The History of the Worthies of England, Part 2 · County 46
YORK-SHIRE.
YORK-SHIRE hath the Bishoprick of Durham and Westmer land on the North; Lancashire and a snip of Cheshire on the West; Derby, Notingham and Lincolnshire, (divided by Humber) on the South; and the German Ocean on the East thereof. It extendeth (without any Angular advantages) unto a square of fourscore and ten miles, adequate in all Dimensions unto the Dukedome of Wirtenberg in Germany. Yea, on due consideration, I am confident, that all the seven United Provinces, cannot present such a square of solid Continent, without any Sea interposed.
One may call and justify this to be the best Shire of England, and that not by the help of the generall Katachresis of Good for Great, (a good blow, good piece, &c.) but in the proper acception thereof. If in Tullies Orations, (all being excellent) that is adjudged optima quae longissima, the best which is the longest, then by the same proportion, this Shire (partaking in goodness alike with others) must be allowed the best. Seeing Devonshire it self the next in largeness, wisely sensible of the visible inequality betwixt them, quits all claimes of corrivality, (as a case desperate) and acknowledgeth this as Paramont in greatness.
Indeed, though other Counties have more of the Warm Sun, this hath as much as any of God's [temporall] blessings. So that let a Survayer set his Center at Pon…fract or thereabouts, and take thence the Circumference of twenty miles, he there will meet with a tract of ground not exceeded for any, nor equalled for the goodness and plenty of some Commodities. I would term it the Garden of England, save, because it is so far from the Mansion House, I mean, the City of London. Insomuch that such sullen dispositions, who do not desire to go thither, only because of the great distance, the same if settled there, would not desire to come thence, such the delight and pleasure therein.
Most true it is, that when King Henry the eight, Anno 1548. made his Progress to York, Doctor Tonstall Bishop of Durham, then attending on him, shewed the King a Valley, (being then some few miles North of Doncaster,) which the Bishop *Out of a Manuscript of Willam Vavasor of Hassellwood Etquire.avowed to be the richest that ever he found in all his travails thorough Europe. For within 10. miles of Hasselwood the seat of the Vavasors there were,
165. Mannor houses of Lords, Knights and Gentlemen of the best quality.
275. Severall Woods, whereof some of them contain five hundred Acres.
32. Parks and two Chases of Dear.
120. Rivers and Brooks, whereof Five be Navigable, well stored with Salmon and other Fish.
76. Water-mills, for the Grinding of Corn on the aforesaid Rivers.
25. Cole-mines, which yield abundance of Fuell for the whole County.
3. Forges for the making of Iron, and Stone enough for the same.
And within the same limits as much sport and pleasure for Hunting, Hawking, Fishing and Fowling, as in any place of England besides.