England Described, Treatise · County 18 – County 20
Kent.
THis name Cantium, and the name Kent, was given by reaſon of the form and ſituation. The Helvetian Countreys were called by the French Cantons. This Countrey by the old Geographers is called Angulus, an angle, or corner of Land. Or of the Britiſh word Cainc, they call their great woody Foreſt in Staffordſhire yet Lamb. Perambulat. of Kent. See Kilbourns Surveigh of Kent, p. 2. Cantium, quod amaeniſſima & humaniſſima▪ Britanniae habita ſemper fuit provincia, ad auſtrum Solemque Orientem Oceano Germanico, ad aquilonem uberrimo Thameſi fluvio, ad Occidentem Surra, ac Suſſexia provinciis, quas Angli comitatus appellant, cingitur. Haec & agrorum feracitate faecunda, populoque generoſo ac potenti referta, plures urbes, villaſqae in locis ob aquas & ſylvas, vicinas humanae habitationi commodioribus condidit, & ob maritimos portus, quas multos habet, peregrinorum conſuetudine, Galliaeque vicinitate magis foreign, quam reliquae hujus Inſulae regiones à Scriptoribus perhibetur. Quibus item rationibus, & moribus cultier, & opibus ditior jure exiſtimatur. Antiquitates Britannieae, pag. 33. Britannos Caeſar, maximè Cantios, longè omnium humaniſſimos vocat, & eam humanitatem illis fraudi fuiſſe, & belli Caeſariani cauſam extitiſſe apparet, quod praeſidia Gallis Caeſaris hoſtibus ſubmiſerint, & eos adventantes ſubinde amico ac peropportunos profugio exceperint. Humfredus De Nobil. lib. 2.Kanc.
It is the pleaſanteſt Countrey of England.
This Region extendeth it ſelf in length from Weſt to Eaſt fifty miles; and from South to North ſix and twenty.
The upper part of it, they ſay is healthfull, but not ſo wealthy: the middle they account both healthfull and plentifull: 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 Medows, Paſtures and Corn-fields: abounding wonderfully in Apple-trees, and Cherry-trees alſo: the Trees are planted after a direct manner one againſt another by ſquare, moſt pleaſant to behold.
It hath Villages and Towns exceeding thick and well peopled, ſafe Rodes and ſure Harbours for Ships, with ſome veins of Iron and Marle: but the Air is ſomewhat thick, and ſomewhere foggy, by reaſon of vapours ariſing out of the waters.
The Revenues of the Inhabitants are greater both by the fertility of the ſoil, and alſo by the neighbourhood of a great City, of a great River, and the main Sea.
This County is enriched with two Cities and Biſhops Seas, ſtrengthened with twenty ſeven Caſtles, graced with four of the Kings Houſes, traded with four and twenty Market Towns, and beautified with many ſtately Buildings.
Camden in Kent, pag. 324. ſaith, The Kentiſhmen had priviledge to leade the Van in all Battels for their valour ſhewed againſt the Danes.
Amongſt our old Engliſh the Kentiſhmen had the honour due to them alwayes of being in the Vant-guard, and thoſe of Wiltſhire, with Cornwall and Devonſhire in the Rere, which they all might challenge by the continuall worth of their performance. Mr. Seldens Preface to his Titles of Honour.
The Sueuians had anciently prerogative, In omni expeditione Regis Teutonici, exercitum praecedere, & primi committere. Id. ib.
The meaning of that common Proverb, Kent and Chriſtendome, was, that it Not that Kent was conceived diſtinct from Chriſtendome. Kilburns Survey of Kent. p. 5.was famous as Kent, and famous as Chriſtendom.
This was the firſt of the Kingdoms of the Heptarchy, and no one County of England had a King of it ſelf, but this.
They are the moſt civilized people of the Nation.
It is plentifull of Fowl and Fiſh of all ſorts. Fertile Lands, Fruit, Grain, Wood.
When William the Conquerour came in, the Yeomanry of Kent at Suaveſ-comb, carrying before them in their hands, every one a great green Bough, repreſenting afarre off a moving Wood, yeelded them unto William It is agreed by all men, that there were never any bondmen (or villains, as the Law calleth them) in Kent. Lamberts Perambulat. of Kent. The tenures of Land here are as free tenures as any in England.the Conquerour, upon this condition, that they might retain their ancient Cuſtoms unviolated, and eſpecially that which they call Gavelkind, that is, Give all kinne, by which they are not ſo bound by Copy-hold, Cuſtomarytenures, or Tenant-right, as in other parts of England, but in manner every man is a Free-holder, and hath ſome part of his own to live upon.
For Lands of this nature are equally divided among the Male children, or if there be no Sonnes, among the Daughters. By vertue of this alſo, they are at full age, and enter upon their Inheritance when they come to be fifteen years old: and it is lawfull for them to alienate and make it over to any one, either by Gift, or by Sale, without the Lords conſent. By this likewiſe, the Sonne (though their Parents were The father to the Bough, and the ſon to the Plough.condemned for Felony or Murder) ſucceeds them nevertheleſſe in ſuch kind of Lands.
After this, William the Conquerour, that he might more firmly aſſure to himſelf Kent, which is the very Key of England, placed a Conſtable over Dover-Castle, the moſt important Caſtle of England, and according to the ancient order of the Romans, made him alſo Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports. Theſe be they, Haſtings, Dover, Hith, Rumney and Sandwich, unto which, Winchelſey and Rie are joyned, as principal Oppidum Winchilſeum olim vento, frigori, & ponto obnoxium, unde ei nomen obvenit. Twini Comment. De Rebus Brittanuicis. lib. 1. pag. 25.Ports, and other ſmall Towns as Members. Which becauſe they are bound to ſerve in the Warres by Sea, enjoy many great immunities: they are free from paiment of Subſidies; and from Wardſhip of their children, as touching the body, they 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, yea, and have a Table by themſelves that day ſpread, and furniſhed on the Kings right hand. And the Lord Warden himſelf, who is alwayes one of the Nobility of moſt approved truſt, hath within his Juriſdiction the Authority of Chancellour and Admirall in very many caſes, and enjoyeth other rights beſides.
Depe-ford a moſt famous Ship-dock, where the Kings Ships are built, and ſuch as are decayed, repaired: there is alſo a good Store-houſe, and an Incorporation ordained for the uſe of the Navy.
Green-wich, that is, the Green-Creek, for the Creek of a River in the old Engliſh tongue was called Wic.
A place of very great name by reaſon of the Kings Houſe there, and becauſe Queen Elizabeth was here borne.
Barclay the Scot in his Icon animorum, commends Green-wich Tower for one of the beſt Proſpects in Europe, to ſee London on the one ſide, the Thames, Ships, and pleaſant Medows on the other:
Eltham a retiring place likewiſe of the Kings, but unwholſome by reaſon of the Moor.
Seven-oke, ſo called (as men ſay) of ſeven exceeding great Oaks now cut down. Which commendeth Sir William Sevenok an Alderman of London, who being a foundling and brought up here; and therefore ſo named, built herein gratefull remembrance an Hoſpital and a School.
Dartford upon the River Darent, a great Mercat Town well frequented, and well watered.
Graveſ-end, ſo called, as the Gereveſ-end; that is, the limit of the Gereve or Reve. A Town as well known as any other in England, for the uſual paſſage by water between it and London. Henry the Eight raiſed two Block-houſes here, and two other oppoſite on Eſsex-ſide.
Tunbridge the Town of Bridges.
Maidſtone the Shire Town: a large, fair, ſweet and populous Town.
Rocheſter may glory in her impregnable Fortification by the Navy Royal.
Rocheſter ſignifies as much as Caſtrum A Biſhops See.in rupe, the Camp or Station on the Rock. All places ending in Cheſter ariſe from the ruines of the old Romane Caſtra. Burt. Comment. on Antoninus Itin. through Brit.
The Iſland Shepey, or the Iſle of Sheep: It feedeth mighty great Floks of Sheep; it is plentifull in Corn, but ſcarce of Woods, containeth twenty one miles in compaſſe.
Queen-Borough-Caſtle, King Edward the Third built it, and ſo named it in honour of his Queen.
Tenham the Parent (as it were) of all the choiſe fruit Gardens and Orards of Kent, and the moſt large and delightſome of them. Thirty Pariſhes thereabout, are repleniſhed with Cherry-gardens, and Orchards beautifully diſpoſed in direct lines.
As for Orchards of Apples and Gardens of Cheries, and thoſe of moſt delicious and exquiſite kinds that can be, no part of the Realm (that I know) hath them either in ſuch quantity and number, or with ſuch art and induſtry ſet and planted. Lamb. Perambulat. of Kent.
Amongſt theſe is Feverſham very commodiouſly ſituate.
Reculver of name for the ſalt ſavoury Oiſters there dregged, and for a Minſter.
The Oiſters here do as farre ſurpaſſe thoſe of Whitſtaple, as theſe do the reſt of this Shire in ſavoury ſaltneſſe. Lamb Perambul of Kent.
Canterbury *Durovernum olim, nunc Cantuaria. Cantuaria urbs est Archiepiſcopalis & Metropolitica, quae ut antiquitate it a peramaena ſitus jucunditate multis Angliae urbibus, ſed & dignitate praefertur. Nam Cantuarienſis Archipraeſul totius Angliae primatum obtinet. Georgius Bruin. in Tabulis urbium Praecipuarum totius mundi.the chief City of this County, ancient and famous no doubt A Biſhops See.in the Romans time.
The Archbiſhop of Canterbury was called Totius Angliae Primas; the Archbiſhop of York, Angliae Primas; without any further addition.
Anſelme (for recompence of the ſervice he had done in oppugning the marriage of Prieſts, and reſiſting the King for the inveſtiture of Clerks) was by Pope Urbane endowed with this acceſſion of honour, that he and his Succeſſours, ſhould from thenceforth have place in all General Councels, at the Popes right foot, who then ſaid withall, Includemus hunc in orbe noſtro, tanquam alterius orbis Papam.
Canterbury is one of the famouſeſt Cities in England: It hath had a rare See Mr Somner of Canterbury.Cathedral, though now much ruinated by reaſon of theſe later times.
The Cathedral is in the midſt of the City, a fair Church, the body of which is within a little as large as Pauls in London; between the body and the Quire a very high Steeple, where hangeth a Bell, called by the name of Bell-Harry, being one of them which King Henry brought out of France. There is alſo in this Steeple four Spires much like to Sepulchres in London. There is on each ſide of the great Weſtgate two other Steeples, the one called Dunſton-ſteeple, the other, Arnold-ſteeple, in each of which are a very pleaſant ring of Bels. In the ſame Cathedral there was the famouſeſt Window that ever was known in England, for which there was offered (as ſome ſay) by the Spaniſh Embaſſadour 10000lb, being the whole Hiſtory of Chriſt from his Nativity to his Sufferings, but is now battered to pieces. In the Quire of this Cathedral is buried Prince Edward, called the Black Prince, whoſe Monument is there of braſſe.
The Dean and Prebends had very fair Houſes within the bounds of the ſaid Cathedral, which was like a little City, and ſo much power formerly, that the Maiors Sword was not ſuffered to be held up within the Gates of the Deanry. There is underneath this Cathedral a great Congregation of French living in the City; and the Dutch alſo have a Church in that place which was called the Biſhops Palace.
Within the bounds of the ſaid Deanry there is a free School, called, The Kings School, wherein are two Maſters, and many Scholars (formerly wearing Gowns) that are there brought up, and many from thence ſent to the Univerſity. There was one Schoolmaſter *Mr John Ludd.ſome years before he died, affirmed, he had had thirty ſeven Maſters of Arts of his bringing up.
There are many Churches in the City and Suburbs.
There are two Markets a week.
The Maior and Aldermen are cloathed in Scarlet, and they keep the Seſſions in the ſame City. The City is walled, and hath a Mote about it, the Wall being ſo broad that two or three men may go a-breſt, with gallant Watch houſes, called Citadels, all built with flint-ſtone.
There was an old Caſtle, but it hath been for many years demoliſhed, and ſome of the Works (or Forts) are yet ſtanding, that were when the Danes came in, one or two of which were made uſe of when the laſt riſing was there.
There are two Hoſpitals in the City, one for Ancient people, and the other for Children.
The Iſle of Thanet, it is eight miles long, and four broad, a right fertile ſoil.
Goodwin-Sands a ſandy dangerous place.
In the Reign of William the Second, certain Lands in Kent, which did once Haywards Life of William the 2d.belong to Godwin Earl of Kent, were overflowed and covered with ſand, which to this day do bear the name of Godwins Sands.
See Kilburns Survey of Kent, pag. 262, 263. How Tenterden Steeple was ſaid to be the cauſe of Goodwins Sands.
Sandwich one of the Cinque Ports.
Dover. The Town is ſeated between high Cliffs, more famous for Dubris. One of the Cinque Ports. A Dovero ad Caletum maritimum ex altera parte in Gallia oppidum ſecundis ventis ſpirantibus, quatuor horis breviſſimus fit trajectus. Antiqu. Britann.the commodiouſneſſe of the Haven, (ſuch as it is) and for ready paſſage into France, then for any elegance or great trade.
There is a moſt ſtately Caſtle like unto a pretty City, fortified ſtrongly with Bulwarks, and many a Tower.
It is the ſtrongeſt hold of all England, and moſt commodious for the French.
Sandgate-Caſtle, and Satlwood, a Caſtle.
Hith, it ſignifies an Haven or Harbour, one of the Cinque Ports.
Rumney-marſh a fruitfull ſoil, it feedeth a number of Herds of Cattel ſent One of the Cinque Ports. It containeth 24000 Acres. Lamb. Perambul. of Kent. Quis quaeſo hodiè credat, magnam partem illius prati ſivè Planiciei nobis nunc Rumnenſis marſhii, id eſt, Romani maris, nomine dictae, fuiſſe quondam altum Pelagus, & mare Velivolum? Ʋbi tot ovium greges oberrant: tot pecorum armenta paſcuntur tot juga bovum arant: tanti foeni copia qvotannis conficitur: tot templa in divinum cultum conſtruuntur: tot familiae foventur: denique unde tot pingues pecudes in macellis veniunt, ut non modo univerſum Cantium hujus locis commoda ſentiat, verum etiam civitas Londinum non nihil emolumenti inde percipiat. Twini Comment. De Rebus Britan. l. 1. p. 31.hither from the furtheſt parts of Wales, and England to be fatted.
There is at Bilſington a Priory built by John Maunſel.
Weaver in his Funeral Monuments ſaith, He ſaw a Pedigree of the Maunſels from Philip de Maunſel, who came in with the Conquerour, untill theſe our times.
Wie. Here was born John Kemp Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and one of the great Benefactors to the Univerſity of Oxford.
He was Biſhop of Rocheſter, Chicheſter and London, Archbiſhop of York firſt, and afterward of Canterbury, twice made Cardinal.
Bis primas, ter Praeſes, & bis Cardine functus.
This Province hath three hundred ninety eight Pariſhes, and ſixty four Hundreds.
Lancaſhire.
IT is a large, populous and well wooded Countrey.
The County Palatine of Lancaster (famous for the four Henries, the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Kings of England, derived from John Gaunt Duke of Lancaſter) is upon the South confined and parted by the River Merſey, from the County Palatine of Cheſter, the County of Darbyſhire bordering upon the Eaſt; the large Countrey of Yorkſhire, together with Weſtmerland and Cumberland, being her kind neighbours upon the North, and the Sea called Mare Hibernicum imbracing her upon the Weſt.
Their Kine and Oxen have goodly Heads and fair ſpread Hornes, and are in body well proportionate withall.
Warringdon.
Rochdale a Mercate Town well frequented.
Mancheſter, 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 farre excelleth the Towns lying round about it, for the beautifull ſhew it carrieth, for reſort unto it, and for cloathing: in regard alſo of the Mercate place, the fair Church and Colledge.
John Bradford the famous Martyr was born here.
Letherpool or Lirpool, ſo named of the water ſpreading it ſelf in manner of a Pool: whence there is a convenient paſſage over into Ireland, and much frequented, and in that reſpect more notorious than for any antiquity.
Ocmeskirk a Mercate Town, well known by reaſon of the Sepulture there, of the Stanleys Earls of Derby, whoſe chief ſeat Latham, is hard by, a ſtately houſe.
Wiggin a Corporation with a Maior and Burgeſſes.
Bolton upon the River Irwell.
Preſton a great fair Town, and well Prieſts-Town.inhabited.
Hornby a fair Caſtle.
Lancaſter the chief Town of this Or Loncaſter from the River Lone.Region.
There are thirty ſix Pariſhes in this Shire, but thoſe very populous and ſpacious, ſix Hundreds, and fifteen Market Towns.
Leiceſterſhire.
IT hath bordering upon it on the Eaſt-ſide, both Rutlandſhire and Lincolnſhire; on the North Notingham and Derbyſhire; and Warwickſhire on the Weſt; and on the South-ſide lieth Northampton.
The whole Shire yeeldeth great abundance of Peas and Beans more than any other Country, inſomuch that there is an old by-word of the ſame, commonly known to all men, viz. Leiceſterſhire Bean-Belly.
Burtons Deſcript. of Leiceſterſhire.
The South-Eaſt-ſide of this Shire is exceeding rich ground, yeelding great increaſe of Corn in abundance of all kinds, & affordeth many good and large Sheep-Paſtures, breeding a Sheep to that height and goodneſſe; ſo that (as I have credibly heard) neither Lemſter nor Cotſwould, can exceed them, if one reſpect either largeneſſe of the body, fineneſſe of the Wooll, or goodneſſe of the breed. Id. ib.
Leiceſter ſtandeth upon the River Leire, now called Sore, it ſignifies the City ſtanding upon the River Leir. It is a Town of great antiquity, and ſtandeth in the center and heart of the Shire, bearing the proportion of an heart, and being in the very midſt and heart of the Land.
It is ſituate in a moſt rich, delicate and pleaſant ſoyl, and delicious air; it wants only a navigable River.
Harborow a Town famous for a Fair of Cattel there kept.
Carleton, all that are born there, whether it be by a peculiar property of the Carlton-Curlewſoyl, or of the water; or elſe by ſome other ſecret operation of nature, have They cannot prenounce the letter R. Camd. Brit. And Burtons Deſcript. of Leiceſterſhire.an ill favoured, untunable, and harſh manner of ſpeech, fetching their words with very much ado, deep from out of the throat, with a certain kind of wharling.
Lutterworth a Mercat Town, it hath Biſhop Latimer was alſo born at Thurcaſton in Leiceſterſhire.a fair Church. That famous John Wicliffe was ſometimes parſon of this Church, a man of a ſingular, polite, and well wrought wit, moſt converſant alſo in the holy Scripture.
Neer to this Town there is a Spring ſo call'd, that within a ſhort time turneth ſtraws and ſticks into ſtones.
Cathorp. It came to one Cook, a Merchant of the Staple in the time of Henry the Fourth, whoſe Daughter and Heir was married to William Harper of Ruſhall in the County of Stafford, and from thence by deſcent, to Leigh. It was not many years ſince belonging to Sir Edward Leigh of Ruſhall.
Burtons Deſcript. of Leicesterſhire.
Hinkley.
Burton-Lazers, ſo called from a famous Hoſpital, which was there founded for the uſe of Leprous people, to whoſe Maſter all the leſſer houſes of that kind were ſubordinate, as he himſelf was to the Maſter of the Lazers at Hieruſalem.
Boſworth, an ancient Mercat Town. Here Henry Earl of Richmond with a ſmall power, encountred in pitch-field with King Richard the Third, and overcame and ſlew him, and then with joyfull acclamations was proclaimed King in the very midſt of ſlaughtered bodies round about.
Aſhby de la Zouch, a moſt pleaſant It was ſo called of the Zouches, ſometimes Lords thereof. Burtons Deſcript. of Leiceſterſhire▪Lordſhip now of the Earls of Huntingdon, but belonging in times paſt to the noble Family De la Zouch.
Cole-Overton or Orton, famous for Pit-coal. It is ſo called of the Colemines which are there in great abundance.
Mount-Sorehill, famous only for a Mercat there kept.
Lough-borough a Mercat Town, next Town to Leiceſter in this Shire: whether a man regard the bigneſſe or building thereof, or the pleaſant Woods about it.
Melton-Mowbray a Mercat Town, bearing name of the Mowbrayes ſometimes Lords thereof.
Within this Shire are two hundred Pariſh Churches, ſix Hundreds, and twelve Market Towns.