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SHROP-SHIRE.
* 1.1SHROP-SHIRE, by the ancient Saxons writen Sciripscyre, is both large in circuit, well peo∣pled, and very fruitfull for life. It lieth circulated upon the North with th•• County Pala∣tine of Chester;* 1.2 upon the East altogether with Stafford-shire; upon the South with Worcester, Hereford, and Radnor∣shires; & upon the west with Mountgomery & Denbigh.
* 1.3(2) The form thereof is almost circular or round, whose length from Wooferton below Lodlane South, to Over neere unto the river Trent in the North, is thir∣tie foure miles: the broadest part is from Tong in the East, to Oswestre sited at the head of Morda in the West, twentie and five; the whole in circuit about, extending to one hundred thirtie and foure miles.
* 1.4(3) Wholesome is the ayre, delectable and good, yeelding the Spring and the Autumne, seed time and harvest, in a temperate condition, and affordeth health to the Inhabitants in all seasons of the yeare.
* 1.5(4) The soile is rich, and standeth most upon a reddish clay, abounding in Wheat and Barley, Pit∣coales, Iron, and Woods; which two last continue not long in league together. It hath rivers that make fruitfull the Land, and in their waters containe great store of fresh-fish,* 1.6 whereof Severne is the chiefe, and second in the Realme, whose streame cutteth this Countie in the middest, and with many windings sporteth herselfe forward, leaving both pastures and meadowes bedecked with flowers and greene colours, which every where shee bestoweth upon such her attendants.
* 1.7(5) This River was once the bounds of the North-Britaines, and divided their possession from the Land of the Saxons, untill of latter times theirs began to decay, and the Welsh to increase, who enlarged their lifts to the River Dee. So formerly had it separated the Ordovices from the Cornavij,* 1.8 those ancient Inha∣bitants mentioned by Ptol••mie. The Ordovices under Caractacus purchased great honour,* 1.9 whilst he a Prince of the Silures removed his Warres thence among them, where a while he maintained the Britaines li∣bertie with valour and courage, in despight of the Romans. His Fort is yet witnesse of his unfortunate fight, seated neere Clune Castle, at the confluence of that River with Temd, where (in remembrance of him) the place is yet called Caer-Caradoc,* 1.10 a fort of his, wonne by P. Ostorius Lieutenant of the Romans, about the year of grace 53.* 1.11 The Cornavii were seated upon the North of Severne, and branched into other Counties, of whom we have said.
(6) But when the strength of the Romans was too weake to support their owne Empire, and Britaine emptied of her souldiers to resist, the Saxons set foot in this most fair soile,* 1.12 and made it a part of their Mer∣cian Kingdome: their line likewise issued to the last period, and the Normans beginning where these Sax∣ons left, the Welshmen tooke advantage of all present occasions, and brake over Severne unto the River Dee; to recover which, the Normans first Kings often as∣sayed, and Henry the second with such danger of life,* 1.13 that at the siege of Bridge-north he had been slain, had not Sir Hubert Syncler received the arrow aimed at him,* 1.14 in stepping betwixt that Shaft and his Sove∣raigne, and therewith was shot thorow unto death. In the like danger stood Henry Prince of Scotland, who in the strait siege of Ludlow,* 1.15 begirt by King Stephen,* 1.16 had beene plucked from his saddle with an iron-hooke from the wall, had not Stephen presently rescued him, Anno 1139.
(7) This then being the Marches of England and Wales,* 1.17 was sore afflicted by bloody broiles, which caused many of their Townes to be strongly walled, and thirtie two Castles to be strongly built: lastly, into this Countie the most wise King Henry the sea∣venth sent his eldest sonne Prince Arthur,* 1.18 to be resi∣dent at Ludlow, where that fair Castle became a most famous Princes Court.* 1.19 And here King Henry the eight ordained the Counsell of the Marches, consist∣ing of a Lord President, as many Counsellors as the Prince shall please, a Secretary, an Atturney, a Soli∣citor, and foure Iustices of the Counties in Wales, in whose Court were pleaded the causes depending and Termely tried for the most part in presence of that honourable President.
(8) But the Shire-towne Shrewesburie,* 1.20 for circuit, trade, and wealth doth for exceed this, and is inferi∣our to few of our Cities; her buildings faire, her streets many and large, her Citizens rich, her trade for the most part in the Staple commodities of cloth and freezes;* 1.21 her walls strong, and of a large compasse, extending to seventeene hundred pases about, be∣sides another Bulwarke ranging from the Castle,* 1.22 downe unto, and in part along the side of Severne: thorow which there are three entrances into the Towne, East and West over by two fair stone bridges with Towers, Gates, and Barres, and the third into the North, no lesse strong then them, over which is mounted a large Castle, whose gaping chinckes do doubtlesse threaten her fall.* 1.23 This Towne is gover∣ned by two Bailiffes, yearly elected out of twentie-foure Burgesses, a Recorder, Town-Clerke, and Chamberlaine,* 1.24 with three Sergeants at Mace: the Pole being raised hence from the degrees of Lati∣tude 53.16. minutes, and from West in Longitude 17. degrees 27. minutes.
(9) Yea,* 1.25 and ancienter Cities have beene set in this Shire: such was Roxalter, or Wroxcester, lower upon Severne, that had been Vriconium, the chiefest Citie of the Cornavii; Vsoconia, now Okenyate, neere unto the Wreken: and under Red-castle the ruines of a * 1.26 Citie, whom the vulgar report to have beene fa∣mous in Arthurs dayes: but the pieces of Romish Coines in these three doe well assure us that therein their Legions lodged; as many other Trenches are signes of warre and of blood. But as swords have been stirring in most parts of this Province, so Beads have been bid for the preservation of the whole, and places erected for the Maintenance of Votaries, in whom at that time was imputed great holinesse: in Shrewsbury many, at Coulmere, Stowe, Dudley, Brome∣feild, Wigmore, Hamond, Lyleshill, Bildas, Bishops-castle, and Wenloke, (where in the raigne of Richard the se∣cond, was likewise a rich Mine of Copper.) But the same blasts that blew down the buds of such plants, scattered also the fruits from these faire trees, which never since bare the like, nor is likely any more to do.
That only which is rare in this Province, is a Well at Pichford in a private mans yard, whereupon floteth a thick scum of liquid Bitumen, which being cleare off to day, will gather the like againe on the morrow: not much unlike to the Lake in the Land of Iewry.
This Shire is divided into fifteen Hundreds, where∣in are seated fourteen Market Townes; and hath in it one hundred and seventie Churches for Gods sacred and divine Service: the names of which are in the Table as followeth.