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A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World

The Description of Yorkshire

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THE DESCRIPTION OF YORKE-SHIRE

As the courses and confluents of great Rivers, are for the most part fresh in memory, though their heads and fountains lye commonly unknown: so the latter knowledge of great Regions, are not traduced to oblivion, though perhaps their first originals be obscure, by reason of Antiquitie, and the many revolutions of times and ages. In the delineation therefore of this great Province of Yorkeshire, I will not insist upon the narration of matters neere unto us; but succinctly run over such as are more remote; yet neither so sparingly, as I may seeme to diminish from the dignitie of so worthy a Countrey; nor so prodigally, as to spend time in the superfluous praising of that which never any (as yet) dispraised. And although perhaps it may seeme a labour unnecessary, to make relation of ancient remembrances, either of the Name or Nature of this Nation, especially looking into the difference of Time it selfe (which in every age bringeth forth divers effects) and the dispositions of men, that for the most part take lesse pleasure in them, then in divulging the occurrents of their own times: yet I hold it not unfit to begin there, from whence the first certaine direction is given to proceed; for (even of these ancient things) there may be good use made, either by imitation, or way of comparison, as neither the reperition, nor the repetition thereof shall be accounted impertinent.

You shall therefore understand: That the Countie of Yorke was in the Saxon-tongue called Euerric-scyre, Effrdc-scyre, and Ebora-scyre, and now commonly Yorkeshire, farre greater and more numerous in the Circuit of her miles, then any Shire of England. She is much bound to the singular love and motherly care of Nature, in placing her under so temperate a clime, that in every measure she is indifferently fruitfull. If one part of her be stony, and a sandy barrain ground: another is fertile and richly adorned with Corn-fields. If you here finde it naked, and destitute of Woods, you shall see it there shadowed with Forests full of trees, that have very thicke bodies, sending forth many fruitfull and profitable branches. If one place of it be Moorish, Myrie, and unpleasant; another makes a free tender of delight, and presents it selfe to the eye, full of beautie and contentive varietie.

The Bishoprick of Durham fronts her on the Northside, and is separated by a continued course of the River Tees. The Germane Sea lyeth sore upon her East-side, beating the shoares with her boisterous waves and billows. The West part is bounded with Lancashire, and Westmerland. The South-side hath Cheshire and Darbishire (friendly Neighbours unto her) with the which she is first inclosed: then with Nottingham and with Lincolne shires: after divided with that famous Arme of the Sea Humber: Into which all the Rivers that water this Country, emptie themselves, and pay their ordinary Tributes, as into the common receptacle and Store-house of Neptune, for all the watery Pensions of this Province.

This whole Shire (being of it selfe so spacious) for the more easie and better ordering of her civill government, is divided into three parts: which according to three quarters of the world, are called The West-Riding, The East-Riding, and The North-Riding: West-Riding is for a good space compassed with the River Ouse; with the bounds of Lancashire, and with the South limits of the Shire, and beareth towards the West and South. East-Riding bends it selfe to the Ocean, with the which, and with the River Derwent shee is inclosed, and looks into that part where the Sunne rising, and shewing forth his beames, makes the world both glad and glorious in his brightnesse. North-Riding extends it self Northward, hem'd in as it were, with the River Tees and Derwent, and a long race of the River Ouse. The length of this Shire, extended from Harthill in the South, to the mouth of Tees in the North, are neere unto 70. miles, the bredth from Flambrough-head to Horncastle upon the River Lun, is 80. the whole Circumference 308. miles.

The Soile of this County for the generalitie is reasonable fertile, and yeelds sufficiency of Corne and Cattle within it selfe. One part whereof is particularly made famous by a Quarry of Stone, out of which the stones newly hewen be very soft, but seasoned with winde and weather of themselves doe naturally become exceeding hard and solide. Another, by a kinde of Limestone, whereof it consisteth, which being burnt, and conveyed into the other parts of the countrey, which are hilly and somewhat cold, serve to manure and enrich their Corn-fields.

That the Romans flourishing in Military prowesse, made their severall stations in this Countrey, is made manifest by their Monuments, by many Inscriptions fastned in the walles of Churches, by many Columnes engraven with Roman-worke found lying in Churchyards, by many votive Altars digd up that were erected (as it should seeme) to their Tutelar Gods (for they had locall and peculiar Topick Gods, whom they honoured as Keepers and Guardians of some particular places of the Countrey) as also by a kinde of Bricks which they used: for the Romans in time of Peace, to avoyd and withstand idlenesse, (as an enemie to vertuous and valorous enterprises) still exercised their Legions and Cohorts in casting of Ditches, making of Highwayes, building of Bridges, and making of Bricks, which having sithence been found, and from time to time digd out of the ground, prove the antiquitie of the place by the Romane Inscriptions upon them.

No lesse argument of the pietie hereof, are the many Monasteries, Abbeys, and Religious houses that have been placed in this Countrey; which whilest they retained their owne state and magnificence, were great ornaments unto it: but since their dissolution, and that the teeth of time (which devoures all things) have eaten into them, they are become like dead carkasses, leaving onely some poore ruines and remaines alive, as reliques to posteritie, to shew of what beautie and magnificence they have beene. Such was the Abbey of Whitby, founded by Lady Hilda, daughter of the grand childe unto King Edwine. Such was the Abbey built by Bolton, which is now so razed and laid levell with the earth, as that at this time it affords no appearance of the former dignitie. Such was Kirkstall Abbey, of no small account in time past, founded in the yeere of Christ 1147. Such was the renowned Abbey called S. Maries in Yorke, built and endowed with rich livings by Alan the third Earle of little Britaine in Armerica; but since converted into the Princes House, and is called The Mannour. Such the wealthy Abbey of Fountaines, built by Thurstin Arch-bishop of Yorke. Such the famous Monastery founded in the Primitive Church of the East-Saxons, by Wilfrid Arch-bishop of Yorke, and enlarged (being fallen down and decayed) by Odo Arch-bishop of Canterbury. Such was Drax a Religious House of Chanons. Such that faire Abbey built by King William the Conquerour at Selby (where his son Henry the first was born) in memory of Saint German, who happily confuted that contagious Pelagian Heresie, which oftentimes grew to Serpentine head in Britaine.

These places for Religion erected, with many more within this Provinciall Circuit, and consecrated unto holy purposes, shew the Antiquitie, and how they have been sought unto by confluences of Pilgrimes in their manner of devotions: The mists of which superstitious obscurities, are since cleared by the pure light of the Gospell revealed, and the skirts of Idolatry unfolded to her own shame and ignominie: And they made subject to the dissolution of Times, serving onely as antique monuments and remembrances to the memory of succeeding Ages.

Many places of this Province are famoused as well by Name, being naturally fortunate in their situation, as for some other accidentall happinesse befallen unto them. Halifax, famous, as well for that Iohannes de sacro Bosco, Author of the Sphere, was born there, and for the law it hath against stealing, and for the greatnesse of the Parish, which reckoneth in it eleven Chappels, whereof two be Parish Chappels, and in them to the number of twelve thousand people.

In former times it was called Horton, and touching the alteration of the name, this pretie Story is related of it: namely, That a Clerke (for so they call him) being farre in love with a maid, and by no meanes either of long praises or large promises, able to gaine like affection at her hands, when he saw his hopes frustrate, and that he was not like to have his purpose of her, turned his love into rage, and cut off the maids head, which being afterwards hung upon an Ewe tree, commonly people counted it as an hallowed relique till it was rotten: And afterward (such was the credulitie of that time) it maintained the opinion of reverence and religion still: for the people resorted thither on Pilgrimage, and perswaded themselves, that the little       Next Page » »

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