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]

NORTH-RIDING.

SCarce two miles above Flamborrough-head, beginneth the NORTH-RIDING or the North part of this Country, which affronting the other parts, and beginning at the Sea, is stretched out Westward, and carrieth a very long Tract with it (though not so broad) for threescore miles together, even as farre as to Westmorland: limited on the one side with Der∣went, [ B] and for a while with the River Ure, on the other side with Tees running all along it, which on the North Coast se∣parateth it from the Bishopricke of Durrham. And very fitly may this part bee divi∣ded into, Blackamore, Cliveland, Northallverton-shire, and Richmond-shire.

That which lyeth East, and bendeth toward the Sea is called Blackamore, that is, The blacke moorish land: For it is mountanous and craggy. The Sea coast there∣of, hath Scarborrough Castle, for the greatest ornament a very goodly and famous thing, in old time called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, A Burgh upon the Scar, or steepe Rocke. The description whereof have heere out of William of Newburgh his History. A Rocke of a wonderfull height and bignesse, which by reason of steepe cragges and cliffes, almost [ C] on every side is unaccessible, beareth into the Sea; wherewith it is all compassed about, save onely a certaine streight in manner of a gullet, which yeeldeth accesse, and openeth into the West: having in the toppe a very faire, greene, and large Plaine containing about three∣score acres of ground or rather more; a little Well also of fresh water springing out of a sto∣ny Rocke. In the foresaid gullet or passage, which a man shall have much adoe to ascend up unto, standeth a stately and Princelike Towre: and beneath the said passage beginneth the City or Towre, spreading two sides South and North, but having the sore part Westward: and verily it is fensed afront with a wall of the owne: but on the East fortified with the rocke of the Castle: and both the sides thereof are watered with the Sea. This place William Le Grosse, Earle of Aulbemarle and Holdernesse viewing well, and seeing it to bee a con∣venient [ D] plot for to build a Castle upon, helping Nature forward with a very costly worke closed the whole plaine of the Rocke with a Wall, and built a Towre in the very streight of the passage: which being in processe of time fallen downe, King Henry the Second caused to bee built in the same place a great and goodly Castle; after hee had now brought under the Nobles of England, who during the loose government of King Stephen had consumed the lands of the Crowne: but especially amongst others, that William abovesaid of Aulbemarle, who had in this Tract ruled and reigned like a King, and possessed himselfe of this place as his owne.

Touching the most project boldnesse of Thomas Stafford, who to the end hee might overthrow himselfe with great attempts, with a few Frenchmen surprised [ E] this Castle of a sudden in Queene Maries Raigne and held it for two daies together, I neede not to speake: ne yet of Sherleis, a Gentleman of France, who having accom∣panied him, was judicially endited and convict of high treason, albeit he was a for∣rainer, because hee had done against the duty of his Alleageance, the peace then betweene the Kingdome of England and of France being in force. These are matters bet∣ter knowne than that the World can take notice of them by any writings of mine. Yet may this seeme a thing worth my labour and expedient, to note, how the Hol∣landers and Zelanders use to take marveilous plenty of herrings (call them in Latin Haleces, Leucomenida, or Chalcides, which of them you please) upon this coast, and make a very gainfull trade thereof, having anciently first obtained licence by an an∣cient [ F] custome, out of this Castle. For the Englishmen granted licence to fish, reser∣ving the honour to themselves, but resigning for lazinesse, as it were, the profit unto strangers. For, it is almost incredible, what infinite summes of money the Hollan∣ders raise unto themselves by this their fishing in our shore.

These Herrings (pardon me I pray you if briefly by way of digression I doe make [ A] mention of Gods goodnesse towards us) which in our great grandfathers dayes kept as it were their station onely about Norway: now in our time not without the divine Providence, swimme yeerely round about this Isle of Britaine by skulles in wonderfull great numbers. About Midsommer they shoole out of the deepe and vast Northren-sea to the coasts of Scotland, at which time because they are then at the fattest, they bee streightwaies sold: Thence come they to the English East coast, and from the middest of August unto November, is the best and most plen∣teous taking of them betweene Scarborrough, and Tamis mouth.

Afterwards by force of some great storme, they are carryed into the British sea, and there untill Christmas offer themselves to the fishers nettes; from hence divi∣ding [ B] themselves and swimming along both sides of Ireland, after they have coa∣sted round about Britaine, they take their course into the Northren Ocean, as their home, and there settle themselves as it were and rest untill June: where after they have cast their spawne and brought forth a yong fry, they returne againe in mighty great skulles and so march about these Isles. Whiles I am writing hereof, that comes into my minde which sometimes I read in Saint Ambrose. Fishes (saith hee) by infi∣nite numbers, meeting, as one would say, by common consent out of many places from sundry creekes of the Sea, with a joint flote, as it were, make toward the blastes of the North winde, and by a certaine direction and instinct of Nature haste into that Sea of the Northren parts. A man that saw the manner of them would say a certaine tide were comming downe from [ C] the current, they rush so forward and cut the waves, as they passe, with a violent power, through Propontis into Pontus Euxinus. But to my matter againe.

From thence, the shore indented and interlaced with rockes, bendeth in, as farre as to the River Teise, and by a compasse that the said shore fetcheth, there is made a Bay about a mile broad, which of that Outlaw Robert Hood, so much talked of, wee call Robin Hoods Bay. For hee (as John Major the Scotishman writeth) flou∣rished in the Raigne of Richard the First; and the said Authour setteth him out with this commendation, that Hee was indeed an Arch-Robber but the gentellest Theefe that ever was. Then DUNUS SINUS, a creeke mentioned by Ptolomee streight∣waies by giving backe of the shore on both sides sheweth it selfe; neere unto [ D] which standeth Dunesley a little village, and hard by it, Whitby, in the English Saxon tongue 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; which Beda expoundeth to bee, The Bay of a Watch-Towre. Neither will I call that interpretation into question, although in our language it doth resemble Sinum Salutis, that is, The Bay of health; so, that I would say this very same was Salutaris Sinus, that is, The Bay of safety, but that the situation in the Geo∣grapher did perswade me otherwise. Heere are found certaine stones fashioned like Serpents folded and wrapped round as in a wreathe even the very pastimes of Nature disporting her selfe: who, as one saith, when shee is wearied as it were with serious workes, forgeth and shapeth some things by way of game and recrea∣tion. A man would thinke verily they had beene sometime Serpents, which, a [ E] coat or crust of stone had now covered all over. But people too credulous ascribe this to the Praiers of Saint Hilda, as if shee had thus transformed and changed them: who in our Primitive Church withstood to her power the shoring and shaving of Priests, and the celebration of Easter according to the order of Rome, when a Sy∣node was held touching these matters in the yeere of our Lord 664. in the Abbay which shee had built in this place, and whereof herselfe was first Governesse. Unto whose holinesse also they ascribe, that those wilde Geese, which in Win∣ter time flye by flockes unto Pooles and Rivers that are not frozen over, in the South parts; whiles they flye over certaine fields heere adjoyning, suddenly fall downe to the ground, to the exceeding great admiration of all men: a thing that I [ F] would not have related, had I not heard it from very many persons of right good cre∣dit. But such as are not given to superstitious credulity, attribute this unto a secret propriety of this ground, and to an hidden dissent between this soile and those geese,

[ A] such as is betweene wolves and Squilla rootes. For provident Nature hath infused such like secret mutuall combinations, and contrarieties, which the learned tearme Sympathies and Antipathies, as all men acknowledge, for their preservation. After∣wards Edelfleda King Oswins daughter enriched this Abbay with most large reve∣newes, where also shee solemnized her fathers funerall obsequies. But at length the Danes robbing and spoiling where ever they came, utterly overthrew it: and al∣though Serle Percie reedified it, being immediately upon the comming in of the Nor∣mans head-ruler of the same; yet now it scarce affordeth any footing at all of the an∣cient dignity. Hard by, upon a steepe hill, howbeit betweene two others higher than it, toward the Sea, stood by report, the Castle of Wada a Saxon Duke, who in [ B] that confused Anarchy of the Northumbers, and massacre of Princes and Nobles, having combined with those that murdred King Ethered, gave battaile unto King Ardulph at Whalley in Lancashire: but with so disasterous successe, that after his owne power was discomfited and put to flight, himselfe was faine to flie: and after∣wards by a languishing sicknesse ended his life; and heere within the hill betweene two entire and solid stones about seven foote high lieth entombed: which stones because they stand eleven foote asunder, the people doubt not to affirme, that hee was a mighty Giant. Neere unto this place, long time after, Peter de Maloulacy built a Castle, which being full as it were of grace and beauty he named in French Moult-Grace, as wee reade in the History of Meaulx, but because it became a most [ C] grievous yoke unto the neighbour Inhabitants, the people masters alwaies of our u∣suall speech, by change of one letter termed it Moult-grave, by which name although the reason thereof be not so well knowne, the world takes knowledge of it. This Pe∣ter de Mololacu, commonly called Mauley (that I may in this point satisfie the curi∣ous) borne in Poictou in France, marryed the onely daughter of Robert de Turnham, in the Raigne of King Richard the First: in whose right he entred upon a very great inheritance heere: after whom succeeded in order seven Peters called Lords Mau∣ley: who give for their Armes A Bend Sables in an Eschocheon Or. But when the seventh dyed issuelesse, this the Manours of Dancaster, Bainton, Bridesalle, &c. were parted by the sisters, betweene the families of the Salvains and Bigots.

[ D] Neere unto this place, as elsewhere in this shore, is found blacke Amber or Geate: Some take it to be Gagates, which in old time they held to be one of the rare gems and precious stones. It groweth among the cliffes and rockes, where they chinke and gape asunder. Before it be polished, it is of a reddish and rusty colour: but af∣ter it bee once polished, it becommeth, as saith Solinus, as a Gemme of a bright ra∣diant blacke colour. Touching which, Rhemnius Palamon out of Dionysius Afer thus versifieth:

Praefulget nigro splendore Gagates. Hic lapis ardescens austro perfus••s aquarum, [ E] Ast oleo perdens flammas, mirabile visu Attritus rapit hic teneras seu succina fr••ndes.

The Geat is blacke and shineth passing bright, Which Stone in water dipt and drencht, takes fire and burneth light. In oile, a wonder for to see, the flame is quickly done, And like to Amber rub it hard, small stickes it catcheth soone.

And Marbodaeus in his little booke of precious stones,

[ F] Nascitur in Lycia lapis, & prope gemma Gagates, Sed genus eximium foecunda Britannia mittit, Lucidus & niger est, levis & lavissimu•• idem: Vicinas paleas trabit attritu calefactus, Ardet aqua lotus, restinguitur unctus olivo.

Geat is a Stone, and Gemme well nere, that men in Lycia finde, [ A] But fruitfull Britan yeelds the best simply of all that kinde. Of colour blacke, yet bright it is, most smoothe and light withall; Well rubbed and enchaul'd thereby, thin strawes and fescues small That are neere hand it drawes thereto: it burnes in water drencht, Annoint the same with fatty oile, the flame streigthwaies is quencht.

Heare also what Solinus saith; In Britaine there is great store of Gagates, or Geat, and an excellent stone it is: If you demand the colour, it is a bright radiant blacke: if the qua∣lity, it is in manner nothing weighty: If the nature, it burneth in water, and is quenched with oile: if the vertue, being made hote with rubbing, it holdeth such things as are applied there∣to. [ B] From Whitby the shore gives backe Westward: by which lyeth Cliveland, ta∣king that name as it seemeth of steepe bankes, which in our language wee call Cliffes; for, there runne all along the side thereof cliffie hilles; at the foote of which, the country spreadeth into a Plaine full of fertile fields.

Upon the shore, Sken grave a little Village is much benefited by taking great store of fish: where also, by report, was caught a Sea-man about 70. yeeres since, that for certaine daies together fed of raw fishes: but espying his opportunity escaped away unto his proper element againe. Whensoever the windes are laied, and that up∣on still weather the sea is most calme, and the water lieth as one would say levell and plaine without any noise: there is heard heere many times on a sudden a great way [ C] off, as it were, an horrible and a fearefull groning: at which time the fishermen dare not launch out farre into the deepe, as beleeving according to their shallow reach, that the Ocean is a fell and cruell beast, and being then very hungry desireth greedily in that sort to devoure mens bodies. Beneath Sken-grave, is situate Kilton Castle within a Parke, which belonged sometime to the habitation of the Thwengs, whose patri∣mony descended to the Barons of Lumley, Hilton, and Daubeneie: And there joyneth almost close unto it Skelton Castle, appertaining to the ancient family of the Barons Brus, who derive their descent from Robert Brus the Norman. The said Robert had two sonnes, Adam Lord of Skelton, and Robert of Anan-dale in Scotland: from whom is descended the royall stem of Scotland. But Peter Brus the fifth Lord of Skelton di∣ed [ D] without issue, and left his sisters to inherite: namely Agnes, wife to Walter Falcon∣berg: Lucie, wedded to Marmaduke Thweng, of whom is come the Baron Lumley: Margaret, married to Robert Ros; and Laderina to John Belle-eau, men in that age of honourable reputation. The heires successively of Walter Falconberg flourished a long time; but in the end by a female, the possessions came to Sir William Nevill, who was a redoubted Knight for martiall prowesse, and by King Edward the Fourth advanced to the title of Earle of Kent. And his daughters were bestowed in marri∣age upon Sir John Cogniers, N. Bedhowing, and R. Strangwaies.

Neere unto Hunt-cliffe, and not farre from the shore there appeare aloft at a vale water certaine Rockes, about which the fishes that wee call Seales, short (as some [ E] thinke) for Sea-veales, meete together in droves to sleepe and sunne themselves: and upon that rocke which is next unto the shore, there lieth one, as it were to keepe the Centinell: and as any man approcheth neere, he either by throwing downe a big stone, or by tumbling himselfe into the water with a great noise, giveth a signall to the rest to looke unto themselves and get into the water. Most affraid they bee of men: against whom when they chase them, they being destitute of water fling backeward with their hinder feete a cloud, as it were, of sand and gravell stones, yea and often times drive them away: For women they care not so much: and therefore whosoever would take them, use to bee clad in womens apparell. In the same coast are found stones, some of yellowish, others of a reddish colour, and [ F] some againe with a rough cast crust over them of a certaine salt matter, which by their smell and taste make shew of Coperose, Nitre, and Brimstone: and also great store of Marquesites in colour resembling brasse.

Hard by, at Huntly Nabb, the shore that lay for a great way in length open, riseth

[ A] now up with craggy rockes, at the rootes wherof there lie scattering here and there stones of divers bignesse, so artificially by nature shaped round in maner of a Globe, that one would take them to be big bullets made by the turners hand for shot to bee discharged out of great ordinance. In which, if you breake them, are found stony serpents enwrapped round like a wreath, but most of them are headles. Then see you from thence Wilton Castle, sometime the Bulmers: and above it at Dobham the river Tees voideth into the Sea after it hath lodged sundry rivers, and at the last one that is namelesse, beside Yare a mercate towne well knowne, which river watereth Stokes∣ley, a little mercate towne, likewise that hath a long time appertained to the Noble family of Eure. Beneath which places, Wharton Castle belonging in times past to [ B] the Barons Menill, and Harlsey to the family of Hotham and afterward to Stragwaies, now wrestle with old age, and hardly hold up their heads.

The mouth of Tees aforesaid, suspected in times past of sailers, is now found to be a sure road and harbour: and to give direction for safe accesse and entrance unto it, there are erected on both sides thereof within our remembrance high turrets with light. Foure miles from this Tees mouth, standeth Gisburgh on high; now a small towne, but whiles it stood in flourishing estate, it was right glorious for a very faire and rich Abbay, built by Robert de Brus, Lord of the place, about the yeere of our Salvation 1119, and for the common buriall place of all the gentry and nobility in this tract; which also brought forth Walter de Heminford no unlearned Historio∣grapher. [ C] This verily is a passing good place, and may well for pleasantnesse, delight∣some variety, and rare gifts of Nature, contend with Puteoli in Italy, which in regard of healthy situation it also farre excelleth. The aire is mollified and made more mild by the mountaines seated betweene it, and what way the sea yeeldeth a cold and winterly disposition: the soile fruitfull and plenteous in grasse affordeth delectable floures a great part of the yeere, and richly aboundeth with vaines of metall and A∣lum-earth of sundry colours, but especially of ocher and murray, likewise of iron, out of which they have now begunne to try very good Alum, and Coperose. Which with learned skill and cunning not many yeeres since, Sir Thomas Chal••ner Knight (a learned searcher into natures workes, and unto whose charge, our most high and [ D] mightie King hath committed his son Prince Henry, the lovely joy and delight of Brittaine) first discovered, by observing, that the leaves of trees were of a more weak greene colour here than in other places; that the oakes had their rootes spreading broad but very eb within the ground, the which had much strength but small store of sappe, that the earth standing upon clay, and being of divers colours, whitish, yellowish, and blew, was never frozen, and in a cleere night, glittered in the pathes like unto glasse. Not farre off, Onusbery or Rosebery Topping mounteth up a mighty height, and maketh a goodly shew a farre off, serving unto sailers for a marke of di∣rection, and to the neighbour inhabitants for a prognostication: For, so often as the head thereof hath his cloudy cap on, lightly there followeth raine: whereupon they [ E] have a Proverbiall Rhime, when Rosebery Topping weares a cap: Let Cliveland then be∣ware a clap. Neere unto the top of it, out of an huge rocke there floweth a spring of water medicinable for diseased eies: and from hence there is a most goodly and plea∣sant prospect downe into the vallies below lying a great way about, to the hils full of grasse, greene meddowes, delightsome pastures, fruitfull corne fields, riverets sto∣red with fish, the river Tees mouth full of rodes and harbours, the ground plaine and open without danger of inundation, and into the sea with ships therein under saile. Beneath it, standeth Kildale, a Castle of the Percies Earles of Northumberland: and more Eastward Danby, which from Brus also by the Thwengs came unto the Baron Latimers, from whose heire descended the Willoughbeies, Barons of Brooke. But [ F] this Danby with other possessions was sold to the Nevills, of which family Sir George Nevill was by King Henry the sixth called among the Barons to the Parliaments, un∣der the name of Lord Latimer, in whose progenie and posterity this dignity hath continued unto our daies. There remaineth nothing else heere for me to note, but that the Barons Meinill held certaine lands in this shire of the Archbishops of Can∣terbury,

and for the same, the Coigniers, Strangwaies and Darcies, descended from [ A] them, are bound to performe certaine service to the said Archbishops. And whereas the King of England by his Prerogative shall have the Wardship (these bee the very words of the Praerogative) of all their lands who hold of him in chiefe by Knights service, of which themselves as tenants shall be seized in their Demesne as of Fae, the day whereon they die, of whomsoever they held by the like service, so that themselves notwithstanding hold of the King any tenement of the ancient demesne of the Crowne, unto the full and lawfull age of the heire: Yet are excepted these Fees and others of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Durrham, betweene Tine and Tees, &c. so that they may have the Wardship of such lands, although elsewhere they held of the King.

Farther within the country among the mountaines of Blaca amore, there offereth [ B] it selfe (besides wandering beakes and violent swift brookes, which challenge the vallies every where, as their owne to passe through) no memorable thing, unlesse it be Pickering; a good bigge towne belonging to the Dutchy of Lancaster, situate upon an hill and fortified with an old Castle, unto which a number of small villages lying there round about doe appertaine: whereupon the country adjoyning is com∣monly called Pickering Lith, The Libertie of Pickering, and Forest of Pickering, the which King Henry the Third gave unto his younger sonne Edmund, Earle of Lan∣caster. Wherein, neere unto the river Darwent standeth Atton, that gave name un∣to the right noble family of the Attons Knights, descended from the Lords Vescy: the inheritance of which family, was by the daughters parted betweene Edward [ C] Saint Iohn, the Evers, and the Coigniers. Now from Edward Saint Iohn a great por∣tion thereof came by a daughter to Henrie Bromflet. Which Henrie verily was sum∣moned to the High court of Parliament by these expresse termes, elsewhere not to be found in Summons. Our Will is, that both yee and your heires males, of your body lawfully issuing, be Barons of Vescy. Afterwards, that title passed away by a daughter to the Cliffords. On the otherside, foure miles from Pickering, neere unto Dow, a swift running riveret, lieth Kirkby-Morside hard unto the hilles, whereof it had that name, a Market towne not of the meanest reckoning, and the possession sometime of the Estotevilles.

Behind these, Westward, Rhidal lieth low, a goodly, pleasant and plentifull vale [ D] adorned with three and twenty Parish-churches, through the mids wherof runneth the river Rhie: A place (as saith William of Newburrough) wast, desolate, and full of horrour, before that Walter Espec had granted it to the Monkes of the Cluniak or∣der, and founded there an Abbay. In this vale is Elmesly seated, which, if I deceive not my selfe, Bede called Vlmetum; where, that Robert called de Rosse, surnamed Fur∣san built a Castle; nere unto which the river Recall hideth it selfe under the ground. More beneath, hard by the river side standeth Riton, an ancient possession of the an∣cient familie of the Percihaies, commonly named Percies. From thence Rhie carri∣eth with him the streames of many a brooke into Derwent, which watereth in this vale Malton a Market towne well knowne and frequented, for corne, horses, fish, and [ E] implements of husbandry: where are to be seene the foundations of an old Castle, belonging, as I have heard say, in old time to the Vescies, Barons in these parts of great estate and honor. Their pedigree as appeareth evidently by the Kings re∣cords, is derived from William Tyson, who being Lord of Malton and of Alnewicke in Northumberland, was slain in the battaile at Hastings against the Normans. Whose onely daughter was given in marriage to Ivo de Vescy a Norman, and hee left behind him his only daughter likewise named Beatrice, with whō Eustach the son of Fitz Iohn with one eie contracted marriage, who in the raigne of Stephen founded the reli∣gious houses at Malton, and Watton. For, his second wife daughter to William, Con∣stable of Chester, was Ladie of Watton. William the sonne of Eustach by Beatrice, [ F] being ripped out of his mothers wombe, assumed unto him the name of Vescy, and the Armes, a Cross-floury Argent, in a shield Gueles. This William begat of Beatrice daughter to Robert Estotevill of Knaresburg, two sonnes, Eustach de Vescy, who tooke to wife Margaret daughter to William King of the Scots, and Sir Warin de Vescy

[ A] Lord of Knapton. As for Eustach, father hee was of William, who begat John, that died without issue, and William, so renowned for his exploits in Ireland; and these changed the Armes of their house, into a shield Or with a crosse Sables. But Willi∣am, after that his legitimate sonne John, died in the warre of Wales, granted unto King Edward certaine lands in Ireland, that his illegitimate sonne William surna∣med of Kildare, might inherit his fathers estate. And hee ordained Anthony Bec Bishop of Durrham his feofie in trust to the use of his sonne: but he was scarce trusty as touching Alnewic, Eltham in Kent, and other lands; which he is reported to have conveied indirectly to his owne use. This illegitimate sonne young Vescy was slaine in the Battaile of Sterling in Scotland. And at length the title fell backe unto the [ B] line of the Attons, considering that Margaret the only daughter of Sir Gwarin Vescy was wedded unto Gilbert de Atton. But, heereof enough if not too much, and of it I have spoken before. Neere unto this vale there flourished two famous Abbaies, Newborrough (unto which we are indebted for William of Newborrough, a learned and diligent writer of the English Historie) now, the habitation of the worshipfull family of Bellasise, descended out of the Bishopricke of Durrham: and Bellelan∣da commonly Biland, both founded and endowed by Robert Mowbray. This family of the Mowbraies was for power, nobility, and wealth comparable to any other, and possessed very faire lands with the Castles of Slingesby, Threske, and others in this Tract. The originall of this race if you desire to understand, I will compendiously [ C] set it downe. When Roger de Mowbray Earle of Northumberland, and R. de Grun∣de-beofe for their disloialtie were dissezed of all their possessions, King Henry the First bestowed a great part thereof upon Nigell, or Niele de Albenie of the same fa∣mily that the Albeneis Earles of Arundell were descended; a man of very high birth in Normandie, who had bin Bowbearer to King William Rufus: and so enriched him thereby, that he held in England 140. Knights fees, and in Normandie 120. He commanded also that Roger his sonne should assume the name of Mowbray: from whom flowred out the Mowbraies Earles of Nottingham, and Dukes of Norfolke. To these Mowbraies also belonged in times past Gilling Castle standing hard by: but now unto that ancient and worshipfull family, which of their faire bush of haire got [ D] their name Fairfax. For Fax in the old English tongue signifieth haires, or the haire of the head: whereupon our progenitours called a Comet or blasing starre, A Faxed starre, like as a place, whereof I have spoken before, Haly-fax, of holy haires.

Then beneath these, Southward, lieth Calaterium Nemus, commonly called, The Forest of Galtres, shaded in some places with trees, in other some a wet flat, full of moist and moorish quavemires: very notorious in these daies by rea∣son of a solemne horse running, wherein the horse that outrunneth the rest hath for his prise a little golden bell. It is almost incredible what a multitude of people conflow hither from all parts to these games, and what great wagers are laid on the horses heads for their swift running. In this Forest standeth Creac, which Egfrid King [ E] of Northumberland in the yeer 684, gave with three miles round about unto Saint Cuthbert: by whom it came to the Church of Durrham. Scarce foure miles hence is situate most pleasantly among little woods and groves Sherry-Hutton, a very pro∣per Castle built by Sir Bertrand Bulmer, and reedified by Raulph Nevil, the first Earle of Westmorland. Neere unto which standeth Hinderskell a little Castle, built by the Barons of Greystocke, which others call Hunderd-skell, of a number of fountaines that spring up and rise there.

Behind the hilles Westward, where the country spreadeth it selfe out againe into a more fresh and plaine champion, lieth Alverton-shire, commonly called Northal∣lerton-shire, a little countrie watered with the riveret Wiske, and taking the name of [ F] Northalverton a towne, sometime called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is nothing else but a long broad street; howbeit, having in it on S. Bartholomewes day the greatest Faire of Kine and Oxen, and of most resort, that ever I saw in all my life. King William Rufus gave this with the territory adjoining unto the Church of Durrham, to the Bishops of which See it is very much beholden. For, William Comin who by force held the

Bishopricke of Durrham, built the Castle there, and granted it unto his nephew, [ A] which now is in manner quite decaied and gone. The Bishops likewise his successors granted unto it certaine liberties and immunities. For, in the Booke of Durrham we read that Hugh Pudsey Bishop of Durrham fortified the towne, having obtained licence of the King, that among those unlawfull castles, which by Commandement were then destroyed in many places of England, this onely should have the priviledge to stand still: which not∣withstanding, the King commanded afterward to be layd even with the ground. Hard by this, was that field foughten, which they commonly call the Battaile of the Standard: in which, David King of Scots, who with his unexampled cruelty had made this country almost a wildernesse, was after so great a slaughter of his people put to flight; that then and never before our countrimen thought they were fully reven∣ged. [ B] For, that indeed came to passe in this battaile, which Raulfe the Bishop said, when before the battaile in an oration he encouraged the English to fight: A con∣fused multitude untrained, is an impediment to it selfe, in prosperous successe to hurt others; and in adverse fortune, to escape it selfe. This was called The battaile of the Standard, because the English keeping themselves close together about the standard received the first onset and shock of the Scotish, endured it, and at length put them to flight. And this Standard as I have seene it pictured in ancient bookes, was a mighty huge cha∣riot supported with wheeles, wherein was set a pole of a great height in manner of a mast, and upon the very top thereof stood a crosse to bee seene, and under the crosse hung a banner. This when it was advanced was a token, that every one [ C] should prepare himselfe to fight, and it was reputed as an holy and sacred altar that each man was to defend with all power possible, resembling the same for al the world that Carrocium of the Italians, which might never be brought abroad but in the grea∣test extremitie and danger of the whole state.

Within this litle shire also, Threske, commonly called Thruske is worth to bee mentioned: which had sometime a most strong Castle out of which Roger Mowbray displaied his banner of rebellion, and called in the king of Scots to the overthrow of his owne native Country: what time as King Henry the Second had rashly and in∣considerately digged, as it were, his owne grave, by investing his sonne King, in e∣quall authority with himselfe. But this rebellion was in the end quenched with bloud, [ D] and this Castle quite dismantled: so that beside a ditch and rampire, I could see no∣thing there of a Castle. Another firebrand also of rebellion flamed out heere in the Raigne of Henry the Seventh. For when the unruly Commons tooke it most grie∣vously that a light subsidie granted by the States of the Kingdome in Parliament, was exacted of them, and had driven away the Collectors thereof, forthwith (as it is commonly seene that Rashnesse speeding once well can never keepe a meane nor make an end) they violently set upon Henry Percie, Earle of Northumberland, who was Lieutenant of these parts, and slew him in this place: and having John Egremond to be their leader, tooke armes against their Country and their Prince: but a few daies after they felt the smart of their lawlesse insolency grievously and justly as they [ E] had deserved. Heere hard by are Soureby and Brakenbake, belonging to a very anci∣ent and right worshipfull family of the L••scelles: also more Southward Sezay, some∣time of the Darels (from whence a great family branched) and afterwards the Daw∣nies who for a long time flourished heere maintaining the degree and dignity of Knights right worthily.

The first and onely Earle of Yorke (after William Mallet, and one or two Estotevils of the Norman bloud, who they say were Sheriffes by inheritance) was Otho son to Henry Leo Duke of Bavar and Saxony, by Maude the daughter of Henry the Second, King of England, who was afterwards proclaimed Emperour and stiled by the name of Otho the fourth. From whose brother William, another sonne of Maud, are de∣scended [ F] the Dukes of Brunswicke and Luneburgh in Germanie, who for a token of this their kinred with the Kings of England give the same Armes that the first Kings of England of Norman bloud bare, to wit two Leopards or Lions Or, in a shield Gueles. Long after, King Richard the Second created Edmund of Langley, fifth

[ A] sonne of King Edward the Third, Duke of Yorke: who by a second daughter of Peter King of Castile and of Leon had two sonnes. Edward the eldest, in his fathers life time, was first Earle of Cambridge, afterwards Duke of Aumarle, and in the end Duke of Yorke; who manfully fighting in the battaile at Agincourt in France lost his life, leaving no children: and Richard his second sonne Earle of Cambridge, who having marryed Anne sister of Edmund Mortimer, whose grandmother like∣wise was the onely daughter of Leonell Duke of Clarence, and practising to ad∣vance Edmund his wives brother to the royall dignity, was streightwaies intercep∣ted and beheaded, as if hee had beene corrupted by the French to destroy King Henry the Fifth.

[ B] Sixteene yeeres after, his sonne Richard, was restored in bloud through the ex∣ceeding, but unadvised favour of King Henry the Sixth: as being sonne to Richard Earle of Cambridge brother to Edward Duke of Yorke, and cozin also to Edmund Earle of March. And now being Duke of Yorke, Earle of March and of Vlster, Lord of Wigmore, Clare, Trim, and Conaght, hee bare himselfe so lofty, that shortly hee made claime openly in Parliament, against King Henry the Sixth, as in his owne right, for the Crowne: which he had closely affected by indirect courses before in making complaints of the misgovernment of the State, spreading seditious rumours, scat∣tering Libels abroad, complotting secret Conspiracies, and stirring up tumults, yea and open Warres: laying downe his Title thus, as being the sonne of Anne Morti∣mer, [ C] who came of Philip the daughter and sole heire of Leonel Duke of Clarence, third sonne of King Edward the Third, and therefore to be preferred by very good right, in succession of the Kingdome, before the children of John of Gaunt the fourth sonne of the said Edward the Third. And when answere was made unto him, that the Nobles of the Realme and the Duke himselfe had sworne Alleageance unto the King, that the Kingdome by authority of Parliament had beene conferred and entailed upon Henry the Fourth and his heires; that the Duke claiming his Title, from the Duke of Clarence never tooke upon him the Armes of the Duke of Cla∣rence, that Henry the Fourth held the Crowne in right from King Henry the Third; hee easily avoyded all these allegations: namely, that the said oath unto the King [ D] taken by mans law was in no wise to bee performed, when as it tended to the sup∣pression of the truth and right, which stand by the Law of God: That, there was no need of Parliamentary authority to entaile the Crowne and Kingdome unto the Lancastrians, neither would they themselves seeke for it so, if they had stood upon any right thereunto. As for the Armes of the Duke of Clarence which were his by right hee forbare of purpose to give them untill then; like as hee did, to claime his right to the Imperiall Crowne: And as for the right or Title derived from king Henry the Third, it was a meere ridiculous devise and manifest untruth to cloake the violent usurpation of Henry the Fourth, and therefore condemned of all men. Albeit these plees in the behalfe of the Duke of Yorke stood directly with law: [ E] yet, for remedy of imminent dangers the matter was ordered thus by the wisdome of the Parliament: That Henry the Sixth should enjoy the right of the Kingdome for tearme of life onely and that Richard Duke of Yorke should be proclaimed heire ap∣parant of the Kingdome, he and his heires to succeed after him: provided alwaies, that neither of them should plot or practise ought to the destruction of the other. Howbeit the Duke immediately was transported so headlong with ambition, that hee went about to preoccupate and forestall his owne hopes, and so hee raised that deadly Warre betweene the Houses of Yorke and Lancaster, distinguished by the white and red Rose, wherein himselfe soone after lost his life at Wakefield, King Henry the Sixth was foure times taken Prisoner, and in the end despoiled both of his [ F] Kingdome and life. Edward Earle of March sonne to the said Richard, obtained the Crowne, and being deposed from the same, recovered it againe (thus inconstant for∣tune disported herselfe, lifting up and throwing downe Princes at her pleasure) ma∣ny Princes of the royall bloud, and a number of the Nobility lost their lives: those

hereditary and rich Provinces in France belonging to the Kings of England were [ A] lost, the wealth of the Realme wholly wasted, and the poore people thereof over∣whelmed with all manner of misery. Edward now being established in his royall Throne, and in the ranke of Kings carrying the name of Edward the Fourth, gave unto Richard his second sonne the Title of Duke of Yorke, who together with king Edward the Fifth his brother was by their Unkle Richard the Third murdered. Then king Henry the Seventh granted the same Title unto his younger sonne, who afterwards was crowned king of England by the name of Henry the Eight. And even now of late King James invested Charles his second sonne (whom before, hee had created in Scotland Duke of Albany, Marquesse of Ormond, Earle of Rosse and Baron of Ardmanoch) a childe not full foure yeeres of age, Duke of Yorke, by [ B] cincture of a sword, imposition of a Cap and Coronet of gold upon his head, and by de∣livering unto him a verge of gold: after he had according to the order with due complements made the day before, both him and eleven more of Noble Parentage, Knights of the Bath.

Reckoned there are in this County Parishes 459. under which he very many Chappels, for number of Inhabitants equall unto great Parishes.

Notes

• North Riding.
• Scarborrough Castle.
• See Dier 144.
• The gainfull fishing for Herrings.
• Hexameron. lib. 5. cap. 80.
• The River Teise.
• Robbin Hoods Bay.
• Dunum.
• Dunsley. Whitby.
• Stony Serpents of Hildas.
• Geese falling downe.
• Duke Wade from whom th•• families of the Wades derive▪
• Mauley▪
• Moul grave Castle.
• Barons of Mauley.
• Geat.
• Gagates.
• Others are opinion that our pit cole o•• stone cole wa•• the old Gaga∣tes.
• Cliveland.
• Brius of Skel∣ton.
• Barons Falcon∣berg.
• Yare. Stokesley.
• Gisburgh.
• Onusbery hill or Rosebery-Topping.
• The History of Canterbury.
• Praerogativae Reg. 17. Ed. 2.
• 17. Hen. 6. Bromfleet Lord Vescy.
• Escaetria ••. Edw. 2 n. 63. Barons Vescy
• Mon••••uli.
• The Vescies coate of Armes. Matth. Paris. M.S.
• Mowbraie.
• In other places he is named De Fronte-bovis.
• The Register of Fountains Abbay.
• Fair-fax. Fax.
• A solemne Horse-running.
• North-Al••er∣ton shire.
• Cap. 126.
• Battaile of Standard.
• Earle of Northumber∣land slaine by Rebells.
• Earles and Dukes of Yorke.
• Earle of March.
• Parliament. 10. Hen. 6.
• Out of the Rols of the Parliament. 39. of Hen. the 6.
• Warre between the House of Lancaster and Yorke, or the red Rose and the white.
• See pag. 570.
• 1604.