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BVCKINGHAM-SHIRE. CHAPTER XXII.
BUCKINGHAM, for the plenty of Beech trees there growing,* 1.1 and those in the elder times of the Saxons called Bucken, may well be supposed from them to have the Name, as afterwards the whole Shire had hers from this Towne BUCKINGHAM.
* 1.2(2) In forme it somewhat resembleth a Lion Rampant, whose head or North-point toucheth the Counties of Northampton and Bedford; whose backe or East-part is backed by Bedford and Hertford-shires: his loynes or South-borders rest upon Barke∣shire, and his breast the West side is butted upon wholly by Oxford-shire.* 1.3 The length thereof from Waisbury in the South, to Bradfeld in her North, are thirty nine miles:* 1.4 the breadth at the broadest, from Ashbridge in the East, to Brenwood Forest in the West,* 1.5 are eighteene; the whole in circumference one hundred thirty eight miles.
* 1.6(3) The aire is passing good, temperate, and plea∣sant, yeelding the body health, & the mind content. The soile is rich, fat, and fruitfull, giving abundance of Corn, Grasse and Marle. It is chiefly divided in∣to two parts by the Chilterne hills,* 1.7 which run thorow this Shire in the middest, and before time were so pestered with Beech, that they were altogether un∣passable, and became a receptacle and refuge for theeves, who daily endammaged the way-faring man;* 1.8 for which cause Leostan Abbot of Saint Albans caused them to be cut down: since when those parts are passable, without any great incumbrances of trees; from whose tops, a large and most pleasing prospect is seene. The Vale beneath is plaine and champion, a clayie soyle, stiffe, and rough, but with∣all marvellous fruitfull, naked of Woods, but a∣bounding in meadows, pastures, and tillage, and maintaining an infinite number of sheepe, whose soft and fine fleeces are in great esteem with the Turkes as farre as Asia.* 1.9
* 1.10(4) The ancient Inhabitants that were seated in this Shire, were the Cattieuchlani, mentioned by Ptolemie, and then dispersed through the Tract of Bedford, Hertfort, and this. These yeelded them∣selves with the first to Caesar under the Romanes sub∣jection, whose over-worne Empire ending in Bri∣taine, the Saxons by strong hand attained this Pro∣vince, and made it a part of their Mercian Kingdome: yet was it first subdued unto them by Cherdike the West-Saxon,* 1.11 whose memory is in part continued in the Towne Chersey, upon the West of this Countie, where in a sharpe and bloudy battle he was victor o∣ver the Britaines.* 1.12 So also Cuthwulfe a West-Saxon at Alesberie in the yeere of Grace 592. overcame the Britaines, and bare downe all things before him: yet no sooner was their Heptarchie wained, and their Monarchie able to stand alone,* 1.13 but that the Danes, before their strength and growth was confirmed, waxed upon them; and they not able in so weake a hand to hold fast that weight of greatnesse they had so grasped, gave place to their Conquerours, who did many harmes in this Province: for in the yeere 914.* 1.14 the Danes furiously raged as farre as Bren∣wood, where they destroyed the Citie Burgh, the an∣cient seat of the Romanes, afterwards a royall house of King Edward the Confessor,* 1.15 which they utterly destroyed.
(5) The Shire-town Buckingham,* 1.16 fruitfully sea∣ted upon the River Ouse, was fortified with a Ram∣pire, and sconses on both bankes, by K. Edward the elder, saith Marianus the Scotish Writer; where in the heart of the Town hath stood a strong castle, moun∣ted upon an high hill, which long since was brought to the period of her estate, now nothing remaining besides the signes, that there she had stood. The Ri∣ver circulates this Town on every side, that only on the North excepted, over which three faire stone∣bridges lead, and into wch the springs of a Well run, called S. Rumalds,* 1.17 a child-saint borne at Kings Sutton, canonized, and in the Church of this Towne enshri∣ned, with many conceited miracles and cures: such was the hap of those times, to produce Saints of all ages and sexes.* 1.18 This Town is governed by a Bailiffe and twelve principall Burgesses; and is in the degree removed from the first point of the West for Longi∣tude 19.33. scruples; and the North-pole elevated in Latitude for the degree of 52.18. scruples.
(6) A Town of ancienter note is Stony-Stretford,* 1.19 the Romans Lactorodū, being built upon that ancient Causey-way which is called Watling street,* 1.20 where re∣main the markes thereof even unto this day. At this place Edward the elder stopped the passage of the Danes, whiles he strengthned Torcester against them: and herein,* 1.21 King Edward the eldest since the Con∣quest, reared a beautifull Crosse in memory of Elea∣nor his dead Queen, as he did in every place where her Corps rested, from Herdby in Lincolne-shire till it was received and buried at Westminster.
(7) Places intended for Gods true worship,* 1.22 built by devout persons, and sequestred from worldly im∣ployments, were at Launden, Luffeld, Bidlesden, Brad∣well, Nothey, Ankerne, Missenden, Tekeford, Partren∣dune, Ashbridge, & Alesbury:* 1.23 Ashbridge in great repute for the blood (supposed out of Christs sides) brought out of Germany by Henry the eldest sonne of Richard King of the Romans, and Earle of Cornwall, where∣unto resorted great concourse of people for devoti∣on, and adoration thereof. But when the Sun-shine of the Gospel had pierced thorow such clouds of darkenesse, it was perceived apparently to be onely hony clarified and coloured with Saffron, as was openly shewed at Pauls Crosse,* 1.24 by the Bishop of Ro∣chester, the twenty foure of Februarie, and yeere of Christ 1538.* 1.25 And Alesbury for the holines of S. Edith was much frequented, who having this Town allot∣ted for her Dowrie, bad the world and her husband farewell, in taking upon her the veile of devotion, and in that fruitfull age of Saints became greatly re∣nowned, even as farre as to the working of miracles. These all in the stormes & rage of the times,* 1.26 suffred such shipwrack, that from those turmoiled Seas, their Merchandize light in the right of such Lords as made them their owne for wreacks indeed.
(8) With foure Castles this Shire hath beene strengthned,* 1.27 and thorow eleven Market Towns her Commodities traded; being divided, for service to the Crowne and State, into eight Hundreds, and in them are seated one hundred fourescore and five Parish-Churches, as in the Table annexed Alphabe∣tically are expressed.