[illustration]
Westmorland and Comberlād [map of Westmoreland and Cumberland]
Page [unnumbered]VVESTMORLAND.
CHAPTER XL.
WESTMORLAND, by some late Latine Writers is called Westmaria, and Westmor∣landia, by some later Westmoria, and in our English Tongue Westmorland. It came to be thus named in our language by the situation, which in every part is so plen∣teously full of Moors and high Hills, reaching one to another, that Westmor∣land (with us) is nothing else but a Western moorish Country. Having on the and North-side Cumberland, on the South part Lanca-shire, on the East-side York-shire, and the Bishop∣rick of Durham.
(2) The length thereof extended from Burton in her South, to Kirkland in her North part is 30 miles: the broadest part from East to West, is from the River Eden to Dunbal raise stones, containing 24 miles, the whole circumference about 112 miles.
(3) The form thereof is somewhat long and narrow: the Air sharp and piercing, purging it self from the trouble of gross foggy mists, and vapours, by reason of which the people of this Province are not acquainted with strange diseases or imperfections of body, but live long, and are healthful, and at•ain to the number of many years.
(4) The Soil for the most part of it is but barren, and can hardly be brought to any fruitfulness, by the industry and painful labour of the husbandman, being so full of infertile places, which the Norteern Englishme• call Moors; yet the more Southerly part is not reported to be so sterile, but more fruitful in the Vallies, though contained in a narrow room, between the River Lone, and Winander-mear, and it is all termed by one name. The Barony of K••dale or Ca•dale, that is, the dale by Can, taking the name of the River Can, that runs through it.
Page [unnumbered](5) The ancient Inhabitants of this County were the Brigantes, mentioned in the several Counties of York▪ Lancaster and Cumberland.
(6) It is not commended either for plenty of Corn or Cattel, being neither stored with Arable Grounds to bring forth the one, nor pasturage to breed up the other: the principle profit that the Peo∣ple of this Province raise unto themselves, is by Cloathing.
(7) The chiefest place of which is Kandale or Kendale, called also Kirkeby Kendale, standing on the Bank of the River Can. This Town is of great Trade and resort, and for the diligent and indu∣strious practice of making Cloth so excels the rest, that in regard thereof it carrieth a super-emi∣nent name above them, and hath great vent and Traffique for her Woollen-cloaths through all the parts of England. It challengeth not much glory for Antiquity; only that it accounteth it a great credit, that it hath dignified three Earls with the title thereof, as Iohn Duke of Bedford, whom Henry the Fifth (being his brother) advanced to that honour, Iohn Duke of Somerset, and Iohn de Foix, whom King Henry the Sixth preferred to that dignity for his honourable and trusty services done in the French Wars. It is a place of very civil and orderly government, the which is managed by an Alder∣man, chosen every year out of his twelve Brethren, who are all distinguished and notified from the rest by the wearing of purple Garments. The Alderman and his Senior Brother are always Iustices of Peace and Quorum. There are in it a Town Clerk, a Recorder, two Sergeants at Mace, and two Chamberlains. By Mathematical observation the site of this Town is in the degree of Longitude 17, 30 scruples from the first West-point, and the Pole elevated in Latitude to the degree 55, and 15 minutes.
(8) Places of memorable note for Antiquity are Vertera, mentioned by Antonine the Empe∣rour; and Aballaba, which we contractly call Apelby. In the one, the Northern English conspired against William the Conquerour in the beginning of the Norman Government. In the other, the Page [unnumbered] Aurelian Maures kept a Station in the time of the Romans, and their high-street is yet apparently to be seen by the ridges thereof, which lead by Apelby to a place called Brovonacum, mentioned in the Book of Provincial notices. The antique pieces of Roman Coin otherwhiles digged up hereabouts, and some Inscriptions not long •ince found, shew of what continuance they have been: although Time, which devoureth all things, hath so fed upon their carkasses many Ages together, as it hath almost consumed both Houses and Inhabitants, for Apelby now is bare both of People and Building; and were it not for the antiquity that makes it the more estimable, in whose Castle the Assises are commonly kept, it would be little better in account than a Village. Verterae is long since decayed, and the name of it changed into Burgh: for it is commonly named Burgh under Stanemore. In which, it is said, a Roman Captain made his abode with a Band of Directores, in the declining Age of the Roman Em∣pire- These two places William of Newborough calleth Princely Holds, and writeth, that William King of Scots a little before he himself was taken Prisoner at Alnewicke, surprized them on a sudden, but King Iohn recovered them after, and liberally bestowed them upon Robert Vipont, for his many wor∣th• services.
(9) There is mention made but of one Religious House that hath been in all this Country, and that was a little Monastery seated near unto the River Loder, built by Thomas the son of Gospatricke, the Son of Orms: where there is a Fountain or Spring that Ebbs and Flows many times a day, and it is thought that some notable Act of Atchievement hath been performed there, for that there be huge Stones in form of Pyramides, some nine foot high, and fourteen foot thick, ranged for a mile in length directly in a row, and equally distant, which might seem to have been there purposely pitched in me∣mory thereof: but what that Act was it is not now known, but quite worn out of remembrance by Times injury.
(10) Other matters worthy of observation are only these: That at Ambogla••, now called Am∣ble-side, Page [unnumbered] near the upper-corner of Winander-Mear, there appears at this day the ruins of an ancient City, which by the British-Bricks, by Roman-Money oftentimes found there, by High-waies paved leading unto it, and other likelihoods, seems to have beed a work of the Romans: The Fortress there∣of so long fenced with a Ditch and Rampire, that it took up in length one hundred thirty two Ells, and in breadth eight. There are also near Kendale in the River Can, two Catadupae or Waterfalls, where the Waters descend with such a forcible downfal, that it compels a mighty noise to be heard, which the neighbour Inhabitants make such use of, as they stand them in as good stead as Prognosti∣cations: for when that which standeth North from them soundeth more clear, and with a louder ec∣cho in their ears, they certainly look for fair weather to follow▪ But when that on the South doth the like, they expect foggy mists and showers of rain.
(11) This Province is traded with four Market-Towns, fortified with the strength of seven Castles, and hath 26 Parishes in it for the celebration of Divine Service.
