Illustration: Somerset.
Click here for larger version

          the county of Somerset, commonly called Somersetshire, is a large and plentiful country. On the North the Severn Sea beats upon it, on the West it bounds upon Devonshire, on the South upon Dorsetshire, on the East upon Wiltshire, and part of Gloucestershire. The soil is very rich, especially for grain and pasturage; 'tis very populous, and tolerably well furnished with havens. Some think that this name was first given it, because the air is gentle, and as it were a summer-air in those parts; in which sense the Britons at this day call it Glad-arhaf, translating the word out of our language. But the truth is, as in summer time it may really be termed a summer-country, so no less may it in the winter season be called a winter-country: so wet, moist, and marshy is it for the most part; which creates a great deal of trouble to travellers. However, I shall not scruple to believe that this name was certainly given it from Somerton, formerly the chief town of the county, since Asser, a very ancient author, calls it everywhere, the county of Somertun.

            upon the Severn Sea (where this county borders upon the Danmonii) the two first places we meet with are Porlock, in Saxon Portlocan, and Watchet, formerly Wecedpoort; two harbours, which in the year 886 suffered very much from the fury of the Danes. Between these two, lies Dunster Castle, in a low ground, every way shut up with hills, except on that side which faces the sea. It was built by the Moions or Mohuns, from which it came by bargain to the Luterells. This family of the Mohuns was for a long time very famous and powerful; and flourished from the time of William the Conqueror (under whom the castle was built) to the reign of Richard 2. Out of it were two Earls of this county, William, and Reginald who was deprived of that honour in the Barons' War. From that time their posterity were accounted barons, the last whereof John left three daughters, Philippa wife of Edward Duke of York, Elizabeth married to William de Monte-Acuto or Montague, second Earl of Salisbury of that name, and Maud to the Lord Lestrange of Knokyn. The mother of these (as the story goes) obtained of her husband under this town so much ground for a common to the inhabitants, as she could go about barefoot in one day.

            near this castle are two small villages, dedicated to two of their country-saints: Carhampton is the name of the one, from Carentocus the Britain; the other St. Decuman's, from St. Decumanus, who setting sail out of South Wales landed here (as we find it in an ancient agonal<136>) in a horrid desert full of shrubs and briars, the woods thick and close stretched out a vast way both in length and breadth, strutting up with lofty mountains, severed wonderfully by the hollow valleys. Here bidding farewell to the world, he was stabbed by an assassin, and so got the reputation of a saint among the common people. Stoke-Courcy [Stogurcy,] a barony so named from the lords of it, lies at a little distance from the sea, the seat of William de Courcy, Butler to K. Henry 1, of which family was that John de Courcy who took Ulster in Ireland, a man designed by nature to be great and honourable, endued with a height of soul, and a sort of majesty; whose signal courage must be understood from the Irish antiquities. From thence to the Steart Point the shore shoots out by little and little, where two of the largest rivers in the whole county meeting together, empty themselves at one mouth, called by Ptolemy the estuary of Uzella, from the River Ivel, which throws off that name before it comes here. It rises in Dorsetshire, and at its first coming into Somersetshire, gives its name to a well-frequented market town called Yeovil, and receives a little river, upon which is Camelot,  a steep mountain, of a very difficult ascent, in the top whereof are the plain footsteps of a decayed camp, and a triple rampart of earth cast up, including 20 acres. The inhabitants call it Arthur's palace; but that it was really a work of the Romans is plain from the Roman coins daily digged up there. What they might call it, I am altogether ignorant, unless it be that Caer Calemion we meet with in Nennius's catalogue, by a transposition of letters for Camelion. Cadbury, the adjoining little village, may by a conjecture probable enough be thought that Cathbregion, where Arthur (as Nennius has it) routed the Saxons in a memorable engagement. Another town of the same name, North Cadbury, was given by K. Henry 3, to Nicholas de Moeles, who had married Hawisia one of the heiresses of James de Novo Mercatu, or Newmarket. This man's posterity lived a long time in great splendour, till John, in Edward 3's time, dying, left only issue 2 daughters, Muriela, and Isabel; this married to William Botreaux, and the other to Thomas Courtney.

            from hence the river Ivel runs to Ischalis, mentioned by Antoninus, now Ilchester, called (if I mistake nor) in Nennius's catalogue Pontavel-Coit, for Pont Ivel Coit, i.e. A bridge over the Ivel in a wood; and by Florence of Worcester, Givelcester. It is now famous for nothing but the market, and its antiquity; for now and then they dig up coins of the Roman Emperors, of gold, brass, and silver. That it was formerly large, and encompassed with a double wall, is evident from the ruins: about the coming in of the Normans it was a populous place, having in it a hundred and seven burgesses. And at that time it was a place of strength, and well fortified; for in the year of Christ 1088, when the nobility of England had formed a wicked plot, designing to depose William Rufus, in order to advance Robert his brother Duke of Normandy to the throne, Robert Moubray a warlike man, after he had burnt Bath, vigorously assaulted this place, but all in vain. However, time has done what he could not compass, and has at last as it were stormed it.

            a little more inward, the confluence of Ivel and Parrett form a river-island called Muchelney, i.e. the large island, wherein are something of the walls of an old monastery, which historians tell us was built by King Athelstan. Parret rises in the very South bound of the county, and with a winding channel runs by Crewkerne, in Saxon Crucerne; and by Petherton, to which it gave the name, formerly Pedridan, the palace of King Ina, now famous only for a market and fair, procured of Henry 6 by Henry Daubeney: then the Parrett runs into the Ivel, and robs it of its name. Three miles hence towards the East, it salutes Montague, so called by the Earl of Moreton, brother by the mother's side to William 1 (who built a castle at the very top of the hill, and a religious house at the bottom of it,) because it rises by degrees into a sharp point; whereas before that it was named Logoresburg and Bischopeston. But the castle has been quite destroyed these many years, and the stones carried off to build the religious house and other things. Afterwards on the very top of the hill was a chapel made, and consecrated to St. Michael; the arch and roof curiously built of hard stone, and the ascent to it is round the mountain up stone-stairs, for near half a mile. Now the monastery and chapel are both demolished, and the greatest ornament it has is a delicate house, which the worthy Sir Edward Philips knight, serjeant at law, lately built at the foot of the mountain. This place gave name to the honourable family of the Montagues, descended from Drogo Juvene. Of this family there were four Earls of Salisbury; the last left issue one only daughter, which had by Richard Neville the famous Richard Earl of Warwick, (that Whirlwind of England,) and John Marquess of Montague, both killed in the battle of Barnet, in the year 1472. But the title of Baron Montague was conferred upon Henry Poole, (son of Margaret, daughter of George Duke of Clarence, descended from a daughter of that Richard Neville Earl of Warwick) by King Henry 8, who presently after beheaded him. Queen Mary bestowed the title and honour of Viscount Montague upon Anthony Brown, whose grandmother was daughter of John Neville Marquess of Montague; and his grandchild by a son now enjoys it.

            next to this is Odcombe, which though but a very small town, must not yet be omitted, because it has had its Baron, William de Briewer, (for so his father was called, as being born in a heath;) who having great interest at court, being also an entire favourite of Richard 1, was respected and caressed by all; and so got a very large estate, with which by the marriage of his daughters (for his son died without issue) he made a great accession to the estates of the Brees, Wakes, Mohuns, La-Ferts, and Percys. Below this at a little distance, is Stoke-Sub-Hamden, where the Gornays had their castle, and built a college. This family surnamed de Gornaico, and commonly Gornay, was very ancient and illustrious, descended from the same stock with the Warrens Earls of Surrey, and the Mortimers. But in the last age it was extinct, and part of that estate came by the Hamptons to the knightly family of the Newtons, who freely own themselves to be of Welsh extraction; and not long ago to have been called Caradocs. Nor must we forget to mention, that Matthew Gornay was buried here, a stout soldier in the time of Edward 3, and died in the 96th year of his age, after he had been ( as the inscription witnesseth) at the siege of D'Algizer against the Saracens, at the battles of Benamazin, Sclusa, Cressia, Ingines, Poitiers; and Nazaran in Spain.

            next, the Parrett waters Martock, a little market town, which formerly William of Boulogne son to King Stephen, gave to Faramusius of Boulogne, whose only daughter and heir Sibyl, was married to Ingelram de Fienes, and from them are descended the Fienes barons of Dacre, and the barons of Say and Zele.

            from hence the Parrett cuts its way into the North through a muddy plain, by Langport, a market town pretty well frequented: and by Aulre, a little village of a few small huts; which yet seems once to have been a town of better note. For when Alfred had so shattered the Danes, and by a siege forced them to surrender, that they took an oath to depart out of his dominions with all expedition, and Godrus their King (as Asser tells us) promised to embrace Christianity; then Alfred in this place took him out of the sacred font of regeneration with great pomp.

            the Parrett running from hence receives the river Tone, which rising at a great distance in the western part of the county, next Devonshire, passes through delicate fields to Wellington, which in the time of Edward the Elder was the ground of six mansion-houses, at what time he gave this along with Lediard, which was of twelve mansion-houses, to the Bishop of Sherborne. It is now a little market town, receiving its greatest glory from an honourable inhabitant (for persons eminent for virtue and their good services to their country deserve always to be mentioned) John Popham, memorable as for the antiquity of his noble descent, so for his strict justice and singular industry.  This man, now Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, administers justice with so much evenness, and such a tempered severity, that England has for this long time been mostly indebted to him for its domestic peace and security.

            going from hence with a gentle and easy course, the Tone washes Taunton, and gives it that name. It is a neat town, delicately seated, and in short, one of the eyes of this county. Here Ina King of the West Saxons built a castle, which Desburgia his wife levelled with the ground, after she had driven Eadbricth King of the East Saxons out of it, who had got possession, and used it as a curb to a conquered nation. In the reign of Edward the Confessor, it gelded<125> (so it is in Domesday Book) for 54 hides,<78> had 63 burghers, and was held by the Bishop of Winchester, whose pleadings were here kept thrice a year. Those customs belong to Taunton; borough-right, robbers, breach of the peace, hamfare,<137> pence of the hundred, and St. Peters pence, to hold thrice a year the bishop's pleadings without admonition, to go into the army with the bishop's men. The country all about is beautified with green meadows, abounds in delightful orchards, which, with the thickness of the villages, does wonderfully charm the eyes of the spectators. Amongst the villages, those of most note are, Orchard, which had its lords of the same name, from whom it descended, by inheritance, to the Portmans knights; next Hatch-Beauchamp, and then Curry Mallet, the latter part whereof is added because of the lords. For it was the seat of the Mallets, of Norman extraction, from whom it came in a short time, by an heiress, to the Poyntzes, of which family, Hugh, in the time of Edward 3, was reckoned among the parliamentary barons; and some others of it are at this day knights of great worth. But as to the Beauchamps, otherwise called de Bello Campo, they have flourished in great honour from the time of Hen. 2, especially since Cecil de Fortibus, descended from the Earls de Ferrariis, and from that famous Marshal of England William Earl of Pembroke, was married into this family. But in the reign of Edw. 3 the estate was divided by sisters, between Roger de St. Mauro or Seymour, and J. Meriet, both of them sprung from ancient and honorable ancestors. This was the cause why Hen. 8 after he had married Jane Seymour, Edward the Sixth's mother, made Edward Seymour her brother, Viscount Beauchamp; whom Edw. 6 afterwards advanced to the honour of Duke of Somerset.

            next, where Tone mixes itself with the Parrett, there is made a river-island formerly called Aethelingey, an island of nobles, now commonly Athelney, which is to us no less remarkable for King Alfred's absconding there, when the Dane made havoc of all before him; than are those Minturnensian fens to the Italians, for being a hiding place to Marius. For to that King (as an ancient poet writ of him,)

            — mixta dolori.
gaudia semper erant, spes semper mixta timori.
si modo victor erat, ad crastina cella pavebat,
si modo victus erat, ad crastina cella parabat.
cui vestes sudore jugi, cui sica cruore
tincta jugi, quantum sit onus regnare probarunt.
allayed with grief his cautious joys appeared,
and when he hoped the most, the most he feared.
conquering, he expected still the rallying foe;
o'ercome, he fitted for a second blow.
whose sweaty hands and garments stained in blood,
Shew that a crown is but a noble load.

            and truly, this island falls out very well for a private refuge; for the standing pools and inundations (which Asser called by a Latin-Saxon word gronnas) make it inaccessible. It had formerly a bridge between two towers, which were built by King Alfred; also a very large set of alders, full of goats and deer; but the firm ground not above two acres broad. Upon this he built a monastery; the whole structure whereof (Malmesbury here speaks for me) is supported by four posts fastened in the ground, with four arched chancels drawn round it.

            The Parrett does not go far alone, after it has got together its waters, before it is joined by another river from the East, which runs by Somerton, formerly the chief town of the county, giving name to the whole. It had a castle belonging to the West Saxon kings, which Ethelbald King of the Mercians possessed himself of by storm; but now it has given way to age, so that nothing of it appears: and the town would scarce support its character, were it not for a throng beast-fair kept there from Palm Sunday to the middle of June; for those parts make grazing their chief employment.

            after the Parrett has received this river, it visits a large and populous town, commonly called Bridgewater as 'tis thought from the bridge and the water; though the ancient charters refute that conjecture, which always call it expressly Burgh-Walteri; and it is highly probable, that it took that name from Walter de Doway who was a soldier under William the Conqueror, and had many lands bestowed on him in this county. Nor is it otherwise called in that charter, wherein Fulk Paynel Lord of Bampton gave the possession of this place to William de Briewer, to ingratiate himself with that person, who was a particular favourite of K. Rich. 3. The son of this William, of the same name with the father, having license granted him by K. John to fortify a castle, built one here, which now time has destroyed; and began a bridge, which was finished at great expense by Trivet a nobleman of Cornwall. But when William de Briewer the younger died without issue, by partition it fell to Margaret his sister, by whose daughter which she bore to William  de la Fert, it came to the family of the Chaworths or de Cadurcis, and from them by inheritance to the Dukes of Lancaster; but the greatest honour it ever had, was, being made a county by King Hen. 8 upon his creating Henry Daubeney Earl of Bridgewater; whose sister and coheir Cecil was married to John Bourchier, the first Earl of Bath of that family.

            below this, at a few miles distance, the Parrett throws itself at a wide mouth into the Severn Sea, called (as we observed before) the estuary Uzella by Ptolemy; and by some at this day Ivelmouth, but by the ancient English, Pedredan-Mudh: where, (as Marianus tells us) about the year 845 Ealstan Bishop of Sherborne routed the dispersed army of the Danes. At the same estuary we meet with another river, which some call Brue, rising out of that spacious wood in the East part of this county, (called by the Britons Coitmaur, by the Saxons Selwood, i.e. as Asser interprets it, a great wood) not far from Pen, an inconsiderable village, where the God of war seems to have conspired the extirpation of the British name, and also the utter ruin of the Danes. For Keniwalch, the West Saxon, gave the Britons such an entire defeat in this place, that they were never after able to make head against them: and many ages after, in the same place, Edmund Ironside had a memorable victory over the Danes, whilst he pursued from place to place Knut the Dane, who had possessed himself of the kingdom. This river first visits Bruton, and gives it that name; a place famous for the tombs of the Moions, who there built a monastery: and running a long way through nothing but small villages with the increase of a few rivulets, it waters some fruitful fields; till meeting with a softer soil, it in a manner stagnates, and makes an island called formerly Avalon in British, from the apples there, afterwards Inis-Witrin, i.e. a glassy island, and in the same sense Glastney, as in Latin Glasconia. A poet of pretty good antiquity has these verses concerning it,

insula pomorum quae fortunata vocatur,
ex re nomen habet, quia per se singula profert.
non opus est illi sulcantibus arva colonis,
omnis abest cultus, nisi quem natura ministrat,
ultro foecundas segetes producit, & herbas,
nataque poma suis praetonso germine sylvis.
the isle of apples, truly fortunate,
where unforced goods and willing comforts meet.
not there the fields require the rustic's hand,
but nature only cultivates the land.
the fertile plains with corn and herbs are proud,
and golden apples smile in every wood.

            In this island stood the monastery of Glastonbury, which is very ancient, deriving its original from Joseph of Arimathea, the same who buried Christ's body, and whom Philip the apostle of the Gauls sent into Britain to preach the gospel. For this is attested both by the most ancient histories of this monastery, and an epistle of St. Patrick the Irish apostle, who led a monastic life here for 30 years together. From hence this place was by our ancestors called, the first ground of God, the first ground of the saints in England, the rise and fountain of all religion in England, the burying-place of the saints, the mother of the saints; and that it was built by the very disciples of our Lord. Nor is there any reason why we should call this in question, since I have before shown, that the Christian religion, in the very infancy of the church, was preached in this island; and since Freculphus Lexoviensis has told us that this Philip brought barbarous nations, bordering upon darkness, and living upon the seacoasts, to the light of knowledge, and haven of faith. But to return to the monastery, and inform ourselves out of Malmesbury's little treatise upon that subject. When that small ancient church founded by Joseph was wasted away with age, Devi Bishop of St. David's built a new one in that place. And when time had worn that out too, twelve men coming from the North of Britain repaired it; but at length King Ina (who founded a school at Rome for the education of the English youth, and to maintain that, as also to distribute alms at Rome, taxed every single house in the kingdom one penny) pulled this down, an. 698, and built that stately church dedicated to Christ, St. Peter, and St. Paul. Just under the roof whereof, round it, he ordered these verses to be writ:

syderei montes, speciosa cacumina Sion,
a libano geminae flore comante, cedri;
coelorum portae lati duo lumina mundi,
ore tonat Paulus, fulgurat arce Petrus:
inter apostolicas radianti luce coronas,
doctior hic monitis, celsior ille gradu,
corda per hunc hominum reserantur, & astra per illum:
quos docet iste stylo, suscipit ille polo.
pandit iter coeli hic dogmate, clavibus alter,
est via cui Paulus, janua fida Petrus.
hic petra firma manens, ille architectus habetur,
surgit in his templum quo placet ara deo.
anglia plaude lubens, mittit tibi Roma salutem,
fulgor apostolicus Glasconiam irradiat.
a facie hostili duo propugnacula surgunt,
quod fidei turreis urbs caput orbis habet.
haec Pius egregio rex Ina refertus amore,
dona suo populo non moritura dedit.
totus in affectu divae pietatis inhaerens,
ecclesiaeque juges amplificavit opes.
melchisedech noster merito rex, atque sacerdos,
complevit verae religionis opus.
publica jura regens, & celsa palatia servans,
unica pontificum gloria, norma fuit.
hinc abiens, illinc meritorum fulget honore,
hic quoque gestorum laude perennis erit.
the two fair tops that lofty Sion grace,
cedars of Libanus that all surpass!
the world's great lights, and the two gates of heaven,
thunder from one, from one is lightning given.
among the blessed apostles they excel,
Peter in honour, and in learning Paul.
one opes men's hearts, and one the starry sphere,
one guides to heaven, and one receives us there:
one's doctrine shows our journey, and one's keys;
one is the way, and one the gate of bliss.
the builder one, one the foundation laid;
by both a temple for kind heaven is made.
England be glad, and pay just thanks to Rome,
eternal health to Glastonbury's come.
Against our foes two fortresses are shown,
that all the world the faith's great tow'rs shall own.
Blessed Ina, faithful servant of his God,
these lasting gifts upon his realm bestowed.
virtue and goodness all his thoughts possessed,
the church's old revenues he increased,
our great Melchisedech, our prince and priest.
his equal care of piety and state,
to crowns and mitres an example set.
in heaven his works their blessed reward receive,
and here his worthy praise shall ever live.<138>

            in those early times, several very devout persons served God here, and especially Irish, who were maintained at the King's charge, and instructed the youth in religion and the liberal sciences. For they made choice of a solitary life, that they might prosecute their divine studies with more retiredness, and inure themselves to a severe course of life to qualify them for taking up the cross. But at length, Dunstan, a man of excellent wit and judgment, after his reputation of sanctity and learning had given him access to the conversation of princes, instead of these brought in monks of a newer order, namely, Benedictines, and was himself first made Abbot over that large body settled there: and these by the bounty of good and pious princes, got so much wealth as even exceeded that of kings. After they had for about 600 years together as it were reigned in great abundance (for all their neighbours were at their beck,) they were driven out by Henry 8. And the monastery, which by degrees had grown into a little city, demolished, and laid level with the ground: how large and how stately it has been, may be gathered from the ruins.

            I shall be reckoned among those in our age who are taken with every fable, should I speak anything of the walnut tree  here, which never buds before the feast of St. Barnabas, and on that very feast day shoots out leaves; or the hawthorn tree , which buds on Christmas Day as if it were in May; and yet (if anyone may be trusted) these things are affirmed by several credible persons. Before I leave this head, take in short what Giraldus Cambrensis, an eye-witness, has delivered at large concerning Arthur's grave in this churchyard.

            when Henry 2 King of England had learned from the songs of the British bards,that Arthur the most noble hero of the Britons, whose courage had so often shattered the Saxons, was buried at Glastonbury between two pyramids, he ordered search to be made for the body; and they had scarce digged seven foot deep, but they light upon a crossed stone, or a stone in the back-part whereof was fastened a rude leaden cross, something broad. This being pulled out, appeared to have an inscription upon it; and under it almost nine foot deep, they found a coffin made of hollowed oak, wherein were reposited the bones of the famous Arthur. As to the inscription, which being taken from the original, was formerly writ in the monastery of Glastonbury, I thought it proper to give a draft of it because of the antiquity of its letters. The letters have a sort of barbarous and Gothic appearance; and are a plain evidence of the barbarity of the age, which was so involved in a fatal sort of mist, that no one was found to celebrate the name of K. Arthur, a subject without all dispute worthy the parts and invention of the most learned; who by praising so great a prince, might have procured to themselves the reputation of wit. For that strong bulwark of the British government may justly reckon this amongst his greatest misfortunes that the age did not afford a panegyrist equal to his virtues. But now take a view of the cross and inscription.

            nor will it be improper to subjoin what our countryman Josephus Iscanus, no mean or ordinary poet, has said of Arthur in his Antiocheis.

hinc celebri fato foelici claruit ortu
flos regum Arthurus, cujus cum facta stupori,
non micuere minus, totus quod in aure voluptas,
et populo plaudente favus. Quemcunque priorum
inspice, Pelaeum commendat fama tyrannum,
pagina Caesareos loquitur Romana triumphos,
alcidem domitis attollit gloria monstris.
sed nec pinetum coryli, nec sydera solem
aequant: Annales Latios, Graiosque revolve,
prisca parem nescit, aequalem postera nullum
exhibitura dies. Reges supereminet omnes,
solus praeteritis melior, majorque futuris.
from this blessed place immortal Arthur sprung,
whose wondrous deeds shall be for ever sung;
sweet music to the ear, sweet honey to the tongue.
look back, turn o'er the great records of fame,
proud Alexander boasts a mighty name.
the Roman annals Caesar's actions load,
and conquered monsters raised Alcides to a God.
but neither shrubs above tall pines appear,
nor Phoebus ever fears a rival star;
so would our Arthur in contest o'ercome
the mightiest heroes bred in Greece or Rome.
the only prince that hears this just applause,
greatest that e'er shall be, and best that ever was.

            but this hero (to observe it by the way out of Nennius, if it be worth our notice) was called Mab-Uter, i.e. A horrible son, because from his childhood he was of a cruel temper; and Arthur, which signifies in British a horrible bear, or an iron hammer to break the molae<139> of lions.

            take also if you please some other monuments of this place though not altogether so ancient, being out of William of Malmesbury. What is a mystery to all mankind, I would willingly set down, if the truth could only be hammered out; i.e. what those pyramids mean, some foot distant from the old church, and facing the monks churchyard. The higher, and that nearer the church has five stories, and is 26 foot high. This though it is ready to fall down for age, has yet some monuments of antiquity plainly legible, but not so plainly intelligible. For in the uppermost stories, there is an image of an episcopal figure. In the second, an image showing something of a King-like pomp, and these letters, HER. SEXI. and BLISWERH. In the third too are these names, WEMCHESTE. BANTOMP. WINEWEGN. In the fourth, HATE. WVLFREDE. and EANFLEDE. In the fifth, which is the lowermost, an image, and this writing, LOGWOR. WESLIELAS, and BREGDENE. SWELWES. HWINGENDES. BERNE. The other pyramid is 18 foot high, and has four stories, in which are written HEDDE bishop, and BREGORRED, and BREORWALDE.

            what these may signify, I dare not rashly determine; but only make a probable conjecture, that the bones of those men whose names are writ on the outside, may be laid in hollow stones within. As for LOGWOR, he is positively affirmed to be the person from whom the place now called Montague was formerly named LOGWERESBEORH. And BEORWALDE too was Abbot after HEMGISELUS.

            to give a list of the West Saxon kings buried here, would be beside my business. Yet I cannot but mention Edgar the peaceful, (if it were upon no other account but that he always endeavoured after peace) and subjoin his epitaph penned very well for that age:

auctor opum, vindex scelerum, largitor honorum,
sceptriger Edgarus regna superna petit.
hic alter Salomon, legum pater, orbita pacis,
quod caruit bellis, claruit inde magis.
templa Deo, templis monachos, monachis dedit agros.
nequitiae lapsum, justitiaeque locum.
novit enim regno verum perquirere falso,
immensum modico, perpetuumque brevi.
he that good actions did with honours crown,
enriched the realm, the daring vice put down,
Edgar to heaven, which he deserved, is gone.
our Solomon in laws and lasting peace,
yet honoured more than with a conqueror's praise,
while bold oppression fell, and justice kept her place.
churches to God, to churches monks he gave,
to monks' possessions they should never leave.
thus for a short, a false, a bounded reign,
he knew a vast, a true, an endless one to gain.

            from Glastonbury the three rivers meeting there make a sort of fen, and afterwards discharging themselves at the same little mouth, run westward in one channel by Gedney Moor; or (as others will have it called) Godney Moor, affirming it to be as much as God's island, and that it was granted to Joseph of Arimathea. Next by Wedmore a village of Alfred's, which he gave by his last will to his son Edward: and then through that fenny spacious tract, Brent Marsh, which the monks of Glastonbury have interpreted a country of fen-frogs, as its little town Brent Knoll, a small hill of frogs.

            from hence to the East, Mendip Hills run themselves out a great way both in length and breadth. Leland calls them Minerary Hills, and I think not amiss, since in old records they are named Muneduppe; abounding with lead mines, and very good for the pasturage of cattle; in these there is a cave of a vast length, wherein are discovered some wells and rivulets. Wookey Hole is the name of it; and the inhabitants thereabouts have broached as many wild fancies concerning it, as the Italians have of their Sibyl's cave in the Apennine Alps. But without doubt it had the name from ogo a British word signifying a cave; as the island Euboea from a cave of the same nature was called by a name like this, Ocha. Not far from it in the reign of Henry 8, in ploughing they cast up an oblong plate of lead, designed for a trophy, with this inscription:

TI. CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG. P. M.
TRIB. P. VIIII. IMP. XVI. DE BRITAN.

            this ninth tribuneship of Claudius fell in with the year from the building of Rome 802,[55 A.D.] and with the consulship of Antistius and M. Suillius, at which time a great disturbance happened under P. Ostorius propraetor of Britain. From the circumstances of this time give me leave to infer some conjectures. That this same year Claudius had two signal victories over the Britons, is attested by an ancient coin of that Emperor, the best evidence that can be. On one side of it is this inscription, TI. CLAVD. CAESAR AVG. P.M. TR. P. VIIII. IMP. XVI. PP. On the reverse, DE BRITAN. with a triumphant arch, a figure of a horseman at full speed, and two trophies. Now who these Britons were, that were conquered, Tacitus informs us: for he says that Claudius by the conduct of Ostorius subdued two of the British people this year, namely, the Iceni and the Cangi.

            but seeing the Iceni are as it were in another hemisphere, what if we should say that this trophy was erected in memory of a victory over the Cangi, a small people comprehended under our Belgae, and that those Cangi had their abode here? For not far from hence is the Irish sea, near which he places the Cangi; and there seem to be remains of the name Cangi still left in some places hereabouts, as in the hundreds of Cannington and Canings, in Wincanton, which is sometimes called Cangton; and Kaingsham, as much as to say, the mansion of the Cangi. But let the reader judge of these matters; for my part (as I said) I do not go beyond conjecture, but only endeavour to trace out the Cangi,  which I still hope to meet with in another place.

            amongst these hills is Chewton, the seat (if I mistake not) of William Bonville, whom Henry 6 by the name of William de Bonville and Chewton summoned to parliament among the barons, made Knight of the Garter, and enriched his son by marriage with Baron Harrington's only daughter, who was then but young. But when he for want of a due sense of gratitude, sided with the house of York in the civil wars; as if a fury had haunted him for revenge, he was an eye-witness of the untimely death of that his only son, and of Baron Harington his granchild by him, both slain in the battle of Wakefield. And presently after, to make his old age as miserable as could be, whilst he was in earnest expectation of better fortune, himself was taken in the second battle at St. Albans, and when his glass had well nigh run out, was beheaded, leaving behind him Cecil his grandchild and heiress then very young, but afterward being married to Thomas Grey Marquess of Dorset, brought him a large estate. Notwithstanding, this man's memory was as it were restored to him by Act of Parliament, declaring him innocent.

            under Mendip Hills to the North, is the little village Congresbury, so called from one Congarus a person of singular sanctity (Capgrave tells us he was the son of an Emperor of Constantinople,) who here led the life of an hermit; and Harpetre, formerly a castle belonging to a family of the same name, which descended hereditarily to the Gurneys, and from them to the Ab-Adams, who (as I have read) restored it to the Gurneys.

            Southward, not far from the famous cave, at the bottom of Mendip Hills, is a little city upon a rocky soil, and formerly a bishop's see. Leland tells us (upon what grounds I know not) that it was formerly called Theodorodunum; the name of it now is Wells, so called from the wells which spring up in all parts of it; so Susa in Persia, Croia in Dalmatia, and Pegase in Macedonia had their names from wells or fountains: from hence also this church is called the church of Wells. It may justly challenge the pre-eminence in this county, both for populousness and stateliness of the buildings. It has a church and a college built by King Ina to the honour of St. Andrew, which was presently endowed with large revenues by several great men. Amongst the rest, King Kinewulph gave to it a great many neighbouring places in the year 766. For thus his charter runs: I Kinewulph King of the West Saxons, for the love of God, and (which shall not be here mentioned) some vexations of our Cornish enemies, by the consent of my bishops and noblemen, humbly make over by gift a certain parcel of ground to the apostle and servant of God, and St. Andrew, i.e. of xi mansions near the river called Welwe, towards the increase of the monastery, situate near the great fountain called Wielea. Which I set down both upon the account of its antiquity, and because some are of opinion that the place took its name from this river. The church indeed is exceeding beautiful, and nothing can be finer than its frontispiece towards the West, which is one entire pile of statues curiously wrought out of stone, and of great antiquity.

            the bishop's palace is very splendid, and towards the South looks like a castle, as it is fortified with walls and a ditch; and the prebendarys' houses on t'other side are exceeding neat. For there are 27 prebends, with 19 petty-canons, besides a dean, a precentor, a chancellor, and 3 arch-deacons, that belong to this church. A bishop's see was settled here in the time of Edward the Elder. For when the Pope had excommunicated this Edward, upon pretence that the discipline of the church was quite neglected in this westerly part of his kingdom; he knowing himself notwithstanding to be a nursing father of the church, erected three new bishoprics, Kirton, Cornwall, and this of Wells, where he made Eadulph first bishop. Not many years after, Giso was set over this diocese, whom Harold Earl of the West Saxons and of Kent, gaping after the revenues of the church, did so persecute, that this see was almost quite destroyed. But William the First, after he had conquered Harold, lent a helping hand to Giso then in exile, and to this distressed church: at which time (as is evident from Domesday Book) the bishop held the town itself, which gelded<125> for 50 hides. Afterwards, in the reign of Henry 1, John de Villula a Frenchman of Tours was elected bishop, and translated the see to Bath, by which means these two grew into one, and the bishop has his title from both; so that the same person is styled Bishop of Bath and Wells: which occasioned a hot dispute between the monks of Bath and the canons of Wells about the election of the bishops. In the meantime Savanaricus Bishop of Bath, being also Abbot of Glastonbury, translated this see thither, and was styled Bishop of Glastonbury, but that title died with him: and the difference between the monks and the canons was at last composed by that Robert who divided the revenues of his church into so many prebends, and settled a dean, a sub-dean, &c. Bishop Jocelyn also about the same time augmented the church with new buildings; and in the memory of our grandfathers, Ralph de Shrewsbury (as some call him) built a very neat college for the vicars and singing-men near the North part of the church; and also enclosed the bishop's palace with a wall. But in the way from the palace to the market, Th. Beckington, bishop, built a very beautiful gate, and 12 stately stone houses of the same height hard by in the market-place. In the middle whereof is a market-house supported by seven outer pillars and a curious arch, built by Bishop William Knighte and Dean Woollman for the use of the market-people. All these are in the East part of the town. In the West is a parish church dedicated to St. Cuthbert; and near it a hospital built by Nicholas Bubwith bishop, for 24 poor people.

            out of those mineral mountains arises the river Frome, which hastens eastward by these pits of coal, made use of by smiths as most proper to soften iron; and before it has run any great way, wheeling towards the North, it is the boundary between this county and Gloucestershire; and washes Farleigh, a castle upon a hill belonging not many years since to the Hungerfords, where formerly Humphrey Bohun built a monastery, at a little distance from Norton Saint Philip, a famous market town, taking its name from the church dedicated to St. Philip.

            Lower down, is Selwood before mentioned, a wood that spreads itself out a long way both in length and breadth, and is well set with trees. From this (as Ethelwerd tells us) the country was called Selwoodshire; and a town near it is to this day named Frome-Selwood, supported mostly by the woollen manufacture. Scarce two miles from hence to the West, is a small but pretty neat castle, built by the Delamares, and thence called Nunney Delamare, which by inheritance descended from them to the Powletts. Not far from whence is Witham, where K. Hen. 3 built a nunnery.

            and now Frome, increased by some little rivers out of this wood, joins itself to the noble river Avon, which with an oblique course presently runs to that ancient city, from the baths called by Ptolemy, hydra therma i.e. hot waters; and by Antoninus, waters of the sun; by the Britons, Yr Ennaint Twymin, as also Caer Badon; and by the Saxons, Bathancester, Hat Bathan, and (for the concourse of sick people) Ackmanchester, as much as a city of valetudinarians. Stephanus calls it Badiza, we at this day Bath, and in Latin Bathonia. It lies low in a plain not very large, and is as it were fortified on every side with hills of an equal height, which send down many springs, to the great advantage of the citizens. In the city itself arise three hot springs, of a bluish and sea-colour, which exhale a thin sort of mist, and something of an ill savour proceeding from corrupt water mixed with earth and brimstone; (for the water itself has a sulphur and bituminous matter incorporated with it.) They are an effectual remedy to such bodies as by reason of ill humours are dull and heavy; for by virtue of their heat they cause sweating, and by that means the career of the humour is curbed. But it is not at all hours they are wholesome; for from eight in the morning till three in the afternoon, they are extreme hot and boil up violently, by which they are mudded, and throw up a filthy sort of stuff from the bottom: so that at these times they are shut up; nor does anyone go into them, till by their sluices they have eased themselves of that stuff, and are purged. Of these three, that which is called the Cross-Bath, because of a cross formerly erected in the middle of it, is very easy, and moderately warm. Upon the side of it are 12 stone seats, and it is enclosed with a wall. The second, scarce 200 foot distant, is much hotter, whereupon 'tis called Whotbath, or Hot-Bath. Near these two is a hospital built by Reginald Bishop of Bath, to relieve the necessities of sick people; and in the middle are two streets towards the West part of the city. The third, which is largest, is in the very heart of the city, and is called, the King's or Royal Bath; it is near the cathedral church, and enclosed also with a wall. It is accommodated with 32 seats arched over, wherein the men and women sit apart; and both of them when they go into the water put on linen drawers. Where now the cathedral church stands, is formerly reported to have been a temple dedicated to Minerva. 'Tis without all doubt that Solinus Polyhistor means these baths, when he says, In Britain there are hot springs, richly accommodated with all conveniencies for the service of mankind; their tutelar deity is Minerva, in whose temple those perpetual fires never turn to embers, but when they go out, are converted into round pieces of hard stone. Notwithstanding which, Athenaeus affirms, that all hot baths naturally springing out of the earth, are sacred to Hercules; and indeed amongst other old monuments almost quite defaced by age, there is here upon the walls something of an ancient image of Hercules holding a serpent in his hand. But rather than any difference should arise upon this, we are willing to grant that baths were dedicated both to Hercules and Minerva. For the Greeks have told us that Minerva was the first who furnished Hercules with a bath after he had gone through his labours. I am content, if thus much may be allowed me upon Solinus's authority, that since Minerva was the tutelar goddesss of those springs, this must be the same city which the Britons called Caer Palladdur, that is in Latin Urbs Palladiae Aquae, or, the city of Pallas's water. For the thing, name, and meaning do exactly agree.

            The finding of these springs is by our own traditions referred to a British King called Bleyden Doyth, i.e. Bleyden the Soothsayer; with what show of truth, I leave to others. However, Pliny assures us that this art-magic was in such wonderful esteem among the Britons, that they seem even to have given it to the Persians; but as to these baths, I dare not attribute their original to that art. Some of our own nation too supinely affirm that Julius Caesar was the inventor. But I cannot but think that it was late before the Romans came to know them, since Solinus is the first that makes any mention of them. The Saxons indeed about the 44th year after their landing in Britain, by a breach of articles renewing the war, laid siege to this city, but being surprised by the warlike Arthur, they betook themselves to Badon Hill, where (though in a desperate condition,) they fought it out, and were slain in great numbers. This seems to be the same hill with that we now call Lansdown, hanging over a little village near the city, named Batheaston, and showing at this day its bulwarks, and a rampart. I know there are some who seek for it in Yorkshire; but let Gildas himself restore it to this place. For in an old manuscript copy of him in the Cambridge library, where he treats of the victory of Aurelius Ambrosius, he says; to the year of Badon Hill siege, which is not far from the mouth of Severn. But if this will not convince them, let them understand farther, that the adjoining vale lying along the river Avon for a great way together, is called in British Nant-Badon, i.e. The Vale of Badon; and where to seek Badon Hill but near Badon Valley, I cannot tell. For a long time after this, the Saxons frighted from making any more attempts upon this city, left it quiet to the Britons. But in the year of Christ 577, after Ceawlin King of the West Saxons had defeated the Britons at Deorham, this city being both besieged and stormed, first surrendered itself to the Saxons; and in a few years as it were recovering itself, took the new name of Akmancester, and grew very splendid. For Osbrich in the year 676, built a nunnery, and presently after, when it came into the hands of the Mercians, King Offa built another church; but both were destroyed in the Danish wars. Out of the ruins of these there grew up another church dedicated to St. Peter, to which Edgar surnamed the Peaceful, because he was there inaugurated King, granted several immunities; the memory whereof the inhabitants still keep up by anniversary sports. In the times of Edw. the Confessor (as we read in Domesday Book) it gelded for 20 hides, when the shire gelded.<125> There were 64 burgesses of the King's, and 30 of others. But this flourishing condition was not lasting; for presently after the Norman Conquest, Robert Mowbray nephew to the Bishop of Constance, who raised a hot rebellion against William Rufus, plundered and burned it. But it got up again in a short time, by the assistance of John de Villula of Tours in France, who being Bishop of Wells, did (as Malmesbury informs us) for five hundred marks purchase the city of Henry 1. Whither he translated his see, (though still retaining the name of Bishop of Wells) and built him here a new cathedral. But this, not long ago, being ready to drop down, Oliver King, Bishop of Bath, laid the foundation of another near it, exceeding large and stately; which he well-nigh finished. And if he had quite finished it, without all doubt it had exceeded most cathedrals in England. But the untimely death of that great bishop, with the public disturbances, and the avarice of some persons, who (as 'tis said) converted the money gathered through England for that end, to other uses, envied it this glory. However, from that time forward, Bath has been a flourishing place both for the woollen manufacture, and the great resort of strangers; and is now encompassed with walls, wherein they have fixed some ancient images and Roman inscriptions to evidence the antiquity of the place: but age has so wore them out, that they are scarce legible. And lest anything should be wanting to the dignity of Bath, it has honoured some of the nobility with the title of Earl. For we read that Philebert de Chandew, born in Bretagne in France, had that title conferred upon him by King Henry 7. Afterwards King Henry 8 in the 28th year of his reign, created John Bourchier Lord FitzWarin, Earl of Bath; who dying in the 31 year of the same King, was succeeded by John his son, who died in the third year of Queen Elizabeth. He, before the death of his father, had John Lord FitzWarin, from whom is descended William the present Earl of Bath, who every day improves the nobility of his birth with the ornaments of learning. Geographers make the longitude of this city to be 20 degrees, and 56 minutes; the latitude, 51 degrees and 21 minutes. For a conclusion, take, if you please, those verses such as they are, concerning Bath; made by Necham, who flourished 400 years ago.

bathoniae thermas vix praefero Virgilianas,
confecto prosunt balnea nostra seni.
prosunt attritis, collisis, invalidisque,
et quorum morbis frigida causa subest.
praevenit humanum stabilis natura laborem;
servit naturae legibus artis opus.
igne suo succensa quibus data balnea fervent,
aenea subter aquas vasa latere putant.
errorem figmenta solent inducere passim.
sed quid? Sulphureum novimus esse locum.
scarce ours to Virgil's baths the preference give,
here old decrepit wretches find relief.
to bruises, sores, and every cold disease,
Applied, they never fail of quick success.
thus human ills kind nature does remove;
thus nature's kindness human arts improve.
they're apt to fancy brazen stoves below,
to which their constant heat the waters owe.
thus idle tales deluded minds possess;
but what? We know that 'tis a sulphury place.

            take also (if you think them worth your reading) two ancient inscriptions lately digged up upon the highway below the city in Waldcot Field; and removed by Robert Chambers a great admirer of antiquities, into his gardens; where I transcribed them.

            I saw likewise these antiquities fastened on the inner side of the wall, between the North and West gates: Hercules holding up his left hand, with his club in the right. In a broken piece of stone is this writing in large and beautiful letters.

            next, leaves folded in, Hercules bending two snakes; and in a sepulchral table between two little images, one whereof holds an Amalthaean horn, there is written in a worse character and scarce legible,

            a little below, in a broken piece of stone, and large letters, is

            between the West and South gates, Ophiucus enfolded by a serpent, two men's heads with curled locks, within the copings of the walls; a hare running, and underneath in a great stone this in letters a cross.

            a naked man as 'twere laying hands upon a soldier; also between the battlements of the walls, leaves, two lying kissing and embracing each other; a footman brandishing his sword, and holding forth his shield; another footman with a spear; and these letters across on a stone.

            and Medusa's head with her snaky hairs.

            upon the same river Avon (which is the bound here between this county and Gloucestershire,) on the western bank of it, is Keynsham, so named from Keina a devout British virgin; whom many of the last age, through an over-credulous temper, believed to have changed serpents into stones, because they find sometimes in quarries some such little miracles of sporting nature. And I have seen a stone brought from thence, winded round like a serpent, the head whereof, though but imperfect, jutted out in the circumference, and the end of the tail was in the center. But most of them want the head. In the neighbouring fields, and other places hereabouts, the herb Percepier<140> grows naturally all the year round. It is peculiar to England, and one tastes in it a sort of tartness and bitterness: 'tis never higher than a span, and grows in bushy flowers without a stalk. It provokes urine strongly and quickly; and there is a water distilled out of it, of great use, as P. Poena in his Miscellanies Upon Plants has observed.

            scarce five miles from hence, the river Avon parts Bristol in the middle, called by the Britons Caer Oder Nant Badon, i.e. The city Odera in Badon valley. In the catalogue of the ancient cities it is named Caer Brito, and in Saxon it is Brightstow, i.e. a famous place. But those who have affirmed it to be the Venta Belgarum, have imposed both upon themselves and the world. The city is placed partly in Somersetshire and partly in Gloucestershire, so that it does not belong to either, having distinct magistrates of its own, and being a county incorporate by itself. It stands upon a pretty high ground, between the Avon and the little river Frome; what with walls and the rivers, guarded very well: for it was formerly enclosed with a double wall. It casts such a beautiful show, both of public and private buildings, that it answers its name; and there are what they call gouts (in Latin cloacae) built in the subterraneous caverns of the earth, to carry off and wash away the filth; so that nothing is wanting either for neatness or health. But by this means it comes, that carts are not used here. It is also so well furnished with the necessities of life, and so populous, that next to London and York, it may justly claim a pre-eminence over all the cities in Britain. For the trade of many nations is drawn thither by the advantage of commerce, and of the harbour, which brings vessels under sail into the heart of the city. And the Avon swells so much by the coming in of the tide, when the moon descends from the meridian, and passes the place opposite; that ships upon the shallows are borne up 11 or 12 fathoms. The citizens themselves drive a rich trade throughout Europe, and make voyages to the remotest parts of America. At what time, and by whom it was built, is hard to say: but it seems to be of a late date, since in all the Danish plunders, it is not so much as mentioned in our histories. For my part, I am of opinion it rose in the decline of the Saxon government, since it is not taken notice of before the year of our Lord 1063. Wherein Harold (as Florence of Worcester has it) set sail from Brytstow to Wales, with a design to invade it. In the beginning of the Norman times, Berton an adjoining farm, and this Bristol, paid to the King (as 'tis in Domesday Book) 110 marks of silver; and the burgesses returned, that Bishop G. had 33 marks, and 1 mark of gold. Afterwards Robert Bishop of Constance, plotting against William Rufus, chose this for a seat of war, and fortified the little city with that inner wall (I suppose,) part of which remains to this day. But a few years after, the suburbs began to enlarge on every side; for on the South, Redcliffe, where were some little houses belonging to the suburbs, is joined to the rest of the city by a stone bridge, which is so set with houses, that you would not think it a bridge, but a street. This part is included within the walls, and the inhabitants have the privileges of citizens. There are hospitals built in all parts for the poor, and neat churches for the glory of God. Amongst the rest, the most beautiful is St. Mary's of Redcliffe without the walls, into which is a stately ascent by a great many stairs. So large is it, the workmanship so exquisite, and the roof so artificially vaulted with stone, and the tower so high, that in my opinion it goes much beyond all the Parish churches in England I have yet seen. In it the founder William Canynges has two honorary monuments; the one is his image in the habit of a magistrate, for he was five times mayor of this city; the other an image of the same person in clergyman's habit, for in his latter days he took orders, and was Dean of the college which himself founded at Westbury. Hard by it is also another church called Temple, the tower whereof, as often as the bell rings, moves to and again, so as to be quite parted from the rest of the building; and there is such a chink from top to bottom, that the gaping is three fingers broad when the bell rings, growing first narrower, then again broader. Nor must we omit taking notice of St. Stephen's church, the stately tower whereof, was in the memory of our grandfathers built by one Shipward, a citizen and merchant, with great charge and curious workmanship. On the East also and North parts it was enlarged with very many buildings, and those too included within the walls, being defended by the river Frome; which, after it has passed by these walls, runs calmly into the Avon, making a quiet station for ships, and a creek convenient to load and unload wares, which they call the Kay. Under this, the marsh between the confluence of Avon and Frome, is a champion ground, which is set round with trees, and affords a pleasant walk to the citizens. Upon the South-east, where the rivers do not encompass it, Robert, natural son to King Henry 1, (commonly called Robert Rufus consul of Gloucester, because he was Earl of Gloucester) built a large and strong castle for the defence of his city; and out of a pious inclination, set aside every tenth stone for the building of a chapel, near the priory of St. James, which he also erected just under the city. He took to wife Mabel daughter and sole heir of Robert Fitzhamon, who held this city in fealty of William the Norman. This castle yet scarce finished, was besieged by King Stephen, but he was forced to draw off without doing anything; and the same person, not many years after, being prisoner there, was a fair instance how uncertain the events of war are. Beyond the river Frome, over which at Fromegate is a bridge, one goes obliquely up a high hill of a steep and difficult ascent, from whence there is a pleasant prospect of the city, and haven below it. This upon the top runs into a large and green plain, shaded all along the middle with a double rank of trees; amongst which is a pulpit of stone, and a chapel, wherein they say that Jordan, companion to St. Austin the English apostle, was buried; but 'tis now a free-school. This place, not to mention the private houses, is beautified on all sides with public and stately buildings. On one side with a collegiate church called Gaunts, from its founder Sir Henry Gaunt knight, who quitting the affairs of this world, here dedicated himself to God; now by the munificence of T. Carre a wealthy citizen, it is converted into a hospital for orphans. On the other side over against it, are two churches dedicated to St. Austin; the one but small and a parish church; the other larger, and the bishop's cathedral, adorned by King Henry 8 with six prebendaries. Now the greatest part of it is pulled down, and the college gate, which indeed is curiously built, has this inscription,

REX HENRICVS II. ET DOMINVS
ROBERTVS FILIVS HARDINGI FILII
REGIS DANIAE, HVIVS MONASTE-
RII PRIMI FVNDATORES EXTITERVNT.

            that is, 'King Henry 2 And Lord Robert, the son of Harding, son to the King of Denmark, were the first founders of this monastery.'

            this Robert, Harding's son, of the blood-royal of Denmark, was an alderman of Bristol, and was so great with King Henry, that by his favour Maurice his son married the daughter of the Lord de Berkeley: from whence his posterity, who flourished in great state, are to this day called barons of Berkeley; register of the monastery; some whereof are buried in this church.

            from hence where the Avon runs, are high rocks on both sides the river, as if nature had industriously designed them. One of these, which hangs over the river on the East side, is called St. Vincent's, and is so stocked with diamonds, that one may get whole bushels of them. But the great plenty lessens their true value among us: for besides that, by their transparency they even vie with those from the Indies, they do not yield to them in any respect save hardness: but their being smoothed and filed by nature into six or four corners, does, in my mind, render them more admirable. The other rock on the western bank is likewise full of diamonds, which by a wonderful artifice of nature are contained in hollow reddish flints (for the ground here is red,) as if they were big with young. The Avon, after it has passed by these rocks, is at last with a full channel unloaded into the Severn estuary.

            it remains now, that I reckon up the Earls and Dukes of this county of Somerset. The first Earl of Somerset is said to have been William de Mohun or Moion, the same probably that Maud the Empress in her charter whereby she created William de Mandeville Earl of Essex, makes use of as a witness under the name of Comes W. de moion, i.e. Earl W. de Moion. From this time there occurs no distinct mention of the Earls of Somerset, unless it be in this rescript of King Hen. 3 to Peter de Mawley, which I will set down, in order to invite others to spend their judgments upon it. Know ye that we have received the homage of our beloved uncle William Earl of Sarum, for all the lands which he holds of us, especially for the county of Somerset, which we have given to him with all the appurtenances for homage and service, reserving still to ourselves the royalties: and therefore we command you that you grant him a full seisin of the said county with all its appurtenances, and for the future not to intermeddle with anything belonging to the said county, &c. And we charge all our earls, barons, knights, and free tenants of the county of Somerset, that they pay fealty and homage to the said Earl, with reserve only of fidelity to the King; and that for the future they be obedient and answerable to him as their Lord. Whether one may from hence conclude that he was Earl of Somerset, as also of Devonshire (for he writ too in the same words to Robert Courtney concerning this William,) I leave to the judgment of others. Under this Henry 3 (as we read in a book in French belonging to the family of the Mohuns knights) 'tis said that Pope Innocent on a solemn festival made Reginald Mohun Earl of Este, i.e. (as our author interprets it) of Somerset, delivering him a golden rose, and granting an annual pension to be paid yearly at the altar of St. Paul's in London. So that this man seems not so much to have been properly Earl, as apostolical Earl; for so such were termed in that age, who were created by the Pope, (as those created by Emperor, imperial Earls) having a power of licensing notaries and scribes, making bastards legitimate, &c. under some certain conditions. A considerable time after, John de Beaufort, natural son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster by Catherine Swinford, (being with his brothers and sister made legitimate by K. Richard 2 by the assent of parliament,) was advanced to the honour of Earl of Somerset, and afterwards created Marquess of Dorset; but was presently deprived of that honour by Henry 4, and had only the title of Somerset left him. He had three sons, Henry Earl of Somerset, who died young; John, created by K. Henry 5 first Duke of Somerset, who had an only daughter Margaret, mother to K. Henry 7, and Edmund, who succeeded his brother in the dukedom, and was for some time regent of France. But being recalled, he was accused of having lost Normandy, upon which account he suffered many indignities from the people; and in that lamentable war between the two houses of Lancaster and York, was slain in the first battle of St. Albans. Henry his son succeeded him, who being a time-server, and one while siding with the house of York, another with the house of Lancaster, was by the York party taken prisoner in the battle of Hexham, and had his levity punished with the loss of his head. And his brother Edmund who succeeded him in this honour, the last Duke of Somerset of this family, after the defeat of the Lancastrian party at Tewkesbury, was dragged, being all over blood, out of the church wherein he had taken sanctuary, and beheaded. The legitimate heirs male of this family being thus extinct, first Henry 7 honoured Edmund his young son with this title, who soon after died: and next, Henry 8 his natural son Henry Fitz-Roy; who dying without issue, Edward invested Edward de Sancto Mauro, commonly called Seymour, with the same; who being full of honours, and (as it were) loaded with titles (for he was Duke of Somerset, Earl of Hertford, Viscount Beauchamp, Baron of St. Maur, uncle to the King, Governor to the King, Protector of his Kingdoms, Dominions, and Subjects, Lieutenant of his Forces by Sea and Land, Treasurer and Earl Marshal of England, governor of the Islands of Guernsey and Jersey, &c.) was, as if he had been fortune's football, on a sudden thrown down, for but a slight crime, and that too contrived by the treachery of his enemies; and deprived of his honours and life together.

            there are reckoned in this county 385 parishes.

additions to Somersetshire.

            The general account our author has given of the Belgae, though it may in some measure be true, namely, that they lived in part of Hampshire and the South part of Wiltshire; yet by assigning all Wiltshire and this county of Somerset, to that people, he may seem to have extended their bounds too far. And the learned world would do well to consider whether North Wiltshire and all Somersetshire, might not be as fairly bestowed upon the Cangi, a people mentioned by Tacitus. 'Tis an opinion favoured by Mr. Tanner, who has made great search as into antiquities in general, so particularly into the affairs of those parts. And truly not without probable grounds: for besides what Camden himself has urged to strengthen the conjecture, as the triumphal arch found here, erected to the honour of Claudius Caesar, in whose time these Cangi were subdued; and the resemblance of the name in Cannington and Cannings Hundreds, and the towns of Wincanton and Keynsham: if we consider two or three reasons more, it will appear a little strange why Mr. Camden should recant, and upon second thoughts place the Cangi in Cheshire.

            for,
1. The whole course of Ostorius's march may seem to convince us that the Cangi lived in this part of the island; especially if the Iceni may upon the authority and reasons of a late author, be brought to those parts where the Icknield Street passed. After he had quelled the Iceni, he immediately marched against the Cangi; but before he had finished his conquests over them, the commotions of the Brigantes required his presence in their country; retrahere ducem,<141> saith the historian: now if the Cangi had inhabited Cheshire, they had almost laid in his way to the Brigantes, who therefore could not be said retrahere ducem. But after they were subdued, he comes back, and settles a colony at Camulodunum, which (if the resemblance of the name, the nature of the place, and all the signs of a Roman station be of any force) we may place at Camelot in this county. Besides, it must needs be in those parts, because the Romans marched from thence to subdue the Silures, from whom they marched against the Ordovices. And can we imagine that any prudent general (as Ostorius no doubt was) would harrass his soldiers with such a needless march as from Cheshire or Staffordshire into South Wales, and so leave enemies behind him in North Wales; into which they would first have bended their course, if Camulodunum had been so near it,

            Some endeavour to prove,
2. Lipsius's conjecture of reading instead of the Cenimagni of Caesar, Iceni, Cangi, confirms this opinion; for if that be allowed, then from Caesar's own words those Iceni and Cangi must be placed in the South parts of Britain, near the Bibroci (in Berkshire,) and the Segontiaci (in Hampshire;) so that the share of the Cangi will in all probability fall in North Wiltshire and Somersetshire.

            3. The memory of those people preserved in several names of places besides those mentioned by Camden. Such are, Caningan-Maersces in the Saxon Chronicle; which are undoubtedly the marshes in Somersetshire. In Wiltshire there is the hundred of Canings, and in it a town of the same name called in old writings Caningas; as in another hundred is Alcannings (as much possibly as Old, or Old Cannings.) And that ancient town of Calne (especially if spelled as we find it in Domesday, Cauna) seems to retain something of the name.

            4. Why may not the Severn Sea be that which Tacitus says looks towards Ireland, near which the Cangi lived; and Avon in those parts, the Antona of Tacitus, on the banks whereof Ostorius, before the rebellion broke out, had made several garrisons? And thus much of the ancient inhabitants.

            This county of Somerset was by our Saxon fore-fathers called Sumursaetescyre, and the inhabitants of it, Sumursaetas, Sumorsaete, and Sumaersaetas. The letter o in the first syllable was brought in by later writers; as it has likewise into the principal town Somerton, which by the Saxons was called Sumurton, and by some of the more early historians Sumerton.

            Upon the coast of the Severn Sea lie Porlock and Watchet, two ports famous in the times of the Saxons; which our author tells us, an. 886 suffered much from the Danes. Watchet in the year 997 was again harrassed by them, and amongst the rest of the neighbours in those westerly parts, suffered whatever fire and sword could inflict. Porlock was the place where Harold landed from Ireland, (an. 1052.) who being opposed by the inhabitants and neighbouring people, slew great numbers of them, and carried off a large booty.

            more eastward from hence, at some distance from the sea, is Cannington, at or about which place, in the year 1010, the Danes so much practised their old trade of burning and plunder. The present name agrees well enough with the old Caningan, and the situation of it, with the marches of that army. Nor does the maersces (the marshes) which is added to it, less confirm the opinion, if Mr. Camden's character of the whole county be true, that it is (especially in the winter) extreme wet and fenny. I had once thought this the marshes in Kent, and that Caningan was an error of the librarians for Centingan; but upon examining the course of their journey, the mistake appeared.

            Leaving the sea-coast, our next direction is the river Ivel; near which is Camelot, mentioned by Mr. Camden as a place of great antiquity. The hill is a mile in compass at the top, four trenches circling it, and between each of them an earthen wall. In the very top of the hill is an area of 20 acres or more, where in several places, as Leland observes, might be seen the foundations of walls. And there was much dusky blue stone, which the people of the adjoining villages had in his time carried away. Beside the coins, Stow tells us of a silver horse-shoe there digged up in the memory of that age; and Leland describes it in a kind of ecstasy; Good Lord (says he) what deep ditches, what high walls, what precipices are here! In short, I look upon it as a very great wonder both of Art and Nature.

            Not far from hence is North Cadbury, which our author tells us came into the family of the Botreauxs by the marriage of Isabella daughter of John de Moels. It continued in the said family till the death of William the late Lord Botreaux, who dying without issue male, this Lordship with a very great inheritance descended to Margaret his daughter and sole heir, married to Robert Lord Hungerford, from whom it descended to Mary Lady Hungerford their great grand-daughter, who was married to Edward Lord Hastings and Hungerford, father to George the first of that surname Earl of Huntingdon; in which family it continued to the reign of James 1. That Sir Francis Hastings, younger son to Francis Earl of Huntingdon being possessed of the same, and having no children, did alienate it.

            Ivel continuing its course towards the sea, joins with the river Parrett, which a little more northward is increased by the Tone. Near the head of this, stands Orchard, formerly the inheritance of the Portmans. But now that family being extinct in the late Sir William Portman, he has left it to his cousin-german by the mother's side Mr. Henry Seymour, who now enjoys it, and has his residence there.

            Upon the Parrett stands Bridgewater, the Earl whereof Henry Daubeney dying without issue male, this title lay dead till the 15 of James 1, when it was conferred upon John Egerton, Baron of Ellesmere, Viscount Brackley, and son to the Lord Chancellor Egerton. He was succeeded by his son John, and this John by a son of the same name.

            From hence let us go along with Mr. Camden North-west to Glastonbury, where amongst other curiosities he mentions the budding of a hawthorn-tree on Christmas Day. The tree has been cut down these many years; yet there are some still growing in the county from branches of that; as particularly, one in the garden of William Stroud Esq. possessor of the ground where the other stood; another in the garden of the White Hart Inn, in Glastonbury.

            Farther northward are Mendip Hills, famous for the lead mines; free for any Englishman to work in, except he has forfeited his right by stealing any of the ore or tools of the others. And their law or custom in that case is very remarkable. The groovers (for so the miners are called, as the pits they sink are called grooves) living at some distance leave their tools, and the ore they have got sometimes open upon the hill, or at best shut up in a slight hut. Whoever amongst them steals anything, and is found guilty, is thus punished: he's shut up in a hut, and then dry fern, furzes, and such other combustible matter is put round it, and fire set to it. When 'tis on fire, the criminal who has his hands and feet at liberty, may with them (if he can) break down his hut, and making himself a passage out of it, get free and be gone; but must never come to work, or have to do any more on the hill. This they call burning of the hill. There is lead also dug on Broadwell Down, and other parts thereabouts, lying between Wrington and Backwell. About the West-end of Mendip Hills is found plenty of lapis calaminaris,<142> lying near the surface of the earth. This calcined and mixed with copper, makes brass. Here are also some veins of magnesia or manganese, and of yellow ochre.

            In those hills is Ochie Hole, otherwise called Wookey Hole; which latter is certainly the right, coming from woc, which does not imply any hollowness, as Selden would have it, for that is expressed by hole; but signifies crooked; not but that woc might come from the British ogo; so that Camden's conjecture may be pertinent enough. The inhabitants have broached strange and extravagant fables concerning this cave: passing by those as impertinent, the place is in itself so remarkable, as very well to deserve our notice. From a very narrow entrance it opens into a large vault, the roof whereof (either for its height or the thickness of the air) they who go in cannot discover by the light of candles they carry with them. After having clambered over several rough and unequal passages amongst the moist rocks, you come at last to a stream of very clear cold water. In several places of this cave, one may see that the droppings of water increase the rock, and turn into stone in some places hanging down like icicles.

            Amongst those hills is Chewton, famous for the seat of William Bonville, who lies interred with his lady in the chancel at Chewton. It is now the Manor as well as title of the present Lord Waldegrave, whose father, by K. James 2, was created Baron Waldegrave of Chewton.

            towards the North is Chew Magna or Bishop's Chew, where is dug up a red bolus, called by the country people redding, from thence distributed all over England for the marking of sheep, and such other uses: it is also often used by apothecaries instead of bolus Armenius.<143>

            a mile East from Chew Magna, on the South side of the River Chew, lies Stanton Drew, where is to be seen a monument of stones like those of Stonehenge in Wiltshire: but these being not altogether so big as the Stonehenge ones, nor standing in so clear a plain, the hedges and trees mixed amongst them have made them less taken notice of.

            two miles south of Stanton Drew, at Stowey, on the side of the hill above the church, rises a large spring that is never dry. The water coming from thence as it runs down through Stowey, covers the things it meets in its way with a stony crust. This effect it has not in the very source, nor within 20 yards where it rises: the place where it works most, is about forty or fifty yards from the rising, at a fall higher than a man's head. There it sheaths everything with stony cases, and makes the sides of the bank hard rock; and from thence all along its stream, it covers sticks, &c. with a crust.

            Returning southward over Mendip hills, we meet with Wells, where our author tells us was a bishop's seat, till John de Villula in the time of King Hen. 1 removing it to Bath, the bishops were called bishops of Bath and Wells. But it is observable, that almost 200 years after John, the bishops were only called bishops of Bath, and sometimes of Glaston, but not of Wells. So that our author affirming afterwards when he comes to Bath, that this John did retinere Wellensis episcopi nomen, i.e. "still keep the title of Bishop of Wells," must needs be in a vulgar error. For Bishop Godwin, in his English tract of the bishops, expressly says, that he renounced that title of Wells when he came to Bath. And Dr. Guidott, in his accurate history of Bath (which is now ready for the press) proves the same by subscription and nomination to that time.

            the Bishop's palace, our author informs us, was encompassed with a wall by Ralph of Shrewsbury. But this was certainly done by Ralph Erghum (the fourth bishop after Shrewsbury) who finished this work and his life together, 10. Apr. AD. 1400; whereas Shrewsbury died 14 Aug. an. 1336. The truth of this (as Dr. Guidot informs us) is evident from a record made by a monk of Bath who lived at the same time, and not long after in a menology<144> to the 10th of April writ as follows: Obiit dominus Radulphus episcopus Bathon. & Well. isto die sabbati; qui vallavit muris & fossis palatium episcopi apud Wells, & jacet ibidem, anno dom. MCCCC. Litera Dominicali C. i.e. "On that sabbath died Ralph Bishop of Bath and Wells, who made a wall and a trench about the bishop's palace at Wells, where he lies buried, A.D. MCCCC. The Dominical letter C." This book was writ by the monk, an. 1428.

            As to the market-place which Mr. Camden takes notice of, it is commonly called the Cross; and beside that, there has been built a fair market-house of late years between the said Cross, and the gate which leads to the palace.

            West of Wells, just under Mendip Hills, lies Cheddar, famous for the excellent and prodigious great cheeses made there, some of which require more than one man's strength to set them on the table. Above this place is a gap as it were cut into the hill, which affords a narrow passage for travellers between, and has stupendous high rocks on both sides; famous in this country under the name of Cheddar Cliffs. At the foot of these rocks rise a great and clear spring, which within a quarter of a mile of the source drives 12 mills.

            From Wells let us pass to Bath, fmous for its waters; in describing of which, our author, for want of due information, seems to have fell into an error. He tells us, that from eight in the morning till three in the afternoon, they are so filthy, that no body goes in, and Selden is drawn into the mistake, delivering Mr. Camden's sense in other words. How it might be in their times, I dare not positively determine; but 'tis certainly known as well to the inhabitants as others who go there, that the bath may be entered without danger at any time; and in the hot weather when the scum arises, the guides of the bath must take some time to cleanse the water, (which they generally do at their coming in;) and many bathers are in the morning in bath till dinner-time, without any prejudice from the scum.

            the distances of the baths, and number of seats, are different from that account our author has left us. At the Cross-Bath there are 16 arches of stone for seats. Betwixt Cross-Bath and Hot-Bath are not 200 feet (as Mr. Camden,) nor full 60, but upon an exact measure 58 and a half. In the King's-Bath there are but 28 seats arcuati operis, as he calls them, i.e. arched: there are indeed other stone-benches set there on purpose to sit upon.

            as for the time of its being besieged by the Saxons, it could not be about 44 years after their coming over. That siege was laid an. 520, which is 69 years from their landing, according to Bede's account; or if we take Mr. Camden's state of the case to be right, and fix their entrance in 428, it will amount to 92 years, which is yet farther off.

            when Akmanchester took its name, cannot be precisely determined; but probably long after its surrender to Ceawlin. Dr. Guidot (who has taken great pains in searching into the antiquities of this place) is of opinion it could not be till the time of K. Alfred, an. 880, but is rather inclined to believe it 50 years after, near the year 930, in the time of Athelstan. for the founder of the monastery there in 676: there is no such person as Osbrick about that time. His name seems to have been Osrick or Osricus, not he of that name who was King of Northumberland, but Wicciorum Regulus, a petty King of the Wiccians. And as for the new church arising out of the ruins of this and Offa's church, after the Danish war; the learned doctor, upon a most accurate search into the records of the place, finds, that the church wherein Edgar was crowned, was the very building raised by Offa, which stood some years after. And after Offa's time there was no new church built till the year 1010, when Elphege, Archbishop of Canterbury, founded one. our author observes, that Oliver King built here a stately church. 'Tis probable, that in memory of him these two verses were engraven, which are to be seen still on the West end of this church.

the trees going to chiose a King,
said be to us thou Oliver King.

            William, the last Earl of this place, which our author mentions, dying 12 Jul. 1623, left this honour to Edward his only son then living, who having no issue male that survived him, the title, upon his death, came to Sir Henry Bourchier, as son to Sir George Bourchier (who was third son to John, the second of that name, Earl of Bath.) This Henry dying without issue, an. 1654, the title lay vacant till K. Ch. 2's restoration when, among other honors, it was conferred upon John Grenville, for his eminent services to that King, and his being particularly instrumental in bringing about that happy change.

            the soil for some miles about Bath, especially to the westward, as at Causton, and thereabouts, is so very stony, that when 'tis newly ploughed, one would rather take the ridges for so many pitched causeways to walk on, than for a ploughed land to sow corn in; so little of earth is to be seen among those bare stones the ploughshare turns up. Yet here they have as good wheat as any in England; though, perhaps, not altogether so much on an acre as in deeper land. The countrymen attribute these large crops mostly to the stones; and if those were carried off, the earth left upon the hard rock would be so little, that it would not cover their corn; and so light, that the wind would blow it away.

            between Bath and Bristol, a little river runs into the Avon, upon which is Stanton Drew, whereof the latter part might seem to point out some relation to the old druids, but that Drew is the name of an ancient family in the western parts; and the monument there, called the Wedding, would strengthen such a conjecture. The occasion of the name Wedding, is a tradition which passes among the common people, That a bride going to be married, she and the rest of the company were changed into these stones. They are in a circular form, 5 or 6 foot high; and the whole monument is bigger than Stonehenge, the diameter here being 90 paces; though no appearance of a ditch.

            returning to the river Avon, we come to Keynsham called so from the virgin Keina, of whose family the Keynes of this county (some whereof are still living) affirm themselves descended. But whereas Mr. Camden affirms he saw a stone like a serpent brought from hence with a head, it is a mistake; for all our naturalists now agree, that such stones are formed in Nautili shells, and that there are no heads belonging to them. Indeed, many of them have rough and broken pieces of stone issuing from them beyond the moulded wreath at the broad end; which may have led some to imagine that those pieces were imperfect heads; but really they are not so. Such kind of snake-stones of all sizes from above a foot, to an inch or two diameter, are found frequently in their quarries.

            between this place and Bristol, upon the Avon, is Brislington, abounding in the same sort of coal that are brought from Newcastle. From Brislington in several places of the adjacent country as far as Stratton and Mendip Hills, as also northward in Gloucestershire, are found veins of this coal, which afford a strong and cheap firing to all those parts. These veins of coal are covered with a shell of a black hard stony substance, called wark, which will split like blue slate, but is much more brittle, and not by much so hard. Upon dividing this wark there is often found upon one of the separated surfaces the perfect shape of a fern leaf, as if it had by a skilful hand been engraven; which as an exact mould or case, receives the protuberant figure of the like leaf standing out on the other.

            next, the Avon runs to Bristol, eminent for its gouts or subterraneous vaults; by reason of which, they draw all things on sledges, for fear the shaking of cart-wheels should loosen these arches.

            about the Conqueror's time they paid thirty-three marks, and one mark of gold to Bishop G. Who this bishop was, is not expressed in Domesday, nor any more than the bare initial either of his name or see. If we durst say that G were instead of an S (for those two letters are not unlike) Sherborne or Salisbury (under whose jurisdiction it seems to have formerly been) would solve the difficulty; but if that will not do, I find none of the bishop's names about that time beginning with G. If we preserve the reading, Glevum or Gloucester offers itself fairest; which though annexed at times to Lichfield and Worcester, seems notwithstanding to have had the title of a bishop's see.

            as for the place's being fortified by Robert Bishop of Constance, it is a mistake for Geoffrey, as appears from Bishop Godwyn in his catalogue of bishops, under the title Exon. And Osborne in his Chronicon Juridiciale, at the year 1072 tells us, that Geoffrey Bishop of Constance was the chief justiciary of England in that notable cause between Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury, and Odo Bishop of Bayeux. 'Tis possible the name of Mowbrey Earl of Northumberland, who was nephew to the bishop, and his name Robert, might lead our author into an error.

            The castle which our author tells us was built here by Robert Rufus consul of Gloucester, is now quite demolished and built into a street.

            The honour of Sherborne has been increased by giving the title of Earl to John Lord Digby of Sherborne, created 20 Jac. 1, to whom succeeded in the same honour George his son, and John his grandson.

            Mr. Camden makes the diamonds of St. Vincent's rock admirable for their six corners; but if we may trust our naturalists, they assure us that 'tis not worthy of admiration, since very often crystals, and beryls, and even sometimes your common spars, in many parts of England as well as elsewhere, are of that figure.

            The Avon passes into the Severn Sea; though before we leave it, it may not be improper to observe, that it furnishes Bristol (at the vernal equinox or then abouts) with a dish perhaps not to be met with elsewhere, which they call elvers. Some time in the spring, the river about Keynesham is yearly covered over and coloured black with millions of little eels scarce so big as a goose quill, though some would have them a particular species. These with small nets they skim up in great numbers, and by a particular way of ordering them, make them scour off their skins. Being thus stripped, and looking very white, they make them up into little cakes, which they fry, and so eat.

continuation of the dukes.

            by the attainder of Edward Duke of Somerset, that title lay vacant for a long time; only Sir Robert Carr, Knight of the Bath, was by the favour of King James 1 created Earl of Somerset; who falling under disgrace upon the account of Sir Thomas Overbury's death, and having only a daughter, that honour was at an end. Upon the restoration of King Charles 2, William Seymour, Marquess of Hertford, was for his eminent services restored to the title of Duke of Somerset, and was succeeded by William, grandchild by Henry his third son, William and Robert the two elder brothers dying unmarried. William died unmarried, and had for his successor John Lord Seymour his uncle, who died without issue. Whereupon, this title was devolved upon Sir Francis Seymour, the third son to Edward Lord Beauchamp, son and heir to Edward Earl of Hertford: whose posterity now enjoys it.

more rare plants growing wild in Somersetshire.

<131>

            aria theophrasti Ger. Alni effigie lanato folio major C.B. Sorbus alpina J.B. Sorbus sylvestris, Aria Theophrasti dicta Park. Whitebeam tree. On the rocks over against St. Vincent's rock near Bristol, and in many other places on hilly and rocky grounds among other shrubs and trees.

            asplenium sive Ceterach J.B. Ger. Park. Asplenium sive Scolopendra, Ceterach officinarum C.B. Ceterach, Spleenwort, Miltwaste. On the stone walls about Bristol, plentifully.

            carduus tomentosus anglicus Lob. Ad. Park. English Woody-Headed Thistle. Observed by Lobel in many barren fields of this county, particularly near one Mr. Saintloo's house. This plant is without doubt the same with Carduus tomentosus, corona fratrum dictus of Parkinson. Carduus capite tomentoso of J.B. Eriocephalus Ger. Emac. Capite rotundo tomentoso C.B. And so C. Bauhin and Parkinson deceived by Lobel, who in his Icons gives two figures of the same thistle, make two species of one. This is found in several other counties of England, but not very frequent.

            cistus humilis alpinus durior, polii nostratis folio candicante Plukenet. Phytograph. Tab. 22. Dwarf Cistus or Sunflower with Poley-Mountain leaves. Found by Dr. Plukenet on Brent downs in this county, near the Severn Sea.

            colchicum commune C.B. anglicum purpureum Park. Ger. Colchicum J.B. Meadow Saffron. In some meadows about Bath. It is also found in many meadows in Gloucester and Worcestershires, and elsewhere in the West of England.

            equisetum sive hippuris lacustris foliis mansu arenosis. On a bog by Smochall a wood nigh Bath. Phyt. Brit. See the synonyma in the Kentish catalogue.

            ferrum equinum germanicum siliquis in summitate C.B. Ger. Emac. Equinum comosum Park. Ornithopodio affinis, vel potius soleae aut ferro equino herba J.B. Tufted Horseshoe Vetch. On the hills about Bath, and between Bath and Marlborough. Phyt. Brit.

            hedera terrestris saxatilis lobelii Park. p. 677. saxatilis Ger. Emac. Saxat. magno flore C.B. Asarina aut hederula saxatilis Lob. Item Asarina sterilis Savenae & Narbonensis agri ejusdem. Stone Alehoof. In some places of Somersetshire, as Parkinson saith, he found it quoted among Lobel's papers which came to his hands. I do not much rely upon Lobel's memory as to the places of plants, and fear there will be no such herb found in this country; yet for the authority of so great a botanist, I would not omit it.

            lunaria minor Ger. Park. botrytis J.B. Racemosa minor vel vulgaris C.B. Moonwort. About the Bath, especially at a place called Cary, two miles from Bruton, in the next close to the churchyard. Ger. p. 406. Scarce a county in England but this plant may somewhere or other be found in it; yet because it is not common, and the knowledge of it desired by many, I thought fit to mention a particular place for it, but upon Gerard's authority, not my own knowledge.

            ornithogalum angustifolium majus, floribus ex albo virescentibus C.B. Asphodelus bulbosus Ger. Bulbosus galeni, seu Ornithog. majus flore subvirescente Park. Asphodelus bulbosus dodonaei, seu Ornithogalum spicatum flore virente J.B. Spiked Star of Bethlehem with a greenish flower. Observed by Thomas Willisel on a hill three miles on this side Bristol in the way to Bath. It may be the same place mentioned with that in Phyt. Brit. viz. in the way between Bath and Bradford, not far from Little Ashley.

            polygonum maritimum longius radicatum nostras, serpylli folio circinato crasso nitente, forte polygonum lentifolium C.B. 282. & Prod. 131. Polygonum minus monspeliense Park. 446. Found by Dr. Plukenet on the Severn shore near Weston-Super-Mare.

            polygonatum hellebori albi folio, caule purpurascente D. Bobart. Solomon's Seal with White Hellebore leaves and a purplish stalk. In the woods on the North side of Mendip Hills.

            rapunculus corniculatus montanus Ger. flore globoso purpureo J.B. folio oblongo, spica orbiculari C.B. Alopecuroides orbiculatus Park. Horned Rampions. Between Silbury Hill and Beacon Hill in the way to Bath. Phyt. Brit. Upon the credit of which book I do not at all rely: only because the place makes it probable, I have put it down.

            scorodoprassum primum clusii Ger. Emac. Allium sphaericeo capite, folio latiore, sive scorodoprassum alterum C.B. Great Round-Headed Garlic of the Holm Island. Found growing plentifully there by Mr. Newton.

            vermicularis frutex minor Ger. fruticosa altera Park. Sedum minus fruticosum C.B. Ancali species seu Vermicularis marina arborescens J.B. Shrub Stonecrop or Glasswort. Found on the Holm Islands in the Severn Sea by Lobel plentifully.

            vicia sylvatica multiflora maxima P.B. perennis multiflora spicata major Moris. Hist. Great-Tufted Wood-Vetch. In a wood nigh Bath. Phyt. Brit. This is also found in many places in the North and West parts of England.

            virga aurea maxima radice repente D. Bobert. aurea serrata latifolia C.B. aurea serratis soliis Park. aurea arnoldi villa-novani Ger. Emac. aurea sive solidago saracenica latifolia serrata J.B. Broad-Leaved Indented Golden-Rod. Found plentifully by the side of a small river between Wells and Glastonbury, by Mr. Bobert.

Prev Next