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 Yorkshire in its three Ridings.

THis is the largest Shire in England, and not inferiour to some of the biggest Provinces in France. It is divided into three Parts or Ridings, viz. The North, East, and West Ridings. It pro∣duces store of Horses, large Cattle, Sheep, and in many places very good Corn and Pastures, great quantities of Woollen Cloth; and very Subtil People. It is Bounded with the Bishoprick of Du••ham, the German Ocian, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, and Westmore∣land: It contains 26 Hundreds, 563 Parishes, 57 Marker Towns, 36 Rivers of which the Humber is the chief, 1 City, which is an Archiepiscopal See, viz. York, 14 Castles, 62 Bridges, 4 Chases, •• Forrests, and 72 Parks. It sends Members to Parliament 30, viz. Alborough 2, Beverly 2, Borrough-Bridge 2, Hildon 2, Hull 2, Knarse∣borough 2, Malton 2, North-Alerton 2, Pomfret 2, Richmond 2, Rippon 2, Scarborough 2, Thrisk 2, York City 2, and 2 Knights of the Shire.

York is the Second City of England: Severus the Roman Empe∣rour kept his Court and Dyed in it; also Constantius Chlorus, Father to Constantine the Great,, here the Learned Alcum, Tutor to the Emperour Charles the Great was Born; it was made an Archiepis∣copal See Anno 625, and is situate on the River Ouse, which Waters a great part of the Shire. At Leeds, Oswey King of Northumberland Overthrew Oswald, Ethelbert, and Penda, three Saxan Princes, slay∣ing the two latter; Selby gave Birth to King Henry the First; Wake∣field is famed for its Cloth Work, and the memorable Battel sought between the Houses of York and Lancaster; and that in the Late Civil Wars between the Earl of Newcastle and Sir Thomas Fairfax. Pomfret Castle was Builded by Hildebert Lacy a Norman; at Rotheram was Born Thomas of Rotheram Arch-Bishop of York. Stanford Bridge, in the East Riding, from a Battel fought against the Danes, is called Battel Bridge. Dryfield is noted for the Tomb of Alfrid, King of Northumberland. Beverly as the Birthplace of John D' Beverly, Arch-Bishop

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[illustration] map of Yorkshire

YORK SHIRE By I: Seller

Bishop of York, Anno 721 Newborough Abby is famed for the Name it gives to our old English Historian William of Newborough; Kingston upon Hull, was Founded by King Edward the First.

This Shire affoards store of Iron, Pit-Coal, and Sea-Coal; at Whitby are Stones of a Serpentine figure; near Burrough Bridge are 4 Piramidal Stones, supposed some Roman Monument; on Rose∣mary Topping are Stones found like Sea Wincles and Cockles; at Giglesworth are 3 Springs, one of which constantly Ebbs and Flows four times an Hour; in the North are Ting-tong Wells, said to be three Miles in the Earth; and near Knarsborough the Well Dripa, whose Water distills from a Rock that hangs over it. The Castles of note are those of Sheffield, Coningsborough, Tickil, Sandal, Harwood, Knasborough, Cawood, Scarborough, Kilton, Skelton, &c. On Wakefield Bridge stands a Chappel Founded by Edward the Fourth, in memo∣ry of the Battel fought there; near Flamborough-Head are Waters called Vipsies, which flow out of the Springs every other Year, and fall violently into the Sea.

The Seats of the Nobility are Sheffeild-Mannor, belonging to the Duke of Norfolk; Bishops-Hill and Hemsey Castle, to the late Duke of Buckingham; Slingsby Castle, to the Honourable Family of New-castle; Snap, to the Earl of Exceter; Markin-field, to the Earl of Bridgwater; Mulgrave Castle, to the Earl of Mulgrave; Shipton Castle, to the Earl of Thanet; Nawort Castle, to the Earl of Carlisle; Wharl∣ton Castle and Javoux Abby, to the Earl of Ailesbury; Lounsborough, Bolton, and Braden Tower, to the Earl of Burlington; Hall and Wim∣bledon, to the Duke of Leeds; Thorn-Hill, to the Earl of Macclesfield; Hackforth, Anderly Le Miers, to the Earl of Holderness; Newborough Abby, Coxwold Hall, Oulston Hall, Aldwark and Murton, to the Lord Faulconberg; Wressel Castle, to the Duke of Richmond; Easby Hall, to the Lord Eure, Baron of Witton; Wheldrake, to the Lord Howard of Escrick; Holm in Spadingmore, and Dalton, to the Lord Lexinton; Wilton Castle, to the Lord Cornwallis; Bishopsthorp, to the Arch-Bishop of the Province.