for the Education of Youth a free School and for decay'd Gentlemen a well indowed Hospital But the chief Beauty of it as heretofore so now is a most stately and magnificent Castle the Seat of Sir Fulk Grevill the late Lord Brooks by whom it was repaired at his great cost and charges In short this Town injoy's a good Trade chiefly for Mault and the rather as being the Place where the Assizes and general Sessions for the County are kept It s Market which is kept on Saturdays is great and well furnished with all sorts of Provisions But that which has added the most Lustre to this Town is the honourary Titles wherewith it has been dignify'd for several Ages Of Earl first in the person of Henry de Newburg Created Earl of Warwick by Wisliam the Conquerour Anno 1076 and continued in five more of his name viz. Roger William Waleran Henry and Thomas de Newburg From whom it passed through several Families either by Marriage or Bloud allied to the former Till at last the Title of Earl was by King Henry VI turned into that of Duke in the person of Henry Beauchamp who was made and crowned King of the Isles of Wight Jersey and Garnsey and soon after created Duke of Warwick 'T is true the Title of Duke went no further and that of Earl was renewed in the person of Richard Nevil who married Ann the Duke's Sister From him it went to George Duke of Clarence who married Ann Daughter of Richard Nevil and from George to Edward Plantagenet his Son From these it came to two Dud eys successively to wit John and Ambrose descended from the Lady Margaret Daughter of Richard Beauchamp Earl of Warwick And in the Year 1618. King James I. conferred it upon Robert Lord Rich of Leeze in whose Line it continued till Charles his great Grandson died without Issue Upon whose Death Robert Rich Earl of Holland his Cousin german succeeded in the Earldom of Warwick and so injoy'd both Titles Which fell by his Death to his Son the Right Honourable Edward Rich the present Earl of Warwick Near Warwick is a Cliff most delectably seated among Groves and fresh Streams and called Guy-Cliff from the Hercules of England Guy of Warwick Who having left off his noble and valiant Exploits betook himself as the Story say's to this Place where he led a kind of Hermetical Life and built a Chappel wherein he was interred But though Warwick be the County-Town and a considerable Place upon other accounts yet here is another of greater importance which therefore doth deserve a particular Description in this place before we proceed to the List of the Market-Towns And that is Coventry a City so called from an old Convent or Monastery founded by King Canute It stands upon a small Stream called Sherborn which joyning with another Stream runs not far from thence into the River Avon 'T is a fair neat and large City beautify'd with handsom Houses and spacious Streets besides a Cross of curious Workmanship and its two Churches of St. Michael and of the Holy Trinity that are loftily built It was formerly begirt with a fine Wall with 13 Gates giving entrance into the City and what with the Convent and the translating the See Episcopal from Lichsield hither it grew exceeding rich and wealthy 'T is true now it has neither Convent nor Episcopal See more than in the Ruin and Title and yet it does still continue its old Wealth being the best City for Trade in all these Parts and more than ordinarily frequented for an Inland Town Among other its Manufactures here are great quantiâ—ies of Cloths made and vended And its Market for Provisions is kept on Fridays It belonged once unto the Earls of Chester and after wards by many Conveniances to John of Eltham Earl of Cornwal whereby it became annexed to that Earldom Nor did it lose any thing but rather gain much by that Annexation Henry the VI laying unto it several adjacent Towns and Villages and making it with them a County Corporate clearly distinct from that of Warwick Thus Coventry though within the Confines of Warwickshire became exempted from its Jurisdiction And in the very first Year of the Reign of William the Conquerour it was honoured with the Title of an Earldom in the Person of Edwin a Saxon with whom the Title died and lay buried till the Reign of King James I when George Villiers the late Duke of Buckingham's Father was created Duke of Buckingham and Earl of Coventry Anno 1623. The other Market-Towns are Shipton Sat. Rugby Sat. Tamworth Sat. Nun-Eaton Sat. Henley Mun. Southam Mun. Sutton Cofield Mun. Aulcester Tue. Kyneton Tue. Atherston Tue. Coleshill Wedn. Stratford Thu. Bromicham Thu. Among which Stratford seated upon the Avon is one of the prsncipal it being a good Town well inhabited and driving a good Trade of Malt. It contains two Parish Churches and has over the River a fair Stone-bridge with several Arches Tamworth stands part in this County and part in Staffordshire where you will find it described Aulcester is seated on the Confluence of the Alne and the Arrow and not far from their fall into the Avon Shipton on the Stower Coleshill on the Cole Kyneton on a small River that runs into the Avon Rugby upon the Avon Nun-Eaton and Atherston near the Auker Henley on the Alne and Bromicham on the Rea. Among which Henley is called Henley in Arden to distinguish it from Henley in Oxfordshire Bromicham is a large and well built Town very populous and much resorted unto particularly noted few years ago for the counterfeit Groats made here and from hence dispersed all over the Kingdom It drives a great Trade of Iron and Steel Wares Saddles and Bridles which find good vent at London Ireland and other Parts But besides those Market-Towns there are three Places Shughury Lemington and Menham Regis of note for some particular Things The first for the Astroits or Star-Stones found about it Lemington for two Springs of Water that issue out there within a stride of each other but of different taste and operation the one being fresh and the other salt though at a great distance from the Sea Menham Regis for a Spring the Water whereof looks and tasts like Milk If drunk with Salt it loosens if with Sugar it binds the Body Said to be Sovereign against the Stone good to cure green Wounds Ulcers and Imposthumes and apt to turn Wood into Stone To conclude this County which formerly was part of the Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants part of the Cornavii as the Romans called them is now in the Diocese of Lichsield Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire but four Members to sit in Parliament Viz. 2 by Warwick and 2 by Coventry Westmorland WESTMORLAND one of the worst Counties in England lies in the North-West and is called Westmorland as lying among Moors and Fells or high Hills for the most part unmanured
Weymouth and Melcomb Regis stand opposite to one another on each side the River Wey where it falls into the Sea But of the two Melcomb much surpasses Weymouth foâ— Conveniency of Situation and Buildings And yet abroad all goes now under the Name of Weymouth since they were both by Act of Parliament made but one Corporation and the Occasion of it thus These two Towns having for some time injoy'd alike the Priviledges and Immunities of the Haven lying in the bosom of them at last there arose a great Controversy between them And by their continual Suits they still wearied the Lords of the Council and the Judges till by an Act of Parliament in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth they were Incorporated into one Body to be governed by one Mayor with Aldermen and other Sub-Officers Upon which immediately they joyned themselves together by a fair Bridge of Timber now in being but stilâ— they send each of 'em two Burgesses to Parliament Lastly Weymouth is of some note besides for giving the Title of Viscount to the Right Honourable Tho. Thynne the present Viscount Weymouth Lime otherwise called Lime Regis is seated in the Borders next to Devonshire and is so named from a River of that Name which runâ— through the midst of the Town and falls into the Sea The Town is large and its Cobb 〈◊〉 safe Harbour Which being industriously made in the Sea for Ships to ride in is as carefully looked afer and kept in good repair This Place is noted most of all for the late Duke of Monmouth's Landing here with his small Force from Holland in the late Reign which brought him shortly after to his tragical End Near unto it is Charmouth a Village where the Danes did twice land their Forces when they came to subdue England Bridport East from Lime was a Town of good account in Edward the Confessor's Time 'T is seated low and dirty not above 2 miles from the Sea between two Rivers that meeting with a little Rill about a mile lower mix their Streams together and make a fit Place for a good Harbour as it was in former times But now 't is choakt up with Sands The Town however is still a good Market-Town and chiefly noted for Hemp. Insomuch that once 't was the only Place appointed for the twisting of Cordage and Ropes for the Navy of England as well in respect of the adjoyning Soil yielding great store of excellent Hemp as for the skill of the People in twisting it Pool a Haven-Town in the furthest East Parts of this County is so seated upon an Inâ—et of the Sea called Luckford Lake that 't is inclosed on all sides with it except Northward where it admits entrance only by one Gate This Town from a mean Hamlet consisting of a few Fishermens-Houses in the Reign of Edward III grew to be a Market Town of good Trade and by reason of its large and safe Harbour increased so that Henry VI. granted it the Priviledge of a Haven and licensed the Mayor to wall it in Then began the Inhabitants to abound in Wealth who to free themselves from Subjection to the County purchased the Priviledge of 〈◊〉 County But now it has lost much of its former glory In this Haven the Sea contrary to all other Parts in England ebbs and flows 〈◊〉 times in 24 hours Viz. first at a South-East and North-West Moon and the seconâ— time at a South-by-East and a North-by-Weâ—â— Moon Warham is seated on the West of and opposite to Pool at the Influx of the Frome anâ— Biddle into Luckford Lake Where it had 〈◊〉 good Harbour for Ships with all the Advantages of a strong Wall defended by a Castle and of rich Inhabitants Till being crushed by the frequent Shocks of ill Fortune nothing oâ— its ancient Glory remained but the Shadow its Castle being wholly ruinated its Haveâ— choaked up and most of its Churches pulleâ— down and demolished Shaftsbury an Inland Town lies in the Northern Verge of this County and near thâ— Borders of Wiltshire It stands lofty upon a high Hill in the form of a full-bent Bow where it injoys not only a serene and healthfuâ— Air but also a large and delightful Prospectâ— Here Canute the first Danish King that swayed the English Scepter ended his Days Iâ— its flourishing Time it had ten Parish Churches now reduced to three to which belong abouâ— 500 Houses built of free Stone with which the Hill abounds It s Market which is kept on Saturdays is very considerable for moâ—â— sorts of Provisions and far exceeding all the adjacent Market Towns Lastly in the Reigâ— of Charles the Second it was honoured in giving the Title of Earl to that sagacious Statesman Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury since devolved by his death to his eldest Son and Heir the Right Honourable Anthony Ashâ—ey Cooper the present Earl of Shaftsbury Sturminster Blandford and Wimborn-minster are all three seated on the River Stowr Over which Sturminster has a fair Stone-bridge leading to Newton a noted Place for the remains of an ancient Castle near adjoyning which was the Seat of the West-Saxon Kings Blandford is a fair large and well compacted Town well inhabited and neighboured with Gentry Wimborn-Minster is seated in a â—ertile Soil and is pretty well frequented and â—nhabited But t is a Town of more antiquity â—han beauty Cranborn and Sherburn are also Towns of great â—ntiquity The first seated near the Spring of a River that runs into the Stowr and having a Chase which extends it self almost to Salisbury Sherborn on the Ill is fairly seated and well watered 'T is divided into two Parts that which lies near the Castle which is old and in part ruinated being called the Castle-Town Middleton Cerne-Abbas and Frampton do not â—y far asunder All three but mean and the first two being old Abby-Towns considerable only by their Antiquity But of the two Câ—rne-Abbas has the advantage being seated in a dry bottom watered with a fine Rivulet and in a Champain Country affording great delight both for the Hawk and Hound Frampâ—on is likewise pleasantly seated upon a good River which affords plenty of Fish and amongst them excellent Trouts In this County is a noted Castle called Lulworth Castle being counted the best Seat in the whole County either for Situation or Beauty The same has a very fair Prospect into the Sea and a large Park about it well furnished with Deer and has been sometimes honoured with the presence of our Kings in their Western Progresses Of Portland and Purbeck I should now have done with Dorsetshire but that it were improper to leave it so without taking notice of its two Peninsules which generally go by the name of Islands And those two are Portland and Purbeck Portland is that Tract of Ground which runs South from Weymouth some miles into the Sea A Place of great strength both by Nature and Art being surrounded with inaccessible Rocks except at the very Place of Landing where stands a strong Castle
large Town seated upon two Rivers the Skerne and a Rivulet that runs there into it Over the first which falls within 2 miles into the Tees it has a fair Stone-Bridge Not far from hence at Oxenhall are 3 Pits called Hell-Kettles of a wonderful depth supposed to come of an Earthquake that hapned in the Year 1179. 'T is said of Bishop Tunstall of this Diocese that he took a Goose which he markt and put into one of the Pits and the same Goose was found afterwards in the River Tees Bernard Castle is seated in a Bottom on the River Tees and adjoyning to Marwood Park 'T is but an indifferent Town and of chief note for Stockings here made Bishop Aukland is pleasantly seated on the side of a Hill between the Ware over which it has a Bridge and a Rivulet that runs into it This is a neat Town and noted for its good Air. But that which adds much to its Reputation is its stately Castle the Bishops Summer Pallace beautifully repaired by Dr. Cosins the late Bishop of Durham and a fine Chappel raised by the same Bishop from its Ruins Sunderland is a Sea-Town on the Mouth of the River Ware Called Sunderland because by the Working of the Sea it is in a manner pulled from the rest of the Land it being at high Water invironed on all sides with the Sea This is a noted Place for its Sea-Coal Trade but chiefly for giving the Title of Earl first to Emanuel Lord Scrope of Bolton and Lord President of the North created Earl of Sunderland by King Charles I. Anno 1627. Upon whose Death without lawful Issue the Title was bestowed by the same King upon Henry Lord Spencer of Wormleighton in the Year 1643. Who being slain the same Year at the first Newberry Fight the Title fell to Robert his Son and Heir the present Earl of Sunderland Stainthorp or Staindrop ly's but 5 miles East-North-East from Bernard Castle among Parks and on a Rivulet that runs from thence into the Tees And not far from it is another Castle called Raby-Castle which King Canute gave to the Church of Durham with the Lands about it But besides the said Market-Towns here is in the South-East Parts Stockton and Billingham noted for their strong Ale And further Northward Hartlepool that stands upon a Neck of Land shooting forth into the Sea which surrounds it on all sides except Westward On the Mouth of the River Tine you will find Sheals where the New-Castle Coal-Fleet takes its Cargo A little higher stands Jarrow noted for being the Birth place of the Venerable Beda And over against Newcastle Gateshead or Gateside the Receptacle of those numerous Men that work in the Coal-pits Men that rake their mean Subsistence from the very Bowels of the Earth This County was formerly called St. Cuthberts Patrimony from S. Cuthbert the Raiser of Durham whose Episcopal See was removed hither from Lindisfarn or Holy Island on the Coast of Northumberland A Saint for whom several of the Saxon Kings and after them Canute the Dane had so great a Veneration that upon him and his Successors in that See was all the Country between Tees and Tine conferred by Alfred King of England Which his Donation was confirmed and in part increased by his Successors Edward Athelstan and Canute the Dane So fortified it was with Priviledges and Royal Grants that at the coming in of the Norman Conquerour the Bishop was reputed for a Count Palatine and did ingrave upon his Seal an armed Knight holding a naked Sword in one hand and in the other the Bishops Arms. Nay it was once adjudged in Law that the Bishop was to have all Forfeitures and Escheats within the Liberties as the King had without In short the Bishops hereof had the Royalty of Princes having their own Courts of Judicature both for Civil and Criminal Causes and covning their own Coin But these exorbitant Priviledges and Immunities were in part impaired by a Statute under Henry VIII and altogether with the Lands and whole Rights thereof conferred upon the Crown by Act of Parliament in the last Year of the Reign of Edward VI. To conclude when England was divided into seven Kingdoms this County was Part of that of Northumberland And the Inhabitants of it as well as those of most part of the North besides were called Brigantes by the ancient â—omans Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire but two Members to serve in Parliament for which Durham has the Right of Election Essex ESSEX another Maritime County has for its Bounds Eastward the German Ocean Westward Hartfordshire and Middlesex Northward the County of Suffolk and Southward the County of Kent This is a pretty large County being in Length about 45 miles in Breadth 36. The Whole divided into 20 Hundreds wherein 45 Parishes and 21 Market-Towns The same is abundantly irrigated both with great and small Rivers For besides the Thames which severs it from Kent the Stower from Suffolk and the Lea from Middlesex here is the Coln the Chelmer the Crouch and the Roding with several others in all which are great plenty of Fish Here the Air is very Temperate but down in the Hundreds towards the Sea-side it is very Aguish The Soil for the most part is good and in some Parts so fruitful that according to the Author of Englands Remarqnes after 3 Years Glebe of Saffron the Land for 18 years more will yield plenty of Barley without any Manuring with Dung or the like and then bear Saffron again One Acre of this Ground which is most in the North Part of the County will yield 80 or 100 weight of moist Saffron in a Year which being dried is valued 2. pound sterling It s chief Commodities besides Saffron as aforesaid are Cloths Stuffs Hops and the best of Oysters Colchester the chief Place of it bears from London North-East and is distant from it 43 miles by common Computation Viz. 10 from London to Rumford 5 more to Burntwood 10 from thence to Chelmsford and to Colchester 18 more A Town of great Antiquity and built as some Authors write by Coilus the British Prince 124 years after Christ's Birth But yet more Remarkable for giving birth to â—ucius Helena and Constantine the first Christian King Empress and Emperour in the World Seated it is upon the Rise of a Hill stretching it self from East to West and watered by the River Coln from whence probably it came to be called Colchester And as it is but 6 miles distant from the Sea so its Situation must needs be upon all accounts both pleasant and commodious 'T is a fair and well-built Town fortiâ—â—ed with an old Roman Wall and having six Gates of entrance besides 3 Posterns Towards the East stands an old Castle within the Ruins of a Trench containing about two Acres In short there were in it 14 Parish Churches several of which are now reduced to ruin But it is still a Place of good
and frequented and enjoying a good Trade It has two Markets a Week viz. Wednesdays and Saturdays which are very great for Corn and Cattle and well served with all Provisions And for Divine Worship here are twelve Parish-Churches besides the Cathedral a fine piece of Architecture noted amongst other things for its Whispering Place which is in an Arch of the Quire but chiefly for being the Burying-place of Lucius the first Christian King and of the unfortunate King Edward II. who at Barkley-Castle was barbarously murdered by the Cruelty of Isabel his Wife Lastly this City is both a Bishops See and a County of it self being made a County by King Richard III once Duke of Glocester And as it has the advantage of denominating so rich a Country as this so it has been often dignified with the Title of a Dukedom sometimes that of an Earldom in those eminent Persons who in their several Times and Ages have been either Dukes or Earls of Glocester The Number of 'em is too great for me to produce 'em all here Therefore I shall only say that the last Duke of Glocester was Henry the third Son of King Charles I declared by his Royal Father Duke of Glocester and Earl of Cambridge and so Intituled Anno 1641 but not so created till the Year 1659. He lived to see the Restauration of the Royal Family and died the same Year it hapned viz. Sept. 13. 1660. With him the Title has lain dormant till it was lately revived in the person of the young Prince William the Son of the Illustrious Prince George of Denmark Nigh to this City is Alney-Isle so made by the Severn In which Edmund Ironside King of the English Saxons and Canute the Dane after many Conflicts and bloody Battels fought a single Combat hand to hand for the Crown of England The Issue of which was that they agreed to part the Kingdom which they joyntly governed till Treason took away the Life of King Edmund and left Canute sole Monarch of England At Lassington a mile from Glocester is found a sort of Stone called the Star-Stone being about the breadth of a Silver Peny and the thickness of a Half-crown These Stones are flat and like a Star five-pointed of a grayish colour and on the flat sides naturally ingraven in fine Works as one Mullet within another The other Market-Towns besides Glocester it self are Bristol Sat. and Wedn. Tewksbury Sat. Winchcomb Sat. Leonards Stanley Sat. Thornbury Sat. Wickware Mun. Dean Magna Mun. Cirencester Mun. Frid. Panswick Tue. Horton Tue. Minching-hampton Tue. Marshfield Tue. Letchlade Tue. Campden Wedn. Blackley Wedn. Tedbury Wedn. Stow on the Wold Thu. Cheltenham Thu. Dursbey Thu. Chipping Sudbury Thu. Fairford Thu. Stroud Frid. Wotton Frid. Newent Frid. Newham Frid. Amongst which Bristol being not only the greatest Place of Trade in England next to London but also a Bishops See and a County of it self deserves a particular Description It is both pleasantly and commodiously seated at the fall of the Frome into the Avon which five Miles from thence empties it self into the Severn By this River the City is divided into two Parts the chief Part in Glocestershire and the other in Somersetshire but with the conveniency of Communication by means of a fair Stone Bridge Which like London Bridge is so covered with Houses that it looks more like a Street than a Bridge Its Streets are neatly ordered and set out with many fine Edifices Among which may be reckoned the Cathedral and most of the Parish Churches which are 18 in Number The City is begirt with a Wall besides other Fortifications At the East end of it stood a Castle wherein King Stephen was kept a Prisoner by Maud the Empress But it was demolished by Oliver Cromwel and is now built into Streets called Castle-street and Castle-Green But that which has chiefly made Bristol so considerable is the goodness of its Port. The principal Key whereof stands on the Frome which at Spring-Tides does flow about 40 Foot and so brings Ships in of a great Burden Thus Bristol by its Commodiousness for Shipping is become a Place of great Resort both for Merchants and Tradesmen those driving a great Trade to most Parts of the Known World these a Home-Trade especially to Wales to Shropshire and other Counties About Bristol is great store of Coals also a sort of Precious Stone called from thence Bristol-Stones taken out of S. Vincents Rock At the bottom whereof is a hot Well of a Medicinal nature Lastly though Bristol stands partly as I said before in this County and partly in Somersetshire yet as it is a County of it self it yields Obedience to neither And considering its Beauty Trade Riches Extent and Populousness it may be counted the chief Place in England next to London 'T is but about 150 Years since this Town came to he a Bishops See this being one of the six new Sees erected by Henry VIII by virtue of an Act of Parliament made in order to it But it is less since it became a Title of Nobility which was not till King James I. conferred the Honour of Earl of Bristol upon John Lord Digby of Sherburn Anno 1622. From him devolved by his Death to his Son George in the Year 1650 and from him to the Right Hononrable John Digby the present Earl of Bristol Cirencester commonly pronounced Circester is seated on the River Churn over which it has a Bridge It has been a Place of great account in the time of the Romans and without insisting upon the Roman Coyns Checker-work Pavements and engraven Marble Stones that have oft been digged up here it s very ruinous Walls still to be seen and about 2 Miles in Circuit are a sufficient proof of its former Greatness This City was taken from the Britains by the West-Saxons and afterwards possessed by the Mercians till laid in Ashes by a Stratagem of the merciless Danes in tying fire to the Wings of Sparrows from whence it came to be called the Sparrows City Since which Desolation it could never recover it self to any thing beyond the Name of a good Borough Town Tewksbury is a goodly Town situate at the fall of the North-Avon into the Severn and watered besides with two Rivulets A Town of good account for making of Woollen Cloth and for the best Mustard in the Kingdom as Dijon is in France But most of all memorable for the Battel fought here Anno 1471. between King Henry VI. and his immediate Successor Edward IV that is between the House of Lancaster and York where the Lancastrians were intirely defeated and the young Prince Edward the only Son of King Henry slain Stroud situate on the River so called is a well-built Town whose Houses for the most part are of Stone It has a Bridge over the River on the Banks of which are placed abundance of fulling Mills Here they die Scarlet the Stroud Water having a peculiar quality to give the right Tincture Near the
handsom Town flands pleasantly among fertile Meadows near the Forest of Charwood on the Banks of the River Stowr over which it has a Bridge Lutterworth a goodly Town also beautified with a large and fair Church with a neat and lofty Spire-Steeple is seated in a good Soil on the River Swift which at a small distance from hence falls into the Avon in Warwickshire Of this Town the famous Wicless was Parson an okl Champion against the Corruptions and Errours of the Church of Rome This County now in the Diocese of Lincoln was part of the ancient Kingdom of Mercia in the Time of the Heptarchy and its Inhabitants with several of their Neighbours went among the ancient Romans under the Name of Coritani Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire but two Members of Parliament chosen by the Town of Leicester Lincolnshire LINCOLNSHIRE a large Maritime County is bounded on the East with the German Ocean on the West with the Counties of York Nottingham and Leicester on the North with the River Humber which parts it from Yorkshire on the South with the Counties of Cambridge Northampton and Rutland It contains in Length from North to South almost 60 miles in Breadth from East to West 35. The Whole divided into 3 Parts called Lindsey Kesteven and Holland And these 3 Divisions contain 30 Hundreds wherein 630 Parishes and 35 Market-Towns This Country being Fenny especially in the East and South Parts makes the Air something unhealthful because it is apt to be thick and foggy The Soil in the North and West Parts is exceeding pleasant and fertile stored with Pasturage Arable and Meadow Grounds But the East and South Parts that are full of Fenny Grounds and something brackish by reason of the Salt Waters that come in from the Sea through several Inlets are barren and unfit for Corn. 'T is true in recompence thereof there is such a plenty both of Fowl and Fish that no County in the Kingdom can compare with it And there goes a Story that at one draught with a Net 30â—0 Mallards have been taken besides other sorts How true it is I am as yet to seek but am apt to think there 's one Cypher too much As for Rivers no County in England is better irrigated nor Rivers any where more plentifull of Fish Northward is the Humber which as I said before parts it from Yorkshire and Westward the Trent which severs Part of it from Nottinghamshire Cross the Country you will find the Witham River Southward the Weland and the Nen. That Part of the County which goes by the Name of Lindsey lies to the Northward and is so named from Lindissi the ancient Name of Lincoln according to Beda This Part is so surrounded with Water that it is an Island and its Extent so great in proportion to the rest that it takes up at least one half of the County Noted for giving the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable Robert Bertie the present Earl of Lindsey Lord Great Chamberlain of England Kesteven and Holland take up the South Parts from Lindsey Holland lying towards the Sea and Kesteven West from it Of Holland there has been 3 Earls Henry Robert and Edward Rich. The first created Earl of Holland by King James I. Anno 1624. Robert his Son succeeded not only in this Title but also in that of Earl of Warwick upon the Death of his Cousin-german Charles Rich Earl of Warwick who died without Issue So that both Titles are now injoyd by his Son and Heir the Right Honourable Edward Rich the present Earl of Warwick and Holland Lincoln the principal Place in this Shire and a Bishops See bears from London North by West and is distant from it by common Computation 103 miles thus Viz. from London to Huntington 48 miles for the Particulars whereof I refer you to Huntingtonshire from thence to Stilton 9 to Peterborough 5 more to Market-Deeping 8 to Sleaford 18 more and thence to Lincoln 15. A City seated on the side of a Hill the lower part whereof is watered by the River Witham over which there are several Bridges for the Conveniency of Passengers A Place of great Antiquity whose ancient ruinated Places are still an Argument of its former Greatness In the Time of the Romans 't was a Town of great strength and fame and in the Time of the Normans a Place of great Trading Whose flourishing Condition occasioned the Episcopal See then at Dorchester near Oxon to be removed hither But this City has gone through all the Calamities of Fire Sword and Earth-quake Which has so much weakned and impaired it that of 50 Churches it is said to have had for divine Worship there remains but 15 besides the Cathedral In the Time of the Saxons King Arthur drove away their Forces from this Place The like did Edmund Ironside to the Danes who had made sore havock thereof On the 5th of Sept. 1140. here was a great Battel fought between King Stephen and Maud the Empress in which the King was taken Prisoner and afterwards laid in irons in Bristol On the 19th of May 1217. here was another sore Battel fought betwixt King Henry III. and his disloyal Barons who stood for Lewis the Dauphin of France in which the King got the day But whatever Disasters and Calamities this City has gone through still 't is a large populous and well frequented Place Dignified not only with an Episcopal See whose Diocese to this day is the greatest of any in the Kingdom but also for many Ages with the Title of an Earldom Which having passed through severall Families with frequent Interruptions came at last to be in the possession of Edward Fiennes Lord Clinton who being Lord Admiral in Queen Elizabeth's Time was by her Majesty created Earl of Lincoln Anno 1565. From whom the Title is now devolved in a direct Line to the Right Honourable Edward Clinton the present Earl of Lincoln The Cathedral or Minster as now standing is one of the stateliest Piles in England and perhaps in Christendom high seated on a Hill and from thence discerned over all the Country In short this City is a County of it self whose Liberties extend about 20 miles in compass and is called the County of the City of Lincoln It s Market kept on Fridays is well served with Provisions and Country Commodities The other Market-Towns are Grantham Sat. Kirkton Sat. Thongcaster Sat. Waynfleet Sat. Horn-Castle Sat. Dunington Sat. Burton Sat. Bourn Sat. Spilsby Mun. Salsby Mun. Sleaford Mun. Market-Stanton Mun. Stamford Mund. Frid. Ganesborough Tue. Barton Tue. Market-Rasen Tue. Bullingbrook Tue. Spalding Tue. Alford Tue. Grinsby Wedn. Binbrook Wedn. Lowthe Wed. and Sat. Boston Wed. and Sat. Glamford Thu. Burgh Thu. Market-Deeping Thu. Folkingham Thu. Holbich Thu. Wragby Thu. Naverby Thu. Tatershall Frid. Saltfleet Crowland Barnwell Among which Stamferd in Kesteven Division and the hithermost Town of Lincolnshire is the most considerable Seated on both sides of the
is a Well or Fountain which Euripus-like ebbs and flow's many timâ— in a day In the same Place are Stones like Pyramids some of them 9 foot high and 14 thick pitched directly in a Row for a mile together and placed at equal distances from each other On the Banks of the Lowther is Lowther-Hall the Seat of Sir John Lowther Baronet Whose Family has there flourished so long a time that they reckon 30 Descents lineally from Father to Son and the greatest part of 'em Knights Neither do's the House only carry the Name of the Family but also the Park belonging to it the Parish and which is remarkable the very River with the Bridge over it To conclude this County formerly a Part of the Kingdom of the Northumbers and its Inhabitants part of the Brigantes as the Romans called them stands now divided betwixt the Dioceses of Chester and Carlisle Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire but two Members of Parliament and Appleby has the Right of Election As for honourary Titles this County began to be dignify'd with the Title of an Earldom in the Reign of Richard II. By whom Ralph Nevil Lord of Raby and Earl Marshal was created Earl of Westmorland Anno 1398. Which Title continued in his Family almost 200 years till it failed by the Death of Charles Nevil in the Year 1584. But it was revived by King James I. in the person of Francis Fane eldest Son of Mary descended from the said Nevils who was treated Earl of Westmorland and Baron of Burghersh Anno 1624. From whom it passed to Mildway-Fane and from him to the Riâ—ht Honourable Charles Fane the present Earl of Westmorland Wilishire WILTSHIRE an Inland County is bounded on the East with Barkshire and Hampshire on the West with Somersetshire Northward by Glocestershire and Southward by Dorsetshire Called Wiltshire from Wilton once the chief Town of it as this is from the River Willy upon which it is seated It contains in Length from North to South at least 40 miles in Breadth from East to West 30. The Whole divided into 29 Hundreds wherein 304 Parishes and 23 Market-Towns A Country not only pleasant and delightsom but withall very plentifull It s Northern Part called North Wiltshire has very pleasant Hills and well cloathed with Woods The Southern Parts are more even and yield plenty both of Grass and Corn. But the Middle Parts called the Plains are most scant of Corn. Yet as they are wonderfull large and spacious reaching round about to the Horizon they feed such innumerable Flocks of Sheep that the Inhabitants find aâ— much profit by their Fleece and the gainful Trade of Cloathing as others do by their more fertile Grounds As for Rivers here is the Isis which with the Tame makes up the Thames The Kennet which runs Westward from this County through Barkshire into the Thames The Avon a Name common to many English Rivers which runs from North to South and then bending its Course to the Westward falâ— into the Severn not far from Bristol Another Avon which takes its Course Southward and having washed Salisbury runs on through Hampshire where it falls near Christchurch into the Sea The Willy and the Nadder which joyning together into one Stream at Wilton near Salisbury fall there into the Avon Besides several lesser Streams among which is the Deverill which runs a mile under Ground Now before I proceed any further in my usual Method it will not be improper to take notice in this Place of two Remarkable Things in this County viz. the Wansdike and Stone-henge The first is a Dike running for many miles from West to East in the midst of this Shire and which according to the vulgar Opinion was cast up by the Devil upon a Wednesday from whence the Name of Wansdike But as Cambden observeth it was rather made by the West-Saxons for the dividing of their Kingdom from that of the Mercians this being the Place where they usually fought in order to stretch the Bounds of their Dominions Stone-henge the greater Wonder of the two and indeed the most admirable Rarity this Island affords is a stupendious Piece of Work It consists of huge Stones standing upright in three Ranks round like a Crown and laid overthwart one another some of which are 28 foot high and 7 broad Now the Question is how these Stones came hither For the whole Country round for some miles hardly affords a Stone either great or small and these seem too vast to be brought hither by Wagon Cart or any other Artifice Cambden therefore is of Opinion that they were made there by Art of pure Sand and some unctuous Cement the Ancients having had the Art of making Stone Thus the Cesterns of Rome were made of Sand digged out of the Ground which with the strongest kind of Lime wrought together became so hard that they seemed Stones Salisbury the chief Place of this County is reckoned 70 miles West-South-West from London thus From London to New Brentford 8 miles thence to Stanes 7 to Hartley-row 16 more from thence to Basingstoke 8 thence to Whitchurch 10 to Andover 6 more and from Andover to Salisbury 15. This is the City otherwise called New Sarum raised out of an old one known to the Romans by the Name of Sorbiodunum which was drily seated on a great Eminence being a Place only designed for Strength Yet it was for some time honoured with an Episcopal See and a fair Cathedral As to the present City 't is pleasantly seated among several Rivers whose Streams do commodiously water most of the Streets and almost incompassed with open Fields and Plains which take their Name from it In which Plains about 6 miles distance is to be seen the Stone-henge as before described In short this City for fair Buildings is inferiour to none and transcends all others for the benefit of Water almost every Street having a River running through the midst thereof among which the Avon is the principal The Streets are large and spacious accommodated with a fine Market-Place and adorned with a fair Building the Town-Hall But the greatest Ornament of this City and indeed one of the principal Ornaments of England is the Cathedral a most stately and magnificent Church Which being begun by Richard Poore Bishop of this See and finished in the Year 1258. by Bridport the third Bishop from him was dedicated to the honour of the Blessed Virgin This Church has 12 Gates 52 Windows and 365 Pillars great and small the first answering to the Number of Months the second to that of the Weeks and the third to the Number of Days in the Year It s Steeple has a lofty Spire which proudly shews it self from a great distance And which is remarkable an Imperial Crown stood at the very top of all which by a sudden Gust of Wind was thrown down to the Ground at the very time when the late King James was at Salisbury in order to oppose
the Prince of Orange's Forces coming this way from the West Which two days after was followed by his Desertion of that Place and soon after by the Desertion of the Crown and Government Moreover this City has been for several Ages honoured with the Title of an Earldom 1. in the persons of Patrick and William D'Evreux successively 2. In two Williams surnamed Long-Espèe the first a base Son of King Henry II. by Rosamond 3. In two Nevils both Richards by their Christen-names 4. In the person of George Duke of Clarence who married Isabel Daughter of Richard Earl of Warwick 5. In Edward eldest Son of King Richard III. 6. In Margaret Daughter of George Duke of Clarence created Countess of Salisbury by King Henry VIII And lastly in the Family that now injoy's it the first being Robert Cecil Lord of Essendine and Viscount Cranborn created Earl of Salisbury by King James I. Anno 1605. From whom is descended the present Earl James Cecil Lastly this City is a Place well inhabited and frequented injoying a good Trade And its Markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays are very considerable for all sorts of Provisions The other Market-Towns are Marlborough Sat. Malmsbuâ—y Sat. Chippenham Sat. Werminster Sat. Troubridge Sat. Cricklade Sat. Bradford Mund. Swindon Mund. Calne Tue. Auburn Tue. Lavington Wedn. Wilton Wedn. Highworth Wedn. Devizes Thu. Hindon Thu. Wooten-Basset Thu. Downton Frid. Amersbury Frid. Westbury Frid. Mere Marmister Among which Marlborough or Marleburgh is next to Salisbury the most considerable Town in this County The Town called anciently Cunetio in Antonine's Itinerarium as the River Kennet was upon which it stands but by the Normans in whose Time this Town revived out of the Ruins of the old it was named Marleburgh as being seated in a chalky Soil which in some Places is still called by the name of Marl. A Town stretched out from East to West upon the ascent of a Hill watered by the Kennet not far from the head of it and having the conveniency both of a Forest and Chase in its Neighbourhood the first called Savernake-Forest and the other Aldburn Chase It had once a Castle belonging unto John surnamed Sans Terre who afterwards was King of England The Castle still famous in our Law-Books for a Parliament there held in the Reign of King Henry III. in which were made the Statutes from hence called of Marleburgh for the suppressing of Tumults But King Charles 1. at this Coronation made it yet more notable in making it the Honour as it was the Neighbour of James Lord Ley Lord Treasurer created by that King Earl of Marlbourough Anno 1625. Which Title continued in three Persons more of his Name and Family and since the late Revolution was conferred by our present King upon the Right Honourable John Churchill the present Earl of Marlborough This Town has suffered very much by the frequent Misfortune of Fire under which it groans to this day Near unto this Place is a Village called Rockley from divers Stones like Rocks pitcht up on end Among which there sometimes breaks forth a violent Stream of Water called Hungersbourn by the Country-people by whom 't is reputed as the fore-runner of a Dearth Malmesbury another good Town stands in the North-West Parts of the County pleasantly seated on a Hill near the Spring of the River Avon over which it has six Bridges being almost incircled with that River Chippenham and Bradford are also seated on the Avon and Troubridge near it Amersbury or Ambresbury commonly pronounced Ambsbury on the other Avon near the Stone-henge and but 6 miles North of Salisbury Upon which River near the Confines of Hampshire you will find also the Town called Downton or Duncton Calne is situate on a River so called which runs from East to West into the Bristol Avon This Town is noted for the Provincial Synod held here in the Year 977 to determine the hot Disputes in those Times between the Monks and the Priests concerning Celibacy But whilst they were debating the Matter in hand the Convocation-house suddenly fell down by which Fall several were slain and many cruelly wounded Wilton is seated between two Rivers the Willy Northward and the Nadder Southward From the first it took its Denomination as the whole County from Wilton Once the chief Town thereof and a Bishops See honoured with the Residence of nine several Bishops But by translating the See to Salisbury and carrying thither withall the Thorough-fare into the West-Country which before was here it fell by little and little to decay So that it is at present but a mean Town Yet still a Borough-Town the Place where the Knights of the Shire are chosen and where the Sheriff keeps his monthly County-Courts Werminster of old Verlucio a Town in former Time of very good account is seated at the Springs of the River Willy otherwise called Willybourn Westbury and Devizes are two Borough-Towns that is such Towns as fend Burgesses to Parliament The first situate on the Broke a small River that falls into the Avon Devizes at the very head of another Stream bearing the Name of the Town which likewise do's empty it self into the Avon I pass by the rest as Inconsiderable to take notice of Clarendon a fine spacious Park lying near to and Eastward of Salisbury 'T is seated upon a Hill on which stand twenty Groves severally inclosed and each a mile in compass Adorned in Times past with a Royal House which in process of time is falnto ruin But more remarkable for that in the Reign of Henry the Second Anno 1164 here was made a certain Recognition and Record of the Customs and Liberties of the Kings of England before the Prelates and Peers of the Kingdom for the avoiding Dissentions between the Clergy the Judges and Barons of the Râ—â—lm Which Act was called The Constitutions of Clarendon whereof so many as the Pope approved have been set down in the Tomes of the Councils and the rest omitted But that which has added more lustre to Clarendon is its being Dignify'd with the Title of an Earldom first in the person of Edward Hyde sometime Lord Chancellour of England who was created Viscount Cornbury in Oxfordshire and Earl of Clarendon by King Charles II Anno 1661. Upon whose Death at Rouen in Normandy Dec. 19th 1674 he was succeeded in his Title by his eldest Son Henry Hyde the present Earl of Clarendon To conclude this County which formerly was Part of the Kingdom of the West-Saxons and its Inhabitants part of the Belgae as the Romans called them is now in the Diocese of Salisbury Out of it are chosen besides the two Knights of the Shire no less than 32 Members to fit in Parliament Viz. two out of each of these following Towns New Sarum or Salisbury Wilton Downton Hindon Westbury Heytesbury Calne the Devizes Chippen ham Malmesbury Cricklade Great Bedwin Lurgershal Old Sarum Wootton Basset and Marlborough But we must not omit the famous Caves that ly in
Ireland as a Name more sacred and replete with Majesty But the English never made a full and entire Conquest of that Kingdom till the latter end of Queen Elizabeths Reign upon the great Defection of the Irish Which ended in a total Overthrow of the Rebels then under the Conduct of Hugh O Neal Earl of Tiroen and the consequence of it according to the Rule That every Rebellion when 't is suppressed does make the Prince stronger and the Subjects weaker Which I hope will be the effect of the present Rebellion in that Kingdom But besides Great Britain and Ireland the King of England is possessed of Jersey Garnsey Alderney and Sark four Islands of good note especially the two first on the Coast of Normandy in France The same are holden in right of that Dukedom which was Conquered by Henry I of England and continued English till the Days of King John when Philip II of France surnamed Augustus seized on all the Estates the English had in France as Forfeitures Anno 1202. And since the French seized upon Normandy they have often attempted Jersey and Garnsey but always with repulse and loss So affectionate are the People to the English Government and jealous of the Priviledges they injoy under it which they could not hope for from the French In America the King of England is possessed of New-England Virginia Mary-Land New York Pensylvania Carolina and Hudsons-Bay Besides many noted Islands as New-found Land Jamaica Bermudos Barbados and amongst the Leeward Islands Nevis Antego Montserat Anguilla c. In Asia he has the Isle of Bombay near Goa which was Part of the present Queen Dowagers Portion besides Conveniencies for Traffick in India China and the Levant The same he has upon the Coast of Africk The King of England has a Claim besides to the Sovereignty of all the Seas round about Great Britain and Ireland and all the Isles adjacent even to the Shores of all the Neighbouring Nations Therefore all Foreiners Ships have anciently demanded Leave to Fish and to pass in these Seas and to this day lower their Top-Sails to all the Kings Ships of War Our Law faith the Sea is of the Liegeance of the King as well as the Land And accordingly Children born upon our four Seas as sometimes it does happen are accounted natural born Subjects of the King of England without being naturalized The King of England has moreover a Title to the Kingdom of France First Challenged by King Edward III as Son and Heir of Isabel the Daughter of King Philip the Fair and Sister of Lewis IX Philip V and Charles the Fair who reigned successively and died without Issue Male. To prosecute which Title he entred into France with an Army took upon him the Title of King of France and caused the Flower de luces to be quartered with the Lions of England which has been continued ever since amongst all his Successors The French opposing his Title by virtue of a pretended Salique Law disabling Women from the Succession to the Crown he overthrew in two great Battels with a small Force under the Conduct of the incomparable Edward the Black Prince his Son Duke of Aquitain Those were the Battels of Cressy and Poitiers the first being fought Anno 1343 in the Reign of Philip VI surnamed de Valois and that of Poitiers in the Reign of his Son King John who was taken Prisoner with Philip his Son and brought over into England But such is the Vicissitude of Humane Affairs that the English soon after lost all they had got in these Wars Calais excepted For Charles V of France the Son of John proved too hard for Richard II of England one of our unfortunate Kings the next Successor of King Edward III and his Grandson by Edward the Black Prince But Henry V his next Successor but one did so far pursue the Title of France that he won it after he had won the great Battle of Agincourt which happened Anno 1415. The Opportunity was great whether we consider the Weakness and distracted Condition of Charles VI then King of France or the very Distraction of the Kingdom at that time occasioned by the Faction of Burgundy against that of Orleans So that being sought to for Peace he granted it with these Conditions that upon his Marriage with the Lady Catharine Daughter to King Charles he should be made Regent of France during Charles his Life and after the Death of Charles the Crown of France and aâ—â— its Rights should remain to King Henry and his Heirs for ever which was agreed to â—n â—oth sides And though Henry did not live â—o possess the Kingdom yet his Son Henry VI â—ad the fortune to be Crowned King of France in Paris which he held during the life of his Uncle John of Bedford anâ— Humfrey of Gloâ—ester After whose Deaths he not only lost France to the French but England and his Life to the Yorkish Faction Thus Charles VII Son of Charles VI after 〈◊〉 long and bloody War recovered from the English then divided at Home all their Possessions in France except Calais Which last remained under the English till Queen Maries Reign and was taken from her by Henry II of France And ever since Things have remained much in the same Posture the Kings of England with the Title to France and the French Kings with the Possession Nay we have had two Kings of late so passionately inamoured with the present French King that far from attempting to take the least Flower of his Crown from him have promoted his Greatness and encouraged his Rapines and unjust Usurpations The Scope whereof at last appeared to be no less than the Inslaving this Nation with the Assistance of France and far from raising the Glory of the English to make them an Object of Scorn and Contempt to the World But now we are blest with a wise just and magnanimous King three Vertues that have been long absent from the Throne of England we may hope shortly to see France if not Conquered again at least so humbled and weakened that it shall not be in her power to insult and incroach upon her Neighbours as she has in our Time to the Ruin and Desolation of the best Part of Europe 'T was a notable if not Prophetick Answer which an Englishman made to a French Officer who after the English had lost France asked him in a scoffing manner When they would return thither Wheâ— your Sins says he â—â—re greater than ours As baâ— as this Nation 〈◊〉 been 't is apparent the French have far outdone us in their Pride and Lewdness Cruelties and Usurpations So that I hope from the Disposition of the present Affairs of Europe the Time is come for France to give an Account thereof to God and Man I come now to the King of England's Titles which run thus at present joyntly with Queen Mary William and Mary by the Grace of God King and Queen of England Scotland France and Ireland
King Who in such Case usually make choice of such a Person among the Nobility as is fit for that Station whose private Interest is to preserve the Kings Life and Authority and to whom least benefit can accrue by his Death or Diminution Thus in the Case of Edward VI the Duke of Somerset his Uncle by the Mothers side was made Lord Protector during the Kings Minority And when this Rule has not been observed as in the Minority of Edward V it has proved of very ill consequence But this is observable withall that when thâ— King comes to be 24 Years of Age he may bâ— his Letters Patents under the Great Seal aâ—cording to a Statute made in the Reign of Heâ—ry VIII revoke and utterly null whatsoeveâ— has been Enacted in Parliament during his Mâ—nority When the King was Absent upon any so reign Expedition as several of our Kings have been with good success the Custom was for merly to constitute a Vicegerent by Commission under the Great Seal with the Titâ— of Lord Warden or Lord Keeper of the Kingdom and sometimes that of Protector And such was the Latitude of his Power that except wearing of the Crown he was as great aâ— the King But sometimes the Kingdom durinâ— the King's Absence has been committed to thâ— Care of several Noblemen During the Absence of Henry VIII in France which hapned two several times the Queeâ— was made Regent And so is at this time oâ—â— Gracious Queen Mary during his Majesties so reign Expedition So in case of the Kings Incapacity to govern either through Age or Weakness or by reason of some Incurable Disease a Gardian 〈◊〉 Regent is constituted to govern the Kingdom for Him Such a one was John Duke of Lâ—â— caster in the latter Days of King Edward 〈◊〉 appointed by the King himself who then what with Age and Weakness what with Sickness and Grief for the untimely Death of 〈◊〉 dear Son the Black Prince was much decayâ— both in Body and Mind I come now to the Succession to the Crâ—â— Which is not in England as in France Turâ—â— and amongst Barbarians by excluding Females from the Crown For the Crown of England in its natural Course descends from Father to Sâ—n for want of Sons to the eldest Daughter and her Heirs for want of Daughter to the Brother and his Heirs for want of Brother to the Sister and her Heirs In short upon the Death of the King or Queen upon the Throne the next of Kindred though born out of the Dominions of England or of Parents not Subjects of England is immediately King or Queen before any Proclamation or Coronation And contrary to the Descent of Estates among Subjects the Half Blood inherits as in the Case of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth who succeeded King Edward the Sixth though they were his Sisters only by the Father's side But the Government being lately Dissolved by King James his Misgovernment as well as Abdication the Crown was settled in this manner by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons assembled at Westminster in the Month of December Anno 1689. First upon William and Mary then Prince and Princess of Orange during their Lives and the Life of the Survivor of Them but the sole and full Exercise of the Regal Power to be only in and executed by the said Prince of Orange in the Names of the said Prince and Princess during their joynt Lives And after their Deceases the said Crown and Royal Dignity to be to the â—eirs of the Body of the said Princess And for default of such Issue to the Princess Anne of Denmark and the Heirs of her Body And for default of such Issue to the Heirs of the Body of the said Prince of Orange Upon which the said Prince and Princess now King and Queen of England c. did accept thâ— Crown and Royal Dignity of the Kingdoms oâ— England France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging And for preventing all Questions and Divisions in this Realm by reason of any pretended Titles to the Crown and for preserving a Certainty in the Succession thereof the Settlement of the Crown as aforesaid was Confirmed by an Act of the Insuing Parliament which passed the Royal Assent Dec 16. 1689. With this excellent Proviso That Whereas it hath been found by Experience that it is Inconsistent with the Safety and Welfare of this Protestant Kingdom to be Governed by a Popisâ— Prince or by any King or Queen Marrying Papist all and every Person and Persons thaâ— is are or shall be Reconciled to or shall holâ— Communion with the See or Church of Rome or shall profess the Popish Religion or shalâ— Marry a Papist shall be Excluded and be soever Uncapable to Inherit Possess or Injoy thâ— Crown and Government of this Realm and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonâ—ing or any Part of the same or to Have Usâ— or Exercise any Regal Power Authority or Jâ—risdiction within the same And in all and 〈◊〉 very such Case or Cases the People of theâ— Realms shall be and are hereby Absolved 〈◊〉 their Allegiance and the said Crown and Government shall from time to time Descend 〈◊〉 and be Injoy'd by such Person or Persons â—â—ing Protestants as should have Inheritâ—â— or Injoyed the same in case the said Pâ—â—son or Persons so Reconciled holding Coâ—munion or Professing or Marrying as afoâ—â—said were naturally Dead By which Act further Confirmed and Asserted by the Act of Recognition passed in the last Session of Parliament the Crown is by Law for ever Insured into Protestant Hands and all Pretence of Popish Succession Nulled and Invalidated CHAP. XI Of the Royal Family Particularly of the Queen and the Sons and Daughters of England THe Queen of England is either a Sovereign or Queen Consort or else Queen Dowager When the Queen is Sovereign as were Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth the two Daughters of Henry VIII and Sisters of Edward VI. he is invested with all the Regal Power and â—cts as Sovereign And whoever she does marry â—o far from following her Husbands Condition â—he is her Husbands Sovereign as Queen Mary â—as Philip's The Case indeed of our present Queen Mary is â—ifferent She is a Sovereign joyntly with her â—usband King William but the Administration 〈◊〉 the Government and the sole Executive Power â—â—lodged only in the King during their Joynt â—â—ves Except the Time of his Majesties Absence 〈◊〉 his foreign Expedition during which Her â—jesty is Vested by a late Act of Parliament with the Administration and acts as Queen Regent A Queen Consort without Sovereignty is Reputed however the Second Person in the Kingdom and Respected accordingly The Law sets so high a value upon Her as to make it High Treason to conspire her Death or to violate her Chastity She has her Royal Court and Officers apart with a large Dower to maintain her Greatness And though she be an Alien born yet without Denization or Naturalization she may purchase Lands in
Fee-simple make Leases and Grants and sue in her own Name without the King which is not in the power of any other Feme-covert or married Woman to do A Queen Dowager or Widow-Queen is still Respected as a Queen in her Widowhood and keeps a Court accordingly And though she should marry a private Gentleman as did Queen Catharine King Henry the Fifths Widow she does not lose her Dignity By the Sons and Daughters of England I mean the King's Children So called because all the Subjects of England have a special Interest i◠Them though their Education and the Disposing of Them is only in the King The Eldest Son commonly called the Prince of Wales is born Duke of Cornwal and afterwards created Prince of Wales Upon his Birth he is by Law of full Age to sue for the Livery of the said Dukedom as if he were full a Years of Age. But so much of the Lands 〈◊〉 Demesns of it have been Alienated that h◠Revenues are chiefly out of the Tin-Mines i◠Cornwall Which with all other Profits of the Dutchy amount yearly to the Sum of 140◠Pounds and the Prince's whole Revenues to about 20000 l. When King Edward I had compleated the Conquest of Wales He divided it into Seven Shires to which Henry VIII added five more out of the March Lands Over each of the Seven Shires King Edward placed a particular English Lieutenant and over the whole he designed a Vicegerent The Welch being disgusted at this He sent for his Queen then great with Child to Caernarvan where she was delivered of a Son Upon the News whereof the King assembled the Chief Men of that Nation and offered to name them a Governour born in Wales who could not speak one word of English and against whose Life they could take no just exception Such a one when they had all sworn to obey he named his young Son Edward Whereupon He created him Prince of Wales and since that time the Kings of England eldest Sons have been called Princes of Wales Whereas while Normandy was in the Power of the English which lasted till the Reign of King John they were stiled Dukes of Normandy The Investiture is performed by the Imposition of a Cap of Estate and a Coronet on the Princes Head as a Token of his Principality by delivering into his hand a Verge of Gold the Emblem of Government by putting a Gold Ring on his Finger in token that he must be a Husband to his Country and a Father to her Children and by giving him a Patent to hold the said Principality to Him and his Heirs Kings of England By which Words the Separation of it from the Crown is prohibited and the King keeps to himself an excellent Occasion of obliging unto Him his Son when he pleases In Imitation of which Custom John I King of Castille and Leon made his Son Henry Prince of the Asturias a Country so Craggy and Mountainous that it may not improperly be called the Wales of Spain And all the Spanish Princes ever since have been honoured with that Title The Mantle worn in Parliament by the Prince of Wales has for Distinctions sake one gard more than a Duke's his Coronet of Crosses and Flower de luces and his Cap of State indented His Arms differ from the Kings only by addition of a Label of three points And his peculiar Device is a Coronet beautified with three Ostrich Feathers inscribed with ICH DIEN that is I serve Alluding perhaps to that in the Gospel The Heir while he is a Child differs not from a Servant Which Device was born at the Battel of Cressy by John King of Bohemia serving there under the French King and there slain by Edward the Black Prince Since worn by the Princes of Wales and by the Vulgar called the Princes Arms. In short the King of England's Eldest Son has ever since been stiled Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitain and Cornwal and Earl of Chester and Flint these Earldoms being conferred upon him by Letters Patent As Eldest Son to the King of Scotland he is Duke of Rothsay and Seneschal of Scotland from his Birth Though he is a Subject yet the Law looks upon his Person as so Sacred that it is high Treason to imagine his Death or violate his Wife The Younger Sons of England depend altogether upon the King's Favour both for Titles of Honour and Revenues sutable to their Birch For they are not born Dukes or Earls but are so created according to the Kings Pleasure Neither have they as in France certain Appanages but only what Revenue the King pleases to bestow upon them They are indeed by Birth-right as well as the Prince of Wales Counsellors of State whereby they may fit themselves to manage the weighty Affairs of the Kingdom The Daughters are called Princesses And to violate them unmarried is High Treason The Title of Royal Highness is common to all the King's Children All Subjects ought to be uncovered in their Presence to kneel when they are admitted to kiss their hands and to be served on the Knee at Table unless the King be present Lastly all Persons of the Royal Bloud being a Lawful Issue have the Precedency of all others in England As for the King 's Natural or Illegitimate Sons and Daughters they are commonly created Dukes and Dutchesses and bear what Surname the King pleases to give them King Henry I. and Charles II. of blessed Memory are noted to have had the most of any CHAP. XII Of the Nine Great Officers of the Crown NEXT to the Royal Family the Great Officers of the Crown come of course to be Inquired into which are Nine in Number Viz. The Lord High Steward The Lord High Chancellor The Lord High Treasurer The Lord President of the Kings Council The Lord Privy Seal The Lord Great Chamberlain The Lord High Constable The Lord Earl Marshal The Lord High Admiral The Lord High Steward of England is the highest Officer under the King His Office not unlike that of the Mayre of the Pallace under the ancient Kings of France is to rule and govern the Kingdom under the King in Time of Peace and War during his Reign Which Power being thought too large and exorbitant for a Subject to have this Great Officer has been discontinned ever since Henry of Bullingbrock Son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster afterwards King of England under the Name of Henry IV. Only at a Coronation also for the Trial of a Peer or Peeress for Treason or Felony or some other great Crime the King makes a High Steward for that Time Who during his Stewardship is called His Grace and bears a white Staff in his hand which he openly breaks when the Business is over and so ends his Office By virtue of his Office at a Coronation he sits Judicially at the King's Pallace at Westminster Where he receives the Bills and Petitions of all such Noblemen and others who by reason of their Tenure or otherwise
the Buildings of this Town they are but mean tho' it be in Time of Peace the greatest Thorow-fare for Travellers from England to France and from that Kingdom to this It has formerly had 〈◊〉 Parish-Churches which are now reduced to two It s Haven is indifferent good and as Calais on the other side of the Water fit only for smaller Vessels As for honourary Titles I don't find any it has yielded before the Reign of King Charles I by whom Henry Carey Viscount Rochford and Baron Hunsden was created Earl of Dover Anno 1627. Which Title expired with his Son John Carey dying without Issue-male in the Year 1667 the Barony continuing in the Collateral Line Sandwich lies about 12 miles North from Dover and was formerly a Place of good Strength But since the Sea has forsaken it and its Haven has been choakt up it has losâ— much of its Trade and Reputation Noted however for giving the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable Edward Montague the present Earl of Sandwich Devolved to him from his Father Edward Montague created Baroâ— Montague of S. Neots Viscount Hinchingbrooâ— and Earl of Sandwich by King Charles II 1660. Who lost his Life in a Sea-fight against the Dutch May 29. 1672. Hythe another of the Cinque-Port Towns has run the same fate as Sandwich by the unkindness of the Sea It lies South and by Wesâ— from Dover within a Mile of Sangate Cade Rumney is seated in a Marsh so called about 14 Miles long and 8 broad Much more famous for the Conveniency of the Marsh in the Grazing of Cattel than either for good Air or a good Harbour To the Port of Dover belongs Folkstone as a Member thereof a Sea-Town near Sangate Castle formerly containing 5 Parish Churches now reduced to one Lyd is likewise a Member of the Cinque-Ports And so are Deal and Fordwich Members of the Town and Port of Sandwich The â—irst of which is of most note in these Parts for the Fleets that from time to time harbour â—ereabouts in order to sail East or West The Kentish Isles Thanet and Shepey In the North-East Parts of Kent near â—andwich is an Island called Thanet surrounded on all sides with the Sea except Westward where it is severed from the main Land by the River Stoure here called Yenlade but so that by the benefit of a Causey and Passage for the Waters in convenient Places it is united to the Continent or main Land of Kent This Island called by the Saxons Thanet from Thanatos or Athanatos by which Name it is found in Solinus is about 9 Miles in length and 8 in breadth at the broadest An Island plentifully stored with Provisions but Corn especially and withall very populous Famous for being the Place which the Saxons landed at when they first came into Britain the first Livery and Seisin which they had of the whole Kingdom conferred by the improvident Bounty of Vortiger to whose Aid they were called in And no less remarkable for being the Landing Place of Augustine the Monk when he brought the Gospel to the victorious Heathen Saxons and by his Preaching subjected them to the Rules of Christianity At Stonar a Port Town of this Island is the Sepulchre says Heylin of Vortimer King of the Britains Who having vanquished the Saxons in many Battels and finally driven them out of the Island desired to be here interred on a fond conceit that his dead Corps would fright them from Landing any more upon these Goasts Which he did probably in imitation of that Scipio who having had a fortunate Hand against those of Carthage gave order that his Tomb should be turned towards Africk to fright the Carthaginians from the Coasts of Italy But the Britains found at last by sad experience the difference there is betwixt a King in the Field and a King in the Grave On the North Shore of this Island is a Point of Land of special note among Mariners by the Name of North Foreland And the whole Isle in general is noted for giving the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable Thomas Tufton the present Earl of Thanet Shepey is another Island much about the bigness of the former Surrounded on all sides with the Sea except Southward where it is parted by the Medway from the main Land of Kent This is likewise a very fruitful Island winch from the great Flocks of Sheep that feed here came perhaps to be called Shepey 'T is well watered with Rivers especially the South Parts of it And the Soil of it has a peculiar quality in not breeding of Moles This Island has been much harassed by the Danes and by the Followers of Earl Goodwin and his Sons At present it gives the Title of Countess to the Lady Elizabeth Countess of Shepey Lady Dacres c. The chief Place is Queenborough which stands on the West Coast Besides which here are several other Towns as Minster East-Church Warden Leysden Elmley c. West from this Island is another of a small Compass on which stands the Fort called Sheerness which commands the Mouth of the Thames and Medway To conclude as to the County of Kent it stands now divided between the Diocese of Canterbury and Rochester and was as I said before a Kingdom of it self in the Time of the Heptarchy Called Cantium and the Inhabitants Cantii by the Romans Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire 16 Members of Parliament Viz. Two out of each of these Towns Canterbury Rochester Maidstone and Queenborough besides these Cinque-Port Towns Sandwich Dover Hythe and New-Rumney It has been for several Ages dignify'd with the Title of an Earldom that is ever since the Entrance of the Normans but not without several Interruptions Till upon the Death of William Nevil Earl thereof the Title was conferred by King Edward IV. upon Edmund Grey Lord Ruthen Created Earl of Kent Anno 1465. From whom is descended the Right Honourable Anthony Grey the present Earl of Kent Grandchild of Anthony Grey Clerk Parson of Burbage in the County of Leicester Who upon the Death of Henry Grey without Issue Male Anno 1639. was advanced to this Title as the next Heir to it being Grandchild of Anthony third Son of George Grey the Son of Edmund aforesaid Lastly to those several Things Remarkable in this County which I brought in occasionally I shall only add That at Egerton is a Spring whose Water turns Wood into Stone And at Boxley-Abbey another Spring of the same nature the Water whereof will turn in 9 days time Sticks and small Wood into Stone CHAP. XI Of Lancashire Leicester and Lincolnshire Lancashire LANCASHIRE or the County Palatine of Lancaster is a large Maritimâ— County in the North-West Parts oâ— England Founded on the East with York shire and part of Derbyshire on the Wesâ— by the Irish Sea on the North by Cumberlanâ— and Westmorland and on the South by Châ—shire It s Length from North to South is 57 miles its
was part of the ancient Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants part of the Cornavii in the Time of the Romans Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire seven Members of Parliament Viz. 2 by Worcester 2 by Droitwich 2 by Evesham 1. by Bewdley And so much for Worcestershire Yorkshire YORKSHIRE a Maritime County and the greatest in the whole Kingdom is bounded Eastward by the German Ocean Westward by Lancashire and Westmorland Northward by the said Ocean and the Bishoprick of Durham from which parted by the River Tees and Southward by Lincoln Nottingham and Derby Shires It s Length from East to West is 80 miles its Breadth from North to South 70. The Whole divided first into three Parts called Ridings viz. the East West and North Riding Which together contain 26 Wapentakes or Hundreds wherein 563 Parish-Churches and 49 Market-Towns A small number of Parishes for such an Extent of Ground but that there are great many Chappels of Ease equal for bignesss and resort of people to any Parish elsewhere The East-Riding which is by much the least of the three takes up only that part of Yorkshire which lies between the River Derwent went and the Sea The North-Riding takes up the North Parts as far as Westmorland And the West-Riding the largest of the three is bounded on the North by the two former Ridings on the South by the Counties of Derby Nottingham and Cheshire Eastward by Lincolnshire and Westward by Lancashire The Soil is generally fruitfull in a very good measure And as says Speed if one Part thereof is stony and barren Ground another is as fertile and richly adorned with Corn and Pasturage If here you find it naked and destitute of Woods in other Places you shall find it shadowed with most spacious Forests If it be somewhere moorish miry and unpleasant elsewhere it is as pleasant as the Eye can wish As for Rivers here are many of good note For besides the Tees which parts this County from Durham here you will find the Swale the Youre and the Nyd of which the Ouse at York is a Compound Besides the Warfe the Are the Calder and Derwent which from several Parts fall into the Ouse below York To which add the Dun which severs part of this County from Lincolnshire and the Hull which falls into the Humber at Hull As for the Humber which is the largest of all it cannot be said properly to be a distinct River but rather a Compound or a Mouth of several Rivers joyning into one Stream as I have already hinted in the beginning of this Part. York in Latin Eboracum the chief Place of Yorkshire bears from London North-by-West and is distant therefrom 150 miles thus From London to Huntington 48 miles for the particulars of which I refer you to Huntingtonshire from Huntington to Stamford 21 to Grantham 16 more thence to Newark 10 to Tuxford 9 more from Tuxford to Duncaster 18 to Wentbridge 7 more thence to Tadcaster 12 and to York 9 more A City which for fame and greatness is the second City of England It is in the North-Riding situate on the River Ouse which divides it into two Parts but joyned together by a stately Stone-Bridge Of which two Parts that towards the East is the most populous the Houses standing thicker and the Streets narrower In general 't is a fair large and beautifull City adorned with many fair Buildings both publick and private and inclosed with a strong Wall with several Turrets upon it A City rich and populous well inhabited by Gentry and wealthy Tradesmen and containing about 30 Parish-Churches and Chappels besides its Cathedral dedicated to St. Peter First built by Edwyn the first Christian King of the Northumbers Anno 627 and finished by King Oswald his next Successor but one But being afterwards destroyed by Fire and by the fury of the Danes that which now stands was erected in the place thereof by Archbishop Thomas the 25th of this See and after by degrees adorned and beautify'd by his Successors Of that magnificent Structure which may justly put her in the first Rank of the Cathedrals in Europe In short the Romans of old had this City in such great esteem that Severus their Emperour had his Palace here where he ended his Days Here also upon the Death of Fl. Valerius Constantius surnamed Chlorus his Son Constantine was forthwith proclaimed Emperour Nor did this City flourish only under the Romans for it has been of as eminent Reputation in all Ages since and in the several Turns and Changes which have befallen this Kingdom under the Saxons Danes and Normans has still preserved its ancient Lustre Adorned it was with an Archbishops See in the time of the Britains nor stooped it lower when the Saxons imbraced the Gospel Richard II laying unto it a little Territory on the West-side thereof made it a County Incorporate as our Lawyers term it in which the Archbishops of York injoy the Right of Palatines It is governed as London by a Lord Mayor London and York being the only Cities whose Mayors bear the Title of Lord. But not so much famed by that as by the Title of Duke it has given to divers Princes of the Royal Bloud and particularly to the late King James before he came to the Crown As for its Markets it has two a Week viz. on Thursdays and Saturdays The other Market-Towns are 1. In the East-Riding Heydon Sat. Howden Sat. Burlington Sat. Pocklington Sat. Hull Tue. and Sat. Wighton Wedn. Beverley Wedn. and Sat. Kilham Thu. 2. In the West-Riding Duncaster Sat. Sherburn Sat. Tickhill Sat. Bautrey Sat. Pontefract Sat. Boroughbridge Sat. Skipton Sat. Rotheram Mund. Selby Mund. Otley Tue. Settle Tue. Sheffield Tue. Leeds Tue. and Sat. Wakefield Thu. Frid. Ripley Frid. Snathe Frid. Thorne Barnesley Wedn. Knaresborough Wedn. Hallifax Thu. Bradforth Thu. Tadcaster Thu. Weatherby Thu. Rippon Thu. 3. In the North-Riding Richmond Sat. Whitby Sat. Stokesly Sat. Malton Sat. Helmley Sat. Pickering Mun. Middleham Mun. Gisborough Mun. Thirsk Mun. Bedal Tue. Masham Tue. North-Allerton Wed. Abberforth Wed. Kirby-Moreside Wed. Scarborough Thu. Yarum Thu. In the East-Riding the Town of chief note is Hull otherwise called Kingston upon Hull seated at the very fall of the Hull into the Humber A Town of no great Antiquity being first built by King Edward I who called it Kingston made an Harbour tâ— it and gave such Incouragements to its Inhabitants by the Priviledges he granted them that it grew up quickly to what it is A large Town to this day though containing but two Parish Churches graced with faiâ— Buildings and well ordered Streets with a Custom-house and Key by the Water-side Here Ships come to lade and unlade their Merchandises and in the next Street to it not unlike Thames-street in London they find all Necessaries for Shipping such as Pitch Tar Cordage Sails c. A Town so fortified withall with Walls Ditches Forts Block-houses and Castles that with
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
High Admiral of England an Office held by Patent and of so great a Trust that it has usually been given to Princes of the Royal Bloud For the Lord High Admiral is Intrusted with no less than the Management of all Maritime Affairs with the Government of the King's Navy with Power of Decision in all Causes Maritime aswell Civil as Criminal of all Things done upon or beyond the Sea in any Part of the World in all Ports and Havens upon the Sea-Coasts and all Rivers below the first Bridge next towards the Sea In short the Admiralty being in a manner a separate Kingdom from the rest the Lord High Admiral may be reputed at least the Viceroy thereof A Multitude of Officers high and low are under him both at Sea and Land some of a Military others of a Civil Capacity some Judicial others Ministerial And under him is held the High Court of Admiralty the Places and Offices whereof are in his Gift The last High Admiral of England was the late King when Duke of York For since he came to the Crown the Office was executed by Seven Lords Commissioners as it is to this day CHAP. XIII Of Their present Majesties King WILLIAM and Queen MARY With a brief Account of Their Accession to the Crown KING WILLIAM our present Monarch is the only Issue of the late Illustrious Prince William of Nassaw Prince of Orange and of the Deceased Princess Royal Mary eldest Daughter to King Charles I who was wedded to the foresaid Prince in the Year 1641. His Majesty was born in Holland Nov. 4th 1650 ten days after his Fathers Death and was Christened by the Names of William Henry William being his Fathers Name and Henry his Grandfathers The House of Nassaw is an Ancient and most Illustrious Family so called from Nassaw a Town and County in Weteravia a Province of Germany That Branch of it from whence the King is descended had their usual Seat at Dillenburg not far from Nassaw before they settled in the Low-Countries whence for Distinctions sake they were named the Earls of Nassaw of the House of Dillenburg Otho of Nassaw who died Anno 1190 was the Founder of the present Family of the Princes of Orange out of which descended Adolph Earl of Nassaw who was chosen Emperour in the Year 1292. By the Marriage of Engelbert the seventh Earl of this House with Mary Daughter and Heir of Philip Lord of Breda in Brabant that Town and Barony with many other fair Estates in the Netherlands was added to the Family And by the Marriage of Henry the tenth Earl of Nassaw Anno 1515. with Claude of Chalons Sister and Heir of Philibert Prince of Orange this Principality bordering upon Provence and Dauphene within the Dominions of France accrued to the Family So much the worse for having so ill an Neighbour as the present French King who has long since rapaciously seized upon it but left however what he could not take away the King 's just Title to it In short our Gracious King William is the 18th Earl of Nassaw beginning with Otho aforesaid and the 7th Prince of Orange of his Family beginning with Rene of Nassaw Son of Henry and Claude who succeeded Philibert his Uncle in the Principality of Orange A Family as much honoured for the personal Merit of the Princes of it as any other in Europe and to which the States of Holland ow the Liberty and Greatness they injoy All the World knows how great a Patron and Assertor of the Belgick Liberties against the Spaniard was the most noble and generous Prince William of Nassaw one of his Majestieâ— Ancestors And to pass by the generous Exploits of his noble Successors till the present King William 't is well known what his Majestly has done to rescue not only his Native Country but the best Part of Europe from its Oppressors It has been of late Years both at home and abroad the Maxim of some Princes to outvy each other in preying upon and destroying not only their Neighbours but their own Protestant Subjects by all Methods of Perfidiousness and Cruelty To establish or maintain their Tyranny they went about to introduce a general Ignorance For where Subjects part with their Reason 't is easy for them to part with their Liberty witness those miserable Inslaved Countries where Popery domineers On the contrary the House of Orange has always appeared against that ravenous and inhumane Principle And as if Providence had appointed them for a Check to Tyranny God has been pleased accordingly to bless their just Indeavours Never the Liberty of England and the Protestant Interest in general lay more at stake than it did in the late Reign 'T is plain there was a general Design to extirpate Herely in a Popish Sense and to inslave all Europe The Plot was laid in the Reign of blessed King Charles who with a shew of Proteslantism made the Way smooth for Popery At last when all Things were finely prepared to the hand of his next Heir King Charles go's off the Stage and his Brother to play the last Act enters and ascends the Throne No Prince more Courteous more Obliging or more Promising at first than He was to his new Subjects The Church of England Triumphed in his Exaltation and Addressed Him from all Parts of the Kingdom as their Tutelaâ— Angel The People in general look'd upon him as an Incomparable Hero who would quickly make it his Business to pull down the Hector of France and to carry the Glory of England beyond all his Predecessors In short so great were the Hopes of this King that Edward III and Henry V the most glorious Monarchs of England were upon his Account to be hissed out of our English Chronicles No body dreamed of a Popish Catechism to be the first step to this Glory nor of an Army to be raised for the defence of it Under whose shelter besides a secret League with France the Prerogative began presently to swell above its Banks the Laws to be Overwhelmed the Liberty and Property of the Subject Invaded the Church of England Crushed that had raised the King to the Throne Popery crowing over all the Nation and to crown all their Hopes presto a Prince of Wales In short to speak in terms of War the Miner was fix'd and we must either Surrender or be Stormed This was our Condition when the Prince of Orange our present King undertook our Deliverance and effected it under God in a miraculous manner Upon whose Approach our Mass-Hero fled left us to shift for our selves and the Popish Party to the mercy of the Rabble This hapned Dec. 11th 1688 a fatal Year in this and the foregoing Age to Popery iâ— England In that state of Anarchy what could the Nation do less than provide for a Settlement under the gracious Influences of the Prince Which was accordingly done in as regular 〈◊〉 Way as the present state of Affairs would â—ow King James having thus deserted the
constant Attendance upon the King As for Home Concerns whether publick oâ— private both the Secretaries do equally receive and dispatch whatever is brought to them But for forein Affairs each has his distinct Province receiving all Letters and Addresse from and making all Dispatches to the severaâ— Princes and States in his Province They keep each of them his Office called the Secretaries Office at Whitehall Where they have also Lodgings for their own Accommodation and those that attend upon it whâ— a liberal Diet at the Kings Charge or Board wages in lieu of it Their settled Allowancâ— is little less than 2000 l. a Year to each 〈◊〉 them besides Perquisites The Secretaries and Clerks they imploy uâ—der them are wholly at their own choice anâ— have no Dependance upon any other Lastly they have the Custody of the Signet one of the Kings Seals To which belongs the Signet-Office where four Clerks wait Monthly by turns preparing such Things as are to pass the Signet in order to the Privy Seal or Great Seal He that is in waiting is always to attend the Court wheresoever it removes and to prepare such Bills or Letters for the King to sign not being Matter of Law as by Warrant from the King or Secretaries of State or Lords of the Council he is directed to prepare And to this Office all Grants prepared by themselves or the Kings Learned Council at Law for the Kings hand are returned when signed and there transcribed again The Transcription is carried to one of the Principal Secretaties of State to be sealed with the Signet This done it is directed to the Lord Privy Seal and is his Warrant for issuing out a Privy Seal upon it But then it must be first transcribed by the Clerks of the Seal who are also four in Number and when it has the Privy Seal affixt 't is sufficient for the Payment of any Monies out of the Exchequer and for several other Uses If the Grant requires the passing the Great Seal as several Grants do the Privy Seal is a Warrant to the Lord Chancellour or the Lords Commissioners to pass it as the Signet was to the Lord Privy Seal But here also a new Transcription must be made of the Grant The Reason why a Grant must go through so many Hands and Seals before it can be perfected is that it may be duly considered and all Objections cleared before it take its effect The Paper-Office at Whitehall is also depending on the Secretaries of State Where all the Papers and Dispatches that pass through their Offices as Matters of State and Council Letters Intelligences and Negotiations of forein Ministers here or of the Kings Ministers abroad are from time to time transmitted and there remain disposed by way of Library The Keeper whereof has a yearly Salary of 160 l. payable out of the Exchequer To conclude the Lords of the Privy Council have always been of such high value and esteem that if a Man did but strike another in a Privy Counsellors House or elsewhere in his presence he was fined for the same To conspire the Death of any of them was Felony in any of the Kings Servants and to kill one of them was High Treason A Privy Counsellour though but a Gentleman has precedence of all Knights Baronets and younger Sons of all Barons and Viscounts And a Secretary of State has this special Honour that if he be a Baron he takes place as such of all other Barons So honourable an Imployment it is that in the late Reign the Earl of Sunderland was both principal Secretary of State and Lord President of the Privy Council CHAP. III. Of the High Court of Chancery otherwise called the Court of Equity I come now to the Courts of Judicature held at Westminster viz. the Courts of Chancery Kings Bench Common Plâ—as Exchequer and Dutchy of Lancaster whereof the three first are held at Westminster Hall the Common-Pleas near the Gate the Chancery and Kings Bench at the further end of the Hall All the fore-mentioned Courts are opened four times a Year called the four Terms Viz. Easter Trinity Michaelmas and Hilary Term. Easter-Term begins always the 17th Day after Easter and lasteth 27 Days Trinity or Midsummer Term begins the fifth Day after Trinity Sunday and lasteth 20 Days Michaelmas-Term begins the 23th of October and lasteth 37 Days And Hilary-Term so called from S. Hilary a Bishop beginneth the 23 of January and lasteth 21 Days Next to the Parliament of England and the Kings Privy Council by whose Influences the Nation is chiefly governed under the King the High Court of Chancery is the chief and the most ancient Court of Judicature Otherwise called the Court of Equity in opposition to other inferiour Courts the Judges whereof are tied to the Letter of the Law Whereas this is a Court of Mercy in which the Rigour of the Law is tempered with Equity And therefore the Kings of England would have this Court Superiour to the other Tribunals as well as for being the Original of all other Courts and the Fountain of all our Proceedings in Law For as Sir Edward Coke says this Court is Officina Justitiae out of which all Original Writs and all Commissions which pass under the Great Seal go forth which Great Seal is Clavis Regni the Key of the Kingdom and for those ends this Court is always open In the Chancery are two Courts one Ordinary and the other Extraordinary In the first the Proceedings are in Latine Secundum Legem Consuetudinem Angliae according to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm In the second by English Bill Secundum aequum bonum according to Equity The Manner of Proceeding is much like that in the Courts of the Civil Law the Actions by Bill or Plaint the Witnesses examined in private and the Decrees in English or Latin not in French No Jury of twelve Men but all Sentences given by the Judge of the Court. The Judge is the Lord Chancellour or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal the highest Dignity that a Lay-man is capable of in England and held of the King durante Beneplacito But now this Office is executed by three Lords Commissioners Next to whom there are twelve Assistants called Masters of the Chancery who are Civilians Their Salary is each 100 Pound paid out of the Exchequer quarterly besides Robe-mony Three of these at a time sit in the Chancery Court in Term-time and two out of Term when the Chancellour sits to hear Causes at his own House Who often refers to them the further hearing of Causes c. These Masters have a publick Office where one or more of them do constantly attend to take Affidavits c. The chief of them is the Master of the Rolls whose Place is both very honourable and beneficial The same is in the King's Gift either Life or during his Majesties Pleasure And he is called Master of the Rolls as having the Custody of all Charters Patents