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 the County of Essex, &c.

ESSEX is not only considerably Large, but is every where sprinkled with Towns and Villages of note, and is abundantly stored with Cattle, by reason its advantageous Meadows, Marshes, and other Pastures, which lying low produce store of Grass in the driest seasons; as for Cheese and Butter, it produces very great quantities, as also very good Corn, and store of Saffron, Hops, &c.

It is Bounded on the South with the River Thames, and Kent, the River washing its verdant Banks as far as the Hope; on the West with Hartfordshire, and Middlesex; on the North with Cambridgshire and Suffolk, and on the East with the Ocean; It is divided into 20 Hundreds, which containe 415 Parishes; It has 27 Market Towns, and seven Rivers; It sends Members to Parliament eight, viz. Colchester 2, Harwich 2, Maldon 2, and two Knights of the Shire.

Colchester in this County is of great Antiquity, held to be Built by the Antient British King Coilus, from whom it seems to derive its Name; and in it was Born King Lucius the first known Christian King in the World: Constantine the first Christian Roman Emperour, as also Helena his Mother, Empress to Constantius and Daughter to King Coilus; It is also Memorable for its Long Siege in the late Civil War.

Malden is very Antient, having been the Royal Seat of the Trinobantes, of which Cunobeline was King, when our Saviour was Born. It was taken by the Emperour Claudius and Named Camalodunum, wherein he placed a Roman Garison, but Rased to the Ground by Queen Bonduca or Boadicia, after a mighey Defeat given the Romans in Re∣venge of their breach of Trust, and the Rape of her Daugh∣ters; which we formerly mentioned.

Walden famous for Saffron growing about it, from whic•• it takes the Name of Saffron Walden, and for giving Birth to that Learned Statesman Sr. Thomas Smith, Se∣cretary of State to Queen Elizabeth: At Tilbury the said Queen rendezvouzed her Forces to oppose the Spanish In∣vasion 1588; and there is now a strong Fort, commanding the Mouth of the Thames.

Chelmsford, accounted the Shire Town, is of very com∣modious Building and situation, the Assizes being usually held there. Braintry, Cogshal, Harwich, and other Towns, adorn this County. There is a Proverb peculiar to this County, which is, He may fetch a Flitch of Bacon from Dunmow, This Proverb took its rise from a Custom formerly practis'd in the Priory of Dunmow, first founded by Juga, a Noble Lady, for Black Nuns, Anno 1111. but afterwards converted into a Priory for Friars, who ordained, That if any Person from any part of England would come thither, and humbly kneel on two stones, yet to be seen at the Church Door before the Convent, and solemnly take the following Oath, he might demand a Gam∣mon or Flitch of Bacon, which should be freely given him:

You shall Swear by the Custom of our Confession, That you never made any Nuptial Transgression, Since you were married Man and Wife, By Houshold Brawls, or contentious strife: Or otherwise in Bed, or at Board, Offended each other in Deed or Word: Or since the Parish Clark said Amen, Wished your selves unmarried agen; Or in a Twelve-Month and a Day, Repented not in thought any way; But continued true, and in Desire, As when you joyn'd hands in holy Quire. If to these Conditions without all fear, Of your own accord you will freely Swear,

A Gammon of Bacon you shall receive, And carry it hence with love and free leave. For this is our Custom at Dunmow well known; Tho' the sport be ours, the Bacon's your own.

And pursuant hereunto, it appears upon Record, That ••ichard Wright, of Badsworth in Norfolk, in the 23d. ••f Hen. 6. and Stephen Samuel of Little Easton in Essex, ••n the 7th. of Edward the 4th, and Thomas Lee of Coxhall in Essex, in the 2d. of Hen. 8. Took the aforesaid ••ath, and demanded and received their Bacon.

Amongst the many Noble Seats in this County, That ••oyal House called Audley-End, (not far from Saffron-Walden) justly claims the first place, Built by Thomas ••oward Earl of Suffolk, Treasurer to King James the first. ••hen there is New-Hall, a very Noble Seat of the late Duke of Albemarles, and Bently belonging to the Earl of Oxford; Copt-Hall a seat of the Earl of Dorcets; Leez ••riory, a seat of the Earl of Manchester; St. Osith, a ••at of the Earl Rivers; Havering, a seat of the Earl of ••indseys; Park-Hall, a seat of the Earl of Angleseys; ••oulsham-Hall, Moulsham Friery, and Bishops-Hall, ••ats of the Lord Fitz Walter; Gosfield-Hall, and Spring-••lace, seats of the Lord Grey of Wark: Easton-Lodg ••nd Achdon-Place, seats of the Lord Maynard; Tols∣••ury, a seat of the Lord Howard of Escrick; Lawfield-Hall, the Lord Carews Seat: It contains likewise many ••urious Parks, Chases, Warrens, and is stored with Fish, ••owl, and all other Necessaries.