The Rivers of Great Britain, Descriptive, Historical, Pictorial: Rivers of the South and West CoastsVarious
History
The Rivers of Great Britain, Descriptive, Historical, Pictorial: Rivers of the South and West Coasts
Various
Great Britain -- Description and travel; Rivers -- Great Britain
Inside the cathedral are many interesting monuments of men who played
large parts in the history of England, and, besides these, the
cathedral has a unique treasure in the far-famed "Mappa Mundi," a
production of one De Haldingham, who lived in the fourteenth century.
This map, if not the oldest, is at least one of the very oldest in
the world. Havergal says of it: "The world is here represented as
round, surrounded by the ocean. At the top of the map is represented
Paradise, with its rivers and trees; also the eating of the forbidden
fruit and the expulsion of our first parents. Above is a remarkable
representation of the Day of Judgment, with the Virgin Mary interceding
for the faithful, who are seen rising from their graves, and being
led within the walls of Heaven. The map is chiefly filled with ideas
taken from Herodotus, Solinus, Isidore, Pliny, and other ancient
historians. There are numerous figures of towns, animals, birds, and
fish, with grotesque customs such as the mediæval geographers believed
to exist in different parts of the world. The four great cities are
very prominent--Jerusalem as the centre of the world; Babylon, with
its famous tower; Rome, the capital of the world ... and Troy.... In
Great Britain most of the cathedrals are mentioned, but of Ireland the
author seems to have known very little." Truly a wonderful record of
the geographical knowledge of the Middle Ages!
Hereford was the birthplace of Nell Gwynne, orange-seller, actress,
and Court favourite--short, red of hair or nearly so, and with feet
so small as to cause general amusement. The street in which she was
born is now called Gwynne Lane, and the place is still pointed out to
tourists who are interested in the story of the famous beauty. David
Garrick also was born in the city.
Before leaving Hereford, it may be worth while to note that here, as
at many other places, it was once the custom to insert a clause in the
indentures of apprentices "that they should not be compelled to live on
salmon more than two days in the week." Needless to say, no such clause
is now necessary. In 1234 the wolves became so numerous about the
outskirts of the city, that a proclamation called upon all the king's
liege people to assist in destroying them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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