Britannia: or a Geographical description of the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with the Isles and Territories thereto belonging.
Blome, Richard
1687
CAMBRIDGSHIRE: BEING Part of the ICENI, and ancient KINGDOM of the East-Angles.
CAMBRIDGSHIRE: BEING Part of the ICENI, and ancient KINGDOM of the East-Angles.
The of by the called is of a different and not over-fertile; occasioned by its on the Northern part so over-charged with The lower or Souther part being indifferent fertile, well manured, garnished with fair and and beareth excellent and of which is made great store of which the vend to and other parts to their great profit: and here is gathered good store of which is the dearest that produceth. And the upper or Northern part is occasioned through the over-flowings of the several (and principally the ) which as it were formes so many and called the of which said part is not so pleasant nor whol some to live in as the Southern; but is recompenced by its rich (since the draining of the ) for the grazing of fat and 'tis observed, that when the grounds are not over-flown in the the Summer are not so good; for the not only fatten the but kill the which these grounds are much subject to produce. And in these grow great store of of which the reap good profit by making of &c. | |
This is bordered upon the East with and on the South with and on the West with the Shires of and and on the North with those of and | |
It extendeth it self in length from in the furthest part of the Fens, to in the South, about 35 and from East to West, where broadest about 20, making in circumference (tracing its many indents) about 130 | |
It is well watered with (especially its Northern parts) the chief of which are the and the or which traverseth the and sendeth forth several | |
This hath had many fair foundations of as at and but these, as well as the rest in other of were supprest by K. 8 | |
It is divided into two parts, the upper and the lower, which again are subdivided into 17 in which are numbred 163 and for the conveniency of its hath 8 and was formerly strengthened with 7 And of these 17 14 are in the lower part, and but 3 in the upper, which are large, and contein almost the moiety of the | |
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seated in an somewhat unhealthful, by reason of the Fenny grounds near adjoyning, and on the river or which separateth it into two (but unequal) parts, which are joyned together by a And from this as some hold, she received her name, although ancient derive it from a who about 375 years before the Incarnation of had there setled the It is a place of great for in the year of Grace . several were baptized, and began to preach the amongst the in the reign of the But when the and had laid all things wast, and destroyed all Learning, this with the rest (having lost her ) lay like a desolate Widow deploring her sad condition, till at length the became civil themselves; and the first of the established here several as also at other places in the Kingdom, and cherished Learning, calling hither the of and which soon florished; but the merciless in their destructions, sparing neither root nor branch, this felt their heavy hand, and was again laid wast: But when the became of the these were soon blown over, and of and resorted hither, and where they could get convenient places, read Lectures of and upon the and . And from this little Fountain grew this now famous or of true Learning, which is now the chiefest ornament of being beautified and fairly adorned with sixteen magnificent and all which are well furnished with painful and of the several and which (with her Sister the other of this Kingdom) doth sufficiently enrich this Land with the knowledge of true Literature. And by reason of these it is a place of a large extent, numbring fourteen is adorned with well built and its are paved and well ordered. It is a endowed with ample and sendeth four to that is to say, two for the and two for the Here was formerly a large which time hath now reduced to ruin. According to the observation of Dr. in his it is a within a where the are not surrounded with but for the generality seated on the out-side of the affording the better and more delightful and about them, which is not so generally at which he tearmeth a within a This place is very well inhabited, and frequented, enjoyeth a good & its which is on is sufficiently furnished with which are here had at easie rates. | |
Nigh unto Southwards, are which are of a great eminency, and retain yet the remembrance of the (where, on the top thereof is to be seen a strengthened with a threefold Trench, and was held to be a place in a manner impregnable: and of these the people will tell fine fabulous stories. | |
seated in the Isle so called, in a Fenny and waterish place, and on the Banks of the which rendreth it unhealthful. It is a of great antiquity, being said to be first built by wife to one a Prince of this who had this assigned her for part of her who having departed from her second K. of the devoted her self to the service of God, and built here a and was the first Abbess thereof, which brought no small fame to the place, at which time the City was reckoned to contein about 600 or | |
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This place felt the sore hand of the but was soon after re-edified by Bishop of who planted here a of which grew exceeding wealthy, and so continued till the Reign of the Eighth. It enjoyeth ample for in the of the hath all the rights of a and beareth chief sway therein; for by his own power he appointeth a to hear and determine all causes arising within the said he holdeth and of the for the said Liberty, and hath his chief and under of the Hundreds, for the execution of Process. It is at present a of no great splendor or grandure, neither is it over-much frequented or inhabited, and would be far less, were it not for being the of a whose is now so ruinous, that it is unhabitable. Its or (dedicated to and was the work of several ) is a lofty Structure, proudly sheweth it self to all the adjacent parts, and is beautified with a stately being a curious piece of This conteineth within it 141 of which 75 are and hath but one which is of And its which is on is well served with | |
scituate in a Fenny part, between two a of some account, where the Bishops of had their and hath a on which affordeth great plenty of | |
seated moist, a new made which for the present is not very considerable. | |
scituate in the Fenny part, formerly a but at present disused. | |
also formerly a but now discontinued. | |
seated part in this and part in and in a large and pleasant Heath so called; and although a of no long continuance, yet is a place well known and frequented by the as being a usual place for and by reason of the commodiousness of its scituation. And in this is a called by the the which is vulgarly said to be cast up by the in one night; whereas in truth it was made for a defence of the against the and as a division of their This is not very large, yet conteineth 2 one of which is in this County, and the other in and is replenished with well built where his hath his and doth often honour this Town with his royal Presence for his divertisement, which adds no small advantage unto it. The is here kept on which is not very considerable, by reason of its vicinity to and other considerable places. | |
on the confines of this towards hath a small on | |
seated in the Clay, and on the North road, a small which of late hath a on not very considerable. | |
scituate low, amongst partly in this and partly in through which ran -way to which was one of the ancient High-ways of the The is large, well inhabited, and its which is on is very considerable, especially for here and elsewhere made in great quantities, and from hence conveyed to and other parts. | |
Footnotes: [] Commodities [] Its bounds. [] Its extent. [] Its Rivers. [] Religious Houses. [] Its division. [] Cambridge. [] Gogmagog-hills [] Ely. [] Wisbich. [] Merche. [] Littleport. [] Reche. [] New-market. [] Linton. [] Caxton. [] Royston. |