Bedford∣shire.

BEDFORDSHIRE, another Inland County is bounded Eastward by Hartfordshire, and part of Cambridgeshire; Westward, by Buckinghamshire; Northward, by Northamp∣ton and Huntington Shires; Southward, by Middlesex, and the South Parts of Buckingham∣shire.

It contains in Length from North to South not above 24 Miles; in Breadth, but 12; and in Circumference 72. The Whole divided into nine Hundreds, wherein 116 Parishes, and 10 Market-Towns.

Here the Air is very temperate, the Country for the most part Champion, and the Soil fer∣ile, especially the North part of it. Noted, shiefly for yielding the best Barley in Eng∣•and.

Next to the River Ouse, which waters the North Parts of it, the Ivel is the chief, which falls into the Ouse.

A memorable Thing is recorded of this River Ouse, which I am unwilling to pretermit. At a Place near Harwood, on New Years Day 1399, just before the War began between the Two Houses of York and Lancaster, this River sud∣denly stood still, and ceased its Course; and so se∣vered it self, that Men went about 3 Miles toge∣ther on foot in the bottom of the Channel, the Waters swelling up backwards, to a great height.

Bedford, the County-Town, lies North-west and by North, 40 Miles from London, thus. From London to Barnet, 10; 10 more to St. Al∣bans, 8 from thence to Luton, 5 more to Baru• Clay, thence to Bedford 7.

A Town pleasantly seated on the Banks o• the River Ouse, that parts it into two, and o∣ver which there is a fair Stone Bridge, Called Bedford from the Beds and Lodgings on the Ford, built on both sides of the River for the use of Travellers. A Town which in proces• of time is grown to that bigness, as to contain in it 5 Parish Churches, whereof 3 on the North and 2 on the South-side of the River.

Famous in former times for the great Bat∣tel fought in the adjoyning Fields Anno 572 in which Cuthwolf the Saxon vanquished th• Britains, and became Master of the Country But more famous for giving the Title of Duke to John of Lancaster, Regent of France for Kin• Henry VI, and to Jasper of Hatfield, Uncle 〈◊〉 Henry VII. After whom it was dignified b• King Edward VI, Anno 1548, with the Title o• an Earldom, in the Person of the then Lon• Admiral John Russel; and from him descende•Page  27in a right line to the truly Noble and right Ho∣nourable William Russel, the present Earl of Bedford, and Knight of the Order of the Gar∣ter.

Lastly, this Town has two Markets a Week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, well furnished with all sorts of Provisions.

The other Market-Towns are

• Tuddington, Sat.
• Potton, Sat.
• Luton, Mund.
• Leighton, Tue.
• Biglesworth Tue.
• Dunstable, Wedn.
• Ampthill, Thur.
• Woburn, Frid.
• Shefford, Frid.

Among which Dunstable, the chief of all, is seated on a Hill, in a chalky dry Ground. Built by King Henry I. out of the Ruins of the ancient Magiovinium, for the better suppres∣sing of one Dun, a notorious Robber, that u∣sed to pester these Parts, from whom it came to be called Dunstable. It has 4 Streets in it, and in each of 'em a Pond, fed only with Rain, and yet these Ponds are never dry. No Springs here to be found, without digging a very great depth. But as it is seated in the high Road from London to West-Chester (formerly known by the Name of Watling-street,) 'tis a well fre∣quented Town, and accommodated with several good Inns for Travellers. In this Town King Edward I. caused a Cross or Column to be e∣rected, adorned with Statues, and the Arms of England, &c. in Memorial of Eleanor his Queen, this being the Place where her Corps rested in her Journey from Lincolnshire, where she died, to Westminster Abbey, where she was interred. About this Town are caught abundance of Page  28Larks, which are esteemed the best in England and where they are the best dressed.

Leighton is seated in the Borders of Bucking∣hamshire, upon a River that runs Northward in∣to the Ouse. This is a good large Town, ha∣ving a Bridge over the River, which leads to Buckinghamshire. And its Market is very considerable, especially for all sorts of fa•• Cattle.

Luton, a pretty good Town, borders upon both the Counties of Hartford and Bucking ham; and Potton, upon Cambridgeshire. Wo∣burn, on a rising Ground, is much frequented by Passengers in their Journeys from London to Northampton. Formerly of some account for its fine Monastery, as it is at present fo• its Free School, founded by Francis Earl of Bed∣ford.

Near this Town is Aspley, where the natur• of the Soil is such, that it petrifies Wood. An• about this Town is digged up excellent Fulle•• Earth in great plenty.

Biglesworth is pleasantly seated on the Ive• over which it has a Stone-bridge. This Town formerly but inconsiderable, is grown into request, since it became a Thorough-fare for Coaches especially, between London and York.

Shefford is situate on the other side of the •∣vel, West and by South from Biglesworth, be∣tween two Rivulets which joyn below th• Town, and fall together in one stream into th• Ivel.

Ampthill, 5 Miles South of Bedford, is a• Honour belonging to the Crown. Graced with a fine Seat and Park in its Neighbourhood, be longing to the Earl of Alesbury.

To conclude, this County (formerly was Part of the ancient Kingdom of Mercia, and its In∣habitants part of the Catieuchlani, as the Ro∣mans called them) is now in the Diocese of London.

Out of it are elected, besides the two Knights of the Shire, but two Members to sit in Par∣liament, the Right of Election being in the Town of Bedford.