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MIDDLESEX, so called in re∣gard of the situation, as seated betwixt the West-Saxons and East-Angles was sometimes, together with Essex and Hartford∣shire, that part and portiō which the East-Saxons en∣ioyed for their Kingdom: it lieth bordered vpon the North, with Hartford∣shire; vpon the West by Colne, is seuered from Buck∣ingham; the South, by Thamesis, from Surrey & Kent; and on the East from Essex, by the Riuer Lea.
* 1.1(2) The length thereof extened from Stratford in the East, to Morehall vpon C••lne in the West, is by measure nineteene English miles; and from South∣mines in the North, to his Maiesties Mannour of Hampton-Court in the South, are little aboue sixteene miles, the whole circumference extending to ninety.
* 1.2(3) In forme it is almost square, for ayre passing temperate, for soile abundantly fertile, and for pastu∣rage and graine of all kindes, yeelding the best, so that the Wheat of this Countie hath serued a long time for the Manchet to our Princes Table.
(4) It lieth seated in a vale most wholesome & rich, hauing some hils also, and them of good ascent from whose tops the prospect of y• whole is seene like vnto Zoar in Egypt,* 1.3 or rather like a Paradise & Garaē of God.
* 1.4(5) The ancient Inhabitants knowne to Cae••ar, were the Trinobants, whom he nameth to be the most puissant in the Land; whose chiefe Citie and State yeelding him subiection,* 1.5 made the whole, with lesse losse to the Romans, to beare the yoke of their owne bondage; and to come in vndertermes of truce. But when their forces in these parts were spent, and the Empire shaken by intestine warres, the Saxons set∣ting their eyes vpon so faire a soile, made their foo∣ting as sure herein; which lastly with Hartford & Es∣sex, was the portion of the East-Saxons Kingdome.
* 1.6(6) Fiue princely houses, inheritable to the English crown, are seated in this shire, which are Enfie••d, Han∣worth, Whitehall, S. Iames, & Hampton Court a citie ra∣ther in shew then the Palace of a Prince, & for stately Port & gorgeous building, not inferior to any in Eu∣rope At Thistleworth once stood the Palace of Richard K. of the ••••mans, E. of Cornwall, which the Lond••ners in a tumultuous broyle, burned to the ground: many other stately houses of our English N••b••tty Knights, & gentlemē, as also of ye worshipfull citizens of Lon∣•••• are in this shire so sumptuously built & pleasantly seated, as the like in the like circuit are no where else to be found. Neere vnto Thamesis entrance into this County,* 1.7 is kept the remembrance of Caesars entrance ouer Th••mesis by the name of Coway stakes, stuck fast in the bottome to impeach his designes; and further at Stanes a Maire-stone once stood for a marke of Iu∣risdiction that London had so farre vpon Thamesis.
* 1.8(7) Which Citie is more ancient then any true record beareth, fabuled from Brute, Troyno••ant, from Lud, Ludstone: But by more credible writers, Tacitus, Ptolemy, and Antonine, Londinium by Aminianus Mer∣cellinus for her successiue prosperitie,* 1.9 Augusta, the greatest title that can be giuen to any: by Britaines, Londayn, by the Saxons, London Ceasder, by Stran∣gers Londra, and by vs London. This Citie doth shew as the Cedars among other trees, being the seat of the British Kings, the chamber of the English, the modell of the land, and the mart of the world: for thither are brought the silke of Asia, the spices from Africa, the Balmes from Grecia, & the riches of both the Indies East and West: no Citie standing so long in fame, nor any for diuine and politicke gouernment may with her be compared. Her wals were first set by great Constantine the first Christiā Emperor at the suit of his mother,* 1.10 Q. Helen, reared with rough stone and British Bricke, three English miles in compasse: tho∣row which are now made 7. most faire gates, besides 3. other passages for entrance. Along the Thamesis, this wall at first rāged, & with two gates opened, the one Doure-gate, now Dowgate, & the other Billinsgate, a receptacle for ships. In the midst of this wal was set a mile-marke (as the like was in Rome) from whence were measured their statiōs for cariage or otherwise; the same as yet standeth, and hath been long knowne by the name of London Stone.* 1.11 Vpon the East of this city, the Church of S. Peters is thought to be the ca∣thedral of Restitutus, the Christian Bishops see, who liued in the raigne of Great Constantine; but since S. Pauls in the West part, from the Temple of Diana, as∣samed that dignity, whose greatnes doth exceed any other at this day, & spires so high that twice it hath been cōsumed by lightning frō Heauen.* 1.12 Besides this cathedral, God is honored in one hūdred twenty one Churches more in this city: that is, ninety six within the wals; sixteen without, but within the Liberties; & nine more in her Suburbs; & in Fitz-Stephens time, thirteen Conuents of religious Orders.* 1.13 It is diuided into 26. Wards, gouerned by so many graue Alder∣mē a ••. Ma••or & 2. Sherifs, the yeerely choice where∣of was granted them by Patent frō K. Iohn; in whose time also a Bridge of Stone was made ouer Thames,* 1.14 vpon nineteene Arches, for length, bredth, beautie, and building, the like againe not found in the world.
(8) This London (as it were) disdaining bondage, hath set her selfe on each side, far without the walls, & hath left her Westgate in the midst, from whence with continuall buildings still affecting greatnes) she hath continued her streets vnto a Kings Palace, and ioyned a second * 1.15 Citie to her selfe, famous for the Seat and Sepulchre of our Kings; and for the Gates of Iustice, that termely there are opened, onely once a Bishops See,* 1.16 whose Title died with the man. No wals are set about this City, and those of London are left, to shew rather what it was, then what it is: whose Citizens, as the Lacedemonians did, do impute their strength in their men, & not in their wals, how strong soeuer. Or else for their multitude, cannot be circulated, but (as another Ierusalem is inhabited without wals,* 1.17 as Zachary said. The wealth of this Ci∣tie (as Isai once spake of Nilus) growes from the Re∣uenews and haruest of her south-bounding Thames;* 1.18 whose traffique for marchādizing is like that of ••y∣rus, wherof Ezechiel speaks & stands in abundance of Siluer,* 1.19 Iron,* 1.20 Tyn & Lead, &c. And from London her chanell is nauigable, straitned along with medowing borders, vntill she taketh her full libertie in the Ger∣mane Seas. Vpon this Thamesis the Ships of Tharsis seeme to rid••,* 1.21 & the Nauy, that rightly is termed the Lady of the Sea, spreds her saile. Whence twice with luckie successe hath beene accomplished, the com∣passing of the vniuersall Globe. This Riuer, Canutus laying siege against London, sought by digging to di∣uert, & before him the Danes had done great harmes in the Citie, yet was their State recouered by K. El∣fred, and the Riuer kept her old course, notwithstan∣ding that cost.* 1.22 In the times of the Normans, some ci∣uill broiles haue bin attempted in this City, as in the dayes of K. Iohn,* 1.23 whereinto his Barons entred, and the Tower yeelded vnto Lewis. And againe, Wat Tiler herein cōmitted outragious cruelties, but was wor∣thily struck down by the Maior & slain in Smithfield. This Cities graduation for Latitude is the degree 51 45. min. and in Longitude 20. degrees 39. minutes.
(9) In this County at B••rnet,* 1.24 vpon Easter day, a bloudy battell was fought, betwixt Henry 6. and Ed∣ward 4. wherein were slaine one Marques, one Earle, three Lords, & with them ten thousand English-men.
(10) The diuision of this Shire is into seuen Hun∣dreds,* 1.25 wherein are seated two Cities, foure Market Townes, & seuenty three Parish-Churches, besides them in London; where in the Church of Gray-Fryers, now called Christ-Church, three Queenes lie interred, which were,* 1.26 Queene Margaret, the D. of Philip the hardy, King of France, second wife to King Edward the first; the second was Queene Isabel, wife to King Edward the second, and D. to Philip the faire King of France; and the third was Queene Ioan, their daughter, maried to Dauid King of Scotland.