Britain, or A chorographicall description of the most flourishing kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the ilands adjoyning, out of the depth of antiquitie beautified vvith mappes of the severall shires of England: vvritten first in Latine by William Camden Clarenceux K. of A. Translated newly into English by Philémon Holland Doctour in Physick: finally, revised, amended, and enlarged with sundry additions by the said author.

[ A]

[ B] DVROTRIGES.

NExt unto the Danmonians Eastward, Ptolomy placeth in his Geographicall tables 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , as hee wrote in Greeke, who in the Latine copies are written DVRO∣TRIGES. The same people were named by the Bri∣taines about the yeare of Salvation 890. Dwr-Gwyr, as saith mine Authour Asserius Menevensis, who lived [ C] in that age and was himselfe a Britaine borne. The English-Saxons called them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, like as we at this day call this County, the County of Dor∣set, and Dorset-shire. That name DVROTRIGES, being ancient and meere British, may seeme by a very good and probable Etymologie to be derived of DOVR,* 1.1 or Dwr, which in the British tongue signifieth Water, and of Trig, that betokeneth an Inhabitant, as if a man would say, dwellers by the water or Sea-side. Neither verily from any other fountaine than from water are we to fetch those names of places in old France or Gaule, which [ D] used in times past the very same language that our ancient Britans did, which either begin with Dur, and Dour, or doe end in the same; As for ex∣ample, DVROCASES, DVROCOTTORVM, DVRANIVS, DORDO∣NIA, DVROLORVM, DOROMELLVM, DIVODVRVM, BREVIO∣DVRVM, BATAVODVRVM, GANODVRVM, OCTODVRVM, and a number of that sort, as well in Gaule as in Britaine. As for that English-Saxon word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, compounded of both tongues, British and English, it carryeth the same sence and signification that DVROTRIGES doth. For,* 1.2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 with our old Forefathers, like as with the rest of the Germans, [ E] soundeth as much as to inhabit or dwell upon. And therefore they termed mountainers in their language Dun-〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: the Inhabitants of the Chil∣tern-hilles, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: the dwellers by the river Arow, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: even as the Germans called the Inhabitants of Woods and Forrests Holt∣satten: because they dwelt within or among the Woods. Neither went our Britans from the reason and meaning of the old name, when they termed these DVROTRIGES, of whom we now treat, Dwr-Gweir, that is to say, Men bordering on the Maritime or Sea-coast. For, their country [ F] lieth stretched out with a shore full of turnings or windings in, and out, for a long tract, to wit by the space of fiftie miles or there about, full upon the British sea, from West to East.

[ A]

DORSET-SHIRE.

THe Countie of Dorset as it is on the Northside bounded with Somersetshire and Wiltshire, on the West with Devonshire and some part of Somersetshire, on the East with Hampshire: so on the South part, where it carrieth the greatest length, it lieth all [ B] open to the Sea, bearing upon the British Ocean as I said ere∣while for fiftie miles together or much thereabout. A fruitfull soile it is: The North part thereof being overspred with woods and forrests; from thence garnished with many a greene hill, whereon feede flocks of sheepe in great number with pleasant pastures likewise and fruitfull vallies bearing come: it hath a descent even to the very Sea shore, which in my description I will follow as it leadeth me, for that I can find no better order.

In the very entrance into this, out of Denshire the first place that sheweth it selfe on this shore is Lime,* 1.3 a little towne scituate upon a steepe hill, so called of a small river of the same name running hard by: which scarcely may challenge the name of a [ C] Port or Haven towne though it be frequented with fishermen, and hath a rode un∣der it called the Cobbe, sufficiently defended from the force of winds with rocks and high trees. In ancient bookes I can hardly find any mention thereof: onely thus much I have read, that King Kinwulfe in the yeare of our Lord 774. gave (by these words) the land of one Mansion unto the Church of Scireburne, hard by the Wersterne banks of the river Lime, not farre from the place where he hideth the course of his streame within the Sea: to this end, that for the said Church salt might be boyled to the sustaining of mani∣fold necessities,

Neere thereunto the river Carr dischargeth it selfe into the Sea, and there standeth Carmouth a little village:* 1.4 where the bold roving Danes having good successe in sea-fights, wonne two victories of the English, first vanquished King Egbert in the [ D] yeare of Christ 831. and then eight yeares after King Aethelwolfe. Then there is Burtport,* 1.5 or more truly Birtport, placed betweene two small rivers which there meete together: In this towne, in the daies of King Edward the Confessor, there were reckoned one hundred and twenty houses, but in William the Conquerors raigne, as we find in his booke of Doomesday, one hundred and no more. In our time in respect of the soile yeilding the best hemp, and skill of the people for making ropes and cables for ships, it was provided by a speciall statute, to remaine in force for a cer∣taine set time, that ropes for the Navie of England should be twisted no where else. Neither is this place able to maintaine the name of an haven, albeit in the mouth of the river being on both sides enclosed within little hilles, nature seemes as it were of [ E] purpose to have begun an haven, and requireth in some sort art and mans helpe to ac∣complish the same.

From hence the shore winding in and out shooteth far into the Sea: and a banke called Chesil of sands heaped up thick together (with a narrow frith betweene) lieth in length for nine miles which the South-wind when it is up,* 1.6 commonly cutteth a∣sunder and disperseth, but the Northerne wind bindeth, and hardneth againe. By this Banke or Sand-ridge,* 1.7 Portland, sometime an Island is now adjoyned to the main-land: The reason of which name is altogether unknowne, unlesse it were so called because it lyeth full against the Port Weymouth: but it soundeth more neere unto the truth, that this name was given it of one Port a noble Saxon, who about the yeare of our [ F] Salvation 703. infested and sore annoied these coasts.* 1.8 This Portland in the declining state of the Saxons Empire (for before-time writers never spake of it) felt as much as any other place, from time to time, the violent rage of the Danes. But when the Da∣nish warre was ended, it fell to the possession of the Church of Winchester. For, at

[ A] what time as Emme mother to King Edward the Confessor (whose name was called in question, and she charged for incontinencie with Aldwin Bishop of Winchester) had gone bare-foot upon nine culters red hot in Winchester Church without harme (an unusuall kind of triall in those daies, and then called Ordalium) and so cleered her selfe of that imputation, that she made her chastitie by so great a miracle more famous to posteritie: She for a memoriall thereof, gave nine Lordships to the Church of Winchester: and King Edward her sonne, repenting that hee had so wrongfully brought his mothers name into question bestowed likewise upon the said Church this Island with other revenues. It is in compasse scarce seven miles, rising up about [ B] the sides with high rocks, but lying flat and low in the midst: Inhabited scatteringly heere and there: plentifull enough of corne, and good to feed sheepe: but so scant of woods, that in default of other fewell they make their fire with oxe and cow dung dried. The Inhabitants, of all English-men were the cunningest slingers; and very of∣ten doe find among the weeds or reeds of the sea, Isidis Plocamos, that is, Isis haire, which as Plinie reporteth out of Iuba, is a shrub growing in the Sea not unlike unto Corall without leafe: cut it up it turneth into a black colour, and if it fall, it soone breaketh. On the East-side it hath one onely Church, and very few houses standing close thereto, and on the North a Castle built by King Henry the Eighth, which also [ C] defendeth the entrance into the haven of Weimouth.* 1.9 A little towne this is, upon the mouth of Wey a small river; over against which on the other side of the banke standeth Melcomb, surnamed Regis, that is, Kings Melcomb, divided from the other onely by the haven betweene. But the priviledges of the haven were awarded from them by sen∣tence of the Parliament; howbeit afterwards recovered.

These stood both sometimes proudly upon their owne severall priviledges, and were in emulation one of another: but now (God turne it to the good of both) many they are by Authoritie of Parliament incorporated into one body, conjoyned of late by a bridge, and growne very much greater, and goodlier in buildings by sea-adven∣tures than heeretofore.

[ D] From thence the shore stretcheth out directly along by the Isle of Purbeck (as they call it) which for a great part of it is an heath and forrest like indeed replenished with Deere both red and fallow, having also veines of marble running scatteringly heere and there under the ground. In the midst whereof, there is an old large castle named Corf seated upon a great slaty hill, which after a long combat with time somewhat yielded as overcome, unto time, untill of late it hath beene repaired, and is a notable testimony and memoriall of a Stepmothers hatred.* 1.10 For, Aelfrith to make way for her owne sonne Etheldred to the Crowne, when Edward her sonne in law King of England, came to visit her in this castle from his disport of hunting, set some villaines and hacksters to murther him, and like a most wicked Stepdame fed her eies with his [ E] bloud. For which deed repenting herselfe when it was too late, she sought afterward maruellously to wash out that sinfull staine, by taking her selfe to the mantle, and ring in the habite of an holy Votarie, and to building religious houses. This Purbeck is cal∣led an Isle, although it be onely a Demy Island, compassed round about with the sea, save onely on the West-side: For, on the East, the sea bendeth the bankes inward, and breaking in at a very narrow straight betweene the two shores (against which a small Isle with a block house called Brensey standeth) maketh a broad and wide bay. On the North side wherof in the said Biland, there standeth over it the towne Poole, so as it is wholly environed with waters except it be on the North-side, where it closeth with the continent & hath one gate and no more leading unto it. We may well thinke it so named, because that bay aforesaid lying under it, in calme weather whē the waters be [ F] still resembleth a pond, such as we call a poole in our language. This of a Sedgeplot, & of a few fishermens cotages, in the last foregoing age, grew to be a mercate towne ex∣ceeding rich and wealthy, beautified also with goodly houses: and K. Henry the Sixth by consent of the Parliament granted unto it the priviledges of a port or haven towne which he had taken from Melcomb, and licensed the Major thereof, to wall it about: which worke afterward was begun at the haven, by King Richard the Third, a Prince

who deserved to be rancked among the worst men and the best Kings. But ever since [ A] that time, by what fatall destinie, I know not, or rather through the idlenesse and sloth of the townesmen, it is decaied: in so much as for want of Inhabitants, the very houses at this day, runne to ruine. Into the West Angle of this Bay falleth the greatest, and most famous river of all this tract; commonly called Frome, but the Eng∣lish-Saxons, as witnesseth Aerius, named it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; whereupon perhaps, for that this Bay was in old time called Fraumouth, the posteritie ensuing rooke the rivers name to be Frome. The head thereof is at Eureshot neere unto the West limit of this shire: From whence he taketh his course Eastward by Frompton, whereto it gave the name, and from the North receiveth a little river running downe by Cerne Ab∣bey: [ B] which Augustine the Apostle of the English nation built, when hee had broken there in pieces,* 1.11 Heil the Idol of the heathen English-Saxons, and chased away the fog of paganish superstition. Here was first bred among the religious men (as I have read) Iohn Morton Cardinall,* 1.12 and Archbishop of Canterbury borne at S. Andrews Milborne, worthily advanced to so high places for his good service in working Eng∣lands happinesse by the union of the two houses, of Lancaster, and York; and of this family there hath issued both R. Bishop of worcester, and many gentlemen of very good note in this country, and elsewhere. Under this somewhat lower, the Frau or Frome (chuse whether you will) maketh an Island, and so goeth to see that most anci∣ent towne [Dorchester] which in Antoninus his Itinerarium is termed DVRNOVARIA, [ C] that is, the river Passage or Ferry, and seemeth by Ptolomee to be named untruly, in sundry copies DVRNIVM and DVNIVM. This is the head Towne of the whole Shire, and yet is neither great nor beautifull, being long since despoiled of the walles by the Danes, who raised as it is thought certaine trenches; whereof one is called Maum∣bury being an acre inditched, an other Poundbury somewhat greater: and the third a mile off as a Camp, with five trenches containing some ten acres, called Maiden castle, which a man may easily conjecture to have beene a summer station or campe of the Romans. But of her antiquitie it sheweth daily expresse tokens, namely the Roman causey of the Fosse high way, and coine of the Romans both copper and silver found there, and especially at Fordington hard by which the common people there, [ D] call King Dorn his pence, whom by some allusion to the name, they dreame full sweetly, to have beene the founder of the towne. It had anciently a castle in that place where the Grey-friers built their Convent out of the ruines thereof, and hath now but three parish Churches, whereas the compasse of the old towne seemeth to have beene very large. But the most grievous hurt that it tooke, was when Sueno the Dane had in most outrageous crueltie renewed the Danish warre: and Hush the Norman who ruled these countries a man of a persidious and treacherous mind, suf∣fered all to be spoiled and harried. But in what estate it stood soone after the Nor∣mans first comming in, take knowledge if it please you, out of Domesday booke be∣ing the Survey of England. In King Edwards daies there were in Dorchester 170. [ E] houses, and these for all the Kings service discharged themselves, and paid according to te•• Hides: but to the use of Houscarles one marke of silver, excepting the customes which per∣taine ad firmam noctis, that is, to the entertainment of the King for one night. There were in it two Mint Masters. Now there be therein but 82. houses: and one hundreth have beene utterly destroyed since the time of Sheriffe Hugh. If these termes seeme to be very obscure (as Sextus Cecilus said in the like matter) impute it not to the fault of the writers, but to their ignorance who cannot conceive the meaning.

From hence Frome runneth by Woodford, where in old time Guy Brient a Baron and renowned warriour had a little Castle of his owne: which afterward was the ha∣bitation of Hugh Stafford of Suthwick; by one of whose daughters Inheritrices, it [ F] came as I have heard to Thomas Strangwaies, who being borne in Lancashire, and brought hither by the first Marquesse Dorset,* 1.13 obtained a great and rich inheritance in these parts, and his issue built a very faire house at Milbery. Then holdeth hee on his course besides Byndon, in the Saxon tongue 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which also had a monasterie, where Kinegilsus in the yeare 614. in a doubtfull, and dangerous battell vanquished

[ A] the Britaines. Not long since it was the seat of the Lord Marney: now it giveth the honourable title of Vicount unto the Lord Thomas Howard Knight of the order of S. George: whose father Thomas the second sonne of Thomas Howard, the second of that name Duke of Norfolk,* 1.14 Queene Elizabeth created Vicount Howard of Bindon, when he having matched in marriage with the daughter and heire of Baron Marney, was seized heere of a very great inheritance of the Newborows.* 1.15 These who were an∣ciently named de Novo Burgo, and commonly Newboroughs, derive their pedigree from a younger soone of Henry the first Earle of Warwick of the Norman line: and held heere Winfrott, with the whole Hundred of the gift of King Henry the First, per [ B] servitium Camerarii (these be the words out of the booke of the Offices) in Capite de Domino Rege: that is, by service of Chamberlaine, in Chef, from our soveraigne Lord the King.* 1.16 But under Edward the Third I have read, that this was held by Sergeantie, name∣ly, by holding the Laver or Ewre for the King his Soveraigne Lord to wash, upon his Coro∣nation day. Also Raulph Moien held the Mannour of Owres neere adjoyning by service of Serjeantie in the Kitchin, of the gift likewise of King Henry the First: and R. de Welles the Mannour of Welles heereabout, since the Conquest of England, by the service of the Kings Baker. Which I note, onely by the way.

Where Frome maketh his issue into that Bay, whereupon Poole is scituate, hard by the very mouth is planted Warham, in the Saxon tongue 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a towne [ C] strongly seated on every side but Westward, as being fenced on all parts beside, with the rivers Trent, Frome, and the Sea together: In King Edward the Confessors time, it had two Mint maisters: but whiles William the Conquerour raigned it could not reckon above seven dwelling houses in it. Yet afterwards it flourished againe, forti∣fied with the wall, furnished with a mint house, a great number of Inhabitants, and a most strong Castle, which that King William the First built, it continued in a most flourishing state untill the daies of King Henry the Second, who when hee came to challenge the Crowne of England in the yeare 1142, hee arrived heere, besieged and tooke the Castle which was defended by Robert Lacy, against him in behalfe [ D] of King Stephen, and afterward Robert of Lincolne a man of mightie possessions in these parts defended the same against King Stephen. But from that time, by occasion part∣ly of warres, and partly of sudden casualtie by fires, by reason also that the sea by lit∣tle and little which draweth the commoditie of an haven, it is almost run to ruine: and in the very heart of the old towne it bringeth forth store of garlick. At this mouth likewise is discharged another small river with Frome, Asserius calleth it Trent, but now the Inhabitants thereby name it Piddle: From the North banke whereof scarce three miles off I saw the ruins of Middleton Abbey, which King Athelstane foun∣ded as a satisfaction to appease the ghost and soule of his brother Edwine, whom hee had deprived both of his Kingdome, and life. For when that solicitous desire of raig∣ning [ E] had caused him quite to forget all Justice, hee put the young Prince heire appa∣rant to the Crowne, with one page, into a little whirrey without any tackling or fur∣niture thereto, to the end he might impute his wickednesse to the waves. And so the young Prince overcome with griefe of heart, and unable to master his owne passions; cast himselfe headlong into the sea.* 1.17 Under this Middleton, there is voided also ano∣ther river, which runneth hard by Bere a little mercate towne, where for a long time, that ancient, and famous family de Turbida villa, commonly, Turbervill had their chief habitation, whereof as some were famous, so Hugh Turburvill in the time of King Edward the First was infamous for his traiterous practises with the French.

But to goe backe againe to the West part of the shire: At the spring head of Frome, where the soile is most fruitfull, the forrest of Blackmore sometimes thicke, and full of [ F] trees, but now thinner growne, yeildeth plentifull game for hunting. This by a more common,* 1.18 and better knowne name is called The Forrest of white hart. The rea∣son of which name, the Inhabitants by tradition from their forefathers report to be thus. When King Henry the Third came hither to hunt, and had taken other Deere, he spared a most beautifull and goodly White-Hart, which afterwards T. de la-Lynde a gentleman of this countrey with others in his company tooke and killed:

but how perillous a matter it was to bee twitching (as they say) of a lion they soone [ A] found and felt. For, the King conceived great indignation, and high displeasure a∣gainst them, put them to a grievous fine of money for it, and the very lands which they held, pay even to this day every yeare by way of amercement a piece of money into the Exchequer,* 1.19 which is called White hart silver. There joyneth neere to this forrest Shirburne towne, named also Shirburne Castle, in old time 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which by interpretation is Fons Limpidus, or as it is else where writen Fons clarus, that is, Pure fountaine or cleare well, scited on the hanging of an hill, a pleasant and proper seate, as William of Malmesburie saith, as well for the frequent number of Inhabitants, as the sci∣tuation: and now it is the most populous, and best haunted towne of all this country, [ B] and gaineth exceeding much by clothing. In the yeare of our redemption 704, an Episcopall seat was heere erected, and Aldelme the first Bishop there consecrated: afterwards also in the raigne of Etheldred, Herman the Bishop of Sunning, having ob∣tained this Bishoprick, translated his Episcopall see hither, and joyned the said Bishop∣rick of Sunning unto this, which under William Conqueror the same Bishop trans∣lated to Sarisburie, and reserved Shirburne to bee a retiring place for his Successors, unto whom it belongeth as yet: And one of them, namely, Roger, built a strong Castle in the East-part thereof, under which lay sometime a wide meere, and many fish pooles: and now being filled up are converted into most pleasant, and rich medow ground. As for the Cathedrall Church, presently upon the translation of the See, it [ C] became a monasterie againe, and beareth shew of great antiquitie, although not many became a monasterie againe, and beareth shew of great antiquitie, although not many yeares past, in a broile betweene the townesmen and the Monks it was fired: which the burnt and scorched colour upon the stones doth as yet most evidently shew. Un∣der this, the river Iuell, whereof I will speake some where else, winding in and out with many curving reaches, runneth Westward to Chiston, the seate sometime of the linage de Maulbauch,* 1.20 from which it descended hereditarily unto the family of the Hors••ies Knights, where it entreth into Sommersetshire.

More toward the East the most famous river Stoure passing full of tenches and Eeles especially, arising in Wiltshire out of six fountaines commeth downe to Stour∣ton, the honor and seat of the Barons of Stourton. So soone as it entred in this Shire [ D] it passeth through Gillingham forrest, in which Edmund surnamed Iron-side in a memo∣rable battell put the Danes to flight:* 1.21 and three miles from thence saluteth Shaftsbury standing upon an hill top, very defective of water, sometimes called by the Britaines as it is commonly, but falsely thought, Caer Paladur, and in Latine by later writers Septonia: by the Saxons 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, perhaps of the Churches Spire steeple, such as they tearmed Scheafts. A little before the Normans time it had in it 104. houses, and three Mint masters, as we read in that * 1.22 booke so often by me alleadged. And af∣terwards, it flourished the more, by reason of a Nunnerie which Elfgiva a most god∣ly and devout Lady▪ wife to Edmund that was King Aelfrids nephews sonne had erected, and of ten parish Churches besides, or there about. But most famous in this [ E] place, by occasion of a prety fable that our Historians doe report of Aquila prophe∣cying here of the conversion or change of the Britaines Empire: For, some will have the bird,* 1.23 Aquila, that is, an Eagle, others a man so named to have foretold here, that the British Empire after the Saxons and Normans should returne againe to the an∣cient Britaines: and these men affirme and maintaine that this place is of greater an∣tiquitie than Saturne himselfe, whereas most certaine it is, that it was first built by Alfred. For, the Historiographer of Malmesbury hath recorded, that in his daies there was an old stone translated from the ruines of the wall into the Chapter house of the Names, which had this Inscription: [ F]

[ A]

ANNO DOMINICAE INCARNATIONIS AELFREDVS REX FECIT HANC VRBEM. DCCC.LXXX. REGNI SVI VIII. That is,

In the yeare of the incarnation of our Lord, King Aelfred built this Citie, 880. of his raigne the eighth.

[ B] This Inscription I have the more willingly put down here for proofe of the Truth, because in all the copies which I have seen it is wanting, save only in that in the Libra∣rie of the late Lord Burghley, high Treasurer of England, and I have beene informed that it continued there untill the time of King Henry the Eighth. Yet the Inhabitants have a tradition that an old Citie stood upon the place which is called the Castle-Greene, and by some, Bolt-bury; now a faire plaine so scited that as of one side it joyneth to the Towne, so of another it is a strange sight to looke downe to the vale under it: whereby in the West end of the old Chappell of S. Iohn, as I heare now, standeth a Roman Inscription reversed. From thence the Stoure, by Marnhill, of which place L. Henry Howard brother of Thomas last Duke of Norfolke received of King Iames the [ C] title of Baron Howard, of Mernhill, before that he was created Earle of Northamp∣ton, makes speed to Stourminster, which is as much to say, as the Monasterie or Min∣ster upon Stoure. A small towne this is, standing somewhat with the lowest: from which there is a stone bridge built reaching to Newton Castle; where offreth it selfe to be seene a loftie mount cast up (as they say) to that heighth with great labour, but of the Castle there remaineth nothing at all, but onely the bare name. Of these, I have nothing of more antiquitie to say than this, that King Aelfred bequeathed Stoureminster to a younger sonne of his. Hard by, at Silleston there rise two good great hilles, the one named Hameldon, the other Hodde, and both of them fortified with a three fold Ditch and rampier.* 1.24 And not far from thence (but the very place I cannot [ D] precisely set downe) stood Okeford, the Capitall honour of the Baronie of Robert, the sonne of Pagan, commonly named Fitz-Payne, who married the daughter of Guido de Brient,* 1.25 who also in this West part enjoyed the honor of a Baron under King Edward the Third: but for default of heire males of those Fitz-Paynes, it came to the Poynings, Barons likewise in those daies, and at length by a daughter and heire of Poynings in the raigne of Henry the Sixth,* 1.26 these Barons titles, Fitz-Payne, Brient, and Poinings were conjoyned in the Percies Earles of Northumberland: Howbeit within our fathers remembrance through the favour of King Henry the Eighth, the title of Baron Poi∣nings, reflourished in Sir Thomas Poinings, sonne of Sir Edward Poinings a martiall man and fruitfull father of much base brood; but with him it soone vanished away, as [ E] bastardly slips seldome take deepe root.

From hence Stoure passeth on by Brienston, that is, Brients towne, where the Ro∣gerses dwell,* 1.27 an ancient family of Knights degree, to Market Blandford, which since in our time it chanced to be burnt downe, arose againe, built more elegantly, and is better peopled with Inhabitants. Then Stoure from thence, by Tarrent, where Richard Poer Bishop of Sarisbury founded a Cell, for Virgins Votaries, speedeth himselfe apace to that most ancient towne VINDOGLADIA,* 1.28 where Antoninus maketh mention. Which in the Saxons tongue is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, commonly Winburne,* 1.29 and of the Monasterie, Wenburnminster: and from hence to Dorcester are counted sixteene miles just so many as the Emperour Antonine in his Itinerarie rec∣koneth [ F] betweene Vindogladia and Durnovaria. The name, as I conjecture, it taketh of the scituation, because it is seated betweene two rivers: for, so in the British tongue Windugledy soundeth as much as betweene two Swords: now that the Britaines, by a peculiar phrase of their owne, terme rivers, Swords, it appeareth by Aberdugledian, the British name of Milford Haven, which is as much to say, as the mouth of two ri∣vers, for that two rivers named with them Gledian, that is, Swords, runne into it. The

latter name also of this town seemeth to be set from Rivers: For Winburn is compoun∣ded of Vin,* 1.30 a parcell of the old name, and the Saxon word Burne, which among them [ A] betokeneth a river: and by the addition thereof the Saxons were wont to name places standing upon rivers. The very town it selfe is seated upon the piece of an hill large in compasse, & replenished with Inhabitants, but few faire buildings. In the Saxons time right famous it was and much frequented for no other cause, I believe, but for that in those daies there remained divers tokens of the Romans majestie. In the yeare 713. Cuthburga sister to Ina King of the West-Saxons,* 1.31 when upon a loathing wearinesse of wedlocke she had sued out a Divorce from her owne husband King of Northumber∣land, built heere a Nunnerie: which yeilded unto the injurie of time, and fallen to [ B] decay, there arose in the very place thereof, a new Church with a faire Vault be∣neath under the quier, and an high spire besides the Toure-steeple. In which were pla∣ced Prebendaries in liew of those Nuns. Over whom, in our fathers daies Reginal Pole was Deane, who afterwards being Cardinal, and Archbishop of Canteburie, over and above the nobilitie of his house (for descended he was of the Royall bloud) became highly renowned for pietie, wisedome, and eloquence. King Etheldred a right good and vertuous Prince brother of Aelfred, slaine in the battell at Wittingham against the Danes, lieth enterred in this Church: upon whose Tombe, which not long since hath beene repaired, this new Inscription is to be read: [ C]

IN HOC LOCO QVIESCIT CORPVS S. ETHELDREDI REGIS WEST SAXONVM MARTYRIS, QVI ANNO DO∣MINI DCCC LXXII.XXIII. APRILIS PER MANVS DANORVM PAGANORVM OCCVBVIT.

That is, Heere lieth at rest the bodie of Etheldred King of the West-Saxons, Martyr, who died in the yeare of our Lord, 872. the 23. of April, by the hands of the Danes, * 1.32 Infidels.

[ D]

Neere unto whom lieth entombed Gertrude Blunt Marchionesse of Excester, daughter to William Lord Montjoy, and mother to Edward Courtney the last Earle of Devonshire of that house: and on the other side of the quier Iohn de Beaufort Duke of Somerset with his wife Margaret daughter and heire to Sir Iohn Beauchamp of Blet∣neshoe: whose daughter Margaret Countesse of Richmond, and mother of King Henry the Seventh, a most godly and vertuous Princesse, erected a Schoole heere for the trai∣ning up of youth. But now will I turne my pen from the Church to the Towne; when the Danes by their crafty devices went about to set the Englishmen together by the eares, and would have broken that league, and unitie which was betweene King Ed∣ward the Elder, and his cosen Aethelwald; Aethelwald then lusting after the Kingdome [ E] and wholly set against his liege Prince, fortified this towne as strongly as possibly he could: But so soone as Edward came towards him with his forces, and pitched his tents at 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, now called Badbury, he fled and conveied himselfe to his confe∣derates the Danes.* 1.33 This Badbury is a little hill upon a faire doune, scarce two miles off, environed about with a triple trench, and rampier, and had by report in times past a Castle, which was the seate of the West-Saxon Kings: But now, if ever there were a∣ny such, it lieth so buried in the owne ruines, and rubbish, that I could see not so much as one token thereof. But, hard by, a sight I had of a village or mannour called King∣ston Lacy,* 1.34 because together with Winburne it appurtained to the Lacies Earles of Lin∣colne: unto whom by covenant it came from the Earles of Leicester, by the meanes [ F] of Quincie Earle of Winchester. For King Henry the first had given it to Robert Earle of Mellent and of Leicester: and at the last, both places, from the Lacies fell unto the house of Lancaster, whose bountie, and liberalitie Winburne had good triall of.

From this Winburne Stoure as it passeth, admitteth Alen a little brook, over which

[ A] standeth S. Giles Winburne, the habitation of the worshipfull and ancient house of Astleys Knights, also Wickhampton, the inheritance sometime of the Barons de Mal∣travers: of whom the last, in the raigne of Edward the Third, left behind him two daughters onely, the one wedded unto Iohn de Arundell, grandfather to Iohn Earle of Arundell, who left unto his posteritie the title of Barons de Maltravers: the other, wife of Robert Le-Rous, and afterwards of Sir Iohn Keines, Knight. From hence the Stoure passeth on by Canford,* 1.35 under which not long ago, Iames Lord Mont∣joy, studious in Minerall matters began to make Calcanthum or Vitriol (we call it Co∣peras) and to boile Alome: And out of which, in old time Iohn Earle of Warren, to [ B] the great disteining of his owne good name, and the damage of England, tooke, as it were, by strong hand and carried away, as it is to be seene in our Chronicles, Dame Alice Lacey, the wife of Thomas Earle of Lancaster. And now by this time Stoure leaveth Dorsetshire behind him, and after hee hath travelled through some part of Hantshire, at length taketh up his lodging in the Ocean: and yet not before hee hath entertained a pretty river that runneth to Cranburne,* 1.36 a place well watered. Where in the yeare of Salvation 930. Aelward a noble Gentleman, surnamed for his whitenesse Meaw, founded a little monasterie: which, Robert Fitz-Haimon a Norman, unto whom fell the possessions of the said Aelward, leaving heere one or two Monkes in a cell, translated to Theoksbury: From whom in order of succession, by the Clares Earles [ C] of Glocester, and Burghs Earles of Ulster, it came to Lionell Duke of Clarence, and by him to the Crowne. But now Cranborne hath his Uicount, now Earle of Salisburie whom King Iames for his approved wisedome and worth, honored first with the title of Baron or Lord Cecil of Essendon,* 1.37 and the next yeare after, of Vicount Cranborne. South from hence lieth Woodland emparked, sometime the seat of the worshipfull family of Filioll, the heires whereof were married to Edward Seimor after Duke of Somerset, and Willoughby of Wallaton.

As touching the Earles and Marquesses of this shire,* 1.38 King William the Conqueror, having now by conquest attained to the Kingdome of England, made Osmund that was Earle of Seez in Normandie, both Bishop of Sarisbury, and afterward also the [ D] first Earle of Dorset, and his Chancellor; highly admiring the godly wisedome of the man, and his notable good parts. Long after that, King Richard the Second in the one and twentieth yeare of his raigne, advanced Iohn de Beaufort, Iohn of Gaunt his sonne and Earle of Sommerset, to be Marquesse Dorset, of which dignitie King Henry the Fourth in hatred of Richard the Second deprived him.* 1.39 And when as in the high Court of Parliament, the Commons of England there assembled, who loved him very dearely, made earnest intercession that the said dignitie of Marquesse might bee restored unto him, hee himselfe distasting this new title, and never heard of before those daies, utterly refused it. And then his younger brother named Thomas Beau∣fort was created Earle of Dorset: who afterward for his warlike prowesse and valour [ E] was by King Henrie the Fifth adorned with the title of Duke of Excester, and with the Earledome of * 1.40 Harcourt. For, he valiantly defended Harflew in Normandie against the Frenchmen, and in a pitched field encountring the Earle of Armignac put him to flight. After he was dead without issue, King Henry the Sixth nominated out of the same house of Lancaster, Edmund, first Earle, afterwards Marquesse Dorset, and lastly Duke of Somerset: whose sonnes being slaine in the civill wars, Edward the Fourth, when as now the family of Lancaster lay as it were, over troden in the dust, created Thomas Grey out of the house of Ruthin, who was his sonne in law (for the King had espoused the mother of the said Grey) Marquesse Dorset: when in right of his wife he had entred upon a great state, and inheritance of the Bonvilles in this coun∣try, [ F] and the territories adjoyning. After him, succeeded in the same honour Thomas his sonne, and Henrie his nephew, by the said Thomas, who also was created by King Edward the Sixth Duke of Suffolk, having wedded Lady Frances daughter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk,* 1.41 and Neece unto King Henry the Eighth by his sister. This Duke in Queene Maries daies being put to death for high treason, lear∣ned too late, how dangerous a thing it is to marrie into the bloud royall; and to feed

ambitious hopes, both in himselfe and in others. From that time the title of Dorset [ A] was bestowed upon none, untill King Iames at his first entrance into this Kingdome, exalted Thomas Sackvill; Baron of Buckhurst, and Lord high Treasurer of England; a man of rare wisedome, and most carefull providence, to the honour of Earle of Dorset, who ended his life with suddaine death 1608. and left Robert his sonne his successor who deceasing within the yeare, left the said honour againe to Richard his hopefull sonne whom he begot of the Lady Margaret Howard Daughter to the late Duke of Norfolk.

[ B]

In this Countie are numbred Parishes 248.

[ C] [ D] [ E] [ F]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Dwr what i•• signifieth.
• * 1.2

  Setta what i•• is.
• * 1.3

  Lime.
• * 1.4

  Carmouth.
• * 1.5

  Burtport.
• * 1.6

  Chesill.
• * 1.7

  Portland.
• * 1.8

  Historie of Winchester.
• * 1.9

  Weymouth.
• * 1.10

  A Stepdames hatred, that is, her husbands sonne.
• * 1.11

  Good health.
• * 1.12

  Morton.
• * 1.13

  Strangwaies.
• * 1.14

  Bindon.
• * 1.15

  Newboroug••••
• * 1.16

  Grand Ser∣jeantie.
• * 1.17

  Middleton
• * 1.18

  Forrest of White-hart••
• * 1.19

  White hart silver. Shirburne.
• * 1.20

  Chiston.
• * 1.21

  Shaftsbury.
• * 1.22

  Domesday.
• * 1.23

  The prophe∣cy of Aquila.
• * 1.24

  Barons Fit Payne.
• * 1.25

  Baron Bri••••••••
• * 1.26

  Barons Po••••nings.
• * 1.27

  Blandford••
• * 1.28

  Vindogladi••
• * 1.29

  Winburn.
• * 1.30

  Burne in the Saxon tongue what it signi∣fieth.
• * 1.31

  Annales of the English-Saxons.
• * 1.32

  Or Painims: Paganorum.
• * 1.33

  Badbury.
• * 1.34

  Kingston Lacy.
• * 1.35

  Canford. Coperose or Vitriol. Alum. Tho. Walsing¦ham. 1317.
• * 1.36

  Cranburne.
• * 1.37

  Vicount Cranborne. 1604. Filioll.
• * 1.38

  Earles and Marquesses of Dorset. The life of Osmund, ma∣nuscript.
• * 1.39

  See the Duk of Somerset.
• * 1.40

  In Nor∣mandie.
• * 1.41

  1553.