the Night at Sun-set which is according to the old Babylonian Account The Old Style is used in England as in most Protestant States and the New Style in all Popish States According to this Style these reckon ten Days before us regularly as to the beginning of Months and all fixt Festivals but for all moveable Feasts the Account proves various The Old Style is otherwise called the Julian Account from Julius Caesar who 43 Years before our Saviours Birth ordained the Year to consist of 365 Days and 6 â—ours And as these 6 hours at 4 Years end make up 24 hours therefore a Day is then added to the Month of February and that Year called Leap Year or Bissextile Year from the Latine Bissextilis The New Style is otherwise termed the Gregorian Account from Pope Gregory XIII who above 100 Years ago undertook to correct the Calendar by the advice and direction of Antonius Lilius and other excellent Mathematicians For tho the Julian Account for many Ages seemed to have no sensible Errour yet it was at last discovered to be not altogether agreeable with the natural Motion of the Sun In short it was made out that the Julian Year exceeded the true Solar Year by 10 Minutes and 48 Seconds whereby the Equinoxes and Solstices yearly changed their places and flew back so many minutes and seconds Therefore Pope Gregory ordered the Year to consist of 365 Days 5 hours 49 minutes 12 seconds And that the Vernal Equinox which then was on the 11th of March might be reduced to the 21th as it was at the time of the first Nicene Council he commanded ten Days in October to be left out by calling the fifth Day thereof the fifteenth To find Easter the Church of England observes still the Cycle found out and finished in the sixth Century by that worthy Roman Dionysius Exiguus or Abas Whereas the Roman Church having invented new Rules about Easter it happens sometimes that their Easter is full five Weeks before ours sometimes with but never after ours CHAP. III. Of the English Way of Living as to Lodging Fewel Food Raiment Exercise Recreations and some particular Customs WHen I compare the Modern English Way of Building with the Old Way I cannot but wonder at the Genius of old Times Nothing is more delightful and convenient than Light nothing more agreeable to health than a free Air. And yet of old they used to dwell in Houses most with a blind Stair-case low Cielings and dark Windows the Rooms built at random often with Steps from one to another So that one would think the Men of former Ages were afraid of Light and good Air or loved to play at Hide and Seek Whereas the Genius of our time is altogether for lightsom Stair-Cases fine Sash-Windows and lofty Cielings And such has been of late our Builders Industry in point of Compactness and Uniformity that a House after the new Way will afford upon the same Quantity of Ground as many more Conveniences The Contrivance of Closets in most Rooms and the painted Wainscotting now so much used are also two great Improvements the one for Conveniency the other for Cleanness and Health And indeed for so damp a Country as England is nothing could be better contrived than Wainscot to keep off the ill Impression of damp Walls In short for handsom Accommodations and Neatness of Lodgings London undoubtedly has got the preeminence The greatest Objection against the London-Houses being for the most part Brick is their Slightness occasioned by the Fines exacted by the Landlords So that few Houses at the common rate of Building last longer than the Ground-Lease that is about 50 or 60 Years In the mean time if there happens to be a long fit of excessive Heat in Summer or Cold in Winter the Walls being but thin become at last so penetrated with the Air that the Tenant must needs be uneasy with it But those Extreams happen but seldom And this Way of Building is wonderful beneficial to all Trades relating to it for they never want Work in so great a City where Houses here and there are always repairing or building up again The plaistered Cielings so much used in England beyond all other Countries make by their Whiteness the Rooms so much lightsomer and are excellent against a raging Fire They stop the passage of Dust and lessen the Noise over-head In Summer-time the Air of the Room is something the cooler for 't and the warmer in Winter The Use of Stoves so common in Northern Countries as Germany Denmark Sueden Poland and Moscovy and even so far Southward as Swisserland is in a manner unknown in this Country And indeed its Temperateness does no way require it Therefore the English use no outward Remedy against Cold Weather but a Chimney-Fire which is both comfortable to the Body and chearful to the Sight 'T is true there is a double Conveniency in Stoves First in point of Savingness for once heating of a Stove in the Morning keeps the Room warm a whole Day Secondly in Point of Warmth the Room being so warm with it that all Places in it feel the benefit thereof But those two Conveniences are more than over-ballanced by one Inconveniency viz. the aptness of Stoves to gather and foment all the noisom Smells of a Room for want of Vent which must needs be very unwholsom whereas a Chimney-fire draws 'em to it and there they find vent with the Smoak To that Inconveniency we may add the chilling Impressions of a cold and sharp Air upon ones coming into it out of so warm a Room as commonly Stove-rooms are Besides the Cumbersomness of Stoves in Summer-time when being altogether useless they take up a great deal of room to no purpose As for Fewel England affords three Sorts Wood Coals and Turves but Coals is the most common in London especially where they have 'em by Sea from Newcastle and Sunderland A lasting sort of Fewel being a mixture of small and round Coals together which by their aptness to cake is the most durable of any and for Kitchin Use far beyond Wood it self as yielding not only a more even but more piercing Heat The Smoak of it is indeed grosser and of a corrosive nature but yet nothing so offensive to the Eye whatever it is to the Lungs as some pretend it to be In many Parts of the Country they have Pit-coals which is a cleaner and more chearful Fewel but not so durable as Sea-coals But the Cheapness of these at London in Time of Peace is worth taking notice where for so small a matter as two or three pence a Day one may keep a constant moderate Fire from Morning till Bed-time Which is a mighty Advantage to so vast and populous a Place especially considering it comes 300 miles by Sea And whatever the Parisians can say to the praise of their Wood-fires I dare say the common sort of People there would be glad could they compass it to change in
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE XXX RR IE MAINTIENDRAI THE NEW STATE OF ENGLAND BRITANNIA I Sturt Sculp in ye Old Change THE New State OF ENGLAND Under Their MAJESTIES K. William and Q. Mary In THREE PARTS CONTAINING I. A Geographical Description of England in General and of every County in Particular with Usefull and Curious Remarks II. An Account of the Inhabitants their Original Genius Customs Laws Religion and Government of Their Present Majesties Their Court Power Revenues c. III. A Description of the several Courts of Judicature Viz. the High Court of Parliament Privy Council and all other Courts With a Catalogue of the present Officers in Church and State By G. M. LONDON Printed by H.C. for Ionathan Robinson at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church-yard 1691. To the Most Honourable THOMAS Marquess of CAERMARTHEN Earl of DANBY Viscount LATIMER Baron OSBORN OF KIVETON Lord President of His Majesties Most Honourable PRIVY-COUNCIL And Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter This New State of England is humbly Dedicated by the Author TO THE READER 'T IS the late Revolution that has given birth to this new Piece of Work a New Face of Things required a New State of England And of all the Changes this Kingdom has gone through as this was the most sudden so it is the most wonderfull To see Popery in so few days crowing upon the Throne and groaning under its Ruins but t'other day upon the Pinnacle and now stunned with its sudden Fall is such a Change as may deserve the Admiration of this and future Ages In short such is our present Settlement upon Their Majesties happy Accession to the Crown that the Popish Party may assoon see a Protestant Pope of Rome as a Popish King of England Now to make this Work the more acceptable and usefull to the Publick I have divided it into three several Parts In the First you have a particular Description of ENGLAND in its several Counties of every County-Town with the Distance and the common Road to it from London the Metropolis and of all other Places of note in each County Here you have particularly a List of the Market-Towns in every Shire with the Days pointed when their Markets are kept also an account of most other Remarkable Things either of Nature or Art Besides the Honours or Noblemens Titles from Counties Cities Towns Mannors c. And the Number of Men each City or Borough sends to serve in Parliament I conclude this Part with a particular Description of London Oxford and Camidge London as the Capital City of England the Seat of its Monarchs and the Center of Trade Oxford and Cambridge as being the two famous Vniversities of the Land and the glorious Seats of the Muses The Second Part treats of the INHABITANTS of England their Complexion Temper Genius Language c. Of the English Way of Living Commerce Laws Religion and Government Of the King of England and the Royal Family particularly of the present King WILLIAM and Queen MARY with a brief Relation of their Accession to the Crown and the Vnreasonableness of the Disaffected Party under their Government Of Their Majesties Court Forces and Revenues Of the Queen Dowager the Prince and the Princess of Denmark Of the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty Of the Episcopal Dignify'd and Inferiour Clergy And lastly of Women Children and Servants All of them with their respective Priviledges The Third and last Part is about the COURTS of JUDICATURE Viz. The High Court of Parliament with a large Account of their Proceedings Orders Debates Passing of Bills and Acts c. Of the Privy-Council and there particularly of the Principal Secretaries of State Of the Chancery Kings-Bench Common Pleas Exchequer Dutchy of Lancaster and all other Courts To which is annexed a Catalogue of the chief Persons of the Realm both in Church and State Magistrates and Officers Civil and Military Who being subject to Change though the Offices continue the same I thought it improper to mix Certainties and Vncertainties together Therefore I chose rather to place the Officers together by themselves as I have done here than to have them dispersed where I speak of their Offices And from this Method you will reap this Conveniency that by Interleaving of the Catalogue only you may fill up Vacancies as they become void Thus you have as it were a Scheme of the whole Drift of this Book The Foundation whereof is that Ingenious Piece De Republica Anglorum written in Latin by Sir Thomas Smith Improved as you see and fitted to the present Times The Matter of it self is of a general Vse both for English and Foreiners and the Variety so great that it cannot but be Pleasant and Vsefull to the Reader THE TABLE For the First PART This Table contains the Names of the Towns and Cities Hills Islands Meers and Rivers and other Curiosities mentioned in the first Part of this Book And for such as desire only to know what County any of them lies in the Table it self will give them that Satisfaction without any further Trouble it being so contrived that it is in a manner a Geographical Dictionary for England A ABberforth in Yorks 259 Abbey-holm in Cumb 49 Abbey of Westminster 317 Abbots-bury in Dors 67 Abergavenny in Mon. 148 149 Advantages of England 7 Agmundesham in Buck. 30 Ailesbury in Buck. 30 31 Air of England 13 Alborough in Suffolk 204 208 Aldborough in Yorks 273 Aldermen of London 324 Alford in Lincolns 136 140 Alfreton in Derbysh 57 Alisford in Hampsh 95 Almondbury in Yorks 264 Alnewick in Northumb 168 170 Alney-Isle in Gloc. 87 Alston-Moor in Cumb. 49 Altrincham in Chesh 39 Ambleside in Westm 238 Amersbury in Wilts 246 247 Ampthill in Bedf. 27 28 Andover in Hamps 95 96 Antiquity of Oxf. and Cambr. 350 Appleby in Westm 238 Appledore in Kent 112 Are a Yorks River 256 Arrow a River of Heref. 103 Artillery Company in London 329 Arun a Sussex River 224 Arundel in Sussex 225 227 Ashbourn in Derbysh 57 Ashburton in Devonsh 61 Ashby in Leicest 131 Ashford in Kent 112 Aspley in Bedf. 28 Atherston in Warw. 234 235 Attlebury in Norf. 153 Auburn in Wiltsh 246 Aukland in the Bishoprick of Durham 76 77 Aulcester in Warw. 234 Avon the Name of several Rivers 85 92 c. Axebridge in Somers 192 194 Axholm an Isle in Lincolns 139 Axminster in Dev. 61 B BAkewell in Derbysh 57 Baldock in Hartf 100 Bampton in Oxf. 178 179 Banbury in Oxf. 178 179 Banquetting House at Whitehall 316 Barkin in Essex 81 BARKSHIRE 22 Barnesly in Yorks 259 Barnet in Hartf 100 102 Barnstaple in Dev. 61 63 Barnwel in Linc. 136 Barristers in Lond. 304 Barton in Linc. 136 139 Barwick in Northumb. 168 Basingstoke in Hamps 95 96 Bath in Somers 189 Battel in Sussex 225 228 Battersea in Surrey 221 Bautrey in Yorks 259 Beaconfield in Buck. 30 32 Beckles in Suffolk 204 209 Bedal in Yorks 273 Bedford 26
in Staffordshire and from thence runs through Darbyshire Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire where it falls into the Humber not far from Hull It waters in its course these three chief Places Nottingham Newark and Gainsborough The Humber is a Yorkshire River if that can be called a distinct River which has no Spring of its own but is more properly a Compound or rather a Mouth of several Rivers joyning into one Stream especially the Trent and the York Ouse the Dun and the Darewent The Town of Hull is seated upon it before which Place it widens it self much like the Severn at its Mouth to a great breadth and so falls into the Sea The Tees is another River of the North parting Yorkshire from the Bishoprick of Durham and running from West to East into the Sea The Tine famous for its Coal-trade parts for some Miles Durham from Northumberland running likewise from West to East Seaward by Newcastle therefore called Newcastle upon Tine The Twede is the furthest River Northward and that which parts England from Scotland At the Influx whereof into the Sea is seated Barwick called from this River Barwick upon Twede But besides these principal Rivers and many others of less note though several of them Navigable I cannot but mention those pleasant Rivulets and Brooks which are so numerous in this Country Whose clear and swift-running Streams add much to the Beauty and Fruitfulness of it CHAP. III. Of the Air of ENGLAND It s Temperateness and the Effects of it BY the Situation of ENGLAND so far North as it is one would think the Air should be pretty sharp here and at least colder than in France which lies South from it Whereas it is so Temperate Winter and Summer that the Winters are milder here and the Summers much more moderate In Winter-time the warm Vapours of the Sea on every side do so thicken the Air that it cannot so soon penetrate as the thin Air of hot Countries In Summer the frequent Interposition of Clouds often dissolving into Rain and the usual Blasts from the Sea allay those excessive Heats which both hot and cold Climates are troubled with in that Season for want of Wind and Rain Thus ENGLAND has the happiness of being seldom tired either with a long Frost in Winter or Drought in Summer On the contrary while Continents in the same Latitude and some of a much more Southern Situation ly under Snow pinched with a hard Frost it happens often that our Fields are here cloathed with Grass as in the Spring And whilst the Sun in Summer scorches the Plants and the Inhabitants themselves of hot Climates here it shines so kindly that it does but warm us by a moderate Heat which makes the Country so plentiful both of Corn and Pasture 'T is true on the other side the Air is nothing so pure nor the Weather so serene or regular as it is in Continents Most part of the Winter ENGLAND is under a Cloud often stuffed up with Fogs troubled with rainy Weather and except there happens a Frost but seldom injoying the Sun in its splendour Whence proceed those frequent Colds which are in a manner the original Cause of most of our Distempers and from the frequency of Rain Land-floods which drown the Countries where the Rivers swell out of their Channels and break over their Banks And yet as rainy as this Country is we seldom see here such impetuous Showers or rather Storms of Rain as hot Countries are subject to which often drown the fairest Hopes of the Husbandman For if they have Rain but seldom they have it by the great and sometimes with a Vengeance Whereas in England where it is more frequent it proves most commonly a gentle soaking Rain But there is another Inconveniency in the Weather here and that is its Changeableness and Irregularity according to the Wind that blows Which happens sometimes to be so frequent and sudden that in the space of 24 hours I have observed four different sorts of Weather proper enough for the four Seasons of the Year This I confess is an extraordinary Case But however such is the Mutableness of the Weather that it seldom holds out many Days in the same degree either of Warmth Coldness or Driness And of all Times of the Year the Month of March is the most subject to Change witness the usual Expression March Many-weather And yet this may be said for Changeableness of Weather that it creates Diversion by its Variety What is more comfortable in Winter than a warm Day after a fit of cold Weather and a cool Day in Summer after a fit of hot Weather The quickest and most refined Pleasures grow dull by their Continuance but Change sets an edge upon ' em And as glorious as the Sun appears in its greatest splendour I have oftentimes been weary of its undiscontinued Appearance for a long time together On the other side ENGLAND is nothing near so subject to Hail to Thunder and Lightning or to the Heavens darting of Thunderbolts as many other Regions which are frequently alarmed with those dreadful Meteors And if Nature be somewhat too prodigal of Moisture in this Country she is on the other side as careful to cure it Scarce a fit of Rain is over but comes a fit of Wind to dry up the Moisture and purify the Air. So that the most part of the Year is commonly divided betwixt these two Gods of the Heathens Jupiter and Aeolus The Wind that reigns most in ENGLAND is the Westerly Wind which blows from the vast Western Ocean perhaps three parts in four of the Year But when I say a Westerly Wind I don't mean only that which blows directly from the Cardinal Point but all the Collateral Points from South to North. An Easterly Wind especially in the Spring is lookt upon here to be fatal to Plants and if the Proverb be true to Man and Beast For high Winds and tempestuous Weather we have here two Times of the Year seldom free from it And those are the two Equinoxes in September and March But for Hurricanes and Earthquakes England of all the Countries in Europe is the least subject to ' em The Storm indeed which hapned on the 12th of January last was so very violent blew with such impetuous Gusts and proved so mischievous that it may pass for an Hurricane But it was such as the like has not been known here within the Memory of Man In short whatever be the Disadvantages of ENGLAND in point of Air in respect to other Countries the same is sufficiently countervailed by the Sweetness and Comforts of it as 't will further appear by the insuing Chapter CHAP. IV. Of the Products of ENGLAND both from the Land and Water and the Fruitfulness thereof 'T IS said of Henry the Seventh one of the wisest Kings that ever sat upon the Throne of England but whose Breeding had been low and private That being once pressed by some of his Council to pursue his
Civil Affairs by a MAYOR with the Title of Lord prefixt given to no Mayor in England but that of London and of late to the Mayor of York In the Time of the Romans he was called Prefect of London in the Saxons time Port-greeve and sometimes Provost of London and after the Coming in of the Normans Bayliff 'T was King Richard I who in the Year 1189 being the first of his Reign changed the Name of Bayliff into that of Mayor a French Word originally which has continued ever since This great and mighty Magistrate is yearly chosen by the Citizens upon Michaelmas Day the 29th of September The Body out of which he is chosen are the 26 Aldermen all Persons of great Wealth and Wisdom at least ought so to be Those that chuse him are first the Livory-men or Members of the several Companies of Tradesmen within the City and at last the Aldermen which is done in this manner First the Livery-Men do usually put up four Candidates out of which they chuse two by the Plurality of Voices and out of these two the Court of Aldermen select whom they think fit And though they be free in their Choice yet commonly they have a regard for the Senior Alderman that has not been Lord Mayor and give him the Precedence The Mayor Elect being Proclaimed is sworn first at Guildhall and afterwards at Westminster There he swears to maintain the Priviledges of the People and here to be True to the King The Installation-Day is the 29th of October a Month after the Election The Solemnity of which Day upon his Account is so great that no Magistrate in Europe appears with so much state and grandure as the Mayor of London upon his Installation First he go's by water to Westminster in his Barge of state accompanied with the Aldermen in all their Formalities with their Scarlet Robes and Chains of gold hanging before their Breasts The Twelve Companies also in their several Barges â—et out with their Arms Colours and Screamers on both sides attend him in their furred Gowns In his way he is saluted from the Shore with the noise of great Guns and as he passes by Whitehall the King from thence viewing the Solemnity gives him and his Brethren a Mark of his Respect At last being landed at Westminster Bridge the several Companies march in order to their Hall and after them the Mayor and Aldermen with the Sword and Mace before them the Sword-bearer with his Cap of Maintenance on his head At their Entrance into the Hall the Hall is Intertained with the harmonious Musick of a Set of Hoboys marching in order before them and playing all the Way First they walk round the Hall where they pay their respects to each Court of Judicature and from the Hall they proceed to the Exchequer-Chamber where the New Lord Mayor is Sworn by the Barons This done they walk again in Procession round the Hall to invite the several Judges of each Court to Dinner at Guildhall And after this the whole Procession returns in the same manner by Water to Black-Friars From whence the Lord Mayor and Aldermen make their Cavalcade to Guildhall all mounted upon Horses richly Caparisoned the Livery-Men marching before in good order And now the Artillery men make their best appearance with their Buff-coats and Head-pieces But the most diverting Sight is that of the Pageants here and there in motion to divert the Spectators At last a most splendid Dinner to which besides the Judges many of the great Lords and Ladies the Privy Counsellours the forein Embassadors and oftentimes the King and Queen are invited concludes the Solemnity Such is the Magnificence of the Lord Mayor of London though always a Citizen and Tradesman being a Member of one of the 12 Companies Who for his great Dignity is usually Knighted by the King before the Year of his Mayoralty be expired unless he had received that Honour before whilst he was an Alderman as of late has been â—shal His Authority reaches not only all over this great City and part of the Suburbs except some particular Places but also on the Thames as far as the Mouth of it and Westward as far as Stanes-Bridge And so great is his Power that he may cause any Person inhabiting within London or the Liberties thereof to be Summoned to appear before him upon the Complaint of any Citizen and for Non-appearance may grant his Warrant to bring such Person before him For he has Power to determine Differences between Party and Party His Attendance whilst he is a Mayor is very considerable For besides his proper Servants first he has four principal Officers that wait on him as Lord Mayor who are reputed Esquires by their Places And those are the Sword-bearer the Common Hunt the Common Crier and the Water-Bayliff whose Places are very advantageous and purchased when vacant at a great rate from the Lord Mayor for the time being Besides them there is the Coroner 3 Sergeants Carvers 3 Sergeants of the Chamber 1 Sergeant of the Channel 4 Yeomen of the Waterside 1 Vnder Water-Bayliff 2 Yeomen of the Chamber 3 Meal-Weighers 2 Yeomen of the Wood-Wharf and several others Most of which have Servants allowed them with Livories Among which the Sword-bearer has a 1000 l. a Year allowed him for his Table in the Lord Mayor's House When he appears abroad on horseback which is his usual Appearance 't is with rich Caparison and always in long Robes sometimes of fine Scarlet-Cloth richly furred sometimes Purple and sometimes Puke with a black Velvet Hood over his Robes and a great Chain of Gold with a rich Jewel to it hanging from his Neck downwards Attended by several Officers walking before and on both sides of him He keeps an open Table all the Year to all Comers of any quality and so well furnished that it is always fit to receive the greatest Subject of England or of any other Potentate He has a Priviledge to hunt not only in Middlesex but also in Essex and Surrey and for this purpose has a Kennel of Hounds always maintained On the King's Coronation-Day he claims to be the chief Butler and bears the King's Cup among the highest Nobles of the Kingdom which serve on that Day in other Offices And upon the King's Death he is said to be the prime Person of England Therefore when King James I was invited to come and take the Crown of England Robert Lee then Mayor of London subscribed in the first place before all the Officers of the Crown and all the Nobility One Thing is observable which hapned not long since I mean four Mayors the City had in little more than half a Year viz. Sir John Shorter Sir John Eyles Sir John Chapman and Sir Thomas Pilkington For upon the Death of the first in September 1688 Sir John Eyles was made Lord Mayor and in October following the Charter being restored Sir John Chapman was chosen Lord Mayor Who dying in March following
that Order and Henry III. Anno 1253. commanded Watches to be kept in Cities and Boroughs for the Preservation of Peace and Quietness among his Subjects Therefore there are in the respective Streets of London to this day convenient Stations for the Watchmen who are to examine all Persons walking in unseasonable Hours and to secure till next Day such as are either suspicious or riotous And then they bring them before a Justice of Peace who deals with them according to the Merit of the Cause Thus Murders Robberies Felonies Fires and other Evils are oftentimes prevented which could not be avoided in so great and populous a Place where a great many wicked People ly lurking for Mischief This Duty of Watching is commonly performed by Men hired for that purpose and paid for 't by the Citizens under the Command of a Constable assisted by the Eeadle of the Parish In case of a publick Riot the King usually sends a Party of his Gards to suppress it and if occasion requires part of the Militia is raised But to draw to a Conclusion if we cast our Eyes upon the vast Traffick and Commerce whereby this Place is become so flourishing it will every where afford matter of Admiration The same does plainly appear by the Customs yearly paid for all Merchandise Imported and Exported by the great Wealth of many Citizens by the infinite Number of Shops both in the City and Suburbs for the Retailing Trade and lastly by the incredible Abundance of Apprentices which are here brought up to all manner of Trades The Customs for this City alone tho' very moderate in comparison of most other Places in Europe did lately amount to near 400000 l. a Year The Wealth of the Citizens so vast that some of 'em for great Estates in Mony c. excel some Princes beyond Sea and live accordingly in great state and plenty few so penuriously as most of the Dutch Merchants do The Number of Shops both in the City and Suburbs so great and indeed so far beyond that of any foreiâ— City that it is to Strangers a just Matter of Amazement Proportionable to which is That of the Apprentices reckoned to be at least forty thousand Now this great Trade of the Londoners runs into three several Streams 1. among themselves 2 in the Country and 3 beyond Sea of which in my second Part. Only I shall observe here that the vast Trade of this Place has chiefly occasioned that great Appearance in it of Pictures in the Air a Thing taken particular notice of at the first view by Strangers I mean the Multitude of Signs which hang before the Houses many of them very rich and costly and all together yielding a fine Prospect But on the other side its frequent Dirt in Winter and Dust in Summer are two such Nusances as take off very much from the Glory of it And yet both of them might with ease be Remedied and will I hope in time For in point of Cleanness few Towns are better Seated than London is standing upon an easy Ascent from the River And the Allowance for it from each House-keeper is so considerable that one would think it enough to keep it cleaner than it is But the Truth is there 's a sort of Chymists that can extract Gold out of Dirt. And I conjecture the less Care has been taken to take off that Reproach from so noble a City because of the two great Conveniences it has to go free from the Dirt from one End of it to the other that is by Land in Coaches and by Water in Boats Besides that the principal Streets and most of the New Buildings are paved a good convenient Breadth on each side with smooth hewn Stone for the benefit of Foot-Passengers Which is a great Commodiousness as well as an Ornament I conclude as to Loudon with three notable Conveniencies it has not elsewhere to be found Viz. the New Lights the Peny-Post and the Insurance-Office for Houses in case of Fire The New Lights is so ingenious and usefull an Invention that Mr. Edmund Heming the Inventor deserves an immortal Praise for it He brought it to light about 6 Years ago with a Patent from King Charles II for the Injoyment of the Profits thereof And such is the Reflexion of these Lights tho' at a good distance from each other that few of them serve to light a whole Street in the Night better than ten times the Number of Glass Lanthorns For by the regular Position of one of them before the Front of every tenth House on each side of a broad Street there is such a mutual Reflection that they all seem to be but one great solar Light And so cheap is this Conveniency that for five Shillings down and five Shillings a Year for five Years to be paid at two Quarterly Payments the Inventor obliges himself to light the Front of ones House from Michaelmas to Lady Day every Night from six to twelve beginning the third Night after every Full-Moon and ending the sixth Night after every New Moon which is in all 120 Nights The Peny-Post is such a Contrivance that for one Peny a Letter or Parcel not exceeding one pound Weight or ten pounds in value is presently conveyed from all Parts of the Town and Suburbs to the remotest Places thereof And it has been so far improved since the first settling of it as to reath ten miles about London He that sends pays the Peny â—nd when the Letter or Parcel goes beyond the Bounds of the Weekly Bills of Mortality the Receiver pays another Peny To carry on this usefull Design first there are about the Town four or five hundred Houses to take in Letters and Parcels And to convey them according to their Directions there are about 100 messengers imployed from Morning to Night to call every Hour at the said Houses and take what Letters and Parcels they find there Who carry the same to their respective Offices from whence the Letters and Parcels are dispatched away according to their Directions The Offices are six in Number Viz. The General Office St. Paul's Office The Temple Office Westminster Office Soutwark Office The Hermitage Office The General Office is in Star-Court in Cornhill and has 3 Clerks belonging to it whereas the rest have but two Clerks each The whole Concern is managed in chief by three Persons a Comptroller an Accomptant and a Receiver Every one of the Messengers imployed in the bringing in and carrying out of Letters gives 50 l. Security by Bond to the Office for his Fidelity And for this Contrivance the Publick is indebted to that ingenious Citizen of London Mr. William Dockwrea who settled it some Years since not without much trouble and cost But the late King when Duke of York sued him for the lame as his Right and carried it from the Inventor So that the Benefit of it is now inherent in the Crown The Insurance Office for Houses in case of Fire is also an
Hair or Garments As White Black Brown Red Green and these Norman Names Blanch or white Blount for Blond Flaxen Hair Rous for Roux red and these derived from the two last viz. Blundell Russel Others have received their Names from their Age as Young Old Child Stripling In Imitation of the Romans Juvenalis Junius Virginius Senecio Priscus Others again from that which they commonly carried as Palmer and Wagstaff Some from the Qualities of the Mind as Good Goodman Goodenough Wise Sharp Speed And such the Greeks and Romans of old had witness Agathias Andragathius Eubulus Eumenius Sophocles Thraseas Prudentius Lepidus Valens Constans Some took their Names from Beasts as Lamb Lion Bear Buck Fox Hind Hound Hare Hog Pig Roe Badger c. And the like you will find among the noblest Romans as Leo Catulus Lupus Leporius Aper Apronius Caninius Castor Cyrus a Dog was common amongst the Persians Others derive their Surnames from Birds as Eagle Kite Swan Wildgoose Gosling Partridge Parrat Woodcock Alcock Wilcock Handcock Peacock Dove Lark Finch Chaffinch Nightingale Wren Hulet or Howlet Corbet or Raven Arundel or Swallow As good as these Roman Names Corvinus Aquilius Milvius Gallus Picus Falco Livia or Stock-Dove From Fishes as Salmon Trout Plaice Sole Gurnard Herring Pike Pickerell Bream Burt Whiting Crab Mullet Base c. Nothing inferiour to these Roman Names Muraena Phocas Aurata c. which happily they took or were given them because they loved these Fishes best From Flowers and Fruits as Lilly Rose Peach Filbert Pescod As fair Names as Lenâ—â—lus Piso Fabius which sounded great amongst the Romans Many have got their Surnames by adding s to Christen Names as Philips Williams Rogers Peters Davis Harris Roberts Simonds Guyse Stephens Richards Hughs Jones c. Others by adding of s to these Nicknames or Nurse-Names as Robins Nicks Nichols Thoms Dicks Hicks Wills Sims Sams Collins Jenks Hodges Hobs Saunders Gibs Wats c. Many likewise have been made by adjoyning Kins to those Nurse-Names making them as it were Diminutives As Dickins from Dicks Perkins from Peir for Peter Tomkins from Tom Wilkins from Will Lambkins from Lambert Hobkins and Hopkins from Hob Atkins from Arthur Jenkins from John Watkins from Wat Tipkins from Tibald Daukins from Davy And so did the Romans vary their Names as Constans Constantius Constantinus Justus Justulus Justinus Justinianus Aurelius Aureolus Aurelianus Augustus Augustinus Augustinianus Augustulus c. Or else by adding in s to curtailed Names as Hutchins Huggins Hitchins and Higgins from Hugh Gibbins from Gibby Jennings from John and Rawlins from Raoul that is Ralph To which add Diminutive Surnames ending in et or ot as Willet from Will Bartlet from Bartholomew Millet from Miles Huet from Hugh Eliot from Elias But you will find many more of these Diminutive Surnames by the addition of Son to the Father 's Christian or Nickname As Williamson Richardson Dickson Harrison Gibson Simson Stevenson Robinson Nicholson Tomson Wilson Watson Wilkinson Johnson Jackson Sanderson and Pattison from Patrick To which answers the ancient Way of Norman Families when a Son took for his Surname his Fathers Christen-Name with the worâ— Fitz prefixt which signified Son As Robâ—â— Fitz-William that is Robert the Son of William Henry Fitz Gerard that is Henry the Son of Gerard. What remains is to answer the Question how people came by their Names Cambden thinks as it is probable enough that some took up their Names themselves and others had their Names given them by the People in whom lies the Sovereignty of Words and Names Amongst the first he reckons those that assumed local Names of such Places as they were Owners of And amongst the Authors of the last especially the Diminutives he brings in the Nurses as the principal Neither is it improbable say's he but that many Names that seem unfitting for Men as those of brutish Beasts c. came from the very Signs of the Houses where they inhabited And he alledges for Instance some that living at the Sign of the Dolphin Bull and White-Horse were commonly called Thomas at the Dolphin Will at the Bull George at the White-Horse Which Names as many others of the like sort with omitting At became afterwards hereditary to their Children Another Thing observable in Names is their frequent Change a Thing practised of old by the Romans themselves For some have changed their Names to avoid the Opinion of Baseness others in remembrance of their more honourable Progenitors Some upon the Account of Adoption others in remembrance of some particular Favours Some again by taking the Names of those whose Lands they had and others by taking the Name of their own Office As when Edward Fitz-Theobald was made Butler of Ireland the Earls of Ormond and others descended from them took the Name of Butler The Pride of Scholars has also wrought Alterations in some Names And the fear of Punishment has been all along the Occasion of several Mens changing their Names to avoid being discovered But Time especially has changed Names the most by contracting curtailing and mollifying of them in such a manner that they are quite another Thing from what they were at first Lastly Foreiners may observe that Women in England at their Marriage change their Surnames and pass into their Husbands Names Which is but reasonable because married people Non sunt duo sed Caro una they are but one Flesh And yet in France and elsewhere married Women retain so far their own Names with their Husbands as to write themselves by their Fathers Surnames I come now to the English Way of Computing Who do not begin the Year till the 25th of March being the Day of Christ's Incarnation wherein they agree with Spain This is the Rule both in Church and State according to which they date all their publick Writings Though according to the Cycles of the Sun and Moon they allow the Year to begin only the first of January which therefore is by them called as by most other Christians in Europe the New-Years Day And to distinguish that mongrel Time from the first of January to the 25th of March following 't is usual with many in the Dates of their Letters during that Interval to set down both the Years thus as from the 1st of January 1688. to the 25th of March 1689 90 As for the Natural Day consisting of 24 hours the English begin as most Parts of Europe do at Midnight counting 12 hours to Noon the next Day and 12 hours more to next Midnight according to the Custom of the Egyptians and ancient Romans Whereas in some other Countries as Italy Poland and Bohemia they reckon 24 hours together from Sun-set to Sun-set which must needs be very troublesom to tell after the Clock In Moscovy and some Places in Germany as Nuremberg and Wirtemberg they begin the Day and end it with the Sun so that the first Hour of the Day is with them at Sun rise and the first hour of
Democracy for ever all the World know's No Stone was left unturned and what came of it As soon as ever Opportunity served the very Presbyterians themselves joyned with the Royalists to bring in the exiled King and re-establish the ancient Government So soon the Nation grew sick of the Commonwealth and so strong was then the Current for Monarchy that without the shedding of a drop of Bloud the first was in a manner hissed out of the Nation and Monarchy restored with the greatest Pomp and Joy imaginable I set aside the Zeal of our English Clergy for Monarchy and their Influence upon the Laity The great Number alone of our Nobility and Gentry with their proportionable Ascendent upon the People makes me look upon it as a moral Impossibility for Commonwealth-Government ever to prevail here 'T is well known the Genius of Commonwealths is for keeping down the Nobility and extinguishing all those Beams of Royalty Therefore as 't is their Interest so I suppose it will be their Care to stick to Monarchy CHAP. VII Of the KING of ENGLAND And first of his Dominions Titles Arms his Ensigns of Royalty and Marks of Sovereignty THE King of England is otherwise called King of Great-Britain as being the sole Sovereign and supreme Head of this great and famous Island containing the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland besides the Principality of Wales Which Principality was first united by Conquest to the Crown of England Anno 1282 by King Edward I. Who overcame and slew in Battel Llewellen the last Sovereign Prince of Wales of the Race of Cadwallader the last King of the Britains After the Conquest thereof he took all the provident Care imaginable to secure it to the Crown but the Welsh seldom contained themselves within the bounds of true Allegiance till the Reign of Henry VII who was extracted from the Welsh Bloud In whose Successor's Reign Henry VIII they were made by Act of Parliament one Nation with the English subject to the same Laws capable of the same Preferments priviledged with the same Immunities and inabled to send Knights and Burgesses to the English Parliament So that the Name and Language only excepted there is now no Difference between the English and Welsh A very happy Union Scotland was also brought into Subjection by the same King Edward so that he received Homage of its King and Nobility and had there his Chancery and other Courts under a Viceroy But with much strugling they recovered at last their Liberty and set up a King of their own Robert Bruce who had the luck to be confirmed in it by the Defeat given to Edward II one of our unfortunate Kings 'T is true his Son King Edward III a most virtuous and valorous Prince changed the face of Affairs in Scotland and brought again the Scots to Obedience Insomuch that he excluded David the Son of Robert Bruce from the Crown then forced to fly into France and restored the House of Baliol to the Kingdom in the person of Edward Son of King John Baliol. Who upon his coming to the Crown did Homage to this King Edward as his Father had done to King Edward I. But 't was not long before the Scots quitted again their Subjection and Vassalage to the Crown of England the Roll of Ragman being treacherously delivered into their hands by Roger Mortimer Earl of March Which Roll contained a Confession and Acknowledgement of the Estates of Scotland subscribed by all their Hands and Seals whereby they owned the Superiority of the Kings of England not only in regard of such Advantages as the Sword had given them but as of their original and undoubted Right But setting aside this point of Vassalage the Kings of England are Kings of Scotland by a better Title For King James VI of Scotland and the first of England succeeded Q. Elizabeth in the Realm of England as the next Heir to the Crown Anno 1602 being descended by Mary Queen of the Scots his Mother from Margaret the eldest Daughter of Henry the VII King of England and Wife to James IV of Scotland And here the Wisdom and prudent Foresight of Henry is very remarkable Who having two Daughters bestowed the Eldest contrary to the Mind of his Council on the King of Scots and the younger on the French King that if his own Issue Male should fail as it did by the Death of his Grandson King Edward VI and that a Prince of another Nation must inherit England then Scotland as the lesser Kingdom should depend upon England and not England wait on France as upon the greater In which Succession of the Scots to the Crown of England the Prophecy of the fatal Stone received accomplishment I mean the Stone which the Scots lookt upon as their Palladium kept at Scone in Scotland the usual Place for the Coronation of the Scotish Kings upon which they received their Crown till the Removal of it unto Westminster by King Edward I. The Verses of old ingraven upon this Stone run thus Non fallat Fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Invenient Lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem Translated in old Meeter thus The Scots shall brook that Realm as natif Ground If Weirds fail not where ere this Stone is found Thus the Scots so often quelled and curbed by the English never subdued England but by this blessed Victory Ever since this happy Union Scotland has been deprived of its Kings Residence there who changed the worse Seat for the better But under the King there is a chief Governour appointed by his Majesty the Lord High Commissioner of Scotland who by that Title injoys the ordinary Power and Authority of a Viceroy In this manner Scotland has continued to this day a separate Kingdom governed by its own Laws 'T is true there have been several Attempts made to unite it into one Kingdom with England as Wales was by Henry VIII But hitherto they proved unsuccesfull So far we have cleared in few Words by History the whole Isle of Great Britain to the King of England with the numerous Islands about it the principal of which are the Isles of Shepey Thanet Wight Anglesey and Man The next that offers it self is the Kingdom of Ireland a great Part whereof was Conquered by the English about the Year 1172. in the Reign of Henry II and the Occasion thus Ireland being then divided amongst several â—petty Kings the King of Leinster was by the King of Meath driven out of his Kindom He fled to England for Refuge where applying himself to King Henry Henry resolved to attempt his Restauration which he did effectually and in the doing of it brought the best part of the Island under the English Subjection King John the Younger Son of Henry was the first who was Intituled Lord of Ireland Which Stile was granted him by Pope Urban III and continued to his Successors though in effect Kings thereof till the Year 1542 when Henry VIII was declared in an Irish Parliament King of