University of Virginia Library

Passages and Entertainments from London to Leicester, with some observations of the said Town and Shire.

Upon Saint Swithins day, I noted well,
The wind was calme, nor any rain then fell,
Which faire day (as old sawes saith) doth portend,
That heav'n to earth, will plenteous harvest send,
The morrow being Julies sixteenth day,
In my progression I began my way.
I need not to relate the towns that lie
Just in my way, (as I road through or by)
Onely at Mims, a Cockney boasting bragger
In mirth, did aske the women for Belswagger,
But strait the females, like the Furies fell,
Did curse, scold, raile, cast dirt, and stones pell mell,
But we betook us nimbly to our spurs,
And left them calling us rogues, Knaves, and curs,
With other pretty names, which I discern'd
They from their old fore-mothers well had learn'd.
The reason why they are with rage inflam'd,
When as they heare Belswagger nam'd.
Is (as report doth say) there dwelt a Squire,
Who was so full of love, (or lusts desire)
That with his faire tongue, Hippocritick-hood,
(By slanderous people 'twas misunderstood)
The women were so fruitfull, that they were
All got with childe, in compasse of one yeare,
And that Squires name, they say, Belswagger was,
And from that tale, the lying jeere doth passe,
Wherefore the women there will chide and swagger,
If any man do aske them for Belswagger.
Thence past I on my journey unto Hockly,
Where as I saw a Drunkard like a block lye,
There I alighted at the sanguine Lion,
Where I had meat, drink, and a bed to lie on,
The next day I road stately to Northampton,
And all the way my horse most proudly stampt on,
On Thursday, trotting, galloping and ambling,
To Leister, I proceeded in my rambling:
There, at the blue Boare I was welcome than
Unto my brother Miles, a downright man,
Plain dealing, free from flattery, fraud or feare,
Who hath liv'd long with reputation there,
He's old and honest, valiant, courteous, free:
(I write not this for making much of me)
But they that doubts on't, let them go and try
And if he be a changling, say I lie.
That house, King Richard lodg'd in, his last night,
Before he did the field of Bosworth fight,
And there's a Room, a King to entertain,
The like is not in Leister Town again,
Th'Assizes then were there, some causes tride,
And Law did there the corps and souls divide,
Of two offenders, one had with a Knife
Stabd his contracted love, and reav'd her life,
'Tother, a wench that had stolne some poor rayment,
And fir'd the house, deserv'd the Hangmans payment.
King Leir a Temple did to Janus reare
And plac'd a Flamine in't, there doth appeare
The arched Ovens foure yards thick at least,
Wherein they Heathen Sacrifices drest;
Like as the Jews in their Idolatry,
Offered their sonnes and daughters impiously,
To Moloch, Nisroch, Ashtaroth, and Ball:
And to those devillish gods adore and fall,
So people here, when warre or peace they sought;
They offrings unto Janus Temple brought;
This was eight hundred forty and foure yeare
Before our Saviours birth, built by King Leire,
Long after Eltreldred (the Mercian King)
A happy and a Christian change did bring,
The Temple raz'd the Flamine he defac'd,
And there a Christian Bishops Sea he plac'd,
Which last but few yeares, for then this Land
Was seven-fold yoaked, beneath 7 Kings command,
And those Kings still were in perpetuall wars
That England was quite spoyl'd with endlesse jars,
And in those Garboyles Leister had her share,
Spoy'ld, rifled, ransack'd, rob'd, and left most bare,
Till Edelfred, with great magnificence,
Repair'd and wall'd it strongly for defence.
Then did it flourish long in wealth and state,
Till second Henry it did ruinate:
He in out-ragious fury fir'd the Town,
Diswall'd it quite, and cast the Castle down,
So nothing but some ruines doth appeare,
Whereby men may perceive that such things were.
Thus Leister fell, from state superlative,
Her fifty churches all consum'd to five.
Yet it is faire and spacious at this day,
And East, West, North and South 'tis every way
Above a mile in length, so that no doubt,
The Town's in circuit six large miles about.
Henry first Duke of Lancaster in war,
In peace, or bounty, a bright blazing Star
For buildings in this City is renown'd,
Which as time rais'd, time did again confound.
Yet one large fabrick there doth still abide,
Whereby the good Dukes name is dignifide.
And that's an Hospitall or Bead-house, where
One hundred and ten men are harbour'd there,
From perishing through want, still to defend
Those aged men untill the world shall end.
Twice every day a Chaplain doth repair
To them; and unto God sends prayse and prayer,
And Nurses are allow'd to dresse their meat,
To make their beds, to wash, and keep them neat:
For which they thankefull be to God alone
Who rais'd such means to ease the poor mans mone.
Good Henry Earle of Huntingdon (renown'd)
A free schoole did erect there, from the ground,
With means (though meane) sor mayntenance endow'd
Two Vshers, and one Schoolmaster allow'd,
They teach young lads, such Rules as do belong,
To reade the English and the Latine tongue,
And when their knowledge is with hope discernd,
They in the Greek may learn, and be more learn'd.