A prospect of the most famous parts of the vvorld Viz. Asia, 3 Affrica, 5 Europe, 7 America. 9 With these kingdomes therein contained. Grecia, 11 Roman Empire, 13 Germanie, 15 Bohemia, 17 France, 19 Belgia, 21 Spaine, 23 Italie, 25 Hungarie, 27 Denmarke, 29 Poland, 31 Persia, 33 Turkish Empire, 35 Kingdome of China, 37 Tartaria, 39 Sommer Ilands, 41 Civill Warres, in England, Wales, and Ireland. You shall find placed in the beginning of the second booke marked with these [3 asterisks in triangle formation] and (5) together with all the provinces, counties, and shires, contained in that large theator of Great Brittaines empire. / Performed by John Speed.

WHen the Romane Empire beganne to be unweildy by the weight of her owne Greatness,* 1.1 and the Provinces ready to shake off subjection, by the Ambition of their Prefects: Bri∣taine, then wanting her Souldiers (taken thence to serve in forraine warres) and abandoned by the Romanes, who were wont to protect her, was now laid open and naked to her Enemies, who had long waited an oppor∣tunitie to lay her waste. Among whom the Picts and Scots, casting a covetous eye upon so rich a prey, daily with inrodes molesting the weary, and now-weakened Britaines, inforced them to call in, to their assistance, the Saxons; who in a short time, of ayding friends became oppressing enemies, and supplanting the Natives of this Land, laid the foundation of their aspiring hopes so sure, that thereupon in successe of time they transformed the fabricke of this one Pro∣vince into a seven-fold State,* 1.2 which as seven-crown∣ed Pillars, stood upon the Bases of Kent, South-Saxia, West-Saxia, East-Saxia, Northumberland, Mercia, and East-Anglia; governed by so many severall Kings; whose limits are in this Map distinguished by their severall Armes, and circumscribed Lines; but for all the particular Counties under each of their com∣mands, we will referre you to the Table in the fourth Chapter of our seventh Booke: in which Booke, the History of that growing Heptarchy, and its setling againe into one Monarchy, is contained at large.

(2) Neither may we thinke, that the Limits of the whole Heptarchy, or of each particular Kingdome, were at their first raising apportioned, as afterward they were; but that (as all other States doe) by steps and degrees they came to their setled bounds. Their utmost Northerne border was at first no other (in all likelihood) then that,* 1.3 wherewith the Romanes had formerly severed this their Province from Scotland, being that famous partition called the Picts-wall,* 1.4 (which therefore in our Map you shall finde descri∣bed with Battlements) girding the wast (or narrowest place) of the whole Iland, from Sea to Sea, and reach∣ing twixt the Bay of * 1.5 Eden on the one coast, and the mouth of Tyne on the other; though afterward the Northumbrians extended their Marches beyond that Wall. The Romanes had no other partition but onely this Northerne:* 1.6 the Saxons (who had made the Britaines also their enemies) added two others (both in the West) to straiten them & strengthen themselves. The first was divised by Offa the Merci∣an King, who made a Trench of admirable worke and charge, called Offa-Dyke,1 1.7 running about one hun∣dred miles over mountaines and hils, from the mouth of Dee in Flint-shire, to the fall of Wye in Glocester∣shire, therewith encircling the remainder of the dis∣possessed Britains in those Western and barren parts: which oppression King Harold further aggravated by a Law;* 1.8 That if any Welshman were found with any weapon on this side that Ditch, he should forthwith have his right hand cut off.2 1.9 The second partition was of King Athelstans device, who finding that the Britains did still inhabit those other Western parts, from the Lands end of Cornwall, even unto Excester in Devon∣shire, he not onely thrust them out of that Citie, for∣tifying the same with vast trenches, and a strong wall of squared stone to prevent their attempts: but fur∣ther ordered that they should containe themselves within the River Tamar, whence that Promontory came to be named Corn-wall; of the shape thereof like a Horne, which they call Corn, and of the * 1.10 Inha∣bitants which the Saxons called ƿealsh, signifying Strangers.

(3) The like may be said of the particular King∣domes, that they attained not to those their certaine bounds, the Kingly Titles, but by degrees: the whole Saxons State being anciently divided, not into Shires, but into sundry small Regions,* 1.11 and those againe into Hides (a Hide being foure yeard land, or as others thinke, as much as a Plow can till in one yeere) as by an ancien* 1.12 Fragment preserved & divulged by * 1.13 two most judicious Antiquaries, may be seene, wherein all the land lying on this side Humber is thus parted.

HIDES.

• Myrcna containeth 30000. hides
• Woken setna 7000. hides.
• Westerna 7000. hides.
• Pec-setna 1200. hides.
• Elmed-setna 600. hides.
• Lindes-farona 7000. hides.
• Suth-Gyrwa 600. hides.
• North-Gyrwa 600. hides.
• Fast-Gyrwa 600. hides.
• East-Wixna 300. hides.
• West-Wixna 6000. hides.
• Spalda 600. hides.
• Wigesta 900. hides.
• Heresinna 1200. hides.
• Sweordora 300. hides.
• Eyfla 300. hides.
• Wicca 300. hides.
• Wight-gora 600. hides.
• Noxgaga 5000. Hides.
• Oht-gaga 2000. hides.
• Hwynca 7000. hides.
• Ciltern-setna 4000. hides.
• Hendrica 3000. hides.
• Vnecung-ga 1200. hides.
• Aroseatna 600. hides.
• Fearfinga 3000. hides.
• Belmiga 600. hides.
• Witherigga 600. hides.
• East-Willa 600. hides.
• West-Willa 600. hides.
• East-Angle 30000. hides.
• East-Sexena 7000. hides.
• Cant-Warena 15000. hides.
• Suth-Sexena 7000. hides.
• West-Sexena 100000. hides.

(4) But when that seven-fold Heptarchie was brought to a Monarchy, and the Kings from Pagans to be Christian professors,* 1.14 Elfred (that mirrour of Kings) for the setling of his Kingdome and subjects under a due and certain course of Iustice and Government, did first distribute his Kingdome into severall Countries cal∣led Shires,* 1.15 (of the Saxon word Scyre, to cut or divide,) and into other under-governments; of which let us heare Malmesburie. By occasion (saith he) and example of the barbarous (he meaneth the Danes) the natural Inha∣bitants also were addicted to robberies, so that none could passe in safetie without weapons for defence. Elfred there∣fore ordained Centuries,* 1.16 which they terme Hundreds, and Decimes, which they call Tythings, that so every English∣man living under law, should be within some Hundred and Tything. And if a man were accused of any transgres∣sion, he should forthwith bring in some of that same Hun∣dred & Tything. And is a man were accused of any trans∣gression, he should forthwith bring in some of that same Hundred & Tything that would be pledges for his appear∣ance to answer the Law, and he that could not finde such a suretie, should abide the severitie thereof. But in case a∣ny man standing thus accused, either before or after such suretiship did flie, then all that Hundred and Tything in∣curred a mulct imposed by the King, &c. By this device he brought peace into the Country, so as in the very high wayes he commanded Bracelets of Gold to be hanged up to mocke the greedy passengers, whiles none was found so hardy as to take them away.

(5) This Custome King Elfred might borow from the use he saw in military Government, where the Generals direction found easiest successe by help of under-rulers, Centurions and Decurions; or hee might have it from the Germanes,* 1.17 who kept Courts of Iustice in every Territory, having a hundred men out of the People as Assistants to performe their Law∣dayes. By which his Partition, and industrious care, Peace and true dealing so flourished,* 1.18 that a Way∣faring man losing in his journey any summe of money, might a moneth after returne to the place and have it againe.

(6) Those fore-mentioned Tythings contained each ten Persons,* 1.19 whereof every one was * 1.20 Pledge for anothers good bearing (for which cause in * 1.21 some places a Tything is yet called a Borow, of the Saxon Borh a Pledge) who had one chiefe, called the Ty∣thingman, or Borhes ealdor: so that there was no one man in all the Kingdome, who in his ranke had not the eyes of many to observe his life. Each Hun∣dred had under their verge tenne such Tythings,* 1.22 and when any was chosen the chiefe of the Hundred,* 1.23 at the usuall place of their meetings, after some kinde of reverence, every one with their Lances touched a Speare, which he held upright in his hand, and by that signe vowed to be peaceably ordered. Whence such a societie was called also a Wapentake,* 1.24 of the

[illustration] map of Britain

[illustration]

BRITAIN AS IT WAS DEVIDED in the tyme of the Englishe: Saxons especially during their Heptarchy

Saxon ƿeþ-dac, a touching of weapons. In these Wapen∣taches many affayres were handled, but what could not be there decided,* 1.25 was referred to a Societie or conventicle of greater jurisdiction, containing usu∣ally three Hundreds (sometimes foure) thence called Drihingas, and the chiefe of them Drihingerefas, which assembly in some places were termed Leþ, of the Saxon word gelaþian, to assemble together; as likewise all their Counties were called gemotes, meet∣ings. And lastly, what could not be there defined, was referred to the whole Shire: for dispatch of which greater affaires, and setling of the common peace, he appointed both Iudges and shere-gerefas, (now Sheriffes) in every Countie: whereas before the Provinces were governed by Vidoms.* 1.26

(7) So that hereby we see both the Saxons distri∣buting of this Country (in their highest glory) and also the government thereof, from the King (whom they called their Conning, (either of his skill or pow∣er) to the lowest in the land. Other intermediate Go∣vernours throughout the Land, next unto the Kings Counsellors, where (it seemeth) those which the Saxons callen then Eal Sepmen,* 1.27 (though a name now more humbled) and the * 1.28 Danes, Eorles; the chiefe Magi∣strates in Cities, the Port gerefan, Portgreves: and Burghƿaren, Burgesses. For touching the name of laford, (whence we contract Lord) it may seeme ra∣ther a name of honour and reverence, then of civill authoritie, so likewise * 1.29 Þein, a stile for men of the better ranke, as under-Þein, a note of service, and Ceorle, or Churle, of their Yeomanly condition who were also called gemen, the Yeomanry.

(8) Since that first most politique distribution of K. Elfred, the number of the said Shires have found some change; for what their number was, An. 1016. in the reign of King Ethelred, Malmesbury sheweth. The Danes (saith he) at this time when there were recko∣ned in England thirty-two Shires,* 1.30 invaded no lesse then sixteene of them: yea and afterwards also there were no more in number, at that time the Land received a new threefold distribution,* 1.31 according to the three sorts of Lawes, by which it was governed; that is, West-Saxons Law, Danish, and Mercian. First, to the West-Saxon Law were the Counties of Kent, Sussex, Suthrie, Berkshire, Hantshire, Wiltshire, Sommersetshire, Dorcetshire, and Devonshire; nine in number. To the Danish lawes were obedient fifteene other; Yorkshire, Darbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolne∣shire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolke, Suffolke, Cambridgeshire, and Huntingtonshire. The Mercian Lawes ruled the eight Counties remaining, which were Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, War∣wickshire, Oxfordshire, Chesseshire, Shropshire, and Staf∣fordshire.

* 1.32(9) But when William the Conquerour had got the English Diademe upon his head, and taxed the Kingdome with a generall survey, we finde in that publike record of the Domes-day Bocke, thirty foure named, besides those of Durham, Lācashire, Northum∣berland, Westmorland, and Cumberland; the three last lay exposed to the Scots, and the other two freed from taxe to maintaine the Borders; which five Counties being added to the other, their number ariseth to thirty-nine:* 1.33 and the thirteene Shires of Wales added to both, make fiftie two Counties, as we have at this day.* 1.34

* 1.35(10) But the Author of Polychronicon (upon what warrant I know not) reckons thirty sixe Shires and an halfe,* 1.36 at the Conquerours survey: wherein, saith he, were found fiftie two thousand and fourescore Townes; fortie five thousand and two Parish-Churches; seventie five thousand Knights-Fees, whereof twenty eight thousand and fifteene were of Religious order; and yet among these he accounteth no part of Cornwall: But from this report it may well be that Rossus Warwicanus complaineth of the de∣population of the Land, which with Towne-ships (saith he) anciently had stood so bestrewed, as a goodly Garden every where garnished with faire flowers.

(11) King Elfred (the first divider) instituted a Prefect or Lieutenant in every of these Counties,* 1.37 which then were called Custodes, (and ••fterwards Earles saith Higdon) who kept the Countrey in obe∣dience to the King, and suppressed the outrages of notorious robbers. But Canutus the Dane,* 1.38 when suc∣cesse had set him upon the English Throne, divided the care of his Kingdomes affaires into a foure-fold subjection; to wit, West-Sex, Mercia, Northumbre and East-England; himselfe taking charge of the first and the greatest, making three Tetrarches of especiall trust over the rest, namely, Edrich over Mercia; Yrtus over Northumbre; and Turkill over East-England. Wales neither in this division nor that of King El∣fred, was any waies liable, it being cut (as we have said) from England, by King Offa: but those rem∣nants of the ancient Britaines divided likewise that Westerne Province into Kingdomes, Cantreds and Commots, * 1.39 as more largely we will shew in the plot of that Principalitie. And this shall suffice for the di∣vision of England under the Saxons,* 1.40 who enjoyed it the space of 567. yeeres, from their first entrance under Hengist, unto the death of Edmund Ironside, and againe under Edward Confessor the terme of twenty yeeres.

(12) Now if any shall be so minutely curious,* 1.41 as to enquire the meaning of the Emblematicall com∣partments, bordering the Mappe: the right side con∣taineth the first seven Kings of that sevenfold State, their Names, their Kingdomes, their Escocheons, their yeeres of first aspiring: the left side doth por∣traict the like of the seven first kings in each of those Kingdomes,* 1.42 which by Christian Baptisme aspired to the hope of a Kingdome eternall, 1. Ethelbert (of Kent) receiving Austens instruction. 2. Sebert (the East-Saxon) converting (by advice of B. Miletus) the Temples of Diana and Apollo (now S. Pauls in Lon∣don,1 1.43 and S. Peters in Westminster) to the service of Christ.3 1.44 3. Erpenwald (the East-Angle) received Bap∣tisme by exhortation of King Edwin the Northum∣brian, (though as it seemeth Edwin himselfe for a time deferred his owne Baptisme) and was there∣fore martyred by his Pagan Subjects.4 1.45 4. Edwine (the Northumbrian) stirred up by a vision both to expect the Kingdome, and to receive the Faith, which he did by the preaching of Paulinus, whom he made Arch-bishop of Yorke.5 1.46 5. Kingill (the West Saxon) converted by the preaching of S. Berinus, whom he made Bishop of Dorcester neere Oxford.6 1.47 6. Peada (the Mercian) receiving Christian Faith, by perswa∣sion of Oswy King of Northumbers, was murdered by his owne mothers (some say his wives) procurement. 7. Ethelwolfe (the South-Saxon) Baptized at Oxford by S. Berinus,7 1.48 where Wulpherus King of Mercia was his God father at Font.

(13) And sith these Saxons first gave to this Iland the name of England, we will here affixe (for a close of all) an ancient Epigram touching both this Coun∣try and her Name; the rather, because * 1.49 of late a prin∣cipall part and prayse therein, is surreptitiously (a∣gainst * 1.50 Lex Plagiaria) taken from England and ascri∣bed as proper to France. A certaine Author (saith * 1.51 Bartholomeus de proprietatibus rerum) thus in verse describeth England.

Anglia, terra * 1.52 ferox, & fertilis, Angulus Orbis; Insula praedives, quae toto vix eget Orbe, Et cujus totus indiget Orbis ope: Angliaplenajocis, Gens Libera, & aptajocari, * 1.53 Libera Gens, cui libera mens, & libera lingua, Sed linguâ melior liberior{que} manus.

ENGLAND, fierce Land, Worlds, Angle, fertile art; Rich Ile, thou needst no other Countries Mart, Each other Country yet thy succour needs: ENGLAND, Ioyes Land, be free and joyous long, Free Race, free Grace, free Kind, free Mind & Tongue, Yet Hands passe Tongues for free and glorious deeds.

Notes

• * 1.1

  How the Saxon H••ptarchie began.
• * 1.2

  The seven Kingdomes of the Saxon Heptarchie.
• * 1.3

  The most Northerne limit of the H••p••archie.
• * 1.4

  The Picts wal, the Romanes onely partition Northward.
• * 1.5

  A River in Cumberland.
• * 1.6

  The Saxons added two o∣ther bounds in the West.
• 1 1.7

  Offa-Dyke.
• * 1.8

  Io. Sarisbu▪ in Poly••rat.
• 2 1.9

  The River Tamar.
• * 1.10

  Marianus cals them Oc∣cidentales Bri∣tanes, as Saxo victor,ƿest ƿea∣les.
• * 1.11

  The Saxons domini••••ns divid••d into Hid••s.
• * 1.12

  M. Ta••••.
• * 1.13

  M. Clarenc. p. 114.
• * 1.14

  K. Elfred first divided the Land into Shires, and why.
• * 1.15

  Ingulphus.
• * 1.16

  Malmesbury.
• * 1.17

  Tacitus.
• * 1.18

  Ingu••phus.
• * 1.19

  Tythings.
• * 1.20

  Hence Franc, Plegis, & Free∣borough, Lam∣bert Peramb.
• * 1.21

  In Kent Bort••olders.
• * 1.22

  A Hundred.
• * 1.23

  Ex leg. Ed. Corf.
• * 1.24

  A Wapentach.
• * 1.25

  ••hribinges and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. A Lath, thence seemeth a Leet Court to take name.
• * 1.26

  Vicedomini. Ingulphus.
• * 1.27

  Aldermen. Earles.
• * 1.28

  Cam. p. 20. but Lambert thinks it a Saxon title, Peramb. p. 502 Portgreves. Burgesses. Thean. Vnderthaine.
• * 1.29

  Lamb. p. 502. but Cam. p. 121. ••••inkes it Da∣nish.

  Churle. Y••omanry. The number of the Shires, 32.
• * 1.30

  Malmes.
• * 1.31

  Polyc. li. 1. c. 19 A three-fold ••••stibution. Three sorts of Lawes, and Shires subject to them.
• * 1.32

  In Wil Conq. time Shires 34. and more.
• * 1.33

  Shires 39.
• * 1.34

  Shires 52.
• * 1.35

  Polyclnon. Shires 36.
• * 1.36

  Towns in the Conqu••rours time. Parish-Churches. Knights Fees.
• * 1.37

  Lieutenants. Camd. Higdon.
• * 1.38

  A foure-fold division ••••der Canutus the•• Dane.
• * 1.39

  Lib. 2.
• * 1.40

  The continu∣ance of the Saxons go∣vernement.
• * 1.41

  The compart∣ments of the Map unfolded.
• * 1.42

  The first seven Kings.

  The first seven Christian Kings.
• 1 1.43

  Lib. 7. c. 18. 2 Lib. 7. c. 8. §. 3
• 3 1.44

  Li. 7. c. 11. §. 3.
• 4 1.45

  Lib. 7. c. 9. §. 8. & ib. c. 20.
• 5 1.46

  Lib. 7. c. 7. §. 7.
• 6 1.47

  Lib. 7. c. 10. § 5.
• 7 1.48

  Lib. 7. c. ••. §. 3.
• * 1.49

  In Io. Hon∣dius his Map of Gallia.
• * 1.50

  L. 15. c. 14. he lived An. 1330 his Author perchance much ancien∣ter.
• * 1.51

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, some read, not so well: because sertilus follow∣eth.
• * 1.52

  This verse Hondius inserts as peculiar to France.
• * 1.53

  This verse Hondius inserts as peculiar to France.