Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/157



it runneth on to Altham, and so to Martholme, where the Henburne brooke doth joyn with all, that goeth by Alkington chappell, Dunkinhalge, Rishton, and so into ye Calder as I have sayde before. The Calder therefore being thus inlarged, runneth forth to Reade (where M. Noell dwelleth), to Whalley, and soon after into Ribell, that goeth from this confluence to Salisbury hal, Ribchester, Osbaston, Sambury, Keuerden, Law, Ribles bridge, and then taketh in the Darwent, before it goeth by Pontwarth or Pentworth into the sea. The Darwent devideth Leland shire from Andernesse, and it ryseth by east above Darwent Chappell, and soone after uniting it selfe with the Blackeburne, and Rodlesworthe water it goeth thorowe Howghton Parke, by Howghton towne, to Walton hall, and so into the Ribell. As for the Sannocke brooke, it ryseth somewhat above Longridge Chappell, goeth to Broughton towne, Cotham, Lee hall, and so into Ribell."

"From Penigent's proud foot as from my source I slide, That mountain, my proud sire, in height of all his pride, Takes pleasure in my course as in his first-born flood, And Ingleborrough too, of that Olympian brood, And Pendle, of the north, the highest hill that be, Do wistly me behold, and are beheld of me. These mountains make me proud, to gaze on me that stand, So Longridge, once arrived on the Lancastrian strand, Salutes me, and with smiles me to his soil invites, So have I many a flood that forward me excites, As Hodder that from Home attends me from my spring, Then Calder, coming down from Blackstonedge doth bring Me easily on my way to Preston, the greatest town Wherewith my banks are blest, where, at my going down, Clear Darwen on along me to the sea doth drive, And in my spacious fall no sooner I arrive, But Savock to the north from Longridge making way To this my greatness adds, when in my ample bay, Swart Dulas coming in from Wigan, with her aids, Short Taud and Dartow small, two little country maids, In these low watery lands and moory mosses bred, Do see me safely laid in mighty Neptune's bed, And cutting in my course, even through the heart Of this renowned shire, so equally it part, As nature should have said, lo! thus I meant to do, This flood divides this shire, thus equally in two."

The beautiful scenery and historical associations of the Ribble render it the most interesting and charming of the several rivers which water the county of Lancaster. The quietude of its fair valley has on more than one occasion been rudely broken by the clash of arms, and students of our country's history will readily