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LEIGESTERSHIRE.
LEICESTER-SHIRE. This County is (though not exqui∣sitely) circular in the form, whilst Leicester the Shire-Town is al∣most the exact Center thereof, and the River Soare, Diameter∣like, divides it into two equal halfes. Having Lincolne, and Rutland-shire on the East, Darby and Nottingham-Shire on the North, Warwick-Shire on the West, and Northampton-Shire on the South. It extendeth from North to South thirty and three miles (measured from the utmost Angle) but exceedeth not twenty seven in the Breadth thereof.* 1.1
Here 〈◊〉〈◊〉 avoid all offence we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 collect the Quality of this Soyle from a * Native thereof. Who may be presumed exact in this Quadri-Partition.
South-West. | North▪ West. | North▪ East. | South-East |
Rich ground plenti∣ful in Corn and Pa∣sture, but wanting Wood, forceing the Inhabitants to make use of Straw, Cowe∣•…•…▪ &c. | For the most part, Hard and Barren, yielding Fruit not without labour and expence, but well stored with Wood & Pit-cole. | Good Soyle, apt to bear Corn and Grass and sufficiently pro∣vided with Fuell. | Much▪ like the last for fruitfulnesse, & of the two, bet∣ter furnished with Fuel. |
However these four Quarters being put together into the Body of one Shire, com∣petently supply their mutual defects.
Natural Commodities.
Plenty of these in this County, especially about Barton in the Beans, in the Hundred of Sparkhen-Hoe, where they appear like a Forrest toward the time of Harvest. Wherefore the Scouts of Charles Duke of Burgundie, who mistook a Field full of high* 1.2 thistles, near unto Paris, for the Army of the King of France, with their lances held upright, might here commit the like mistake with more probability. Though Beans be gene∣rally beheld, but as horse and hog-graine, yet were they mans * meat, even in the* 1.3 plentiful Country of Canaan, called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Pholl in the Hebrew, whence some deduce the word Pulse, though none dare affirm that Daniel his Pulse was made thereof. But more of this* 1.4 Grain hereafter.
These are digg'd up plentifully at Cole-Orton, in the Hundred of West Goscot. I say Cole-Orton, for there is another Village called Cold-Orton in this Shire. An addition, which no lesse truly than sadly would be prefixed to most Towns in this County, if not warmed in VVinter with this under-ground-fewell, that above-ground is so much decayed.
I confess 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a Treasure of Coles, passeth both in the Greek and Latine Proverb, for a frustrated Expectation, and his hopes fall very low, who, looking for Gold, either in Specie or in Oar•…•…, lighteth only on a heap of Coles, which anciently used to be buryed in the Earth, for boundaries or* 1.5 limits of lands. However such Mines of Coles as these, without any help of Alcumy, are quickly turned into Gold and Silver, sold at good rates to the Countryes round about.
Manufactures in this County are not to be expected, for where the Husbandmans Acre-Staffe, and the Shepheards-hook are as in this County in Staie, there they engross all to themselves, and command Manufactures to observe their distance from them.
The Buildings.
This County afordeth no Cathedralls, and as for the Parish-Churches therein, they may take the Eye, not ravish the admiration of the beholder. Bottsford, is one of the primest, very fair and large, with a high Spire Steeple. At the Suppression of Abbeys, many ancient Monument, of the Albanies and Rosses, were removed