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
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
of Cornwall there have been taken Pilchards an Ell long and not much differing in shape in several places on the Sea-coasts of Cornwall At a place called Foreditch in Kent there are Trouts of a treble remark First That they equal Salmon in Largeness Secondly That they remain nine Months in the Sea and three in Fresh-water Thirdly That contrary to the nature of all other Trouts they have been known but once to have been taken in that place with an Angle so much more cunning they are than all the rest of their kind In the River Kennet near Hungerford in Barkshire there is great plenty of Trouts remarkably large and good also the Town of Hungerford it self Marlborough and some other Places thereabout are noted for plenty and goodness of Cray-Fish The River Stowr in Dorcetshire hath a particular commendation for Tenches as some parts of Cambridgeshire for the best Eels and Lincolnshire for plenty of Pikes But there is also another Stowr in Kent which runs through Canterbury and is said to breed the best Trouts in the South-East of England Yet those of Cashalton in Surry are accounted excellent Trouts In Miander-Meer in Lancashire there breeds a sort of Fish called a Chare which they say is no where else to be found Much more might be said but that it is not our business to dwell upon any particular but to take a general Survey of several things of the Animals which our Country excels in above others but to speak of the Minerals and Vegetables which this Island produceth would require each a large Volume and though we have no Mines of Gold yet the many Mines we have of other Mettalls as Iron Lead Tin Copper c. and it is said some discoveries have been also made of Silver besides Mines of Allum Coal and other Minerals would if utmost Improvement were made of our Trade and Manufacture make a considerable compensation The Stanneries or Tin-Mines of Cornwall and Devonshire have been famous from all Antiquity And whereas it hath been formerly taken for granted that the Britains were unknown to the rest of the World before the Arrival of the Romans there are not wanting who are of Opinion and have confirmed their Opinion with probable Evidences that the Ancient Inhabitants of this Island long before the Romans Arrival had Commerce with the Greeks and Phaenicians and that because they would not admit of Strangers into their Country therefore they made the Isles of Scilly the Mart for the vending of their Tin whereupon some suppose them to be those Islands which the Ancients called the Cassiterides which imports as much as Tin-Isles not as having any Tin-Mines in them but as being the Mart as we said before for the Vending of that Commodity And of all parts in Cornwall Godolphin-Hill is particularly taken notice of for its Rich and Plentiful Veins of Tin Nor do the Mines of Cornwall abound in Tin only but 't is said there have been quantities of Metallick Oar that have contain'd a mixture of Gold and Silver and very memorable is the tradition of a quantity of Silver Oar dig'd out of a place in the Parish of Comb-Martin in Devonshire out of which William Wimondham coin'd 270 weight of Silver for Elionor Dutchess of Bar. A place called Newlands in Cumberland is rich in Copper Mines and hath some store of Black-Lead especially about Keswick In this County also the Stone called Lapis Calaminaris is said to have been here first found But much of this Lapis Calaminaris is digg'd out of Mendip-hills in Somersetshire At Wenlock in Shropshire in the Reign of King Richard the second there was found a Rich Copper Mine The Rich Mines of Iron in the Forrest of Dean in Glocestershire have been an occasion of making those Woods very thin in respect of what they have been formerly Kent hath several Iron Mines and also Veins of Marl. Darbyshire abounds much in Minerals and several kinds of Stones particularly in the Peak of Darby there are Mines that afford plenty of Lead likewise Stibium or Antimony also store of Mill-stones and Whet-stones nor less noted are the Lead-Mines on Mendip-hills in Staffordshire As also those on the Hills of Richmondshire where there are likewise Copper-Mines near Moinglath in Denbyshire is a plentiful Vein of Lead So likewise in the Abby of Fountains in Yorkshire not far from whence in the same Shire is store of Iron Other Mines also there are which though not so Rich are no less useful than those of Mettal as Alom Coal Free-stone Fullers-earth Marl with all which take one with another there is surely no Nation better stor'd and indeed our Salt-pits are no other than a kind of Liquid-Mines It is no less wonderful to observe what abundant Supplies of Fewel are yearly sent up from the Coal-Mines of Newcastle to this Vast City of London and other parts of the Nation besides what is Exported into Foraign parts then it may seem hard to conjecture how this City could subsist before the discovery of this great Mine which was not till the year 1305. Since we find by experience upon any occasion of the obstructing of this Newcastle Fleet and the raising of the Price of Coals into what great distress and inconveniency the City is thereupon reduc'd but then it must be considered that the City then was nothing near so large as now and the Country far better stor'd with Wood the want whereof for Firing is not the only prejudice the Nation hath sustain'd by the vast quantity of Timber that hath been fell'd of late Ages the number of Alehouses is also increas'd ten to one at least within these 100 years and proportionably as may well be imagin'd the number of Brewhouses to supply them with Drink which Houses cannot be maintain'd and carry on their Trade without a wonderful quantity of Fewel Nor need it be wondred how other great Cities are able to subsist without the like convenience as doubtless there is scarce any City of the World that hath the like advantage for Fewel considering the difference of Climate of Customs of manner of Living and of Diet. There are who speak of Blackheath as a place no less sufficiently abounding with Pit-Coal to serve the City of London and parts adjacent than Newcastle it self but are willing to believe that the grand security of these Coal-pits lies in the great prejudice to Navigation which the breaking of them up would occasion in regard this Colliers Trade between Newcastle and London is the greatest Nursery of Seamen we have which objection would easily cease could the Fishing Trade be once promoted till when the Coal Mines of Blackheath must of necessity be laid aside There is also Sea-Coal like that of Newcastle at Wedsborough in the East-Riding in Yorkshire Likewise up and down in many of the Inland parts of England there is abundance of Pit-Coal of another nature that is too say not Caking or Clinging together a quantity of small Particles into one
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
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
security Nor is its Minster the least considerable among the Cathedrals of England for Structure besides the Monuments of Antiquity therein elsewhere mention'd Bath besides the Magnificence of its publick Bagno's is sufficiently recommendable for its private Buildings the Streets thereof when the season of the year renders them least frequented seem to represent a kind of solemn and majestick Solitude as may be fancy'd in several of those Towns and Cities of Italy which consist of splendid Buildings but thinly inhabited Durham consists of good handsom old fashion'd Buildings but for publick Structures besides its Church it chiefly boasts the Castle built there by K. William the Conqueror which advanceth its Head loftily upon a high Hill Lincoln is also one of the noblest Cities of England It hath at this day 15 Parish-Churches besides the Great Church yet seems it but the Epitome of what it was anciently for it is deliver'd to have had no less than 50 Parish-Churches was wonderful populous and well traded and hath been adorn'd with many fair and ample Buildings as well Monasteries as others as appears by the Ruines in which something of Magnificence is to be observ'd Winchester is a City pleasantly situated in a Valley and walled about with a strong Wall one thousand eight hundred and eighty paces in circuit and entred by six Gates on the East-side runs the River and on the West-side stands a strong Castle It hath seven Parish-Churches and a good old large Minster besides the Ruines of certain Monasteries and other publick Buildings moreover the Colledge and School may be reckon'd among the Ornaments of this Place though not standing in the City but about half a mile out of the Town Coventry is a City particularly noted by Speed for statelyness of Building and was encompass'd with a strong and stately Wall which with the Walls of several other Towns was pull'd down since his Majesty's Restoration The Walls had 13 Gates for Entrance and 18 Towers for Ornament but that which was heretofore the greatest Ornament of this City was that stately Structure of a Cross which was among the number of those erected to the memory of Queen Elianor and the most magnificent of all next to that of Cheapfide in London with which it underwent the same Fate that is to be demolish'd by the zealous multitude the most lewd reformers of Lewdness and the most superstitious haters of Superstition Ipswich besides that it is the Shire-Town of Suffolk is also generally accounted the principal Town of England and were it dignified with the title of City would be equal to many inferior to few of the Cities of this Nation It hath 12 Parish-Churches yet standing besides 6 fall'n to decay and several fair Streets full of goodly and substantial Buildings and a very commodious Haven St Edmondsbury in the same County excepting what it wants in ampleness of Circuit comes very near in other respects especially if we reckon the Grandeur of its once famous Monastery of which there yet remains something of it very great and stately But to sum up the Glory of this Place it will be sufficient to repeat what Speed quotes from Leyland viz. The Sun hath not seen a City so he calls it more finely and delicately seated upon an ascent of a Hill having a River running on the East-side nor was there ever a more noble Abbey either for Revenues or incomparable Magnificence in whose Circuit appeareth rather a City than a Monastery so many Gates for Entrance and some of Brass so many Towers and a most glorious Church upon which attend three others standing all in the same Church-yard all of them passing fine and of a curious Workmanship Maidston is pleasantly seated upon the River Medway and for a meer Town is reputed the handsomest and most flourishing of all Kent Feversham is also to be noted not only for its Antiquities but likewise for its pleasant and commodious Situation Kingston upon Thames so call'd to distinguish it from the other Kingston upon Hull stands very pleasantly and makes a fine Prospect upon the River Thames It hath a very fair and spacious Market-place and hath been in former Ages a Place of no mean Repute at least springs from such a one as will appear by what we shall have occasion to speak of it elsewhere Guilford comes here to be mention'd only as a pleasant and well built Town to which may be added that for the bigness there is scarce any other Place to compare with it for number of fair and large Inns so that this Town and Kingston Southwark being annext to London may pass for the two chief Towns of Surry Lewis is esteemed worthily to stand in competition with the City Chichester it self for largeness populousness and fair Building at least it is far surpassing all the other Towns of Sussex Colchester which Speed honours with the title of City is pleasantly situated upon the River Coln hath a Wall of 1980 paces in compass raised upon a high Trench and enter'd by 6 Gates and 3 Posterns Westward and being also adorn'd with 9 Watch-Towers within the circuit of which Walls there are 8 Parish-Churches besides 2 without Eastward an old strong Castle stands upon a strong Trench and upon another Trench hard by are to be discern'd the Ruines of an ancienter Castle and though there are some other noted Towns in this Shire as Maldon Chelmsford c. yet this Colchester however no City may well enough be allow'd to merit the Character it hath viz. of Shire-Town of Essex Buckingham is pleasantly seated upon the River Ouse with which it is altogether surrounded except on the North-side 3 fair Stone-Bridges giving entrance over the River and though but a Town hath the credit to be both the denominating and principal Town of the Shire Ailesbury of the same County is a Town well enough for Building and the handsomness of its Market-place but that which makes it most perspicuous is that it stands in the midst of most delightful Meads and Pastures and the whole Vale which being one of the pleasantest and fertilest of England is perhaps one of the pleasantest and fertilest of Europe is thence denominated the Vale of Ailesbury Reading a very ancient Town and as Leland and others observe excelling all other Towns in Barkshire as well for fair Streets and sightly Buildings as the Wealth of the Townsmen Cambridge a Town not despicable for its own proper Buildings were the Situation as little liable to exception but borrowing its chief Magnificence from the lustre of those 16 Colledges and Halls which shine like so many Gems about it yet far more illustrious by those bright Lamps of Learning which from this Place have shot their Lights into the World The most eminent Structure of all the rest in Cambridge is Kings-Colledge-Chappel but there is now a Library building in this University which it is thought will be able to compare with any of the best Buildings of this Age but
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
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
still shews the ruins of a strong and stately Castle built upon a hill Stony-Stratford was a Station of the Romans and by them call'd Lactorodum Here the said King Edward the Elder gave a stop to the violent incursions of the Danes upon those parts and this is one of those places where the first of that name since the Conquest rais'd a stately monumental Cross in memory of Queen Eleanor At Chilton in this Shire was born that learned Writer in the Law Sir George Crook Amersham so call'd qu. Agmondsham is not only eminent by the name of the great Agmond from whom it takes denomination but by the birth of several learned Writers especially John sirnamed from the place of his Nativity Amersham and John Gregory of the present Age whose posthume works are worthily reckon'd among the principal of English Writings At Windover was born Roger thence sirnamed de Windover Historian to King Henry the third At Houton Roger Goad a man of good repute for learning In Barkshire are several places of note Reading boasts the Interment of King Henry the first in a Collegiate Church of an Abby founded by himself together with his Queen and his Daughter Maud the Empress He also built here a strong Castle which was rased to the ground by King Henry the second But this Town is yet more remark'd by the birth of William Laud who of a poor Clothiers Son of Reading was advanc'd to the highest Ecclesiastical Office and Dignity of the Nation viz. the Archiepiscopal See of Canterbury nor is it to be forgotten how manfully this Town was held out in the time of the late Civil War by Sir Jacob Aston against the whole power of the Earl of Essex General of the Parliaments forces for a whole twelve month's time but at length it was taken by the said Earl And from this place in the Reign of King Henry the second a learned Writer viz. Hugh of Reading took both Birth and Sirname At Inglefield the Danes received a great defeat from King Ethelwolf Wallingford the Gallena of Ptolomy was an ancient Station of the Romans and the chief City of the Atrebates From this place Richard of Wallingford took his birth and consequently his Sirname Abington besides that it was a place of much action in the time of the Civil Wars in his late Majesties Reign gave birth to Sir John Mason Privy Counsellor to King Henry the eighth King Edward the sixth Q. Mary and Qu. Elizabeth as also to Sir John Smith Latin Secretary and Master of Requests to King James Windsor is renowned as having been built by King Edward the third and as the place where was first instituted that most illustrous Order of the Knights of the Garter by that most victorious Prince and of which the greatest Kings and Princes of Europe have been fellows from the first Institution to this day and likewise for the Interment of King Henry the sixth King Edward the fourth King Henry the eighth and King Charles the first whose Body hath been since remov'd to Westminster and interr'd in King Henry the seventh's Chappel Moreover this place gave birth to a person of great fame for his learned Writings viz. Roger hence sirnamed of Windsor Eaton nearly adjoyning and almost contiguous to Windsor is a place besides the fame of being built by King Henry the sixth trebly renown'd for learning first as a Nursery for the bringing up of Youth being one of the chiefest Free-schools in England secondly as a place of maintenance and encouragement for the studious and well advanc'd in learning thirdly as the Birth-place of several learned men particularly Samuel Collins William Oughtred the great Mathematician and Matthew Stokes At Ratcot Bridge Robert Vere Duke of Ireland was put to flight by the Duke of Glocester the Earls of Arundel Warwick and Derby with the slaughter of Sir Thomas Molineux Constable of Chester This Radcot is by some reckon'd in Oxfordshire Sunning is sufficiently signal in history as having bin an Episcopal See for the residence of eight Bishops which See was translated to Shirbourn and afterwards to Salisbury where it still remains Wantage is enobled by the Birth of that great mirrour of a Prince for Virtue Learning and Valour King Alfred sirnamed the Scourge of the Danes Waltham in the East of this County was an ancient Station of the Romans so likewise Sinodum in the North. Newbury a Town of sufficient note in this Shire is yet more noted by the birth of Thomas Hide a learned Writer and also by two great Fights fought in the time of the late Civil Wars between the Forces of his late Majesty and the Parliament Army under the Earl of Essex Spene and Pesemere two places of no other note than by the birth of two eminent Writers the first of William Twisse the other of William Lyford In Hantshire Winchester the ancient Venta Belgarum of the Romans is said to have been built by that famous Rudhudibras great in the Catalogue of the old British Kings It was the Seat Royal of the West Saxons and chief Epicopal See and still remains the Episcopal See of a great part of that which was the West Saxon Kingdom It was honour'd with the Coronations of King Egbert and King Alfred and the Birth of King Henry the third Here in the Cathedral built by King Kenwolf King of the West Saxons were interred King Egbert King Ethelwolf King Alfred with his Queen Elswith the first Edmund King Edred and King Edwy Queen Emma and her Husband the Danish King Canutus as also his Son Hardy-Canutus and after the Conquest King William Rufus and his Brother Richard Here King Athelstan kept his Mint At St. Peters in the Suburbs of this City was born John Russel created Bishop of Lincoln by King Edward the fourth and Lord Chancellour of England by King Richard the third This City also brought forth two persons of illustious memory for learning viz. Lampridius sirnamed of Winchester a Benedictine Monk who flourisht An. 980. and Wolstan of Winchester a Benedictine likewise accounted in those times an eminent Poet who flourisht An. 1000. Southampton built out of the ruines of the ancient Clausentium and after many devastations reedified in King Richard the second 's time is a most pleasant and well fortified Town with a goodly Castle proudly advanced on a Hill In a Maison dieu or Hospital here lies interr'd the body of Richard Earl of Cambridge who was executed for Treason in the Reign of King Henry the fifth In the Parish of St. Michael in Southampton was born Arthur Lake Bishop of Bath and Wells who died An. 1602. as also Sir Thomas Lake Secretary of State to King James At Basingstoke John sirnamed of Basingstoke the first English Author of a Greek Grammar who died An. 1252. William Paulett Baron of Basing and Marquess of Winchester 〈…〉 to King Henry the seventh and Lord Treasurer to King Henry the eighth Edward the sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth
of Huntington renowned for his History who flourish't An. 1248. Other Celebrated men of this Shire were William Whitlesey Archdeacon of Huntington who died An. 1375. Henry Saltry who flourisht 1140. William Ramsey a famous Poet. John Young and John White In Wiltshire Wilton the Denominating and once the Principal Town of the Shire is so much the more notable a place by how much the more despicable it now appears as a strange example of the various turns of fortune and mutations of human affairs having only the name left of a Market Town else but a pitiful Village consisting of one only Parish Church which is said to have been a Town of about seventeen or eighteen Parish Churches and having no Memorial or Monument of antiquity which hath been the Theater of so many grand Transactions Here Egbert the Westsaxon and at last Sole Monarch of the English encountred Bernulf King of Mercia and slew him in Battle but in this very place he afterwards received a terrible overthrow from the Danes At Edindon King Alfred gave the Danes a very notable defeat Bradford is memoris'd for a bloody Battle fought between two great Competitors in the Saxon Heptarchy At Woodensbury An. 590. Cheaulin King of the West-Saxons encountring the Britains who joyn'd with his Nephew Cealrick was put to flight and his Son Cuth slain Here also Ina the West-Saxon fought with Ceolred the Mercian Old Sarum was a place made choice of by the Romans for a strong encamped habitation as by the ruins thereof at this day appears Here the Britains receiv'd a fatal overthrow from Kenrick the Saxon besides what spoil was afterwards done by Canutus Caln is famous for that great Assembly which put an end to the controversy about the Marriage of Priests by reason of a disaster which happened by the fall of the Room to the destruction of several people of all sorts Brokenbridge and Cosham places doubly famous in History First as having been ancient Roman Seats next as the Courts of some of the Saxon Kings Crekelade memorable for the Fame of an University said to have been anciently here erected and from hence removed to Oxford Malmsbury qu. Maidulphsbury from Maidulphus a person of renown both for Sanctity and Learning is no less memorable for the famous Monastery there erected by the said Maidulphus then for the birth of two great men viz. William thence sirnamed of Malmesbury a Celebrated Historian and Thomas Hobbes of this present Age and but a few years since deceast a man of much Earning and more cunning Sophistry for the maintenance of those principles he maintained thereby In Dorsetshire Dorchester the chief Town only boasts of some antiquity as from the Roman name Durnovaria Badbury was anciently the Court of the West-Saxon Kings At Cern Austin broke down the Idol of the Saxon God Hell Shaftsbury is fam'd for the History of the Prophesying Eagle most probably a man whose name was Aquila Here was enterr'd the Body of Edward the Son of Edgar Murthered by his Mother-in-Law at Corfe Castle At Winburn-Minster built by Cuthburga Wife in second Marriage to a King of Northumberland the Body of King Ethelred was buried Shirburn was an Episcopal See for a long time in the Cathedral whereof were buried the bodies of King Ethelbald and King Ethelbert In Somersetshire the principal place is the City of Bath Brit. Akamancester Lat. Aquâ solis Badissa very famous and much frequented for its hot Bathing-Springs which our old British Traditions will have to be the invention of Bladud an ancient British King Bath and Wells joyntly together make one Bishoprick Wells is principally esteem'd for its Cathedral which is said to have been built by Inas King of the West-Saxons Pen now a small Village is memoris'd for a great overthrow given to the Britains by Kenwald King of the West-Saxons and afterwards to the Danes by K. Edmund Ironside Bridgewater is otherwise a Town of very good note and of memory for a notable defeat given here to the Danes by Ealstan Bishop of Shirburn An. 845. Glastonbury Avalonia is principally renowned for its Monastery deliver'd to have been founded by Joseph of Arimathea the first Preacher as some Writers affirm of the Gospel in this Island In the Church-yard of Glastonbury in King Henry the second 's Reign was found a Corps of a large demension which by several circumstances was concluded to be the Body of King Arthur Cadbury is recordable for the defeat given by King Arthur to the English Saxons Banesdown Mons Badonicus is a place renown'd for several other of King Arthurs Victories and where King Alfred overthrew the Danes and brought Gorrum to the Sacred Font. Camalet a steep Hill was doubtless some Fort or Encampment of the Romans as appears by the Coins there found moreover on the top thereof there remains to this day the Vestigia of some noble Castle which is said to have been a Palace of King Arthur This Town some Writers have placed in Cornwal Ilchester appears also by the like demonstration to have been a station of the Romans and is still of that repute that it is the chief place of Gaol-delivery for the County In Oxfordshire Oxford besides the glory of its famous University and the Magnificence of its Stately Colledges Here more frequent Parliaments have been call'd than in any place of England next to Westminster and particularly the last Parliament call'd by his present Majesty and held here in March 1681. Here Maud the Empress was besieg'd by King Stephen and with great difficulty made her escape in a disguise by night and got over the Thames on the Ice This place his late Majesty King Charles the first made his chief Head Quarters during the greatest part of the Civil War between him and the Parliament till the City was taken by Sir Thomas Fairfax General of the Rebels Forces It is moreover famous for being the birth-place of that Martial Prince King Richard the first sirnamed Ceur de Lyon Woodstock besides that it hath been anciently a stately Palace belonging to the Kings of England claims a particular place in the book of Fame upon several accounts In the first place here it was that King Henry the second built a sumptuous Bower for his Paramour Rosamund Clifford who for her singular beauty and in allusion to her name was styl'd Rosa Mundi Next it was the Birth-place of Edward the Black Prince lastly in the Town of Woodstock was brought up and educated that most renowned of English Poets Sir Geoffry Chaucer Islip cannot be forgotten so long as the memory of King Edward the Confessour lasts who was here born In Glocestershire the City of Glocester Glenum Colonia Glenum eminent for its Cathedral of which more elsewhere is also not obscure in History Here Earl Robert Brother to the Empress Maud was kept prisoner for some time but much more famous if we may not say infamous was the keeping of this City by the Parliament-Forces under
Collonel Massy against his late Majesty King Charles the First and the great Battle here fought for the raising of the Siege It was won from the Britains by Cheulin King of the West-Saxons An. 570. Here a Monastery of Nuns was founded by Osric King of Northumberland of which three Queens of the Mercians were successively Prioresses viz. Kineburg Eadburg and Eve Here was born Robert called the Monk of Glocester who flourish'd under Henry the second and also Osbernus sirnam'd Claudianus a Benedictine Monk Alny Isle a place near Glocester where after several bloody Battles between King Edmund Ironside and Canutus the Dane the matter was at last decided between them by single combat and a division of the Kingdom made Cirencester or Circester a place of memorable note as won from the Britains by Cheulin the West-Saxon this City is doubtless Ptolomies Corinium Antonines Durocornovium Giraldus his Vrbs Passerum which last denomination it takes from a tradition of one Gurmund an African Tyrant who set it on fire by tying to the tails of Sparrows certain combustible matter which he put fire to It was won from the Britains by Cheulen King of the West-Saxons next possess 't by the Mercians lastly by the Danes under Gurmund An. 879. But that which is to be said greatest of this for it's antiquity and remark is that that it was anciently one of the principal residencies of the Romans by whom it had been rais'd to a high pitch of magnificence and grandure At Cicester was born Thomas Ruthal Bishop of Durham At Duresby Edw. Fox Bishop of Hereford At Cam near Duresby Edward Trotman Judge of the Common Law who was buried in the Temple Church May the 29th An. 1643. At Todington Richard Son to Sir William Tracy who flourish'd under King Henry the second This Richard wrote a Book entitled Preparatio ad Crucem of much esteem in those times At Yate Thomas Neal Chanter to Bishop Bonner he was eminent for Learning and flourish'd An. 1576. At Westbury John Carpenter Bishop of Worcester At Sudely Castle Ralph Lord Sudely Lord Treasurer and Knight of the Garter under Henry the sixth Other Noted men of this Shire were Tideman de Winchcomb the Kings Physitian Abbot of Benle Bishop first of Landaff afterwards of Worcester John Chedworth Bishop of Lincoln Anthony Fitz-Herbert Judge of the Common Pleas. Thomas de la More Knighted by King Edward the first he wrote the Character of King Edward the second a Manuscript now in Oxford Library Sir Thomas Overbury Son to Sir Nicholas William Winter Vice-Admiral of England under Queen Elizabeth John Sprint John Workman and Richard Capel Tewksbury-field gave a very fatal blow to the House of Lancaster An. 1471. in which Prince Edward was slain and Queen Margaret taken Prisoner together with the Duke of Somerset the Earl of Devonshire and others who were beheaded Here was born the famous Alan of Tewksbury who flourish'd under King John Hales a once flourishing Abby but chiefly to be remembred for the birth of Alexander de Hales sirnamed Dr. Irrefregabilis who died An. 1245. In Worcestershire Worcester the chief City is questionless the ancient Branconium of Antoninus and Ptolomie though since call'd by the Latins Vigornea and by the Britains Caer Wrangon some think it to have been built by the Romans for a bound to the Britains The Cathedral of St Mary in Worcester besides the fame of its State and Beauty is the Repository of the Bodies of King John and Prince Arthur Eldest Son to King Henry the seventh But that which gives greatest renown to this City is the memory of the happy preservation of his present Majesty from being taken at the fatal Battle of Worcester where the great Gallantry and Valour of His Majesty and his Party was utterly overpowr'd by the treble forces of the Usurpers At Eversham An. 1265. King Henry the third gain'd a most triumphant Victory over his Barons with the slaughter of Simon Montford and seventeen Lords and the taking of Humphry Bohun Prisoner In Herefordshire the City of Hereford besides that it is the Principal City an Episcopal See and noted for its Cathedral is also memorable for the birth of Adam de Orleton Bishop of Hereford Roger of Hereford a Writer of Astronomy who flourish'd under Henry the second An. 1170. John Davies of good repute for Poetry And also Charles Smith Bishop of Glocester in the reign of King James Bradwardin Castle gave both birth and sirname to that Thomas de Bradwardin Arch-Bishop of Canterbury who for his deep knowledge in Theologie and skilful management of Disputations is stiled the profound Doctor At Ashperton was born John Grandison Bishop of Exeter Other memorable persons of this Shire were Robert Devereux Earl of Essex great in deeds of Arms and a person of great power and favour with his Prince yet brought to an untimely end Richard Hackluit whose Book of Voyages is of good repute among the studious in Geography and History William Lemster a Franciscan and learned Doctor John Guillam the noted Herald whose Systeme of Heraldry is accounted the best that hath been written of this Subject In Shropshire besides Shrewsbury the County Town a noted Mart for Cloth and Frizes brought hither from Wales and sent to London and other parts of England there are very remarkable ruins of some ancient places which were certainly Towns or Cities of great spendour or resort as Wrocckester Vriconium the ancient Vsoconia of which Okenyate is a small remainder Oswaldstree retains its name from Oswald the 11th King of Northumberland who was here slain in battel by Penda King of the Mercians In Staffordshire the County Town Stafford anciently Bitheny from Bertelin a holy man is said to have been built by King Edward the Elder and was made a Corporation by King John Tamworth was doubtless anciently a place of more spendour and amplitude than at present for here the Mercian Kings for a long time kept their Court. Litchfield though not the County Town is yet the most eminent place of the County as being a City and Episcopal See joyntly with Coventry the chief Church and now Cathedral was built by the Northumbrian King Oswin upon the Conquest he gain'd over the Pagan Mercians and here Wulferre and Celred were interr'd it was for some time an Arch-bishoprick by the means of King Offa at the request of Bishop Eadulph At Bloreheath in this County a cruel battel was fought between the two Houses of York and Lancaster in which there fell on the Duke of York's side Sir Hugh Venables Sir William Trowthec Sir Richard Mollineux and Sir J. Egerton c. with 2400 and the two Sons taken prisoners of the Earl of Salisbury General of the Yorkists In Darbyshire besides Derby the County town there are memorable Ripton Ripandunum where was interr'd Ethelbald the 9th King of the Mercians who was slain at Egiswald by his Subjects and whence Burthred the last King was expell'd by the Danes with
the Emperour Constantius but this is more certain that it was made an Archbishoprick in the year of our Lord 625. At Leeds in the West-Riding Oswye King of Northumberland encountred the united Forces of Ethelbald Son of Oswald King of Northumberland Ethelbert King of the East-Angles and Penda King of the Mercians to all whom he gave a mighty defeat slew Penda and Ethelbert and put Ethelbald to flight Selby a Town of good trade and resort but most memorable for the birth of King Henry the first this is by some accounted in Lincolnshire Wakefield is a Town not more considerable for its Cloathing than for the memory of a great battle fought between the Houses of York and Lancaster besides a defeat given in the late Civil Wars to the Earl of Newcastles Forces by Sir Thomas Fairfax Pomfret Castle was built by Hildebert de Lacy a Norman Hallyfax qu. Holy Hair anciently Horton the birth-place of Joannes de Sacrobosco Rotheram chiefly boasts in the birth of Thomas of Rotheram Archbishop of York In the East-Riding Stanford Bridge from the battle there fought commonly called Battle-Bridge Drifield is remembred by the Tomb of Alfred King of Northumberland here buried Beverly though a Town of flourishing trade is yet more fame-worthy as the last retirement and place of decease of the Learned John Archbishop of York in the Reign of Oswick An. 721. who was thence sirnamed John de Beverly Newborough Abby gives fame to it self by giving name to that Old English Historian William of Newborough Kingston upon Hull besides the repute of its Trade and Merchandise is honour'd with the fame of being built by King Edward the first nor are there wanting who will add the reputation of Andrew Mervail a Burgess of this place of whom elsewhere Exeter in Devonshire is both of sufficient antiquity for the Castle call'd Rugemont was once the Palace of the West Saxon Kings and afterwards of the Earls of Cornwal and the Walls and Cathedral were built by King Athelstan and also memorable for several transactions here was born that most renowned Latin Poet of England Josephus hence sirnamed Iscanus or Joseph of Exeter At Plimouth that great Honour of England for Sea affairs Sir Francis Drake took Shipping for the Circum-navigation of the World An. 1577. Teignmouth is noted for the place of the Danes first arrival in England Hubbleston the Burial place of Hubba the Dane Crediton the ancient Episcopal See of this County till it was removed to Exeter Camelford in Cornwal is guess'd by those pieces of Armour that have been digged up thereabout to have been the place of Battel where Mordred was slain and where King Arthur received his mortal wound Tintagel Castle gave birth to this great Miracle of British Valour King Arthur At Castle Denis the Ruins of those Trenches are yet to be seen where the Danes encamped at their first Invasion of this Land At Caradoc was born John Trevisa a learned Writer who died Anno 1400. St. Germains a place chiefly fame-worthy for having been an ancient Episcopal See At Truroe was born John Arundel a renowned Sea-man in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth Bodmin the next place to which the Bishop's Chair was removed from whence it was translated by King Edward the Confessor to Exeter where it hath remained ever since This County hath brought forth several learned men viz. Hucarius sirnamed the Levite who flourished Anno 1040. Simon Thurway who flourished Anno 1201. John Sir-named of Cornwal who flourished Anno 1170. Michael Blawnpain who flourished Anno 1350. Godfrey Sir-named of Cornwall In NORTHVMBERLAND at a place called Otterburn a great Field was fought between the English and Scots Alnwick is of note for the mighty Victory which the English here gained over the Scots and for that the Earls of Northumberland in ancient times here kept their Court. Emildon brought forth that great Contradiction of his own name for Niceties of Wit and Subtilties in School-Philosophy Duns Sir-named Scotus In the Western parts of Northumberland are yet to be seen some parts of the Picts Wall In WESTMORLAND The Aballaba of Antoninus is thought to have been a place of very great note in the time of the Romans by the antique Roman Coins that have been there found in digging and the station of the Aurelian Maures and it is still so considerable that the Castle thereof is the place where the Assizes for the County are kept Burgh or Burgh under Stainmore is undoubtedly the Ruins of an eminent Town which was called Verterae and where a Roman Commander in the declining time of the Empire is said to have kept his station with a Band of Directores Ambleside Amboglana not far from Winander Meer is judged the Ruins of some famous City of Roman foundation or improvement both by the paved ways that lead to it and the Coins of Roman Stamp oft digged up there In CVMBERLAND Carlisle Luguvallum or Leucophibia of Ptolomie if not illustrious in its Original for it is delivered to have been built by that Leil who is great in the Catalogue of British Kings was at least a flourishing City under the Romans and being demolished by the Picts and utterly ruined by the Danes was restored by King William Rufus who also built there a Castle and by King Henry the First made a Bishop's See The Bishoprick of DVRHAM gained that Title and Privilege by the great fame and renown of St. Cuthbert for the interment of whom the Cathedral of Durham was first built by Bishop Aldwin and afterwards pulled down and rebuilt by Bishop Careleph The Tomb of this adored Saint was visited with great devotion by King Egfred Alfred Danish Guthrun Edward and Athelstan This City was by King William the Conqueror raised to a County Palatine There is a place called Gallile in the West end of the Church where is to be seen the Tomb of Venerable Beda Binchester Benovium by the Coins there digged up seems to have been a place of great account among the Romans So likewise Chester in the Street Condercum At Nevil's Cross near Durham the Scots were defeated by Queen Philippa Wife to King Edward the First by the Conduct of the Lords Piercy Moubray and Nevil In LANCASHIRE Lancaster the County-Town gives Title of Family from John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster to four Henries Kings of England viz. Henry the Fourth Fifth Sixth and Seventh Manchester Mancunium an ancient Fort and Station of the Romans Rible-Chester from Rhibel a little Brook near Clithero a Town of Antiquity and Station of the Romans as appears by the pieces of Coin and Statues there found But that which renders it most of memory is that it hath been reported the richest Town of Christendom Near Duglas a small Brook not far from the Town of Wiggin King Arthur is said by Ninius to have put the Saxons to flight At Billangho Anno 789. Duke Wade was put to flight by Ardulph King of Northumberland In CHESHIRE Chester is famous
in many respects as for its Minster for its Entertainment of King Athelstan who hence settihg forth in a Barge upon the River Dee was rowed by Kennadie King of the Scots Malcolm King of Cumberland Macon King of Man and several Princes of Wales By being made so great a Principality by the Investiture of Hugh Lupus by King William the Conqueror The Minster of this City was built by Earl Leofric to the Honour of St. Werburga repaired by Hugh Earl of Chester And in this Minster was buried the Body of Henry the Fourth Emperor of Germany At Calvely was born Sir Hugh Calvely a Soldier of great fame in the Reign of King Edward the Third As likewise was Sir Robert Knowles of this Shire Ecleston gave Birth to Thomas thence Sirnamed Ecleston Bunbury is noted by the birth of Robert Braffy who died Anno 1558. Wrenbury boasts of George Patin another learned Writer Moreover the World owes to this Shire several other great men viz. Sir Thomas Aegerton Lord Keeper Anno 1596. Sir Humphrey Starky Sir Henry Bradshaw Sir Randal Crew and Sir Humphrey Davenport all grand Pillars of the Law Ralph Ratcliff a person eminent for Learning and Captain John Smith the first setler of the Plantation of New-England in the Reign of King James In FLINTSHIRE The Castle of Flint which was founded by King Henry the Second and finished by King Edward the First gave Reception to King Richard the Second when he came out of Ireland In DENBYSHIRE Denby was walled about and fortified with a Castle by Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln in the Reign of King Edward the First In CAERNARVONSHIRE Caernarvon is memorable as having been raised by King E. 1. from the Ruins of that ancient City which is called by Antonine Segontium and by Ninius Caer-Custenith and where as Matthew Westminster reports was found the Body of Constantius the Father of Constantine the Great Anno 1283. In MERIONETHSHIRE the principal Town Harlech is only worth memory for its stately Castle In CARDIGANSHIRE Cardigan the Shire-Town was walled about and fortified with a Castle by Gilbert de Clare who was Lord of the whole County by the Gift of King Henry the First In BRECKNOCKSHIRE Hay is remembred by its Ruins to have been once a place of Account for it is reported in History to have been ruined and demolished in the Rebellion of Owen Glendour It is judged by the Coins there found to have been an ancient Seat of the Romans Bealt Buelth the Buleum Silurum of Ptolomy is famed as the Seat of Aurelius Ambrose who possessed the whole Country and after gave it to Pascentius Son of Vortiger And likewise for the last Prince of the Britains who was here by Treachery slain But Brecknock being now the fairest Town of the Shire carries the Name and Primacy In CAERMARDENSHIRE Caermarden the Shire-Town the Maridunum of Ptolomy and Muridunum of Antonine is not so note-worthy for its large Castle and strong Wall as for being the Birth-place of that most famous old British to give him the most favourable Title Prophet Merlin In GLAMORGANSHIRE The chief Town and Episcopal See Landaff with its Castle and Cathedral is not so famous as the Town of Caerdiff as having been the Seat and Residence of that renowned Fitz-Hammond and his Norman Knights who after the Conquest of Rhesus Prince of Wales kept here his Court in the Reign of William Rufus and built here a strong Castle in the Hall whereof are yet to be seen the Ensigns of the said Fitz-Hammond and his Knights In this Castle hath been for a long time and is still kept the Audit for the Earl of Pembroke's Estate in Wales In MONMOVTHSHIRE Monmouth the County-Town is yet far more considerable upon several respects first as being delivered by Geraldus to have been the place where great King Arthur kept his Court. Next as an Academy of Philosophy and Arts giving Residence to two hundred Scholars and Birth to Amphibalus whose Disciple our great Protomartyr St. Albanus was and two other noble persons of our first Martyrs And likewise as the Birth-place of that noble Prince King Henry the Fifth In RADNORSHIRE Radnor the ancient Magnos of Antonine and the station of the Pacentian Regiment and fortified with a Castle is yet inferior in beauty of Buildings to Prestain In PEMBROKESHIRE though Pembroke is the County-Town yet St. Davids is the more remarkable as being an Episcopal See and once an Archbishoprick translated from Isca Legionum by that great Archbishop Devi whom we call St. David In MONTGOMERISHIRE Montgomery is remarkable for its pleasant scituation and strong Castle and the Title of an Earldom first given by King James Anno 1605. to Philip second Son to Henry Earl of Pembroke and still continuing in his Grandchild Philip now Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery In the Isle of ANGLESY Beaumorris is not more noted for being the principal Town than for the frequent transportation of Passengers hence to Ireland and the fame of having been built by King Edward the First A true and perfect LIST OF THE NOBILITY OF ENGLAND With their principal HOUSES and the COUNTIES which they are in DUKES * HIS Royal Highness James Duke of York and Albany and Earl of Vlster His Seats St. James's Middlesex Richmond Surrey The Dukedom of Cumberland extinct by the death of Prince Rupert The Lord High Chancellor of England The Lord High Treasurer of England The Lord President of the Privy Council The Lord Privy Seal Henry Howard Duke of Norfolk and Earl Marshal of England Earl of Arundel Surrey Norfolk and Norwich Baron Howard Moubray Segrave Brewes of Gower Fitz-Alan Clun Oswaldestre Maltravers Graystock and Castle-Rising His Seats Norfolk House in Arundel Buildings Middlesex Arundel Castle Sussex Albury and Waybridge Surrey Duke's Place in Norwich Norfolk Work-Sop Nottingham Sheffeild-Mannor York Graystock Castle and Drumbugh Castle Cumberland Charles Seymour Duke of Somerset Marquess of Hertford Viscount Beauchamp and Baron Seymour His Seats Marlborough House and Allington House Wilts * George Villers Duke Marquess and Earl of Buckingham Earl of Coventry Viscount Villers and Baron of Whaddon His Seats Wallingford House near Whitehall Middlesex Colledge-Hill London Buckingham House and Whadon Buckingham Bishop's Hill in the City of York and Helmsey Castle York * Christopher Monk Duke of Albemarle Earl of Torrington Baron Monk of Poltheridge Beauchamp and Teyes His Seats Nun Appleton and Burley on the Hlil Rutland Garrenton Leicester Albemarle House Middlesex New Hall Essex Potheridge and Wenbury Devonshire Cletherow Castle Lancaster * James Scot Duke of Monmouth and Bucclugh Earl of Doncaster and Dalkelth Baron of Tindal Winchester and Ashdale His Seat More Park Hertford So-Ho Square Middlesex * Henry Cavendish Duke Marquess and Earl of Newcastle Earl of Ogle Viscount Mansfeild Baron Ogle Beutram and Bolsover His Seats Welbeck Abby and Nottingham Castle Nottingham Bolsover Castle Derby Ogle Castle Bothal Castle Heple Tower Northumberland Slingsby Castle York Blore Hall Stafford
Equivalent in Wealth and Strength to a far greater people and that Conveniencies for Shipping and Water-Carriage do most eminently and fundamentally conduce thereunto CHAP. II. That some kind of Taxes and Publick Levies may rather increase then diminish the Wealth of the Kingdom CHAP. III. That France cannot by Reason of natural and perpetual impediments be more powerful at Sea then England and the low Countries CHAP. IV. That the people and Territories of the King of England are naturally as considerable for Wealth and Strength as those of France CHAP. V. That the impediments of Englands greatness are Contingent and removable CHAP. VI. That the Power and Wealth of England has increased these last 40 years CHAP. VII That one 10 part of the whole Expences of the King of England Subjects is sufficient to maintain 100000 Foot 40000 Horse and 40000 men at Sea and defray all other charges of the Government both ordinary and Extraordinary c. CHAP. VIII That there are spare Hands enough amongst the King of Englands Subjects to earn two Millions per Annum more then they now do and that there are also Imployments ready proper and sufficient for the purpose CHAP. IX That there is Money sufficient to drive the Trade of the Nation CHAP. X. That the King of Englands Subjects have Stock Competent and Convenient to drive the Trade of the Whole Commercial World THE INTRODUCTION OR THE ORIGINAL OF TRADE PLAINLY Demonstrating it's Increase The Means and Methods used to bring it to the Perfection it is arrived to at present And of the great Benefit reaped thereby both in General and Particular CHAP. I. THat Inland Maritim Trade Traffick are with Gods Blessings on mens Indeavours the chief Pillars and â—upport of all Nations and from whence they had their first rise and greatness is so evident that Arguments to prove it would be ineffectual yet from the World 's Original it had not it's perfection nor indeed could it till Mankind increased and by spreading wide in the Earth Peopled it's vast Immensity nor then for some thousands of Years was it National but rather in secret between man and man few People knowing the Benefit of any other commodities then what were of the native growth of those Countries they inhabited nor so could Riches abound for Coyn was for the most part useless or indeed not mentioned till the days of Abraham the Patriarck Exchange of Goods being the only Traffick and consequently on that score few Traded for more then they had present occasion to use by Reason many things were not of lasting quality and for that they for the most part Travelled from place to place Their chiefest Riches consisted in Cattle but at last when they Builded Cities and Towns and found the conveniency of a Settlement they extended their Traffick farther and one City Traded with another which still spread wider yet long was it ' er they found means to plough the Bosom of the Sea and to hold Commerce and Traffick with remote Nations which no sooner was brought to my Perfection but Riches abounding and Plenty Flowing in on every side men then and not till then began to give their thoughts large scope and not contented with the Portion of Earth alotted them began to grow emulous aspire to universal Soveraignty as likewise to plant Colonies in till then unhabitable Islands which had not Shipping been invented must have continued without inhabitants as at this time past doubt for want of discovery many do in the remote Seas especially under the Artick Pole whose extremity renders them unaccessible or at least unhabitable and of all Nations the Greeks were the first that brought Navigation to any Perfection by which they grew opulent and extended their Colonies to thâ— utmost Orient acquiring the Empire of the then known World their Fame growing every where great nor could the Romans bring their Warlike Expeditions to any perfection till they were Lords of the Sea and inriched themselves by Traffick bringing into that one City the Stores of all Nations so that from Cottages of Shepherds who lay'd her first Foundation she soon became Magnificent thrusting up her Lofty Spires bedecked with Gold so high that they in a manner kissed the Clouds and rendered her the awfull Mistriss of the Universe and by Trade and Industry more then by Arms kept up her Reputation for six hundred Years when ranging the World to find out Countries unconquered at last from Gallia or France under the leading of Caesar they entered Brittain a Place then wild and rude not knowing how to use the abundant plenty that Nature bestowed upon them but refusing all manner of Dainties fed upon Roots of Herbs and Barks of Trees not Tilling any Ground nor sowing Corn otherwise then scattering it on the untilled Surface of the Earth and harrowing it over with Bushes suffering their Cattle Fowl and Fish of which they had store to continue useless scarcely knowing any shoar but their own Their Traffick or Merchandise for the most part amongst themselves and that but mean their chief Riches consisting as Strabo saith in Ivory-Boxes Sheers Onches Bitts Bridles Chains of Iron Wreaths Glass coloured and the like which they usually delivered to each other as currant Coyn for what their necessity required but no sooner had the Romans Civilized them and instructed them in such Arts as were most sutable to their Capacities and might stand them in greatest stead but they began to Build Houses living before for the most in Huts and going naked and turned their Leather Boats into Tall Ships Furrowing the Seas broad back and discovering many Nations to them till then unknown So that by Traffick abroad and Improvement at home this Island grew famous and spread it's Name to the utmost Limit of the known Earth so that being rightly termed the Store-House of the Western World all the Neighbour-Nations Traded hither so that those Ports and Havens that were for a long time useless were now filled with Ships of all Nations So that Silver and Gold was had in Abundance and Coyns in imitation of those the Romans Stamped with the Effigies of their Kings and Princes which then were many each County containing two or three and they for the most part at variance amongst themselves which gave the Romans an opportunity to become Conquerors at an easier rate then otherwise they could During the four hundred Years and odd that the Romans Governed here by their Lievetenants and sometimes by their Emperors in Person Rome and after her Constantinople the new Seat of Empire abounded with our Stores so that more Tribute was pay'd by this Island then by France and Germany tho Ten times as large but the fame of Brittains Wealth proved her unhappyness for the Goth breaking in upon the Roman Empire whose spreading Top was too large to be supported by the slender Bole her Branches was torn off on every side so that to support their own the Romans were forced to recall
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
of sixteen Ounces to the pound and is called Garbel by Reason a Draught or Wast is allowed to every weighing Seven pound of this Weight is accounted to weigh a Gallon of Wheat and so Multiplyed to fifty six pound the Bushel seven pound Averdupois is one hundred and two Ounces of Troy from whence it is accounted that a Bushel of Wheat must weigh one hundred and twelve pound and a quarter four hundred forty eight pounds Averdupois and so consequently fourteen pound Averdupois is sixteen pound eleven Ounces Troy and as one penny Sterling is the twentieth part of an Ounce Troy so seven pound twelve Shillings Sterling is eighty four Ounces a half and two penny Weight of Troy and six pound eight Shillings Sterling is eighty two pound ¾ Ounce and one penny Weight and from these two are the Weights of Houshold Wheaten and White Bread Calculated The Weigh of Cheese is by Averdupois and runs thus The Weigh of Cheese one hundred and twelve pound Averdupois and the two hundred containing two hundred twenty four pounds consists of thirty four Cloves every Clove being seven pound The Weigh of Suffolk Cheese is two hundred fifty six and the Weigh of Essex Cheese three hundred thirty six pound Averdupois A Sack of Wool was accounted three hundred fifty four pound Averdupois two Weighs of Wool make a Sack and two Sacks a Last The last of Herrings is ten thousand every one thousand to contain ten hundred and every hundred sixscore that is before they are Barrell'd Lead is sold by the Fodder containing nineteen hundred and ½ at one hundred and twelve per cent Averdupois This Weight likewise of sixteen Ounces to the pound is made three several Quintars for Weighing several sorts of Merchandise the first is of fivescore pound just to the hundred and called one hundred Sutle whereby fine Commodities as Spices Drugs and the like are sold which are accounted by the pound and to which over and above is allowed by the Seller four pound upon one hundred and four pound taken from the overplus derived from the Weights of Antwerp for Spices and called by the name of Tret The second of the Quintars is one hundred and twelve viz fivescore and twelve to the hundred by which all Gross Commodities are weighed The third is sixscore to the hundred by which Tinn is weighed to his Majesties Farmers and some other few Commodities and is called by the name of the Stannery hundred From this Averdupois Weight by division the Weight called the Stone which is twofold the long and the short the long is accounted four pounds Averdupois and the short eight but in this there is no certainty for it differs according to the Customs of Counties and Markets There is an other thing in use called a Tod some places seven pound others eight and some again ten being altogether variable They have likewise a Clove of twenty pound twenty eight pound thirty two pound and the like There are likewise in most Markets for weighing of Flesh Stillyards used but without the Approbation of the Buyers they being unintelligible to many and oftentimes false first invented for the Weighing Hay and Straw for which uses indeed they are only proper Averdupois consists of sixteen Ounces every Ounce consisting of eight Drams and every Dram of sixty Grains so that by it the Raw-Silk of Persia and Turky are sold but then twenty four Ounces are allowed to the pound or a pound and an half c. Thus having distinguished these Weights which are of such use in this Nation it is not amiss that I shew you what accord the one hundred and twelve pound Suttle has with other Nations and Places of Traffick as for the Equality of Weight tho they differ in number In Europe it agrees with the Weights of Mersella the Venetia Sotile the Venetia Gross Sicilia Lisbon Florence Anvers Lions Sevil Dantzick Bruges In Africa and Asia with the Weights of Aleppo Aleppo Tripoly Syria Tripoly Barbaria Alexandrio-Zera Alexandria Forfar Forfar Scio Constantinople Rhodes Acria Babylon Balsola and Ormus And thus you see Reader the Industry and Improvement of the English Nation which now I must leave and take a View of Scotland CHAP. VIII A view of Scotland and the Trade thereof in General together with the Coyns Customs and Increase of that Ancient Kingdom SCotland by Reason of it's continuing a distinct Kingdom for so many hundred Years even till the happy Union by King James and indeed does yet in most things unless the Prerogative Royal is thought worthy to be Treated of seperately tho indeed the North part of Brittain and only seperated from England by the Rivers Tweed Salway and the Cheviot-Hills It 's chief City is Edenburg which contains the Kings Pallace the Courts of Justice consists of one great Street of a Mile in Length into which all the Petty Streets and Lanes open The next chief Cities and Towns are Glasgow the See of an Arch-Bishop and an University St. Andrews Sterling Perth Aberdeen Dondes St. John's Town c. The currant Money consists of Gold and Silver and are as followeth Pieces of twenty two Shillings Sterling Pieces of eleven Shillings Sterling Pieces of five Shilings six pence Sterling Pieces of two Shillings nine pence Sterling Pieces of four Shillings four pence â…œ Sterling Pieces of one Shilling one half penny Sterling Pieces of nine Shillings six pence being â…” of the thirteen pence half penny One Mark Pieces of four pence half penny Sterling But note that thirteen pence half penny Sterling is accounted a Scotch Mark or thirteen Shillings four pence Scotch six-pence three-farthings a Scotch Noble accounted six Shillings and eight pence twenty pence Sterling is accounted a Mark and a half Scotch or one pound Scotch of twenty Shillings Sterling is eighteen Scotch Marks so that Strangers unacquainted with their Money hearing them discourse about it think them far Richer then they are They have other Pieces of Copper Money of small Value as Babaes Bodles hard Heads and the like but indeed they have Principally the money of England which is currant in that Kingdom and of late have abounded in Silver The chief Commodities of the Country are Cloath Freezes Fish Hides Salt Lead Ore Tallow Grain of all sorts Feathers Iron Allum Seacoal commonly called Scotch-Coal and are divided into two parts viz. The Highland and Lowland which are divided into Sherifdoms and Fifes They have an Exchange in imitation of â—urs at London but especially used for the Exchange of monies with England The keeping of their accounts divers ways some keep them according to the Method of England others according to the Ancient use and Custom of their own Nation which is in Marks valuable as aforesaid Their Weight for weighing Merchandise is but one and with that they buy and sell throughout the Kingdom it contains sixteen Ounces to the pound and one hundred of those pounds make their Quintal which in England is one
for it's chief City Champechio this Province yields Wood for dying Rich Colours and likewise store of Deer and Cattle almost like Elks. Florida was discovered by Sebastian Cabot Anno 1467. which at that time it was possessed by the Spaniards with whom the French made War till they consumed each others people to that degree that it was abandoned by either Nation but since repeopled by the Spaniards who have built there several strong Forts The Commodities are Gold Ore some Veins of Silver some Spices and Woods of value And thus much of those Provinces the Spaniards possess Now I shall come to Treat of Virginia and New-England possessed by the English CHAP. XIII A View of Virginia and of the Trade Manners Customs and Government thereof and of the Commodities of that Colony VIrginia being discovered by Sir Walter Raleigh Anno 1584. had it's name from our Virgin Queen it lying in height thirty five degrees North Latitude and extends to thirty eight and a half being planted by the English only from 37 to 34 degrees under the Protection and Supream Authority of his Majesty of great Britain having the Bay of Roanoake and Cape Florida to the Southward and Mary-land to the Northward The main entrance out of Virginia into the Sea is about 10 Leagues the Country is full of Navigable Rivers stored with Fish and some of them abounding with Oysters Crabs and Sturgeon many of the Rivers being 7 8 9 or 10 Miles over running 140 and 150 Miles up in the Country so that Ships Anchor with great Security no Trade being permitted but with England So that as soon as any Vessel arrives the Master or Captain resorts to the Governour to give him an account from whence he came his Residence being for the most part at Jame's City lying 40 Miles up Jame's River and round about the English Colony the Indians Inhabit whose Treacheries prove too often fatal to our Country-men as the several Massacrees they have made can testifie Their Courts of Judicature chiefly consist of 4 quarterly Courts the Governour and his Council being Judges to try and determine as well in matters Criminal as Suits between man and man and every year once an Assembly meet in imitation of our Parliament to settle weighty Affairs Their Laws are the same with ours as likewise what Monies they have are of English Coyn. The Soil is every-where Fertile and the Woods abound with Oaks of divers sorts Black Wall-nuts Chess-nuts Ash Pine Day-Wood Cedar Saxafras Mulbury Small-nuts Wild Grapes and the like The Weather is much like ours only in the Summer continues a Month longer hotter and are troubled with Flashes of Light'ning dismal Claps of Thunder and now and then a Hurricane The days are about an Hour and an half shorter in Summer and so much longer in Winter All sorts of English Fruits and Cattle thrive there and their chief Commodities amongst themselves are Horses Oxen Sheep Hogs Turkies Geese Ducks Corn of which they have store and their Woods abound with Hairs Roacoons Possums Squirrils Wild-Cats Foxes Bears Wolves Elks and in remote Parts some Lyons are found Their Corn called Indian Corn or Maiz they buy and sell by the Barrel which Barrel contains 5 Bushels Winchester Measure and the Indians sell their Corn Pease and other Commodities of the like nature amongst themselves by the Baskets each Basket containing half a Bushel The chief Commodities they Trade with our Merchants for except Tobacco of which I shall speak anon are Hides Otter Beaver Muskats Bear Dear-Skins Saxafras Black-Walnut-Tree-Planks c. with them and Tobacco 40 or 50 Ships are yearly Loaden no Customs being lay'd upon any thing imported or exported but in England they pay five per cent for all they carry over and 2 pence per pound for every pound of Tobacco brought from thence and so proportionably for other Goods The Commodities carryed from England thither are Linnen and Woollen-Cloath Nailes Iron wrought into Tools Sope Starch Gunpowder Shot Wine Strong-Water Brandy Sugar Spice and the like and when any one comes over with Servants to Inhabit as a Planter he has 50 Acres of Land allotted him to manure even where he will choose unless in such Places as are before in Possession and for that Parcel of Land he pays 12 pence per Annum quit Rent The manner of planting and bringing to perfection their Tobacco accounted by them the Staple Commodity of the Colony is thus in January they sow the Seed which is smaller than Mustard-Seed and when it comes up they take up the Plants and place them upon little Hills which is usually done in May 4 or 5000. Hills being contained in one Acre every Hill containing a Plant the which when it is about 2 Foot high they Crop to give more Nourishment to the Leaves which Leaves are a Foot or two Foot long and some a Foot broad and when they are at the bigest they cut them up Stalk and all and hang them up in Sheads to dry which done they strip them from the Stalks and so bind them up in Handfuls for packing in Casks or make them up in Rolls An Acre of good Ground is reckoned to bear 1500 Weight of Tobacco not less then 17000. Hogs-heads being reckoned to be Shipped yearly for England Scotland and Ireland Their Servants for the most part consist of Negroes which they buy of the Merchants that bring them thither CHAP. XIV A View of New-England and the Trade thereof NEw-England has for it's chief Town or City Boston where all their Trade Centres especially that which accrues by Navigation a place which contains about 1500 houses Built of Brick and Timber in it is a State House and Congregational Meeting-Houses the Inhabitants for the most part being Presbyterians and Independants and are supplyed with great Quantities of Fish from Marblehead and other places As for Fowl they Trade with the Indians as likewise for Muscat Beaver Otter c. for which they deliver them Strong-Waters Shagged-Cloath Beads Looking-Glasses and the like and thither likewise are brought Provisions from St. Martins Long Island Road Island Shelter Island and other places they all being little spots standing in the Sea and have their Trade chiefly consisting in Provision The chief Roads for the safe Riding of Shipping are Boston Charlestown Salem and Pascataqua A Mint they have in which they Coyn English money as 12 pence 6 pence 3 pence and smaller piece both Silver and Tinn The Reason of setting it up was upon the spreading of many adulterated Pieces of Eight amongst them brought from Peru but notwithstanding the English Coyn Mexico and Sevil Royals go currant at a Crown apiece Their Accounts are kept after the Italian Fashion by such as understand the way and those that do not keep them as in old England Their Weights are Averdupois and Troy the former consisting of 16 Ounces the pound and the latter of twelve their hundred Averdupois is 112 pounds and by that they
weigh all their gross Commodities using Troy only for Silk Gold and Silver Their Measures are likewise consistent with ours Their chief Merchandise consists in Hogs Oxen Fish Flower Pease Kell or Rice Biskets Beaver Muskat Skins Otter Pipe-Staves Masts and the like and some Tobacco for which they receive in exchange English Linnen and Woollen-Cloath Iron-Tools Stockins Shoes Thred Buttons Ribons Lead Puter Tinn small Ordnance Gunpowder Shot Strong Waters Wines Oyls Fruit Salt and the like not taking any Customs for ought imported except Wines and Strong Waters and for that not above 30 or 40 Shillings per Tun Consolage they take none their Factorage is from 5 to 10 per cent for Sails and returns only and that not fixed but as the Trader and the Factor can agree Sugars they have likewise which they sell in Casks and have not many Ships belonging to the Plantation Their chief Fishing consists in dry Cod and poor Jack which every Spring and Fall they take by Hooks and sell by the Quintal or hundred Weight each for 28. or 30 Royals sometimes more tho sometimes they Barrel them up their Fraight per Tun from thence to London is 3 pound 3 pound 10 Shillings and sometimes 4 pound They have likewise an Office of Assurance now much in request both by the Inhabitants and such as Trade thither And thus much for New-England CHAP. XV. A View of Mary-Land and of the Customs and Trade thereof MAryland is upon the main Continent of America being an English Colony lying between 38 and 40 Degrees North Latitude bounded on the North by Virginia and on the South by New-England the great Ocean on the East and on the West the River Pattowmeck and was first a Colony of English Anno 1633. and for the better Increase of Trade tolerate the Christian Religion of what Profession soever and is held by a Governour or Proprietor in Fee of the Crown of England It abounds with fair Rivers stored with Fish and Commodious for the receipt of Shipping The usual way of Trading is Goods for Goods and the chief of their Commodities is Tobacco their Weights and Measures are consonant with those of England without any Tret or over allowance some Beaver Otter and other Furs they have which the English that Trade thither purchase and the Inhabitants receive them for Tobacco and Strong-Water of the Indians Mulberry Trees are there in Abundance and some Silk Their Customs or Taxes are but seldom taken as to the Subjects of England The greatest abuse that Merchants receive is the Packing of Tobacco which loose Packed or either too dry or wet put up often deceives their Expectations therefore the only way to discover such Frauds is by weighing it A full Hogs-Head well Packed will hold 400 Weight and never less than 300. For their Commodities they receive Cloath-Hangings Stuffs all manner of Iron-Ware Strong-Water Wine and the like and what they Trade with the Native Indians for they deliver them Coats commonly called Match-Coats made of coarse Shagged-Cloath Dutch-Duffields or English Hogbays either Red or Blew The new Netherlands a place Situate in 41 Degrees North Latitude upon Hudson's River is Inhabited by a Colony of the Dutch who have Incroached upon the English Trade with the Natives for Beavor Otter Elk-Skins Bears-Skins Dear-Skins and the like for which they deliver them Iron Instruments and Shaged Cloath and sometimes Guns Powder and Rapier-Blades the fatal Execution of which they have twice felt by two Massacrees Committed upon them by the Indians to the loss of half their Colony Their chief Town is New-Amsterdam indowed with many Priviledges as the old the better to draw People thither Corterialis Nurembega and Nova Francia are accounted Mexican Provinces and for the most part possessed by the French and some few Portugals Their Trade is small consisting only of Skins and Furs Estotiland or New-foundland discovered 1527 by the English in Winter is so Extream cold that it is not inhabited but by some few Natives and all the advantage which indeed is considerable that the English Reap thereby is their Fishing Trade the Fish in England being known by the Name of Newland Fish and is taken in such abundance that with them are furnished most parts of Europe The manner of the Fishing thus The Ships sometimes 40 Sail depart from our Coast about the end of February and about the middle of April arriving there they unrigg their Ships and going on Shoar Build Huts and in Shallops with Hooks and other Tackling take sometimes 30 or 40 great Fish in an Hour that is one Shallop which they slit and dry upon Rocks and Sandy-Banks after which they Salt them and in such manner continue till September when loaden with their Fish they return and dispose of them in Spain France and other Places to good advantage selling them either by the hundred Weight or by Tail and many times they sell them before they have caught 'em that is Bargain for the delivery of them when taken and of late there is an Art found of making Oyl commonly called New-Land Oyl CHAP. XVI A View of the Peruanan Provinces and of their Trade and Customs THis South part of America is divided from the North part by the Streights of Darien a Neck of Land of 10 Miles over and consists of these Pro-Provinces viz. Castella-Aurea Guinnia Peru Brasilia and Chile Castella Aurea takes its Name from the abundance of Gold that is found therein and was first discovered by the Spaniards The chief Cities are Portabel and Panama at which two Places the Viceroy makes his Residence as he sees fit and at the Latter of which the Spanish Plate-fleet for the most part is Loaded It abounds with standing Pools and deep Waters and the chief Commodities are Spices Drugs Gold Ore and Silver About it are several small Islands of which the chiefest are St. Antonio and St. Vincent situate against Cape Verd. Guinnia is situated under the Equinoctial Line being fruitful in all parts abounding with rate Fruits and so Incompassed and branched with great Rivers that in Winter time many of the Inhabitants dwell in Trees for fear of Inundations often caused by the overflowing of the Rivers Of this Countrey our famous Sir Walter Reighley made the first effectual Survey and gave Name to the great River Arinoque calling it Ralinia a River navigable for 1000 miles and for Shallops and Wherries 2000. The chief City of this Province is Manoa otherwise called the Golden City of the abundance of Gold that is found therein most of the Trade consisting of Gold-Ore Peru is for Gold the richest Province of America The Mines being more plentiful then Mines of Lead and Iron in England and the Riches thereof may be Conjectured by this When Piscario the Spanish Captain subdued it and took the King Prisoner he proposed his Ransom and delivered to the treacherous Spaniard upon solemn Promise for his Life and Liberty as much refined Gold and Silver as amounted to
Length 3000 Miles and when it over-flows not it portenteth some fatal disaster to the King or Kingdom and by this means the Land is Fertilized for as for Rain there is none The chief Places of Traffick are Alexandria a famous Sea-Port founded by Alexander the great and Cairo commonly called Grand Cairo and in these Center the Trade of the whole Country Therefore omitting Places of lesser note I shall only take a View of these two Cities and their Commerce with such as Trade in those parts and first of Alexandria Alexandria first founded by Alexander the Great in Expedition to Conquer the World is the chief Maritim City of Egypt and from all parts of the Kingdom are thither brought Flax Hemp Hony Wax Rice Balsoms Dates Drugs and Spices and the Country in general produceth abundance of Palm Trees besides hither are brought the Plenty of Arabia India and Persia as Spices Drugs Silks c. so that the Custom-House is accountable yearly for great Summs of Gold The nature of the Palm Trees that grow in that Country is this they always grow in Cupples twisted or twined viz. Male and Female the Female Palm only bears Fruit and that not without the Male for if the Male Palm be cut away the Female will not bear the Fruit is Cods with Seed and pleasant Juice the Pith of these Trees is excellent in tast and very nourishing of the Leaves they make Fans Mats and Baskets of the outward Husks of the Cod Cordage and of the inward Brushes the Fruit they bear is like a Fig which serves the Inhabitants for Meat green and dryed for Bread The Weights used here are four sorts first the Quintar of Zera second the Quintar of Forfor third the Quintar of Zaidin the fourth the Quintar of Mina the first is found to be English 112 pounds the second 93 pounds English the third 134 pounds English the fourth the 167 pounds English Averdupois Weight The Measures are two-fold viz. the Pico Barbaresco which is used for the Measuring of Cloath both Linnen and Woollen and is in Length 25 â…ž English Inches and the Pico Turchesco with which is Measured Silks fine Stuffs Cloath of Gold c. and is found to be 22 ¼ English Inches as for wet and dry Measures they are of little use the Customs being to sell by Weight for the most part CHAP. XXVII A View of Cairo and the Trade Weights Measures and Customs thereof CAiro is a famous City Situate in the vast Plain beneath the Mountains of Mucatun and not above 2 Miles from the Bank of Nilus adorned with many stately Buildings as Pallaces Colledges Temples and the like and has in it a large Burse or Exchange of 3 Story high the first of which consists of Ware-Houses for Gross Goods in the second is laid up Musk Amber Silks Spices and the like and in the third the Merchants who have Ware-Houses there lodg with their Retinues which Merchants are of 6 sorts first the Native Egyptians secondly the Arabians or Moors thirdly the Merchants of Europe Christians fourthly the Turks fifthly the Jews and sixthly the Christians of Affrica as Greeks Armenians c. The Lord of this City and Country is the grand Signeour who governs by his Bashaw or Vice-King The Commodities Traded for by the Europian Merchants are Flax Rice Balsoms Puls Fruits Cottons Sugars Hemp and the like which according to the overflowing of Nilus the Soil yields in plenty or Scarcity so that when they have a plentiful Year they make a Feast to Nilus or the River God as they Term him and exceedingly Rejoyce thereto The yearly Revenue of this Kingdom accrueing by Customs and other ways amount to 3 Millions of Sheraffes each valued at 8 Shillings Sterling one Million of which is sent to the grand Signeur one for maintaining the forces of the Kingdom and the other to enable the Bashaw to keep his Court. The Customs are either payed in Species or compounded for at 10 per cent only Money entred pays but one and a half per cent but outward all Commodities pay 11 per cent which is accounted the Soldan's Custom The Customs of Alexandria are farmed by the Jews at 20000 Medins per diem which according to computation amounts to 55000 pounds per Annum Sterling Their Weights and Measures are the same with those of Alexandria The Currant Coyns in Egypt are Spanish Royals of 8 which they call Piastre and Dollers the Meden the Asper the Soltana Xeriffe and Cheqeen the value of each as before recited Their Accounts are variously kept some in one sort of Coyn and some in another The chief Trade driven here by the European Christians is by the French and Venetians the English having of late declined it as having the growth of the Country or the same Commodities at cheaper Rates in India and Aleppo And thus much for the Continent of Egypt CHAP. XXVIII A View of the Isles of the Sea appertaining to Africa with their Commodities Trade Weight Measures c. THe Isles are these viz. Madagascar Zocotara St. Thomas the Canary Islands the Islands of Assores or Tarceras The first abounds in Ginger Cloves and Silver Mines and was discovered by the Portugals Anno 1506. The money in use amongst the Natives are Glass Beads of Cambaia which passes currant amongst them their Weights and Measures are few and those uncertain The second lyeth in the Mouth of the Red Sea 10 Degrees Northward from the Equator and yieldeth Cattle and Corn but the chief thing Traded for is Aloes which are sold by the Quintar which Averdupois English is 93 pound The third lies under the Equinoctial in which is a Colony of Portugals the chief Commodity it yieldeth is Sugar of which so much is made as ladeth yearly 50 Vessels of good Burthen their Weights and Measures being the same with those used at Lisbone as indeed wherever the Portugals Plant themselves they impose their own Weights and Measures on the Inhabitants Fourthly the Canary Islands which are 7 in number under the Protection of the King of Spain are very Fruitful abounding in Sugar-Canes and those Birds we call Caâ—â—ry Birds and in Canary Wine which takes it's name from the Islands of which 4 or 500 Tuns are yearly exported and dispersed over Europe There is likewise Wood of Excellent use for Dyers Hither the English trade and for the growth of the Island Exchange Says Serge Bays Linnen c. Their Weights Measures and Coyns are the same with those of Sevil of which in order I shall speak Fifthly the Islands of Assores or Tarceras directly under the Meridian were first discovered by the Flemings and abound in Cattle Corn Wood and the like but are of little use some for Harbouring and re-victualling of Ships in their Voyage to the East-Indies as are many other small Islands lying in that vast Ocean And thus much shall suffice for Africa and the Trade thereof CHAP. XXIX A View of Asia and of the Trade
Pepper is charged but with half Custom and consequently rated at half less then it cost and thus much for the Trade of Aleppo CHAP. XXXIII A View of Tripoly and the Trade thereof THis City to distinguish it from that Piratical City in Barbary bearing the same name is called Tripoly of Syria and was formerly the Scale of Trade but it has been of late removed to Aleppo as is before mentioned so that now it has little Trade with Europe except what the Venetians find there The Commodities vended are Cotton in Yarn and Wool Drugs of several sorts Corn and some Spices The Weight used there is the Rottolo of 100 pound which has been found to be 416 pound Averdupois allowing 52 Drams to the Ounce The Monies currant are Aspers Dollars Lyons and Soltinies the Common Money of Syria and thus much for the Trade of that Region CHAP. XXXIV A View of Palestine and the Provinces Trade Weights Measures Customs and Currant Coyn thereof THe Provinces of Palestine are 4 viz. Galilea Judaea Idumea and Samaria In these Provinces the chief Cities are Gaza and Tyrus which at present afford but little Trade and what is afforded is carryed on by the Venetians the Commodities of the former are Cottons in Wool and Yarn several sorts of Drugs and Spices The Coyns currant there are those of Turky the Weights used are the Rottolo and Cantar 100 Rotolo's going to the Cantar The latter viz. Tyrus formerly very famous for Navigation as appears by the Description of that City in Holy Writ but now wants that Trade being Subjected by the Turks so that what Trade remains is amongst themselves or such Neighbours as do not make any great advantage thereof their Weights Measures and Coyns are those used throughout the Turkish Dominions CHAP. XXXV A View of Armenia and the Provinces thereof together with the Trade as likewise of Arabia the Provinces and Trade thereof ARmenia is bounded on the East with Media and the Caspian Sea on the West with the River Euphrates and the Euxian Sea on the North with Tartary and on the South with Mesopotamia and divided into 3 Provinces viz. Georgia Colchis and Turcomania and is in Subjection to the Grand Signeour and abounds in Cattle Fruits Corn and such like but has little Commerce with Merchants especially by Navigation Arabia is divided into 3 parts viz. Arabia Desarta Arabia Petrosa and Arabia Faelix The first of which is bounded on the East with the Persian Gulph on the West with the Red Sea on the North with Mesopotamia and on the South with the Arabian Ocean and is memorable for nothing more then the Children of Israels wandering in it 40 Years in their Journey out of Egypt to the Land of Promise being altogether Barren nor is the second less sterile so that the Inhabitants live upon Robberies and Spoil of such Merchants Goods as pass through upon Camels to Aleppo and other Places Arabia Faelix differs from the former as being Fertile even beyond Expression exceeding the Richest Country in Asia in it's abounding with Balsoms Mirrh Frankincense Gold Pearls Spices Manna and Drugs of most sorts which are carryed by the Merchants to Aleppo and other Mart Cities and Towns and from thence dispersed over the known World The chief Towns are Medina and Mecha famous for being the one the Birth place and the other the Burial place of the Impostor Mahomet as also Aden The Weights and Measures are the same with those of Morocco and Tunis and their Coyns are the Asper the Soltany and Chequin c. CHAP. XXXVI A View of Assyria Mesopotamia Chaldea c. ASsyria is bounded on the North with Armenia on the East with Media on the West with Mesopotamia and on the South with Persia and is famous for its Metropolis the great City Ninive which is now ruined by War but is a Province where at present little or no Trade is driven and therefore I shall the more lightly pass it over Mesopotamia is in subjection to the Ottoman Empire and has for its chief City Carumite the Seat of the Turkish Bashaw but is of little note as to Trade Chaldea is famous for comprehending the great City of Babylon now called Bagdet Builded first by Nimrod and afterwards inlarged to the circuit of 60 Miles by Semiramis whose Walls were 200 Foot high and 75 Foot broad and is saluted by the River Euphrates and at this day keeps Correspondence with Aleppo by Carravans and Camels so that it retains a considerable Trade and what is worthy of note their advice to and from distant places is received by the means of Pigeons which is in this manner effected When the Hen sits they carry the Cock a days Journey and then fast'ning a Letter about his Neck let him go who immediately Flyeth Home and there the Letter is received by such as watch his return and so by degrees bring them to such perfection that in 24 Hours a Letter will be carryed 100 or 150 Miles The Commodities of this Place are the same with those of Aleppo and their Weights the Dram Mittagal Rottolo and Cantar the Rottolo being 1 pound 10 Ounces English Their Measure is the Pico which is found to be 27 Inches English and their Coyns those usual throughout the Turkish Empire and therefore 't is needless to repeat them CHAP. XXXVII A View of Media and the Provinces thereof as also of their Trade Weights Measures and the like MEdia is bounded on the West with Armenia on the South with Persia on the North with the Caspian Sea and on the East with Parthia the chief Cities are Tauris Sultania and Derbent of which the former is the Metropolis and commonly made the Summer Seat of the Persian Sophy and is conjectured to contain 100000. Inhabitants the Trade thereof consists chiefly in Raw-Silk of which there is store which is Traded for by our English Merchants and others and what remains is sent to Aleppo viz 2000. Summs yearly the City affords likewise rich Carpets and some Drugs Spices Cottons Galls Allum and the like it being now in the Subjection of the Persian Monarch The Weights and Measures are for the most part the same with those of Babylon viz. the Rottolo Cantar and Pico the Country round about is very Fertile in Corn and plants as also in the producing all manner of necessaries for the production of Cattle CHAP. XXXVIII A View of Persia The Provinceâ— Cities Trade Weights Measures and Commodities thereof PErsia is bounded on the East with the River Indus on the South with the main Ocean on the North with the Caspian Sea and on the West with Tygris and the Persian Gulf and is divided into 11 Provinces viz. Persis Susiana Caramania Gedrosia Drangiania Arica Arachosia Parapomisus Saccha Hircania and Ormus all large Provinces Persis has of late changed it's name to that of Far and is bounded with the Persian Gulph Caramania Susiana and Media and abounds in rich Merchandise especially Silk Drugs and
Cantar is 103 pound English All their Grain and other such like Commodities they vend by a Measure called the Chistetto which makes 8 ½ Staios Venice The Measure for Silks Stuffs and Cloath is the Pico 100 of which make 126 Braces Venice And thus much for Tartary which is mostly Inhabited by Thieves and Rovers who rather live by Spoil then Trade being morose Savage people fit for so cold and Barren a Country as for the most part Therefore leaving this Frozen Clime I shall pass into India far more Fruitful and Commodious CHAP. XLI A View of India intra extra Gangem of the Provinces Trade Customs and valuable Commodities thereof INdia is bounded on the West with the River Indus on the East with China on the North Tartary and on the South with the Ocean and is divided into 2 parts viz. India Intra Gangem and India Extra Gangem the first contains nine Principal Kingdoms viz. Narsinga Malavar Ballasia Cambaia Mandao Bengala Aristan Canora and Dellia and the second 7 Kingdoms viz. Macin Aracan Chambaia Couchin-china Barma Siam and Pegu. The whole Country taking its Name from the River Indus which runs 1000. Miles ere it meets the Sea As for the Trade of the Indies I shall briefly lay it down in the Description of the Principal Scales of Traffick and first of Diu. Diu is an Island lying about 20 Leagues distant from the River Indus and is under the protection of the King of Portugal the Portugals indeed being the first Discoverers of those Tracts and have a very good Haven for Shipping whither resort the Merchants of Arabia Turky Persia Armenia c. bringing the Richest Commodities of the growth of those Nations as likwise all the Banians Gusrates and Rumos that Trade in Cambaia and from thence to the Red-Sea and Meca bring thither their Merchandise The Commodities this place affordeth are Cotton of Linnen of sundry sorts which there are called Jorims Sluyers and Lamparads and are in England called Callico's also there are abundance of Cocus-Oyl Indian-Nuts Butter Pitch Tar Sugar-Candia Iron excellent Leather Artificially wrought with Silks of all Colours Chests Cupboards Boxes of curious work inlay'd with Mother Pearl and other rare divices As for the Weights and Measures of this place I refer the Reader to the Description of Goa and the Trade thoreof and thus much for the Town and Island of Diu. CHAP. XLII A View of Cambaia of the Trade Weights Measures Coyns Commodities and Customs thereof CAmbaia giveth a Kingdom its Name being the Metropolis of Cambaia and is vast in circuit adjudged to contain no less then 800000. Inhabitants Seated upon the River Indus being a City of the greatest Trade in those Parts and thither resort Christians Persians and Arabians and there both the English and Dutch have Factories But the Natives who are called the Gensurates and Banians are the Richest Merchants and greatest Traders as likewise of late grown so Politick that they have an insight into-most Commodities The Commodities this City and Country afford are Callico's of all sorts Corn Rice Butter Oyl rich Carpets fine Chests Cupboards Carved and Imbellished with Mother Pearl Plates of Silver Ivory and the like there are found in this Country many precious Stones of great value as Rubies Jacinths Chrisolites Amber Jaspar Spinals Granads and Agats as likewise several Rich Drugs as Opium Camphora Bangue and Sandal-Wood as also Sugars and Indico in abundance The like Commodities are likewise found in Bianny Fetterbarre Shersky and Labore In this Tract is the famous Port of Surrat which at this day the Dutch make their chief Scale of Trade and whither all the Commodities of these Countries are brought especially those Subject to the Scepter of the great Mogul The currant Coyns are Mahomodies tho very Scarce and are each accounted 12 pence Sterling the Casanna Ruppy Esteemed worth 3 Shillings 3 pence Sterling the Jaquire Ruppe 5 of which make 6 Casanna Ruppies the Saway Ruppy valued at 11 Shillings 3 pence Sterling the Honde Ruppy valued at 2 Shillings 3 pence In which and the Casanna Ruppy the Merchants of Gusurat keep their Accounts They have likewise smaller pieces which are accounted 34 to the Mahmudy and the Sahhee which is accounted 10 Cosbegs tho in some places they differ in value tho the difference is inconsiderable The Weights used throughout the Mogul's Dominions are 3 one proper for Silk and the other for all other Merchandise viz. the pice which in Silk is accounted 5 ½ Mittigals a Mittigal being about 13 Troy penny Weights and the Sear small and great which vary much viz. the Sear of Surrat is 18 Pices Weight of Copper-money and accounted 13 ½ Ounces Averdupois the Sear of Agra called the Sear Acoberg is 30 Pices and 22 Ounces Averdupois The Sear of Agra called the Sear Janquery 36 Pices and 26 ⅔ Ounces Averdupois and so in several other places vary according to the Custom of the place They have in use likewise 2 Maunds a Maund small of Surrat being 40 small Sears of that place and 33 pound Averdupois the other is 40 great Sears which makes 54 ⅜ pound English and these are Multiplyed into a Candil of Surrat and Cambaia which contains 20 Maunds The Measures at Cambaia Surrat are two viz. the Cavado long short the last of which is used in Measuring of Silks and is 27 Inches English the first is used in Measuring of Woollen Cloath and is 35 English Inches but in Agra Labore Dilli and Brampore the short Cavado is found to be 32 Inches as for Concave Measures none are found in the Moguls Country their Liquids as well as Grain and other dry Commodities being sold by Weight And thus much for Cambaia and the Trade thereof CHAP. XLIII A View of Goa the Trade Commodities Weights Measures Coyns and Customs thereof and of the Pearl Fishery GOa is a famous City at present the Seat of the Portiguize Vice-Roy and Arch-Bishop and is Seated in an Island to which it gives Name and is the chief Mart or Scale of Trade on that part of India for hither resort Merchants who bring the Commodities of Persia Arabia Armenia Cambaia Pegu Siam Bengalia Malacca Java Molucco and China a Port it has Capacious for the Reception of Shipping but those of great Burthen are obliged to Anchor at Bardes some Miles short of Goa by Reason of the Shallowness of the Water where are purposely Built Sore-Houses for the reception of such Merchandise as are brought thither which are set to Sail in the chief Street every day from 7 to nine in the Morning in the nature of our Fairs in England during which time a great concourse of Merchants and others buy up what Commodities they like best or can agree for and in this place all the Natives of one Craft live in distinct Streets being injoyned under severe Penalties not to Marry out of their own Trade nor put their Children to any other Trade Their Winter which
endeth through the middle of which runneth the famous River Ganges making a large Bay or Gulph called the Bay of Bengala and is under the Protection of the great Mogul whose Coyns are currant in those Parts As for the River Ganges the Natives and many other of far Countries imagine it to be of that Virtue that it can cure many distempers and by Drinking and Bathing therein make them capable of obtaining Paradice which Superstitious conceipt brings many from distant Places on Pilgrimage which Creates a great Trade in Satagan the chief City on this Coast which is Seated on a River some distance from Ganges up which the Tide runneth 100. Miles and more so swift that Boats drive with incredible speed without Sails or Oars at the entrance of this River is a place called the Butter where Merchants Build Booths of Straw and Branches of Trees against the coming in of the Ships and furnish them with all manner of Merchandise by Reason the River will not admit of Ships of great Burthen so high as Satagan the which sheds when the Ships depart they set on fire and remove their Goods to Satagan nor are the Commodities vended her a few for no less then forty Ships of Divers Nations find sufficient to Load them and some to spare The chief Commodities found on this Coast are Rice Cloath of Cotton of divers sorts Lacca Sugar Mirabolans Long-Pepper Oyl of Zerseline c. and from this City the Merchants Trade to Pegu Musulipatan and Summatra and for the most part to avoid being incommoded by the heat they meet and Trade in the Night and what Goods are bought here by the Natives are carryed up the River in Boats and sold in other Cities and Ports In these parts the English East-India Company has Factories and greatly improve themselves thereby the Portugals likewise in this Tract have 2 small Forts but no considerable Trade that Nation of late much declining in matters of Navigation The Weights and Coyns are much the same with those of Musulipatan Having thus far proceeded it will not be amiss to give the Reader an Account of a strange Custom used in this Tract which is that if any Debtor break the day of payment by him consented to his Creditor goes to the Principal Bramen or Arch-Priest and procures of him a Rod with which he makes a circle round his debtor charging him in the Name of the King and the said Bramen not to depart out of it till he has satisfyed the debt which if he does not he must either starve there or by coming out forfeit his Life to the Laws of the Country but this is only amongst the Natives CHAP. XLVI A View of Pegu and the Trade Customs Weights and Coyns of the Coast thereof PEgu is divided into two parts In the one the King and his Nobles reside in the other the Artificers Merchants and Mariners that wherein the former reside is called the New-Town and where the latter Inhabit the old-Town about which is a Moat of exceeding breadth in which are many Crocadils kept purposely and all the Walls Beautifyed with Turrets Guilded with Gold the Streets are fair and set on each side with rows of Palm-Trees to keep off the Sun from such as Pass through them and upon the Arrival of the Ships by the help of the Monson or Trading Wind great is the concourse of Merchants who come from the Coast of Cormandel and other Places bringing Pointados wrought Cotton and other Merchandise from Maecca whence come several great Ships laden with Damasks Woollen Cloath Velvets and Cheqens From Malacca Vessels Arrive laden with Pepper Porcelan Sanders Camphora and other Rich Commodities There Arrives several Vessels likewise from Sumatra with Pepper and other Commodities who for the most part Anchor in a Port called Cosmia not far distant from the City as for the Customs they are narrowly looked into by Broakers who are imployed for that purpose and have two per cent out of all Commodities paying Custom for their own share and are bound to sell the Merchants Goods for them and to make good what debts they contract or false money they take upon that occasion and in their dealings they are very Just as likewise they are bound to find Lodgings and Ware-Houses for Merchants their contracts are made in Publick yet in such a method that none but the parties concerned can tell what is done for by putting their Hands under a Carpet and squesing such and such Joynts they know each others meanings without speaking a word which is registred by the Broaker if they come to a conclusion in Leaves of Trees used there instead of Paper When a Merchant-Stranger comes thither the Governour sends several Maids to him to take his choise which done he must agree with her Parents and then she serves him during his stay for both Wife and Servant and when he departs paying what he agreed for she returns home and if afterward she be marryed and he comes to that place he may have her during his stay her Husband not in the least making a Scruple thereof and when he departs he may send her to her Husband The Native Commodities in this Tract are Gold Rubies Spinals Saphirs Silver which are digged at a Place called Caplan There is likewise store of Benjamin Long-Pepper Lead Rice Niper-Wine and Sugar the growth of the Country not being liable to Custom The currant Coyn of this coast is the Gausa made of Copper and Lead and is Coyned by any that list so they state it to a certain Weight which if it be not it is soon discerned by the Broakers or Tellers who reject it and that Weight is called a Biso and is accounted for ½ Ryal of 8 8 or 2 Shillings 6 pence Sterling CHAP. XLVII A View of Sian and Malacca and of their Trades Commodities Coyns c. FIrst in the Tract or Coast of Siam are found the Cities of Tenaserim and Pattana in the last of which an English Factory is Established but Siam is the chief and was before it's being reduced by the King of Pegu who besieged it with a Million and 400000. men the chief City of these Parts of India and to it as yet Merchants Trade from Couchin-China Macan Cantor Malacca and Cambaia as likewise from the Islands of Sumatra Banda and Borneo and has divers Commodities brought from the Inland Cities of Martavan and Tenaserim and is Situate on the famous River Menan which runneth athwart India and arises from the Lake Chiama which every March overfloweth its Banks for 100. Miles during which time the Commerce and Correspondence is held by Boats The principal Commodities are Cotton Linnens of all sorts distilled Liquors by the Natives called Nipe it being extracted from Cocos as likewise Benjamin Lack and precious Wood called by the Portugals Palo-Dangula and Calamba making Rich Perfumes and is Weighed often against Silver and Gold and the Wood Sapon used by Dyers Camphora Bezora-Stones and Gold
in abundance as likewise some Diamonds of great value also Nutmegs Mace and other Spices The Coyns currant in this Tract are the Tail valued at 4 Ticals or 18 Shillings Sterling a Tical is Accounted 4 Mals or 4 Shillings 6 pence Sterling c. Malacca is Situate between Siam and Pegu and is Subject to the Portugals as Conquered by them Anno 1511. and has it's Walls saluted by the River Gasa 10 Miles broad and abounds with the Commodities of China Mulâ—oco's Java Sumatra Banda Siam Pegu Bengala and the Coasts of Chormandel brought thither by Ships that carry back the Commodities of the growth of this Tract as likewise Ships from Lisbone come yearly hither and lade rich Merchandise Here it is observed that the Trade-Winds continue West and North-West from the end of August to the end of October and in November the Northen and North-Eastterly Winds begin to blow which continue so to do till the beginning of April and from May to the beginning of August the South and South-West Wines Blow The Weights on this Coast are the Cattee Babar and the Pecul but in Malacca only the former which is divided into 2 parts viz. the great and the small making the first 200. Cattees reckoning each Cattee at 21 pound Averdupois and the last 100. Cattees which make 295 pound English The Pecul is 100. Cattees of China and is accounted 132 pound English The Cattee as aforesaid used in this Tract is Accounted 21 pound Averdupois but sometimes varies By the great Babar they commonly weigh Cloves Nutmegs Pepper Saunders Indico Allum Sanguis-Draconis Palo-Dangula and Comphora and by the lesser Quick-Silver Copper Vermillion Ivory Silk Musk Amber Lignum Aloes Tinn Lead Verdet and Benjamin As for Measures they are rarely used and indeed so uncertain that I shall pass them over The Coyns are those for the most part common in India as Mahomoodies Portugal-Rees c. CHAP. XLVIII A View of the Kingdom of China the Trade and Commodities thereof CHina is a large Kingdom bounded on the West with India on the North with the Wall of China extending in Length 1000. Miles to keep out the Tartars on the South with the Ocean and on the East with Mare del Zur and is a very Fertile Country Temperate and Healthful which renders it Populous it has great Commerce within it self by the advantage of the many Navigable Rivers tho their Goods are carryed for the most part in Boats made of Cane The Commodities it yieldeth are Wool Rice Barly Oyl Wine Flax Cottons and Raw Silk which they work into many curious Textures here are wrought likewise many rare Stuffs are found all sorts of Mettals to be brought from Japan as Gold Silver Copper c. Fruits Wax Sugar Honey Ruhbarb China-Roots Purslaine-Dishes commonly called China-Dishes Champhir Ginger Musk Civit Amber and all manner of Spices and Salt which last is said in one City only viz. Cantor to yield Custom to the Prince yearly 180000. Ducats This Kingdom is divided into 15 Provinces each Province containing 2 Kingdoms in all which as Writers affirm are contained 1597 Cities and great Walled Towns 1154. Castles and 4200. Burroughs without Walls Garrisoned with Souldiers besides Villages Innumerable The chief City being Quinsay-Pequin walled about 100. Miles and has in the midst of it a Lake of 30. Miles compass in which are 2 Islands and in them Pallaces and other fair Buildings for the King and his Nobles the said King Stiling himself the Child of the Sun And upon the Rivers which Issue from this Lake are found 12000. Bridges it being reckoned that the King can make 10000. Sail of Ships and Barks of his own which he keeps on the Rivers to Transport his Armies in time of War the Natives for the most part Trade up and down the Rivers and are so cautious that they will not suffer any Stranger to inspect their Affairs so that their Weights Measures and manner of Traffick are not effectually known tho the Portugals Dutch and Neighbouring Islanders have of late obtained the favour of some small Commerce at Canton Meccan and Nanquin but upon such strict conditions that in some places it is Death for them to abide a Night either in the Town or Suburbs but must at aset Hour retire to their Ships and the better to discover it they have Notaries to take the Names of all that enter the Gates in the Morning the which if the Persons owning them do not come to see them Blotted out at the time prefixed and afterwards be found tho not in the City it is present Death except the Factor for the Portugals who is permitted to live in the Suburbs And to Maccan the Portuguese have a Ship of 1500. Tuns that comes yearly from the Indies bringing Oyl Drinking-Glasses Looking-Glasses and Velvet for which they receive of the Chinois the growth and Manufacture of their Country The Weights Measures and Coyns that are used in the Places where Trade is permitted are known to be these The Weights for fine Goods are the Valls and Tay 99 Valls making a Tay of Maccan and a Tay or Tayle is 1 Ounce and 11 16 Averdupois Their Weights for Gold Silver Musk Amber-Greece c. are the Tays or Tayels by some called Tans Mass Condreens Cash Avons which are usually marked with Ciphers for distinction sake 10. Avos is one Cash 10. Cash one Condreen 10. Condreens to one Mass 10. Mass to one Tay and 16. Tays or Tayles to on Cattee the Tay being as aforesaid All Gross Goods are weighed by Cattees Peculs and Rotolos 10. Cattees making 1. Pecul 1. Pecul 128 Rotolos of Portugal which Pecul is Accounted 131 pound ¼ Averdupois tho here as in other Places the Weights vary The Coyns currant for the most part are Spanish Rotolos of â— â— which they cut into several parts and so pass them away by Estimate The Measures in use are the Covid of Maccan used by the Portugals in the Measure of Stuffs and Silks and is Accounted 3. Quarters of a Yard and 2 1 â— Inches and a Covid used by the Chinois called the Covid of Chinchoses which consists of 12 Inches also an other Covid they have of 14 6 5 Inches And thus much for China and the Trade thereof CHAP. XLIX A View of the Islands found in the Asian Seas and of their Trade and growth THe Asian Islands of note are Japan Zeilan Moluccos Java's Summatra Borneo Celebs and Cyprus all abounding in rich Commodities Of the Trade of which in brief Japan is Situate a small distance from the main Land of China and is in length 600. miles but not above 90. over in the broadest yet obeys many Soveraigns every King or Lord having Power and Authority over the lives and Estates of his Subjects the chief Towns on this Island are Osacaia Bunguin and Meaco being Havens or Ports for the reception of such Vessels as come to Trade thither The chief Commodities consisting in Silver and Rice
of the latter there is found such abundance that the chief Soveraign has 2 Millions of Ducats yearly accruing by that Commodity and in Fiando one of the Islands appertaining to Japan the English have setled a Factory The Weights in use are the Pecul and Cattee the Pecul consisting of 100. Cattees each Cattee being 21 Ounces which renders the Pecul in Cira 131 pound English the Measures of length are the Inchin or Tattamy which is 2 ⅛ English Yards their concave Measures are the Cocas which is a Pint English Winchester Measure 3 of which is a Gant 100. Gants are an Ickgoga 100. Icklogags are one Ickmagog and 1000. Ickmagogs are one Mangoga Their Coyns are the Tale Mass and Condery The Tale is 5 Shillings Sterling the Mass which contains 10 Conderies is 6 pence Sterling they have 2 Barrs of Gold currant likewise amongst them which are called Ichebo and Coban the former of which is Accounted worth 30 Shillings Sterling and the latter 34 Shillings 6 pence Sterling Zelan is a fair Island in the Gulph of Bengala and is so Fruitful that the Trees have continual Blosoms green and ripe Fruit on them and is a Portugueze Factory tho under the obedience of the great Mogul and in it are found Nutmegs Clove and Pepper Trees good store and likewise Cinnamon the primest sort growing in Groves it also yieldeth many precious Stones as Rubies Topaz Garnati Spinals and on the Coast store of Pearls are gotten by Fishing There are likewise found some Mines of Gold and Silver Iron Brimstone and Flax growing and in the Woods is a Beast found whose Bones are much of the nature of Ivory Their Weights Measures and Coyns are either those of Portugal or India the Natives being a People of great Subtlety and in Body the most Active in Asia CHAP. L A View of the Isles of Molucco's also the Trade Weights Measures and currant Coyns there in use and of the other adjacent Islands THese Islands commonly called the Islands of Moluccos's are 5 in number viz. Molucco the chief Tarnate Tider Gelolo and Macian There are likewise not far distant Benda and 70 other Islands all of which yield Spices as Nutmegs Cloves Mace and some Cinnamon all growing in them there is also in this Gulph or Sea Amboina where the Barbarous Dutch committed Inhumane Cruelties on the English Factors c. and afterwards contrary to their contracted agreement cut down and killed all the Clove Trees in the Island of Polerone purchased of them by the English The common Coyn in Moluccoes Amboina and Benda is the Spanish Rotolo ½ what otherwise they Barter for is in Commodities Their Weights are the Babar and Catte the Amboinian Babar being 200. Cattes or English 625 pound and is Accounted the great Babar and in some Islands they have a Babar 10 times as much as the Amboinian Babar A Cattee is near 6 pound English and 10 Cattes of Mace are Accounted a small Babar and valued at 10 Ryals of 8 yet the small Babar of Nutmegs is 100. Cattes and valued as the Mace The Measures of Length are the Cubit and Fathom and Concave Measures for Grain and Pepper the Canton which is near 3 Quarts English and the Quoian which is 800. Cantons The chief Trade of these Islands being of late Ingrossed by the Dutch who have of late been found Superiour to the Portugals who first Discovered them and held for many years the Principal Commerce with the Indians CHAP. LI. A View of the Java's and the Trade of that Tract of the Weights Measures Native Commodities Coyns c. THe Java's are two Islands viz. the great and the less the greater being in circuit 3000. Miles and the lesser 2000 and by Reason of their nearness to the Equinoctial are exceeding Fruitful and have for their chief Cities Paluban Pegar Agaim Balambua Basnia Samara Limbrie and others but the chief Scales of Trade are at Sunda Calapa Bantum Jacatra now Battavia and Japarra in the last 3 of which the English have Factories The Commodities with which these Islands abound are Cloves Nutmegs Mace Pepper Indian Nuts Rice Cattle c. the Pepper is Accounted the best in India and grows in such abundance that yearly the English buy up great store the Islands not being judged to produce less then 10 or 12000. Quintals each Season there is found likewise Camphora Frankincense Benjamin and precious Stones amongst which some Diamonds of great value for which Commodities the Natives receive Callicoes of divers Colours Cotton Cloath Silks Stuffs Glasses Knives and the like in Sunda the principal Mart of Java major their Principal money is small Copper pieces hung upon Strings called Caix's and are told out by the 100 or 1000 200 being Accounted a Satta 5 Sattas being a Crusado of Portugal or in English money valued at about 6 Shillings But the European Merchants keep their Accounts for the most part in Ryals of 8 ◠Spanish and pence 60 pence going to the Rotolo 9 ◠The Weights of Bantam Jucatra Japparra and at Sunda are the Pecul Cattee and Babar the Cattee contains 20 Ounces and 100. Cattees are a Pecul or 125 pound English a Babar is 330. Cattees of 20. Ounces and supposed to make good Weight 412 pound Averdupois Their Concave Measure is the Timbam chiefly in use for Rice and Pepper and is Accounted 10. Sackfuls or to contain 5 Peculs in Weight so that each Sack is reckoned at 62 ½ pound Averdupois 2 Sacks making a Pecul As for Measures of length they are rarely used here and those that are are consistent with those of England Portugal and Holland CHAP. LII A View of the Trade of Summatra and other Islands lying in the Indian Seas THis Island was formerly called Traprobana and then Esteemed to be the largest in the World being in length 700. Miles and in breadth 200. Miles and is divided by the Equator one half lying beyond and the other on this side the Equinoctial which renders it exceeding Fertile and Healthful so that there are found many Rich Commodities of the Native production as Pepper Ginger Aloes Raw Silk Cassia Gold Silver Brass and Drugs of Divers sorts there is likewise found a Brimstone mount that continually Burns as likewise 2 Fountains yielding the one Balsamum and the other Oyl yet not any considerable store The chief Cities of this Island are Daren Pacen and Andryede the whole being divided under many Kings and the chief Ports are Achin Ticko Jambe and Priuran in most of which the English have Factories This Island standing not above 20 Miles from Malucca a great part of the Native Commodities are carryed thither that Island being in the possession of the Portuguize tho of late much infested by the Dutch who have got Footing and Built some Fortresses on the Sea Coast In this Island of Summatra upon its first Discovery the Islanders had a Barbarous Custom to eat man's Flesh and hoard up their Sculls which they passed from one to
before set down and now I shall as far as is necessary make a report of their true value according as they are in goodness The Rule to value Oriental Pearls from a Grain in Weight to what bigness any will afford is by the Colour Roundness Pear-Fashion or Oval and that is in all parts perfect as to Water and Gloss without Knobs Specks Yellowness or other imperfections and a Pearl of this perfection weighing a Carot is worth a Ducat in India But before I proceed further as to their value it will not be amiss to relate how they are sold by those that have the disposing of them viz. the Indians sell them by Sieves of Latten full of holes in number 12 one bigger then the other as to their holes and according to the largeness or smallness the price is regulated for those of the 10 11 and 12 Sieve are seldom capable to be holed and therefore are called Seed-Pearls most fit for Apothecaries to be used by them in their Physical Preparations but the others for the use of Ladies and others to adorn themselves withal and for the price of all large Pearls they are valued as is said by Weight and fairness as Diamonds and other precious Stones tho seldom before they be holed for fear of their breaking in the holing as thus a Pearl of one Grain is worth 7 pence of 2 Grains 2 Shillings 6 pence of 3 Grains 5 Shillings 7 pence of 1 Carot 10 Shillings and so in proportion to those of greater Weight as for Seed-Pearls the smallest of which are Accounted 4500. to the Ounce and the largest 400 or 450 to the Ounce and commonly divided into 6 parts the Prizes are these The 6th or smallest sort 4500 are commonly sold for 2 pound 4 Shillings the Ounce the 5th sort are sold for 1 pound 6 Shillings the Ounce the 4th sort at 10 Shillings the Ounce the third sort at 18 Shillings the Ounce the second at 1 pound 6 Shillings and the first at 1 pound 15 Shillings But note that the first is termed the sixth sort and so Consequently the sixth the first the Rag Pearls which are sold likewise by the Ounce according to their bigness are divided into thirds seconds and firsts an Ounce of which containing 350 Pearls is Accounted worth 1 pound 18 Shillings an Ounce containing 250 Pearls is Accounted worth 3 pounds an Ounce of 150 worth 4 pounds and so according to their lesser quantity or number in making the Ounce all sorts of half round Pearls of pure Water and Gloss are Accounted worth a round Pearl of half the Weight And thus much for Gold Silver precious Stones and Oriential Pearls with which I shall return to Europe as the common Receptacle of those rich Commodities which were of little value to the Indians before the European Navigators set Prizes thereon and by that means taught the Natives how to Esteem them for in the first Discovery of the Indies by the Portugals they bought them for Beads of Glass and such like Trifles but now they are not purchased but at Extraordinary rates CHAP. LVI A View of Europe of it's Provinces Trade Manners Customs Growth Weights Measures Currant Coyn c. THe first that offers it self on the Continent of Europe is Spain invironed on all sides with the Seas unless that part towards France which is bounded by the Pyraenaean Hills and the Fortress of Pampelona on the North-West and Perpegana on the South-East and is divided into 12 Provinces viz. Leon and Oviedo which are one Navar Corduba Galicia Biscay Toledo Murtia Castille Portugal now an intire Kingdom Valentia Catalonia and Aragon and in General abounds with Wines Sugars Oyls Mettals Liquorish Rice Cork Silk Wool Oranges Rosin Steel Almonds Raisins Lemons Anchoves Anniseeds Figs Soda Barrilla Honey Wax Shumack Iron Tuny-Fish Saffron Soape and Carianders so that into the Trade of 3 or 4 of the Principal Cities and Ports I shall reduce the whole Trade of the Kingdom and it's Provinces Passing over Leon Ovideo and Navar as Provinces little adddicted to Commerce I shall proceed to Sevil the chief City of Trade in the Province of Corduba and into the Trade of that City reduce the Trade of that Province which is Accounted the most Fertile Province of all Spain CHAP. LVII A View of Sevil the Trade Weights Measures Customs and Currant Coyns thereof THis City is Situate in the Province of Corduba and accounted 6 Miles in compass adorned with many stately Buildings and is an Arch-Bishop's Sea accounted next to Toledo the richest in Spain through it runs the River Baetis dividing it into 2 parts over which is a Stately Bridg which renders the City very Commodious for Trade and from hence it is for the most part that the Spanish Fleet sets out for the West Indies and at their return unlaid their rich Commodities as Silver Tobacco Ginger Cottons Sugar Ferrinand Bucque-Wood and Wood of Brasil Sarsafrax Galbanum and other Drugs of great value and for the King of Spains use are in these parts brought up and kept 30000. Gennets nor are bare Customs of this City Accounted to amount to less then half a Million of Gold yearly The Merchants generally keep their Accounts in Maruedies of which 375 are Accounted to a Ducat of Exx 11 Ryals every Ryal being 37 Maru and some Strangers residing there keep their Accounts in Ryals of 34 Maru The Coyns currant are the Ducats of Gold of Sevil and are as aforesaid valued by the Spaniards worth 375 Maru or 5 Shillings 6 pence Sterling as likewise the Ryal of Castile which is worth here but 34 Maruides and valued at 6 pence Sterling a Dobra currant is of Carlin Coyn 81 87 Maruedies A Dobra of Castile is valued at 375 Mar. or a Ducat in Gold the Castilian of Merchandise is worth 485 Mar. or 7 Shillings Sterling Their Weights are the 3 Kintars the first consists of 112 pound and is divided into 4 Roves of 28 pound a Rove the second is 120 pound composed of 4 Roves of 30 pound each and the third being the greatest is composed of 4 Roves of 36 pound the Rove and accordingly contains 144 pound and is the common Kintar of Sevil and 100 pound Weight of this place has often made 102 pound of London Their Measure of Length is the Vare 100 of which have been found to make 74 Ells of London The Measure by which Oyl is sold is the Rove 64 of which make a Venetian Miara and 40 or 41 of the said Roves make a Pipe the Rove being 8 Somers a Somer containing 4 Quartiles a Quartile being the â— 6 part of a Stoop of Antwerp and 2 Pipes or 81 Roves are 25 or 26 Florence Barrils or 252 English Gallons tho in Sevil the Gage of Pipes are Accounted but 118 Gallons the Pipe Corn is Measured by the Caffise which is 28 Satos of Florence from Sevil it is that the fine Spanish Wool is brought as also Cordavant-Leather
in these parts but especially at Almeria great store of Raw Silks are gathered it being the primest of all other and is Accounted worth by the pound Morisco 18 Shillings Florence or 1020 Maruedies which amount to 30 Ryals And thus much for Sevil and the Trade thereof CHAP. LVIII A View of Malaga the Trade Customs Weights Measures and Coyns thereof MAlaga is Situate in the Province of Granado on the Shoar of the Mediterranean Sea being Accommodated with a commodious Haven for the reception of Shipping being very Fruitful in every part of it's Territories abounding in Wine and Raisins known by it's Name as likewise many delicate Fruits Corn Cattle and what else can make a Country desirable they have likewise store of Sugar Almonds Oyls c. for which they pay Customs outward tho they be Commodities of the natural Growth viz. 7 per cent Cochineel and such like Commodities pay outward 10 per cent and all other Commodities of the Growth but 5 per cent and those that are carryed from Port to Port 2 pound per cent The Weights of Malaga is the 100. divided into 4 Roves of 25 pound each and to every pound 16 Ounces and the 100 pound of Malaga called commonly the Kintar of Malaga is found to make 112 pound 5 Ounces English tho sometimes less according to the nature of the Commodity Their Concave Measures are the Rove and Somer the first making 8 of the last so that 25 Roves go to a Pipe which contains 100 English Gallons by these only Wine and Oyl are Measured as for Grain it is Measured by the Hanock which is divided into 12 Almodos and is 12 Gallons English weighing upon the Strike 129 pound The Measure of length is the Vare of 27 â…ž Inches The Coyns currant are Ryals to one of which is computed 34 Marnedies or 6 pence Sterling and Pistolets of Gold each being worth 23 ½ Ryals that is the single Pistolet the double Pistolet which are here likewise in use being worth 27 Ryals CHAP. LIX A View of Alicant and of the Trade Measures Weights Coyns c. ALicant is Situate on the Banks of the Mediterranian in the Province of Murtia and is by Reason of it's commodious Haven of late become a great Scale of Trade in those parts affording delicate Wines and other Commodities in much request being of late the Scale to the City Valentia and affords of its Native growth Liquorish Rasins Wines Soda-Barrilla Sugar Drugs Bass-Mats Ropes Sope Anniseed and many other Merchantable Commodities which are Traded for by our English Merchants and bought partly for money and partly for Commodities of the growth of our Nation And at Alicant the Merchants keep their Accounts in Livers Solds and Deniers 12 Deniers making a Sold and 20 Solds a Liver which is Accounted worth 5 Shillings Sterling the Sold being Accounted 3 Pence and the Denier a Farthing The Weights in use are the Cargo and Rove 10 of the latter making the former and of these Roves there are two sorts one computed 18 Ounces and the other 12 to each pound and by that means tho one be reckoned 36 pound and the other but 24 yet in Weight they are equal as to the number of Ounces and by these are sold Pepper Rice Almonds Cloves Cinnamond and the like by the Cargo is weighed all Gross Commodities it containing 280 pound English There is sometimes used a Quintal of 96 pound Averdupois and by it Drugs are weighed The Measure of Length is the Vare which wants a â…™ part of the English Yard The Liquid Measure for Wine is the Cantar which is about 3 Gallons English and the dry Measure for Corn is called the Chaffise and is near 3 Bushel English The Customs for the most part are rated at 11 Deniers per centum Livers and is payable at 8 Deniers to the Duana and 3 Deniers to the Sisa payed as well by the Buyer as Seller as often as Goods are bought sold or bartered for so that the Buyer and Seller pay between them 9 per cent And thus leaving Alicant I return to take a View of Madrid Accounted the Principal City of Spain CHAP. LX. A View of Madrid of the Trade Coyns Weights and Measures thereof MAdrid is Situate in the Provinces of Castill and of late become famous for being the place where for the most part the Spanish Court resides and in it the Monies that are dispersed over Spain have their Original This City abounds with all manner of Commodities that either Spain India Barbary Arabia Persia Egypt or other Countries affoard as Spices Gold Silks Drugs Stuffs Jewels Drugs and the like The Native Commodities of this Province are Honey Allum Wine Oyl Fruits Salt c. The Measures and Weights are those common throughout Spain but by Reason all the Coyns of the Kingdom Center here I think it not amiss to set down their Names and true values 1. The Ducat of Castil is worth 375 Maruedies 2. The Castiliano 485 Maruedies 3. The Florin of Castile is worth 265 Maruedies or near 4 Shillings Sterling 4. The Ducat Count or Quento of Maruedies is a Million 5. The Count or Quento of Maruedies is Ducats 2666 2 3â— and at Dobra is accounted worth 2739 â—â— 73 Dobras the which according to computation amounts to 733 pound 6 Shillings 8 pence Sterling 6. The Ryal Single of Castile is worth 34 Maruedies or 6 pence Sterling 7. The Quento of Mar is worth 3258 Ryals and 3 Maruedies 8. The Crown of Castile is worth 323 Maruedies 9. The Ducat of Spain is 5 Shillings 6 pence of our money the Ryal is 6 pence and the Maruedie about the bigness of one of our Farthings In this City when they give money upon Exchange they commonly agree to be repayed in Ducats of Gold or to the same value in Gold or Silver for the most part by Weight to prevent the taking base money with which Spain abounds so that should they not take this course they would often lose 4 or 5 per cent In this Province are yearly 4 Fairs or great Marts viz. at Medina Del Campo which lasts 50 days at Medina de Riosecco which lasts 30 days at Medina del Campo again which lasts 50 days and lastly at Villa Lyon which lasts 20 days These Fairs viz. the 3 first are Fairs of Exchange And when they make payments they make them in Banco not saying forth and they are to remit in Ducats de Oro in Oro Largo and forth of Banco and when they agree forth of Banco and for ready money there is got 1 per cent and when they agree for Ducats of Gold or the worth of them it is understood that the worth if the payment be not payed in Ducats is to be payed in Maruedies at 375 to the Ducat And thus much for Spain and the Trade thereof And now I shall take a View of the Trade of the Kingdom of Portugal in her chief City viz. Lisbon one of the
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
Yorkshire Bays of Coxal Cottons of Wales Pepper Gauls Yarn Tinn Lead Fish c. but of late they have got a Custom to Trade for Sterling many Commodities being allowed at no other Exchange Their Accounts are kept in Solds Livers and Deniers As for Weights here is principally found the Kings Beam called the Viconte which exceeds our long hundred viz. 112 pound 14 per cent so that it makes English 126 pound tho sometimes less Their Measure of length is the Auln accounted 46 Inches or somewhat more by which they Measure Woollen and Linnen Cloath and in this Measure they allow 24 for 20 called the Merchants Auln this City affords great store of Canvas for the Sails of Ships and such like uses which is likewise Measured by the Auln and has allowance as aforesaid tho not unless great quantities are bought In this City 3 Fairs are yearly held at 2 whereof Liberty for 15 days is granted to buy and Transport all Commodities of the growth Custom-free provided the Commodities be laden and fallen down the River to a Place limited within 15 days after or else to pay Custom as at other times the first of which begins the 3d. day of February and ends the 18th the second begins on Whit-Monday and lasteth 15 days the third begins on the 23 day of October and continues 8 days only and is not Custom-free as the former As for the Concave Measures they are few and such as are common throughout France and of which I shall hereafter speak Therefore in this Chapter I willingly Omit them CHAP. LXIV A View of Paris the Metropolis of France and of the Trade Weights Measures Coyns Customs exchanges and Commodities there Vended PAris is the Principal city of France and is accounted 10 Miles in Circumference being Situate on either side the River Sein that River Gliding smoothly through it thereby rendering it more Commodious for Traffick tho through the Sloath of the Inhabitants it is not improved to the advantage it might be yet here are found Commodities of the growth of the whole Kingdom as likewise of most Nations tho in no abundance The Commodities exported hence are Linnens Paper Cards Combs Stuffs Thread Plushes c. for which they receive English Cloath Stockings Lead Tinn Bays old Shooes Silks of Italy and some Indian Commodities The Inhabitants are for the most part Gentry and therefore not addicted to Manufacture The Weights of Paris are the Quintal which is accounted 100 pound Gross but found to make 100 pound of London Suttle 2 per cent more or less and is of Lyons Weight of 16 Ounces 116 pound and Venetian Sottle 144 pound 100 Sottle in Venice making Sottle of Paris Weight but 62 ◠2 pound of 15 Ounces to the pound the Cargo or great Quintal of Paris is 300 pound of Troy Weight yet makes in Florence 487 pound The Concave Measures for Wine is the Cistern which contains 8 Pints or a French Gallon 96 of which are accounted a Tun. The Measures of length are two one for Linnen and the other for Silks and are much about the length of the vantaged and unvantaged Aulns but seldom used in Gross by Reason in this City Silks Stuffs c. are sold by Weight which to the buyer is advantageous by Reason he cannot be imposed on with slight Silks and Stuffs but that what it wants in goodness will be made out in Measure This City is the chief Standard of Coyn for the whole Kingdom therefore in this I shall give a particular account of most French Coyns currant first the Denire 2 of which make a Double and twelve a Sold and 20 Solds a Liver by some called a Frank and in these three viz. Solds Deniers and Livers the accounts of that Kingdom are for the most part kept There are Peices of 8 Solds each Piece being the 1 ◠part of a Silver French Crown 64 Sold's being accounted a French Crown and 4 Sold's which is of 3 Livors Turnois Pieces of 21 Solds 4 Deniers being the 1 8 part of the said Crown commonly called Testons and the ½ and ¼ thereof and as the Quarter Crowns were at first raised from 15 Solds to 16 and thereby the 60 Solds to 64 so in the like proportion were the Testons raised the Golden Coyns are the Crown of 3 Livers or 60 Solds the Crown of the Sun being 3 Livers 16 Sold or 76 Solds and the Pistol each Liver being accounted 12 pence Sterling there are likewise Crowns of 6 Shillings Sterling but these monies as indeed most Forrain Coyns do rise and fall according to the Plenty and Scarcity of Silver and Gold or more properly at the pleasure of the Prince whose proper Coyns they are As for the Exchanges I shall refer them till I come to Treat in General of the nature of Exchanges CHAP. LXV A View of Lyons and the Trade thereof c. LYons was once the famousest Mart of France and a great Scale of Trade but by Reason of its Incommodious Situation in wanting a Port or Navigable River for great Ships it has given place to the Haven Towns yet continues some Trade especially Inland being Seated on a Fruitful Soil Fertilized by the Branches of the Rivers Rhoan and Soame the chief Manufactory of Silks in the Kingdom of France being setled in it which when wrought is sent through Europe the Inhabitants having Commerce with Marselia the chief Port for the residence of Shipping Here Exchanges are practised the Bankers or Merchants of Venetia Florence and Naples having Factors resident in Lyons for that purpose and hither it is that the English Merchants bring Lead Tinn Bays Cony-Skins c. to Exchange for the growth of the Province the Accounts are kept as in other parts of the Kingdom The Coyns currant being the same with those of Paris The Fairs are 4 in which all payments either by Exchange or Merchandise are made and all payments run from 3 Months to 3 Months if agreed to in a Publick place or Burse appointed for that purpose the first of these Fairs begins immediately after the Octaves of Easter the second the first Monday after the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin the third the day after All Souls the fourth the day after Epiphany each continuing 15 days all Exchange business is done and all Bills of Exchange are made and dated in one day and within 2 days following they settle the rate of Exchange and by these Fairs they limit their payments and the time allowed in their Bills from hence to Venice Florence and Rome is commonly 30 days to Naples and Valentia 25 days and so consequently according to the distance of the place it is payable at tho agreement be made for longer time it is often granted The Weights most in use is the Kings Beam of the Custom-House and the 2 Town Beams the King's Beam is found to be 100 pound the Quintal and is greater then the largest of the Town Beams by 8 per
cent and by the Weight thereof all Customs are Proportioned This large Town Beam for Gross Goods is accounted likewise 100 pound of 16 Ounces to the pound the third Weight is known by the name of the pound of Mark and is only used in weighing of Silks containing 100 pound of 15 Ounces being the least of the three The Measure of Lyons is the Auln which is 46 English Inches 7 of them being found to make 9 English Yards and 100 pound of London Suttle is found to make in Lyons 96 2 2 pound Silk Weight and one Liver or pound Sterling of London is 10 Livers Turnois And thus much shall Suffice for Lyons and the Trade thereof CHAP. LXVI A View of Marselia the Trade Weights Measures Coyns and Customs thereof MArselia is a fair Port and the principal Place of Trade in Provence whither resort many Merchants and from which Port the Ships Sail that maintain the Trade with Turky Barbary Spain Italy Flanders and England tho indeed not much the French Nation not affecting Navigation but rather choose to improve the growth of their own Country for which they have brought home to 'em the Commodities and growth of all Nations The Exchange that is wanting here is supplyed by the currant and intercourse of Lyons it being Governed thereby in matters of Trade And hither the English bring Bays Cloath Lead Tinn Herrings Pilchards Newland-Fish Affrican Hides Wax Calves-Skins Salmond c. and in Exchange receive Oyls Wines Verdigreese Paper Linnen and other Manufactures at this Port they have free Licence to Transport Spanish Ryals of 8 8 which are found in abundance and by that means preserve their Trade with Turky and other Places of Traffick in the Mediterranean from whence they bring Silks and some spices but of late have not been so venturous as formerly for fear of the Pirates by whom they have sustained within a few Years dammages to the value of 3 Millions of Crowns which has much impaired their Traffick in those parts The Accounts here are kept in Deniers Solds and Livers and in Ryals of 8 which sometimes are Inhaunced to a ¼ part more then their true value The Weight is Originally the pound of 16 Ounces 100 of which make the Quintal and 3 Quintals the Cargo the Quintal is found to make English 88 ½ The Measure of Length is the Cane which they divide into 8 Palms which are found to be 2 ⅛ English Yards The concave Measure is the Mine of which the Sack of Leghorne makes 1 ◠3. The Customs outwards are 1 ¼ per cent and inwards 3 ¼ per cent this is meant of Commodities of the growth of the Country but if Pepper Ginger Indico and such like Commodities be imported they pay the Kings Customs which are 15 per cent And thus I shall conclude the Trade of France and proceed to take a View of Italy and the Trade thereof CHAP. LXVII A View of Italy and the Trading Cities thereof together with their Manner of Traffick Weights Measures Coyns c. ITaly is bounded with the Alps the Ionian Tyrrhenean and Adriatick Seas and is exceeding Fertile lying in a Temperate Clime and is divided into 10 Provinces viz. the Kingdom of Naples the Dukedom of Florence the Dukedom of Millain the Dukedom of Mantua the Common-Wealth of Venice the Dukedom of Vrbin the Principality of Parma the estate of Genoa the estate of Luca and the Papacy Of the chief City or Town of Trade of each in order CHAP. LXVIII A View of the City Naples and the Trade thereof together with the Weights Measures Coyns Customs c. IN Describing the Trade of this City from whence the Kingdom takes its Name I shall lay down what is found of value or Merchantable throughout the Province The City of Naples is a fair City and accounted 7 Miles in compass formerly called Parthenope and is now Governed by a Vice-Roy to the Behoof of the King of Spain and yieldeth divers Mettals brought from adjacent Mines likewise Saffron Raw and wrought Silk Oyls Anniseed Brimstone Argals Corn Cattle in abundance and other things of value for which they receive out of England Bays Says Serges Cloath Lead Tinn Herrings Pilchards and Newland-Fish There is found likewise the growth of Spain Portugal and many East-Indian Commodities and it was formerly a City of great Traffick The Country generally abounds in Mulberry-Trees and other pleasant Fruit-Trees The Weights of this City and consequently of the whole Kingdom are the Rotolo and Cantar 100 of the former making the latter which is accounted 196 pound English Averdupois Weight as likewise in Goeta they have a Cantar by which all Gross Commodities are weighed which is reckoned 254 pound of Leghorn The Measure of Length is the Cane divided into 8 Palms nine of which Palms make the Auln of Lyons and the Cane is 18 ½ English inches The Concave Measures of Naples are the Salmo and Staio by which they Measure Oyl Wine Corn c. The Customs are for some Commodities 2 ½ for other 4 ½ per cent more or less as the Vice-Roy gives order to these that are appointed to receive them the King of Spain receiving yearly for Customs upon the Oyls of Gallipoly adjacent to this Kingdom one hundred thousand Ducats CHAP. LXIX A View of the City of Florence the Trade thereof Comprehending the whole Trade of the Florentine Dominion THe City of Florence gives name to the Provence or Dukedom of Florence and is a very fair City Seated near the Rivers Arne and Chian Beautifyed it is with many stately Edifices and much addicted to Merchandizing the Duke being accounted the richest and chiefest Merchant in Italy and is now more commonly known by the Title of great Duke of Tuscany The Commodities are very rich the famous Port of Leghorn being Governed in Trade by this City and Pisa For hence for the most part come the Merchandise that are there found as Marble Rice Wines Oyls Silks Raw and wrought Sattins Taffatas Velvets Grograms Plushes Stuffs of curious Texture for which they receive of our Merchants Pepper Mace Cloves Indicoes Callico Lead Tinn Cloath Bays Says Serges Perpetuanos c the Inhabitants for the most part being very rich by Reason of the great Banks maintained in this City where is practised exchange from all parts Their accounts are kept in Livers Solds Deniers 12 Deniers making a Sold and 20 Solds accounted a Liver and some in Crowns 7 ½ Livers making a Crown they have currant in Trade the Florence Ducat worth 7 Livers each Liver accounted 9 pence Sterling The Weight is the Quintal or 100 pound of 12 Ounces the pound and is found to make 98 pound English The Measure of Length is the Brace 100 of which has been known to make 49 Ells English and the Cane which is 4 Braces but all wrought Silks are here sold by the pound Wine is sold by the Cogno which is 10 Barrels 40 Metadels 20 Flasks and each
Weight is 30 pound 3 Ounces and by Measure 25 pound Corn is sold by the Staio each Staio being Gross 132 pound of Venetian Weight The Accounts are kept several ways according to the Pleasure of the Merchant as sometimes in Ducats and Grosses accounting 6 Livers and 4 Solds to a Ducat or 24 Grosses others again in Solds and Grosses As for their Exchanges to their great advantage in way of Trade they make a difference between their money payed for Merchandise and that returnable upon Bills the disproportion being between 20 and 21 per cent their Customs are Extraordinary especially upon the English Trading to Zant for Currans which is in Subjection to that Seignory both upon Goods imported and exported the which has caused the decay of Trade and was the main Reason of removing the Scale of Trade to Leghorn a place no ways so Commodious nor abounding in Commodities of the Native growth CHAP. LXXIII A View of the Principality of Parma and of the Trade Weights Measures Customs c. PArma the chief City of this Principality gives it a Name and is a pleasant City abounding with all the Commodities of Italy as Silks Stuffs Oyl Wine Copper Rice Corn c. and as for the Weight used in the City it is the pound of 12 Ounces 100 of which make about 60 Suttle English The Measure of length is the Brace concording with the Brace of Florence The Coyns are Deniers Livers and Solds in which their Accounts are kept But having thus far proceeded I shall here take a View of the famous Port of Leghorn and of the Trade thereof CHAP. LXXIV A View of Leghorn the Trade Custom Weights Measures and Coyns c. LEghorn the Principal Port and Scale of Trade in the Mediterranean Sea is Situated on a large Plain and accomodated with a good Harbour for the reception of Shipping so that almost the whole Scale of Trade is removed from the City of Venice thither it is now a part of the Florentine Dominion having some time past been purchased by the Duke of Tuscany for 120000 Ducats of the Genoese and from him received large Priviledges and Immunities being inlarged by a new City Builded to the old and by Reason of the small Customs taken there it is of a Nest of Pirates Murtherers c. who formerly Inhabited it become famous throughout the World in this Port the great Duke keeps his Gallies and here are found all the sorts of Commodities Italy yields the Trade of it being as aforesaid regulated by Florence and Pisa and to this Port are brought the Commodities of England Spain France Holland India Arabia Persia Egypt and other Countries The Accounts of Merchants in Leghorn are kept in Livers Solds Deniers 12 Deniers being a Sold and 20 Solds a Liver and their other monies are the same with Florence except Quadrins and Craches 8 Craches being accounted worth 6 pence Sterling and of Quadrins 60 to a Liver tho sometimes a different value is fixed upon the Mony of either place but it continues not long The Weights are the same with Florence viz. the pound of 12 Ounce 100 of which make a Quintal which is computed to make 75 pound English and by this they weigh their Gross Commodities An other Quintal they have of 150 pound which makes of London Weight 113 pound as also an other of 160 pound making with us 121 pound by which they weigh Fish woolls c. The Kintar of Allum is at Leghorn 150 pound but in England found to make but 143 ⅞ pound the Kintar of Sugar 15◠the Kintar of Fish 160 pound and make English Weight proportionably The Measures are the Brace and Cane 4 of the former making one of the latter each Brace being 23 Inches English 100 Braces making 60 Yards or 48 Ells. The Concave Measures for Corn and Salt are the Stare the Sack and the Salmo 3 of the first making one of the second and 3 ⅔ of the second making one of the third which is a London Quarter they have a Measure likewise called a Maggio which contains 8 Sacks The Custom of this Port is that any Merchant may Land his Goods without paying any Custom so be they are sold within a Year but if not he must pay Custom but if for the better disposal of Commodities they are sent into any other part of Tuscany they must pay Custom at Pisa CHAP. LXXV A View of Genoa the Weights Measures Coyns and Trade thereof THe Metropolis of the Republique of Genoa is the City of Genoa from whence the Territories have Name and is 8 Miles in compass being Commodiously Situate for Commerce and has been formerly a City of great Trade but of late the Citizens are turned Userers which has put a stop to their Navigation and the Excessive Customs upon Goods imported deters Merchants from Trading thither to any purpose The Merchantable Wares that are found in this City are Silks Stuffs Damasks Drugs Wine Oyl and some Fruits for which they receive the growth of the Countries whose Merchants Trade thither Their Accounts especially as to Merchandise are kept in Deniers Solds and Livers 12 Deniers being a Sold and 20 Solds a Liver which is 16 pence Sterling Their other Coyns for the most part Concord with those of Florence The Weights are the pound of 12 Ounces and Quintal 100 of the former making the latter which is accounted the Quintal Suttle the Gross Quintal being 150 pound and makes Suttle Weight of London 105 pound and by the Gross Quintal are sold Anniseeds Honey Rice Brass Lead Tinn Sope Wools and other Weighty Commodities The Measure of Length is the Cane found to make 9 Palms or 4 Braces of Florence which is used in the Measuring Stuffs and Silkes and for Measuring of Linnen the Cane is 10 Palms 100 of which Palms have rendered 27 English Yards and consequently one Cane of Genoa is 2 ⅞ Yards English Corn is sold by the Mine each Mine paying Custom 6 ½ Solds and Weighs 270 pound 2 ½ of which are found to be a Harwich Quarter Oyl is sold by the Barril 7 ½ of which make a Neapolitan Butt Wine is sold by the Mesorole 5 of which make a Botta Dimena of Naples All Goods entering the River or Port pay Consolato of the River 6 Denier per Liver which is payed by the Buyer if a contract be not before made with the seller for the discharge thereof And thus much for the Republique of Naples CHAP. LXXVI A View of Luca and the Trade thereof LVca is the principal City of the Republique and is Situate on the River Serchio being 3 Miles in compass and so adorned with Trees that such as pass a far off think it to stand in a Wood. The most Merchantable Commodities here found are Silks as Damasks Sattins Taffatas c. which are here made and sent to other Cities of Italy and for them have returned the growth of most Countries Their Accounts are kept in Solds
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
weighed as Nutmegs Cloves Cinnamond Drugs of all sorts Indicoes and rich Dies The Measure of length is the Ell which is about 38 English Inches as for Concave Measures they use but few and those the same with other Cities of the Empire of which anon I shall have occasion to speak The currant Coyn is the Bobemico Gross or Blaphace which is 3 Crutfers one Crutfer being 2 pence one penny 2 Hellers and one Heller 2 Orchines And in these Coyns all the Accounts are kept CHAP. LXXXII A View of Vienna and of the Trade Weights Measures Coyns c. VIenna is one of the fairest and strongest Cities of the Empire and for the most part the Imperial Seat having on the North of it the River Danow which dividing into 3 Streams causes as it were an Island ere it again unites and over the Streams are 3 Stone Bridges of 15 29 and 57 Arches all the Streets are adorned with stately Buildings and in the City many Merchants reside who have their Factories in Venice Florence Genoa c. and by that means it abounds in rich Commodities of all Nations especially Sattins Damasks Taffatas Velvets Cloath of Gold and Silver Drugs Spices Wool Lead Iron Copper Flax Wine Oyl Wax Tallow Furs and the like which is dispersed into the Neighbourhood to supply the Towns and Cities of less note The Weight is the pound which in the Sale of some Commodities is divided into 32 Coets and in others into 128 Quints and by some again into 512 Fennings of this pound 100 makes the Quintar which in London is found to make between 122 and 123 pound The Measures of length are 2 one for Linnen and the other for Woollen the 100 Yards of London are found to make 103 Ells of Vienna Linnen Measure and of the Woollen Measure 113 Ells. The Coyns currant are the Rhenis Guilder worth 28 ½ Silver Missens Gross or 36 ½ Lubeck Shillings 7 ½ of which make one of our Shillings the Imperial-Doller which is worth 33 Lubeck Shillings the common Guilden worth 28 Lubeck Shillings and the French Crown worth 44 Lubeck Shillings c. By Reason of the Emperors residing here there is a great Exchange which is by Rix Dollars of 8 Shillings Flemish and by Ducats of Gold of 12 Shillings Flemish CHAP. LXXXIII A View of Hamburg of the Trade Weights Measures Coyns and Commodities thereof HAmburg is an Imperial City Seated on a large Plain and has on the South side the River Elve being Accommodated with a fair Haven cross which is cast a Chain to hinder Ships from entering without Licence and on the North-East side some distance from the Walls of the City runs the River Alster and is adorned with many fair Buildings fortifyed with strong Walls Ditches and Bulwarks The Trade at present is very considerable by Reason of the residence of our Merchants there and the Factories held in other parts it being the Key as it were of that part of Germany whither the Inland Towns bring their Commodities to vend as Quick-Silver Stuffs Silks Cloath Wine Wax Cordage Corn and the like most Italian Commodities are found here and great quantities of the Growth of Spain and here the English vend Cloath Iron Tinn Lead Drugs Spices and the like receiving for them the Growth and Manufactures of the Empire The Weight is the pound 120 of which are accounted the Quintar which is divided into 3 parts or denominations viz. the 12 Stone of 10 pound to the Stone 300 pound are accounted the Skip pound which is the second that which is call'd the third is 20 Lispound of 15 pound to the 300 which may be said to be one Quintar of 120 pound and another of 300 pound The Measure of length is the Ell by which all Woollen Linnen and Silks are Measured 100 of which are accounted t◠make in London 48 Ells for Linnen and th◠100 Yards of London to be 162 or 163 of Hamburg Yards The Concave Measure is the Scheple 90 of which make the Last of Corn in this place tho 83 are found to do the same at Amsterdam or to produce 10 Quarters of London Measure The Merchants exchange for London by the pound Sterling and from all other places upon Rix Dollers of 50 Shillings Lapisto or 54 Stivers A Doller is here noted to be worth 3 white pence each white Penny to be 18 Shillings each Shilling 12 pence and each penny two Hellers And thus much for Hamburg and of the Empire CHAP. LXXXIV A View of Denmark and of its Trade together with the Commodities Weights Measures and Coyns thereof DEnmark is bounded on the East with the Baltick Ocean on the West with the German Ocean on the North with Sweeden and on the South with the Germain Empire and contains Cimbrick Chersonese the Islands of the Baltick and part of Scandia which are divided into several Provinces the which for Brevities sake I shall pass over and reduce their Trade into the 2 Principal Cities And of the Islands I shall treat in their order And first of Copenhagen and the Trade thereof Copenhagen is the Metropolis of Denmark and the Seat of the Danish Kings for the most part being Commodiously Seated on the Sea-shore and provided of a safe and goodly Haven for the reception of Shipping being strongly Fortifyed and Beautifyed with a Castle and other stately Edifices which are for the more part possessed by Merchants that Trade there for the Growth and Manufacture of the Kingdom which chiefly consists in Hides Tallow Fish Bucks-Skins Armour of all sorts Furniture for Shipping Corn Cattle and the like for which they receive Drugs Spices Tinn Lead Gold Silver Silks Woollen and Linnen Cloaths c. The currant Coyn is the Dollar and Shilling one Danish Shilling making one Lubeck Shilling and 66 Danish Shillings accounted to the Dollar which is 5 Shillings Sterling The Accounts in this City are kept by Merchants in Marks of 16 Shillings Danish The Exchanges are practised by Rix Dollars to the value as aforesaid The Weights and Measures of this Kingdom I shall Summ up in the next Chapter by Reason the difference of Weights and Measures in this City and the rest little or nothing vary CHAP. LXXXV A View of Elsinore and the Trade thereof ELsinore is Situate upon the Straight leading to the Sound and greatly frequented by Seamen by Reason of the Extraordinary passage through the Straight for which every Vessel pays to the King of Denmark a considerable Summ for permission no Ships being otherwise capable to pass by Reason of the Castles that Guard that pass on either side viz. Coronsburg and Elsburg the latter being in the Kingdom of Norway on the East side of the Sealand near to Elsinore the King has a Pallace for his Summer Recreation which has a Prospect over the Sea and 't is reported that this Tole or Duty arising upon the passing and repassing over Ships into the Sound and Baltick amounts to more then all
Dun Fox-Skins with many others of the like nature which are sold by the Timber Weight or Tale being highly valued of late by the Natives who perceiving the desire Merchants have for them learn thereby to set prices on them accordingly The Merchants Accounts are kept here Divers ways as those of England in Rubles and Pence called by the Natives Muskofkins 200 of which make a Ruble which is rated at 2 Rix Dollars the Dutch by Rubles Grevens and Muscofkins 20 pence being accounted to the Greven and 10 Grevens to the Ruble which is only an Imaginary Coyn. The currant money is the Capeck worth a Stiver Flemish and something more in value then an English penny 10 of which make a Greven whiâ—h is worth 12 pence Sterling and the Ruble 10 Shillings Sterling 3 Capecks is called an Altine by which name all receipts of Bargain and contracts are made 33 Altines and one Capeck making the Ruble At Archangel there is exchange practised and the price of monies Russ as the Plenty or Scarcity will allow for sometimes the Rubles in exchange pass for 11 Shillings 6 pence Sterling the Receipts being in August to return in London about the latter end of December The Weight most in use is the Pood by which all fine Goods are weighed as Silk Beavor Wool and the like but for Gross Goods they have a Weight called a Berzovet accounted 10 Poods or the Russ Ship-pound computed to be 360 pound Averdupois so that all Goods bought by this Weight are accounted to be 10 per cent profit so that many have reckoned the Goods so bought to pay the Fraight with over Weight and all Goods bought by the Pood are reckoned 10 per cent less The Measure of Length is called the Archin and is accounted 28 English Inches so that the 100 Archings are supposed to produce Incirca 78 Yards of London Measure Oyl they sell by the Barrel each Barrel being accounted ½ a Hogshead and Tar by the Hogs-head as for Concave Measures I observe they are but rarely in use by way of Trade by Reason of the small quantities of Commodities the Empire affords that are proper to be Measured thereby Therefore I shall put a conclusion to the Trade of Moscovy and proceed to a View of Poland CHAP. LXXXIX A View of the Kingdom of Poland together with the Trade Weights Measures and currant Coyns thereof POland is bounded on the East with Boristhenes on the West with Vistula on the North with the Baltick Ocean and Sinus Trinicus and on the South with Hungary and is divided into 10 Provinces viz. Luconia Lituania Volinia Samogita Podolia Russia Nigra Prussia Podtasia Masovia and Poland these Provinces are Branched with several Navigable Rivers Vistula Reuben Bog Mimel and others and has for its Metropolis Cracovia Into which I shall reduce the Trade of this Kingdom Cracovia is the Metropolis of Poland Situate on the Banks of the River Vistula which is Navigable for near 400 Miles being as it were incompassed with distant Mountains and fortifyed with strong Walls and fair Buildings being the Seat of the Kings of Poland and is found to produce the Commodities of the whole Kingdom as Tar Rosin Pitch Hemp Wax Honey Barly Oats Amber Tallow and Hides which Commodities are sent up the River and distributed to such Merchants as come to Trade for the Growth of the Kingdom There are likewise found Furs of divers sorts some Minerals and the like for which the Inhabitants receive the Commodities of divers Nations which are brought both by Land and Sea The Coyns of this City and consequently of the Kingdom are the Ducat of Gold called the Polander which is accounted 70 Polish Gross The Silver Guilden which is worth 30 Polish Groshe or 2 Shillings Sterling a Dollar in Specie is worth 4 Polish Groshes but in all contracts of buying and selling the Doller is accounted 36 Groshe a Crietszar is worth 3 Pot-chanels 18 Deniers make one Groshe a Groshe of Poland or Bohemia is worth 7 Whites 16 Whites make one Ort 4 0rts make a Dollar and a Dollar is accounted 4 Shillings 4 pence The Weight is the pound 136 of which is accounted the Quintar which is found in London to render 114 pound and the 100 of London yieldeth 120 of Cracovia but the common pound is reduced to a Stone of 40 pound 10 of the said Stones being accounted the Skip-pound The Measure of Length is the Ell 20 of which are 10 English Ells but their Linnen they sell by the Shock the Shock being 57 ½ English Ells. And to this City it will not be amiss to add Elbin once a Scale of Merchandise where the English Merchants had a Factory being here known by the Name of the Merchants of Elbin but since this City has fallen into the Hands of the King of Poland it has lost the great Trade it had upon the Abridgement of the Liberties and Priviledges it enjoyed during its being in the possession of the Teutonick Knights so that now it only is famous for what it has been and not for what it at present remains the Trade being dispersed into several Eastland Cities or Hans Towns but from Danzick especially are brought Soap-Ashes The Weights are the Pound and Stone 40 pound making the Stone and 40 of those Stones make the Ship-pound which is 400 pound and 100 pound of London is found to make 120 of Elbin Their Last of Wheat is reckoned to weigh 5200 pound Their Measure of Length is the Ell 163 of which make 100 London Yards In this Tract is found Coninsberg Rhiga Stetin Stralesond and Revel from the former of which the Amber is brought as for the rest they little differ in Commodities and manner of Trade from Cracovia Wherefore for Brevities sake I shall pass them over and take a View of Hungary and the Trade thereof c. CHAP. XC A View of Hungary and the adjacent Provinces and of their Trade Weights Measures Coyns and Commodities of the Growth and Manufacture THe Kingdom of Hungary is bounded on the East with Transilvania and Valachia on the West with Austria on the South with Sclavonia and on the North with Poland and is of it self exceeding Fertile abounding in Cattle beyond credit but by Reason of the continual Wars with the Turks it standing as the Bulwark of Christendom no great matter of Trade relating to Merchandise is found there the little that it consists in is Hides Tallow Wax Honey Copper Tinn Corn Wool Fruits Fish Skins and some Silver Mines which since the civil Disenssions caused by the continual Bandying of the two parties under pretence of Religion and the incouragement of those intestines Broyls by the Grand-Signeour have been thrown in many of them and thereby render useless Buda and many of the Principal Cities being now in the Hands of the Turks and is so Seated upon the River Danube that it hinders the free Commerce by Boats and great Vessels that was formerly
very advantagious to the Hungarians so that leaving it s to recover its Trade by Submiting to its rightful Soveraign the Emperor of Germany and not longer trust the Flattery of the perfideous Ottomans I shall take a View of Dacia and Sclavonia Dacia is bounded with the Euxine on the East and on the West with Hungary on the North with the Carpathian Mountains and on the South with Greece and is divided into these Provinces viz. Transylvania Moldavia Servia Valachia Russia Bosna and Bulgaria all subjected to the Grand-Seigniour and are Branched and Fertilized with these Rivers viz. Danubius Alata Salvata Cockle and Morus besides others of lesser note The Commodities found in the several Provinces are Cattle Wax Honey Butter Cheese Tallow Wool Silk Cloath Mines of Gold and Silver Salt-Pits Wines and Mountains of Brimstone which Commodities they send to Constantinople Aleppo and other Marts of the Turkish Empire and receive in exchange the Commodities of all Nations as for Weights and Measures they are rarely in use they selling and buying for the most part by those of the Marts whether they resort with their Commodities their Coyns are those currant throughout the Ottoman Empire Of which I shall come to speak in the View of Constantinople Sclavonia is bounded on the South with the Adriatick Sea on the North with Hungary on the West with Italy part and on the East with the River Drinus and a Line that passes from thence to the Sea and is chiefly divided into 2 parts viz. Illyria and Dalmatia the name of the former being lately by the Turks changed into that of Windismark the which abounds in Butter Cheese Cattle Corn Oyl Wine Hemp Wool Wax Honey Tallow Iron and the like Of Dalmatia Rhagusa is the Principal City so that I will not be amiss to reduce the Trade of that Province which is not Extraordinary into its Metropolis Rhagusa formerly called Epidaurus is Seated on the Adriatick Shoar and was once a Common-Wealth of great Traffick and the first in those parts that Furnished out Ships of War of considerable force with which they awed their Neighbours and gave Laws in those Seas but since the English and Dutch Navigators have turned the currant of Traffick another way and drained those parts of the Commerce that was wont to Flow in upon them like the Ocean The Inhabitants are no ways considerable yet the Commodities of the Province are found there as Honey Wax Horses for War Hides Tallow Silver and Gold unrefined some Amber Corral and the like but of small value for which they receive of those English that make Trading Voyages Hampshire Carsies and other Coarse Cloath Lead Tinn and such like and that mostly for provision The Coyns in use here is the Gross 59 of which are accounted a Sultany or 8 Shillings Sterling The Weight is the pound 100 of which make 80 pound English which is the Quintal of Rhagusa Their Measure of Length is the Brace according with the Venetian Brace thus 100 Braces of Rhagusa of the Cloath Brace are 120 in Venice of the same and of the Silk Brace 116 of Venice make the 100 of Rhagusa And thus leaving Hungary Dacia and Sclavonia I shall pass into Greece and take a Survey of the Trade of that once famous Empire CHAP. XCI A View of Greece and of the Trade thereof Comprized in the Trade found at the famous City of Constantinople together with the Weights Measures Customs and Coyns thereof GReece famous for being once Mistriss of the Vniverse is bounded on the South with the Ionian Sea on the North with the Mountain Hemus on the East with the Hellispont Aegean Sea Propontis and the Thracian Bosphorus and is Fertilized by these considerable Rivers viz. Cephius Erigon Alicmon Sirmon Alicus and Nisus and is divided into 8 Principal Provinces viz. Peloponnesus Achaia Epirus Albania Macedonia Thessalia Migdonia and Thracia all of them replenished with Cities of note but seeing their Trade Centers in Constantinople thither I shall refer it The famous City of Constantinople once the Seat of the Roman Eastern Empire and now of the Ottoman Emperor for the most part is Seated upon a large Stream that passeth from the Euxine to the Mediterranian Sea commonly called the Black and White Seas so that by such means Ships from either Sea have a free passage which causes a quicker return then otherwise could be made by Reason from one part or other the Wine rarely fails It Fronts likewise Asia receiving most of the Commodities by Sea and Land that are found in that large quarter of the World and stands as it were the Bulwark of Europe lastly founded by Constantine the great and made the Seat of the Roman Empire as aforesaid being taken after a long Siege by the Turks Anno 1453 who ever since have possessed it it being Builded in a Triangle having the 2 large Angles Bordering on the Sea and the other stretched into the Land and is incompassed with a Triple Wall upon which are divers Towers and the Walls themselves Guarded by deep Ditches and Cannons all along the works to the Sea the Buildings for the most part are very stately but especially the Grand-Signeours Pallace on the point of the Angle being surrounded with a Wall of 3 Miles in compass and strong works furnished with great and small Artiliry This City is the common Mart for all Commodities of the Empire receiving dispersing inwards and outwards the growth of each Province And hither the Merchants of London first began to Trade Anno 1586 and in a short time found such incouragement upon Queen Elizabeths sending an Ambassador to mediate on their behalf that they soon obtained to be incorporated by the said Queen and growing in Trade were confirmed by King James with an Augmentation of their Priviledges and then by King Charles the first under the Title of the Merchants of England Trading in the Levant Seas or Levant Merchants upon whose account a Leiger Ambassador remains at Constantinople to protect the Companies Factories and take care that right be done them who before his departure from England is always approved of by his Majesty but himself and retinue have their charges defrayed by the Company which Honourable trust now remains in the right Honourable the Lord Shandois they have likewise several Consuls to protect their Factories throughout the Empire who keep Janizaries Druggermen or Interpreters Secretaries and Ministers with other the like necessary attendants in Sallary being permitted free exercise of Religion And hither it is at present that the English are found the Principal Traders tho the Venetians French and Dutch by sundry devices have indeavoured to insinuate themselves into the good opinions of the Turkish Merchants who are accounted 4 kinds viz. the Native Greek the Turks the Armenians and lastly the Jews The chief Commodities found here are Grograms Mohairs Chamlets Persian-Silk wrought and unwrought Gold Carpets Anniseeds Cumminseeds Cottons Galls Pepper Jndico Nutmegs Cinamon Mace
and Drugs these last being the Commodities of the East-India's are brought cheaper and better from thence therefore not Traded for by the English at Constantinople but rather carryed by them thither and exchanged for the Growth of the Empire as likewise Lead Tinn Cloath Furs as Martins Cony-Skins Sables Titchues and the like at the change of every Ambassador the Company make a present to the Grand-Signeour which is levyed by the Company themselves by way of imposition the like are the French and Dutch obliged to do upon some occasion and for the support of their Factories and Ambassadors The Accounts are kept in Dollars and Aspers a Dollar being computed 80 Aspers tho sometimes in way of Merchandise 100 Aspers are accounted to the Dollar and and 120 Aspers to the Sultany The Coyns currant in this City and consequently throughout the Empire are the Sultany of Gold agreeing with the Venice Chequin or is as aforesaid 120 Aspers the German Dollar the Ryal of 8 8 Spanish currant at 80 Aspers the Lyons Dollar is currant at 75 Aspers the German Sesetine at 70 Aspers and indeed any Coyn if found good Gold or Silver is currant in Constantinople and most parts of the Empire a Policy used to procure plenty of Coyn for the maintainance of the Janizaries and others in pay of all Nations The Weights are the Grain 4 of which make a Quillat a Dram which is 16 Grains of which all greater Weights are composed by Multiplication as a Yursdrome is 100 Drams and found to be 1 pound Sotile of Venice or 72 Mittigals a Lodero is 176 Drams or 19 ½ Ounces Averdupois an Oake is 400 Drams accounted 2 pound 11 ½ Ounces 100 Lodero's are accounted 24 Oaks and compose the Quintar of Constantinople which has been found to render between 118 and 120 pound English Suttle A Batman is 6 Oaks or 16 ⅓ pound English by which all Silks are bought and according to these all other Weights of the Empire are regulated The Measures of Length are the Pico's which are 3. The first for Cloath which is accounted 26 ½ Inches The second for Grograms Chamlet and such like containing 24 Inches so that 24 of these Pico's are found to make 16 English Yards The third is the Linnen Pico which is the former doubled To none of these is any advantage allowed as in England The Concave Measure is called the Killow by which for the most part Corn is Measured 8 ⅔ of which are observed to make the London Quarter Wines Oyls and almost all Liquids are sold by the Meter weighing 8 Oaks and is about ⅔ of an English Gallon as indeed most Commodities are sold by Weight The Customs payed by the Italians French and Jews outward and inward are 5 per cent the Turks themselves pay nothing the English and Dutch pay 3 per cent inward and the like outward which is payed in Specie unless the Merchant does compound with the Customer for money and further it is to be observed that besides these Customs there is by agreement payed 1 ½ per cent upon all pondrous Commodities and 1 upon all Measurable Commodities which is to be defrayed between the buyer and seller but if a Turk be one his part is remitted and this is levyed for the Maintainance of a Hospital founded by Sultan Achmet which duties are farmed by an Emine or Farmer call'd the Grand-Seigenors receiver and are most commonly payed the one half in Aspers of 80 Aspers to the Dollar and the other in Sultanies of Gold or otherwise as the Merchants and Customer can agree And thus having at large described the Trade of this great City I shall proceed to take a View of the Islands of note lying in the Egean Ionian Mediterranian and Adriatick Seas CHAP. XCII A View of the Islands in the Ionian Egean Mediterranean and Adriatick Seas with a Description of the Trade Weights Measures Coyns and Commodities of the Growth and Manufacture of the most considerable of them THe Islands in these Seas are many therefore I shall only name those of little note and insist upon the chief First then there is found the Island of Tenedos abounding with Wines The Isle of Samothracia commodious for the Harbouring Ships Lemnos from whence comes that Antidote called Terra Sigilata or Terra Lemnos then Scio or Chios abounding in Trees from which they distill Mastick which Commodities the Grand Signeour claims as his right Next the famous Island of Rhodes which by Reason of its commodious Situation in the Ocean is found to be a Place of great resort In the chief City from which the Island takes name is a considerable Mart affording Corn Wines Oyls Rasins Wax Honey Cotton Cordovants Cotton Wools and Cotton Yarn Dimities Vermilions Damask Stuffs Silks and the like being the Commodities of divers Islands in those Seas and here some Factories are maintained and the Accounts kept in Aspers of Turky and the other Coyns for the most part the same The Weight is the Rotolo 100 of which makes the Quintar or 536 pound English The Measure of Length is the Cane which is found to be 84 Inches of English The next Island that offers is the famous Island of Candia which cost the Turks so dear a purchase Therefore I shall not think it amiss to describe its Commodities Weights and Measures CHAP. XCIII A View of the Isle Candia and other Islands THe Isle of Candia is Seated in the Mouth of the Egean Sea and is now in subjection to the Grand-Signeor being exceeding Fruitful and affords considerable Commodities as Muskadels Fine-Sugars Gums Honey Wax Dates Oranges Limons Olives Rasins Corn Cattle Fish and the like containing several Cities of note as Candia from whence the Island has its name Canea Rhettmio Sittia and Suda being a Haven capable of receiving 1000 or 1500 large Vessels and before the Venetians lost it their Coyns were currant throughout the Island and their Weights the Quintars Suttle and Gross The Gross 100 of Candia rendering 110 of the like Gross Weight of Venice or 118 English pound and 100 pound Suttle of Candia 114 pound of Venice Suttle or 76 pound English The Measures of Length are the Pico's one for Cloath another for Silk and their Measure for Wine called the Mestach but the Turks have since their conquest made some alteration in the Weights Measures and Coyns which as yet are not come to my knowledge I not having been there since the reduction In the Ionian Sea are also found the Isle of Cerigo abounding with Marble the Strophades or Strivalia the Cursalari Islands and Corfue the last of which abounds in Wax Honey Oyl and Wine Stuffs Silk-Fabricks c. There is likewise found St. Mairo Ithaca Zeffalonia and Zant the 3 latter of which are famous for the Currans found growing there in abundance and from thence dispersed throughout Europe but mostly spent in England wherefore I shall somewhat inlarge in describing the Trade thereof CHAP. XCIV A View
of Zant Zeffalonia and Ithaca together with their Trade Commodities Weights Measures Coyns c. THe Commodities that these Islands principally afford are Honey Wax Oyl Wine Currans being Subject to the Signeory of Venice and hither it is that the English Trade for Currans now being of great use and from whence they yearly bring 3000 Tuns or upward which at first they bought for small matters but the Venetians seeing that Fruit so much coveted began to inquire into the use they were put to the which when they found and thereupon imagined the English could not Subsist without them the better to recover the lost Trade of Venice that State imposed a Tax of 5 Ducats upon every 1000 Weight which is since Augmented notwithstanding the Custom payed in England with this Proviso that the Currans be laden in a Vessel that comes purposely to lade that Commodity but if She Landeth her outward Fraight in Venice or ⅔ part thereof and then goeth to Lade at any of these Islands the Customs then are moderated For the Growth of these Islands the English Merchants Exchange Cloath Perpetuano's Serges Lead Tinn Herrings Newland-Fish and Pilchards tho the greatest Trade is for Spanish Ryals all the other money currant amongst the Islanders being the same with that of Venice The Natives keeping their Accounts as in Venice tho Merchants Strangers often keep theirs in Dollars which are those Ryals of 8 8 and Gassets 80 to the Dollar The Weight is the pound of 12 Ounces 100 of which pounds make the Quintar and agrees with Venice thus the 100 pound Suttle of Venice make but 63 ½ pound of these Islands and the Gross hundred of Venice renders but the common 100 pound Currans are bought by the 1000 which 1000 Weight is reckoned to make 1070 pound English tho of late by the carelesness of the Factors or defraud of the Islanders it is found much less The Measures of Length are the two Braces the long and the short the long is for Woollen and Linnen Cloath and the short for Silks the former being found 27 English Inches and the latter to be 6 in 7 per cent lesser Oyl is sold by a Measure called the Liver and is computed to weigh 13 pound English 10 of which make a Candia Barrel Wine is sold by the Jar 3 ½ of which make the Candia Barrel Corn they sell by the Bechelo 3 of which are accounted the Starro and should weigh 44 pound c. The Customs raised upon the Commodities of these Islands yearly are between 40 and 50000 Chequins of Gold which are the Income of the Signory of Venice The Islands found in the Adriatick Sea are Absertides Cherso Vegea Grissa Leliva Cursola Brassia Lissia and Zara which yield Wine Corn Oyl Cattle and the like but enjoy at this Day little or no Trade except Zara the chief of them And therefore I shall pass them over and enter the Mediterranean to take a View of the Islands Seated therein CHAP. XCV Of the Islands in the Mediterranian Sea and the Trade of the Principal of them IN the Mediterranian Sea are found these Islands viz. Sicilia Malta Corsica Sardinia Majorica and Minorica of the chief of which in order Sicilia is the chief of these Islands computed 700 Miles in circuit Fertilized with many Navigable Rivers and adorned with many fair Cities and is divided in 3 Provinces as Vallis-de-Nota Masara and Mona In this Island is found the Flaming Mount Aetna and Mount Hiblia in which is found great store of Honey but for Brevities sake I shall reduce the Trade of this Island into that of Messina the chief Port thereof which stands opposite to Regio in Calabria the Island being divided from Italy by a narrow Frith or Channel commonly called the Fare of Messina and formerly accounted dangerous for Sailors by Reason of a Rock on the one side and a Sand on the other known by the names of Scylla and Charibdis This City for some Years past has been Garisoned by the French which put a stop to Inland Commerce by Reason that the other Cities were in possession of the Spaniard but since their abandoning it the Trade is again returned many Merchants of note residing there and by Reason of its Commodiousness for the reception of Shipping it has acquired a great Trade so that hither are brought the Commodities of the whole Island as Wines Oyls Wax Honey Saffron Sugars Corral Agates Pumice Corn Cattle Hides Skins Cavear Tuny Fish and the like so that altho Palermo is the chief City and residence of the Spanish Vice-Roy yet this is the chief Scale of Trade The Merchants keep their Accounts in Ounces Tarries and Grains one Ounce making 30 Tarries and 1 Tarry 20 Grains and by the same they account their money viz. one Ounce or 30 Tarries is 5 Florins or Carlins 12 Carlins making the Florin one Tarry is accounted 12 Solds 6 Deniers or one Carline the Carline being 10 Grains or 12 Livers one Grain is 6 Picholis and is 7 ½ Dew money of Siciliano one Pancto is 8 Picholis and the Ducat of Gold is worth 13 Tarries and this money is currant throughout the Island The Weights of Messina are two viz. the Gross Cantar by which they weigh all manner of Gross Commodities the small or Suttle Cantar 10 pound less then the former and is 100 Rotolo's of 30 Ounces or 2 ½ pound Siciliano pounds the former having been found to make 196 in 198 pound English 20 Peso's being accounted the Suttle Cantar and 22 the Gross Cantar The Measure of Length is the Cane divided into 8 Palms or 81 ½ Inches London Measure The Concave Measures are the Salmo and Tomelo 16 of the latter making the former which is accounted 11 ¼ Staio's of Florence Oyl is sold by the Cantar which is 2 ¾ Barrels Florence and hath been found to render in Weight 180 pound English The Custom of this place and of the Island in general is for the most part 9 and 10 per cent upon all Sollid goods but Fish and other Edible Commodities pay 12 per cent and all Commodities of Weight imported whether they are sold or not sold pay 3 per cent at Messina and removing from Ship to Ship pays 3 per cent and sometimes 3 ¼ all Merchandise conveyed out of the Island at the Port of Messina pay 6 ⅓ per cent unless when the fair is and then according to a Custom granted some Commodities pay less then other some as for instance Silk pays but 3 per cent The Islands of Malta Corsica and Sardinia afford store of Oranges Limons Citrons Honey Wax Oyls Figs Rasins Wines Honey Allum Box-Wood Iron Hides Cheese Cattle and the like but are not much Traded too And therefore I shall forbear to describe them further Majorica and Minorica the former 300 Miles in circuit and the latter 250 are Seated in the Mediterranean 9 Miles distant from each other and abound in Corn Oyl Wine Fruits Drugs
any Goods be secretly brought into the Ship contrary to the knowledg of the Master and Purser be ejected no contribution shall be made And by the Law Marine the Master may refuse in case of ejection to deliver the remainder of the Goods before the Contribution is setled or if in a storm part of the Goods are dammaged without any neglect of the Master or Sailers such Goods for so much as they are dammaged ought to come into the contribution If two Ships meet and strike each other and if it can be proved that either of them did it willfully or by carelesness then that Ship shall satisfy the damage received by the other but if either Ships crew Swear their innocency then the dammage is to be Levyed proportionable between them if any Ejection of Goods happen by the indiscretion of the stowers in lading the Ship above the Birth mark or the like then the Master or Owners ought to make satisfaction If when a Vessel is entering a Port or otherwise part of the Goods be put into a Lighter or Ship-Boat and the Boat be cast away there Contribution must be made but if the Ship be cast away and the Lighter or Boat saved then no Contribution for note where the Ship at any time Perishes tho a great part of the Goods be saved yet they allow no Contribution If a Ship be taken by Pirates or Enemies and the Master contracts with them for the dismission of the Ship at such a Summ of money and till the same be pay'd yields himself Prisoner in that case Contribution must be levyed upon the Ship and lading for the Ransom of the said Master and so where a Pirate by consent takes part of the Goods to spare the rest Contribution must be made but if he takes them by force or at his own pleasure then no contribution is to be made unless the Merchants yield so to do after the Ship is Robbed but if taken by an Enemy Letter of Marque or Reprisal the contrary If Jewels be on Board in a Box and not discovered and they be cast overboard Contribution shall be for no more then they appeared viz. a Parcel If any thing in a storm be cast into the Sea and afterward recovered then Contribution shall be made for no more then the damage sustained The Master and Purser in case of a storm shall contribute towards Goods Ejected for the preservation of the Ship and Passenger for such Wares as they have and if they have no Wares then for their Cloaths Rings c. according to estimation Contribution is to be pay'd for a Pilots Fee for bringing a Ship safe into any Harbour where she is not bound If the Master of a Ship after he has received his Complements takes in Goods contrary to the knowledge of the Merchant and part of the Merchants Goods in case of a storm are thrown overboard then the Master is lyable to make Satisfaction If Contribution be setled and the Merchant will not consent to pay it the Master may refuse delivering the Goods and if an Action be brought he may Barr the Plaintif by pleading the special matter yet in a storm there are some Ladings which ought not to be ejected As Pieces of Ordnance Ammunition or Provisions for the relief of a City Besieged or in danger so to be for there the Law implyes that the Subject ought to prefer the good of his Prince before his own life CHAP. CXXI A View of the Port of London and of the Customs Priviledges Exemptions and Revenues of that great City according to the Charters Grants c. of several Kings of England SEeing the Port of London is the Principal Port of this Kingdom it will not be amiss to set down the Priviledges and Customs thereof and what Revenues by way of Exportation and Importation accrues to the Honourable City in order to support its Grandure First then the Port of London as by Exchequer setled and declared extends from the Promontory or Point called the North Foreland in the Isle of Thannet Thence Northward to the Nase Point beyond the Sunfleet upon the Coast of Essex and so continues Westward up the River of Thames and the several Channels Streams and Rivers falling into it to London-Bridge The usual known Rights Liberties and Priviledges to the Ports of Sandwich and Ipswich and their Members excepted and in regard that Ships did formerly come up to the Port of London and unlade in several obsure Creeks at Staires to defraud his Majesty of his Customs it was therefore ordained that a Commission should be forthwith Issued out of the Exchequer to affix and nominate all such Wharfes Keys and other places as his Majesty by virtue of such Commission should appoint in pursuance of which his Majesty has been pleased to Nominate and Constitute as Lawful Keys Wharfs c. these following for the Landing of Goods Merchandise c. viz. Brewers-Key Chestors-Key Wool-Dock Porters-Key Bear-Key Wiggons-Key Youngs-Key Ralphs-Key Smarts-Key Lyons-Key Buttolf-Wharf Hammons-Key Cocks-Key Fresh-Wharf Billingings-Gate and the Bridge-House The former of the two latter being appointed a common open place for the Landing or bringing in of Fish Salt Victuals or Fuel of all sorts Fruit of all sorts Grocery excepted all Native Materials for Building and for exporting the like but no other Merchandise and the latter viz. the Bridge-House is appointed for the Landing of Corn for the City store tho under pretence of the same several Persons at this Day Landed their proper Corn moreover there are these Keys viz. the Custom-House Key some Stairs on the West side whereof are declared not to be places for Lading or Shipping of Goods Sabs-Dock has a pair of Stares not held Lawful for the Landing or lading of Merchandise The like has Dice-Key Summers-Key and Gaunts-Key tho otherwise allowable Therefore it is to be supposed those Stairs that are accepted against were built for Conveniency since the declaring them free places of lading and Landing Merchandise These Keys Wharfs and Docks yearly produce a great Income to the City of London by Scavage Portage Packing and Water-Bailage As first Scavage being an Ancient Toll or Custom taken by the Majors Sherifs c. for Wares shewed or offered to Sail within their Precincts consists of two parts viz. that which is payable by the Denizen that which is payable by the Alien or Stranger and that all Persons Subject to such Duties may not be imposed on by such as take them there are Tables mentioning each particular set up and approved of by the Lord Chancellor Treasurer President Steward and two Justices of the Common-Pleas and by them Subscribed or some four of them at least and are to be levyed on Goods inwards and outwards As all Goods mentioned in the Table of Scavage and not included in the Table of Rates shall pay after the rate of one penny in the pound according as they are expressed or valued in his Majesties Book of rates and
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