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
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
Wheathamstead chiefly noted for the birth of John of Wethamstead a profound Philosopher Other places Hertfordshire noted for famous men Ware for Richard de Ware Treasurer of England under Edward the first and William de Ware who was Scotus his Teacher and flourisht under King Henry the third Baldock for Ralph Baldock created Bishop of London by King Edward the first Rudburn for Thomas Rudburn Bishop of St Davids who flourisht An. 1419. Helmstedbury for Sir Edward Waterhouse Chancellour of the Exchequer in Ireland under Queen Elizabeth Gatesden for John de Gatesden who flourisht An. 1420. Hamstead for Daniel Dike Cottered for Edward Symonds Gorham-berry for Sir Nicholas Bacon Nor may we here omit other eminent men of this Shire viz. Sir Henry Cary a great Souldier in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth by whom he was created Baron of Hunsden and Lord Chamberlain John Boucher Baron Berners And of learned men Alexander Nequam who died An. 1227. Nicholas Gorham who flourisht An. 1400. Roger Hutchinson Thomas Cartwright and Hugh Legat. In Norfolk the chief City and Episcopal See Norwich seems to have sprung out of the ancient Venta of the Romans and is chiefly Famous for its sufferings having been sackt and burnt by the Danes in the year 1004. And in the Conquerours time reduc't to utmost exigence for siding with Earl Radulph against the said King William The Cathedral was Founded by Herbert who translating the Bishoprick ftom Thetford to Norwich was the first Bishop of Norwich Thetford the ancient Sitomagus of the Romans is a place of much remark for antiquity It was the Royal Seat of the Kings of the East-Angles and the unfortunate place where King Edmund the Martyr was overthrown by the Danes The Bishoprick which is now of Norwich was translated from Elmham to Thetford in the Reign of King William the Conquerour Lyn a Sea Port Town was made Liber Burgus and honoured with the gift of a rich Cup by King John and had their Charter inlarg'd by King Henry the third for their good Service against the Outlawed Barons and in King Henry the eighth's time other priviledges were added and the name changed from Lyn Episcopi to Lyn Regis Yarmouth boasts the antiquity of its foundation from the time of the Danes Elmham is considerable for having been a Bishops See for several Ages first divided with Dunwich in Suffolk next sole till it was translated to Thetford thence to Norwich In Sussex the City Chichester boasts the Foundation of Cissa the second King of the South-Saxons and had the Bishoprick translated thither in King William the Conquerours time from Selsey which till then had been the Episcopal See Lewis a Town little if ought inferiour to Chichester is sufficiently of name in History as having been one of the places appointed by King Athelstan for the Coinage of his Mony and for the strong Castle built by Earl William de Warren Here also was a bloody battel fought between King Henry the third and his Barons in which the King receiv'd a cruel Overthrow Pensey a little Sea Town but great in Story as the Landing place of King William the Conquerour when by one Victorious battle he gain'd the Crown of England with the slaughter of King Harold and his two Brothers Leofwin and Goroh and about 67000 men Hastings being the Town near which this successful held was fought hath gotten so much the greater name and the very place of fight retains to this day the name of Battle-field Buckstead a place in some respect of as great note as any hath been nam'd For here in the thirty fifth year of King Henry the eight the first Great Iron Guns that ever were cast in England were cast by Peter Baude and Ralph Hage In Cambridge-Shire the Town of Cambride is of too high a renown for its many Halls and Colledges the habitations of the Muses richly indow'd for the advancement and incouragement of Learning to be here pass't by and too well taken notice of and describ'd by others to be longer insisted on Eli the Bishops Seat and denominating City of the Diocess is said to have been built by one Audry who was first wife of one Tombret Prince of these parts and afterwards of Egbert King of Northumberland from whom departing She here betook her self to a devout life and built a most stately Monastery of which She her self became the first Abbess This place is also recordable for the Birth of several Learned men viz. Andrew Willet who died An. 1621. Sir Thomas Ridly Dr. of the Laws who died An. 1629. Richard Parker who died here An. 1624. Everton in this Shire gave Birth to John Tiptoft Son of John Lord Tiptoft Earl of Worcester and Lord High Constable of England Triplow is memorable by the Birth of Elias Rubens a Writer of grand repute who flourisht An. 1266. Everden gave both Birth and Sirname to John Eversden another learned Writer Of this County were also Matthew Paris and Sir John Cheek Tutor to King Edward the sixth and Richard Wethershet who flourisht in the year 1350. At Caxton was born William thence Sirnamed Caxton the first Printer in England Wisbich brought forth Richard Hocloet a man eminent for Learning An. 1552. Linton is only note-worthy for the Birth of Richard Richardson one of the Translatours of the Bible who deceas't An. 1621. Milton as 't is generally believ'd gave birth to Thomas Goad a Writer of good note Mildred brought forth Andrew Mervail Minister of Hull a Learned Father of a Learned and Witty Son for so was that Andrew who died but a few years since he was a Member in the late long Parliament for the Town of Hull a man of very acute parts had he not fail'd in his affection to the Government as several of his Writings testifie Of this County were Michael Dalton a Learned Writer and also Edward Norgate In Huntington-Shire St Neots so call'd from Neotus a Holy and Learned man is memorable for the defeat given to the Earl of Holland by the Parliament Forces in the late Civil Wars An. 1648. as also for being the Birth-place of two eminent men viz. Francis White Bishop of Ely and Hugh thence Sirnamed of St Neots who deceas't Anno 1340. Godmanchester qu. Gormoncester from Gormon the Dane is concluded to have been the Old Durisiponte of the Romans and some think from the nearness of the name the same with Gunicester where Macutus had his Bishoprick At this Godmanchester was born a man who made too much noise in the world to be forgotten Stephen Marshal one of the chief of those Zealous Trumpetters of the late times who from the Pulpit stirr'd up to War and Bloodshed in the Name of the Lord. At St Ives was born Roger thence Sirnam'd of St Ives who flourisht An. 1420. At Cunnington the Learned Antiquary Sir Robert Cotton Moreover from Huntington the Capital place of this Shire sprung two very famous men Gregory of Huntington who died An. 1610. and Henry
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
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
Manners and Customs thereof together with the Description of their Currant Coyns Weights Measures c. ASia Earths third Portion is divided from Africa by the Red Sea and Egyptian Isthmus and from Europe by the Egean Propontis and Euxian Sea by Palus Meotis Tunais Duina c. and is divided into these Regions or Provinces viz. Anatolia Syria Palestina Armenia Arabia Media Assyria Mesopotamia Chaldea Persia Parthia Tartaria China India And the Islands of the Sea Anatolia or Natolias is bounded on the East with Euphrates on the West with Thracius Bosphorus Propontis the Hellespont and Egean on the North Propontis Euxinus and on the South bounded with the Rhodian and Lycian Seas In this Province Smyrna is the chief City of Trade therefore passing over those of less note I shall Center the Trade of the whole Province in that one City Smyrna the City to which the Church of which St. John directed his Revelation is Seated at the Bottom of a Gulgh called the Gulph of Smyrna where resides an English Consul and the like for the French and Venetians The Principal Trade having been lately removed from Scio thither by Reason of the advantagious Harbour for Shipping This City is under the Government of the Grand Signeur and is Inhabited by all Nations but especially Traded to by the English French and Venetians The Commodities found there which are brought by the Arabians Persians and other Merchants of Asia and sold to the Christian Traders in that Port are Cotton Wools Galls Anniseeds Wax Cordovant Cottons wrought Grogram Yarn Cute Carpets Grograms Chamblets Mohairs Fruits Drugs and store of Persian Silk which is brought on Camels and Dromidaries by Land for which they receive of our Merchants in Exchange Suffolk Essex and Glocester Cloaths Yorkshire and Hampshire Kersies Lead Tinn Pepper Calicoes Indico Cloves Cinnamon and the like which Spices were formerly the growth of those Countries but in the intestine Wars the Trees for the most part destroyed and now supplyed by our Merchants being brought from India The Venetians Trade with them for Pepper Cloath wrought Silk Velvets and the French bring thither Cloath Paper and Bullion the latter of which they convert to Coyn Stamped with the Effigies and Motto of the Grand Signeour for the most part and the same with what is currant all over his Empire which when I come to take a View of Constantinople and the Trade thereof I shall describe The Weights in use is the Quintar which contains 100 Rotolos or 24 Oaks which are found to be 400 Drams They have likewise the Lodoro being 176 Drams and the Pound Averdupois has appeared to be 148 Drams and the Quintar of 42 Oaks to be 119 pound English tho sometimes but 117. Their Measures are two viz. one for Linnen and the other for Woollen to which as before in the Weights I shall refer the Reader to those of Constantinople they being in effect the same The Custom-House of Smyrna is for the most part farmed of the Grand Signeour and three per cent only taken of the English Merchants unless upon Extraordinary occasions and altho there has been an Edict Published by the Grand Signeour that no Goods paying in one Port of his Dominious and brought into an other Port shall pay any more duty yet it is not observed but the Merchants are obliged to compound with the Customers upon that occasion But this Custom of 3 per cent is only to the English by virtue of their Treaty for the French Dutch and Venetians pay 5 per cent The charges of the Port for Ships before they can be cleared are sometimes pay'd in Commodities and sometimes in Money as they can agree and the most part are thus To the Cadie 5 Pico of Venetian Cloath and Cony Skins to leave it To the Cadies Servant 3 ½ Picos English Cloath to the Cadies Caya 3 Picos of what Cloath he shall chuse to the Cadies Scrivan a Chicquen in Gold To the Cadies Page 2 ½ Dollars to the Mosier Bashaw 1 ½ Picos of Cloath to the Cadies Janizaries a Chicquen in Gold all of which is commonly accounted to be worth 68 or 69 Dollars But to conclude the Trade of this Port is most in request for the abundance of Cotton which grows in the adjacent parts after this manner about the Spring of the Year it is sowed and comes up with a Slender Stalk like Wheat but strong as a Cane and bears a Bearded Head exceeding hard but when Ripe it opens of it self and yields both Seed and Cotton the first of which they Preserve to Sow again and the latter they sell to the English and French to the quantity yearly of 20000 Quintals CHAP. XXX A View of Syria and the Trade thereof SYria is bounded with the Mediterranean Sea on the West on the East with Euphrates on the South with Palestine and on the North with Cilicia and contains 3 Provinces viz. Phaenicia Caelosyria and Syrophaenicia In Phaenicia are Principally found the Cities of Acria and Sidon where the chief Trade and Commerce is with the Venetians and French who Traffick with the Inhabitants for Corn Galls Wool and Wax and in the lieu thereof give them Spices and Europian Cloath Their Weights are the Cantar of Acria which makes 603 pound English and the Rottolo which is 4 pound 5 ½ Ounces English and 650 Drams Their Measures are the Brace with which they Measure their Cloath and other Commodities Their Coyns especially theirs of Sidon and the Ryals of 8 ◠Spanish and Chickqeens of Gold the Ryal going currant for 70 Aspers and the Chickqeens at 108 but seldom continue long at a setled value and thus much for the Province of Phaenicia Syrophaenicia contains the City of Baruti formerly called Julia Felix once a City of great Trade but of late reduced to straiter Limits and little Trade all they have with Europe is from the Venetians Their Commodities are Wax Drugs some Silks and such like Commodities common to Asia Their Weights is the Cantar containing 100 Rotolo's each Rotolo being accounted 502 pound English Their Measure is the Pico 100 containing 86 Venetian Braces Their Trade for the most parts is with the Merchants of Arabia Persia and Turky who bring thither their Merchandise at certain Seasons when the Carravan sets out not otherwise daring to venture for fear of the Rovers that Rob in great Troops The chief Metropolis of Caelosyria is Damascus which is the Principal Scale of Trade in that Province Therefore so that in describing the Trade of that the rest will be included CHAP. XXXI A View of Damascus of the Trade Weights Measures and Currant Coyn thereof DAmascus is Accounted the Head of Syria and is pleasantly Seated abounding in all manner of plenty as Grapes Corn Cattle Cottons Saffron Steel Raw Silk Oyl Honey Wax Balsom Almonds Dates and Rice which are all the growth of the Country and brought thither by the Merchants as the chief Mart for which they
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