England's remarques giving an exact account of the several shires, counties, and islands in England and Wales. In every of which you have I. How the county is bounded. II. The length, breadth, and circumference. III. The temperature of the air, and fertility or barrenness of the soil. IV. What commodities each shire or county affordeth. V. In what dioces, and how many parishes in it. VI. The number of Parliament-men, hundreds, and market-towns. VII. In every shire you have the name of the city or shire-town, with the latitude thereof, and how it bears, with the reputed and measured distance of the same from London, the road to the same; how governed, and the coat of arms, and what other things are therein remarkable. VIII. You have the names of such noble families as have been dukes or earls of each county since their first constitution. IX. Whatsoever is eminent or remarkable thorow-out the whole kingdom. To which is added a travelling map, describing the principal roads thorow-out England.

Oxfordshire.

THis Shire is bounded by Buckinghamshire on the East. By Gloucestershire on the West. By Barkshire on the South. And by Warwickshire and Northamptonshire on the North.

It containeth in length 41 miles. In breadth 29 miles. And in Circumference 144 miles.

The Air is mild, temperate and delicate.

The Soil fertile, pleasant and bounteous. The hilly parts being loaded with Wood and Cattel, and the Valleys with Corn and Pasturage.

The chief Commodities of this County are Corn, Cattel, Fruit, Wood and Malt.

It is in the Diocess of Oxford. And in it is contained 280 Parishes.

Cut of it are elected 9 Members which sit in Parliament.

• Knights 2
• University of Ox∣ford 2
• City of Oxford 2
• New-VVoodstock 2
• Banbury 2

Its Division is into 14 Hundreds, viz.

• ...Banbury,
• ...Bloxham,
• ...Chadlington,
• ...VVootton,
• ...Floughley,
• ...Bullington,
• ...Bampton,
• ...Tame,
• ...Lewknor,
• ...Pirton,
• ...Dorchester,
• ...Ewelme,
• ...Langtree,
• ...Binfield.

And in these Hundreds are 15 Market-Towns, viz.

• VVoodstock, Tues.
• Tame, Tues.
• Bampton, Wed.
• Chippingnorton, Wed.
• Witney, Thurs.
• Banbury, Thurs.
• Henley, Thurs.
• Bunchester, Friday.
• Burford, Sat.
• Deddington, Sat.
• Watlington, Sat.
• Bistow,—
• Fairford,—
• Coleford,—
• Oxford, Wed. & Sat.

The principal place in this Shire, is the famous City and University of Oxford, from whence the Shire taketh its name. This City lyeth in the Latitude of 51 deg. 46 min. It bears from London W. N. W. And is distant there∣from 47 miles. Thus,

From London to Uxbridge 15. to Beckonsfield 22. to High Wickham 27. to Stoken Church 32. to Wheatly Bridge 41. to Oxford 47. But by exact admeasurement upon the Road, the distance is found to be almost 56 miles.

The Arms of Oxford is Bendy wavie Argent and Azure, An Oxe Gules, passing over a Ford proper.

The University consisteth of these Col∣ledges and Halls, viz.

Colledges.	Founded by	Anno.
University.	King Alfrid.	872
Beliol.	Jo. Belial Kt. & Dev. his Wife.	1263
Merton.	Walter de Merton Clerk.	1267
Exeter.	Walter Stapleton, E. of Excester.	1316
Oriel.	K. Edward the II.	1324
Queens.	Robert Eaglesfield, Clerk.	1340
New Colledge.	Will. of Wickham, B. of Winton.	1379
Lincoln.	Richard Fleming, B. of London.	1427
All Souls.	Hen. Chichley, A.B. of Canterbury.	1438
Magdalen.	Will. of Wainflet, B. of Winton.	1458
Brasen Nose.	W. Smith, B. of Lincoln, and Sir Richard Sutton, Knight.	1511
Corpus Christi.	Richard Fox, B. of Winton.	1516
Christ-Church.	K. Henry the VIII.	1546
Trinity.	Sir Thomas Pope.	1554
St. Johns.	Sir Thomas White.	1555
Jesus.	Dr. Hugh Price.	1571
Wadham.	Nich. Wadham, Doroth. his Wife.	1612
Pembrook.	Thomas Tesdale, Esq; and Ri. Whitwich, Cler.	1624

Halls in Oxford.

• Alba Hall.
• Hart Hall.
• S. Mary Hall.
• Edmund Hall.
• Colcester Hall.
• Magdalen Hall.
• New-Inn Hall.

The Earls of Oxford since the first Constitution.

Vere, E. of Oxford.

Hen. Stuart, D. of Gloucester, E. of Oxford.

Things Remarkable in this County.

The City of Oxford is a very healthful place, which Mr. Cambden thinks is, because it is de∣fended from the South and West winds, but lies open to the North East and East Winds.

On the Descent of Hoddenton Hill near Oxford, rises a Spring which runs down towards Kings Mill, lying over against Magdalen Colledge. This Spring hath a petrifying quality, and will in some short time, if a stick be laid in it, either turn it into Stone, or have a strong crust about it.

Near unto Enisham, in the South of this Shire, is a Monument of huge Stones set round in Com∣pass, in manner of those of Stonehinge, which (as some saith) were Metamorphosed from Men. But more probable, they were there erected upon some great Victory obtained by Rollo the Dane.

This Shire is famous, for that in it were born, for

• K. Edward the Confessor was born in Islip.
• Edward the Black Prince in Woodstock.
• The Warlike Caw de Lyon, in Oxford.

all in this County.

In the year 1552. at Middleton 7 miles from Oxford, a Woman brought forth a Child which had two perfect Bodies from the Navel upwards, which were so conjoyned together at the Navel, that when they were laid out at length, if one Head and Body were laid East, the other would be West, or in any other position: And the Legs of both the Bodies were joyned to∣gether in the midst. They were female Chil∣dren, and lived 18 days, and they had but one issue for the Excrement of them both.