More baie, Morstone aliàs Mortstone, and then toward the northeast, till
we come by a créekelet to Ilfare combe, & so to Combe Marton, whereat (I
meane ech of them) are sundrie créekes of salt water, but not serued
with anie fresh that I as yet doo heare of. Marrie there is betwéene
Martinbow & Trensow, a créeke that hath a backewater, which descendeth
[Sidenote: Paradine.]
from Parracombe (so farre as I call to mind named Parradine becke) but
[Sidenote: Orus.]
the greatest of all is betweene Linton and Connisberie called Ore, which
riseth in Summersetshire in Exmore (east of Hore oke, more than a mile)
and going by Owre, falleth into the sea betwéene Linton and Conisberie,
so that the whole race thereof amounteth in and out to an eight miles,
as I haue heard reported. Thus haue I finished the discourse of the
[Sidenote: The bredth of Deuonshire & Cornewall.]
waters of Deuonshire, whose breadth in this place from hence ouerthwart
to the Checkstones in the mouth of Ex, on the south side of the Ile, is
eight and thirtie miles or vnder fortie, and so much likewise is it from
Plimmouth to Hartland point, but the broadest part there commeth to six
and thirtie miles, whereas the broadest part of Cornewall doth want two
miles of fortie.
Being past the aforesaid limits of the counties we came to Portlochbaie,
[Sidenote: Loch.]
whither commeth a water named Loch that descendeth from Stokepero,
[Sidenote: Durus.]
Lucham and Portloch without increase. Thence to Dunsteir brooke, which
runneth from about Wootton, and Courtneie by Tunbercombe and Dunsteir,
then to another that commeth west of Old Cliffe, leauing a parke on the
[Sidenote: Vacetus.]
west side, next of all to Watchet water, whereof one head commeth from
the Quantocke hils south of Bickualer by Westquantocke head, and almost
[Sidenote: Williton.]
at Doniford, receiueth the Williton becke, then to east Quantocke brooke
[Sidenote: Doddington.]
(omitting a créeket) & next of all to Doddington water, that goeth by
Holford, Alfoxton, and afterward into the sea. From hence we go by
Bottesall point, to Stert point, where two noble riuers doo make their
confluence, which I will seuerallie describe, as to my purpose
apperteineth.
[Sidenote: Iuelus.]
The first of these is called the Iuell, or (as I find it in an ancient
writer) Yoo, who saith that the riuer Yoo dooth runne from Ilchester to
Bridgewater, and so into the sea. It riseth aboue Oburne, and at
Shirburne receiueth a water, whereof Leland saith thus. There are seuen
[Sidenote: The seuen sisters.]
springs in an hill called the seuen sisters, north east from Shireburne,
which gather into one bottome, & come into the Mere. Another brooke
likewise commeth by Heidon from Puscandell, three miles from thence by
flat east, betwixt the parke and the Mere full so great as the streame
of the Mere, and ioining at the lower mill of Shireburne, with the Mere
water, it is not long yer it fall into the Euill. Thence our Euill goeth
on towards Glasen Bradford, and yer it come there taketh in a forked
rill from by south, descending from about west Chelburie and Chetnall in
Dorsetshire, beneath which towne the other head falleth into the same,
so that they run foorth by Bearhaggard and Thorneford (till they méet
with the Iuell) and so to Clifton, Euill a proper market towne, Trent,
[Sidenote: Cade.]
Mutford, Ashinton, and east of Limminton it méeteth with the Cade that
runneth from Yarlington, by north Cadbirie, and soone after crossing a
rill also from by east, that commeth from Blackeford by Compton, it
hasteth to south Cadbirie, Sparkeford, Queenes Camell, west Camell, and
so into Iuell, which runneth on to Kimmington, Ilchester, Ilbridge, long
Sutton, and yer it come at Langport, taketh in two famous waters in one
chanell, next of all to be remembred before I go anie further. The first
of all these riseth southeast betwéene the Parrets (where it is called
[Sidenote: Parret.]
Parret water) and goeth to Crokehorne, and at Meriot taketh in a brooke
from the east, which consisteth of two courses vnited at Bowbridge,
whereof the one descendeth from Pen by Hasilburie, the other from aboue
the thrée Chenocks, as I doo vnderstand.
From hence also they go as one with the Parret water, toward south
Pederton (taking in at east a becke comming from Hamden hill) thence to
Pederton, Lambrooke, Thorneie bridge, and Muchelneie where it méeteth
[Sidenote: Ill.]
with the second called Ill or Ilus, whose head is aboue Chellington, &
comming downe from thence by Cadworth, before it come at Dunniet, it
taketh in a rill that runneth by Chascombe and Knoll. Thence leauing
Ilmister on the east side, it meeteth with another from by east,
descending from about Whitlakington. Then it goeth to Pokington (where it
[Sidenote: Ilton.]
crosseth the Ilton water by west) next to Ilbruers, and there it ioineth
with a rillet that riseth by west at Staple, and runneth by Bicknell and
Abbats Ilie, and after this confluence goeth on toward Langport. And
here after some mens opinion, the Iuell looseth his name, and is called
Parret: but this coniecture cannot hold, sith in the old writers it is
called Iuell, till it fall into the sea. Neuerthelesse, how soeuer this
matter standeth, being past Langport, it goeth by Awber toward saint
Anthonies, where it méeteth with the Tone next of all to be described.
[Sidenote: Tone.]
The Tone issueth at Clatworthie, and goeth by west of Wiuelscombe, to
Stawleie, Ritford, Runton, Wellington and Bradford, beneath which it
taketh in a faire water c[=o]ming from Sanford Combe, Elworthie, Brunt
Rafe, Miluerton, Oke and Hilfarens. After this confluence also it
runneth to Helebridge, and there below méeteth with one water that
runneth by Hawse, Hethford, and Norton, then another from Crokeham by
bishops Slediard, and the third & fourth at Taunton, that descendeth
from Kingston by north, and another by south that riseth about
Pidmister. And thus is the Tone increased, which goeth from Taunton to
Riston, Crech, Northcurrie, Ling, and so by Anthonie into the Iuell,
[Sidenote: Chare or Care.]
that after this confluence méeteth yer long with the Chare, a pretie
riuer that commeth by east from Northborow, by Carleton, Badcare,
Litecare, Somerton, Higham, Audrie moore, Audrie, and Michelsborow. From
whence going on betweene Quéenes moore and North moore, it receiueth one
[Sidenote: Peder.]
brooke called Peder from by southwest, that runneth through Pederton
parke and North moore; and likewise another that passeth by Durleie, yer
it doo come at Bridgewater. From Bridgewater it goeth by Chilton
directlie northwest, and then turning flat west, it goeth northward
towards the sea, taking in two waters by the waie, whereof one runneth
[Sidenote: Camington.]
by Coripole & Camington, and beareth the name of Camington, the other by
[Sidenote: Brier.]
Siddington and Comage, and then receiuing the Brier before it come at
Start point, they fall as one into the Ocean, whereof let this suffice
for the description of the Iuell, whose streame dooth water all the west
part of Summersetshire and leaueth it verie fruitfull.
[Sidenote: Brier.]
The Brier, Bruer, or Bréer, riseth of two waters, wherof one is in
Selwood forest, & commeth downe by Bruecombe, Bruham, and Bruton. The
[Sidenote: _Leland_ writeth the first Brieuelus and the second
Mellodunus or the Milton water.]
other which Leland nameth Mellos, is northest of Staffordell towne, and
going by the same, it runneth by Redlinch, to Wike; where it méeteth
with the other head, and thence go on as one to Awnsford, Alford (where
[Sidenote: Dulis.]
it taketh in a water called Dulis from by north that riseth néere
Dolting, and commeth by Euerchurch parke) then to the Lidfords, Basborow
wood, the Torhill, Pont perilous (whereinto they fable that Arthur being
wounded to death did throw Calibur his sword) by Glastenburie and so into
the Méere. Beside this riuer there are two other also that fall into the
[Sidenote: Sowaie or Stowaie.]
said Méere, whereof the one called Sowaie commeth from Créechurch parke,
[Sidenote: Cos.]
and Pulton by Hartlacke bridge, the other named Cos or the Coscombe
water, from aboue Shepton, Mallet (which east of Wike taketh in a water
comming from Welles) by Wike, Gedneie, and so into the Méere. Finallie,
returning all into one chanell, it runneth to Burtlehouse, and soone
after diuiding it selfe, one arme goeth by Bastian aliàs Brent bridge,
to High bridge, leauing Huntspill a market towne by southwest, the other
by Marke to Rokes bridge, Hebbes passage, and so into the sea, leauing a
faire Iland, wherin beside Brentmarsh are seuen or eight townes, of
whose names I haue no knowledge.
Now as touching the water that commeth from Welles, which falleth (as I
said) into the Coscombe water on the right hand of the Cawseie; you shall
vnderstand that as manie springs are in Wels, so the chiefe of them is
named Andres well, which riseth in a medow plat not farre from the east
end of the cathedrall church, and afterward goeth into the Coscombe, in
[Sidenote: Milton.]
[Sidenote: Golafer.]
such place as I haue noted. Leland speaketh of the Milton & Golafer
waters, which should fall likewise into the Brier: but whether those be
they whereof the one riseth aboue Staffordell, and in the descent
runneth by Shipton, Pitcombe, and so to Awnsford on the one side, as the
other dooth rise betwéene Batcombe and Vpton noble on the other halfe;
or vnto whether of them either of these names are seuerallie to be
attributed: as yet I doo not read.
[Sidenote: Axe. 2.]
The second Axe which commeth by Axe towne in old time called Vexa,
issueth out of Owkie hole, from whence it goeth by Owkie towne, afterward
[Sidenote: The Chederbrooke, driueth twelue miles within a quarter of
a mile of his head.]
meeting with the Chederbrooke that commeth from the Cheder rocks,
wherein is an hole in old time called Carcer Æoli, wherof much hath
béene written & surmised past credit. It runneth by Were, Ratcliffe, and
after a little compasse into the northeast branch of the aforesaid riuer
last described, betweene Rokes bridge and Hebbes passage, as I haue
beene informed. From the fall of Axe we come to an other called Bane,
[Sidenote: Bane.]
northeast of Woodspring, whose head is about Banwell parke, or else in
[Sidenote: Artro.]
Smaldon wood. Then to an other, and to the third, called Artro, which
riseth about Litton, and going by the Artroes, Vbbeie, Perribridge
(receiuing a rill yer it come thither from by south) beneath
Cungesbirie, or (as I learne) betwéene Kingston and Laurence Wike, it
méeteth with the sea.
[Sidenote: Sottespill.]
Sottespill water riseth betwéene Cheueleie and Naileseie, howbeit it
hath no increase before it come into the sea at Sottespill, more than
[Sidenote: Cleueden.]
the next vnto it, which is named Cleueden water, of a certeine towne
neere to the fall thereof. It riseth southeast of Barrow, goeth by
[Sidenote: Auon. 3.]
Burton Naileseie, and so vnto Cleuedon. The Auon, commonlie called the
third Auon, is a goodlie water, and growne to be verie famous by sundrie
occasions, to be particularlie touched in our description of Bristow.
Yet thus much will I note héere thereof as a rare accident, how that in
king Edgars daies, the verie same yeare that the old monasterie of
Euesham fell downe by itselfe, a porpasse was taken therein neere to the
said monasterie, and neuer anie before or since that time heard of to
haue béene found in that streame. And euen so not manie yeares before I
[Sidenote: Sturgion taken in Rochester water.]
first wrote this treatise, a sturgion was taken aliue in Rochester
streame, which the bishop gaue vnto your honor, and you would as gladlie
haue sent it to the quéenes maiestie, if she might haue béene presented
withall aliue as it was taken. Certes both these rare occurrents gaue no
lesse occasion of strange surmises to the inhabitants of both places,
than the blockes of Brerton, when they appeare, doo vnto that familie;
of which the report goeth that they are neuer séene but against some
mischéefe or other to befall vnto that house. But how farre am I gone
from my purpose?
The Auon therefore riseth in the verie edge of Tetburie, and goeth by
long Newton to Brokenton, Whitchurch, and Malmsburie, where it receiueth
two waters, that is to saie, one from by west comming by Foreleie and
Bromleham, which runneth so néere to the Auon in the west suburbe of
Malmsburie, that the towne thereby is almost made an Iland. Another from
Okeseie parke by Hankerton, Charleton, and Garesden. After this
confluence it hasteth to Cole parke, then goeth it toward the southeast,
till it méet with a water comming from southwest (betwéene Hullauington
and Bradfield) by Aston: and soone after with another at the northside
from Binall by Wootton Basset (through the parke to Gretenham, and
Idouer bridges) and after the confluence to Dauntseie, Segar, Sutton,
Christmalford, Auon, Calwaies house, and then to west Tetherton. Beneath
this towne also it taketh in a water increased by two brookes, whereof
one comming from Cleue by Hilmarton, Whitleie house and Bramble (and
there receiuing another that commeth by Calne) passeth on by Stanlie
into the Auon, which from thencefoorth goeth to Chippenham, Rowdon,
[Sidenote: Cosham.]
Lekham, and then receiuing Cosham water, goeth to Lacocke, Melsham, and
yer it come at Whaddon, crosseth two other in one chanell, whereof one
riseth about Brumham house, and goeth to Sene, the other about the
Diuizes, and from thence runneth to Potterne wood, Creeke wood, Worton,
Maston, Bucklington, and ioining with the other aboue Litleton, they run
by Semmington, and north of Whaddon aforesaid into the maine streame,
whereof I now intreat. From hence our Auon runneth to Stauerton, and
[Sidenote: Were.]
southwest of that towne méeteth with the Were that commeth from Vpton by
[Sidenote: Westbirie vnder the plaine,
neuer without a théefe or twaine.]
Dilton, Brooke parke (there crossing a rill called Bisse from Westbirie
vnder the plaine) then to north Bradleie, Trubridge, and so into Auon
that goeth from thence to Bradford, & within a mile or thereabouts,
before it come at Freshford, it méeteth with the Frome, whose
description dooth insue.
[Sidenote: Frome.]
The Frome riseth in the east part of Mendip hils, and from thence
runneth by Astwijc, the Cole pits, Lie vnder Mendip, Whateleie,
[Sidenote: Nonneie.]
Elmesbridge, and soone after taketh in the Nonneie water, comming from
Nonneie castell, thence to Walles and Orcharleie bridge, where it
receiueth a pretie brooke descending from Frome Selwood west of
Brackleie, increased with sundrie rils, whereof two come out of Selwood
forrest (and one of them from the Fratrie) another out of Long lead
parke, from Horningsham, and the fourth from Cosleie. Hence our Frome
goeth to Lullington, Beckington, Farleie castell, Bord and Fresh foord,
[Sidenote: Silling.]
and taking in the Silling brooke, falleth into the Auon beneath
Bradford, and east of Freshford. From thence going beneath Stoke, it
receiueth on the left hand a water comming from southwest, increased by
sundrie brookes, whereof one commeth from Camelet by Litleton, and
Dankerton, the other from Stone Eston, Midsummer Norton, by Welston,
Rodstocke, Wrigleton, Foscot, and Wellow, and there (taking in a rill
from Phillips Norton) it goeth by Clauerton to Hampton, and there it
méeteth with another water comming from Barthford, whose head is at
Litleton from whence it runneth by west Kineton to Castell combe (where
it ioineth with a rill rising by north from Litleton drue) and thence
commeth south to Slaughtenford, Haselburie, Box, Baithford, and so into
the Auon, which turning plaine west, hasteth to Baithwijc, and (meeting
with another in his passage from Caldaston) to Bath, the Tiuertons, and
Coston.
Héere also it taketh in a rill by the waie from Markesburie by Wilmerton
and Newton, and then going on to Sawford, it méeteth with one rill soone
[Sidenote: Swinford.]
west of Northstocke, named Swinford, and another by Bitton, from Durhain
by Wike, and so procéedeth still holding on his way to Caimsham, a towne
[Sidenote: Swinford parteth Summerset & Glocestershires in sunder.]
in Summerset shire (so called of Caim an English saint, by whose
praiers, as the countrie once beléeued, all the adders, snakes and
serpents were turned into stone, their formes reserued, and for a
certeine space of ground about the said towne, and whereof some store as
yet is to be found in those quaries. But this miracle is so true as the
historie of Hilda, or that S. Patrike should chase all venemous
creatures out of Italie, with his staffe; or that maid Radegund should
driue the crowes to the pound, which did annoie hir corne while she went
vnto a chappell to heare & sée a masse) where it crosseth the Chute,
which issueth at Winford, and goeth by bishops Chue to Penford, and
there receiueth the Clue comming from Cluton, and from thence to Chute,
& so into the Auon. The Auon likewise after all these confluences goeth
to Briselton, and so to Bristow, beneath which it receiueth a rill on
each side (wherof one commeth from about Stoke lodge in Glocestershire,
being a faire water and running by Acton, Frampton, Hambroch, Stapleton,
and through Bristow, the other by south from Dundreie hill and towne, by
Bisport and Bedminster) and so descending yet lower, goeth to Rawneham
passage and Clifton, then by S. Vincents rocke and Laie, next of all to
Crocampill, and finallie into the sea, whither all waters by nature doo
resort.
[Sidenote: Alderleie.]
Beside this water, Leland maketh mention of Alderleie brooke, which in
some ancient records is also called Auon, and runneth by Barkeleie. In
[Sidenote: Douresleie.]
like maner he talketh of Douresleie becke, whose principall head is in
Douresleie towne: howbeit he saith no thing of it more, than that it
[Sidenote: Torworth.]
serueth sundrie tucking lucking milles, and goeth by Tortworth or foure
miles further, before it come at the Sauerne. Finallie, making mention
of an excellent quarrie of hard stone about Douresleie, he telleth of
the Tortworth becke, that runneth within a flight shot of Barkeleie
towne, and falleth on the left hand into Sauerne marches, taking with
all the Alderleie or Auon, except I mistake his meaning, which may soone
be doone among his confused notes.
THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SAUERNE, & SUCH WATERS AS DISCHARGE THEMSELUES
INTO THE SAME.
CHAP. XIII.
[Sidenote: Sauerne.]
The Sauerne which Ptolomie calleth Sabriana, Tacitus Sabrina, diuideth
England or that part of the Iland, which sometime was called Lhoegres
from Cambria, so called of Camber, the second sonne of Brute, as our
histories doo report. But now that region hight Wales, of the Germane
word Walsh, whereby that nation dooth vse to call all strangers without
respect of countrie. This riuer tooke the name of a certeine ladie,
called Habren or Hafren, base daughter to Locrinus begotten vpon
Estrildis daughter to Humber otherwise called Cumbrus or Vmar, and for
which some write Chonibrus king of Scithia, that sometime inuaded this
Island, and was ouerthrowne here in the daies of this Locrinus, as shall
be shewed at hand: although I suppose rather that this ladie was called
Ine, and that the word Sabrina is compounded of Aber and Ine, and the
letter S added "Propter euphoniam:" for the mouth or fall of euerie
riuer in the British spéech is called Aber, whereby Aber Ine is so much
to saie as, the fall of Ine. But let vs returne againe to our discourse
of Humber or Vmar, which is worthie to be remembred.
For after the death of Locrinus, it came to passe that Guendolena his
wife ruled the kingdome in the nonage of hir sonne: and then getting the
said Estrildis and Habren hir daughter into hir hands, she drowned them
both in this riuer. And in perpetuall remembrance of hir husbands
disloialtie towards hir, she caused the streame to be called Habren of
the yoong ladie, for which the Romans in processe of time for readinesse
and mildnesse of pronunciation, wrote Sabrina, and we at this time doo
pronounce the Sauerne. Of the drowning of the said Abren also I find
these verses insuing:
In fluuium præcipitatur Abren,
Nomen Abren, fluuio de virgine, nomen eidem
Nomine corrupto deinde Sabrina datur.
But to returne to our Sauerne. It falleth into the maine sea betweene
Wales and Cornewall, which is and shall be called the Sauerne sea, so
long as the riuer dooth keepe hir name. But as the said streame in
length of course, bountie of water, and depth of chanell commeth farre
behind the Thames: so for other commodities, as trade of merchandize,
plentie of cariage, & store of all kind of fish, as salmon, trouts,
breames, pikerell, tench, perch, &c: it is nothing at all inferiour or
second to the same. Finallie, there is nothing to be discommended in
this riuer, but the opennesse thereof in manie places to the weather,
whereby sundrie perils oft ouertake such as fish or saile in small
vessels on the same.