Page 49
* 1.1HEREFORD-SHIRE, (formerly accounted within the limits of Wales) lyeth circulated upon the North with Worcester and Shrop-shire; upon the East with Malverne Hils is parted from Glocester-shire; upon the South is kept in with Monmouth-shire; and upon the West in part with the Hatterall Hils is divided from Brecknok; and the rest confined with Radnor shire.
* 1.2(2) This Counties climate is most healthfull and temperate, and soyle so fertile for Corn and Cattle, that no place in England yeeldeth more or better conditioned: sweet Rivers running as veynes in the body, doe make the corne bearing grounds in some of her parts rightly to be termed the Gilden Vale: and for Waters, Wooll, and Wheat, doth contend with Nilus, Colchos, and Egypt: such are Lemster, and Irchenfeild, the Banks of Wye, Lug, and Frome.
* 1.3(3) The ancient people knowne to the Romanes, (whose power they well felt before they could sub∣due them) were the Silur••s, placed by Ptolemy in this Tract, and branched further into Radnor, Brecknok, Monmouth, and Glamorgan-shires, at this day by us called South-Wales, and by the Welsh Deheuharth. Their Originall,* 1.4 as Tacitus conjectureth by their site, coloured countenances and curled haire, was out of Spaine, and as both he and Plinie describes them were fierce, valiant, and impatient of servitude, which well they shewed under Caratacus their Cap∣taine, and nine yeeres scourge to the Romane assaul∣ters, for whose onely conquest (and that made by treachery) the Victor in Rome triumphed with more then a usuall Aspect; and with so equall an hand bare the Scoale of Resistance, that their owne Wri∣ters evermore terme it a dangerous Warre. For the Legion of Marius Valens they put to flight, and that with such havock of the Associates, that Ostorius the Lieutenant of Britaine for very griefe gave up his ghost: and Veranius under Nero assaulted them in vaine. But when Vespasian was Emperour, and expert Souldiers imployed into every Province, Iulius Fron∣tinus subdued those Silures unto the Romanes, where continually some of their Legions afterward kept, till all was abandoned in Valentinians time.
* 1.5(4) The Saxons then made themselves Lords of this Land, and this Province a part of their Merci∣ans Kingdome; yea, and Sutton the Court of great Offa their King.
* 1.6(5) But Hereford after, raised of the ruines of old Artconium (now Kenchester, shaken in pieces by a vio∣lent earth-quake) grew to great fame, through a con∣ceived sanctitie by the buriall of Ethelbert King of the East-Angles, slaine at Sutton by Offa, at what time he came thither to have espoused his Daughter; whose grave was first made at Marden, but afterwards canonized and removed to this City, when in honour of him was built the Cathedrall Church by Milfrid, a petty King of that Country, which Grufsith Prince of South-Wales, and Algar an Englishman, rebelling a∣gainst King Edward Confessor, consumed with fire; but by Bishop Reinelin was restored as now it is,* 1.7 at what time the Towne was walled, and is so remaining in good repaire, having six gates for entrance, and fif∣teen Watch-Towers for defence, extending in com∣passe to fifteen hundred paces: and whence the North-Pole is observed to be raised 52. deg. 27. min in Latitude, and is set from the first point of the West in Longitude, 17. deg. and 30. min. being yeerly go∣verned by a Major, chosen out of one and thirtie Ci∣tizens, which are commonly called the Election, and he ever after is known for an Alderman, and clothed in Scarlet, whereof foure of the eldest are Justices of Peace, graced with a Sword-bearer, a Recorder, a Town-Clerke, and foure Sergeants with Mace.
The greatest glory that this Citie received, was in King Athelstans dayes; where as Malmesbury doth report, he caused the Lords of Wales by way of Tri∣bute, to pay yeerely (besides Hawkes and Hounds). twentie pound of Gold, and three hundred pound of Silver by waight; but how that was performed and continued I finde not.
(6) Things of rare note in this Shire are said to be,* 1.8 Bone-well, a spring not far from Richards Castle, where∣in are continually found little Fishes bones, but not a fin seene; and being wholly cleansed thereof, will notwithstanding have againe the like, whether na∣turally produced, or in veynes thither brought, no man knoweth.
(7) But more admirable was the work of the Om∣nipotent, even in our own remembrances, and yeere of Christ Jesus 1571. when the Marcley Hill in the East of this Shire,* 1.9 rouzed it selfe out of a dead sleep, with a roaring noise removed from the place where it stood, and for three dayes together travelled from her first site to the great amazement and feare of the beholders. It began to journey upon the seventh day of February, being Saturday, at six of the Clocke at night, and by seven in the next morning had gone fortie paces, carrying with it Sheepe in their coates, hedge-rowes, and trees; whereof some were overtur∣ned, and some that stood upon the plaine, are firmly growing upon the hill; those that were East, were tur∣ned West; and those in the West were set in the East; in which remove it overthrew Kinnaston Chappell, and turned two high-waies neere a hundred yards from their usuall paths formerly trod. The ground thus travelling, was about twentie six Acres, which open∣ing it selfe with Rocks and all, bare the earth before it for foure hundred yards space without any stay, leaving that which was Pasturage in place of the Tillage, and the Tillage overspread with Pasturage. Lastly, overwhelming her lower parts, mounted to an hill of twelve fadomes high, and there rested her selfe after three dayes travell:* 1.10 remaining his marke, that so laid his hand upon this Rocke, whose power hath poysed the Hils in his Ballance.
(8) Religious Houses built by the devotions of Princes,* 1.11 and stored with Votaries and revenewes for life, were in this Shire no lesse then thirteene, most sweetly seated in the places as followeth: at both the Herefords, Barron, Ewayot, Clifford, Monemue, Acorne∣bury, Lemster, Lingbroke, Peterchurch, Kilpek, Dore and Wiggemore: and suspected of hypocrisie, were called in question by King Henry the eight, and so strictly pur∣sued, that some faults were apparent, whereby they were laid open to the generall Deluge of the Time, whose streame bare down the Walles of all those foundations, carrying away the Shrines of the dead, and defacing the Libraries of their ancient Records.
(9) This Countie before the Conquest being ac∣counted in Wales, was then strengthened with Forts against the English: & being once made a Province to England, was fortified with Castles against the Welsh, wherein we finde no lesse then twenty eight, though many of them now are ruinated to nothing. Such were Alban,* 1.12 at both the Ewyats, Godridg, Grosmond, Herdley, Hereford, Old Castle, Dorston, Brampton, Bred∣warden, Saint Biruels, Ledbury, Lenals, Snowdel, Harle∣wais, Huntington, Wilton, Wigmore, Richards, Monemue, Corf••, Kilbeck, Clifford, Skenefred, Witney, Radenwer, and Keneuenleis,* 1.13 and is traded with eight Market-Towns, being divided into eleven Hundreds, and in them seated one hundred seventie and sixe Parish-Churches, containing in compasse 102. miles.