some sensible torment; Many have climbed to the top thereof, where they heard the groans more plainly than they could below: One among the rest being atop, spoke to the Tree, but presently came down much astonished, and lay grovelling on the Earth Speechless for 3 hours, and then reviving said, Brampton, Brampton, thou are much bound to pray: The Author of this News is one Mr. Vaughan a Minister, who was there present, and heard and saw these Passages, and told Mr. Hildersham of it: The Earl of Lincoln caused one of the Arms of the Ash to be lopped off, and a hole to be bored into the Body, and then was the sound or hollow voice heard more audibly than before, but in a kind of Speech which they could not comprehend nor understand.  
In 1666. Oct. 13. there was an extraordinary and dreadful Storm of Thunder in Lincolnshire, accompanied with Hailstones much bigger than Pigeons, and some as large as Pullet's Eggs; immediately after there followed a terrible storm and Tempest, attended with a very unusual noise, and with such violence, that at Welborn it threw most of the Houses to the ground, broke down some, and tore up other Trees by the Roots, scattering abroad much Corn and Hay, but by Divine Providence only one Boy was killed in that Town: It went thence to Willingore the next Town, overthrowing some houses, and killing 2 Children with the fall; it fell so violently on the Church of the next Town to this, that it presently dashed the Spire Steeple to pieces, and rend the Stone and Timberwork of the Church so violently, that but a little of the Wall, and only the Body of the Steeple was left standing; it threw down many Houses, Trees, and outhouses in this Town, as well as in two others far distant: It was observed to move only in a channel or small breadth, and if it had been considerably broader, could not but have ruined a great part of the Country; to some that saw it at a distance before it came near them, it had the appearance of Fire, and was by some observed to move in a kind of circle, though at the same time it kept its general course along: It passed also through Nottinghamshire; some of the Hailstones being measured were 9 Inches about; this Whirlwind extended above 60 Yards in breadth; In the Forest of Sherwood it broke down and overthrew at least 1000 Trees, it broke one short off in the Body which was three Foot in Diameter, it overthrew divers Wind Mills, some Boats in the River, and in one Town consisting of 50 Houses it left but 7 standing: The same Evening over Derby Town, and some other places, there appeared a fiery Sword hanging in the Air over them: The Thursday after in the Evening there were strange Fires seen hanging over Nottingham Town, sinsomuch that some of the Inhabitants coming homeward from a Country Market, thought the Town to be on Fire in three several places; these Informations, saith Mr. Clerk, I had from Eye-Witnesses worthy of Credit.  
About April 26. 1661. at Spalding, Bourne, and several other places in Lincolnshire, it reigned Wheat, some grains whereof were very thin and hollow, but others of a more firm substance, and would grind into fine flower, several Pecks of it were taken up out of Church Leads, and other houses that were leaded, several Inhabitants who were Eye-Witnesses brought up a considerable quantity to London.  
There is a Proverb in this Country, As mad as the baiting Bull of Stamford, the Original whereof was thus occasioned: William Earl of Warren, Lord of this Town in the time of King John, standing upon the Castle Walls of Stamford, saw two Bulls fight for a Cow in the Meadow, till all the Butcher's Dogs great and small pursued one of the Bulls (being mad with noise and multitude) quite through the Town; this sight so pleased the Earl, that he gave all those Fields called the Castle Meadows, where first the Bull-duel began, for a common to the Butchers of the Town, after the first grass was eaten, upon condition they find a Mad Bull, the day 6 weeks before Christmas-day, for the continuance of the sport every year; some think that the men must be as mad as the Bull, who can take delight in so dangerous a pastime, whereby God's providence more than man's care is to be observed, that no more mischief is done.  
The Horrid Murder of K. EDWARD 2. Pa. 78.  
The Dreadful Tempest in Devonshire Pa. 55.  
The County of Lincoln hath three Divisions, wherein are 30 Hundreds, and hath in it 35 Market Towns, 630 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of Lincoln; It elects 12 Parliament men, and gives the Title of Earl to Edward Lord Clinton, as Stamford doth to Henry Lord Grace.  
MIDDLESEX hath Hartfordshire on the North, Buckinghamshire on the West, Essex parted with the Ley on the East, Kent and Surrey severed by the Thames on the South; The Air is generally very healthful, especially about Highgate, where the expert Inhabitants report, That divers who have been long visited with sickness not curable by Physic, have in short time recovered by that sweet salutary Air: The Soil is very fruitful, pleasantly beautified on all sides with sumptuous Houses and pretty Towns: Harrow-Hill is the highest in all this County, under which there lie a long way together Southward exceeding rich and fruitful Fields, especially about Heston a small Village, which yieldeth such fine flower for Manchet, that the King's Bread was formerly made thereof, and therefore Q. Eliz. received no Composition Money from the Villages thereabout, but took her Wheat in kind for her own Pastry and Bakehouse. Hampton Court, a Royal Palace, and the neatest of all the King's Houses, is in this Shire; it is a Work of admirable magnificence, a City rather in show than the Palace of a Prince; for stately Port and gorgeous Building, saith Weaver, not inferior to any in Europe: It was built out of the ground by that Pompous Prelate Cardinal Woolsey in ostentation of his Riches, one so magnificent in his expenses, that whosoever considers his House-building, would admire that he had any thing for his House-keeping or House-furnishing: He bestowed this on K. Hen. 8. who for the greater grace thereof erected it to be an honour, Princes having Power to confer dignities on Houses as well as Persons: The King increased and enlarged it, so that it now containeth 5 very large inner Courts, encompassed with fair buildings of curious Workmanship. Now whereas other Royal Palaces found their fatal Period, as Holdenby, oatland's, Richmond, Theobalds', Hampton Court had the happiness to continue in its former Estate, of which one thus writes; 
I envy not its happy Lot, but rather thereat wonder,  
There's such a rout our Land throughout of Palaces by plunder.   
Osterly-House must not be forgotten, built in a Park by Sir Thomas Gresham, who here magnificently entertained and lodged Q. Elizabeth; Her Majesty found fault with the Court of this House as too great, affirming, That it would appear more handsome if divided by a Wall in the middle; What doth Sir Thomas (Money commanding all things) but in the night time sends for Workmen from London, who so speedily and silently apply their business, that the next morning discovered that court double which the night had left single before; it is questionable whether the Queen next day were more contented with the conformity to her fancy, or more pleased with the surprise and sudden performance thereof; whilst the Courtiers disported themselves with their several expressions, some avowing it was no wonder he could so soon change a building, who could build a Change: Others reflecting on some known differences in this Knt's Family, affirmed, That any house is easier divided than united. Edward the 5. sole surviving Son of K. Hen. 8. and Jane his Wife, was born at Hampton Court in this County 1537. He succeeded his Father in this Kingdom, and was most eminent in his Generation, saith Dr. Fuller, seeing the Kings of England fall under a five fold Division, 1. Visibly vicious, given over to dissoluteness and debauchery, as K. Edward the Second, 2. Rather free from Vice than fraught with Virtue, as King Henry the Third. 3. Those in whom Vices and Virtues were so equally matched, as it was hard to decide which got the mastery, as in King Henry 8.4. whose good qualities beat their bad ones quite out of distance of competition, as K. Edward 1.5. Whose Virtues were so resplendent, no faults (humane frailties excepted) appeared in them, as in this K. Edward; He died July 5. 1553. and pity it is that he who deserved the best, should have no Monument erected to his memory. Smithfield in London being Bonner's Shambles, and the Bonfire General of England, no wonder if some sparks thereof were driven into the Neighbourhood, as Barnet, Islington, and Stratford, Bow, where more than twenty Persons were Martyred, as in Mr. Fox it doth appear; nor must we forget Mr. John Denly burnt at Uxbridge, who began to sing a Psalm at the stake, and Dr. Story there present, caused a Faggot to be hurled in his face, which so hurt him, that he bled therewith; however we may believe that this Martyr's Song made good melody in the ears of the God of Heaven.  
The last pitched Battle in England between the two Houses of Lancaster and York, was fought at Barnet. 1472. by K. Edward 4. who hearing that the Earl of Warwick, on the behalf of K. Henry the 6. was with his Army encamped on a Heath near Barnet, he marched toward them upon April 13. being Easter Eve, and came that evening from London thither, where he would not suffer a man of his Army to stay in the Town, but commanded them all to the Field, and lodged with his Army nearer to the Enemy than he was ware, by reason of a thick mist, raised as some say, by Friar Bongey the Conjurer, which made it so dark, that it could not well be observed where they were encamped; In taking his ground he caused his People to keep as much silence as was possible, thereby to keep the Enemy from knowing of their approach, great Artillery they had on both parts, but Warwick had more than K. Edward, and therefore in the night time they shot continually at the King's Army, but did little hurt, because they overshot them as lying nearer than was conceived; on Easter day early in the morning both Armies are ordered for Battle; the Earl of Warwick, appointed the command of his Right Wing, which consisted of Horse to his Brother the Marquis Montacute, and the Earl of Oxford; the left Wing likewise consisting of Horse, was led by himself, and the Duke of Exeter, and the main Battle of Bills, and Bows was conducted by the Duke of Somerset; on K. Edward's part the Van was commanded by Richard D. of Gloucester, the main Battle (in which the unfortunate K. Henry was Prisoner) was led by K. Edward himself, and the L. Hastings brought up the Rear; after exhortations for encouraging their Soldiers, the fight began, which with great valour was maintained for six hours without any apparent disadvantage on either side, only Warwick's Van seemed by the courage of the Earl of Oxford, to overmatch King Edward's, which made some flying toward London carry the news, that the Earl of Warwick had won the Field, and so perhaps he had indeed, but for a strange misfortune which happened to the Earl of Oxford and his men, for they having a Star with streams on their Liveries, as K. Edward's men had the Sun, the Earl of Warwick's men by reason of the mist, not well distinguishing the badges, shot at the Earl of Oxford's men, who were of their own side, whereupon the Earl of Oxford cried out, Treason, Treason! and fled with 800 men; at length after great slaughter made on both sides, K. Edward having the greater number of men, caused a new recruit of fresh Soldiers to come on, whom he had reserved to that purpose, which the Earl of Warwick observing, being a man of an invincible courage, nothing dismayed, rushed into the midst of his Enemies, where he adventured so far, that amongst the press he was struck down and slain; though some write, that seeing the desperate condition of his Army, the Earl leapt on his Horse to fly, and coming to a Wood where was no passage, one of K. Edward's men came to him and killed him, and stripped him to his naked skin; The Marquis Montacute thinking to relieve his Brother, lost likewise his life, and left the victory to King Edward; There were slain on both sides at least Ten Thousand Men; and hereby King Edward again got the Kingdom, and King Henry's Friends not being afterward able to raise any considerable power on his behalf, he was soon after sent to the Tower, and there murdered by the Duke of Gloucester.  
I shall not speak any thing in this place concerning London, as having already published a book of the same price with this, of Historical Remarks and Observations of the ancient and present state of London and Westminster, wherein the most considerable particulars relating thereto for several hundred years are succinctly discovered.  
The County of Middlesex is divided into 7 Hundreds, wherein are 4 Market Towns, and 73 Parish Churches, besides those in London and Westminster; It is in the Diocese of London, and out of it are elected 8 Parliament Men; For the County 2. Westminster 2. London 4. and gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Sackvil, who is also Earl of Dorset.  
NORFOLK hath the Germane Ocean on the North and East thereof; Suffolk severed by the River Waveny on the South; Cambridgshire parted by the River Owse, and part of Lincolnshire on the West; it is 50 mile's East and West, and 30 North and South; all England, saith Dr. Fuller, may be carved out of Norfolk, represented therein not only to the kind, but the degree thereof, for here are Fens, and Heaths, and Light, and Deep, and Sand, and Clay-ground, and Meadows, and Pastures, and Arable and Woody, and sometimes Woodless grounds, so that herein is sufficiency of profit and pleasure collectively in this County; it abounds in Corn, Worsteds, Stuffs, Wool, Coals, and Rabbits, who are an Army of Natural Pioners, whence men have learned the Art of undermining, they thrive best in barren ground, and go fattest in the hardest Frosts, their flesh is fine and wholesome; if the Scottish men tax our language as improper, and smile at our Wing of a Rabbit, let us laugh at their Shoulder of a Capon; great store of Herrings, and very good are caught nigh Yarmouth, and vast profit raised out of them, We may conclude the natural Commodities of this County with this memorable passage of a modern Author, who writes thus; the Lord F. W. assured me of a Gentleman in Norfolk, who made above Ten Thousand pound of a piece of ground not 40 yards square, and yet there was neither Mineral nor Metal in it; he after told me, it was a sort of fine Clay, for the making of a choice sort of Earthen Ware, which some that knew it seeing him dig up, discovered the value of it, and sending it into Holland received so much money for it.  
It is recorded that one chief occasion of the Danes invading this Kingdom proceeded from the following Accident; About the year 867. one Lothbrook a Nobleman of the Royal Family of Denmark, being upon that Shoar, his Hawk in pursuing her Game, fell into the Sea, he to recover her, got into a small Cockboat alone, and by a sudden Tempest was driven with his Hawk to the Coast of Norfolk near Rodham, where being seized for a Spy, he was sent to Edmund K. of the East Angles, but having declared his birth and misfortune, the King took affection to him for his skill in Hawking, and his other good parts, and preferred him, but Berick the King's Falconer envying this favour, as they were hunting together in a Wood, privately murdered him, and hide him in a Bush; Lothbrook was soon miss, and by no inquiry could be found, till it pleased God his Dog, which would not forsake his dead Master's Corpse, came fawning to the King several times, and then went back to the wood, which the King observing, at length followed the Hound, who brought him to the place where Lothbrook lay; and Berick being found guilty of the murder, was sentenced to be put into Lothbrooks' Boat without Tackle or Sail, as he arrived here; but behold the Event, the Boat returned to the same place in Denmark, from whence it had been driven for Berick, as it were to be punished for this Murder; here the Boat being known, Berick was taken, who to free himself from that bloody Fact, added Treason to Murder, affirming, That King Edmund had put Lothbrook to death in Norfolk; In revenge whereof, Inguar and Hubba the 2 Sons of the murdered Lothbrook, being made Generals of a Danish Army arrived in England, and burnt up the Country, sparing neither Sex, nor Age, and breaking into Norfolk, sent this Message to K. Edmund, That Inguar the most victorious Prince, dreadful both by Sea and Land, having brought divers Countries under his subjection, was now arrived in these parts, where he meant to winter, and requireth thee Edmund to be subject, and a vassal to him, to yield up to him thy hid Treasures, and all other the riches of thine Ancestors, and so to reign under him, which if thou refusest to do, he adjudges thee unworthy both of life and Kingdom; Edmund hearing this proud Pagan Message, after advising with his Council, returned this answer; Go said he, and tell thy Lord, that Edmund the Christian King for the love of a Temporal life will not submit himself to a Pagan Duke, unless he will resolve to become a Christian; whereupon Inguar and Hubba, with their furious Danes, pursued the King to Thetford; who raising an Army, gave them Battle, but being overpowered by his Enemies, he retired to Framingham Castle, where pitying the terrible slaughter of his People, he submitted himself to the Danes, but because he would not renounce the Christian Religion, these bloody Heathens beat him with sticks, and whipped him with rods; but he still fervently calling upon the name of Jesus, they were so enraged, that binding him to a stake, they with their Arrows shot him to death, and cutting off his head, scornfully threw it into an hedge; But his body was afterward honourably buried at St. Edmundsbury, from whence that Town had its name.  
At Walsingham in this County there was a Chapel built in the year 1601. dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and renowned throughout England for a Pilgrimage to our Lady of Walsingham, and those who did not visit, and present her with offer, were counted irreligious; hear the description of Erasmus, an Eye-witness, concerning this place; About four miles from the Sea side, saith he, standeth a Town that lives on nothing else almost but the resort of Pilgrims to this place; there is a College of Regular Canons, which hath scarce any other Revenues than from the liberality of this Virgin, for the greater oblations are preserved, but the Money and other Offerings of smaller value go to the maintenance of the Friars; the Church is fair and neat, yet the Virgin dwells not therein, that honour (forsooth) she hath done to her Son; she hath her Church to herself in the right hand of her Son; neither doth she dwell there for all this, for the building is not yet finished, small light there was in it but by Tapers or Wax-Candles yielding a pleasant smell; and when you come into it, you would say it were an heavenly habitation indeed, so bright shining all over it with precious Stones, and Gold and Silver. This Chapel with all the Trinkets therein, fell in the general destruction of Popish Monasteries by K. Henry 8. At St. Bennet in the Holm, there was a great Abbey built by Canutus the Dane, which was afterward so fortified by the Monks with Walls and Bulwarks, that it seemed rather a Castle than a Cloister, insomuch that K. William the Conqueror could not win it by assault, till a Monk betrayed it into his hands, upon condition he himself should be made Abbot thereof; which was done accordingly; but the King presently hanged up this new Abbot for a Traitor, and so he was justly punished for his Treachery. K. Stephen had only one Son named Eustace, a Prince of much blossoming valour, as being cut off at 18 years of Age, some say by drowning, and others by a stranger Accident, but strange Relations must not always be rejected, for though many of them be forged, yet some no doubt are true; and who knows but it may be of this kind which some writers relate of this Prince, That being at the Abbey of Bury in the Diocese of Norwich, and denied some money he demanded, he presently in a rage went forth, and set the Cornfields belonging to the Abbey on fire, but afterward sitting down to Dinner, at the first morsel of bread he put into his mouth, he fell into a fit of madness, and in that fit died; certainly the Persons of Princes are for more observation than ordinary People, and as they make Examples, so they are sometimes made Examples.  
In the 11th of K. Hen. 2. there was so great an Earthquake in Norfolk, and some other Counties, that it overthrew many who stood upon their feet, and made the Bells towl in the Steeples. In his 18th Year the Cathedral Church at Norwich, with the Houses thereto belonging, was burnt, and the Monks dispersed. In the Reign of K. Richard 1. a Jew being turned Christian at Lynn in Norfolk, he was persecuted by those of his own Nation, and assaulted in the street; who thereupon flying to a Church hard by, was followed thither also, and the Church assaulted, which the People of the Town seeing, in defence of the new Christian they fell upon the Jews, of whom they slew a great number, and after pillaged their Houses; By this Example the Jews were assaulted in other places, and vast multitudes of them massacred, and some of them being blocked up in a Castle at York, cut the Throats of their Wives and Children and cast them over the Walls on the Christians Heads, and then burned the Castle and themselves; neither could this Sedition be stayed, till the King sent his Chancellor, the Bishop of Ely, with force of Arms to punish the offenders. In the 5th of Hen 5. a great part of the City of Norwich was burnt, and all the Houses of the Friar's Preachers, where two of the Friars themselves were burnt in the flames.  
In the 2d of Edward 6. 1549 a dangerous Rebellion broke forth in Norfolk, about Grievances for Enclosures; The Rebels had got one Ket a Tanner to be their Leader, who with others encouraged them to pull down Enclosures, and in short time they grew to a Body of 20000, so that the Sheriff of Norfolk commanding them in the King's name to departed, or else he would proclaim them Traitors, he had been certainly slain, had not his Horse been too swift for them; they furnished themselves with Arms and Artillery, and for their better security they fortified themselves upon Monshold hill, near St. leonard's hill by Norwich, where they carried a face as it were of Justice and Religion; for they had one Convers an Idle Fellow for their Chaplain, who morning and evening read solemn Prayers to them, also Sermons they had often; and as for Justice they ordained a Seat of Judgement in an old Tree, whose Canopy was the Cope of Heaven; in this Tree sat the Tanner, as Chancellor and chief Judge, giving out Warrants in the King's name, and as his Deputy committed many Persons of Quality to Prison, he was assisted by two chosen men of every hundred among them, from whom Commissions were sent to bring in to them Powder, Shot, Victuals, and all things necessary, and here such as had exceeded their Commission were ordered to be imprisoned, so that this Tree was called, The Oak of Reformation, whence likewise some Sermons were delivered to the People, and once by the Reverend Dr. Parker which had like to have cost him his Life; and now beginning to grow to a height, they presented certain Complaints to the King, requiring he would send an Herald to give them satisfaction; the King, though he took it for a great Indignity to have such base Fellows capitulate with him, yet framing himself to the time, he returned this answer; That in October following he would call a Parliament wherein their Complaints should he heard, and all their Grievances redressed, requiring the● in the mean time to lay down their Arms and return to their houses, and thereupon granting them a general pardon: But this was so far from satisfying the Seditious, that thereupon they first assaulted the City of Norwich, took it, and made the Mayor attend them as their servant, and then returned again to their Station at Moushold: Soon after the Marquis of Northampton, the L. Sheffeild, with several other Lords, 1500 Horse, and a small Band of Italians were sent against them, whom the Seditious so stoutly opposed, that much mischief was done on both sides, the L. Sheffeild falling with his Horse into a Ditch, was taken Prisoner, and as he pulled off his Helmet, to make himself known, he was struck down dead by a Butcher; so that the Marquis with his Forces not prevailing, the Earl of Warwick was sent with 6000 Foot, and 1500 Horse, and many other Persons of Quality; When the Earl approached the Camp of the Rebels, he sent a Herald offering them the Kings Pardon if they would disband, which they were so far from accepting, that a lewd Boy turned up his naked Breech toward the Herald, and bid him kiss it; upon this many skirmishes passed between the Earl and them, with loss sometimes of one side, and sometimes of another, at last they came to a Battle, where the Rebels placed in the Front all the Gentlemen they had taken Prisoners, designing they should first be slain, of whom yet very few were hurt, but of the Rebels above 2000 were killed; and now once again the Earl of Warwick offered them pardon, but for all their losses they continued obstinate; at last the Earl sent to know if they would entertain their Pardon if he should come in Person, and assure them of it; this moved them much, and they answered, That they knew him to be so honourable, that from himself they would embrace it; whereupon he went to them, and causing their Pardon to be read again, he confirmed it by his words so effectually, that they all cast away their Arms, and with one voice cried, God save K. Edward: The day following Robert Ket the Tanner, and Arch-Rebel, was taken, and hanged in Chains upon the Castle of Norwich; and William Ket the younger, was hanged upon the high Steeple of Wimondham, and 9 of the other principal Rebels were hanged upon the Oak of Reformation; and thus ended the Sedition in Norfolk, the day of the defeat of the Rebels being a long time after observed as a Festival by the Citizens of Norwich, with no less joy than the Jews did when they escaped the sword of wicked Haman.  
In 1578. the 20 of Q. Elizabeth, Matthew Hamond of Hitherset, 3 miles from Norwich, Plow-Wright, for denying Christ to be our Saviour, and publishing divers other horrible Heresies, was convented before the Bishop of Norwich, condemned in the Consistory, and delivered to the Sheriffs of Norwich to be executed; but because he had spoken seditious words against the Queen, he was condemned to lose his Ears, which was accordingly executed, and 7 days after he was burnt in the Castle Ditch at Norwich. In the 23d Year, Aug. 12. there arose a great Tempest of Thunder, Lightning, Whirlwind, and Rain, in the County of Norfolk, with Hailstones fashioned like the Rowels of Spurs, two or Three Inches about; it beat the Corn flat to the ground, rend up many great Trees and shivered them to pieces; at Hemming a Mile from Worsted, the West door of the Church of above 300 pound weight, was lifted off the hooks, and blown over the Font, within a Yard of the Chancel; the top of the Church was ripped up, and the Led blown away; five sheets of Lead were wrapped up together like a Glove, and blown into a Field without the Churchyard. In Her 25th Year, Sept. 17. John Lewis for denying the Godhead of Christ, and holding other detestable Opinions, was burnt at Norwich. The 10th of October following at Castor near Yarmouth, a Fish was by the force of the Easterly Winds driven ashore, the length thereof from the Neck to the Tail was 17 Yards and one Foot; the Head was great, for the Chap of the Jaw was 3 Yards and a quarter in length; with Teeth of 3 quarters of a Yard in Compass; it had great Eyes, with 2 great holes over them to spout Water, her Tail was 14 Foot broad; she was 4 Yards and an half in thickness from the Back to the Belly. In 1656. July 20. being Lordsday, there was a sudden Tempest in and about Norwich, attended with Thunder and Lightning, the flashes whereof were very violent, and the claps of Thunder so dreadful, as astonished the hearers; about an hour after many saw a black Cloud like the smoke of a Furnace, which did oftimes cast forth flames of Fire; after this followed a White Cloud, labouring as it were to overtake the other, but the black Cloud presently covering the City, there arose a sudden Whirlwind, which raised such a Dust in the Streets, that one man could not discern another, and the Clouds still grew thicker, especially in the South-West, out of which there broke forth terrible Lightnings and Thunderclaps, accompanied with Hailstones of 5 Inches about, dashing all the Glass Windows to the Wind ward in pieces: In the Country adjoining many Cornfields were destroyed; Trees were torn up by the Roots; Rabbits and Birds, yea some Sheep, Cows and Horses were killed; the Lightning ran upon the ground, many Houses being fired by it, and more had been consumed, had not an extraordinary shower of Rain quenched them; the Hailstones were not round, but flat pieces of Ice: This account was sent, saith Mr. Clark, from several credible Persons upon the place. And here must not be forgotten Sir Robert Venile, a Knight of Norfolk, who when the Scots and English were ready to give Battle, in the Reign of Edward the Third, a certain stout Champion of great Stature commonly called Tournboll, coming out of the Scots Army, and challenging any Englishman to meet him in a single Combat, this Sir Robert Venile accepteth the challenge, and marching toward the Champion, and meeting by the way a certain black Mastiff Dog, which waited on the Champion, he suddenly with his Sword cut him off at the loins, and afterward did more to the Champion himself, cutting his Head off from his Shoulders,  
The County of Norfolk hath in it the City of Norwich, is divided into 31 Hundreds, wherein are 28 Market Towns, 660 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of Norwich; it elects 12 Parliament men, and gives the Title of Duke to Henry L. Howard.  
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE hath Cambridgeshire on the East; Lincoln and Leicestershire on the North, Buckinghamshire on the South, and Warwickshire on the West; it is a Champion Country, exceeding populous, and well furnished with Noblemen, and gentlemen's Houses, replenished also with Towns and Churches, insomuch as in some places there are 20, and in others 30 Steeples with Spires or square Towers within view at once; Northampton is the Shire Town, the Houses whereof were formerly very fair, but by a dreadful fire a great part thereof was lately burnt to Ashes, though since for the most part nobly rebuilt; there are seven Parish Churches within the walls, whereof that of All-hallows is the chief; at Boughton there is a Spring which is conceived to turn Wood into Stone. The truth is, saith Dr. Fuller, it doth incrust any thing with Stone, but I have seen a Skull brought from thence to Sidney College in Cambridge, which was candied over with Stone within and without, yet so as the bone remained entire in the middle, as by a breach made therein did appear; this Skull was sent for by K. Charles, whilst I was there to satisfy his own Curiosity, and by him safely returned again to the College. The River Nen runs by the Southside of Peterburrough, in the middle whereof is a gulf so deep, and cold withal, that even in Summer no Swimmer is able to dive to the bottom thereof, yet it is never frozen in Winter, for there is a Spring in it, whence the water always riseth and bubbleth up; and that keeps it from freezing.  
Robert Braybrook, born at a Village in Northamptonshire, was consecrated Bishop of London in the 4th of Richard 2. 1381. he was after Chancellor of England, he died 1404. and was buried under a Marble Stone in the Chapel of St. Mary in the Cathedral of St. Paul, London, yet was the body of this Bishop lately taken up, and found firm as to skin, hair, joints, nails, etc. for upon that fierce and fatal Fire in London 1666. which turned so much of St. Paul's into rubbish, when part of the floor fell into St Faiths, this dead Person was shaken out of his Tomb, where he had lain, and slept so unchanged, as you have heard no less than 262 years. His body was for a great while exposed to the view of all Persons, many coming daily to see this strange Curiosity. Elizabeth Daughter of Sir Richard Noodvil, was born at Grafton in this County, she was Widow to Sir John Grace, who lost his life for the House of Lancaster, and petitioned K. Edward 4. to take off the sequestration from her jointure; Beauty is a good Solicitor, where youth is to be the Judge; the King fell enamoured of her, and became a Suitor to her for a night's lodging; and being importunate with her therein, she modestly told him; That as she did account herself too mean to be his Wife, so she thought herself too worthy to be his Harlot; The King finding he could not prevail by wanton love, resolves to marry her, though much to the discontent of his Council, and likewise of his Mother; who among other reasons alleged, That her being a Widow might be sufficient to restrain him; to whom the King replied, Whereas you say, Madam, that she is a Widow, and hath already Children, by God's blessed Lady I am a Bachelor, and have some too, and so each of us have a proof that none of us is like to be barren; and he accordingly married her, being the first of our Kings since the Conquest, that married his own Subject; yet was his love divided among three other of his Mistresses, of whom he was wont to say; The one was the fairest, the other the merriest, and the third the Holiest Harlot in England, as being always at her Beads in the Chapel, when he sent for her to his Bed; His Queen lived to see the death of her Husband, murder of her two Sons, restraint of herself, and the rest of her Children, so that she had more greatness than joy, height than happiness by Marriage; she finished Queen's College in Cambridge, and died not long after.  
At Fotheringay Castle in this County, was acted the Tragedy of Mary Q. of Scots, Mother to K. James, in the 29 year of Q. Elizabeth. 1587. This Mary was the Daughter, and only lawfully begotten Child of James 5. and succeeded in her Cradle to the Throne, she was promised in Marriage to King Edw. 6. of England, but by the power of the hamilton's carried into France, and there married to Francis 2. King of France; about which time Reformation in Religion began to be practised in Scotland as well as England; for at the Preaching of John Knox, and some other Ministers, Images, Altars, and such things were defaced, and it was further put into the heads of the Nobility, That it pertained to them of their own Authority to take away Idolatry, and by force reduce the Prince to the prescript of Laws; whereupon there was presently bandying of the Lords of Scotland against the Queen Dowager, and each of them sent for Aid; she from France, and the Lords from England; but this was matter for Consultation; it seemed a bad example for a Prince to give Aid to the Rebellious Subjects of another Prince; on the other side it seemed no less than Impiety not to give Aid to Protestants of the same Religion; but most of all it seemed mere madness to suffer enemies to be so near Neighbours, and let the French nestle in Scotland, who pretend Title to England; upon such considerations it was resolved Queen Elizabeth should send them Aid, and thereupon an Army of 6000 Foot, and 1200 Horse were sent under the Duke of Norfolk and others, who going into Scotland, joined with the Lords, where passed many light Skirmishes, many Batteries, and sometimes Assaults, which growing tedious, soon after ended in a Peace between France and England, upon condition, That neither the King of France, nor the Queen of Scotland should thence forth use the Arms or Titles of England or Ireland, and that both the English and French should departed out of Scotland; and a general pardon should pass in Parliament for all that had been Actors in those Stirs; The Peace was scarce concluded, when Francis the young K. of France died, and left Mary Qu. of Scots a Widow; soon after the House of Commons in Parliament humbly moved Queen Elizabeth to Marry, who answered, That she was already Married to the Kingdom of England, and behold, saith she, the pledge of the Covenant with my Husband; and therewith held out her Finger, and shown the Ring wherewith at her Coronation she gave herself in Wedlock to the Kingdom, and if, said she, I keep myself to this Husband, and take no other, yet I doubt not but God will send you as good Kings as if they were born of me, for as much as we see by daily experience that the issue of the best Princes do often degenerate, and for myself it will be sufficient that a Marble Stone declare, that a Queen having reigned such a time, lived and died a Virgin. She had indeed many matches propounded to her, to whom she gave Testimonies of her Princely favour, but never pledges of nuptial Love; about this time the Earl of Feria, who had Married the Daughter of Sir William Dormer, being denied leave of Queen Elizabeth for some of his Wives Friends to live in England, he grew so enraged, that he persuaded Pope Pius 4. to Excommunicate her as an Heretic and Usurper; but the Pope pretending to great gentleness, writ to her lovingly, To return to the Unity of the Catholic Church; and made great offers, if she would hearken to his Counsel, particularly, That he would recall the Sentence against her Mother's Marriage, confirm the Book of Common-Prayer in English, and permit the use of the Sacrament in both kinds, but the Queen neither terrified with Feria's practices, nor alured with the Pope's great offers; according to her Motto, Semper eadem, always the same, persisted constant in her resolution to maintain that Religion which in her Conscience she was persuaded to be most agreeable to the Word of God, and the practice of the Primitive Church.  
Queen Marry after the death of her Husband went from France to Scotland, and then sent Letters to Q. Elizabeth, offering readily to enter into a League with her, so she might by Authority of Parliament be declared her Successor, which was but her Right; to which Q. Elizabeth answered, That though she would no way derogate from her Right, yet she should be loath to endanger her own security, and as it were to cover her own eyes with a grave cloth while she was alive; The two Queens were indeed both of great Spirits, Mary doubting Queen Elizabeth meant to frustrate her Succession; and Elizabeth lest the Queen of Scots meant to hinder her Succession, which created Jealousies, and many unkind passages between them, as by the sequel appears. The Queen of Scots having a desire to Marry again, Queen Elizabeth proposed the Earl of Leicester to her, but she Married the Lord Darnly Son to the Earl of Lenox, and thereupon the next Parliament again move Queen Elizabeth to marry, to declare her Successor to the Crown, some of them boldly arguing, That Princes were bound to design a Successor, and that in not doing it, the Queen would show her self no better than a Parricide, and destroyer of her Country: The Queen was contented to bear with words spoken in Parliament, which out of it she would never have endured, and commanded 30 of each House to appear before her, to whom she said, That she knew what danger hangeth over a Prince's head, when a Successor is once declared; she knew that even Children themselves, out of a hasty desire of bearing Rule, had taken up Arms against their own Father, and how could better be expected from Kindred? And therefore though she had given them leave to debate the matter of Succession, she bid them beware not to be injurious to their Prince's patience; After which they never made any further motion to her; but now the love between the Queen of Scots, and the Lord Darnly began to cool, and their unkindness was fomented by one David Risio an Italian Musician, and afterward the Queen's Secretary, who had often secret conference with her, when the King might not be admitted; this indignity the Lords about the King made him sensible of, and thereupon his death was contrived, and he was killed in an outer Chamber next the Queen, she being then with Child, and like by the affright to have miscarried; the Earl of Murray base Son to K. James 5. and base Brother to the Queen, was the chief instigator of this murder, of the foulness of which Fact when the King was sensible, he resolved to be revenged upon Murray, who having notice thereof prevented it, with causing the like to be done to him, for soon after the King in a stormy tempestuous night was strangled in his Bed, and then cast forth into the Garden, and the House immediately blown up with Gunpowder; the rumour of this murder being spread abroad common fame laid it upon Morton and Murray, and their Confederates; Morton and Murray lay it upon the Queen; the King thus murdered, the Queen was advised by them to Marry James Earl of Bothwell (though he was the man that had acted the Murder) but upon condition that above all things respect might be had to her young Son; and that Bothwell might be legally quitted both from the bonds of his former Marriage, and also of the King's Murder; hereupon it is plotted that Bothwell should be brought to the Bar, and Morton being his advocate, by the sentence of the Judges, he is clearly acquitted; and then by consent of some of the Nobility he is Married to the Queen, being first made Duke of Orkney; which bred a suspicion in many, that the Queen was conscious of the Murder, which was the thing the Confederates aimed at by this Marriage, for they by all means increased the suspicion, that they might have the better colour against her, and so the very same men who absolved Bothwell, and consented to the Marriage, now take arms against her, as a Delinquent in both, forcing her Husband to flee, and then seize upon the Queen, whom clad in a very homely garment, they thrust into Prison in Lochlevyn; Queen Elizabeth hearing of it, sends Sir Nicholas Throgmorton to expostulate the matter with them, who alleged The Queen was subject to no Tribunal under Heaven; That no Judge on Earth might call her in question, etc. They again opposed the peculiar right of that Kingdom, and used buchanan's argument in his Treasonable Dialogue, That in extraordinary Cases the People have power both to create, and to depose their King; They than persuaded her to resign the Kingdom, which if she refused to do fairly, they threatened to question her openly for her incontinent living, for the King's Murder, & for Tyranny, so that through fear She resigned her Kingdom to her young Son James at that time scarce thirteen months old, who was five days after anointed and Crowned King; and she constituted Murray Viceroy during his Minority; soon after some of Bothwells' Servants were executed for the King's Murder; who cleared the Queen from being concerned in it.  
The Queen having been 11 months' Prisoner, afterward made her escape, and raised Forces, which being unexperienced were soon defeated by Murray; whereupon she endeavoured to save herself by flight, and traveled 60 Miles in one day, and contrary to the advice of her Friends went with a few of her Attendants in a small Bark, and landed at Wickington in Cumberland, sending Letters to Q. Elizabeth, that having made an escape from her insolent and rebellious Subjects, she was now come into England, upon certain hope of her approved Clemency, and therefore humbly desiring that she might be forthwith admitted to her presence; Q. Elizabeth sent her Letters of comfort, and promised her aid & defence according to the equity of her cause, but denied her access, since she was held guilty of many crimes, giving command to have her brought to Carlisle as a place of more safety: Q. Marry then desired she might departed to some other Country, but upon consultation, most were of Opinion to have her detained as one taken by right of War, and not to be dismissed till she had made satisfaction for assuming the Title of England, and for the death of Darnly her Husband, who was born one of the Queen's Subjects: After this many Conspiracies were made to set the Queen of Scots at Liberty; The Pope sends out his Bull against Q. Elizabeth freeing her Subjects from all Allegiance to her; and the Duke of Norfolk is beheaded upon her account: These and many other contrivances and conspiracies seemed very much to endanger the Life of Q. Elizabeth, and tended to the Invasion of England; whereupon, the better to provide for her safety, a number of her Subjects, the Earl of Leicester being the chief, and others of all ranks and conditions enter into an Association, wherein they declare, That since by Her Majesty's Life, they and all other Her Majesty's Subjects do enjoy inestimable benefit, they do by this Writing make manifest their duty for the safety of their Sovereign Lady; They then proceed:  
And to that end, we, and every of us, first calling to Witness the name of Almighty God, do voluntarily and most willingly hind ourselves every one of us to the other, jointly and severally in the Band of one firm and Loyal Society; and do hereby vow and promise by the Majesty of Almighty God, that with our whole Powers, Bodies, Lives, and Goods, and with our Children and Servants, we, and every of us, will faithfully serve, and humbly obey, our said Sovereign L.Q. Elizabeth, against all States, Dignities, and Earthly Powers whatsoever, and will as well with our joint and particular Forces, during our Lives, withstand, offend, and pursue, as well by force of Arms, as by all other means of revenge, all manner of Persons, of what state soever they shall be, who shall attempt against Her Royal Person, etc. to the utter extermination of them, their Counselors, Aiders and Abettors: And if any such wicked attempt against her most Royal Person shall be taken in hand, and procured, whereby any that have, may, or shall pretend Title to come to this Crown, by the untimely death of Her Majesty so wickedly procured, (which God for his mercy's sake forbid) may be avenged, we do not only bind ourselves jointly and severally never to allow, accept or favour any such pretended Successor, by whom, or for whom, any such detestible Act shall be attempted or committed, as unworthy of all Government in any Christian Realm or Commonwealth; And do also further vow and protest, as we are most bound, and that in the presence of the Eternal and Everlasting God, to prosecute such Person and Persons to death, with our joint or particular forces, and to take the utmost revenge upon them, that by any means we, or any of us can devise and do, or cause to be devised and done, for their utter overthrow and extirpation; and to the better Corroboration of this our Loyal Band and Association, we do also testify by this writing, that we do confirm the contents hereof by our Oaths, corporally taken upon the holy Evangelists, with this express condition, that no one of us shall for any respect of Persons, or causes, for fear, or reward, separate ourselves from this Association, or fail in the prosecution thereof during our lives, upon pain of being by the rest of us prosecuted, and suppressed as perjured Persons, and as public Enemies to God, our Queen, and to our native Country; To which punishment and pains we do voluntarily submit ourselves, and every of us without benefit of any colour or pretence. In Witness of all which Premises to be inviolably kept, we do to this writing put our Hands and Seals, and shall be most ready to accept and admit any others hereafter into this Society and Association.  
The Queen of Scots presently apprehending that this Association was entered into her destruction, offers to enter into it herself, it permitted; to which Q. Elizabeth seemed inclining, but it was alleged by her Enemies That the Queen could be no longer in safety if the Q. of Scots were set at liberty; that the Reformed Religion lay a bleeding if Papists were admitted into the Court Walls, etc. In the succeeding Parliament this Association was universally approved, and enacted in this form, That 24 or more of the Queen's Privy Council and Peers of the Realm should be selected and authorized under the great Seal of England, to make enquiry of all such Persons as shall attempt to invade the Kingdom, or raise Rebellion, shall attempt any thing else against the Q's Person for whomsoever, and by whomsoever that layeth any claim to the Crown of Eng. and that Person for whom and by whom they shall attempt any such thing, shall be altogether incapable of the Crown, etc. The next Year a dangerous conspiracy was discovered against the Queen, for one John Savage, by the seducement of Dr. Gifford was persuaded it was meritorious to take away the Lives of Princes excommunicate, who thereupon vowed to kill Q. Elizabeth; but to make the Queen and her Council secure, at the same time they writ a Book, exhorting the Papists in England to attempt nothing against their Prince, and to use only the Christian Weapons, Tears, Prayers, Watching, and Fasting; Babington and several other Gentlemen were in this Plot, to whom he shown Letters which he received from the Q of Scots, and her Closets being broke open a number of Letters were found from foreign parts, offering her their service, and 60 Alphabets of private Characters; Fourteen of the Conspirators were executed for this Treason, and great consultations were held about the Q. of Scots, and at last it was concluded to proceed against her by the aforementioned Law; whereupon divers Lords are authorized by the Queen's Letters to inquire, and by virtue of that Law, to pass Sentence against all such as raised Rebellion, invaded the Kingdom, or attempted any violence against the Queen, who Oct. 11. went to Fotheringay Castle, where Q. Mary was prisoner, and the next day the Queen's Letters were delivered her, which having with a settled Countenance read, she said, It seems strange to me that the Queen should lay her Command upon me to hold up my hand at the Bar, as though I were a Subject, ●●eing I am an absolute Queen, no less than herself, and especially that I should be tried by the English Laws. It was at last plainly told her by the Chancellor and Treasurer, That ●f she refused to answer to such Crimes as should be objected, they would then proceed against her though she were absent.  
Being brought at last with much ado to consent, the Commissioners came together in the Presence Chamber, and the Queen of Scots being come, the Chancellor spoke thus to her; That the Queen had appointed these Commissioners to hear what she could answer to the Crimes laid to her charge, assuring her that nothing would be cause of more Joy to the Queen, than to hear that she had proved herself innocent; Upon which she rising up said, That although being an absolute Prince, she could not be compelled to appear before them, yet to manifest her Innocence, she was now content to appear, Then one of the Commissioners opened her Crimes, showing that by the Confessions of Babington, Ballard, Savage, and also Nave and Curl her own Secretaries, she was privy to their Treasons, and consented to the Invasion of England, and destruction of the Queen; To which she answered that Letters might be counterfeited, her Secretaries might be corrupted, the rest in hope of life might be drawn to confessions which were not true; In this she stood peremptorily, that she never consented to attempt any thing against the Queen's Person, though for her own delivery she confessed she did design it; and at last requested, That she might be heard in full Parliament, or before the Queen herself; But this request prevailed not, for Oct. 25. at the Star-Chamber at Westminster the Commissioners met again, and pronounced Sentence against her, confirming by their Seals and Subscriptions, That after the first of June in the 27th year of Queen Elizabeth, divers matters were compassed and imagined in the Kingdom by Anthony Babington and others, with the privity of Mary Queen of Scots, pretending Title to the Crown of England, tending to the hurt, death, and destruction of the Royal Person of our said Sovereign Lady the Queen. A few days after a Parliament began, where the Peers of the Kingdom unanimously presented a Petition, that for the safety of the Queen, themselves, and their Posterity, the Sentence against Mary Q. of Scot● might according to Law be published, putting her i● mind of the fearful Examples of God's Judgements in Scripture upon Saul for sparing K. Agag, and upon Ahad for not putting ● Benhadad to death; The House of Commons likewise enforced this request a while after; the Queen at last replied to this effect, I protest my chief desire hath been▪ that for your security and my own safety some other way might be devised, than that which is now propounded; but since it is now evident and certain, that my safety without her destruction is in a most deplorable State; I am most grievously afflicted, that I who have pardoned so many Rebels, have neglected so many Treasons, either by silence or connivance, should now at last exercise cruelty upon a Prince so nearly allied to me: As for your Petition, I beseech you to rest in an answer without an answer; If I say I will not grant your Petition, I shall haply say what I meant not; if I should say I will grant it, than cast I myself into destruction headlong, whose safety you do so earnestly desire, and that I know you in your Wisdoms would not I should do. After this the Queen upon much solicitation sealed Letters for executing the Sentence, but was in much suspense what to do; yet at last, her fear prevailing, she delivered Secretary Davison Letters under her Hand and Seal, to get a Commission under the great Seal ready drawn upon occasion, who telling her it was ready and the Seal put to it, she was very angry, rebuking him sharply for his hastiness; yet Davison, though charged with secrecy, imparteth the matter to some Privy Counsellors, and persuade them, that the Queen commanded the Commission should be put in Execution: Hereupon Beal, Clerk of the Council, is sent down with Letters without the Queen's knowledge, wherein the Earl of Shrewsbury and others are ordered to see her put to death according to Law.  
The Battle of Bosworth with the Miserable Death of Crookbackt Richard Pa. 129.  
The County of Northampton is divided into 20 Hundreds, wherein are 13 Market Towns, 326 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of Peterborough; It elects 9 Parliament Men, and gives the Title of Earl to James L. Compton.  
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE hath Yorkshire on the North; Lincolnshire on the East, Leicestershire on the South, and Derbyshire on the West: It abounds in Liquorice, Fish, Fowl, Corn, Coals, Water and Grass; Nottingham the principal Town, which giveth name to this Shire, is seated on the side of an Hill, it is pleasantly fighted, having on the one hand fair and large Meadows by the River's side, and on the other Hills with a gentle and easy ascent: It is large and well built, standing on a stately climbing Hill, and for a spacious and fair Marketplace compares with the best. Many strange Vaults hewed out of the Rock are seen in this Town, whereof those under the Castle are of special Note; one for the story of Christ's passion, engraven on the Walls by David a K. of Scots, while he was Prisoner there; another wherein the L. Mortimer was surprised in the minority of K. Edward 3. still called Mortimer's Hole; these have stairs and rooms artificially made out of the Rocks: Also in that Hill are Dwelling-Houses with winding Stairs, Windows, Chimneys, upper and lower Rooms, all wrought out of the hard Rock. The Castle was strong and kept by the Danes against the Mercians and West Saxons who jointly besieged it; and for the further strengthening of this Town K. Edward the elder walled it about, whereof some parts yet remain from the Castle to the West-gate, and thence the foundation may be perceived to the North, where in the midst of the way ranging with the Bank stands a Gate of Stone: Its Circuit contained about 2220 paces. In the Wars between K. Stephen and Maud the Empress, these Walls were thrown down by Robert Earl of Gloucester, and the Town also suffered much by Fire, but recovering its former estate, it hath ever since increased in Beauty and Wealth.  
Robin Hood, if not by birth, yet by his chiefest abode, was this Countryman, Camden saith, he was the gentlest Thief that ever was; This Gallant, accompanied with little John, and 100 stout Fellows more, molested all Passengers on the highway, of whom our Poet gives this Character: 
From wealthy Abbot's Chests and Churls abundant store  
What oftentimes he took he shared amongst the poor;  
No Lordly Bishop came in lusty Robbin's way,  
But that, before he went, his pass to him must pay:  
The Widow in distress he graciously relieved,  
And remedied the wrongs of many a Virgin grieved.   
But I cannot tell who made him a Judge, or gave him Commission to take where it might best be spared, and give where it most wanted. His Principal residence was in Sherwood Forest in this County, though he had another haunt near the Sea, in the North-riding in Yorkshire, where Robin Hood's Bay still retaineth his name, not that he was a Pirate, but a Land-Thief, and retired to these unsuspected Parts for security: One may wonder he escaped the hands of Justice, dying in his Bed, for aught we find to the contrary; for the King setting forth a Proclamation to have him apprehended, it happened he fell sick at a certain Nunnery in Yorkshire, called Birkleys, and desiring there to be let Blood, was betrayed, and made bleed to death: It is said that he was of Noble Blood, at least made Noble, no less than an Earl, for some deserving services; but having wasted his Estate in riotous courses, mere penury forced him to take this course, in which he was rather a merry than mischievous Thief, and may be said to be honestly dishonest, complementing Passengers out of their Purses, and never murdered any thing but Deer, and this popular Robber generally feasted the Neighbours with his Venison; he seldom hurt any man, never any Woman, spared the poor, and made prey only of the rich: He played his pranks in the Reign of Richard 1. about 1195. We must not forget that two Airs of Lannards were lately found in Sherwood Forrest; these Hawks are the natives of Saxony, and it seems being old, and past flying at the Game, were let, or did let themselves lose, where meeting with Lanarets enlarged on the same Terms, the did breed together, and proved as excellent in their kind when as managed, as any which were brought out of Germany.  
In the last Year of Q. Mary 1568. such a marvellous Tempest of Thunder happened within a Mile of Nottingham, that it beat down all the Houses and Churches in two Towns thereabout, cast the Bells to the outside of the Church-Yards, and some Webs of Lead, writhe as if it had been Leather, were thrown 400 Foot into the Field. The River of Trent runs between the 2 Towns, the water whereof, with the mud at the bottom, was carried a quarter of a Mile, and cast against Trees; with the violence whereof Trees were pulled up by the roots, and cast 12 score off; also a Child was taken out of a Man's Hand, and then let fall 200 Foot off, of which fall it died; five or six men thereabout were slain, and neither flesh nor skin perished; also there fell some Hailstones that were 15 Inches about. Upon Jul. 6. 1662. several Persons being in a field near Nottingham in Thundering Wether, saw a Windmill at some distance from them which seemed to be all in a flame, insomuch that the spectators thought it had been burnt and consumed, but when they came near it, they found that it was not in the least prejudiced by the Fire, only one Rake head was burnt in the Mill.  
This County is divided into 8 Hundreds, wherein are 9 Market Towns, 168 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of York; It elects 8 Parliament men, and gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Howard.  
NORTHUMBERLAND hath Durham on the South, Cumberland on the South-West, the German Ocean on the East, and Scotland on the North and East; the soil is not very fruitful; it chief abounds in Fish, Fowl and Sea-coal: This County was formerly reckoned a Kingdom, and several Kings reigned therein, among whom we read of Ethelburg, who in the year 617. was King thereof, and married his Daughter to one Edwin a Pagan, this Edwin being envied and hated by Ethelfride another King, was forced to fly to Redwald King of the East Angles, who being both afraid and corrupted by Ethelfride, intended to betray Edwin into his hands, of which conspiracy he had notice by a friend, who persuaded him to fly and save himself, to whom Edwin said; Whither shall I fly that have already sought for shelter almost in all the Provinces of the Realm, and if I must needs be slain, I had rather the King should do it than some other unworthy Person; Edwin being afterward alone and solitary, there appeared one to him, saith the Reverend Bede, who said, I know well the cause of thy heaviness, what wouldst thou give him who would deliver thee from this fear, and reconcile thee to Redwald again? I would, said Edwin, give him all that ever I could make. And what, said the other, if I make thee a mightier King than any of thy Progenitors? Edwin answered as before; Then said the other, And what if I show thee a better kind and way of life than ever was showed to any of thy Ancestors, wilt thou obey my Counsel? Yes, said Edwin, I will do it with all my heart; Then the other laying his hand on his head, said, When this token happeneth to thee, then remember this time of Tribulation, and the promise which thou hast made, and the words which I have said unto thee; And so he vanished out of his sight; presently after his Friend came to him, bidding him be of good cheer, For the heart of Redwald, said he, which formerly sought thy destruction, now by the mediation of the Queen is turned, so that he is resolved to keep promise with thee, and to protect thee whatever comes of it. Not long after Redwald raised a great Army in Edwins quarrel, and gave Battle to Ethelfride on the borders of Mercia, where Ethelfride was slain and Edwin quietly made King of Northumberland yet all this while he remained a Pagan though Ethelburga his Queen, and Paulinus a learned Bishop continually persuaded him to embrace the Christian Faith.  
Hereupon a new affliction fell upon him; for Quincelinus, and Kin●gilsus, Kings of the West Saxons, envying and hating Edwin, hired a Villain privately to murder him, who watching his opportunity when the King had but a few with him, run at him with an envenomed Sword, but one of the Servants interposing, received the wound through his own body, the King also being somewhat wounded by the Sword's point which came through; the King lay long sick of this wound, but upon his recovery he raised a great Army, and went against those West Saxon Kings, who had so basely sought his destruction, and withal promised to Jesus Christ, That if he obtained the Victory, he would presently be Baptised, and his Queen being then delivered of a Daughter, he caused it to be Baptised, with twelve more of his Family; Then advancing against his Enemies through the assistance of Christ he obtained a notable Victory, putting the whole power of his Enemies to flight, and so returned home with Honour and Victory; yet did the Pomp and Glory of the world so dazzle his Eyes, that he neglected to perform his vow of being Baptised, for though he willingly heard Paulinus Preach, and gave over his Idolatrous Services; yet withal told him, That he could not suddenly leave the Religion of his Forefathers, nor be Baptised, but upon mature deliberation, and with the serious advice of his Council; Paulinus observing these difficulties, continually prayed to God on his behalf, whereupon the Vision of Edwin aforementioned, appeared to Paulinus, who watching his opportunity, came to the King, and laying his hand on his head, asked, him, If he remembered that Token, the King well remembering it, was so affected, that he was ready to fall down at Paulinus his feet; but Paulinus not suffering it, said unto him, Behold O King you have vanquished your Enemies, and have obtained your Kingdom, now perform your promise, which was to embrace the Christian Faith, and to be obedient to our Lord Christ. The King after consultation with his Nobles, was himself with many more of his Subjects Baptised by Paulinus, and presently after all the Idols with their Altars were cast down and destroyed. We read likewise that during the Heptarchy of the Saxons in England, there were two Kings in Northumberland called Ostrich, and Eaufride, who before their coming to the Crown had been instructed, and trained up in the Christian Religion by this worthy Bishop Paulinus, but after they came to Kingly Dignities, they renounced Christ, and returned to their filthy Idols; whereupon as they forsook Christ, he forsook them, and within one years' space both of them were slain by Cadwalla King of the Britain's.  
In the Reign of K. Edward 1. 1276. there happened the greatest rot of Sheep in England that ever was known, which continued 25 years, and came, it was thought, by one infected Sheep of incredible greatness brought out of Spain by a French Merchant into Northumberland. In his Reign also John Duns, called Scotus, was born at Emilden in Northumberland, though others for his name say in Scotland, who being brought up in Merton College in Oxford, was wonderful learned in Logic, and in the crabbed and intricate Divinity of those days, wherein he grew to such perfection, that he was called, The Subtle Doctor, he went from thence to Paris; where as he was once sitting at Table in respect of his learning, with Charles the Bald Emperor, and King of France, he behaved himself like a slovenly Scholar, not at all gently; whereupon the King jestingly asked him Quid interest inter Scotum & Sotum; What is between a Scot and a Sot; he merrily, yet confidently answered, Mensa, The Table, as though the Emperor were the Sot, and he the Sot; Another time the Emperor gave him two large Fishes, and one little one in a Dish, bidding him carve to two other Scholars who were tall men, himself being little; Mr. John lays the two great Fishes on his own Trencher, and gives them the little one; The Emperor smiling said, In good Faith Mr. John you are no fair Carver, yes, if it please your Highness, very fair, said he, for here (pointing to himself and the two great Fishes) be two great ones, and a little one; and so is yonder (pointing to the Scholars) two great ones, and one little one. He went thence to Colen where he died miserably, for being taken with an Apoplexy, he was too hastily buried, and after a time revived, and making means in vain by a lamentable voice to call for help; after he had a long time knocked his head against the Grave-stone, dashed out his Brains, and so yielded up his vital breath, as was afterward discovered, whereupon these Verses were made by an Italian.  
Quaecunque humani fuerant jurisque Sacrati, etc.  
All learning taught in Human Books, and couched in Holy Writ,  
Dun Scotus dark and doubtful made, by subtlety of wit:  
No marvel that to doubtful Terms of life, himself was brought,  
For with a wile and subtle Trick, death on his body wrought;  
Since she her stroke to kill outright would not to him vouchsafe:  
So he poor Man (a piteous case) was buried quick in grave.  
In the 12th of K. Edward 3. 1339. a sudden inundation of water happened at Newcastle upon Tyne, which broke down a piece of the Town wall, of six perches in length, and near a place called Walkenew 120 Men and Women were drowned. In the reign of K. Hen. 4. 1402. Patrick Hepburn a Scottish-man with a considerable Army invaded Northumberland, making great spoil, and loading his Soldiers with prey and Prisoners, but in his retreat marching carelessly and licentiously, he was set upon by the Earl of Northumberland, himself and all the flower of his Army slain, and a multitude of common Soldiers taken Prisoners; in revenge whereof Archibald Dowglas with an Army of 20000 entered Northumberland, but in a place called Hamilden were encountered by the English under the Command of Henry L. Peircy, Surnamed Hotspur, and George E of March, who put them to flight, and after the slaughter of 10000 of them, took 500 Prisoners. In 1657. Machal Vivan, Minister of Lesbury in Northumberland being then 110 years old, and who for 40 years before could not read without Spectacles, yet than his sight was so renewed, that he could read the smallest print without the help of Spectacles; and whereas he had lost most of his Teeth, yet now new ones came in their room, and having been long bald, his hair came again like the hair of a Child; he was also before very weak and feeble, but now his strength so much increased, that he was able to walk some miles, to study much, and to preach twice every Lord's Day; This is a most certain and undoubted truth, which he himself confirmed under his hand to a Citizen of London, who sent him a Letter on purpose to receive satisfaction.  
The County of Northumberland is divided into six Wards, wherein are 6 Market Towns, 460 Parishes, and is in the Diocese of Durham; It elects 8 Parliament Men, and for many Ages gave the Title of Earls to the Family of the Peircies, which being extinct in the male line, George Fitz-Roy, third Son to the Duchess of Cleaveland, is now Earl of Northumberland.  
OXFORDSHIRE hath Berkshire on the South, Glocestershire on the West, Buckinghamshire on the East, Warwick and Northampton shires on the North; The Blessings both of the sweet breathing Heavens, and the fruitful soil of this County are so happy and delicious, that it is difficult to determine, which of them exceeds; it takes its name from that City which hath long been the glorious Seat of the Muses, the English Athens; It is said, this place was consecrated to the sacred Sciences in the time of the old Britain's, and that the Academy was translated from Greeklad, a Town in Wiltshîre to Oxford, as more pleasant and beautiful, both in respect of private Houses, and public Buildings; Matthew Paris calls it the second School of Christendom, and the chief Pillar of the Catholic Church; and in the Council of Vienna it was ordained that in Paris, Oxford, Bononia, and Salamanca, Schools should be erected for the Hebrew, Greek, Arabic, and Chaldean Tongues, and that Oxford should be the general University for all England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales, soon after it so flourished, that in the Reign of K. Henry 3. 30000 Students were therein resident. There are at present seventeen Colleges, seven Halls, and many fair Collegiate Churches therein, all adorned with stately Buildings, and enriched with great endowments, noble Libraries, and most learned Graduates of all Professions; but the famous Library is that founded by Sir Thomas Bodley, formerly a Fellow of M●●ton College, who began to furnish it with Desks and Books about 1598. before which King Henry 8. was a good Benefactor thereto, who employed Persons into divers parts of the world to collect Books, and from Constantinople, by reason of the Patriarch thereof, he received a Ship laden with Arabic and Greek Books. Afterward it met with the liberality of divers of the Nobility, Prelacy and Gentry; William Earl of Pembroke procured a great number of Greek Manuscripts out of Italy, and gave them thereto; William Laud A. B. of Canterbury bestowed 1300 choice Manuscripts upon it, most of them in the Oriental Tongues; at last to complete this stately and plentiful mansion of the Muses, there was an accession to it of above 8000 Books, being the Library of that most learned Antiquary Mr. John Selden. By the bounty of these noble Benefactors, and many others it is improved in such a manner, that it is a question whether it be exceeded by any other Library in the world. To this may be added the most Noble Theatre lately erected by Dr. Gilbert Sheldon late A. B. of Canterbury, which is a building of as excellent Workmanship and curious painting and contrivance as any in Europe.  
In the year 1036. Canutus the famous Danish King died, and Hardiknute his Son by Queen Emma, being then in Denmark, Harold his elder, but Bastard Brother, stepped into the Throne, for the Nobility meeting at Oxford, the presence of the one outweighed the absence of the other; so that they unanimously proclaimed him to be their King, & he was soon after solemnly Crowned at Oxford by Elnothus A. B. of Canterbury, though for some time he seemed unwilling to perform that service; for it is reported, that he having the Regal Crown and Sceptre in his possession, he swore he would not consecrate any other for King, so long as any of Q. Emmas Children were living; For, said he, Canutus committed them to my Trust and Protection, and to them will I give my Faith and Allegiance; this Sceptre and Crown therefore I here lay down upon this Altar, neither do I deny, nor deliver them to you, but by Apostolic authority I require all Bishops that none of them presume to take the same away; neither therewith to consecrate you for King, as for yourself you may if you dare, usurp that which I have committed to God on this his Table: But notwithstanding these thundering words were soon allayed with golden showers of Promises of his future just and religious Government, though they were soon forgot; but he did not long enjoy his Usurpation, dying 4 years after and was buried at Oxford.  
In 1258. a Parliament was called at Oxford, to reconcile the differences between K. Hen. 3. and his Barons; where the Lords and Bishops propounded several Articles to the King, as, That he should faithfully keep and observe the Charter of Liberties which he had so often sworn to; That none should be Judges but those who would judge according to right, without respect to poor or rich, etc. Then they again renewed their Confederacy, solemnly swearing, That neither for life nor death, nor love, nor hate, they would not be drawn to relent in their purpose, till they had cleared England, in which themselves and their Forefathers were born, from Upstarts and Aliens, and had procured laudable Statutes; Yea these turbulent Nobles went farther, and it was contrived by the Bishops, saith M. Westminst. That 24 persons should be chosen to have the whole Administration of the Kingdom, and to appoint yearly all Officers, reserving only to the King the highest places in public Meetings, and salutations of honour in public Places: And to enforce these Articles they were strongly armed, and provided with Forces, so that the King and Prince Edward were compelled to swear to these Oxford Provisions, as they were called, for fear of perpetual Imprisonment, the Lords having published a Proclamation, That whosoever resisted them should be put to death: Then the Peers and Prelates rook their Corporal Oaths to be true to the King, and that they would all stand to the Trial of their Peers; the Lords soon after required William de Valence the King's half-Brother to deliver up a Castle to them; which he swearing he would not do, the E. of Leicester and the rest answered, That they would either have his Castle or his Head; The People seemed wholly theirs, which so heightened the Barons, that when Henry Son to the King of almain refused the confederacy, or to take the Oath without his Father's consent, they boldly told him, That if his Father himself did not hold with the Baronage of England, he should not have a furrow of Earth among them; These hot proceed made all the Frenchmen about the King run from Oxford into France; yea Richard King of the Romans, the King's Brother, coming to see the King and his Country, the Barons grew suspicious of him, and therefore required him to take the following Oath: Hear all men, I Richard E. of Cornwall swear upon the holy Gospels to be faithful and forward to reform with you the Kingdom of England, hitherto by the counsel of wicked men too much deformed; and I will be an effectual coadjutor to expel the Rebels and Troublers of the Realm from out of the same: This Oath will I observe upon pain to forfeit all the Lands I have in England. These proceed were too hot to hold; for a while after the Earls of Leicester and Gloucester, two of the chiefest Confederates, falling at debate among themselves, the King took the advantage thereof, and in a little time recovered his former Power and Authority: But from hence we may observe that the Popish Nobility, Clergy nor Laity, have not at all times been so very Loyal to their Princes, as they would now make the ignorant believe. In the 20. Year of his Reign a Scholar of Oxford endeavouring to kill the King in his Camber at Woodstoock was taken, and afterward pulled to pieces with wild Horses.  
In 1400. a Conspiracy was contrived against K. Hen. 4. in the first Year of his Reign, in the house of the Abbot of Westminster, who was a kind of a Book-Statesman, but better read in the Politics of Aristotle than Solomon, who remembering some words of K. Henry when he was only Earl of Derby; That Princes had too little and Religious men too much; and fearing lest now being King he should put his words into Act, he thought it better to use preventing Physic before hand, than to stand to the hazard of curing it afterward; and thereupon invited to his House several discontented Lords, as the Duke of Exeter, the Duke of Surrey, the Duke of Aumerle E. of Salisbury, E. of Gloucester, Bishop of Carlisle, Maudlin, one of K. Richard 2. Chaplains, and several other Knights and Gentlemen, who after Dinner conferring together, and communicating their disaffections to each other against K. Henry; they resolved at last to take away his Life, and contrived this way to do it; They would publish a solemn Justs or Tournament to be held at Oxford at a day appointed, to which the King was to be invited to honour it with his presence, and there while all men were intent upon the sport, they would have him murdered. This Plot was resolved on, Oaths of secrecy were taken, and solemn Indentures for performing the agreed conditions were signed, sealed and delivered: The Justs are proclaimed, the King is invited, and promiseth to come, secrecy on all hands is kept most firmly to the very day: But though all other kept Counsel yet Providence would not; for it happened that as the Duke of Aumerle was riding to the Lords at Oxford against the day appointed, he took it in his way to go visit his Father the Duke of York; and having in his bosom the Indenture of Conspiracy, his Father as they sat at dinner chanced to spy it, and asked what it was; to whom his Son answering, It was nothing that any way concerned him; By St. George (saith the Father) but I will see it, and therewithal snatching it from him read it; and then with great fierceness spoke thus to him: I see Traitor that idleness hath made thee so wanton and mutinous, that thou playest with thy Faith and Allegiance as Children do with sticks; thou hast been once already faithless to K. Richard 2. & now again art false to K. Henry, and art never quiet; thou knowest that in open Parliament I became Surety and Pledge for thy Allegiance both in Body and Goods; and can neither thy Duty nor my Desert restrain thee from seeking my destruction? In faith but I will rather help forward thine; And commanding his Horses to be made ready, he with all speed rid to the King to Windsor; but his Son knowing his danger rid instantly another way, and came to the Court before him, where locking the Gates, and taking the Keys from the Porter, pretending some special reason, he went up to the King, and falling on his Knees asked his Pardon, the King demanding for what Offence, he then discovered the whole Plot; which he had scarce done when his Father came rapping at the Court Gates, and coming to the King shown him the Indenture of Confederacy which he had taken from his Son: This amazed the King, and thereupon laying aside the seeing of the just of others in jest, taketh care that he be not justled out of the Throne in earnest: In the mean time the confederate Lords being ready at Oxford, and hearing nothing of the Duke of Aumerle, nor seeing any preparation for the Kings coming, they were certainly persuaded their Treason was discovered, upon which considering their case was desperate, they apparel Magdalen, who was like K. Richard 2. in Royal Robes, and published that he was escaped out of Prison; next they dispatch Messengers to require assistance from the King of France, and then set forward against K. Henry at Windsor; but he being gone to London they could not agree what measures to take, and coming to Cicester the Bailiff of the Town courageously set upon them, and with the assistance of the Townsmen beat their forces, killing the Duke of Surrey and the E. of Salisbury, and taking divers Prisoners; above 30 Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen, with Magdalen the Counterfeit being sent to Oxford to the King, and there executed. About this time also a strange piece of Treason is reported to have been practised against King Henry's Life, that there was found in his Bed-cloaths an Iron with three sharp spikes standing upright, that when the King should lie down he might thrust himself upon them: Thus ended this Treasonable attempt, soon after which followed the cruel murder of K. Richard 2. in Pomfract Castle.  
In the Reign of K. Hen. 8. 1541. This ridiculous accident happened, as it is related by Mr. Fox, which shows what disorders may fall out through error and mistake; There was one Mr. M●llary Master of Arts in Cambridge, who for opinions contrary to the Romish Church was convented before the Bishops, and then sent to Oxford, there openly to recant, and carry a Faggot, to the terror of the Students of that University: The next Sunday he was brought into St. mary Church, many Doctors, Divines, and Citizens being present; Dr. Smith preached the Recantation Sermon, and Mr. Mallery stood before him with his Faggot; about the midst of the Sermon there was suddenly heard in the Church the voice of one crying Fire, Fire, in the Streets; occasioned by one that came by and saw a Chimney a fire in Alhallows Parish, and so passing by the Church, cried Fire, thinking no hurt, this sound of fire being heard in the Church, went from one to another, till at length it came to the Ears both of the Doctors and Preacher himself, who amazed with sudden fear, began to look up to the top and Walls of the Church, which others seeing look up also; then began some in the midst of the crowd to cry out, Fire, Fire, where saith one, and another, In the Church says one, the Church was scarce pronounced, when in a moment there was a great cry, The Church is afire, the Church is afire by Heretics: Then was there such horror and confusion as cannot be expressed, which raised such a Dust as seemed like Smoak indeed; this and the outcries of the People made them all so afraid, that leaving the Sermon they began all to run away; but such was the press of the multitude crowding together, that the more they laboured the less they could get out; for they stuck so fast in the door that there was no moving forward nor backward; they ran to another little Wicket on the North side, and from thence to another door on the West; but there was so great a throng, that with the force thereof the great Bar of Iron, which is almost incredible to speak, was pulled out and broken with the strength of men's hands, and yet could not the door be opened for the vast concourse of People: At last being past hope of getting out, they in great amazement ran up and down, crying out, That the Heretics had conspired their death: One said he plainly heard the Fire, another affirmed he saw it, and a third swore he felt the melted Lead dropping down upon his Head and Shoulders; none made more noise than the Doctor that preached, who first of all cried out in the Pulpit, These are the subtleties of the Heretics against me, Lord have mercy upon me, Lord, etc. In all this consternation nothing was more feared than the melting of the Lead, which many affirmed they felt dropping on their Bodies: The Doctors finding Authority and force could not prevail, fell to Entreaties, one offering 20 pound, another his Scarlet Gown, so that any man would pull him out though it were by the Ears: A Precedent of a College pulling a Board out from the Pews, covered his Head and Shoulders therewith against the scalding Lead, which they feared much more than the falling of the Church; one thought to get out at a Window, and had broken the Glass, and got his Head and one Shoulder out, but then stuck fast between the Iron Bars, that he could move neither way; others stuck as fast in the doors, over the heads of whom some got out: A Boy was got up to the top of the Church door, and seeing a Monk, who had got upon the Heads of men, coming toward him, with a great wide cowl hanging at his Back, the Boy thought it a good opportunity to make his escape, and handsomely conveyed himself into the Monk's cowl; the Monk got out with the Boy in his cowl, and for a while felt no weight nor burden, but at last feeling his cowl heavier than ordinary, and hearing a voice behind him, he was more afraid than while in the throng, verily believing that the Evil Spirit which had set the Church on Fire had flown into his cowl, whereupon he began to play the Conjurer; saying, In the name of God, and all Saints I command thee to declare what thou art ●●at art behind my Back; I am bertram's Boy, said the other, But I, said the Monk, adjure thee in the name of the inseparable T●●●ity, that thou wicked Spirit do tell me who thou art, and from whence thou comest, and that thou go hence: I am bertram's Boy, said he, and I pray good Master let me go: When the Monk perceived the matter he took the Boy out, who ran away as fast as he could; In the mean time those without the Church seeing all things safe, made signs to them within to be quiet; but the noise being so great that no word could be heard, these signs increased their fear, supposing all the Church on fire without, and that they were bid to tarry within, and not to venture out, because of the dropping of the Leads, and the fall of other things; this trouble lasted many hours, but at length the mistake was discovered; the next day and Week following there was an incredible number of Bills set upon the Church doors to inquire for things lost, as Shoes, Gowns, Caps, Purses, Girdles, Swords and Money, for in this hurry there were few but through negligence or forgetfulness left something behind: The poor Heretic who by this disturbance had not done his sufficient Penance, performed the rest of it the next day at the Church of St. Frideswide.  
In the 6. of K. Edw. 6. at Middleton-Stony 11 Miles from Oxford, a Woman brought forth a Child with two perfect Bodies from the Navel upwards; the Legs for both the Bodies grew out at the midst where the Bodies joined, and had but one issue for the Excrements of them both, they were Women Children, and lived 18 days. In the 19 of Q. Elizabeth 1577. when the Judges sat at the Assizes in Oxford, and one Rowland Jentis a Bookseller was questioned for speaking opprobrious words against the Queen, suddenly there arose a Pestilent damp and savour, whether coming from the noisome smell of the Prisoners, or from the infectious ground is uncertain, but almost every one who was there present (except Women and Children) died within 40 hours after, and the contagion went no further; there died the L. chief Baron Bell, the Sheriffs, several other Gentlemen, almost all the Jurymen, and about 300 other persons. In 1650. Dec. 14. Ann Green, a person unmarried was indicted arraigned, cast, condemned and executed for killing her Bastard Child, at the Assizes at Oxford; after some hours her body being taken down, and prepared for dissection in the Anatomy Schools, some heat was found in her, which by the care of the Doctors was improved to a perfect recovery; which some believe was a miraculous Token of her Innocence, she affirming both before and after her Execution, that the Child fell from her suddenly into the Vault without any design to destroy it; she lived many Years after, was married, and had three Children.  
The Family of the Pope's is considerable in this County, the Predecessor thereof being very active under the L. Cromwell in dividing the Abby-Lands, whereby he made his fortune; there are many descendants from him in Oxfordshire, of very competent Estates, by the same Token that when K. James came to the House of Sir T. Pope, when his Lady was lately delivered of a Daughter, the Babe was presented to the King with this Paper of Verses in her hand, which because they pleased the King I hope they will not displease the Reader: 

See this little Mistress here  
Did never sit in Peter's Chair,  
Nor a Triple Crown did wear,  
And yet she is a Pope.   

No Benefice she ever sold,  
Nor did dispense with sins for Gold,  
She hardly is a sev'night old,  
And yet she is a Pope.   

No King her Feet did ever kiss,  
Or had from her worse looks than this,  
Nor did she ever hope  
To saint one with a Rope,  
And yet she is a Pope.   

A Female Pope, you'll say a second Joan,  
No sure, she is Pope Innocent or none.    
The County of Oxford is divided into 14 Hundreds, wherein are 15 Market Towns, 280 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of Oxford; It elects nine Parliament Men, and gives the Title of Earl of Aubrey de Vere, the twentieth Earl of that Family.  
RUTLANDSHIRE hath Lincolnshire on the East, Nottinghamshire on the South, and Leicestershire on the West and North; the form thereof is round, and no longer in compass, than a Horseman can easily ride round in one day, upon which some will have this Shire named from one Rutt, who accordingly rid round it; but others will have it called Rutland, of the redness of the soil, because the earth doth slain the wool of their Sheep into a reddish colour; The air is good both for health and delight, subject neither to extremity of heat nor cold, nor is it greatly troubled with foggy mists; The soil is rich for Tillage and Corn; Woods there are plenty, and some of them imparked; the Hills are scored with Herds of Cattle, and Flocks of Sheep, the Valleys besprinkled with many sweet springs, so that they abound both in Grain and Pastures, neither is there any thing wanting for man's conveniency even in this little County, which is but 14 miles long, 12 broad, and 42 mile's circumference.  
The Ancient Inhabitants were subdued by Publius Ostorius under the yoke of the Emperor Claudius, and after the departure of the Romans, the Saxons made it part of their Mercian Kingdom; This County was bequeathed by the will of Edward the Confessor to his Queen Edgith, and after her Decease to his Monastery at Westminster; The Family of the Ferrer were at first here seated, as the Horshoe, whose badge than it was, doth witness, for in the Castle, now the Shire Hall, just over the Judge's Seat, there is an Iron Horshoe fixed, curiously wrought, containing five foot and an half in length, and the breadth proportionable. Near Burley House, the ancient Seat of the harrington's, standeth Oakham a fair Market Town, which Lordship the Lord Harrington enjoyed, with a Privilege that was somewhat extraordinary; which was this, That if any of Noble Birth came within the Precinct of that Lordship, they should forfeit as an Homage, a Shoe from the Horse whereon they rid, or else to redeem it with a Sum of Money; in witness whereof there are many Horseshoes nailed upon the Shire Hall door, some of large size and ancient fashion, others new, and of our present Nobility, whose names are stamped upon them, and many without names; That such homage was due it appears, because there was a suit in Law commenced against the Earl of Lincoln, who refused to forfeit his penalty, or pay the Fine.  
Little Jeffery was born in the Parish of Oakham, his Father was a very proper man, broad shouldered, and chested, though his Son never arrived at a full Ell in Stature; his Father who kept and ordered the baiting of Bulls for George Duke of Buckingham, a place requiring a strong body to manage it, presented him at Burleigh in the Hill to the Duchess of Buckingham, being then nine years old, and scarce a foot and half in height, upon which Jeffery was instantly heightened, not in stature, but condition, from one degree above Rags into Silk and Satin, and had two tall men to attend him; he was without any deformity, wholly proportionable, whereas Dwarves are often Pigmies in one part, and Giants in another; and yet though he was the least that England ever saw, he was a proper Person, compared to him that Sabinus says was seen in Italy, who was a man of a ripe Age, not above a Cubit high, and was carried about in a Parrots Cage; this Jeffery was once presented in a cold baked Pie to King Charles, and Queen Mary at an entertainment, and ever after lived in great plenty at Court, wanting nothing but Humility, having a high mind in a low body, which made him that he did not know himself, and would not know his Father, for which by the Kings Command he was severely corrected; He was though a Dwarf no Coward, being a Captain of Horse in the King's Army in the late Civil Wars, and afterward went over to follow the Queen in France, where being provoked by Mr. Crofts, who accounted him the object, not of his Anger, but contempt, he shown to all, that every fly has his sting, and they must be small indeed who cannot do mischief, especially since a Pistol is a pure leveller, and puts both Dwarf and Giant into equal capacity to kill and be killed, for shooting this Mr. Crofts he was Imprisoned. It is said, that the King's great Porter one time in a Mask at Whitehall, in the middle of his dance pulled little Jeffery out of his Pocket, to the surprise of the Spectators, and so I leave Jeffery the least man of the least County in England; yet I find in a late Author, that there is now, or was very lately, one Philippe French, born at Milcomb in Oxfordshire, of 36 years of Age, and a married Woman, who hath all parts proportionable, and of good shape, and yet wants half an inch of a yard in height, which is somewhat lower than Manius Maximus, or M. Tullius, who, as Varro reports, were each but two Cubits high, and yet were Gentlemen and Knights of Rome, but higher than Canopas the Dwarf of Julia, Niece to the Emperor Augustus, who, Pliny says, was but two foot and an hand-breadth high, but whether he were at his full growth, or proportionable, he doth not tell us.  
The County of Rutland is divided into five Hundreds, wherein are 2 Market Towns, 48 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of Peterborough; It elects only 2 Parliament Man for the County, and gives the Title of Earl to John L. Manors.  
SHROPSHIRE hath Cheshire on the North, Worcester, Hereford and Radnorshires on the South, Montgomery and Den bigh shires on the West; It produceth Iron, Pitcoal, Barley, Wheat, Cattle, Wood and Cloth; The Shire Town is Shrewsbury, which for Circuit, Trade, and Wealth doth surpass Lud●ow, and is inferior to few of our Cities; her buildings are fair, her Streets many and large, her Inhabitants rich, her Trade chief in our Staple Commodities of Cloth and Freezes. In the reign of King John 1197. Robert of Shrewsbury was Bishop of Bangor, whom this King afterward in War with Leoline Prince of Wales took Prisoner in his own Cathedral Church, and enjoined him to pay 300 Hawks for his ransom, which seemed not so proper, that a man of Peace should be ransomed with Birds of Prey; yet we read that in the Reign of K. Charles 1. a Nobleman was ransomed at the Isle of Rhee for a brace of Greyhounds; neither may it be wondered how the Bishop procured them of a sudden, since many were brought from Norway, and he might also furnish himself out of Pembrokeshire; This Bishop seemed somewhat humorous by a passage in his Will, wherein he ordered his Body should be buried in the midst of the Market place of Shrewsbury, which may be imputed either to his humility, or his foresight, that the fury of the Wars then between the English and Welsh would fall fiercest on Churches as the fairest Market, & that men preferring their profit before their Piety, would preserve their Market Places, though their Churches were destroyed; He died 1215.  
In 1402. K. Henry 4. was made sensible that a Crown can hardly sit easy upon the head, if it be not set right on at first, for now a new conspiracy was hatched against him, the Piercies' Earls of Northumberland and Worcester, with Henry Hotspur began at this time to fall off from K. Henry, because at their request he denied to redeem their Kinsman Mortimer from Glendours slavery; & that he denied them the benefit of such Prisoners as they had taken of the Scots at Hamilden, whereupon they themselves procured Mortimer's delivery, and then entered into a League Offensive and Defensive with Glendour, whereby they agreed to divide the Kingdom into three parts between them, wherein Glendour persuaded them they should fulfil a Prophecy, as though K. Henry were the Mouldwarp cursed of Gods own mouth, and they were the Lion, the Dragon, and the Wolf who should divide the Land among them; all England from the Severn to Trent South and Eastward was to be the portion of the Earl of March; all Wales and the Lands beyond Severn Westward to be Owen Glendours, and all the remainder of the Land from the Trent Northward to be the L. Piercies; ●n the mean time K. Henry not unacquainted with the Conspiracy, published by Proclamation, that Mortimer Carl of March had voluntarily caused himself to be taken Prisoner; that the Rebels having him in their Custody, might pretend some colour for their Conspiracy, ●nd therefore he had little reason to take care for his deliverance; Hereupon the Piercies assisted with a Company of Scots with the E. of Stafford, Richard Scroop Archbishop of York, and many others resolved to join with Glendour, but first they framed certain Articles against the King, and sent them to him in writing.  
That King Henry had falsified his Oath given at his landing, swearing that he came only to recover his Inheritance, and would not meddle with the King or Crown; That most Traitorously he had taken Arms against his Sovereign Lord King Richard 2. had Imprisoned him, and then most barbarously caused him to be murdered, and without any Title or Right had procured himself to be made, and crowned King; That ever since the Murder of King Richard he had unjustly kept the Kingdom and Crown from his Cousin Edmund Mortimer Earl of March to whom of night it belonged; That when no want compelled him he had imposed divers subsidies and Taxes upon the People to their great grief, of which they would willingly, but durst not complain; That no Justice could be expected from him, since contrary to his Coronation Oath he had by Letters sent into divers Counties, procured such Parliament Men to be chosen, as upon occasion might serve his turn; And lastly, that whereas for Affinities sake he ought to have ransomed his Cousin the Earl of March from his strait and loathsome Imprisonment, he not only denied it, but falsely and untruly published, that he became a voluntary Prisoner; for all which and many other causes, they utterly defied Henry as a Traitor and Usurper, and as an Enemy vowed his destruction, and the restoring the said Earl to his Right. K. Henry could not but know that all these Articles against him were true, yet since this knowledge did not hinder him from seeking the Crown when he had it not; it would less hinder: him from seeking to keep it now he he had it; and if he were able, being a private man to get it from a King, he was likely to be more able being now a King to keep it from private Men; and as for any objections of Conscience he could answer them all by this, That if his Title were good against King Richard by his resignation, it was good against Mortimer by his swearing Allegiance; and upon these grounds, with a mind as confident as if all Circumstances were on his side, he raised an Army, and marched toward the Lords, taking care they might by no means join with the Welsh, and in Battlefield near Shrewsbury he encountered them, in which Fight though the Scots, and Henry Hotspur shown mu●● valour, yet the Victory rested on the King's side, Hotsp●●r being slain, the Earl of Worcester taken Prisoner, with several others; On the King's part the L. Stafford who that day revolted to him, and nine who were that morning Knighted were slain, and 1600 common Soldiers, but of the Conspirators above 6000; The King was once unhorsed by Dowg●●ss, who in his presence slew Sir Walter Blunt, who was that day attired in all things like the King; Dowglas being afterward taken Prisoner by the fall of his Horse, was by the King's Command for his valour set at liberty without ransom; In this Battle the young Prince Henry, though wounded in the face with an Arrow, lost not his Courage, but continued fight still; After this Victory the King caused public thanks to be given, and then ordered the Earl of Worcester to be beheaded, and many others to be hanged, drawn and quartered; after which he sent Prince Henry into Wales with his whole Army, but before 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 he'll 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 Nou. 15. 1634. and was buried in the Abbey Church.  
Shropshire is divided into 15 Hundreds, wherein are 15 Market Towns, 170 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese 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, Gloucester on the North-East, Wiltshire on the East, Devonshire on the West, and Dorsetshire on the South: It abounds in Cattle, Chease, Led 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 paralleled in other places; This Country is famous for three Cities, Bath, Wells, and Bristol; 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 Britain's in the year of the world 3100 built this City, and conveyed the admirable virtues into these Waters by Magic 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, environed 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 boil 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 benumbed with corrupt Humours, by their heat causing much sweat; They are much frequented by Persons of all Qualities, and almost for all diseases; of a●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 enclosed within a wall; The second distant about 200 paces is much hotter, whence called the Hot Bath, adjoining to which is the Spittle or Lazar House, for the relief of poor diseased Persons; The third and greatest is called the King's 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. Bristol hath the River Avon passing through it, and was encompassed with a double wall; it is beautiful with Buildings public 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 Welsh Bard or Poet, to his Harp, wherein it is mentioned, that he was buried in Glastenbury Churchyard 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, etc. 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 shown perfect and whole till touched, but than 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 razed at the general suppression of Abbeys 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 encountered each other, and then vanished; and the 3d time appeared that number again all in bright Armour, and encountered 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 forenoon 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 loathsome 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 murdered, (the eldest being about nine years old) and put into a Chest; it was supposed to be done by his Wife the children's 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; Entering 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 Ulster in Ireland, and therefore deservedly created Earl thereof; He was afterward surprised by Hugh Lacie (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 tried by Combat, 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 weakened 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 Cannibal 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 humour. 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 Diocese 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 chief 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 sluices 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 encompassed with a very fair Wall like a Castle, this Church mounteth up on high with three Pyramids or Spires of Stone, making an excellent show, 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 rend 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 Northwind, 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 Hen's Eggs, some 5, 6, and 7 Inches about: I myself, saith the Relator, measured one after the Storm was over, and a good part of it melted, yet than 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 blue 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 the continual strange noise in the Air was very terrible to them.  
In the year 1669 July 31. There was a great dark cloud seen to arise in the East not far from Litchfield, which drawing nearer to the City, came over it about noon, and then appeared to be a huge number of Ant-flies, so thick that they darkened the Sky; and it being Market day there, they fell down in great abundance, so that they filled the very Houses; The People both within and without doors were much bitten or stung with them, yea the very Horses were so disturbed with them, that they ran about as if wild; The Market People were so plagued with them; that they were forced to pack up and be gone; People were driven out of the Field from their Harvest work, and thus they continued 2 or 3 hours, multitudes of them falling dead, and lying so thick in the Streets, that whole handfuls of them might be taken up and the People swept them in heaps; The remainder took their flight Northward, and molested other places; This was attested saith Mr. Clark, by many Eye-witnesses.  
The County of Stafford is divided into 5 Hundreds, wherein are 18 Market Towns, 130 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of Coventry and Litchfield; It elects 10 Parliament Men.  
SUFFOLK hath Norfolk on the North, Cambridgshire on the West, the Germane Ocean on the East, and Essex on the South; It abounds in Corn, Cattle, Pastures, Cloth, Wood, Sea-fish and Fowl; their Cheeses are Traded into Germany, France and Spain; Ipswich is the only Eye of this Shire both for Commerce and Buildings, it hath been formerly walled as by the ruins appears, but probably raised by the Daunts, who in 991. plundered all the Seacoasts, and in the year 1000 they laid the Streets of the Town desolate, and the Houses on heaps; yet after recovering both breath and beauty, her buildings from S●oke Church in the South to St. Margret's in the North, now extend to 1900 paces, and from St. Helen's in the East to St. Matthews Church in the West is 2120 paces. It hath 12 Parish Churches, be sides six gone to ruin.  
In the Reign of King Henry 2. 1180. near Orford in his County certain Fishers took in their Nets a Fish, having the shape of a man in all parts, which Fish was kept by Bartholomew de Glanvile in the Castle of Orford above six months, he spoke not a word; all manner of meats he gladly eat, but most greedily raw Fish when he had pressed out the Juice; he was oftimes brought to Church, but never shown any sign of Devotion, at length being not well looked to, he stole to the Sea, and was never seen after; In the Reign of K. John 1216. One casualty happened, which we might count disastrous, if it had not had relation to ourselves; For Hugh de Bones coming to aid K. John with 60000 Frenchmen, they were all cast away at Sea, to whom the King had granted Norfolk and Suffolk to Inhabit. Thomas Woolsey was born in Ipswich, where a Butcher a very honest man was his Father, though a Poet be thus pleased to descant thereon.  
Brave Priest whoever was thy Sire by kind,  
Woolsey of Ipswitch ne'er begat thy mind.  
Yet he was sometimes upbraided with the meaness of his birth, even when he was Cardinal, for one time a Nobleman who was very merry, but very extravagant, having newly sold a Town with an hundred Tenements, came huffing into the Court with a new suit of , and said, Am not I a mighty man that have an Hundred Houses on my back; which Cardinal Wolsey hearing, replied, You might have better employed it in paying your debts; Indeed my Lord, quoth he, you say well, for I remember my Lord, my Father owed my Master your Father three-halfe-pences for a Calf's head, hold your hand here is twopences for it; He was one of such vast undertake, as the History thereof would almost require a volume; He was made Cardinal of St. Cicely, and died heartbroken with grief at Leicester 1530. without any Monument, which made Dr. Corbet a great wit of his own College (Christ-Church in Oxford) thus complain: 
And though from his own store Woolsey might have  
A Palace or a College for his Grave;  
Yet here he lies interred as if that all  
Of him to be remembered were his fall.  
Nothing but Earth to Earth; no pompous weight  
Upon him; but a pebble or a quait;  
If thou art thus neglected what shall we  
Hope after death, that are but shreds of thee?   
It is reported that being afraid of the Anger of K. Henry 8. he took such a strong Purge, that his rotten body being not able to bear it, he died thereof, and that his body was as black as pitch, and so heavy, that six men could hardly carry it, and stunk so intolerably, that they were forced to bury him in the night, at which time there was such a hideous Tempest, that all the Torches were put out, and withal such a stink, that they were glad to throw him into his Tomb, and there leave him.  
In the 2. of Queen Mary 1555. in August at a place in Suffolk by the Seaside all of hard stone, and pebble, between Orford and Aldborough, where never grass grew, or earth was ever seen, there suddenly sprung up without any Tillage or Sowing, so great abundance of Pease, that the poor gathered above an 100 quarters, yet there remained some ripe and some blossoming which brought down the price of Corn, there being a great dearth before by reason of unseasonable weather; In the 10th of Queen Elizabeth 1568. 17 monstrous Fishes were taken at Downham Bridge near Ipswich some of them being 27 Foot in length. In her 19th year Aug. 4. being Sunday about 10 before noon, whilst the Minister was Preaching at Bliborough in Suffolk, happened a strange and terrible Tempest of Lightning and Thunder, which struck through the wall of the Church almost a yard deep into the ground, throwing down above 20 Persons, rending the wall up to the Vestry, cleaving the door, tearing the Timber, and breaking the Chains of the Steeple; the People that were struck down lay above half an hour before they recovered, a Man and Boy were found stark dead, and the rest miserably scorched. In the 6th of K. James 1609. St. Edmundsbury being by chance set on fire, it consumed 160 Houses but by the King's bounty giving 500 load of Timber, and the relief of the City of London, it was soon rebuilt in fairer Manner than before.  
Suffolk is divided into 22 Hundreds, wherein are 29 Market Towns, 575 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of Norwich; It elects 16 Parliament Men, and gives the Title of Earl to James L. Howard, as Clare doth to Gilbert L. Holles.  
SURREY hath Middlesex on the North, Kent on the East, Sussex on the South, Haunt and Bark shires on the West; the Skirts and Borders of this County are rich and fruitful, but the inward parts thereof very hungry and barren, though by reason of the clear Air, and clean ways, it is full of many Gentile Habitations; it hath good Box, Walnuts, Fuller's 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 Monarches; 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 Taste. 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 Smokes 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 merely 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 King's Misery, that amongst all his Counsellors and servants there was none to assist him in his last Moment's, entered 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 Jesus, yielded up the Ghost. In 1491. K. Hen. 7. held solemn just 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 herself to Richmond, at which time, as a sad Omen, she commanded the Ring to be filled 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 numbness seized 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 Successor; 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 Abbey; 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 Sovereign. 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, etc. He also shown him, that the Clergy by their Oath were fallen into a Praemunire, 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 Abbeys and Monasteries in England, and commanded the Bible to be Printed and read in the English Tongue, and the Bishop of Rome's Power was by several Statutes abolished in England; however divers of the Popish Bishops and Clergy privately endeavoured to restore it again, which he was always ware of, and therefore calling his Servants together, he discovered to them in what a slippery condition he stood, considering the variable affections of the King, and the malice and subtlety of his Popish Adversaries, and therefore required them to be very circumspect, least by their default any quarrel might be picked against him; and soon after some false witnesses accused him of Heresy, and of speaking some words against the King; yet his Enemies durst not bring him to his answer, nor try him by his Peers, but procured an Act of Attainder, whereby he was condemned before he was heard, and the King not long after his death repent his haste, wishing That he had his Cromwell alive again; When he came upon the Scaffold at Tower-hill, he spoke thus to the People; I am come hither to die, and not to purge myself as some perhaps may expect I should; I am by the Law condemned to die, and I thank my Lord that hath appointed me this death for mine offences, for I have always lived a Sinner, and offended my Lord God, for which I ask him hearty forgiveness; It is not unknown to many of you that I was a great Traveller, and being but of mean Parentage was called to high Estate, and now I have offended my Prince, for which I hearty ask him forgiveness, beseeching you to pray with me to Almighty God that he will forgive me, And once again I desire you to pray for me, that so long as life remaineth in this flesh, I may waver nothing in my Faith; Then kneeling down on his knees, he made an excellent Prayer, concluding thus. Grant O most merciful Father that when death shall shut up the Eyes of my Body, yet the Eyes of my Soul may still behold and look upon thee, and when death hath taken away the use of my Tongue, yet my heart may cry and say unto thee, Lord into thy hands I commend my soul, Lord Jesus receive my soul, Amen. Having ended his Prayer, he made a Divine exhortation to those on the Scaffold, and then quietly gave up his Spirit, 1541. Upon his Monument was Engraven Cromwell, surnamed the Great, whom Wolsey first raised from the Forge to eminent good Fortunes, whom Henry 8. used as his Instrument to suppress the Pope's Supremacy, and to dissolve Religious Structures, whom he advanced to the highest pitch of Honour and Authority, whom he cast down suddenly, and bereft both of Life and Dignities, lies here Interred.  
Surrey is divided into 13 Hundreds, wherein are seven Market Towns (besides Southwark, which keeps the same with London) 140 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of Winchester; It elects 14 Parliament Men, and gives the Title of Earl to Henry L. Howard who is also Duke of Norfolk.  
SUSSEX hath Surrey on the N. Kent on the E. the Sea on the S. and Hantshire on the W. The Soil is rich, but ill for Travellers in the Winter, the Land lying low, and the ways being deep; the middle Tract is adorned with Meadows, Pastures, and Cornfields, the Sea-Coast with Hills called the Downs, abundantly yielding both Corn and Grass, and the Northside is overshadowed with Groves and thick Woods, called the Weald, where sometimes was the famous Wood called Andradswald, 120 miles in length, memorable for the death of Sigebert King of the West Saxons, who being deposed, was stabbed in this place by a Swineherd. Chichester in this County is a large and beautiful City, very well walled about, a little River running hard by it on the West; It hath four Gates, from whence the Streets lead directly, and cross themselves in the middle, where in a fair Market House of Stone, supported with Pillars round about the Market is kept; between the West and South Gates stands the Cathedral Church, not very great, but handsome and neat, having a Spire Steeple of Stone rising a great height; It is the residence of the Bishop, and has often suffered by Fire; It was first built by Cissa, the second King of the South Saxons, wherein he kept his Royal Court. Lewes seems to contend with Chichester for Populousness, largeness, and buildings, where King Athelstan appointed a Mint for his Money; and William de Warren Earl of Surrey, who came into England with William the Conqueror, built a strong Castle, and founded an Abbey there; It is recorded that Edw. 1. in the 8th year of his Reign 1282. scent out his Writ of Quo Warranto, through England, to examine by what Title men held their Lands and Estates, which brought him in much money, till John E. Warren, Successor to this William, being called to show his Title, drew out an old rusty Sword, and then said, he held it by that, and by that he would hold it till death; which caused the King to desist from proceeding any further in that Project. In King Henry 3. time, the same John Earl Warren had the confidence to kill Zouch Allen, Lord Chief Justice with his own hands upon the Bench in Westminster-Hall; so much did he presume upon his great favour with the King. In the Baron's Wars with this King, the Lords got into this Castle of Lewes, and not far off fought a great Battle wherein the King had his Horse shot under him, and was taken Prisoner with his Brother and Son.  
In the year 1058. Harold putting to Sea in a small Boat for his pleasure from Boseham his Manor in Sussex, and having unskilful Mariners, was driven upon the Coasts of Normandy, where by Duke William he was detained till he had sworn to make him King of England, if Edward the Consessor died without Children; yet afterward without any regard to his Oath he placed himself on the Throne. Duke William hereupon arrived at Pemsey, and with his Sword revenged the Perjury of Harold at Battle in this County with such severity, that there fell 67974 English Men that day, the Conqueror putting himself thereby into full possession of the whole Kingdom; over which he Reigned 22 years, being victorious both at home and abroad; but to discover the vanity of all earthly things, it sometimes happens, that some great Persons are not suffered to go to rest when their Bed is made, and others are pulled out of those Lodgings whereof they had once taken peaceable possession; as appears very fully in the following Relation.  
No sooner had the soul of this victorious Prince, William the Conqueror left his Body, but that his dead Corpse was abandoned by his Nobles and Followers, and by his meaner Servants he was stripped of Armour, Vessels, Apparel, and all Princely Furniture, his naked Body left upon the floor, and his Funerals wholly neglected, till one Harlwin a poor Country Knight undertook to carry his Corpse to St. Stephen's Church at Caen in Normandy, which the dead King had formerly founded; At his entrance into Caen, the Covent of Monks came forth to meet him, but at the same instant there happened a great Fire, so that as his Corpse before, so now his Hearse was forsaken of all men, every one running to quench the Fire; That done, they return and carry the Corpse to the Church; The Funeral Sermon being ended, and the stone Coffin set in the Earth in the Chancel, as the body was ready to he laid therein, there stood up one Anselm, and forbidden the Burial, alleging, that that very place was the floor of his Father's House, which this dead King had violently taken from him to build this Church upon, Therefore, said he, I challenge this ground, and in the name of God forbidden, that the Body of this Oppressor and dispoyler be covered with the Earth of mine Inheritance;; They were therefore forced to compound with him for an hundred pounds; now was the body to be laid in that stone Coffin, but the Tomb proved too little for the Corpse, so that pressing it down to gain an entrance, the Belly not bowelled, brake, and sent forth such an intolerable stink among the Assistants at the Funeral, that all the Gums and Spices suming in their Censers could not relieve them, but all in great amazement hastened away, leaving only a Monk or two to shuffle up the Burial, which they performed with all possible haste, and so got to their Cells; yet was not this the last of those Troubles that the Corpse of this great Prince met with, but some years after at such time as Caen was taken by the French, his Tomb was rifled, his bones thrown out, and some of them by private Soldiers brought as far as England again, so that if we consider his many troubles in life, and after his death, we may well think that notwithstanding all his greatness, a very mean man could hardly be persuaded to change Fortunes with him. In his Tomb there was found a plate of Brass, whereon this Epitaph was Engraven.  
He that the sturdy Normans ruled and o'er the English reigned,  
And stoutly won, and strongly kept what so he had obtained;  
And did his valiant Enemies by force bring under awe,  
And made them under his Command live subject to his Law:  
This great King William lieth here, entombed in little Grave;  
So great a Lord, so small a House sufficeth him to have.  
Sussex is divided into six Rapes, wherein are 65 Hundreds, 16 Market Towns; 312 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of Chichester; It abounds much in cast Iron; elects 20 Parliament men, & gives the Title of Earl to Thomas L. Leonard, Married to Ann Filz-Roy, eldest Daughter to the Duchess of Cleaveland.  
WARWICKSHIRE hath Leicester and Northampton shires on the East; Oxford and Glocestershires on the South, Worcester on the West, and Staffordshire on the North thereof; it hath a very good air and soil, wanting nothing for the pleasure or profit of man, and yieldeth plenty of Corn, especially The Vale of the Red Horse, so called from the shape of a Horse cut out in a red hill by the Inhabitants thereabout; it abounds also in Malt, Iron, Wood and Wool; It hath many fair Towns, and some of them hardly to be matched in England, the chiefest whereof is Coventry, so called a Tribus Conventibus, from the three Covents that were in it, commodiously seated, and has been fortified with very strong walls, with 13 stately Gates, and 18 Towers for defence; a little River runs through it; many fair and beautiful Houses are therein, among which there rise up on high two Churches of rare Workmanship, in the midst is the Cross or Pillar of Stone of very curious and costly Architecture; The Citizens of this Town having in former Ages highly offended their great Lord Leofrick, had their Privileges seized upon, and themselves oppressed with many heavy burdens and Taxes; But his Wife the Lady Godiva pitying their condition, continually interceded with her Lord for their Release and Freedom, and that with such importunity, that it could hardly be determined which was greatest, his hatred, or her love; at last the Earl being overcome with her continual intercessions, he granted her desire, but upon such a condition as he thought she would never perform, which was, that she would ride stark naked through Coventry, at noonday from one end to the other; though thi● was very hard for a modest Lady, yet however she thankfully accepted his Grant, and stripping herself o● all her Attire, let lose the large and beautiful Tresse● of her Hair, which on every side so covered her naked● Body, that no part thereof was uncivil to be seen, whereby she redeemed their former Liberties, and freed● them from their grievous Impositions.  
Warwick is the next Town of Account and Commerce in this Shire, it standeth over the River Avo●, upon a steep and high Rock, and all the Passages to it are wrought out of the very stone, the River on the Southside is checked with a most sumptuous and stately Castle standing high upon a Rock, environed with a strong wall, whereon is a noble Gatehouse, and three high strong Towers called Caesar's Tower, Guyes Tower, and the Iron Tower, in all which are very fine Lodgings, and a great Bulwark; There are two fair Churches i● the Town, and it is adorned with handsome Houses, which the Poet thus describes; 
A place of strength and health; in the same Fort,  
You would conceive a Castle and a Court;  
The Orchards, Gardens, Rivers, and the Air,  
May with the Trenches, Rampires, Walls compare.  
It seems no Art, no Force can intercept it.  
As if a Lover built, a Soldier kept it.   
Twelve miles hence is Alcester, a very Ancient Market Town, which formerly was much bigger, probably it was a Garrison of the Romans, since in Ploughing and digging many ancient Copper pieces of Money are found to this day, one of which, saith Mr. Clark, of Vespasians with Judea Capta, or Judea Conquered, upon it I have by me; He proceeds; When I was Rector there, about 1638. my Neighbour whose Housewas next the Churchyard, being about to dig a Cellar, I lent him one of my men to assist him, who digging about four foot deep, they met with two Urns or Earthen Pots, not far asunder, in one there was nothing but Ashes, in the other were Medals set edg-long as full as it could be thrust; my man judging it to be only that Copper Money which they find so oft about the Town, set it carelessly upon the Ground by him; and the Town consisting of Knitters, some of them coming to see the work, picked out some pieces of this Money; at last one brought in a piece to me, which upon Trial I found to be silver, and thereupon sent for the Pot into my house, and being loath to break the Pot, with the help of a Chisel I got all out of it; in the midst thereof I found 16 pieces of Gold, as bright as if they had been lately put in, and about 800 pieces of Silver, and yet not two alike, and the latest of them 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-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 Hermit's Life, and was at last buried in a Chapel 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 own  
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 Ruins 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 Dioceses of Litchfeild and Worcester; 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 , 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 Mere, which is a great Water, there appears at this day the Ruins of an ancient City, which by the British Bricks, the Roman Money often there sound, by paved Highways 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 els, and in breadth 8. In the River Can, near Kendal, are two Waterfalls, where the Waters descend with so great a downfall as causes a mighty noise, from whence the neighbouring Inhabitants prognosticate of the Wether; for when that on the North sounds more clear, and with a louder Echo in their Ears, they certainly look for fair Wether 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. Usher A. B. of Armagh; that about the 3d of Q. Marry a Pursuivant was sent with a Commission into Ireland, to empower some eminent Persons to proceed with Fire and Faggot against poor Protestants: It happened by Divine Providence this Pursuivant coming to Chester, lodged in the House of a Protestant Innkeeper, 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 Pursuivant 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 Enlargement; 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. mary 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 Dioceses of Chester and Carlisle; 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 inferior to none, joined to the Bishop's Palace; 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 accommodated with plenty of all things, especially Fish; it is adorned with a very stately Market place, wherein standeth their Common Hall of Timberwork, a very handsome building. About 6 miles from Salisbury upon the Plains, is to be seen a huge and monstrous piece of Work; for within the circuit of a Pit or Ditch there are erected in the manner of a Crown, certain mighty and unwrought stones, whereof some are 20 Foot high, and 7 broad, upon the heads whereof others like overthwart pieces do bear, and rest  with Tenants and Mortesses, so that the whole frame seemeth to hang, whereof it is commonly called stonehenge. Near Badmington is a place called The Giant's Cave, whereof there are 9 in number, some deeper than others, being two great long stones on both sides; and a broad one to cover them, both these are thought to be some ancient works either of the Romans, Danes, or Saxons.  
In the Year 975. Queen Elfrida having barbarously murdered K. Edward her Son in Law, to set up her own Son K. Etheldred, afterward repenting of her cruel Fact, and to pacify the crying Blood of her slain Son, built the two Monasteries of Amesbury and Worwel, in Wiltshire and Hamshire, in which she lived and died with great Penance; but these and the like Foundations being built with Rapine and Blood; have felt the Woe pronounced by the Prophet, That the Stone in the Wall shall cry, and the Beam out of the Timber shall answer it, woe to him that buildeth a Town with Blood, and establisheth a City with Iniquity. In the Year 1154. K. Stephen seizing into his hands the Bishop of Salisburys Castles, and Goods, a Synod was called by the Pope's Legate to right him, where the King was summoned to appear, to answer for his imprisoning of Bishops, and depriving them of the r Goods, which being a Christian King he ought not to do. The King by his Attorney answers, That he had not arrested him as a Bishop, but as a Servant, who ought to make up his Accounts about his Employments. This answer caused some Debates, they not presuming to excommunicate the King without the Pope's leave, and therefore they fell from Authority to Submission, falling at his Feet, and beseeching him to have pity on the Church, and not make dissension between the Kingdom and the Priesthood; which shows the great magnanimity and courage of K. Stephen, that he was able to pull down the high Spirits of the Prelates in that time; this rich Bishop of Salisbury, who built the Castle of the Devizes, and divers other strong Castles in this County, being now thrown out of all his Grandeur, was so swallowed up of over much grief, that he ran mad, and spoke and did he knew not what.  
In 1275. K. Edward 1. calls a Parliament at Salisbury, without admitting of any Churchmen to sit therein, and Marchian his Treasurer acquainting him, That in Churches and Religious Houses there was much Treasure to be had, if it were lawful to take it: He made no scruple of it, but caused it to be seized, and brought into his Exchequer; but finding that he had thereby displeased the Clergy, he bid them ask what they would have; who required the Repeal of the Statute of Mortmain, which hindered devout People at their death from giving all their Estates from their Children to the Church; To which the King answered, That it was a Statute made by the whole Body of the Realm, and therefore it was not in his Power, who was but one Member of that Body, to repeal it. In another Parliament at Salisbury, this King requires certain of his Lords to go to the Wars in Gascoign, who all excusing themselves, the King in a great rage threatened they should either go, or he would give their Lands to others that should: Upon this the Earl of Hereford High-Constable, and the Earl of Norfolk Marshal of England, declare, That if the King went in Person, they would attend him, otherwise not: Which answer offended the King more, and being urged again, the Earl Marshal protested, he would willingly march in the Front, if the King went himself: But the King told him he should go with any other without him; I am not bound to do so, (said the Earl) neither will I take this Journey without you: The King swore by God he should either go or hang; And I swear by the same Oath, said the Earl, I will neither go nor hang, and so without leave departs; shortly after the two Earls assembled many Noblemen, and 1500 Soldiers wherewith they stand on their own Guard; but the King being obliged to go to France, condescends to their Demands, and desires them, that since they would not ●o, they would do nothing prejudicial to himself and the Kingdom in his Absence; and upon his return the King solemnly confirmed the two great Charters, which appeased the present disturbances.  
In the 4. of Q. Mary 1454, exemplary Justice was done upon a great Person; for the Lord Sturton, a man much in the Queen's favour, because he was an earnest Papist, was, for a Murder committed by him, arraigned and condemned, and he with 4 of his Servants were carried to Salisbury, and there in the Marketplace hanged, he having this favour to be hanged in a silken Halter, and his servants in places near adjoining where the Murder was committed. Not long since, saith Mr. Clark, a Soldier in Salisbury in the midst of his Cups, drinking and carousing in a Tavern, drank a Health to the Devil, saying, That if the Devil would not come and pledge him, he would not believe there was either God or Devil, whereupon his Companions being struck with horror, hastened out of the Room, and presently after hearing a hideous noise and smelling a stinking savour, the Vintner ran up into the Chamber, and coming in he miss his Guest, and found the Window broken, the Iron Bar in it bowed and all bloody; but the man was never heard of afterward.  
Wiltshire is divided into 29 Hundreds, wherein are 23 Market Towns, 304 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of Salisbury; It elects 34 Parliament-Men, and gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Pawlet, as Salisbury doth to James Lord Cecil, and Marleburgh to William L. Ley.  
WORCESTERSHIRE hath Staffordshire on the North, Warwickshire on the East, Glocestershire on the South, Hereford and Shropshire on the West; It is a County rich and populous, the soil is very fertile, producing besides Corn, Cattle and Wood, abundance of Apples and Pears, which yield pleasure to the sight, and also profit; for with the juice they make great quantity of Cider and Perry, both very pleasant and wholesome Drinks; The City of Worcester is most pleasantly sea●ed, and is admirable both in respect of the Antiquity and Beauty thereof; It standeth in a place rising somewhat with a gentle ascent by the River's side, which hath a fair Bridge with a Tower over it; it is well and strongly walled, and the Inhabitants are much enriched by the Trade of Clothing, It is 1650 paces about the Walls, through which 7 Gates give entrance, with 5 Watch Towers for defence, there are in it divers Churches beside the Cathedral, which is seated on the Southside of the City, and is an excellent fair building, adorned with the Tombs and Monuments of K. John, Pr. Arthur, and divers of the Beauchamps. This City was set on Fire, and almost every one of the Citizens slain by K. Hardicknute 1041 for killing the Collectors of this Danish Tribute, yet was presently repaired; but in 1113. a sudden Fire happened no body knew how, which burned down the Castle, and the Cathedral Church, likewise in the troubles of K. Stephen it was twice defaced by the Flames, and made hopeless of Recovery, yet out of these a new Phoenix arose, and her Buildings were raised more stately than before, especially the Cathedral. At Droitwitch are three Fountains of Salt water, divided by a little Brook of fresh water passing between them, by the boiling of which salt water they make pure white saltt  
Edmund Bonner, alias Savage, was born in this County, his Father was John Savage, a rich Priest in Cheshire, his Mother was this Priest's Concubine, a dainty Wench in her Youth, and a jolly Woman in her Age; she was sent out of Cheshire to cover her shame, and laid down her burden at Elmly in this County, where this bonny bouncing Babe Bonner was born, in the Reign of K. Hen. 7. He was bred a Bachelor of the Laws in Oxford, and in K. Hen 8. time he was made Doctor of the Laws, Archdeacon of Leicester, Master of Arts, Master of the Faculties under Archbishop Cranmer, and employed in several Embassies beyond Sea; All this time Bonner was not Bonner, being as yet meek, merciful, and a great man for the L. Cromwell, as appeared by some tart printed Repartees betwixt him and Stephen Gardiner. Indeed he had a Body and an half, but corpulency without cruelty is no sin, and toward his old Age he was overgrown with fat, as Mr. Fox, who is charged to have persecuted Persecutors, with ugly Pictures doth represent him; not long after he was consecrated Bp. of London, and under K. Edward 6. being ordered to preach publicly concerning the Reformation, his faint and cold expressions thereof manifested that he had a mind rather to betray it, for which he was deprived of his Benefice; being restored to his Bishopric under Q. Mary, he caused the death of twice as many Martyrs as all the Bishops of England beside, justly occasioning the Verses made upon him.  
If one for shedding Blood for Bliss may hope,  
Heaven's widest gate for Bonner doth stand .  
No body speaking to Bonner.  
All call thee cruel, and the sponge of Blood,  
But, Bonner, I say thou art mild and good.  
Under Queen Elizabeth he was deprived and secured in the Marshalsea, where he lived 10 Years in soft durance, and full plenty, his Face deposing for his whole Body that he was not famished, enjoying a great Temporal Estate by his Father, wherein as he was kept from doing hurt to others, so it kept others from doing hurt to him, who was so universally odious, that he had been stoned in the Streets if at Liberty: He died 1569. and was buried in Barking Churchyard among Thiefs and Murderers, but enough, if not too much of this Herostratus, who burned so many living Temples of the Holy Ghost, and who, had he not been remembered by other Writers, had found no place here.  
In the 18th of Queen Elizabeth 1576. June 20. William Lumnley a poor man in the Parish of Emely, being kept in Prison by a rich Widow, and having a Mare of 22 years old, saith Mr. Stow, with Foal, within three days after she Foaled a Female Colt, which immediately had an Udder, out of which was milked the same day a pint of Milk, and every day after it gave above three pints, to the great relief of his Wife and Children, and continued to do so a long time, as was seen by many Thousands. In her 35th year in the month of March were many great storms of wind, which overturned Trees, Houses, Steeples and Barns, and in Bewdly Forest in Worcestershire many Oaks were overthrown, in Horton Wood in this County above a 1000 Oaks were blown down in one day.  
Worcestershire is divided into seven Hundreds, wherein are 11 Market Towns, 152 Parish Churches, and is in the Diocese of Worcester. It elects 9 Parliament Men, and gives the Title of Earl and Marquis to Henry L. Somerset, L. Precedent of Wales.  
YORKSHIRE hath Westmoreland and Durham on the North, Lancashire on the West, Derby, Nottingham, and Lincoln shires on the South, and the Germane Ocean on the East. It is the greatest of any County in England, placed under a temperate Climate, and so is indifferently fruitful, so that if one part of it be stony, sandy barren ground, another part is fruitful, and richly adorned with Cornfields; if it be here bare of Woods, you shall see it there shadowed with Forests full of Trees; If in one place it be Moorish, miry and unpleasant, another presents itself to the Eye full of beauty and delightful variety. This County being so spacious, is divided into three parts, called the West Riding, the East-Riding, and the North-Riding; It produceth Corn, , Cloth, Knives, and Stockings. The City of York is very ancient, and formerly of so great estimation, that the Roman Emperors kept their Courts there; it is at this day the second City of Eng. the fairest in all the Country, & a singular safeguard & ornament to all the Northern Parts; it is a large stately pleasant place, well fortified, and beautifully adorned both with public and private Buildings, Rich, Populous, and an Archbishops See; The River Ouse flowing with a gentle stream from the North part Southward, cutteth it in twain, and maketh as it were two Cities, which are joined with a strong Bridge, whereon is a very great Arch; The West part is encompassed with a very fair Wall, and the River together foursquare, having an entrance only at one Gate, from which a long and broad street reacheth to the very Bridge, which is beautified with handsome Houses, with Gardens and Orchards on the back, and pleasant Fields behind; On the East side the Houses stand very thick, and the streets are narrower, being fortified with a strong wall, and is divided on the Southeast with the deep Channel of the muddy River Fosse, which entering into the heart of the City by a blind way hath a Bridge over it with Houses built upon it, and so close ranged one by another, that it seems rather a street than a Bridge, and soon after runs into the Ouse, where a stately Castle formerly stood, which commanded the whole City, but it is now gone to decay; toward the North stands the Cathedral Church, an excellent, fair and stately Fabric.  
We read that William the Conqueror, after he had settled himself in this Kingdom, did much a bridge the power of the prelate's in Temporals, ordaining that they should exercise no Temporal Authority at all; but yet in Spirituals he rather raised them, as appears by a passage between Aldred Archbishop of York, and this King; for one time upon denying a certain suit, the Archbishop in great discontent offered to go away, but the King for fear of his displeasure stayed him, and fell down at his feet, desiring his pardon, and promising to grant his Suit, the King for sometime lay at his fe●t, and the Noblemen that were present put the Prelate in mind that he should cause the King to rise; Nay, said the Archbishop, let him alone, let him find what it is to anger St. Peter. And as by this story we may see the insulting Pride of this Prelate in those days, so by another we may observe the equivocating falsehood of another Prelate at that time, for Stigand A. B. of Canterbury would often swear, he had not one penny upon Earth, when under the Earth it was afterward found he had hidden great Treasure; It is also memorable, but scarce credible, of another Bishop, who being accused of Simony, and denying it, the Cardinal before whom he was to answer, told him. That a Bishopric was the gift of the Holy Ghost, and therefore to buy a Bishopric was against the Holy Ghost, and thereupon bid him say, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which the Bishop beginning, and oft trying to do, saith our Historian, could never say, and to the Holy Ghost, but said it plainly when he was put out of his Bishopric.  
In the 19th of King Henry 3. 1235. there was a great dearth in Eng. so that many poor people died for want of food, the Rich being so cruelly covetous as not to relieve them; and among others Walter Grace A. B. of York had great store of Corn, which he had hoarded for five years together, yet at that sad time refused to bestow any of it upon the necessities of the poor; but suspecting that it might be destroyed by Vermine, he commanded it to be delivered to Husbandmen that lived in his Manors, upon condition to return him as much new Corn after Harvest, but behold a terrible Judgement of God upon him for his covetousness, when they came to one of his great stacks of Corn nigh the Town of Ripoon, there appeared in the Sheaves all over, the heads of Worms, Serpents and Toads; so that the Bailiffs were forced to build an high wall round about the stack of Corn, and then to set it on fire, lest the venomous Creatures should have gone out, and poisoned the Corn in other places; In the Reign of K. Edward 4. 1570. George Nevil Brother to the great Earl of Warwick, at his Instalment into his Archbishopric of York, made a prodigious Feast to the Nobility, chief Clergy, and many Gentry, wherein he spent 300 Quarters of Wheat, 330 Tuns of Ale, 104 Tuns of Wine. 1 Pipe of spiced Wine, 80 fat Oxen, 6 wild Bulls, 1004 Sheep, 3000 Hogs, 300 Calves, 3000 Geese, 3000 Capons, 300 Pigs, 100 Peacocks, 200 Cranes, 200 Kids, 2000 Chickens, 4000 Pigeons, 4000 Rabbits, 204 Bitterns, 4000 Ducks, 400 Herons, 200 Pheasants, 500 Partridges, 4000 Woodcocks, 400 Plovers, 100 Curlews, 100 Quales, 1000 Egrets, 200 Rees, above 400 Bucks, Does and Roe-Bucks, 1506 hot Venison Pasties, 4000 cold Venison Pasties, 1000 Dishes of Jelly parted, 4000 Dishes of Jelly plain, 4000 cold Custards, 2000 hot Custards, 300 Pikes, 300 Bream, 8 Seals, 4 Porpoises, and 400 Tarts; At this Feast the E. of Warwick was Steward, the Earl of Bedford Treasurer, the Lord Hastings Controller, with many more noble Officers, 1000 Servitors, 62 Cooks, 515 Scullions; But about 7 Years after the King seized on all the Estate of this Archbishop, and sent him over Prisoner into France, where he was bound in chains, and in great Poverty; Justice thus punishing his former prodigality.  
The East-Riding of Yorkshire is divided into 4 Hundreds, wherein are 8 Market Towns; the West-Riding is divided into 10 Hundreds, wherein are 24 Market Towns; the North is divided into 12 Hundreds, wherein are 17 Market Towns; it is in the Diocese of York, hath 563 Parish Churches, and elects 29 Parliament men; York gives the Title of Duke to His Royal Highness, Richmond that of Duke to Charles Lenos, Son to the Duchess of Portsmouth, Hallifax the Title of Earl to George L. Savil.  

WALES.  
THis Principality hath the Severn Sea on the South, the Irish Ocean on the West and North, and England on the East; It is 100 Miles from East to West, and 120 from North to South; it consisteth of 3 parts, North-wales, Powis, and Southwales, wherein are contained 13 Shires or Counties, of which I have not room to give a particular account as before, but shall only observe what is memorable in each of them; the names thereof are Anglesey, Brecknockshire, Cardigan, Carmarthan, Carnarvan, Denby, Flint, Glamorg n, Merioneth, Monmouth, Montgomery, Pembroke, and Radnor; The name of Wales some derive from Idwallo the Son of Cadwaller, who with the small Remainder of his British Subjects, made good the dangerous places of this Country against his Enemies, and was first called King of Wales: This Country is Mountainous and barren, not able to maintain its People but by helps elsewhere; their chief Commodities are course , called Welch Freeze, and Cottons; Lewellin Son of Griffin; the Brother of David, the last Sovereign Prince of Wales, of the Race of Cadwallader, was slain by K. Edward 1. 1282. whereby the Principality of Wales was added to the Crown of England, though it may be this Conquest happened not for want of Valour, since Hen. 2. in a Letter to Emanuel Emperor of Constantinople gives this Testimony of them: The Welsh Nation is so adventurous, that they dare encounter naked with armed men, ready to spend their blood for their Country, and pawn their Life for praise.  
Anglesey, is an Island separated from the Continent by a small and narrow Straight of the River Menai: In divers places in the low Fields and Champion Grounds of this County there are divers Trees digged out, black within like Ebony, and are used to inlay cupboards, etc. it is hard to resolve how they came hither, some imagine the Romans cut them down as being the coverts of Rebellion, others think they fell of themselves, and with their own Weight in those waterish places buried themselves, and that the clammy Bituminous substance that is found about them keeps them from Putrefaction: This Island yields such plenty of Wheat, that they call it the Mother of Wales: He that relateth wonders, saith Dr. Fuller, walks on the edge of an house, if he be not careful of his Footing, down falls his credit. This shall make me exact in using my Author's words, That Cloaks, Hats and Staves cast down from the top of an Hill, called Mounch-Denny, or Cadier Arthur, which hath its top above the Clouds, in the County of Brecknock, will never fall, but are with the Air and Wind still beaten back and blown up again, nor will any thing descend save a stone or some metalline substance: And that the Mere 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 Ptolemy 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. David's 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. David's, 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 delivered 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 Britain's, he commanded his Soldiers to fall upon the unarmed Monks, of whom he murdered 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 lose a Greyhound of the Kings, as was usual whenever the King got on Horseback, which Greyhound used to leap upon the King's Shoulders, and fawn very much upon him; but at this time he leapt 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 Gad's, 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 die 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 Alehouses than Houses; for Tenements are divided into 2 or 3 tippling-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 Rear 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 hill, where they had another full view of them, and could distinguish their Horses to be of several Colours, as white, grey, black, etc. and that they marched in 3 Companies, and betwixt every Division they had 2 Horse colours flying; but as they drew toward them they still marched from them, so that they could not come nearer than 100 Yards; they asked a man (who was thatching a House all that day, which they judged the Horsemen went by) whether he saw all those Soldiers which marched by, who said that he saw none, neither was there any Tract of the Horses to be seen that night nor the next morning, so that they concluded it to be a wonderful Apparition, and deposed the Truth of these particulars before the Lord Herbert, and several other Justices of the Peace of this County; at the same time a Woman coming from Bishop's Castle over the same Common, fell off her Horse being much terrified with the sight of a blazing Star, which she and 6 men with her saw, sometimes white and sometimes red, with a Tail like an Arrow, which seemed to hang just over their heads from Bishops Mount to this common being 3 miles, and the People of the house where the Woman fell, when they came out saw the Star also.  
The Moor or March near Chepstow in Monmouthshire suffered great loss in 1606. by the River Severn, overflowing its banks, and drowning many Cattle and some People, and overthrowing divers Houses. Merlin Prophesied That when a stout Prince with a freckled Face should pass over a Ford called Rydpencarn, in a River called Nantpencarn, the Welsh should be conquered, and therefore when K. Hen. 2. who was freckle faced, passed over it, the Welshmen remembering this Prophecy, through too much credulity submitted themselves, and it may be the King thinking their hearts might fail them, chose to go over this Ford to facilitate his Conquests. In the Reign of K. Henry 1. by the breaking in of the Sea a great part of Flanders was drowned, whereupon a great number of Flemings petitioned the King for some place to inhabit in, who accordingly assigned them Pembrokeshire in Wales, where their posterity continue to this day; when King Hen. 2 was at St. David's in this County, and from thence in a clear day discovered the Coasts of Ireland, in a huffing Bravado he said, I with my Ships am able to make a Bridge thither, if it be no farther: Which Speech of his being related to Murchard K. of Lemster in Ireland, he asked, whether he did not say He would do with the help of God; and when it was answered, that he made no mention of God, he cheerfully said, Then I fear him the less, since he trusted more to himself than to the help of God. The same K. Henry returning out of Ireland, arrived at St. David's, where being told, That the Conqueror of Ireland returning that way, should die upon a stone called Lech-laver near the Churchyard; he thereupon before a multitude of People passed over it, and reproving the Welshmen, said, Now who will hereafter credit that Liar Merlin? Radnor hath a sharp and cold Air because of the Snow lying long unmelted under the shady Hills and hanging Rocks, whereof there are many. In the Reign of K. William the Conqueror upon the Sea shore in Wales was found the Body of Gawen, Sister's Son to Arthur the great King of the Britain's, reported to be 14 Foot in length. In 1662. July 2. were seen above 100 Porpoises together near Newport, which seemed very strange and prodigious to the Inhabitants.  
In these 13 Shires, which I have cursorily run over there are reckoned 1 Chase, 13 Forests, 36 Parks, 230 Rivers, 100 Bridges, 4 Cities, 55 Market Towns, and 41 Castles of old Erection; 4 Bishoprics, St. Asaph, Bangor, St. david's and Llandaff, and 1016 Parish Churches; it elects 30 Parliament Men; Anglesey gives, the Title of Earl to Arthur L. Annesly, Brecknock to James L. Butler (who is also D. of Ormond) Cardigan to Thomas L. Brudenel, Caernarvon to Charles L. Dormer, Denby to William L. Fielding, Glamorgan to Henry L. Somerset (who is, Marquess of Worcester) Pembroke to Philip L. Herbert, who is likewise Earl of Montgomery, Monmouth the Title of Duke to James Fitz-Roy; and Radnor the Title of Earl to John L. Rober●s.   

SCOTLAND.  
THis Kingdom is separated from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway, and the Cheviot Hills reaching from one River to the other on the South. It hath on the East the Germane Ocean, on the North the Isles of Orkney, and the Deucalidonian Sea, and Ireland on the West; It is a fair and spacious Country, 480 miles in length, but in breadth much less, no place being 60 miles from the Sea; It is divided into Highland and Lowland, the People of the Highland living on the Western parts of Scotland have some Civility, but those In the out Isles are very barbarous; The Lowlanders are in disposition and language much like the English; Scotland is far more barren than England; the chief Commodities are course , Freezes, Fish, Hides, Led, Oar, etc. The principal Rivers are Forth, Cluyde, and Tay, all Navigable; There are two Universities, St. Andrews, and Aberdeen, and 2 Archbishops, and 12 Bishops; The Nobility, and Gentry are great Affecters of Learning, and therefore do not only frequent their own Universities, but travel into Foreign parts for improvement; It is divided into 34 Shires or Counties; the Regal City thereof is Edinburgh, seated in Lothian, where is the Royal Palace, it consists principally of one Street about a mile long, into which run many Lanes, so that the whole compass may be about three miles; It is strengthened by a Castle that Commands the Town Scot was once Inhabited by 2 Populous Nations the Scots and Picts, till after long Wars the Scots prevailing, they utterly extinguished not only the Kingdom, but the name of Picts; Most memorable was that Fortification drawn from Abercorn upon the Frith of Edinburgh to the Frith of Dumbritton opening upon the West Sea, where Julius Agricola set the limits of the Roman Empire; at this place began the great Wood Calidonia, famous for the wild white Bulls bred therein, with Manes like Lions thick and curled, so fierce and cruel by Nature, and so hateful to Mankind, that they abhorred whatever was handled or breathed on by them. The Cattle in Scotland are small, but many, Fish so plentiful, that in some place men on Horseback hunt Salmon with Spears; The Islands belonging to it are the Western, the Orkney, and the Shetlands in number above 300  
They have infinite numbers of Barnacles or Soland Geese, so that they even darken the light of the Sun; these Geese are most plentiful about the Bass near Edinburgh, and hither they bring an incredible number of Fishes, and withal such abundance of sticks and little twigs to build their Nests, that the People are very plentifully provided of Fuel, who also make great gain of their Feathers and Oil, There have been great disputes among the Learned about the generation of these Geese, some holding that they were bred of the leaves of the Barnacle Tree falling into the Waiters, 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 writ 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 ruins and marks of a Town swallowed up by an Earthquake, and the void place is filled with water, saith Lithgow. The Lough L●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 Mariners 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 Fr●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 herself after. The Castle of Edinburgh 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, choosing rather to preserve their Virginities from the Danes, than their beauty or favour, whereupon these cruel Heathens burned their Monastery and all of them therein.  
Malcolm King of Scots was a very magnificent and courageous 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 Margaret, Sister to K. Edward Atheling, which ordained, That when a man was married, his Lord should lie 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, entreating his help for the safety of her honour; who after he had used his Devotions, 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 Fish's Mouth, and the Bishop sent it to the Lady, who was thereby freed of her Husband's 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 dried 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 most Terrible, a fiery Dragon was seen flying near the Earth, and vomiting out Fire both day and night, which continued a long time, and so affrighted the People, that they were fain to watch their Houses and Cornyards continually, for fear they should have been burnt; About which time the Qu. Mother of Scotland having received aid from France, forced the Protestants for a while to retire toward the Highlands, whereupon she scoffingly said, Where is now their God, my God is stronger than theirs even in Fife; but her boasting lasted not long, for within a few days 600 Protestants beat above 4000 French and Scots; This same Qu. Mother, when some English and Scotch attempted to take Leith by Storm, and many of them were slain, because the Scaling Ladders were too short, beholding the slaughter from Edinburgh Castle, she burst forth into a great Laughter, saying, Now will I go to Mass, and praise God for what mine Eyes have seen; And when the French had stripped the flain, and laid the naked bodies along the Walls, the Queen looking on them, jeeringly said; Yonder are the fairest Tapestries that ever mine Eyes beheld, I wish that all the Fields which are between Leith and this place were all strewed with the same Stuff; But her Joy was very short, for presently after a Fire kindled in Leith, which burned up all her Storehouses and Provisions for her Army, and the Queen Mother for grief fell sick and died. And thus much for Scotland.   

IRELAND.  
THis Kingdom is environed on all sides by the Ocean, parted from Britain by a violent and Tempestuous Sea, called St. George's Channel, situate on the West of Britain; next to which it is the biggest Island of Europe; containing in length 300. and in breadth 120 miles.  
They discourse that the Christian Faith was first Preached to them by St. Patrick, who is therefore very considerable among them and their Titular Saint; In one of those little Islands in Loughdirg, there is a place very famous, called St. Patrick's Purgatory, into which whosoever had the courage to enter, & remain there the appointed time, did see and suffer very strange and terrible things, and to beget the greater reputation to this fictitious Purgatory, the People were made to believe, that St. Patrick 400 years after Christ had obtained the same by his Prayers, to convince unbelievers of the immortality of the Soul, and the Torments the wicked suffer after this life; though it is certain nothing of this was known till long after the death of this Holy Person, but about the latter end of K. James the truth of the matter was discovered by the E. of Cork and the L. Chancellor, who desirous to know the truth, sent some Persons of Quality to inquire exactly into it; who found that this miraculous Cave descending down to the bottom of Hell, was no other but a little Cell digged out of the Rocky ground, without any Winnows or holes, so as the door being shut, it was utterly dark, being of so little depth that a tall man could not stand upright in it; and of no greater capacity than to hold 6 or 7 Persons. Now when any desired to go this Pilgrimage, he was kept fasting & watching by the Friars, and told wonderful stories, so that being throughly affrighted, and then put in, he came out in a few hours all amazed, and told strange stories of his going underground, etc. To prevent this delusion for the future, the Lords, Justices caused the Friars to departed, and laid the hole open, and exposed to the Air.  
The Earl of Kildare being charged before K. Henry 7. for burning the Cathedral of Cassiles, & many witnesses ready to prove it, he suddenly confessed it to be true, to the great surprise of the Council wondering how he would justify it; By Jesus, saith he, I would never have done it, if it had not been told me the Archbishop was within it, and because the Bishop was one of the chief Accusers, the K. laughed at the plainness of the man, to hear him allege that fo● excuse, which did chief aggravate his Crime.  
Ireland is divided into 4 Provinces, Monster, Lemner, Cornaught, & Ulster, wherein are 33 Counties; Dublin is the Metropolis, seated on the River Liffie, in which is an University; It hath 4 Archbish & 19 Bish.   
FINIS.   

The Names of all the Counties in England, with the pages where each is to be found.  

BArkshire p. 8  
Bedfordshire p. 13  
Buckinghamshire p. 17  
Cambridgshire p. 19  
Cheshire p. 24  
Cornwall p. 28  
Cumberland p. 38  
Derbyshire p. 41  
Devonshire p. 47  
Dorsetshire p. 57  
Durham p. 61  
Essex p. 65  
Glocestershire p. 72  
Hantshire p. 82  
Hartfordshire p. 92  
Herefordshire p. 102  
Huntingtonshire p. 109  
Kent p. 111  
Lancashire p. 126  
Leicestershire p. 129  
Lincolnshire p. 134  
Middlesex p. 141  
Norfolk p. 145  
Northampton. p. 153  
Nottinghamshire p. 166  
Northumberl. p. 168  
Oxfordshire p. 173  
Rutlandshire p. 183  
Shropshire p. 185  
Somersetshire p. 189  
Staffordshire p. 194  
Suffolk p. 196  
Surrey p. 199  
Sussex p. 204  
Warwickshire p. 207  
Westmoreland p. 210  
Wiltshire p. 212  
Worcestershire. p. 215  
Yorkshire p. 218  
Wales p. 221  
Scotland p. 228  
Ireland p. 231    

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FINIS.