Stafford∣shire.

STAFFORDSHIRE, an Inland Coun∣ty, is bounded Eastward by Derbyshire and part of Warwickshire, parted from the first for the most part by the River Dove; West∣ward, by Cheshire and Shropshire; Northward, by Cheshire and part of Derbyshire; and Southward, by Worcestershire.

Its Length, from North to South, is at least 40 miles; its Breadth, from East to West, a∣bout 25. The whole divided into five Hun∣dreds, where in 130 Parishes, and 18 Market-Towns.

The Air is counted here pretty good and healthfull, but it is somewhat sharp in Win∣ter.

As for the Soil, 'tis true the greatest Part of the Country is taken up with Moors, and Woods; insomuch that one may go the whole length of the County, and see little but Heaths and Moors. But they are such as yield both profit and pleasure. Profit, by breeding Multitudes of Sheep, Deer, and Co∣nies; and many of 'em by the Husbandmans Industry, yielding very good Corn. Plea∣sure, for they afford the greatest plenty of Page  197Heath-Game of any County in the King∣dom, either by Hawking or Hunting. And so great was formerly the Number of Parks and Warrens in this Shire, that there was scarce any Gentlemans Seat in the Coun∣ty but what had both Park and Warrens. The chief Forests are those of Cank and Kinvare; and among Chases, those of Need∣wood, Peasey, and Alderwas Hay.

In short, the North Part of this Country is full of Hills, and Woods, the South stored with Coals and Mines of Iron, and the middle Part (being watered with the River Trent) adorned with fair Corn-fields and Meadows. And yet in the North-Parts the Pastures near the River Dove yield the sweetest and fattest Mutton in England.

For Manuring the Ground, here's plenty both of Lime and Marl. For Building, a∣bundance of Timber and Stone, which last for its fineness and durableness is held in good esteem. A sort of Plaister is made of the Lime, which soon after it is laid, grows as white as Snow, and as hard as a Stone. Here is also a good deal of Alabaster; and, in some Places, salt Springs, yielding plenty of white Salt, not much inferiour to the best Salt in Cheshire.

The Hills of most note are Mowcop-hill, in the Confines of Cheshire, where Mill-stones are got; Dudley-hill, which affords a fine Pro∣spect; the Shaw, which overlooks the Coun∣ties of Darby and Leicester; and the We∣ver.

With Rivers, Springs, and Brooks, no Coun∣ty in England is better watered than this. Besides the Trent, here is the Dove, the Chur∣net, the Blithe, the Line, the Tean, the Sowe,Page  198the Penk, the Manifold, and several others; some emptying themselves into the Dove, as this dees into the Trent, and all of them sto∣red with most sorts of fresh-water Fish. The Trent, of special note for its Pikes, Pearches, Fels, and Graylings; the Dove, for its Trouts; and the Blithe, for Eels. And over all these Rivers are reckoned at least 24 Stone∣bridges.

But as the Gentry here are not so curi∣ous in their private Buildings as they be in other Places, to amongst the numerous Towns that are here few can boast of any Beau∣ty.

Stafford, the Shire-Town, from whence the County takes its Name, bears from London North-West, and is distant therefrom 104 miles, thus. From London to Northampton, 54 miles, for the particulars whereof I re∣fer you to Northamptonshire; from thence to Coventry, 20 miles; to Lichfield, 20 more; and thence to Stafford, 10.

A Town pleasantly seated on the Banks of the-River Sowe, which washes its South and West Parts, with a Bridge over it. For∣merly fenced with a Wall, except where it was secured by a large Pool or Water on the North and East. Here are two Parish-Churches, a free School, and a fine Market-Place. The Streets are large, and graced with many good Buildings. And its Market, which is kept on Saturdays, is well served with most sorts of Provisions.

This Town did formerly belong to the noble Family of the Staffords, first with the Title of Earl hereof and afterwards of Lord or Baron. Henry Stafford was the last of that Line, who dying Anno 1639, the Family of Page  199the Staffords died also with him. But, the next year after, William Howard, Knight of the Bath, and second Son of Thomas Earl of Arundel and Surrey, having to Wife a Daughter of the last Lord Stafford, was by King Charles I. created Viscount and Lord Stafford. Who, being found Guilty of High Treason by his Peers, Dec. 7th 1680, was beheaded upon Tower-Hill Dec. 29. But the Title was in the late Reign revived in his Son Henry, the present Earl of Staf∣ford.

Lastly, though Stafford be the County-Town, yet it is not the chief, either for extent or beauty, it being out-done by

Lichfield, a City and County of it self, seated in a low and Moorish Ground, on a shallow Pool, by which it is divided into two Parts, both joyned together by a Bridge and a Causey, and making up a City of indiffe∣rent bigness. In the South Part, which is the greater of the two, stands a Grammar-School for the Education of Children, and an Hospi∣tal dedicated to S. John, for the Relief of the Poor. In the other Parts there's nothing considerable but a fair Cathedral, and that suf∣ficient of it self to renoun the Place. First built by Oswin, King of Northumberland, about the Year 656, who gave the Bishops hereof many Possessions. Afterwards being taken down by Roger de Clinton, the 37th Bi∣shop of this Diocese, that which now stands was built by him, and dedicated to the Vir∣gin Mary and S. Chad. Besides the Cathedral, this City has 3 Parish Churches. And its Weekly Markets, kept on Tuesdays and Fri∣days, are well served with Provisions.

But Lichfield is not only honoured with a Bishops See. 'Tis dignify'd besides with the Title of an Earldom, in the person of the Right Honourable Edward Henry Lee, who was created by Charles II. Baron of Spellesbury, Viscount Quarendon, and Earl of Lichfield, Anno 1674.

The other Market-Towns are

• Newcastle, Mund.
• Stone, Tue.
• Betles, Tue.
• Pagets Bromley Tue.
• Tudbury, Tue.
• Walsall, Tue.
• Ridgeley, Tue.
• Penkridge, Tue.
• Brewood, Tue.
• Leek, Wedn.
• Ʋtoxeter, Wedn.
• Wolverhampton, Wedn.
• Checkley, Thu.
• Burton, Thu.
• Eccleshall, Frid.
• Tamworth, Sat.

Among which Newcastle, commonly called Newcastle under Line, from the Rivulet Line upon which it is seated, and that to di∣stinguish it from Newcastle upon Tine in Nor∣thumberland, is a large Town, but mean in its Buildings, most of 'em being thatch∣ed.

Ʋtoxeter and Tudbury are seated on the River Dove; Stone and Burton, upon Trent, the first in the Road from London to Chester, and the last famous for its Bridge leading into Derbyshire; Pagets Bromley, on the Blithe; and Checkley, on the Teane.

Tamworth is seated on the Tame, where the Auker falls into it, with a Stone-Bridge over each. It stands part in this County, and part in Staffordshire; one part washed by the Tame, and the other Part by the Page  201Auker. In short, 'tis a good Town, beau∣tified with a large Church, and strength∣ened with a small (but strong) Castle.

Walsall is seated on the top of a high Hill, pretty well built, and driving a good Trade of Nails, Spurs, Stirrups, Bridle-bits, and Bel∣lows made here in great plenty.

Penkridge, a Place of good Antiquity, seat∣ed near the River Penk, is now only famous for its Horse-Fair, and chiefly for Saddle-Nags. And Brewood, for that the Bishops of this Diocese had here their Pallace before the Conquest.

Wolverhampton was only called Hampton, till such time as one Vulver, a devout Woman, inriched the Town with a Religious House. It stands upon a Hill, and has a Collegiate Church annexed to the Deanry of Windsor. About four miles from this Place stood the Oak, where the late King Charles took San∣ctuary for some Days after his Defeat at Worcester, till he was conveyed to the House of Mrs. Jane Lane, who was a chief Instru∣ment in his Conveyance beyond Sea. From whence this famous Tree came to be called the Royal Oak.

Lastly, this County (formerly Part of the Kingdom of Mercia, and its Inhabitants part of the Cornavii) is now in the Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry.

Out of it are elected, besides the two Knights of the Shire, eight Members of Par∣liament. Viz. two out of each of these fol∣lowing Towns, Stafford, Lichfield, Newcastle un∣der Line, and Tamworth.