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-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
New Buckenham ly not far from Thetford to the Eastward Diss and Harleston on the Waveney Watton Windham Hingham Swafham and East-Derham do not ly far asunder about the middle of the County Further to the Northward you will find Repeham Caston Fakenham Walsingham Holt Aleâ—ham Worsted North Walsham and Hickling this last in a Marsh-Ground not far from the Sea Downham is upon the Ouse over which it has a Bridge leading into Cambridgeshire Snetham North of Lyn is seated on a bivuler not far from the Sea Burnham-Market and Cromere are two Sea-Towns in the North Parts of the County Between which is Clay another Sea-Town on three sides incompassed with Waters and once a Market Town but now discontinued And near it Wayborn-hope a noted Place amongst Seamen as is Winterton Ness or Point in the East which is very coldly seated And yet it is observed that the Ground about Winterton is one of the richest and fattest in England Among the aforesaid Towns Walsingham was formerly renowned as for its Colledge of Canons so for the continual Concourse of Pilgrims to this Place Who came hither to pay their Superstitious Devotion to the Blessed Virgin at a Chappel near the two Wells called to this day the Virgin Mary's Wells It was also a Place of note for its good Saffron Near Burnham-Market within 2 Miles from it to the Westward is a small Country-Town called Brancaster the Ruins of an ancient Town known by the Name of Branodunum Seated near the Sea-shore and a Place of good account in the time of the Romans who kept here a Garrison Not far from Hickling in the North-East Parts is the ancient decay'd Abbey of St. Bennet's in the Holme built by the Danish King Canute An Abbey so fortified afterwards by its Monks with Walls and Bulwarks that it seemed rather a Castle than a Cloyster and yet was betrayed by a Monk to William the Conqueror The Bishop of Norwich retains to this Day the Title of Lord Abbot of St. Bennets And it is observable that hereabouts both Cockles and Perwinkles are digged out of the Ground Lastly this County which is the largest in England next to Yorkshire but much more populous was Part of the Kingdom of the East-Angles in the time of the Heptarchy and its Inhabitants part of the Iceni as the Romans called them It is observed of the People in this County that they are notably industrious for Plough and Manufactures insomuch that one shall hardly see a Beggar throughout all the Country And yet which one would wonder at they are notable Wranglers and generally so well versed in the Quirks of the Law that they create more work for the Assizes than almost all the Circuit else Accordingly Norfolk is the County which commonly yields the best Breed of Lawyers and has furnished the Courts of Justice with many an emiment Man in the Laws of England But a great Antiquary has made another material Observation That in this County are a hundred Families of ancient Gentry that never were attainted of high Treason Which if it be true the Gentry here have had better fortune than the Dukes Dutchesses and Earls of Norfolk His Grace Henry Howard the present Duke of Norfolk derives his Title from his noble Ancestor John-Lord Howard created Duke of Norfolk by King Edward IV. Anno 1483 and descended from the Lady Margaret Dutchess of Norfolk Daughter of Tho. de Brotherton Earl of Norfolk first Son of King Edward I. Out of this County are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire ten Members of Parliament Viz. Two out of each of these following Places Norwich Kings I yn Yarmouth Thetford and Castle-rising Northamptonshire NORTHAMPTONSHIRE an Inland County is bounded on the East with the Counties of Cambridge Huntington Bedford and Buckingham on the West with Rutland Leicestershire and Warwickshire Northward with the Counties of Lincoln Rutland and Leicester Southward with Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire This County being long but narrow runs in Length from North to South ahout 50 miles and in Breadth from East to West but half The Whole divided into 20 Hundreds wherein 326 Parishes and 13 Market-Towns Here the Air is temperate and healthfull the Soil as rich either for Corn or Grass as in any Place in England And the Inhabitants find such a Profit here by Grazing and Tillage that they improve the Ground every where Insomuch that it is said there is less waste Ground in this County than in any other As for Rivers and other fresh Streams 't is as well watered as most Counties are It s principal Rivers are the Nen and the Weland both having their Rise here besides the Ouse which rises in the South Parts near Bucking hamshire A further Proof of the excellency of this County might be fetched from its Populousness For it is so garnished with Towns that in many Places 20 or 30 Steeples present themselves at one view And considering its Extent 't is said to be honoured with the Seats of as many if not more of the Nobility and Gentry as any County in the Kingdom Northampton the chief Place hereof ly's North-West from London and by common Computation is distant from it 54 miles thus From London to Barnet 10 thence to St. Allans 10 and to Dunstable 10 more from Dunstable to Stony Stratford 20 and to Northampton 10 more A Town pleasantly seated on the Banks of the River Nen where it meets with two Rivulets one from the North the other from the South And though it has suffered much by the sore hand of the Dane and other Calamities and of late particularly by the dreadfull Fire which buried it all in Ashes in September 1675 yet it has raised it self again more glorious than before So that for Circuit and Beauty it may at this time be ranked with many Cities Fortified heretofore with good Walls and a strong Castle and seated in so good an Air that once the Students of Cambridge had a mind to remove their University hither Here the Inhabitants drive a considerable Trade especially of Leather and its Market which is on Saturdays is well served with Provisions This Town is the Place where the County-Goal and the Assizes are kept Of special note for giving the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable George Compton the present Earl of Northampton Devolved to him from his noble Ancestor William Lord Compton and Lord President of Wales Created Earl of Northampton by King James I. Anno 1618. The other Market-Towns are Peterborough Sat. Oundle Sat. Higham-Ferrers Sat. Rothwell Mund. Thrapston Tue. Towcester Tue. King's Cliff Tue. Wellingborow Wed. Braâ—kley Wed. Daventry Wed. Kettering Frid. Bodkingham Among which Peterborough is seated in a Nook or Angle of the County bordering upon Cambridgeshire and Huntingtonshire where formerly had been a Gulf or Whirlpool of an exceeding depth 'T is seated on the River Nen over which it has a Bridge leading into Huntingtonshire A Town of no great account but for being a
is a Well or Fountain which Euripus-like ebbs and flow's many timâ— in a day In the same Place are Stones like Pyramids some of them 9 foot high and 14 thick pitched directly in a Row for a mile together and placed at equal distances from each other On the Banks of the Lowther is Lowther-Hall the Seat of Sir John Lowther Baronet Whose Family has there flourished so long a time that they reckon 30 Descents lineally from Father to Son and the greatest part of 'em Knights Neither do's the House only carry the Name of the Family but also the Park belonging to it the Parish and which is remarkable the very River with the Bridge over it To conclude this County formerly a Part of the Kingdom of the Northumbers and its Inhabitants part of the Brigantes as the Romans called them stands now divided betwixt the Dioceses of Chester and Carlisle Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire but two Members of Parliament and Appleby has the Right of Election As for honourary Titles this County began to be dignify'd with the Title of an Earldom in the Reign of Richard II. By whom Ralph Nevil Lord of Raby and Earl Marshal was created Earl of Westmorland Anno 1398. Which Title continued in his Family almost 200 years till it failed by the Death of Charles Nevil in the Year 1584. But it was revived by King James I. in the person of Francis Fane eldest Son of Mary descended from the said Nevils who was treated Earl of Westmorland and Baron of Burghersh Anno 1624. From whom it passed to Mildway-Fane and from him to the Riâ—ht Honourable Charles Fane the present Earl of Westmorland Wilishire WILTSHIRE an Inland County is bounded on the East with Barkshire and Hampshire on the West with Somersetshire Northward by Glocestershire and Southward by Dorsetshire Called Wiltshire from Wilton once the chief Town of it as this is from the River Willy upon which it is seated It contains in Length from North to South at least 40 miles in Breadth from East to West 30. The Whole divided into 29 Hundreds wherein 304 Parishes and 23 Market-Towns A Country not only pleasant and delightsom but withall very plentifull It s Northern Part called North Wiltshire has very pleasant Hills and well cloathed with Woods The Southern Parts are more even and yield plenty both of Grass and Corn. But the Middle Parts called the Plains are most scant of Corn. Yet as they are wonderfull large and spacious reaching round about to the Horizon they feed such innumerable Flocks of Sheep that the Inhabitants find aâ— much profit by their Fleece and the gainful Trade of Cloathing as others do by their more fertile Grounds As for Rivers here is the Isis which with the Tame makes up the Thames The Kennet which runs Westward from this County through Barkshire into the Thames The Avon a Name common to many English Rivers which runs from North to South and then bending its Course to the Westward falâ— into the Severn not far from Bristol Another Avon which takes its Course Southward and having washed Salisbury runs on through Hampshire where it falls near Christchurch into the Sea The Willy and the Nadder which joyning together into one Stream at Wilton near Salisbury fall there into the Avon Besides several lesser Streams among which is the Deverill which runs a mile under Ground Now before I proceed any further in my usual Method it will not be improper to take notice in this Place of two Remarkable Things in this County viz. the Wansdike and Stone-henge The first is a Dike running for many miles from West to East in the midst of this Shire and which according to the vulgar Opinion was cast up by the Devil upon a Wednesday from whence the Name of Wansdike But as Cambden observeth it was rather made by the West-Saxons for the dividing of their Kingdom from that of the Mercians this being the Place where they usually fought in order to stretch the Bounds of their Dominions Stone-henge the greater Wonder of the two and indeed the most admirable Rarity this Island affords is a stupendious Piece of Work It consists of huge Stones standing upright in three Ranks round like a Crown and laid overthwart one another some of which are 28 foot high and 7 broad Now the Question is how these Stones came hither For the whole Country round for some miles hardly affords a Stone either great or small and these seem too vast to be brought hither by Wagon Cart or any other Artifice Cambden therefore is of Opinion that they were made there by Art of pure Sand and some unctuous Cement the Ancients having had the Art of making Stone Thus the Cesterns of Rome were made of Sand digged out of the Ground which with the strongest kind of Lime wrought together became so hard that they seemed Stones Salisbury the chief Place of this County is reckoned 70 miles West-South-West from London thus From London to New Brentford 8 miles thence to Stanes 7 to Hartley-row 16 more from thence to Basingstoke 8 thence to Whitchurch 10 to Andover 6 more and from Andover to Salisbury 15. This is the City otherwise called New Sarum raised out of an old one known to the Romans by the Name of Sorbiodunum which was drily seated on a great Eminence being a Place only designed for Strength Yet it was for some time honoured with an Episcopal See and a fair Cathedral As to the present City 't is pleasantly seated among several Rivers whose Streams do commodiously water most of the Streets and almost incompassed with open Fields and Plains which take their Name from it In which Plains about 6 miles distance is to be seen the Stone-henge as before described In short this City for fair Buildings is inferiour to none and transcends all others for the benefit of Water almost every Street having a River running through the midst thereof among which the Avon is the principal The Streets are large and spacious accommodated with a fine Market-Place and adorned with a fair Building the Town-Hall But the greatest Ornament of this City and indeed one of the principal Ornaments of England is the Cathedral a most stately and magnificent Church Which being begun by Richard Poore Bishop of this See and finished in the Year 1258. by Bridport the third Bishop from him was dedicated to the honour of the Blessed Virgin This Church has 12 Gates 52 Windows and 365 Pillars great and small the first answering to the Number of Months the second to that of the Weeks and the third to the Number of Days in the Year It s Steeple has a lofty Spire which proudly shews it self from a great distance And which is remarkable an Imperial Crown stood at the very top of all which by a sudden Gust of Wind was thrown down to the Ground at the very time when the late King James was at Salisbury in order to oppose
were not fit to live in the World In England where they are charitably lookt upon as reconciled to God upon their penitent Departure out of this World their Friends are allowed to inter them decently where they think fit He therefore that has Friends to look to his Burial go's to the Place of Execution his Coffin in the Cart with him a good Memento Mori And after he has hanged about a quarter of an hour he is cut down laid in his Coffin and conveyed in a Coach to the Place from whence he is designed to be buried But Apostates Hereticks and Extorsioners all perjured Persons and such as die Excommunicate also any one that is Felo de se or that has wittingly made himself away all such are by Law denied Christian Burial And so are for the most part Men that die for High Treason and Robbers guilty of Murder For Petty Larceny or small Theft that is under the ancient value of 12 d. the Punishment since Edward III. is by Whipping and in the late Reigns has been often by Transportation into the West-Indies where they live for some Years a slavish Life But if the Ofsender be found by the Jury to have fled for the same he forfeits all his Goods For Misprision of High-Treason that is for neglecting or concealing it the Offender's Punishment is Forfeiture of the Profits of his Lands during Life and of all his Goods besides Imprisonment for Life Perjury whereby Mens Estates Reputation and Lives ly at stake is commonly punished only with the Pillory never with Death though it has cost the Lives of many 'T is true a Perjurer Convict is by Law incapable of being a Witness or Administrator or of bearing any publick Office And in the strictness of the Law he ought to be burnt in the forehead with a P his Goods to be Confiscated and his Trees growing upon his Ground rooted up But all this is counted too little by those Nations where wilful Perjury is punished with Death At least it seems but equitable which is the Practice of Spain that the Perjurer should suffer the same Punishment which he intended for another by his Perjury Forgery Blasphemy Cheating Libelling False Weights and Measures Forestalling the Market Offences in Baking and Brewing are also punished with standing in the Pillory But sometimes the Offender is Sentenced besides to have one or both Ears nailed to the Pillory and cut off or his Tongue there bored through with a hot Iron For Striking in the Kings Court so as to draw Bloud the Criminal is to have his right Hand cut off in a most solemn manner And for Striking in Westminster-Hall whilst the Courts of Justice are there sitting the Offender is imprisoned during Life and all his Estate forfeited For one found in a Praemunire that is one who incurs the same Punishment which was inflicted on those who transgressed the Statute of Rich. II. commonly called the Statute of Praemunire which Statute was properly made against such as avouched the Popes pretended Right of bestowing by Provision most of the best Livings in England by Mandates the Punishment is Forfeiture of all his Estate to be put out of the King's Protection and Imprisoned during the King's Pleasure Vagabonds and the like who can give no good account of themselves are punished by setting their Legs in the Stocks for certain hours And Scolding Women that are always teazing their Neighbours by being set in a Cucking Stool placed over some deep Water and duck'd therein three several times to cool their heat and choler Other Misdemeanours are commonly punished with Imprisonment or Fines and sometimes with both Those are the Corporal Punishments commonly used in England for Criminals that happen to fail into the hands of Justice But there are also Spiritual Punishments such as concern the Soul especially and are in the power of the Spiritual Courts 'T is true they are but seldom put into practice but let us see however what the Law is in this point First for refusing to appear in the Ecclesiastical Court upon Summons or for not obeying the Orders of the Court the Party Delinquent is admonished If he slight the Admonition then comes upon him Minor Excommunicatio the Lesser Excommunication whereby he is Excommunicated or excluded from the Church if not from the Church at least from the Communion of the Lords Supper And by this lesser Excommunication he is disinabled to be Plaintiff in a Law-suit c. Which Power of Excommunication the Bishop may delegate to any grave Priest with the Chancellour But for Heresy Incest Adultery Perjury and other grievous Crimes Excommunicatio major or the greater Excommunication is used and pronounced by the Bishop himself in person Now this is not only an Exclusion from the Company of Christians in Spiritual Duties but also in Temporal Concerns For a Person so excommunicated cannot in any Civil or Ecclesiastical Court be Plantiff or Witness And if he continue 40 Days Excommunicated without acknowledging and giving satisfaction for his Offence the Chancery grants the King 's Writ against him De Excommunicato capiendo to take him up and cast him into Prison without Bail where he is to ly till he has fully satisfied for his Offence Then comes the Anathema but this is only inflicted upon an obstinate Heretick Whereby he is declared a publick Enemy of God cursed and delivered over to eternal Damnation And this is to be â—one by the Bishop himself in Person assisted by the Dean and Chapter or twelve other grave Priests Sometimes the Delinquent is compelled to make a publick Confession of his Fault and to bewail it in the Church before the whole Congregation Now this is called a publick Penance and the Manner of it is thus The Delinquent is to stand in the Church-porch upon a Sunday bare-headed and bare-footed in a white Sheet and with a white Rod in his hand Having there bewailed himself and begged every one that passes by to pray for him he enters the Church falling down and Kissing the Ground Then he is placed in the middle of the Church in a conspicuous Place over against the Minister Who makes a Discourse upon the foulness of his Crime and having received his humble Acknowledgement of the same and his solemn Promise with God's help and assistance to watch more carefully for the time to come against the Temptations of the World the Flesh and the Devil pronounces in Christ's Name the Absolution The Penitent on his side humbly beseeches the Congregation to pardon him and receive him into their holy Communion and in testimony thereof to vouchsafe out of their Christian Charity to say with him aloud the Lord's Prayer Which seems to be the Way used by the Primitive Churches But when the Crime is not notorious and publick the foresaid Pennance may by the Canons of the Church be commuted at the Parties Request into a Pecuniary Mulct for the Poor of the Parish or some pious Uses Provided that
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
Hundreds wherein 660 Parishes and 31 Market-Towns Which is an Argument of its Populousness Here the Air is sharp and piercing especially near the Sea and in the Champain Part which occasions a later Spring and Harvest The Soil in many Places but chiefly along the Sea-Coast which is a Champain Country affords plenty of Corn. The Heaths feed a World of Sheep and breed abundance of Conies And the Woodland Part serves for Grazing of Cattel yet not without Corn-ground The Sea and the Rivers besides that glide through this Country strive as it were to furnish it with their plenty of Fâ—sh And among these besides those above-named viz. the two Ouses and the Waveney there are two of chief note called the Yare and the Thryn The Yare particularly noted for its great plenty of a certain Fish called Ruff whose body is all Prickled over the tail and fins spotted with black Specks This Fish eats tender and short as a Perch and is counted a wholsom Fish It delights in sandy Places and is rarely seen in any other River One Thing is observable of it that when the Fish is angry the fins stand up stiff and after its Anger is over they fall flat again In short the Soil of this Country according to the Variety of Places is of different nature In some Parts it is fat rank and full of moisture in others very light and sandy Yet so that one contributing to the other and the Sea giving help to both it is a very plentiful Country for Corn Sheep and Fish Norwich the chief Place hereof and a Bishops See bears from London North-East and by North and is distant therefrom 90 miles thus From London to Ware 20 to Barkway 11 more thence to Witleâ—ford-Bridge 10 and to New-Market 12 more from Newmarket to Theâ—ford 16 to Attleborough 10 more thence to Windham 5 and to Norwich 6 more A City seated on the River Yare which runs thence to Yarmouth and over which it has several Bridges It was formerly the Seat of the East-Angles and then a Place of great splendour But it has since undergone so many Calamities by Sword and Famine by Fire and Pestilence that it is much it should prove to this day a fair large populous and well frequented City Insomuch that it ly's out a Mile and a half in length and half as much in breadth containing in that Circuit about 20 Parishes well walled about with several Turrets and 12 Gates for entrance but not without much waste Ground within it It s chief Buildings are the Cathedral beautified with a lofty Spire then the Bishops and the Duke of Norfolk's Pallaces the Market-House the Cross and the House of Correction made of free Stone and so well cemented that no Mortar is seen Here is also an Hospital where 100 poor Men and Women are maintained and the Ruins of an ancient Castle of the Saxons building In short here is so pleasant an Intermixture of the Houses with Trees that it may not improperly be called an Orchard in a City or a City in an Orchard the populousness of a City and the pleasure of the Country meeting here together Of some Note besides for giving the Title of Earl to his Grace the Duke of Norfolk Earl of Arundel Surrey and Norwich Finally this City do's injoy a great Trade but chiefly for its Stuffs Stockings and other Manufactures here made for the learning of which it is beholding to the Dutch that came to inhabit here It has three Markets a Week Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays the first and last very great for all sorts of Provisions The other Market-Towns are Lyn Sat. Mund. Yarmouth Sat. Thetford Sat. Hingham Sat. New-Buckenham Sat. Swafham Sat. Downham Sat. Holt Sat. Burnham Sat. Cromere Sat. Repcham Sat. Alesham Sat. Worsted Sat. Sechy Mund. East-Herling Tue Fulcham Tue Caston Tue Harlston Wedn. Watton Wedn. North-Walsham Thu Attlebury Thu Fakenham Thu Windham Frid East-Derham Frid Diss Frid Snetham Frid Walsingham Frid Besides Southwold and Winfield two new Markets and Hickling whose Market-Days I am ignorant of â—yn formerly called Bishops Lyn as appertaining to the Bishops of Norwich till King Henry VIII gave it the Name of â—yn Regis or King's Lyn is seated in the Western Part of the Country upon the Banks of the Ouse near its fall into that Part of the Sea which is called the Washes Watered besides by two little Rivers that fall there into the Ouse which are passed over by about 15 Bridges A Town of good antiquity large and well built containing 3 Parish-Churches and for its Defence incompassed with a Wall and a good Ditch Well Inhabited by Merchants and Tradesmen who drive a considerable Trade and the more by reason of its commodious Haven Yet it is much eclipsed in its Trade to what it was formerly because of the stoppage of a Sluce upon the Ouse which do's so obstruct the Current of salt Water that the River is scarce navigable to Cambridge Nigh unto this Town on the other side of the Ouse is a little Marsh Country called Marsh-Land very subject to the Inundations of the Sea and therefore very moist and aguish But in recompence its Soil is exceeding fat and feed abundance of Cattel In this Marsh are seated several Towns but so destitute of fresh Water for houshold Use that many of 'em are fain to get a supply thereof at 4 miles distance About 3 miles from Lyn towards the Sea stands a decayed Town called Castle-Rising It s Decay occasioned by its Haven's being many years since choakt up with Sands whereby 't is become useless Which has done a Kindness to Lyn. Yarmouth the best Harbour in all this County and the Key of this Coast is seated at the Mouth of the River Yare from whence it is called Yarmouth A Town of good Strength as well by Nature as Art well built and pretty large and yet it has but one Church which is beautify'd with a lofty Spire The same is well inhabited and much resorted unto by Seamen affording a ready Passage to Holland and being a frequent Shelter to the New-castle Fleets when distressed by Weather Of special note besides for Herring-fishing in the Seas adjacent in the Month of September Which draws a great Concourse of People hither and makes the Town much richer all the Year after Lastly 't is dignified with the Title of Earl in the person of the Right Honourable William Paston the present Earl of Yarmouth Thetford is an Inland Town situate on the Confluence of the Thet and the little Ouse over wich it has a Bridge leading to Suffolk A Place of great Antiquity built out of the Ruins of the ancient City Sitomagus which was destroyed by the merciless Danes The Bishop's See of the East Angles was from North-Elmham removed hither and from hence to Norwich It is not very well Inhabited to what it has been However this is the Town where the Lent-Assizes for the County are usually kept Herling and
the Prince of Orange's Forces coming this way from the West Which two days after was followed by his Desertion of that Place and soon after by the Desertion of the Crown and Government Moreover this City has been for several Ages honoured with the Title of an Earldom 1. in the persons of Patrick and William D'Evreux successively 2. In two Williams surnamed Long-Espèe the first a base Son of King Henry II. by Rosamond 3. In two Nevils both Richards by their Christen-names 4. In the person of George Duke of Clarence who married Isabel Daughter of Richard Earl of Warwick 5. In Edward eldest Son of King Richard III. 6. In Margaret Daughter of George Duke of Clarence created Countess of Salisbury by King Henry VIII And lastly in the Family that now injoy's it the first being Robert Cecil Lord of Essendine and Viscount Cranborn created Earl of Salisbury by King James I. Anno 1605. From whom is descended the present Earl James Cecil Lastly this City is a Place well inhabited and frequented injoying a good Trade And its Markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays are very considerable for all sorts of Provisions The other Market-Towns are Marlborough Sat. Malmsbuâ—y Sat. Chippenham Sat. Werminster Sat. Troubridge Sat. Cricklade Sat. Bradford Mund. Swindon Mund. Calne Tue. Auburn Tue. Lavington Wedn. Wilton Wedn. Highworth Wedn. Devizes Thu. Hindon Thu. Wooten-Basset Thu. Downton Frid. Amersbury Frid. Westbury Frid. Mere Marmister Among which Marlborough or Marleburgh is next to Salisbury the most considerable Town in this County The Town called anciently Cunetio in Antonine's Itinerarium as the River Kennet was upon which it stands but by the Normans in whose Time this Town revived out of the Ruins of the old it was named Marleburgh as being seated in a chalky Soil which in some Places is still called by the name of Marl. A Town stretched out from East to West upon the ascent of a Hill watered by the Kennet not far from the head of it and having the conveniency both of a Forest and Chase in its Neighbourhood the first called Savernake-Forest and the other Aldburn Chase It had once a Castle belonging unto John surnamed Sans Terre who afterwards was King of England The Castle still famous in our Law-Books for a Parliament there held in the Reign of King Henry III. in which were made the Statutes from hence called of Marleburgh for the suppressing of Tumults But King Charles 1. at this Coronation made it yet more notable in making it the Honour as it was the Neighbour of James Lord Ley Lord Treasurer created by that King Earl of Marlbourough Anno 1625. Which Title continued in three Persons more of his Name and Family and since the late Revolution was conferred by our present King upon the Right Honourable John Churchill the present Earl of Marlborough This Town has suffered very much by the frequent Misfortune of Fire under which it groans to this day Near unto this Place is a Village called Rockley from divers Stones like Rocks pitcht up on end Among which there sometimes breaks forth a violent Stream of Water called Hungersbourn by the Country-people by whom 't is reputed as the fore-runner of a Dearth Malmesbury another good Town stands in the North-West Parts of the County pleasantly seated on a Hill near the Spring of the River Avon over which it has six Bridges being almost incircled with that River Chippenham and Bradford are also seated on the Avon and Troubridge near it Amersbury or Ambresbury commonly pronounced Ambsbury on the other Avon near the Stone-henge and but 6 miles North of Salisbury Upon which River near the Confines of Hampshire you will find also the Town called Downton or Duncton Calne is situate on a River so called which runs from East to West into the Bristol Avon This Town is noted for the Provincial Synod held here in the Year 977 to determine the hot Disputes in those Times between the Monks and the Priests concerning Celibacy But whilst they were debating the Matter in hand the Convocation-house suddenly fell down by which Fall several were slain and many cruelly wounded Wilton is seated between two Rivers the Willy Northward and the Nadder Southward From the first it took its Denomination as the whole County from Wilton Once the chief Town thereof and a Bishops See honoured with the Residence of nine several Bishops But by translating the See to Salisbury and carrying thither withall the Thorough-fare into the West-Country which before was here it fell by little and little to decay So that it is at present but a mean Town Yet still a Borough-Town the Place where the Knights of the Shire are chosen and where the Sheriff keeps his monthly County-Courts Werminster of old Verlucio a Town in former Time of very good account is seated at the Springs of the River Willy otherwise called Willybourn Westbury and Devizes are two Borough-Towns that is such Towns as fend Burgesses to Parliament The first situate on the Broke a small River that falls into the Avon Devizes at the very head of another Stream bearing the Name of the Town which likewise do's empty it self into the Avon I pass by the rest as Inconsiderable to take notice of Clarendon a fine spacious Park lying near to and Eastward of Salisbury 'T is seated upon a Hill on which stand twenty Groves severally inclosed and each a mile in compass Adorned in Times past with a Royal House which in process of time is falnto ruin But more remarkable for that in the Reign of Henry the Second Anno 1164 here was made a certain Recognition and Record of the Customs and Liberties of the Kings of England before the Prelates and Peers of the Kingdom for the avoiding Dissentions between the Clergy the Judges and Barons of the Râ—â—lm Which Act was called The Constitutions of Clarendon whereof so many as the Pope approved have been set down in the Tomes of the Councils and the rest omitted But that which has added more lustre to Clarendon is its being Dignify'd with the Title of an Earldom first in the person of Edward Hyde sometime Lord Chancellour of England who was created Viscount Cornbury in Oxfordshire and Earl of Clarendon by King Charles II Anno 1661. Upon whose Death at Rouen in Normandy Dec. 19th 1674 he was succeeded in his Title by his eldest Son Henry Hyde the present Earl of Clarendon To conclude this County which formerly was Part of the Kingdom of the West-Saxons and its Inhabitants part of the Belgae as the Romans called them is now in the Diocese of Salisbury Out of it are chosen besides the two Knights of the Shire no less than 32 Members to fit in Parliament Viz. two out of each of these following Towns New Sarum or Salisbury Wilton Downton Hindon Westbury Heytesbury Calne the Devizes Chippen ham Malmesbury Cricklade Great Bedwin Lurgershal Old Sarum Wootton Basset and Marlborough But we must not omit the famous Caves that ly in
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
And of all the Cities of Europe none can so justly challenge the Preeminency in this Point as London the Metropolis of England being not only perhaps the most ancient but also the wealthiest and reckoning all its Annexes the greatest City now extant in Europe Such a City as contains above 600 Streets Lanes Courts and Alleys and in them all by a late Computation at least a hundred thousand Houses So that allowing only 8 Persons to each House one with another which I think is moderate the Number of the Inhabitants will amount at that rate to above eight hundred thousand Souls Befides a World of Seamen that live and swarm in that constant tho' moving Forest of Ships down the River on the East side of the Bridge The Dwelling Houses raised since the Fire are generally very fair and built much more convenient and uniform than heretofore Before the Fire they were most Timber Houses built with little regard to Uniformity but since the Fire Building of Bricks has been the general Way and that with so much Art and Skill in Architecture that I have often wondered to see in well-compact Houses so many Conveniences in a small compass of Ground In short our English Builders have built so much of late Years that no Nation perhaps at this time can vy with them for making much of any Ground tho' never so little and contriving all the Parts of it to the best advantage in the neatest and most regular way with all the Conveniences the Ground can possibly afford And that which adds much to the Neatness of the late Buildings is the Wainscot now so much in use Which as it is the cleanest Furniture so it is the most durable and indeed the most proper for so moist a Country If we come to Stateliness I confess the Noblemens Houses at Paris being built of free Stone as most of that City are with large Courts before 'em for the Reception of Coaches make a fine outward Appearance But for uniformity state and magnificence we have some here and chiefly Montague-House that exceed by far most of ' em As for great Merchants Houses and fair Taverns scarce any City surpasseth London in this particular For publick Buildings as Halls Inns of Court Exchanges Market-Places Hospitals Colledges Churches besides the Bridge upon the River the Monument Custom-House and the Tower they are Things worth any Strangers Curiosity to view at least a good part of them Most of which have indeed the disadvantage of being built backward and out of the way to make room for Tradesmens Shops in the Streets Whereas if they had been all built towards the Street as generally they are in other Countries few Cities could make so great an Appearance But for stately strait and spacious Streets to pass by many curious Courts where shall one see finer than Cheapside Cornhill â—ombard-Street Fleet-Street Hatton Garden Pallnall and several others especially near the Court What forein City can shew so many Piazzas or fine Squares such as Lincolns-Inn-Fields Lincolns-Inn-Square Grays-Inn Red Lion and Southampton-Squares the Golden Square King 's Square in Sohoe S. James's Square Leicester-Fields and Covent-Garden The first of which is chiefly noted for its Spaciousness and King 's Square for its Stateliness Lastly when I reflect upon that disinal Fire which in three Days time consumed above thirteen thousand Houses besides 89 Parish Churches the vast Cathedral of S. Paul divers Chappels Halls Colledges Schools and other publick Edifices it is a matter of amazement to me to see how soon the English recovered themselves from so great a Desolation and a Loss not to be computed At 3 Years end near upon ten thousand Houses were raised up again from their Ashes with great Improvements And by that time the fit of Building grew so strong that besides a full and glorious Restauration of a City that a raging Fire had lately buried in its Ashes the Suburbs have been increased to that degree that to speak modestly as many more Houses have been added to it with all the Advantages that able and skilfull Builders could invent both for Conveniency and Beauty But it is time to come to Particulars The City properly so called is begirt with a Wall which gives entrance at seven principal Gates besides Posterns of later erection Viz. on the West-side Ludgate and Newgate both which serve for Prisons the first for such Debtors as are Freemen of the City the other for Malefactors both of the City and Country and is besides the County Goaâ— for Debt Northwards those of Aldersgate Cripglegate Moorgate and Bishopsgate And Eastward Aldgate Within the Compass of the Walls there are reckoned 97 Parishes and in relation to the Civil Government the City within the Walls and Freedom is divided into 26 Wards or Aldermanries of which more hereafter As to the publick Buildings here I shall begin with the Tower a Fort upon the Thames which commands both the City and River Called the Tower from the great white Tower in the middle which gives Name to the Whole 'T is all surrounded with a Wall and Ditch about a mile in compass with Cannon planted on the Walls and the Turrets thereof But it is besides the principal Store-house of England for Arms and Ammunition such as is said to contain Arms for about 60000 Men. Here are also kept the Jewels and Ornaments of the Crown and the ancient Records of the Nation As among others the Original of all the Laws that have been enacted or recorded till the Reign of Richard II. The Grants of several Kings to their Subjects at home and abroad and the Confirmations thereof The several Treaties and Leagues with forein Princes The Dominion of the British Seas The Title of the Kings of England to the Kingdom of France and how obtained All the Atchievements of this Nation in France and other forein Parts The Homage and Dependency of Scotland upon England The Establishment of Ireland in Laws and Dominions These and many other Records are reposited in Wakefield Tower near the Traytors Gate under the Custody of an Officer called the Keeper of the Records and whose Salary is 500 l. per Annum This Place is properly in the Master of the Rolls his Gift Every day of the Week except Sundays Holy-Days publick Fasting and Thanksgiving-Days and Times of great Pestilence they that have occasion to look into the Records have admittance In the Morning from 7 to 11 a clock and in the Afternoon from one till five Except in the Months of December January and February where Attendance is not given till 8 in the Morning and in the Afternoon not beyond 4 a clock In the Tower is the only Mint of England for Coyning of Gold and Silver To which belong several Offices which I intend to muster in my second Part where I shall speak of the English Coyns Lastly the Tower which has been formerly honoured with the Residence of several Kings who kept their Courts here is
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