his Queen Ethelwith At Melburn John D. of Bourbon taken at Agin Court was kept prisoner Little Chester an ancient Colony of the Romans as appears by what Coins have been digg'd up thereabout In Nottinghamshire the County Town Nottingham hath not wanted its share in the grand rencounters that have been in this Nation the Castle hereof was kept by the Danes against the Mercian King Burthred and also against the English Saxon Monarchs Elthelred and Alfred At Newark in this County King John who was poyson'd at Swinsted Abby is said to have drawn his last breath At Stoke near Symnel's party was utterly defeated and his upholders John de la Pool Earl of Lincoln Thomas Garadine Chancellour of Ireland Fr. Lord Lovel and others were slain with 4000 of their men and he himself taken prisoner June 16th An. 1487. At Mansfield was born the first Earl of Mansfield in Germany one of the Knights of King Arthurs Round Table In Warwickshire the Town of Warwick is sufficiently fam'd in story over and above what is related of Guy of Warwick and his great adventures and above all things the antiquity of the foundation is remarkable if as the tradition goes it were built by Gurguntus 375 years before the Nativity of our Saviour however the Castle looks great and savours much of Antiquity Coventry being joyntly one Bishoprick with Leichfield is memorable besides the beauty of the brave action of Countess Godiva the wife of Leofrick the first Lord thereof well known in History One of the Gates of this City is call'd Gofford Gate which is the more notable by the Shield-bone of some very large beast some say a wild Bore slain by Guy of Warwick some say an Elephant with the snout whereof a pit was turn'd up which is now Swanes Mear At Backlow-hill in this County Pierce Gavestoâ— was taken and beheaded by a party of the Nobles At Wolny An. 1469. King Edward the fourth his Forces were discomfited by his brother George Duke of Clarence and Richard Earl of Warwick and the King himself taken prisoner In Northamptonshire the County Town Northampton hath been the Subject of many warlike bronts An. 1106. it suffered much by the contests of the Conquerours three Sons Robert William and Henry An. 1263. being held by the Barons against King Henry the third it was taken by surprize and the Walls thrown down An. 1459. King Henry the sixth was here taken prisoner by the Earl of Warwick and March with the slaughter of Humphry Stafford Duke of Buckingham John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury the Lords Egremont and Beaumont but the greatest misfortune that e're befel this Town was in this our Age viz. An. 1675. when by an accidental Fire it was almost all burnt down to the ground yet lay it not long buried in ruin for it was immediately rebuilt and now appears in far greater splendour then ever Here Earl Rivers Father to Edward the fourth's Queen taken at Grafton was beheaded by Robin of Risdal together with his son John Higham Ferrers in this County hath been honour'd with the birth of a very great Prelate of this Nation viz. Henry Chichly Cardinal and Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the Reign of King Henry the sixth This Chichly was the founder of All-Souls Colledge in Oxford Edgecot is signalis'd by a bloody battle fought near it on Danes More July the 26th An. 1469. by Robin of Risdal and Sir John Coniers against William Herbert Earl of Pembroke who together with his Brother Richard the Lord Rivers the Queens Brother and Richard Woodvil were taken prisoners carried to Banbury and beheaded At Fotheringhay Castle Mary Queen of Scots was kept a long time prisoner and was at last beheaded In Leicestershire Leicester the County Town is principally famous by the tradition of its having been built by King Leir great in the Catalogue of ancient British Kings qu. Leir-cester Lutterworth in this County ows its chief credit to the famous John Wickleff who was Parson of this place in the reign of King Henry the 4th Bosworth a Town of no great note but for the memory of a most signal battle fought near it on Redemore August 22d 1485. which put an end to all Controversies between the two houses of York and Lancaster and in which fell that most Tyrannical of English Kings Richard the third with four thousand of his men and some say though we are not bound to believe it with the loss but of ten men on the Earl of Richmonds side Cleycester of which there are now scarce any ruins remaining was once a famous City in the West part of this Shire and by the Romans call'd Bennone In Rutlandshire some mention as close adjoyning though generally affirm'd to be situate rather in Lincolnshire the Town of Stamford for the reputation of an ancient University and said to have been founded by that Ancient British King Bladud who found out the vertue of the Bath-Waters In Lincolnshire Lincoln the chief Town and only City of this Shire is not only eminent for its antiquity and for that it was once acounted one of the chiefest and the best traded Cities of England and made by King Edward the third the chief Mart for Lead Wool and Leather But also for a great battle fought by Randolph Earl of Chester and Robert Earl of Glocester against King Stephen who was here taken prisoner as also for the success of King Henry the third who won it from the Barons it is said to have had once fifty Parish Churches Wainfleet had been doubtless a place of little note but for the birth of William Wainfleet Bishop of Winchester who living in the reign of King Henry the sixth with whom he was great in favour built here a Free-School and founded Magdalen Colledge in Oxford Grimsby likewise though an ancient Market Town hath its chiefest repute from its being the Birth-place of Dr. Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury in the reign of King James Bullingbrook is enobled by the memory of the Birth of King Edward the first and King Henry the fourth Swinesstead Abby the place where King John received from the hands of Simon a Monk thereof that baleful potion that gave him his end at Lincoln Harstill laments the death of that mirâ—our of that Conjugal love Queen Eleanor the wife of King Edward the first In the North-Riding of Yorkshire York the chief of this Shire and second City of England was a Colony of the Romans and a place of great account among them and ever since to this day a splendid and flourishing City several Emperours here kept their Court and particularly Severus had a Palace here in which he breathed his last Here also Constantius Chlorus the Father of Constantine the Great is said to have departed this life nor does the death of these two Emperours more ennoble this Place than the Birth of the Learned Alcuin who was Tutour to the Emperour Charles the Great Some write that it was first made an Episcopal See by
are many Pits which being somewhat narrow at the top and widening towards the bottom are distinguished into several Rooms or Apartments and supported as it were with Pillars of Chalk At a House of the Marquess of Worcester's at Emsbury I have been told that at the pulling down of an old Wall the Labourers discovered a Cavity which upon search led to a large Cave where there was found a Monument of great Antiquity and Riches which by the Character and some other circumstances appears to have been the Tomb of Queen Guinever Wife to King Arthur Near Kirby-Longdale in Westmorland are many deep places like Caves Fifthly At Aberbarry in Glamorganshire there is a Cave at the bottom of a Hill the mouth whereof is a gaping Clift or Chink into which when the Wind enters there is heard a kind of harmonious noice as it were of Cymbals There hath been also heard from a Clift on the Sea-side near the Island Barry a sound as it were of Smiths at work and this by the Testimony of Lilius Giraldus Lakes and Fountains there are very many among us which have something strange and extraordinary in them Near Brereton in Cheshire which belongs to an Eminent Family of the same Name there is a Pool wherein the bodies of Trees swimming are said to presage the Death of some of the Family There are two Lakes very near to each other hard by St. Agnes-Hill in Cornwall of which it is credibly reported that in the one of them Fish will live and thrive in the other not In Lancashire near Furness-Fells there is a standing water accounted the greatest in England commonly called Miander-Meer being no less than 10 Miles in length and all along paved with stone at the bottom It is said moreover that a Fish call'd a Ohare breeds here only and no where else In Huntingtonshire there are several Lakes and among the rest one called Wittlesmeer-Lake which in fairest weather grow tempestuous and rage with violent surges like the Sea In Staffordshire there are two remarkable Lakes of one Necham delivers That by its Roaring it foretells things to come the other is call'd Mahal of which the Tradition goes That Horses when tir'd drinking of the water thereof becomes fresh as ever Of this Gervase of Tilbury makes particular mention On the high Hills of Carnarvonshire there are two Meers of a strange nature if report be true for one is said to produce a sort of Fish that hath but one Eye the other to have a floatable Island whereon no sooner any one sets foot but it drives farther off from the shoar There is also at Bala in Merionethshire a Pool which never fills by Land-floods though rising never so high but in tempestuous weather swelleth above its Banks At Lynsavathan in Brecknockshire is a Meer which is said to have swallowed up a City that once stood in the room thereof through this Meer runs the River Levenny keeping its own stream intire and unmix'd At Kilken in Flintshire is a little Well which hath a constant ebbing and flowing like the Sea At Gigglesworth in Yorkshire there are three small Springs of two whereof there is nothing of observable but the middlemost hath a constant course of ebbing and flowing four times an hour the difference between its highest rise and lowest fall being about eight Inches Likewise in Derbyshire in the Forrest of the Peak is such another Spring ebbing and flowing 4 times an hour observing a constant and due revolution of its tydes On the River Ogmore in Glamorganshire there is a Well which every full tyde in Summer time is almost destitute of water but at ebb is replenish'd many times very near but never totally to an overflowing Another there is at Carry-Castle in Caermardenshire which ebbs and flows Another in Westmorland near the River Loder which ebbs and flows several times a day At Lemington in Warwickshire a Salt Spring ariseth at a great distance from the Sea Near Kenet in Wiltshire the water breaking but of certain stones is accounted a sign of Dearth The River Can in Westmorland hath Cataracts which by their fall foretell either Rain or fair Weather The rising of a Bourn near Croiden in Surry is said to presage Mortality Near St. Albans in Hertfordshire there is a Brook called which when it breaketh out presageth Dearth or some other Calamity In a private mans Yard at Pitchford in Shropshire is a Well whose waters cast up a Skum of liquid Bitumen In the North-riding of Yorkshire are Wells called Tingtong Wells three Miles within the earth The Petrifying Wells and Springs of England are very many nor is it worth the while to mention all of them the chief are in these particular Places at Newenham or Menham-Reges in Warwickshire Three which are also of a Medicinal quality as being strained through Allum at Lutterworth in Leicestershire Near Knarisborough in York-shire the Well-Drepa whose Waters distil from the Rocks that hang over it At Hodington-Hill near Oxford upon the descent of the Hill At Boxly Abbey near Maidston in Kent at Egerton in the same County Nor are those Wells and Springs to be forgotten among the Memorabilia of Nature whose Waters are of a Medicinal virtue the chief of this nature not only of England but even of all Europe for the virtue of the Waters the Magnificence of the Structures about the Wells and the vast resort to them are those famous Bathing Wells which give denomination to the City Bath and which were first found out by one Bladud who is reckoned in the Catalogue of our Ancient British Kings and renowned in History if it may be called History and not rather Historical Tradition as well for Philosopher as King Others there are whose Waters esteemed for their Purging quality are generally carous'd as Ebsham or Epsone-Wells in Surry those of Tunbridge in Kent of Barnet in Hertfordshire and now of late of North-hall in the same Shire Now I cannot but fancy that there must needs be a very great advantage in this way of Physick since those who Evacuate so merrily with so much divertisement so many as it were together for good Companies sake no doubt find a more effectual Operation than those who coop'd up in a Melancholly Chamber sup up a mixture of Nauseous and uncouth Ingredients out of an Apothecaries Shop Other places there are not altogether of no note for their Medicinal Wells as Luckington in Wiltshire where there is a Well called Handcocks-Well whose greatest Virtue consists in the Cure of sore Eyes having also this property that its Water is cold in Summer and hot in Winter Eckington in Worcestershire where there is lately discovered a Medicinal Well accounted of great Virtue for several Distempers Wallingborough in Northamptonshire where upon the account of the Waters Queen Mary lay for several weeks Lenisham in Kent six Miles from London where in the year 1651. a Medicinal Water was found which hath been since much frequented Dulwich Wells within
three Miles of London And within the City several but the most noted that at the Postern-gate by Tower-hill and that called Crowders-Well hard by Cripple-gate Aleyceston in Huntingtonshire where there are two small Springs one whereof being fresh is accounted good for the Eyes the other a little Brackish for Scabs and Leprosy Buxton in Derbyshire where within the compass of 24 Foot there arise out of a Rock from under a Square Structure of Free-stone 9 Springs whereof one only is cold all the rest very warm But among all these it would be an unpardonable oversight to pass by unmention'd that famous Well of St. Winifrid commonly called the Holy-Well in Flintshire formerly much frequented partly by way of Pilgrimage partly for the great Virtue it was reputed to have in the Cure of many Maladies through the easie Faith no doubt and fond Credulity of the deluded Vulgar who are always apt to pay high Adoration and ascribe miraculous Cures to the Bodies â—elicks or any Memorials of persons recommended to them for Saints for here the Tradition goes that the Virgin Saint Vinifrid being here Beheaded a Fountain immediatly sprung up as if the Earth bewailing her Martyrdom burst forth into a â—ood of Tears and the Pebble-stones at the bottom of the said Fountain being observed to be of a Reddish colour we are to suppose that they retain to this day the tincture of the Virgins Blood Those Springs and Waters that are on the top of high Hills must be allowed to have something of Rarity in them in regard to those that are not sufficiently vers'd in the knowledge of natural Causes and Productions it may seem wonderful that the Water should rise so high above the common Surface of the Earth Particularly on the high Hills of Carnarvanshire are two Meers Also a Spring on the top of MoilenlyHills in Denbyshire Likewise among the Wonders or Rarities of England may be reckoned those Ditches which stand yet as Monuments of the Art and Industry of our Forefathers First That on Newmarket-heath which is commonly called the Devils-Ditch Secondly Wansdike in Wiltshire a work of many Miles extent cast up in memory of a Battle between the Mercians and West-Saxons Thirdly Clough d'Offa or Offa's ditch a work not inferior to the former mention'd and much upon the same occasion made Of the Populacy of the English Nation THe Populacy of a Nation is best estimated from the number of its Towns and Cities The Kingdom of England proportionably to its circumference is scarce inferior to any Kingdom or Country of Europe which is also accounted the the most Populous of all the four parts of the World except France and the Low-Countries which last being accounted no bigger in compass than York-shire is judged to contain as many Towns and Inhabited places as ten times the Circuit thereof in most other Countries and to some much superior particularly Spain late esteem'd the most considerable Monarchy of Christendom and that it continues not so to this day we may in a great measure imâ—â—te to the paucity of people in that kingdom for doubtless there is nothing that conduceth more to the Strength Grandure Prosperity and Riches of a Nation than the Populousness thereof especially where Industry is in the least incourag'd and Idleness discountenanc'd Wherefore that Nation that will ever hope to flourish ought to use all means and endeavours possible for the increasing of its People and to avoid as much as may be all occasions of Depopulation The principal causes of the Dispeopleing of Spain which according to the Testimony of several Creditable Authors hath been Anciently much better Peopled than at present have been first the multitude of Monasteries and Religious Prisons those Receptacles of forc'd Chastity and as they are ordered Impediments of the Worlds Lawful Increase Next the Violent Expulsion of the Moors out of Spain after that by a long establish'd settlement and being habituated to the same Customs Manners and Religion they were become as it were one Body with the rest of the People Lastly Those vast Colonies sent out of Spain to maintain and possess the ample Conquests or rather Ambitious and Bloody Invasions and Depopulations made by the the Spaniards there The Cities and Market-Towns of England are in number 607. to which the rest of the Burrough Towns that is such as send Burgesses to Parliament and all the Inhabited Villages whereof some are conderable being added make above 10 times the number so that all the Parishes of England and Wales are reckon'd 9285. and doubtless within the said circumference which is generally computed to be about 1352 Miles might be very well comprehended five times as many Towns or Places of Habitation if all the Forrests Chaces and unimproved vast Heaths and Commons were taken in and improved to the best advantage It is not to be wondred at that next to being born under a Happy Climate the living under a Happy Government the greatest advantage and Strength of a People is to be numerous proportionably to the extent of Territory they possess Since in the first place it is apparent enough that in a well Inhabited City the People must needs be so much the better able to defend themselves from any Force or Opposition Next if it be a place of any Trade take any particular number of what Trade soever and it is not to be imagin'd that they should be e're a whit the poorer but rather the richer than if the Inhabitants had been fewer For admit them of the same Trade or Imployment a profitable and corresponsible Trade is the more lively and vigorously carried on by many hands and suppose them of several Occupations the circulation of Money from the one to other helps all in general Though 't is true that in a straggling Town or City whose parts lye disjoyn'd and far asunder the people however considerable in number cannot be so assistant to each other in mutual Aid Society or Commerce as in a regular and well compacted City So likewise in a Kingdom that Prince who hath never so large an Empire yet if thinly Peopled or divided into several parts remotely distant and interrupted from mutual intercourse by long Voyages of Land and Sea cannot be look'd upon as so powerful a Prince as he that hath the like number of People in one intire and united Dominion Certainly no Monarch of the World much less of Christendom whoever he be that hath added most to his Empire by never so many new made Conquests can pretend to so large a share or portion of the Earth as the King of Spain who nevertheless as the transactions of a few late past years have made appear hath born but his fourth part with other Princes and States in opposition to a Prince far inferior to him in Jurisdiction and what should be the reason of this but that his Dominions lye so remote from each other and his Kingdom of Spain which his Residence there chiefly enables
rebuilding the stately Bridge over the Thames the Royal Exchange splendid before but now rebuilt far more splendid the New Bethlehem or Bedlam in Gresham-Colledge Sion-Colledge the Colledge of Physicians now a very graceful Edifice with the Theatre for Anatomy-Lectures at the upper end of Warwick-lane the Halls belonging to the several Companies most of them built much more to advantage than formerly Doctors Commons and over against it the Office of Armory towards Pauls-Wharf near which before the Fire stood Baynards-Castle an ancient and noble House sometime belonging to the Earls of Pembroke the several Inns of Court and Chancery many of them wonderfully improv'd both as to Structure and pleasant Permenades the two Inns of Serjeants in Chancery-lane and Fleetstreet the latter whereof is amplifi'd into a larger extent of Ground and number of fair Houses the Canal by the Fleet cut straight along from Holborn-bridge down to the Thames at Puddle-Wharf with the new built Bridge over it the Hospitals of Sutton call'd the Charterhouse of Christ-Church near New-gate of St Bartholomews near Smithfield Bridewel once a King's Palace now a House of Correction the Earl of Bridgewater's House in Barbican the Earl of Thanet's and the Bishop of London's Palace commonly call'd Peterhouse in Aldersgate-street then between Temple-bar and Westminster a Street so full of Noblemen's Palaces that there is scarce the like in any one City of Europe especially some years since before several of them were pull'd down out of whose Ruines nevertheless there have sprung up so many little Towns as it were pleasantly situate upon the Thames-side those pull'd down are Essex-house Exeter-house out of part whereof there is built a neat Exchange part of Salisbury-house Durham-house and York-house belonging to the Duke of Buckingham and now very lately Woreester-house those standing are Somerset-house which belongs to the Queen and where she oft-times hath her residence the Savoy once a Palace but of late years made use of for an Hospital of lame Souldiers Bedford-house part of Salisbury and Suffolk-house belonging to the Northumberland Family near Westminster is the principal Seat-Royal of England his Majesty's most usual Place of residence Whitehal built by Cardinal Woolfie a Palace more of Convenience than State excepting the Banquetting-house a piece of Architecture accounted parallel to the best in Italy and not to omit the Magnificences of Westminster being so near the Cathedral and the Old Palace which contains Westminster-hall the largest Room in Europe the Parliament-house and other Courts of Judicature from Whitehal a pleasant Park leads to St James's the Palace and usual residence of his Royal Highness the Duke of York on the other side of the Park a neat House of the Earl of Arlington Lord Chamberlain of the King's Houshold and near it Tarthall belonging to the late Lord Stafford over against St James's on the Road towards Kensington a noble House of the Duke of Albemarl built by the late Lord Chancellor Earl of Clarendon and near it Barkley-house Newport-house and others Among the Buildings of later years several noble Piazza's or Squares some not inferior to that of Piazza Navona at Rome The first Covent-garden Square grac'd on two sides with lofty Portico's on the other with the Prospect of Bedford-Garden on the fourth with the Front of a goodly Church Next Lincolns-Inn Square the largest of all 3. Bloomsbury Square opening to a fair Prospect of Southampton-house not far from which is an elegant new built House of the Honourable Henry Mountague late Ambassador to the Court of France 4. Leicester Square on the one side whereof is the Prospect of Leicester-house adjoyning to which is also Newport-house 5. St James's Square whose each side is a Pile of most splendid Edifices Lastly That in So-ho-Buildings a very pleasant Square having a large square Garden-plot in the midst adorn'd with Fountains Statues c. This is commonly call'd Kings-Square for the Magnificence thereof York the first City of Yorkshire and the second of England is a large stately pleasant rich populous and well fortified City The chief Magnificences whereof besides several beautiful Structures both publick and private are the Cathedral the Great Gate the Stone-bridge over the Ouse having one only but very huge Arch the Princes House call'd the Mannour and a famous Library Bristow or Bristol qu. Brightstol or Brightstow i. e. a splendid or illustrious Place in the British Caer Oder Nant Badon i. e. the City Oder in the Valley of Badon a large cleanly pleasant and well traded City situate some part in Glocestershire but most in Somersetshire and yet in a manner distinct from both being a County of it self incorporate It hath large Streets and divers fair Buildings both publick and private besides its Churches a strong Castle the Bishop's Palace the Tolbooth for Merchants a fair large Key affording a most pleasant Prospect of Ships coming up to the very Town and the Goutes or Sinks that carry the Water under ground render the Streets exceeding neat and clean Canterbury the chief City of Kent and the Metropolitan See of all England pleasant both for Situation and Buildings and of principal esteem for its Cathedral which is accounted among the chief of the Cathedrals of England besides which it hath several fair Chuches It s other publick Buildings are the Houses of the Dean and Prebends a noble Free-School call'd the Kings-School two Hospitals the Watch-houses or Cittadels upon the Wall which is broad enough for two Coaches to go abrest upon it it had also a noble Castle but that hath been long since demolish'd Rochester is not only preferrable as a City to all the Places in Kent next to Canterbury for its fair Building and pleasant Situation upon the River Medway But the chief Grandure of this City consists in its Cathedral and stately Bridge Of which more in its due place Exeter is particularly taken notice of by William of Malmsbury for the beauty of its Buildings the richness of its Inhabitants the flourishing state of its Trade and Commerce and the confluence of Strangers thither the greatness of its Trade and Riches by a daily Commerce both with this City and other Parts of the Nation The most eminent of its Structures are the Wall giving entrance by six Gates and adorn'd with divers Watch-Towers a strong and stately Castle and a vary noble and sumptuous Cathedral Salisbury Cathedral is accounted in some respects the noblest in England at least there are very few equal to it The City is pleasantly water'd with clear Rivulets running through the length of each Street and the Market-place very large and handsom Glocester is pleasantly situated upon the River Severn It hath been anciently much celebrated for its Monastery of Nuns built by Keneburgh Eadburgh and Eve and is at present for its stately Minster Worcester hath a Wall about it one thousand six hundred and fifty paces in circuit with a seven-fold entrance of Gates and five Watch-Towers for ornament and
notwithstanding all it is but the chief Town of Cambridgeshire and not a City though there be an Episcopal See in the same County Southampton a Town saith Speed beautiful rich and populous and walled about with a strong Wall of square Stone enter'd by 7 Gates and adorn'd and fortified with 29 Towers within the Walls there are 5 fair Parish-Churches besides an Hospital called Gods-House and without the Walls are to be seen the Ruines of another goodly Church called St Maries On the West-end of the Town a well built Castle of a circular form mounted upon a high Hill so steep as not to be ascended but by Stairs gives a fair Prospect both by Land and Sea and lastly Two commodious Keys for Ships give a great ornament to the Place This Town though Winchester predominates as a City was doubtless as by the Name appears the ancient Metropolis of Hantshire and is still accounted the Shire-Town Marlborough one of the most considerable Towns of Wiltshire which as it is in general a good tolerable well built Town so it hath one Street above the rest remarkable for its fairness and largeness being also very much graced with a large neat Forum or Market-place at the upper end thereof About a dozen years ago there hapned a shrewd Fire which burnt down a great part of this Street which being rebuilt to advantage the Street appears much more stately than before and that which gives the greater grace to it is the Prospect of a fine House of my Lord Seymour's at the Towns end which is the more remarkable by reason of a Mount which is ascended by a Path which winds round about upward toward the top like a Screw Warwick is most pleasantly situated upon the ascent of a Hill taking its rise from the side of a River whose stream runs pointing toward a stately Castle the Seat of the famous Guy of Warwick which having run much to ruine was repair'd with sumptuous Buildings by Sir Fulk Grevil There have been 6 fair Churches in this Town viz. St Lawrence St Michaels John Baptist and John of Jerusalem St. Maries and St. Nicholas all gone to ruine but the two last This City yet as the denominating and principal Town of Warwickshire seems of equal repute with Coventry it self Shirburn a Town pleasantly seated on the side of a Hill and very well adorn'd with Structures especially publick as Church Castle and School-house Northampton must needs be at this day a very stately Place for having had the commendation from the chief of our English Geographers of being worthy to be rank'd for Circuit Beauty and Building with the most of the Cities of our Land It was by some unfortunate Accident burnt almost totally down to the ground and Phaenix-like is risen out of its ashes much more glorious than before and notwithstanding the City of of Peterborough stands within the County claims to be the County Town of Northamptonshire Nottingham saith our most diligent and industrious Speed is a Town seated most pleasant and delicate upon a high Hill for Building stately and for number of fair Streets surpassing many other Cities and for a spacious and sumptuous Market-place and 3 fair Churches comparing with the best Many of the Buildings of this Town are hewed out of the Rocks besides many strange Vaults and Caves among which those under the Castle are of especial Note One for the Story of Christ's Passion engraven in the Walls by the Hand of David the 2d of that Name King of Scots whilst he was there kept Prisoner Another wherein Mortimer was apprehended in the minority of K. Edw. the 3d whence it hath ever since born the Name of Mortimer's Hole These have their several winding Stairs Windows Chimnies and Room above Room wrought all out of the solid Rock as other Houses of the Town also have This Town being the Principal of Nottinghamshire hath no City to stand in competition with it Newark the next Town of Nottinghamshire both for Reputation and Neatness It is indeed a Town of a very pleasant Situation upon the River Trent Manchester the fairest and pleasantest though not the principal Town of Lancashire and above all things else peculiarly remark'd for its grand Church the Colledge and Market-place Wakefield one of the chief Towns of Yorkshire as well for its pleasantness and goodly Buildings as its great Market and Cloathing-Trade and other Remarks Of which elsewhere Stamford the pleasantest Place of Lincolnshire next to the City of Lincoln it self being adorn'd with 7 Churches and an old Hospital Boston the best Town of Lincolnshire next to Stamford Which is all need be said of it at present in regard there will be occasion to speak more of it in the next Chapter of Towns and Places eminent c. Barstable and Tavestoke in Devonshire are commended above most in the West of England for neatness well compactedness and elegance of Structure Tavestoke is probably enough so call'd from the River Taw upon which it stands and which at Barstable is said to be Navigable for great Vessels both Places being well inhabited with Merchants and rich trading People Next to Bridgewater of all the Places of Somersetshire not dignified with the title of City Taunton is accounted of principal Note and for pleasantness superior according to the Testimony of a learned Writer in these words Taunton qu. Thonton from the River Thone is a very fine and proper Town one of the Eyes of the Shire the Country here most delectable on every side with green Meadows flourishing with pleasant Gardens and Orchards and replenisht with fair Mannor-Houses wonderfully contenteth the Eyes of the Beholders Shrewsbury as it is the principal Town of Shropshire there being neither City nor any other Town of Note in that Shire that can stand in competition with it so it may be reckon'd among the pleasantest of all England being almost surrounded with the Severn between which and a stately Wall are most delightful Meadows the chief Streets graceful of themselves are set out with several graceful Buildings besides the publick among which the most remarkable are the two Gate-houses on the Bridges the Market-place of Free-stone a strong Castle mounted on a Hill a neat School-house with a Library 4 Parish-Churches and 3 of them very large and goodly besides the Abbey forehead without which bears the semblance of an old Cathedral Besides Shrewsbury there are many other pleasant Towns in Shropshire among which the chiefest in repute are Ludlow and Ludlow's chief State consists in its strong Castle and its lofty situation upon a high Hill and proper enough is the Encomium it hath gain'd of Cambden that it is a Town more fair than ancient Bridgnorth also is proudly advanc'd a great part of it upon a Rock out of which the chief Avenues to that upper part are cut moreover the Castle the Wall and the Severn's Inclosure give addition of State as well as Strength Tewksbury in Glocestershire is a Town that might
The grand Ornaments of any City are the publick Buildings thereof and next to the Churches Palaces and Bridges are the Monumental Structures that present themselves most obviously to the view of Passengers in Streets and High-ways as Aqueducts Arches and the Columnal or Imagery-Works erected as Trophies in memory of some great Action or Person as also Places for publick Games and Spectacles For Structures of this kind never any City of the World was so famous as old Rome whose Circus's Amphitheaters Columns Pyramids Tryumphal Arches Equestrian Statues c. next to the massie Pyramids of Egypt were accounted the greatest Pieces of Art and Magnificence the World ever saw Nor are the Pyramids Columns and Aguglia's of the present Rome altogether unmemorable Of Monuments of this nature in England the Crosses erected in Streets and publick Places were the chief And of those the principal were Coventry-Cross and in this City Charing-Cross and that of Cheapside which last was certainly the noblest Piece of Workmanship of this nature as well for the largeness as the curiousness of the Imagery that ever was seen Next The Aqueducts or Conduits have been accounted no small Street-ornaments in many Towns and Cities but the mention of those that were in London may serve for all the rest The chief that were in London before the Fire of 66. were the Standart in Cheapside a Structure that might have pass'd for a noble Piece of Workmanship had it not stood so near so rich a Cross Another at the lower end of Cheapside Another in Cornhil That in Fleetstreet hard by Shoe-lane end and another in Holborn near Holborn-Bridge besides several others of less Note The only Conduit lately erected now standing is a pretty little Structure between Cow-lane and Snow-hill Since the Fire other kind of Monuments have been rais'd which add not a little to the Ornament of the City in general and give peculiar Grace to the Places where they stand The chief whereof is the Monument erected where the Fire began a Pyramid of stately heighth and curious Workmanship Another Monument much of the same nature is design'd and the Edifice rais'd some yards above the ground at the lower end of Cheapside at or very near the Place where the Conduit formerly stood A very rare Design as appears by the Model which I have often seen at the House of the ingenious Designer thereof Mr Jasper Latham the City-Mason At the Stocks-Market is an Equestrian Statue in Stone of his present Majesty And another more excellent than that in Brass of his late Majesty of happy Memory in the Place where Charing-Cross stood In Covent-Garden Square is a Columnal-Dial which only wants somewhat of Magnitude to make it a very graceful Ornament to the Place Our Theaters at present are only two That of his Majesty's Servants between Bridges-street and Drury-lane and that of his Royal Highness's Servants in Salisbury-street with a majestick Front towards the Thames side Artificial publick Bagno's have not been known in England till of late The only one yet built is aside of Newgate-street a pretty well contriv'd Piece of Building had it been more publickly expos'd to view on the Street side The Gates of Towns and Cities are not the least of Ornaments to the said Towns and Cities Of the chief of them except those in London we have toucht in the respective Places to which they belong The principal Gates of London are Ludgate Newgate Aldersgate Algate Bishopsgate and Temple-bar and the two Gates at Westminster between Whitehal and Kings-street most of them not inferior in Magnificence to the chief in Europe But to close all that hath been said of publick Ornaments there remains one thing more not to be neglected by any Admirer of Art which is a Piece of Sculpture in Stone representing the Resurrection over a Gate in Shoo-lane that gives entrance into a Caemetery or Burying-place which belongs to St Andrews-Church This Piece of Carving I have heard commended by the best of Artists in this way for the noblest Piece of Workmanship in its kind that hath been seen in England Towns and Places of England eminent for some remarkeable Accident Person or Transaction THE principal Things that render any Town or Place remarkable are either the Glory and Antiquity of its Original some notable Revolution of Government Accidents hapning there whether prosperous or adverse Battels fought or other grand Action perform'd in or near it and the Birth Residence or Death of Princes and other eminent Men. For most if not all of those Remarks there are many Towns and Cities of England famous and principally of all that which is the principal of all our Towns and Cities London for the most part the Seat of Kings from its Original with which as the City Westminster is so united in Place that it seems in a manner one and the same City so thē mention and discourse of them cannot well be separated Of the Antiquity Splendor of Government Flourishing Trade and Magnificence of Structure in all which London hath the pre-eminence not only of all the Places of England but perhaps of all Europe several have discours'd at large besides what we may haply have occasion to touch at elsewhere It can't be imagin'd but that in a City which hath been a flourishing City for so many Ages many remarkable Accidents must have hapned and great Actions been perform'd in the mention whereof however all possible brevity must be us'd King Lud who reign'd here a little before Caesar's arrival if he were not the first Founder as some think he was at least not only the Enlarger but also the Denominator For among other things he built the West-Gate which to this day retains the Name of Ludgate and what was before of a City by the Name of Trinobantium took the Name of Caer-Lud and the present appellation of London is fancy'd by many to be deriv'd from him as it were Luds-Town About the year 285. here Alectus Lieutenant to the Emperor Diocletian was slain by Asclepiodotus D. of Cornwal and together with him was slain his Companion Gallus at a Brook which from him still retains the name of Gall-brook or Wall brook Here Sigebert third King of the East-Angles who began his Reign in the year of our Lord 596. and Ethelbert King of Kent who began his Reign in the year of our Lord 562. built the Cathedral of St. Pauls in the very place as 't is said where there had been a Temple of Diana In the Reign of Edmund sirnamed Ironside this City was closely besieg'd by the Danes but the Siege was soon rais'd by that valiant Prince King Edmund About the year 1077. the Tower of London was built by K. William the Conqueror whose Successour K. William Rufus built new walls about it Anno 1135. in the Reign of K. Stephen the greatest part of this City was consumed by an accidental Fire In K. Richard the Seconds time was the great Rencounter with Jack Straw
and Wat Tiler in East-Smithfield where in an overture of treaty Wat Tiler behaving himself with extraordinary insolence was in presence of the King stabb'd by Sir William Wallworth Lord Mayor of London with a Dagger in memory whereof the City of London hath to this day a Dagger for its Coat of Arms. This City hath had the honour to entertain several great Kings Princes and Nobles but the grandest transaction that London can boast of was that most stately Cavalcade which his present Majesty made through it the 29th of May An. 1660. when he returned from a long Exile to the Government of these Kingdoms But the year 1666. was fatal to it by reason of that most dreadful fire that consum'd all before it from Grace-Church Street to the Inner Temple destroying to the number as is generally computed of 13000 dwelling-houses and this preceded but the year before by the fiercest Pestilence that ever raged within the cognisance of the Weekly Bills In this City King Stephen kept his Court at Crosby-house in Bishopsgate-street King Edward the third in Cornhil where now the Pope-head Tavern stands King Henry the eighth at Black-friers and sometimes at Bridewell once a Regal Palace where also the Emperour Charles the fifth was lodg'd when he came over into England The Palace of St. James's which is in the Pomaeria of London and which was first built for a Spittle for Maiden Lepers hath been the Birth-place of his present Majesty K. Charles the 2d his Highness James Duke of York Henry late Duke of Glocester the Lady Elizabeth the Lady Mary late Princess of Orange and all the Children of his present Highness by his late Dutchess Edgar Duke of Kendal James Duke of Cambridg deceast the Lady Henrietta and the Lady Lady Katherine deceast Mary now Princess of Orange the Lady Anne yet unmarried as also of two Daughters both soon hasten'd to a better World by his present Dutchess Other persons of eminent note and immortal memory were born at London viz. Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury in the Reign of K. Henry the 2d by four of whese Courtiers he was murther'd in Canterbury Church Anno 1170. after a long contest with the King Sir Jeoffry Chaucer the most famous of ancient English Poets who flourisht in the Reigns of K. Henry the 4th Henry the 5th and part of K. Henry the 6th Edmund Spencer styl'd also the Prince of English Poets who flourisht in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth John Leland Sir Thomas More Bishop Andrews The Tower of London is very eminent for the Confinement Murther and Execution of Illustrious persons to mention all especially those who have been meerly Prisoners would be almost endless but the most memorable Imprisonment was that of two Kings at one time in the Reign of King Edward the third viz. of David King of Scots and of John King of France the first a Prisoner 11 years the other four Here the unfortunate King Henry the sixth after Edward the fourth had got the Crown from him by Conquest was basely murther'd by King Edward's Brother Richard Duke of Glocester afterward King of England Here George Duke of Clarence another Brother was by the practice of the said Duke of Glocester drown'd in a Butt of Malmsey but the most fatal Tragedy of all was the murther of King Edward the fourth's two Sons poor harmless children viz. Edward commonly entitled King Edward the fifth and his Brother Richard Duke of York and all by the order and contrivement of their Dear Uncle of Glocester who as most great persons have their peculiar Sports and Recreations was principally taken with that of killing men especially those of nearest kin for such he chiefly markt out for death out of meer kindness to himself that he might the sooner obtain the possession of that Crown he had long since aspir'd to and indeed he got it sooner and kept it longer so easie it is for one witty man to delude a Multitude than a curious descanter upon the worlds affairs would have allow'd a person so getting it however what he got by the death of others he lost by his own only more handsomely not by treachery but fairly in the field In Christ-church in London three great Queens had their Sepulture viz. Margaret the Daughter of King Philip of France sirnamed the Hardy and second Wife of King Edward the second of England Isabel the Daughter of the French King Philip the Fair and Wife to King Edward the second of England Joan the Daughter of the said Edward and Isabel and married to David King of Scots Westminster hath been the most constant residence of the Kings of England since the Conquest till Whitehall was built by Cardinal Wolsey It will be needless to mention all the Kings that have been crown'd and buried here in regard since the Conquest there are not very many who have not been buried and fewer that have not been crown'd in Westminster Abby At Isleworth now Thistleworth a Village pleasantly situate upon the River Thames Richard King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwall had a stately Palace which was burnt to the ground in a tumultuous sally that was made upon it by certain Malecontents of the London Mobile In Surry are places of as eminent note as in most Counties of England In the first place Lambeth is chiefly renowned for being the principal Palace and most usual residence of the Archbishops of Canterbury from the time of Archbishop Baldwin who first founded it and made it his Seat in the year 596 and from whom it hath continued so to this day the most reverend and learned Prelate Dr. Sancroft late Dean of Pauls being worthily advanc'd to this high Dignity and having here his present residence Here Canutus sirnamed the Hardy the third and last of our short-liv'd Dynasty of Danish Kings ended his days of a surfeit as most Writers affirm by eating and drinking over freely at a Wedding Feast Croydon is another Seat belonging to the Archbishops of Canterbury and where the Reverend Dr. Gilbert Sheldon late Archbishop lies buried having a most statety Monument newly elected to his memory the Artful Contrivance and skilful Workmanship of Mr Jasper Latham the present City Mason At Ockly in this County Ethelwolph Son of Egbert won a great Battel over the Danes Oatlands is not more famous for being a Royal Palace than for the Neighbourhood of Coweystakes where Julius Caesar pass'd the Thames into the Borders of Cassibesaunus Putney is chiefly considerable in story as being the Birth-place of one of the most advanced Statesmen and Favourites for he was but the Son of a Black-smith that our Nation hath produced viz. Thomas Cromwell chief Minister of State for the time to King Henry the eighth and by him created Earl of Essex who nevertheless had the ill fate falling under his Princes displeasure to be beheaded on Tower-Hill Wimbleton where the Earl of Bristol hath a pleasant seat still retains the memory of a
notable defeat given by Cheaulin King of the West-Saxons to Ethelred King of Kent with the slaughter of two of his Dukes in the year of our Lord 560. At Richmond to which in former ages the Kings and Queens of England retired for pleasure as of late to Hampton-Court and Windsor there deceased that victorious Prince King Edward the third Anne the Daughter of the Emperour Charles the fourth and Wife of King Richard the second Henry of Richmond the seventh of that name King of England and that learned and renowned Princess Queen Elizabeth of happy memory Kingston upon Thames a very pleasant and much frequented Market Town was probably the usual place of Coronation of the Saxon Monarchs for there was kept the Chair of Instalment but the Kings most particularly mentioned to have been there crown'd were King Athelstan Edwin and Ethelred Guilford a Town otherwise of especial note is also famous for having been the Royal Seat of the English Saxon Kings Merton is doubly upon record first for the untimely death of Kenulph King of the West-Saxons who was here slain by Kineaâ—d King Sigeberts Brother next for the Parliament there held An. 21 of K. Henry the third which Parliament produc'd an Act which to this day is called the Statute of Merton Okeham hath its chief credit as being the native place of that famous English Philosopher William de Okeham Likewise Ripley no less by the birth of that learned Chymist George de Ripley In Essex Colchester which is the County Town hath the honourable tradition of having been built by the ancient British King Coilus but that which redounds chiefly to its honour is that it is said to have brought into the world three persons of immortal memory viz. Lucius the first not only British but European King that embrac'd the Christian Faith Constantine the first Roman Emperour who openly proprofessing Christianity gave countenance and protection to the Christians of all parts and put an end to those heavy Persecutions which they groaned under so many Ages and if by his extraordinary bounty and munificence to the Clergy he made an inlet to that pride and ambition among them which hath proved mischievous to Christendome ever since it was an errour on the right hand and however succeeding otherwise an evidence of his pious generosity and zeal for Religion and Vertue Helena the Wife of Constantius born also in England and as it is generally suppos'd in York and Mother of the said Constantine her fame shines bright in History for her piety in general and particularly for the fame of her being Inventrix Crucis The next Town of note in this County is Maldon a very ancient Town and the Seat Royal of the Trinobantes of whom Cunobelinus was King about the time of our Saviours Nativity it was taken by the Emperour Claudius and made a Roman Garison being call'd by the Romans Camalodunum rased to the ground by Queen Bunduca or Boadicia after a mighty defeat given to the Romans in revenge of some high affronts and indignities she received from them but was afterwards rebuilt and is of some reputation at this day though doubtless far short of its pristine splendor At Walden famous for Saffron as is already mentioned was born Sir Thomas Smith Secretary to Queen Elizabeth Kent as it is a large County is enobled with very many Towns and places of note in the first place Canterbury is a City of that eminence that next to London there is hardly a City in England memorable upon so many accounts It is said to have been built 900 years before Christ it is the principal of the Archiepiscopal Sees of England it was given by Ethelbert King of Kent to Austin the Monk and his Companions upon whose preaching 10000 were baptized in one day By the said Austin the Cathedral is said to have been founded in which eight Kings of Kent were interred Even the misfortunes of this City have been also memorable for it suffer'd very much several times by the fury of the Danes especially in the Reign of Ethelred when 42000 of the Inhabitants were sacrific'd to their fury and revenge it hath had the honour of the Coronations Nuptials and Interments of several great Kings and Princes Here King John and his Queen Isabel were Crown'd King Henry the third and King Edward the first Married Edward the Black Prince King Henry the fourth and his Q. Joan were Interred and also with far more cost and magnificence that great Prelate and even to adoration adored Saint Thomas a Becket of whose rich and stately Tomb mention hath been elsewhere made Rochester said to be built by one Roff Lord thereof is also a City and not much inferiour in repute to Canterbury Several Counties there are which have no City the Bishops See being but in one of half a dozen Counties but Kent is the only one County that hath two This City was also miserably harrass'd by the Danes and suffer'd very much ruine by two dreadful Fires viz. in the Reign of King Henry the first and King Henry the second but being very much restored by the munificence of King Henry the third it hath continued a flourishing City ever since Maidstone a pleasant and well-seated Town is the more memorable by the great defeat given there to the Earl of Holland who headed the Kentish-men rising for the King by Fairfax General of the Parliament Forces Feversham is enobled by the Burial of King Stephen and his Queen Maud. Dover besides the renown of its Castle said to be built by Julius Caesar and the great honour of the Government thereof hath given reception and entertainment to many great Kings and Princes Queenborough Castle was built by King Edward the third Wye a Sea-port Town where the learned and famous J. Kemp Archbishop of Canterbury was born Horsted is chiefly noted for the Monument now defaced of Horsa one of the first Leaders of the invading Saxons the Brother of Hengift The like Monument was made for Catigern another of the Brothers at Circotes-house which is standing to this day Black-heath hath been the place of several grand Recounters in the Barons Wars in King Henry the third's time as also of Wat Tiler in King Richard the second 's time and of Michael Joseph and the Lord d' Auhenie in King Henry the seventh's time But that which gives the greatest glory and re-renown to this place is the memory of that grand appearance at his Majesties Restoration when all the Gentry and Nobility of the Nation and all the Pomp and splendor of the City of London met to receive his Majesty and his two Brothers and conduct them through the City to the Royal Palace of Whitehall and even the armed part of the Nation that but lately had drawn the Sword against him now met him with the highest acclamations of welcome In Buckinghamshire Buckingham the Shire Town was fortified by King Edward sirnamed the Elder against the fury of the Danes and
Hampshire famous for the great Trade of Hony therein whose chief Cities are Southampton and Winchester Barkshire is famous for Cloth-working abounding in Cattle Rich Pastures Artificers Fruits of all sorts and all things else necessary for the Subsistance of man Surry is no less abounding in all plenty than the former and of greater Trade by Reason of it's nearness to the City of London that Mouth of the Nation by Reason of which it's Inhabitants have the better opportunity to vend the growth of that County Sussex and Kent abound in Fruits Corn Wood Wax Hony Cattle and all other necessary Commodities which by Reason they border on the Sea they have opportunity to dispose of at good rates Glocestershire is for the most part imployed in the Woollen Manufacture Glocester being the Head City In it are found those famous Hills of Cots-Wold on which numerous Flocks of Sheep Feed and affoard the best Wool in Europe Oxford is famous for her Rich Pastures store of Cattle and Corn but above all for her University in her chief City of Oxford Buckingham Bedford and Hertfordshires are adorned with pleasant Buildings rich Pastures store of Corn pleasant Rivers abounding with Fish and Forrests of Stately Oaks with which the Wall of the Nation viz. our Ships of War are made nor is Venison in abundance wanting nor any sort of Fowls common in England Middlesex and Essex the first famous for Buildings and so long together containing the Pallaces of our Kings Courts of Judicature and above all incompassing the famous City of London The second for store of Cattle the many famous Ports and the Commodity received by shipping the Silver Thames Washing her Southern Shoar as far as the Hope it abounding likewise in Corn Cheese Butter and the like Suffolk and Norfolk next take place the first famous for Butter Cheese Cloath Cattle Corn Wool and what not The second for Deer Conneys Sheep Daries and store of Corn but above all for containing the famous City of Norwich which for Industry ought to be accounted the chief Boast of England it being seated upon the River Yare from whence Yarmouth takes it's name and thirty Miles from the Sea by Water tho not above sixteen by Land has little forrain Trade save only with Holland the chief Trade being with the City of London the chief Commodities being Stuffs and Stockings which are made for the most part in the City it not being guessed that less then one hundred thousand pounds-worth of Stuffs every Year are sent up to London which Stuffs making and disposing of are under the Government of two Companies the one called the Worstes Company the other the Russia Company Those Manufactures under the Government of the Worsted Company and approved by the Wardens thereof have a Seal affixed to each on the one side inscribed Norwich on the other such letters as stand for the Wardens Names that are at the Sealing thereof The other Seal has on one side these words viz. Worsted Reformed and on the other in Figures containing the quantity of Yards the Piece contains Those called the Russia Company the Manufacture under whose Government to be approved by them is Sealed on the one side with these words Fidelitas Artes alit This Suff Trade is managed by Partner-Ship between the London and Norwich Merchants great quantities whereof have been and are exported to furnish other Nations especially Spain and the West-Indias The Stockings here vended are reckoned to amount to near sixty thousand pounds per Annum being most knit by Children incapable of other Labour so that at eight Years of Age many of them will earn four pence or six Pence a day these latter are not under any Governour but have their Materials found them by certain Citizens as well of that City as of London which when made into Hose are sent over Sea most of them to furnish the Neighbour Nations The County likewise affoards Sheep Conies and Kine in abundance as also store of Corn especially Barly which being turned into Mault is sent up to London as likewise into Scotland all Corn is sold according to the Custom of the Country by the Score which is twenty Cooms every Coome containing four Bushels and to every Score one Coom is allowed over-plus Their Weights and Measures both dry and wet are consistent to the London Weights and Measures In the like manner abound Cambridgshire Northamptonshire Huntingtonshire Leicestershire Rutland Lincolnshire notinggamshire Warwickshire Worcestershire Staffordshire Shropshire Cheshire Herefordshire Yorkshire the County of Richmond Bishoprick of Durham Lancashire Westmoreland Cumberland Northumberland And the strong Town and Territories of Barwick upon Tweed all abounding in store of things necessary and convenient for the profit and pleasure of man In brief England affoards more Merchandise than any one Nation in Europe as Perpetuanas Bays Says Serges Cotton Woollen Cloath of all sorts Kersies Buffins Mocados Grogram Sattins Calimancates Velvets Plushes Worsted Fustains Durances Tukes Cony-Skins Squiril-Skins Fitches Calf-Skins Hides Also by Mines it produceth first by Tin twelve hundred thousand pounds yearly Lead eight hundred Foders yearly Allum eight hundred Tuns yearly Iron of all sorts eight hundred Furnaces daily Sea Cole yearly 50000000. Chaldron yearly Salt 300000. Ways yearly as likewise all manner of Grain as Oats Wheat Barly Rye Pease c. likewise Linnen Cloth Tallow Leather Glass and Glasses of all sorts Venice Gold and Silver Train Oyl Salmon Pilchards Herrings Conger Haberdine Hops Wood Cheese Butter Salt-Peter Gunpowder Honey Wax Alabaster Wools Yarns and the like too many here to insert Nor is Wales in most parts less furnished it consisting of the Isle of Anglesea the shires of Flint Denbigh Carnarvon Merioneth Montgomery Cardigan Pembrook Carmarden Glamorgan Radnor Brecknock Monmouth abounding in Cattle Pastures divers useful Manufactures nor are the industry of the Inhabitants wanting to improve the product of their Country to the best advantage being a frugal sort of People insomuch that whereever they Plant themselves they are thrifty and increase the smallest Stock to considerable advantage Thus having taken a view of all England and Wales viz. as to Traffick and the native Commerce London excepted I shall now take a view of that great Metropolis having purposely reserved her for the last she being as Crown to the rest of the Nation and indeed the Beauty of the Universe CHAP. V. The Traffick of London LOndon the Mistriss of Cities is placed upon the Banks of the River of Thames whose Silver Ebbs and Flows continually wash her Beautiful Walls she being supposed to be eight Miles in Circuit especially if the Liberties be included and before the dreadful Conflagration in sixty six was adorned with one hundred twenty two stately Churches and now not guessed to contain less within the Circuit of her Liberties and all than 5 if not 600000. Souls she being the Center of the Nation and chief Receptacle of all Commodities as well of the native growth as from all Parts
3 chief Scales of Europe CHAP. LXI A View of Lisbon the Metropolis of Portugal of the Trade Growth Weights Measues Coyns and Customs thereof LIsbon is the Metropolis of the Kingdom of Portugal commodiously Seated upon the Banks of the River Tagus the City and Suburbs being 10 Miles in compass and not imagined to contain less then 38000. Families Beautifyed with 67 Towers placed upon the Walls and 22 Gates all the Houses being Built Magnificent and indeed the People given to great Industry but especially to Navigation as appears by the many Discoveries they have made they being the first that Discovered the Eastern Tract even to the Indias and there by Trade and force got Footing and shewed the way to England and Holland who have now brought it to perfection even to the great Inriching either Nation and of all the Commodities brought from India and other parts of the World by the Portugals this City is the Scale for hither come yearly the Spices of Arabia the Silks of Persia the rich Commodities of China and the Gold Silver precious Stones and Spices of India and especially Pearls the Fishery thereof remaining for the most part in the right of the King of Portugal which being brought to Lisbon and afterwards dispersed throughout Europe To this City Flows the Trade of the whole Kingdom and also that of Spain from which Kingdom it is now separated as formerly The Weights of this City and consequently of the whole Kingdom are Principally the small and the great Cantars the Latter of which is divided into 4 Roves and each Rove contains 32 Reals which is 128 pounds at 14 Ounces per pound and of Florence Weight is computed 149 pound their small Quintar for Pepper and Ginger is between 110 and 112 pound English the Rove or Quartern being 27 ½ and sometimes 27 ◠4 pound but the great Quintal is 15 or 16 per cent more than our 112 pound The Quintar commonly called the King 's Quintar used in his Contractation House for weighing the Spices and Drugs of India is 114 pound English and the great Cantar of Lisbon is mostly computed 130 pound English c. The Measures of length used in this City are the Coueda which is the third part of an English Yard and the Ware which wants but a Nale of an English Ell by the former they Measure Woollen Cloaths c. and by the latter Linnen c. The Concave Measures of Lisbon is the Alquire 3 of which are found to make an English Bushel and 5 a Spanish Hannep They have an other Measure by which they meet their Salt called Muy which is 60 Alquires and 2 Muys and 15 Alquires are a Tunn Bristol Water Measure The Custom inward is 23 per cent that is to the Dechima 10 to the Sisa 10 and to the Consolado 3 and outward Merchants pay only 3. The Coyns are the Croisado of Gold computed to be worth 400 Reas. The Ducat of Portugal which is ten Reals and accounted 5 Shillings Sterling or the Croisado The Ryal which is 40 Reas and accounted 6 pence Sterling The Golden Mirle which is worth 1000. Reas and accounted 2 5 2 Ducats the Ducat is 2 ½ Ryals or 15 pence Sterling The Vintin which is 20 Reas or 3 pence Sterling the single Ryal of Spain which is 2 Vintines there are likewise the Coyns of Spain passable in this City but seeing they are not the proper Coyns of Portugal I shall pass them over as having already mentioned them in the Description of the Trade of that Kingdom And now leaving Portugal I shall pass into the Kingdom of France and in viewing the Trade of some Cities thereof give a Summary account of the whole Kingdoms Commerce both Inland and by Navigation CHAP. LXII A View of France the Provinces Trade Customs Weights Measures and Currant Coyns reduced into the view of the Principal Trading Cities of that Kingdom FRance is a large and Fertile part of Europe bounded on the North with the Brittish Ocean on the West with the Aquitanian Sea on the South with the Mediterranian and on the East with the Pirenaean Hills and River Rhine and is divided into several Provinces the Trade of which I shall instance in these following Cities viz. Burdeaux Rouen Paris Lyons and Marselia of these in order Burdeaux is Situate on the Banks of Geronde being the Principal City of the Province of Aquitain and is placed in a very Fruitful Soil especially for Wines The Principal Vineyards of France being accounted in its Neighbourhood of the Grapes therein growing are made Whitewines and Claret in abundance and of late all Palled Wines and such as otherwise are foul not Merchantable they Lmibeck off into Brandies which for the most part is vended in England and Holland They have likewise several Vineyards yielding Grapes that make Sweet-Wines commonly called high Country Wines the which lest it should hinder the Sail of the other they prohibit to be sold in their City till Christmass day when the high Country Merchants bring it in and sell it to Strangers there resident and such is the Custom of the place that that Vessel or Lighter that first sets her Head on Shoar is accounted free from Impost or Custom yet must in lieu thereof for that day give Wine on Free-cost to such as come on Board to Drink it To this City it is that our English Merchants Trade and from whence they yearly bring 20000 Tuns of Whitewine Claret Sweet and Brandy Wines in times when no prohibition is layed this City formerly for many Years having been English there are found great quantities of Prunes of the Neighbouring growth and some other Commodities tho these are the chief and to this place monies are remitted for which mostly the Inhabitants Trade not as in other places ef Traffick freely bartering Goods for Goods Their Accounts are kept for the most part in Livers Sold's and Denies as indeed throughout the Kingdom Their Weight is the pound 100 of which are reckoned a Quintar or 110 English 90 ¾ pound being 100 pound English Their Measure of length is an Auln accounted 42 English Inches their Wines are computed by Hogs-Heads and Tearces viz. Claret and White-wines and their Brandy by Punchings of no certain Gauge CHAP. LXIII A View of Rouen and the Trade thereof ROuen is the Principal City of Normandy being the Parliamentary Seat of that Province and is Seated on the Banks of the River Sein all its Territories being Fertile and it abounding with rich Merchandise as well of other Nations as the Growth of the Kingdom of France and is visited by most of the Merchants of all the Northern Kingdoms Trading in the Growth of France the place affording of natural Growth and Native Manufactury fine and coarse Linnens Buckrams Paper Cards Wine Stuffs Combs c. for which the Inhabitants or such French Merchants as send their Commodities thither to be vended receive of the English Kersies of Devonshire and
Deniers and Livers of Picoly as in Florence and their monies for the most part the same it having formerly been a City of considerable Trade but now of little note The Weights are two the one the Ballance Weight by which all Goods are bought and sold the other the Weight by which Merchants pay their Customs between which there is observed 12 per cent difference the Ballance Weight the pound containing 12 Ounces the 100 thereof has been found to make of Lyons Weight 72 ½ and the Customers Weight 81 ½ the Measure of length is the Brace which is 23 English Inches 100 Braces of this Place being found to make 50 English Ells. As for Liquid or Concave Measures they use not any in way of Merchandise Therefore I shall pass them over CHAP. LXXVII A View of the Papacy and the Trade thereof THe Papacy containeth several stately Cities but none of any considerable Trade as for Merchandise therefore I shall Summ up all in Describing the Trade of Rome once the Mistriss of the World but now her Splendor is much abated Rome is Situate on the Banks of Tiber adorned with 750 Towers placed on her Walls and is accounted to contain 466000 Families and in it are found these Merchandise viz. Corn Oyl Wine Gloves Allum Lutestring Kid-Skins and curious Fabricks of Silk for which they receive from England Lead Tinn Bays Says Stuffs Pilchards Herrings Newland Fish Calves-Skins Salt Salmon Tallow Wax c. which are for the most part Landed at Civitaveccia and from thence carryed up the River Tiber in Boats to Rome The Coyns here and through the Papacy are the same that are currant in most parts of Italy the Pope having so ordained that his Incomes may be the more The Accounts are kept in Crowns Julios or Paulos Baiochos and Quatrins the Weight is the Quintal or 100 pound which makes 80 pound English tho sometimes they weigh by a Quintal of 160 pound and 150 pound according to the fineness or Grosness of the Commodity Their Measures of Length are 2 one for Linnen and the other for Woollen the one a Brace and the other the Cane 30 Canes making 100 Braces Corn is sold by the Rugio which is 7 18 Mine of Genoa And thus much shall suffice for Rome and indeed for all Italy from whence I must pass into Flanders and take a View of the Trade thereof CHAP. LXXVIII A View of the Trade of Flanders and Holland of the Weights Measures Coyns Customs Commodities and Traffick of them reduced into the View of Antwerp and Amsterdam THo Flanders and the Netherlands are divided into 17 Provinces viz. 4 Dukedoms as Limburg Luxemburg Gelderland and Brabant 1 Marquisat 7 Ealrdoms as Artois Flanders Hanault Nemurs Zutphen Holland and Zealand 5 Borronies as Westfriezland Vtretch Overysel Machlin and Groving yet the Trade of all these may conveniently be reduced into what is found in Antwerp and Amsterdam the one famous for having formerly been the chief Scale of Europe and the other for the present commerce held there Of these in order Antwerp is Situate upon the River Scheld that River sending forth eight Channels to Water the City by running through her Streets and has been formerly accounted a great Scale of Trade insomuch that all European Merchants brought their Commodities thither to vend the acquirement of which Trade was principally by the means following first by Reason of 2 free Marts yearly holden for 45 days in which no Person Trading there could be Arrested in his Goods or Person for Debt or otherwise secondly by Reason the Portugals discovering the East Indias Anno 1500. diverted the course of Trade driven by the Venetians from Alexandria and the Red-Sea to Lisbon and so kept a Factory at Antwerp and exposed to Sail all Indian Commodities which drew most of the Trading Nations of Europe to Trade thither exhausting the Trade of Bruges where the English Merchants Adventurers before resided the third and last cause was the Wars between Charles the fifth Emperor and the French which obliged the Nobility and Gentry for safety to remove their Families thither who afterwards being taken with the pleasantness of the place would not remove but Built them stately Houses and made that City for the most part the Place of their residence The cause of the decay of Trade in the City of Antwerp was the Wars with Spain in which Merchants were Pillaged their Ships taken c. the Abridgement of Priviledges and the Trade which the English and Dutch found in the East-Indies bringing home in their own Bottoms what before they were obliged to the Portugals for but as it is at this Day a pretty Trade is driven in the City most of the Neighbouring Countries bringing in their Growth and Manufacture The Commodities found in Antwerp are Wines Silks Arras-Hangings Spices Drugs Fruit store of Corn Woollen Cloath some Oyl and the like brought out of its Neighbourhood and the Adjacent Provinces The Accounts of Antwerp are kept in Livers Solds and Deniers which they reckon Pounds Shillings Pence 12 Deniers making a Sold and 20 Solds a Liver or pound Flemish tho worth no more then 12 Shillings Sterling or as they compute it 240 Grosses 12 Grosses being a Sold and according to these Values on Coyn they make their Exchanges The other currant Coyns are Doits 4 of which make a Stiver and 10 Stivers make 1 Shilling Sterling 2 Blanks make a Stiver and half 6 Stivers make the Flemish Shilling 28 Stivers make a Guilder which is 3 Shillings 4 pence Flemish so that 100 pound Flemish is found to make but 50 pound English c. The Weight is the pound of 16 Ounces 100 of which pounds make their Quintar and the Quintar found to be 104 pound English So that from this allowance or over Weight many imagine that the Tret of London had its Original The Measure of length is the Ell 100 of which are found to make 60 London Ells in the Measure of Linnen Cloath They have likewise an Ell for Measuring of Silk which is 1 ½ in the 100 less then the Cloath Ell. Beer is sold by the Barrel which in Brabant and Flanders is accounted 54 Stops each Stop being 2 Quarts English Their Corn they sell by the Vertules 23 ½ of which are a Last of Amsterdam and 10 ¼ Quarters London Measure Wine is sold by the Ame the Stop and the Butt 1 Ame making 50 Stops and one Stop 6 pound so that the Butt is 300 Stops or 6 Ames the Wine Stop being accounted 3 ⅓ Quarts of London Wine Measure The Exchanges are very great by Reason most of the Bills of Spain are drawn upon the Merchants and Traders of Antwerp for the disbursement of money for the maintainance of the Army that is for the most part kept on Foot in the Provinces CHAP. LXXIX A View of the City of Amsterdam and of the Trade Coyns Weights and Measures thereof AMsterdam is a fair City and Seated on the