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 ...

The Reign of Ethelred, Fifth Sole Monarch of England.

EThelred, the Third Son of Ethelwolf, upon his com∣ing to the Crown, Anno Dom. 866, found himself engaged in a dangerous War against the Danes, who with their main Strength, almost in all parts, Invaded the Kingdom; so getting strong footing with several Armys in the North, East, and South, he was at a stand into which quarter he should advance, which gave them opportunity to over-run many fertil Counties; and be∣ing as yet Pagans, they used unheard-of Cruelties under the Leading of Hungar and Hubba, two of their Dukes, who by some are stiled Kings. They took the City of York by Storm, and set it on Fire, upon which Walketulus, an Earl of the East Angles, gave them Battel, but was Overthrown, and most of those he commanded slain; and flushed with this Victory, they destroyed many famous Churches, also the Monasteries of Croyland, Berdoxey, Midlesham side, or Peterborough, and Ely; and the Abbess of Coldingham, to prevent Ravishment, cut

off her Nose and upper Lip; and by her Example the Nuns did the like, to preserve their Chastity by their Deformity, but were nevertheless Defloured, and after∣ward in despight Immured in their House, and Fire being put to it, they perished in the Flames. And so terrible they became in those Parts, That Burthred Vice Roy of Mercia, to save the ruin of the Country, made Peace with them, as likwise did Offride and Ella, stiled Dukes of the Northumbrians, and were thereupon con∣strained to joyne their Forces with them against Ethel∣red, which some Authors call a Rebellion, and that with great reason; for it was taking part with Invaders a∣gainst their Lawful Soveraign.

These things happening whilst the King was busied in other Parts of the Land, he no sooner found a little leasure, but taking courage he Marched Northward, and in a great Battel Overthrew the Dainish Northern Army, in conjunction with many of his Subjects, whom they had compelled, as is said, to the Field under their East Angle and Mercian Leaders, slaying Agner, ac∣counted one of their Kings, Nine Earls, and a great number of common Souldiers: Yet Fourteen Days after they put the King to Flight at Basing, after a Battel of Twelve Hours, and within Thirty Days did the like at Merton, the King receiving a Mortal Wound as he was in the Pursuit, at Whitingham, of which he Dyed, when he had Reigned Five Years, viz. Anno Dom. 872, and was Buryed in the Monastery of Wimbourn. He was the Fifth Sole Monarch of England.

Remarks on Cornwal, &c.

COrnwal, the Antient Cornubij, seemes to take its Name from its pushing into the Sea in the form of a Horn. It abounds with Mines of Tin, which is the best and finest in all Europe; Stone Quarries, Corn, Fruits, Cattle; and, as some hold, there might be much Silver Digged in several places: It is the Extremity of England Westward. On the North, and partly the West, it has the Irish Sea; on the South, the Channel; and on the East, Devonshire: It is divided into Nine Hundreds, and con∣tains 161 Parishes, 22 Market Towns, and seven Rivers. It sends Members to Parliament 44, viz. Bodmin two, Bassiney two, Camelford two, Dunhived two, Eastlow two, Fowey two, Grampound two, Helston two, St. Ger∣mins two, St. Ives two, Kellington two, Leskerk two, Lostwithiall two, St. Mawes two, St. Michael two, New∣port two, Penryn two, Port-Pigham two, Saltash two, Tregonye two, Truro two, and two Knights of the Shire.

Camelford, in this County, is very famous for the Battel where Mordred was Slain, and King Arthur received his Mortal Wound. There has lately been digged up peices of Armour in that place.

Tintagal Castle gave King Arthur (that Miracle of British Valour) Birth. At Castle-Dennis, the Ruins of the Daines Trenches, upon their first Invasion, are to be seen.

St. Germans is a very stately Place, and was Antiently an Episcopal See, but removed to Bodmin, and from thence by King Edward the Confessor to Exeter in Devonshire where it remains.

Cradoc is likewise noted for the Birth of John Travisa, a Learned Writer. This County is famed for its exceeding high Mount overlooking the Sea, with a curious Bay on which stands Pensance, commanding the Harbour.

[illustration] map of Cornwall

CORNWALL

The Seats of the Nobility are Stow, Wolston, Stanbury, Clifton and Lanow, belonging to the Earl of Bath, Luby∣drock and Truro, to the Earl of Radnor, Boconock to the Lord Mohun of Okehampton, Terrise, to the Lord Ar∣undel Barron Trerise.

The Cliffs to the Sea Coast produce Samphire, Sea Holley, and the Inland part abounds with Rosa Solis, wild Hysop, Marjorum, Garlick, growing naturally, as also Chestnuts.