into Flintshire, and whose first water is not great, yet it commeth from
southwest, and falleth into the north or Irish sea called Virginium,
beneath Landilas; as the next that commeth south from Bettas dooth the
[Sidenote: Gele.]
like thrée miles beneath Abergele, and is not onelie called Gele (as the
name it selfe importeth) but also noted to take his course through the
Canges. Hauing thus gone ouer the angle of Denbighshire, that lieth
betwéene those of Carnaruon and Flint, we come next of all vnto Aber
Cluide, or the fall of Clotha or Glota, which is a streame not to be
shortlie intreated of. It riseth among certeine hilles, which lie not
far distant from the confines of Merioneth and Denbighshires. Southeast
from his fall, and hauing run foure or fiue miles from the head, it
[Sidenote: Maniton.]
commeth about to Darwen, taking in the Maniton on the left hand, and the
Mespin on the right: and soone after the third from bywest, whose head
is not farre from Gloucanocke. Beneath Ruthen also it taketh in the
Leueneie: and after that another, and the third, all on the right hand,
[Sidenote: Cluedoch.]
and so holdeth on till it méet with the Cluedoch, then with the Ystrade,
which passeth by Whitchurch on the left hand. After which we come to the
Whéeler on the right, and so to his ioining with the Elwie, which is
[Sidenote: Elwie.]
beneath S. Asaphes, a bishops sée that is inuironed with them both. This
Elwie riseth aboue Gwitherne, & beneath Lanuair taketh in the Alode,
which commeth from lin Alode, by Lansannan, and ioineth with him fiue
miles beneath Langrenew. The Cluda therefore and the Elwie being met,
the confluence passeth on to the sea by Rutland castell, where it taketh
in the Sarne, which commeth from by east, and hath a course almost of
sixteene miles. From hence we tooke sea toward the Dée mouth: and as we
passed by the rest of the shore, we saw the fall of a little brooke
néere Basing Werke, of another néere to Flint, of the third at Yowleie
castell, which with his two armes in maner includeth it; and the fourth
beneath Hawarden hold, which in like sort goeth round about the same, &
from whence we came to the Dée, where we landed and tooke vp our lodging
in Chester. In this place also it was no hard matter to deliuer & set
downe the names of such riuers and streames as are also to be found in
Angleseie, finding my selfe to haue some leasure and fit opportunitie
for the same: and imagining a iourneie thither also, as vnto the other
places mentioned in this description, whither as yet it hath not béene
my hap to trauell: I thought it not amisse to take it also in hand, and
performe it after this maner.
Ferrieng therefore ouer out of Carnaruonshire to Beaumarise, I went by
land without crossing of anie riuer or streame worthie memorie, till I
came to the Brant, which hath his fall not farre from the southest point
of that Iland. This Brant riseth farre vp in the land, not farre from
Lauredenell, and holding on his course southward to Lanthoniell Vaall,
it goeth on to Bodoweruch, Langainwen, and so into the sea.
The next fall we came vnto was called Maltrath, and it is producted by
the confluence of two riuers, the Geuennie and the Gint, who ioine not
farre from Langrestoll. This also last rehearsed hath his head neere to
Penmoneth, the other being forked riseth in the hillie soile aboue
Tregaion and Langwithlog: so that part of the Iland obteineth no small
commoditie and benefit by their passage. Next vnto this we came vnto the
[Sidenote: Fraw.]
Fraw, whose head is neere to Langinewen, and passage by Cap Maer; after
which it falleth into a lake, from whence it goeth east of Aberfraw, and
so into the sea. The next riuer hath no name to my knowledge: yet hath
it a longer course than that which I last described. For it riseth two
or thrée miles aboue Haneglosse: and passing from thence to
Treualghmaie, after the descent of foure miles, it falleth into the sea.
After this we came to an other, which riseth more to Cap legan ferwie,
and falleth into the sea; southeast of the little Iland, which is called
Ynis Wealt, it is namelesse also as the other was: and therefore hauing
small delight to write thereof, we passed ouer the salt créeke by a
bridge into Cair Kibie, which by the same, is as it were cut from the
maine Iland, and in some respect not vnworthie to be taken for an Ile.
In the north side therefore of Cair Kibie is a little rill or créeke:
but whether the water thereof be fresh or salt, as yet I doo not
remember.
This place being viewed, I came backe againe by the aforesaid bridge,
into the maine of Angleseie, and going northwards I find a fall inforced
by thrée riuerets, each one hauing his course almost south from other;
and the last falling into the confluence of the two first, not halfe a
mile from the west, where I first espied the streame: the name of the
[Sidenote: Linon.]
[Sidenote: Allo.]
most northerlie is Linon, of the second Allo; but the third is
altogither namelesse for aught that I can learne, wherefore it shall not
be necessarie to spend anie time in the further searching of his course.
Being past this, we went northwards till we came to the point, and then
going eastward, we butted vpon the fall of a certeine confluence growing
by the ioining of the Nathanon and the Geger, which méet beneath and
néere to the Langechell. And after the same we passed on somewhat
declining southward by the Hillarie point, toward the southeast, till we
came to the Dulesse: and from thence to Pentraeth water: after which we
turned northward, then eastward; and finallie southward, till we came to
Langurdin; from whence vnto Beaumarise (where began our voiage) we find
not anie water worthie to be remembred. And thence I go forward with the
description of the Dee.
[Sidenote: Dée or Deua.]
The Dee or Deua (as Ptolomie calleth it) is a noble riuer, & breeder of
the best trout, whose head is in Merioneth shire, about thrée miles
aboue the lake, situate in the countie of Penthlin, and called Lin
Tegnis, whose streame yet verie small, by reason of the shortnesse of
his course, falleth into the said lake, not far from Lanullin. There are
sundrie other waters which come also into the said lake, which is foure
or five miles in length, and about two miles ouer; as one from by south,
whose fall is east, and not manie furlongs from the Dee: another hath
his issue into the same by Langower: the third on the north side of
Lanullin, named Leie: the fourth at Glanlintegid called Jauerne, the
lake it selfe ending about Bala, and from thence running into the
[Sidenote: Trowerin.]
Trowerin, a pretie streame, and not a little augmented by the Kelme and
Monach which fall by north into the same, and ioineth with the Dée south
of Lanuair; from whence forth it looseth the name, and is afterward
[Sidenote: Ruddoch.]
called Dée. East of Bala in like sort it receiueth the Ruddoch, then the
[Sidenote: Cleton.]
Cleton, and so passing on by Landright to Langar, it méeteth with a
confluence procéeding from the Alwen and the Giron, of which this riseth
in the hils aboue Langham, the other in the mounteines about fiue or six
miles by northwest of Lanihangle in Denbighshire, where (as I gesse) it
falleth into the ground; and afterward rising againe betwéene Lanihangle
and Bettus, it holdeth on about two miles, and then ioineth with the
Giron, full six miles aboue Dole, and before it come to the Dee. From
hence the Dee goeth by Lansanfraid, and the marches of Merioneth into
Denbighshire, and so to Langellon, Dinas, Bren, &c: kéeping his course
[Sidenote: Gristioneth.]
by certeine windlesses, till he receiue the Gristioneth, descending by
Ruabon, then another est of the same; the third from by west called
[Sidenote: Keriog.]
Keriog (whose head is not farre from the bounds of Merioneth and course
by Lanarmon, Lansanfraid, and Chirke) the fourth from south east out of
Shropshire, called Morlais, and so passeth as bounds betwéene
Denbighshire, and the Outliggand of Flintshire, to wit by Bistocke on
the one side and Bangor on the other, till it come to Worthenburie:
whereabout it receiueth a chanell descending from foure influences, of
which one commeth by Penlie chappell, the second from Hamnere, which
goeth downe by Emberhall, and falleth in a little by east of the other;
the third from Blackmere (by Whitchurch) &c: and the fourth from
betwéene Chad and Worsall. These two later méeting aboue nether
Durtwich, doo hold on to Talerne, as mine information instructeth me.
From Wrothenburie the Dee goeth northwestwards toward Shocklige, méeting
[Sidenote: Cluedoch.]
by the waie with the confluence of the Cluedoch (or Dedoch originall
mother to those trouts for which the Dée is commended) and descendeth
[Sidenote: Gwinrogh.]
from Capell Moinglath) and the Gwinrogh, that runneth through Wrexham,
both ioining a mile and more beneath Wrexham, not far from Hantwerne.
Soone after also our maine riuer receiueth another becke from by east,
which is bound on the northwest side to the Outliggand of Flintshire,
and so passeth on betwéene Holt castell and Ferneton, Almere and Pulton,
as march betwéene Denbighshire and Cheshire, and then taketh in the
[Sidenote: Alannus.]
Alannus or Alen; a pretie riuer and worthie to be described. The head of
this Alen therefore is in Denbighshire, and so disposed that it riseth
in two seuerall places, ech being two miles from other, the one called
Alen Mawr, the other Alen Vehan, as I doo find reported. They méet also
beneath Landegleie, and run northwards till they come beyond Lanuerres,
where meeting with a rill comming from by west, it runneth on to the
Mold to Horsheth, and so in and out to Greseford, taking the Cagidog
from southwest with it by the waie; then to Traue Alen, and so into the
Dée, a mile and more aboue the fall of Powton becke, which also
descendeth from southwest out of Flintshire, and is march vnto the same,
euen from the verie head. After which confluence the Dée hauing
Chestershire on both sides, goeth to Aldford with a swift course, where
it méeteth with the Beston brooke, whereof I doo find this description
following.
[Sidenote: Beston.]
"The Beston water riseth in the wooddie soile betwéene Spruston and
Beston castell with a forked head, and leauing Beston towne on the
northeast, it goeth to Tarneton, and to Hakesleie, where it diuideth it
selfe in such wise, that one branch thereof runneth by Totnall,
Goldburne, and Léehall, to Alford, and so into the Dée, the other by
Stapleford, Terwine, Barrow, Picton, and Therton, where it brancheth
againe, sending foorth one arme by Stanneie poole, and the parke side
into Merseie arme, toward the northwest, and another by southwest, which
commeth as it were backe againe, by Stoke, Croughton, Backeford,
Charleton, Vpton, the Baites, and so vnder a bridge to Chester ward,
where it falleth into the Dée arme at Flockes brooke, excluding Wirall
on the northwest as an Iland, which lieth out like a leg betwéene the
Merseie and the Dée armes, and including and making another fresh Iland
within the same, whose limits by northwest are betwéene Thorneton,
Chester, & Aldford, on the northeast Thorneton and Hakesleie, and on the
southeast Hakesleie and Aldford, whereby the forme thereof dooth in part
resemble a triangle." And thus much of the Dée, which is a troublesome
streame when the wind is at southwest, and verie dangerous, in so much
that few dare passe thereon. Sometimes also in haruest time it sendeth
downe such store of water, when the wind bloweth in the same quarter,
that it drowneth all their grasse and corne that groweth in the lower
grounds néere vnto the bankes thereof. Certes it is about thrée hundred
foot, at his departure from the Tignie, and worthilie called a litigious
streame; because that by often alteration of chanell, it inforceth men
to séeke new bounds vnto their lands, for here it laieth new ground, and
there translateth and taketh awaie the old, so that there is nothing
more vnconstant than the course of the said water. Of the monasterie
Bangor also, by which it passeth after it hath left Orton bridge, I find
this note, which I will not omit, because of the slaughter of monks made
sometime néere vnto the same. For although the place require it not, yet
I am not willing altogither to omit it.
[Sidenote: The situation of the monasterie of Bangor.]
This abbeie of Bangor stood sometime in English Mailor, by hither and
south of the riuer Dée. It is now ploughed ground where that house
stood, by the space of a Welsh mile (which reacheth vnto a mile and an
halfe English) and to this day the tillers of the soile there doo plow
vp bones (as they saie) of those monks that were slaine in the quarrell
of Augustine, and within the memorie of man some of them were taken vp
in their rotten weeds, which were much like vnto those of our late
blacke monks, as Leland set it downe: yet Erasmus is of the opinion,
that the apparell of the Benedictine monks was such as most men did
weare generallie at their first institution. But to proceed. This abbeie
stood in a valleie, and in those times the riuer ran hard by it. The
compasse thereof likewise was as the circuit of a walled towne, and to
this daie two of the gates may easilie be discerned, of which the one is
named Port Hogan lieng by north, the other Port Clais situat vpon the
south. But the Dée hauing now changed his chanell, runneth through the
verie middest of the house betwixt those two gates, the one being at the
left a full halfe mile from the other. As for the squared stone that is
found hereabout, and the Romane coine, there is no such necessitie of
the rehersall therof, but that I may passe it ouer well inough without
anie further mention.
Being past the Dée we sailed about Wirall, passing by Hibrie or Hilbrée
Iland, and Leuerpole, Nasse, making our entrie into Merseie arme by
Leuerpole hauen, where we find a water falling out betwéene Seacombe and
the Ferie, which dooth in maner cut off the point from the maine of
Wirall. For rising néere to the northwest shore, it holdeth a course
directlie toward the southeast by Wallaseie and Poton, and so leaueth
all the north part beyond that water a peninsula, the same being three
square, inuironed on two sides with the Ocean, & on the third with the
aforesaid brooke, whose course is well néere three miles except I be
deceiued. Fr[=o] hence entring further into the hauen, we find another
fall betwéene Bebington and Brombro chappell, descending from the
hilles, which are seene to lie not farre from the shore, and thence
crossing the fall of the Beston water, we come next of all vnto the
[Sidenote: Wiuer.]
Wiuer, than the which I read of no riuer in England that fetcheth more
or halfe so many windlesses and crinklings, before it come at the sea.
It riseth at Buckle hilles, which lie betwéene Ridleie and Buckle
townes, and soone after making a lake of a mile & more in length called
Ridleie poole, it runneth by Ridleie to Chalmondlie.
Thence it goeth to Wrenburie, where it taketh in a water out of a moore
[Sidenote: Combrus.]
that commeth from Marburie: and beneth Sandford bridge the Combrus from
Combermer or Comber lake: and finallie the third that commeth from about
Moneton, and runneth by Langerslaw, then betweene Shenton and Atherlie
parkes, and so into the Wiuer, which watereth all the west part of
England, and is no lesse notable than the fift Auon or third Ouze,
whereof I haue spoken alreadie. After these confluences it hasteth also
[Sidenote: Betleie.]
to Audlem, Hawklow, and at Barderton crosseth the Betleie water, that
runneth by Duddington, Widdenberie, and so by Barderton into the
aforesaid streame. Thence it goeth to Nantwich, but yer it come at
[Sidenote: Salop.]
Marchford bridge, it meeteth with a rill called Salopbrooke (as I gesse)
comming from Caluerleie ward, and likewise beneath the said bridge, with
[Sidenote: Lée and Wuluarne.]
the Lée and the Wuluarne both in one chanell, wherof the first riseth at
Weston, the ether goeth by Copnall. From hence the Wiuer runneth on to
Minchion and Cardeswijc, and the next water that falleth into it is the
[Sidenote: Ashe.]
Ashe (which passeth by Darnall Grange) and afterward going to Warke, the
vale Roiall, and Eaton, it commeth finallie to Northwich where it
[Sidenote: Dane.]
receiueth the Dane, to be described as followeth. The Dane riseth in the
verie edges of Chester, Darbishire, & Staffordshire, and comming by
Warneford, Swithamleie and Bosleie, is a limit betwéene Stafford and
Darbie shires, almost euen from the verie head, which is in Maxwell
forrest.
[Sidenote: Bidle.]
It is not long also yer it doo méet with the Bidle water, that commeth
by Congerton, and after the confluence goeth vnto Swetham, the
Heremitage, Cotton and Croxton, there taking in two great waters,
[Sidenote: Whelocke.]
whereof the one is called Whelocke, which comming from the edge of the
countie by Morton to Sandbach, crosseth another that descended from
church Cawlhton, and after the confluence goeth to Warmingham, ioining
also beneath Midlewish with the Croco or Croxston, the second great
water, whose head commeth out of a lake aboue Bruerton (as I heare) and
[Sidenote: Croco.]
thence both the Whelocke and the Croco go as one vnto the Dane, at
Croxton, as the Dane dooth from thence to Bostocke, Dauenham, Shebruch,
Shurlach, and at Northwich into the foresaid Wiuer. After this
confluence the Wiuer runneth on to Barneton, and there in like sort
receiueth two brookes in one chanell, whereof one commeth from aboue
Allostocke, by Holme & Lastocke, the other from beyond Birtles mill, by
[Sidenote: Piuereie.]
Chelford (where it taketh in a rill called Piuereie) thence to ouer
[Sidenote: Waterlesse.]
Peuer, Holford, and there crossing the Waterlesse brooke (growing of two
becks and ioining at nether Tableie) it goeth foorth to Winshambridge,
and then méeting with the other, after this confluence they procéed till
they come almost at Barneton, where the said chanell ioineth with a
pretie water running thorough two lakes, whereof the greatest lieth
betwéene Comberbach, Rudworth and Marburie. But to go forward with the
course of the maine riuer. After these confluences our Wiuer goeth to
Warham, Actonbridge, and Dutton, ouer against which towne, on the other
side it méeteth with a rill, comming from Cuddington: also the second
going by Norleie, and Gritton, finallie the third soone after from
Kimsleie, and then procéedeth on in his passage by Asheton chappell,
Frodesham, Rockesauage, and so into the sea: and this is all that I doo
find of the Wiuer, whose influences might haue beene more largelie set
downe, if mine iniunctions had béene amplie deliuered, yet this I hope
may suffice for his description, and knowledge of his course.
[Sidenote: Merseie.]
The Merseie riseth among the Peke hils, and from thence going downe to
the Woodhouse, and taking sundrie rilles withall by the waie, it
becommeth the confines betwéene Chester and Darbishires. Going also
toward Goitehall, it méeteth with a faire brooke increased by sundrie
[Sidenote: Goite.]
waters called Goite, whereof I find this short and briefe description.
The Goite riseth not far from the Shire méere hill (wherein the Doue and
the Dane haue their originall) that parteth Darbishire and Chestershire
in sunder, and thence commeth downe to Goite houses, Ouerton, Taxhall,
[Sidenote: Frith.]
Shawcrosse, and at Weibridge taketh in the Frith, and beneath Berdhall,
[Sidenote: Set.]
the Set that riseth aboue Thersethall and runneth by Ouerset. After this
confluence also the Merseie goeth to Goite hall, & at Stockford or
[Sidenote: Tame.]
Stopford towne méeteth with the Tame, which diuideth Chestershire and
Lancastershire in sunder, and whose head is in the verie edge of
Yorkeshire, from whence it goeth southward to Sadleworth Firth, then to
Mukelhirst, Stalie hall, Ashdon Vnderline, Dunkenfield, Denton, Reddish,
and so at Stockford into the Merseie streame, which passeth foorth in
like sort to Diddesbirie, receiuing a brooke by the waie that commeth
from Lime parke, by Brumhall parke and Chedle.
[Sidenote: Irwell.]
From Diddesbirie it procéedeth to Norden, Ashton, Aiston, Flixston,
where it receiueth the Irwell a notable water, and therefore his
description is not to be omitted before I doo go forward anie further
with the Merseie, although it be not nauigable by reason of sundrie
rockes and shalowes that lie dispersed in the same. It riseth aboue
Bacop, and goeth thence to Rosendale, and in the waie to Aitenfield it
taketh in a water from Haselden. After this confluence it goeth to
[Sidenote: Ræus, or Rache.]
Newhall, Brandlesham, Brurie, and aboue Ratcliffe ioineth with the Rache
[Sidenote: Leland speaketh of the Corue water about
Manchester; but I know nothing of his course.]
water, a faire streame and to be described when I haue finished the
Irwell, as also the next vnto it beneath Ratcliffe, bicause I would not
haue so manie ends at once in hand wherewith to trouble my readers.
Being therfore past these two, our Irwell goeth on to Clifton, Hollond,
Edgecroft, Strengwaies, and to Manchester, where it vniteth it selfe
[Sidenote: Yrke.]
with the Yrke, that runneth thereinto by Roiton Midleton, Heaton hill,
[Sidenote: Medlockte.]
and Blackeleie. Beneath Manchester also it méeteth with the Medlocke
that commeth thither from the northeast side of Oldham, and betwéene,
Claiton and Garret Halles, and so betwéene two parkes, falling into it
about Holne. Thence our Irwell going forward to Woodsall, Whicleswijc,
Ecles, Barton, and Deuelhom, it falleth néere vnto Flixton, into the
water of Merseie, where I will staie a while withall, till I haue
brought the other vnto some passe, of which I spake before.
[Sidenote: Rache.]
The Rache, Rech or Rish consisteth of sundrie waters, whereof ech one in
maner hath a proper name, but the greatest of all is Rache it selfe,
which riseth among the blacke stonie hils, from whence it goeth to
[Sidenote: Beile.]
Littlebrough, and being past Clegge, receiueth the Beile, that commeth
thither by Milneraw chappell. After this confluence also, it méeteth
[Sidenote: Sprotton.]
with a rill néere vnto Rachedale, and soone after with the Sprotton
[Sidenote: Sudleie.]
water, and then the Sudleie brooke, whereby his chanell is not a little
increased, which goeth from thence to Grisehirst and so into the Irwell,
[Sidenote: Bradsha.]
before it come at Ratcliffe. The second streame is called Bradsha. It
riseth of two heds, aboue Tureton church, whence it runneth to Bradsha,
[Sidenote: Walmesleie.]
and yer long taking in the Walmesleie becke, they go in one chanell till
they come beneath Bolton in the More. From hence (receiuing a water that
commeth from the roots of Rauenpike hill by the way) it goeth by Deane
and Bolton in the More, and so into Bradsha water, which taketh his waie
to Leuermore, Farnworth, Leuerlesse, and finallie into the Irwell, which
I before described, and whereof I find these two verses to be added at
the last:
Irke, Irwell, Medlocke, and Tame,
When they meet with the Merseie, do loose their name.
Now therefore to resume our Merseie, you shall vnderstand that after his
confluence with the Irwell, he runneth to Partington, and not farre from
[Sidenote: Gles.]
thence interteineth the Gles, or Glesbrooke water, increased with
sundrie armes, wherof one commeth from Lodward, another from aboue
Houghton, the third from Hulton parke, and the fourth from Shakerleie:
and being all vnited néere vnto Leigh, the confluence goeth to Holcroft,
and aboue Holling gréene into the swift Merseie. After this increase the
said streame in like sort runneth to Rigston, & there admitteth the
[Sidenote: Bollein brooke.]
Bollein or Bolling brooke water into his societie, which rising néere
the Chamber in Maxwell forrest goeth to Ridge, Sutton, Bollington,
Prestbirie, and Newton, where it taketh in a water comming from about
Pot Chappell, which runneth from thence by Adlington, Woodford,
[Sidenote: Birkin.]
Wimesleie, Ringeie, and Ashleie, there receiuing the Birkin brooke that
commeth from betwéene Allerton and Marchall, by Mawberleie, and soone
[Sidenote: Mar.]
after the Marus or Mar, that commeth thereinto from Mar towne, by
Rawstorne, and after these confluences goeth on to Downham, and ouer
against Rixton beneath Crosford bridge into the Merseie water, which
procéeding on, admitteth not another that méeteth with all néere Lim
before it go to Thelwall. Thence also it goeth by Bruche and so to
Warrington, a little beneath crossing a brooke that commeth from Par by
Browseie, Bradleie, and Saukeie on the one side, and another on the
other that commeth thither from Gropenhall, and with these it runneth on
to nether Walton, Acton grange, and so to Penkith, where it interteineth
[Sidenote: Bold.]
[Sidenote: Grundich.]
the Bold, and soone after the Grundich water on the other side, that
passeth by Preston, and Daresbirie. Finallie our Merseie going by
Moulton, it falleth into Lirepoole, or as it was called of old
Liuerpoole hauen, when it is past Runcorne. And thus much of the
Merseie, comparable vnto the Wiuer, and of no lesse fame than most
riuers of this Iland.