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BEDFORD-SHIRE.
BEDFORD-SHIRE hath Northampton-shire on the North, Huntington and Cambridge-shires on the East, Hartford-shire on the South, Buckingham shire on the West thereof. It lieth from North to South in an ovall form, and may be allowed two and twenty miles in length, though the generall breadth thereof extendeth not to full fifteen.
The soil consisteth of a deep clay, yet so that this County may be said to wear a belt or girdle of sand about, or rather athwart the body thereof, (from Woburne to Potton) affording fair and pleasant, as the other part doth fruitfull and profitable places for habitation, which partakes plentifully in the partage of all English conveniencies.
Here let this Caveate be entred to preserve its due [but invaded] right, to much grain growing in this County. For Corne-Chandlers (the most avouchable Authors in this Point) will inform you, that when Hartford-shire Wheat and Barley carries the Credit in London, thereby much is meant (though miscalled) which is immediately bought in and brought out of Hartford-shire, but Originally growing in Bedford shire, about Dunstable and else where. But let not the dry Nurse, which onely carried the Child in her Armes and dandled it in her Lap, lay claime to that Babe which the true Mother did breed and bear in her body.
Naturall Commodities.
White, large, plump and full of flower. The Country man will tell you, that of all our grains this is most nice, and must be most observed in the severall seasons thereof. It doth not onely allay hunger, but also in a manner quencheth thirst, when ordered into Malt. It is (though not so t oothsome) as wholesome as Wheat it self, and was all the Staff of Bread, which Christs body leaned on in this life: Eating to attest his Humanity; Ba•…•…ly-loaves to evidence his Humility.* 1.1
This is Barley with the property thereof much altered, having passed both water and fire, ste•…•…ped and dried on a kilne. That the use hereof was known to the Greeks, plainly appears by the proper word wherewith they expresse it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; and no Maltster of Bedford can better describe the manner thereof then is done by* 1.2 Aetius; Est hor∣deum madefactum, quod germen emisit, deinde cum ligulis enatis tostum est. Besides, we read of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and * 1.3 Athenaeus maketh mention of such, who were
——〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Drinkers of Barley-wine.
A liquor probably more wholesome for Northern bodies then that which groweth in grapes.
What great estates Maltsters got formerly in this County, may be collected from the wealth of the Ale-brewers therein, there being so near a relation betwixt the two Callings. For I read in the reign of King Henry the fifth, of William Murfley an Ale∣brewer of Dunstable, (accounted, I confe•…•…s, a Lollard, and follower of the Lord Cob∣ham;) who when* 1.4 taken, had two horses trapped with gilt armour led after him, and had a pair of gilt-spurs in his bosome, expecting (say they) Knight-hood from the Lord Cobham. And although I believe not the report in full habitude, it is enough to intimate unto us, that in that age it was a wealthy imployment.
Great store of this is digged up not far from Woburne in this County, whence it is commonly called Woburne-earth. Such the use thereof in Drapery, that good cloth can* 1.5 hardly be made without it, forreign parts affording neither so much, nor so good of this kind. No wonder then if our Statutes strictly forbid the transportation there∣of, to preserve the perfection of clothing amongst our selves. But were this Fullers∣earth like Terra Lemnia, or Sigillata, and all the parcells thereof lock'd up under a seal,