which takes its name from its chief is a Country every where exceeding producing excellent in great plenty, and intermixed with rich which feed store of especially which are found very profitable unto the by their It is well clothed with and refreshed with and in a word, it wanteth for nothing that may be said necessary for the use of man: and for and it yieldeth to no County in

All grow here in great plenty, and of their they make such a great quantity of that besides what they use themselves (it being their general drink) of late years the (finding its excellency) do much drink (of that which is made of an Apple called a ) so that it is become a considerable

Its chief are the

The bounds of this County Eastwards, are and Southwards, Westwards, those of and and Northwards, that of

Its extent from in the East, to in the West, is about 24 and from in the South, to in the North, about 23; which makes its circumference to be about 102

Before the Conquest, this County was part of and was then secured by several and so scon as it became an it was well strengthened with having no less then 28, most of which have now nothing to shew except their ruins.

Its ancient were the a stout and warlike who sorely perplexed the for nine space, through the noble valour and exploits of their Commander And when the became Lords of the Land, it made part of the Kingdom of the

It was also well stored with which were at &c.

It is severed into eleven in which are numbred 176 and hath intercourse of with eight whose names are as followeth.

raised out of the ruins of the ancient (now called which was shaken to pieces by a violent ) about three miles distant Eastwards, which was a place of good account in the time of the as hath sufficiently appeared by the four square paving stones of the and other pieces of antiquity there often dug up. This City is no less pleasantly, then commodiously seated amongst delightful and rich and almost encompassed with to wit, the and two others, over which are two and for its defence, it had once a strong and stately built by the which time hath now ruinated. It is a large place, numbring six (two of which in the late unhappy were demolished,) and beautified with good both publick and private; amongst which are the the the and first founded by a petty King of that Country, in honour of King of the who was treacherously murthered at (where King had his ) by the procurement of King wife, his intended Mother-in-law, at such time when he made courtship to her daughter, where his body was interred. And this by Prince of and an in their Rebellion against King the was consumed by fire; which was rebuilt by Bishop and by his Predecessors, beautified to what it is at present; to which now belongeth a six twenty seven with a twelve besides and other attendants.

Here is an liberally endowed, for the maintenance of twelve poor which had like to have gone to ruin, had not the care of Esquire, and Mr. been great. This City enjoyeth large immunities, sendeth to is governed by a six a which with the and makes up 31, besides a and other It hath been dignified with a then an and at present gives Title to the Right Honorable Viscount And is a place well served with having weekly three on and which are of considerable account; that on being for and and the other for and tities, which are sent to and elsewhere.

South-westwards from is so called from the fertility of the soil and pleasant scituation.

commodiously seated in a fertile soil, on the banks of the a fair which by King the Third was made a free Its which is on is very great for and being much resorted unto by the Inhabitants of and

anciently called under from near adjoyning; a fine well built seated in a rich claiey ground, and much inhabited by who here drive a good trade: Its is on which is well served with and

scituate on a rising ground, a small and hath an indifferent for on

which as noteth, was called and

a small seated on the River whose on is very inconsiderable.

also scituate on the a pretty large and well built whose drive a good for Its is on which is the best in the County for and several The before and are very considerable for living home-made both and and all sorts of insomuch that they may rather be tearmed then

or the of anciently belonging to who was thereof; an ancient which electeth This formerly enjoyed a good which of late is less considerable by the growth of its neighbouring It is indifferently well seated, and hath a small on

Mr. and make mention of That it removed in , for three dayes space, above 400 yards from its place, carrying with it about 26 of ground; which rupture was not done without a great noise, horrour and amasement to the neighbouring overwhelming and all that it met with.

Not far from in the North part of the County is a wherein are alwayes found the of but not so much as a to be seen.

Between and in a common called the were placed two large at the least of three Tuns weight, and there placed for a the one erected upright, and the other laid athwart. And these in the late troubles about the year , were removed about twelve score paces distance, and no man knew how; which doth occasion the people to say, That they were done by the And when they were again set in their places, nine yoke of were required to draw one of the

At formerly about the year , was found in a a great wherein were of of the paved with many pieces of being dug up, with large leaden several wherein were supposed to be the of the with several other for what use, not known.

[] Fruits. Syder.

[] Its Rivers.

[] Its bounds.

[] Its extent.

[] Castles.

[] Ancient Inhabitants.

[] Religious Houses.

[] Hereford.

[] Gilden-vale.

[] Ross,

[] Lidbury.

[] Bramyeard.

[] Lemster.

[] Pembridge.

[] Kyneton.

[] Webley.

[] Marcle-hill, how it removed. See Cambden,620. Speed.

[] Bone-well.

[] Wergins-Meadow.

[] Kinchester. A Vault of the Romans.