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DEVON-SHIRE, by the Cor∣nish Britaines called Devinan; by the English-Saxons Deven-schyre,* 1.1 and by contraction of the vulgar Den-shire, is not de∣rived from the Danes, as some would have it, but from the peo∣ple Danmonii, the same we have spoken of in Cornwall, and whom Ptolemie hath seated in these Westerne Borders.
* 1.2(2) The West of this County is bounded altogether by the River Tamar: the East is held in with the verge of Som∣merset-shire: and the North & South sides are washed who∣ly with the British and Severne Seas: Betwixt whose shores from Cunshere in the North, unto Salcombe Haven entering in at the South, are fifty-five miles▪ and from the Hartland Point West,* 1.3 to Thorncombe East, are fiftie-foure: the whole circumference about two hundred and two miles.
* 1.4(3) The Ayre is sharpe, healthfull and good: the Soile is hilly, wooddy and fruitfull, yet so as the hand of the Ma∣nurer must never be idle,* 1.5 nor the purse of the Farmer never fast shut, especially of them that are farre from the Sea, whence they fetch a sand with charge and much travell, which being ••spread upon the face of the earth, bettereth the leannesse thereof for graine, and giveth life to the Glebe with great efficacie.
* 1.6(4) As Cornwall, so this hath the same commodities that arise from the Seas: and being more inlanded hath more commodious Havens for Shippings entercourse, among whom Totnes is famous for Brutes first entrance, ••if Geffrey say true,* 1.7 or if Havillan the Poet took not a Poeticall liberty, when speaking of Brute, he wrote thus:
The gods did guide his sail and course: the winds were at com∣mand: And Totnes was the happy shoare where first he came on land.But with more credit and lamentable event, the Danes at Teigue-mouth first entered for the invasion of this Land,* 1.8 a∣bout the yeare of Christ 787. unto whom Brightrik K. of the West-Saxons sent the Steward of his house to know their intents, whom resistantly they slew: yet were they forced back to their Ships by the Inhabitants, though long they stayed not, but eagerly pursued their begun enterprises.
* 1.9With more happy successe hath Plimouth set forth the purchasers of fame, and stopped the entrance of Englands Invaders, as in the raigne of that eternized Queene, the mirrour of Princes, Elizabeth of everlasting memory: for from this Port Sir Francis Drake, that potent man at Sea, setting forth Anno 1577. in the space of two yeares and ten moneths did compasse the circle of the Earth by Sea. And the Lord Charles Howard,* 1.10 Englands high Admirall, did not onely from hence impeach the entrance of the proud in∣vincible Spanish Navy, intending invasion and subversion of State, but with his Bullets so signed their passage, that their sides did well shew in whose hands they had beene, as seals of their own shame, and his high honour.
* 1.11(5) The commodities of this shire consist much in Wools and Clothings, where the best and finest Kersies are made in the Land. Corne is most plenteous in the fruitfull Vallies, and Cattle spreading upon the topped Hils, Sea-fish and Fowle exceedingly abundant. Veynes of Lead, yea and some of Silver in this Shire are found: and the Load-stone (not the least for use and esteeme) from the rocks upon Dartmore hath beene taken. Many fresh Springs doe bub∣ble from the Hils in this Province, which with a longing desire of Societie search out their passage, till they meete and conjoyne in the Vallies, and gathering still strength with more branches, lastly grow bodied able to beare Ships into the Land, and to lodge them of great burden in their Bosomes or Fals: whereof Tamar, Tave and Ex are the fairest and most commodious.
* 1.12(6) Vpon which last the chiefe Citie and Shire-Towne of this County is seated, and from that River hath her name Excester: this City by Ptolemie is called Isca; by the Itine∣rary of Antonius Emperour, Isca Danmoniorum; by the En∣glish Saxons Exanceasder, and Monketon; and by the Welsh Pencaer. It is pleasantly seated upon the gentle ascent of an hil, so stately for building, so rich with Inhabitants, so frequ••nt for commerce and concourse of strangers, that a man can desire nothing but there it is to be had, saith William of Malmesbury. The wals of this Citie first built by King Athelstane, are in a manner circular or round, but towards the Ex rangeth al∣most in a straight line, having sixe Gates for entrance, and many watch-Towers interposed betwixt, whose compasse containeth about fifteene hundred paces: upon the East part of this Citie standeth a Castle called Rugemont,* 1.13 some∣times the Palace of the West-Saxon Kings, and after them of the Earles of Cornwall, whose prospect is pleasant unto the Sea, and over against it a most magnificent Cathedrall Church, founded by King Athelstan also, in honour of S. Peter, and by Edward the Confessor made the Bishops See, which he removed from Crediton or Kirton in this County unto the Citie of Excester (as saith the private History of that place:) whose dilapidations the reverend father in God William now Bishop of the Diocesse with great cost hath re∣paired; whom I may not name without a most thankfull remembrance for the great benefits received by his carefull providence toward me and mine.* 1.14 This Citie was so strong and so well stored of Britaines, that they held out against the Saxons for 465. years after their first entrance, and was not absolutely wonne untill, Athelstan became Monarch of the whole, who then peopled it with his Saxons, and en∣riched the beautie thereof with many faire buildings: but in the times of the Danish desolations this Citie with the rest, felt their destroying hands; for in the yeare 875. it was by them sore afflicted, spoyled, and shaken, and that most grievously by Swane in the yeare of Christ Iesus 1003. who razed it downe from East to West, so that scarcely had it gotten breath before William the bastard of Normandy be∣sieged it, against whom th•• Citizens with great manhood served, till a part of the wall fell downe of it selfe, and that by the hand of Gods providence, saith mine Authour: since when it hath beene three times b••sieged, and with valiant resistance ever defended.* 1.15 The first was by Hugh Courtney Earle of Devon-shire, in the civill broyles betwixt Lancaster and York: then by Perkin Warbeck, that counterfeited Ri∣chard Duke of York: and lastly, by the Cornish Rebels, where∣in although the Citizens were grievously pinched with scarcitie, yet continued they their faithfull allegiance unto King Edward the sixt; and at this day flourisheth in tran∣quillitie and wealth, being governed by a Mayor, twentie-foure Brethren, with a Recorder, Towne-Clerke and other Officers their attendants.* 1.16 This Cities graduation is set in the degree of Latitude from the North Pole 50. & 45. scruples: and for Longitude from the West, to the degree 16. and 25. scruples. Neither is Ioseph that excellent Poet, whose birth was in this Citie, the least of her Ornaments, whose Writings bare so great credit that they were divulged in the Germane language under the name of Cornelius Nepos.
The like credit got Crediton in her birth-child Winefred,* 1.17 the Apostle of the Hassians, Thuringers, and Frisians of Ger∣many, which were converted by him unto the Gospel and knowledge of Christ.
(7) Places memorable in this Countie remaining for signes of Battels,* 1.18 or rather antiquities are these: upon Ex∣more certaine Monuments of Antique worke are erected, which are stones pitched in order, some triangle-wise, and some in round compasse: these no doubt were Trophies of victories there obtained, either by the Romans, Saxons, or Danes, and with Danish letters one of them is inscribed, gi∣ving direction to such as should travell that way.* 1.19 Huble∣stow likewise neere unto the mouth of Tawe, was the buri∣all place of Hubba the Dane,* 1.20 who with his brother Hungar, had harried the English in divers parts of the Land: but last∣ly, was there encountred with, and slaine by this Shires In∣habitants, and under a heape of copped stones interred, and the Banner Reasen there and then taken,* 1.21 that had so often been spread in the Danes quarrell, and wherein they reposed no small confidence for successe.
(8) A double dignitie remaineth in this Countie,* 1.22 where Princes of State have borne the Titles both of Devon-shire and Excester: of which Citie there have b••en entituled Dukes, the last of whom, namely, Henry Holland, Grand∣childe to Iohn Holland, halfe-brother to King Richard the second; siding with Lancaster against Edward the fourth, whose sister was his wife,* 1.23 was driven to such misery, as Phi∣lip Commineus reporteth, that he was seen all torn and bare∣footed to beg his living in the Low Countries: and lastly, his body was cast upon the Shore of Kent (as if he had perished by shipwrack) so uncertaine is Fortune in her endowments, and the state of man, notwithstanding his great birth.
(9) Religious houses in this Shire built in devotion,* 1.24 and for Idolatry pulled downe, were at Excester, Torbay, Tanton, Tavestoke, Kirton, Ford, Hartland, Axmister and Berstable.
(10) And the Counties divisions are parted into 33. Hundreds,* 1.25 wherein are seated 37. Market Townes, and 394. Parish-Churches, whose names shall appeare in the Table following.