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] LEICESTER-SHIRE.

ON the North side of Northampton-shire boundeth LEICE∣STER-SHIRE, called in that Booke wherein William the Conquerour set downe his Survey of England, Ledecester-shire: a champian Country likewise throughout, bearing corne in great plenty, but for the most part without Woods. It hath bordering upon it on the East side, both Rutland-shire and Lin∣coln-shire, on the North Nottingham and Derby-shires; and [ B] Warwick-shire on the West. (For, the high Rode way made by the Romanes called Watling-streat, directly running along the West skirt, sepa∣rateth it from Warwick-shire:) and on the South side, as I noted even now, lyeth Northampton-shire. Through the middle part thereof passeth the River Soar taking his way toward the Trent: but over the East-part a little River called Wreke gently wandereth, which at length findeth his way into the foresaid Soar.

On the South side, where it is divided on the one hand with the River Avon the lesse, and on the other with the River Welland, we meet with nothing worth relation, unlesse it be, on Wellands banke, (whiles he is yet but small and newly come from his [ C] head) with Haverburgh commonly called Harborrow, a Towne most celebrate heere∣about for a Faire of Cattaile there kept: and as for Carleton, as one would say, the husband-mens Towne, (that is not farre from it) wherein (I wote not whether it be worth the relating) all in manner that are borne, whether it bee by a peculiar pro∣perty of the Soile, or the water, or else by some other secret operation of nature, have an ill favoured, untunable, and harsh manner of speech, fetching their words with very much adoe deepe from out of the throat, with a certaine kinde of wharling.

That Romane streete way aforesaid,* 1.1 (the causey whereof being in some other pla∣ces quite worne and eaten away, heere most evidently sheweth itselfe) passeth on directly as it were by a streight line Northward, through the West side of this Pro∣vince. [ D] The very tract of which street I my selfe diligently traced and followed even from the Tamis to Wales, purposely to seeke out Townes of ancient memory: (laugh you will perhaps, at this my painfull and expencefull diligence, as vainly curious:) nei∣ther could I repose my trust upon a more faithfull guide for the finding out of those said townes which Antonine the Emperour specifieth in his Itinerary. This Street-way, being past Dowbridge, where it leaveth Northampton-shire behinde it, is interrupted, first with the River Swift, that is indeed but slow, although the name import swift∣nesse, which it maketh good onely in the Winter moneths. The Bridge over it now called Bransford and Bensford Bridge, which heere conjoyned in times past this way, having been of long time broken downe, hath beene the cause that so famous a way [ E] for a great while was the lesse frequented: but now, at the common charge of the country,* 1.2 it is repaired. Upon this way lyeth of the one side, Westward, Cester-Over, (but it is in Warwick-shire) a place worth the naming, were it but in regard of the Lord thereof Sir Foulke Grevill, a right worshipfull and worthy knight: although the very name it selfe may witnesse the antiquity, for, our ancestours added this word Cester to no other places but only cities.* 1.3 On the other side of the way Eastward, hard by water Swift which springeth neere Knaptoft the seat of the Turpins a knightly house descended from an heire of the Gobions, lieth Misterton belonging to the an∣cient family of the Poulteneis, who tooke that name of Poulteney a place now decaied within the said Lordship.* 1.4 Neere to it is Lutterworth a Mercate Towne the possession [ F] in times past of the Verdons, which onely sheweth a faire Church which hath beene encreased by the Feldings of knights degree and ancient gentry in this Shire. That famous John Wickliffe was sometime Parson of this Church,* 1.5 a man of a singular, po∣lite, and well wrought wit, most conversant also in the holy Scripture: who for that he had sharpened the neb of his pen against the Popes authority, the Church of Rome,

and religious men, was not onely in his life time most grievously troubled, but also [ A] one and forty yeeres after his death, his dead Corps was cruelly handled, being by warrant from the Councell of Siena turned out of his grave and openly burned. Nei∣ther is it to be forgotten that neere to this Towne is a spring so cold that within a short time it turneth strawes and stickes into stones.* 1.6

From that Bensford bridge, the foresaid old High way goeth on to High-crosse, so called, for that thereabout stood sometime a Crosse, in stead of which, is erected now a very high post with props and supporters thereto. The neighbours there dwel∣ling reported unto me, that the two principall High-waies of England did here cut one another overthwart, and that there stood a most flourishing City there, named Cleycester,* 1.7 which had a Senate of Aldermen in it, and that Cleybrooke, almost a mile [ B] off, was part of it: also, that on both sides of the way, there lay under the furrowes of the corne fields great foundations and ground workes of foure square stone: also that peeces of Roman money were very often turned up with the Plough: although a∣bove the ground, as the Poet saith, Etiam ipsae periere ruinae, that is, Even the very ruines are perished and gone. These presumptions together with the distance of this place from BANNAVENTA or Wedon, which agreeth just, and withall the said Bridge, leading hitherward, called Bensford, are inducements unto me to thinke verily, that the station BENNONES,* 1.8 or VENONES, was heere, which Antonine the Empe∣rour placeth next beyond BANNAVENTA, especially seeing that Antonine sheweth how the way divided it selfe heere into two parts, which also goeth com∣monly [ C] currant. For, Northeastward, where the way lieth to Lincolne, the Fosse way leadeth directly to RATAE and to VERNOMETUM, of which I will speake a∣non: and toward the Northwest, Watlingstreet goeth as streight into Wales by MAN∣VESSEDUM, whereof I shall write in his due place in Warwick-shire.

Higher, yet neere the same streetside standeth Hinkley, which had for Lord of it, Hugh Grantmaismill, a Norman, high Steward or Seneschall of England, during the Raignes of king William Rufus, and Henry the First. The said Hugh had two daugh∣ters, Parnell, given in marriage to Robert Blanch-mains (so called of his faire white hands) Earle of Leicester, together with the High-Stewardship of England; and Alice, wedded to Roger Bigot. Verily, at the East end of the Church, there are to be [ D] seene Trenches and Rampires, yea and a Mount cast up to an eminent height, which the inhabitants say was Hughes Castle. Three miles hence standeth Bosworth, an anci∣ent Mercat Towne, which liberty together with the Faire S. Richard Harecourt obtai∣ned for it at the hands of king Edward the First. Under this towne in our great grand∣fathers daies the kingdome of England lay hazarded upon the chance of one battaile: For, Henry Earle of Richmond, with a small power encountred there in pitched field king Richard the Third, who had by most wicked meanes usurped the kingdome: and whiles he resolved to die the more valiantly, fighting for the liberty of his coun∣try, with his followers and friends, the more happy successe he had, and so overcame and slew the Usurper:* 1.9 and then being with joyfull acclamations proclaimed King in [ E] the very mids of slaughtered bodies round about; he freed England by his happy va∣lour from the rule of a Tyrant, and by his wisdome refreshed and setled it being sore disquieted with long civill dissentions. Whereupon Bernard Andreas of Tholous, a Poet living in those daies, in an Ode dedicated unto King Henry the Seventh, as touching the Rose his Devise, writ these Verses, such as they are:

Ecce nunc omnes posuere venti Murmuris, praeter Zephyrum tepentem: Hic Rosas nutrit, nitidósque flores Veris amoeni. [ F] Behold now all the windes are laid, But Zephyrus that blowes full warme: The Rose, and faire spring-floures in mead He keepeth fresh, and doth no harme.

[ A] Other memorable things there are none by this Street, unlesse it bee Ashby de la Zouch, that lyeth a good way off: a most pleasant Lordship now of the Earles of Huntingdon,* 1.10 but belonging in times past to the noble Family De la Zouch, who de∣scended from Alan Vicount of Rohan,* 1.11 in Little Britaine, and Constantia his wife daugh∣ter to Conan le Grosse Earle of Britaine and Maude his wife the naturall daughter of Henry the First. Of this house Alane De la Zouch married one of the heires of Roger Quincy Earle of Winchester, and in her right came to a faire inheritance in this Country. But when hee had judicially sued John Earle of Warren, who chose rather to try the Title by the sword point than by point of Law, he was slaine by him even in Westminster Hall, in the yeere of our Lord 1269. and some yeeres after, the [ B] daughters and heires of his grand sonne transferred this inheritance by their marri∣ages into the Families of the Saint Maures,* 1.12 of Castle Cary, and the Hollands. Yet their father first bestowed this Ashby upon Sir Richard Mortimer of Richards Castle his co∣zin, whose younger issue thereupon tooke the sirname of Zouch, and were Lords of Ashby. But from Eudo a younger sonne of Alane who was slaine in Westminster Hall, the Lords Zouch of Harringworth branched out, and have beene for many Descents, Barons of the Realme. Afterward in processe of time Ashby came to the Hastings, who built a faire large and stately house there, and Sir William Hastings procured un∣to the Towne the liberty of a Faire in the time of King Henry the Sixth. Here I may not passe over the next neighbour Cole-Overton, now a seat of the Beaumontes descen∣ded [ C] from Sir Thomas Beaumont Lord of Bachevill in Normandy, brother to the first Vicount. This place hath a Cole prefixed for the forename which Sir Thomas, as some write, was hee, who was slaine manfully fighting at such time as the French recove∣red Paris from the English in the time of King Henry the Sixth. This place of the pit-coles (being of the nature of hardned Bitumen,* 1.13 which are digged up to the pro∣fit of the Lord, in so great a number that they serve sufficiently for fewell to the neighbour Dwellers round about farre and neere.

I said before that the River Soar did cut this Shire in the middle, which springing not farre from this Street, and encreased with many small rils and Brookes of running water, going a long Northward with a gentle streame, passeth under the West and [ D] North side of the cheife Towne or City of this County, which in Writers is called Lege-Cestria,* 1.14 Leogora, Legeo cester, and Leicester. This Towne maketh an evident faire shew both of great antiquity and good building. In the yeere 680. when Sexwulph at the commandement of King Etheldred divided the kingdome of the Mercians into Bishoprickes, hee placed in this an Episcopall See, and was himselfe the first Bishop that sat there: but a few yeeres after, when the See was translated to another place, this Dignity had an end, and therewith the stately part of the Towne by little and little was empaired, untill that Edelfleda a most vertuous and noble Lady in the yeere after our Saviours Nativity 914. repaired and strongly walled it new about; in so much as Matthew of Paris in his lesser Story wrote thus, Legecester is a right wealthy City and [ E] notably well fenced with an indissoluble Wall, which if it had a strong foundation were infe∣riour to no City whatsoever. About the Normans entring into this Land, it was well peopled and frequented, yea and had very many Burgesses in it; out of whom they were bound by an ancient custome (as we reade in William the Conquerours booke) To send twelve with the King so often as he ••ent in person to the warres: But if hee made a voyage by sea against his enemies, they sent foure horses to carry armour as farre as to Lon∣don. This City paid yeerely to the King 30. pounds by tale, and twenty in ora, that is, * 1.15 by weight, also 25. measures called Sextaries of hony. But in the time of King Henry the Seconds Raigne, it was sore overpressed with a world of great and grievous calami∣ties, and the wals throwne downe, what time as Robert sirnamed Bossu, (that is, Crouch [ F] backe) Earle of Leicester conspired and rebelled against the King. Which Matthew of Paris sheweth in these words: For the obstinate stubbornesse of Earle Robert spurning against the King, the noble City of Leicester was besieged and overthrowne by King Henry, and the Wall which seemed indissoluble, was utterly cast downe all round about. For, that I may adde thus much out of the lesser History abovesaid, when the Wall of the

City wanting a good foundation was undermined, and the props that sustained it at length [ A] burnt, the peeces and fragments of the Wall fell downe, which even to this day (such is the in∣dissoluble tenacity and stifnesse of the morter) remaine fast, and retaine the bignesse of sound rockes. Miserable also was the imposition of a fine upon the Citizens at that time, and their banishment as lamentable; who having obtained by paying summes of money licence to depart, tooke Sanctuary for extreame feare in Saint Albans and Saint Ed∣mundsbury. The Castle likewise was dismantled of all Fortifications, which verily was a large and strong peece. Beneath which, there is a very faire Hospitall or house for receit of poore people, and a Collegiat Church wherein Henry Earle of Lanca∣ster, and Henry of Lancaster his sonne, who was the first Duke of Lancaster, lie buri∣ed. For, the said Duke when he was now stepped farre in yeeres, of a pious minde [ B] built this Hospitall for the maintenance of poore folke, and to that end dedicated it. Concerning which, Henry Knighton of Leicester who lived in that age, writeth thus in his story. Henry the first Duke of Lancaster built a Collegiat Church and an Ho∣spitall without the South Gate of Leicester; wherein hee ordained a Deane with 12. Canons Prebendaries, as many Vicars, and other Officers, an hundred poore and feeble people, and ten poore able women to give attendance upon the said feeble folke; and this Hospitall hee endowed with sufficient revenewes.* 1.16 As for this Hospitall it continueth in some good state, as an other Bede-house in the Towne built by W. Wigeston. But the Collegiat Church which was a magnificent worke, and the greatest ornament of Leicester was demo∣lished when religious houses were granted to the King. [ C]

At the other side of the City among most goodly and pleasant medowes which the River Soar watereth, there was an Abbay, called of that place, De Pree: of which, the said Knighton hath written thus, Robert de Bossu Earle of Leicester (when he begun Gerondon Abbay for Cistertians) founded the Monastery of S. Mary De Pratis, at Leicester, endowed it richly with Lands, Possessions and Revenewes, and himselfe with the consent of * 1.17 Amice his Wife became a * 1.18 Chanon Regular in the same, and, for the space of fifteene yeeres, in habite of a Chanon served God there, and so slept in the Lord; That thus forsooth, he might make amends by repentance in a Chanons weed of that offence; which beforetime hee had committed by rebelling with a traiterous minde against his Liege Prince. What name Leicester had in the Romans time, it is not knowne; In [ D] the Catalogue of Ninnius, I thinke it to bee that, which is called Caer Lerion: But, that Leir a King, of whom there goe many tales, built it, they that will, may beleeve it for mee. But the situation thereof upon the Foss-way, and the distance both from BENNONES and VEROMETUM, agreeth so just with the description of An∣tonine, that I cannot but thinke it to be that RATAE which Ptolomee nameth RAGAE, although there is neither tippe nor toe remaining in it of the name RATAE: un∣lesse peradventure it be in that old long Ditch and Rampire which they call Raw∣dikes,* 1.19 scarce halfe a mile without the South Gate.

Heere am I at a stand, and looke about me what way to follow for the seeking out of ancient Townes. Ranulph a Monke of Chester recordeth, that the ancient street way [ E] went through the wasts from hence to Lincolne, but hee telleth us not, through what Wasts. The common voice goeth that it went on still full North through Notting∣ham-shire: Antonine the Emperour (if I have any insight at all) seemeth to insinuate, that it passed North-Eastward through this County into Lincoln-shire. And verily, this way there are places of antique memory that by some of their remaines and tokens shew themselves: but the other way, I could not my selfe ever yet meete with any; what others have done I know not, and would willingly learne.

North-West from Leicester, and not farre off is Grooby a large Lordship and Manor which from Hugh Grantmaismill whom King William the Conquerour had enriched with great possessions and revenewes, came by the Earles of Leicester, and the Quin∣cies, [ F] unto the house of the Ferrers:* 1.20 out of which the Lord Ferrers of Grooby flourished a long time in the honorable state of Barons: and in the end, Isabel the only daugh∣ter remaining of the right line, brought it by her marriage into the name of the Greies, from whence it fell againe at the last by Attainder into the Kings hands. But

[ A] whiles I was revising of this Worke, our Soveraigne Lord King James restored Sir Henry Grey a worthy Knight to the ancient honour of his noble Progenitors, crea∣ting him Baron Grey of Grooby in the first yeare of his Raigne.

Now let us returne to the River Soar,* 1.21 which being past Leicester, first giveth name to Montsorell, or rather Mont-Soar-hill, a name compounded of Norman and Eng∣lish both: which now is famous onely for a Mercate there kept: but in old time most renowned for the Castle, seated upon a steepe and craggy Hill, hanging over the Ri∣ver, which before time belonged to the Earles of Leicester, but afterwards to Saer de Quincy Earle of Winchester in the Barons warre; at this day nothing but a rude heape of rubbish: For, in the yeere 1217. the Inhabitants of the Towne, when af∣ter [ B] a long Siege they had wonne it,* 1.22 rased it downe to the very ground, as being the Devils nest, and a Den of theeves, robbers, and rebels. Somwhat higher on the other side of the River standeth Barrow: where is digged lime, commended above all other for the strong binding thereof. After, some few miles from thence, Soar while hee seeketh Trent, leaveth Leicester-shire,* 1.23 a little above Cotes now the habitation of the Family of Skipwith originally descended out of York-shire,* 1.24 and enriched many yeeres since with faire Possessions in Lincoln-shire, by an heire of Ormesbie. On the opposite banke of Soar standeth Lough-borrough a Mercate Towne,* 1.25 which adorned one onely man with the name of Baron, to witte, Sir Edward Hastings; and that in the Raigne of Queene Mary. But when shee, of whom he was most dearely loved, departed [ C] this life, hee taking a loathing to the World was not willing to live any longer to the World; but wholy desirous to apply himselfe to Gods Service, retired into that Hospitall which hee had erected at Stoke Pogeis in Buckingham-shire; where with poore people hee lived to God, and among them finished the course of his life de∣voutly in Christ. That this Lough-borrow is that Towne of the Kings named in the Saxon Tongue 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which as Marianus saith Cuthwulph tooke from the Bri∣tans in the yeere of Christ 572. the neere affinity of the name may yeeld some proofe. But now among all the Townes of this Shire it rightfully chalengeth the second place next unto Leicester, whether a man either regard the bignesse or buil∣ding thereof, or the pleasant Woods about it. For, within very little of it, the Fo∣rest [ D] of Charnwood or Charley stretcheth it selfe out a great way,* 1.26 wherein is seene Beaumanour Parke, which the Lords of Beaumont (as I have heard) fensed round about with a stone Wall. These Beaumonts descended from a younger sonne of John Coun∣ty of Brene in France, who for his high honour, and true valour was preferred to marry the heire of the Kingdome of Jerusalem,* 1.27 and with great pompe crowned King of Jerusalem in the yeere of our Lord 1248.* 1.28 Hence it is that wee see the Armes of Jerusalem so often quartered with those of Beaumont in sundry places of England. Sir Henry Beaumont was the first that planted himselfe in England about the yeere 1308. who advanced to the marriage of an heire of Alexander Comine Earle of Boghan in Scotland (whose mother was one of the heires of Roger Quincy Earle of [ E] Winchester) entred upon a very goodly and faire inheritance, and so a great Family was propagated from him. Hee in the Raigne of Edward the Third, for certaine yeeres was summoned to the Parliament, by the name of Earle of Boghan, and John Lord Beamont in the Raigne of Henry the Sixth was for a time Constable of England, and the first to my knowledge, that in England received at the Kings hands the state and Title of a Vicount.* 1.29 But when William the last Vicount was dead without issue, his sister was wedded to the Lord Lovell, and the whole inheritance afterwards, which was rich and great, by attainder of Lovell fell into the hands of King Henry the Seventh.

In this North part we meete with nothing at all worth the naming, unlesse it be a [ F] little religious house, which Roise Verdon founded for Nunnes and called it Grace-Dieu, now belonging to a younger house of the Beaumonts: and where the Trent runneth, hard by,* 1.30 is Dunnington, an ancient Castle built by the first Earles of Leicester: which afterwards came to John Lacy Earle of Lincolne, who procured unto it from King Ed∣ward the First the priviledge of keeping a Mercate and Faire. But when as in that

great proscription of the Barons under King Edward the Second the hereditaments [ A] of Thomas Earle of Lancaster, and Alice Lacy his Wife were seised into the Kings hands, and alienated in divers sorts, the King enforced her to release this Manour unto Hugh Le Despenser the younger.

The East part of this Shire which is hilly and feedeth great numbers of Sheepe, was adorned with two places of especiall note;* 1.31 VERNOMETUM or VERO∣METUM, whereof Antonine the Emperour hath made mention, and Burton-La∣zers, both in the ages fore-going of very great name and reputation. VERNOME∣TUM, which now hath lost the name, seemeth to have stood (for I dare not affirme it) in that place, which at this day men call Burrowhill and Erd-burrow: For, betweene VEROMETUM and RATAE, according to Antonine his reckoning are twelve [ B] Italian miles; and so many well neere there be, from Leicester to this place.

The name Burrow also that it hath at this day came from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which in the Sax∣on Tongue signifieth, a place fortified, and under it a Towne called Burrough be∣longing to an old Family of Gentlemen so sirnamed. But, (that which maketh most for proofe) in that very place there riseth up an hill with a steepe and upright ascent on every side, but South Eastward: in the top whereof appeare the expresse tokens of a Towne destroyed, a duple Trench, and the very Tract where the Wals went, which enclosed about eighteene Acres of ground within. At this day it is arable ground, and is nothing so famous, as in this, that the youth dwelling round about were wont yeerely to exercise themselves in wrestling and other games in this place. [ C] And out of the very name a man may conjecture, that there stood there some great Temple of the Heathen Gods.* 1.32 For, VERNOMETUM in the ancient Gauls lan∣guage, which was the same that the old Britans tongue, soundeth as much as A great Temple; as Venantius Fortunatus in the first booke of his Songs plainly sheweth, wri∣ting of Vernometum a Towne of Gaule in these Verses.

Nomine Vernometum voluit vocitare vetustas, Quod quasi fanum ingens Gallica lingua sonat. In elder time this place they term'd by name of VERNOMET, Which sounds in language of the Gauls, as much as Temple Great. [ D]

* 1.33As for Burton, sirnamed Lazers, of Lazers (for so they used to terme folke infected with the Elephantiasie or Leprosie) was a rich Spittle-house, or Hospitall, under the Master whereof, were in some sort all other small Spittles or Lazer-houses in Eng∣land, like as himselfe also was under the Master of the Lazers in Hierusalem. It was founded in the first age of the Normans, by a common contribution over all England, and the Mowbraies especially did set to their helping hands. At which time the Le∣prosie which the learned terme Elephantiasis,* 1.34 (because the skins of Lepres are like to that of Elephants) in grievous manner by way of contagion ranne over all England. For, it is verily thought that this disease did then first creepe out of Aegypt into this [ E] Island: which eft-once had spread it selfe into Europe: first of all in Pompeius Ma∣gnus his dayes: afterwards, under Heraclius, and at other times as we may see in the Histories, whether by celestiall influence, or other hidden causes I leave to the lear∣ned. But so farre as I could hitherto reade, it did never set foote in England before that time. Besides these places before named of great name and marke, wee must not overpasse neither Melton Mowbray neere unto this Burton,* 1.35 a Mercate Towne bearing name of the Mowbraies sometime Lords thereof, wherein is nothing more worth the seeing,* 1.36 than a faire Church; nor Skeffington, standing farther off, which as it hath given name to a worshipfull Family,* 1.37 so againe it hath received worship and credit from the same. [ F]

The River that watereth this part of the Shire, is by the Inhabitants about it cal∣led the Wreken, along which upon resemblance of the name I have sought VER∣NOMETUM, but in vaine. This Wreken gathereth a strong streame by many lively Brookes resorting unto it,* 1.38 whereof one passeth by Wimondham an ancient habitation

[ A] of a younger branch of the house of the Lords Barkleis, well encreased by an heire of Dela-Laund, and so on by Melton Mowbray before mentioned, by Kirkby Bellers; (where there was a Priory) having that addition of the Bellers, a respective, rich, and noble Family in their time,* 1.39 by Brokesby a seat now of the Villiers of an old Norman race, and descended from an heire of Bellers: which Brokesby imparted formerly the sirname to the Brokesbies of especiall antiquity in these parts. Then the Wreken speed∣eth by Ratcliffe high mounted upon a cliffe and within few miles conjoyneth it selfe to Soar, neere unto Mont-Soar-hill, before mentioned.

Whatsoever of this Shire lieth beyond the Wreken Northward, is not so frequent∣ly inhabited, and part of it is called the Wold, as being hilly without wood; wherein [ B] Dalby a seat of the old Family of the Noels, of whom I shall speake elsewhere, and Waltham on the Wold, a meane Mercat, are most notable. Through this part as I have beene enformed passeth the Fosse-way, made by the Romans from Lewing Bridge, by Segrave which gave sirname to the honourable Family often mentioned, and the Lodge on the Wold toward the Vale of Bever, but the Tract thereof as yet I know not.

This Shire hath beene more famous from time to time by reason of the Earles thereof have beene very renowned.* 1.40 And seeing it had under the Saxons government Earles by inheritance, I will first reckon them up in order, as Thomas Talbot a skilfull Antiquary hath delivered me a note of them out of the kings Records. In the time of Aethelbald King of the Mercians, and in the yeere of our Redemption 716. Leofrick [ C] was Earle of Leicester, whom there succeeded in direct line Algar the first, Algar the second, Leofrick the second, Leofstane, Leofrick the third buried in Coventry, Al∣gar the third, who had issue two sonnes, Aeadwin Earle of March, Morkar Earle of Northumberland, and a daughter named Lucy, first married to Ivon Talboys of Anjou, afterwards to Roger of Romara, who begat of her William of Romara Earle of Lin∣colne. Now when as the issue male of this Saxon Family failed, and the name of the Saxons was troden (as it were) under foot, Robert Beaumont a Norman Lord of Pont Audomar and Earle of Mellent, (after that Simon an officiary Earle of Leicester was dead) obtained his Earledome in the yeere of our Lord 1102. at the bountifull hand of King Henry the First:* 1.41 which Robert, A man for skill and knowledge excellent, [ D] faire spoken, subtile, wise, and witty, and by nature wily, who while hee lived in high and glo∣rious estate, an other Earle carried away his wife from him: whereupon in his old age being much troubled in minde, he fell into deepe melancholy. After him succeeded from father to sonne three Roberts,* 1.42 the first sirnamed Bossu because hee was crook-backed, who after he had rebelled against King Henry the First, weary of his loose irregular life, became a Chanon Regular; the second sirnamed Blanch-maines of his lily-white-hands, who sided with the young King against King Henry the Second, and dyed in the expedition of King Richard the First to the Holy Land; the third sirnamed Fitz-Parnell, because his mother was * 1.43 Parnels daughter and one of the heires to Hugh Grant-maismill the last, in whose right hee was Seneschall or Steward of Eng∣land, [ E] and died issuelesse in the time of King John.

A few yeeres after, Simon Montfort descended from a base sonne of Robert King of France, who had married the sister of Robert Fitz-Parnell, enjoyed this honour. But after that hee and his were expelled in the yeere 1200. as wholy devoted to the French, Ranulph Earle of Chester attained unto this Dignity, not in right of inheri∣tance,* 1.44 but by his Princes favour. Howbeit, afterwards Simon Montfort sonne of the foresaid Simon obtained this honour, when Almarik his eldest brother surren∣dred up his right before King Henry the Third. This Simon, stood in so gracious fa∣vour with King Henry the Third, that hee called him home againe out of France when he was banished, heaped upon him great wealth, admitted him unto the Earle∣dome [ F] of Leicester, granted to him the Stewardship of England, and to honour him the more gave him his owne sister in marriage. But hee, thus over-heaped with honourable benefits, when he had no meanes to requite them (such is the perverse wilfulnesse of men) beganne hatefully to maligne him,* 1.45 yea and did most wickedly molest the good King having so well deserved, making himselfe Ringleader to the

rebellious Barons, and with them raising horrible tempests of civill warre, in which [ A] himselfe also at length was overthrowne and slaine.

As for his Honours and Possessions, King Henry the Third gave and graunted them to Edmund his owne younger sonne Earle of Lancaster. So afterward this ho∣nour lay as it were obscured among the Titles of the house of Lancaster: and Mawde the daughter of Henry Duke of Lancaster being married to Henry Duke of Bavaria, Earle of Henault, Holland, Zeland, &c. added unto his other Titles, this of Earle of Leicester also: For, in the Charter dated the five and thirty yeere of King Edward the Third,* 1.46 hee is in plaine termes stiled William Earle of Henhault and of Lei∣cester: yea and, as we finde in the Inquisition made Anno 36. of the said King Ed∣ward the Third, shee by the name of Dutchesse of Bavaria, held the Castle, Manour, [ B] and Honour of Leicester. After whose decease without issue, that honour reverted to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who had wedded Blanch the other sister of Mawde. From which time it became united to the House of Lancaster, untill in our remem∣brance it reflourished in L. Robert Dudley, who was by Queene Elizabeth girt with the sword of the Earledome of Leicester, and extraordinarily favoured: whereupon the States Generall of the united Provinces in their great troubles chose him trium∣phantly for their absolute Governour, and soone after as contemptuously rejected him, reserving all Soveraignty to themselves. But after a short time he passed out of this transitory life in the yeere 1588. leaving the fame onely of his greatnesse behinde him. [ C]

Within this Shire are 200. Parish Churches.

[illustration]

RVTLANDIAE Omnium in Anglia Comitatu: um minimus Pars olim CORITANORVM.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Watling street
• * 1.2

  Cester-Over.
• * 1.3

  Cester.
• * 1.4

  Lutterworth.
• * 1.5

  John Wickli•••••• died 1387.
• * 1.6

  A spring tur∣ning strawes and stickes into stones.
• * 1.7

  Cley Cester. Cleybrooke.
• * 1.8

  Bennones.
• * 1.9

  1487. Richard the Third slaine.
• * 1.10

  *
• * 1.11

  Barons Zouch. De Ashby.
• * 1.12

  The family of the Hollands.
• * 1.13

  Pit-cole or stone cole.
• * 1.14

  Leicester.
• * 1.15

  Or in ore.
• * 1.16

  *
• * 1.17

  Amiciae.
• * 1.18

  Or Priest.
• * 1.19

  Or Road dikes.
• * 1.20

  Ferrers and Greies de Grooby.
• * 1.21

  Mont-Soar-hill.
• * 1.22

  Historia Minor.
• * 1.23

  *
• * 1.24

  Skipwith.
• * 1.25

  Lough-bor∣rough.
• * 1.26

  Charnwood Forest.
• * 1.27

  *
• * 1.28

  De Bello monte. Beaumont.
• * 1.29

  The first Vi∣count of Ho∣nor in Englan••
• * 1.30

  Dunnington.
• * 1.31

  Vernometum or Verometum.
• * 1.32

  What Verno∣metum signifi∣eth in the anci∣ent language of the Gaullois.
• * 1.33

  Burton Lazers.
• * 1.34

  Leprosie in England.
• * 1.35

  Melton.
• * 1.36

  Skeffington.
• * 1.37

  *
• * 1.38

  Wimondham.
• * 1.39

  Brookesby.
• * 1.40

  Earles of Leicester.
• * 1.41

  The words of Henry Hun∣tingdon in his Epistle De Cor temptu mundi.
• * 1.42

  *
• * 1.43

  Petronilla.
• * 1.44

  Matthew Paris
• * 1.45

  See Eovesham in Worcester∣shire.
• * 1.46

  In the great Register of the Dutchie.