Old Hampshire Mapped

Blome's Geography

Its Roots, Plants, and Flowers.

rines, Plumbs, Cherries, Mulberries, Grapes, Filberds, Walnuts, Quinces, Apples, and Pears; of the two later excellent Sider and Perry are made in great plenty. Also here is great abundance of other Fruits, as Rarsberries, Strawberries, Goosberries, Currans white and red, &c. Its Roots and Plants are many, and that very good, as Artichoaks, Collyflowers, Cabbages, Carrots, Turneps, Parsneps, &c. And as the Earth is thus kind in affording us, not only excellent Food, but also delicious Fruits, as well grateful to the Stomack, as pleasing to the Palate; so it affordeth to our further content and delight, odoriferous and fragrant Flowers, no less acceptable to the smell and sight, as the Violets, Carnations or Gilliflowers, Tulips, Lilies, Roses, &c.

Its Commodities.

The Commodities that this Kingdom produceth, besides those aforenamed, are Hopps, Linnen-cloth, Tallow, Hides, Leather, Calve-skins, Lamb-skins, Sheep-skins, Cony-skins, and some Furs; Wax, Iron, Lead, Tynn, Copper and Pewter, both wrought and unwrought. Also Stockings; both Silk, Worsted and Yarn; Hats, Saffron, Honey, Wood, Madder, Grains, Butter, Cheese, barrel Herrings, barrel Codd, poor John, Ling, and chiefly Wool, prized not only for its fineness, but for its plenty, which affords clothing for several Nations. There are fine Cloath perpetuances, Serges, Sayes, Bayes, Cottons, Fustians, Worsteds, Kersies, and the like Manufactures made thereof, which are esteemed excellent, as well abroad, as by us at home.

Its Forests, Parks, and Chases.

The whole Kingdom is well furnished with Forests, Chases, Parks, and Warrens, wherein are excellent Deer of divers sorts, and that in great plenty; no want in these places, as elsewhere, is found for delightful Game, both for the Hawk and Hound. Coneys are innumerable, and Hares no way wanting.

Materials for building.

For Buildings it affords all Materials, as Timber, Stone, Brick, Tiles, Slate, Marble, Alebaster, Lime, Lead, Iron, Glass, &c. And for the Edifices of later dayes (for the most part) they are superb Structures.

England may boast of many things above other Nations; viz. that it had the first Christian King in the world, that here hath been more Confessors and Martyrs of Kings and Princes, then any Nation in Europe; that the first that wrote to prove the Pope Antichrist was King James; that there are more Parks, Forests, and Chases, then in any Countrey in Europe, but above all, its wooden wall, the Ships, which are not only a Safe-guard to the Nation, but a terror to foes.

The strength of England.

For the safety of this Kingdom, besides his Majesties Royal Army, which consisteth of several Regiments of Horse and Foot, together with his Life-Guard; there is a standing Militia of Horse and Foot, to with, the Trained Bands of each County of England, which according to the Muster-Roll amounteth unto about 140000 men. And these being instructed in Military Discipline, are under the Command of the respective Lord Lieutenants of the Counties, who are alwayes ready upon beat of Drum, and are maintained, as occasion requireth, at the Counties charge, according to an Act of Parliament made in that behalf.