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]

NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE.

THis County of NORTHAMPTON, in the English-Saxon tongue 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and Northanton-shire, commonly called Northampton-shire, situate in the very middle and heart, as it were, of England, from the South-West side, where it is broadest, drawing it selfe narrower by little and little, reacheth out in length to the North-East. On the East lie Bedford and [ B] Huntingdon-shires: on the South Buckingham and Oxford∣shires: Westward Warwickshire: and Northward Rutland∣shire, and Lincoln-shire, separated from it by Avon the lesse, and Welland, two Ri∣vers. The East side thereof, from Ouse to Dowbridge, one of the Romane high waies which they call Watling-streat runneth through: The middle and East part the Ri∣ver Nen, which by Writers is named also Aufona, with his gentle streame parteth in twaine. A champian countrey it is, exceeding populous, and passing well furnished with Noblemens and Gentlemens houses, replenished also with Townes and Chur∣ches, in so much as in some places there are twenty, and in others thirty Steeples with Spires or square Towres within view at once. The Soile very fertile both for [ C] tillage and for pasture, yet nothing so well stored with Woods, unlesse it bee in the further and hither sides. But in every place, as elsewhere also in England, it is over-spred and as it were beset with Sheepe:* 1.1 which according as that Hythodaus merrily said, Were wont to bee so gentle and fed with so little; but now in our daies, as the report goes, beginne to bee so ravenous and wilde, that they devour men, they waste and depo∣pulate fields, houses, and Towneships.

On the South border, where the River Ouse so often mentioned first springeth, in a place rising with an easie ascent, and out of which there walme Springs in great plen∣ty, standeth Brakley, as one would say a place full of Brake or Ferne, in old time a fa∣mous Mercat Towne and staple as it were for wool: which how large and wealthy [ D] it was, it maketh now demonstration to travailers, only by the ruines thereof; and by a Major, whom it hath for the chiefe Magistrate. The Zouches Lords of the place, founded a College there: from whom it came successively as a possession in marri∣age right unto the Hollands and the Lovels. But when Lord Lovell in King Henry the Seventh his time was attainted, the Stanleies became Lords of it by the Kings gift. But the College there, at this day ruinous, belongeth to the Students of Mawdlen College in Oxford, who use it for a retyring place. Neither came this place to the least name and reputation that it had, by occasion of the memory of Saint Rumbald a young Infant, who as wee finde written in his life, being a Kings sonne, so soone as ever he was borne, after he had spoken I know not what holy words, and professed [ E] himselfe to be a Christian, was forthwith baptised, and so presently dyed, and being canonized by the people amongst the Saints, had his commemoration kept both here and at Buckingham.

From hence Northward, when we had gone six miles forward, and all the way well wooded, first we saw Astwell, where Sir T. Billing sometime Lord chiefe Justice in the Kings Bench with great state dwelt: from whom it descended hereditarily to the Shirleis by the ancient Family of the Lovels: then Wedon and Wapiham, which the Family of the Pinkeneys held by Barony,* 1.2 untill that H. de Pinkney ordained King Ed∣ward the First his heire. Whom being a right good and excellent Prince many evill men made their heire; whereas (according to Tacitus) a good father maketh no [ F] Prince, but a bad one his heire. Then came we straight waies to TRIPONTIUM, which Antonine the Emperour mentioneth, though not in due place: For, I am of opinion, that this was the very same, which now we call Torcester: and to prove it, there be some arguments of moment as yet remaining. If Trimontium in Thracia had that name of three hils, Triturrita in Tuskane of three Towres, and Tripolis like∣wise

of three Cities conjoyned in one; I have no reason to doubt, that this TRIPON∣TIUM [ A] of ours, might be so called of three Bridges. And heere at this Torcester the Roman Port way which in many places most evidently sheweth it selfe betweene it and Stony stratford, is cut through by three speciall Chanels or streames that the little Ri∣ver there divideth it selfe into; which in times past, like as at this day had of necessi∣ty there severall Bridges over them. Now, if you ask a Britain, how he saith in British [Three Bridges] you shall heare him by and by answer [Taer ponte]: and there be cer∣taine honest men, from whom I have received heere peeces of Romane Coine, that constantly avouch, the true name of this place to be Torcester, and think it was so cal∣led of Towres. Howbeit Marianus nameth it Touecester, if the booke be not faulty, in whom we read, that this towne was so fortified in the yeer of our Redemption 917. [ B] that the Danes by no meanes could winne it by assault: and that King Edward the el∣der afterwards compassed it about with a stone Wall; yet wee with all our seeking could see no tokens of any such Wall. Only there is a Mount remaining cast up with mens hands, they call it Berihill, now turned into private mens Gardens, and planted on every side with Chery trees. And very time it selfe hath so conquered and subdu∣ed the towne, that beholden it is to the situation, to the name, and old Coines other whiles heere found, for that esteeme which it hath of antiquity. For, no memorable thing there is in it but one onely Church that it hath; and the same is a large and faire building, wherein D. Sponde sometime the Parson thereof, by report, a good be∣nefactor to Church and towne both, lieth entombed within a tombe of fine and cu∣rious [ C] workemanship. But hard by, at Easton-Nesson, there is to bee seene, a faire and beautifull dwelling house belonging to the Knightly Family of the Farm••rs.

The River that watereth Torcester, as it goeth from hence toward Ouse, runneth be∣side Grafton, which now is reputed an Honor of the Kings, but in times past was the seat of the Family de Widdevil: out of which came Richard, a man highly renowned for his vertue and valour: who for that he tooke to wife Iaquet the widow of John Duke of Bedford, and daughter to Peter of Luxenburgh, Earle of Saint Paul, without the Kings licence, was by King Henry the Sixth fined at a thousand pounds of our mo∣ney. Yet afterwards he advanced the same Richard to the honorable Title of Baron Widdevil de Rivers. With whose daughter Dame Elizabeth, King Edward the Fourth [ D] secretly contracted marriage:* 1.3 and verily hee was the first of all our Kings since the Conquest that married his subject. But thereby, he drew upon himselfe and his wives kinsfolke a world of troubles, as yee may see in our Histories. The said Richard Wid∣devil Lord of Rivers, Grafton, and de la Mote, by king Edward the Fourth now his son in Law, was erected (these be the very words out of the Charter of his creation) to be Earle Rivers, by cincture of the sword, To have unto him and his heires, with the Fee of 20. pounds, by the hands of the Sheriffe of Northampton. And soone after he was with exceeding great honour ordained High Constable of England, (I speake out of the kings Patent it selfe) To occupy, manage, and execute that Office, either by himselfe, or by sufficient Deputies for terme of life, receiving yearely two hundred pounds out of the [ E] Exchequer,* 1.4 with full power and authority to take examinations, and to proceede in Causes of and concerning the crime of high Treason, or the occasion thereof: also to heare, examine, and in due time to determine the causes and businesses aforesaid, with all and singular matters arising from them, incident to them, or conjoyned therewith, even summarily, and in any place whatsoever below, without noise or formall order of Iudgement, onely upon sight of the Truth of the fact, and with the Kings hand and power, if it shall be thought meete in our behalfe, without all appeale. Moreover about that time he was made Lord Treasurer of England. But he having enjoyed these honours a small while, was soone after in the quarrell of the king his sonne in Law, aforesaid, taken in the battaile at Edgcote, and beheaded. And albeit, in his sonnes this offspring, as it were halfe dead, tooke an end, [ F] what time as Anthony Earle Rivers was by Richard the third made shorter by the head, Richard also and his other brethren dead without issue: yet from the daugh∣ters there did spred forth most faire and fruitfull branches. For, out of them flowred the royall Race and line of England, the Marquesses of Dorset, the Earles of Essex,

[ A] Earles of Arundel, Earles of Worcester, Earles of Derby, the last Duke of Buckingham, and Barons of Stafford.

Just behinde Grafton lieth Sacy Forrest stored with Deere and fit for game.* 1.5 More Eastward, the Country all over is besprinkled with Villages and little Townes, a∣mong which, these are of greatest name, Blisworth, the habitation of the Wakes de∣scended from that honorable race of the Barons of Wake and Estotevile: Pateshull, which gave name to the most worshipfull family in times past of the Pateshuls: Greenes-Norton, so named of the Greenes men in the fore-going age right famous for their wealth: But it was called in foretime (if I be not deceived) Norton Dany, which those Greenes held by knights service, as also a moity of Asheby Mares in this County, by [ B] service,* 1.6 To lift up their right hand toward the King upon Christmas-day every yeare, where∣soever the King shall bee in England. Also Wardon, an Hundred, which had Lords de∣scended from Sir Guy of Reinbudcourt a Norman, whose inheritance came by the Fol∣liots to Guiscard Leddet, whose Daughter Christian bare unto her husband Henry de Braibrooke many children: yet Guiscard the eldest of them tooke to him the sirname of Leddet from his mother. But shortly after, those faire lands and possessions were by the females parted betweene William and Iohn, both Latimers of Corby. From Iohn, the Griphins in this Shire, and from William those Latimers, Barons of good antiquity, in York-shire, deduced their Descent.

Higher into the Country Northward is the head of the River Aufona (for Avon in [ C] the British tongue is a generall name of all Rivers) which the people dwelling there∣by call Nen: and from the West side of the Shire, holdeth on his course with many reaches of his bankes, after a sort through the middle part of this Shire; and all the way along it doth comfortable service. A notable River, I assure you, and if I have a∣ny sight into these matters, fortified in times past with garisons by the Romans. For, when as that part of Britain on this side the River, was now in Claudius the Emperors time brought subject to the Romane government, so as the Inhabitants thereof were called Socij Romanorum, that is, the Romans consorts or associates, and the Britans dwelling beyond the river oftentimes invaded this their country, and with great violence made incursions, and spoiled much: when as also that the Associates themselves who could [ D] better endure the Romans commands, than brooke their vices, other whiles conspi∣red with those on the further side of the River: P. Ostorius (as saith Tacitus) cinctos ca∣stris Antonaem (Aufonas I would reade if I might be so bold) & Sabrinam cohibere pa∣rat, that is, if I understand the place a right, Hee by placing Forts and Garisons, hard by the Rivers Antonae, or Aufona rather, and Severn, determined to restraine and keepe in those Britans on the further side; and these that were Provincials and associates, from conjoyning their forces together, and helping one another against the Romans. Now what River this ANTONA should be no man is able to tell. Lip∣sius the very Phoebus of our age hath either driven away this mist, or else verily a cloud hath dimmed mine eye-sight. He pointeth with his finger to Northampton; and I am [ E] of opinion that this word Antona is closely crept into Tacitus, in stead of Aufona, on which Northampton standeth. For the very navill, heart and middle of England is counted to be nere unto it, where out of one hill spring three great Rivers running divers wayes: Cherwell into the South; Leame, Westward, which as it maketh speed to Severn, is straight wayes received by a second Aufon; and this Aufona or Nen Eastward. Of which, these two Aufons so crosse England overthwart, that who∣soever comes out of the North parts of the Island must of necessity passe over one of these twaine. When Ostorius therefore had fortified Severne, and these two Au∣fons, he had no cause to feare any danger out of Wales, or the North parts, to befall unto his people, either Romans or associates; who at that time had reduced the nerest [ F] and next part of the Island onely into the forme of a Province: as else where Tacitus himselfe witnesseth. Some of these Forts of Ostorius his making, may those great for∣tifications and military Fenses seeme to bee, which are heere seene at Gildsborough and Dantrey, betweene the Springheads of the two Aufons which run divers waies, and where onely there is passage into the hither part of Britaine without any rivers

to hinder it. That fort at Gildsborough, is great and large, but this at Dantrey is greater [ A] and larger: For, being foure square, upon an high hill from whence all the country beneath may bee seene farre every way about, and having on the East side a Mount, which they call Spelwell, it encloseth within a banke cast up by mans hand, more than one hundred acres of ground or thereabout. Within which the country people other whiles finde coined peeces of money of the Roman Emperors, as proofes of the an∣tiquity thereof. Much deceived are they therefore, who will needs have it to bee a worke of the Danes, and that of them, the towne under it, was named Dantrey: which being a through-fare well knowne at this day by reason of the Innes there, had a religious house of the Austen Friers, that Sir H. de Fawesley founded, as I have read.

At the head of Aufona or Nen, standeth Catesby that gave name to an ancient Fa∣mily, [ B] but now of foule tainted memory, for a most horrible and damnable com∣plot, never in any age exampled, which that Robert Catesby of Ashby S. Leger, the shame and indelible staine of his house and name, detestably breathing forth savage cruelty in barbarous wise, and compassing impiously the destruction of Prince and Country, devised lately under a specious pretext of Religion.

Of whom, let all times be silent, least by making mention of him, the foule staine and blot of our age appeare unto Posterity; at the naming whereof we cannot chuse but with horror grieve and groane againe, seeing the very dumbe and livelesse crea∣tures seeme to be moved and troubled at so hellish Villany imagined by him and his complices. Hard by it, is Fawesley, where have dwelt a long time the Knightleies [ C] worshipfull Knights descended from those more ancient Knightleies of Gnowshall in the County of Stafford: and more Eastward hard by Nen, as yet very small, there is Wedon in the street, sometimes the royall seat of Wolpher K. of the Mercians, and converted into a Monastery by his daughter Werburg a most holy Virgine: of whose miracles in driving away Geese from hence, some credulous writers have made many a tale. Verily I should wrong the Truth, if I should not thinke, (albeit I have thought other∣wise) that this Wedon is the very station that Antonine the Emperour nameth BAN∣NAVENNA, BENNAVENNA,* 1.7 BENNAVENTA, and once corruptly ISANNAVENTA; not∣withstanding there now remaine no expresse tokens of that name, considering how Time changeth all, both names and things. For the distance from the next stations [ D] and baiting Townes which were in ancient times, answereth just: and in the very name of BANNAVENNA, the name of the River Aufon, the head whereof is neere unto it in some sort doth plainly discover it selfe. Likewise, the high Port-way or Ro∣mane street goeth directly from hence Northward with a bridge or causey oft broken and worne out; but most of all over against a Village named Creek, where it was of necessity that there should be a bridge; but in other places the bridge sheweth it selfe also as farre as to Dowbridge, neere Lilborne most apparantly.

Somewhat more Northward wee saw Althorp, the habitation of the Spensers knights, allied to very many and those most honorable and worshipfull families: out of which house Sir Robert Spenser the fifth Knight in a successive continued Descent, a respe∣ctive [ E] lover of vertue and learning, was by our most gracious Soveraigne King James advanced to the honour of Baron Spenser of Wormeleighton.* 1.8 Hard by Althorp, Hol∣denby house, a faire patterne of stately and magnificent building maketh a faire glo∣rious shew, which Sir Chistopher Hatton one of Queene Elizabeths Privie Councell, Lord Chancellor of England, and knight of the Order of the Garter, built upon the lands and inheritance of his great grandmother, heire unto the Family of the Holden∣beis, for the greatest and last monument, (as himselfe afterwards was wont to say) of his youth: A man, to say nothing of him but that which in truth is due, for Religion and godlinesse right devout, of approved faithfulnesse to the State, of incorrupt equi∣ty: for almesdeeds of all others most bountifull; and one (which is not the least part [ F] of his praise) that was most willing and ready to support and maintaine learning. Who, as he lived a godly life, so as godly he slept in Christ: yet his commendation made knowne by the lightsome testimony of letters, shall shine forth more cleerely than by that gorgeous Monument right well beseeming so great a Personage, which

[ A] Sir William Hatton, his adopted sonne, consecrated to his memory, in the Church of Saint Paul in London.

Beneath these places Nen passeth on forward with a still and small streame,* 1.9 and anone taketh in a small Brooke from the North, and is thereby augmented: where, at the very meeting and confluence of both, a City called after the River Northa∣fandon, and short, Northampton, is so seated, that on the West side it is watered with the Brooke, and on the South side with the foresaid Nen. Which City I was of late easily induced to guesse, to have beene that ancient BENNAVENTA; but if my conjecture missed the trueth, the confession of my errour may salve it. As for the name, it may seeme to haue beene imposed of the situation thereof upon the North [ B] banke of the River Aufon. The City it selfe which seemeth to have beene built all of stone, is, I assure you, for houses very faire, for circuit of good largenesse, and walled about: and from the Wall yee have a goodly prospect every way to a wide and spacious plaine Country.

On the West side,* 1.10 it hath an old Castle, and the very antiquity thereof giveth a grace unto it, built by Simon de Sancto Lizio, commonly called Senlyz, the first of that name Earle of Northampton: who also joyned unto it a beautifull Church called Saint Andrews, for a place of his owne buriall: and, as men say, reedified the Towne: Simon also the younger, his sonne, founded without the Towne a Monastery commonly called * 1.11 De la prey, for Nunnes. During the Saxons Heptarchie, it seem∣eth [ C] to have lien forlorne and of none account, neither have Writers made any where mention of it, in all those depredations of the Danes, unlesse it were when Swe∣no the Dane in a furious and outragious moode made most cruelly havocke through∣out all England: for then, as Henry of Huntingdon recordeth, it was set on fire and burnt to the ground. In the Raigne of Saint Edward the Confessour, there were in it, as we finde in the Survey Booke of England, LX. Burgesses in the Kings Domaine, having as many Mansions: Of these, in King William the Conquerours time, Foure∣teene lay waste and voide, and forty seaven remained. Over and above these, there were in the new Burrough forty Burgesses in the Domaine of King William. After the Nor∣mans time, it valiantly withstood the Siege layed unto it by the Barons, when they [ D] disquieted and troubled the whole Realme with injurious wrongs and slaughters, being maliciously bent against King John for private causes; which notwithstanding they so cloked with pretenses of Religion and the common good, that they tear∣med themselves,* 1.12 The Army of God and the holy Church; at which time, they say, that Trench and Rampire was made, which they call Hunshil: but it stood not out with like successe against Henry the third their lawfull King, as it did against these rebels: for, when those Barons being nuzzelled up in sedition, and rebellion, from hence dis∣plaied their banners and sounded the battaile against him, he made a breach through the Wall, and soone wonne it by assault. After this, diverse times, like as before the kings held their Parliaments here, because it standeth very nere in the midst of Eng∣land: [ E] and in the yeere after Christ was borne 1460. here was a wofull and bloody field fought; wherein (such was the civill division of England in it selfe) Richard Nevil Earle of Warwick, after many a noble man slaine, led away captive that most unhappy king Henry the Sixth in a piteous spectacle, who was now the second time taken prisoner by his subjects. To conclude, the Longitude of Northampton our Mathematicians have described by 22. degrees and 29. scruples: and the Latitude by 52. degrees and 13. scru∣ples. From hence Nen maketh haste away by Castle Ashby, where Henry L. Compton be∣gan to build a faire sightly house:* 1.13 close unto which lieth Yardley Hastings, so named of the Hastings,* 1.14 sometimes ••arles of Pembroch, unto whom it belonged. And to turne a little aside, I may not omit Horton, when as king Henry the Eighth created Sir W. Par [ F] Lord thereof, unckle and Chamberlaine to Queene Catharin Par, Baron Par of Hor∣ton, which honor shortly vanished with him when he left only daughters, who were married into the families of Tresham, and Lane. But to returne: Nen goeth forward to Mercat Wellingborow, in old time Wedlingborough, and Wodlingborough, made a mercat by K. John at the suit of the Monks of Crowland; where there runneth into it a Riveret

comming downe by Rushton and Newton, belonging to the Treshams, by Geddington [ A] also where the King had a Castle, and where there remaineth yet a Crosse erected in the honour of Queene Aeleonor wife to King Edward the First: by Boughton the seat of the Montacutes Knights:* 1.15 by Kettering a Mercat Towne well frequented, neere unto which standeth Rouwell much talked of for the horse Faire there kept: by Burton likewise the Barony (if I mistake not the name) of Alane de Dinant: For, king Henry the First gave unto him a Barony of that name in this Shire, for that in single fight he had slaine the French Kings Champion at Gizors: and by Harrouden, the Lord whereof named Sir Nicolas Vaulx Captaine of Guines in Picardy,* 1.16 king Hen∣ry the Eighth created Baron Vaulx of Harrouden.

From hence goeth the Aufon or Nen to Higham, a Towne in times past of the [ B] Peverels,* 1.17 and after by them of the Ferrers, from whom it is named Higham Ferrers: who had heere also their Castle: the ruines and rubbish whereof are yet seene nere unto the Church. But, the excellent ornament of this place was Henry Chicheley Archbishop of Canterbury, who built All-soules College in Oxford, and another here, wherein he placed Secular Clerkes, and Prebendaries, and withall an Hospitall for the poore. Then runneth it by Addington the possession in old time of the Veres, and by Thorpston commonly called Thrapston, belonging likewise to them: and o∣ver against it Draiton, the house in the foregoing age of Sir H. Greene: but afterwards by his daughter, of John and Edward Staffords, Earles of Wiltshire; but now the ha∣bitation of the Lord Mordaunt unto whom it descended hereditarily from those [ C] Greenes noble Gentlemen and of right great name in this Country in their time.

Then runneth it, in manner round about a proper little Towne which it giveth name unto,* 1.18 Oundale they now call it corruptly in stead of Avondale: where there is nothing worth sight, but a faire Church, and a free Schoole for the instruction of children, and an Almeshouse for poore people, founded by Sir William Laxton, some∣time Major of London.* 1.19 Neere adjoyning to this, stands Barnewell, a little Castle, which now of late Sir Edward Mont-acute of the ancient family of the Mont-acutes, as may be collected by his Armes, hath repaired and beautified with new buildings. In times past it was the possession of Berengary le Moigne, that is, Monke, and not, as some thinke, of Berengary of Touraine, the great Clerke, whose opinion of the Sa∣crament [ D] of the Lords Supper, was condemned in a Synode of an hundred and thir∣teene Bishops assembled by the Bishop of Rome.

* 1.20After this, it passeth on by Fotheringhay Castle, environed on every side with most pleasant medowes, which in the Raigne of Henry the Third, when the strong holds encouraged the Lords and Nobles to revolt, William Earle of Aumarl surprised upon the sodaine, and laied all the Country about waste, as Mathew of Paris recordeth. At which time it belonged unto the Earles of Huntingdon who were of the royall Race of Scotland. A good while after, King Edward the Third assigned it, as it were, for an inheritance or appennage as the French tearme it, unto his sonne Edmund of Langley, Duke of Yorke, who reedified the Castle, and made the highest fortification [ E] or Keepe thereof in forme of an horse-fetter, which both of it selfe, and with a Faul∣con in it, was his Devise, or Emprese; as implying that hee was locked up from all great hope, as a younger brother. His sonne Edward Duke of Yorke in the second yeere of Henry the Fift his Raigne, and in the yeere of Christ 1415. (as appeareth by an inscription there in rude and barbarous Verses) founded a passing faire Col∣legiat Church, wherein himselfe, when he was slaine in the battaile at Ag••ncourt, as also Richard Duke of Yorke, his brothers sonne, who lost his life at Wakefield, and his wife Cecily Nevil,* 1.21 had stately and sumptuous Tombes, which were profanely subver∣ted together with the upper part of the Church, in King Edward the Sixth his time. Yet in memoriall of them, Queene Elizabeth comming thither commanded two [ F] Monuments to be erected in the nether part of the Church, that now standeth: which notwithstanding, (such was their pinching and sparing that had the charge of this worke) are thought scarce beseeming so great Princes descending from Kings, and from whom Kings of England are descended.

[ A] The forme of the Keepe beforesaid built like a fetter-locke occasioneth mee to di∣gresse a little,* 1.22 and I hope with your pardon,* 1.23 when the gravest Authours in as small matters have done the like: Edmund of Langley Duke of Yorke who built that Keepe, and garnished the glasse-windowes there with Fetter-lockes, when hee saw his sons being young scholers gazing upon the painted windowes, asked them what was La∣tin for a Fetter-locke? They studying and looking silently one upon another, not a∣ble to answer: If you cannot tell me, saith he, I will tell you, Hic, haec, hoc Taceatis, that is, Hic, haec, hoc, be silent and quiet: and therewithall added, God knoweth what may happen heereafter. This King Edward the Fourth his great Grand-childe reported publique∣ly, when he having attained the Crowne created Richard his younger sonne Duke [ B] of Yorke, and then commanding that hee should use for his Badge the Fetter-locke open to verifie the presage of his great Grand-father. But this by the way.

The said Cecily mother to King Edward the Fourth saw plainly within the com∣passe of a few yeeres what disports unruly and powerfull Fortune (pardon the word, for I acknowledge that God ruleth all) maketh herselfe out of the miseries of the mighty. For she saw Richard Duke of Yorke her husband, even then when he thought himselfe sure of the Kingdome, and her sonne the Earle of Rutland, slaine together in a bloudy fought field, and some few yeeres after her eldest sonne Edward the Fourth enjoying the regall Crowne, deprived of the same, recovering it againe, and taken away by untimely death, when hee had before made away her second sonne and his [ C] owne brother George Duke of Clarence. After that, she saw her other sonne Richard Duke of Glocester aspiring to the Crowne and making way to it by that lamentable murdering of his Nephewes, and slandering of her his owne Mother, (for he charged her openly with the greatest dishonor incident to a Lady:) and afterward she saw him when he was possessed of the Kingdome, within a while slaine in battaile: And these her miseries were so linked together, that the longer she lived the greater sorrow she felt, and every day was more dolefull than other. As for that disastre which even heere befell unto another most mighty Prince Mary Queene of Scots, I had leifer it should be enwrapped up in silence, than once spoken of: Let it be forgotten quite, if it be possible: if not, yet be it hidden, as it may in silence. Under the best Princes some [ D] there are who being once armed with authority, know how by secret slights to set a goodly shew and faire pretense of conscience and Religion, thereby to cloke their owne private designes: And there be againe, that sincerely and from the heart tender true Religion, their Princes security, yea and (which is the highest rule and law of all) the publique safety. Neither can it bee denied, but that even the best Princes themselves are otherwhiles violently carried away, as good Pilotes with tempests, against their wils whither they would not. But what they doe as Princes and Kings, let us leave to God who onely hath power over Kings.

Nen being now come unto the skirts of Huntingdon-shire, running under a faire stone Bridge at Walmesford,* 1.24 passeth by DUROBRIVAE, a right ancient City, [ E] which being called in the English Saxon Tongue Dormancester, as I said before, tooke up a great space of ground on both bankes of the River in both Counties. For,* 1.25 the little Village Caster which stands a mile off from the River, may seeme to have beene a part of it, by the pavements there found, wrought checker wise with small square quarels; although on the Church wall we reade this inscription bearing date of a later time.

XV. KL. MAII DEDICATIO HU∣JUS ECCLESIAE MCXXIIII. THE FIFTEENTH DAY BEFORE THE KALENDS OF MAY, IN THE YEERE ONE THOUSAND ONE [ F] HUNDRED TWENTY FOURE, [WAS] THE DE∣DICATION OF THIS CHURCH.

And doubtlesse, of greater name and note it was: for in the corne fields ad∣joyning, which in steade of Dormanton, they call Normanton Fields, so many peeces of Romane Coine are turned out of the ground, that a man would verily

thinke they had beene sowed there: and two Rode-wayes, whereof the Causeys [ A] are yet evident to bee seene, went from hence, the one called Forty-foot-way, be∣cause it was forty foot broade, unto Stanford: the other named Long-ditch and High-streat by Lollham-bridges,* 1.26 (bridges I assure you of great antiquity, whereof e∣leven arches are in sight, now chinking and chawning for age) through West Deeping, into Lincoln-shire. At the very division and parting of these two Port-waies stan∣deth Upton highly situate,* 1.27 whereupon it tooke also that name: where Sir Robert Wingfield Knight, descended from that ancient Family of the Wingfields, which hath brought forth so many worshipfull and worthy Knights, hath a faire house with most lovely walkes.

* 1.28From DUROBRIVAE the River Aufon or Nen passeth on to Peterburgh seated in [ B] the very angle or nouke of this Shire, where Writers report there hath beene a gulfe or whirlpole in the River, of exceeding great depth, called Medeswell, and a Towne hard by it named thereupon Medeswelhamsted and Medeshamsted; which Towne, as wee reade in Robert de Swapham, was built in an excellent fine place, having of the one side fennes, and passing good waters, and of the other many goodly woods, medowes, and pastures: faire and beautifull to the eye every way, and not accessable by land save onely on the West side. The River Nen runneth by at the South side of the Burrough; in the middle of which River, there is a place as it were a gulfe so deepe and cold withall, that even in Sum∣mer no swimmer is able to ducke or dive unto the bothom. Yet is it never for all that frozen over in Winter: for there is a spring there, whence the water welleth out. This place they [ C] called in old time Meddeswell; untill that Wolpher King of the Mercians built there a Mo∣nastery in honour of Saint Peter. And seeing the place was all a marish ground, he lai∣ed the foundation, as that Robert writeth, with mighty huge stones, such as eight yoke of Oxen would hardly draw one of them, which I saw with mine owne eyes, saith he, when this Monastery was destroyed. Afterward, of this Monastery dedicated to Saint Peter, it began to bee called PETRIBURGUS, or PETROPOLIS, that is, Peterborow or Burgh, and the said Monastery was very famous and renowned. The originall oc∣casion, and the building whereof, I have thought it worth my labour briefly to put downe, out of the said Robert de Swapham, a Writer of good antiquity. Peada, the sonne of Penda, who was the first Christian King of the Mercians, in the yeere of [ D] grace 546. for the propagation of Christian Religion, laid the foundation of a Mo∣nastery at Medeshamsted in the Girvians or Fen-country, which hee could not finish, for that by the wicked practise of his mother, he was made away.

After Peada succeeded his brother Wolpher, who being most averse from Christi∣an Religion, murdered Wolphald and Rufin his owne sonnes with cruell and barbarous immanitie, because they had devoted themselves unto Christ, and embraced his Religion. But himselfe some few yeeres after, embracing Christian Religion, for to expiate and wash away the staine of that his impiety with some good and godly worke, set in hand to build up this Monastery which his brother had be∣gunne: which through the helpe of his brother Aetheldred, of Kineburga also [ E] and Kineswith his sisters, being fully finished in the yeere of our Lord 633. hee consecrated unto Saint Peter, endowed it with ample Revenewes, and ordained Sexwulft a right godly and devout man (who principally advised him to this worke) the first Abbat thereof.

This Monastery flourished afterward, and had the name and opinion in the world of great holinesse, for the space of two hundered and foureteene yeeres or thereabout, untill those most heavie and wofull times came of the Danes, who made spoile and waste of all: For, then were the Monkes massacred, and the Monastery quite overthrowne lay buryed, as one would say, many yeeres together in the owne rubbish and ruines. At the last, about the yeere of our Lord 960. Ethel∣wold [ F] Bishop of Winchester, who wholy gave himselfe to the furtherance of monasti∣call profession began to reedifie it, having the helping hand especially of King Ead∣gar, and Adulph the Kings Chancellour, who upon a pricke of conscience and deepe repentance, for that hee and his wife together lying in bed asleepe had overlaid and

[ A] smothred the little infant their onely sonne, laid upon the reedifying of this mona∣stery all the wealth he had: and when it was thus rebuilt, he became Abbat thereof.

From which time, it was of high estimation and name, partly for the great riches it had and in part for the large priviledges which it enjoyed: although in the reigne of William the Conquerour, Herward an Englishman being proclaimed trai∣tour and outlawed, made a rode out of the Isle of Ely and rifled it of all the riches that it had gathered together:* 1.29 against whom Turold the Abbot, erected the fort Mont-Turold: Yet was it esteemed exceeding wealthy even unto our fathers daies, when, King Henry the Eighth thrust out the Monkes in all places, alleaging that they de∣clining from the ordinances, which those holy and ancient Monkes held, wasted in [ B] riot and excesse the goods of the Church, which was the Patrimony and inheritance of the poore; and in their places erected here a Bishopricke assigning thereunto this county and Rutland-shire for his Diocese: and placed withall a Deane and certaine Prebendaries. So that of a Monastery it became a Cathedrall Church; which if you well consider the building, is for the very antiquity thereof, goodly to behold. The forefront carieth a majesty with it, and the Cloisters are very large, in the glasse-windowes whereof is represented the history of Wolpher the founder, with the suc∣cession of the Abbots. Saint Maries Chappell is a goodly large building, full of curi∣rious worke, and the quire faire: wherein two as infortunate Queenes as any other, Katherine of Spaine repudiated by King Henry the Eighth, and Mary Queene of [ C] Scotland being enterred, found rest and repose there, from all their miseries.

Beneath Peterburgh,* 1.30 the river Aufon or Nen, which by this time is gone from his spring-head much about forty five miles, and carrieth along with him all rils, brookes, and land flouds occasioned by raine, that he hath taken into his chanels, is divided sundry waies. And finding no way to cary his streame, by spreading his waters all abroad in winter time, yea and other whiles most part of the yeere, over∣floweth all the plaine country, so as it seemeth to be nothing but a vast sea lying even and levell, with some few Islands that beare up their heads and appeare aboue the water. The cause of such inundation the people inhabiting thereby, alleage to be this, for that of the three chanels or draines, by which so great store of water was [ D] wont to be issued into the sea, the first that went directly into the sea by Thorney Ab∣bay, and then a part by Clow Crosse and Crowland: the second also by the trench cut out by Morton Bishop of Ely, called the New leam, and then by Wisbich; have a long time been forlet and neglected: and so the third which goeth downe by Horsey∣bridge, Witlesmer, Ramsey-mere and Salters-load, is not able to receive so much water: whereby it breaketh forth with more violence upon the flats adjoyning. And the country complaineth for trespasse done unto them, as well by those that have not scoured the said draines, as by them that have turned the same aside to their private uses: and as the Reatines said some time, so doe they, That Nature herselfe hath well provided for mans use; in that she hath given all rivers their courses, and issues; and as well [ E] their-inlets into the Sea, as their heads and springs. But thus much of this matter may seeme to some over-much.

In this place is the County least in breadth: for betweene Nen and the River Welland the one limit on the North side, there are scarce five miles. Upon Welland, which Aethelward an old writer called Weolod,* 1.31 neere unto the spring head, is Braibrock Castle, built by Robert May, aliàs, De Braybroke, a most inward minion of King John: whose sonne Henry having married Christian Ledet an inheritrice of a great estate, his eldest sonne adopted himselfe into the surname of the Ledet: from one of whose Nieces by his sonne, as I said before, it came unto the Latimers, and by them unto the Griphins, whose inheritance now it is. Neere unto it among the woods I saw some [ F] few reliques of a Monastery,* 1.32 called in times past De Divisis, and afterward Pipwell; which William Buttevillein founded in the reigne of Henry the Second for Cistertian Monkes.* 1.33 From thence might Rockingham bee seene, were it not for the woods, a Castle sometime of the Earles of Aumarle, built by King William the Conqueror, at what time it was a wast, (as we finde in his Domesday booke) fortified with Rampier

and Bulwarkes, and a duple range of Battlements, situate upon the side of an hill [ A] within a woody Forest, which thereupon is named Rockingham Forest.

* 1.34After this it runneth beside Haringworth the seat in old time of the Cantlows and now of the Lord Zouch: who descended from Eudo a younger sonne of Alan de la Zouch, of Ashby De la Zouch, have growne up to a right honourable Family of Ba∣rons; whose honour and state was much augmented by marriage with one of the heires of * 1.35 Cantlow, as also with an other of Baron Saint Maur, who likewise drew his Pedegree from the heire of the Lord Zouch de Ashby, and the Lovels Lords of Castel-Cary in Somersetshire.

Here also I saw Deane, belonging in ancient times to the Deanes, afterwards to the Tindals, which place is worth the remembrance, if it were but for this, that it is [ B] now a proper and faire dwelling house of the Brudenells: out of which Family Sir Edmund Brudenell, late deceased, was a passing great lover and admirer of venera∣ble Antiquity.* 1.36 The Family likewise of Engain, which was both ancient and ho∣nourable had their seat hereby at Blatherwic (where now the Staffords of knights de∣gree inhabite, who descended from Ralph the first Earle of Stafford) and those En∣gaines changed their Castle named Humel before time,* 1.37 into a Monastery called Finisheved. Their issue male failed about two hundred yeares since: but of their heires the eldest was wedded unto Sir Iohn Goldington, the second to Sir Laurence Pabenham, and the third to Sir William Bernak, all right worthy Knights.

* 1.38Heere also is to bee seene Apthorp, the seat of a most worthy knight, Sir Anthony [ C] Mildmay, whose father Sir Walter Mildmay, late one of Queene Elizabeths Privie Counsell, for his vertue, wisdome, piety, and bounty to learning and learned men, by founding Emanuel College in Cambridge, hath worthily deserved to bee regi∣stred among the best men in this our age.

* 1.39Hard by standeth Thornhaugh sometimes belonging to the Family De Sancto Medardo, contracted into Semar••, and now to the right honorable Sir William Russell, sonne to Francis Earle of Bedford descended from Semare, whom King James for his vertues and faithfull service in Ireland whiles hee was Lord Deputy there, ad∣vanced to the Dignity of Baron Russell of Thornhaugh.

* 1.40Neither is the Towne Welledon to bee passed over in silence, considering that [ D] it went in old time for a Barony, which by Mawde the Daughter and heire of Geffrey de Ridell (who together with King Henry the First his sonne was drowned) did descend to Richard Basset sonne of Ralph Basset, Lord Justice of England, in whose race it continued unto King Henry the Fourth his dayes: For then, by the females it accrued to the Kneveis and Alesburies.

Welland being past Haringworth goeth to visit Colliweston, where Lady Marga∣ret Countesse of Richmond, King Henry the Seaventh his mother built a goodly faire and stately house: Under which, the neighbour inhabitants use to digge great plenty of sclate stones for their buildings.* 1.41 From whence Wittering Heath, a plaine, runneth out farre into the East, wherein the people there dwelling, report, that the [ E] Danes long since were discomfited in a memorable battaile and put to flight.* 1.42 Now by this time is Welland come to Burghley whereof the most prudent and right hono∣rable Councellour Sir William Cecil, Lord high Treasurer of England, yea a singu∣lar treasure and supporter of the same, received the Title of Baron Burghley, for his great good deserts, at the hands of Queene Elizabeth. Which Title hee ador∣ned with the lustre of his vertues, and beautified this place with magnificent sump∣tuous buildings, adjoyning thereto a large Parke encompassed about with a stone wall of a great circuite. Beneath it, there are ancient Quarries of stone at Bernack, out of which the Abbayes of Peterburgh and of Ramsey were built. For heere (to write the very words out of the History of Ramsey) The toyling strength of the [ F] Quarriers is often tried and held to worke: yet ever still there remaineth worke for them behinde, wherein they being refreshed betweene whiles with rest, may bee exercised and kept in ure. And thus wee reade in the Charter of king Edward the Confessour: In con∣sideration of foure thousand Eeles in Lent, the Monkes of Ramsey shall have out of the

[ A] Territory of Saint Peter so much square astiler stone, as they need, at Berneck, and of rough building stone for wals, at Burch. Under Berneck that high-way made by the Romanes, which the neighbour Inhabitants,* 1.43 of the breadth that it carrieth, call The forty foot-way, from Caster to Stanford cutteth and divideth this Shire, and is to bee seene with an high Causey, especially by the little Wood of Bernack, where it hath a Bea∣con set upon the very ridge, and so runneth forth along by Burghley Park wall toward Stanford.

Some five miles hence,* 1.44 Welland running downe by Maxey Castle, belonging some∣time to the noble house of Wake, and by Peag-Kirk, (where, in the Primitive Church of the English Nation, Pega an holy woman who gave name to that place, and sister [ B] of Saint Guthlak, with other Nuns and devout virgins by their life and example gave good documents of piety and chastity; commeth to the Fennes so often mentioned. And for as much as the banke on the South side thereof is in many places neglected, the River lieth sore upon the lands thereabout with great detriment: and thus be∣ing put out of his owne Chanell that before time went by Spalding, he entreth closely into Nen or Aufon, and over-chargeth it exceedingly.

Now the lesse Avon, which is the other of the limits, as I said, of this shire North∣ward, but serveth for a limit onely about five or six miles in length, breaking out of the ground at Avon-well by Naseby, neere by the Spring-head of Welland, runneth Westward by Suleby sometimes an Abbay of Black-Monkes,* 1.45 and by Stanford upon [ C] Avon,* 1.46 the habitation of the Caves Family, out of which there is spread a notable off∣spring with many branches in all that Tract adjoyning: also by Lilborne, the seate in times past of the Canvilles. Which, that it hath beene in old time a Mansion place or Station of the Romans, I am induced to thinke, by the site thereof hard by one of their Port-waies, by the ancient Trenches there, and a little piked hill cast up: into which when of late dayes some digged in hope of old hid treasure, in stead of gold they found coles.* 1.47 And when this river being as yet but small is once gone under Dow∣bridge, it leaveth Northampton-shire and entreth Warwick-shire. By those coles digged forth from under the said hill, what if I should conjecture that this hill was raised up for a limit or bound-marke, seeing Siculus Flaccus writeth, that either ashes, or coles, [ D] or pot-sherds, or broken glasses, or bones halfe burnt, or lime, or plaster, were wont to be put under land-markes and limits:* 1.48 and S. Augustine writeth thus of coles: Is it not a wonderfull thing (saith hee) whereas considering Coles be so brickle, that with the least blow they breake, with the least crushing they are crushed; yet no time, bee it never so long conque∣reth them: in so much as they that pitch Land-markes and limits, were wont to couch them underneath, to convince any litigious fellow whatsoever, that should come never so long time after, and avouch that a limit was not there pitched. And so much the rather incline I to this my conjecture, because they that have written of limits, doe write that cer∣taine hillockes or piles of earth which they termed Botontines,* 1.49 were set in limits: so that I suppose most of these mounts and round hils which we every where see and [ E] call Burrowes, were for this purpose raised, and that ashes, coles, pot-sherds, &c. may be found under them, if they were digged downe a good depth into the earth.

The first Earle that this County had to my knowledge,* 1.50 was Waldeof (sonne of that warlike Siward) who being also Earle of Huntingdon, for his disloyall treachery unto William the Conquerour, lost his head: leaving two daughters onely behinde him, by Iudith the Conquerours Niece by a sister of his mothers side. Simon de Saint Liz,* 1.51 be∣ing scornfully rejected by Iudith the mother for that hee was lame-legged, married Mawd the eldest Daughter, and hee built Saint Andrewes Church and the Castle at Northampton. After him succeeded his sonne, Simon the second, who a long time was in suite about his mothers possessions with David King of Scots his mothers second [ F] husband: and having sided with King Stephen, in the yeere of our Lord 1152. depar∣ted this life with this testimoniall that went of him: A Youth full fraught with all un∣lawfull wickednesse, and as full of all unseemely lewdnesse. His sonne Simon the third, having gone to law with the Scots for his right to the Earldome of Huntingdon, wa∣sted all his estate, and through the gracious goodnesse of King Henry the Second,

married the Daughter and Heire of Gilbert de Gaunt Earle of Lincolne: and in the [ A] end having recovered the Earledome of Huntingdon, and disseized the Scots, dyed childelesse in the yeare 1185. Whereas some have lately set downe Sir Richard Go∣bion to have beene Earle of Northampton afterward, I finde no warrant thereof ei∣ther in Record, or History: Onely I finde, that Sir Hugh Gobion was a Ringleader in that rebellious rable which held Northampton against king Henry the Third, and that the inheritance of his house came shortly after by marriage to Butler of Woodhall, and Turpin, &c. But this is most certaine that King Edward the Third created William de Bohun a man of approved valour, Earle of Northampton: and when his elder bro∣ther Humfrey de Bohun, Earle of Hereford and of Essex, High Constable also of Eng∣land, was not sufficient in that warlike age, to beare that charge of the Constable, he [ B] made him also High Constable of England. After him his sonne Humfrey succeeding in the Earledome of Northampton, as also in the Earledomes of Hereford and of Essex, for that his Unckle dyed with issue, begat two Daughters; the one bestowed in marriage upon Thomas of Woodstocke, the youngest sonne of King Edward the Third; the other upon Henry of Lancaster, Duke of Hereford, who afterwards attained to the Crowne by the name of King Henry the Fourth. The Daughter of the said Thomas of Woodstocke brought by her marriage this Title of Northampton with others, into the Family of the Staffords. But when they afterwards had lost their honours and dignities, King Edward the Sixth honoured Sir William Parr Earle of Essex, a most accomplished Courtier, with the Title of Marquesse of Northampton: who within [ C] our remembrance ended this life issuelesse. And while I was writing and perusing this Worke, our most sacred Soveraigne King James in the yeere of our Salvation 1603. upon one and the same day advanced Lord Henry Howard brother to the last Duke of Norfolke, a man of rare and excellent wit, and sweet fluent eloquence, sin∣gularly adorned also with the best sciences, prudent in counsell, and provident with∣all, to the state of Baron Howard of Marnehill, and the right honourable name, title, stile, and Dignity of Earle of Northampton.

There belong unto this Shire Parishes 326.

[illustration]

LECESTRIAE COMITATVS. SIVE Leicestershyre. PARS OLIM CORITANORVM.

[illustration]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Utopia of Sir Thomas More.
• * 1.2

  Barony of the Pinkeneys.
• * 1.3

  Parliament 27. H. 6.
• * 1.4

  7. Edw. 4. Constable of England.
• * 1.5

  Sacy Forest. Foresta de Salceto.
• * 1.6

  Fines 18. Rich. 2.
• * 1.7

  Bannavenna, which untruly is called, Isan∣naventa and Isanavatia.
• * 1.8

  Althorp, or Oldthorp. Baron Spenser. Sir Christo∣pher Hatton. He died anno 1591.
• * 1.9

  Northampton.
• * 1.10

  1075. Register of Saint An∣drewes.
• * 1.11

  De Pratis.
• * 1.12

  Gods hoast or Army.
• * 1.13

  *
• * 1.14

  Yardley. Lord Parr of Horton.
• * 1.15

  Kettering. The booke of Inquisit. in the Exchequer.
• * 1.16

  Baron Vaulx.
• * 1.17

  Higham Fer∣rers. Matthew Parker.
• * 1.18

  Oundale.
• * 1.19

  Barnwell.
• * 1.20

  Fotheringhay.
• * 1.21

  Cecily Duch∣esse of Yorke.
• * 1.22

  *
• * 1.23

  Fetter-locke.
• * 1.24

  Durobrivae.
• * 1.25

  Caster.
• * 1.26

  Lollham-Bridges.
• * 1.27

  Upton.
• * 1.28

  Peterborough.
• * 1.29

  Mont. Turold
• * 1.30

  The Fennes.
• * 1.31

  Braibroke. Lords of Braibroke.
• * 1.32

  Pipwell.
• * 1.33

  Rockingham.
• * 1.34

  Haringworth. See Ashby De la Zouch, in Lei∣cester shire. Barons Zouch.
• * 1.35

  De Cante∣lupo. Deane.
• * 1.36

  Barons de Engain.
• * 1.37

  Or Hymell.
• * 1.38

  Apthorpe.
• * 1.39

  Thornhaugh.
• * 1.40

  Welledon. Basset of Welledon.
• * 1.41

  Slate-stones.
• * 1.42

  Burghley.
• * 1.43

  Forti foot-〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.44

  Maxey. Peag-Kyrk. Ingulfus.
• * 1.45

  Stanford.
• * 1.46

  The Caves.
• * 1.47

  Bounds or Meere marl in old time.
• * 1.48

  Lib. de Civi Dei 21. cap.
• * 1.49

  Botontines Hence per∣venture 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our Buttin••••
• * 1.50

  Earles of Northamp
• * 1.51

  The life of Waldeof.