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1    A mile a this side Akeland Castelle I cam over a bridg of
2one great arch on Gaundelesse a praty ryver rising a vj.
3miles of by west: and renning by the south side of Akeland
4Castelle goith a litle beneth it to the great streame of Were.
5    Gaundeles rising by west cummith by Westakeland, by S.
6Helenes Akeland, by S. Andreas Akeland, and by Bisshop
7Akelande.

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8    The towne self of Akeland is of no estimation, yet is ther
9a praty market of corne.
10    It standith on a praty hille bytween 2. ryvers, wherof Were
11lyith on the north side, and Gaundelesse on the south, and
12an arow shot or more benethe they meete and make one
13streame, and ren to the este. And ech of these rivers hath
14an hille by it, so that Bisshop Castelle Akeland standith on
15a litle hille bytwixt 2. great hills .
16    There was of very auncient a manor place logging to the
17Bisshop of Duresme at Akeland. Antonius de Beke began
18first to encastellate it, he made the greaut haulle, there be
19divers pillors of black marble spekelid with white, and the
20exceding fair gret chaumbre with other there.
21    He made also an exceding goodly chapelle ther of stone
22welle squarid, and a college with dene and prebendes yn it,
23and a quadrant on the south west side of the castell for
24ministers of the college.
25    Skerlaw, Bisshop of Duresme, made the goodly gate house
26at entering ynto the castelle of Akeland.
27    There is a fair park by the castelle having falow dere, wild
28bulles and kin.
29    From Bisshop Akeland to Walsingham a 7. miles, thens
30to Frosterley 2. milys, thens to Stanhop 2. miles, thens to
31Estgate 2. miles, thens to Westgate 2. miles, thens to Werdale
32Chapel 2. miles; and al these places, saving Werdale
33Chapell, be on the north side of Were.
34    The Bisshop of Duresme hath a praty square pile on the
35north side of Were ryver caullid the Westgate, and thereby is
36a parke rudely enclosid with stone of a 12. or 14. miles yn
37cumpace: it is xvj. miles up in Were Dale from Akeland
38Castelle.
39    There be, as I hard, sum litle ferme holdes in this
40park.
41    On the side of Were river is Stanop. Stanop is xij. miles
42from Akeland: and is the hedde paroch of Werdale.
43    Woulsingham on Were sumtime a smaul market, now
44none, is a vij. miles above Akeland.

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45    The ryver of Were risith a 8. miles above Stanope or
46more. And though the upper part of Weredale be not very
47fertile of corne; yet ys there very fine gresse in the dale self
48wher the ryver passith.
49    The very hedde of Were risith of 2. smaul waters, Burnhop
50and Kelope. Burnhop cummith by south and Kelhop by
51north, they 2. joining make Were. Ther cummith also
52Welop bek in by Kelhop.
53    There resorte many redde dere stragelers to the mountaines
54of Weredale.
55    Weredale lying as pece of the west marches of the bisshoprik
56toward Westmerland is wel wooddid: and so be the
57quarters of Akeland: for by the name it apperith to have
58beene ful of okes.
59    Binchester now a poore villag stondith on the south side
60of Were, and is but half a mile beneth Castelle Akeland.
61    It stondith on the brow of an hille, and there I saw, as I
62roode on the south side, a litle fosse, and inditia of old
63buildinges.
64    In the ploughid feeldes hard by thys village hath and be
65founde Romaine coynes, and other many tokens of antiquite.
66    Betwixt Akeland and Bincester is an exceding fair bridg
67of one arch apon Were. There is another a litle above
68Duresme caullid Thunderland Bridge.
69    From Binchester to Branspeth 4. miles, al by mountaine
70ground, as is about Akeland, and not fertile of corne, but
71welle woddid.
72    Ar I cam by a mile and more to Branspeth I passid by a
73ford over Were ryver.
74    The village and castelle of Branspeth stondith on a rokky
75among hilles higher then it.
76    On the southe west part of the castelle cummith doune a
77litle bek out o the rokkes and hilles not far of.
78    The castelle of Branspeth is stronly set and buildid, and
79hath 2. courtes of high building. Ther is a litle mote that
80hemmith a great peice of the first court. In this court be 3.
81toures of logging, and 3. smaule ad ornamentum . The

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82pleasure of the castelle is in the 2. court: and entering into
83it by a great toure I saw in schochin in the fronte of it a lion
84rampaunt. Sum say that Rafe Nevile the first Erle of Westmerland
85buildid much of this house.
86    The erle that is now hath set a new peace of worke to it.
87In the paroch chirch of S. Brandon at Branspeth be dyvers
88tumbes of the Nevilles.
89    In the quier is an high tumbe of one of them porturid with
90his wife. This Neville lakkid heires males, wherapon a great
91concertation rose bytwixt the next heire male and one of the
92Gascoynes.
93    There lyith also in a chapelle on the south side of the
94quier a Countes of Westmerland sister to Bouth Archebisshop
95of York. There lyith in that chapelle also the Lord Neville,
96father to the erle that is now. This Lorde Nevile died his
97father the erle yet lyving: wherapon the erle toke much
98thought and dyed at Horneby Castelle in Richemontshir,
99and ther is buried in the paroche chirch.
100    The Erle of Westmerland that is now had an elder brother,
101and he lyith in a litle tumbe of marble by the high altare on
102the south side. And at the feete of hym be buried 4. children
103of the erles that now lyvith.
104    I hard at Branspeth that Rafe the first Erle of Westemerland
105was buried at his college of Stanethrop by Raby. And
106that another of them was buried at the freres of North-Alverton.
107    From Branspeth to Duresme about a 3. miles.
108    Or ever I cam nere Duresme by half a mile and more I
109passid over a bridge of one great arche, and another smaul,
110stonding on a praty river, caullid Dernesse alias Devernesse,
111and a litle above that cam Broune river ynto it.
112    Broune risith above Repaire park, and so cumming by it
113goith after into Dernesse.
114    Dernesse risith ... TEXT INCOMPLETE IN THE MANUSCRIPT and goith into Were
115at ... TEXT INCOMPLETE IN THE MANUSCRIPT
116    The towne self of Duresme stondith on a rokky hille: and
117stondith as men cum from the south cuntre on the north
118ripe of Were: the which water so with his course naturale in
119a botom windith about, that from Elvet a greate stone bridge.

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120of 14. arches it crepith about the toune to Framagate bridge
121of 3. arches also on Were, that betwixt thes 2. bridges or a
122litle lower at S. Nicolas the toune except the lenght of an
123arow shot is brought in insulam : and sum hold opinion, that
124of auncient tyme Were ran from the place wher now Elvet
125bridge is straite down by S. Nicolas now stonding on a
126hille: and that the other course, part for pollicy and part
127by digging of stones for building of the town and minstre,
128was made a valley, and so the water-course was conveyid that
129way, but I approve not ful this conjecture.
130    The close itself of the minstre on the highest part of the
131hille is welle waullid, and hath diverse fair gates. The chirch
132self and the cloister be very strong and fair: and at the very
133est end of the chirch is a crosse isle by side the midle crosse
134isle the minstre chirch.
135    The castelle stondith stately on the north est side of the
136minstre, and Were rennith under it. The kepe stondith a
137loft and is state buildid of viij. square fascion, and 4. highes
138of logginges. Bisshop Fox did much reparation of this
139dungeon: and he made beside in the castelle a new kychen
140with the offices and many praty chaumbers.
141    Tunstal hath also done cost on the dungeon and other
142places of the castel, and hath buildid a goodly new galery
143and a stately stair to it, and made an exceding strong gate of
144yren to the castelle.
145    In that part of Duresme toun that is almost exclosid with
146Were be 3. paroch chirches and a chapell. S. Oswaldes is
147countid to be auncient. There be a 3. paroche chirches mo
148in the suburbe.
149    The greatest suburbe is by Elvet bridg, and hath certen
150smaul streates.
151    The suburbe over Framagate bridg hath 3. partes. the
152south streat on the lift hand, the crosse streate on the midle
153toward Akeland, and the 3. on the right hand, bering the
154name of Framagate, and leding to Chester and to New-Castelle.
155    The building of Duresme toun is meately strong, but it is
156nother high nor of costely werke. There appere sum peaces

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157of waulles of the toune joyning to a gate of the palace waul.
158but the toun it self with yn the peninsula is but a smaul thing
159in respect of cumpace of al the stately close: so that it
160alonly may be caullid the waullid toune of Duresme.
161    In the sanctuary or holy chirch yard or sanctuarie of
162Duresme be very many auncient tumbes, it stondith on the
163south side of the minster: and at the hedde of one of them
164is a crosse of a 7. fote longe, that hath had an inscription of
165diverse rowes yn it, but the scripture cannot be red. Sum
166say that this crosse was brought out of the holy chirch yarde
167of Lindisfarn isle.
168    Weremouth is about an 8. miles from Duresme, and
169about a vj. from Tinemouth, or rather Newcastel.
170    There is no bridge memorable on Were beneth Duresme
171but Chester bridge. Were cummith within a quarter of a
172mile of the toun self of Chester .
173    From Duresme over Framagate bridge to Chester in the
174Streate, partely by a litle corne ground, but most by mountainiouse
175pasture and sum mores and firres.
176    Or I cam in Chester I saw scant half a mile of it Lomeley
177Castel apon an hil, having praty wood about it, and about
178Chester self is likewise sum wodde. The toune of Chester
179is chiefly one streate of very meane building yn lenght: ther
180is beside a smaul streat or 2. about the chirch; that is
181collegiatid, and hath a dene and prebendaries, but it is of a
182very meane building; and yn the body of the chirch is a
183tumbe with the image of a bisshop yn token that S. Cuthberth
184ons was buried or remained in his feretre there.
185    At the very ende of the toune I passid over Conebrooke,
186and ther is a fair stone bridge of 3. arches over it.
187    Thens to Geteshed vij. miles by montaniouse ground
188with pasture, heth, more, and fyrres. And a litle a this side
189Getehed is a great cole pit.
190    From Duresme over Elvet bridge to Sunderland bridges a

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1912. miles and a half, there Were is devidid ynto 2. armes, and
192after shortely meating makith an isle. The first bridg as I
193cam over was but of one arche, the other was of 3. Thens
194a mile and more of I cam over Burne broke that goith ynto
195Were therabout, and a litle above on the hil is Burneham
196Claxton's house. Burnham is a man of a hunderith mark
197land by the yere. Then I rode thorough a great wod stonding
198on a hille, and so cam by hilly, morisch and hethy ground to
199S. Andres Akeland 8. miles from Duresme: and left hard on
200my right hond one of the parkes of Akeland waullid with stone.
201    At S. Andres Akeland the Dene of Akeland hath a great
202house: especially for barnes and other houses of husbondry.
203    From S. Andres Akeland to Raby Castel 5. miles, part by
204arable but more by pastures and morisch hilly ground baren
205of wood. Raby is the largest castel of logginges in al the
206north cuntery, and is of a strong building, but not set other
207on hil or very strong ground.
208    As I enterid by a causey into it ther was a litle stagne on
209the right hond: and in the first area were but 2. toures, one
210at ech ende as entres, and no other buildid; yn the 2. area as
211in entering was a great gate of iren with a tour, and 2. or 3.
212mo on the right hond.
213    Then were al the chief toures of the 3. court as in the hart
214of the castel. The haul and al the houses of offices be large
215and stately: and in the haul I saw an incredible great beame
216of an hart. The great chaumber was exceding large, but now
217it is fals rofid and devidid into 2. or 3. partes. I saw ther a
218litle chaumber wherin was in windowes of colerid glasse al
219the petigre of the Nevilles: but it is now taken doun and
220glasid with clere glasse.
221    There is a touer in the castel having the mark of 2. capitale
222B from Berthram Bulmer.
223    There is another tower bering the name of Jane, bastard
224sister to Henry the 4. and wife to Rafe Nevile the first Erl of
225Westmerland.
226    Ther long 3. parkes to Raby wherof 2. be plenishid with
227dere. The midle park hath a lodge in it.
228    And thereby is a chace bering the name of Langeley, and
229hath falow dere: it is a 3. miles in lenght.

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230    The king hath a forest of redde deere yn the more land at
231Midleton an viij. miles west from Daraby. Dr. Noteres is
232parson of Midleton.
233    Stanthorp a smaul market toun is about half a mile from
234Raby. Here is a collegiate chirch, having now a body and
2352. isles. I hard that afore Rafe of Raby tyme ther was that
236alonly that now is the south isle.
237    In this south isle, as I hard, was buried the grauntfather
238and grandedam of Rafe Raby, and they made a cantuarie
239there. In the waul of this isle appere the tumbes and images
240of 3. ladys, whereof one hath a crounet, and a tumbe of a man
241child, and a flat tumbe, varii marmoris . Ther is a flat tumbe
242also with a playn image of brasse and a scripture, wher is
243buried Richard sun and heire to Edward Lord of Bergevenny.
244    This Edward was the fift sun of Daraby. Johanna Bewfort
245was his mother. This Edward had another sun caullid
246George, and was lord after: and he had Georg also lord, and
247he left Henry now Lorde of Bergevenny.
248    John by Rafes first wife was Lord Neville. Richard by
249Johan his 2. wife was Erle of Saresbyri. Robert was Bisshop
250of Duresme. Georg was Lord Latimer. Edward was Lord
251Bergevenny, and, as I remembre, Rafe had William that was
252Lord Falconbridge. Rafe Neville the first Erl of Westmerland
253of that name is buried yn a right stately tumbe of
254alabaster yn the quire of Stanthorp College, and Margarete
255his first wife on the lift hond of hym: and on the right hond
256lyith the image of Johan his 2. wife, but she is buried at
257Lincoln by her mother Catarine Swineford Duches of Lancaster.
258    This Johan erectid the very house self of the college of
259Stanthorp, it is set on the north side of the collegiate chirch,
260and is strongly buildid al of stone.
261    The rennith by the north side of the college a bek caullid
262Langley Bek. it risith a 5. miles of by west in the paroch
263of Midleton, and cumming thorough Langeley takith the
264name of it, and a mile or more beneth goith into Tese lower
265then Salaby Mr. Brakenbyris place.
266    From Stanthorp to Barnardes Castel by meately good
267corne and pasture 5. miles. This is a meatly praty toun,

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268having a good market and meatly welle buildid. The toun
269self is but a part of Gaineford paroch, wher the hed chirch is
2706. miles lower on Tese and in the bisshoprike. The castelle
271of Barnard stondith stately apon Tese. The first area hath
272no very notable thing yn it, but the fair chapelle, wher be 2.
273cantuaries. In the midle of the body of this chapel is a fair
274marble tumbe with an image and an inscription about it yn
275French. Ther is another in the south waul of the body of
276the chapelle of fre stone, with an image of the same. Sum
277say that they were of the Bailliolles. The inner area is very
278large, and partely motid and welle furnishid with toures of
279great logging. ther belong 2. parkes to this castelle; the
280one is caullid Marwood, and thereby is a chace that berith
281also the name of Marwood, and that goith on Tese ripe up
282into Tesedale.
283    There is but a hil betwixt the chaces of Langeley and
284Marwod.
285    This is by a nere estimation the course of Tese:
286    Yade More hath the hedde of Tese, then it takith a
287course emong rokkes, and reseyving divers other smaul
288hopes or bekkes, and cummith much by wild ground for
289a 8. or x. miles to Ægleston bridge wel archid: then to
290Barnard Castel bridge very fair of 3. arches: then to Perse
291bridge sumtime of 5. arches, but a late made new of 3.
292arches.
293    There is a prati chapel of our Lady hard by Perse bridg
294of the fundation of John Bailliol King of Scottes.
295    Thens to Crofte bridge 5. miles; and so to Yarham
296bridge a ... TEXT INCOMPLETE IN THE MANUSCRIPT miles; and thens to Stokton, wher is a
297fery, 3. miles; and so a 4. miles to Tesemouth.
298    From Barnardes Castelle over the right fair bridge on Tese
299of 3. arches I enterid straite into Richemontshire, that stil
300streaccith up with that ripe to the very hed of Tese.
301    From this bridge I ridde a mile on the stony and rokky
302bank of Tese to the bek caullid Thuresgylle, a mile from
303Barnardes Castelle, and there it hath a bridge of one arche
304and straite enterith into Tese.
305    The priory of Egleston joinith hard to this bekk and also
306hanggith over the high bank of Tese.

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307    Ther is a meatly good wood on eche side of Tese about
308Barnardes Castel.
309    I saw in the body of the chirch of Egleston to very fair
310tumbes of gray marble. In the greatter was buried, as I
311lernid, one Syr Rafe Bowes. and yn the lesser one of the
312Rokesbys.
313    Hard under the clif by Egleston is found on eche side of
314Tese very fair marble, wont to be taken up booth by marbelers
315of Barnardes Castelle and of Egleston, and partly to
316have be wrought by them, and partely sold onwrought to
317other.

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318    From Farley I ridde a mile of by woddy ground to a
319graung great and welle buildid, that longid to Henton-priorie
320of Chartusians. This priory stondith not far of from this
321graunge on the brow of an hille abouth a quarter of a mile
322from the farther ripe of Frome, and not far from this place
323Frome goith ynto Avon.
324    I rodde by the space of a mile or more by woddes and
325mountaine grounde to a place, where I saw a rude stone
326waulle hard on the right hond by a great lengthe as it had
327beene a park waulle. One sins told me that Henton
328priory first stode there, if it be so it is the lordship of
329Hethorpe that was qyvengyven to them for their first habitation.
330    And about a mile farther I cam to a village, and passid
331over a ston bridge where ranne a litle broke there they
332caullid Mitford-water.
333    This brooke risith in the rootes of Mendip-hilles a 7.
334miles or more by west south west from this bridge, and goith
335about a mile lower into Avon.
336    From this bridge to Bath 2. good miles al by mountayne
337ground and quarre, and litle wood in syte.
338    About a mile from Bath I left the way that ledith to
339Bristow for them that use from Saresbyri to Bristow.
340    Or ever I cam to the bridge of Bath that is over Avon I
341cam doun by a rokky hille fulle of fair springes of water: and
342on this rokky hille is sette a longe streate as a suburbe to the
343cyte of Bath: and in this streat is a chapelle of S. Mary
344Magdalen. Ther is a great gate with a stone arche at the
345entre of the bridge.

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346    The bridge hath v. fair stone arches.
347    Bytwixt the bridge and the south gate of Bath I markid
348fair medows on eche hand, but especially on the lift hond,
349and they ly by south west on the toun.
350    The cite of Bath is sette booth yn a fruteful and pleasant
351botom, the which is environid on every side with greate
352hilles, out of the which cum many springes of pure water
353that be conveyid by dyverse ways to serve the cite. Insomuch
354that leade beyng made ther at hand many houses yn
355the toune have pipes of leade to convey water from place to
356place.
357    There be 4. gates yn the town by the names of est, west,
358north and south.
359    The toune waulle within the toune is of no great highth
360to theyes: but without it is a fundamentis of a reasonable
361highth. and it stondith almost alle, lakking but a peace about
362Gascoyn's-tower.
363    In the walles at this tyme be no tourres saving over the
364toune gates.
365    One Gascoyne an inhabitante of the toune in hominum
366memoria made a litle peace of the walle that was in decay, as
367for a fine for a faught that he had committid in the cite:
368wherof one part as at a corner risith higher then the residew
369of the walle, wherby it is communely caullid Gascoyne-tower.
370    There be divers notable antiquitees engravid in stone
371that yet be sene yn the walles of Bathe betwixt the south
372gate and the weste gate: and agayn betwixt the west gate
373and the north gate.
374    The first was an antique hed of a man made al flat and
375having great lokkes of here as I have in a coine of C. Antius.
376    The secunde that I did se bytwene the south and the north
377gate was an image, as I tooke it, of Hercules: for he held
378yn eche hand a serpent.
379    Then I saw the image of a foote man vibrato gladio &
380praetenso clypeo .

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381    Then I saw a braunch with leves foldid and wrethin into
382circles.
383    Then I saw ij. nakid imagis lying a long, the one imbracing
384the other.
385    Then I saw to antique heddes with heere as rofelid yn
386lokkes.
387    Then I saw a grey-hound as renning, and at the taile of
388hym was a stone engravid with great Romane letters, but I
389could pike no sentence out of it.
390    Then I saw another inscription, but the wether hath except
391a few lettres clere defacid.
392    Then I saw toward the west gate an image of a man embracid
393with 2. serpentes. I took, it for Laocoon.
394    Betwixt the weste and the north gate.
395    I saw 2. inscriptions, of the wich sum wordes were evident
396to the reader, the residew clene defacid.
397    Then I saw the image of a nakid man.
398    Then I saw a stone having cupidines & labruscas
399intercurrentes .
400    Then I saw a table having at eche ende an image vivid
401and florishid above and beneth. In this table was an inscription
402of a tumbe or burial wher in I saw playnly these wordes:
403vixit annos xxx . This inscription was meately hole but very
404diffusely written, as letters for hole wordes, and 2. or 3.
405letters conveid in one.
406    Then I saw a. 2 images, wherof one was of a nakid manne
407grasping a serpent in eche hand, as I tooke it: and this
408image was not far from the north gate.
409    Such antiquites as were in the waulles from the north gate
410to the est, and from the est gate to the south, hath been
411defacid by the building of the monastery, and making new
412waulles.
413    I much doubte wither these antique workes were sette in
414the tyme of the Romans dominion in Britayne in the waulles
415of Bath, as they stand now: or wither they were gatherid of
416old ruines ther, and sins set up in the walles reedified in
417testimonie of thantiquite of the toun.
418    There be 2. springes of whote wather in the west south
419west part of the towne. Wherof the bigger is caullid the
420Crosse Bath, bycause it hath a cross erectid in the midle of
421it. This bath is much frequentid of people deseasid with

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422lepre, pokkes, scabbes, and great aches, and is temperate
423and pleasant, having a 11. or 12. arches of stone in the sides
424for men to stonde under yn tyme of reyne.
425    Many be holp by this bathe from scabbes and aches.
426    The other bathe is a 2. hunderith foote of, and is lesse in
427cumpace withyn the waulle then the other, having but 7.
428arches yn the waulle. This is caullid the Hote Bathe; for
429at cumming into it men think that it wold scald the flesch
430at the first, but after that the flesch ys warmid it is more
431tolerable and pleasaunt.
432    Both these bathes be in the midle of a litle streat, and
433joine to S. John's hospitale: so that it may be thought that
434Reginalde Bisshop of Bathe made this hospitale nere these 2.
435commune bathes to socour poore people resorting to them.
436    The Kinges Bathe is very faire and large standing almost
437in the midle of the towne, and at the west end of the cathedrale
438chirch.
439    The area that this bath is yn is cumpassid with an high
440stone waulle.
441    The brimmes of this bath hath a litle walle incumpasing
442them, and in this waul be a 32. arches for men and women
443to stand separately yn. To this bath do gentilmen resort.
444    Ther goith a sluse out of this bath, and servid in tymes
445past with water derivid out of it 2. places in Bath priorie
446usid for bathes: els voide; for in them be no springes.
447    The colour of the water of the baynes is as it were a depe
448blew se water, and rikith like a sething potte continually,
449having sumwhat a sulphureus and sumwhat onpleasant savor.
450    The water that rennith from the 2. smaul bathes goit by a
451dike into Avon by west bynethe the bridge.
452    The water that goith from the Kinges Bath turnith a mylle,
453and after goith into Avon above Bath-bridge.
454    In al the 3. bathes a man may evidently se how the water
455burbelith up from the springes.
456    Ther be withyn the walles of Bath ... TEXT INCOMPLETE IN THE MANUSCRIPT paroche chirchis,
457of the which the tourrid steple of the paroche chirch at the
458north gate semith to be auncient.
459    There is a paroche chirch and a suburbe without the
460north-gate.

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461    There is an hospital of S. John hard by the Crosse Bathe,
462of the fundation of Reginalde Bisshop of Bathe.
463    The toun hath of a long tyme syns bene continually most
464mayntainid by making of clothe.
465    There were in hominum memoria 3. clothiers at one tyme,
466thus namid, Style, Kent and Chapman, by whom the toun
467of Bath then florishid. Syns the death of them it hath sumwhat
468decayed.
469    It apperith in the booke of the antiquitees of the late
470monasterie of Bath that King Osric in the year of our Lord
471676, Theodore then beyng Arche-bisshop of Cantwarbyri,
472did erect a monasterie of nunnes at Bath, and Bertane was
473the first abbatisse therof.
474    It apperith by a charte that one Ethelmod, a great man,
475gave, by the leave of King Ædelrede, in Theodore tharchbisshop
476of Cantwarbyri's tyme, landes to one Bernguid
477abbatisse of Bath, and to one Foulcburc.
478    The book of thantiquite of the abbay of Bath makith no
479great mention of any great notable doyng of Offa King of the
480Merches at Bathe.
481    The prior of Bath told me, that after the nunnes tyme
482ther wer secular chanons in S. Peter's chirch at Bath;
483paraventure Offa King of Merches set them ther, for I have
484redde that Offa did a notable act at S. Peter's in Bath. Or
485els the chanons cam yn after that the Danes had racid the
486nunry there.
487    Eadgar was a great doer and benefactor to S. Peter's at
488Bath, in whos tyme monkes were yn Bathe, and sins; except
489Alfarus Erl of Merch, that was a scurge of monkes, expellid
490them for a tyme.
491    John a phisitian, born at Tours yn France, and made
492Bisshop of Welles, did obteine of Henry the first to sette his
493se at Bath; and so he had the abbay landes given onto hym,
494and then he made a monk prior ther, deviding the old
495possessions of the monastery with hym.
496    This John pullid doun the old chirch of S. Peter at Bath,
497and erectid a new, much fairer, and was buried in the midle
498of the presbyteri thereof, whos image I saw lying there an 9.
499yere sins, at the which tyme al the chirch that he made lay
500to wast, and was onrofid, and wedes grew about this John
501of Tours' sepulchre.

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502    This John of Tours erectid a palace at Bath in the south
503west side of the monasteri of S. Peter's at Bath; one gret
504squar tour of it with other ruines yet appere.
505    I saw at the same tyme a fair great marble tumbe ther
506of a bisshop of Bath, out of the wich they sayid that oyle
507did distille: and likely; for his body was enbaumid plentifully.
508    There were other divers bisshops buried ther.
509    Oliver King Bisshop of Bath began of late dayes a right
510goodly new chirch at the west part of the old chirch of S.
511Peter, and finishid a great peace of it. The residue of it was
512syns made by the priors of Bath: and especially by Gibbes
513the last prior ther, that spent a great summe of mony on
514that fabrike.
515    Oliver King let almost al the old chirch of S. Peter's in
516Bath to go to ruine. The walles yet stande.
517    King Eadgar was crounid with much joy and honor at S.
518Peter's in Bath; wherapon he bare a gret zeale to the towne,
519and gave very great frauncheses and privileges onto it.
520    In knowledge wherof they pray in al their ceremonies for
521the soule of King Eadgar.
522    And at Whitsunday-tyde, at the which tyme men say that
523Eadgar there was crounid, ther is a king electid at Bath every
524yere of the tounes men in the joyfulle remembraunce of King
525Edgar and the privileges gyven to the toun by hym. This
526king is festid and his adherentes by the richest menne of the
527toun.
528    From Bath to Palton al by hilly ground but plentiful of
529corne and grasse an eight miles.
530    From Palton to Chuton by like ground about a 2. miles.
531    There is a goodly new high tourrid steple at Chuton.
532    From Chuton to Welles by hilly ground but lesse fruteful
533partely in Mendepe about a 5. miles.
534    The toune of Welles is sette yn the rootes of Mendepe
535hille in a stony soile and ful of springes, whereof it hath the
536name. The chefest spring is caullid Andres welles, and
537risith in a medow plot not far above the est end of the
538cathedrale chirch, first renning flat west and entering into
539Coscumb water sumwhat by south.

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540    The toune of Welles is large. I esteme it to lak litle of a
5412. miles in cumpace, al for the most part buildid of stone.
542The streates have streamelettes of springes almost yn every
543one renning, and occupiyth making of cloth. Mawdelyne
544was a late a great clothiar yn Wellys, and so is now his
545sunne.
546    The chifest of the toun lyith by est and west, and sum
547parte cast out with a streat by south, in the out part wherof
548was a chapelle, as sum say, of Thomas Beket.
549    Ther is but one paroch chirch in Welles, but that is large,
550and standith in the west part of the toun: and is dedicate to
551Sainct Cuthberte.
552    There is an hospitale of 24. poore menne and wymen at
553the north side of S. Cuthbertes chirch, there is a cantuary
554preste. The hospitale and the chapelle is buildid al in
555lenghth under one roofe from west to est. Nicolas Budwith
556Bisshop of Bath was founder of this, and brought it almost
557to the perfection, and that that lakkid was completid by one
558John Storthwayt, one of the executors of the testament of
559Bubwith.
560    There was an other hospitale of S. John yn the town,
561stonding hard on the ripe by south of S. Andreas streme.
562This hospitale was foundid by ... TEXT INCOMPLETE IN THE MANUSCRIPT and Hughe, bisshops.
563    Clerk Bisshop of Bath had a late this house gyven to hym
564by the king for the lordship of Dogmeresfeld.
565    There is a conduct in the market place derivid from the
566bisshopes conduct by the licens of Thomas Bekington Bisshop
567sumtyme of Bath, for the which the burgeses ons a yere
568solemply visite his tumbe, and pray for hys sowle.
569    There be xij. right exceding fair houses al uniforme of
570stone high and fair windoid in the north side of the market
571place, joining hard to the north west part of the bisshop's
572palace. This cumly peace of work was made by Bisshop
573Bekington, that myndid, yf he had lyvid lengger, to have
574buildid other xij. on the south side of the market steede,
575the which work if he had complishid it had bene a spectable
576to al market places in the west cuntery.
577    Wyllyam Knight, now Bisshop of Bath, buildith a crosse
578in the market place, a right sumptuus peace of worke: in the

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579extreme circumference wherof be vij. faire pillers, and in
580another circumference withyn them be vj. pillers and yn the
581midle of this circumference one piller; al these shaul bere a
582volte, and over the volte shaul be domus civica .
583    The area afore the bisshop's palace lyith est of the market
584stede, and hath a fair high waul toward the market stede,
585and a right goodly gate house yn it, made of late by Bisshop
586Bekingtun, as it apperith by his armes. On the south side
587of this area is the bisshop's palace dichid brodely and waterid
588about by the water of S. Andres streame let into it. This
589palace ys strongely waullid and embateld castelle lyke, and
590hath in the first front a godly gate house yn the midle, and
591at eche end of the front a round towr, and 2. other round
592towers be lykelyhod yn the southside of the palace, and then
593is ther one at every corner. The haul of the palace ys exceding
594fayre. The residew of the house is large and fair.
595Many bisshops hath bene the makers of it, as it is now.
596    The chanons of Welles had there houses, afore the translation
597of the se to Bath, wher now the bisshop's palace is.
598John of Tours first Bisshop of Bath put them out, and they
599syns hath buildid them a xij. very faire houses, partely on
600the north side of the cimitery of the cathedrale chirch, partely
601without. Bishop Bekington buildid the gate house at the
602west ende of the cemiterie.
603    The decanes place is on the northe side of the cimitery.
604    Ther is at the est ende of the cimitery a volt and a gate,
605and a galery over, made by Bekington.
606    From Welles to Glessenbyri about a 5. miles from north
607to south west.
608    Fyrst yn the toune over S. Andres water by S. John's,
609aboute a quarter of a mile out of Welles I passid over a
610litle broket, an arme of S. Andres water or Welles water:
611And ther as I passid over it I saw hard on the lifte hand a
612stone bridge of one arche. This arme shortly after joynith
613yn the medowes with the principal part of Welles water.
614    And about half a mile beyond this bridg I passid over
615another brook caullid Coscumbe water a bigger streme then
616Welles water.
617    I lernid there, that Welles water metith with Coscumbe

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618water on the right hond not far from the causey, and so go
619yn one botom to the mere.
620    There is a castelle on an hille in this medow about Coscumb
621water, cujus ruinae adhuc apparent , communely caullid
622Fenne-Castel.
623    Cosecumbe broke risith a mile above Shepton, then to
624Shepton, then to Coscumb a mile. Then to Dultingcote
625bridge a 3. miles. Then about a mile dim. to the bridges
626yn the way betuixt Welles and Glessenbyri.
627    Then a mile or more of I cam to a praty streame of water
628that at the stone bridge that I passid over cam doun by the
629lifte hand: and hard above the bridge of one stone arche
630brake ynto 2. partes, and therby I passid over 2. litle stone
631bridgges.
632    Then about half a mile farther I cam to a few houses, and
633so enterid into a very great playne medow of 6. or 7.
634miles about in cumpace by estimation, and so passid about
635a mile farther by a causey onto Hartelake bridg of one
636arche of stone.
637    As much of this playne medow or more as is weste of this
638causey cis pontem de Hertlak is caullid Cranelmore.
639    That part that lyith by est of it, is caullid Seggemore.
640    The water of Sowey cummith thorough this bridge of
641stone, and risith in the rootes of Mendepe-hille by est at
642Doulting village owte of a welle bering the name of S.
643Aldelm.
644    A mile by est or ever this streame cum to Hartelak bridg
645ther is an arme cast out by force out of Sowey water, and a
646marsch walle made by mennys policy betwixt this arme
647forcid out and the principale streame of Sowey, and this
648waulle continuith to Hartelak bridge, and mile lower: and
649then booth go soone after into the mere. If this marsch
650waulle were not kept, and the canales of eche partes of
651Sowey river kept from abundance of wedes, al the plaine
652marsch ground at sodaine raynes wold be overflowen, and
653the profite of the meade lost.
654    From Harkeley bridg I passid by a litle bridge over the
655arme of Sowey.
656    As much of this more or medow ground that lyith beyond

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657Hartelake bridge by west south west is caullid Glessenbyri-More.
658    From Hartlake bridg I passid by a low about a quarter of
659a mile: and then I conscendid by a litle and a litle to hilly
660ground a hole miles ryding, and so enterid into Glessenbyri.
661    The chief streate and longgest of the towne of Glessenbyri
662lyith by est and weste, and at the market crosse in
663the west ende there is a streate by flat south and almost
664northe.
665    There is a market kept in Glessenbyry every weke on the
666Wensday.
667    Ther be 2. paroche chirchis yn Glessenbyri, S. John
668Baptiste on the north side of the principal streat of the toune.
669This is a vary fair and lightsum chirch: and the est part of
670it is very elegant and isled.
671    The body of the chirch hath ... TEXT INCOMPLETE IN THE MANUSCRIPT arches on eche side.
672The quier hath 3. arches on eche side.
673    The quadrate tour for belles at the west end of the
674chirch is very high and fair.
675    Ther lyith on the north side of the quier one Richard Atwell
676that died circa annum D. 1472. This Atwelle did
677much cost in this chirch, and gave fair housing that he had
678buildid in the toune onto it. In Latten called ad fontem .
679    Johanna wife to Atwelle lyith buried in a lyke marble
680tumbe on the south side of the quier.
681    Ther lyith one Camel a gentilman in a fair tumbe in the
682south part of the transept of the chirch.
683    Briwetun river cummith from Briwetun x. miles of to the
684west part of the toun of Glessenbyri, and so rennith to the
685mere a 2. miles lower.
686    Or ever this river cum to Glessenbyri by a mile it cummith
687to a bridge of stone of a 4. arches comunely caullid Pontperlus,
688wher men fable that Arture cast in his swerd.
689    The river brekith at this bridge ynto 2. partes, wherof the
690principalle goith to Glessenbyri.
691    The other goith thoroug low morisch grounde, and metith

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692again with the principal streame or ever that it goith into
693the mere.
694    The mere is as at high waters in winter a 4. miles in cumpace,
695and when it is lest a 2. miles and an half, and most
696communely 3. miles.
697    This lak or mere is a good mile yn lenght: and at the
698ende of it toward west it cummith again in alveum , and going
699about a mile it brekith ynto 2. armes, whereof the one goith
700to Highe-bridge, the other to Rookes-bridge, and so the
701armes goith a sundre to the by crekes.
702    From Wellys by south to Doultingcote bridge of stone,
703under the whiche Coscumbe water rennith about a mile al
704by very ille rokky way.
705    Thens I passid about a mile more by lyke ground, and
706this far I saw sum store of elme wood.