North and East Ridings of Yorkshire
Scanned Extract
These parts of the division of Yorkshire, and the East and North-Riding, are stretched out East-ward, even to the Spurn-head, and on the North coast are separated from the Bishoprick of Durham, and with the Sea: hath Westmorland on the West Humber on the South, and the German Sea upon the East, being separated each from other by the River Derwent, running betwixt them with a long winding course.
(2) The aire is subtile and piercing, and not inclined naturally to contagious infections, which causeth the people to live long and healthfully, and are not so subject to Agues, Fluxes, or other imperfections as those Countries be, that are more troubled with mists, or foggie vapours.
(3) The soyle is generally indifferently fruitfull; for though some part be craggie, mountainous, and full of hilles, yet some others exceeding good for the gifts of Nature in her delightsome varieties, as of Corne, Cattle, and Pasturage; with veines of Metall, and Iron, besides an Allum earth of sundry colours, out of which some have lately begunne to trie very good Allum and Copperasse. And for fish, the Hollanders and Zelanders doe raise unto themselves great profit upon this coast, having long since obtained licence, which they keepe still by an ancient custome: for the English-men granting leave unto others, reserved the honour to themselves, which would be (no doubt) farre the greater, if they made gaine of their owne labours.
(4) Places for trade and venting forth of her commodities are many, yet none of such convenience as Kingstone upon Hull: which notwithstanding, cannot fetch her beginning from any great antiquitie, being before time called Wike. King Edward the first built this Towne, making a a Haven, and granting divers liberties to the Burgesses; so that it is risen to great state, both for stately buildings, and strong Block-houses for Ships, well furnished, and store of Merchants, and is now become the most famous Towne of that Countrey; whose greatest riches is ascribed to the gainfull trade they have by Iland-fish, dried and hardned, commonly called Stock-fish. This Towne is governed by a Mayor, (who hath the sword of State carried before him) twelve Aldermen, that in their Assemblies goe clad in Scarlet, one Sheriffe, a Water-bailiffe, a Sword-bearer, a Chamberlaine, a Recorder, a Towne-clerke, and six Sergeants at Mace. Whose graduation according as the Mathematickes have observed, is for Longitude 20 degrees and 30. scruples, and for Latitude 54. degrees and 28. scruples.
(5) Beverley in honour of S. John Arch-bishop of Yorke, by King Athelstane obtained many priviledges, whereof a Sanctuary was one, wherein Bankerouts and men suspected of any capitall crime, might be safe and free from danger of Law. This is memorable, that the River from Hull was cut by the Townesmen, sufficient to carry Boats and Barges.
(6) Places of memorable note, are Whitby, where are found certaine stones fashioned like Serpents, folded and wrapped round in a wreath, even the very pastimes of Nature, who when she is wearied (as it were) with serious workes, sometimes forgeth and shapeth things by way of sport and recreation: so that by the credulous they are thought to have beene Serpents, which a coate or crust of stones had now covered all over, and by the prayers of Saint Hilda turned to stones. And also there are certain fields here adjoyning, where Geese flying over, fall downe suddenly to the ground, to the great admiration of all men. But such as are not given to superstitious credulitie, may attribute this unto a secret proprietie of this ground, and a hidden dissent betwixt this soyle and these Geese, as the like is between Wolves and the Squilla roots. At Skengrave (a little village) some seventie yeers since, was caught a fish called a Sea-man, that for certaine dayes together fed on raw fishes, but espying his opportunitie, escaped againe into his watery element. At Hunt-Cliffe are found stones of a yellowish, others of a reddish colour, of a certain salt matter, which by their smel and taste make shew of Copperasse, Nitre, and Brimstone. Also great store of Marquesites, in colour resembling brasse.
Ounsbury hill, besides a spring of medicinable waters for the eyes, is a prognostication unto her neighbours; whose head being covered with a cloudy cap, presageth some tempestuous stormes or showres to follow. So doth another place neer Moulgrave Castle, where is found blacke Amber or Iette; some take it to be Gagates, in old time a Gemme, and precious stone of great estimation. At Huntly Nabo, are stones found at the rootes of certain rockes, of divers bignesse, so artificially shaped round by Nature, in manner of a Globe, as if they had been made by the Turners hand. In which (if you break them) are found stony Serpents, enwrapped round like a wreath, but most of them headlesse.
(7) Matters for martiall note, are the Battailes fought at Battlebridge (of which it takes the name) where Harald King of England had a great Victory against the Danes, who with a fleet of two hundred saile, grievously annoyed the Ile of Britaine: where Harald the King of Norway was slaine, and Harald of England, besides the Honour of the field, found a great masse of Gold. Also the Battaile, commonly called, the Battaile of Standard; in which David King of Scots was put to flight, and the English made a great slaughter of his people.
At Thruske, Roger Mowbray out of his strong Castle displayed his banner, and called the King of Scots to the overthrow of his own native Countrey, even at that time when King Henry the second had (as it were) rashly digd his own grave, by investing his sonne King in equall authority with himself. But his rebellion was, in the end, quenched with blood, and the Castle quite dismantled, so that beside a ditch and rampier, there is no signe or shew left of a Castle.
(8) Places of Pietie erected in these parts, were the Abbey of Saint Hilda, built neere Dunesly. The faire and rich Abbey of Gisburgh, built about the yeer of our Salvation 1110. The Priory of Chanons founded at Kirkham. The Monastery neere unto Beverley, which Beda nameth Derwaud. The Monastery of Saint Michael by Hull. The two Abbies of Newborough and Biland. The abbey of Meaux, and another not farre from Cottingham, which the founder purposely built for the Monkes of the Cluniacke Order, that he might be released of the Vow he had made to visit Hierusalem: all of them resorted unto by continuall concourse of Pilgrims, to make their adorations in those dayes of Ignorance: but since the true God hath unmasked the errours of those times by the truth of his Word, the same places are worthily become the subjects of his just displeasure, for worshipping Images, and false tutelar Gods, instead of the true and everliving Saviour.
(9) These parts and divisions of Yorkshire, consisting upon the North and East-ridings, containe twenty five Market-Townes for buying and selling, eleven Castles for strength and fortification, and 459. Parishes for Gods divine worship, under which be very many Chappels, for number of Inhabitants, equall to very great Parishes.