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WORCESTER-SHIRE, by the English-Saxons called Wir-ceas∣der-scyre,* 1.1 is a County both rich and populous, and lyeth circulated upon the North with Stafford-shire; upon the East with Warwicke and Oxford-shires;* 1.2 upon the South with Glocester-shire; and the West by Malverne hils is parted from Hereford-shire: the rest lyeth confron∣ted upon, and in part divided from Shrop-shire by the River Dowles.
* 1.3(2) The forme thereof is triangle, but not of e∣quall proportion; for from North to South are thir∣tie two miles,* 1.4 from South to North-west twentie two, and from thence to her North-east point are twentie eight: the whole in circumference is one hundred and twenty miles.
* 1.5(3) The Aire in this Shire is of a favourable tem∣perature, that gives an appetite for labour, diet, and rest: the Soile is fertile, and to me seemed inferior to none other in this Land: for besides the abundance of Corne in every place spread, the Woods and Pa∣sturage in her hils and plaines,* 1.6 sweet Rivers that, wa∣ter the vallies below, & Cattle that cover the tops of higher ground; the Fields, Hedge-rowes, and High∣wayes are beset with fruitfull Peare-trees, that yeeld great pleasure to sight, & commodious use: for with their juyce they make a bastard kinde of wine, called Pe••rey, which is both pleasant and good in taste. Ma∣ny Salt. Springs also this County affordeth; yea, and more then are commonly in use: such with the Ger∣mans,* 1.7 our ancient Predecessors, were esteemed most sacred and holy; so that (as Tacitus writeth) to such they wontedly resorted to supplicate their Gods with their devout prayers, as to places neerest the heavēs, and therefore the sooner to be heard. And Poets in their fainings, will have the Nymphs residence in sha∣dy green groves, and banks of sweet Springs: if so, then (as Helicon) this County affords both: such are the Forrests of Wire and Feckenham, the great woods of Norton, and most faire Chase of Malverne. And for waters, to witnesse what I say, is the Severne that cuts this Shire in the midst, Teme, Salwarp, and Avon, all of them making fruitfull their passage, and stored with Fish of most delicious taste.
* 1.8(4) The ancient people, possessors of this Shire, were the CORNAVII, Inhabitants of Chesse-shire, Shrop-shire, Stafford, and Warwicke-shires, subdued by the Romanes in Claudius Caesars time, and after their departure, made a portion of the Mercian-Saxons Kingdome, and in Bedaes time were called the Wicii, whereof it may be this Shire had the name: unlesse you will have it from the Salt-pits, which in old Eng∣lish are named Wiches; or from the famous Forrest of Wyre. Howsoever, true it is that the County doth hold her name from her chiefe Citie VVorcester.
* 1.9(5) Which is most pleasantly seated, passing well frequented, and very richly inhabited. This was the Branonium, mentioned by Antonine and Ptolemie, called by the Britains, Caer-wrangon; by Ninius, Caer-Gourcon; by the old Saxons, Wire-ceasder; and by the Latines, Vigornia. This Citie is seated upon the East banke of Severne, and from the same is walled in tri∣angle-wise about, extending in circuit one thousand sixe hundred and fiftie paces: thorow which seven Gates enter, with five other Watch-Towers for de∣fence. It is thought the Romanes built this to restrain the Britaines that held all beyond Severne. This City by Hardy Canute in the yeer of Christ 1041. was sorely endangered,* 1.10 and set on fire, and the Citizens slaine almost every one, for that they had killed his Col∣lector of the Danish Tribute: yet was it presently re∣paired and peopled, with many Burgesses, and for fif∣teene Hides discharged it selfe to the Conquerour, as in his Doomesdayes is to be seene.* 1.11 But in the yeer 1113. a suddaine fire happened, no man knew how, which burnt the Castle and Cathedrall Church. Likewise in the civill broiles of King Stephen it was twice lighted into a flame,* 1.12 and the latter laid it hopelesse of recovery. Notwithstanding from those dead Ashes a new Phenix arose, and her building raised in a more stately proportion, especially the Cathedrall dedi∣cated to S. Mary, first laid by Bishop Sexwolfe, in An∣no 680. since when it hath been augmented almost to the River: In the midst of whose Quire, from his many turmoiles, resteth the body of King Iohn (the great withstander of the Popes proceedings) under a Monument of white Marble,* 1.13 in Princely Vestures, with his portraiture thereon according to life. And in the South-side of the same Quire lyeth intombed Prince Arthur the eldest sonne to King Henry the Seventh,* 1.14 his Monument is all black Jette, without remembrance of him by Picture.
This City is governed by two Bailiffes, two Al∣dermen, two Chamberlaines,* 1.15 and two Constables, yeerely elected out of twenty-foure Burgesses, clo∣thed in Scarlet, assisted with 48. other Citizens, whom they call their Common Counsellors, clad in Purple, a Recorder, Towne-Clerke, and five Ser∣geants with Mace their Attendants. Whose Geo∣graphicall Position is distant in Longitude from the West-Meridian 18. degrees, 10. scruples, having the North-Pole elevated in Latitude 52. degrees, and 32. scruples.
(6) Places of further note for memorable anti∣quitie, is Vpton,* 1.16 of great account in the Romane time, where some of their Legions kept, as witnesse their monies there often found: the admirable Ditch upon Malverne hils, drawne by Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester,* 1.17 to divide his lands from the Church of VVorcester:* 1.18 the Saxons Augustynes-ace, our Augu∣stines Oke, where he the English Apostle met with the British Bishops for the uniforme celebration of Easter, from whence both parts departed with dis∣contented mindes after many hot words and thwart∣ing disputes.
(7) Neither is it without admiration to me, that many places of this Shire lye farre within the Pre∣cincts of other Provinces,* 1.19 as Auston, Washbornes, Cut∣tesden, Paxford, Hanging-Easton, Northwicke, Blockley, Eurlode in Glocester-shire, and Goldcote, Aldermerston, Newbold, Treddenton, Armiscote, Blackwell, Darlings∣cote, Shipton, Tydminton, Olbarrow, in Warwick shire; Dudley in Stafford-shire, and Rochford in Hereford-shire, whither I must referre the Reader to finde out these and the like in these Westerne Tracts.
(8) Religious places erected in this Shire,* 1.20 and devoted unto God by devout persons, were Bredon, Brodlege, Eutsholme, Alnecester, Cochell, Fladbury, Mal∣verin, Pershore, Stodleg, Westwoods, and Worcester, plenteously provided for, and further secured by ma∣ny priviledges, both which they abused, as were the inditements of all such in the dayes of King Henry the Eight, at whose Barre (himselfe being Judge) they were found guilty, and received sentence of their ends and destruction.
(9) Castles for defence built in this County,* 1.21 rui∣nate or in strength, were Hartlebury, Holt, Handl••••, Norton, Elmeley, and Worcester, besides his Majesties Manour of Tichnell.
(10) This Shires division is into seven Hundreds,* 1.22 wherein are seated ten Market-Towns, and one hun∣dred fiftie two Parish Churches, as in the Table fol∣lowing is expressed.