Description of Yorkshire
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... veines that spread out betweene the Barke and Body of the Eve tree like fine threads, were the very haires of the maids head. Hereupon it was called by this name Haligfax, or Haly-fax, that is, Holy-Hayre.
Pomfret is famous for the Site, as being seated in a place so pleasant, that it brings forth Liquorice and great plentie of Skiriworts, but it is infamous for the murther and bloodshed of Princes: The Castle whereof was built by Hildebert Lacy a Norman, to whom William the Conquerour gave this Towne, after Alrick the Saxon was thrust out of it.
But I will forbeare to be prolixe or tedious in the particular memoration of places in a Province so spacious, and onely make a compendious relation of Yorke, the second Citie of England, in Latine called Eboracum and Eburacum, by Ptolemy, Brigantium (the chief Citie of the Brigants) by Ninnius, Caer Ebrauc, by the Britaines, Caer Effroc, and by the Saxons Euor-ric, and Eofor-ric. The British History reports that it took the name of Ebrauc that founded it; but some others are of opinion, that Eburacum hath no other derivation then from the River Ouse running thorow it: It over-masters all the other places of this Countrey for fairenesse, and is a singular ornament and safeguard to all the North parts. A pleasant place, large, and full of magnificence, rich, populous, and not onely strengthened with fortifications, but adorned with beautifull buildings as well private as publike. For the greater dignitie thereof it was made an Episcopall See by Constantius, and a Metropolitane Citie by a Pall sent unto it from Honorius. Egbert Arch-bishop of Yorke, who flourished about the yeere seven hundred fortie, erected in it a most famous Library. Richard the third repaired the Castle thereof being ruinous, and King Henry the eight appointed a Councell in the same, to decide and determine all the causes and Controversies of the Northparts, according to equitie and conscience: which Counsell consisteth of a Lord President, certaine Counsellers at the Princes pleasure, a Secretary, and other Vnder-officers.
The originall of this Citie cannot be fetcht out but from the Romanes, seeing the Britains before the Romanes came, had no other towns then woods fenced with trenches and rampiers: as Caesar and Strabo doe testifie. And that it was a Colonie of the Romanes, appears both by the authoritie of Ptolemie and Antonine, and by many ancient Inscriptions that have been found there. In this Citie the Emperour Severus had his Palace, and here gave up his last breath; which ministers occasion to shew the ancient custome of the Romanes, in the military manner of their burials.
His body was carryed forth here by the Souldiers to the Funerall fire, and committed to the flames, honoured with the lusts and Turnaments both of the Souldiers and of his own sonnes: His ashes bestowed in a little golden pot or vessell of the Porphyratstone, were carryed to Rome and shrined there in the monument of the Antonines. In this Citie ( ... Spartianus maketh mention) was the Temple of the Goddesse Bellona; to which Severus (being come thither purposing to offer sacrifice) was erroneously led by a rusticall Augur.
Here Fl. Valerius Constantius, surnamed Chlorus (an Emperour of excellent vertue and Christian pietie) ended his life, and was Deified as appears by ancient Coines: and his sonne Constantine being present at his Fathers death, forthwith proclaimed Emperour; from whence it may be gathered of what great estimation Yorke was in those dayes, when the Romane Emperours Court was held in it. This Citie flourished a long time under the English-Saxons Dominion, till the Danes like a mightie storme, thundring from out the North-East, destroyed it, and distained it with the blood of many slaughtered persons, and wan it from Osbright and Ella Kings of Northumberland, who were both slaine in their pursuit of the Danes: which Alcuine in his Epistle to Egelred King of Northumberland, seemed to presage before, when he said; What signifieth that raining down of blood in S. Peters Church of Yorke, even in a faire day, and descending in so violent and threatning a manner from the top of the roofe? may it not be thought that blood is comming upon the Land from the North-parts?
Howbeit Athelstane recovered it from the Danish subjection, and quite overthrew the Castle with the which they had fortified it; yet was it not (for all this) so freed from warres, but that it was subject to the Times fatally next following. Neverthelesse, in the Conquerours time, when (after many wofull overthrows and troublesome stormes) it had a pleasant calme of ensuing peace, it rose againe of it selfe, and flourished afresh, having still the helping hand both of Nobilitie and Gentry, to recover the former dignitie, and bring it to the perfection it hath: The Citizens fenced it round with new wals, and many towers and bulwarks, and ordaining good and wholesome laws for the government of the same. Which at this day are executed at the command of a Lord Major, who hath the assistance of twelve Aldermen, many Chamberlaines, a Recorder, a Towne-Clerke, six Sergeants at Mace, & two Esquires, which are, a Swordbearer, and the Common Sergeant, who with a great Mace goeth on the left hand of the Sword. The longitude of this Citie, according to Mercators account, is 19. degrees and 35. scruples: the latitude 54. degrees and 40. scruples.
Many occurrents present themselves with sufficient matter of enlargement to this discourse, yet none of more worthy consequence then were those severall Battles, fought within the compasse of this Countie; wherein Fortune had her pleasure as well in the proofe of her love, as in the pursuit of her tyranny; sometime sending the fruits of sweet peace unto her, and otherwhiles suffering her to taste the sowrenesse of warre.
At Conisborough (in the Britaine tongue Câer Conan) was a great Battle fought by Hengist, Captaine of the English-Saxons, after he had retired himself thither for his safetie, his men being fled and scattered, and himself discomfited by Aurelius Ambrosius; yet within few dayes after he brought forth his men to Battle against the Britaines that pursued him, where the field was bloody both to him and his; for many of his men were cut in pieces, and he himself had his head chopt off, as the British History saith; which the Chronicles of the English-Saxons deny, reporting that he dyed in peace, being surcharged and over-worne with the troublesome toyles and travels of warre.
Neere unto Kirkstall, Oswie King of Northumberland, put Penda the Mercian to flight: the place wherein the Battle was joyned, the Writers call Winwid-feild, giving it the name by the victory. And the little Region about it (in times past called by an old name Elmet) was conquered by Eadwin King of Northumberland, the sonne of Aela, after he had expelled Cereticus a British King, in the yeere of Christ, 620.
At Casterford (called by Antonine Legeolium and Legetium) the Citizens of Yorke slew many of King Ethelreds Army, and had a great hand against him, in so much as he that before sate in his throne of Majestie, was on a sudden daunted, and ready to offer submission.
But the most worthy of memory, was that Field fought on Palm-Sunday, 1461. in the quarrell of Lancaster and Yorke, where England never saw more puissant Forces both of Gentry and Nobilitie: for there were in the field at one time (partakers on both sides) to the number of one hundred thousand fighting men. When the fight had continued doubtfull a great part of the day, the Lancastrians not able longer to abide the violence of their enemies, turned backe and fled amaine, and such as tooke part with Yorke, followed them so hotly in chase, and kild such a number of Noble and Gentlemen, that thirtie thousand Englishmen were that day left dead in the field.
Let us now loose the point of this compassse and faile into some other parts of this Province, to finde out matter of other memorable moment. Vnder Knausbrough there is a Well called Dropping-Well, in which the waters spring not out of the veines of the earth, but distill and trickle down from the rocks that hang over it: It is of this vertue and efficacie, that it turnes wood into stone: for what wood soever is put into it, will be shortly covered over with a stonie barke, and be turned into stone, as hath been often observed.
At Giggleswicke also about a mile from Settle (a Market Town) there are certaine small springs not distant a quaits cast from one another: the middlemost of which doth at every quarter of an houre ebbe and flow about the height of a quarter of a yard when it is highest, and at the ebbe falleth so low, that it is not an inch deepe with water. Of no lesse worthinesse to be remembred is Saint Wilfrids Needle, a place very famous in times past for the narrow hole in the close vaulted roome under the ground, by which womens honesties were wont to be tryed: for such as were chaste passe through with much facilitie; but as many as had plaid false, were miraculously held fast, and could not creepe through. Beleeve if you list.
The credible report of a Lampe found burning (even in our Fathers remembrance, when Abbeys were pulled down and suppressed) in the Sepulchre of Constantius, within a certaine vault or little Chappell under the ground, wherein he was supposed to have been buried, might beget much wonder and admiration, but that Lazius confirmeth that in ancient times they had a custome to preserve light in Sepulchres by an artificiall resolving of gold into a liquid and fattie substance, which should continue burning a long time, and for many ages together.
This Yorkeshire picture I will draw to no more length, lest I be condemned with the Sophister, for insisting in the praise of Hercules, when no man opposed himselfe in his discommendation. This Countrey of it selfe is so beautifull in her own naturall colours, that (without much help) she presents delightfull varieties both to the fight and other senses. » Next Page
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