78 diaries G. Osgood, 



This is the modern Wylye, which flows from the northwest to 

 meet the Avon at SaHshury. Camden, speaking of Wiltshire 

 plains, says : 'On the South side thereof, there runne quietly two 

 most still Rivers, Willey-borne . . . and Nadder.' The Nadder 

 is so called from its serpentine windings. Spenser seems to 

 invent, as he is always ready to do, the explanation of the name 

 Wylibourne. Camden adds : 'At the meeting of these two rivers 

 Willey giveth his name to Wilton, a place well watered, and 

 sometime the head towne of the whole Shire, which thereof tooke 

 the name' (Wiltshire, pp. 245-6). So unimportant a stream as 

 the Wylye may well have found its place in the procession by 

 way of honor to Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke, who lived 

 at Wilton House, on its banks. 



And Mole, that like a nousling mole doth make 



His way still under ground, till Thamis he overtake. 



This is the modern Mole, which flows from north of Dorking, 

 Surrey, and joins the Thames at Hampton Court. Spenser 

 dotibtless found the reason for its name in Camden : 'Within 

 some few miles from thence the river Mole, having from the 

 South side passed through the whole country, hasteneth to joine 

 with the Tamis ; but at length beeing letted by overthwart hils, 

 maketh him selfe a way under the ground in manner of a mould- 

 warp ; . . . Avhereof it may seeme it tooke name, seeing that 

 creatvu'e living within the ground, is called also in English a 

 Mole' (Surrey, p. 296). On Norden's map of Surrey"" this 

 interruption of the Mole's course is indicated at Mickleham, but 

 I find no modern mention of it. At this point the river swings a 

 half mile out of its general direction around a rise of ground, 

 From Camden's indefinite statement Spenser proceeds to repre- 

 sent that much of the river's course runs undergroimd. 



Then came the Rother, decked all with woods 



Like a wood god, and flowing fast to Rhy : 



And Sture, that parteth with his pleasant floods 



The easterne Saxons from the southerne ny. 



And Clare and Harwitch both doth beautify: 



Him follow'd Yar, soft washing Norwitch wall 



And with him brought a present joyfully 



Of his owne fish imto their festivall, 



Whose like none else could shew, the which they ruffins call.^' 



1610, in Speed's Theatre. 

 St. 33- 



