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* 1.1ESSEX, by the Saxons written East-seaxa, and East-sexscife, by the Normans Exsessa, and by the vulgar Essex; is a Coun∣tie large in compasse, very po∣pulous, and nothing inferiour to the best of the Land.
* 1.2(2) The forme thereof is somewhat circular, excepting the East part, which shooterh her self with many Promontories into the Sea;* 1.3 and from Horsey Island to Haidon in the West, (the broadest part of the shire) are by measure forty miles, and the length from East-Ham upon Thamisis in the South, to Surmere upon the River Stow in the North, are thirtie miles; the whole in circumfe∣rence, one hundred fortie six miles.
* 1.4(3) It lyeth bounded upon the North, with Suf∣folke and Cambridge-shires, upon the West with Hert∣ford and Middlesex, upon the South by Thamisis is parted from Kent, and the East side thereof is alto∣gether washed with the German Sea.
* 1.5(4) The aire is temperate and pleasant, only to∣wards the waters somwhat aguish, the soil is rich and fruitfull,* 1.6 though in some places sandy & barren: yet so that it never frustrates the Husbandmans hopes, or fils not the hands of her Harvest-Labourers: but in some part so fertile, that after three yeers glebe of Saffron, the land for 18. more, will yeeld plenty of Barley, without either dung or other fatning earth.
* 1.7(5) Her ancient Inhabitants known to the Romans, were by Caesar called the Trinobantes, of whom in the former Chapter we have spoken,* 1.8 and in our Hi∣story shall speak more at large. But this name perish∣ing with the age of the Empire, the Saxons present∣ly framed a new; and with Hertford and Middlesex made it their East-Saxons Kingdom, untill that Eg∣bert brought this and the whole into an entire and absolute Monarchy:* 1.9 the Danes after them laide so sore for this Province, that at Beamfleet and Havenes (now Shobery) they fortified most strongly; and at Barklow, (besides the hils mounted for their burials) the Danewort with her red berries, so plentifully grow, that it is held and accounted to spring from the blood of the Danes which in that place was spilt, and the hearb as yet is called from them the Danes-blood; neither yet were they quelled to furcease that quarrell;* 1.10 but at Ashdown abode the Ironside in fight, wherein so much blood of the English was spilt, that Canutus their King in remorse of conscience; built a Church in the place, to pacifie God for the sinnes of his people:* 1.11 But when the Normans had got the gar∣land of the whole, many of their Nobles there seat∣ed themselves, whose posterities since, both there and els-where, are spread further abroad in the Realme.
* 1.12(6) The Commodities that this Shire yeeldeth, are many and great, as of woods, corne, cattle, fish, forrests and Saffron; which last groweth with such gain and increase upon her North parts, that from a split clove much like unto Garlike, a white blewish flower shortly springeth,* 1.13 from whence fillets of Saf∣fron are gathered before the Sun, and dried, are sold as spice with great gain. From the Islands Canvey, Mersey, Horsey, Northly, Osey, Wallot & Foulnes, great store of fish and fowle are daily gotten: and so from their cattle have they continuall increase, which men and boyes milke; as well the Ewe as the Kine; whereof they make great and thicke Cheese, sold abroad in the Land, and much thereof transported into other Countries.* 1.14 Their Oysters which we call Walfleet, the best in esteeme, and are thought from Plinie to have beene served in the Romans Kitchins. But lest we should exceed measure in commending, or the people repose their trust in the soile; behold what God can do, to frustrate both in a moment, & that by his meanest creatures: for in our age and re∣membrance, the yeare of Christ 1581. an Armie of Mice so over-ranne the Marshes in Dengey Hundred,* 1.15 neere unto South-minster in this Countie, that they shore the grasse to the very roots,* 1.16 and so tainted the same with their venemous teeth, that a great Mur∣raine fell upon the cattle which grazed thereon, to the great losse of their owners.
(7) The chiefest Citie for account at this day in this Shire is Colchester,* 1.17 built by Coilus the Brittish Prince, one hundred twenty-foure yeares after the birth of our Saviour Christ (if he of Monmouth say true) wherein his sonne Lucius, Helena, and Constan∣tine, the first Christian King, Empresse, and Empe∣rour in the world, were born: which made Necham for Constantine to sing as he did.
From Colchester there rose a starre,* 1.18 The rayes whereof gave glorious light Throughout the world in Climates farre, Great Constantine, Romes Emperour bright.And the Romans to the great honor of Helena inscri∣bed her, Pitssima Venerabilis Augusta. But of these we shall be occasioned to speake more hereafter.* 1.19 This City is situated upō the south of the river Coln, from whence it hath the name, and is walled about, raised upon a high trench of earth, though now much de∣caied, having 6. Gates of entrance, and 3. posterns in the West wal, besides 9. Watch-towers for defence, and containeth in compasse 1980. paces; wherein stand 8. fair Churches, and two other without the walls, for Gods divine service: S. Tenants and the Black Friers decayed in the suburbs; Mary Magdalins, the Nunnery, S. Iohns, & the Crouched Fryers, all sup∣pressed: within towards the East is mounted an old Castle, and elder ruines upon a trench containing two Acres of ground, whereas yet may be seene the provident care they had against all ensuing assaults. The trade of this towne standeth chiefly in making of cloth,* 1.20 and Baies, with Sayes, & other like Stuffes daily invented;* 1.21 and is governed by two Bailiffes, 12. Aldermen, all wearing scarlet; a Recorder, a Town-clerk, and four Sergeants at Mace. Whose position for Latitude is in the degree 52.14. minutes;* 1.22 and for Longitude, in the degree 21. and 5. minutes.
(8) Places of antiquity & memorable note in this County, I observe the most famous to be Camalodu∣num, by the Saxons Male oune,* 1.23 by us Maldō which was the Royall seat of Cunobelin King of the Trinobants,* 1.24 as by his mony therein minted appeareth, about the time of our Saviours birth: which City afterwards Claudius won from the Britaines, & therein placed a Colony of souldiers, which were called Victricensis, This City Queene Boduo,* 1.25 in revenge of her wrongs, razed to the ground, what time she stirred their peo∣ple against Nero, with the slaughter of 70. thousand of the Romans. Of some later and lesser account was Ithanchester now S. Peters upon the wall,* 1.26 where the Fortenses with their captain kept, towards the decli∣nation of the Roman Empire. In the east Promontory of this County, in the raigne of Richard the second, the teeth of a giant were found (if they were not of an Elephant) of a marvellous size (saith Ralph Cogge∣shall) and not far thence, in the raigne of Elizabeth, more bones to the like wonder were digged up.
(9) I purposely omit the message of a Pilgrim from S. Iohn Baptist,* 1.27 by whom he sent a ring to K. Edward Confessor; for which cause his house tooke the name Havering: seeing the Monks of those times made no great dainty daily to forge matter for their own ad∣vantage: who in this Shire so swarmed that they had houses erected at Walthā,* 1.28 Pritlewell, Tiltey, Dunmow, Leeye, Hatfeild-Peverell, Chelmesford, Coggeshall, Mal∣don, Earls-coln, Colchester, S. Osiths, Saffron-Waldon, Hatfeild-Bradoke, and more, with great revenues thereto belonging, all which felt the axes and ham∣mers of destruction, when the rest of such foundati∣ons fell under the flail of K. Henry the 8. who with Ezekiah brake downe all these Brasen Serpents.
(10) This Shire is divided into twenty Hundreds,* 1.29 wherein are seated 21. Market-Townes, 5. Castles, 5. Havens, 2. of his Maiesties Mannours, and 415. Parish-Churches: all which are expressed in the Ta∣ble annexed to this Countie following.