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SVMMERSET-SHIRE is both a rich and spacious Countrey, ha∣ving the Severne Sea beating upon it on the North-side,* 1.1 the South part bordering upon Devon and Dorset-shires, the West confined with Devon-shire, and the East and North-East upon Wilt-shire, and Gloucester-shire. It tooke the name of Sommerton (sometime the chiefe Towne of this Shire) whence in the ancient Historian Asserius, this Countie is called Sommertunensis, that is, Sommortun-shire.
* 1.2(2) The forme thereof is large, bearing it selfe still wider as it stretcheth into the middle part thereof, and con∣taines in length from Brackley neere unto Frome-Selwood Eastward, to Oure in the West, Miles fiftie five. In breadth from Porshut-point in the North,* 1.3 to Chard South-ward, is some what above fortie miles. The whole circumference is about 204. miles.
* 1.4(3) The Ayre is milde and pleasing, and for the most part subject to such temperate dispositions as the Sommer season affordeth, whence some have erroniously conceited that the Region borrowed her name from the nature of her Clime: yet how delightfull so ever it is in the time of Sommer, with change of the season it may well change her pleasing name, and borrow some Winterly denomination; so full of wet, so myrie and moorish it is; in so much as the Inhabitants can hardly travell to and fro without their great encombrance.
* 1.5(4) How be it they passe over this with all patience, knowing their ensuing seasonable profits farre to exceede any present detriments and displeasures: for as it is foule, so it is fruitfull, which makes them comfort themselves with this Proverbe, that What is worst for the Rider, is best for the abider: the Soyle and Glebe thereof being very fertile, and every side garnished with Pastures and delight∣full Meadowes, and beautified with Mannor houses both many and fayre; and (in a word) hath every thing in it to content the purse, the heart, the eye, at home: and sufficient Ports to give entertainement to Commodities from a∣broad.
* 1.6(5) The ancient Inhabitants that possessed this Province were the Belgae, who spread themselves far and wide, aswell here as in Wilt-shire, and the inner parts of Hampshire; who being branched from the Germans, conferred the names of those places from whence they came, upon these their seats where they resided.
* 1.7(6) The generall profits of this Province are Corn and Cattell, wherewith it is so plentifully stored as it may chal∣lenge any neighbouring Countrey for the quantitie to make shew of Cattle so fat, or Graine so rich. Some places are peculiarly enriched by Lead-mynes,* 1.8 as Mindsphils, (per∣chance so called of the deepe Mynes) by Leiland aptly ter∣med Minerarii, Minerall hils, which yeeld plenty of Lead, the most Merchantable commoditie that is in England, and vented into all parts of the world. Some are beautified with Diamonds,* 1.9 as Saint Vincent Rocke, whereof there is great plenty, and so bright of colour, as they might equa∣lize Indian Diamonds, if they had their hardnesse: yet be∣ing so many and so common, they are lesse sought after or commended.
* 1.10(7) This Country is famoused by three Cities, Bath, Wels, and Bristow. The first takes name of the hot Bathes, which Antonine called Aquae Solis, The waters of the Sunne; Ste∣phanus, Badiza; we at this day Bath, and the Latinists Ba∣thonia: a place of continuall concourse for persons of all degrees, and almost of all diseases, (whence it was some∣times called Akeman cester) who by divine providence doe very often finde reliefe there,* 1.11 the Springs thereof by reason of their Minerall and sulphurous passage, being of such exceeding power and medicinable heat, as that they cure and conquer the rebellious stubbornnesse of corrupt humours, in respect of which admirable vertues some have fabled, that they were first conveyed by Magicke-Art. To testifie the antiquitie of this place, many Images and Ro∣mane Inscriptions are found in the wals, which can now be hardly read, they are so worne and eaten into by age. Wels (as Leiland reporteth) was sometimes called Theodo∣rodunum, but from whence it had that denomination he makes no mention:* 1.12 The name it now beareth is taken (as some thinke) from the River there, which King Kinewulph in his Charter An. 766. calleth Welwe, or (as others) from the Wels or Springs which there breake forth, and where∣upon that See (under whose Iurisdiction is also the Citie of Bathe) hath beene anciently called Fontanensis Ecclesia, the Fountaine Church: where the Cathedrall built by King Inas to the memory of S. Andrew is very beautifull and richly endowed. The Citie is likewise well replenished both with Inhabitants and seemly buildings.* 1.13 Whose government is managed by a Maior yeerely elected, a Recorder and se∣ven Masters, having the assistance of sixteene Burgesses, a Towne-Clerke, and two Sergeants at Mace. Whose La∣titude is 51.20. minutes, and Longitude 17.31. minutes. Bristow is not so ancient,* 1.14 as it is faire and well seated: The beautie of it being such, as for the bignesse thereof, it scarce gives place to any Citie of England, and doth worthily de∣serve the Saxon name Bright-stad: whose pleasantnesse is the more, by reason that the River Avon scowres through the midst of it, which together with the benefit of Sewes under all the streets, cleares the Citie of all noysome filth and uncleannesse. It is not wholly seated in this Countie of Sommerset, but one part thereof in Gloucester∣shire; but because it is an entire Countie of it selfe, it denies subjecti∣on unto either, having for its owne government both a Bishop with a well furnished Colledge, and a Maior with a competent assistance of Aldermen, and other Officers for Civill affaires.
(8) This Province hath beene the Theater of many Tra∣gicall events and bloody Battels: the Danes did grievously afflict Porlock by cruell Piracies,* 1.15 in the yeere eight hun∣dred eightie sixe. Yet neere unto Pen a little village neigh∣bouring upon North Cadbury,* 1.16 Edmund surnamed Iron-side, gave them a notable foyle, as he was pursuing Canutus from place to place, for usurping the Crowne of England. And Keniwalch (a West Saxon) in the same place had such a day against the Britaines, that they ever after stood in awe of the English-Saxons prowesse. Marianus relateth that not farre from Bridge-water as the Danes were stragling abroad,* 1.17 Eal∣stan Bishop of Sherbourne did so foyle their forces in the yeere 845. as their minds were much discomfited and their powers utterly disabled. Ninius also writeth that King Ar∣thur did so defeat the English-Saxons in a battle at Cadbury,* 1.18 that it deserved to be made perpetuously memorable. Nei∣ther is Mons Badonicus (now Bannesdown) lesse famous for Arthurs victories. And King Elfred in another battell not farre from hence gave the Danes such an overthrow as he forced them to submission,* 1.19 and induced Godrus their King to become a Christian, himselfe being God-father to him at the Font. So happy is this Region, and so beholding to Nature and Art for her strengths and fortifications, as she hath alwaies beene able to defend her selfe and offend her enemies.
(9) Neither hath it beene lesse honoured with beaute∣ous houses consecrated to Religion:* 1.20 such was that of Black-Chanons at Barelinch in the first limit of this Shire West∣ward:* 1.21 and King Athelstan built a monastery in an Iland cal∣led Muchelney (that is to say) the great Iland,* 1.22 which is be∣tween the Rivers Iuel and Pedred, running together; where the defaced wals and ruines thereof are yet to be seene, King Henry the third also erected a Nunnery at Witham,* 1.23 which was afterwards the first house of the Carthusian Monks in England,* 1.24 as Hinton not farre off was the second. But above all other for antiquitie, glory and beauty was the Abbey of Glastenbury,* 1.25 whose beginning is fetcht even from Ioseph of Arimathea which Devi Bishop of S. Davids repai∣red being fallen to ruine, and King Inas lastly builded a faire and stately Church in this Monastery, though it be now made even with the ground, the ruines onely shewing how great and magnificent a Seat it hath anciently beene; which severall houses were thus beautified by bounteous Princes, for religious purposes, and to retire the mind from worldly services, though blinded times and guides diverted them to superstitious and lewd abuses.
(10) Other memorable places are these,* 1.26 Camalet a very steepe hill hard to be ascended, which appeares to have beene a worke of the Romanes by divers Coynes digged up there, on the top whereof are seene the lineaments of a large and ancient Castle, which the Inhabitants report to have been the Palace of King Arthur.* 1.27 Ilechester, which at the comming of the Normans was so populous, that it had in it an hundred and seven Burgesses, and it appeares to be of great antiquitie by the Romane Caesars Coines often∣times found there. The Church-yard of Avalonia or Glas∣senbury, where King Arthurs Sepulcher was searcht for by the command of King Henry the second, which was found under a stone, with an Inscription upon it fastned, almost nine foot in the ground.* 1.28 Also Dunstere, where (as is repor∣ted) a great Lady obtained of her husband so much Pasture ground in common by the Towne-side, for the good and benefit of the Inhabitants, as she was able in a whole day to goe about bare-foote.
This County is divided into 42. Hundreds for the dispo∣sing of businesse needfull to the State thereof,* 1.29 wherein are placed 33. Market-Townes, fit for buying and selling, and other affaires of Commerce. It if fortified with foure Ca∣stles, and planted with 385. Parishes, for concourse for Di∣vine service, as is denoted in the Table following.