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.

Somerset-Shire.

THis Shire is bounded on the East by Wilt∣shire. On the West by Devonshire. On the South by Dorsetshire. And on the North by Gloucestershire.

It containeth in length 62 miles. In breadth 32 miles. And in Circumference 204 miles.

The Temperature of the Air is mild, pleasing and delightful, especially in the Summer Season.

The Soil is Wet, Mirey and Moorish; but as it is foul, so it is fruitful, and on every side gar∣nished with delightful Meadows, and beautified with many large Mansion-Houses, and the Seven Sea beating upon it on the North side.

The chief Commodities of this County, are Corn, Cattel, Lead, and Bristol Stones.

It is in the Diocess of Bath and Wells, and in it are contained 385 Parishes.

Out of it are elected 18 Members to sit in Parliament.

• Knights 2
• Bristol 2
• Bath 2
• Wells 2
• Taunton 2
• Bridgewater 2
• Minehead 2
• Ilchester 2
• Milborn Port 2

Its Division is into 42 Hundreds, viz.

• ...Chewe,
• ...Chewton,
• ...Bathforme,
• ...Keynsham,
• ...Bruton,
• ...Cattesayshe,
• ...Norton-ferry,
• ...Frome,
• ...Wellow,
• ...Killmersdon,
• ...Glaston,
• ...Horethorne,
• Wells and Melford,
• ...Whitston,
• ...North Curry,
• ...Milverton,
• ...Carhampton,
• Wyllyton and Free-Mannor,
• ...Whitleigh,
• ...Canington,
• ...North Petherton,
• ...Anderfield,
• Huntspill & Puriton,
• ...Abdicke,
• ...Bulston,
• ...Kingsbury,
• S. Petherton,
• ...Crewkerne,
• ...Sommerton,
• ...Pitney,
• ...Stone,
• ...Tintin hull,
• ...Houndsborough,
• ...Barwick,
• ...Coker,
• ...Martock,
• ...Winterstoake,

• ...Portbury,
• ...Brempstone,
• ...Brent,
• Hartcliffe and Bed∣minster.

And in these Hundreds are 30 Market-Towns, viz.

• Somerton, Mond.
• Chard, Mond.
• Glassenburrough, Tu.
• N. Curry, Tu & Sat.
• Wivescomb, Tu.
• Pensford, Tu.
• Wrinton, Tu.
• North Petherton, Tu.
• Wincaunion, W.
• Ilchester, W.
• Taunton, W. and S.
• Bristol, W. and Sat.
• Bath, W. and S.
• Wells W. and S.
• Frowmselwood, Wed.
• Axebridge, Th.
• South Petherton, Th.
• Wellington, Th.
• Bridgewater, Th.
• Canesham, Th.
• Shepton Mallet, Fr.
• Evill, Fr.
• Dunster, Fr.
• Wruton, Sa.
• Langport, S.
• Crokehorn, S.
• Ilmister, S.
• Wattchet, S.
• Dalverton, S.
• Phillips Norton,—

This County is famous for that in it are three Cities, viz. Bath, Wells, and Bristol.

Bath taketh its name from the Wells or Springs which there break forth. Bath taketh its name from the Hot Baths there. But the principal City (though not so ancient as the other two) is Bristol.

It lies in the Latitude of 51 deg. 32 min. It bears from London West, and is distant therefrom 94 miles. Thus,

From London to New Brainford 8 miles. to Maidenhead 22. to Reading 32. to Newberry 47. to Marlborough 62. to Chipenham 77. to Marsh∣field 84. to Bristol 94. But by more accurate admeasurement upon the Road, the distance from London is found to be 115 Miles.

This City is fair and well seated, and for beauty may compare with any City in England of the bigness, and may well deserve the old Saxon name Bright-stall, whose pleasantness is much augmented by reason of the River Avon runs through the middle of it, and the Severn running under all the Streets, cleanses the City from all manner of filth. It is not wholly seated in this County, but one part of it is in Gloucestershire.

It is Governed both by a Bishop, and a Maior, a competent number of Aldermen and other Offi∣cers for the management of Civil affairs.

The Arms of the City is, Gules, a Castle upon a Hill by the Seaside, and a helm of a Ship under Sail passing by, all proper.

The Earls and Dukes of Somerset and Bath since the first Constitution.

• Rheonald de Mohum, Lord of Dunster, and E of Somerset.
• John Beauford, Duke of Somerset.
• Henry fits Roy, Duke of Somerset.
• Edward Somer, Duke of Somerset.

• Phllip Chamdew, Earl of Bath.
• John Boucheir, Lord Fitz Warren, Earl of Bath.
• Henry Dawbney,—
• John Greenvile, Earl of Bath.

Things Remarkable in this County.

Camalet, a very steep Hill hard to be ascended, on the top whereof are seen the Lineaments of a large and ancient Castle; which is said to have been the Palace of King Arthur.

The Church-yard of Avelena or Glassenborough, where K. Arthur's Sepulchre was searched for by Order of K. Henry the 2d. and was there found under a Stone with an Inscription upon it, almost 9 foot under ground.

The principal Rarity of this County is the Baths, which are in number four, viz. The Kings Bath. The Queens Bath. The Cross Bath. And the Hot Bath.

The King's Bath lies in the middle of the City, being about 60 foot Square, and it hath about the middle of it, many hot Springs rising, whence it hath the greater heat. The Queens Bath hath no Spring in it, but only receives the Water from the King's Bath (from which it is only divided by a Wall) for which reason it is more Tempe∣rate than the Kings. In these 2 Baths there is a Pump to Pump Water upon the Diseased, where strong Embrocations are required. The Cro•••• Bath and the Hot Bath, are in the West part of

the City. The Cross Bath is Triangular, and about 25 foot long, and as broad at one end; It hath not so many Springs as the King's Bath and the Hot Bath have, and therefore is of a more gentle heat. About 100 foot from the Cross Bath is the Hot Bath, so called, because formerly (when it was not so large as now it is) it was much hotter than the rest.

Near the River Frome are Pit-Coals digged, with which Smiths use to soften Iron.

By the Sea-side (not far from Axbridge) about the year 1625. a parcel of Land swelled up like a Hill, and of a sudden clave asunder, and fell down again into the Earth, and in the place of it re∣mains a great Pool.

At Kingsham in the Stone-Quarries there, are found Stones in the form of Serpents.

At Bristol it Flows 13 or 14 foot in height every Tide, an extraordinary height in com∣parison of what it flows in other parts of the English Shore.

Near unto Bristol, are those famous Rocks known by the name of St. Vincent's Rocks, very ragged, and hanging over the River Avon: where also is a Well of warm Water, very pleasing to the taste, whose Water is much commended for the cure of Ulcers, &c. it being taken inwardly, and applied outwardly, it cures Old Sores with very good success. On the upper side of these Rocks of St. Vincent, are digged out Pelna'd Stones, commonly called Bristol Stones, or Diamonds, some 4 cornered, others 6 cornered, which (saith Speed) are so bright of colour, as they may equa∣lize Indian Diamonds, but not so hard.

Westward of St. Vincent's Rock, is another Rock, in which are found Diamonds inclosed in a

kind of reddish Flint in a wonderful manner, and the Earth thereabouts is read also.

At Chedder near Axbridge, is a Spring so plen∣tiful of Water presently, that it drives 12 Mills within a quarter of a mile of the head of it.

There was a Walnut Tree (saith Cambden) in Glastenbury Church-yard, that did never put out Leaf till St. Barnabas Day, and upon that very day it was very rank and full of Leaves.

Near unto Glastenbury in Wivall Park was a Hawthorn that upon Christmas-Day sprouted forth as if it were in May.

There is a Church in Bristol called the Temple, the Tower whereof shakes to and fro when the Bells ring, so that it hath divided it self from the rest of the Building from the top to the bot∣tom, the breadth of 3 fingers, and openeth and shutteth whensoever the Bell is rung.

Mendip Hills in this Shire, afford great abun∣dance of Lead.

In the 22 year of Q. Elizabeth, a strange Apparition appeared in this County, 60 Per∣sonages all cloathed in Black (a furlong in di∣stance from those that beheld them) and after their appearing, and a little while tarrying, they vanished away. But immediately another strange company, in like manner, colour and number, appeared in the same place; and they encountred one another, and so vanished away. And the third time appeared that num∣ber again all in bright Armour, and encoun∣tred one another, and so vanished away. Affidavit was made of the truth of this, by 4 honest men that saw it to be true, before Sir George Norton.

In the year 1607. a mighty West Wind brought in the River Severn with such violence, that in some places in Somersetshire and Glou∣cestershire, the Waters grew higher than the tops of the Houses, and 80 persons in Somer∣setshire were drowned, and damages done to the value of 26 thousand pounds.