THE Island of Brittain is of all others the most famous , and has been accounted the greatest in the World ; it comprehendeth all those Islands both great and less , which lie in compass about it , the length thereof from South to North ( that is from Lysard Point in Cornwall , to the North of Scotland ) is 624 miles , and the breadth thereof from the Lands end in Cornwall to the Isle of Thanet in Kent about 300 English miles ; It is a Country always very temperate , and was highly esteemed by the Romans , as appears by what hath been said concerning it , by one of their Orators , who calls it , the happy and most fortunate Island , endued by nature with all the blessings of Heaven and Earth , in that therein is neither extream cold in Winter , nor scorching heats in Summer , and that which is most comfortable , long daies , and very lightsome nights ; wherein there is such an abundance of Grain , as may suffice both for Bread and Wine ; the Woods thereof are without wild Beasts , the Fields without noysom Serpents , but therein are vast numbers of Milch Beasts , and Sheep weighed down with their own Fleeces . To which may be added what Alfred the Poet of Beverly writ long since of Brittain .

As to the name Brittain there is no great certainty of its Original ; that which hath passed for currant in former times ( when almost all Nations did pretend to be of Trojan Race ) was , that it took this name from Brutus , affirmed to be the Son of Silvius , Grand-Child of Aeneas , and third King of the Latines of the Trojan Blood , which Brutus having unfortunately killed his Father , and thereupon flying from Italy with his Friends and followers , after a long Voyage , and many wandrings , is said to have fallen upon this Island , and to have conquered here a race of Giants , and having given unto it the name of Brittain , to leave the Soveraignty thereof to his posterity , who quietly enjoyed the same , till subdued by the Romans ; but this Tradition has been since laid aside , as altogether fabulous , since the Roman Historians never mention either Brutus or the Giants , Caesar telling us , that he found the Brittains under many Kings , and never under the command of one sole Prince , but in times of Danger ; it is therefore more probable that it was derived from Britt , which in the Brittish Language signifies Painted , and the word Tain a Nation , agreeable to the custom of the Ancient Brittains , who used to discolour and paint their Bodies , that they might seem more terrible in the Eyes of their Enemies , such as the Romans called afterwards Picts , or Painted Men ; other particulars may be observed in the description of those parts into which it is now divided , that is , 1. England . 2. Wales . 3. Scotland .

ENGLAND is bounded on the East with the German ; on the West with the Irish ; on the South with the Brittish Oceans ; and on the North with the Rivers of Tweed and Solway , and thereby parted from Scotland , invironed with Turbulent Seas , guarded by inaccessible Rocks , and where these are wanting , preserved against all Forreign Invasions by strong Forts , and a puissant Navy . The whole Island was first called Albion , either from the story of one of the Giants so called , or Ab albis Rupibus , the white Rocks toward France , which name continued till the time of Egbert the first Saxon Monarch , who called the Southern parts thereof England , from the Angles , who with the Juits and Saxons conquered it ; Pelagius being Bishop of Rome , Gregory seeing some beautiful Children in the Market place of Rome to be sold , he inquireth what Country they were of , who answered Angli ( Englishmen ) and were Heathens ; what pity is it ( said he ) that the Inhabitants being so fair and Angelical of Countenance , should yet be subject to the Prince of Darkness ; asking further of what Province they were , they answered Deira ( a Province in England then so called ) These People ( saith he ) are to be delivered de Ira Dei , from the Wrath of God ; and understanding the name of one of the Youths was Alle , They ought ( saies he ) to sing Allelujah to the living God ; upon this Gregory was mighty desirous to come hither to convert these Heathens , but could not at that time , yet after Pelagius his death being chosen Bishop of Rome , and remembring his former intentions he sent Austin with about 40 more Preachers to undertake this work . This Nation enjoys a soil equally participating of ground fit for Tillage or Pasture ; most of her other Plenties and Ornaments are expressed in this old verse following .

For the Mountains here and there lift up their lofty heads , and give a gallant prospect to the lower grounds ; all of them having Mines in their Bowels , or else are clothed with Sheep , or adorned with Woods ; the Bridges are in number 857 , the chief whereof are Rochester Bridge over Medway ; Bristol Bridge over Avon ; and London Bridge over the Thames ; the Rivers are 325 , the Principal being the Thames , of which a German Poet thus truly spake , Tot Càmpos , Sylvas , tot Regia tecta , tot Hortos , &c. We saw so many Woods and Princely Bowers , Sweet Fields , brave Pallaces , and stately Towers ; So many Gardens drest with curious care , That Thames with Royal Tyber may compare .

The Churches before the General Suppression of Abbles , were most exquisite . The Women are generally handsomer than in other places , sufficiently endowed with natural Beauties , without the Adulteration of Art . In an absolute Woman ( say the Italians ) are required the parts of a Dutch Woman from the Girdle downward , of a French Woman from the Girdle to the Shoulders , over which must be placed an English Face ; as their Beauties so likewise their Prerogatives are the greatest of any Nation , neither so servilly submissive as the French , nor so jealously guarded as the Italian , but keeping so true a decorum , that as England is termed the Purgatory of Servants , and the Hell of Horses , so it is acknowledged the Paradise of Women : And it is a common by-word among the Italians , That if there were a Bridge built over the narrow Seas , all the Women of Europe would run into England : For here they have the upper hand in the Streets , the upper place at the Table , the Thirds of their Husbands Estates , and their equal share in all Lands ; which are Priviledges wherewith other Women are not acquainted ; they were of high esteem in former times amongst Forreign Nations , for the modesty and gravity of their Conversations , but the Women of these times are so much addicted to the light Garb of the French , that they have lost much of their honour and reputation among sober Persons abroad , who before admired them . The Wool of England is of exceeding fineness , of which are made excellent broad cloaths , dispersed over all the World , to the great benefit of England , as well in return of so much Mony which is made of them , as in setting to work so many poor People , who from it receive sustenance .

Having thus briefly gone through the Method of the old Verse , it is time now we should look upon the Men , and they are commonly of a comely Feature , and a gracious Countenance , for the most part grey Eyed , pleasant , beautiful , bountiful , courteous , and much resembling the Italians in Habit and Pronunciation ; In matters of War they are both able to endure , and ready to undertake the hardest Enterprises , and for their Courage are deservedly renowned throughout the World . K. Edw. 3. and his Son did carry their victorious Arms through all France : K. Hen. 6. was crowned King at Paris : The D. of Bedford was Regent of France , and being slain in a Battle , was buried in Roan , whose Monument when Charles 8. K. of France came to see , a Nobleman standing by , advised him to raze it , Nay , ( answered he ) let him rest in peace now being dead , of whom in War , whilest he lived , all France stood in fear . Marshal Biron said , He liked not the English March , ( being beaten by the Drum ) because it was so slow ; Sir Roger Williams , a gallant Souldier , answered him , That as slow as it was , yet it had gone through all France . Our Wooden Walls , the Ships , are a great security to this Nation , the English having been generally accounted the strongest in the World : What service did our Ships do us in 88. Sir . Francis Drake , and after him Thomas Cavendish Esq , within the space of Three Years , and Three Months , travelled about the Globe of the whole Earth . Sir Richard Greenvill in a Ship of Q. Elizabeths fought against a great Navy of the Spaniards , and his single Vessel was fought within turns by 15 other great Ships , whereof the great St. Philip of 1500 Tuns , Prince of the 12 Sea Apostles , was one , yet this valiant Knight sunk Two of their best Ships , and killed a Thousand Men : He is called by the Spaniards still , Don Richard of the Greenfield , and they fright their Children with him . Our Nation without Vanity may assume to itself the Praise , considering its narrow Limits , to have produced as many Schollars , admirable in all degrees of knowledge , as any Country on this side the Alps , and received the Christian Faith as some say from St. Peter and Paul ; and Lucius was the first Christian King of any in Europe . Among many other worthy Men , Bishop Jewel , Bishop Andrews , Bishop Whitgift , and Dr. John Reynolds are very famous , of the last of whom the following account is very remarkable ; this Jo. Reynolds had a Brother named William , who was at first bred up a Protestant of the Church of Eng. and John was trained up in Popery beyond the Seas ; William out of an honest zeal to reduce his Brother to this Church , made a Journey to him , where after a conference between them , it so fell out that John being overcome by his Brothers Arguments returned into Eng. where he became a very strict , and serious Protestant , and William being convinced by the reasons of his Brother John staid beyond Sea , where he proved a very rigid and violent Papist : of which strange accident Dr. Alabaster who had tryed both Religions ( and among others had some notable whimsies ) made this ingenious Epigram , Bella inter geminos plusquam Civilia fratres , &c. In point of Faith some undetermin'd jars Betwixt two Brothers kindled Civil Wars ; One for the Churches Reformation stood , The other thought no Reformation good : The points propos'd , they traversed the Field With equal skill , and both together yield . As they desir'd his Brother each subdues , Yet such their Fate that each his Faith did lose ; Both Captives , none the Prisoners thence to guide , The Victor flying to the vanquish't side , Both joy'd in being Conquer'd ( strange to say ) And yet both mourn'd because both won the day .

The Government of England is Monarchical , of a perfect , and happy Constitution , wherein the King hath his full Prerogative , the Nobles all due respect , and the People amongst other blessings , extreamly happy in this ; That they are Masters of their own purposes , and have a strong hand in making their own Laws . Of all the Seniories in the World ( saith P. Comines the French Historian ) the Realm of England is the Country where the Common-wealth is best governed , the People least opprest , and the fewest Houses and Buildings destroyed in Civil War . It is a Country always most Temperate , the Air is thick , and much subject to winds , rain , and dark Clouds , and therefore Gundamore the Spanish Ambassador here in K. James's his time , bid the Spanish Post when he came to Spain commend him to the Sun , for he had not seen him here a great while , and in Spain he should be sure to find him . The Ocean which beateth upon the Coast of this Island aboundeth with all manner of Fish , and the Meadows and Pastures with Corn , Cattle , and all other necessaries ; a Spaniard boasting , That they had excellent Oranges , Lemmons , and Olives growing in their Countrey which ours wanted ; Sir Roger Williams reply'd , It is true ( said he ) they do not grow here , yet all this is but sauce , whereas we have dainty Veal , and well fed Capons to eat with them , with many other delicate Dishes worth the name of Victuals indeed ; There are more Parks , Forrests and Chases in England than in all Christendom beside , there are in no place of the World greater and larger Dogs than here , which caused them to be most in request by the Romans both for their baitings in their Amphitheaters , and in all other their huntings ; the English Cock is a bold and stout Fowl , and will fight valiantly with his Adversary , and presently crows when he obtains the Victory , which seldom happens till death parts them . There are 44 Shires and Counties in England , every Shire consisting of so many Hundreds , &c. and every Hundred of a number of Burroughs , Villages or Tythings , &c. But this may suffice by way of Preface , the design of this small Tract being not to give a particular , or exact description of every County , and the Towns and Villages therein ( since that has been largely performed by Mr. Speed , Mr. Blome and others ) but only to contract in a little volume , and price , the Natural , and Artificial Curiosities and Rarities in England , Scotland and Ireland , with Remarks upon some famous Persons and Places , as also an account of the Earthquakes , Tempests , Seiges , Battels , and other strange Accidents , and Occurrences that have happened in each County , whereby my Countrymen may observe that there is hardly any thing worth wondring at abroad in the world , whereof Nature or Art hath not written a Copy in these Islands ; and therefore I shall not confine my self so much to methodize matters as to time , as not to let slip any thing considerable ; and because I suppose most Men have a desire to read something of their own Country first , I have ( according to the method of Dr. Fuller and others ) placed the Counties Alphabetically for the more ready finding of them , and will therefore begin with

BARKSHIRE ( whether so called from a striped or bark-bared Oak is uncertain ) is bounded by Wiltshire on the West , Hamshire on the South , Surry on the East , Oxford and Buckinghamshire on the North thereof ; the air is temperate , sweet , and pleasant , the soil plenteous of Corn , Cattle , Waters , and Woods , so that for profit and pleasure it gives place to none ; The most remarkable place in this County is Windsor Castle , a most Princely Pallace both for strength and State , and hath in it a Colledge for Learning , a Chappel for Devotion , and an Alms-house of decayed Gentlemen for Charity ; it is reported to have been built by K. Arthur , and K. William the Conqueror was so desirous of it , that by composition with the Abbot of Westminster , whose then it was , he made it to be the Kings Possession ; in this Castle the Victorious K. Edward 3. was born , and herein after he had subdued the French and Scots , he kept at one time John K. of France , and David King of Scotland as his Prisoners ; after which he graced it with greater Majesty by instituting the Honourable Order of the Garter , the Institution whereof some ascribe to a Garter occasionally falling from the Countess of Salisbury , though others affirm the Garter was given in testimony of that Bond of Love and Affection , wherewith the Knights and Fellows of it were to be bound severally one to another , and all of them to the King ; nay some others make it yet more ancient , relating that when K. Richard the 1. was at War against the Turks and Saracens in the Holy Land , and that the tediousness thereof began to discourage his Soldiers , he to quicken their Courage , tyed about the Legs of several choice Knights a Garter or small Thong of Leather , the only stuff he had at hand , that as the Romans used to bestow Crowns and Garlands for encouragements , so this might provoke them to stand together , and fight valiantly for their King , and for their honour . K. Edward the Third found a Chapple erected in this Castle by K. Hen. 1. and other Princes , with maintenance for eight Canons , to whom he added a Dean , 15 Canons more , and 24 poor Impotent Knights , and other Officers , and Servants ; these were to pray for the good Estate of the Soveraign , and Brethren of the most Noble Order ; the Soveraign and Knights had their particular Laws and Constitutions , and K. Edward likewise appointed divers Ceremonies , and distinct habits , and St. George the pattern of Christian Fortitude is intituled to the Patronage of this Order , and the beautiful Chappel in Windsor Castle , ( where his day , being April 23. is usually celebrated every year , and new Knights commonly installed , ) was consecrated by that King to his memory ; there are of this Order twenty six Knights , of which the Kings of England are one , and it is so much desired for its worthiness , that 8 Emperors , 21 Forreign Kings , 23 Forreign Dukes and Princes , besides divers Noblemen of other Countries have been Fellows of it ; The Ensign is a blew Garter buckled on the left Leg , on which these words are imbroidered , Honi soit qui mal y pense , Evil to him that Evil thinks ; About their Necks they wear a blue Ribband , at the end of which hangeth the Image of St. George ; the Hall of this Pallace is remarkable for greatness , Winchester Tower for height , and the Terrace on the Northside for pleasure : but his present Majesty K. Charles the Second hath added such magnificence to it both within and without , that now for Grandeur , State and Pleasure , it exceeds it may be any Pa●lace of ever a Prince in Europe . The Chappel is graced with the Bodies of King Henry 6. and K. Edward 4. & those whom the whole Kingdom was too little to contain , ( the one being of the House of Lancaster , and the other of York ) lie now united in one mould , with the branch of both these Houses , K. Henry 8. who there lies interred ; and likewis● King Charles the Martyr .

In the Reign of K. Henry 8. 1544. Anthony Persons a Priest , Robert Testwood a Singing man of the Quire , and Henry Filmer Churchwarden of Windsor ( who had Articled against their Superstitious Vicar ) were all three burnt together at Windsor , for the Protestant Profession ; when Persons was fastned to the Stake , he laid a great deal of Straw on the top of his head , saying , This is Gods Hat , I am now armed like a Souldier of Christ ; Robert Testwood was condemned for dissuading the People from Pilgrimages ; for , walking in Windsor Chappel , he saw multitudes of Pilgrims that came flocking out of Devonshire and Cornwall , with Candles and Images to offer at the Shrine of King Henry of Windsor ; Testwoods Spirit was much moved to see this Idolatry , and thereupon he mildly exhorted them to leave that false Worship performed to dumb Images , and to learn to Worship the living God aright ; shewing them how God plagued his own People the Jews for going a Whoring after such stocks and Stones , and would certainly plague them and their posterities if they did not reform . This so much prevail'd upon some , that they said They would never go on Pilgrimage again ; Testwood going farther , saw another Company , licking and kissing a white Lady of Alabaster that stood behind the high Altar , rubbing their hands upon it , and then stroking their heads and faces therewith , which so provoked him , that with a Key he had in his Hand , he struck off a piece of the Images Nose , saying , See good People this is nothing but a piece of Earth that cannot help itself , how then is it like to help you ? When these three were burning . King Hen. 8. came by the place on Horseback , and having an account of their Christian and patient death , the King turning his Horses ●ead , said , Alas poor Innocents ! a better speech it had ●een from a private Person than a Prince , who is bound ●y his Office , not only to pity , but protect oppressed ●nnocence ; however by this occasion other persecuted People were pardoned , and preserved .

There is a Proverb in this County , that the Vicar of Bray , will be Vicar of Bray still ; Bray is a Village well known in this Shire , and the Ancient Vicar thereof living under K. Henry 8. K. Edward the 6. Q. Mary , and Q. Elizabeth was at first a Papist , then a Protestant , then ● Papist , then a Protestant again ; he had seen some Martyrs burnt two miles off at Windsor , and found this Fire too hot for his tender temper ; this Vicar being ●axed by one for being a Turncoat , and an unconstant Changeling , No , ( said he ) that 's your mistake , for I always kept my Principle , which is this , to live and die the Vicar of Bray ; and no doubt there are some still of the same saving Principles , who though they cannot turn the wind , will turn their Mills , and set them so , that wherever it bloweth , their Grist will certainly be grinded .

In the Reign of K. Will . Rufus 1100. at Finchamsted in this County , a Well boyled up with streams of blood , and continued so 15 days together , and the waters discoloured all others where they came ; and great flames of fire were seen in divers places at several times . In the year 1348 there was a very great Plague all over Europe , and then was Wallingford ( being a bigger , and more considerable Town than now it is ) almost dispeopled with it . In 1237. Otto●on a Cardinal came as Legate from the Pope to K. Henry 3. and lying at Osney Abby , there happened a difference between his Servants , & the Schollars at Oxford , in which contention a Brother of his was slain , and the Legate for fear got him into a Steeple , till the Kings Officers coming from Abingdon , conveyed him to Wallingford , after which the Cardinal cursed and interdicted the Schollars and University , so that the Colledges grew desolate , and the Students were dispersed into other places for half a year● time , till the Monks and Masters of the University were forced to go bare-footed , and bare-headed a great way to the Legates Lodgings , and there upon their humble submission , and great Mens intercession , they were pardoned and absolved , and the University restored to its former Estate ; such was the pride of the Superior , and the base-spirit , edness of the Inferiour Clergy in these days of Popery and Slavery . In the time of Hen. 6. 1431. certain lewd Persons began an Insurrection at Abington , which might have occasioned much mischief , if the chief Author thereof one Mundevile a Weaver had not been taken and hanged . In the year 1647. Several freakish , and enthusiastick Women at Newbery in this County pretended to Divine Revelations , and Dreams , wherein very glorious things were discovered to them , and the chief of them had such strange gestures and Fits , as astonished the Spectators ; this Woman declared she had a Revelation that such a night she should be taken up into Heaven , at which time many of her deluded Followers assembled together , and took their solemn leave of her with Tears , and the hour being come out they all go to see her ascension ; it was a Moonshine night , and as they expected when an Angel should fetch her up in a Chariot , a Cloud covers the Moon , whereupon they all cry out , Bebold he comes in the Clouds , but the Cloud soon vanished , and thereby their hopes were frustrated , after a while comes a flock of Wild-Geese a great way off , upon which they again cry out , He comes , he comes ; but when the Wild-Geese were gone , they were fain at length to return home again as wise as they came , having made themselves ridiculous to the Spectators .

Reading is the chief Town in this Shire . It is divided into 20 Hundreds , wherein there are 12 Market Towns , 140 Parishes , and out of it are Elected 9 Parliament Men , that is , for the County 2 ; New-Windsor 2 ; Reading 2 ; Wallingford 2 ; & Abington 1. Eaton is adjoining to Windsor by a wooden Bridge over the Thames , wherein there is a fair Colledge of that name , and a famous School of good Learning , founded and built by K. Henry 6 in which besides the Provost , 8 Fellows , and the singing Choristers , there are 60 Schollars instructed in Grammar , and in due time preferred to the University of Cambridge ; this County is in the Diocess of Salisbury , and gives the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable Thomas L. Howard .

BEDFORDSHIRE hath Northamptonshire on the North ; Huntington , and Cambridgeshire on the East , Hartfordshire on the South , and Buckinghamshire on the West thereof ; in the year 1399. just before the Wars broke out between the Houses of Lancaster and York , on New-years-day , the deep River which runs between Suelstone and Harwood ( two Villages not far from Bedford Town ) called Cuse , suddenly stood still , and divided itself , so that by the space of three miles , the bottom remained dry , and backwards the waters swel'd up to a great height , which wonder many judicious Persons thought did presage the division of the People , & falling away from the King ; and a while after in a little Town in this County it rained blood , the red drops whereof appeared in sheets hung out to dry . In the 22 of Q. Elizabeth , 1580. there fell such great rains in September and October , as caused very great floods in divers parts of the Kingdom ; in Newport the Cottages were born down , and the Corn lost ; in Bedford the water came up to the Market place , where their Houshold stuff swum about their Houses , their Wood , Corn , and Hay were carried away ; and the Town of St. Needs , in Huntingtonshire was suddainly overflowed , while the Inhabitants were in bed ; the waters brake in with such violence , that the Town was all defaced , the Swans swum down the Market-place ; Godmanchester was also overflown , their Houses being full of water , and their Cattel destroved . At St. Needs in K. Hen. 7ths time there fell Hailstones , which were measured 18 inches about . At , Asply near Woburn in this County , there is a little Rivolet the Earth whereof it is reported , turneth Wood into Stone , and that a wooden Ladder was to be seen in the Monastery hard by , which having lain a great while covered all over with it , was digged out again all Stone ; Take the strange operation of it from his Pen , who though a Poet , is a credible Author : The Brook which on her bank doth boast that earth alone ( Much noted in this Isle , ) converteth wood to stone . This little Asplyes Earth we anciently instile 'Mongst sundry other things a wonder of the Isle .

There is another of the same nature in Northamptonshire , of which hereafter . In 1507. Thomas Chase , a Religious sober Man , being a very zealous opposer of Popish Idolatry , and Superstition , was thereupon brought before the Bishop at Woburn , ( by means of some malicious Informers , ) who proposed divers questions to him , intermixt with many Taunts , Jears , and Reproaches ; Chase answered him very undauntedly , defending the Truth against Popish errors boldly , for which he was committed into the Bishops Prison called Little Ease , where he lay cruelly manacled with Chains and Fetters , and almost starved for hunger ; which when the Bishop saw did not prevail upon him , but that the more severely he was used , he was the more fervent in defending the Protestant Faith , he resolved privately to murder him for fear of an uproar amongst the People , and accordingly soon after ordered him to be strangled , and pressed to death in the Prison , he still heartily calling upon God to receive his Spirit ; the Bishop causing it to be reported that he had hanged himself in Prison . This was in the Reign of K. Henry 7. In 1506. One William Tilsworth was condemned by Dr. Smith , Bishop of Lincoln , for Heresy , and burnt in this County , at his burning his only Daughter a Religious Woman , and Wife to one Clark , was compelled by the bloody Papists to set fire with her own hands to her dear Father ; and at the same time John Clark her Husband , with many others did pennance by bearing Faggots , and were burnt in the Cheek with an hot Iron ; and about two years after Thomas Bernard , Husbandman , and James Melvin , Labourer , were both burnt for the Protestant Religion in one Fire in this Shire .

The chief Town of this County is Bedford , most frui●fully and pleasantly seated ; without the Town there formerly stood a Chappel upon the bank of the River Ouse , wherein ( as some Authors affirm ) the Body of Ossa the great Mercian King was interred , but by the overswelling of that River was carryed away , and swallowed up , whose Tomb of Lead ( as if it were some Phantastical thing ) appeared often to them that sought it not , but to them that seek it ( saith Ross ) it is invisible . In K. Henry 3. his Reign , while a Parliament was sitting at Northampton , an unsufferable outrage was complained of to them , committed by one Falcacius a Norman by birth , who seized upon Henry Braybrook a Judge , as he was upon the Bench at the Assizes at Dunstable , and clapped him close Prisoner in Bedford-Castle with a strong Guard upon him , because 30 Verdicts had passed against him upon Tryals at Law for Lands which he had forceably entred upon ; the Judges Wife came to the Parliament , and with her Tears and complaints so moved them with pitty and indignation , that all other matters laid aside the Clergy , as well as Laity attended the King to besiege the Castle , Falcacius being Governor thereof , was gone himself into Wales with hopes of raising more Forces to maintain his Rebellion , but had left his Brother Lieutenant in his room , with a desperate crew of Villains , and all manner of Ammunition , and Provision sufficient for a whole years Siege ; yet after 2 Months the Castle was taken by Storm , the Lieutenant and all his Companions hanged , and the Castle itself pull'd down to the ground as a den of Thieves , and to deter all others for the future from committing such Villanous and Treasonable Crimes . This Falcacius ( as we said ) was a French-man born , and a Bastard , and came over in K. Johns time in a very mean condition , by whom for his Courage he was made Governor of Bedford Castle , to defend it against the Barons ; where by plunder and Rapine , he got a great deal of mony together , K. John likewise forcing a Lady who was a great Heiress to Marry him , no less to her own discontent , than disparagement ; but now when his Castle was thus unexpectedly levelled to the Earth , and all his Estate seized to the King , he prevails with the Bishop of Coventry to bring him to the King at Bedford , where throwing himself at the Kings feet , he implores his mercy for his forme good Services , which he with difficulty obtained , but upon condition to be sent into perpetual banishment , which was done accordingly , and the King was so incensed at the keeping of his Castle against him , that he thereupon commanded all Frenchmen to depart by a a time limited under a very severe penalty . In the 7th of Queen Elizabeth ; Henry Cheyney , High Sheriff of Bedfordshire was created Baron of Tuddington in this County , in his Youth he was very wild and ventrous , witness his playing at Dice with Henry 2. King of France , from whom he won a Diamond of great worth at a cast , and being demanded by the King what shift he would have made to repair himself in case he had lost the cast , I have ( said young Cheyney in a huffing bravery ) Sheeps Tails enough in Kent ( where he had an Estate ) with their Wool , to buy a better Diamond than this ; in his latter age he was much reduced , and very grave , dying without issue .

Dunstable is seated in a chalky ground well Inhabited , and full of Inns , hath four Streets answerable to the four Quarters of the world , in every one of which there is a pond of standing water for the publick use of the Inhabitants ; a Tale of vain credit is reported of this Town , that it was built to bridle the outragiousness of a strong Theif called Dun , by K. Henry 1. but certain it is , that the place was held by the Romans , yet Sir John Heyward saith , Dun was a famous Thief among others , and Commander over the rest , and of him the place was called Dunstable . This County is divided into 9 Hundreds , wherein are 10 Market Towns , and 116 Parish Churches , and is in the Diocess of London ; it Elects only 4 Parliament Men , two for the County , and two for the Town of Bedford , and gives the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable William L. Russel .

BVCKING HAMSHIRE hath on the East Hertfordshire , and Bedfordshire , on the West Oxfordshire , on the North Northamptonshire , and Huntingdonshire , and on the South Hertfordshire ; it hath its name from the ●lenty of Beech-Trees , which the Saxons called Bucken , with which the Country was formerly so over-run , that it was altogether impassable , and became a refuge for Thieves and Robbers , and occasioned that Proverb in this Country , Here a Bush , and there a Thief , for which cause they were cut down . In 1665. Jan. 20. about six a clock at night there was an Earthquake in some parts of Buckinghamshire , which was attended with an unusual kind of noise in the Air , but was quickly over ; it much frighted some People on the sudden , to feel their Chairs and Stools quake under them , and to hear Tables , and such things to clatter in the rooms ; and the whole House to shake , this Information ( saith Mr. Clark in his Examp. p. 2. ) I had from an honest Minister in that County .

K. William the Conqueror gave a Mannor and certain Yardlands in Buckinghamshire to a Person upon this Condition , That the Possessor or Owner thereof should find Straw or Litter for the Kings Bed whensoever he came that way ; which shews what an alteration there is as to matter of Grandeur since that time . The best and biggest bodied Sheep in England , are in the Vale of Aylsbury in this County , where it is nothing to give Ten pound or more for a Breed-Ram , so that should a Forreigner hear the price thereof , he would guess that Ram to be rather some Roman Engine of Battery , than the Creature commonly so called ; I know not ( saith Dr. Fuller ) whether his Observation with the reason thereof be worth the inserting , who first took notice that our Cattle for food are English , when feeding in the Field , but French when fed on in a Family , as for example . English . 1. Sheep . 2. Ox. 3. Calf . 4. Hog . 5. Pig . French . 1. Mutton . 2. Beef . 3. Veal . 4. Bacon . 5. Pork . Whereof the Author assigns this Reason , that after the Norman Conquest the French so Tyrannized over the English Tenants , that they forced them to keep and feed their Cattel , but the Mounsieurs eat all the good meat after it was killed , and drest to their hands . Forreigners much admire at our English Sheep , because they do not ( as those in other Countries ) follow their Shepheards like a pack of Dogs , but wander all abroad ; and the Popish Priests tell their ignorant Flocks , That this disobedience of our Sheep happened to us , because we have left their great Sheperd the Pope , ( a very profound reason ) whereas our Sheep did the same long before our Separation from Rome , because being freed from the fear of Wolves ( which infest their Flocks beyond Sea ) they feed safely in the Fields wanting neither Guide to direct them , nor Guard to defend them .

Roger Wendover was born at a Market Town of that name in this County . and was bred a Benedictine in St. Albans , where he became the Kings Historian , and it is observable , that our English Kings had alwaies a Monk , generally of St. Albans ( as being near London , the Staple of News and Books ) to write the most remarkable Passages of their Reign , and some add , that their Chronicles were locked up in the Kings Library , and were never suffered to be opened in that Kings , nor his Sons life , if so they had a great incouragement to be impartial , not fearing a blow on their Teeth , though coming near to the heels of Truth ; as being hereby in some kind tyed up from doing them any hurt ; this Roger began his Chronicle at the Conquest , and continued it to 1235. which Matthew Paris and others carried down further after his death . The Lady Hester Temple , Wife to Sir Thomas Temple , was born at Latimers in this County , she had 4 Sons , and 9 Daughters , who lived to be Married , and so exceedingly multiplied , that this Lady saw Seven hundred extracted from her own Body ; Vives tells of a Village in Spain of about an 100 Houses , whereof all the Inhabitants issued out of one certain old Man who then lived , and says , the Spanish Language did not afford ● name whereby the youngest should call the Elder , ●●nce they could not go above the Great Grandfathers ●ather ; but had the Off-spring of this Lady been con●racted into one place , they were enough to have peop●ed a City of a competent proportion , though her issue ●as not so long in Succession as broad in extent , this ●ady died in 1656. Sir Edward Cook that famous com●entator of the Law was born in this Shire . One time a Parliament was called , and the Court Party being jea●ous of Sir Edwards Activity against them , as not having digested the discontent he had received from thence , ●ereupon to prevent his Election as a Member , and con●ine him to this County , he was pricked Sheriff thereof ; he ●hereupon scrupled to take the Oath , alledging many ●hings against it , and particularly that the Sheriff is bound ●hereby to prosecute Lollards , wherein the best Christi●ns may be included ; but no excuses would serve his ●urn , he must serve the Office , however his Friends be●eld it as an injurious degradation of him who had been ●ord Chief Justice to attend on the Judges at the Assizes .