England Described, Treatise · County 41
Yorkſhire.
THe County of York, the greateſt Some ſay, it is as big as the twelve Counties in Wales.Shire by farre of all England, is thought to be in a temperate meaſure fruitfull. If in one place there be ſtony and ſandy barren ground, in another place there are for it Corn-fields, as rich and fruitfull; if it be void and deſtitute of woods here, you ſhall find it ſhadowed there with moſt thick Foreſts: So providently uſeth nature ſuch a temperature, that the whole Countrey may ſeem by reaſon alſo of that variety more gracefull and delectable.
It is farre greater and more numerous in the circuit of her miles, then any Shire of England. The length extended from Hart-Hill in the South to the mouth of Tees in the North is neer unto ſeventy miles; the breadth from Flambrough-head to Horn-Caſtle upon the River Lun is eighty, the whole circumference three hundred and eight miles. Speed.
Helmſley a Mannor in Yorkshire hath two Parks and a Chaſe in it, it is ſaid to be about an hundred fourty ſix miles compaſſe, it had fourty thouſand timber Trees, and two hundred Acres of wood. There are many Free-holders there.
It is famous for Wool, Graſing, Corn, Rivers and Fountains. There are the Gips upon Yorkſhire Woolds, which in the drought of Summer, when all other Springs ſeem to be dried up, burſt out and riſe up five or ſix yards plum height, and ſo fall down into the Dales, and make a little River, by which the Towns neer thereto refreſh their Cattel, when the Valley ſprings fail.
On the North-ſide it hath the Biſhoprick of Durham, which the River Tees with a continued courſe ſeparateth from it: On the Eaſt-ſide the Germane Sea lieth ſore upon it: and the South-ſide is encloſed firſt with Cheſhire and Darbyſhire; then with Nottinghamſhire, and after with Lincolnſhire, where that famous arm of the Sea Humber floweth between, into which all the Rivers well neer that water this Shire empty themſelves (as it were) into their common receptacle.
The whole Shire is divided into three parts: which according to the three Quarters of the world are called, The Weſt-Riding, The Eaſt-Riding, The North-Riding. Weſt-Riding, for a good while is compaſſed in with the River Ouſe, with the bound of Lancaſhire, and with the South limits of the Shire, and beareth toward the Weſt and South. Eaſt-Riding, looketh to the Sunne-riſing, and the Ocean, which together with the River Derwent encloſeth it. North-Riding reacheth Northward, hemmed in (as it were) with the River Tees with Derwent and a long race of the River Ouſe.
Weſt-Riding.
Sheafield a Town of great name for the Smiths therein, fortified alſo with a ſtrong and ancient Caſtle.
Rotheram glorieth in Thomas Rotheram ſometimes Archbiſhop of York, a wiſe man, bearing the name of the Town, being born therein, and a ſingular Benefactor thereunto.
Connisborrow an ancient Caſtle ſeated upon a Rock.
Dan-Castre. There is the fair Church The Scots call it Don-Caſtle from the River Don.of S. Georges.
Tickhill an old Town, fenced with as old a Caſtle, large enough, but having only a ſingle Wall about it.
Hatfiele-Chace, a great game and hunting of red Deer.
Halifax a moſt famous Town.Holy-hair. The Engliſhmen dwelling beyond Trent, called the hair of the Head Fax. There is alſo a Family in this Countrey of Gentlemen, named Fairfax, of the fair buſh of their Hair.
This place is become famous as well among the multitude by reaſon of the Law there, whereby they beheaded ſtraitwayes whoſoever are taken ſtealing: as alſo amongſt the learned: for they report that Johannes de Sacro Boſco the Authour of the Sphere, was here born: yet more famous it is, for the greatneſſe of the Pariſh, which reckoneth eleven Chappels; whereof two are Pariſh-Chappels, and to the number of twelve thouſand people therein.
Halifax Nuts are ſpoken of proverbially, All ſhels and no kernels.
Dewsborough ſeated under an high Hill.
Wakefield a Town famous for Cloathing, for greatneſſe, for fair building, a well frequented Mercat, and a Bridge, upon which King Edward the Fourth erected a beautifull Chappel, in memorial of thoſe that loſt their lives there in battel.
Sandall-Caſtle.
The Tract lying here round about for a great way together, is called the Seigniory or Lordſhip of Wakefield, and hath alwayes for the Steward one of the better ſort of Gentlemen dwelling thereby.
Medley, ſo called for the ſituation (as it were) in the midſt between two Rivers.
Skipton, it lieth hidden and encloſed among ſteep Hils, as Latium in Italy, which Varro ſuppoſeth to have been ſo called, becauſe it lieth cloſe under Appenine and the Alps.
The Town (for the manner of their building among theſe Hils) is fair enough, and hath a very proper and ſtrong Caſtle.
Leeds a rich Town by reaſon of Cloathing.
Winwidfield, a name given it from a victory.
Pontfret, the Normans of a broken Pontefract. A French name brought in by the Lacies Normans, for the Engliſh word of broken bridge. Lelands Itinerary.Bridge, named it in French Pontfract. It is ſeated in a very pleaſant place, which bringeth forth Liquorice and Skirworts in great plenty, adorned alſo with fair buildings, and hath to ſhew a ſtately Caſtle, as a man ſhall ſee, ſituate upon a Rock, no leſſe goodly to the eye, then ſafe for the defence, well fortified with Ditches and Bulwarks.
Shirburn a little Town, but well inhabited.
Aberford a little Village, famous only for making of Pins, which by womens judgment are eſpecially commended as the beſt.
Heſſelwood the principal ſeat of that worthy and right ancient Family of the Vavaſours, who by their Office (for the Kings Valvaſors in times paſt they were) took to them this name.
Peters-poſt a famous quarry of ſtone, ſo called, becauſe with the ſtones hewed out of it, by the liberal Grant of the Vavaſors, that ſtately and ſumptuous Church of S. Peters at York was re-edified.
Harewood-Caſtle of good ſtrength.
Wetherby a Mercat Town of good note.
Tadcaster, it is ſituate upon a Port high-way.
Rippley a Mercat Town.
Knasborrow-Castle, ſituate upon a moſtragged and rough Rock, whence alſo it hath the name. There is a Well under it which turns wood into ſtone, within two miles of it is the Spaw, which makes women conceive that were barren before, and cures many diſeaſes.
Within three miles of Knarsborough are the ſtinking Wells, which come out of a mineral of Brimſtone, and do many cures, eſpecially for Worms, the Scurvy and Itch.
Rippon. There is a very fair Church, which with three high Spire-ſteeples doth welcome thoſe that come to the Town.
Burrow-Bridge a little Town, ſo called of the Bridge that is made over the River.
Pyramides, four huge ſtones of pyramidal form in three divers little fields, they were monuments of victory erected by the Romans, hard by the high ſtreet that went this way.
*Eboracum, Eburacum is derived from the River Ʋré by Ʋre, or a long the ſide of Ʋre. See Burtons Comment. on Anton. his Itin. p. 60, 61. why it is called Eboracum;York. This is the ſecond City of England, the faireſt in all this Countrey, and a ſingular ſafeguard and ornament both, to all the North parts. A pleaſant place; large and ſtately, well fortified, beautifully adorned as well with private as publick buildings, rich, populous; and it hath an Archiepiſcopal See.
Ure, which now is called Ouſe, flowing with a gentle ſtream from the North part Southward cutteth it in twain, and divideth it (as it were) into two Cities, which are conjoyned with a ſtone Bridge, having one mighty Arch.
The Weſt part, nothing ſo populous, is compaſſed in with a very fair Wall, and the River together, four ſquarewiſe, and giveth entrance to thoſe that come thither at one only Gate, named Mikel-Barre, The great Gate. From which a long Street, and a broad, reacheth to the very Bridge, and the ſame Street beſet with proper Houſes, having Gardens and Orchards planted on the back-ſide on either hand, and behind them fields even hard to the Walls, for exerciſe and diſports.
The Eaſt-ſide, wherein the Houſes ſtand very thick, and the Streets be narrower, in form reſembleth (as it were) a lentill, and is fortified alſo with very ſtrong Walls; and on the South-Eaſt defended with the deep chanel of Foſſe▪ a muddy River; which entring into the heart of the City by a blind way, hath a Bridge over it, with houſes ſtanding upon it, ſo cloſe ranged one by another, that any man would judge it, to be not a Bridge, but a continued Street; and ſo a little lower runneth into Ouſe.
There is a Cathedral Church dedicated to Saint Peter, an excellent fair and ſtately Fabrick, neer unto which there is the Princes Houſe, commonly called, The Mannour.
York was a Colony of the Romans, as appeareth both by the authority of Ptolomee and Antonine; and alſo by a peece of Money coined by the Emperour Severus, in the reverſe whereof we read,
COL. EBORACUM LEG. VI. VICTRIX.
Severus had his Palace in this City, and here at the hour of death gave up his laſt breath, with theſe words: I entered upon a State every way troubleſome, and I leave it peaceable even to the Britains.
Valerius Constantius ſurnamed Chlorus, an Emperour ſurpaſſing in all Vertue and Chriſtian Piety, ended his life alſo in this City, and was deified.
This Emperour begat of his former Wife Helena, Conſtantine the Great, who was preſent in York at his Fathers laſt gaſp, and forthwith proclaimed Emperour.
York was in great eſtimation in thoſe dayes, ſince the Romane Emperours Court was there held.
Our own Countrey Writers record, That this City was by Conſtantius adorned and graced with an Epiſcopal See. Alcwin of York Schoolmaſter to Charles the Great, firſt Founder of the Univerſity of Paris, and the ſingular honour of this City.
From Paulinus the firſt Archbiſhop, conſecrated in the Year of our Redemption 625. there have ſitten in that See threeſcore and five Archbiſhops, unto the Year 1606. in which Dr Tobie Matthew a moſt Reverend Prelate, for the Ornaments of Vertue and Piety, for learned Eloquence, and continual exerciſe of Teaching, was tranſlated hither from the Biſhoprick of Durham.
Cawood a Caſtle.
Selby a little Town, well peopled, and of good reſort; where King Henry the Firſt was born.
East-Riding.
It is the ſecond part of this Region, it lieth Eaſtward from York.
Stanford-Bridge, of the Battell there fought, it is called Battle-Bridge.
Wreſhill a proper and ſtrong Caſtle.
Howden a Mercat Town, it hath given name to a little Territory adjoyning, called of it Howdenſhire.
Metham, it gave both ſurname and habitation alſo to the ancient Houſe of the Methams.
Humber an arm of the Sea, whereof alſo the Countrey beyond it, by a general name was called Northumberland.
It is one of the broadeſt arms of the Sea, and beſt ſtored with Fiſh in all Britain.
Wighton a ſmall Town of Husbandry well inhabited.
Drifield a Village well known by reaſon of the Tomb of Alfred that moſt learned King of Northumberland; and the Mounts that are raiſed here and there about it.
Beverley a great Town, very populous and full of Trade.
John ſurnamed de Beverley, Archbiſhop of York, a man both godly and learned, after he had given over his Biſhoprick, as weary of this world, came hither, and ended his life in contemplation, about the Year of our Redemption, 721.
Cottingham, a Countrey Town of Husbandry.
Kingston upon Hull, but commonly The Kings-Town built by King Edward the Firſt.Hull.
For ſtately and ſumptuous Buildings, for ſtrong Block-houſes, for well furniſhed Ships, for ſtore of Merchants, and abundance of all things, it is become now the moſt famous Town of Merchandize in theſe parts.
The Town is a County incorporate by it ſelf.
Headon.
Patrington.
Roſſe, from whence the honourable Family of the Barons Roſſe took their name.
Kelnſey a little Village.
Conſtable-Burton, ſo called of the There are alſo high and low Burton houſes.Lords thereof.
Sureby.
Bridlington.
North-Riding.
This carrieth a very long Tract with Or the Northpart of this Countrey.it (though not ſo broad) for threeſcore miles together, even as far as to Weſtmorland.
Scarborough-Caſtle a goodly and famous Caſtle.
Within it there is Ting-tong-Wells which go two miles under the earth toward an Hill, called Weapneſs, in which paſſage there is an Iron-gate, and by that way the people in the time of Civil Wars brought in their Goods and Cattel, and ſo ſupplied the Caſtle.
The Hollanders and Zelanders uſe to take marvellous plenty of Herrings upon this Coaſt, and make a very gainfull Trade thereof, having anciently firſt obtained Licence by an ancient Cuſtom out of this Caſtle.
Cliveland, it taketh that name of ſteep Banks, which we call Cliffs; for there runne all along the ſide thereof cliffie Hils.
Sken-grave a little Village much benefited by taking great ſtore of Fiſh.
Kilton-Caſtle within a Park.
Skelton-Caſtle appertaining to the ancient Family of the Barons Brus, who derive their Deſcent from Robert Brus the Norman.
Wilton-Caſtle.
Yare a Mercat Town well known.
Stokeſley a little Mercat Town.
Gisburgh a ſmall Town very pleaſant and delightfull.
Ounsbery-Hill, or Roſebery-Topping, it mounteth up a mighty height, and maketh a goodly ſhew a farre off, ſo often as the Head therof hath his cloudy Cap on, lightly there followeth rain: whence they have a proverbial Rhime,
When Roſebery-Topping wears a Cap,
Let Cliveland then beware a clap.
Kildale a Caſtle.
Pickering a good big Town belonging to the Dutchy of Lancaster, ſituate upon an Hill, and fortified with an old Caſtle: unto which a number of ſmall Villages lying there round about do appertain: whence the Countrey adjoyning is commonly called Pickering-Lith; The Liberty of Pickering and Forest of Pickering.
Kirkby-Morſide it lieth hard unto the Hils, whereof it had that name, a famous Mercat Town.
Rhidal a goodly, pleaſant and plentifull Vale, adorned with three and twenty Pariſh Churches, through the midſt whereof runneth the River Rhie.
Malton a Mercat Town well known and frequented for Corne, Horſes, Fiſh, and implements of Huſbandry.
Newborrough a famous Abbey unto which we are indebted for William of Newborrough, a learned and diligent Writer of the Engliſh Hiſtory.
Gilling-Castle belongs unto that ancient and worſhipfull Family, which of their fair buſh of Hair got their name Fairfax.
The Foreſt of Galtres, notorious for a ſolemn Horſe-running, wherein the Horſe that out-runneth the reſt hath for his prize a little golden Bell.
Sherry-Hutton a fair Caſtle.
Hinderskell a little Caſtle: Others call it Hundred-skell of a number of Fountaines that ſpring up and riſe there.
Northallertonſhire, a little Countrey watered with the Riveret Wisk, and taking the name of Northalverton a Town having in it on Saint Bartholomews day a great Fair of Kine and Oxen.
In this County there are four hundred and fifty nine Pariſhes, under which are very many Chappels, for number of Inhabitants equal unto great Pariſhes.