William Camden's description of Aylesbury.

William Camden (1551 to 1623) described Aylesbury in his work "The Britannia" as follows:

"Not far from the river Tame, which watereth the south part of the Vale, stands on a rising ground a very fair Market-town, large and pretty populous, surrounded with a great number of pleasant meadows and pastures, and now call'd Ailsbury; whence the whole Vale is commonly term'd the Vale of Ailsbury. The Saxons call'd it Aeglesburge, when Cutwolph the Saxon took it by force in the year 572. As for its old British name, that through the injury of time is quite lost. This town was heretofore chiefly famous for St. Ædith, a native of it, who when she had prevail'd with her father Frewald to give her this for her portion, presently upon perswasion of some Religious persons, left the world and her husband, and taking on her the habit of a Nun, grew so celebrated for her sanctity, that in that fruitful age of Saints she is reported to have done several miracles, together with her sister Edburg, from whom Edburton, a little village among the hills, takes its name. In the time of the Conquerour this was a Manour-royal, and several yard-lands were here given by the King, upon the condition that the holders of them should find Litter (i.e. straw) for the King's bed whenever he should come thither. In the reign of Edward I. certain Knights surnam'd de Ailsbury, who bore for arms a Cross argent in a field azure, are reported (but how truly I know not) to have been Lords of this place. Yet so much is certain, that these Knights were eminent in those times; and that by marriage with an heiress of the Cahaignes (formerly Lords of Middleton Cahaignes) they came to a plentiful estate, which fell afterwards by marriage to the Chaworth's or de Cadurcis, and Staffords. The greatest repute it now hath is for Cattel. It owes much to the munificence of Lord chief Justice Baldwin, who not only addorn'd it with several publick edifices, but rais'd an excellent Causey for about three miles, where the road is deep and troublesome. All round about are fed a vast number of well-fleec'd sheep, to the great profit and advantage of their owners; especially at Querendon, a Lordship belonging to the very eminent Sir Henry Lee Knight of the Garter; Eythorp, once to the Dinhams, now to the Dormers, Knights; and Winchindon, to the Godwins, Knights, &c."