Page 73
CHESSE-SHIRE, by the Saxons written Cester-scyre, and now the County Palatine of CHESTER is parted upon the North from Lan∣ca-shire with the River Mercey,* 1.1 up∣on the East by Mercey, Goit, and the Da••e, is separated from Darby and Stafford-shires; upon the South toucheth the Counties of Shrop-shire and Flint; and upon the West with Dee is parted from Denbigh-shire.
* 1.2(2) The forme of this County doth much resemble the right wing of an Eagle, spreading it selfe from Wirall, and as it were with her pinion, or first feather, toucheth York-shire, betwixt which extremes, in following the windings of the Shires divider from East to West, are 47. miles: and from North to South 26. The whole circumference about one hundred forty two miles.
* 1.3(3) If the affection to my naturall producer blind not the judgement of this my Survey, for aire and soile it equals the best, and farre exceeds her neighbours the next Coun∣ties: for although the Climate be cold, and toucheth the de∣gree of Latitude 54 yet the warmth from the Irish Seas melteth the Snow, and dissolveth the Ice sooner there then in those parts that are further off; and so wholesome for life, that the Inhabitants generally attaine to many yeares.
* 1.4(4) The Soile is fat, fruitfull, and rich, yeelding abun∣dantly both profit and pleasures of man. The Champion grounds make glad the hearts of their Tillers: the Me∣dowes imbrodered with divers sweet smelling flowers; and the Pastures make the Kines udders to strout to the paile, from whom and wherein the best Cheese of all Eu∣rope is made.
* 1.5(5) The ancient Inhabitants were the CORNAVII, who with Warwickeshire, Worcester-shire, Stafford-shire, and Shrop-shire, spread themselves further into this Countie, as in Ptolomy is placed; and the CANGI likewise if they be the Ceangi, whose remembrance was found upon the shore of this Shire, on the surface of certaine pieces of Lead, in this manner inscribed; IMP. DOMIT. AUG. GER. DE CEANG.* 1.6 These Cangi were subdued by P. Ostorius Sca∣pula, immediatly before his great victory against Caracta∣cus, where, in the mouth of Deva he built a * 1.7 Fortresse at the back of the Ordovices, to restraine their power, which was great in those parts, in the reign of Vespasian the Emperour. But after the departure of the Romans,* 1.8 this Province became a portion of the Saxon Mercians Kingdom: notwithstand∣ing (saith Ran. Higden) the City it selfe was held by the Britaines untill all fell into the Monarchy of Egbert.* 1.9
Of the dispositions of the since Inhabitants, heare Lucian the Monk (who lived presently after the Conquest) speak; They are found (saith he) to differ from the rest of the English, partly better, and partly equall. In feasting they are friendly, at me at cheerfull, in entertainment liberall, soone angry, and soone pacified, lavish in words, impatient of servitude, mercifull to the afflicted, compassionate to the poore, kind to their kindred, spary of labour, void of dissimulation, not greedy in eating, and far from dangerous practises.
And let me adde thus much, which Lucian could not; namely,* 1.10 that this Shire hath never been stained with the blot of rebellion, but ever stood true to their King and his Crowne: whose loyalty Richard the second so farre found and esteemed, that hee held his Person most safe among them, and by authority of Parliament made the County to be a Principality,* 1.11 and stiled himselfe Prince of Chester.
King Henry the third gave it to his eldest sonne Prince Edward, against whom Lewlyn Prince of Wales 〈…〉〈…〉 mighty Band, and with them did the Coun〈…〉〈…〉 even unto the Cities gates. With the 〈…〉〈…〉 it had oft-times been affrighted,* 1.12 which th〈…〉〈…〉 ••efenced with a Wall made of the Welshmens 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on the South-side of Dee in Hanbridge.
* 1.13The Shire may well be said to be a Seed-plot of Gentilitie, and the producer of many most ancient and Worthy Fami∣lies: neither hath any brought more men of valour into the Field, then Chesse-shire hath done, who by a generall speech are to this day called The chiefe of men:* 1.14 and for Natures en∣dowments (besides their noblenesse of mindes) may com∣pare with any other Nation in the world: their limbs straight and well-composed, their complexions faire, with a cheare∣full countenance;* 1.15 and the Women for grace, feature, and bo••nty, inferiour unto none.
* 1.16(6) The Commodity of this Province (by the report of Ranulphus the Monke of Chester) are chiefly Corn, Cattle, Fish, Fowle, Salt, Mines, Metals, Meares, and Rivers, whereof the bankes of Dee in her West, and the Vale-Royall in her midst, for fruitfulnesse of pasturage equals any other in the Land; either in graine or gaine from the Cow.
(7) These, with all other provision for life, are traded thorow thirtee••e Market-Townes in this Shire, whereof Chester is the fairest, from whom the Shire hath the name. A City raised from the Fort of Osterius▪ Lieutenant of Bri∣taine for Claudius the Emperour, whither the twentieth Legion (named Victrix) were sent by Galba to restraine the Britains:* 1.17 but growne themselves out of order, Iulius A∣gricola was appointed their Generall by Vespasian, as appear∣eth by Monies then minted, and there found; and from them (no doubt) by the Britaines the place was called Caer Legion; by Ptolemy, Deunana; by Antonine, Deva; by the Saxons Legea-cesder, and now by us West-chester: but Henry Bradshaw will have it built before Brute,* 1.18 by the Giant Leon Gaver, a man beyond the Moone, and called by Ma∣rius the vanquisher of the Picts.
Over Deva or Dee a faire stone-bridge leadeth, built up∣on eight Arches, at either end whereof is a Gate, from whence in a long Quadren-wise the wals doe incompasse the City,* 1.19 high and strongly built, with foure faire Gates o∣pening into the fou••e winds, besides three posternes, and se∣ven Watch-Towers, extending in compasse one thousand nine hundred and forty paces.
On the South of this City is mounted a Strong and state∣ly Castle, round in forme, and the base Court likewise in∣closed with a circular wall. In the North is the Minster, first built by Earle Leofrike to the honour of Saint Werburga the Virgin;* 1.20 and after most sumptuously repaired by Hugh the first Earle of Chester of the Normans, now the Cathe∣drall of the Bishops See.* 1.21 Therein lyeth interred (as report) doth relate) the body of Henry the fourth, Emperour of Al∣maine, who leaving his Imperiall Estate, led lastly therein an Hermites life.
This City hath formerly been sore defaced; first by Egfrid King of Northumberland, where he slew twelve hundred Christian Monkes, resorted thither from Bangor to pray. A∣gaine by the Danes it was sore defaced, when their destroy∣ing feet had trampled downe the beauty of the Land. But was againe rebuilt by Ethelfleada the Mercian Lady, who in this County,* 1.22 and Forrest of Dilamer, built Eadesburg and Finborow, two fine Cities, nothing of them now remaining, besides the Chamber in the Forrest.
Chester in the dayes of King Edgar was in most flourish∣ing estate,* 1.23 wherein he had the homage of eight other Kings who rowed his Barge from S. Iohns to his Palace, himselfe holding the Helm, as their supreme.
This City was made a County incorporate of it selfe by King Henry the seventh,* 1.24 and is yearly governed by a Major, with Sword and Mace borne before him in State, two She∣riffes, twenty foure Aldermen, a Recorder, a Town-Clerke, and a Sergeant of Peace, foure Sergeants, and six Yeomen.
It hath been accounted the Key into Ireland, and great pity is it that the port should decay, as it daily doth, the Sea being stopped to scoure the River by a Causey that thwart∣eth Dee at her bridge.* 1.25 Within the walls of this City are eight Parish-Churches, S. Iohns the greater and lesser: in the Suburbs are the White Fryers, Blacke Fryers, and Nun∣ry now suppressed. From which City the Pole is elevated unto the degree 53.58. minutes of Latitude, and from the first point of the West in Longitude unto the 17. degree and 18. minutes.
(8) The Earledome whereof was possessed from the Conquerour,* 1.26till it fell lastly to the Crowne, the last of whom (though not with the least hopes) is Prince Henry, who to the Titles of Prince of Wales, and Duke of Cornwall, hath by Succession and right of inheritance, the Earlddom of Chester annexed to his other most happy Stiles: Vpon whose Person 〈…〉〈…〉 of Iacobs God may ever attend, to his 〈…〉〈…〉 Britaines happinesse.
(9) If I should urge credit unto the report of certaine Trees floating in Bagmere, onely against the deaths of the Heires of the Breretons, thereby seated, and after to sinke untill the next like occasion: or inforce for truth the Prophe∣cie which Leyland in a Poeticall fury fore-spake of Beeston Castle, highly mounted upon a steepe hill: I should forget my selfe and wonted opinion, that can hardly beleeve any such vaine predictions, though they be told from the mouths of credit, as Bagmere Trees are, or learned Leyland for Bee∣ston, who thus writeth:
The day will come when it againe shal mount his head aloft, If I a Prophet may be heard from Seers that say so oft.With eight other Castles this Shire hath been strengthened, which were Old-Castle, Shoclach. Shotwitch, Chester, Poule∣fourd, Dunham, Frodesham, and Haulten: and by the prayers (as then was taught) of eight religious houses therein seat∣ed, preserved; which by King Henry the eight were sup∣pressed: namely, Stanlow, Ilbree, Maxfeld Norton, Bunbery, Combermere, Rud-heath, and Vale-Royall, besides the White and Blacke Fryers, and the Nunnery in Chester.
This Counties division is into seven Hundreds, wherein are seated thirteene Market-Townes, eighty six Parish-Churches, and thirty eight Chappels of ease.