CHAPTER I.

THe State of euery King­dome well managed by prudent gouernment, seems to me to represent a Humane body, guided by the soueraignty of the Reasonable Soule: the Country and Land it self representing the one, the Actions and state affaires the other. Sith therefore the excellencies of the whole are but vnperfectly laid open, where either of these The scope of this worke.Parts is defectiue, our intendment is to take a view as well of the outward Body, and Lineaments of the The distribution of the vvhole worke.now-flourishing British Monarchy (the Ilands) King domes, and Prouinces thereof in actuall possession, for with others, no lesse iustly, claimed in the Con­tinent wee meddle not) which shalbe the content of our first or▪ Chorographicall Tome, containing the The first Tome Chorographical.foure first bookes of this our Theater, as also of its successiue gouernment and vitall actions of State, The second tome historical.which shall bee our second or Hystoricall Tome, con­taining the fiue last bookes. And here first wee will (by example of best Anatomists) propose to theview the whole Body, and Monarchie intire (For some Ilands as Gersey and Gernsey vve haue left to their pro­per places.as far as con­ueniently wee could comprise it) and after will dis­sect and lay open the particular Members, Veines, and Ioints, (I meane the Shires, Riuers, Cities, and Townes) with such things as shal occurre most wor­thy our regard, and most behouefull for our vse.

(2) The Iland of Great Britaine (which with her Britain the grea­test Iland.adioining Isles is here first presented) containeth the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, and is of many accounted the greatest Island in the World, though Lib. de Constan. Iustus Lypsius giues that praise to Cuba in America, as the Orientall Nauigators doe vnto Sumatra (taken for Ptolomees Taprobana) or to Madagascar, the Island of S. Laurence, both which are neere vnto, or vnder the Equinoctiall line; In which wee will not con­tend: as pleasing our selues with her other praises greater then her Greatnes; yet with this honour also, that it was (without question) the greatest Island of the Romane World, and for any thing yet certainelie known, of all the rest. Concerning whose Positure The Site of Bri­taine.in respect of Heauen Derer. na. lib. 6 Lucretius (the Buchan. so no­teth against Humph. Lloyd.first of the La­tine Writers that names Britain) seemeth to place it in the same Parallel with Pontus, where he saith.

In which, by a certain crosse comparisō, he opposeth The degrees of Britaines Site.two likes against two vnlikes, Britaine and Pontus a­gainst Egypt and Gades. But to seeke into profound Antiquity, rather then present practise, for matters, in which Vse makes perfectnes, were to affect the gi­uing light by shadowes, rather then by Sun-shine.

(3) It is by experience found to lie included from the Degree fifty, and thirty scruples of Latitude, & The Countries abutting vpon Britaine.for Longitude extended from the 13. degree, and 20 minutes, vnto the 22. and 50. Minutes, according to the obseruation of Mercator. It hath Britaine, Nor­mandy, and other parts of France vpon the South, the Lower Germany, Denmarke, and Norway vpon the East; the Isles of Orkney and the Deucaledonian Sea, vpon the North; the Hebrides vpon the West, and from it all other Ilands, and Ilets, which doe scatte­redly enuiron it, and shelter themselues (as it were) vnder the shadow of Great Albion (another name of All the Ilands about Britaine counted Br [...]ish.this famous Iland) are also accounted Britannish, & are therefore here described altogether.

(4) Britaine thus seated in the Ocean hath her praises, not onely in the present sense, and vse of her commodities, but also in those honorable Eulogies, which the Cambdens Bri­tania.learnedst of Antiquaries hath collected out of the noblest Authors, that hee scarce seemeth to haue left any gleanings: neither will we transplant them out of his flourishing Gardens, but as necessity compels, sith nothing can bee further or otherwise better said.

Britaines Eulogies (5) That Britaine therefore is the Seas High Ad­mirall, is famously knowne: and the Fortunate Island supposed by some, as Robert of Auesburie doth shew: whose aire is more temperate (saith Caesar) then France; whose Soile bringeth forth all graine in a­bundance, saith Tacitus; whose seas produce orient pearle, saith Suetonius; whose Fields are the seate of a Summer Queen, saith Orpheus; her wildest parts free from wild beasts, saith the ancient Panegyricke, and her chiefe City worthily named Augusta, as saith Lib. 18. cap. 7. Ammianus: So as wee may truly say with the roy­all Psalmist, Our lines are fallen in pleasant places, *Psal 16. yea wee haue a faire inheritance. Which whatsoeuer by the goodnes of God, and industry of man it is now, yet our English Spencers Fairie Queene. lib. 2. Can. 10 Stanz. 5Poet hath trulie described vnto vs the first face thereof thus;

(6) And albeit the Ocean doth at this present thrust it selfe betweene Douer & Callis, diuiding them Britaine once no Isle.with a deepe and vaste entrenchment▪ so that Britain thereby is of a supposed Or halfe Ifle. Twine Ʋerstegan. Penisle made an Iland: yet diuers haue stifly held, that once it was ioined by an arme of land to the continent of Gallia. To which opinion Spenser farther alluding thus closeth his Stanza.

Which as a matter meerely coniectural (because it is not plain that there were no Ilands nor hils before Noahs floud) I leaue at large: Virgil surely (of all Poets the most learned) when describing the Shield which Vulcan forged (in Virgils braine) for Aeneas, he Extremique ho­minum M [...]rini. Aeneid. lib. 8.cals the Morini (people about-Callis) * the outmost men, doth onely meane that they were Westward, the furthest Inhabitants vpon the Continent, signi­fying withall that Britaine as being an Iland, lay out of the world: but yet not out of the knowledge of men, for the commodities thereof inuited the fa­mous Greeke Colonies of Merchants which dwelt Sir E. Cookes Epist. l. 3. Report.at Massilia in France to venter hither as hath beene well *obserued out of Strabo.

(7) And as Iulius Caesar was the first Romane which euer gaue an attempt to conquere it, so will

[Page 2] we close its praises with a late Carol. Iudae. M. S.Epigram, concerning the outward face of the Isle, & the motiue of Caesars comming.

(8) The Diuision of Britain concerning the go­uernment Britaine but slen­derly knowne to Caesar.and territories thereof, at such time as Caesar here arriued, doth not sufficiently appeare. Caesar himself makes so sparing mention therin, that Epit. Liui. lib. 105.wee haue little cause to beleeue * Florus, where hee makes Liuie say, that after Caesar had slaine an huge multitude of Britaines, Reliquam ins [...]lae Partem in potesta­tem subegit. he subdued the residue of the Ile, but rather with exquisite Horace, that hee did not at all touch them, as the word Epod. 7. Intactus doth in him purport.

(9) Kings there were, and therfore that Diuision Britaine had kings in it in Cae­sars time.which was here in Caesars time, was into Kingdomes; the old names of whose Nations, as also the know­ledge of their seuerall abodes, hidden vnder the rub­bish of so many ages, haue In Cambdens Britania.of late with infinit labors and exquisite iudgement been probably restored & bounded; yet that no mans expectation and desire be too much frustrated, reason wils th at we brieflie set forth such diuisions of the land, as many re­pute not ancient onely, but authenticke.

(10) Our seeming ancient Historians begin it at Britaines suppo­sed diuision by Brutes three sons Brute, who to euery of his three sonnes gaue a part, called presently after their names; as England. Loegria to Locrine his eldest sonne; Wales. Cambria to Camber his se­cond sonne; and Scotland. Albania to Albanact his third son: And doubtlesse, if there had been more Nations of fame in this Iland, Brute should haue had more sons Geffrey of Mon­mouth father to Brutes three sons.fathered on him: which conceite some ascribe to Monmouth, holding that before him it was neuer so diuided.

(11) Ptolomey naming Britaine the Great, and the Lesse, hath been by some mistaken, as so diuiding this Britaine the Great and Lesse.Iland into two parts; but his proportion & distance from the Aequator compared with his Geographi­call description will euince, that he calleth this our I­land GREAT BRITAIN, & Ireland, BRITAIN THE LESSE.

(12) Howbeit, some later doe make indeed the South and more Champion to be called GREAT BRITAIN, and the North more mountainous, BRITAIN THE LESSE; whose Inhabitants anciently were distinguished into the MAIATAE, and CALEDONII, and now by the Scots are into Heghlandmen, and Lawlandmen. But that Northerne clime being more piercing for the Romans constituti­ons, Appian.& * lesse profitable or fruitful, they set their bounds not farre from Edenburgh, and altogether neglected the other parts more northward.

(13) This neerer part of Britain they then diui­ded Britaine the Higher and Lower.into two parts; for the more Southern tract to­gether with Wales, Dio termeth the Higher, and that more Northward the Lower, as by the seats of their Legions doth appeare; for the second Legion Augu­sta (which kept at Caerleon in South-Wales) and the twentieth called Victrix (which remained at Chester) he placeth in the HIGHER BRITAIN: but the sixth Legion surnamed also Victrix, resident at Yorke, serued (as he writeth) in the LOVVER BRITAIN; which diuision as seemeth, was made by Seuerus the Herodian.Emperour, who hauing vanquished Albinus General of the Britaines, and reduced their State vnder his obedience, diuided the gouernment thereof into two Prouinces, and placed two Prefects ouer the same.

Britaine diuided into three parts. (14) After this againe the Romans did apporti­on Britaine into three parts, whose limits our * great Antiquarie assigneth by the ancient Archiepiscopall Seates, grounding his coniecture on the saying of Cambd. pag 111. Sextu [...] Rufu [...].Pope Lucius, who affirmes that the Ecclesiasticall Iurisdictions of the Christians accorded with the precincts of the Romane Magistrates, and that their Dist. 80. cap. 1.Archbishops had their Sees in those Cities, wherein their Presidents abode: so that the ancient Seates of the three Archbishops here, being London in the East, Caerleon in the west, and Yorke in the North; Britannia prima. Britannia secun­da. Londons Diocesse (as seemeth) made BRIT. PRI­MA; Caerleon, BRIT. SECVNDA; and Yorke Maxima Caesa­riensis.MAXIMA CAESARIENSIS.

Britaine diuided into fiue parts. (15) But in the next age, when the power of their Presidents beganne to grow ouer great, they againe diuided Britaine into fiue parts, adding to the three former VALENTIA and FLAVIA CAESA­RIENSIS: the first of which two seemeth to haue been the northerly part of MAXIMA CAE­SARIENSIS Valentia why called.recouered from the Picts and Scots by Theodosius the General, vnder Valence the Empe­rour, and in honour of him, named VALENTIA: Amianus lib. 28.and Flauia, may be coniectured to receiue the name Flauia why called.from Flauius the Emperor, (sonne of Theodosius) for that wee read not of the name BRIT. FLAVIA, before his time.

The bounds of Britaines fiue parts. 1 Britannia prima 2 Brit. secunda. (16) So these fiue partitions had their limittes assigned after this manner: BRIT. PRIMA contained those coastes that lay betwixt Thamesis, the Seuerne, & the British Sea: BRIT. SECVN­DA extended from Seuerne vnto the Irish seas, containing the Country that wee now call Wales: FLAVIA CAESARIENSIS, was that which 3 Flauia Caesar. 4 Max. Caesar. 5 Valentia. lay betwixt the riuers Humber and Tyne: and VALENTIA from the said Riuer, and Picts­wall reached vnto the rampire neere Edenburgh in Scotland, the farthest part that the Romans pos­sessed when this diuision was in vse, For the seue­rall people inhabiting al those parts, with their an­cient Names and Borders (whether designed by the Romans, or the old Britaines, together with our mo­derne Names and Shires, answerable to each of Lib. 5. cap. 5. & 6.them: wee will refer you to the Tables thereof, * elsewhere.

The Emperours respect of Bri­tains conquest. (17) This whole Prouince of Britaine, as in our Historie shall appeare, was highly esteemed of the Emperours themselues, assuming as a glo­rious surname, Britannicus: comming thither in per­son Their surnames hence.ouer those dangerous and scarse knowne seas; here marrying, liuing, and dying; enacting here Their residence here.lawes for the whole Empire, and giuing to those Captaines that serued here, many Ensignes of Their fauours.great honour; yea Claudius gaue Plantius (the first Prefect of that Prouince) the right hand, as hee accompanied him in his Triumph: and his owne Triumph of Britain, was set out with such magni­ficence, Their triumphesthat the Prouinces brought in golden Crownes of great weight, the Gouernours com­maunded to attend, and the very Captiues per­mitted to bee present at the same: A Nauall Co­ronet was fixed vpon a pinnacle of his pallace, Arches, and Trophees, were raised in Rome, and himselfe on his aged knees mounted the staires in­to the Capitoll, supported by his two sonnes in Law: so great a ioy conceiued hee in himselfe for the Conquest of some small portion of Bri­taine.

(18) How the Romans found it, held it, and left it, as times ripened and rottened their successe, with the Names, the Inhabitants, Manners and Resisters, I leaue to be pursued in the following histories: and will onely now shew thee these three kingdomes that are (in present) the chiefe Bodies of GREAT Scotland vide li. 3 Jreland vide lib. 4.BRITAINES MONARCHIE; two of which (Scotland and Ireland) shall in their due places haue their farther and more particular descriptions.

WHen the Roman Empire began to be vnweldy by the weight of her owne How the Saxon Heptarchie began Greatnes, and the Prouin­ces ready to shake off sub­iection, by the Ambition of their Prefects: Britain, then wanting her souldiers (taken thence to serue in forraine wars) and aban­doned by the Romans, who were wont to protect her, was now laid open and naked to her Enemies, who had long waited an opportunity to lay her wast. A­mong whom, the Picts and Scots, casting a couetous eye vpon so rich a prey, dailie with inrodes mole­sting the wearie, and now-weakened Britaines, enfor­ced them to call in, to their assistance, the Saxons; who in short time, of aiding friends became oppres­sing enemies, and supplanting the Natiues of this land, laid the foundation of their aspiring hopes so sure, that thereupon in successe of time they trans­formed the fabricke of this one Prouince, into a The seuen King­doms of the Saxon Heptar­chie. seauen-fold State, which as seauen crowned Pillars stood vpon the Bases of Kent, South-Saxia, West-Sax­ia, East-Saxia, Northumberland, Mercia, and East-Anglia; gouerned by so many seuerall Kings; whose Limits are in this Map distinguished by their seueral Armes, and circumscribed Lines; but for all the par­ticular Counties vnder each of their commands, wee will referre you to the Table in the 4. Chapter of our 7. Booke: in which Booke, the Historie of that growing Heptarchie, and its setling againe into one Monarchie, is contained at large.

(2) Neither may wee thinke, that the Limits of the whole Heptarchie, or of each particular Kingdom, were at their first raising apportioned, as afterwarde they were; but that (as all other States doe) by steps The most Nor­thern limit of the Heptarchie.and degrees they came to their setled bounds. Their vtmost Northern Border was at first no other (in all likelihood) then that, wherewith the Romans had The Picts wall, the Romans on­ly partition northward.formerly seuered this their Prouince from Scotland, being that famous partition called the * Picts Wall, (which therefore in our Map you shall find descri­bed with battlements) girding the wast (or narrow­est place) of the whole Iland, from sea to sea, and reaching twixt the Bay of A Riuer in C [...]mberland. Eden on the one coast, & the mouth of Tine on the other; though afterward the Northumbrians extended their Marches beyond The Saxons adde two other bounds in the west.that Wall. The Romans had no other partition but onelie this Northern: the Saxons (who had made the Britaines also their enemies) added two others (both in the West) to streighten them, & strengthen them­selus. The first was deuised by Offa the Mercian king, who made a Trench of admirable worke & charge, 1 Offa dike.called Offa-Dike, running about one hundreth miles o­uer mountaines and hils, from the mouth of Dee in Flintshire, to the fall of Wye in Glocestershire, therwith encircling the remainder of the dispossessed Britains Io. Sari [...]bur. in Polycrat.in those westerne and barren parts: which oppres­sion King Harold further aggrauated by a law; That if any Welshman were found with any weapon on this 2 The riuer Ta­mar. side that ditch, he should forthwith haue his right hand cut off. The second partition was of King Athelstans deuice, who finding that the Britaines did still inha­bite those other western parts, from the Lands End of Cornwall, euen vnto Excester in Deuonshire, he not onely thrust them out of that City, fortifying the same with vast trenches, and a strong wall of squared stone, to preuent their attempts: but further orde­red that they should containe themselues within the riuer Tamar, whence that Promontory came to bee named Corn-wall; of the shape thereof like a Horne, which they call Co [...]n, and of the Marian [...] calles them Occidenta­les Brit [...]nes, as Saxo victor, [...]. The Sax [...]ns do­minions diuided into Hides.Inhabitants which the Saxons called [...], signifying Strangers.

(3) The like may be said of the particular King­domes, that they attained not to those their certaine bounds, and Kingly Titles, but by degrees: the whole Saxon State being anciently deuided, not into Shires, but into sundry small Regions, and those againe into Hides (a Hide being foure yeard land, or, as others thinke, as much as a Plow can till in one yeare) as by an ancient Fragment preserued and diuulged by M. Tate. M. Clar enc. p. 114.two most iudicious Antiquaries, may bee seene; wherin all the land lying on this side Humber, is thus parted.

• Myrcnacōtaineth 30000. Hides
• Woken-s [...]tna 7000 hides.
• Westerna 7000 hides.
• Pec-setna 1200. hides.
• Elmed-setna 600 hides.
• Linder▪farona 7000▪ hides.
• Suth Gyrwa 600. hides.
• North▪Gyrwa 600. hides.
• East-Gyrwa 600. hides.
• East-Wixna 300. hides.
• West-Wixna 600. hides.
• Spalda 600. hides.
• Wigesta 900. hides.
• Here [...]inna 1200. hides.
• Sweordora 300. hides.
• Ey [...]la 300. hides.
• Wicca 300. hides.
• Wight-gora 600. hides.
• Noxgaga 5000. Hides.
• Oht▪gaga 2000. hides.
• Hwynca 7000. hides.
• Ciltern-setna 4000. hides.
• Hendrica 3000. hides.
• Vnecung-ga 1200. hides.
• Aroseatna▪ 600. hides.
• Fear [...]inga 300. hides.
• Belmiga 600. hides.
• Wi [...]herigga 600. hides.
• East-Willa 600. hides.
• West-Willa 600. hides.
• East-Engle 30000. hides.
• East-Sexena 7000. hides.
• Cant Warena 15000. hides.
• Su [...]h-Sexena 7000. hides.
• West-Sexena 100000. hides.

K. Elfred first diuided the land into Shire [...], and why. (4) But when that seuenfold Heptarchy was brought to a Monarchy, and the Kings from Pagans to be Chri­stian professors, Elfred (that mirror of Kings) for the setling of his kingdom and subiects, vnder a due and certaine course of Iustice and Gouernment, did first di­stribute Ing [...]lph [...].his kingdom into seuerall Countries called Shires (of the Saxon word [...], to cut or diuide), and into other vnder-Gouernmēts; of which let vs hear Malms­bury; By occasion (saith he) and example of the barbarous (he meaneth the Danes) the naturall inhabitants also were addicted to robberies, so that none could passe in safe­ty without weapons for defence. Elfred therfore ordained Centuries, which they terme Hundreds, and Decimes, Malmsb [...]ry.which they call Tithings, that so euery Englishman liuing vnder law, should bee within some Hundred and Tithing. And if a man were accused of any transgression, hee should forthwith bring in some of that same Hundred and Ty­thing, that would bee pledges for his apparance to answer the law, and hee that could not find such a surety, should abide the seuerity thereof. But in case any man standing thus accused, either before or after such suertiship did flie, then all that Hundred and Tithing incurred a mulct im­posed by the King, &c. By this deuice hee brought peace into the Country, so as in the very high waies, hee commanded Bracelets of gold to be hanged vp to mocke the greedy passengers, whiles none was found so hardy as to take them away.

(5) This Custom K. Elfred might borrow from the vse he saw in Militarie Gouernment, where the Ge­nerals directions found easiest successe by help of vn­der-rulers, Centurions and Decurions; or hee might haue it from the Germans, who kept Courts of Iustice Tacit [...].in euery Territorie, hauing a hundred men out of the People, as assistants to performe their Law-dayes. By which his Partition, and industrious care, Peace and true dealing so flourished, that a Way-fayring I [...]g [...]lph [...].man loosing in his iourney any summe of money, might a moneth after returne to the place, and haue it againe.

(6) Those fore-mentioned Tithings contained each 10. Persons, whereof euery one was Hence Franci plegy▪ & Freebo­rough, Lambert▪ Pera [...]b.Pledge for a­nothers Tithings▪good bearing, (for which cause in In Kent▪ Bors holder [...] ▪some pla­ces a Tithing is yet called a Borow, of the Saxon [...] a Pledge) who had one chiefe, called the Tithingmā, or [...]: so that there was no one man in all the Kingdome, who in his rancke had not the eyes of many to obserue his life. Each Hundred had A hundred.vnder their verge 10. such Tithings, and when any was chosen the chiefe of the Hundred, at the vsuall E [...] leg. [...]d. Conses.place of their meetings, after som kind of reuerence, euery one with their Lances touched a Spear, which he held vpright in his hand, and by that sign vowed A Wapentach.to be peaceably ordered. Whence, such a society was called also a Wapentake, of the Saxon [...], a tou­ching

[Page 4] of weapons. In these Wapentaches many affairs were handled, but what could not be there decided, Thrs [...]ing [...]s and Thrihin greues. A Lathe, thence seemeth a Lee [...] Court to take name. was referred to a Societie or conuenticle of greater iurisdiction, cōtaining vsually three Hundreths (som­times foure) thence called [...], and the chiefe of them [...], which assembly in some pla­ces were termed [...], of the Saxon word [...], to assemble together; as likewise al their Counties were called [...], meetings. And lastly, what could not there be defined, was referred to the whole Shire: for dispatch of which greater affairs, & setling of the common peace, hee appointed both Iudges and [...] (now Sheriffes) in euerie Countie: Vicedomini, Ingulphus.whereas before the Prouinces were gouerned by Vidoms.

(7) So that hereby we see, both the Saxons di­stributing of this Country (in their highest glory) & also the gouernment thereof, from the King (whom they called their Connin [...] (either of his skill or pow­er) to the lowest in the land. Other intermediate Gouernors throughout the land, next to the Kings Alderme [...]. Earle [...]. Counsellors, were (it seemeth) those which the Saxons called then [...] (thogh a name now more hū ­bled) & the Cam. p. 20. but Lambert thinks it a Saxon title, Peramb. p. 502▪ Portgreues. Burgesses. Thean V [...]derthaine. Danes, Eorles; the chiefe Magistrates in Cities, the [...], Portgreues: and [...], Burgheses. For touching the name of [...] (whence wee contract Lord) it may seeme rather a name of honor or reuerence, then of ciuil authority, so likewise Lamb. p. 502. but Cambd. p. 121 thinks it Danish. Churle. Yeomanry. The number of the Shires, 32. Malms. [...], a stile for men of the better rank, as [...], a note of seruice, and [...] or Churle, of their Yeomanly condition, who were also called [...], the Yeomanry.

(8) Since that first most politicke distribution of K. Elfred, the number of the said Shires haue found some change; for what their number was, An. 1016 in the raign of King Ethelred, Malmesbury sheweth. The Danes (saith he) at this time when there were recko­ned in England thirty two Shires, inuaded no lesse then sixteene of them: yea and afterwards also there were Polychr. lib. 1. [...]. 19 A threefold di­stribution. Three sorts of lawes and shires subiect to them. no more in number, at what time the land receiued a new threefold distribution, according to the three sortes of lawes by which it was gouerned; that is, West-Saxons Law, Danish and Mercian. First to the West Saxon law were the Counties of Kent, Sussex, Suthrie, Berkshire, Hantshire, Wiltshire, Sommersetshire, Dorsetshire and Denshire nine in number. To the Danish lawes were obedient fifteene other; Yorkshire, Darbyshire, Nottingham-shire, Leicestershire, Lincolne­shire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolke, Suffolke, Cambridgeshire and Huntingtonshire. The Mercian Lawes ruled the eight Counties remaining, which were Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, War­wickshire, Oxfordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, and Staf­fordshire.

In Wil. Conq. time shires 34. and more. (9) But when William the Conquerour had got the English Diadem vpon his head, & taxed the kingdom with a generall suruey, we find in that publike Re­cord of the Domes-day Booke, thirty foure named, be­sides those of Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, Westmerland and Cumberland; the three last lay expo­sed to the Scots, and the other two freed from taxe, to maintaine the Borders; which fiue Counties being added to the other, their number ariseth to thirtie Shires 39. Shires 52.nine: and the thirteene Shires of Wales, added to both, make fifty two Counties, as wee haue at this day.

(10) But the author of Polychronicon (vpon what Polychr [...]. Shires 36.warrant I know not) reckons thirty six shires & an half at the Conquerors suruey: wherin, saith he, were Towns in the Conquerors time. Parish Churches Knights Fees. found fifty two thousand and fourescore Townes; fortie fiue thousand & two Parish Churches; seuenty fiue thousand Knights-Fees, whereof twenty eight thousand and fifteene were of Religious order; and yet among these hee accounteth no part of Corne­wall: But from this report it may well be, that Rossus Warwicanus complaineth of the depopulation of the Land, which with Town-ships (he saith) ancientlie had stood so bestrewed, as a goodly Garden euerie where garnished with faire flowers.

(11) King Elfred (the first diuider) instituted a Prefect or Lieutenant in euery of these Counties, Liuetenants. Camb. Higden.which then were called Custodes, (and afterwardes Earles, saith Higdon) who kept the Country in o­bedience to the King, and suppressed the outrages of notorious Robbers. But Canutus the Dane, when successe had set him vpon the English throne, A fourefold diuision vnder Canutus the Dane.diuided the care of his kingdomes affaires into a foure-fold subiection; to wit, West-Sex, Mercia, Northumbre and East-England; himselfe taking charge of the first and the greatest, making three Tetrarches of especiall trust ouer the rest, namelie, Edrich ouer Mercia; Yrtus ouer Northumbre; and Turkill ouer East England. Wales neither in this di­uision, nor that of King Elfred, was any waies lya­ble, it being cut (as wee haue said) from England by King Offa▪ but those remnants of the ancient Bri­taines diuided likewise that Westerne Prouince in­to Kingdomes, Cantreds and Commots, Lib. 2.as more largely wee will shew in the plot of that Principali­ty. And this shall suffice for the diuision of Eng­land vnder the Saxons, who enioyed it the space of The continuance of the Saxons gouernment.567. yeeres, from their first entrance vnder Hengist, vnto the death of Edmund Ironside, and againe vnder Edward Confessor the terme of 20. yeeres.

(12) Now if any shall bee so minutely curious, as to enquire the meaning of the Emblematicall com­partments, The compart­ments of the Map vnfolded.bordering the Mappe: the right side con­taineth the seuen first Kings of that seuenfold-State, their Names, their Kingdomes, their Escocheons, The first 7 Kings.their yeeres of first aspiring: the left side doth por­traict the like of the 7. first Kings in ech of those king The first seuen Christian kings.doms, which by Christian Baptisme aspired to the hope of a Kingdom eternall, Lib. 7. c. 18. Ethelbert (of Kent) receiuing Austins instruction Lib. 7. c. 8. sect;. 3 Sebert (the East Sax­on) conuerting (by aduice of B. Miletus) the Tem­ples of Diana and Apollo (now S. Paules in London, and S. Peters in Westminster) to the seruice of Christ. Lib. 7. c. 11. sect 4 Erpenwald (the East-Angle) receiued Baptisme by exhortation of King Edwine the Northumbrian, (though as it seemeth Edwine himselfe for a time deferred his owne Baptisme) and was therefore martyred by his Pagan Subiects. L. 7. c. [...]. §. 8. & ib. c. 20. Edwin (the Northumbrian) stirred vp by a vision, both to ex­pect the Kingdome, and to receiue the Faith, which he did by the preaching of Paulinus, whom he made Archbishoppe of Yorke. Lib. 7. c. 7. § 7. Kingill (the West Saxon) conuerted by the preaching of S. Berinus, whom he made Bishop of Dorchester, neere Oxford. Lib. 7. c. 10. sect;. 5 Peada (the Mercian, receiuing Christian faith, by perswa­sion of Oswy King of Northumbers, was murthered by his owne mothers (some say his wiues) procure­ment. Lib. 7. c. 6. 5. 3. Ethelwolfe (the South-Saxon) baptized at Oxford by S. Berinus, where Wulpherus King of Mer­cia, was his Godfather at Font.

(13) And sith these Saxons first gaue to this Iland the name of England, we will here affix (for a close of all) an ancient Epigram, touching both this Country and her Name; the rather, because In Iod. Hondlu [...] his Mappe of Galli [...].of late a prin­cipall part and praise therein, is surreptitiously (a­gainst L. 15. c. 14. hee li­ued. An. 1330. his Author per­chance much ancienter. Lex Plagiaria) taken from England, and ascri­bed as proper to France. A certain Author (saith * Bar­tholomeus de proprietatibus rerum, thus in verse descri­beth England.

THE TYPE OF THE FLOVRISHING KINGDOME OF ENGLAND, VVITH THE GENERALL DESCRIPTION OF IT, AS IT WAS FROM THE TIME OF THE NORMANS.
CHAPTER III.

THe Saxons glory now neer to expire, by his appoint­ment who holdeth both times and Kingdoms in his all-ordering hand; their owne swords being the in­struments, and the Danes the maules that beat their beautifull Diademe into peeces; the Normans, a stir­ring nation, (neither expe­cted, nor much feared) vnder the leading of William their Duke, and encouragement of the Romane Bishop (a vsu­all promoter here of broken titles) made hither sudden­ly into England, who in one onely battaile, with the ti­tle of his sword and slaughter of Harold, set the Emperi­all crowne thereof vpon his owne head: which no soo­ner was done, but the English went downe, and the Deut. 6. v. 10. 11. Normans lording it, became owners of those Cities which themselues neuer built; possessed those vineyeards which they neuer planted; dranke of those wels which they neuer had digged; and inhabited those houses filled with riches, for which they neuer had laboured: for they found it to bee Deu. 11. v. 1 [...]. ver. 11. Deu. 8. v. 7. v. 9.as the land whereupon the Lord set his eye, euen from the beginning to the end of the yeare: not onely drinking wa­ter of the raine of heauen, but hauing also riuers of waters and fountaines in her vallies, and without all scarsity, whose stones are yron, and out of whose mountains is digged brasse. This made them more resolute at first to settle themselus in this fairest and fruitfullest part of the Iland; the Con­querour vsing all policie, both Martiall & Ciuil, to plant his posterity here for euer. How he found the land go­uerned, wee shewed in the Heptarchie; but his restlesse thoughts were not contented with conquering the Na­tion and their Land, vnlesse hee also ouercame their ve­rie Customes, Laws, and Language.

(2) Touching the distribution of the Kingdome, whereas other kings before him made vse of it, chieflie for good of the people, and better ministring of iustice, Florenti [...] Wigor. p. 449.hee made vse of it, to know the wealth of his Subiects, and to enrich his coffers: for he caused a description to be made of all England, how much land euery one of his Barons possessed; how many Knights fees, how many Plow-lands, how many in villanage, how many head of beasts, yea how much ready money euery man from the greatest to the least did possesse, and what rents might bee made of euery mans possession: the Booke of which inquisition (yet in the Exchequer) was called Doomes-day, for the generalitie Gern [...]s. Tilb. Ingulph [...]s.of that Iudgement on all the land: Whereunto we may adde his other Distribution of this land (worse then any former) when thrusting the English out of their possessions, Ca [...]b. in Norm. M [...]t. West. l. 2. &c. hee distributed their Inheritances to his Souldiers; yet so, that all should be held of the King, as of the onely true Lord and possessor.

(3) For the Lawes by which he meant to gouerne, he Ger [...]as. Tilb. de Sc [...]ccar.held one excellent rule and purpose, which was, that a People ought to be ruled by Lawes written, and certain: for otherwise new Iudges would still bring new iudge­ments: and therefore hee caused 12. to be chosen out of Houede [...] p. 343. where they are set downe. euery County which should on their oath without inclining one way or other, neither adding nor detracting, open vnto him all their ancient Lawes and Customes. By whose re­lation vnderstanding that three sorts of lawes formerlie were in the land, Merchenlage, West-Saxon la [...]e, Dane­la [...]; hee had preferred these last, (himselfe and people Ib. p. 347.being anciently deriued from those Northerne people) had not all the Barons, bewailing to the king, how grie­uous it was for a land to be iudged by those lawes which Ingulphus. they vnderstood not, altered his resolute purpose: yet in bringing in the strange formes of Norman Processe, & pleading in the French tongue (which continued till Ed­ward the thirds time) that grieuance was but slenderlie preuented. So likewise did he much alter the old Courts of Iustice, where these lawes should bee ministred: but whereas the ancient kings of England, according to Mo­ses his example, sate in person in the seat of iustice, to right the greater affaires of their Subiects, as William Lambarts Ar­chai [...]n. Lambert sheweth in king Alfred, Edgar, Canutus, &c. and proues out of the kings Oath, out of Bracton, Brit­ton, Saxon lawes, &c. King William not onely continued Geruis. Regis Curia in qua ipse in propria persona i [...]ra d [...]cernit.this; but besides erected some other Courts of iustice, as the Exchequer, and certaine Courts and Sessions to bee held foure times euery yeare: appoin ting both Iudges (some to heare causes, others to whom appeales should bee made, but none from them) and also Prefects to looke to good orders. Those last Polydor calleth Iustices of Peace; but their institution seemes to bee farre later: and no lesse is his errour on the other side, in saying the Con­querour first instituted Sheriffes, and the trial by Twelue men, which were both ancienter.

(4) And because the Conquerour, for honour of Bi­shops, caused them to remoue from small obscure pla­ces to Cities of more renowne; wee haue therefore re­serued to this last place that diuision of this kingdome, which is according to Iurisdiction Episcopall. Formerly in the yeare of saluation, 636. Honorius the fift Archbi­shop Hist. D [...]r [...]b▪of Canterbury first diuided England into Parrishes, which at this day are contained vnder their seuerall Dio­cesans, and these againe vnder their two Metropolitanes, (Canterbury and Yorke) in manner following.

Polyd. Hist. A [...]g. lib. 1. (5) To speake nothing of these twenty eight Flamins the Priests of Idolatry, & the three Arch-Flamins, whose seates were at London, Caerlion, and Yorke; all of them conuerted by king Lucius into Christian Bishops Sees: let vs onely insist vpon the three last, by the same king appointed to be Metropolitanes ouer the rest; among whom London is said to be chiefe: whose first Christian Archbishop was Thean the builder of S. Peters Church in Cornehill for his Cathedrall, as by an ancient Table there lately hanging, was affirmed, and tradition to this day doth hold. Our British Historians doe bring a suc­cession of fifteene Archbishoppes, to haue sate from his time vnto the comming of the Saxons, whose last was Vodius slaine by king Vortiger, for reprehending his hea­thenish mariage with Rowen, the daughter of Hengist. At what time began the misery of the land, and of holy religon, both which they laid wast vnder their prophane feet: vntill Ethelbert of Kent, the first Christian Saxon king, aduanced Christianity, and Augustine to the Arch­bishopricke of Canterbury, when London vnder Melitus became subiect to that See.

(6) At Caerlion vpon Vske, in the time of great Ar­thur, sate Dubritius a man excellently learned, and of an holy conuersation: he had sate Bishop of Landaffe a long time, and with Germanus and Lupus, two French Bishops, greatly impugned the Pelagian heresie, infec­ting at that time the Iland very farre, whose fame and integrity was such, that he was made Archbishop of all Wales: but growne very old, hee resigned the same vn­to This Dauid was the vncle of Arthur, and son of prince Xantus begot on Melea­ [...]i [...] a Nunne.* Dauid his Disciple, a man of greater birth, but grea­ter austerity of life, who by consent of king Arthur, re­moued his Archbishops See vnto Meneuia a place verie solitarie, and meet for meditation: the miracles of the man (which are said to bee many,) changed both the name of the place into his owne, and robbed Caerlion of her Archiepiscopall seat: This See of S. Dauids (as in an ancient Register belonging to that Church is recor­ded) had seuen Bishoppes Suffraganes subiect vnto it, which were Exceter, Bathe, Hereford, Landaff, Bangor, S. Assaph, and Fernes in Ireland: notwithstanding, ey­ther for want of Pal, caried into Britanny by Archbishop Sampson, in a dangerous infection of sicknesse, eyther by pouerty or negligence, it lost that iurisdiction, and in the daies of king Henry the first, became subiect to the See of Canterbury.

(7) Yorke hath had better successe then either of the former, in retaining her originall honour, though much Beda Histor. Angli [...] lib. 1. cap. 29.impaired in her circuit, challenging to haue been som­time Metropolitane ouer all the Bishops in Scotland: & although it was made equal in honour, and power with Canterbury, by Pope Gregory, as Beda relateth, and had twelue Suffragan Hagn [...]ald Lindisfarne. &c.Bishopricks that owed obedience, onely foure now acknowledge Yorke their Metropoli­tan, but Canterbury the Superiour: for William the Con­querour thinking it dangerous to haue two in like au­thority, lest the one should set on his Crowne, and the other strike it off; left Yorke to be a Primate, but Canter­bury onely the Primate of all England.

(8) That Lichfield was made an Archiepiscopall See by Pope Hadrian the first, at the suite of Offa the great king of Mercia, is manifested by Mathew of Westminster An, D. 765.vnto whose iurisdiction were assigned the Bishoprickes of Winchester, Hereford, Leicester, Sidnacester, Helmham, and Dunwich, and whose first and last Archbishop was Aldwin. That Winchester also had intended an Archie­piscopall Pall, the same Author recordeth, when Henry Bloys, of the bloud roiall, greatly contended with the Archbishop of Canterbury for superiority, vnder the pretence of being Cardinall de latere; to him an Archie­piscopall Pall was sent, with power and authority ouer seauen Churches, but he dying before that the designe was don, the See of Winchester remained in subiection to Canterbury. And that (long before) the See of Dorchester by Oxford had the iurisdiction of an Archbishop, is ap­parant by those Prouinces that were vnder his Diocesse, which were Winchester, Oxford, Lincolne, Salisbury, Bri­stow, Welles, Lichfield, Chester and Excester; and the first Bishop of this great Circuit, Berinus, was called the A­postle & Bishoppe of the west Saxons: which in his next successor was diuided into two partes, Winchester and Dorchester, and not long after into Lichfield, Sidnacester, and Legecester; and lastly, the See remoued from Dorche­ster to Lincolne, as now it is. And thus farre for the diui­sion of this Realme, both Politicke and Ecclesiasticke, as it hath stood, and stands at this day.

(9) But the whole Ilands diuision, by most certaine Record was anciently made, when Iulius Agricola drew a Trench or fortification vpon that narrow space of ground betwixt Edenbrough Firth, and Dunbretton Bay, making the Southerne part a Prouince vnto the Romane Empire. Afterwards Hadrian the Emperour seeing perhaps the Prouince too spatious to bee well gouerned without great expense, drew backe these li­mits almost fourscore miles shorter, euen to the mouth of the riuer Tyne, whence hee fortified with a wall of admirable worke vnto Carleil, which stood the lands border, while it stood as a Romane prouince: yet the conquering Saxons did spread again ouer those bounds and (as seemeth) enlarged their gouernement to that first Tract, as by this inscription in a stone-Crosse, standing vpon a Bridge ouer the water of Frith, ap­peareth.

(10) But afterward William the Conquerour, and Malcolme king of Scotland, falling to an agreement for their limits, arreared a Crosse vpon In the North riding of Yorke­shire.Stanemore, where on the one side the portraiture and Arms of the king of England was sculptured, and of the king of Scots on the other; (a peece wherof is yet remaining there neere to the Spittle) thence called the Rey-Crosse, there erected to bee a Meare-stone to either kingdome. His Successors also abolished the two par­titions in the West, whereby the Welsh became one nation and kingdome with the English. It is also said that King Stephen to purchase friendship with the Scotish▪Nation, gaue vnto their King the County of Cumberland, who with it held both Vestmorland and Northumberland; but as Wewbrigensis writeth, hee re­stored them to King Henry the second, wisely conside­ring his great power and right to those parts.

(11) The last known borders were from the Sulway in the West-Bay, along the Cheuiot hils, vnto the wa­ter of Tweed by Barwick in the East, to maintain which, on each part many lawes haue beene made, and many inroades, robberies, and fewdes practised; all which by the hand of God is now cut off, and by the rightfull succession of King IAMES our Soueraigne, who hath broken downe the partition of this great Island, and made the extremes of two Kingdomes, the very midst of his great vnited Empire.

KENT, the first Prouince ap­pearing in the South of this Kingdome, is bounded vpon the North with the famous Riuer Thamisis: on the East, with the German Ocean: on the South, with Sussex and M. Lamb. peramb.the narrow Seas; and vpon the West, with Sussex and Sur­rey. The length thereof, ex­tended from Langley in the The length of Kent. The bredth. West, vnto Ramsgate Eastward in the Isle of Thanet, is about 53. English miles. From Rother in the South, vnto the Isle of Graine Northward, the bredth is not much aboue 26. and the whole circumference about 160. miles.

The forme. (2) Jn forme it somewhat resembleth the head of a ham­mer or Battle-axe, and lieth corner-wise into the Sea: by The name. As M. William Lambard con­iectureth. Strabo, Caesar, Diodorus and Ptolemie, called Cantium, of Cant or Canton, an Angle or Corner: either of Caine a British word, which signifieth Bushes or Woods, whereof that Coun­tie in those former times was plentifully stored.

The site of Kent. (3) The aire, though not very cleere, because of the vapours arising from the Sea, and Riuers that enuiron the same, is both wholesome and temperate, as seated neerest to the Equinoctiall, and the furthest from the North Pole, not touched with cold, as the other parts of the Land are.

The soile. (4) The Soile towards the East is vneuen, rising into lit­tle hils, the West more leuell and woody, in all places fruit­full, and in plenty equals any other of the Realme, yea and in some things hath the best esteeme: as in Broad-cloathes, The Commo­dities. Will. Lambard. fol. 248. Riuer of Kent. Fruits, and feedings for cattle. Only Mines (excepting Iron) are wanting: all things else deliuered with a prodigall heart and liberall hand.

(5) Sundry nauigable Riuers are in Kent, whereof Med­wey, that diuideth the shire in the midst, is chiefe; in whose bosome securely rideth his Maiesties Nauie Royall, the wals of the land and terrours of the Seas, besides ten others of name and account, that open with twenty Creekes and Ha­uens for Ships arriuage into this Land, foure of them bea­ring The Cinque Ports.the name of Cinque Ports, are places of great strength and priuileges, which are Douer, Sandwich, Rumney, and Winchelsey: among which, Douer with the Castle is accoun­ted Peramb. of Kent, fol. 148.by Matthew Paris the Monke, the locke and key to the whole Realme of England; and by Iohn Rosse and Lidgate is said to be built by Iulius Caesar, fatall only for the death of King Stephen, and surrender of King Iohn therin happening.

Goodwin sands. (6) A conceit is, that Goodwin Sands were sunke for the sinnes of himselfe and sonnes. Shelues indeed that dange­rously lie on the North-east of this County, and are much Siluest. Giraldus in his Itinerarie of Wales. Lamb▪ fol. 105. Hector Boetius. feared of all Nauigators. These formerly had beene firme ground, but by a sudden inundation of the Sea were swal­lowed vp, as at the same time a great part of Flanders and the Low Countries were: and the like also at the same time befell in Scotland, as Hector Boetius their Historiographer writeth. A like accident happened in the yeere 1586. the fourth day of August, in this Countie, at Mottingham a Towne eight miles from London, suddenly the ground beganne to sinke, Joh. Stowe.and three great Elmes thereon growing, were carried so deepe into the bowels of the earth, that no part of them could any more be seene, the hole left in compasse foure­score yards about, and a line of fifty fadomes plummed into it doth finde no bottome.

The Inhabitants of Kent. Caesar. Comment. lib. 5. fol. 52. (7) The Kentish people in Casars time were accounted the ciuillest among the Britaines: and as yet esteeme them­selues the freest Subiects of the English, not conquered, but compounded with by the Normans: and heerein glory, that their King and Commons of all the Saxons were the first Christians▪ conuerted in Anno 596. yea and long before that time also Kent receiued the faith: for it is recorded that Lam. Peram. in description of Douer, fol. 158. Lucius the first Christian British King in this Iland, built a Church to the name and seruice of Christ, within the Castle of Douer, endowing it with the Tolle of the same Hauen.

(8) This County is enriched with two Cities and Bishops Seas, strengthned with 27. Castles, graced with 8. of his Ma­iesties most princely Houses, traded with 24. market towns, and beautified with many stately and gorgeous buildings. The chiefest City therof, the Metrapolitan and Archbishops Canterburie by King Rudbu­dibras. Lamb. Peramb. in description of Canterbury, fol. 292. Sea, is Canterbury, built (as our British Historians report) 900. yeeres before the birth of Christ; by Henry of Hunting­ton called Caier-Kent, wherein (as M. Lambard saith) was erected the first Schoole of professed Arts and Sciences, and the same a paterne vnto Sigibert King of the East-An­gles, for his foundation at Cambridge: notwithstanding by the computation of time, this Sigibert was slaine by Penda King of Mercia, 30. yeeres before that Theodore the Grecian Ethelbert. Edbald. L [...]tharius. Withred. Edelbers. was Bishop of Canterbury, who is said to bee the erector of that Academie. But certaine it is, that Austen the Monke had made this Citie famous before that time, by the conuer­sion of these Saxons vnto Christianitie, and in building a most magnificent Church to Gods seruice, wherein eight of their Kings haue beene interred, but all their Monuments since ouershadowed by the height of Beckets Tombe, that for glory, wealth, and superstitious worships, equalized the Pyramides of Aegypt, or the Oracles of Delphos, yet now with Dagon is fallen before the Arke of God. 1. Sam. [...]. 4.

This Citie hath beene honoured with the presence and Co [...]onations of King Iohn and Queene Isabel his wife, with the mariages of King Henry the Third, and of King Edward the First, and with the interments of Edward the blacke Prince, King Henry the Fourth, and of Queene Ioan his wife: as Feuersham is with the burials of King Stephen, and of Maud his Queene and wife. But as in glory, so in aduersitie hath this Citie borne a part, being diuers times afflicted by the Danes, but most especially in the daies of King Ethelred, who in that reuenge of their massacre, made hauocke of all, and heerein slew forty three thousand and two hundred per­sons, the tenth besides reserued to liue. Afterwards it reco­uered breath and beauty, by the liberalitie of Bishop Lan­ford; Charters and priuileges by King Henry the Third; strength in Trench and Fortifications from King Richard Heerein King Iohn and his Queene vvere crowned. Rochester. the Second: and lastly, walles for her defense by Simon Sud­bury Archbishop of that See: whose Graduation is placed for Latitude 51. 25. and parallelized for Longitude 22. 8▪ her sister Rochester differing not much in either degree.

(9) Which Citie (as Beda saith) was built by one Rof Lord of the same, though some ascribe the foundation of the Castle to Iulius Caesar, and hath beene often ruinated by the iniuries of warre, both in the times when the Saxons stroue for superioritie among themselues, wherein this City was laid waste, Anno 680. as also in the assaults of their com­mon enemie the Danes, who about the yeere 884. from France sailed vp the Riuer Medwey, and besieged the same, so that had not King Elfred speedily come to the rescue, it had beene ouerthrowne by those Pagans. And againe in An. 999. the Danes miserably spoiled this Citie in the time of King Ethelred: neither hath it stood safe from danger since (though not defaced so much by warre) for twice hath it beene sore endammaged by chance of fire: the first was in the raigne of King Henry the First, Anno 1130. himselfe be­ing present with most of his Nobilitie, for the consecration of the Cathedrall Church of S. Andrew: And againe almost wholly consumed about the latter end of the raigne of King Henry the Second, Anno 1177. Yet after all these ca­lamities it recouered some strength againe, by the bountie of King Henry the Third, both in buildings, and in ditching her about for defense.

Ciuill dissension [...] in Kent. (10) Ciuill broiles and dissensions hath this Countie beene burdened with, and that not onely vnder the Saxons and Danes, whose desolations were many and grieuous, but also by other rebellions since the Normans Conquest, both in those infamous insurrections, called The Barons Warres, in the raigne of King Henry the Third, wherin much harme was done; as also vnder King Richard the Second, when Wac Tilar, Captaine of a dreadfull commotion assembled at Black-heath, Mild-end, and in London doing many outrages, where in Smithfield hee was lastly strucke downe by William Walworth then Maior of the Citie, and worthily slaine for his notorious treasons. Againe, vpon Black-heath, Michael Ioseph, the Lord Dawbeny, with their Cornish Rebels, were ouerthrowne by King Henry the Seuenth, Anno 1497.

The gouernment of Kent. Caesar. Comment. (11) Kent in the time of Iulius Caesar was gouerned by foure seuerall Kings. Vnder Vortigern the Britaine, by a Lieutenant called Guorong, from whom the said King gaue it to Hengist the Saxon in fauor of his daughter Rowen, who seeking to make himselfe absolute King thereof, eight yeeres after his first entrance fought a victorious battle a­gainst the Britaines neere vnto Crayford, and thencefoorth accounted that Prouince his owne. Yet afterward Vortimer the valiant Britaine gaue him battle at Aylesford: in the which both Horsa and Catigern, brethren to both the Ge­nerals, were slaine, and the Saxons driuen into the Isle of Thanet, their first assigned habitation, not daring to enter the Continent so long as Vortimer liued. Catigerne was inter­red vpon that plaine, where to this day remaineth his Mo­nument, being foure stones pitched in manner of the Ston­henge, and is vulgarly called Citscotehouse. The like Monu­ment was of Horsa at Horsted, which stormes and time haue now deuoured. Hengist made this Prouince a Kingdome for himselfe and successours, which name and power it retained the space of three hundred and twenty yeeres, when Egbert King of the West-Saxons subdued and ioined it to his owne: in which subiection it stood vntill the time of the Normans. Then was it giuen vnder the title of an Earledome, by the The Earles of Kent.Conquerour, vnto Otho Bishop of Baye [...]x his halfe-brother, whose successours in that dignitie were those most honou­rable Families, whose Armes and Names within this plot The diuision of Kent.are blazed and expressed. It is diuided principally into fiue Lathes, subdiuided into 66. Hundreds, and them againe in­to 308. Parishes: and wherin had beene seated twenty three Religious Houses.

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SVTH-SEX, a word com­pounded of the site there­of Southward; and of the Saxons, whose Kingdome was the second in their The name of Sussex. Heptarchie; is written by them [...], and by vs Sussex, lieth stretched a­long the British Seas. The North confronts vpon Surrey & Kent, and the West butteth vpon Hampshire.

The forme, length and bredth. (2) For forme it lieth long and narrowe, so that all her Rapes do runne quite through the Shire, and conteyneth from Westharting in the West, to Kent Ditch that diuides it from Kent in the East, sixty foure Miles, but in the broadest part little aboue twenty, the whole in Circumference, about one hundred fifty eight miles.

The aire. (3) The aire is good, though somewhat clouded with mists, which arise forth of her South bordering Sea, who is very prodigall vnto her for Fish and Sea-fowle, though as sparing for Harbours or Ships ariuage, and those which shee hath, as vncertaine for continuance, as dangerous for entrance.

The soile. (4) Rich is the Soile and yeeldeth great plenty of all things necessary, but very ill for trauellers, especi­ally in the winter, the land lying low and the wayes very deep, whose middle tract is garnished with mea­dows, pastures, and Corn-fields: the Sea-Coast with Hilles which are called the Downes, abundantly yeel­ding both Graine and Grasse, and the North side ouer­shadowed with pleasant Groues and thicke Woods, where sometimes stood the famous wood Andrads­wald, containing no lesse then an hundred and twen­tie An. Do. 478.miles in length, and thirtie in bredth, taking the name of Anderida a Citie adioining: both which were wonne from the Britaines by Ella the first Saxon King of this Prouince, and the place made fatall to Sigebert King of the West-Saxons, who being deposed from his Royall Throne, was met in this Wood by a Swine­heard, and slaine in reuenge of his Lord, whom Sige­bert had murdered.

The ancient In­habitants of Sussex. (5) The ancient people in the Romans time were the Regni, of whom wee haue spoken, and who were subdued by Vespasian the Leader of the second Legion vnder Aulus Plautius Lieutenant in Britaine for Clau­dius the Emperour. But after the departure of the Romans, this with Surrey was made the South-Saxons Sussex subdued to the Romans.Kingdome: yet that giuing place to the West-Saxons, as they in time to the Normans, it became a Prouince vnder the Conquerours power, who gaue to his fol­lowers much Land in these parts.

Chiefe places in Sussex. Chichester. (6) The place of most account in this Shire is Chichester, by the Britaines called Caercei, and by the Saxons [...], a Citie beautifull and large, and very well walled about, first built by Cissa the second King of the South-Saxons, wherein his Royall Palace was kept. And when King William the first had enacted that Bishops Seas should bee translated out of small Townes vnto places of greater resort, the Resi­dence of the Bishop (vntill then held at Selsey) was re­mooued to this Citie, where Bishop Raulfe beganne a most goodly Cathedrall Church: but before it was fully finished, by a sudden mischance of fire was quite consumed. Yet the same Bishop, with the helping li­beralitie of King Henry the First, began it againe, and saw it wholly finished; whose beauty and greatnesse her fatall enemie still enuying, againe cast downe in the daies of King Richard the First, and by her raging flames consumed the buildings both of it and the Bi­shops Palace adioining, which Seffrid the second Bi­shop of that name reedified and built anew. And now to augment the honour of this place, the Citie hath borne the Title of an Earledome; whereof they of Arundell were sometimes so stiled. Whose Graduati­on for Latitude, is remooued from the Equator vnto the degree fiftie, fiftie fiue minutes; and for Longi­tude, obseruing the same point in the West, whence Mercator hath measured, are twentie degrees.

Lewes. (7) With whom for frequencie, bignesse, and building, the Towne Lewes seemeth to contend, where King Athelstan appointed the mintage of his Moneyes, and William de Warron built a strong Castle, wherunto the disloyall Barons of King Henry the third Anno Dom. 1263.in warlike manner resorted, and fought a great Battle against their owne Soueraigne and his sonne, wherein the King had his horse slaine vnder him, Richard King of the Romans surprized and taken in a Wind-mill, and Prince Edward deliuered vnto them vpon vnequall A battle at Lewes. Battle. conditions of peace. But a greater Battle was fought at Battle, when the hazard of England was tried in one daies fight, and Harold the King gaue place to his Con­querour by losing of his life, among sixty seuen thou­sand, nine hundred seuenty foure English-men be­sides; whose bloud so spilt, gaue name to the place, in French, Sangue lac. And the soile naturally after raine becomming of a reddish colour, caused William of Wil. Newbery. Newbery vntruly to write, That if there fell any small sweet showers in the place where so great a slaughter of the Englishmen was made, presently sweateth forth very fresh bloud out of the earth, as if the euidence thereof did plainly declare the voice of bloud there shed, and cried still from the earth vnto the Lord.

Basham. (8) But places of other note in this Shire are these: From Basham, Earle Harold taking the Sea for his de­light, in a small boat was driuen vpon the Coast of Normandie, where by Duke William hee was retained, till hee had sworne to make him King after Edward Confessours death; which oath being broken, the Ba­stard arriued at Pensey, and with his sword reuenged Pensey.that Periurie. At West-Wittering also Ella the Saxon be­fore him had landed for the conquering of those parts, and gaue name to the shore from Cimen his son. Cimensh [...]re.But with greater glory doth Gromebridge raise vp her Gromebridge.head, where Charles Duke of Orleaunce, father to Lewes the Twelfth, King of France, taken prisoner at Agin­court, was there a long time detained.

Commodities. (9) The Commodities of this Prouince are ma­ny and diuers, both in Corne, Cattle, Woods, Iron, and Glasse; which two last, as they bring great gaine to their Possessors, so doe they impouerish the County of Woods, whose want will bee found in ages to come, if not at this present in some sort felt.

Religious house [...] built and sup­pressed. (10) Great haue beene the deuotions of religious Persons in buildingand consecrating many houses vn­to the vse and onely seruice of Christ; whose Bead­men abusing the intents of their Founders hath cau­sed those Foundations to lament their owne Ruines: for in the tempestuous time of King Henry the eight, Eighteen of them in this County were blown down, whose fruit fell into the Lappes of some that neuer ment to restore them againe to the like vse.

The Shires diuision. This County is principally diuided into six Rapes, euery of them containing a Riuer, a Castle and For­rest in themselues, besides the seueral Hundreds wher­unto they are parted, that is, the Rape of Chichester in­to Seuen, of Arundell into fiue, of Bramber into tenne, of Lewes into thirteen, of Peuensey into seuenteen, and of Hastings into thirteen, in al, fifty sixe; wherin are sea­ted tenne Castles, eighteen market Towns, and three hundred and twelue Parish-Churches, as in the Table following appeareth.

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The bounds of Surrey. SVRREY, by Beda called Suthri, and by the Saxons written [...], lieth sepa­rated vpon the North from the Counties of Buc­kingham and Middlesex, by the great Riuer Thami­sis; vpon the East Kent doth inbound it; vpon the South is held in with Sus­sex and Hampshire: and her West part is bordered vp­on by Hampshire and Barkshire.

The forme. (2) The forme thereof is somewhat square, and lieth by North and by East, whereof Redrith and Frensham are the opposites, betwixt whom are exten­ded The length.thirty foure miles. The broadest part is from Aw­fold southward, to Thamisis by Stanes, and them asun­der The circum­ference.twenty two: the whole in circumference is one hundred and twelue miles.

The Aire and Soile. (3) The Heauens breathing aire in this Shire is most sweet and delectable, so that for the same cause many royall Palaces of our Princes are therein seated, and the Countrey better stored with game then with graine, insomuch that this County is by some men compared vnto a home-spunne freeze-cloth, with a costly faire list, for that the out-verge doth exceed the middle it selfe. And yet is it wealthy enough both in Corne and Pasturage, especially in Holmesdale, and towards the Riuer of Thamisis.

The ancient In­habitants. (4) In this Shire the Regni (an ancient people mentioned by Ptolemie) were seated, whom he bran­cheth further thorow Sussex and some part of Hamp­shire. And in the wane of the Romans gouernment, when the Land was left to the will of Inuaders, the South-Saxons vnder Ella here erected their Kingdome, which with the first was raised, and soonest found end. From them no doubt the County was named Suth­rey, as seated vpon the South of the Riuer; and now by contraction is called Surrey.

(5) And albeit the County is barren of Cities or Principall pla­ces in Surrey.Townes of great estate, yet is shee stored with many princely Houses, yea and fiue of his Maiesties, so mag­nificently built, that of some shee may well say, no Shire hath none such, as is None-such indeede. And were not Richmond a fatall place of Englands best Prin­ces, it might in esteeme be ranked with the richest: for therein died the great Conqueror of France, King Edward the Third, the beautifull Anne daughter to Charles the Fourth, Emperour, and intirely beloued wife to King Richard the Second; the most wise Prince King Henry the Seuenth, and the rarest of her Sexe the Mirrour of Princes, Queene Elizabeth, the worlds loue, and Subiects ioy.

(6) At Merton likewise Kenulph King of the West-Saxons came to his vntimely end: and at Lambeth the hardie Canute, and last of the Danish Kings, died among his Cuppes. But as these places were fatall for the last breath of these Princes, so other in this County haue beene graced with the body and beginning of other worthy Monarkes: for in Chertsey Abbey King Henry the Sixth, who was deposed and made away in the King Henry the Sixth buried at Chertsey.Tower of London, was first interred without all fune­rall pompe, but for his holy life was imputed a Saint, and lastly translated, and intombed at Windsore. At Kingston likewise stood the Chaire of Maiestie, wher­in Athelstan, Edwin, and Ethelred sate at their Corona­tion, and first receiued their Scepter of Imperiall Pow­er. Guildford likewise hath beene farre greater then now it is, when the Palace of our English-Saxon Kings was therein set. And seeing it is the midst of the Shire, the graduation from hence shall be obserued, where for Latitude the Pole is raised from the degree 51. 22. scruples: and her Longitude from the West in the degree 20. and 2. scruples.

(7) Neither can we account Okam and Ripley, two small villages, the least in this shire, which haue brought foorth the well knowne men William de Cambden. Okam, that deepe Philosopher and admirable Scho­lar, and George de Ripley, the ring-leader of our Alchy­mists and mysticall impostors; both of them borne in this County, and very neere together. But why speake I of these, sith a place neerer to sight, and greater for fame, euen Lambeth, is the High Seat of Ecclesiasticall Gouernment, Pietie, and Learning, and Palace of Can­terburies Arch-bishops, the Metropolitans of England. First erected by Archbishop Baldwin, and euer since hath beene the residing of all those worthy Prelates of our Church, who in a long succession (euen from Anno 596.) haue continued to him that now most worthily sits at the Churches sterne, Richard by Gods proui­dence Lord Archbishop of that See, a most faithfull and prudent Counsellor vnto King Iames, and a most learned and prouident Guide of our most flourishing Church: whose gracious fauour vndeseruedly confer­red vpon me, hath beene a great encouragement to these my poore endeuours.

Battles before the Conquest in Surrey. (8) Memorable places for Battles fought before the Conquest, were Wembledon, where (when the ful­nesse of prosperitie burst foorth into Ciuill Dissensions among the Saxons) a bloudy Battle was fought be­twixt Cheaulin the West-Saxon and young Ethelbert of Kent, wherin he was discomfited, and two of his prin­cipall Leaders slaine about the yeere of Christ 560. and three hundred thirty three yeeres after, King El­fred Some say this victorie was obtained at Fernham in Kent. Iohn Stow. Religious houses erected and sup­pressed in Surrey. with a small power ouercame the Danes with a great slaughter at Farnham in this County, which somewhat quelled the courage of his sauage enemie.

(9) Religious houses erected in this Shire by the deuotion of Princes, and set apart from publike vses to Gods Diuine Seruice, and their owne Saluation, as then was taught, the best in account were Shene, Chert­sey, Merton, Newarke, Rygate, Wauerley, Horsleg; and in Southwarke, Bermundsey and S. Maries. These all flou­rished with increase, till the ripenesse of their fruit was so pleasing in sight and taste vnto King Henry the Eighth, that in beating the boughes he brake downe body and all, ruinating those houses, and seazing their rich possession into his owne hands. So iealous is God of his honour; and so great vengeance followeth the sinne of Idolatrie.

The diuisions of Surrey. (10) In this Shire haue stood eight faire and strong Castles: such were Addington, Darking, Starburg, Ry­gate, Guilford, Farnham, Goseford, and Brenchingley: but of greater State are Oking, Otlands, Non-such, and Richmond, his Maiesties royall Mannor. And for ser­uice to the Crowne or Common wealths imploy­ments, this Counties diuision is into thirteene Hundreds, wherein are seated eight Market Townes, and one Hundred and forty Parish-Churches, as in the Table following is inserted.

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