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 Bedfordshire, &c.

BEdfordshire is a very Pleasant In-Land County; it is Bounded with Northamptonshire, Huntingtonshire, Cambridgshire, Hartfordshire, Buckinghamshire, &c. It is plentiful in Cattle, Fowle, Corn, fat Pastures, Forrests, Parks, replenished with store of Timber and Deer; consist∣ing of Plains, pleasant Valleys, and gradual rising Hills, and is said to yeild the best Barley in England, especially in the North parts.

It containes One Hundred and Sixteen Parishes, Nine Hundreds, Ten Market Towns, and One considerable River. It sends Members to Parliament Four, viz. Bedford two, and two Knights for the County.

Bedford, the Shire Town, has been to its cost the Scene of much Action; especially in the Wars between King Stephen and the Empress Maud, Mother to Henry the Second, and in the Wars of the Barons, against King John, and was raz'd to the ground by King Henry the Third, but soon Rebuilt, and ever since flourished in much tranquility and splendor. In a Chappel not far from the Town, Offa the great King of the Mercians was Buryed, which being demolished by the overflowing of the Ouse, his Spectrum is said often to have appeared on the Water of that River.

There is a little Rivolet at Asply near Wobourn in this County, which is famous for its Petrifying Quality, being said to Turn Wood into Stone; and that a Wooden Ladder happening to fall into it, was some time after taken up again all Stone. And that not only the Pivolet or Brook, but the Earth in the Banks of it has the same Vertue. So that it is justly accounted one of the Wonders of our Isle.

Dean is a pleasant Town, Eminent for the Birth of Francis Dillingham, a very Learned Man; as Layton

Buzzard for the Birth of William Sclater; Dunstable called by the Romans Magiovinium, the latter Name being taken from a notable Thief called Dun, who with his Accom∣plices Inhabited it, and for that cause called Dunstable, or Duns Inning Place; it also gave Birth to that Leared Author, John Sirnamed Dunstable.

The River Ouse Waters this County with its pleasant Meanders, passing through Bedford, and hath over it a handsom Stone Bridge, with two Gates upon it. This County is likewise Beautified with some of the Seats of the Nobility, as those of Anthony Grey Earl of Kent, at Wrest-House and Harrold; the Earl of Bullinbrooks at Bletsho and Melchborn; the Earl of Allesbury's at Ampthil and Clophil; Its Hills produce the best Marl, with abundance of Blue Stone like Slate: And the whole County is plentiful in all sorts of Provision, and divers pro∣fitable Manufacturs.