ðiːz wɜːɹ ɪnˈɪʃəli dˈiːmd tə kəmpɹˈaɪz tʃˈɛʃɚ, ʃɹˈɑːpʃɚ, hˈɜːfɚdʃɚ, wˈʊstɚʃɚɹ ænd ɡlˈɑːstɚʃɚ; ðə sˈɪɾi ʌv bɹˈɪstəl wʌz ɛɡzˈɛmptᵻd ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd fˈaɪvhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti tˈuː, ænd tʃˈɛʃɚɹ ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd fˈaɪvhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti nˈaɪn.
These were initially deemed to comprise Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire; the City of Bristol was exempted in 1562, and Cheshire in 1569.