Chronicles (1 of 6): The Description of BritaineHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Description of Britaine
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
[Sidenote: Merseie.]
The Merseie riseth among the Peke hils, and from thence going downe to
the Woodhouse, and taking sundrie rilles withall by the waie, it
becommeth the confines betwéene Chester and Darbishires. Going also
toward Goitehall, it méeteth with a faire brooke increased by sundrie
[Sidenote: Goite.]
waters called Goite, whereof I find this short and briefe description.
The Goite riseth not far from the Shire méere hill (wherein the Doue and
the Dane haue their originall) that parteth Darbishire and Chestershire
in sunder, and thence commeth downe to Goite houses, Ouerton, Taxhall,
[Sidenote: Frith.]
Shawcrosse, and at Weibridge taketh in the Frith, and beneath Berdhall,
[Sidenote: Set.]
the Set that riseth aboue Thersethall and runneth by Ouerset. After this
confluence also the Merseie goeth to Goite hall, & at Stockford or
[Sidenote: Tame.]
Stopford towne méeteth with the Tame, which diuideth Chestershire and
Lancastershire in sunder, and whose head is in the verie edge of
Yorkeshire, from whence it goeth southward to Sadleworth Firth, then to
Mukelhirst, Stalie hall, Ashdon Vnderline, Dunkenfield, Denton, Reddish,
and so at Stockford into the Merseie streame, which passeth foorth in
like sort to Diddesbirie, receiuing a brooke by the waie that commeth
from Lime parke, by Brumhall parke and Chedle.
[Sidenote: Irwell.]
From Diddesbirie it procéedeth to Norden, Ashton, Aiston, Flixston,
where it receiueth the Irwell a notable water, and therefore his
description is not to be omitted before I doo go forward anie further
with the Merseie, although it be not nauigable by reason of sundrie
rockes and shalowes that lie dispersed in the same. It riseth aboue
Bacop, and goeth thence to Rosendale, and in the waie to Aitenfield it
taketh in a water from Haselden. After this confluence it goeth to
[Sidenote: Ræus, or Rache.]
Newhall, Brandlesham, Brurie, and aboue Ratcliffe ioineth with the Rache
[Sidenote: Leland speaketh of the Corue water about
Manchester; but I know nothing of his course.]
water, a faire streame and to be described when I haue finished the
Irwell, as also the next vnto it beneath Ratcliffe, bicause I would not
haue so manie ends at once in hand wherewith to trouble my readers.
Being therfore past these two, our Irwell goeth on to Clifton, Hollond,
Edgecroft, Strengwaies, and to Manchester, where it vniteth it selfe
[Sidenote: Yrke.]
with the Yrke, that runneth thereinto by Roiton Midleton, Heaton hill,
[Sidenote: Medlockte.]
and Blackeleie. Beneath Manchester also it méeteth with the Medlocke
that commeth thither from the northeast side of Oldham, and betwéene,
Claiton and Garret Halles, and so betwéene two parkes, falling into it
about Holne. Thence our Irwell going forward to Woodsall, Whicleswijc,
Ecles, Barton, and Deuelhom, it falleth néere vnto Flixton, into the
water of Merseie, where I will staie a while withall, till I haue
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