England Described, Treatise · County 1 – County 4
Barkshire.
IT is called in Latine Berkeria. It is bounded upon the Eaſt with Surrey, upon the North with the River of Thames from Buckinghamſhire and Oxfordſhire upon the Weſt with Wiltſhire, and upon the South with Hantſhire.
Abbendune or Abington, ſo called Abbay Town.of the Abbay, rather than of one Abben an Iriſh Eremite of the Abby there. See Monaſticon Anglicanum, pag. 97.
Farendon famous now for a Mercate there kept.
Wadley. It is ſituate in a vale, though The vale of the white Horſe, is a very fruitfull vale, and full of Gentry, it is both in Barkſhire and Wiltſhire.not ſo fertile a ſoil, as ſome vales afford, yet a moſt commodious ſite, wholſome, in a delicious air, a rich and pleaſant ſeat.
Newbury, as much as the Newburgh, a fair Town, well ſeated in a Champion plain.
Reading of the Brittiſh word Redin, A very ancient Town, and the beſt Town of all Barkshire. Lelands Itinerary MS. to H. 8. Others ſay Abington.which ſignifieth Fearn (that growing here plentifully) excelleth all other Towns of this Shire in fair ſtreets, and goodly houſes: for wealth alſo of the Townſmen, and their name in making of Cloath. There is a very great Market.
Maidenhead, ſo named of the ſuperſtitious worſhipping of I wot not what Britiſh Maidens-Head. Camd. Brit.
Maidenhead or Maidenhith. Hith in the old Saxon did ſignifie a Wharf, Haven, or Landing-place. It had its name from the Wharf or Ferry, belonging at that time to ſome neighbouring Nunnery, or to ſome private Maidens dwelling thereabout, who then received the profits of it. So Queen-Hith in London took that appellation, becauſe the profits of the Wharf were anciently accounted for to the Queens of England. Dr. Heylins Animadverſ. on the Church. Hiſt. of Brit. lib. 1. p. 20. See Camden of Maiden-bradly in Wiltſhire, fol. 243.
Windeſore, A Royal Caſtle and Houſe of the Kings, with the Town New Windſore▪ Oppidum antiquum, nobile, magnificum, & ſitu denique tam amaenum, ut cum alio quocunque jure optimo de palma contendat, quam & mihi vel in ipſo caſtri vertice quo ſol splendidius ſanè nihil aſpicit, decentiſſimè geſtare videtur. Lel. Comment. in Cyg. Cant.adjoyning.
A Princes Seat cannot have a more pleaſant ſituation. For from a high Hill that riſeth with a gentle aſcent, it enjoyeth a moſt delightfull Proſpect round about.
With the pleaſantneſſe of this place, Princes were allured, very often to retire themſelves hither: and here was Edward the Third that moſt puiſſant King borne: who here built new out of the ground a moſt ſtrong Caſtle, in bigneſſe equal to a pretty City, fortified with Ditches and Bulwarks made of ſtone: and forthwith after he had ſubdued the French and Scots, held at one and the ſelf ſame time John King of France, and David King of Scotland priſoners together in the ſame.
In this place King Edward the Third, for to adorn Martial Proweſſe with Honours, the Guerdon of Vertue, ordained the moſt Noble Order and Society See Hiſtoire d' Angle-terre. Par Du Cheſne, l. 15. p. 670, 671, 672,of Knights, whom he called Knights of the Garter: who wear on their left Legge, ſomewhat under the knee a Blew Garter, with theſe golden Letters in French, HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENS'E, Shame to him that evil thinks, and faſten the ſame with a Buckle of Gold, as with the Band of a moſt inward Society, in token of Concord and Unity, that there might be among them a certain Conſociation and Communion of Vertues.
Some attribute the original of it unto the Garter of the Queen, or rather Joan Counteſſe of Salisbury, a Lady of incomparable beauty, which fell from her as ſhe danced, and the King took up from the floor: for when a number of Nobles and Gentlemen ſtanding by laughed thereat, he made Camd. Britanin Barkshire.anſwer again, That ſhortly it would come to paſſe, that Garter ſhould be in high honour and eſtimation. This is the moſt common, and moſt received report.
There is a Book entituled, Catechiſmus ordinis Equitum Perifcelidis, written long ſince by Belvaleti, the Popes Nuncio here, and publiſhed in the year 1631. by Boſquierus: wherein the Authour makes an Allegory on the whole habit of the Order, the Matter, Colour, Faſhion, Wearing, to the very Girdle. Dr. Heylins Antidotum Lincolnienſe. Sect. 3. ch. 10.
The mightieſt Princes in Chriſtendome, An Order verily of all the Orders of the Chriſtian world (if it be to be compared with any other) moſt ancient and moſt famous. Milles of Nobil. Polit. and Civil. p. 88. The Order of the Garter exceeds in majeſty, honour and fame, all chivalrous Orders in the world. Selden. Illuſtrat of Drayt. Polyolb. 16th Song. See more there, and Lel. Com. in cygn. Cant. and Seld. Tit. of Hon. 4to, pag. 363.reputed it amongſt their greateſt honour to be choſen and admitted into this Company: and ſince, the firſt Inſtitution thereof, there have been already received, and enrolled into this Order, which conſiſteth of ſix and twenty Knights, two and twenty Kings, or thereabout; beſides our Kings of England, who are named Sovereigns thereof: to ſpeak nothing of Dukes, and others of moſt high calling, very many.
The Founders of the Order, which in thoſe dayes for ſtout courage and warlike Proweſſe, had few or no Peers, and were in that regard advanced to that honour.
Edward the Third King of England.
Edward his eldeſt Sonne, and Prince of Wales.
Henry Duke of Lancaſter.
Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick.
Peter Copit de la Bouche.
Ralph Earl of Stafford.
William de Montacute Earl of Sariſbury.
Roger Mortimer Earl of March.
John Lord Liſle.
Sir Bartholomew de Burgherſt.
Sir John Beauchamp.
John Lord Mohun of Dunſtere.
Sir Hugh Courtne.
Sir Thomas and Sir Otho Holland.
Sir John Gray of Codnor.
Sir Richard Fitz Simon.
Sir Miles Stapleton.
Sir Thomas Walle.
Sir Hugh Wrotheſly.
Sir Neel Lorenge.
Sir John Chandos.Vir pugnaciſſimus Joannes Chandos Periſcelidis eques primarius, Galliſque propter ſummam virtutem ſub Ed. 3. bellator notiſſimus. Spelman. Aſpilogia.
Sir James Audley.
Sir Henry Eſwi….
Sir Sanchio Dampredicourt.
Sir Walter Pavely.
There is an honourable Family of Barons, ſurnamed of Windſore.
Eaton is hereto adjoyned by a wooden Bridge over the Thames, and in it a Splendor loci omnis in ſcholae publica, quam erexit Vindeliſorae in alumnos, Rex…longe pientior, quam fortunatior. Lelandi Comment. in Cygneam Cantionem.fair Colledge, and a famous School of good literature, founded and built by King Henry the Sixth: wherein beſides the Provoſt, eight Fellows, and the ſinging Choriſters, there are threeſcore Scholars, inſtructed in Grammar, and in due time preferred to the Univerſity of Cambridge.
It containeth twenty Hundreds, twelve Market Towns, and an hundred and forty Pariſhes.
Bedfordſhire.
BEdford is the principal Town, Bedfordia, the River Ouſe runs thorow the Town in the middeſt.whereof the Shire alſo taketh name.
A Town to be commended more for the pleaſant ſituation, and antiquity thereof, then for beauty or largeneſſe, although a man may tell five Churches in it.
Hockley in the Hole, ſo named of the miry way in Winter time, very troubleſome to travellers: for the old Engliſhmen our Progenitors called deep mire Hock and Hocks.
Dunſtable. This Town ſeated in a A tale of vain credit is reported of Dunſtable, that it was built to bridle the outragiouſneſſe of a thief named Dun, by King Henry the Firſt: but certain it is, the place was formerly held by the Romans. Speed. Yet Sir John Hayward in the Life of King Henry the Firſt, pag 282. ſaith, Dun was a famous thief amongſt others, commander over the reſt, and of him the place was called Dunſtable.Chalky ground, well inhabited, and full of Innes, hath four ſtreets anſwering to the four quarters of the world: in every one of which there is a large Pond of ſtanding water, for the publique uſe of the Inhabitants.
It contains ten Market Towns, an hundred and ſixteen Pariſhes.
Buckinghamſhire.
IT brings forth Beech-trees plentitifully, There is a Countrey in Germany bearing Beech-trees, named Buchonia, and with us a Town in Norfolk called Buckenham, fruitfull of Beech.which the Engliſh Saxons in elder times called Bucken, whence Buckingham the chief Town, and ſo the whole Shire took the name from Beech-trees.
The Countrey generally is of a rich plentifull ſoil, and paſſing full of inhabitants, who chiefly imploy themſelves in grazing of Cattel, there is ſtore of Mutton and Beef.
Chiltern got that name according to the very nature of the ſoile of Chalkie Marle, which the ancient Engliſhmen termed Cylt or Chilt.
Marlow a pretty Town of no mean credit, taking name of the ſaid Chalk commonly termed Marle: which being ſpread upon Corn-ground eaten out of heart with long tillage doth quicken the ſame again; ſo as that after one yeers reſt it never lieth fallow, but yeeldeth again to the Husbandman his ſeed in plentifull meaſure.
High Wickham or Wicombe rather from the turning of the River Thames, the Germane Saxons term any winding reach of River and Sea, a Wick, and Comb a low valle. This Town for largeneſſe and fair building is equal to the greateſt Town in this Shire, and in that it hath a Maior for the Head Magiſtrate.
Colbroke-Pontes is parted into four Pontes in France and our Tunbrige, and others are ſo called of Bridges.chanels, over which ſtand as many Bridges for the commodity of paſſengers, whence it tooke its name.
Hamden gave name to an ancient and well ſpread Family in theſe parts. Some ſay, one of that name was High-Sheriff when William the Conquerour came into England. There is part of▪ the Houſe at great Hamden yet ſtanding, which hath been built ever ſince the time of William the Conquerour.
They have ancient Records, one of which runs thus, Osbert Hamden Lord of Great Hamden, one of the Commiſsioners for expulſion of the Danes.
Ailesbury a fair Market Town, compaſſed about with many moſt pleaſant green Medows and Paſtures, of which the whole Vale is termed the Vale of Ailesbury.
Aſcot the principal manſion houſe of the Dormers, from whence deſcended the Dutches of Feria in Spain, and others of noble note.
Stony Stratford, named ſo of Stones, the Streetway, and a Fourd. The houſes are built of a certain rough ſtone, which is digged forth in great abundance at Caverſham hard by, and it ſtandeth upon the publick ſtreet, commonly called Watling-ſtreet, which was a military high-way made by the Romans, and is evidently to be ſeen yet beyond the Town with the Bank or Cauſey thereof, and hath a ford, but now hardly paſſable.
Newport-Painel ſo called of Sir Fulcod Painel the Lord thereof.
Here are an eleven Market Towns, and an hundred and eighty five Pariſhes.
Cambridgeſhire.
CAmbridgeſhire is famous for fiſh and fowl.
Cambridge a moſt famous Mart and Cambridge and Huntingtonſhire have but one Sheriff.Store-houſe of good Literature and Godlineſſe, ſtandeth upon the River Cam, which turning into the Eaſt, divideth it into two parts, and hath a Bridge over it, whence aroſe the name Cambridge.
Neither is there wanting any thing here, that a man may require in a moſt flouriſhing Univerſity, were it not that the Air is ſomewhat unhealthfull, ariſing as it doth out of a fenny ground hard by.
There are ſixteen Colledges in it.
Saint Ides is one of the famouſeſt Markets of England, it ſerves ſeveral Counties.
The Iſle of Ely.
There are ſeveral Etymologies of it given by Camden.
Ely a Biſhops See *Sedes eſt & Cathedra Epiſcopalis. Ipſum ſolum fertilitate omnes alias Angliae regiones adaequat, pleraſque ſuperat; paſcua ſucculento virent gramine, agri denſo laetantur ſegete, prata aquis irrigua luxuriant. Sed alia eſt ubertas nobilior, in qua mihitriumphare videtur, triginta concionatores ſimul floruerunt, qui ex oppido ſolo natales ſuos derivarent; quod de nulla alia civitate, Londino excepto, affirmari poſſe credo. Willeti Epiſtola Dedicat. ad lib. 2. Samuelis. Vide plura ibid., the City hath an unwholſome Air by reaſon of the fens round about, although it be ſeated ſomewhat higher.
Hard under Cambridge Eaſtward neer It begins on the 8th of September, and laſts about a fortnight. It is called Sturbridge-Fair.unto Sture, a little brook, is kept every yeer in the MonethMonth of September, the greateſt Fair of all England, whether you reſpect the multitude of buyers and ſellers reſorting thither, or the ſtore of Commodities there to be vented.
Neer unto Cambridge on the South-Eaſt ſide, there appear aloft certain high Hils called Gogmagog. On the top of them is a very large Fort, entrenched, ſtrengthened with a three-fold Rampire.
Wisbich amongſt Fennes and waters.
It hath eight Market Towns, and an hundred and ſixty three Pariſhes.