The history of England giving a true and impartial account of the most considerable transactions in church and state, in peace and war, during the reigns of all the kings and queens, from the coming of Julius Cæsar into Britain : with an account of all plots, conspiracies, insurrections, and rebellions ... : likewise, a relation of the wonderful prodigies ... to the year 1696 ... : together with a particular description of the rarities in the several counties of England and Wales, with exact maps of each county / by John Seller ...

Remarks on Dorsetshire, &c.

DOrsetshire is very spacious and fertil, breeding great numbers of Cattle in its rich Pastures, and is much re∣nowned for its Linnen and Woollen Manufactures: It pro∣duces abundance of Corn, and the Isle of Portland joyning (as it were) to it, furnishes us with plenty of Free-Stone, used in building Churches and other stately Fabricks in London, &c. It is Bounded with Wiltshire, Somersetshire, Hampshire, Devonshire, and the Channel. It Containes 248 Parishes, divided into 29 Hundreds, 19 Market Towns, and four Rivers. It sends Members to Parliament 20, viz. Brid∣port 2, Croft-Castle 2, Dorchester 2, Lyme Regis 2, Melcom Regis 2, Pool 2, Shaston 2, Weymouth 2, Wareham 2, and 2 Knights of the Shire. It has in it a great many Parks stored with Venison.

Dorchester, the chief Town in this Shire, is of great Antiquity, and was called by the Romans Durnovaria, be∣ing of pleasant situation, and its Buildings Rich and Populous.

Banbury was Antiently the Court of many West Saxon

Kings; at Cern, Austin the Monk Preached up Christianity on his first Arrival in this shire; and by the consent of the People destroyed their Idols, and among the rest one called Hell.

Shaftsbury is famed for the History of the Prophecy∣ing Eagle (probably a Man whose Name was Aquila) in this place was Buryed the Body of Edward the Son of Edgar, Murthered at the command of his Step-Mother, in Corfe-Castle. At Winbourn Minster, Builded by Cuthburga Queen of Northumberland, was Intered the Body of Ethelred.

Nor must we forget Lime in this County, which is Me∣morable for the Landing of James late Duke of Monmouth there, with about fourscore Gentlemen from Holland; in the Year 1685, being the first Year of the late King James's Reign. And tho' he brought so few along with him, yet in a few Days after his Landing, he was several Thousands strong; and gave the Kings Forces a considerable Repulse at Philips-Norton; and had he gain'd the Day at Sedgemore (which in all probability he had done, had he not been betray'd) It is verily believed the greatest part of England had Declared for him; so great an Aversion, even at that time, the Nation had against King James and Popery; and I am sure they have no reason to be fonder of him since. But Heaven had decreed our Deliverance to be the Work of another hand: And therefore the unhappy Duke after his Defeat at Sedgmore, was taken at Ringwood in Hampshire, and from thence brought up to London, and two days after Beheaded upon Tower-Hill; whose Death was follow'd by abundance of barbarous Executions in this County; so that there is hardly a Town in it, but what can shew some Bloody Tokens of King James his Cruelty; The Quarters of the poor Macerated Wretches having been placed upon Poles set up in the High∣ways, for many Miles together: As we shall shew more at large, when we come to King James's Reign.

Sherburn was Antiently an Episcopal See, and so con∣tinued a long time, in whose Cathedral were Interred the Body of the Kings Ethelbert and Ethelbald. Maiden Castle, a∣bout a Mile West of Dorchester and Badbury Castle, ap∣pear by Coin, and other Marks digg'd up and found about them, to have been Garisons of the Romans, if not builded by them. The River Stowr in this County abounds with Tench of an extraordinary bigness: In the Isle of Purbeck are veins of Marble, tho' not continued, but scattering here and there, as Cambden observes, yet run a great way under Ground: Great store of the best Hemp growing in England, is found between Bemister and Bridport; and near Stur∣pain, on the side of the River, there is a plentiful production of Madder. The Hills in Dorsetshire are few, and those for the most part gradually rising, some Crowned with pleasant Woods, and others with Corn in its season, and flocks of Sheep: It is Beautified with several Seats of the Nobility, viz. Hook Castle, the Duke of Boltons; Cranbourn-House, the Earl of Salisburys; Wimbourn St. Giles, the Earle of Shaftsburys. The Houses of the Gentry are likewise very stately, as well in the Towns, as seperate; so that it may be ranked among the most delightful Counties of England.