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* 1.1WILLT-SHIRE, in the ancient English-Saxons written Wilsetta, is enclosed upon the North with Gloucester-shire, upon the East is bounded with Barke-shire, upon the South with Dorset and Hamp-shire, and upon the West is confronted against partly by Gloucester, and the rest by Somerset-shires.
* 1.2(2) The forme thereof is both long and broad; for from Inglesham upon Thamesis in the North, to Burgat Damarum in the South, are thirtie-nine miles; the broadest part is from Buttermer Eastward, to the Shire-stones in the West, being twenty-nine; the whole in circumference is one hundred, thirty-nine miles.
* 1.3(3) For aire, it is seated in a temperate Climate, both sweet, pleasant, and wholesome; and for soyle (saith Iohn of Sarisbury) is exceeding fertile and plenti∣full,* 1.4 yea, and that with variety.
* 1.5(4) The Northerne part, which they call North-Wilt-shire, riseth up into delectable hils, attired with large woods, and watered with cleare Rivers, where∣of Isis is one, which soone becometh the most famous in the Land. The South part is more even, yeelding abundantly grasse and corne, and is made the more fruitfull by the Rivers Wily, Adder, and A∣von. The midst of this County is most plaine,* 1.6 and thereby is knowne and commonly called Salesbury-Plaines; and lie so levell indeed, that it doth limit the Horizon: for hardly can a man see from the one side to the other. These Plaines grase an infinite number of sheepe, whose fleeces and flesh bring in an yeare∣ly revenew to their owners.
* 1.7(5) Anciently this County was possessed by the Belgae, who are seated by Ptolemy in Hamp-shire, So∣merset-shire, and in this Tract; and they (as it seem∣eth by Caesar) were of the Belgae in Gaul. These (as some hold) were subdued by Vespasian,* 1.8 Lieutenant of the second Legion under Claudius, when the foundations of his future greatnesse were in these parts first laid by his many victories over the Bri∣taines. And herein surely the Romans seated; for be∣sides Yanesburie Trench,* 1.9 by tradition held to be his, in many other Forts in this Shire the Tract of their footing hath beene left, and the stamped Coines of their Emperours found, an apparent testimonie of their abode.
* 1.10(6) After them the West-Saxons made it a part of their Kingdome, whose border was Avon, as witnes∣seth Athelward, though the Mercians many times en∣croched upon them, whereby many great battles, as Malmsbury tels us, betwixt them were fought, when in the young yeares of their Heptarchie each sought to enlarge his, by the lessening of the next: but growne unto more ripenesse, they assigned their li∣mits by a great and long ditch crossing thorow the middest of these Plaines, which for the wonder ther∣of is supposed by the vulgar to be the worke of the Devil, and is called of all, Wansdike,* 1.11 undoubtedly of Woden, the Saxons Ancestor and great reputed God, where a little village yet standeth, and retaineth to name Wodens-burg.* 1.12 At this place, in Anno 590. Ceau∣lin the West-Saxon, received such a foyle of the Bri∣taines, and his Country-men, that he was forced to forsake his Kingdome, and to end his dayes in exile, becomming a pitifull spectacle even unto his ene∣mies. And in this place Ina the West-Saxon joyned Battle with Ceolred the Merciā,* 1.13 whence both of them departed with equall losse. The like was at Bradford by Kenilwach and Cuthred; at Wilton, betwixt Egbert and Beornwolfe;* 1.14 at Edindon, where K. Elfred was van∣quisher of the Danes; and at Wilton, where the Danes wonne the day against him. With as bloudy su∣cesse, though not happening by sword, was the is∣sue of the Synod assembled at Calne a small Towne in this Countie,* 1.15 in the yeare of Christ Jesus 977. where being hotly debating for the single life, and against the marriages of the Clergie, what wanted by the Word to prove their divorce, was supplyed by a Stratagem,* 1.16 and that very bloudy; for suddenly the main timber brake, and downe fell the floore with the Nobles and Prelates, the Gentlemen and Com∣mons, whereby a great number were hurt, and many more slain;* 1.17 onely Dunstan the President and mouth for the Monks, escaped untouched, the Joist where∣on his chaire stood remaining most firme: which confirmed the sentence of their separations, whom God had conjoyned, and became the fall and snare of much incontinencie in both sexes.
(7) The chiefest Citie of this Shire is Salesbury,* 1.18 removed from a higher, but a far more convenient place; whose want of water was not so great in the mother, as is supplied and replenished in the daugh∣ter, every street almost having a River running tho∣row her middest; and for sumptuous and delicate buildings, is inferiour to none. The Cathedrall,* 1.19 a most rich magnificent Church, was begun by Ri∣chard Poore, Bishop, and with fourty yeares, continu∣ance was raised to her perfect beauty: wherein are as many windowes as there are dayes in the yeare, as many cast pillars of marble as there are houres in the yeare, and as many gates for entrance as there are moneths in the yeare. Neither doth this Citie retaine true honour to her selfe, but imparteth hers, and receiveth honour from others who are entitu¦led Earles of Salesbury, whereof eight noble Fami¦lies have been dignified since the Normans Conquest, and now is enjoyed by that most wise and loyall Counsellor Robert Cecill,* 1.20 Lord high Treasurer of England, and the worthy Patron of the place where∣of my selfe am a member. This Cities situation is in the degree of Latitude 51.10. minntes, and from the first West point observed by Mercator, 18. de¦grees and 31. minutes of Longitude.
(8) Over this, old Salesbury sheweth it selfe,* 1.21 where Kenrik overcame the Britains, and where Canutus the Dane did great dammge by fire. This formerly had been the seat of the Romans: as likewise was Lecham,* 1.22 as by their Coines digged up is apparant: so were Brokenbridge and Cosham,* 1.23 the Courts of the Saxon Kings. But Fortune long since hath turned her face from all these, as lately she did from many ancient and religious foundations planted in this Province, whereof Malmesbury was the most famous. I will not with Monmouth avouch the foundation thereof un∣to Mulmutius,* 1.24 but by true records from Maidulph a Scot, a man of great learning, that therein built a Cell, and led an Hermits life, whereof Beda calleth it the Citie of Maidulph, and we by contraction, Malms∣bury. Adelme his disciple and successour,* 1.25 built here a faire Monasterie, which Athelstan the Monarch richly endowed, and left his body after death there to rest. Neither hath any graced this more then Wil∣liam her Monk,* 1.26 in recording to posterities the Chro∣nicles of our Land, concerning both the Church and Common-weale, wherein himselfe and wrote those Histories.
(9) Ambresbury for repute did second this,* 1.27 built by Alfritha, King Edgar his wife, to expiate the sinne of murder which she committed upon young Ed∣ward her sonne in Law, that hers might be King. In this place Queene Eleanor,* 1.28 widow to King Henry the third, renounced all royall pompe, and devoted her selfe unto God in the habit of a Nunne. Other pla∣ces erected for piety,* 1.29 were at Salesburie, Lacock, Stan∣lege, Wilton, Ivichurch, Farnleg, Bradstocke, Briopune, and Bromhore. These grafts grown to full greatnesse, were cut downe by the Pruner, lest the Cankers thereof should infect the whole body (as by them was alledged) and their Revenewes bestowed upon farre better uses,* 1.30 both for the bringing up of youth, and the maintenance of estate.
(10) With eight strong Castles this County hath beene guarded; in nineteene Market-Townes her Commodities are traded: into twenty-nine Hun∣dreds for businesse is divided, and in them are seated three hundred and foure Parish-Churches.