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TEXT from KEER'S MAP OF WESTMORLAND AND CUMBERLAND,
1605
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Transcription of the descriptive text accompanying the map
of Westmorland and Cumberland, probably by Peter Keer, about
1605, perhaps the edition of 1676. The map and descriptive
text studied are in the Wordsworth Trust Collection, items
GRMDC:2007.38.110 and .128, which may be from different
editions.
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Transcription
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Descriptive text on the reverse of the map of Westmorland
and Cumberland.
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WESTMORLAND.
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CHAPTER XL.
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WESTMORLAND, by some late Latine Writers is called
Westmaria, and Westmorlandia, by some later
Westmoria, and in our English Tongue
Westmorland. It came to be thus named in our language
by the situation, which in every part is so plenteously full
of Moors and high Hills, reaching one to another, that
Westmorland (with us) is nothing else but a Western
moorish Country. Having on the and North-side
Cumberland, on the South part Lanca-shire, on
the East-side York shire, and the Bishoprick of
Durham.
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(2) The length thereof extended from Burton in her
South, to Kirkland in her North part is 30 miles: the
broadest part from East to West, is from the River
Eden to Dunbal raise stones, containing 24
miles, the whole circumference about 112 miles.
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(3) The form thereof is somewhat long and narrow: the Air
sharp and piercing, purging it self from the trouble of
gross foggy mists, and vapours, by reason of which the
people of this Province are not acquainted with strange
diseases or imperfections of body, but live long, and are
healthful, and attain to the number of many years.
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(4) The Soil for the most part of it is but barren, and can
hardly be brought to any fruitfulness, by the industry and
painful labour of the husbandman, being so full of infertile
places, which the Norteern Englishmen call Moors; yet
the more Southerly part is not reported to be so sterile,
but more fruitful in the Vallies, though contained in a
narrow room, between the River Lone, and
Winander-mear, and it is all termed by one name. The
Barony of Kendale or Candale, that is, the
dale by Can, taking the name of the River Can,
that runs through it.
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(5) The
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The text continues; the transcription is taken from loose
pages which may be a different edition:-
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(5) The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were the
Brigantes, mentioned in the several Counties of
York, Lancaster, and Cumberland,
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(6) It is not commended either for plenty of Corn or Cattel,
being neither stored with arable grounds to bring forth the
one, nor pasturage to breed up the other: the principal
profit that the people of this Province raise unto
themselves, is by cloathing.
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(7) The chiefest place of which is Kandale or
Kendale, called also Kirkeby Kendale, standing
on the banke of the River Can. This Town is of great
trade and resort, and for the diligent and industrious
practise of making cloth so excels the rest, that in regard
thereof it carrieth a super-eminent name above them, and
hath great vent and traffique for her woollen cloaths
through all the parts of England. It challengeth not
much glory for Antiquity; only that it accounteth a great
credit, that it hath dignified three Earls with the title
thereof, as John Duke of Bedford, whom
Henry the Fifth (being his brother) advanced upon
that honour, John Duke of Sommerset, and
John de Foix, whom King Henry the Sixth
preferred to that dignity for his honourable and trusty
services done in the French Wars. It is a place of
very civil and orderly government, the which is managed by
an Alderman, chosen every year out of his twelve
Brethren, who are all distinguished and notised from the
rest by wearing of purple garments. The Alderman and his
Senior Brother are alwaies Justices of Peace and Quorum.
There are in it a Town Clerk, a Recorder, two Sergeants at
Mace, and two Chamberlains. By Mathematical observation the
site of this Town is in the degree of Longitude 17. 30
scruples from the first West point, and the Pole elevated in
Latitude to the degree 55. and 15 minutes.
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(8) Places of memorable note for Antiquity are
Verterae, mentioned by Antonine the Emperour;
and Aballaba, which we contractly call Apelby.
In the one, the Northern Engish conspired against
William the Conquerour in the beginning of the
Norman Government. In the other, the
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Aurelian
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New page:-
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Aurelian Maures kept a station in the time of the
Romans, and their high street is yet apparently to be
seen by the ridges thereof, which lead by Apelby to a
place called Brovonacum, mentioned in the Book of
Provincial notices, The antique pieces of Roman Coin
otherwhiles digged up herabouts, and some Inscriptions not
long since found, shew of what continuance they have been:
although Time, which devoureth all things, hath so fed upon
their carkasses many ages together, as it hath almost
consumed both houses and Inhabitants, for Apelby now
is bare both of people and building; and were it not for the
aniquity that makes it the more estimable, in whose Castle
the Assizes are commonly kept, it would be little better in
account than a Village. Verterae is long since
decayed, and the name of it changed to Burgh: for it
is commnly named Burgh under Stanemore. In
which, it is said, a Roman Captain made his abode
with a band of Directores, in the declining age of
the Roman Empire. These two places William of
Newborough called Princely Holds, and writeth, that
William King of Scots a little before he
himself was taken prisoner at Alnewicke, suprized
them on a sudden, but King John recovered them after,
and liberally bestowed them upon Robert Vipont, for
his many worthy services.
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(9) There is mention made but of one religious House that
hath been in all this Country, and that was a little
Monastery seated near unto the River Loder, built by
Thomas the son of Gospatricke, the son of
Orms: where there is a fountain or spring that ebbs
and flows many times a day, and it is thought that some
notable Act of Atchievement hath been performed there, for
that there be huge stones in form of Pyramides, some nine
foot high, and fourteen foot thick, ranged for a mile in
length directly in a row, and equally distant, which might
seem to have been there purposely pitched in memory thereof:
but what that Act was it is not now known, but quite worn
out of rememberance by times injury.
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(10) Other matters worthy observation are only these: that
at Amboglana, now called Am-
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ble-
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Next page:-
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[Am]ble-side, near the upper corner of
Winander Mear, there appears at this day the ruines
of an ancient City, which by the British-Bricks, by
Roman-Money oftentimes found there, by
High-waies paved leading unto it, and other
likelihoods, seems to have been a work of the Romans:
The Fortress thereof so long fenced with a ditch and
rampire, that it took up in length one hundred thirty two
Ells, and in breadth eight. There are also near
Kendale in the River Can, two Catadupae
or Waterfals, where the waters descend with such a
forcible downfall, that it compels a mighty noise to be
heard, which the neighbour Inhabitants make such use of, as
they stand them in good stead as Prognostications: for when
that which standeth North from them soundeth more clear, and
with a louder eccho in their ears, they certainly look for
fair weather to follow: But when that on the South doth the
like, they expect foggy mists and showres of rain.
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(11) This Province is trade with four Market-Towns,
fortified with the strength of seven Castles, and hath 26
Parishes in it for the celebration of Divine Service.
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NOR
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Over the page begins Cumberland (the 'NOR' is an error?)
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Comments
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lat and long
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Notice the description of Kendal:-
By Mathematical observation the site of this Town is in the
degree of Longitude 17. 30 scruples from the first West
point, and the Pole elevated in Latitude to the degree 55.
and 15 minutes.
Kendal is:-
54d 19.5m N, 2d 44.8m W
Which gives a prime meridian for Peter Keer's data, at
20d 15m W of Greenwich. Given there are errors, this is
possibly the zero longitude in the Canaries, used by
Ptolemy.
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