I04 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book VIII. 



tise the Reader, that the least of all these ditches showeth it 

 self two miles from hence betweene Snaile-well and Moultony 



In his account of Cambridgeshire we find the following 

 details : — 



" Not far from hence [Horseheathj are scene here and 

 there those great and long Ditches which certainly the East 

 Angles did cast, to restrain the Mercians, who with sudden 

 inrodes were wont most outragiously to make havocke of all 

 before them. The first of these beginneth at Hinkeston, run- 

 neth Eastwards by Hildershant towards Hors-JieatJi, about five 

 miles in length. The second neere unto this, called Brent- 

 Ditch, goeth from Melborne by Fubner. Where D. Hervies 

 cawsey which I mentioned, endeth, there appeareth also a 

 third forefence or ditch cast up in old time, which beginning 

 at the East banke of the river Cam, reacheth directly by 

 Fenn-Ditton, or more truly Ditch-ton (so called of the very 

 Ditch) betweene Great Wilberham and Fidburn, as farre as to 

 Balsham. At this day [1637] this is called commonly Seaven 

 Diile Dyke, because it is seaven miles from Neivniercate : in 

 times past, Fleani-Dyke in old English, that is Flight-Dyke, of 

 some memorable flight there, as it seameth. At the said 

 Wilberham, sometimes called Wilburgham, dwelt in times 

 past the Barons Lisle of Roug-mount {^De Riibeo monte), men 

 of ancient nobility : of whom John, for his Martiall prowesse, 

 was by King Edward the Third ranged among the first 

 founders of the order of the Garter ; and of that Family there 

 yet remaineth an heire Male, a reverend old Man and full of 

 Children, named Eclmnnd Lisle, who is still Lord of this place. 

 More East from hence five miles within the Country, is to bee 

 scene the fourth forefence or ditch, the greatest of all the rest, 

 with a rampier thereto, which the common people wondering 

 greatly at as a worke made by Devils and not by men, use to 

 call Devils-Dyke : others, Reche-Dyke, of Reche, a little mercate 

 town, where it beginneth. This is doubtlesse that, whereof 

 Abbo Floriacensis, when he describeth the sight of East Eng- 

 land, writeth thus. From tliat part luhereas the Snn inclinetJi 

 Westward, the Province it self adjoyneth to the rest of the 

 Island, and is therefore passable ; but for feare of being overrun 



