noble Exercises and appearing abroad according to their Rank and Quality Honour and Integrity Justice and Sobriety Courage and Wisdom were Virtues they excelled in A Lord's House was then lookt upon as a well disciplined Court where Servants lived not only in Plenty but in great Order with the Opportunity of getting good Breeding and the Prospect of raising themselves in the World by their Lords Bountifulness and innate Generosity How far the Case is altered 't is but too plain Yet it is hoped a virtuous and generous Prince will bring back that Golden Age. But there is an additional Honour the most ancient Order of the Garter wherein some of the chief of our Nobility have ever had a share since its first Institution The Founder of this Order was that warlike and potent Prince King Edward III who several times triumphed over France and Scotland Polydore Virgil gives it a slight Original but his Grounds by his own Confession grew from the vulgar Opinion Which is that Edward III having obtained many great Victories King John of France and David Bruce of Scotland being both his Prisoners King Henry of Castille the Bastard expulsed and Don Pedro restored by Edward the Black Prince did upon no weighty Occasion first erect this Order Anno 1350. Who dancing with the Queen and other Ladies of the Court took up a Garter that hapned to fall from one of them Whereat some of the Lords smiling the King said that e're it were long he would make that Garter to be of high Reputation and shortly after instituted this Order A very unlikely Thing that so noble an Order should be raised on so mean a Foundation Whereas according to Cambden and several others the Institution of this Order by the foresaid King Edward was upon his good success in a Skirmish wherein the King's Garter was used for a Token The Order first Instituted by the Name of the Order of S. George the Patron of England and of this Order in particular And because the Garter was the only part of the whole Habit of the Order made choice of at first to be constantly worn it came in process of Time to be called the Order of the Garter The same consists of a Sovereign which is always the King of England and 25 Companions called Knights of the Garter some of them Princes of other Countries and the rest Noblemen of this Kingdom And 't is observed that there have been of this Order since the Institution no less than 8 Emperours and 27 or 28 forein Kings besides many Sovereign Princes of a lower Rank The Garter to be daily worn upon the left Leg by the Companions of this Order is a blue Garter deckt with Gold Pearl and precious Stones and a Buckle of gold They are not to be seen abroad without it upon pain of paying two Crowns to any Officer of the Order who shall first claim it Only upon a Journey a blue Ribbon may serve instead of it The Meaning of the Garter is to put the Companions of the Order in mind that as by this Order they were joyned in a firm League of Amity and Concord so by their Garter as by a fast Tie of Affection they are obliged to love one another Now to prevent an ill Construction of it King Edward commanded these French Words to be fixt upon it Honi soit qui mal y pense that is Shame be to him that thinks evil of it And it was done in France because England being then possessed of a great Part of France the French Tongue was the usual Language in the King of England's Court. Besides the Garter the honourable Companions are to wear at Installations and high Feasts a Surcoat a Mantle a high black Velvet Cap a Collar of pure gold with other stately and magnificent Apparel The Collar composed of Roses enamelled Red within a Garter enamelled Blue with the usual Motto in Letters of gold and between each of these Garters a Knot with Tassels of gold By an Order made April 1626 they are to wear on the left side of their Upper Garment whether Cloak or Coat an Escutcheon of the Arms of S. George that is the Cross of England incirled with the Garter and Motto from whence round about are cast Beams of Silver like the Rays of the Sun in full lustre which is commonly called the Star To this Order belongs a Colledge seated in the Castle of Windsor with S. George's Chappel there erected by King Edward and the Chapter-house The Colledge being a Corporation has a great Seal and several Officers belonging to it The principal of these is the Prelate of the Garter which Office is settled on the Bishoprick of Winchester Next the Chanceliour of the Garter the Bishop of Salisbury for the time being A Register the Dean of Windsor Garter the principal King at Arms who manages and marshals their Solemnities at their Installations and Feasts And lastly the Usher of the Garter who is also the Usher of the Black-Rod To the Chappel there belongs 14 Secular Canons and 13 Vicars all Priests Besides 26 poor Knights maintained by this Colledge for their Prayers to the Honour of God and S. George The Solemnity of this Order is performed yearly on S. George's Day the 23th of April As for the Orders and Constitutions belonging to this Society touching the Solemnities in making these Knights their Duties after Creation and their high Priviledges they are too long to be inserted here CHAP. XX. Of the Gentry of England NExt to the Nobility which is lookt upon as the Flower of the Kingdom let us take a View of the English Gentry called by some the lesser or lower Nobility and Keeping a middle Rank betwixt the Nobles and the Common People Of these there are three Degrees Knights Esquires and Gentlemen We have now but three sorts of Knights in England besides the Knights of the Garter Viz. Baronets Knights of the Bath and Knights Batchelours The Degree of Baronets is the next to Barons and the only Degree of Knighthood that is Hereditary An Honour first Instituted by King James I Anno 1611 conferred by a Patent upon a Man and his Heirs Males of his Body lawfully begotten The Purchase of it does commonly arise Fees and all to 1200 l. the Purchaser being to pay besides the Fees as much Mony as will pay for 3 Years 30 Foot-Souldiers at 8 pence a Day to serve in the Province of Ulster in Ireland Therefore they have the Priviledge to bear in a Canton of their Coat of Arms or in a whole Scutcheon the Arms of â—lster viz. in a Field Argent a Hand Gules In the King's Armies they have place in the gross near the King's Standard And for their Funerals they have also particular Priviledges The whole Number of them by the first Institution is not to exceed 200 at one and the same time After which Number compleated as any one for want of Heirs come to be extinct the Number is
Escheator and other Officers to the great ease of all the Country in expedition of their Business Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire but two Members of Parliament and Chester only has the Right of Election CORNWAL the furthest County in the West of England is on all sides surrounded with the Sea except Eastward where the River Tamer parts it from Devonshire It s Length from East to West is about 70. miles and the broadest Part next to Devonshire 40. The Whole divided into nine Hundreds wherein 161 Parishes and 21 Market Towns The Country being for the most part but narrow you cannot expect here Rivers of any long Course The Tamer aforesaid is the most considerable next to which you have the Camel and the Fale Here the Air is pure and subtile but much subject to Winds and stormy Weather and more apt to preserve than to recover Health especially to Strangers The Spring is something backward here which makes the Harvest to be later than in the Eastern Parts but on the other side the Winter does prove milder The Country in general is hilly and rocky the Rocks being crusted over with a shallow Earth The Parts towards the Sea are the most fruitful both in Corn and Pasturage Which happens partly by the industrious manuring the Ground with a fruitful sort of Sand and a Sea-weed called Orewood The middle Parts except the Inclosures about Towns and Villages ly generally waste and open and serve chiefly for Summer Cattel But as to Game both for the Hawk and the Hound here 's great store of it One Thing it excels all other Counties in and that is its Tin Mines the Tin whereof goes beyond any in Europe for fineness Here is also found in some Rocks a sort of precious Stone called the Cornish Diamond shaped and polished by Nature and some of them as big as a Walnut but indeed not so hard as the right Diamond For Fishing of Pilchards this is the Place the Time from July to November When the Sea does so swarm of them that enough can be spared to supply France Spain and Italy with them in great Stores the smoaked one being called Fumados in Italy where they pass for a great Dainty In Mounts Bay is the famous Hill called S. Michael's Mount severed from the main Land by a sandy Plain which at Ebb-water may be passed over on foot A Hill that proudly raises it self to a great eminence the top of it being a small Plain the greatest part on 't taken up by an old Fort. Nigh unto the said Bay is a strong Rock called Main Amber which lieth as it were mounted on others of a smaller size with so equal a Counterpoise that it may be stirred but not moved out of its place And in S. Cleere's Parish there are upon a Plain 6 or 8 Stones such as are upon Salisbury Plain Which like them too will be mistaken in their telling so that when they are told over again they will be found either more oâ— less than before At Boskenna is a Trophy erected 18 Stone placed round and pitched 12 foot from each other with another in the Center far biggeâ— than the rest And in many Places hereaboutâ— are Pieces of Armour both for Horse and Man digged out of the Ground Among Sea-faring Men here are besideâ— the Harbours two Places of chief note â— viz. the Lizard Point and the Lands End The first is the furthest part South-West of the Goon hilly Downs a pretty large Tract 〈◊〉 Ground shooting forth from the main Land into the South Sea The Lands End is the furthest Point Westward of Cornwal and consequently of England Lanceston the County Town bears from London West-South-West and is distant there from 170 miles Viz. from London to Salisbury 70 miles for the particulars of which 〈◊〉 refer you to Wiltshire from thence to Shaftâ— bury 18 to Sherburn 12 more to Axminster 19 to Honiton 7 more thence to Exeter 12. and to Lanceston 32 more This Town is seated on the banks of a small River called Kensey and not far from its falâ— into the Tamer A Town of good Trade anâ— well inhabited whose Market on Saturdayâ— is well frequented and served with Provisions Here are held the Assises for this County The other Market Towns are Saltash Sat. Foway Sat. East-Lowe Sat. Padstow Sat. Grampound Sat. Tregny Sat. Helston Sat. Iiskerd Sat. Bâ—dmin Sat. Stratton Tue. Truro Wedn. Sat. Penrin Wedn. Frid. Sat. S. Ives Wedn. Frid. S. Colomb Thu. Falmouth Thu. Market-Jew Thu. Penzance Thu. Listhiel Frid. S. Germans Frid. Camelford Frid. Falmouth the most-frequented Place in these Parts by Mariners deserves a particular Description First it is called Falmouth from its Situation at the Mouth of the River Fale and that in a fertile Tract of Ground called Roseland which contains several Parishes and feeds great Flocks of Sheep The Haven before it is so safe and so capacious that the Town has thriven of late very much upon it the Creeks being coasted with steep Shores and so large withal that 100 Sail of Ships may safely ride at Anchor Besides it lieth more in the way of Trade to wind-driven Ships than Plimouth in Devonshire And over against it is the Castle called Pendennis erected for the better security of this Coast by King Henry VIII But that which adds much of late to the Reputation of Falmouth is his Majesty's setling of a Sea-Post here for Spain and Portugal whereby all immediate Correspondence with France is interrupted at least during this present War and the Benefit of it cut off from that Kingdom The Groyn a Sea-Port Town of Gallicia in Spain is the Place appointed to receive our Packetâ— there from thence to be distributed through all Places of Correspondence both in Spain and Portugal Lastly this Town is of some note for giving the Title of Viscount to the Duke of Northumberland Further in the County Northward lies Truro a Town of good note seated in the middle oâ— two Streams that run into Falmouth Haven and giving the Title of Baron to the Right Honourable Charles Bodvile Roberts Earl of Radnor Penrin another Town of note lies something nearer but to the Northwest of Falmouth on a Creek of Falmouth Haven Penzance and Market-Jew stand over against one another West and East of Mounts Bay the first a good traded Town the other but inconsiderable Eastward you will find Fouay East and Weâ— Iowe upon the South Sea and on the North or Irish Sea the Havens of Padstow and S. Ives The rest of the Market Towns are up in the Country This County which formerly was part of the ancient Kingdom of the West Saxons and the Inhabitants together with those of Devonshire Known among the old Romans by the Name oâ— Danmonii is now in the Diocese of Exeter Out of it are elected besides the two Knightâ— of the Shire no less than 42 Members to sit iâ— Parliament Viz. two out of
Places to amongst the numerous Towns that are here few can boast of any Beauty Stafford the Shire-Town from whence the County takes its Name bears from London North-West and is distant therefrom 104 miles thus From London to Northampton 54 miles for the particulars whereof I refer you to Northamptonshire from thence to Coventry 20 miles to Lichfield 20 more and thence to Stafford 10. A Town pleasantly seated on the Banks of the-River Sowe which washes its South and West Parts with a Bridge over it Formerly fenced with a Wall except where it was secured by a large Pool or Water on the North and East Here are two Parish-Churches a free School and a fine Market-Place The Streets are large and graced with many good Buildings And its Market which is kept on Saturdays is well served with most sorts of Provisions This Town did formerly belong to the noble Family of the Staffords first with the Title of Earl hereof and afterwards of Lord or Baron Henry Stafford was the last of that Line who dying Anno 1639 the Family of the Staffords died also with him But the next year after William Howard Knight of the Bath and second Son of Thomas Earl of Arundel and Surrey having to Wife a Daughter of the last Lord Stafford was by King Charles I. created Viscount and Lord Stafford Who being found Guilty of High Treason by his Peers Dec. 7th 1680 was beheaded upon Tower-Hill Dec. 29. But the Title was in the late Reign revived in his Son Henry the present Earl of Stafford Lastly though Stafford be the County-Town yet it is not the chief either for extent or beauty it being out-done by Lichfield a City and County of it self seated in a low and Moorish Ground on a shallow Pool by which it is divided into two Parts both joyned together by a Bridge and a Causey and making up a City of indifferent bigness In the South Part which is the greater of the two stands a Grammar-School for the Education of Children and an Hospital dedicated to S. John for the Relief of the Poor In the other Parts there 's nothing considerable but a fair Cathedral and that sufficient of it self to renoun the Place First built by Oswin King of Northumberland about the Year 656 who gave the Bishops hereof many Possessions Afterwards being taken down by Roger de Clinton the 37th Bishop of this Diocese that which now stands was built by him and dedicated to the Virgin Mary and S. Chad. Besides the Cathedral this City has 3 Parish Churches And its Weekly Markets kept on Tuesdays and Fridays are well served with Provisions But Lichfield is not only honoured with a Bishops See 'T is dignify'd besides with the Title of an Earldom in the person of the Right Honourable Edward Henry Lee who was created by Charles II. Baron of Spellesbury Viscount Quarendon and Earl of Lichfield Anno 1674. The other Market-Towns are Newcastle Mund. Stone Tue. Betles Tue. Pagets Bromley Tue. Tudbury Tue. Walsall Tue. Ridgeley Tue. Penkridge Tue. Brewood Tue. Leek Wedn. Vtoxeter Wedn. Wolverhampton Wedn. Checkley Thu. Burton Thu. Eccleshall Frid. Tamworth Sat. Among which Newcastle commonly called Newcastle under Line from the Rivulet Line upon which it is seated and that to distinguish it from Newcastle upon Tine in Northumberland is a large Town but mean in its Buildings most of 'em being thatched Vtoxeter and Tudbury are seated on the River Dove Stone and Burton upon Trent the first in the Road from London to Chester and the last famous for its Bridge leading into Derbyshire Pagets Bromley on the Blithe and Checkley on the Teane Tamworth is seated on the Tame where the Auker falls into it with a Stone-Bridge over each It stands part in this County and part in Staffordshire one part washed by the Tame and the other Part by the Auker In short 't is a good Town beautified with a large Church and strengthened with a small but strong Castle Walsall is seated on the top of a high Hill pretty well built and driving a good Trade of Nails Spurs Stirrups Bridle-bits and Bellows made here in great plenty Penkridge a Place of good Antiquity seated near the River Penk is now only famous for its Horse-Fair and chiefly for Saddle-Nags And Brewood for that the Bishops of this Diocese had here their Pallace before the Conquest Wolverhampton was only called Hampton till such time as one Vulver a devout Woman inriched the Town with a Religious House It stands upon a Hill and has a Collegiate Church annexed to the Deanry of Windsor About four miles from this Place stood the Oak where the late King Charles took Sanctuary for some Days after his Defeat at Worcester till he was conveyed to the House of Mrs. Jane Lane who was a chief Instrument in his Conveyance beyond Sea From whence this famous Tree came to be called the Royal Oak Lastly this County formerly Part of the Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants part of the Cornavii is now in the Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire eight Members of Parliament Viz. two out of each of these following Towns Stafford Lichfield Newcastle under Line and Tamworth CHAP. XV. Of Suffolk Surrey and Sussex Suffolk SVFFOLK a large Maritime County is bounded on the East with the German Ocean on the West with Cambridgeshire Northward with Norfolk and Southward with Essex Called Suffolk q. d. Southfolk in opposition to Norfolk which lies North from it It contains in Length from East to West about 45 miles in Breadth from North to South where broadest at least 30. The Whole divided into 22 Hundreds wherein 575 Parishes and 30 Market-Towns A strong Argument of its Populousness Here the Air is counted so wholsom that some London Physicians have prescribed it for the Cure of their consumptive Patients As to the Soil the Eastern Parts all along the Coast for five or six miles Inland are generally heathy sandy and full of bleaâ— Hills yet such as yield abundance of Rye Pease and Hemp and feed abundance oâ— Sheep The more Inland Part commonly called high Suffolk or the Wood-Lands is for the moâ—â— part Clay-Ground and is husbanded chiefly for the Dairy this County being noted foâ— its excellent Butter The Southern Parts along the Borders of Essex and Cambridgeshire are much of the same nature for Wood and Pasture-Ground But the Parts about Bury and to the North-West from thence are generally Champain abounding with excellent Corn of all sorts And as for Parks here are reckoned in this County near upon fifty For Rivers few Counties are so well watered Besides the little Ouse and the Waveney which part it from Norfolk here is the Stoure which severs it from Essex the Orwell or Gippe the Ore Blithe Deben and Breton c. Ipswich the chief Place hereof bears from London North-East and is distant from thence 55 miles thus From London to Colchester 43 miles
Kings and then a Place of larger extent than now it is Near the River stand the broken Walls of an old large Castle and in the midst of the Town is a Church the West-end whereof made of arched Work and imbowed over Head seems to be very ancient In short the Town is beautifull well frequented and full of fair Inns. It contains 3 Parish Churches and its Market which is on Saturdays iis well served with Corn and other Provisions As for honourary Titles the first that had any from hence was Elizabeth Viscountels of Kynelmalky in Ireland Created Countess of Guilford during life by Charles II. Anno 1660. Then in the Year 1671. the same King conferred the Title of Earl of Guilford upon John Maitland the late Duke of Lauderdale in Scotland And after them Francis North Lord Keeper of the Great Seal was advanced to the Peerage by being made Lord Guilford The other Market-Towns are Southwark Sat. Kingston Sat. Croydon Sat. Reygate Tue. Darking Thu. Farnham Thu. Ewel Southwark commonly pronounced Suthrick stands opposite to the City of London on the Banks of the Thames A Place which for number of Buildings and Inhabitants goes beyond most of the Cities in England But for its Streets and Buildings they are but ordinary except the broad Street which leads from the Bridge to St. George's Church A Street beautified with fair Buildings raised from the Ashes of frequent Conflagrations this Place has been afflicted with And here the Inhabitants drive a considerable Trade with the whole County this being the most convenient Place for the Surrey Carriers that come up for whose Accommodation here is Multitude of Inns. The principal Church here is that of St. Mary over Rey formerly a Priory of the B. Virgin Next to which is St. George's Church Here is also a famous Hospital called St. Thomas's Hospital founded by the Citizens of London for the Relief of impotent Persons The King's Bench and the Marshalsea are two other noted Places and but too well known to many To which add the Bear-Garden where Prizes are fought and the common People diverted with the Fighting of Dogs with Bears and Bulls In short though this Place be counted Part of London and under the Lord Mayor's Jurisdiction yet it does still injoy several of its ancient Priviledges peculiar to it self as holding of Courts within themselves and electing of Members of Parliament c. And because it lies in Surrey as London does in Middlesex I thought it not improper to bring iâ— into this List Kingston is situate ten Miles South-West from London on the Banks of the Thames over which it has a Bridge leading into Middlesex A Town heretofore famous for the Coronation of the Monarchs of the English Saxons whence it had the Name of Kingston or Kings Town whereas before it went by the Name of Moreford And for Distinctions-sake 't is called Kingston upon the Thames to difference it from Kingston upon Hull in Yorkshire A Place in former times well known for its Castle belonging to the Clares Earls of Glocester And as for its present State 't is yet a goodly Town well accommodated with Inns for the Reception of Strangers and of late something advantaged by the King's Residence in Summer at Hampton-Court in its Neighbourhood as it is by the County-Assizes which are frequently held here Croydon is a long Town ten miles South from London Seated near the Spring-head of the Wandle which falls into the Thames at Wandsworth and in a manner begirt with Hills well cloathed with Wood affording good Game to the Hunter and furnishing London with great store of Charcoal This Town has but few good Buildings the Houses in it being for the most part but mean and ordinary But it has the advantage of being graced with a fine large Church set out with a lofty Steeple and with a Summer-Pallace of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Accommodated besides with an Hospital for the Relief of the Poor and a Free School for the Education of Youth From this Town to Farnham runs the Downs called Banstead Downs so noted for Hawking Hunting and Horse-racing And near the Town is a Bourn or Stream the Rising whereof has been sometimes observed to have been a Fore runner of some publick Calamity Reygate a good large Town is seated in the Vale called Holmes Dale and is now of chief note for the great plenty of excellent Fullers Earth which is digged up in its Neighbourhood Here is an ancient but ruinated Castle with a long Vault under Ground and a large Room at the end of it where if the Story be true the Barons met in Council in their War against King John Near this Town several Battels have been fought against the Danes which proved fatal to them Darking is situate on a Branch of the River Mole Where at the foot of White-Hill on which grow plenty of Box-trees the said River runs under Ground for above a Mile and rises again near Norbury The Place where it falls in is therefore called the Swallow Farnham seems to take its Name from the great Store of Fern that grows in its Neighbourhood It ly's on the edge of Surrey towards Hampshire watered by the River Wey and graced with an Episcopal Seat the usual Residence of the Bishops of Winchester Here King Alfred with a small Power had the good fortune to overcome the Danes of whom he made a great slaughter As for Ewel all I have to say is that it is but very mean and inconsiderable Other Places of Note in this County Richmond among the rest deserves the precedency A fair large and well built Town seatupon an easy ascent on the Banks of the Thames Whose pleasant and healthfull Situation has invited so many of the Gentry to be its Inhabitants Here King Henry VII built a stately Pallace which with Nonsuch and Otelands two other â—oyal Pallaces in this County has felt the sad effects of the Civil Wars in the Reign of Charles I. Here died several of the dearest Princes that ever England had Viz. King Edward III the Conquerour of France the beautifull Ann Wife to King Richard the Second and Daughter to the Emperour Charles the fourth the most wise Prince Henry the Seventh and the Wonder of her Sex the famous Queen Elizabeth Lambeth situate opposite to Westminster is a large Parish of chief note for being the Residence of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury where he has a fine Pallace And though it is counted unwholsom to live in yet it is well inhabited and the Skirts of it graced with many Gentlemens and Citizens Houses Here Canute the last Danish King ended his Days among his Cups From Lambeth Westward you will find along the River Battersea Putney Moreclack three goodly Towns and at some distance from the River Newington Clapham and Wandesworth This last on the River Wandle which drives several Mills imploy'd by Londoners and of late much improved by the French Protestants that have
its Course and so severed it self that Men went about 3 Miles together on foot in the bottom of the Channel the Waters swelling up backwards to a great height Bedford the County-Town lies North-west and by North 40 Miles from London thus From London to Barnet 10 10 more to St. Albans 8 from thence to Luton 5 more to Baruâ— Clay thence to Bedford 7. A Town pleasantly seated on the Banks oâ— the River Ouse that parts it into two and over which there is a fair Stone Bridge Called Bedford from the Beds and Lodgings on the Ford built on both sides of the River for the use of Travellers A Town which in procesâ— of time is grown to that bigness as to contain in it 5 Parish Churches whereof 3 on the North and 2 on the South-side of the River Famous in former times for the great Battel fought in the adjoyning Fields Anno 572 in which Cuthwolf the Saxon vanquished thâ— Britains and became Master of the Country But more famous for giving the Title of Duke to John of Lancaster Regent of France for Kinâ— Henry VI and to Jasper of Hatfield Uncle 〈◊〉 Henry VII After whom it was dignified bâ— King Edward VI Anno 1548 with the Title oâ— an Earldom in the Person of the then Lonâ— Admiral John Russel and from him descendeâ— in a right line to the truly Noble and right Honourable William Russel the present Earl of Bedford and Knight of the Order of the Garter Lastly this Town has two Markets a Week on Tuesdays and Saturdays well furnished with all sorts of Provisions The other Market-Towns are Tuddington Sat. Potton Sat. Luton Mund. Leighton Tue. Biglesworth Tue. Dunstable Wedn. Ampthill Thur. Woburn Frid. Shefford Frid. Among which Dunstable the chief of all is seated on a Hill in a chalky dry Ground Built by King Henry I. out of the Ruins of the ancient Magiovinium for the better suppressing of one Dun a notorious Robber that used to pester these Parts from whom it came to be called Dunstable It has 4 Streets in it and in each of 'em a Pond fed only with Rain and yet these Ponds are never dry No Springs here to be found without digging a very great depth But as it is seated in the high Road from London to West-Chester formerly known by the Name of Watling-street 't is a well frequented Town and accommodated with several good Inns for Travellers In this Town King Edward I. caused a Cross or Column to be erected adorned with Statues and the Arms of England c. in Memorial of Eleanor his Queen this being the Place where her Corps rested in her Journey from Lincolnshire where she died to Westminster Abbey where she was interred About this Town are caught abundance of Larks which are esteemed the best in England and where they are the best dressed Leighton is seated in the Borders of Buckinghamshire upon a River that runs Northward into the Ouse This is a good large Town having a Bridge over the River which leads to Buckinghamshire And its Market is very considerable especially for all sorts of faâ—â— Cattle Luton a pretty good Town borders upon both the Counties of Hartford and Bucking ham and Potton upon Cambridgeshire Woburn on a rising Ground is much frequented by Passengers in their Journeys from London to Northampton Formerly of some account for its fine Monastery as it is at present foâ— its Free School founded by Francis Earl of Bedford Near this Town is Aspley where the naturâ— of the Soil is such that it petrifies Wood. Anâ— about this Town is digged up excellent Fulleâ—â— Earth in great plenty Biglesworth is pleasantly seated on the Iveâ— over which it has a Stone-bridge This Town formerly but inconsiderable is grown into request since it became a Thorough-fare for Coaches especially between London and York Shefford is situate on the other side of the â—vel West and by South from Biglesworth between two Rivulets which joyn below thâ— Town and fall together in one stream into thâ— Ivel Ampthill 5 Miles South of Bedford is aâ— Honour belonging to the Crown Graced with a fine Seat and Park in its Neighbourhood be longing to the Earl of Alesbury To conclude this County formerly was Part of the ancient Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants part of the Catieuchlani as the Romans called them is now in the Diocese of London Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire but two Members to sit in Parliament the Right of Election being in the Town of Bedford Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire or Bucks another Inland County is bounded on the East by Bedford and Hartford Shires and part of Middlesex on the West by Oxfordshire Northward by Northamptonshire and Southward by Barkshire It contains in Length from North to South about 40 Miles in Breadth from East to West 18. The Whole divided into eight Hundreds wherein 185 Parishes and 15 Market Towns A Country blest with a very temperate and healthful Air and with a rich and fertile Soil yielding Grass and Corn in great abundance especially the Vale lying Northwards South-Eastward it rises into Hills called the Chiltern which afford a great deal of Wood. An infinite Number of Sheep is bred especially in the Vales of this Country whose Fleece is much esteemed for its fineness As for Rivers here is Northward the Ouse and a small Stream that runs into it about the middle of the County the Tame and in the South-East Parts the Coln which severs part of this County from that of Middlesex Buckingham the chief Place of it lies Northwest and by West 44 Miles from London Viz. 6 to Acton 9 more to Vxbridge 9 more to Amersham to Wendover 6 more thence 4 to Ailesbury and 10 more to Buckingham A goodly Town seated in a fruitful Soil on the Banks of the River Ouse rising not far from it and over which it has 3 fair Stone Bridges 'T is pretty well frequented and inhabited and its Market which is kept on Saturdays well served with Provisions In times past it was fortified by King Edward the elder The Town-Hall stands in the North Part of the Town and the Chappel founded by Tho. Becket is now converted into a Free School Otherwise not much observable but for those many noble Personages which have had the Title of Earls and Dukes thereof The last Duke was George Villiers who died in the late Reign He was Son to George Viscount Villiers Baron of Whaddon first created Earl of Buckingham by King James the First and afterwards Duke thereof Anno 1623. He was Lord Admiral of England and High Chamberlain and was slain by Felton The other Market Towns are Newport Sat. Ailesbury Sat. Risborough Sat. Marlow Sat. Oulney Mund. Agmundesham Tues Colebrook Wed. Chesham Wed. Winslow Thur. Wendover Thur. Beaconfield Thur. Stony-Stratford Frid. Ivingo Frid. High Wickham Frid. Amongst which Newport Stoney-Stratford and Oulney are all three seated on the Ouse Ailesbury on the Tame Marlow near
South empties it self into the Trent and so divides the County into East and West The Soil in the South and East Parts is very fruitful and yields both good Grass and Corn. But the North and West Parts being both Hilly and Stony with a black and mossy barren Ground are not so fertile Yet they are not without some rich Valleys and on the Hills themselves are bred abundance of very good though not very large Sheep For Fewel it is not beholden to Wood the Woods having been destroyed in a great measure by the Countries Iron-Works Lead-mines and Coal-Delfs But 't is so well stored with Coals that it supplies with this sort of Fewel many neighbouring Counties as Leicester Northampton Rutland and Lincoln Whose Inhabitants frequently bring Barley to sell at Darby and load themselves back with Coals For Buildings it affords not only good Clay for Bricks but also store of Free-Stone or durable Greet Stone and in many parts Lime-stone both useful in Building and for manuring the Ground Here is also Alabaster Crystal black and grey Marble not only very durable but such as polishes well As for Mill-Stones and Whet-stones here 's whole Quarries of 'em in the working whereof a great many hands are imployed before they come to be dispersed over the Nation But the chiefest Commodity of this Country is Lead which for goodness or Plenty yields to no Place in the World Famous for this is the Peak of Derbyshire as well as for its Quarries but particularly for its three wonderful Caves This Peak ly's amongst the Mountains in the North-West Parts and its three Caves of a wonderful vast height length and depth are known by the Names of Devils Arse Elden-hole and Pools hole From the Devils Arse a Water comes which is said to ebb and flow 4 times in an hour as the Well in the Peak Forest and to keep its just Tides Noted besides for the strange Irregularities of the Rocks within the Water Eldenhole is very spacious but wiâ—h a low and narrow entrance The Waters which trickle down from the top thereof do congeal into Stone and hang like Isicles in the root thereof Some are hollow within and grow Taper-wise very white and not unlike to Crystal But the greatest Wonder of all is that of Buxton-Wells Nine Springs arise out of a Rock in the compass of 8 or 9 Yards eight of which are warm and the ninth very cold These Springs run from under a square Building of Free Stone and about 300 foot off receive another hot Spring from a Well inclosed with four flat Stones near unto which another very cold Spring bubbles up These Waters are experimentally found good for the Stomach and Sinews and good to bathe in And now I come to Mineral Waters I cannot but mention Kedlaston Well Quarndon and Stanly Springs The first of which being in Kedlâ—ston Parish is noted for having cured as 't is said the Leprosy and for being singular in the Cure of old Ulcers Quarndon Springs are two Springs about a mile and a half from Derby much of the nature of Tunbridge-Waters in Kent and the Spaws in Yorkshire as strong of the Mineral and as effectual in the Operation As for Stanly-Spring 't is of the same nature but not so strong But about Wirksworth there 's a warm and a cold Spring so near each other that one may put one hand in the cold and the other in the warm Derby the Shire-Town from whence the County it self is denominated bears from London North and by West and is distant therefrom 98 miles thus From London to Leicester 78 as you may see in Leicestershire thence to Lougborough 8 and to Derby 12 more This Town is seated upon the West Bank of Derwent from whence probably the Name of Derby is extracted over which there is a fine Bridge of free Stone and upon the Bridge a Chappel called St. Maries Chappel But besides Derwent which empties it self but 6 miles lower into the Trent this Town has the Conveniency of a Brook rising Westward and running through it under nine several Bridges 'T is a large populous and rich Place few inland Towns equalizing it Here are five Parish Churches of which that of All-Saints is the fairest Whose Tower-Steeple in which are 8 tunable Bells built at the only Charge of the young Men and Maids about the Reign of Q. Mary is equalled for height and beauty by few in the Nation Here is also a fair Hall built not many years since of free Stone at the Counties Charge where the Assizes are constantly kept In short 't is a Place of good Trade and Resort no less famous for good Ale than Banbury for its Cakes and Cheese Here is chiefly a great Vent for Barley which they make into Malt and so sell it again in Cheshire Lancashire and the North of this County It s Market is on Fridays which is very great for Cattel Corn and all Provisions besides small Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays Lastly this Town is dignify'd with the Title of an Earldom now in the person of the Right Honourable William Stanley Earl of Derby and Lord of the Isle of Man Descended to him from his Ancestor Thomas Lord Stanley and of Man created Earl of Derby by King Henry VII Anno 1486. Which Title was first injoy'd by the Earls of Ferrers and Derby and afterwards by several Princes of the Royal Family till it came as I said before to Thomas Lord Stanley by Creation The other Market Towns are Chesterfield Sat. Ashbourn Sat. Alfreton Mund. Bakewell Mund. Wirksworth Tue. Tideswal Wedn. Dronfield Thu. Bolsover Frid. Drawfield Amongst which Chesterfield is pleasantly seated in a good Soil for the most part on the South-side of a little Hill and that between two small Rivers A Town which by the Ruins of it does seem to be of good Antiquity and therefore likely to have had some more ancient Name now buried in its Ruins It was made a free Borough in the time of King John And hard by it was the Battel fought between King Henry III and his Barons in which Robert de Ferrers Earl of Derby being taken Prisoner lost his Estate and Dignity though not his Life But that wherein it has most cause to glory is that from an ordinary Market Town it is become the Seat of an Earldom the Stile and Title of Earl of Chesterfield being conferred by King Charles I. upon Philip Lord Stanhop of Shelford created Earl of Chesterfield Anno 1628. From whom it descended next by Henry his eldest Son to the Right Honourable Philip Lord Stanhop the present Earl of Chesterfield Wirksworth is so called from the Worth of the Lead-Works And 't is the greatest Lead-Market in England This County formerly Part of the ancient Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants part of the Coritani is now in the Diocese of Lichfield Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire but two Parliament Men and these two by
Weymouth and Melcomb Regis stand opposite to one another on each side the River Wey where it falls into the Sea But of the two Melcomb much surpasses Weymouth foâ— Conveniency of Situation and Buildings And yet abroad all goes now under the Name of Weymouth since they were both by Act of Parliament made but one Corporation and the Occasion of it thus These two Towns having for some time injoy'd alike the Priviledges and Immunities of the Haven lying in the bosom of them at last there arose a great Controversy between them And by their continual Suits they still wearied the Lords of the Council and the Judges till by an Act of Parliament in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth they were Incorporated into one Body to be governed by one Mayor with Aldermen and other Sub-Officers Upon which immediately they joyned themselves together by a fair Bridge of Timber now in being but stilâ— they send each of 'em two Burgesses to Parliament Lastly Weymouth is of some note besides for giving the Title of Viscount to the Right Honourable Tho. Thynne the present Viscount Weymouth Lime otherwise called Lime Regis is seated in the Borders next to Devonshire and is so named from a River of that Name which runâ— through the midst of the Town and falls into the Sea The Town is large and its Cobb 〈◊〉 safe Harbour Which being industriously made in the Sea for Ships to ride in is as carefully looked afer and kept in good repair This Place is noted most of all for the late Duke of Monmouth's Landing here with his small Force from Holland in the late Reign which brought him shortly after to his tragical End Near unto it is Charmouth a Village where the Danes did twice land their Forces when they came to subdue England Bridport East from Lime was a Town of good account in Edward the Confessor's Time 'T is seated low and dirty not above 2 miles from the Sea between two Rivers that meeting with a little Rill about a mile lower mix their Streams together and make a fit Place for a good Harbour as it was in former times But now 't is choakt up with Sands The Town however is still a good Market-Town and chiefly noted for Hemp. Insomuch that once 't was the only Place appointed for the twisting of Cordage and Ropes for the Navy of England as well in respect of the adjoyning Soil yielding great store of excellent Hemp as for the skill of the People in twisting it Pool a Haven-Town in the furthest East Parts of this County is so seated upon an Inâ—et of the Sea called Luckford Lake that 't is inclosed on all sides with it except Northward where it admits entrance only by one Gate This Town from a mean Hamlet consisting of a few Fishermens-Houses in the Reign of Edward III grew to be a Market Town of good Trade and by reason of its large and safe Harbour increased so that Henry VI. granted it the Priviledge of a Haven and licensed the Mayor to wall it in Then began the Inhabitants to abound in Wealth who to free themselves from Subjection to the County purchased the Priviledge of 〈◊〉 County But now it has lost much of its former glory In this Haven the Sea contrary to all other Parts in England ebbs and flows 〈◊〉 times in 24 hours Viz. first at a South-East and North-West Moon and the seconâ— time at a South-by-East and a North-by-Weâ—â— Moon Warham is seated on the West of and opposite to Pool at the Influx of the Frome anâ— Biddle into Luckford Lake Where it had 〈◊〉 good Harbour for Ships with all the Advantages of a strong Wall defended by a Castle and of rich Inhabitants Till being crushed by the frequent Shocks of ill Fortune nothing oâ— its ancient Glory remained but the Shadow its Castle being wholly ruinated its Haveâ— choaked up and most of its Churches pulleâ— down and demolished Shaftsbury an Inland Town lies in the Northern Verge of this County and near thâ— Borders of Wiltshire It stands lofty upon a high Hill in the form of a full-bent Bow where it injoys not only a serene and healthfuâ— Air but also a large and delightful Prospectâ— Here Canute the first Danish King that swayed the English Scepter ended his Days Iâ— its flourishing Time it had ten Parish Churches now reduced to three to which belong abouâ— 500 Houses built of free Stone with which the Hill abounds It s Market which is kept on Saturdays is very considerable for moâ—â— sorts of Provisions and far exceeding all the adjacent Market Towns Lastly in the Reigâ— of Charles the Second it was honoured in giving the Title of Earl to that sagacious Statesman Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury since devolved by his death to his eldest Son and Heir the Right Honourable Anthony Ashâ—ey Cooper the present Earl of Shaftsbury Sturminster Blandford and Wimborn-minster are all three seated on the River Stowr Over which Sturminster has a fair Stone-bridge leading to Newton a noted Place for the remains of an ancient Castle near adjoyning which was the Seat of the West-Saxon Kings Blandford is a fair large and well compacted Town well inhabited and neighboured with Gentry Wimborn-Minster is seated in a â—ertile Soil and is pretty well frequented and â—nhabited But t is a Town of more antiquity â—han beauty Cranborn and Sherburn are also Towns of great â—ntiquity The first seated near the Spring of a River that runs into the Stowr and having a Chase which extends it self almost to Salisbury Sherborn on the Ill is fairly seated and well watered 'T is divided into two Parts that which lies near the Castle which is old and in part ruinated being called the Castle-Town Middleton Cerne-Abbas and Frampton do not â—y far asunder All three but mean and the first two being old Abby-Towns considerable only by their Antiquity But of the two Câ—rne-Abbas has the advantage being seated in a dry bottom watered with a fine Rivulet and in a Champain Country affording great delight both for the Hawk and Hound Frampâ—on is likewise pleasantly seated upon a good River which affords plenty of Fish and amongst them excellent Trouts In this County is a noted Castle called Lulworth Castle being counted the best Seat in the whole County either for Situation or Beauty The same has a very fair Prospect into the Sea and a large Park about it well furnished with Deer and has been sometimes honoured with the presence of our Kings in their Western Progresses Of Portland and Purbeck I should now have done with Dorsetshire but that it were improper to leave it so without taking notice of its two Peninsules which generally go by the name of Islands And those two are Portland and Purbeck Portland is that Tract of Ground which runs South from Weymouth some miles into the Sea A Place of great strength both by Nature and Art being surrounded with inaccessible Rocks except at the very Place of Landing where stands a strong Castle
D'Evreux who on the Death of Robert D'Evreux Viscount Hereford and Earl of Essex succeeded in the Title of Viscount Anno 1646. Here are three Markets a Week viz. on Wednesdav Friday and Saturday And in point of Trade this Place is particularly noted for the Gloves here made and vended in great quantities in London and elsewhere The other Market-Towns are Bramyeard Mund. Pembridge Tue. Lidbury Tue. Kyneton Wedn. Webley Thu. Rosse Thu. Lemster Frid Among which Pembridge and Kyneton are seated on the River Arrow Rosse on the Wye and Lemster on the Lug. This last of chief note for the fine Wool which the Sheep in its Neighbourhood bear and likewise for its fine Wheat and Flower as Webley is for its good Ale At Kyneton a pretty large and well-built Town they drive a good I rade for narrow Cloths and the Market is counted the best for Corn Cattle Provisions and several other Commodities especially the Wednesdays before Christmas Easter and Whitsuntide Ledbury seated near the Malvern Hills in a rich Clay Ground is a well built Town and much inhabited by Clothiers who drive a good Trade here Among the Things remarkable in this County here is first by Snod-hill Castle a Quarry of excellent Marble And by Richards Castle in the North Part of the County a Well called Bone-Well wherein are always found sinall Fishes Bones but not a Fin to be seen Which Well being wholly cleansed of them yet will the like come again and no Man knows whether they be produced naturally or brought thither in Veins through the Earth Neither can I omit to relate the Story of Marsley Hill tho' I could scarce give credit to it were it not related both by Cambden and Speed two Authentick Authors This Hill in the Year 1571 removed it self with a roaring noise from the place where it stood and for 3 days together travelled from its old Seat It began this Motion on Saturday the 7th of February about 6 a Clock at Night and by 7 a Clock the next Morning it had gone about 200 Foot carrying with it Sheep in their Coats Hedge-rows and Trees whereof some stood and others were overthrown Kinnaston Chappel fell down in this Remove and two high Ways were turned about 300 Foot from their old Paths the East-Parts turned to the West the West turned to the East Pasturage being left in the place of Tillage and Tillage on the other side overspreading the Pasturage Thus about 26 Acres of Ground travelled 3 days together till being raised to a Hill 12 fadoms high there it rested This County which formerly was Part of the Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants known among the Romans by the Name of Silures is now in the Diocese of Hereford Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire six Members of Parliament Viz. 2 out of Hereford 2 out of Lemster and 2 out of Webley Huntingtonshire HVNTINGTONSHIRE another Inland County but of a small extent is bounded on the East by Cambridgeshire on the North and West by Northamptonshire and on the South by Bedfordshire It contains in Length about 22 Miles and in Breadth 18. The Whole divided into four Hundreds wherein 79 Parishes and 6 Market Towns In former time this County was very Woody being counted a Forest and such as afforded excellent Game for Hunting from whence it took its Denomination But in the beginning of the Reign of Henry II. it was disforested being at present a very open Country and generally flat Only in some Parts it rises into little Hills best for the Plough as the Valleys are for Pasture which is counted as good here as any in England The East Part of it towards Cambridgeshire is something troubled with Fens which makes the Air not so good here as in other Parts of England Yet the Natives that dwell about them are healthfull and many of 'em long-lived but it is not so with Strangers In general this Country is very fertile both for Corn and Pasturage and is well watered with Rivers the chief whereof is the Owse One Thing it is peculiar in which is its plenty of Willows from whence it is nick-named the Willow-shire Huntington the chief Place of it bears from London North by West and is distant from it 48 Miles thus From London to Edmonton 6 to Waltham-Cross 6 more and 8 from thence to Ware from Ware to Puckeridge 4 to Royston 9 more and thence to Huntington 15. The same is pleasantly seated on a soft Ascent and on the North Banks of the River Owse over which it has a fair Stone-bridge which leads to Godmanchester It is a Town of great Antiquity and has formerly enjoyed great Priviledges Once so large and populous as to contain 15 Parish-Churches now reduced to four However it is still a Place of good Trade well inhabited and frequented being a Thorough-fare Town for Travellers to and from the North. Here is kept the County Goal and the County Assizes And its Market which is on Saturdays is well served with Provisions Of some Note besides for an Abbey founded here by Maud the Empress and Eustace Loveloft the Ruins of which and of a far more ancient Castle built by King Edward the Elder are yet to be seen This Town became an Earldom presently upon the Norman Conquest the Title of it injoyed by several Families before it came to George Lord Hastings created Earl of Huntington by King Henry VIII Anno 1529. From whom is descended in a right Line the Right Honourable Theophilus Hastings the present Earl of Huntington The other Market-Towns are St. Ives Mund. Yaxley Tue. Ramsey Wedn. St. Neots Thu. and Kimbolton Frid. Among which St. Ives and St. Neots two large and well-built Towns and of good Antiquity are seated on the Ouse each of them with a fair Stone-Bridge over it St. Ives so called from one Ivo a Persian Bishop who about the Year 600. travelled as 't is said through England preaching the Gospel and here ended his Days Whose Body in a short time after was removed to Bamsey Abbey This Town is much resorted to for Cattle by London Butchers St. Neots or St. Needs from Neotus a Monk of Glastenbury A Man no less holy than learned whose Body was translated hither from Neotstoke in Cornwal and in whose Honour Earl Elfrides Palace was converted into a Monastery This Town is beautified with a neat Church and a fine Steeple to it A little beneath it at a Place called Aileweston are two Springs the one fresh and the other brackish the first good for dim Sights the other for curing of Scabs and Leprosy Kimbolton a pretty fair Town seated in the bottom near Bedfordshire is of chief note for giving the Title of Baron to the Earl of Manchâ—ster whose Mansion is called the Castle of Kimbolton Ramsey is seated in the Fens among rich Grounds towards Cambridgeshire near the Meers of Ramsey and Whitlesey Which with the Rivers that plentifully water it
this Town has been very much improved and beautified at their Charge and Industry Here is a Town-house erected upon Pillars and Arches of hewn Stone and underneath an Exchange for the Merchants Among its Antiquities a Castle on the South-side which commands the Pool built by King John during his stay here for a Wind to Ireland and on the West-side upon the River the Tower being a stately and strong Pile of Building Preston near to Leverpool is a fair large well inhabited and frequented Borough-Town Seated on the North-side of the Rible over which it has a very fair Stone-bridge In this Town are held the Court of Chancery and Offices of Justice for Lancaster as a County Palatine Not far from Preston aforesaid is a small Town from the River on which it is situate called Rible-Chester which has been esteemed and called the richest Town in Christendom No doubt but it has been a Place of great account in the Time of the Romans if we consider the many Statues pieces of Coin Altars Pillars Inscriptions and other Pieces of Antiquity that have been often digged up here Wigan is another Town of note in this Country Seated on the River Dowles and much inhabited by Braziers Pewterers Diers Weavers of Rugs Coverlets and Tackling for Bedding Of special note for the choicest Coal in England called Caunel but most of all for a burning Well not far from it Warington a good large Town is seated on the River Mersey over which there 's a fine Stone-bridge which leads to Cheshire Dignify'd of late with the Title of an Earldom in the person of the Right Honourable Henry Booth Earl of Warington and Baron De la Mere. Poulton Bury and Rochdale lie not far asunder the first on the Irwell and Rochdale on the River Rock in a Vale. Coln is situate on a little Hill near the Eastern Confines of the-County Blackborn near the Derwent Ormskirk not far from Merton Meer Kiâ—kham near the Mouth of the Rible Garstang near the Wire and Hornby on the Lon. This last noted for its Castle called Hornby-Castle the ancient Seat of the Lord Morley and Mounteagle Hawkshead is placed in a hilly and woody Country Clitheroe towards Pendle-hill Dalton in a Champain Country not far from the Sea and Vlverston commonly called Ouslon on a small Stream which empties it self not far off into the Sea or an Arm thereof near Lever-Sand Lastly this County formerly a Part of the Kingdom of Northumberland and its Inhabitants part of the Brigantes as the Romans called them is now in the Diocess of Lincoln It was made a County Palatine by King Edward the Third And out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire 12 Members of Parliament Viz. two out of each of these Towns Lancaster Leverpool Preston Wigan Clitheroe and Newton Leicestershire LEICESTERSHIRE an Inland County is bounded on the East by the Counties of Lincoln and Rutland on the West by Warwickshire Northward by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and Southward by Northamptonshire It s Length from East to West is about 30 miles its Breadth from North to South about 25. The whole divided into six Hundreds wherein 192 Parishes and 12 Market-Towns The Air in this County is mild and wholsom and the Inhabitants accordingly are healthy and long-lived The Soil in the South-East parts especially is extream fertile for all sorts of Grain but chiefly Peas and Beans and has also rich Pastures feeding Cattel and Sheep in great Numbers whose Wool for its fineness is had in great esteem But the North-West part is generally barren and in some places rocky and stony About the Forest of Charwood where is Bardon-Hill is great store of Lime-Stone wherewith they manure their Ground For Fewel this Country is but thinly cloathed with Wood especially in the South-East Parts But this Defect is sufficiently supply'd by the great plenty of Pit-coal digged up in the North Parts Here are a great many small Rivers but none of any long Course besides the Stower and the Wreak Leicester the County Town bears from London North-North-West and is distant therefrom 78 miles thus Viz. from London to Northampton 54 for the particulars of which I refer you to Northamptonshire from Northampton to Harborough 12 and from thence to Leicester 12 more It is pleasantly seated in a good Air and rich Soil on the Banks of the Stower of old called Leir that washes its North and West Parts and over which it has two Bridges Once a Bishops See and in those Days beautified with a fair Collegiate Church a magnificent Abbey and a strong Castle all decay'd and ruined by the iniquity and injury of the Times As to the present State of it it is indifferent large containing 3 Parish Churches has several good Buildings and is well inhabited In short 't is in as good plight both for Trade and Buildings as most Towns are that want a navigable River And its Market which is on Saturdays is well served with Provisions and Country Commodities Noted besides for giving the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable Philip Sidney the present Earl of Leicester Derived to him from his Father Robert Son and Heir of Robert Sidney Viscount Lisle created Earl of Leicester and Baron of Penthurst by King James the first Anno 1618. Which Robert was descended of a Sister of Robert Dudley the last of many Earls of Leicester before him The other Market-Towns are Ashby Sat. Hinkley Mund. Mont-Sorel Mund. Melton-Mowbray Tue. Harborough Tue. Bosworth Wedn. Loughborow Thu. Waltham Thu. Hallaton Thu. Lutterworth Thu. Billesden Frid. Among which Ashby or Ashby de la Zouche is seated between two Parks on the Borders of Derbyshire In whose Neighbourhood is Cole Overton noted for its Pit-coals Hinkley stands on the Borders of Warwickshire beautified with a fair and large Church and a lofty Spire-Steeple Mont-Sorrel is seated on a great Eminency near the Stowr over which it has a Bridge Of some note formerly for its famous Castle that stood on a steep and craggy Hill but is long since demolished At Barrow near adjoyning is digged up excellent Lime much commended for its binding Melton-Mowbray is situate in a fertile Soil on the banks of the Wreak over which it has two Stone-bridges Harborough on the Borders of Northamptonshire and the banks of the Weland which parts the two Counties Bosworth is loftily seated on a Hill and in a fertile Soil Noted for the bloody Battle fought at Redmore near adjoyning betwixt Richard III. and his Successor Henry VII Which decided the long-depending Differences betwixt the Houses of York and Lancaster giving the Crown from Richard to Henry descended from the latter House Richard being slain in this Battle his Body was ignominiously cast cross a Horse's back naked and torn in pieces and meanly buried in the Grey-Friars of Leicester Which being afterwards destroy'd the Stone-Chest wherein the Corps lay serves now in an Inn for a drinking Trough for Horses Loughborow a good
River Weland so that it stands upon three Counties the chief Part in Lincolnâ—hire another part in Rutland and that Part on this side the River in Northamptonshire Over which River some time since made narigable it has several Bridges A Town of good Antiquity from whence the Roman High-way or high Dike leadeth to the North. â—ut that which gives it most Renown is â—hat upon a Quarrel between the North â—â—d South-Men in the University of Oxford â—he Scholars removed hither in the Reign of Edward III and here held publick Schools of â—ll sorts of Learning Nor did they return â—gain till they were commanded so to do by â—he King's Proclamation with Order that the Scholars in taking their Degrees should make â—ath not to read publickly at Stamford to â—he prejudice of Oxford Nevertheless the Town still flourished in Trade and Merchanâ—ize and the Inhabitants of it to this day â—rive a good Trade of Malt especially whereâ—f great plenty is made here The Houses â—re built of free Stone which they have â—rom Ketton Quarry In short this Town â—onsists of several Streets begirt with a Wall â—nd containing six Parish Churches Digâ—ify'd besides with the Title of an Earldom â—ow in the person of the Right Honourable Thomas Grey of Groby Earl of Stamford â—c Within half a mile of this Town in â—orthamptonshire stands Burgley House 〈◊〉 stately Building the Mansion-House of the Earl of Exeter Grantham situate on the River Witham is a Town of good account and well resorted unto Whose Church-Steeple is so very high that it seems crooked to the Eye of the Beholder Not far from hence towards Leicestershire is Belvoir Castle the Earl of Rutland's Seat so highly elevated though in a Vale that it yields a most admirable Prospect About this Castle is found the Astroit or Star-like Stone pointed with five beams or rays formerly of such an esteem that he thought the Victory infallible on his side that wore one about him Sleaford stands near the head of a River so called which runs into the Witham A large and well inhabited Town formerly strengthened with a Castle whose ruinous Walls are yet standing Market-Deeping is seated not far from Stamford on the Weland but in a fenny Ground Where Richard de Rulos Chamberlain to William the Conqueror for the hindering it Overflowing raised its Banks and built there on divers Tenements so that it became a great Village and is now an indifferent Town Bourn seated at the head of a Spring calleâ— Burnwell-head is a goodly Town of some not for being the Place where King Edmund waâ— crowned Here are still to be seen the Ruiâ— of a good Castle And not far from hence is Swinsted-Abbey one of whose Monks nâ—med Simon poisoned King John Ganesborough or Gainsborough in Lindseâ— Part is seated on the River Trent A largâ— and well-built Town of a considerable Trade Where Sueno the Danish Tyrant was stabbeâ— to death by an unknown hand as a just Reâ—â—ard for his many Outrages committed in the â—ountry Noted besides for giving the Title â—f Earl to the Right Honourable Wriothesly Noel the present Earl of Gainsborough Barton is seated on the River Humber alâ—ost over against Hull in Yorkshire Here 〈◊〉 a considerable Ferry into Yorkshire which â—s no small Advantage to the Town About this Place are abundance of Pewets Godwits Knots and Dotterels the last a simple kind of Bird yet much given to Imitaâ—ing And 't is usually caught by Candleâ—ight in this manner The Fowler stands â—efore the Bird and if he put out an Arm â—he Bird stretches out a Wing if he put a â—eg or his Head forward the Bird does the â—ike Thus he imitates the Fowler 's Gesture â—o long till he drawing nearer and nearer by degrees at length casts his Net over him and takes him Grimsby is situate within half a Mile of the Humber where it falls into the Sea in a flat and marshy Ground This Town has formerly injoyed a good Trade before its Haven was choackt up and then it had two Markets a Week For the security of its Port it had a Castle which is likewise decayed And instead of two Churches it had now it contents it self with one which for largeness gives place to few Cathedrals Burton or Burton Stather is seated on the River Trent near its fall into the Humber On the other side of the Trent is the Isle of Axholm made so by the Trent and Dun with two or three lesser Rivers This Isle is in breadth from North to South 10 miles but in length not half so much and in that Circuit are seated several Towns The lower Part of it is flat and moorish yielding a sweet Shrub called by the Country people Gall. But the middle Part which is a rising Ground is fertile and among other Things does yield great store of Flax. Here is also Alabaster to be found Thongcaster a well-compacted Town stands oâ— the side of a Hill Of note for its ancienâ— Castle so called said to be built by Hengist the Saxon after he had beaten the Picts and Scots in Vortiger's Quarrel Who granted him so much Ground as an Ox-hide cut into Thongs would compass within which he erected the Castle Saltfleet is a Sea-Town much frequented by the Gentry in the Summer Season for the eating of Fish otherwise inconsiderable Alford a goodly Town is seated at the head of a Rivulet few miles from the Sea-side Waynfleet South of Alford is another good Town not far from the Sea but seated in a fenny Ground on a Wash or Dike which falls into the Sea Here is an excellent Freâ— School founded by William of Waynfleet Bishop of Winton who also built Magdalen Colledge in Oxford Bullingbrook or Bolinbrook an ancient Town is seated on a low Ground at the Spring head of a River which falls into the Witham Of note for a Castle built here by William of Romara Earl of Lincoln But much more famous in succeeding Times for being the Birth-place of King Henry IV surnamed according to the fashion of those Times of Bullingbrook And almost ever since his Time it has been one of the Honours as we call it of the Kings of England but never made an honourary Title to any Family till King â—ames conferred it on Sir Oliver St. Johns Who â—possibly might affect to be thence denominated as fetching his Descent from the Lady Margaâ—et Beauchamp Grandmother to King Henry VII the Heir of the Lancastrian Family From him the Title fell to Oliver St. Johns his Grandchild by Pawlet his second Son Oliver Lord St. John the eldest Son being slain at Eâ—ge-hill â—ight And from him to his Son the Right Honourable Paulet St. John the present Earl of â—ullingbrook Not far from Bullingbrook is Eresby which gives the Title of Baron to the Earl of â—indsey Horn-castle and Tatershall are both seated on the River Bane this last near its Influx into the Witham But Horn-castle is the most considerable Boston in Holland
'T is bounded on the East with Yorkshire and the Bishoprick of Darham on the West and North with Cumberland and on the South with Lancashire Which last does so interfere with Westmorland along the Sea-Coast that this County has but one Corner to peep out upon the Sea which is about the Place where the Ken falls into it It contains in Length from North to South about 35 miles its Breadth from East to West about 25. The Whole divided into four Wards called Kendale Lensdale East and West Wards Wherein are contained 26 Parishes and 8 Market-Towns This County is very hilly there being two several Ridges of high Hills that cross the Country as far as Cumberland However it has especially in the Southern Parts many fruitfull Valleys with good Arable Meadow and pasture-Pasture-Grounds The Air by reason those Hills and the Northern Situation of the Country is very sharp and piercing and not so subject to the Fogs as many other Counties Whereby the People are very healthfull free from strange and infectious Diseases and commonly live to a great Age. As for Rivers this County is very well watered The principal of which are the Eden the Can or Ken the Lon and the Eamon The Can of some note for its two Cataracts or Water-falls near Kendall where the Waters descend with a great fall and noise From which the Country-people have made this Observation that when the North Water-fall sounds clearer and louder than the other 't is a certain presage of fair Weather But when the other does so they expect rainy Weather Here are also two noted Lakes or Meers the one called Vlles Water and the other Winder or Wimander Meer the first bordering both upon Cumberland and Westmorland and the last upon this County and Lancashire where you will find it described Kendall or Candale the Shire Town from whence one of the Wards or Divisions has the Name of Kendall Ward bears from London North-West and by North and is distant therefrom 201 miles thus From London to Lancaster 181 miles the particulars whereof you may see in Lancastire and from Lancaster to Kendall 14. It is seated in a Dale on the River Ken whence it had the Name built in the manner of a Cross two long and broad Streets thwarting one another besides some by-Streets The same is a rich populous and well-traded Town especially for the making of woolen Cloth Druggets Serges Hats and worsted Stockings whereby the poor people are imployed and the adjacent Parts inriched Over the River it has two fair Stone-Bridges besides another of Wood which leads to the Ruins of a Castle the Birth-place of Queen Catherine the sixth Wife to King Henry VIII Here is a fair and large Church to which as the Parish-Church belong 12 Chappels of Ease And by the Church-yard stands a Free-School being a large Building well indowed with good Exhibitions for poor Scholars going from hence to Queens Colledge in Oxford Here are also in this Town seven Companies viz. the Mercers Shearmen Cordwainers Tanners Glovers Taylors and Pewterers having their respective Halls for managing their Concerns And for Provisions here is a great Market which is kept on Saturdays Lastly this Town is an ancient Barony Noted besides for giving the Title of an Earl to John Duke of Bedford Regent of France and to John de Foix created Earl hereof by King Henry VI. The other Market-Towns are Appleby Sat. Burton Tue. Burgh Wed. Ambleside Wed. Orton Wedn. Kirby Lonsdale Thu. Kirby Stephens Frid. Fardondyke Among which Appleby Kirby Stephens Burgh and Orton are in East Ward Kirby Lonsdale and Burton in Lonsdale Ward Ambleside in Kendale Ward Appleby the Abellaba of the ancient Romans is memorable for its Antiquity 'T is pleasantly seated on the Banks of the River Eden over which ' it has a Stone-Bridge and does chiefly consist of one broad Street rising from North to South with an easy ascent In the upper Part of it stands a Castle once of good Strength in the nether end the Church and not far from it a free School In the East side of the Street leading to the Castle is an Amls-House or Hospital founded and liberally indowed by the Lady Clifford Where about the Year 1652 she placed a deceased Minister's Wife with her 12 Daughters whereof eleven Widows and the twelfth a maimed Maid She also purchased Lands which she settled upon Feoffees in Trust for the Repairing of the Church then very ruinous the School-House the Moot or Town Hall and the Bridge as Occasion required In this Town the Assizes and Bessions are usually held Kirby Lonsdale that is the Church-Town in Lonsdale is seated on the Banks of the River Lon in the pleasant and rich Vale of Lonsdale towards Lancashire A large and well-built Town well inhabited and resorted unto being the greatest Town in the County except Kendale Beautified with a fair Church and a large Stone-Bride and driving a good Trade for Cloth This Place gives Name to one of the four Divisions of the County from hence called Lonsdale Ward of some note besides for the many deep and hollow Caves near it Kirby Stephens a goodly Town is seated in East ward near the Skirts of the Hills which sever this County from Yorkshire Beautified with a fair Church and much improved by the Trade of making Stockings Near this Town is Wharton-Hall a Seat belonging to the Lord Wharton Burton an indifferent Town stands in a Valley near the great Hill called Farleton-Knot-Hill And Orton among the Heaths is so destitute of Wood that the people say they han't so much as a Stick to hang a Dog on I pass by the other Towns as inconsiderable to take notice of the Stone-Cross upon Stainmore-Hill a Hill so called for its being exceeding stony Stain in the North being the Word used for a Stone The Cross said to be erected upon a Peace concluded between William the Conquerour and Malcolm King of Scotland with the Arms of the King of England on the South-side and those of the King of Scotland on the North-side Which served for a Boundary as the Case stood then betwixt the two Kingdoms In the North-West Parts at the joyning of the River Eamont with the Lowther is Whinfeld Forest and hard by it Brougham-Castle which by the Coyns c. that have been there digged up seems to have been a Place of good account in the time of the Romans By the High-Way side leading between Lowther and Eamont Bridges is a large Circle of Ground with a fair Plain in the midst Which the Country-people give out to be the Place made use of by the Knight of the Round Table for their Tilts and Turnaments there being two opposite Passes to make their Approaches in And accordingly they call it King Arthur's Table At Shap a great Parish stood the only Abbey in this County founded by Thomas Son of Jospatrick in the Reign of Henry Iâ— and seated near the River Lowther Not far from which
was part of the ancient Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants part of the Cornavii in the Time of the Romans Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire seven Members of Parliament Viz. 2 by Worcester 2 by Droitwich 2 by Evesham 1. by Bewdley And so much for Worcestershire Yorkshire YORKSHIRE a Maritime County and the greatest in the whole Kingdom is bounded Eastward by the German Ocean Westward by Lancashire and Westmorland Northward by the said Ocean and the Bishoprick of Durham from which parted by the River Tees and Southward by Lincoln Nottingham and Derby Shires It s Length from East to West is 80 miles its Breadth from North to South 70. The Whole divided first into three Parts called Ridings viz. the East West and North Riding Which together contain 26 Wapentakes or Hundreds wherein 563 Parish-Churches and 49 Market-Towns A small number of Parishes for such an Extent of Ground but that there are great many Chappels of Ease equal for bignesss and resort of people to any Parish elsewhere The East-Riding which is by much the least of the three takes up only that part of Yorkshire which lies between the River Derwent went and the Sea The North-Riding takes up the North Parts as far as Westmorland And the West-Riding the largest of the three is bounded on the North by the two former Ridings on the South by the Counties of Derby Nottingham and Cheshire Eastward by Lincolnshire and Westward by Lancashire The Soil is generally fruitfull in a very good measure And as says Speed if one Part thereof is stony and barren Ground another is as fertile and richly adorned with Corn and Pasturage If here you find it naked and destitute of Woods in other Places you shall find it shadowed with most spacious Forests If it be somewhere moorish miry and unpleasant elsewhere it is as pleasant as the Eye can wish As for Rivers here are many of good note For besides the Tees which parts this County from Durham here you will find the Swale the Youre and the Nyd of which the Ouse at York is a Compound Besides the Warfe the Are the Calder and Derwent which from several Parts fall into the Ouse below York To which add the Dun which severs part of this County from Lincolnshire and the Hull which falls into the Humber at Hull As for the Humber which is the largest of all it cannot be said properly to be a distinct River but rather a Compound or a Mouth of several Rivers joyning into one Stream as I have already hinted in the beginning of this Part. York in Latin Eboracum the chief Place of Yorkshire bears from London North-by-West and is distant therefrom 150 miles thus From London to Huntington 48 miles for the particulars of which I refer you to Huntingtonshire from Huntington to Stamford 21 to Grantham 16 more thence to Newark 10 to Tuxford 9 more from Tuxford to Duncaster 18 to Wentbridge 7 more thence to Tadcaster 12 and to York 9 more A City which for fame and greatness is the second City of England It is in the North-Riding situate on the River Ouse which divides it into two Parts but joyned together by a stately Stone-Bridge Of which two Parts that towards the East is the most populous the Houses standing thicker and the Streets narrower In general 't is a fair large and beautifull City adorned with many fair Buildings both publick and private and inclosed with a strong Wall with several Turrets upon it A City rich and populous well inhabited by Gentry and wealthy Tradesmen and containing about 30 Parish-Churches and Chappels besides its Cathedral dedicated to St. Peter First built by Edwyn the first Christian King of the Northumbers Anno 627 and finished by King Oswald his next Successor but one But being afterwards destroyed by Fire and by the fury of the Danes that which now stands was erected in the place thereof by Archbishop Thomas the 25th of this See and after by degrees adorned and beautify'd by his Successors Of that magnificent Structure which may justly put her in the first Rank of the Cathedrals in Europe In short the Romans of old had this City in such great esteem that Severus their Emperour had his Palace here where he ended his Days Here also upon the Death of Fl. Valerius Constantius surnamed Chlorus his Son Constantine was forthwith proclaimed Emperour Nor did this City flourish only under the Romans for it has been of as eminent Reputation in all Ages since and in the several Turns and Changes which have befallen this Kingdom under the Saxons Danes and Normans has still preserved its ancient Lustre Adorned it was with an Archbishops See in the time of the Britains nor stooped it lower when the Saxons imbraced the Gospel Richard II laying unto it a little Territory on the West-side thereof made it a County Incorporate as our Lawyers term it in which the Archbishops of York injoy the Right of Palatines It is governed as London by a Lord Mayor London and York being the only Cities whose Mayors bear the Title of Lord. But not so much famed by that as by the Title of Duke it has given to divers Princes of the Royal Bloud and particularly to the late King James before he came to the Crown As for its Markets it has two a Week viz. on Thursdays and Saturdays The other Market-Towns are 1. In the East-Riding Heydon Sat. Howden Sat. Burlington Sat. Pocklington Sat. Hull Tue. and Sat. Wighton Wedn. Beverley Wedn. and Sat. Kilham Thu. 2. In the West-Riding Duncaster Sat. Sherburn Sat. Tickhill Sat. Bautrey Sat. Pontefract Sat. Boroughbridge Sat. Skipton Sat. Rotheram Mund. Selby Mund. Otley Tue. Settle Tue. Sheffield Tue. Leeds Tue. and Sat. Wakefield Thu. Frid. Ripley Frid. Snathe Frid. Thorne Barnesley Wedn. Knaresborough Wedn. Hallifax Thu. Bradforth Thu. Tadcaster Thu. Weatherby Thu. Rippon Thu. 3. In the North-Riding Richmond Sat. Whitby Sat. Stokesly Sat. Malton Sat. Helmley Sat. Pickering Mun. Middleham Mun. Gisborough Mun. Thirsk Mun. Bedal Tue. Masham Tue. North-Allerton Wed. Abberforth Wed. Kirby-Moreside Wed. Scarborough Thu. Yarum Thu. In the East-Riding the Town of chief note is Hull otherwise called Kingston upon Hull seated at the very fall of the Hull into the Humber A Town of no great Antiquity being first built by King Edward I who called it Kingston made an Harbour tâ— it and gave such Incouragements to its Inhabitants by the Priviledges he granted them that it grew up quickly to what it is A large Town to this day though containing but two Parish Churches graced with faiâ— Buildings and well ordered Streets with a Custom-house and Key by the Water-side Here Ships come to lade and unlade their Merchandises and in the next Street to it not unlike Thames-street in London they find all Necessaries for Shipping such as Pitch Tar Cordage Sails c. A Town so fortified withall with Walls Ditches Forts Block-houses and Castles that with
it has a fair Stone-Bridge upon which Edward IV. erected a stately Chappel in remembrance of those who lost their Lives in his Quarrel The Inhabitants of this Town are noted for their Clothing Trade Skipton Bradforth and Pontefract are all three seated upon so many small Streams near their fall into the Are. Among which Skipton stands in a hilly rough craggy and unpleasant part of the Country called Craven Which gives the Title of an Earl to the Right Honourable William Craven created Earl of Craven Anno 1664. Pontefract or Pomfret is a neat Borough-Town pleasantly seated in a dry Spot of Ground upon a small Stream a little below the Confluence of the Warfe and the Are. Formerly strengthened with a strong and stately Castle mounted on an Ascent and fortify'd with Ditches and Bulwarks but was demolished in the long Civil Wars In this Castle it was that Richard II. was murdered after his Resignation of the Crown About â—his Town grow's plenty of Licorish Leeds on the Are is an ancient Town where formerly the Kings of Northumberland â—ad their Royal Pallace And now 't is so considerable that it is counted one of the â—est Towns in Yorkshire Well-inhabited it is â—specially by Clothiers who drive a great Trade for their Cloths Near unto Snathe a small Town is a little â—ountry of about 15 miles in compass called Marsh-Land and Ditch-Marsh which yields exâ—ellent feeding for Cattel Tadcaster on the Warfe is noted for two â—hings Viz. the large Stone-Bridge it has â—er the River and the plenty of Lime-stone â—gged up in its Neighbourhood Sherburn is seated between the Are and the â—arfe upon a small Stream that mixes its â—aters with those of the Warfe and Ouse â—here those two meet together The Town is small but well inhabited and has a famous Free-School Of some note besides for its Pins and Cherries and for the Quarries near it whose Stones when first taken out of the Quarries are very soft but seasoned with Wind and Weather become very hard and durable Selby on the Ouse is a good large Town chiefly noted for being the Birth-place of King Henry I. Ripley on the Nyd is but a small Market-Town Knaresborough is much more considerable being a well-built Borough-Town and fortified with a Castle upon a ragged rough Rock About this Town as well as Pontefract grow's plenty of Licorish And under it is a Well distilled from the Rocks that hang over it the Water whereof say's Speed do's turn Wood into Stone Rippon near the Youre over which it has a Bridge is a Place of good Antiquity Where stood once that stately Monastery built by Wilfride Archbishop of York which being destroy'd with the Town by the Danes waâ— again repaired by Odo Archbishop of Canter bury by whom the Reliques of Wilfride werâ— translated to Canterbury The Town a present is one of the best in the whole County well inhabited by Gentry and Tradesmen and among these by Clothiers and Spuâ— makers the Rippon Spurs being of speciaâ— note It s chief Ornament is the Collegiaâ— Church set out with no less than 3 loft Spire-Steeples In this Church was S. Wilfride Needle a narrow Hole in a Vault under Grounâ— where it is said Womens Honesty was trieâ— Those that were chast say's the Story couâ— easily pass through but the unchast it seems stuck by the way Not far from this Town is the lofty Hill of Michelholme Boroughbridge on the Youre over which it has a Stone-Bridge is a small Borough-Town but a great Thorough-Fare in the Northern Road. Of special note for the four huge Stones like unto Pyramids that stand in a direct line in three little Fields near this Town The Country-people call them the Devil's Bolts but Cambden is of opinion that they were here erected by the Romans for a Monument of some Victory obtained by them In the North-Riding we may reckon Richmond as one of the chief Places 'T is at least the chief of that Part of it which is called Richmondshire containing five Wapentakes or Hundreds within its Jurisdiction A Tract of Ground lying North-Westward with rugged Rocks and swelling Mountains whose Sides in some places bear good Grass and the Bottoms underneath not unfruitful And in the Hills themselves are found good Mines of Lead and Pit-coal Yet there are in it many waste Places void of Inhabitants as Deep-Dale Swale-Dale-Forest Apple-Garth-Forest and others As for Richmond it self 't is seated on the North-Banks of the Swale over which it has a Stone-Bridge This River which with a mighty noise runs here underneath the Town was reputed very sacred by the ancient English for that in it Paulinus the first Archbishop of York baptized in one day above ten thousand Men besides Women and Children The Town is of a small Circuit in the Walls but by reason of its Suburbs lying out in length very well peopled and frequented First built by Alane Earl of Bretagne in France and the first Earl of this Place after the Entrance of the Normans Who fenced it with a Wall and a most strong Castle the better to secure these Parts against the English and having finished the same gave it the Name of Richmount as a Place equally participating of strength and beauty As to its present state it contains two Parish-Churches is graced with well-built Houses many of them of free-Stone well inhabited by Gentry and Tradesmen and injoys a good Trade for an Inland Town for Stockings chiefty and woollen Knit Caps for Seamen The Earls of Bretagne for a long time together continued in the Title and Possession of this County and since it has been bestowed upon other Families In the Year 1641. James Stewart Duke of Lenox and Earl of March was created Duke of Richmond by King Charles I. Esme his Son succeeded him who died young Anno 1660. Thus the Title fell to his Cousin german Charles Earl of Lichfield who died without Issue Embassadour in Denmark in the year 1672. And within less than 3 years after the Title was conferred by King Charles II upon his Grace Charles Lenox the present Duke of Richmond his natural Son by the Dutchess of Portsmouth In this Tract also near Middleton on the Youre is Bolton-Castle seated in a Park Lately honoured with the Title of a Dukedom in the person of his Grace Charles Pawlet the present Duke of Bolton Scarborough upon the Sea is a Place of great Strength as well by Nature as Art Seated on a steep Rock with such craggy Cliffs that it is almost Inaccessible on every side and washed by the Sea on all parts but the West where there is a narrow Passage and that fenced with a strong Wall On the top of the Rock is a fair green and large Plain containing above 60 Acres of Ground with a fresh Water Spring issuing out of the Rock Here was formerly a stately Tower which served as a Land-Mark for Ships but was demolished in the long Civil Wars At this time it is
Indignation Your Majesty answered the Lord Mayor calmly may do what you please therein and your City of London will prove still dutifull but she comforts her self with the Thoughts that your Majesty will leave the Thames behind you This River besides is so Kind that it seldom indamages any Part of this City by its Overflowings Here the highest Tides are upon a Land-floud and the Moon at full when sometimes it does swell over its Banks But then Westminster lying low feels alone the effects of it and that seldom further than the Cellars Whereas the Chambers and Upper Rooms at Rome and Paris are sometimes overflowed Rome by the Tiber and Paris by the Seine From this River the City by Water-Engines is in many places supplied with good Water But to serve with Water the North Parts of the City as the Thames does the South Parts it has the Conveniency of an artificial River commonly called the New River which was begun Anno 1608 and finished in five Years time A noble Undertaking of Sir Hugh Middleton who for this great Work deserves his Statue in Brass This River he brought from Amwell and Chadwell two Springs near Ware in Hartfordshire from whence in a turning and winding Course it runs near upon 60 miles before it reaches this City In this Undertaking fitter indeed for a Prince than any Subject there have been six hundred Men at once imployed which was a prodigious Charge The Channel in some Places 30 foot deep in others carried over Valleys 20 foot at least above Ground in open Troughs And over this River are 800 Bridges some of Stone some of Wood and others of Brick This City besides has the Conveniency of several Conduits of Spring-Water so commodiously placed that they serve all the chief Parts of it And it is so situated that in all Parts though on the highest Ground 't is abundantly served with Pump-Water the Pumps in many Places not six foot deep in the Ground For a constant Supply of Provisions besides the fruitfull County of Middlesex in which it stands and that of Surrey on the other side of the River both which are ready at hand to furnish it with their Provisions it is neighboured with many other plentifull Counties out of whose abundance this City lives in great plenty and seldom knows what Scarcity is The Conveyance so easy both by Land and Water that no City in Europe has better Conveniencies So large fair and smooth are the High Ways that lead from all Parts to it and so convenient is the River that almost all the Fewel for firing is brought up that Way to Town The Coals from Newcastle and the Wood from Kent and Essex some of which last comes also down the River from Surrey and Middlesex Lastly as it has the Command of the Sea so there is scarce any Blessing in the Terrestrial Globe but this City has her Share in it Moreover its Distance from the Sea which is about 60 Miles is a great Argument of the Founder's Wisdom For by that Distance as it is not so near as to be annoyed by the unwholsom Vapours of the Sea or to be suddenly surprised by an Enemies Fleet so it is not so far but that by the help of the Tide which comes up every 12 hours Ships of great burden may be brought into her bosom In point of Latitude 't is in 51 Degree 30 Minutes I come now to its full Extent with its Suburbs and Places adjacent It s Length from East to West that is from Lime-house to the further end of Mill-Bank in Westminster is above 7500 Geometrical Paces which comes to seven measured miles and an half at 1000 paces a mile that is about five computed miles or two Parisian Leagues and a half The Breadth indeed is not proportionable the City being built in Length for the Conveniency of the River And yet taking Southwark in on the other side of the River as it is under the Lord Mayor's Jurisdiction and joyned to London by the Bridge this vast City reaches there in Breadth from North to South that is from the further end of White-Chappel Street to St. George's Fields in Southwark near upon 3 miles So that I cannot but conceive that if London were cast as Paris into an orbicular Form the Circumference of it would be much larger than that of Paris So much it is increased in Buildings since the dismal Conflagration in the Year 1666. But whether it is profitable to the Body of the State or not to have so vast a Head may be made a Question And if Dr. Heylin had cause to complain in his time of its being grown then too big for the Kingdom he might with much more reason do it now Great Towns says he in the Body of a State are like the Spleen or Milt in the Body natural The monstrous Growth of which impoverishes all the rest of the Members by drawing to it all the animal and vital Spirits which should give nourishment unto them and in the end cracked or surcharged by its own fulness not only sends unwholsom Fumes and Vapours to the Head and heavy Pangs upon the Heart but draws a Consumption on it self He adds further that the Overgrowth of great Cities is of dangerous consequence not only in regard of Famine such Multitudes of Mouths not being easy to be fed but in respect of the irreparable Danger of Insurrections if once those Multitudes sensible of their own Strength oppressed with Want or otherwise distempered with Faction or Discontent should gather to a head and break out into Action These are all I confess very plausible Arguments But if we consider London as it is in a manner the Head of three Kingdoms at least the Seat of their Monarch I see nothing of Monstrousness in it On the other side London having the Conveniency of the Sea and of a navigable River is so much the less subject to a Famine for that in case of Scarcity at home it may be supply'd from abroad And as in so great a Body there be commonly different Parties led by opposite Interests so there is the less Cause to fear Insurrections because one Party keeps still another in aw Just so Geneva and Hamburg two free Cities do not subsist so much by their own Strength as by the Jealousy of the several States that neighbour upon ' em But the greatest Danger incident to great Cities and omitted by Dr. Heylin is in Case of Contagious Diseases Which the more Matter they find to work upon make so much the greater havock and like a raging Fire get strength by their Motion Witness the Year 1665 when at London there died of the Plague in one day no less than 1200. When all is done I have this to urge in the behalf of great Cities that they are a visible Sign of a flourishing State and such as draws Respect from its Neighbours who look upon it as the Luxuriancy and Result of its Wealth
plentifull Dinner for all the Clergy that shall then meet there In this Colledge now repaired since the dreadfull Fire is a fair spacious Library built by John Sympson Rector of St. Olaves Heart-street and one of the said Founder's Executors Which Library by the Bounty oâ— divers Benefactors has been well furnished with Books especially such as relate to Divinity There are likewise in London divers Publick Schools indowed as St. Pauls Merchant Taylors Mercers Chappel c. which in other Countries would be stiled Colledges But especially Paul's School a commodious and stately Building at the East end of St. Paul's Ca. thedral Founded in the Year 1512. by John Collet Dr. of Divinity and Dean of St. Pauls for 153 Children to be taught there gratis For which purpose he appointed a Master a Sub-Master or Usher and a Chaplain with large Stipends for ever committing the Oversight thereof to the Masters Wardens and Assistants of the Mercers in London his Father Henry Collet sometime Lord Mayor of London having been of their Company Moreover for the Correction of Vagabonds and other Persons of a loose Life and Conversation there are several Work-houses The principal of which is Bridewell near Fleet-Bridge A stately Building first built by King Henry VIII for the Reception of the Emperour Charles the fifth but since converted to this Use And for Trying of Malefactors there is in the Old-Baily the Sessions-House which may go with the rest among the Ornaments of this glorious City as unpleasant as it is to many people that are there tried for their Lives Within the Precincts of Westminster are also many Things worthy our Observation I begin with Whitehall belonging heretofore to Cardinal Woolsey and since his Time become the usual Place of Residence of the English Monarchs 'T is seated betwixt the Thames on the East and a fine Park on the West amidst the Pleasures of the Water and the Charms of a fine spacious Spot of Ground The River of one side affording a great deal of Variety by the Multitude of Boats that cover it the Park on the other side charming the Eye with its delicate Walks well gravelled and as well shadowed parted with a fine Canal in the middle and this fronted with a brazen Statue which for curious Workmanship is admired by Artists themselves As for Whitehall it self I confess its outward Appearance is not great but it is very convenient and more glorious within than without And yet the Chamber at the front of it called the Banquetting-House is such a Piece of Building as for Spaciousness Beauty Painting and exact Proportion is not to be parallelled by any King in Europe the Cieling whereof was all painted by the hand of the famous Sir Peter Paul Rubens Here is also besides the Protestant Chappel a neat one built by the late King James for his Use which by the Grace of God ly's now dormant And in one of the Courts stands his Brazen Statue which has had better luck than that of Newcastle upon Tine On the North-West side of the Park is another Royal Pallace called St. James which gives name to the Park In the Strand is another Pallace called Somerset-House where the Queen Dowager resides and keeps her Dourt This was built by Edward Duke of Somerset Uncle to King Edward the fixth But the Glory of Westminster is the Abbey-Church there founded before the Norman Conquest by King Edward the Confessour and most richly indowed afterwards rebuilt from the Ground by King Henry III. This huge Fabrick stands on that piece of Ground which formerly was called Thorney-Island then surrounded with Water and where of old stood a Temple dedicated to Apollo In this Church is usually performed the Coronation of our Kings with that Pomp and Magnificence as becomes such potent Monarchs On the East end of it is Henry the Sevenths Chappel built by that King with admirable artificial Work both within and without And here are the Tombs and Monuments of several of our Kings and Queens among which that of massy Brass is so curiously wrought that it is scarcely to be parallelled The Abbey was converted into a Collegiate Church by Queen Elizabeth who placed therein a Dean and 12 Prebendaries besides about 30 petty Canons and others belonging to the Quire The Dean is intrusted with the Custody of the Regalia at the Coronation and honoured with a Place of necessary Service at all Coronations Adjoyning to this Church is a famous School and Colledge called Westminster School a Seminary for the Universities The Colledge consists of 40 Scholars commonly called Kings Scholars who being chosen out of the School and put into the Colledge are there maintained And as they are fitted for the University they are yearly elected away and placed with good Allowances in Christ-Church Colledge in Oxford and Trinity College in Cambridge Here is also in the Cloysters a fair publick Library free for all Strangers to study both Morning and Afternoon always in Term-time Next this Church stood the Royal Pallace of the Kings of England a great Part whereof was burnt down in the Time of Henry VIII What remained has still been imploy'd for the Use of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament and for the chief Courts of Judicature The great Hall where these are kept commonly called Wesiminster-Hell is 270 foot in length and 74 in breadth for its Dimensions not to be equalled by any Hall in Christendom And were it set out according to its Greatness and the Dignity of the Courts that are kept there it might pass for one of the most remarkable Buildings in Europe Erected as some say by King William Rufus or according to others by Richard II about 3â—0 years ago But this is not all that Westminster affords worâ—h our taking notice The Brazen Statue of King Charles I at Charing-Cross the New Exchange and Exeter Change in the Strand the Savoy once a famous Hospital several Noblemens Houses more like Princely Pallaces such as Montague Berkley Wallingford Southampton and Northumberland House the New Buildings raised from York Arundel Worcester Essex Newport and Clarendon-House Those of Sohoe which alone might make a good large City and many more too numerous to insist upon All these together with so many fine Piazza's or Squares I have already mentioned are enough if duly considered to raise the Admiration of all Strangers But for a publick Building of a late Erection 't is worth our while to step out of the Way and take a View of Chelsey-Hâ—spital Begun by Charles II. continued by King James his Brother and brought to perfection by our present King and Queen for the Refuge and Maintenance of poor and disabled Souldiers that have faithfully served their King and Country A stately Pile which in some respects outdo's in others is out done by the famous Hotel des Invalides at Paris As for the Government of London and Westminster the City of London with the Liberties thereof is governed in chief as to
Warranto brought in at the latter end of Charles II his Reign and a new Charter granted the City but with several Restrictions of great moment yet that Judgement was Reversed upon their late Application to the Parliament and their ancient Charter Confirmed So that Things run now as they did before that Judgment in their proper Channel For Military Affairs the City of London is a Lieutenancy of it self So that the Power of a Lord Lieutenant is in the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and other principal Members of the City for the Time being Who by a peculiar Commission from His Majesty are authorized to act as his Lieutenants in London for the ordering the City-Militia with the same Power that the Lord Lieutenants have in their respective Counties Now the City-Militia consists of 6 Regiments of Foot making about 90000 men besides the Hamlets of the Tower 2 Regiments and the Regiment of Southwark To which if we add the Militia of Westminster consisting of 2 Regiments called Holborn and Westminster each of 2000 men we find in all eleven Regiments But in case of Necessity the Auxiliaries are raised consisting of Apprentices which make up six Regiments more every Freeman that has two Apprentices finding one for that purpose To supply the City Train-Bands and Auxiliary men with Commanders there is a Nursery of Souldiers called the Artillery Company of above 60 Years standing This Company consists of 600 choice men commanded in chief by the King and under his Majesty by a Leader Who exercises this Company every Tuesday fortnight in the artillery-Artillery-Ground a spacious Place near Moorfields inclosed for that purpose with a fair Brick-Wall And the other Tuesday the Exercise is performed by the several Members of the Company who are there trained up to command most of them being Commanders of the Train-Bands They have a Court-Marshal consisting of a President Vice-President Colonel and 24 Members of the Company On the second Tuesday in February is their general Rendezvous every Year when they chuse their Officers Which besides the Leader are two Lieutenants 2 Ensigns 2 Sergeants a Provost Marshal 3 Gentlemen of Arms c. The Church-Government is by the Bishop of London The Parishes whereof for the most part provided with able and eminent Divines under the Title of Rector or Vicar are under his Jurisdiction And for maintaining these Divines with their Families there is in most Parishes a Parsonage or Vicarage-House with a yearly Allowance besides the Perquisites arising from Christenings Marriages and Burials Which Allowance since the Reformation falls much short of what it was in the time of Popery when besides the Tythes of the Tradesmens Gains the Mortuaries Obits c. the Priest tho' in a state of Celibacy had 3 shillings and 5 pence in the pound of the yearly Rent of all the Houses and Shops in his Parish Which afterwards was brought to 2 shillings 9 pence in the pound by an Act of Parliament under the Reign of Henry VIII and that confirmed by a subsequent Act. But since the Reformation this being lookt upon as too large an Allowance it has been so curtailed that 't will be hard to bring back that golden Age. 'T is true under the Reign of Charles II. a Regulation was made by Act of Parliament but it concerned only those Parishes whose Churches had been demolished by the dreadfull Fire And according to the several Extents of Parishes the Parsons thereof by virtue of that Act have a certain yearly Allowance none under 100 Pounds and none above 200 but most between one and two hundred Pounds The same to be raised in lieu of Tythe within the said respective Parishes by rating the Houses and Shops therein proportionably to their respective Rents As to those Parishes all over the City and Suburbs where there is besides the Parson a Lecturer he has his maintenance no otherwise than by a voluntary Contribution from the Parishioners As for the City of Westminster the Dean and Chapter are invested with all mander of Jurisdiction both Civil and Ecclesiastical not only within the City of Westminster but also in other Places of their Jurisdiction as the Precincts of S. Martin le Grand within the Walls of London and some Towns in Essex The Dean in particular has a Commission of Peace within the City and Liberties of Westminster The principal Officer in it called the High Steward of Westminster is usually one of the prime Nobility Under whom there is a Deputy Steward then the Bayliff and the two high Burgesses these chosen every Year Within the Precincts of Westminster but chiefly near the Court the Nobility and Gentry take up for the most part their Quarters But the proper Station of the Lawyers is in their Inns between the City and the Court and that of Merchants and Seamen in and about the East-end of the City Thus you have a short Description of the famous City of London the Metropolis of England the Seat of the British Empire the Epitome and Glory of this Kingdom A City which for Greatness Beauty Conveniencies Plenty of Provisions Commerce Riches and good Government is inferiour to none beyond Sea 'T is a Magazine of all sorts of Commodities necessary or expedient for the Use or Pleasure of Mankind The great Rendez-vous of the Nobility Gentry Courtiers Divines Lawyers Physicians Merchants Seamen of the best Artificers the most refined Wits and the greatest Beauties of the Land For a constant Supply of Provisions here are abundance of Markets the best furnished of any in Christendom but especially Leaden-Hall-Market near the Royal Exchange in the City the greatest Flesh-Market about the City and a great Magazine of Corn. So that there is scarce a great City in Europe where poor People or such as love a frugal Life may live cheaper or the splendid Liver gallanter To get a Livelyhood and raise himself in the World no Place like this by Mechanick or Liberal Arts by Merchandizing Offices Preferments c. For Conveniencies and Delight here all is at hand and scarce any Thing wanting that Money can purchase In point of Society here learned and unlearned high and low rich and poor good and bad may fit themselves any where And this I must needs say to the Praise of London that there is not a Place in Europe of such a vast Confluence of all sorts of People where Murders and Outrages so frequent in great and populous Cities beyond Sea are so seldom heard of Which argues a great deal of Wisdom in the Magistrate that so great a Body should be kept in so good Order William the Conquerour to prevent Disorders and Mischiefs in the Night commanded that in every Town and Village a Bell called Curfew-Bell a Corrupt Word from the French Couvre-feu should be rung every Night at 8 of the Clock and that all people should then put out their Fire and Candle This continued in his Reign and that of his next Successor William Rufus But Henry I. revoked
their Degrees respectively Here is as in Oxford a Chancellor a Vice-Chancellor two Prectors and a Register But the Chancellor is not so durante Vita for he may be elected every three years or continue in the same Office durante tacito Consensu Senatus Cantabr He has under him a Commissary who holds a Court of Record of Civil Causes for all priviledged Persons and Scholars under the Degree of Master of Arts where all Causes are try'd and determined by the Civil and Statute-Law and by the Customs of the University The Vice-Chancellor is a high Officer chosen every Year on the 3d of Nov. by the Senate out of two Persons nominated by the Heads of the several Colledges and Halls Together with the two Proctors chosen as at Oxford there are two Taxers chosen who with the Proctors look to the Weights and Measures as Clerks of the Market Here are also three Esquire-Beadles but only one Yeoman-Beadle The Mayor of the Town is like that of Oxford subject to the University and takes a solemn Oath at the Entrance into his Office to observe and conserve the Priviledges Liberties and Customs thereof And on Friday before St. Simon and Jude he brings with him to St. Maries Church allotted for the Assembly of the whole University two Aldermen four Burgesses and two of every Parish to take their Oaths before the Vice-Chancellor for the due search of Vagabonds and suspected Persons c. At the same time are sworn 14 Persons for the University and 14 for the Town to look to the Cleansing and Paving of the Streets The University has also a Court-Leet held twice every Year wherein are presented all Nusances c. What remains is the Question about the Antiquity of Cambridge as a Place of Learning in opposition to Oxford To me it appears to be in that respect of an older date than Oxford For Cambridge in the time of the Romans among whom it was known by the Name of Camboritum or as some Copies have it Camboricum was a Roman Colony mentioned in the best Copies among the 28 Cities of Britain And the Roman Colonies had their Schools of Learning wherein the several Professors of Arts and Sciences did instruct both the Roman and British Youth In the Bull of Pope Honorius the first bearing date Febr. 20. 624 mention is made of Priviledges granted to the University of Cambridge The Bull says by Eleutherius the 12th Bishop of Rome who lived about the latter end of the second Century but King Arthur's Diploma says by Lucius a British King the first Christian King in Europe and Contemporary with the said Eleutherius Which Diploma says that King Lucius was converted by the preaching of the Doctors of Cambridge for which reason he gave Priviledges to that University which were confirmed by King Arthur Whether the Diploma be counterfeit or not or whether the aforesaid Priviledges were granted by King Lucius or Pope Eleutherius is a Question by it self Certain is that both the Diploma and the Bull agree in point of Time So that here is Proof enough to make it at least probable that in the time of King Lucius and Pope Eleutherius there might be a sufficient Number of learned Men in Cambridge to have instructed King Lucius in the Christian Faith and that Eluanus and Medwinus who were sent by that King to Rome for his fuller Satisfaction in that point might be of that Number Upon these Grounds it must be granted that Cambridge is a Place long since dedicated unto Learning and I doubt much whether Oxford as great a Respect as I have for it can pretend to so great an Antiquity But Dr. Heylin an Oxonian alledges a notable Reason for the Precedency of Oxford before Cambridge Viz. the Resolution of the Commons in the first Parliament held under King James I. For says he when the Clerk of that House had put the Name of Cambridge before Oxford they taking disdainfully that Hysteron-Proteron commanded the Antiquities of both Universities to be searched and after search made gave place to Oxford To clear this Point we must take notice that both Oxford and Cambridge since their first Foundation lay for several Ages forlorn and discontinued during the long Wars of the Saxons and Danes in this Island Till Oxford had the happiness to be first restored by King Alfred towards the latter end of the Ninth Century Which from that time grew into such esteem as to be counted one of the four principal Universities of Europe the other three being Paris in France Bononia now Bologna in Italy and Salamanca in Spain Whereas Cambridge did not begin to flourish again till the Reign of Henry I for his Learning surnamed Beau-Clerc that is in the beginning of the Twelfth Century So that in point of Restauration 't is plain that Oxford has got the start of Cambridge But let us leave this Speculation of Cambridge as an Academy and look upon it as a Title of Honour In this Point we shall find Cambridge to have the Preeminency For it has been Dignify'd not only with the Title of an Earldom in several eminent Persons but also with the Title of a Dukedom in four Sons of the late King James when Duke of York Three of them by the first Dutchess Charles James and Edgar who all died very young and the fourth by the last Dutchess Charles by Name the short Hopes of the Popish Faction Who being born Nov. 7. 1677. died Dec. 12. following and so lived but five Weeks Thus I have done with OXFORD and CAMBRIDGE those two great Fountains of Learning both seated at almost an equal Distance from London the one West and the other North. From whence are yearly sent forth a great Number of Divines Civilians Physicians c. to serve all Parts of this Kingdom For a constant Supply whereof there are several Colledges and famous Schools in England the principal Winchester Eaton Westminster St. Pauls Merchant-Taylors and Charter-House all richly Indowed to maintain Masters Ushers and a certain Number of Scholars So that a Child once admitted into any of these Schools may by his Capacity be preferred to be a Scholar or Fellow in some Colledge of one of these Universities Where having a good Allowance he will want little or no help from his Parents all his Life-time after The End of the First Part. THE SECOND PART OF THE New State OF ENGLAND Under Their MAJESTIES K. William and Q. Mary CONTAINING An Account of the Inhabitants their Original Genius Customs Religion and Government of Their Present Majesties their Court Power Revenues c. London Printed in the Year 1691. THE NEW STATE OF ENGLAND PART II. CHAP. I. Of the Inhabitants of ENGLAND And first of their Complexion Temper Genius Language with an Account of the most famous Men of this Nation either for Souldiery or Learning THAT the Britains were the ancient Inhabitants of England is a Thing agreed by all But whether they â—ere the Aborigines that is
the Night at Sun-set which is according to the old Babylonian Account The Old Style is used in England as in most Protestant States and the New Style in all Popish States According to this Style these reckon ten Days before us regularly as to the beginning of Months and all fixt Festivals but for all moveable Feasts the Account proves various The Old Style is otherwise called the Julian Account from Julius Caesar who 43 Years before our Saviours Birth ordained the Year to consist of 365 Days and 6 â—ours And as these 6 hours at 4 Years end make up 24 hours therefore a Day is then added to the Month of February and that Year called Leap Year or Bissextile Year from the Latine Bissextilis The New Style is otherwise termed the Gregorian Account from Pope Gregory XIII who above 100 Years ago undertook to correct the Calendar by the advice and direction of Antonius Lilius and other excellent Mathematicians For tho the Julian Account for many Ages seemed to have no sensible Errour yet it was at last discovered to be not altogether agreeable with the natural Motion of the Sun In short it was made out that the Julian Year exceeded the true Solar Year by 10 Minutes and 48 Seconds whereby the Equinoxes and Solstices yearly changed their places and flew back so many minutes and seconds Therefore Pope Gregory ordered the Year to consist of 365 Days 5 hours 49 minutes 12 seconds And that the Vernal Equinox which then was on the 11th of March might be reduced to the 21th as it was at the time of the first Nicene Council he commanded ten Days in October to be left out by calling the fifth Day thereof the fifteenth To find Easter the Church of England observes still the Cycle found out and finished in the sixth Century by that worthy Roman Dionysius Exiguus or Abas Whereas the Roman Church having invented new Rules about Easter it happens sometimes that their Easter is full five Weeks before ours sometimes with but never after ours CHAP. III. Of the English Way of Living as to Lodging Fewel Food Raiment Exercise Recreations and some particular Customs WHen I compare the Modern English Way of Building with the Old Way I cannot but wonder at the Genius of old Times Nothing is more delightful and convenient than Light nothing more agreeable to health than a free Air. And yet of old they used to dwell in Houses most with a blind Stair-case low Cielings and dark Windows the Rooms built at random often with Steps from one to another So that one would think the Men of former Ages were afraid of Light and good Air or loved to play at Hide and Seek Whereas the Genius of our time is altogether for lightsom Stair-Cases fine Sash-Windows and lofty Cielings And such has been of late our Builders Industry in point of Compactness and Uniformity that a House after the new Way will afford upon the same Quantity of Ground as many more Conveniences The Contrivance of Closets in most Rooms and the painted Wainscotting now so much used are also two great Improvements the one for Conveniency the other for Cleanness and Health And indeed for so damp a Country as England is nothing could be better contrived than Wainscot to keep off the ill Impression of damp Walls In short for handsom Accommodations and Neatness of Lodgings London undoubtedly has got the preeminence The greatest Objection against the London-Houses being for the most part Brick is their Slightness occasioned by the Fines exacted by the Landlords So that few Houses at the common rate of Building last longer than the Ground-Lease that is about 50 or 60 Years In the mean time if there happens to be a long fit of excessive Heat in Summer or Cold in Winter the Walls being but thin become at last so penetrated with the Air that the Tenant must needs be uneasy with it But those Extreams happen but seldom And this Way of Building is wonderful beneficial to all Trades relating to it for they never want Work in so great a City where Houses here and there are always repairing or building up again The plaistered Cielings so much used in England beyond all other Countries make by their Whiteness the Rooms so much lightsomer and are excellent against a raging Fire They stop the passage of Dust and lessen the Noise over-head In Summer-time the Air of the Room is something the cooler for 't and the warmer in Winter The Use of Stoves so common in Northern Countries as Germany Denmark Sueden Poland and Moscovy and even so far Southward as Swisserland is in a manner unknown in this Country And indeed its Temperateness does no way require it Therefore the English use no outward Remedy against Cold Weather but a Chimney-Fire which is both comfortable to the Body and chearful to the Sight 'T is true there is a double Conveniency in Stoves First in point of Savingness for once heating of a Stove in the Morning keeps the Room warm a whole Day Secondly in Point of Warmth the Room being so warm with it that all Places in it feel the benefit thereof But those two Conveniences are more than over-ballanced by one Inconveniency viz. the aptness of Stoves to gather and foment all the noisom Smells of a Room for want of Vent which must needs be very unwholsom whereas a Chimney-fire draws 'em to it and there they find vent with the Smoak To that Inconveniency we may add the chilling Impressions of a cold and sharp Air upon ones coming into it out of so warm a Room as commonly Stove-rooms are Besides the Cumbersomness of Stoves in Summer-time when being altogether useless they take up a great deal of room to no purpose As for Fewel England affords three Sorts Wood Coals and Turves but Coals is the most common in London especially where they have 'em by Sea from Newcastle and Sunderland A lasting sort of Fewel being a mixture of small and round Coals together which by their aptness to cake is the most durable of any and for Kitchin Use far beyond Wood it self as yielding not only a more even but more piercing Heat The Smoak of it is indeed grosser and of a corrosive nature but yet nothing so offensive to the Eye whatever it is to the Lungs as some pretend it to be In many Parts of the Country they have Pit-coals which is a cleaner and more chearful Fewel but not so durable as Sea-coals But the Cheapness of these at London in Time of Peace is worth taking notice where for so small a matter as two or three pence a Day one may keep a constant moderate Fire from Morning till Bed-time Which is a mighty Advantage to so vast and populous a Place especially considering it comes 300 miles by Sea And whatever the Parisians can say to the praise of their Wood-fires I dare say the common sort of People there would be glad could they compass it to change in
the better in troubled Waters Yet whatever have been the Effects of it hitherto God has wonderfully defeated their Designs Insomuch that this Church formerly scattered and eclipsed in the Reign of Charles I restored but afterwards undermined by Charles II and lately threatned with utter Ruin by his immediate Successor is now by the special Providence of God in a Hourishing Condition under the happy Influence of our present King William the Restorer of our Laws Religion and Liberties As for the Spirit of Persecution which the Church of England has been charged with in relation to Dissenters it cannot be justly laid to her Charge For whatever has been done in that Case was but according to Law and the Penal Laws were made as all Statute-Laws in a regular Manner by the Votes of Parliament the Representatives of the People as well Dissenters as others 'T is true the Church-Party proved the most predominant And yet in point of Execution the sober part of the Church were always very tender and none but hot Men amongst them ready for Execution Influenced thereto by the Court which far from designing the Dissenters Union with the Church used the Rigour of the Law to create an implacable Hatred betwixt the afflicting Church and the suffering Body of the Dissenters Which had a sutable Effect For these imbittered what with Fines what with Imprisonments tho according to Law failed not to clamour on all sides against the persecuting Spirit of the Church of England and against those bloudy Laws as they used to call ' em The Sense of their present state made them forget what they had done when they usurped the Regal Power and how busy they were to imprison to banish to sequester With Grief I rake up these old Sores and nothing but a just Desire of righting both Parties could have extorted this from me But now the Dissenters have got Liberty of Conscience by a late Act of Parliament with the ready Concurrence of the Church-Party in both Houses I hope there 's no Ground left for Animosities between the Church and Them And if the Presbyterians who are the nearest to the Church of England and the greatest Party among Dissenters now they have seen so much of her incomparable Learning and invincible Stedfastness to the Protestant Religion and Interest would but shake off their groundless Prejudices and prefer the happiness of a Reunion before the Danger of a Schism what a Blessing it would prove to this Nation is almost unconceivable 'T is not long since the Church was their Sanctuary when they expected no Mercy from a late King who came to the Throne full of Resentment and Indignation against them Tho afterwards to compass his own Ends he tacked about and killed them almost with Kindness And why they should now separate from a Church which was so lately their Refuge when they crowded the very Church-Men out of Church it is past my Understanding For the Church of England is the same still Were they but so well-minded as to make the least step towards a Reunion I am assured the Church of England would be very forward to meet them Rather than they should continue their Separation and be Accountable to Gods Tribunal for it I am more than confident she would readily part with such Ceremonies as give 'em most offence But it is feared they would not be satisfied with those small Condescensions They are for more substantial Things which for Peace sake I shall forbear to name and leave for the Reader to guess The main Points wherein they differ from the Church of England is the Church Government and the publick Worship They hold that the Church was governed in the beginning by Presbyters or Elders and that it should be so governed still not by Bishops upon which account they got the Name of Presbyterians They except both against the latitude of the Bishops Power and the largeness of their Revenues as if neither of them could be used by the Clergy with Christian Moderation But it is more probable the unshaken fidelity of Bishops to Monarchy which many of the Dissenters were never very fond of sticks most in their Stomack For publick Worship they use no Liturgy wherein they differ from the Protestanâ— Churches beyond Sea They look upon Seâ— Forms as dead Prayers and delight only oâ— Extemporal Therefore the Lord's Prayer iâ— in a manner exploded by the rigid Sort oâ— them Yet one would think when their Minister prays before the Congregation his Prayer â—s a set Form to such as pray with him The Surplice the Sign of the Cross the bowing â—t the Name of Jesus and the kneeling at the Communion are to them so many Sins They deal plainly with God at least in outward appearance and are resolved as far as 〈◊〉 see to serve him without Ceremony Great Predestinarians many of 'em are and very strict Observers of the Sabbath In short their apparent Soberness in Conversation and Zeal in their Devotion has so increased their Number that they are lookt upon as the chief Party amongst all the Dissenters Next to whom both in their Opinions and Number are the Independents or Congregationalists So called for that they will have every particular Congregation to be ruled by their own Laws without dependence upon any other in Church-Matters For they prefer their own Gathered Churches in private Places to the publick Congregations in Churches which in contempt they call by the name of â—ceeple-Houses In most Things else they â—â—mp with the Presbyterians Except those particular Tenets some of 'em have intertainâ—d which for brevities sake I forbear to enumerate The riged sort of 'em called Brownists â—efuse to Communicate with any of the Reformed Churches The Anabaptists are so called from Rebaptiâ—ing those who coming to their Communion â—ere baptized in their Infancy For one of their chief Tenets is against Pedobaptism or baptizing of Children They hold besides â—hat Lay-people may preach As for those blaspheâ—ous Opinions their Fore-fathers have been charged with I hope few of the modern And baptists in England are guilty of them The Millenarians or Fifth-Monarchy-Men are so called from their Expectation of Christ's temporal Kingdom here on Earth for a thousand Years And this they ground upon several Places of Scripture which from a Spiritual they wrest into a Carnal Sense The Quakers are a sort of Enthusiasts so called because they use to quake and groan when they wait for the Spirit Whereas the Spirit of God is a Spirit of Peace and Quietness not to be found in Fire Earth-quakes and Whirl-winds but in the soft and still Voice They reject all Ministerial Ordinances and rail against premeditated Preaching oâ— Praying The Holy Scripture is no Rule for 'em to go by but Inspiration and the Light they pretend to is all in all with them So that any Man or Woman in their Meetings that fancies first to be seized with the Spirit is free to stand up for a Teacher to the
afford excellent Fish and wild Fowl in great plenty A noted Place in former time for its wonderfull rich Abbey which continued in its glory till its Dissolution by King Henry VIII This County which formerly was Part of the Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants Part of the Iceni as the Romans called them is now in the Diocese of Lincoln Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire but two Parliament Men and these out of Huntington Kent KENT in Latin Cantium so called as being seated in a Canton or Corner of the Kingdom is a large rich and pleasant Country â—â—ying between the Thames and the Narrow Seas So that it is invironed on all sides with the Sea except Westward where it borders both upon Surrey and Sussex It contains in Length from East to West 60 Miles in Breadth from North to South 30. The Whole divided into five Lathes called Sutton Aylesford Scray St. Augustine and Shepway Lathes and these into 67 Hundreds wherein 408 Parishes and 30 Market Towns Which is an Argument of its Populousness But the Air is neither so serene nor so healthful here as in other Counties especially near the Sea and Marshes which makes this Country so noted for its Kentish Agues Now that you may know in few words the Nature of this Country both as to its Air and Soil I shall bring in the Remark made upon it which is that there are 3 Ridges of Hills in Kent one called Health without Wealth the second Health and Wealth and the third Wealth without Health Others as to the Soil give this different Character of it The Weald for Wood East Kent for Corn Rumney for Meadow Tenham for an Orchard Shepey and Reculver for Wheat Thanet for Barley and Hedcorn for Capons In general this may be said of Kent that it is a Country very good for Corn and fit for Pasturage according to the several Plots and Parts thereof and wondrous full of fruitful and well-ordered Orchards from whence the City of London is supplied with most sorts of Fruit but chiefly with Pippins and Cherries which are counted the best in England On the Cliffs between Deal and Dover there grows a great store of Samphire The same is well watered with Rivers For besides the Thames that washes its North Parts here is the Medway which in a manner parts it in the middle the Stower that runs by Canterbury the Tun through Tunbridge and the Rother upon which Appledore is seated not to mention the lesser Streams Of all the Counties in England this was the first Kingdom of the Heptarchy and had a particular King to it self which no other County ever had Neither was it conquered by the Normans the Kentish Men yielding upon Articles and having their ancient Franchises and Customs confirmed to 'em by William the Conqueror One of which is the Cavelkind whereby they are not so bound by Copy-hold as in other Parts of England Lands of this nature being equally divided here among the male Children and for want of Males among the Females By the same Law they are at age at 15 years old and they may sell or make over the Land without the consent of the Lord. Also the Son tho of a convicted Father for Felony or Murder succeeds him in such Kind of Lands The Kentish Men besides have this to glory in that they were the first Christians of this Island And this is the only County at this time that has two Cities or Episcopal Sees namely Canterbury and Rochester Canterbury the chief Place of this County is 46 miles East of London Viz. from London to Dartford 12 to Rochester 11 more from thence to Sittingborn 10 and to Canterbury 13 more A City of great Antiquity if it was built as some Authors aver 900 years before Christ 'T is seated on the River Stower noted for breeding the best Trouts in the South East Parts of England and is counted in the Lath of S. Augustine The Buildings of it but mean and the Wall which encompasses it in a decayed condition The greatest Ornament of all is the Cathedral wherein ly interred the Bodies of eight Kings For this City had been the Seat of the Kings of Kent till given by Ethelbert the first Christian King of this Country to Augustine the first Archbishop thereof and his Successors Whereupon the King removed his Seat to Reculver a Town by the Sea-side In this Cathedral is also interred the Body of Thomas Becket once Archbishop hereof that famous Saint so reverenced by the Romanists In this City and its Suburbs are reckoned 14 Parish Churches besides a Meeting-place under the Cathedral for the Walloonâ— that dwell in this City who are very numerous and drive a considerable Trade of the Stuffs they make here It has two Markets a Week Wednesdays and Saturdays the latter of which is the most considerable But to the honour this City has had of being the Regal Seat of the first Kings of Kent and of being to this day the See of the Primate of England let us add the Coronation of King John and Queen Izabel his Wife the Marriages of Henry II. and Edward I and the Interments of Edward the black Prince King Henry the Fourth and Queen Joan his Wife all which was performed in this Place The other Market-Towns are Eltham Mund. Wrotham Tue. Lenham Tue. Westram Wedn. S. Mary Cray Wedn. Goldburst Wedn. Gravesend Wedn. Sat. Feversham Wedn. Sat. Dover Wedn. Sat. Sandwich Wedn. Sat. Wye Thu. Rumney Thu. Lyd Thu. Folkstone Thu. Maidstone Thu. Bromley Thu. Rochester Frid. Tunbridge Frid. Tenderden Frid. Woolwich Frid. Smarden Frid. Malinge Sat. Milton Sat. Cranbrook Sat. Hythe Sat. Ashford Sat. Sevenoke Sat. Dartford Sat. Appledore Among which Rockester requires the preeminence as a Bishops See and the second for Antiquity in all the Island It is seated upon the Medway over which it has a stately Stone-bridge one of the fairest in England It consists most of one principal Street which extends it self a long way the Houses being but ordinary as they are inhabited for the most part but by Trades-men and Inn-keepers Yet besides the Honour it has of being a Bishops See it is dignify'd with the Title of an Earldom in the Person of the Right Honourable Laurence Hyde Earl of Rochester Viscount Hyde c. Which Title was formerly enjoy'd by three Wilmots And before them there was a Viscount of this Place Sir Robert Carr being created Viscount of Rochester Anno 1611. and afterwards Earl of Somerset Adjoyning to this City is Chatham also seated on the Banks of Medway A long Thorough-fare Town well inhabited by Seamen and Shipwrights as being the principal Station of the Royal Navy and having a good Dock and Store-houses for the building and equipping of his Majesties Ships Maidstone is seated also on the Medway but near the head of it This is the Town where the County-Goal Sessions and Assizes are kept being conveniently seated for