The first edition of Holinshed's Chronicles was published in 1578.
The second edition, with substantial changes, was published in 1587.
Having (as you have seen) attempted to set down a full discourse of all the Islands, that are situate upon the coast of Britain, and finding the success not correspondent to mine intent, it hath caused me somewhat to restrain my purpose in this description also of our rivers. For whereas I intended at the first to have written at large, of the number, situation, names, quantities, towns, villages, castles, mountains, fresh waters, plashes or lakes, salt waters, and other commodities of the aforesaid Isles, mine expectation of information from all parts of England, was so deceived in the end, that I was fain at last only to lean to that which I knew my self either by reading, or such other help as I had already purchased and gotten of the same. And even so it happeneth in this my tractation of waters, of whose heads, courses, length, breadth, depth of chanel (for burden) ebbs, flowings, and falls, I had thought to have made a perfect description under the report also of an imagined course taken by them all. But now for want of instruction, which hath been largely promised, & slackly performed, and other sudden and injurious denial of help voluntarily offered, without occasion given on my part, I must needs content myself with such observations as I have either obtained by mine own experience, or gathered from time to time out of other men's writings: whereby the full discourse of the whole is utterly cut off, and instead of the same a mangled rehearsal of the residue set down and left in memory.
Wherefore I beseech your honour to pardon this imperfection and rudeness of my labour, which notwithstanding is not altogether in vain, sith my errors may prove a spur unto the better skilled, either to correct or enlarge where occasion serveth, or at the leastwise to take in hand a more absolute piece of work, as better direction shall encourage them thereto. The entrance and beginning of every thing is the hardest; and he that beginneth well, hath achieved half his purpose. The ice (my lord) is broken, and from henceforth it will be more easy for such as shall come after to wade through with the rest, sith "Facile est inuentis addere;" and to continue and finish, is not so great a matter in building, as to attempt and lay the foundation or platform of any noble pyce of workmanship, though it be but rudely handled.
But to my purpose. As I began at the Thames in my description of Islands, so will I now do the like with that of famous rivers; making mine entry at the said river itself,
of whose fountain some men make as
much ado, as in time past of the true head of Nilus, which, till of late (if
it be yet described) was never found: or the Tanais, whose original was never
known, nor shall be: for whilst one placeth it here, another there; there are
none at all that deal with it exactly. Wherefore leaning to such men's writings
as have of set purpose sought out the spring of the Thames; I affirm that this
famous stream hath his head or beginning out of the side of an hill, standing
in the plains of Cotswold, about one mile from Tetbury, near unto the Fosse (an
highway so called of old) where it was sometime named Isis, or the Ouse,
although divers do ignorantly call it the Thames even there, rather of a
foolish custom than any skill, because they either neglect or utterly are
ignorant how it was named at the first.
From hence it runneth directly toward
the east (as all good rivers should) and meeteth with the Cirne or Churne, (a
brooke called in Latin Corinium) whereof Cirncester town (by which it cometh)
doth take the denomination.
From hence it hasteth unto Creekelade, alias Crekanford,
Lechlade,
Radcotebridge,
Newbridge,
and Eouesham [Eynsham],
receiving by the way an infinite sort of small streams, brooks, becks, waters, and rundels:
and here on this side of the town divideth itself into two courses, of which the
one goeth straight to Botley and Hinksey, the other by Godstow, a village not
far off.
This latter spreadeth itself also for a while into sundry smaller
branches, which run not far ere they be reunited, and then beclipping sundry
pleasant meadows, it passeth at length by Oxford, of some supposed rather to be
called Ouseford of this river, where it meeteth with the Charwell,[River Cherwell]
and a little from whence the original branches do join and
go together by Abbandune (alias Sensham or Abington as we call it) although no
part of it at the first came so near the town as it doth now, till a branch
thereof was led thither from the main stream, through the industry of the monks, as (beside the testimony of old
records thereof yet extant to be seen)
by the decay of Cair Dour, now Dorchester itself, sometime the thoroughfare from Wales and the west country to
London, which ensued upon this fact, is easy to be seen.
From hence it goeth to Dorchester, and so to Thame, where joining with a river of the same
denomination, it looseth the name of Isis or Ouse (whereof Ouseney at Oxford is
producted) and from thenceforth is called Thamesis.
From Thame it goeth to Wallingford,
and so to Reading, which in time past, of the number of bridges there, was called Pontium; albeit that the
English name doth rather proceed from Rhe, or Ree, Saxon word for a water-course or river;
which may be seen in Oueree, or Sutheree, for over the Ree, or south of the Rhee, as to the skilful doth readily appear;
yet some hold (and not altogether against probability and likelihood) that the word Sutheree
is so called of Sudrijc, to wit, the south kingdom, whereunto in part the
Thames is a bound. But that holdeth not in denomination, either of the said
church or name of the foresaid county. Other affirm likewise, that Reding is so
called of the Greek word [Greek: rheo] which is to overflow. Certes, as neither
of these conjectures are to be contemned, so the last cometh most near to mine
aid, who affirm, that not only the course of every water itself, but also his
overflowing was in time past called Rhe, by such Saxons as inhabited in this
Island: and even to this day in Essex I have oft observed, that when the lower grounds
by rage of water have been overflowen, the people beholding the same, have
said; All is on a Rhe, as if they should have said; All is now a river, albeit
the word River be derived from the French, and borrowed by them from the
Latins, but not without corruption, as it was brought unto them. I will not
here give notice how far they are deceived, which call the aforesaid church by
the name of S. Mary Auderys, or S. Mary over Isis, or Ise: but I will proceed
with the course of this noble stream,
which, howsoever these matters stand
after it hath passed by Reding, & there
received the Kenet, which cometh from the hills that lie west of Marleborough
(and then the Thetis, commonly called the Tide that cometh from Thetisford)
hyth to Sudlington otherwise called Maidenhead,
and so to Windleshore (or Windsore) Eaton,
and then to Chertsey, where Erkenwald bishop of London sometime builded a religious house or cell, as I do
read.
From Chertsey it hasteth directly unto Stanes,[Staines]
and receiving another stream by the way, called the Cole (whereupon Colbrooke standeth)
it goeth by Kingstone,
Shene [Sheen],
Sion
and Brentford or Bregentford, where it meeteth the Brane or the Brene (another brook descending from Edgworth) whose name signifieth a
frog, in the British speech. Upon this also Sir John Thin had sometime a
stately house, with a marvellous provision to inclose and retain such fish as
should come about the same.
From Brentfoord it passeth by Mortlach [Mortlake],
Putney,
Fulham,
Battersey,
Chelsey,
Lambeth,
and so to London. Finally going from
thence unto the sea,
it taketh the Lee with it by the way upon the coast of Essex,
and another that cometh from Abreche not far off,
and the Darnt upon Kent side, which riseth near to Tanrige
and cometh by Shoreham,
unto Derntford, whereunto the Cray falleth.
And last of all the Medway a notable river (in mine opinion)
which watereth all the south and southwest part of Kent, and whose description
shall insue.
Having in this maner briefly touched this noble river, and such brooks
as fall into the same; I will now add a particular description of each of these
last by themselves, whereby their courses also shall be severally described to
the satisfaction of the studious.
But ere I take the same in hand, I will
insert a word or two of the commodities of the said river, which I will perform
with so much brevity as is possible.
Hereby also finding out his whole tract
and course from the head to the fall thereof into the sea. It appeareth evidently
that the length thereof is at the least, one hundred and eighty miles, if it be
measured by the journeys of the land. And as it is in course, the longest of
the three famous rivers of this Isle,
so it is nothing inferior unto them in abundance of all kind of fish, whereof it is hard to say, which of the three have either most plenty, or greatest variety, if the circumstances be duly weighed. What some other write of the rivers of their countrys it skilleth not, neither will I (as divers do) invent strange things of this noble stream, therewith to nobilitate and make it more honorable: but this will I in plain terms affirm, that it neither swalloweth up bastards of the Celtish brood, or casteth up the right begotten that are thrown in without hurt into their mothers lap, as Politian fableth of the Rhene, Epistolarum lib. 8. epi. 6. nor yieldeth clots of gold as the Tagus doth: but an infinite plenty of excellent, sweet and pleasant fish, wherewith such as inhabit near unto her banks are fed and fully nourished.
What should I
speak of the fat and sweet salmons, daily taken in this stream, and that in
such plenty (after the time of the smelt be past) as no river in Europe is able
to exceed it.
What store also of barbels, trouts, chevins, perches, smelts,
breams, roches, daces, gudgings, flounders, shrimps, &c: are commonly to be
had therein, I refer me to them that know by experience better than I, by
reason of their daily trade of fishing in the same.
And albeit it seemeth from
time to time, to be as it were defrauded in sundry wise of these her large
commodities, by the insatiable avarice of the fishermen, yet this famous river
complaineth commonly of no want, but the more it looseth at one time, the more
it yieldeth at another.
Only in carps it seemeth to be scant, sith it is not
long since that kind of fish was brought over into England, and but of late to
speak of into this stream, by the violent rage of sundry land floods, that break
open the heads and dams of divers gentlemen's ponds, by which means it became
somewhat partaker also of this said commodity, whereof earst it had no portion
that I could ever hear.
Oh that this river might be spared but even one year from nets, &c!
But alas then should many a poor man be undone.
In the mean time it is lamentable to see, how it is and hath been choked of late with sands
and shelves, through the penning and wresting of the course of the water for
commodity's sake.
But as this is an inconvenience easily remedied, if good
order were taken for the redress thereof: so now, the fine or price set upon
the ballasse sometime freely given to the merchants by patent, even unto the
lands end (Iusques au poinct) will be another cause of harm unto this noble
stream, and all through an advantage taken at the want of an "i" in the word
ponct: which grew through an error committed by an English notary unskilful in
the French tongue, wherein that patent was granted.
Furthermore, the said river floweth and filleth
all his channels twice in the day and night, that is in every twelve hours
once; and this ebbing & flowing, holdeth on for the space of seventy miles,
within the main land: the stream or tide being always highest at London, when
the moon doth exactly touch the northeast and south or west points of the
heavens, of which one is visible, the other under the earth, and not subject to
our sight.
These tides also differ in their times, each one coming later than
other, by so many minutes as pass ere the revolution and natural course of the
heavens do reduce, and bring about the said planet unto those her former
places: whereby the common difference between
one tide and another, is found to consist of twenty four minutes, which wanteth
but twelve of an whole hour in four and twenty, as experience doth confirm.
In like sort we see by daily trial, that each tide is not of equal height and
greatness: for at the full and change of the moon we have the greatest floods,
and such is their ordinary course, that as they diminish from their changes and
fulls, unto the first and last quarters; so afterwards they increase again,
until they come to the full and change.
Sometimes also they rise so high (if the wind be at the north or northeast, which bringeth in the water with more
vehemency, because the tide which filleth the channel, cometh from Scotland
ward) that the Thames overfloweth her banks near unto London: which happeneth
especially in the fulls and changes of January and February, wherein the lower
grounds are of custom soonest drowned.
This order of flowing in like sort is
perpetual, so that when the moon is upon the southwest and north of points,
then is the water by London at the highest: neither do the tides alter, except
some rough winds out of the west or southwest
do keep back and check the stream in his entrance, as the east and northeast do
hasten the coming in thereof, or else some other extraordinary occasion, put by
the ordinary course of the northern seas, which fill the said river by their
natural return and flowing.
And that both these do happen oft among, I refer me
to such as have not seldom observed it, as also the sensible chopping in of
three or four tides in one natural day, wherof the unskilfull do descant many
things.
But how so ever these small matters do fall out,
and how often soever this course of the stream doth happen to be disturbed; yet
at two several times of the age of the moon, the waters return to their natural
course and limits of time exactly.
Polydore saith, that this river is seldom
increased or rather never overfloweth her banks by landfloods: but he is herein
very much deceived, as it shall be more apparently seen hereafter.
For the more
that this river is put by of her right course, the more the water must of
necessity swell with the white waters which run down from the land: because the
passage cannot be so swift and ready in the winding as in the straight course.
These landfloods also do greatly strain the finess of the stream, in so much
that after a great landflood, you shall take haddocks with your hands beneath
the bridge, as they float aloft upon the water, whose eyes are so blinded with
the thickness of that element, that they cannot see where to become, and make
shift to save themselves before death take hold of them.
Otherwise the water of itself is very clear, and in comparison next unto that of the sea, which is
most subtle and pure of all other; as that of great rivers is most excellent,
in comparison of smaller brooks: although Aristotle will have the salt water to
be most gross, because a ship will bear a greater burden on the sea than on the
fresh water; and an egg sink in this that swimmeth on the other.
But he may easily be answered by the quantity of room and abundance of waters in the sea;
whereby it becometh of more force to sustain such vessels as are committed to
the same, and wherunto the greatest rivers (God wot) are nothing comparable.
I would here make mention of sundry bridges placed
over this noble stream, of which that of London is most chiefly to be
commended, for it is in manner a continual street, well replenished with large
and stately houses on both sides, and situate upon twenty arches, whereof each
one is made of excellent free squared stone, every of them being threescore
foot in height, and full twenty in distance one from another, as I have often
viewed.
In like manner
I could intreat of the infinite number of swans daily to be seen upon this
river,
the two thousand wherries and small boats, whereby three thousand poor
watermen are maintained, through the carriage and recarriage of such persons as
pass or repass, from time to time upon the same: beside those huge tideboats,
tiltbotes, and barges, which either carry passengers, or bring necessary
provision from all quarters of Oxfordshire, Berkeshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire,
Herefordshire, Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, and Kent, unto the city of London.
But for somuch as these things are to be repeated again in the particular
description of London, annexed to his card; I surcease at this time to speak
any more of them here, as not lingering but hasting to perform my promise made
even now, not yet forgotten, and in performance whereof I think it best to
resume the description of this noble river again into my hands, and in adding
whatsoever is before omitted, to deliver a full and perfect demonstration of
his course.
How and where the said stream ariseth, is already & with
sufficiency set down, noting the place to be within a mile of Tetbury, whereof
some do utterly mislike, because that rill in summer droughts is oft so dry,
that there is little or no water at all seen running above ground in the same.
For this cause therefore many affirm the very head
of Isis to come from the pool above Kemble.
Other confound it with the head of the Cirne or Chirne, called in Latine Corinium that riseth above Coberley.
For my part I follow Leland, as he doth the monk of Malmesbury, which wrote the
history intituled Eulogium historiarum, who searched the same of set purpose,
and pronounced with Leland, although at this present that course be very small,
and choked up (as I hear) with gravel and sand.
Proceeding therefore from the head, it first of all receiveth the Kemble water called the Coue, which riseth above Kemble town, goeth by Kemble itself unto Poole and Somerford, and then (accompanieth the Thames) unto Canes, Ashton Canes, and Howston, holding on in one channel -
until they meet with the Chirne, the next of
all to be described.
The Chirne is a fair water arising out of the ground above Coberley, from whence it runneth to
Cowley, Cowlesburne, Randcome, and so into the Isis on the left side above
Crekelade. These three waters being thus
united and brought into one channel, within a little space of the head of Isis,
it runneth on by Crekelade, beneath which town it receiveth the Rhe, descending from Elcombe, Escot, Redburne, Widhill, &c. at the fall into Isis, or not far off joineth with another that runneth west of Purton by Braden forrest, &c.
Next of all our Isis meeteth with the Amney on the left hand, which coming from above Holy roode Amney, runneth by Downe Amney, and finally into the Isis a little above Isey. In like sort I read of another that meeteth withall on the right hand above Isey also, which so far as I can call to remembrance, cometh from about Drifield and falleth so into our Isis, that they run as one until they come at the Colne, although not so nakedly and without help, but that in this voyage, the main stream doth cross one water that descendeth from Swindon, and going also by Stratton toward Sevingham, is itself increased with two rills by the way, whereof one cometh from Liddenton by Wambrey, as I have been informed.
The Colne is a fair river rising by north near to Witchington, & from thence goeth to Shiptons, Compton Abdale, Wittenton, Parneworth, Colne Deanes, and Colne Rogers, Winston, Bibery, Colne Alens, Quenington, Faireford, and west of Lachelade into the river Isis, which hereabout on the southside also taketh in another, whereof I find this remembrance. The Isis being once past Sevingham, crosseth a brook from southwest that mounteth about Ashbiry, and receiving a rill from bywest (that cometh from Hinton) beneath Shrineham, -
it afterward so divideth itself, that the arms therof include Inglesham, and by reason that it falleth into the Isis at two several places, there is a pleasant island producted, whereof let this suffice.
Being past Lechelade a mile, it runneth to Saint John's bridge, & thereabout meeteth with the Leche on the left hand. This brook, whereof Lechlade taketh the name (a town whereunto one piece of an old university is ascribed, which it did never possess, more than Crekelade did the other) riseth east of Hampnet, from whence it goeth to north Lech, Estenton, Anlesworth, east Lech, south Thorpe, Farendon, & so into the Isis.
From hence this famous water goeth by Kenskot -
toward Radcote bridge (taking in the rill that riseth in an odd piece of Barkeshire, and runneth by Langford) and being past the said bridge (now notable through a conspiracy made there sometimes by sundry barons against the estate) it is not long ere it cross two other waters, both of them descending from another odd parcel of the said county, whereof I have this note given me for my further information. There are two falls of water into Isis beneath Radcote bridge, wherof the one cometh from Shilton in Barkeshire by Arescote, blacke Burton and Clarrefyld. The other also riseth in the same piece, and runneth by Brisenorton unto Bampton, and there receiving an armlet from the first that break off at black Burton, it is not long ere they fall into Isis, and leave a pretty island.
After these confluences, the main course of the stream hasteth by Shifford to Newbridge, where it joineth with the Winrush. The Winrush riseth above Shyburne in Glocestershire, from whence it goeth to Winrush, & coming by Barrington, Burford, Widbrooke, Swinbecke castell, Witney, Duckington, Cockthorpe, Stanlake, it meeteth with the Isis west by south of Northmore.
From hence it goeth beneath Stanton, Hartingcourt and Ensham, between which and Cassinton, it receiveth (as Leland calleth it) the Bruerne water. It riseth above Limington, and going to Norton in the Marsh, and through a patch of Worcestershire unto Evenlode, between it and the four shire stones, it taketh in a rill called Come, coming by the long and the little Comptons. After this also it goeth by Bradwell, Odington, and so to Bleddenton, above which town it taketh in the Rolrich water that issueth at two heads, in the hills that lie by west of little Rolrich, and join above Kenkeham, and Church hill. From thence also it goeth unto Bruerne, Shipton underwood, Ascot, Short hamton, Chorlebury, Cornebury parke, Stonfyld, Longcombe, and southeast of Woodstocke parke, taketh in the Enis, that riseth above Emstone, and goeth to Ciddington, Glimton, Wotton (where it is increased with a rill that runneth thither from steeple Barton, by the Beechin tree) Woodstocke, Blaidon, so that after this confluence, the said Enis runneth to Cassinton, and so into the Isis, -
which goeth from hence to Oxford, and there receiveth the Charwell, now presently to
be described.
The head of Charwell is in Northamptonshire, where it riseth out of a little pool, by
Charleton village, seven miles above Banbery northeast, and there it issueth so
fast at the very surge, that it groweth into a pretty stream, in manner out of
hand. Soon after also it taketh in a rillet
called the Bure, which falleth into it, about Otmere side: but forasmuch as it
riseth by Bincester, the whole course therof is not above four miles, and
therefore cannot be great. A friend of mine prosecuting the rest of this
description reporteth thereof as followeth. Before the Charwell cometh into
Oxfordshire, it receiveth the Culen, which
falleth into the same, a little above Edgcote, and so descending toward
Wardington, it meeteth with another coming from by north west, between
Wardington and Cropready. At Banbery also it
meeteth with the Come (which falleth from fenny Conton by Farneboro, and
afterwards going by kings Sutton, not far from Aine, it receiveth the discharge
of diverse rillets, in one bottom before it come at Clifton. The
said water therefore ingendered of so many brooklets, consisteth chiefly of
two, whereof the most southerly called Oke, cometh from Oke Norton, by
Witchington or Wiggington, and the Berfords; and carrying a few blind rills
withall, doth meet with the other that falleth from by northwest into the same,
within a mile of Charwell.
That other (as I conjecture) is increased of
three waters, wherof each one hath his severall name. The
first of them therefore hight Tudo, which coming betweene Epwell and the Lee by
Toddington, joineth about Broughton with the second that runneth from Horneton, named Ornus, as I guess. The last falleth
into the Tude or Tudelake, beneath Broughton; and for that it riseth not far
from Sotteswell in Warwickshire, some are of the opinion,
that it is to be called Sotbrooke.
The next water that meeteth without Charwell
beneath Clifton cometh from about Croughton, and after this is the Sowar or
Swere, that riseth north of Michaell Tew, and
runneth by nether Wotton. The last of all is the Rey alias
Bure, whose head is not far above Burcester, alias Bincester, and Burncester:
and from whence it goeth by Burecester to Merton, Charleton, Fencote,
Addington, Noke, Islip, and so into Charwell, that holdeth on his course after
this augmentation of the waters, between Wood and Water Eton, to Marston, and
the east bridge of Oxford by Magdalene college, and so beneath the south bridge
into our aforesaid Isis.
In describing this river, this one thing (right honorable) is come unto my mind, touching the centre and navel as it were of England. Certes there is an hilly plot of ground in Helledon parish, not from Danbery, where a man may stand and behold the heads of three notable rivers, whose waters, and those of such as fall into them, do abundantly serve the greatest part of England on this side of the Humber. The first of these waters is the Charwell, already described. The second is the Leme that goeth westward into the fourth Avon. And the third is the head of the Nene or fift Avon itself, of whose courses there is no card but doth make sufficient mention; and therefore your honour may behold in the same how they do coast the country, and also measure by compasses how this plot lieth in respect of all the rest, contrary to common judgement, which maketh Northampton to be the middest and centre of our country.
But to go forward with my description of the Ouse, which being past Oxford goeth to Ifly, Kennington, Sanford, Rodley, Newnham, -
and so to Abington, some time called Sensham, without increase, where it receiveth the Oche, otherwise called the Coche, a little beneath S. Helens, which runneth thither of two brooklets, as I take it, whereof one cometh from Compton, out of the vale and west of the hill of the White horse, the other from Kings Letcombe, and Wantage in Barkshire, and in one channel, entreth into the same, upon the right side of his course.
From Abington likewise (taking the Arun withall southwest of Sutton Courtney) it goeth by Appleford, long Wittenham, Clifton, Wittenham the less, -
& beneath Dorchester, taketh in the Thame water, from
whence the Isis loseth the pre-eminence of the whole denomination of this
river, and is contented to impart the same with the Thame, so that by the
conjunction of these two waters Thamesis is producted, and that name continued
even unto the sea.
Thame river riseth in the easterly parts of Chilterne hills, towards Penley park, at a town
called Tring west of the said park, which is seven miles from the stone bridge,
that is betweene Querendon and Ailsbury (after the course of the water) as
Leland hath set down.
Running therefore by long Merston, and Puttenham, Hucket,
and Bearton, it receiveth soon after a rill that cometh by Querendon from
Hardwike, and ere long another on the other side that riseth above Windover in
the Chilterne, and passing by Halton, Weston, Turrill, Broughton, and Ailsbury,
it falleth into the Tame west of the said town (except my memory do fail me.)
From this confluence the Tame goeth by Ethorpe, the Winchingtons, Coddington,
Chersley, Notley abbey: and coming almost to Tame, it receiveth one water from
southeast above the said town, and another also from the same quarter beneath
the town; so that Tame standeth invironed upon three sides with three severall
waters, as may be easily seen.
The first of these cometh from the Chiltern east
of Below or Bledlow, from whence it goeth to Hinton, Horsenden, Kingsey,
Towsey, and so into the Tame.
The other descendeth also from the Chilterne, and
going by Chinner, Crowell, Siddenham, and Tame park, it falleth in the end into
Tame water, and then they proceed together as one by Shabbington, Ricot parke,
Dracot, Waterstoke, Milton, Cuddesdon, and Chiselton. Here also it taketh in
another water from by-east, whose head cometh from Chilterne hills, not far
from Stocking church, in the way from Oxford to London.
From whence it runneth
to Weston (and meeting beneath Cuxham with Watlington rill) it goeth on to
Chalgrave, Stadham, and so into the Tame.
From hence our stream of Thame runneth to Newenton, Draton, Dorchester (sometime a bishop's see, and a noble
city) and so into the Thames, -
which hasteth in like sort to Bensington, Crowmarsh, or Wallingford, where it receiveth the Blane, descending from Blaneburg, now Blewbery, as I learn.
Thus have I brought the Thames unto Wallingford, situate in the vale of White horse, that runneth a long thereby. From hence it goeth by Newenham, north Stoke, south Stoke, Goring, Bassilden, Pangburne, where it meeteth with a water that cometh from about Hamsted Norris, runneth by Frizelham, Buckelbury, Stanford, Bradfeld, Tidmarsh and Pangburne.
After which confluence it goeth on betweene Mapledorham and Purley, to Caversham, and Caversham manor, -
and a little beneath receiveth the Kenet that cometh thereinto from Reading.
The Kenet riseth above Overton 5 or 6 miles west of Marleborow, or Marlingsborow, as some call
it; & then going by Fifeld, Clatfor, Maulon, & Preshute, unto
Marlebury: it holdeth on in like order to Ramsbury, and northwest of little
Cote, taketh in a water by north descending from the hills above Alburne chase
west of Alburne town. Thence it runneth to little Cote, Charnhamstreet, &
beneath Charnhamstreet it crosseth the Bedwin,
which (taking the Chalkburne rill withall) cometh from great Bedwijne, & at
Hungerford also two other in one bottom somewhat beneath the town. From hence
it goeth to Auington, Kinbury, Hamsted marshall, Euburne, Newbery; and beneath
this town, taketh in the Lamburne water that
cometh by Isbery, Egerston, the Sheffords, Westford, Boxford, Donington
castell, and Shaw. From Newbery it goeth to Thatcham, Wolhampton, Aldermaston,
a little above which village it receiveth the Alburne,
another brook increased with sundry rills: and thus going on to Padworth,
Oston, and Michaell, it cometh at last to Reading, where (as I said) it joineth
with the Thames, -
and so they go forward as one by Sonning to Shiplake, and
there on the east side receive the Loddon that cometh down thither from the
south, as by his course appeareth.
The Loddon riseth in Hamshire betweene west Shirburne and Wooton toward the southwest,
afterward directing his course toward the northwest, thorough the vine, it
passeth at the last by Bramly, and thorough a piece of Wiltshire, to Stradfyld,
Swallowfyld, Arberfyld, Loddon bridge, leaving a patch of Wiltshire on the
right hand (as I have been informed.) This Loddon not far from Turges town
receiveth two waters in one bottom, whereof the westerly called Basing water,
cometh from Basingstoke, and thorough a park unto the aforesaid place.
The other descendeth of two heads from Mapledour
well, and goeth by Skewes, Newenham, Rotherwijc, and ere it come at Hartly,
joineth with the Basing water, from whence they go together to Turges, where
they meet with the Loddon (as I have said already.)
The next streame toward the south is called
Ditford brook. It riseth not far from upton,
goeth by Gruell, and beneath Wharnborow castell receiveth the Ikell (coming
from a parke of the same denomination) from whence they go together by
Maddingley unto Swalowfield, and so into the Loddon. In this voyage also the
Loddon meeteth with the Elwy or Eluey that cometh from Aldershare, not far by
west of Euersley: and about Eluesham
likewise with another running from Dogmansfyld named the Douke:
and also the third not inferior to the rest coming from Erin,
whose head is in Surrey, and going by Ash becometh a limit, first between
Surrey and Hamshire; then between Hamshire and Barkeshire, and passing by Ash,
Erinley, Blacke water, Perley, and Finchamsted; it joineth at last with the
Ditford, before it come at Swalowfield.
To conclude therefore with our Loddon,
having received all these waters; and after the last confluence with them now
being come to Loddon bridge, it passeth on by a part of Wiltshire to Twiford
bridge,
then to Wargrave, and so into the Thames that now is marvellously increased and grown unto triple greatness (to that it was at Oxford.)
Being therefore past Shiplake and Wargrave, it runneth by Horsependon, or Harding: then to Henley upon Thames, where sometime a great rill voideth itself in the same. Then to Remenham, Greneland (going all this way from Shiplake just north, -
and now turning eastwards again) by Medenham, Hurly, Bisham,
Marlow the greater, Marlow the lesse, it meeteth with a brook soone after that consisteth of the water of two rills, whereof the one called the use, riseth about west Wickham, out of one of the Chilterne hills, and goeth from thence to east Wickham or high Wickham, a pretty market town. The other named Higden, descendeth also from those mountains but a mile beneath west Wickham, and joining both in one at the last, in the west end of east Wickham town, they go together to Wooburne, Hedsor, & so into the Thames. Some call it the Tide; and that word do I use in my former treatise: but to proceed. After this confluence our Thames goeth on by Cowkham, -
Topley, Maidenhead, alias Sudlington, Bray, Dorney, Clure, new Windsore (taking in neverthelesse, at Eaton by the way, the Burne which riseth out of a Moor, & cometh thither by Burnham) -
old Windsor, Wraiborow, and a little by east therof doth crosse the
Cole, whereof I find this short description insuing.
The Cole riseth
near unto Flamsted, from whence it goeth to Redburn, S. Michaels, S. Albons,
Aldenham, Watford, and so by More to Richmansworth, where there is a confluence of three waters, of which this Cole is
the first.
The second called Gadus riseth not far from Ashridge, an house or
palace belonging to the prince: from whence it runneth to great Gaddesdin,
Hemsted, betweene Kings Langley, and Abbots Langley, then to Hunters, and
Cashew bridges, and so to Richmanswoorth, receiving by the way a rill coming
from Albury by northwest, to Northchurch, Barkehamsted, and beneath Hemsted
joining with the same. The last cometh in at northwest from above Chesham, by
Chesham itself, then by Chesham Bois, Latimers, Mawdlens, Cheinys, Sarret and
Richmanswoorth, and so going on all in one channel under the name of Cole, it
runneth to uxbridge, where it taketh in the Missenden water, from northwest, which
rising above Missenden the greater goeth by Missenden the lesse, Hagmondesham
(now Hammersham) the uach, Chalfhunt Giles, Chalfhunt S. Peters, Denham, and
then into the Cole above uxbridge (as I have said.) Soon after this our Cole
doth part itself into two branches, never to join again before they come at the
Thames, for the greater of them goeth thorough the goodly meadows straight to
Colebrooke, the other unto two mills, a mile and a half east of Colebrooke, in
the way to London, leaving an island between them of no small size and
quantity.
Being past the Cole, we come to the fall of the uindeles, which riseth by northwest neere unto Bagshot, from whence it goeth to Windlesham, Chobham, and meeting with a brooklet coming westward from Bisley, they run together toward Chertesey, where when they have met with a small rill rising north of Sonning hill in Windlesoure great parke, it falleth into the Thames on the northeast side of Chertesey.
When we were come beyond this water, it was not
long ere we came unto another on the same side, that fell into the Thames
between Shepperton on the one side, and Oteland on the other, and is called the
Way. The Wey or the Way rising by west, cometh from Olsted, & soon
after taking the Hedley brook withall (which riseth
in Wulmere forrest, and goeth by Hedley and Frensham) hasteth by Bentley,
Farnham, Alton, Waiberley, Elsted, and so to
Pepper harrow, where it joineth with the Thuresby water, which cometh not far
off from a village of the same denomination. From hence also it goeth to
Godalming, and then toward Shawford, but ere it come there, it crosseth Crauly
beck, which rising somewhere about the edge of Sussex short of Ridgewijc, goeth
by vachery park, Knoll, Crauly, Bramley, Wonarsh,
and so into the Way.
From hence then our river goeth to Shawford, and soon after (meeting with the Abbinger water that
cometh by Shere, Albiry, and the chapel on the hill) it proceedeth to
Guldeford, thence to Stoke, Sutton in the park, Send, Woking, and at Newarke
park side taketh in a brook that riseth of two heads, whereof one doth spring
between two hills north of Pepper harrow, and so runneth through Henley park,
the other above Purbright, and afterward joining in one, they go forth unto
Newarke, and being there united, after the confluence it goeth to Purford
court, to Bifler, Waifred, Oteland, and so into the Thames.
From Oteland the Thames goeth by Walton, Sunbury,
west Moulsey, Hampton, and ere it come at
Hampton court on the northside, and east Moulsey on the other, it taketh in the
Moule water, which giveth name unto the two towns that stand on each side of
the place, where it falleth into our stream. It riseth in Word forrest, and
going by Burstow, it meeteth afterward with another gullet, containing a small
course from two several heads, whereof one is also in the forest aforenamed,
the other runneth from Febush wood, and coming by Iseld, meeteth with the first
above Horley, and so run on in one channel, I say, till they join with the
Moule water, whereof I spake before.
After this confluence in like sort, it is not long ere the Moule take
in another from by north, which cometh from about Mesham on the one side, and
another on the other side, running by Ocley and Capell, and whereinto also a
branch or rill cometh from a wood on the northwest part. Finally, being thus
increased with these many rills, it goeth by east Becheworth, west Becheworth,
and over against the Swalow on the side of Drake hill, taking in another that
cometh thither from Wootton by Darking and Milton, it runneth to Mickleham,
Letherhed, Stoke, Cobham, Ashire parke, east Moulsey, and so into the Thames,
which after this conjunction goeth on to Kingston, and there also meeteth with
another beck, rising at Ewell south of Nonsuch. Certes, this rill goeth from
Ewell by the old park, then to Mauldon, & -
so to Kingston town. The Thames in like manner being past Kingston, goeth to Tuddington, Petersham, Twickenham, Richmond, and Shene, where it receiveth a water on the northwest side, which coming from about Harrow on the hill, and by west of the same, goeth by Hays, Harlington, Felthan, and Thistleworth into the Thames.
The next fall of water is at Sion, near unto new
Brainford, so that it issueth into the Thames
between them both. This water is called Brane, that is in the British tongue
(as Leland saith) a frog. It riseth about Edgeworth, and cometh from thence by
Kingesbury, Twiford, Periuall, Hanwell, and Austerley. Thence we followed our
river to old Brentford, Mortlach, Cheswijc, Barnelmes, Fulham, and Putney,
beneath which towns it crossed a beck from Wandlesworth, that riseth at
Woodmans turne, and going by Easthalton, meeteth another coming from Croidon by
Bedington, and so going on to Mitcham, Marton abbey, and Wandlesworth, it is
not long ere it fall into the Thames.
Next unto this is Mariburne rill on the other side, which cometh in by S. James, -
so that by this time we have either brought the Thames, or the Thames conveyed us to London, where we rested for a season to take view of the several tides there, of which each one differeth from other, by four & twenty minutes, that is forty eight in a whole day, as I have noted before, except the weather alter them.
Being past London, and in the way toward the sea: the first water that it meeteth withall, is the Brome on Kent side, west of Greenewich, whose head is Bromis in Bromley parish, and going from thence to Lewsham, it taketh in a water from by east, and so directeth his course forthright unto the Thames.
The next water that it meeteth withall, is on
Essex side, almost against Woolwich, and that
is the Lee or Luy, whose head riseth short of Kempton in Hertfordshire, four
miles southeast of Luton, sometime called Logodunum or Logrodunum, & going
through a piece of Brokehall park (leaving Woodhall park on the north, and
Hatfield on the south, with another park adjoining) it goeth toward Hartford
town. But ere it come there, it receiveth a
water (peradventure the Marran) rising at northwest in Brodewater hundred, from
above Welwin, northeast of Digeswell, and going to Hartingfeld bury, where the
said confluence is within one mile of the
town. Beneath Hatfyld also it receiveth the Beane (as I guess) coming from
Boxwood by Benington, Aston, Watton, and Stapleford, and a little lower, the
third arm of increase from above Ware, which descendeth from two heads: whereof
the greatest cometh from Barkeway in Edwinster hundred, the other Sandon in
Oddesey hundred, and after they be met beneath little Hornemeade, they go
together by Pulcherchurch, or Puckrich, Stonden, Thunderidge, Wadesmill,
Benghoo, and so into the Lee, which from hence runneth on till it come at Ware,
which was drowned by the rage of the same 1408, and so to Amwell, where on the
north side it receiveth the water that cometh from little Hadham, through a
piece of Singleshall park, then by great Hadham, and so from Widford to the
aforesaid town. From hence also they go as one to old Stansted called Le ueil,
branching in such wise ere it come there, that it runneth through the town in
sundry places. Thence it goeth forth to Abbats Stansted, beneath which it
meeteth with the Stoure, west [Sidenote: (as I remember)
of Roidon. This Sture riseth at Wenden lootes, from whence it goeth to Langley,
Clauering, Berden, Manhuden, & Birchanger (where it taketh a rill coming
from Elsingham, & Stansted Mountfitchet.) Thence it hieth on to Bishops
Stourford, Sabrichfoord, and beneath this town crosseth with another from the
east side of Elsingham, that goeth to Hatfyld, Brodocke, Shiring, Harlo, &
so into the Stoure, and from whence they go together to Eastwic, Parmedon, and
next into the Lee. These things being thus performed, the Lee runneth on
beneath Hoddesdon, Broxburne, and Wormley, where a water breaketh out by west
of the main stream, a mile lower than Wormeley itself, but yet within the
parish, and is called Wormeley locke.
It runneth also by Cheston nunery, and out of this a little beneath the
said house, breaketh an arm called the Shirelake, because it divideth Eastsex
and Hartford shire in sunder, and in the length of one meadow called Frithey.
This lake runneth not but at great floods, and meeteth again with a succour of
ditchwater, at a place called Hockesditch, half a mile from his first breaking
out, and half a mile lower at Marsh point joineth again with the stream from
whence it came before. Thence cometh the first arm to S. Mauly bridge (the
first bridge westward upon that river) upon Waltham causy, & half a mile
lower than Mauly bridge, at the corner of Ramny mead, it meeteth with the kings
stream & principal course of Luy, or Lee, as it is commonly called. The
second arm breaketh out of the kings stream at Halifield half a mile lower than
Cheston nunery, and so to the fulling mill, and two bridges by west of the
kings stream, wherinto it falleth about a stones cast lower at a place called
Malkins shelffe, except I was wrong informed. Cheston & Hertfordshire men
do say, that the kings stream at Waltham doth part Hartfordshire and Essex, but
the Essex men by forest charter do plead their liberties to hold unto S. Maulys
bridge. On the east side also of the kings stream breaketh out but one
principal arm at Halifield, three quarters of a mile above Waltham, & so
goeth to the corn mill in Waltham, and then to the K. stream again a little
beneath the kings bridge.
From hence the Lee runneth on by south on
Waltonstow till it come to Stretford Langthorne, where it brancheth partly of
itself, and partly by man's industry for mills.
Howbeit herein the dealing of Alfred (sometimes king of England) was not of smallest force, who understanding the Danes to be gotten up with their ships into the country, there to kill and slay his subjects, in the year of grace 896, by the conduct of this river: he in the mean time before they could return, did so mightily weaken the main channel, by drawing great numbers of trenches from the same; that when they purposed to come back, there was nothing so much water left as the ships did draw: wherefore being set on ground, they were soon fired, & the adversaries overcome. By this policy also much meadow ground was won, & made firm land, whereby the country about was not a little inriched, as was also a part of Assyria by the like practise of Cyrus with the Ganges, at such time as he came against Babylon, which river before time was in manner equal with Euphrates. For he was so offended, that one of his knights whom he loved dearly, was drowned and borne away with the water in his passage over the same, that he swear a deep oath ere long to make it so shallow that it should not wet a woman to the knees. Which came to passe, for he caused all his army to dig 46 new drains from the same, whereby the vow that he had made was at the full performed. Senec. de Tra. li. 3.
But to conclude with the Lee that sometime overflowed all those meadows, through which it passeth (as for a great way not inferior to the Thames) and I find that being past Westham, it is not long ere it fall into that stream. One thing I read more of this river before the conquest, that is, how Edward the first, & son of Alfred, in the year of grace 912, builded Hartford town: at which time also he had Wittham a town in Essex in hand, as his sister called Aelfled repaired Oxford & London, and all this four yeares before the building of Maldon; of some called Hertford or Herudford between three waters, that is, the Lee, the Benefuth, and Memmarran, or rather Penmarran: but how these waters are distinguished in these days, as yet I cannot tell. It is possible, that the Bene may be the same which cometh by Benington, and Benghoo: which if it be so, then must the Memmarran be the same that descendeth from Whitwell, for not far from thence is Branfield, which might in time past right well be called Marranfield, for of like inversion of names I could shew many examples.
Being past the Lee (whose channel is begun to be purged 1576, with further hope to bring the same to the north side of London) we come unto the Rodon, upon Essex side in like manner, and not very far (for four miles is the most) from the fall of the Lee. This water riseth at little Canfyld, from whence it goeth to great Canfyld, high Roding, Eithorpe Roding, Ledon Roding, White Roding, Beauchampe Roding, Fifeld, Shelley, high Ongar, and Cheping Ongar, where the Lauer falleth into it, that ariseth betwixt Matching and high Lauer; and taking another rill withall coming from above Northweld at Cheping Ongar, they join (I say) with the Rodon, after which confluence Leland conjectureth that the stream is called Iuell: for my part, I wot not what to say of it. But hereof I am sure, that the whole course being past Ongar, it goeth to Stansted rivers, Theidon mount, Heibridge, Chigwell, Woodford bridge, Ilford bridge, Barking, & so into the Thames.
The Darwent
meeteth with our said Thames upon Kents side, two miles and more beneath Erith.
It riseth at Tanridge, or there abouts, as I have beene informed by Christopher
Saxtons card late made of the same, and the like (I hope) he will do in all the
several shires of England at the infinite charges of Sir Thomas Sackford
knight, & master of the requests, whose zeal unto his country herein I
cannot but remember, & so much the rather, for that he meaneth to imitate
Ortelius, & somewhat beside this hath holpen me in the names of the towns,
by which these rivers for the Kentish part do run. Would to God his plates were
once finished for the rest!
But to proceed. The Darwent therefore, rising at
Tanridge, goeth on by Titsey toward Brasted, and receiving on each side of that
town (& several bankes) a river or rill, it goeth on to Nockhold, Shorham,
Kinsford, Horton, Darnhith, Dartford or Derwentford, & there taking in the Cray on the
left hand that comes from Orpington by Mary Cray, Paules Cray, North Cray, and
Craiford, it is not long ere it fall into the Thames. But after I had once
passed the fall of the brook, it is a world to see what plenty of Serephium groweth
upon the Kentish shore, in whose description Fuichsius hath not a little
halted; whilst he giveth forth the herb Argentaria for Serephium, between which
there is no manner of likelihood. This neverthelesse is notable in the said
herb, that being translated into the garden, it receiveth another form clean
different from the first, which it yielded when it grew upon the shore, and
thereunto appeareth of more fat & foggy substance. Which maketh me to think
that our physicians do take it for a distinct kind of wormewood, whereof
controversy ariseth among them. The next water that falleth into the Thames, is
west of the Wavy Isles, a rill of no great fame, neither long course, for
rising about Coringham, it runneth not many miles east and by south, ere it
fall into the mouth of this river, which I do now describe.
I would have spoken of one creek that cometh in at Cliffe, and another
that runneth downe from Haltsto by S. Marys: but sith I understand not with
what backwaters they be served, I let them pass as not skilful of their
courses. And thus much of the rivers that fall into the Thames, wherein I have
done what I may, but not what I would for mine own satisfaction, till I came
from the head to Lechlade, unto which, as in lieu of a farewell, I will ascribe
that distinction which Apollonius Rhodius writeth of the Thermodon:
Huic non est aliud flumen par, nec tot in agros ullum dimittit rivos
quot fundit utrinque.
There is no other river equal to this,
nor one such that, as it flows, sends forth into the fields as many streams on both sides.