Old Hampshire Mapped

Blome's Geography

Temperature of the Air

England is blest with a sweet and temperate Air; the Summer (by reason of the continual and gentle winds) so abating the heats, and the thickness of the air, with frequent showers in the Winter so aswaging the cold; that neither the one, nor the other, are found obnoxious to its Inhabitants: the Summer not scorching, nor the Winter benumming them.

Its fertility.

The whole Country is extreamly fertile, and grateful to the Husbandman, abounding in all things necessary for the use of man, both for food, and rayment. For what Commodities it hath no: of its own natural product, those defects (if properly so tearmed) are supplyed from other Countries, in exchange of ours. The particulars whereof doth, and may at large appear in a Volume lately published by me being a GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION of the four parts of the World, wherein the Commodities, Coyns, Weights, and Measures, as to matter of Trade and Commerce with this Kingdom, are treated of.

Its Grains.
Cattle.
Its Mines, and the Metalls found therein.
Fewel.

The Earth, for the most part, produceth great plenty of grains, as Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats, Pease, Beans, and Tares. And its rich Meadows and Pastures feed innumerable quantities of Cattle, as Oxen and Sheep, insomuch that the English are observed to eat more flesh then any Nation in the World. Here are bred excellent Horses, both for comliness of shape, and service, either for Saddle, Coach, Cart, or Plow. In the bowels of the earth are store of excellent Mines of Lead, Tynn, Iron, and Copper, and some of Silver; and from these Mines, especially from the land of Lead and Tynn, great profit is drawn by the vast quantities both wrought and unwrought, not only used at home, but sent into other Countries. Here are also aboundance of Mines of Coals, which with the Wood which groweth, plentifully serveth the Inhabitants for Fewel. So that if one part is destitute of Wood, that defect is supplyed by Coals. There are other sorts of fewel much used in the Countrey, and especially by the meaner sort of people, called Turff, and Peat, the first being the top or sword of the earth, which they pare off, and the other, they dig out of the earth; and form them in shape of bricks, both which being dryed, make very good firing.

Its Rivers and Fish.

It is everywhere replenished with fresh and delightful streams, many of which are Navigable; in which said Rivers, as also in the Seas that environ the whole Countrey, are found sufficient plenty of excellent Fish, as Salmons, Carps, Trouts, Pikes, Tench, Eels, Flounders, Smelts, Perches, Lampres, Mullets, &c. these are fresh-water Fish. Then in the Seas, Soles, Lobstars, Oysters, fresh Codd, Mackarells, Crabs, Prawns, Whitings, Plaice; and lastly Herrings and Pilchards, which bring a considerable profit to this Kingdom, they finding great vent in Spain, Italy, and elsewhere, and in exchange we receive several good Commodities; and were the fishing Trade more encouraged, and looked after, the great benefit would soon be found.

Its Fowl.

Here are great encrease and plenty of Fowl, both tame and wild, as Turkeys, Swans, Pullain, Geese, and Duks, both tame and wild; and for wild innumerable, as Pheasants, Partridges, Woodcoks, Snipes, Plovers, Black-birds, Veldevers, Quales, Larks, also Herons, Bustards, Heath-cocks, with a hundred of other small Birds, too tedious to repeat.

The Swines-flesh is excellent, being as well gratefull to the Palate, as nourishing the body.

Great profit is drawn from the Cows or Kine by their milk, of which is made Butter and Cheese in such plenty, that this Nation is not able to spend the same. The superfluity is transported to other Nations.

Its Fruits.

The whole Isle is well furnished with Orchards and Gardens, in which are excellent and delicious Fruits, as Mellons, Apricocks, Peaches, Necta- / rines,