[illustration]

Worcestershir

[map of Worcestershire]

VVORCESTER-SHIRE.

CHAPTER XXV.

WORCESTER-SHIRE, is a County both rich and populous, and lyeth circulated upon the North with Stafford•shire; upon the East with Warwick and Oxford-shires, upon the South with •locester•shire; and the West by Malverne Hills is parted from Hereford•shire: the rest lyeth confronted upon, and in part divided from Shrop-shire by the Ri∣ver Dowles.

(2) The form thereof is triangle, but not of equal proportion; for from North to South are thirty two miles, from South to North-West twenty two, and from thence to her North-East point are twenty eight: the whole in circumference is one hundred and twenty miles.

(3) The Air of this Shire is of a favourable temperature, that gives an appetite for labour, diet, and rest: The Soyl is fertile, and to me seemed inferiour to none other in this Land: for besides the abundance of Corn in every place spread, the Woods and Pasturage in her hills and Plains, sweet Rivers that water the Vallies below, the Cattle that cover the tops of higher ground; the Fields, Hedge-rows, and High-ways are beset with fruitful Pea•-trees that yield great pleasure to sight, and commodious use: for with their juyce they make a bastard kind of Wine, called Perry, which is both pleasant and good in taste. Many Salt Springs also this County affordeth: yea, and more than are commonly in use, such with the Germans, our ancient Predecessors, were esteemed most sacred and holy; so that (as Tacitus writeth) to such they wontedly resorted to s•pplicate their Gods with their devout pra•ers, as to places neerest the Heavens, and therefore the sooner to be heard. And Poets in their feignings will have the Nymphs residence in shady green groves, and banks of Page  [unnumbered] sweet Springs: if so, then (as Helicon) this County affords both: such are the Forrests of Wire and Fecke••am, the great Woods of Norton, and most fair Chase of Malvern. And for waters, to witness what I say, is the Severn that cuts this Shire in the midst, Teme, Salwarp, and Avon, all of them making fruit•ul their passage, and stored with Fish of most delicious taste.

(4) The ancient people, poss•ssors of this Shire, were the CORNAVII▪ inhabitants of Che•shire Shrop-shire, Stafford, and Warwick-shires subdued by the Romans in Claudius Caesars time, and after their departure, made a portion of the Merci•n•Saxons Kingdom, and in Beda's time were called the VVicii, whereof it may be this Shire had the name: unless you will have it from the Salt-Pits, which in old English are named Witches; or from the famous Forrest of Wyre. Howsoever, true it is that the County doth hold the name from the Chief City VVorcester.

(5) Which is most pleasantly seated, passing well frequented, and very richly inhabited. This was the Branonium, mentioned by Antonine and Ptolomy, called by the Britains, C•er-VVrangon; by Ninius, C•er-Guorcon; and by the Latines, Vigornia, This City is seated upon the East bank of Se∣ver•e, and from the same is walled in, triangle-wise about, extending in circuit one thousand six hundred and fifty paces: thorow which seven Gates enter, with five other Watch-Towers for defence. It is thought the Ro•ans built this to restrain the Britains that held all beyond S•verne. This City by Hardy Canute in the year of Christ 1041, was so•ely endangered, and set on ••re, and the Citizens slain almost every one, for that they had killed his Collector of the Danish Tribute: yet it way presently repaired and peopled, with many Burgesses, and for fifteen Hides discharged it self to the Conquerour; as in his Doomesdays is to be seen. But in the year 1113, a sudden fire happen∣ed, no man knew how, which burnt the Castle and Cathedral Church. Likewise in the civil •royles of King S•ephen it was twice lighted into a flame, and the latter laid it hopeless of recovery. Notwithstanding from those dead Ashes a new Phenix arose, and her building raised in a more Page  [unnumbered] stately proportion, especially the Cathedral dedicated to S. Mary, first laid by Bishop Sexwolfe, in Anno 680: •ince when it hath been augmented almost to the River: In the midst of whose Qui•e, from his many turmoiles, resteth the body of King Io•n (the great withstande• of the Popes proceed∣ings) under a monument of white Marble, in Princely Vestures, with his portraiture thereon ac∣cording to life. And in the South-•ide of the same Quire lyeth entombed Prince A•thur the eldest Son to King Henry the seventh; his Monument is all black Iett, without remembrance of him by Picture.

This City is governed by two Bayliffs, two Aldermen, two Chamberlains, and two Constables, yearly elected out o• twenty four Burgesses clothed in Scarlet, assisted with forty eight other Citizen•▪; whom they call their Common Councell•rs, clad in Purple, a Recorder, Town-Clerk, and five Serge∣ants with Mace their Attendants. Whose Geographical Position is distant in Longitude from the West Meridian 18 degrees, 10 scruples, •aving the North-Pole elevated in Latitude 52 degrees, and 32 scruples.

(6) Places of further note for memorable antiquity, is Vpton, of great account in the Roman time, where some of their Legions kept, as witness their Moneys, there often found; the admirable Ditch upon Malvern H•lls, drawn by Gilbert Clare, Earl of Glocester, to divide his Lands from the Church of Worcester: the Saxons or Augustines Oke, where he the English Apostle met with the British Bishops for the uniform celebration of Easter, from whence both parts departed with discontented minds, after many hot words and thwa•ting disputes.

(7) Neither is it wi•hout adm•ration to me, that many places of this Shire lye far within the Precincts of other Provinces, as Aulston, Washbor•es, Cuttesden, Paxford, Hanging-Easton, Northwick•, Blockley, Eurlode in Glocester-shire, and Goldcote, Alderme•ston, New•old, Steddenton, Armiscote, Black∣well, Darlings-cote, Shipton, Tydmin•on, Olbarrow in Warwick shi•e, Dudley in Stafford-shire, and Page  [unnumbered] Rochford in Her•ford-shire, whither I must refer the Reader to find out these and the like in these Western Tracts.

(8) Religious places erected in this Shire, and devoted unto God by devout persons, were Bre∣den, Brodlege, Evesholme, Al•ecester, Cochel, Eladbury, Malverin, Pershore, Stodl•ge, Westwoods, and Worcester, plenteously provided for, and further secured by many priviledges, both which they abused, as were the Inditements of all such in the days of King Henry the eight, at whose Bar himself being Iudge) they were found guilty, and received sentence of their ends and dest•uction.

(9) Castles for defence built in this County, •uinate or in strength, were Hartleb•ry, Holt, Ha•dley, Norton, Elmely, and Worcester, besides his Majesties Mannour of Tichnel.

(10) This Shires divi•ion is into seven Hundreds, wherein are seated ten Market-Towns, and one hundred fifty two Parish-Churches.