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RUTLAND-SHIRE is by a double Diminutive called by Mr. Cambden, Angliae Provinciola minima. Indeed it is but the Pestel of a Lark, which is better than a quarter of some bigger bird, having the most cleanly profit in it: No place so fair for the Rider, being more fruitful for the Abider therein.
Ban•…•…shing the fable of King Rott, and their fond conceit, who will have Rutland so called from Roet, the French word for a Wheel, from the rotundity thereof, (being in form almost exactly orbicular) it is so termed, quasi Red-land; for as if Nature kept a Dye-vat herein, a reddish tincture discoloureth the earth, stones, yea the very flieces of the sheep feeding therein. If the Rabbins observation be true, who distinguish betwixt Arets, the general element of the earth; and Adamah, red ground, from which Adam was taken and named; making the later the former refined: Rutlands soil on the same reason may lay claim to more than ordinary purity and perfection.
Buildings.
Burgley on the Hill belonged formerly to the Lords Harrington, but since so beauti∣fied with buildings by the Duke of Buckingham, that it was inferiour to few for the House, superiour to all for the Stable; where horses (if their pabulum so plenty as their stabulum stately) were the best accommodated in England. But alas, what saith Me∣nedemus to Chremas in the Comedy? Filium unicum adolescentulum habeo. Ah quid dixi habere me? immo habui: so may Rutland say, I have; yea I had one most magni∣ficent house: this Burgley being since demolished in our Civil war, so just was the Poets ancient Invective,
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mars, Mars, bane of men, slaughter-stain'd, spoiler of houses.
But when we have first sufficiently bemoned the loss of so many worthy men in our late war, if then we have still any sorrow left, and tears to spare, we will spend them in lamenting the razing and ruining of so many stately structures.
Wonders.
How it will appear to the Reader I know not, but it is wonderful in my apprehen∣sion, that this County, so pleasant, so fruitful, almost in the middle of England, had not one absolute or entire Abby therein; producing onely two small appurtenances (of inconsiderable value) to Convents in other Counties, viz.
Okehame, under the custody of the Pri∣ory of St. Anne by Coventry, founded by William Dalby, for two Chaplains and twelve poor; receiving in all one and twenty pounds per annum.
Brook, a Cell to Killingworth, founded by Walkeline de Ferrers Baron of Okeham, for black Canons, valued at the dissoluti∣on at fourty three pounds thirteen shillings and four pence.
The like cannot be parallell'd in England, chuse so great a parcel of good ground where you please. Shew me so fair a bunch of sweet grapes, which had no more flies to suck them: Nor can I conjecture any competent cause thereof, except because Ed∣ward the Confessor by his Will gave all Rutland to Westminster Church, which though rescinded by King William the Conqueror, yet other Convents perchance might be scrupulous to accept, what once belonged to another Foundation.