eldest Sons Marquesses younger Sons Barons Vicounts eldest Sons Earls younger Sons Barons eldest Sons Vicounts younger Sons Barons younger Sons But 't is to be observed that all Dukes that are not Princes of the Bloud are preceded by these four Great Officers of the Crown though they be but Barons viz. the Lord Chancellour the Lord Treasurer the Lord President of the Privy Council and the Lord Privy Seal I leave out the Lord High Steward of England because none of this Office is continued beyond the present Occasion As for the Lord Great Chamberlain of England the Lord High Constable the Lord Marshal the Lord High Admiral the Lord Steward of the King's Houshold and the Lord Chamberlain of the King's Houshold they sit above all of their Degree only The Nobility of England have at all times injoyed many considerable Priviledges Though neither Civil nor Common Law allow any Testimony to be valid but what is given upon Oath yet the Testimony of a Peer of England given in upon his Honour without any oath is esteemed valid And whereas the law allows any one of the Commonalty arraigned for Treason or Felony to challenge 35 of his Jury without shewing Cause and others by shewing Cause a Peer of the Realm cannot challenge any of his Jury or put any of them to their Oath the Law presuming that they being Peers of the Realm and judging upon their Honour cannot be guilty of Falshood Favour or Malice In Criminal Causes a Peer cannot be tried but by a Jury of the Peers of the Realm who are not as other Juries to be put to their Oath but their Verdict given in upon their Honour sufficeth All Peers of the Realm being lookt upon as the King 's constant Counsellors their Persons are at all Times priviledged from Arrests except in Criminal Cases Therefore a Peer cannot be Outlawed in any Civil Action and no Attachment lies against him The only Way for satisfaction from a Peer is by Execution taken forth upon his Lands and Goods and not by Attachment or Imprisonment of his Person So tender is the Law of the Honour Credit Reputation and Persons of Noblemen that there is a Statute on purpose called Scandalum Magnatum to punish all such as by false Reports âring any scandal upon them They are exempted from all Attendance at Leets or Sheriffs Turns where others are obliged to take the Oath of Allegiance And whereas for the suppressing of Riots the Sheriff may raise the Posse Comitatus yet he cannot command any Peer of the Realm to attend that Service In Civil Causes they are not to be Impanelled upon any Jury or Inquest de facto though in a Matter between two Peers and if a Peer be returned upon any such Jury there lies a special Writ for his Discharge They are upon no Case to be bound to their good Behaviour or put to swear they will not break the Peace but only to promise it upon their Honour which was ever counted so sacred as upon no terms to be violated Every Peer of the Realm summoned to Parliament may constitute in his lawful absence a Proxy to Vote for him which none of the Commons may do And any Peer in a Place of Trust is free to make a Deputy to act in his absence whilst he attends the Person of the King Where a Peer of the Realm is Defendant no Day of Grace is to be granted to the Plaintiff the Law presuming that a Peer of the Realm must always be ready to attend the Person of the King and the Service of the Commonwealth Therefore he ought not to be delayed any longer than the ordinary Use of the Court but tâ have expedition of Justice In any Civil Trial where a Peer of the Realâ is Plaintiff or Defendant there must be at leasâ one Knight returned of the Jury Otherwisâ the Array may be quashed by Challenge In all Cases wherein the Priviledge of the Clergy is allowed to other Men and in divers Cases where that Priviledge is taken away from them a Peer of the Realm upon his Request shall be for the first time adjudged as a Clerk Convict though he cannot read And that without burning in the Hand loss of Inheritance or Corruption of Bloud In case of Amerciaments of the Peers of the Realm upon Non-Suits or other Judgments a Duke is to be amerced but Ten Pounds and all others under Five This to be done by their Peers according to Magna Charta though it has been often done of late by the King's Justices A Peer of the Realm being sent for by the King to Court Parliament Council or Chancery has the Priviledge passing by the King's Park or Forest both coming and returning to Kill one or two Deer An Earl has 8 Tun of Wine Custom-free and the rest proportionably All Peers of the Realm have a Priviledge of Qualifying a certain Number of Chaplains to hold Plurality of Benefices with Cure of Souls But it must be with a Dispensation first obtained from the Archbishop and the same ratified under the Great Seal of England Thus a Duke may qualify six Chaplains a Marquess and Earl five a Viscount four and a Baron âhree A Peer of the Realm has also the Priviledge âf Retaining six Aliens whereas another may âot Retain above four These are the chief Priviledges belonging to âe Nobility of England which are great and âonsiderable And yet none of them ever had the Priviledge of the Grandees of Spain to be covered in the King's Presence except Henry Ratcliff Earl of Surrey 'T is true the Princes of the Bloud have often had the honour of being covered but then it was by the King 's gracious Command not by virtue of any constant Priviledge Neither are our Noblemen exempted as in France from Tailles and Contributions but always bear a share proportionable And in case of a Poll-Act they are usually thus Rated according to their several Degrees of Honour Viz. Â l. s. d. A Duke 50 00 00 A Marquess 40 00 00 An Earl 30 00 00 A Viscount 25 00 00 A Baron 20 00 00 Those of their Sons which have attained to 16 Years of Age are thus taxed As. Â l. s. d. The Eldest Son of A Duke 30 00 00 The Eldest Son of A Marquess 25 00 00 The Eldest Son of An Earl 20 00 00 The Eldest Son of A Viscount 17 00 00 The Eldest Son of A Baron 15 00 00 A Younger Son of A Duke 25 00 00 A Younger Son of A Marquess 20 00 00 A Younger Son of An Earl 15 00 00 A Younger Son of A Viscount 13 06 00 A Younger Son of A Baron 12 00 00 The Nobles to bear up their Rank have generally great and plentiful Estates some of them beyond those of several Princes beyond Sea And till the Civil Wars in the Reign of Charles I. they lived with suitable splendour and Magnisicence Keeping a plentiful Table and a numerous Attendance with several Officers delighting in
England into Counties there is a common way of dividing it but into Two Parts North and South that is all the Counties on the North and South-side of the River Trent Which way is followed by the Justices in Eyre of the Forest and likewise by the Kings at Arms. Another Division there is relating to the publick Administration of Justice by the Itinerant of Judges And that is into Six Circuits of which I shall give a particular Account in my second Part. Lastly for the Church Government England is divided first into two Provinces or Archbishopricks namely Canterbury and York and these two Provinces into 22 Diocesses or Bishopricks these into Archdeaconries Archdeaconries into Rural Deanries and these last into Parishes The Number whereof setting aside the 12 Counties of Wales amounts to near Ten Thousand CHAP. II. The Advantages of ENGLAND from its Situation in opposition to Inland Countries The natural Beauty of it A Description of its principal Rivers OF all the States of Europe there 's none more happy than ENGLAND whether we consider the Advantages of its Situation the Temperateness of its Air the Richness of its Soil the happy temper of its Inhabitants or the Blessed Constitution of its Government especially under their present Majesties As it is in a manner surrounded by the Sea it injoys Two great Advantages the One in Relation to foreign Trade and the Other in point of Security from forein Invasion In relation to forein Trade it lies open to all Parts of the World that are adjacent to the Sea either for the Exportation of home-bred or the Importation of foreign Commodities To which purpose as Nature has fenced its Sea-Coasts from the Irruptions and Inundations of the Sea with high Cliffs so she has furnished it with abundance of safe and capacious Harbours for the security of Ships As for a forein Invasion 't is certain that Islands of any great Importance are by Nature the most defensible Places and the least open to Conquests The Sea that fluid Element which surrounds them is such a Bar to their Enemies Attempts the Winds that govern it so fickle and uncertain the Charges of a Fleet and Land Army so vast the Preparations such as cannot be carried on with that speed and secrecy as for an Invasion by Land and the Difficulty of Landing so great in case of Opposition 'T is true no Continent perhaps was oftener Conquered than ENGLAND first by the Romans then by the Saxons afterwards by the Danes and last of all by the Normans But how was it done always by the help of some discontented or corrupted Party in the Island Thus Bericus a noble but disgusted Britain incouraged Claudius the Roman Emperour to stretch his Empire hither And Vortiger an Usurper of the British Throne called in the Saxons to his help who having got a footing here could not be so easily expelled as brought in In short it may be said England was never and can scarce be Conquered but by England especially since its happy Conjunction with Scotland and the Annexion of Wales As to the late Revolution 't is self evident that the chief Part of the Nation had a hand in it and as it proved we may justly call it not an Invasion as King James affected to do but a wonderful and signal Deliverance To those Two great Advantages of Trade and Security which England does injoy from its Situation near the Sea let us add the Prospect it has from the Sea-Coast of the wonderful Ocean one of the three great Antiquities of the World and the plentiful Variety of Fish and Sea-Fowl c. it affords to this Island But that which raises my Admiration of ENGLAND is the Beauty of it being generally a flat and open Country not overgrown with wild and unwholsom Forests nor dreadful high Mountains What Hills it has are generally very gentle and pleasant and raised as it were to give a charming Prospect to the Eye as its Forests seem only contrived for Variety and the pleasure of Hunting But one Thing there is which adds much to the Beauty of it and that is its excellent Verdure Which by reason of the mildness of the Air even in the Winter-Season exceeds in duration of Time the most fruitful Places of Europe To which add the Concourse of so many Rivers which glide through this Country and strive to make it agreeable and fruitful They are reckoned in all 325 the chief whereof are these following Viz. The Thames The Medway The Severn The Ouse The Trent The Humber The Tees The Tine The Twede The Thames is a Compound of the Thame and Isis two Rivers the first whereof rises in Buckinghamshire the other near Cirencester in Glocestershire both joyning together into one Stream by Dorcester in Oxfordshire where it parts that County from Barkshire From whence taking its course Eastward with many Windings and Turnings it parts Buckinghamshire from Barkshire Middlesex from Surrey and Essex from Kent Where being swelled with the Influx of several lesser Rivers it discharges it self into the Sea watering by the way amongst other Towns Reading and Windsor in Barkshire Kingston and Southwark in Surrey London in Middlesex Barking in Essex and Gravesend in Kent A River the Water whereof is extraordinary wholsom the Stream exceeding gentle and the Tides very commodious for Navigation For the Sea flows gently up this River about 80 Miles almost as far as Kingston being 12 Miles by Land and 20 by Water above London The Medway is a Kentish River not so remarkable for the length of its Course as for the Depth of its Channel and therefore made use of for harbouring the Royal Navy It runs thorough Maidstone Rochester and Chatham a few Miles from whence it empties it self in the Mouth of the Thames This River loses it self under Ground and rises again at Loose not far from Cox-Heath The Severn rises in Montgomeryshire a County of North-Wales From whence it runs through Shropshire Worcestershire and Glocestershire where it does so expatiate it self that the Mouth of it is more like an Arm of the Sea than any part of a River It waters in its course Shrewsbury Worcester and Glocester the chief Towns of the foresaid three Counties and takes in by the way several Rivers of good note two Avons the Temd the Wye and the Vsk The Ouse has its source in the South-Borders of Northamptonshire From whence it runs through the Counties of Bucks Bedford Huntington Cambridge and Norfolk where it discharges it self into the Ocean watering in its Course Buckingham Bedford Huntington Ely and the Sea-Port of Lyn in Norfolk The River that runs through York has also the Name of Ouse being a Compound chiefly of these three Yorkshire Rivers the Swale the Youre and the Warfe And between Norfolk and Suffolk you will find the little Ouse which parting these Two Counties runs at last into the great Ouse The Trent which divides England into Two Parts North and South has its Rise
is scarce any Country whose Fields are better stored with all sort of Corn the Pastures with Cattel the Woods and Forrests Parks and Warrens with wild Beasts only for Recreation and Food the Air with Birds and Fowls the Seas and Rivers with Fishes and the Mines with Coals and Metals On the other side there is scarce a Country so little troubled with hurtful and ravenous Beasts with venomous Serpents or noisom Flies and Vermine Wolves which of all ravenous Beasts are the most pernicious and destructive of Cattel have been so wonderfully extirpated out of this Land that I cannot omit the History of it I know it has been a Tradition of old Writers that England never had any Wolves at all and that being brought hither from other Places they would not live But History tells us the contrary here being abundance of them till King Edgar commuted for 300 Wolves the yearly Tribute paid him by the Prince of Wales Which made the Welch so industrious and active in Wolf-hunting that the Wolves were in time quite rooted out of the Land the Welch protesting at last they could find no more of ' em Whereby 't is come to pass that whereas in other Countries they are at the Charge and Trouble of guarding their Sheep and housing them by night here they are left feeding in the Fields day and night secure from any Danger unless it be sometimes from Men-Wolves or Sheep-stealers And yet I am credibly informed that in some Places as Warwickshire among the rest some Wolves from time to time have been discovered But as it happens but seldom so upon the least notice the Country rises amain as it were against a common Enemy there being such a hue and cry after the Wolf that it is hard for him to escape the Posse Comitatus CHAP. V. Of the COUNTRY in particular And first of Barkshire Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire in the Alphabetick Order With an Account of what is most remarkable in each Barkshire BARKSHIRE BERKSHIRE or BERKS is an Inland County 'T is bounded on the North by the Thames and Isis which part it from Oxfordshire On the South by Hampshire Eastward by Surrey and Westward by Wiltshire and Glocestershire It contains in Length from East to West about 45 Miles in Breadth from North to South 25. The whole divided into 20 Hundreds wherein 140 Parishes and 12 Market-Towns The Country is very pleasant the Air sweet and the Soil fruitful Next to the Isis and the Thames which water the North Parts of it the Kennet is the principal River which runs into the Thames at Reading and yields excellent Trouts especially about Hungerford Reading the County-Town lies 32 Miles West from London thus viz. to Colebrook 15 from thence to Maidenhead 7 and 10 more to Reading A Town commodiously seated at the fall of the Kennet into the Thames over which Rivers it has several Bridges and that over the Kennet is the fairest The Town is well inhabited and contains 3 Parish Churches Of great Resort and Trade especially for its Cloth and Malt here made Here the County Assizes are usually kept and its Market is on Saturday The other Market-Towns are Windsor Sat. Vantage Sat. Abington Mund. Frid. Faringdon Tues Ockingham Tues Wallingford Tues Frid. Maidenhead Wed. Hungerford Wed. East-Isley Wed. Newbury Thurs Lainborn Amongst which Wallingford and Abington are two Towns of great Antiquity and such as have flourished in their time but since gone to decay The first being the Guallena of the Ancients and then the chief Town of the Attrebatii was afterwards also among the West Saxons the chief Town of this County A Mile in compass at that time within the Walls fortified with a strong Castle and adorned with 12 Parish Churches But in the Year 1348 so desolated by a Plague that there is now but one Church left hardly Inhabitants enough to keep that in repair and nothing of the Walls left as not much of the Castle but the Tract and Ruins of ' em However as it is seated upon the Thames over which it has a Bridge it makes shift to support it self by its Trade of Maulting and its Commodiousness for Transporting Corn and other Commodities to London And so doth Abington which lies North-West from it at the fall of the Ouse into the Isis Noted for giving the Title of an Earldom to the Right Honourable James Bertie the present Earl of Abington Baron Norreys c. Windsor on the Thames is chiefly remarkable for its Castle the finest Royal Pallace of England and the only Castle of six this County has formerly had which is now remaining Which being seated on a great Eminence with a stately and spacious Terrass before it injoys a pure Air and a delicate Prospect Famous for being the Place where the Ceremony of the Knights of the Garter is solemnized on St. George's Day Newbury and Hungerford are both seated on the River Kennet few Miles distant from each other The first of chief note for the Batteâ fought here in the long Civil Wars called Newbury Fight where King Charles I. remained victorious And the last for having the best Trouts and Craw-Fish in all England This County formerly a Part of the ancient Kingdom of the West-Saxons the Inhabitants whereof called Attrebatii by the ancient Romans is in the Diocese of Salisbury Dignified with the Title of an Earldom in the person of the Right Honourable Thomas Howard the present Earl of Barkshire Viscount Andover c. Devolved to him from his Brother Charles and to Charles from their Father Thomas Howard created Earl of Barkshire Anno 1625. Which Title had been injoyed before him by another Family but in the Person only of Francis Norris created Earl of Barkshire by King James I. Anno 1620 who died few Years after without Issue Male. Out of this County are chosen besides the two Knights of the Shire seven Members to sit in Parliament Viz. 2 from Reading 2 from Windsor 2 more from Wallingford and 1 from Abington Bedfordshire BEDFORDSHIRE another Inland County is bounded Eastward by Hartfordshire and part of Cambridgeshire Westward by Buckinghamshire Northward by Northampton and Huntington Shires Southward by Middlesex and the South Parts of Buckinghamshire It contains in Length from North to South not above 24 Miles in Breadth but 12 and in Circumference 72. The Whole divided into nine Hundreds wherein 116 Parishes and 10 Market-Towns Here the Air is very temperate the Country for the most part Champion and the Soil ferile especially the North part of it Noted shiefly for yielding the best Barley in Engâand Next to the River Ouse which waters the North Parts of it the Ivel is the chief which falls into the Ouse A memorable Thing is recorded of this River Ouse which I am unwilling to pretermit At a Place near Harwood on New Years Day 1399 just before the War began between the Two Houses of York and Lancaster this River suddenly stood still and ceased
the Thames and Colebrook on the Coln Newport or Newport Pagnel a goodly Town has two Bridges over the Ouse and is of chief note for the Bone-lace here made Stony Stratford a Place of great Antiquity being the Lactodurum of the Romans is a good large Town containing two Parish Churches And as it lies in the Way from London to the North-West Parts of England it is well accommodated with Inns for Travellers This is the Way called Wailing-street being a Military High-Way of the Romans which crossed all the Country At this Place King Edward the Elder obstructed the Passage of the Danes whilst he fortified Towcester against them And here King Edward Lerected a beautiful Cross in Memorial of his Queen Eleanor whose Corps rested here in her Journey from Lincolnshire where she died to Westminster Abbey the Place of her Sepulture Wickham situate in a low and fertile Vale on a small River which falls into the Thames is a Town which for largeness and fair Buildings is not inferiour to any in the County Here the County Assises are commonly kept and sometimes at Ailesbury Ailesbury stands in a most fruitful Vale on the rising of a little Hill compassed about with many very pleasant green Meadows and Pastures The Vale in great repute for grazing of Cattel and feeding innumerable Flocks of Sheep whose fine Fleeces are in great esteem A Vale famous of old for S. Edith who bidâling the World Adieu betook her self to this Vale where she lived a pious and holy life The Town more remarkable of late for the Title of an Earldom it gives to the Right Honourable Thomas Bruce the present Earl of Ailesbury and Earl of Elgin in Scotland Derived to him from his Father Robert Bruce Baron of Kinlos Earl of Elgin and Lord Whorlton in Yorkshire Who was created by King Charles II. Baron of Skelton Viscount Bruce of Ampthill and Earl of Ailesbury March 18th 1664. Advanced afterwards to the Place of Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold soon after the late Kings Accession to the Crown upon the Decease of his Predecessor the Earl of Arlington Beaconfield is seated on a dry Hill not far either from Wickham or Amersham A goodly Town which being on the high Road from London to Oxford is very well accommodated with Inns. Marlow is probably so called from the great store of Marl or Chalk here dug up which adds no small advantage to the Husbandmen who inrich their Grounds with it But besides all these Market Towns here 's Eaton upon the Thames opposite to Windsor which deserves a Place here for its fine Colledge and famous School of Literature founded by that Pious Prince King Henry the Sixth Lastly this County which formerly was Part of the ancient Kingdom of the West Saxons and its Inhabitants part of the Catieuchlani as the Romans called them is now in the Diocese of London Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire 12 Members of Parliament viz. two out of each of these Towns Buckingham Ailesbury Chipping-Wickomb Agmundesham Wendover and Marlow CHAP. VI. Of Cambridge Cheshire and Cornwal Cambridgeshire CAMBRIDGESHIRE another Inland County has for its Bounds Eastward both Suffolk and Norfolk Westward Northampton Huntington and Bedford shires Northward Lincolnshire Scuthward Essex and Hartfordshire It extends it self in Length from North to South 35 miles in Breadth from East to West 20. The Whole divided into 17 Hundreds 163 Parishes and 8 Market-Towns 'T is for the most part a pleasant fruitful Champain Country abounding in all Things necessary stored with Meadows and Pastures plentiful of Corn and Barley and abundantly furnished with Fish and Fowl The Northern Parts indeed are Fenny and therefore less fruitful of Corn. But that Defect is sufficiently supplied another way I mean by that plenty of Cattel Fish and Fowl that are bred in those Fens 'T is true the Air in those Parts is something the worse for them One Thing this County may boast of besides Essex viz. the Saffron it yields in great plenty which is the dearest Commodity that England produces The Herb called Scordium or Water Germander of which the Cordial Dioscordium is made grows here also very plentifully About 2 miles South-Eastward from Cambridge is a Ridge of Hills called Hog-magog Hills retaining yet the remembrance of the Danish Station and whereof the Country people tell fine fabulous Stories On the top of these Hills is seen a Rampier so strengthened formerly with a threefold Trench that the Place was counted to be in a manner Impregnable As for Rivers here is the Ouse which runs through the midst of it from West to East and then bending its Course to the North parts this County from Norfolk till it discharges it self at Lyn into the Sea The South Parts are watered with two lesser Streams the one called Cam and the other Grant both which joyn together into one Stream near Cambridge under the first Name and so run together Northward into the Ouse The North Parts indeed are too much watered by the frequent Overflowings of the Ouse and other Streams that have turned most of those Parts into Marshes I should now fall to the Description of Cambridge but that it is a Place of that Consequence as to deserve a particular Description by it self For which I refer you together with that of Oxford to the Conclusion of this Part. And so I proceed to a View of the other Places of chief note in this County which are Market-Towns besides Cambridge The other Market-Towns are Ely Sat. Wisbich Sat. Newmarket Tue. Caxton Tue. Royston Wedn. Linton Thu. Merche Frid. Among which Ely is situate in an Isle of that name occasioned by the divided streams of the Ouse and other lesser Rivers turning a great part of this Tract into Fens and Marshes A Place of no great beauty or reputation being seated in a foggy and unhealthful Air but only for being a Bishops See and a County Palatine since the âeign of Henry I. Newmarket is partly in this County and partly in Suffolk It stands in such a plain that it has a Prospect three quarters of the Compass almost to the Bounds of the Horizon the South-East Parts being more rising Ground and ending in Woodland A famous Plain both for Hunting and Horse-races where the Kings of England use yearly to divertise themselves for some Days before Winter To which purpose there is a House built on Cambridge side for their Reception The Town it self is composed of a well-built Street and being a great Thorough-fare the Townsmen live chiefly upon Passengers besides the Advantage of the Court when the King goes thither It consists of two Parishes one in Suffolk the other in Cambridgeshire It s Market is well served particularly with Fish and wild Fowl from the fenny Parts as it is with Pigeons from the Fiekling The Women here imploy themselves very much in spinning of white Work And not far from this Town is the huge Ditch called
three are all seated on small Rivers which after some small Course joyn together into one Stream and so fall into the Derwent a little below New Malton To conclude this County formerly a Part of the Kingdom of Northumberland and its Inhabitants Part of the Brigantes as the Romans called them is now in the Diocese of York Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire 28 Members of Parliament Viz. Two by each of these following Towns York Kingston upon Hull Knaresborough Scarborough Rippon Richmond Heydon Borough-bridge Malton Thirsk Aldborough Beverly North-Allerton Pomfret And which is remarkable it yields at this time two Dukes and one Dutchess one Marquess and nine Earls The Dukes are of Richmond and Bolton the Dutchess of Cleveland the Marquess of Halifax the Earls of Mulgrave Kingston Strafford Craven Burlington Holderness Derwentwater Faulconberg and Scarborough Thus I have compassed a very difficult Task the Description of forty Counties with so much variety of Matter in so short a Compass The Reader perhaps expects in the next place I should give an Account of the Twelve Counties of Wales as being Incorporated with England at least in point of Government But what Union soever it may have with England 't is but like those remote Cities conquered by the Romans whose Inhabitants were Civitate donati that is made Citizens of Rome England and Wales are naturally so distinct from each other both as to the Country and the Inhabitants that they cannot possibly fall under the same Character And so I lay Wales aside to present you by way of Precapitulation with a Table shewing by distinct Columns the Number of Hundreds Parishes and Market-Towns belonging to every County of England with the Names of the Shire-Towns Only 't is to be observed that instead of Hundreds Durham is divided into Wakes Cumberland Westmorland and Northumberland into Wards Also that some Counties are more generally divided than into Hundreds as Yorkshire first into three Ridings Kent into five Lathes Sussex into six Rapes Linconshire into these three Parts Lindsey Kesteven and Holland The TABLE Shires Hun Par. Shire-Towns Mark T. Barkshire 20. 140. Reading 12. Bedfordshire 9. 116. Bedford 10. Buckinghamsh 8. 185. Buckingham 15. Cambridgeshire 17. 163. Cambridge 8. Cheshire 7. 85. Chester 13. Cornwal 9. 161. Lanceston 21. Cumberland 5. 58. Carlisle 15. Derbyshire 6. 106. Derby 10. Devonshire 33. 394. Exeter 32. Dorseishire 29. 248. Dorchester 19. Durham 4. 118. Durham 6. Essex 20. 415. Colchester 21. Glocestershire 30. 280. Glocester 26. Hampshire 39. 253. Southampton 16. Hartfordshire 8. 120. Hartford 18. Herefordshire 11. 176. Hereford 8. Huntingtonshire 4. 79. Huntington 6. Kent 67. 408. Canterbury 30. Lancashire 6. 61. Lancaster 26. Leicestershire 6. 192. Leicester 12. Lincolnshire 30. 630. Lincoln 35. Middlesex 7. 273. LONDON 6. Monmouthshire 6. 127. Monmouth 7. Norfolk 31. 660. Norwich 28. Northamptonsh 20. 326. Northampton 13. Northumberland 6. 460. Newcastle 6. Nottinghamsh 8. 168. Nottingham 9. Oxfordshire 14. 280. Oxford 15. Rutland 5. 48. Okeham 2. Shropshire 15. 170. Shrewsbury 15. Somersetshire 42. 385. Bath 30. Staffordshire 5. 130. Stafford 18. Suffolk 22. 575. Ipswich 30 Surrey 13. 140. Guilford 8. Sussex 65. 312. Chichester 16. Warwickshire 5. 158. Warwick 15. Westmorland 4. 26. Kendal 8. Wiltshire 29. 304. Salisbury 23. Worcestershire 7. 152. Worcester 11. Yorkshire 26. 563. York 49. CHAP. XVIII Of LONDON and WESTMINSTER I Joyn these two together because contiguous And tho' they be two distinct Cities both by their Foundation and distinct Government yet as they make together one compact Body the City of Westminster under that Notion is generally comprehended under the Name of London and lookt upon as a Part of it In the Description whereof I shall joyn and part them as occasion shall offer My Design is not to make a long Preamble about the uncertain Original of LONDON which as some write was built above eleven hundred Years before the Birth of our Saviour That it is a most ancient City is a thing past all doubt For History tells us that the British King Lud above 60 Years before our Saviours Birth repaired and improved it The Romans in whose Time it was an Archbishop's See gave it the Title of Augusta And Animianus Marcellinus who wrote near 1300 Years ago calls it then an ancient City As for its Name the most probable Conjecture in my Judgment is that of those who derive it from the British Word Llongdin a Town of Ships It s Situation is upon all accounts very advantageous whether we consider the Soil on which it stands the River that waters it the Fruitfulness of the Country about it the Roads that lead into it or its convenient Distance from the Sea The Soil is gravelly and therefore so much the wholsomer And as it stands upon a gentle rising Bank on the North-side of the River this adds much to the healthfulness of the Place the South-side being counted something unhealthy by reason of the Vapours the Sun draws upon it The Thames that waters it I have already described as the chief River of England and an excellent navigable River This City stands where the River is cast into the form of a Crescent and stretches it self in length along the Shore as Cologne does upon the Rhine Which is a great Advantage upon several Accounts especially to a great City First because it ly's the more convenient for the several Uses and Benefits of the River Secondly for the Freeness of the Air which makes it so much the healthfuller lying open to the Fields Northward and to the River Southward Whereas Paris and all other Cities of an orbicular Form ly close together and the middle Parts half choackt for want of Air. To which add another Conveniency in London by its Situation along the River that by the Course of it one may sooner find out any Place than is possible in Paris which is a very Labyrinth in comparison This River besides is full of excellent Fish such as Barbels Trouts Chevins Pearches Smelts Breams Roaches Daces Gudgeons Flounders Shrimps Eels c. And after the Smelt-time is past it yields also sweet Salmons But Carps it is scarce of except upon Land-flouds when they get out of Gentlemens Ponds Great number of Swans are daily seen upon this River Besides a perpetual Motion of Wherries and small Boats above 2000 in Number whereby 3000 Watermen are maintained by carrying Goods and Passengers thereon Not counting those large Tilt-Boats Tide-Boats and Barges which either carry People or bring Provision from most Parts of the neighbouring Counties For Navigation no River more commodious as may appear by a Passage in the Reign of King James I. Who being displeased with the City for refusing to lend him a Sum of Mony he required threatned the Lord Mayor and Aldermen that he would remove his Court with all the Records of the Tower and the Courts of Westminster-Hall to another Place with further expressions of his
plentifull Dinner for all the Clergy that shall then meet there In this Colledge now repaired since the dreadfull Fire is a fair spacious Library built by John Sympson Rector of St. Olaves Heart-street and one of the said Founder's Executors Which Library by the Bounty oâ divers Benefactors has been well furnished with Books especially such as relate to Divinity There are likewise in London divers Publick Schools indowed as St. Pauls Merchant Taylors Mercers Chappel c. which in other Countries would be stiled Colledges But especially Paul's School a commodious and stately Building at the East end of St. Paul's Ca. thedral Founded in the Year 1512. by John Collet Dr. of Divinity and Dean of St. Pauls for 153 Children to be taught there gratis For which purpose he appointed a Master a Sub-Master or Usher and a Chaplain with large Stipends for ever committing the Oversight thereof to the Masters Wardens and Assistants of the Mercers in London his Father Henry Collet sometime Lord Mayor of London having been of their Company Moreover for the Correction of Vagabonds and other Persons of a loose Life and Conversation there are several Work-houses The principal of which is Bridewell near Fleet-Bridge A stately Building first built by King Henry VIII for the Reception of the Emperour Charles the fifth but since converted to this Use And for Trying of Malefactors there is in the Old-Baily the Sessions-House which may go with the rest among the Ornaments of this glorious City as unpleasant as it is to many people that are there tried for their Lives Within the Precincts of Westminster are also many Things worthy our Observation I begin with Whitehall belonging heretofore to Cardinal Woolsey and since his Time become the usual Place of Residence of the English Monarchs 'T is seated betwixt the Thames on the East and a fine Park on the West amidst the Pleasures of the Water and the Charms of a fine spacious Spot of Ground The River of one side affording a great deal of Variety by the Multitude of Boats that cover it the Park on the other side charming the Eye with its delicate Walks well gravelled and as well shadowed parted with a fine Canal in the middle and this fronted with a brazen Statue which for curious Workmanship is admired by Artists themselves As for Whitehall it self I confess its outward Appearance is not great but it is very convenient and more glorious within than without And yet the Chamber at the front of it called the Banquetting-House is such a Piece of Building as for Spaciousness Beauty Painting and exact Proportion is not to be parallelled by any King in Europe the Cieling whereof was all painted by the hand of the famous Sir Peter Paul Rubens Here is also besides the Protestant Chappel a neat one built by the late King James for his Use which by the Grace of God ly's now dormant And in one of the Courts stands his Brazen Statue which has had better luck than that of Newcastle upon Tine On the North-West side of the Park is another Royal Pallace called St. James which gives name to the Park In the Strand is another Pallace called Somerset-House where the Queen Dowager resides and keeps her Dourt This was built by Edward Duke of Somerset Uncle to King Edward the fixth But the Glory of Westminster is the Abbey-Church there founded before the Norman Conquest by King Edward the Confessour and most richly indowed afterwards rebuilt from the Ground by King Henry III. This huge Fabrick stands on that piece of Ground which formerly was called Thorney-Island then surrounded with Water and where of old stood a Temple dedicated to Apollo In this Church is usually performed the Coronation of our Kings with that Pomp and Magnificence as becomes such potent Monarchs On the East end of it is Henry the Sevenths Chappel built by that King with admirable artificial Work both within and without And here are the Tombs and Monuments of several of our Kings and Queens among which that of massy Brass is so curiously wrought that it is scarcely to be parallelled The Abbey was converted into a Collegiate Church by Queen Elizabeth who placed therein a Dean and 12 Prebendaries besides about 30 petty Canons and others belonging to the Quire The Dean is intrusted with the Custody of the Regalia at the Coronation and honoured with a Place of necessary Service at all Coronations Adjoyning to this Church is a famous School and Colledge called Westminster School a Seminary for the Universities The Colledge consists of 40 Scholars commonly called Kings Scholars who being chosen out of the School and put into the Colledge are there maintained And as they are fitted for the University they are yearly elected away and placed with good Allowances in Christ-Church Colledge in Oxford and Trinity College in Cambridge Here is also in the Cloysters a fair publick Library free for all Strangers to study both Morning and Afternoon always in Term-time Next this Church stood the Royal Pallace of the Kings of England a great Part whereof was burnt down in the Time of Henry VIII What remained has still been imploy'd for the Use of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament and for the chief Courts of Judicature The great Hall where these are kept commonly called Wesiminster-Hell is 270 foot in length and 74 in breadth for its Dimensions not to be equalled by any Hall in Christendom And were it set out according to its Greatness and the Dignity of the Courts that are kept there it might pass for one of the most remarkable Buildings in Europe Erected as some say by King William Rufus or according to others by Richard II about 3â0 years ago But this is not all that Westminster affords worâh our taking notice The Brazen Statue of King Charles I at Charing-Cross the New Exchange and Exeter Change in the Strand the Savoy once a famous Hospital several Noblemens Houses more like Princely Pallaces such as Montague Berkley Wallingford Southampton and Northumberland House the New Buildings raised from York Arundel Worcester Essex Newport and Clarendon-House Those of Sohoe which alone might make a good large City and many more too numerous to insist upon All these together with so many fine Piazza's or Squares I have already mentioned are enough if duly considered to raise the Admiration of all Strangers But for a publick Building of a late Erection 't is worth our while to step out of the Way and take a View of Chelsey-Hâspital Begun by Charles II. continued by King James his Brother and brought to perfection by our present King and Queen for the Refuge and Maintenance of poor and disabled Souldiers that have faithfully served their King and Country A stately Pile which in some respects outdo's in others is out done by the famous Hotel des Invalides at Paris As for the Government of London and Westminster the City of London with the Liberties thereof is governed in chief as to
Pugnae est ubi Victus gaudet uterque Et tamen alteruter se superasse dolet For Men of other Studies Lindwood the Canonist Cosins and Cowel eminent in the Civil Laws Bracton Briton Dier and Coke as eminent for their Knowledge in the Laws of England Johannes de Sacro Bosco the Author of the Book of the Sphere Roger Bacon a noted Mathematician in the darker Times The Lord Bacon Viscount of S. Albans Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellour one of the Restorers of Learning to the Isle of Great Britain Sir Henry Savile of Eaton the Reviver of Chrysostom Sir Henry Spelman a learned Antiquary and a religious Assertor of the Churches Rights Cambden the Pausanias of the British Islands Matthew Paris Roger Hoveden Henry of Huntington William of Malmesbury Matthew of Westminster and Thomas of Walsingham all known Historians For Poetry Gower and Lydgate a Monk of Bury The famous Geosry Chaucer Brother in Law to John of Gaunt the great Duke of Lancaster Sir Philip Sidney and the Renowned Spencer Sam. Daniel and Michael Drayton That the Lucan and This the Ovid of the English Nation Beaumont and Fletcher not inferiour unto Terence and Plantus And lastly Ben. Johnson equal to any of the Ancients for the exactness of his Pen and the Decorum he kept in the Dramatick Poems never before observed on the English Theater CHAP. II. Of the English Names and of their Way of Computing CHristian Names says Cambden were first imposed for the Distinction of Persons Surnames for the Distinction of Families The first amongst the English are either Saxon as Edward Gilbert Henry Richard Walter William c. Or taken out of the Holy Writ as Abraham Jacob James Jsaac c. 'T is rare for the English to have two Christen Names together as they have in Germany But it is not unusual with them to christen Children by their Godfathers Surnames which is unpractised beyond Sea The Ancients took particular care to give their Children significative and good Names according to the Proverb Bonum Nomen Bonum Omen And the Pythagoreans affirmed the Minds Actions and Successes of Men to be according to their Fate Genius and Name In short such was Mens Superstition of old in this particular that they used a kind of Divination by Names called Onomantia which was condemned by the last General Council The Story of Augustus the Emperour is remarkable upon this Subject The Day before his Sea-fight at Actium the first Man he met was a poor Man driving his Ass before him Augustus demanded his Name and he answered Eutyches that is Happy-man then he asked his Asse's Name which proved to be Nicon that is Victor Augustus took it for a good Omen and having accordingly obtained the Victory there he built Nicopolis or the City of Victory and erected brazen Images of the Man and his Ass Alfonso IV. King of Castille had two Daughters by one of the Daughters of Henry II. King of England The Eldest Vrraca by Name was far surpassing her Sister Blanche in beauty Lewis VIII of France sent to Alfonso to demand one of the Daughters They were both presented to the Ambassadors Choice who inquiring of their Names preferred the Lady Blanche and made choice of her contrary to all expectation The Name of Vrraca though the more beautiful Lady proved unpleasing and that of the Lady Blanche signifying Fair and Beautiful carried it as a Name that would be more acceptable in France For my part though I am not so much a Pythagorean as to think a Mans Name should interpret his Fate yet I think it not amiss to name Children with Names of a happy signification as it was usual among the Primitive Christians were it but to stir them up to live according to their Names and not give themselves the lie As for the English Surnames they are generally Saxon some few Danish as Whitfeld and Wren The Whitfelds a very ancient Family came over with King Canute into England and their chief Brânch is continued to this day in Northumberland with a good Estate In Q. Elizabeths Time there was a Whitfeld sent hither Embassadour from the King of Denmark But the Surnames now of best account in England are Local and so were many Names among the Romans Those you will find deduced from Places in Normandy or Countries adjacent being either the Patrimonial Possessions or native Places of such as served the Conqueror or came in after out of Normandy As Mortimer Albigny Percy Gournay Devereux Nevil Ferrers Montfort Courtney Cressy c. Or from Places in England and Scotland as Barkley Clifford Lumley Ratcliff Willoughby Douglas Some of which Local Names were formerly used with de prefixt but of late generally neglected or joyned to the Name as Darcy Devereux Others had at prefixed as At More At Wood At Down which has been removed from some and has been conjoyned to others as in these Atmore Atwood Atwells c. Many have also had their Names from Rivers as Trent Eden Swale Stoure From Trees near their Habitations as Oak Box Elder Beech. Some from their Situation in respect to adjoyning Places as North South East West according to the Greek Names Anatolius Zephyrius c. Others from several Parts of a House as Hall Parlour Cellar Lodge c. From Towns where they were born or from whence they came without being Lords or Possessors of them as Compton Egerton Or from several Denominations of Land and Water as Hill Wood Warren Field Ford Pool and Wells Among Foreiners several retained the Names of their Countries as Scot Picard Fleming French Lombard Poitevin German And these had commonly Le prefixt in Records and other Writings as Le Fleming Le Picard Next to these Local Names I shall take notice of those that have been assumed by some Families from Civil Honours and Dignities as King Duke Prince Lord Baron Knight and Squire probably because their Ancestors haâacted such Parts or were Kings of the Bean Christmas Lords c. Agreeable to which are the old Greek and Roman Names Archelaus Augustulus Regulus Basilius Caesarius Flaminius though they were neither Kings Caesars Dukes or Priests Others have been assumed from Offices as Chamberlain Steward Page Cook Spencer Gardener Butler Porter Foster Parker Faulconer Fowler Forester Woodward Clark Sergeant c. From Ecclesiastical Functions as Bishop Abbot Priest Monk Dean Deacon But most of all from Trades as Taylor Smith Potter Fisher Baker Chapman Spelman c. Some from Parts of the Body as Head Arm Leg Foot Others from Qualities of the Body good or bad as Greathead Whitehead Strong Armstrong Long Low Short Fair and Bell in the same sense Fairfax and Whitelock in the same sense Thin Heile or healthful c. No more to be disliked than these Roman Names Romulus and Nero which signify Strong Capito Pedâ Labeo Naso Longus Longinus Minutius Crispus Calvus Gracchus Salustius Cocles and the like Not a few got their Names from the Colour of their Complexions
Time of the Year which amongst Citizens is the most proper for their Diversion This Fair is famous not so much for Things bought or sold as for its great Variety of Shews either of Nature or Art So that one may apply to it what the Romans of old used to say of Africk Quid novi fert Africa For here is always to be seen strange sorts of living Creatures And for such as love Feats of Activity Comical or Tragical Shews here they are to be seen in the utmost persection Which draws daily during the Fair a great Concourse of people to the benefit of the Shewers and the satisfaction of the Beholders And now amongst the English particular Customs I shall in the first place take notice of their Way of Pledging one another whereof this is the Original When the Danes Lorded it over England they used when the English drank to stab them or cut their Throats To avoid which Villany the Party then drinking requested some of the next to him to be his Surety or Pledge for his Life From whence came the Expression used to this day of Pledging one another when the Party drunk to takes his turn and drinks next after him Another Custom the English had formerly upon the Danes account which Time has so corrupted that there remains no sign of the first Institution except in the Name Hock-tide an old Saxon Word which signify's the Time of Scorning or Triumphing The English in the Reign of King Ethelred were so oppressed and broken by the Danes that Ethelred was fain to buy his Peace of them at the yearly Tribute of 10000 pound soon after inhaunced to 48000 which Monies were raised upon the Subjects by the Name of Danegelt But the King weary of this Exaction plotted with his Subjects to kill all the Danes as they slept in their Beds Which was accordingly done on S. Brice's Night Nov. 12.1012 The joyfull English having thus cleared their Country of the Danes instituted the annual Sports of Hock tide in Imitation of the Romans Fugalia at the expulsion of their Kings This Solemnity consisted in the merry Meerings of the Neighbours in those Days during which the Festival lasted and was celebrated by the younger sort of both Sexes with all manner of Exercises and Pastimes in the Streets At Coventry they yearly acted a Play called Hock-Tuesday till Q. Elizabeths Time The 14th of February being S. Valentines Day has been kept Time out of mind and is so to this day both by the English and Scots with some relation to the Instinct of Animals For Nature teaches us that about this time of the Year the Beasts of the Field and Fowls of the Air feeling a new heat by the approach of the Sun the Males chuse their Females and begin to couple From whence it is probable young Men and Maidens took occasion to meet together at this time to an equal Number and having their respective Names writ down severally upon pieces of paper rolled up the Men draw the Maidens Names and these the Mens So the Lot gives every Man a She Valentine and every Maid a He one the Men wearing their Lots for some Days rolled up about their Hat-bands and the Women before their Breast Whereupon they make each other a Present and sometimes it comes to be a Match in good earnest These Particulars so well known to the whole Nation I would not have insisted upon but for the satisfaction of Foreiners Upon whose Account I shall likewise explain but in few Words the Story of the Welsh Custom of wearing Leeks on their Hats the first day of March being S. David's Day Once upon a time to use the old English Style the Welsh Liberty lay grievously at stake and they must either be victorious or lose it In that Extremity they called for help upon S. David their Patron Armed with Confidence in that Saint they crossed Fields sowed with Leeks before they came to ingage and for distinction sake each Souldier took up a Leek The Welsh got the Victory and to perpetuate the Memory thereof as well as out of respect to the Saint they made a Law amongst themselves that on S. David's Day every Man should wear a Leek about his Head Which is religiously by them observed every Year the common people wearing but Garden Leeks and the better sort wrought ones The King himself out of Complacency to that People wears one upon that Day The Scots on their fide wear a blue Cross on the fore-part of their Hats upon S. Andrew's Day their Patron And the Irish a red Cross on one side of their Hats to the Memory of their old Patron S. Patrick CHAP. IV. I. Of the English Way of Travelling by Land either Horseback or in Coaches II. Of the general Post for Intercourse of Letters III. Of the English Coins Weights and Measures in relation to Trade IV. Of the great Trade of England in foreign Parts BEsides the Conveniency of Travelling by Water either by Sea or here and there upon Rivers I may say the English Nation is the best provided of any for Land-Travel as to Horses and Coaches And the Truth is there is not perhaps a Country so proper for 't 't is generally so open and level Travelling on Horseback is so common a Thing in England that the meanest sort of People use it as well as the rest Which sometimes fills the Roads with Riders not without frequent Disputes about giving the way which is unusual beyond Sea And as English Horses are the best for Expedition so 't is rare upon the Road to see an Englishman but upon the Gallop But for Persons that are tender or disabled England excels all other Nations in the Conveniency of Coaches but especially in that of Stage-Coaches a very commodious and easy Way of Travelling Here one may be transported without over-violent Motion and sheltered from the Injuries of the Air to most noted Places in England With so much speed that some of these Coaches will reach above 50 Miles in a Summer Day and at so easy Rates that it is in some Places less than a Shilling for every Five Miles As to the Post for Intercourse of Letters there is a general Office in the City of London from whence Letters and Pacquets are dispatched to all Parts and the Returns according to their respective Directions This Office now in Lombard-street London is managed in chief by the Post-master General who is constituted thereto by the King's Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England whose Place is counted to be worth 2000 l. a Year Under him he has a Deputy and other Officers to a great Number who give their actual attendance respectively in the Dispatch of Business Upon this General Post-Office depends 182 Deputy Post-Masters in England and Scotland most of which keep regular Offices in their Stages and Sub-Post Masters in their Branches So that there is no considerable Market-Town but has an easy and certain
the Reputation of their Monastery and makes it highly probable that S. Paul rather than S. Peter as others would have it was the first Founder of a Church in this Island But by reason of Persecutions or for want of a supply of Preachers Christianity did not flourish here till the Reign of Lucius the British King and the first Christian King in Europe Of whose imbracing Christianity the learned Bishop gives this Account from the Testimony of ancient Writers that the was first inclined thereto by the Persuasion of Eluanus and Eduinus two British Christians who were probably imploy'd to convince him But being workt upon on the other side by his Druids he would not come to any Resolution till he had sent to Rome for his further Satisfaction and to know how far the British Christians and those of Rome agreed Elentherus was then Bishop of Rome and the twelfth from the Apostles To whom he sent the foresaid Eluanus and Meduinus about the Year 180 presuming as he might reasonably then that the Christian Doctrine was there truly taught at so little distance from the Apostles and in a Place whither a Resort was made from all Parts because of its being the Imperial City For there was then no Imagination of S. Peter's having appointed the Head of the Church there nor a long time after in the British Churches as appears by the Contest of the British Bishops with Augustine the Monk King Lucius being satisfied upon the Return of his Embassadors from Rome imbraced the Christian Faith and received the Baptism So that by the piety of his Example and the diligence of the first Preachers Christianity soon spread over his Dominions and sometime after over all the Island And then the Britains had Bishops of their own without any Juridical Dependency from the See of Rome the British Church continuing a distinct and independent Church from all others But when the Heathen Saxons came to be possessed of this Part of the Island and the Natives forced to take shelter amongst the Mountains of Wales the Christian Faith fled with them and this Country was again darkened with Heathenism Till about the Year 596. Austin the Monk was sent by Pope Gregory the Great to preach the Gospel here By whose Diligence and Zeal the Work prospered so well that all the Saxons were by degrees converted to the Christian Faith and Austin made the first Arcsh-bishop of Canterbury but with a subjection to the Church of Rome Thus as the Errours crept on in the Roman the British Church grew infected with them and continued subject to the Power and Errours of Rome till King Henry VIII laid the Ground for a Reformation by his resuming the Power of the Christian British Kings his ancient Predecessors and removing by virtue of it the forfeited Primacy of Rome to the See of Canterbury But 't is Observable withall that this Ejection of the Pope's Authority was not done as in other Nations tumultuously and by the Power of the People but by the Counsel and Advice of godly and learned Divines assembled in Convocation by the King's Authority and ratified by the Three States in Parliament Thus the ancient Dignity and Supremacy of the Kings of England being restored and the Subjects delivered from the Spiritual Tyranny of the Pope of Rome the King and Clergy took this Occasion to inquire into and reform the great Abuses and Errours crept into the Church Whose Method in this Work begun in Henry's Reign and brought to perfection in his next Successor's Time Dr. Heylin sets forth in these Words The Architects says he in this great Work without respect unto the Dictates of Luther or Calvin looking only on God's Word and the Primitive Patterns abolished such Things as were repugnant unto either but still retained such Ceremonies in God's publick Worship as were agreeable to both and had been countenanced by the Practice of the Primitive Times A Point wherein they did observe a greater Measure of Christian Prudence and Moderation than their Neighbour Churches Which in a meer detestation of the See of Rome allowed of nothing which had formerly been in use amongst them because defiled with Popish Errors and Abuses utterly averting thereby those of the Papal Party from joyning with them in the Work or coming over to them when the Work was done Whereas had they continued an allowable Correspondency in these Extrinsecals of Religion with the Church of Rome their Party in the World had been far greater and not so much stomached as it is And this Opinion of his he backs with the Sentiment of the Marquess de Rhosne in this point after Duke of Sully and Lord High Treasurer of France one of the chief Men of the Reformed Party there Who being sent Embassador to King James from Henry IV. King of France admired the Decency of Gods publick Service in the Church of England Three Things principally are to be considered in point of Religion viz. The Doctrine the Manner of publick Worship and the Church Government As for the Doctrine of the Church of England 't is the same in all Points with other Reformed Churches as it appears by her Confession of Faith contained in the 39 Articles The Manner of publick Worship differs in nothing from them but in the Excellency of it So many admirable Prayers the English Liturgy contains sutable to all Occasions digested in a plain Evangelical Style without Rhetorical Raptures which are fitter for a designing Orator than an humble Addresser to the Mercy-Seat of God In short there is nothing wanting in the Church of England in order to Salvation She uses the Word of God the Ten Commandments the Faith of the Apostles the Creeds of the Primitive Church the Articles of the four first General Councils an excellent Liturgy the Administration of the Sacraments and all the Precepts and Counsels of the Gospel She attributes all Glory to God worships his most holy Name and owns all his Attributes She adores the Trinity in Unity the Unity in Trinity She teaches Faith and Repentance the Necessity of good Works the strictness of a holy Life and an humble Obedience to the Supreme Power Charity which is the grand Mark of the true Church is so essential to this that she do's not ingross Heaven to her self so as to damn all others into Hell For the publick Service and Worship of God she has Places Times Persons and Revenues set apart for that purpose and an uninterrupted Succession of Bishops to ordain Priests and Deacons and do all other Duties iucumbent to that Dignity Happy were it for England if all its Subjects would live in the Communion of this Church and not separate from it which is ãâã Thing more to be wished than hoped for But such is the designing and ambitious Spirit of Popery to weaken the Church of England ever since the Reformation lookt upon as the chiefest Bulwark against Popery that it has caused all our Distractions in order to fish
the better in troubled Waters Yet whatever have been the Effects of it hitherto God has wonderfully defeated their Designs Insomuch that this Church formerly scattered and eclipsed in the Reign of Charles I restored but afterwards undermined by Charles II and lately threatned with utter Ruin by his immediate Successor is now by the special Providence of God in a Hourishing Condition under the happy Influence of our present King William the Restorer of our Laws Religion and Liberties As for the Spirit of Persecution which the Church of England has been charged with in relation to Dissenters it cannot be justly laid to her Charge For whatever has been done in that Case was but according to Law and the Penal Laws were made as all Statute-Laws in a regular Manner by the Votes of Parliament the Representatives of the People as well Dissenters as others 'T is true the Church-Party proved the most predominant And yet in point of Execution the sober part of the Church were always very tender and none but hot Men amongst them ready for Execution Influenced thereto by the Court which far from designing the Dissenters Union with the Church used the Rigour of the Law to create an implacable Hatred betwixt the afflicting Church and the suffering Body of the Dissenters Which had a sutable Effect For these imbittered what with Fines what with Imprisonments tho according to Law failed not to clamour on all sides against the persecuting Spirit of the Church of England and against those bloudy Laws as they used to call ' em The Sense of their present state made them forget what they had done when they usurped the Regal Power and how busy they were to imprison to banish to sequester With Grief I rake up these old Sores and nothing but a just Desire of righting both Parties could have extorted this from me But now the Dissenters have got Liberty of Conscience by a late Act of Parliament with the ready Concurrence of the Church-Party in both Houses I hope there 's no Ground left for Animosities between the Church and Them And if the Presbyterians who are the nearest to the Church of England and the greatest Party among Dissenters now they have seen so much of her incomparable Learning and invincible Stedfastness to the Protestant Religion and Interest would but shake off their groundless Prejudices and prefer the happiness of a Reunion before the Danger of a Schism what a Blessing it would prove to this Nation is almost unconceivable 'T is not long since the Church was their Sanctuary when they expected no Mercy from a late King who came to the Throne full of Resentment and Indignation against them Tho afterwards to compass his own Ends he tacked about and killed them almost with Kindness And why they should now separate from a Church which was so lately their Refuge when they crowded the very Church-Men out of Church it is past my Understanding For the Church of England is the same still Were they but so well-minded as to make the least step towards a Reunion I am assured the Church of England would be very forward to meet them Rather than they should continue their Separation and be Accountable to Gods Tribunal for it I am more than confident she would readily part with such Ceremonies as give 'em most offence But it is feared they would not be satisfied with those small Condescensions They are for more substantial Things which for Peace sake I shall forbear to name and leave for the Reader to guess The main Points wherein they differ from the Church of England is the Church Government and the publick Worship They hold that the Church was governed in the beginning by Presbyters or Elders and that it should be so governed still not by Bishops upon which account they got the Name of Presbyterians They except both against the latitude of the Bishops Power and the largeness of their Revenues as if neither of them could be used by the Clergy with Christian Moderation But it is more probable the unshaken fidelity of Bishops to Monarchy which many of the Dissenters were never very fond of sticks most in their Stomack For publick Worship they use no Liturgy wherein they differ from the Protestanâ Churches beyond Sea They look upon Seâ Forms as dead Prayers and delight only oâ Extemporal Therefore the Lord's Prayer iâ in a manner exploded by the rigid Sort oâ them Yet one would think when their Minister prays before the Congregation his Prayer âs a set Form to such as pray with him The Surplice the Sign of the Cross the bowing ât the Name of Jesus and the kneeling at the Communion are to them so many Sins They deal plainly with God at least in outward appearance and are resolved as far as ãâã see to serve him without Ceremony Great Predestinarians many of 'em are and very strict Observers of the Sabbath In short their apparent Soberness in Conversation and Zeal in their Devotion has so increased their Number that they are lookt upon as the chief Party amongst all the Dissenters Next to whom both in their Opinions and Number are the Independents or Congregationalists So called for that they will have every particular Congregation to be ruled by their own Laws without dependence upon any other in Church-Matters For they prefer their own Gathered Churches in private Places to the publick Congregations in Churches which in contempt they call by the name of âceeple-Houses In most Things else they ââmp with the Presbyterians Except those particular Tenets some of 'em have intertainâd which for brevities sake I forbear to enumerate The riged sort of 'em called Brownists âefuse to Communicate with any of the Reformed Churches The Anabaptists are so called from Rebaptiâing those who coming to their Communion âere baptized in their Infancy For one of their chief Tenets is against Pedobaptism or baptizing of Children They hold besides âhat Lay-people may preach As for those blaspheâous Opinions their Fore-fathers have been charged with I hope few of the modern And baptists in England are guilty of them The Millenarians or Fifth-Monarchy-Men are so called from their Expectation of Christ's temporal Kingdom here on Earth for a thousand Years And this they ground upon several Places of Scripture which from a Spiritual they wrest into a Carnal Sense The Quakers are a sort of Enthusiasts so called because they use to quake and groan when they wait for the Spirit Whereas the Spirit of God is a Spirit of Peace and Quietness not to be found in Fire Earth-quakes and Whirl-winds but in the soft and still Voice They reject all Ministerial Ordinances and rail against premeditated Preaching oâ Praying The Holy Scripture is no Rule for 'em to go by but Inspiration and the Light they pretend to is all in all with them So that any Man or Woman in their Meetings that fancies first to be seized with the Spirit is free to stand up for a Teacher to the
Right of Patronage called Patronage Paramount Insomuch that if the mean Patron or the Ordinary or the Metropolitan present not in due time the Right of Presentation comes at at last to the King As for the Bishopricks the King only has the Patronage of them For none can be chosen Bishop but whom he nominates in his Conge d'Estire and a Bishop Elect cannot be Consecrated or take possession of the Revenues of the Bishoprick without the King 's special Writ or Assent In short as the King is the only Sovereign and Supream Head both in Church and State so there lies no Appeal from Him as from some other States and Kingdoms beyond Sea either to the Pope of Rome or to the Emperor But indeed the greatest and safest of the Kings Prerogatives is as the present King wrote in a late Letter to his Council of Scotland to Rule according to Law and with Moderation The Dispensing Power so much contended for in the late Reign by the Court-Party as a Branch of the Kings Prerogative and as vigorously opposed by some true Patriots is âow quite out of Doors by the Act of Settlement which makes it plainly Illegal And as to that divine Prerogative which the Kings of England claimed as a Thing de Jure divino I mean the Curing of the King 's Evil only by the King 's laying his hands on the Sick assisted with a short Form of Divine Service it is now laid aside as a Traditional Errour at least a Doctrine not fit to be trusted âo So that the French King is at this time the only Monarch that pretends to this Miraculous Priviledge Our Historians derived it here from King Edward the Confessour who lived so holy a Life that as they say he received Power from above Intailed to his Royal Successors for ever to cure this stubborn Disease But now 'c is lookt upon as a Doctrine not so fit for Protestants as bigotted Papists to whom no Miracle is amiss I come now to the King's Power with relation to forein Parts Which I shall describe as near as I can first as Defensive secondly as Offensive In the first Sense England if well united is of all the States in Europe the least subject to an Invasion especially since the Conjunction of Scotland The whole Island is naturally so well senced with the Ocean and when Occasion requires so well garded by those moving Castles the King's Ships of War the strongest and best built in the whole World The Kingdom besides is so abundantly furnished with Men and Horses with Provisions and Ammunition and Mony the Sinews of War that nothing but our intestine Divisions can make us a Prey to the greatest Potentates of Europe tho united together As for the King's Power abroad not only our Neighbours but the most remote Places have sufficiently felt it and this at a time when Scotland and Ireland were usually at enmity with Him 'T is true since the Reign of Qâ Elizabeth what with our Distractions at home and the Weakness or Effeminacy of some of one Kings England has either been Idle or taken up with Intestine Broils Only in Cromwel's Time we humbled the Hollanders scowred the Algerines kept the French and the Pope in aw and took Jamaica from Spain Our greatest Exploits were upon our own selves when being unhappily involved in Civil Wars for several Years together we destroy'd one another with a fatal Courage Then were computed about two hundred thousand Foot and fifty thousand Horse to be in Arms on both sides which had they been imploy'd abroad might have shaken the greatest part of Europe And here I cannot but with an aking heart apply the Words of Lucan Heu quantum potuit Coeli Pelagique parari Hoc quem Civiles fuderunt Sanguine Dextrae In English thus How much both Sea and Land might have been gained By their dear Bloud which Civil Wars have drained Of so martial Spirit the English are and their fear of Death so little that as Dr. Chamberlain has well observed no Neighbourââation scarce durst ever abide Battle with âhem either by Sea or Land upon equal Terms ând now we are ingaged in a just War both with Ireland and France under a Prince of âo great Conduct and Courage incouraged by ââs Parliament assisted and faithfully served by the greatest General now in Europe I cannot but hope well from our Armies both by Seu and Land if our provoked God do not fight against us The next Thing that offers it self to our Consideration is the King of England's Court which for State Greatness and good Order besides the constant Concourse of Nobility and Gentry resorting thither when there is no Jealousy between the King and his People is one of the chief Courts of Europe It is as an Author says a Monarchy within a Monarchy consisting of Ecclesiastical Civil and Military Persons the two last under their proper Government To support the Grandure of this Court and the other Charges of the Crown in time of Peace the Kings of England have always had competent Revenues Which never were raised by any of those sordid Ways used in other Countries but consist chiefly in Domains or Lands belonging to the Crown in Customs and Excise Anciently the very Domains of the Crown and Fee-Farm Rents were so considerable that they were almost sufficient to discharge all the ordinary Expences of the Crown without any Tax or Impost upon the Subject Then there was scarce a County in England but the King had in it a Royal Castle a Forest and a Park to Receive and Divert Him in his Royal Progresses A piece of Grandure which no King else could boast of But upon the Restauration of King Charles the Crown Revenues being found much Impaired and the Crown Charges increasing upon the growing Greatness of our Neighbours the French and Dutch the Parliament settled upon the King a Yearly Revenue of Twelve Hundred Thousand Pounds by several Imposts besides the Domains and other Profits arising to the Crown in Tenths and First-Fruits in Reliefs Fines Amerciaments and Confiscations And the whole Revenue improved to that degree that in the late Reign it was judged to amount to near two Millions Which is a Fair Revenue in Time of Peace In Time of War the Parliament supplies the King according to his Occasions by such Taxes to be raised upon the Nation as they think most convenient CHAP. X. Of the Government of England by Regency Also of the Succession to the Crown THere are three Cases wherein the Kingdom of England is not immediately governed by the King but by a Substitute Regent And those are the Kings Minority Absence or Incapacity The King is by Law under Age when he is under twelve Years old And till he has attained to that Age the Kingdom is governed by a Regent Protector or Gardian appointed either by the King his Predecessor or for want of such Appointment by the Three States assembled in the Name of the Infant
600 Years ago viz. in the Reign of William the Conquerour and was six Years a making The same is Kept under three Locks and Keys not to be lookt into under 6 s. 8 d. and for every Line transcribed is to be paid 4 d. Under the two Chamberlains are their Deputies who sit in the Tally-Court where they examine the Tallies and there is also a Tallyâutter attending this Way of Tallies being found by long experience to be absolutely the best Way to avoid all Cozenage in the Kings Revenue Which is after this manner He that pays any Monies into the Exchequer receives for his Acquittance a Tally that is a stick with Words written on it on both sides containing the Acquittance proper to express what the Mony received is for This being cloven asunder by the Deputy-Chamberlains the Stock is delivered to the Party that paid the Mony the Counter-stock or Counter-foil remaining with them Who afterwards deliver it over to other Deputies to be Kept till it be called for and joyned with the Stock After which they send it by an Officer of their own to the Pipe to be applied to the Discharge of the Accomptant Next to the two Chamberlains is the Auditor of the Receipts who files the Bills of the Tellers whereby they charge themselves with all the Monies received and upon the Lord High Treasurer's Warrant or the Lords High Commissioners draws all Orders to be signed by him or them for Issuing forth all Monies by virtue of Privy Seals Which Orders are recorded by the Clerk of the Pells and are entred and lodged in the said Auditor's Office He also by Warrant of the Lord Treasurer or Commissioners makes Debenturs to the several Persons who have Fees Annuities or Pensions by Letters Patents from the King out of the Exchequer and directs them for Payment to the Tellers He daily receives the state of each Teller's Account and weekly certifies the Whole to the Lord High-Treasurer or Lords Commissioners who immediately present the Ballance to the King Twice a Year viz. at Lady-Day and Michaelmas he makes an Abstract of all Accounts made in the preceeding Half-Year whereof he delivers a Copy to the Lord Treasurer and another to the Chancellour of the Exchequer He keeps the several Registers appointed for paying all Persons in course upon several Branches of the Kings Revenue Lastly he has five Clerks to manage under him the estate of Monies received disbursed and remaining Next there are four Tellers whose Office is to receive all Monies due to the King And though their Salary from the King be small and inconsiderable yet they are bound to His Majesty in 20000 l. Security and Keep each of them two Clerks who constantly attend their Offices There is moreover a Clerk of the Pells so called from Pellis a Skin his Office being to enter every Teller's Bill into a Parchment Skin He has two Clerks under him one for Incomes the other for Issue Lastly there are three Ushers of the Receipt a Tally-cutter and four Messengers The Ushers Office is to see the Exchequer secured Day and Night and to find Paper Books c. for the Use of the Exchequer 'T is observable that in case of a Gift from the King or Pension out of his Exchequer he that receives it pays but 5 l. per Cent. amongst all the Officers And out of publick Payments as for the Navy Ordnance Wardrobe Mint c. there goes not amongst them so much as 5 s. per Cent. On the other side for Monies paid in by any of the King's Tenants it costs them at the most but 3 s. for every Payment under a thousand pounds and that goes only to the Clerks for their Pains in writing and attending CHAP. XVIII Of the Queen Dowager the Princess Ann of Denmark Prince George and the Duke of Glocester QUeen Catharine the Widow of the late King Charles and now the third Person in the Kingdom is the only Sister of Pedro the present King of Portugal Where she was born Nov. 14th 1638 and marrried to the late King Charles in the Year 1662. The Portion she brought with her was about 300000 pounds Sterling besides Tangier in the Streights upon the Coast of Africk and the Isle of Bombay near Goa in the East-Indies To which was added a Priviledge for any Subjects of England to Trade freely in the East and West-India Plantations belonging to the Portugueze Her Majesties Joynture by the Articles of Marriage is 30000 pound a Year To which King Charles added 10000 l. more which he settled on her Majesty for her Life So that the Queen Dowager has 40000 pound a Year wherewith she keeps a Court suitable to Her Majesty The Princess Ann of Denmark second Daughter to the late King James and only Sister to our Gracious Queen Mary was born in Febr. 1664. And July 28th 1683 being S. Anns Day she was married to the Illustrious Prince George the only Brother to Christiern V the present King of Denmark His Royal Highness was born at Copenhagen the chief City of Denmark in April 1653. At 15 Years of age he began his Travels into Holland England France and Italy which lasted about two Years Being 20 Years old in the Year 1673 he travelled into Germany where he saw the Imperial and the French Armies near the Rhine Anno 1675 his Royal Highness served in the War against the Swedes and was at the taking of Wismar The next Year he commanded a part of the Danish Army at the Battel of Lunden in Schonen against the King of Sweden And in the Year 1677 he commanded again a part of the Danish Army at the famous Battle of landscroon where he signalized his Valour Afterwards His Royal Highness made several Voyages into Germany and continued some Years abroad And after his Return into Copenhagen the Treaty of Marriage with Him and the Lady Ann being set on foot was happily brought to Conclusion By which Treaty His Royal Highness is declared to be received as one of the Princes of the Bloud Royal of England all his Officers and Servants to be from time to time appointed by and with the Approbation of the King of England and his Revenue coming from Denmark to be 17500 pounds sterling Yearly which is a great Revenue in that Country The Princesseâ Portion is 30000 l. a Year to be paid by thâ King To which 20000 l. per Annum being lately superadded and payable out of the Excise the whole Yearly Revenue of the Prince and Princess amounts to 67500 l. sterling Wherewith they Keep a Court suitable to their Royal Highnesses The Prince has four Sisters The first married to John George the present Elector of Saxony The second to Christian Adolph Duke of Holstein Gottorp The third to the late Elector Palatine of the Rhine who died without Issue And the fourth to the present King of Sweden Charles XI His Brother the present King of Denmark has three Sons and two Daughters The
87 90 Thorne in Yorks 259 Thorney an Isle about Hamps 98 Thorney a Sussex-Island 225 Thrapston in Northa 159 160 Thryn a River 151 Tickhill in Yorks 252 Tideswal in Derb. 57 Tine a River 12 Tiverton in Dev. 61 64 Tone a River 189 Tor a River 189 Torridge a River 59 Torrington in Dev. 61. 63 Totness in Dev. 61 63 Towcester in Northa 159 161 The Tower in Lond. 286 The great Trade of Lon. 334 Tregny in Cornwal 43 Trent a River 11 Tringe in Hartf 100 A Trophy in Cornwal 42 A Trophy in Cumb. 47 Troubridge in Wilts 246 247 Truro in Cornwal 43 44 Tudbury in Staff 200 Tuddington in Bedf. 27 Tun a Kentish River 110 Tunbridge in Kent 112 115 Tuxford in Notting 175 Twede a River 12 V. VAntage in Barks 23 Vice-Chan of Ox. 318 Vice-Chan of Camb. 353 Vlles Water in Cumb. 47 Vlverston in Lanc. 126 129 Vppingham in Rutl. 183 Vpâon in Worc. 253 254. Vsk in Monm 148 149 Vsk a River 147 Vtoxeter in Staff 200 Vxbridge in Middl. 144 145 W WAkefield in Yorks 259 264 Walden in Essex 81 83 Walderswick in Suff. 214 Wallingford in Barks 23 Walsall in Staff 200 201 Walsingham in Norf. 153 156 Waltham in Leic. 131 Waltham-Abbey in Essex 81 Wandesworth in Surrey 221 Wandsdike a Dike in Wilts 243 Warden in Kent 121 Ware in Hartf 100 101 Ware a River 75 Warfe a Yorksh River 256 Warham in Dors 67 70 Warington in Lanc. 127 128 Warminster in Wilts 246 248 Warwick 231 WARWICKSHIRE 230 Wash a River 182 The Watch at Lond. 333 Watford in Hartf 100 102 Watchet in Somers 192 194 Watlington in Oxf. 178 Watton in Norf. 153 Waveney a River 151 203 Wayborn-hope in Norf. 156 Waynfleet in Lanc. 136 140 Weatherby in Yorks 259 Webley in Heref. 104 Weever a River 36 Weland 153 158 Weller in Northum 159 161 Wellingborough in Northam 159 161 Wellington in Shrop. 186 Wells in Somers 191 Wem in Shrops 186.187 Wendover in Buck. 30 Wenlock in Shrops 186 187 Werminster See Warminster Westbury in Wiltsh 246 248 Westminster in Midl 276 331 Westminster-Hall 318 Westminster-School 317 WESTMORLAND 236 Westram in Kent 112 Wever a Hill in Staff 197 Wey a River 2â6 Weymouth in Dors 67 68 Whinfield-forest in Westm 240 VVhitby in Yorks 259 269 Whitechurch in Hamps 95 96 Whitechurch in Shrop. 186 187 Whitehall in Westm 315 Whistable in Kent 117 Wickham in Buck. 30 31 Wickham in Suff. 214 Wickware in Gloc. 87 Wigan in Lanc. 126 128 âlle of Wight part of Hampsh 96 Wighton in Yorks 258 Wigton in Cumb. 49 Willy a River 243 Wilton in Wilts 246 248 WILTSHIRE 242 Wimander See Winder Mere. Wimborn-Minster in Dors 67 71 Wincaunton in Som. 192 194 Winchcomb in Gloc. 87 Winchelsey in Sussex 225 228 Winchester in Hamps 93 Winder-mere in Lanc. 124 Windham in Norf. 153 Windrush a River 177 Windsor in Barks 23 24 Winslow in Buck. 30 Winterton in Norf. 156 Wirâsworth in Derbys 57 58 Wisbich in Cambr. 34 Witham a River 133 Witney in Oxf. 178 180 Wivescomb in Somers 192 Woburn in Bedf. 27 Wolverhamp in Staf. 200 201 VVoodbridge in Suff. 204 206 VVoodstock in Oxf. 178 VVoolwich in Kent 112 114 VVootton-Basset in Wilts 246 Worcester 252 WORCESTERSHIRE 251 Worksop in Notting 175 VVorsted in Norf. 153 VVotton in Gloc. 87 VVragby in Linc. 136 VVreak a River 130 VVrinton in Somers 192 Wrotham in Kent 112 Wye the name of several Rivers 85 103 112 147 Y Y Are a River 151 Yarmouth in Norf. 153 154 Yarmouth in the Isle of Wight 98 Yarum in Yorks 259 273 Yaxley in Huntingt 101 York 256 YORKSHIRE 255 Youre a Yorksh River 256 The Table FOR THE SECOND PART A ADmiral of Engl. P. 131 Almoner 172 Anabaptists 69 English Apparel 38 Apprentices 266 Archbishops 233 234 The Archbishop of Canterbury's Priviledges 242 Arch-Deacons 249 Arms of the King 93 B BAronets 223 Bartholomew Fair 42 Beacons 180 Besant 172 Bishops 232 Bp. of London and Durham 2ââ Bp. of Winchester âââ The Bps. Election 235 The Bps. Consecration 236 The Bps. Installation 238 The Bps. Priviledges 241 The Bps. Publick Works 2â4 Suffragan Bps. âââ C Lord CHamberlaââ of Englaâââââ Lord Chamberlainâ of the Kingâ Houshold â54 Champion of ãâ¦ã 1â9 Chancellouâ ãâ¦ã 127 Chappel ãâã 169 Characâââ ãâ¦ã King 141 Charââ ãâ¦ã Queen 143 Câââââ ãâ¦ã conââââââhem 265 ãâ¦ã when ãâã planted in ââgland 61 c. Church of England her Doctrine 65 Her Reformation 63 c. The Charge of Persecution against her groundless in a great measure 66 Church-wardens 257 Clergy 232 Their Priviledges 254 Their Number 255 The unhappy Prejudices of some of our Modern Clergy 256 Clerk of the Checque 165 Clerk of the Closet 174 Clerks Comptrollers 149 150 Clerks of the Green-Cloth ib. Clerks of Parishes 257 English Clubs or Societies 42 The great Conveniency of Coaches in England 46 Coffee much used by the English 37 Cofferer 149 150 Commissioners of the Admiralty 192 Commissioners of Appeal 203 Commodities exported 57 Commonalty of England 228 Their Priviledges 232 Companies of Merchants 53 Complexion of the English 3 Compting House 149 Comptroller of the Kings Houshold 149 English way of Computing 28 High Constable 131 Convention 139 Copy-holders 229 Coronation of the King 103 Court of the King 115 147 c. Court of the Queen 174 Coyns 49 Curates 253 Particular Customs of the English 43 Custom-House Officers 201 Custom-Revenue 200 D. S. DAvid's Day 45 Deacons 250 Deans 247 Defender of the Faith one of the King's Titles 92 Diet of the English 34 Dissenters their backwardness in point of Reunion 67 68 Divorce 264 Dominions of the King 84 c. Duke of Glocester 209 E ENsigns of Royalty 94 Esquires 225 Esquires of the Body 156 Exchequer and its Officers 203 c. Excise-Office 202 Exercises of the English 39 F. ROyal Family 121 Famous Men among the English 16 Feasting of the English 35 40 Fewel used in England 33 Fifth-monarchy Men see Millenarians Reflections upon the late Fleet 193 Foot-Gards 168 Free-helders 228 G. GArrisons in England 177 Genius of the Engl. 11 Gentlemen 226 Gentlemen of the Bed-chamber 155 Gentlemen Vshers 156 157 Gentlemen Pensioners 164 Gentlemen Harbingers 165 Gentry of England 223 English Government 73 Its Constitution 75 c. Popular Government contrary to the English Genius 83 Green Cloth 149 Groom of the Stole 155 Grooms of the Great Chamber 155 157 Groom Porter 157 Gun Powder Treason 41 H HEptarchy 74 75 Heralds 162 Hock-tide 43 Horse-gards 167 Horse-Granadiers 168 I. INdependents 69 Ireland how it became subject to England 87 c. Justices of Peace 69 Justices of Eyres Seat 99 K. KIng of England 84 The King of England King of the Sea 89 The King is the Fountain of Honour 99 The King of England receives great Respect from his Subjects 9â The present King William's Descent 133 His Accession to the Throne 139 His Character 141 Kings of Arms 178 Knights of
the Garter 219 Knights Baronets 223 Knights of the Bath 224 Knights Batchelours Ibid. Knights Banerets 229 L. LAnd-Forces 177 Language of the English 12 English Laws 59 Lent-Preachers 171 The Lord Lieutenant's Power 179 Way of Living among the English 31 M. MAritime Power 181 Earl Marshal of England 131 Master of the Horse 161 Master of the Houshold 149 150 Master of the Wardrobe 160 Master of the Robes 162 Master of the Revels 163 Master of the Ceremonies 164 Maundy Thursday the Ceremony of that Day 173 English Measures 53 Merchants 229 Militia 178 Millenarians 70 Mint-Officers 51 N. ENglish Names 21 Nobility of England their Creation and Distinction 210 c Their Priviledges 215 Noble Women 258 O ORder of the Garter 219 Ordination of Priests and Deacons 251 Ordnance its Office and Officers 194 c. Original of the English 1 c. Oxford Regiment 168 P. PArsons 250 Patrons of Churches 252 Pledging the Original of it 43 Post-Office 47 Poverty a description thereof 230 Power of the King by Sea and Land 113 Prebendaries 248 Prerogative of the King 109 Presbyterians 68 President of the Council 129 Prince of Wales 122 Prince George 208 Princess Ann ibid. Privy Purse 162 Privy Seal 129 Proclamation of the King 98 Pursuivants 163 Q. QVakers 70 Sovereign Queen of England 121 Queen Mary's Character 143 Queen Consort 122 Queen Dowager 122 The present Queen Dowager 207 R. ENglish Recreations 39 Recusants 71 Reformation of the Church of England 63 Regency 117 Religion of England 61 Religion alters the Temper of Men 71 Revenues of the King of England 115 Revenues of the present King Queen 199 Revenues of the Clergy 253 Revenues of the Bishops 244 Rural Deans 249 S. SCotlands Union with England 85 c. Sergeants at Arms 163 Servants 266 Act of Settlement 119 Sextons 257 Ship-yards and their Officers 190 Sidesmen 257 Marks of Sovereignty 94 High Steward of England 126 Lord Steward of the King's Houshold 148 Succession to the Crown 118 T. TEmper of the English 4 Tenure in Villenage 268 Title of the King to the Crown of France 89 Tobacco the Benefits of it 38 The great Trade of England 55 Train-Bands see Militia The English way of Travelling 46 The Lord High-Treasurer 128 Treasurer of the King's House 150 V. S. VAlentines Day 45 Vestry 258 Vicars 253 The Vnreasonableness of the present disaffected Party 144 W. WAles its Union with England 84 Wardrobes of the King 160 Weights used in England 52 Women 258 Laws concerning them 260 261 Y. YAchts 186 Yeomen 228 Yeomen of the Gard 167 The Table FOR THE THIRD PART A ALdermen 73 Alienation Office 53 Apprentices Laws concerning them 112 Aââzes 80 Attachment 95 B. BAyliffs 74 Benefit of the Clergy 58 C. CHancery see Court Circuâts 80 Clerk of the Market 72 Commission of Assize 81 Commission of Nisi-prius ib. Commission of Peace 82 Commission of Oyer Terminer ib. Commission of Gaol-delivery ib. Committees 30 c. Common Pleas see Court Constables 77 Convocation 96 Coroners 71 Privy Council 43 County Court 68 Court of Chancery 49 Court of King's Bench 55 Court of Common Pleas 59 Court of Exchequer 62 Court of Dutchy of Lancaster 66 Court of Admiralty 91 Court of Marshalsea 94 Court of Requests 94 Court Martial 91 215 Court Leet 75 Court Baron 76 Courts of Conscience 94 Prerogative Court 102 Court of Arches 100 Court of Audience 102 Court of Delegates 103 Court of Peculiars 104 Court of the Lord Mayor of London 106 Court of Aldermen at Lond. 107 Court of Common Council 108 Court of Goal-Delivery 110 Court of the London Sheriffs 111 Court of the Chamberlain ib. Court of the Orphans 114 Cursitors Office 52 H. HEadboroughs 77 House of Lords 11 House of Commons 12 Hustings 109 J. GRand Jury 70 L. A List of the Kings Houshold Officers and Servants 135 A List of the Gentlemen of the King's Bedchamber 144 A List of the Genâl Pensioners 152 A List of the Yeomen of the Guard Officers 153 A List of the Officers of the four Troops of Horse ib. A List of the Officers of the Oxford Regim 158 A List of the Officers of the Foot-guards 159 A List of the Chappel Royal 161 A List of the Queens Houshold 163 A List of the Nobility 168 A List of the Bishops 174 A List of the House of Commons 175 A List of the Privy Council 191 A List of the Lords Commissioners and Officers of the Court of Chancery 193 A List of the Judges and Officers of the C. of Kings Bench 19â A List of the Judges and Officers of the C. of Common Pleas 200 A List of the Judges and Officers of the C. of Exchequer 203 A List of the Judges and Officers of the Dutchy of Lancast 206 A List of the Attorney aââ Solicitor General Sergeants and Council at Law ib. A List of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury 208 A List of the Officers of the Custom 209 A List of the Officers of the Excise 210 A List of the Officers of the General Post-Office 211 A List of the Officers of the Mint 212 A List of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty 213 A List of the Admirals 214 A List of the Commissioners other Officers belonging to the Navy ib. A List of the Officers of the Martial Court 215 A List of the Lords Lieutenants 216 A List of the Governours of Foregn Plantations 219 A List of the Consuls in Foreign Parts 220 A List of the Foreign Ministers residing here ibid. A List of the Knights of the Garter 221 A List of the Knights made by K. William 222 A List of the Deans in England Wales 225 A List of the Colledge of Civilians 226 A List of the Colledge of Physicians 230 A List of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London 232 A List of the Lieutenancy of London 234 A List of the Governours of the Charterhouse 236 A List of the Chancellor Vice-Chancellor Heads of Colledges and Halls Proctors Orator and Professors in Oxford University 237 A List of the Chancellor Vice-Chancellor Heads of Colledges and Halls Proctors Orator and Professors in Cambridge 239 M. MAster 's of Chancery 50 Master of the Rolls 51 Mayors 73 P. PAper-Office 47 Parliament of England 1 Pie-powder Court 96 Privy Council 43 Q. QVarter Sessions 70 S. SEcretaries of State 45 Sheriffs 67 Sheriffs Turn 68 Signet-Office 47 Speaker of the House of Lords 10 Speaker of the House of Commons 14 Stewards 75 Subpoena Office 53 Swainmote 95 T. TRial of Malefactors 83 W. WArden of the Fleet 54 ERRATA PART I. Page 4. line 12. read Wiltshire p. 7. l. 10. dele of and l. 12. r. third p. 29. l. 5. r. Lincoln p. 81. in the list 1. Burntwood p. 89. l. 11. r. be p. 116. l. 10. r. Rockingham p. 291. l. 25. r. 1209. p. 302. r. only Grocer's Hall p. 324. l. 6. r. 25. p. 329. l. 13. r. 9000. p. 331. l. 16. r. manner p. 341.
l. 13. r. some were afterwards p. 355. l. 11. r. certain it is PART II. p. 66. l. 5. dele but. p. 68. l. 35. r. in p. 99. l. 33. r. us PART III. p. 2. l. 10. r. be p. 79. l. 35. r. assisted p. 63. l. 22. r. sit on p. 71. l. 14. r. whose p. 213. l. 18. dele of p. 180. l. 15. r. John Howe Esq p. 224. l. 17. r. 1689. p. 232. l. 27. r. Sir Edward Clark and Sir Francis Child THE FIRST PART OF THE New State OF ENGLAND Under Their MAJESTIES K. William and Q. Mary CONTAINING A Geographical Description of England in General and of every County in Particular with Useful and Curious Remarks London Printed in the Year 1691. THE NEW STATE OF ENGLAND PART I. CHAP. I. Treating of ENGLAND in general and of every County in particular England ENGLAND is the best and largest Part of the greatest Island of Europe An Island anciently called Albion from its white chalky Cliffs but since better known by the Name of Great Britain Great for the vast Extent of ât reaching as it does in Length from North to South about 600 Miles Britain that is a Country Inhabited by Painted Men as formerly they were wont to be At this time 't is principally divided into three Parts England Scotland and Wales the first two being two distinct Kingdoms the last a Principality but all of them happily united under one Head ENGLAND takes up the South Parts of the Island being parted from Scotland Northward by the River Tweede from Wales Westward in part by the River Dee and from the rest of the World by the Ocean Thus it contains in Length from North to South as from Barwick to Portsmouth 320 miles and in breadth from East to West as from Dover to the Lands End 270. But such is the Variety of its Breadth that in the South Parts which face the Channel 't is three times the Breadth of the North. And all along the Sea-Coast in general there are so many Creeks and Inlets some greater and some lesser that England and indeed the whole Island delineated as it is in Globes and Maps makes but an odd kind of Figure However in this Spot of Ground not exceeding one third Part of France there are reckoned 30 millions of Acres In reference to the Globe it lies between the 50 and 57 Degree of North Latitude the longest Day in the most Northern Parts being 17 hours 30 minutes and the shortest in the most Southern almost eight hours long The name of ENGLAND it took from the Angles an ancient People of Jutland in Denmark who joyning with their Neighbours the Saxons went under their Name in the Conquest of Britain And this Name was given it by a special Edict of Egbert the first sole Monarch of England since the Heptarchy Who being descended from those Angles and having reduced the whole Country from a divided State into one intire Body called it with the Concurrence of the States of the Realm then convened at Winchester Anno 819. by the Name of Engle-lond since turned into ENGLAND From whence the Nation and Language came to be called English When the Romans were possessed of this Country they made but two Parts of it and another of Wales Called Britannia Prima Containing the South of England Britannia Secunda Containing Wales Maxima Caesariensis Containing the North of England Their particular Divisions were not of the Country it self but of the Inhabitants As the Atrebatii Belgae Brigantes Catieuchlani and ten Nations more they reckoned only in England In the time of the Anglo-Saxons England alone was divided into seven Kingdoms Viz. The Kingdom of Kent Containing the County of that Name The Kingdom of South-Saxons Containing Sussex and Surrey The Kingdom of West-Saxons Containing Cornwal Devon Somerset Dorset Wiltshire Barkshire and Hampshire The Kingdom of East-Saxons Containing Middlesex Essex and part of Hartfordshire The Kingdom of East-Angles Containing Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgshire The Kingdom of Mercia Containing Glocester Worcester Hereford Shropshire Cheshire Stafford Darby Nottingham Leicester Rutland Lincoln Huntington Northampton Warwick Salop Oxon Buckingham Bedford and the rest of Hartfordshire The Kingdom of Northumberland Containing York Lancashire Durham Westmorland Cumberland Northumberland and the South Parts of Scotland as far as Edinburg But England's Division into Shires or Counties did not begin till the Reign of Alfred about 800 Years ago Afterwards every Shin was subdivided into Hundreds and Hundred into Tythings a Hundred containing teâ Tythings and a Tything ten Families The Shires or Counties are either Maritime or Inland in all 40 in number The Maritime Counties I mean such as be watered by the Ocean are these Viz. Cornwal Devonshire Somersetshire Dorsetshire Hampshire Sussex Kent Essex Suffolk Norfolk Lincolnshire Yorkshire Durham Northumberland Cumberland Westmorland Lancashire Cheshire Whereof the first seven Counties take up the most Southern Parts and lye all along the Channel which parts England from France the next seven run from Kent and Sussex Northward bounded on the East by the German Ocean and the last fourâly North-West bounded by the Irish Seas The Inland Counties are Nottinghamshire Derbyshire Staffordshire Shropshire Worcestershire Herefordshire Monmouthshire Glocestershire Wiltshire Barkshire Buckinghamshire Surrey Middlesex Hartfordshire Cambridgeshire Huntingtonshire Bedfordshire Oxfordshire Warwickshire Northamptonshire Rutland Leicestershire Amongst all which Counties 't is Observable that some of them take their Names from the old Inhabitants as Cumberland from the Cyntbri or ancient Britains Essex and Sussex from the East and South Saxons who setled here after their Conquest Some from their Situation as Northumberland Norfolk Suffolk and Middlesex To which add Kent in Latine Cantium because it lies in a Canton or Corner of the Island Others from their Form or Figure as Cornwal from the figure of a Horn called Kere by the old Britains And indeed this County growing from East to West smaller and smaller is not unlike a Horn besides that in many places it shoots forth into the Sea with little Promontories like unto so many Horns Whereas Devonshire took its Denomination from the British Devinam signifying low Valleys of which this County does very much consist Others again from some Accidents therein As Barkshire from Beroc a certain place wherein grew good store of Box Rutland q. d. Red Land from the Redness of its Soil But the most part from the principal Town of the County as Glocestershire from Glocester Oxfordshire from Oxford Cambridgeshire from Cambridge c. As of all the Counties of England Yorkshire is the biggest beyond all compare so iâ Rutland the least Out of the first which iâ counted as big as the Seven United Provinces 70000 Men may be raised for present Service Whereas the Extent of the last is so inconsiderable that one may skip it over in lesâ than half a day In point of Situation Darbyshire may bâ look'd upon as the middle Province of thâ Kingdom Besides the former Division of
Title to France he returned this Answer 'T is true says he France is a noble and gallant Kingdom but England in my mind is as fine a Seat for a Country Gentleman as any is in Europe I pass by the Reflection and taking his Answer in a plain literal Sense I own that England is in most Things one of the finest and best Countries in Europe I have already demonstrated wherein its Beauty consists and now the Subject of this Chapter shall be its Plentifulness And first for Corn either for Man or Beast it may cerainly outvy most Countries in Europe As it may for Pasture which makes the Cattel thrive here exceedingly And though here be many Heaths yet they are not so barren but that they afford wherewithall to feed a World of Sheep Thus ENGLAND yields not only Plenty of Corn to make Bread and Drink with c. but also abundance of all manner of Cattle for wholesom substantial Food with plenty of Salt Cheese and Butter For Dainties and Variety 't is stocked with Fallow Deer beyond any part of Europe Hares and Conies tame and wild Fowl eatable Roots and Herbs Fruits of most sorts it has abundance of And so constant is the Continuance of these Things in England by reason of the Clemency of the Air that it has not felt a Famine for several Ages The Sea and Rivers on the other side furnish it with plenty of all manner of Fish as Herrings Mackerels Whitings Pilchards Soles Plaices Flounders Cods Salmons Sturgeons Lampreys Congers Turbots Thornbaeks Lohsters and Oysters c. these last being famous among the old Romans for their extraordinary goodness Here is also abundance of Carps Pikes Perches Trouts Gudgeons Tenches Roaches Daces Breams Eeles Cray-fish c. Spices we have as all the rest of Europe from the East and West-Indies and from this last that inchanting Commodity which has got so much the vogue here I mean Tobacco Not but that the English Soil can bear it plentifully as has been found by Experience but because it is more proper for several Reasons of State to fetch it at that distance In short what other Things ENGLAND wants whether for delight or fancy are easily supplied by Sea from those Countries where they grow which either exchange 'em foâ Mony or such Commodities of our Growth as we can spare and they stand in need of As for Wine 't is said indeed the South Parts of ENGLAND as Kent and Hampshire amongst others have had formerly great Numbers of Vineyards and as the Summeâ proved made of them tolerable Wine But since better Wine could be had from oââ Neighbours at an easier rate the Vineyard were laid aside and the Soil turned to betteâ account And yet when the Season does answer to the singular Care and Industry of the Husbandman I may say this without Prejudice and from my own Experience that England then affords in some Places as good and delicious Grapes as most Parts of France The same I may aver of some other Fruits as Peacheâ amongst others but then I must confess Arâ has a great hand in it Lastly The want of Wine is otherwise supplied by Beer and Ale the usual Drinks of the Country Which rightly made is as wholesom a Liquour though not so cheerful aâ Wine Now for Rayment English Wool is famous all over the World both for its fineness and goodness But that of Cotswold in Glocestershire of Lemster in Herefordshire and of the Isle of Wight has the pre-eminency Of this Wool are made excellent broad Cloths dispersed not only all over England but all over the World especially high Germany Poland Moscovy Turky and Persia to the great benefit of this Kingdom For the advancing of which Manufacture that necessary Earth called Fullers-Earth is no where else produced in that abundance and excellency as in England For Flax and Hemp to make Linnen of here is a great deal of good and proper Soil which I wonder should not be improved for that purpose rather than have so much Linnen imported as there is from beyond Sea But as for Leather here 's great Plenty of it and such as is excellent for all manner of Use And as England does swarm with Conies their Furs go a great way for the making of Hats Silks also might be here produced as it was once designed by King James the first For other necessary Conveniences as for building of Houses ENGLAND wants not Materials except such Timber as comes from Norway For Firing here is indeed in most Places a Scarcity of Wood but that Defect is abundantly supplied by the Coal-Mines For Shipping no where better Oak For Land-Carriage Plenty of good stout Horses For Hunting or Racing such as are incomparable And for Beauty or Fineness scarce any Country like this Dogs of all sorts sizes and uses are also to be found here Amongst which the Mastiffs whether Bear or Bull-dogs are extraordinary the first for their Size and both for their Stoutness Our Spaniels also and all sorts of Hounds for Hunting are of great request beyond Sea For Smell and Ornament here all sorts of Flowers even those that come from the remotest Countries thrive to admiration But no Region perhaps abounds like this in Laurel and Rosemary two remarkable Plants for their perpetual Greenness For Physical Vses it scarce wants any Simple Here grows plenty of excellent Saffron and Licorish neither does it want Hony or Wax of the best fort Here are also hot Baths and abundance of Medicinal Springs I come now to those inexhaustible Treasures of Coals Lead Copper Tin and Iron which are dug out of the Bowels of the Earth in this Kingdom The Coal-mines do chiefly inrich Newcastle in Northumberland from whence a great part of the Kingdom is supplied with Coals for Fewel without which it could not possibly subsist so great is the Decay of Woods and the Neglect of planting The Lead-Mines are most considerable in the Peak of Derbyshire and those of Tin in Cornwal where they dig Tin not much inferiour to Silver in fineness Here are also Copper-Mines but herein Cumberland does exceed it As for the Mines of Iron 't is true they bring more Damage to the Publick by the Spoil of Woods than the Profit that accrues thereby to private Persons amounts to Here are also Silver-Mines as in Cornwal Lancashire and the Bishoprick of Durham richer than the very Mines of Potosi in the West-Indies whence the King of Spain has most of his Silver For whereas these yield usually but one Ounce and a half of Silver in one hundred Ounces of Oar our English Mines commonly yield six or eight Ounces per Cent. 'T is true ours lying deeper and harder to come unto and the Workmen being dear which is otherwise in Potosi all these things concurring together are like to secure them from any further Attempt In short though some Countries excel ENGLAND in some Things yet this may be said of it in general That there
the Devil's Ditch Royston stands in the bottom of a Hill partly in this County and partly in Hartfordshire Whose Market is very considerable for Malt especially Lastly this County which formerly was Part of the Kingdom of the East-Angles and its Inhabitants part of the Iceni as the Romans called them is now in the Diocess of Ely Out of it are elected besides the 2 Knights of the Shire 4 Members of Parliament viz. 2 by the Town of Cambridge and 2 more by the Vniversity Cheshire CHESHIRE a Maritime County in the North-West Parts of England is bounded on the East by Derbyshire and Staffordshire on the West partly by the Irish Sea partly by Flintshire and Denbighshire two Counties of Wales Northward by Lancashire Southward part by Denbighshire and part by Shropshire and Staffordshire It contains in Length from East to West about 45 Miles in Breadth from North to South 25. The Whole divieled into 7 Hundreds 85 Parishes and 13 Market Towns As flat as this Country is yet it is not without several noted Hills besides the Mountains which divide it from Darby and Stafford Shires It has also several Woods and Forests as namely Delamere and Maclesfield Forests and is so well stored with Parks that almost every Gentleman has one peculiar to himself Heaths and Mosses are frequent here but the first serve to feed Sheep and Horses and Mosses to make Turves of for Fewel As for Rivers this Country is well watered with them the South-west Parts with the Dee the middle with the Weever and the North Parts with the Mersey which divides this County from Lancashire The Dee affords great plenty of Salmon And 't is observable of this River that upon the fall of much Rain it rises but little but if the South Wind beat long upon it it swells ând overflows the Grounds adjoyning Here are âlso many Meres and Pools in all which are aâundance of excellent Fish Here the Air for Temperature and the Soil for Fertility is inferiour to none and far exâeeding the Neighbouring Counties It s chief Commodities are Corn Cattel Sheep Fish Fowl Salt and Cheese the best ân all England Chester otherwife called West-Chester by reason of its Western Situation is the chief Place of this County bearing from London North-West and distant therefrom by common Computation 150 Miles thus Viz. from London to St. Albans 20. from thence to Stony-Stratford 24 to Daventry 16 more from Daventry to Coventry 22 thence to Lichfield âo more to Stone 18 to Nantwich 15 and to Chester 15 more This City was raised from the Fort Ostorius Lieutenant of Britain for the Emperour Clauâius And 't is pleasantly seated on the River Dee about 25 miles from its fall into the Sea the River widening it self all the way to a great breadth But the Channel is so choakt up with Sand for some Miles that all Ships now âome to a Place called the New Key about 6 miles distance Over the River it has a fair Stone-bridge âuilt upon 8 Arches with a Gate at each ând from whence issue the Walls of the City ân a quadrangular form high and strongly âuilt In this Wall are 4 Gates viz. the East-Gate Bridge-gate Water-gate and North-Gate the first being esteemed one of âhe stateliest Gates in England Besides these âour principal Gates there are three others of âess note called the Posterns and on the Wall are 7 Watch-towers and broad Battlements for Pieces of Ordnance On the South side is a stately strong Castle built in a circular form with a Court-yard about it inclosed with a Wall In the North Part is the Cathedral adjoyning to which is the Bishops Pallace In short this City is beautify'd with divers fair Buildings both publick and private and graced with large and well-ordered Streets which are supplied with fresh Water by Conduit Pipes from a Tower at the Bridge calleâ Water-Tower 35 yards high and 8 broad Along the chief Streets are Galleries or Rowâ as they call them with Shops on one side through which Galleries one may walk freâ from Wet in the greatest Showers As to the Number of Parishes in it I finâ no less than ten so well frequented this Plaââ is by Gentry and Tradesmen For besides thâ Assises held here twice a Year Chester being a County Palatine has also its Courts Palatine kept here And as it stands commodiously for Ireland with which it has a greaâ Intercourse so it is a constant Thorough-farâ for that Kingdom Of late it has been of particular Note foâ being the Rendezvous of great part of ouâ Forces that have been transported for thâ Reduction of Ireland and Highlake on thâ North-side of the River's Mouth for being thâ proper Place for Shipping 'T was in this City of Chester that King Edgaâ had his Barge rowed by way of Homage bâ seven Kings of the Scots and Britains from ãâã Johns Church to his Pallace himself as sâpreme Lord holding the Helm And 't is observable that the eldest Sons of the Kings ãâã England whether it be by birth or death ãâã their elder Brothers are ipso facto Earls of Chester The other Market Towns are Nantwich Sat. Middlewich Sat. Congleton Sat. Knutsford Sat. Malpas Mund. Maxfield Mund. Altrincham Tue. Fordsham Wedn. Sanbich Thu. Northwich Frid. Stopford Frid. Tarvin Frid. Amongst which Nantwich and Fordsham are feated on the Banks of the Weever Stopford on the Mersey Northwich and Congleton on the Dane which runs into the Weeve Middlewich on the Croke near its fall into the Dane Maxfield or Maclesfield on the Bollin Sandbich on the Welock Nantwich Middlewich and Northwich are of chief note for their Salt-pits but the first especially which next to Chester is the greatest and the fairest built Town in the County Here is the best white Salt made and great plenty of it At Congleton they make great store of Points Purses and leather Gloves Sandbich is only famous for its Ale sold at London for 12 pence the bottle which for strength and clearness does equalize Canary Maxfield or Maclesfield is a large and fair Town which drives a great Trade of Buttons But it is of most note for giving the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable Charles Gerard Earl of Maclesfield c. This County formerly a Part of the ancient Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants part of the Cornavii as the Romans called them is now in the Diocese of Chester The Earls hereof were anciently accounted Palatines since William the Conquerour gave this Earldom to Hugh Lupus a noble Norman to be holden as freely by his Sword as the King himself held England by his Crown which was the Tenure of all Counts Palatine more like Princes than Subjects And though it be now and has long been reannexed to the Crown yet it still holds the Rights and Priviledges of a County Palatine having for the administration thereof a Chamberlain a Justice for the Common-Pleas of the Crown two Barons of the Exchequer a Sheriff an
Derby Town But before I leave this County I cannot but observe that of all Parts of England which in general is famous for its Stone-Bridges Derbyshire is of special note upon that very account Witness amongst the rest Burton-Bridge on the River Trent in the Borders of Staffordshire which has no less than 35 large Stone Arches 'T was at this Bridge that Edward II. put to flight Thomas Earl of Lancaster and many of the Barons Here is also Swarkeston Bridge over the same River reputed to be near a mile in length but much of it is rather a Causey than a Bridge To which add Monks-Bridge over the Dove to say nothing more of St. Maries Bridge at Derby Scarsdale a Division or Part of this County wherein stands Chesterfield is a Valley incompassed with Rocks and Mountains as the Name imports Dale in the Saxons Language signifying a Valley and Scaire a craggy Rock Observable only for giving the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable Robert Leak the present Earl of Scarsdale Derived to him from his Father Nicholas Son of Francis Leak Lord Deyncourt of Sutton Created Earl of Scarsdale by King Charles I. Anno 1645. Devonshire DEVONSHIRE a Maritime County in the West of England lies open to the Sea both Northward and Southward on the North being bounded with the North Sea otherwise called the Severn Sea or S. George's Channel which parts it from Wales and on the South with the South Sea commonly called the Channel which parts England from France But Eastward it is bounded by Somersetshire and Dorsetshire and Westward by Cornwal It contains in Length from East to West about 52 miles in Breadth from North to South 46. The whole divided into 33 Hundreds wherein 3â4 Parishes and 32 Market Towns The Air of this County is sharp and wholesom The Soil in some Parts generally beautified with fresh and pleasant Meadows in other Parts shaded with great store of Woods but in few places not so fit for Corn as most other Counties 'T is true good Husbandry supplies that Defect and adds unto it by cost and industry what it wants by Nature Amongst the many Rivers wherewith 't is abundantly watered the Tamer which parts it from Cornwal the Turridge the Taw Ex and Dart are the chiefest In short this County is well provided with Flesh Fish and Fowl And as for Sea-Fish Pilchards and Herrings chiefly are here fished in great abundance Noted besides for its Wools and Clothings the best and finest Kerseys in the Kingdom being here made but chiefly for its Tin and Lead-Mines Exeter the chief Place of it ly's West-South-West from London about 130 miles thus Viz. from London to Salisbury 70 miles as you may see in the Description of Wiltshire From Salisbury to Shaftsbury 15 and to Sherburn 12 more from Sherburn to Crookham 10 thence to Axminster 9 and to Exeter 22 more This City is so called from the River Ex on the East-banks whereof it is seated and over which it has a fair Stone bridge not above 12 or 15 miles from its fall into the Sea 'T is a large and well compacted City and a Place of good Trade But the River is so choaked up that all Vessels are forced to load and unload their Goods at Topsham about 3 miles distance Within its Walls and Suburbs are reckoned besides the Cathedral no less than 15 Parish-Churches It has the Priviledge of two Markets weekly kept on Wednesdays and Fridays Noted besides for giving the Title of Duke Marquess and Earl to several noble Personages Of Duke to John Holland Earl of Huntington made Duke of Exeter by King Richard II and to Tho. Beaufort Earl of Dorset created Duke of Exeter by King Henry V. Next to whom this Title was injoy'd by John and Henry Holland both of them Admirals Afterwards the Title of Marquess of Exeter was by King Henry VIII conferred upon Henry Courtney Earl of Devonshire Succeeded in it by his Son Edward Courtney with whom this Title died But in the Reign of King James I Tho. Cecil Lord Burleigh was by that King created Earl of Exeter Anno 1605. From whom is descended in a right Line the Right Honourable John Cecil the present Earl of Exeter The other Market Towns are Kings-bridge Sat. Plimpton Sat. Totness Sat. Ashburton Sat. Chidley Sat. Merton Sat. Okehampton Sat. Tavestock Sat. Torrington Sat. Holsworthy Sat. South-Molton Sat. Columpton Sat. Crediton Sat. Hârniton Sat. Axminster Sat. Plimouth Mund. Thu. Bediford Tue. Tiverton Tue. Ottery Tue. Dodbrook Wed. Newton-Abbot Wed. Modberry Thu. Culliton Thu. Bow Thu. Chuâmleigh Thu. Dartmouth Frid Barnstaple Frid Hatherly Frid Besides Ilfarcomb Combemerton Bradnidge and Sidmouth whose Market-Days I am ignorant of Among which Plimouth and Dartmouth are two noted Harbours in the Channel but the first especially Seated between the Tamer and the Plime at both their falls into the Sea the Plime being but a small River from whence Plimouth however has took its Denomination 'T is one of the best Ports in England having a safe and commodious Haven strongly fortified on both sides A Place of great importance to the Kingdom not only for his Majesty's but for Merchants Ships outward or homeward bound to anchor in upon any Casualty The Conveniency whereof has so improved this Town from a poor fishing Village that it is now grown up to Stateliness Lastly this Place is dignify'd with the Title of an Earldom now in the person of the Right Honourable Other Windsor Earl of Plimouth c. Derived to him from his Grandfather Thomas Created Earl of Plimouth by King Charles II. But the first that injoy'd this Title was Charles Fitz Charles commonly called Don Carlos created Baron of Dartmouth Viscount Totnes and Earl of Plimouth Anno 1675. who soon after died at Tangier Dartmouth so called from its Situation at the Mouth of the River Dart is also a good Port Town having a commodious Haven well frequented and traded unto There 's in it three Parish Churches And it gives the Title of Baron to the Right Honourable George Leg made Baron of Dartmouth by King Charles II. Few miles from Dartmouth to the North-East is the Bay called Torbay of chief note for the Descent here made by his present Majesty and his Land-Forces from Holland upon the fifth of Nov. being Gun-powder Treason Day 1688. From Torbay to the Coast of Dorsetshire there is not a Sea-Town of any note but Sidmouth Which indeed was a good Port Town as well as Seaton and Budley near adjoyning before their Havens were choaked up with Sands Now 't is but a small Fisher-Town On the North Coast you will find Combemerton Ilfarcomb and Hartland all of them but mean Towns But at some distance from that Sea lies Barnstaple a good trading Place seated on the River Yaw over which it has a large Bridge Further Westward you will find Bediford Torrington and Hatherley all three on the Towridge Over which River Bediford has a large Stone-bridge
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 ãâã 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 Inâet 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 ãâã 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 ãâã 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-Weââ 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 ãâã 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 moââ 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 Ashâey 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 âertile Soil and is pretty well frequented and ânhabited But t is a Town of more antiquity âhan beauty Cranborn and Sherburn are also Towns of great ântiquity 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 ây far asunder All three but mean and the first two being old Abby-Towns considerable only by their Antiquity But of the two Cârne-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 Frampâon 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
Trade for the Stuffs here made and of some note for its excellent Oysters In short 't is the richest fairest and best traded Town in the whole County from whence the Earl Rivers takes his Title of Viscount Yet in regard it stands in the extremity of all the County the Sessions and Assizes are held most commonly at Chelmsford which is almost in the middle of it It s Market is kept on Saturdays and is well served with Provisions The other Market-Towns are Maldon Sat. Harwich Tue. Cogshall Sat. Manytre Tue. Walden Sat. Billerakey Tue. Dunmore Sat. Waltham Abbey Tue. Hatfield Sat. Braintre Wedn. Raleigh Sat. Rumford Wedn. Hornden Sat. Buntwood Thu. Barkin Sat. Epping Thu. and Frid. Cheping-Onger Sat. Hâulsteed Frid. Cheping-Onger Sat. Chelmsford Frid. Cheping-Onger Sat. Thanted Frid. Among which Maldon and Harwich are two noted Harbours The first by the Romans called Camelodunum a Town of great antiquity and the Seat of Cunobelin King of the Trinobantes about the Time of Christ's Birth 'T is seated on the River Chelmer about 7 miles from the Sea between which and the Sea ly two small Isles called Northey and Osey It has one Street about a mile in length and is well inhabited In short 't is one of the chief Places in the whole County particularly noted for giving the Title of Viscount to the Earl of Essex In the Parts adjoyning to this Town are excellent Pastures which feed store of Sheep amongst other Cattel of whose milk they make Cheese And on the utmost Promontory stood an ancient City of the Romans called Ithancester where the Fortenses with their Captain kept their Station or Gard in the Dedination of the Roman Empire for the Security of these Parts against the Saxon Rovers Nothing of which is now remaining but the Ruins of a thick Wall where many Roman Coyns have been found And out of the Ruins of this City was built S. Peters upon the Wall Harwich lies the furthest East of any by the Sea-side and at the mouth of the River Stower So that 3 Parts of it are surrounded with Water The Town is not large but well inhabited and frequented not only for the commodiousness and safety of its Harbour but because it is the readiest Passage for Holland and the Station for the Packet-Boats imploy'd for that purpose But there is a great Inconveniency to the Inhabitants the Brackishness of its Waters Which puts the Inhabitants upon the necessity of being supplied with sweet Water from other Places The Towns of chief note besides are Chelmsford where the Assizes for the County are usually held Burntwood or Brentwood a Place of good Antiquity Rumford a great Thorough-fare and Walden or Saffron-Walden seated on an Ascent among pleasant Fields of Saffron from which the Owners reap good Profit Not far from Walden is one of the Royal Houses called Audley-end a very stately Building built by the Right Honourable Thomas Howard Earl of Suffolk then Treasurer of England And upon the Thames over against Gravesend in Kent stands Tilbury Fort which commands that Passage This County which formerly was part of the Kingdom of the East-Saxons from whence it came to be called Essex and its Inhabitants together with those of Middlesex known among the ancient Romans by the Name of Trinobantes is now in the Diocese of London Famous among other things for giving the Title of Earl to several Families as the Mandeviles the Bohuns the Bourchiers Thomas Lord Cromwel William Lord Parre and three D'Evreux before it came to the present Family of the Capels And the first Earl of this Name was Arthur Capel the late Earl of Essex advanced to this Title by King Charles II. Anno 1661 afterwards made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and some years after his Return sent to the Tower in order to make him a Sacrifice with the Lord Russel and others to the Popish Faction But his Title is revived in the person of his Son and Heir the Right Honourable Algernon Capel the present Earl of Essex Lastly out of this County are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire six Members of Parliament Viz. two from Colchester two from Harwich and two more from Maldon CHAP. IX Of Glocestershire Hampshire and Hartfordshire Glocestershire GLOCESTERSHIRE a large Inland County is bounded on the East by Warwickshire and Oxfordshire on the West by Monmouthshire and part of Herefordshire Northward by Worcestershire Southward by Wiltshire and Somersetshire It contains in Length from North to South 50 miles and in Breadth from East to West about 25. The Whole divided into 30 Hundreds wherein 280 Parishes and 26 Market Towns This is in general a most pleasant and fruitful Country blessed with a full Course of the River Severn That Part thereof which is beyond the River is overspread with Woods all which included in one Name made the Forest of Dean That part which buts upon Oxfordshire is swelled up with Hills called the Corswold Hills but these are in a manner covered with Sheep which yields a Wool of a notable fineness Whereof great Quantities of Cloth are here made that find vent throughout all England and divers forein Countries Between these two I mean the Forest and the Hills is seated a most fruitful Vale yielding most sorts of Grain to admiration and formerly stock'd with Vines and Vineyards The want of which is now supplied with Cider which they make here in great abundance Next to the Severn which crosses the Country from North to South here 's the Avon which parts it from Somersetshire the Wye which severs it in part from Monmouthshire besides the Stroud and the Isis All which afford great plenty of Fish and the Severn particularly abundance of Salmon The Forest of Dean which ly's in the West-side of the County between the Severn and the Wye is reckoned to be 20 miles long and 10 broad A Place formerly much more woody than it is at present the Iron Mines that are here having consumed a good part of the Wood. Glocester the County Town is 81 miles distant West and by North from London Viz. from London to Colebrook 15 to Maidenhead 7 more and 11 from thence to Nettlebed from Nettebed to Abington 12 to Faringdon 10 more to Perrors Bridge 14 more and 12 from thence to Glocester A City of good Antiquity and first built by the Romans to whom it was known by the Name of Glevum It ly's stretched out in length on the Severn over which it has a fine Bridge and on the Banks thereof a large Key or Wharf very commodious for the Merchandize and Trade of the Place The Streets are generally fair and the Town well built upon an easy Ascent the Streets descending every way from the Cross It has been formerly walled about with a strong Wall except on the Rivers side and some Remains of its Walls are still in many places to be seen which shew what strength they were of The City is not very large but very well inhabited
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
in which S. Augustine the Monk the first Apostle of that People had a Conference or Consultation with the British Bishops More memorable in the following Times for giving the Title of an Earl to the Illustrious Family surnamed De Clare the addition of an Honour and a goodly Patrimony to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and at this time the Title of Marquess to the Duke of Somerset This Town is seated on the Lea much decay'd by the turning the High-way through Ware and having now but 3 Parish Churches Here however is kept the County Goal and 't is a well frequented Market on Saturdays The other Market-Towns are S. Albans Sat. Rickmansworth Sat. Barnet Mund. Berkhamsted Mund. Buntingford Mund. Watford Tue. Ware Tue. Hitching Tue. Hempsted Thu. Hatfield Thu. Hodsdon Thu. Baldock Thu. Bp. Stretford Thu. Stevenedge Frid. Tringe Frid. âtoudon Frid. Amongst which S. Alhans seated on the River Coln was so called from a famous Monastery here founded by Offa the great King of the Mercians in honour of St. Albans the Protomartyr of Britain a Citizen of Verulamium near adjoyning to it Out of the Ruins whereof decay'd by Age and destroy'd by War arose the present S. Albans the fairest and best traded Town in this County A Town which formerly injoy'd great Priviledges For Divine Worship it has now 3 Parish Churches and in one of 'em ly interred the Bodies of many Nobles slain in two Battels fought here between the Houses of York and Lancaster This Town has been dignifyed with the several Titles of Viscount Earl and Duke With the first Anno 1620 in the Person of Francis Bacon Viscount S. Albans Lord Verulam and Lord High Chancellour of England With the Title of Earl Anno 1628. in the person of Richard de Burgh and continued in his Son Ulick with whom it dyed till revived again Anno 1660. by King Charles II. in the person of Henry Jermin the last Earl of St. Albans Who dying without Issue King Charles advanced his Grace Charles Beauclare Earl of Burford to the Title of Duke by making him Duke of S. Albans Ware Hatfield and Hodsdon are all three seated on the Lea. The first a good Thorough-fare Town much improved since the High-Way was turned from Hartford hither Noted besides for the Channel cut from thence to London where it serves so many hundred Families with the Conveniency of that excellent Water called New River Water To which may be added another Observation the pleasantness and easiness of the Road from Ware up to London which being of a Sandy Soil proves seldom dirty but within a mile of London and is so filled with Towns and Gentlemens Houses from mile to mile that one would think the Suburbs of London on the North side fetch their beginning at Ware So strange is the Influence of this rich and populous City Hatfield is a Place of great Delight and Recreation but of chief note for that stately House called Hatfield House formerly one of the Kings of Englands Pallaces till it came in the possession of the Earls of Salisbury A House which for Situation Prospect Contrivance and Building for Air water and all other Accommodations is inferiour to none in England Not far from Hodsdon but nearer to Waltham Abby in Essex is Theoballs one of the Kings Royal Seats pleasantly situate among delightful Walks Gardens Groves and Springs First built by Sir William Cecil and afterwards beautifyed by his Son Robert both Lord Treasurers of England Barnet or high Barnet is pleasantly seated on a Hill and in the Road within ten miles of London Of some account for its Medicinal Waters but much more memorable for a bloody Battel fought here between the two Houses of York and Lancaster wherein the former prevailed Warford and Rickmansworth are both seated near the Coln And not far from the first Langley Abbey the Birth-place of that proud and high-spirited Pope Adrian IV. first known by Nicholas and surnamed Break-Spear Bishops-Stratford is a great Market Town seated near the River Stowr on the side of a Hill and much resorted unto On the East-side whereof are to be seen the Ruins of a Castle called the Castle of Waymour standing very steep in an Isle upon an artificial Mount with a dark and deep Dungeon in it which denotes some great Priviledges to have belonged unto it in former Times It was ruinated by King John Among the Market-Towns here I might have put in Royston part of which stands in this County but I refer you for it to Cambridgeshire In short this County which formerly was divided betwixt the Kings of Mercia and the East-Saxons and whose Inhabitants were part of the Catieuchlani as the Romans called them stands now divided betwixt the Dioceses of London and Lincoln Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire but four Members to serve in Parliament 2 by Hartford and 2 by St. Albans CHAP. X. Of Herefordshire Huntingtonshire and Kent Herefordshire HEREFORDSHIRE or the County of Hereford is an Inland County Which has for its Eounds Eastward Glocestershire and Worcestershire Westward Radnockshire and Brecknockshire in Wales Northward Shropshire and Southward Monmouthshire It s Length from North to South is about 35 miles its Breadth from East to West 30. The Whole divided into 11 Hundreds wherein 176 Parishes and but 8 Market-Towns This County was formerly part of Wales before it was by Conquest annexed to this Crown And then it was strengthened with no less than 28 Castles whereof there 's scarce any thing now remaining but their Ruins Here the Air is temperate and healthful and the Soil exceeding rich T is well cloathed with Wood and refreshed with Rivers the principal of which are the Wye Lug Arrow and Frome Two Things this County excels in its plenty of Fruit and the finest Wool in any part of England And amongst all sorts of Fruits the Red-streak Apple which makes the best sort of Cider is that which thrives here to admiration Hereford the chief Place hereof bears West-North-West from London and is distant from it 101 miles thus From London to Glocester 81 miles as you may see in Glocestershire then from Glocester to Ross 10 miles and to Hereford 10 more 'T is seated on the Banks of the River Wye and another that runs into it amongst richâ Meadows and plentiful Corn-fields Raised out of the Ruins of Ariconium a Place of good account in the time of the Romans It had once a strong and stately Castle built by the Normans which Time has now ruinated And now it is walled about having six Gates for entrance and 15 Watch-Towers for defence 'T was a Bishops See in the time of the Britains and restored to that Dignity by the Saxons Anno 680. Noted besides for giving first the Title of Earl then that of Duke and lastly that of Viscount now in the Person of the Right Honourable Edward D'Evreux Viscount Hereford c. Descended to him from his Ancestor Sir Walter
afford excellent Fish and wild Fowl in great plenty A noted Place in former time for its wonderfull rich Abbey which continued in its glory till its Dissolution by King Henry VIII This County which formerly was Part of the Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants Part of the Iceni as the Romans called them is now in the Diocese of Lincoln Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire but two Parliament Men and these out of Huntington Kent KENT in Latin Cantium so called as being seated in a Canton or Corner of the Kingdom is a large rich and pleasant Country ââying between the Thames and the Narrow Seas So that it is invironed on all sides with the Sea except Westward where it borders both upon Surrey and Sussex It contains in Length from East to West 60 Miles in Breadth from North to South 30. The Whole divided into five Lathes called Sutton Aylesford Scray St. Augustine and Shepway Lathes and these into 67 Hundreds wherein 408 Parishes and 30 Market Towns Which is an Argument of its Populousness But the Air is neither so serene nor so healthful here as in other Counties especially near the Sea and Marshes which makes this Country so noted for its Kentish Agues Now that you may know in few words the Nature of this Country both as to its Air and Soil I shall bring in the Remark made upon it which is that there are 3 Ridges of Hills in Kent one called Health without Wealth the second Health and Wealth and the third Wealth without Health Others as to the Soil give this different Character of it The Weald for Wood East Kent for Corn Rumney for Meadow Tenham for an Orchard Shepey and Reculver for Wheat Thanet for Barley and Hedcorn for Capons In general this may be said of Kent that it is a Country very good for Corn and fit for Pasturage according to the several Plots and Parts thereof and wondrous full of fruitful and well-ordered Orchards from whence the City of London is supplied with most sorts of Fruit but chiefly with Pippins and Cherries which are counted the best in England On the Cliffs between Deal and Dover there grows a great store of Samphire The same is well watered with Rivers For besides the Thames that washes its North Parts here is the Medway which in a manner parts it in the middle the Stower that runs by Canterbury the Tun through Tunbridge and the Rother upon which Appledore is seated not to mention the lesser Streams Of all the Counties in England this was the first Kingdom of the Heptarchy and had a particular King to it self which no other County ever had Neither was it conquered by the Normans the Kentish Men yielding upon Articles and having their ancient Franchises and Customs confirmed to 'em by William the Conqueror One of which is the Cavelkind whereby they are not so bound by Copy-hold as in other Parts of England Lands of this nature being equally divided here among the male Children and for want of Males among the Females By the same Law they are at age at 15 years old and they may sell or make over the Land without the consent of the Lord. Also the Son tho of a convicted Father for Felony or Murder succeeds him in such Kind of Lands The Kentish Men besides have this to glory in that they were the first Christians of this Island And this is the only County at this time that has two Cities or Episcopal Sees namely Canterbury and Rochester Canterbury the chief Place of this County is 46 miles East of London Viz. from London to Dartford 12 to Rochester 11 more from thence to Sittingborn 10 and to Canterbury 13 more A City of great Antiquity if it was built as some Authors aver 900 years before Christ 'T is seated on the River Stower noted for breeding the best Trouts in the South East Parts of England and is counted in the Lath of S. Augustine The Buildings of it but mean and the Wall which encompasses it in a decayed condition The greatest Ornament of all is the Cathedral wherein ly interred the Bodies of eight Kings For this City had been the Seat of the Kings of Kent till given by Ethelbert the first Christian King of this Country to Augustine the first Archbishop thereof and his Successors Whereupon the King removed his Seat to Reculver a Town by the Sea-side In this Cathedral is also interred the Body of Thomas Becket once Archbishop hereof that famous Saint so reverenced by the Romanists In this City and its Suburbs are reckoned 14 Parish Churches besides a Meeting-place under the Cathedral for the Walloonâ that dwell in this City who are very numerous and drive a considerable Trade of the Stuffs they make here It has two Markets a Week Wednesdays and Saturdays the latter of which is the most considerable But to the honour this City has had of being the Regal Seat of the first Kings of Kent and of being to this day the See of the Primate of England let us add the Coronation of King John and Queen Izabel his Wife the Marriages of Henry II. and Edward I and the Interments of Edward the black Prince King Henry the Fourth and Queen Joan his Wife all which was performed in this Place The other Market-Towns are Eltham Mund. Wrotham Tue. Lenham Tue. Westram Wedn. S. Mary Cray Wedn. Goldburst Wedn. Gravesend Wedn. Sat. Feversham Wedn. Sat. Dover Wedn. Sat. Sandwich Wedn. Sat. Wye Thu. Rumney Thu. Lyd Thu. Folkstone Thu. Maidstone Thu. Bromley Thu. Rochester Frid. Tunbridge Frid. Tenderden Frid. Woolwich Frid. Smarden Frid. Malinge Sat. Milton Sat. Cranbrook Sat. Hythe Sat. Ashford Sat. Sevenoke Sat. Dartford Sat. Appledore Among which Rockester requires the preeminence as a Bishops See and the second for Antiquity in all the Island It is seated upon the Medway over which it has a stately Stone-bridge one of the fairest in England It consists most of one principal Street which extends it self a long way the Houses being but ordinary as they are inhabited for the most part but by Trades-men and Inn-keepers Yet besides the Honour it has of being a Bishops See it is dignify'd with the Title of an Earldom in the Person of the Right Honourable Laurence Hyde Earl of Rochester Viscount Hyde c. Which Title was formerly enjoy'd by three Wilmots And before them there was a Viscount of this Place Sir Robert Carr being created Viscount of Rochester Anno 1611. and afterwards Earl of Somerset Adjoyning to this City is Chatham also seated on the Banks of Medway A long Thorough-fare Town well inhabited by Seamen and Shipwrights as being the principal Station of the Royal Navy and having a good Dock and Store-houses for the building and equipping of his Majesties Ships Maidstone is seated also on the Medway but near the head of it This is the Town where the County-Goal Sessions and Assizes are kept being conveniently seated for
Breadth from East to West 32. The Whoâ divided into six Hundreds wherein 61 Parisheâ and 26 Market-Towns The Number of Parishâ but small in so large a quantity of Ground but that there are many Chappels of Ease equal to Parishes elsewhere for Multitudes of People Here the Air is sharp thin and piercing seldom troubled with Fogs And the Inhabitants accordingly are healthfull comely strong and long-lived not subject to many Diseases The Soil differs much according to its different nature and situation some Parts being Mountainous and of the Champain Country some very fruitfull some Mossy and the rest Moorish The Champain Country is very good for Wheat and Barley but that which lies at the bottom of the Hills is best for Oats From the Mosses which are not unlike the Irish Bogs some of them many Miles in Compass the common People get Turves for their Firing And sometimes they dig up Trees out of them which serve both for Building and Fewel Cambden seems to be of Opinion that they are subterraneous Trees growing under Ground as some other Plants do The Mountainous Part which lies Eastward is full of stony craggy and barren Hills bare of Wood and the Habitation of Foxes Conies Otters c. Amongst these Hills some are of a prodigious height especially Pendle-Hill on the top whereof grow's a peculiar Plant called Cloudsberry as coming from the Clouds But one thing besides is remarkable in this Hill that whenever the Top of it is covered with a Mist 't is an infallible Sign of Rain The Country in general is well watered with Rivers the chief whereof are the Mersey the Rible and the Lon all three running from East to West into the Irish Sea The Mersey Waters the South Parts and serves for a Boundary betwixt this County and Cheshire the Rible waters the middle and the Lon the North Parts Besides these Rivers and many others of less note here are several great Meers or Lakes as Merton and Winder or Wimander Meer This last divides part of Lancashire from Westmorland reaching about 10 miles in length and 3 or 4 in breadth It has as most Lakes in the North a clear pebbly Bottom whence the Saying that this Lake is all paved with Stone And it breeds great store of Fish particularly Trouts Pikes Pearches Eels and Skellies But there 's one sort of Fish peculiar to it and not to be found elsewhere except in Vlles Water another Lake bordering both upon Cumberland and Westmorland Charre is the Name of it and 't is a dainty Fish whereof many Pies are yearly sent abroad for Presents In short tho' this Country in general cannot be called a fruitfull Country yet what is good of it yields abundance of good Grass and Corn the fairest Oxen in England and in general all sorts of Provisions Fish and Fowl particularly here 's great plenty of and in the River Lon near Cockerfand Abbey is great store of Salmon To make Linnen here grows a great deal of Flax for Fewel the Country yields not only fat Earth but good Coals and for Building Quarries of good Stone Lancaster the Shâre Town bears from London North-West and by North and is distant therefrom by common computation 187 miles thus From London to Stafford 104 for the particulars whereof I refer you to Staffordshire Then from Stafford to Stone 10 to Newcastle 6 more thence to Warington 20 to Wigan 14 more to Preston 14 more then to Garstang 10 and to Lancaster 15 more A Town pleasantly seated in a good Soil on the South-side of the âiver Lon near its fall into the Sea From which River it came to be called Loncaster since turn'd into Lancaster as from Lancaster the whole County took the Name of Lancashire The Town not very well peopled nor much frequented There are in it several fair and long Streets from the Length whereof this Town I suppose might be called Longovicus by the Emperor Antonine And yet there is but one Parish-Church which indeed is large and fair It stands on the side of a Hill on the top of which is the Castle now made use of for the County Goal both for Debtors and Malefactors and for keeping the Assizes for the County Besides the Church and Castle two of the chief Ornaments of this Town here 's a fair Stone-Bridge over the Lon supported by five Arches To which add the Market-house or Town-hall where the Mayor and his Brethren keep their Courts It s Market which is kept on Saturdays is commonly well furnished with all sorts of Provisions but Fish and among the rest Salmon especially Lastly this Town is of sufficient Fame in the Annals of England for those noble Persons which have successively born the Titles of Earls and Dukes of it the greatest Princes in their time for Revenues of any Subjects in Christendom Of which House there have been four Kings of England all under the Name of Henry viz. Henry the fourth the fifth the sixth and the seventh The last by marrying with Elizabeth Daughter and Heir to Edward IV. of the House of York did happily unite the two Houses of York and Lancaster Whose Competition for the Crown of England under the Names of Red and White Roses had caused more Blood-shed than the Conquest of France by the English The Market-Towns of this County besides Lancaster are Manchester Sat. Leverpool Sat. Clitheroe Sat. Dalton Sat. Blackborn Mund. Poulton Mund. Cartmill Mund. Hornby Mund. Hawkshead Mund. Wigan Mund. Frid. Rochdale Tue. Chorley Tue. Ormskirk Tue. Kirkham Tue. Prescot Tue. Coln Wedn. Haslington Wedn. Warington Wedn. Preston Wedn. Frid. Sat. Bury Thu. Garstang Thu. Vlverston Thu. Besides Leigh and âreat Eccleston whose Market-days I am ignorant of Manchester is seated upon a stony Hill in the South-East Parts of the County between the Rivers Irk and Irwell both which empty themselves not far off into the Mersey This Town called by Antonine the Emperour Mantunium was a Station of the Romans And it is to this day a Town much beyond Lancaster in beauty and populousness It s chief Ornaments are the Colledge and the Market-Place but above all the Collegiate Church beautified with a small Quire of excellent Workmanship Honoured besides with the Title of an Earldom in the person of the Right Honourable Charles Montague the present Earl of Manchester derived to him from his great Grandfather Henry Montague Viscount Mandeville created Earl of Manchester by King Charles I. Anno 1625. being then Lord Treasurer and President of the Council and afterwards Lord Privy Seal And lastly 't is a noted Place for its Linnen and Woollen Cloths as also for its Cottons which are held in great esteem Leverpool is the next Place of chief note in this County T is an excellent Sea-port commodiously seated at the fall of the River Mersey into the Sea where it affords a safe Harbour for Ships and a convenient Passage into Ireland To the immortal Praise of the Family of the Mores of Banck-hall
Division stands on both sides of the River Witham within few Miles of its fall into the Sea This is a considerable Town of good Antiquity and a Place of Trade well inhabited and resorted unto Over the River it has a very fair high wooden Bridge It s Market Place is fair and spacious And the Church of special Note for its fine-built Tower exalted to that height as to serve as a Land-mark to Mariners Kirkton is situate on a sandy Ground rising in that flat Country A Town so called from its Church which is a fair Structure built Cathedral like in the form of a Cross with a broad Steeple in the middle Of some note besides for its excellent Pippins But there is another Kirkton in Lindsey Crowland ly's some Miles East of Market-Deeping and upon the same River which is the Weland A Town seated so low among Fenâ and miry Ground that there is no coming to it but by the North and East side and that by narrow Causeways not admitting oâ Carts Hence came the Proverb that ãâã the Carts that come to Crowland are shod wiââ Silver It consists of 3 Streets severed each from other not unlike Venice by Water-Courses running between and on the Banks which are raised up and preserved by Piles are set Willow-Trees Their Cattel are kept a good distance from the Town and when they go to milk their Cows they go in small Skerries or Boats Here they take in the Pools or watery Places a world of Fish and Fowl of which they make good profit In short the Ground about this Town is so very rotten that one may thrust a Pole in to it 30 foot And in a Place called Hollanâ there it is so wet that as one stands upoâ it the Earth will shake under his Feet anâ he will be ready to sink into it Here are alâ many Quick-sands which have a wonderful force both to draw to them and to holâ fast whatever they draw Spalding a pretty Town and a Place oâ good Trade stands also on the Weland buâ nearer its Influx into the Ocean some mileâ North of Crowland That is not far from the Washes the neighbouring Sea so calleâ for its frequent Inundations in these Parts Dunington also situate in a Flat and waterish like Spalding is a considerable Place foâ the great quantities of Hemp and Provisionâ here sold To conclude this County which now is in the Diocese of Lincoln was part of the âncient Kingdom of Mercia in the Time of the Heptarchy and its Inhabitants part of the Coritani in the Time of the Romans Out of it are chosen besides the two Knights of the Shire ten Members of Parâiament Viz. Two out of each of these following Towns Lincoln Stamford Grantham Boston and Grimsby CHAP. XII Of Middlesex Monmouthshire Norfolk and Northamptonshire Middlesex MIDDLESEX a small Inland County is bounded on the East with Essex from which 't is parted by the River Lea on the West with Buckinghamshire from which 't is severed by the Coln and the Shire-Ditch on the North with Hartfordshire and on the South with the Thames which parts it from Surrey and Kent Called Middlesex from its Situation as lying between the East-Angles and the West-Saxons It contains in Length from East to West about 24 miles in Breadth from North to to South 18. The Whole divided into seven Hundreds wherein 203 Parishes and 6 Market-Towns For Sweetness of Air or Fruitfulness of Soil this County may compare with any Shire iâ England From the Hills that are about it as Hampsted Highgate Harrow-Hill c. thâ Prospect of the whole is seen in this not unlikâ to Zoar in Egypt London the chief Place hereof but withal the Metropolis and the Glory of the Kingdom is too great to be crowded here withiâ the narrow Compass of these short Descriptions Therefore I refer you to the Conclusion of this Part and so proceed to The Market-Towns besides London and Westminster Brentford Tue. Stanes Frid. Vxbridge Thu. Edgeware Thu. Brentford in the Western Road 7 or 8 mileâ from London is divided into Old and New Brentford both so called from Brent a smalâ River that falls here into the Thames Oâ most renown in former times for the gooâ Success Edmund Ironside King of England haâ here against the Danes Anno 1016 which comâ pelled them to raise the Siege of London Noâ of most note for being the Thorough-fare bâ twixt London and the Western Countries thâ Passage up and down by Water for the eaâ of Travellers and a well frequented Market Once dignify'd with the Title of an Earldoâ in the person of Patrick Ruthen Earl of Forâ in Scotland Created Earl of Brentford by Kinâ Charles I. Anno 1644. Stanes upon the Thames is a large weâ inhabited and frequented Town It lies oâ the West Road of England and has a Bridgâ over the River that leads into Surrey Vxbridge is another good Town that lies North of Stanes on the River Coln which parts as I said before this County from Buckinghamshire And as it is seated in the high Road from London to Oxford so it is well accommodated with Inns and Houses of Intertainment As for Edgeware 't is but a small Town But besides these four Market-Towns the flourishing City of London has such an Influence over all its Neighbourhood that it swarms all over with pretty Towns not only in Middlesex but even in Surrey In Middlesex as Islington Highgate Hampsted Chelsey Kensington Fulham Hamersmith Thistleworth Hounslow c. most of them graced with the Seats of divers Noblemen Gentlemen and Citizens Among which Kensington of late has the honour of injoying some part of the Year Their Majesties Presence as Hamersmith the Queen Dowager's Hounslow famous for its adjoyning Heath and the notable Incampments made there in the late Reign in order to bring in Popery But as Providence was pleased to order it the Thames swallowed the Tiber and the cold Northern Heresy proved too hard for the hot-headed Jesuit Besides Kensington-House here are in this County no less than five Royal Houses viz. Whitehall and S. James in Westminster Hampton-Court Enfield and Hanworth Lastly this County which formerly was Part of the Kingdom of the East-Saxons and its Inhabitants part of the Trinobantes as the Romans called them is now in the Diocese of London Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire six Members of Parliament viz. 4 out of London and 2 out of Westminster As for honourary Titles I know not by what popular Errour the Citizens of London reckoned the Lord Mayor elect for Earl of Middlesex But whatever Ground it had now it has none to stand on since that Title was bestowed first on Lionel Lord Cranfield Lord Treasurer of England created Earl of Middlesex by King James I. Anno 1622. Which continued in his Son James and died with Lionel Brother of James But in the Year 1675. it was revived by King Charles II. in the person
New Buckenham ly not far from Thetford to the Eastward Diss and Harleston on the Waveney Watton Windham Hingham Swafham and East-Derham do not ly far asunder about the middle of the County Further to the Northward you will find Repeham Caston Fakenham Walsingham Holt Aleâham Worsted North Walsham and Hickling this last in a Marsh-Ground not far from the Sea Downham is upon the Ouse over which it has a Bridge leading into Cambridgeshire Snetham North of Lyn is seated on a bivuler not far from the Sea Burnham-Market and Cromere are two Sea-Towns in the North Parts of the County Between which is Clay another Sea-Town on three sides incompassed with Waters and once a Market Town but now discontinued And near it Wayborn-hope a noted Place amongst Seamen as is Winterton Ness or Point in the East which is very coldly seated And yet it is observed that the Ground about Winterton is one of the richest and fattest in England Among the aforesaid Towns Walsingham was formerly renowned as for its Colledge of Canons so for the continual Concourse of Pilgrims to this Place Who came hither to pay their Superstitious Devotion to the Blessed Virgin at a Chappel near the two Wells called to this day the Virgin Mary's Wells It was also a Place of note for its good Saffron Near Burnham-Market within 2 Miles from it to the Westward is a small Country-Town called Brancaster the Ruins of an ancient Town known by the Name of Branodunum Seated near the Sea-shore and a Place of good account in the time of the Romans who kept here a Garrison Not far from Hickling in the North-East Parts is the ancient decay'd Abbey of St. Bennet's in the Holme built by the Danish King Canute An Abbey so fortified afterwards by its Monks with Walls and Bulwarks that it seemed rather a Castle than a Cloyster and yet was betrayed by a Monk to William the Conqueror The Bishop of Norwich retains to this Day the Title of Lord Abbot of St. Bennets And it is observable that hereabouts both Cockles and Perwinkles are digged out of the Ground Lastly this County which is the largest in England next to Yorkshire but much more populous was Part of the Kingdom of the East-Angles in the time of the Heptarchy and its Inhabitants part of the Iceni as the Romans called them It is observed of the People in this County that they are notably industrious for Plough and Manufactures insomuch that one shall hardly see a Beggar throughout all the Country And yet which one would wonder at they are notable Wranglers and generally so well versed in the Quirks of the Law that they create more work for the Assizes than almost all the Circuit else Accordingly Norfolk is the County which commonly yields the best Breed of Lawyers and has furnished the Courts of Justice with many an emiment Man in the Laws of England But a great Antiquary has made another material Observation That in this County are a hundred Families of ancient Gentry that never were attainted of high Treason Which if it be true the Gentry here have had better fortune than the Dukes Dutchesses and Earls of Norfolk His Grace Henry Howard the present Duke of Norfolk derives his Title from his noble Ancestor John-Lord Howard created Duke of Norfolk by King Edward IV. Anno 1483 and descended from the Lady Margaret Dutchess of Norfolk Daughter of Tho. de Brotherton Earl of Norfolk first Son of King Edward I. Out of this County are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire ten Members of Parliament Viz. Two out of each of these following Places Norwich Kings I yn Yarmouth Thetford and Castle-rising Northamptonshire NORTHAMPTONSHIRE an Inland County is bounded on the East with the Counties of Cambridge Huntington Bedford and Buckingham on the West with Rutland Leicestershire and Warwickshire Northward with the Counties of Lincoln Rutland and Leicester Southward with Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire This County being long but narrow runs in Length from North to South ahout 50 miles and in Breadth from East to West but half The Whole divided into 20 Hundreds wherein 326 Parishes and 13 Market-Towns Here the Air is temperate and healthfull the Soil as rich either for Corn or Grass as in any Place in England And the Inhabitants find such a Profit here by Grazing and Tillage that they improve the Ground every where Insomuch that it is said there is less waste Ground in this County than in any other As for Rivers and other fresh Streams 't is as well watered as most Counties are It s principal Rivers are the Nen and the Weland both having their Rise here besides the Ouse which rises in the South Parts near Bucking hamshire A further Proof of the excellency of this County might be fetched from its Populousness For it is so garnished with Towns that in many Places 20 or 30 Steeples present themselves at one view And considering its Extent 't is said to be honoured with the Seats of as many if not more of the Nobility and Gentry as any County in the Kingdom Northampton the chief Place hereof ly's North-West from London and by common Computation is distant from it 54 miles thus From London to Barnet 10 thence to St. Allans 10 and to Dunstable 10 more from Dunstable to Stony Stratford 20 and to Northampton 10 more A Town pleasantly seated on the Banks of the River Nen where it meets with two Rivulets one from the North the other from the South And though it has suffered much by the sore hand of the Dane and other Calamities and of late particularly by the dreadfull Fire which buried it all in Ashes in September 1675 yet it has raised it self again more glorious than before So that for Circuit and Beauty it may at this time be ranked with many Cities Fortified heretofore with good Walls and a strong Castle and seated in so good an Air that once the Students of Cambridge had a mind to remove their University hither Here the Inhabitants drive a considerable Trade especially of Leather and its Market which is on Saturdays is well served with Provisions This Town is the Place where the County-Goal and the Assizes are kept Of special note for giving the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable George Compton the present Earl of Northampton Devolved to him from his noble Ancestor William Lord Compton and Lord President of Wales Created Earl of Northampton by King James I. Anno 1618. The other Market-Towns are Peterborough Sat. Oundle Sat. Higham-Ferrers Sat. Rothwell Mund. Thrapston Tue. Towcester Tue. King's Cliff Tue. Wellingborow Wed. Braâkley Wed. Daventry Wed. Kettering Frid. Bodkingham Among which Peterborough is seated in a Nook or Angle of the County bordering upon Cambridgeshire and Huntingtonshire where formerly had been a Gulf or Whirlpool of an exceeding depth 'T is seated on the River Nen over which it has a Bridge leading into Huntingtonshire A Town of no great account but for being a
Bishops See since the Reign of Henry VIII For as it is no plausible Place either for health or pleasure so it stands out of the way for Trade Yet it shews two handsom Streets a large Market-Place and a fair Parish Church besides the Abbey Which last from a Monastery founded by Wolpher the Mercian King is now become a Cathedral And from that Monastery dedicated by him to St. Peter This Town formerly known by the Name of Medanshede came to be called Peterburgh or Peterborough Dignifyâd with the Title of an Earldom in the person of Henry Mordant the present Earl of Peterborough devolved to him from his Father John Lord Mordant created Earl of Peterborough by King Charles I. Anno 1627. Oundle is pleasantly seated on the Banks of the Nen over which it has two Bridges A well built and uniform Town beautified with a fair Church a free School and an Alms-house Nigh unto Oundle Northwards and upon the same River stands Fotheringhay-Castle invironed on all sides with pleasant Meadows Noted for that here Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded Thrapston Higham-Ferrers and Wellingborow ly all three upon the Nen the first two on the Eastern the last on the Western Banks and each of them with a Bridge over the River Higham-Ferrers has a Free-School for the Education of Youth and an Alms house for the Relief of poor people and was anciently strengthned with a Castle whose Ruins are yet to be seen Wellingborow pleasantly seated upon the Ascent of a Hill is a large and well inhabited Town injoying a good Trade beautified with a fair Church and having the Convieniency besides of a Free School Not far from Rothwell or Rowel is Naseby which is said to stand on the highest Ground in England near which the Avon and the Nen two considerable Rivers have their Spring-heads A noted Town for the Battel fought here June 14th 1645 where the Kings Forces commanded by Prince Rupert were totally routed by General Fairfax Towcester situate in a Valley and on the Banks of a small River that empty's it self in the Ouse is a Place of good Antiquity Cambden takes it for the ancient Tripontium which took its Name from 3 Bridges the Roman Port-way which in many places between it and Stony-Stratford shews it self being cut through by three Streams or Channels which the Rivulet there divides it self into About the Year 917. it was so strongly fortified as to resist the furious Assaults of the Danes At present 't is but a small Town beautified however with a fine Church Near this Place Eastward is Grafton a Road-Town in this part of Northamptonshire with a fine Park adjoyning to it and a Mannor-house of great Antiquity most part whereof was burnt and pulled down in the long Intestine War Anno 1643. Memorable for the Marriage here consummated betwixt Edward IV. and the Lady Grey the first King oâ England since the Conquest that married his Subject This was the ancient Seat of the Family de Wideville Earls of Rivers And Richard the last of the male Line dying Anno 1490. did by his Will bequeath it amongst other Lands to Thomas Grey Marquess of Dorset In which Name it continued till Henry VIII with whom it was exchanged for other Lands in Leicestershire and so has ever since continued in the Crown Of late become of more remark for giving the Title of Duke to his Grace Henry Fitz-Roy created Baron of Sudbury Viscount Ipswich and Earl of Euston Anno 1672 and Duke of Grafton five years after Brackley a Town of Note when it was in a manner the Staple Town in the County for Wool is seated near the Spring of the Ouse upon the edge of the County towards Buckinghamshire It contains two Parish-Churches and had formerly a Colledge now made use of for a Free-School Daventry and Kettering are seated each of 'em upon a Rivulet that falls into the Nen. The first a great Road-Town from London to the North-West Counties and from thence hither The last North-East from that is delightfully seated on an Ascent and has a Sessions-House for the Justices of Peace of the County who sometimes assemble here Rockingham a small Town is seated on the Weland A Town of note in former Time for its Castle long since demolished Lastly this County together with Rutland make up the Diocese of Peterborough In the Time of the Saxons it made part of the Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants in the Romans Time part of the Coritani Out of it are chosen besides the two Knights of the Shire seven Members of Parliament Viz. 2 out of Northampton 2 out of Peterborough 2 out of Brackley and 1 out of Higham-Ferrers CHAP. XIII Of Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire and Rutland Northumberland NORTHVMBERLAND a Maritime County and the furthest North in England is bounded on the East by the German Ocean on the West by Cumberland and the Cheviot Hills which part it from Scotland Northward by the River Twede which divides it also from Scotland and Southward by the Bishoprick of Durham from which severed in part by the River Tine It s Form is triangular contains in Length from North to South about 40 long Miles and in Breadth from East to West at the broadest 30. The Whole divided into six Wards wherein 460 Parishes and but 6 Market-Towns The Air of this County is sharp and piercing in Winter and sometimes troubled with deep Snows and pinching Frosts sutable to its Climate But yet 't is nothing near so sharp as the People And by my late Experience here wet Weather is not so sensible and searching as it is in Middlesex 'T is possible the warm Breaths that continually come out of its numberless Colepits helps with the Vapours of the Sea to take off the rawness of a cold dampish Air. For the Soil as this County is nearly related to Scotland so it is one of the worst Counties in England being for the most part rough and hilly and hard to be manured Yet in some Parts chiefly towards the Sea it is fertile enough But the greatest Riches of this Country lies in the Bowels of the Earth full of Coal-mines Which supply with Coals not only this Country where that Fewel is always bought at very easy rates but a good Part of England besides and London particularly for whose Use many hundred Sail of Ships have yearly from hence their Loading The Coal-Pits made use of to get up this Treasure are all square commonly 7 or 8 foot in diameter and timbered from top to bottom some 30 some 40 more or less but few above 50 fadoms deep A great Depth for Workmen to go and rake a Livelyhood And yet here is a Legion of such Men bred and born to it that spend most of their Life in this Land of Darkness in continual Danger besides that of the Rope of being crushed below by a Thrust sometimes in Danger of Water and in some places of Fire The Way to go down these
Nations came to be united under one Head So that upon the least Rupture this Town was sure to undergo the first brunts of the War It is large and populous and the Houses well built injoying a good Trade especially for Corn and Salmon Here one may have a good Salmon for 12 pence Lastly Barwick is like Newcastel a County of it self Dignified also with the Title of a Dukedom and that by the late King James in the person of James Fitz-James the present Duke of Barwick his natural Son âinked with him in his Misfortunes Alnwick so called from the River Alne upon which it is seated about 8 miles from the Sea is an indifferent good Town Once strengthened with a great Castle which is now something ruinous However a noted Place for the Battel fought here between the English and the Scots in the Reign of Henry II where William King of Scots was taken Prisoner Hexam is situate West of Newcastel on the South-side of the River Tine Once a Bishoprick in the Infancy of the Saxon Church the Bishop whereof called Episcopus Hagulstadiensis according to Beda S. Eata the fifth Bishop of Lindisfarne or Holy Island was the first Bishop of this Place Succeeded by nine others till by the fury and rapine of the Danes it discontinued the Jurisdiction of it being added to the See of York But in the Reign of Henry VIII it was taken from that Archbishoprick and by Authority of Parliament united to the County of Northumberland whereby it became annexed to the Bishoprick of Durham Here was a most stately Church said to surpass most Minsters in England before a great part thereof was pulled down by the Scots Morpeth a goodly Town is situate on the River Wensbeck and fortified with a Castle Its Market is esteemed the best in the County for Provisions and living Cattel which from hence are dispersed to divers Parts of the Kingdom The Town of some note besides for giving the Title of Viscount to the Eaâ of Carlisle Some miles South-west from it near a Town called Belsey on the River Pont stands Ogleâ Castle formerly belonging to the Barons Ogleâ and now to the Duke of Newcastle from hence stiled Earl of Ogle As for Weller 't is but a small Town seated on the side of a Hill near the Banks of the River Till which runs Northward into the Twede But its Market is great for Corn and other Provisions Of the Islands along the Sea-Coast of Northumberland Along the Coast of this Country you will find 3 principal Islands as you go from South to North viz. Cocket Farn and Holy Island Cocket is but a small Island lying not far from Wetherington Castle Farne Island something bigger lies North from Cocket 2 miles from Bamburg Castle North-East of which lie six smaller Islands hardly worth the naming Holy Island the biggest of the three and yet of no great extent is not far from Barwick This Island being in shape not unlike a Wedge runs out with a Neck of Land towards Northumberland And this is it which formerly was known by the Name of Lindisfarne in the dawning of Christianity among the Northumbers made a Bishops See by S. Aidan one of the first Apostles of these Parts Selected for that Dignity by that holy Man for the Solitude and Privacy of it which made it thought more fit and proper for Devotion Till at last by the religious Lives of so many pious Bishops Monks and others of the Clergy as did inhabit here it got the Name of Holy Island And here the See continued 353 years that is from the Year 637 to 990 under 22 Bishops hence called Bishops of Lindisfarne From whence the See was removed to Durham the Insolencies of the Danes who then terribly raged on these Coasts compelling these religious Men to forsake their Solitude The Air of this Island is so unhealthfull and the Soil ungratefull that it is but thinly peopled Fish and Fowl is the best Accommodation of it So that here is but one Town with a Church and Castle under which is a good Haven defended by a Block-house In short this County formerly a Part of the Kingdom of Northumberland and its Inhabitants part of the Ottadini as the Romans caded them is now in the Diocese of Durham Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire six Members of Parliament Viz. 2 by Newcastle 2 by Morpeth and 2 more by Barwick Lastly this County is noted for the Title of Duke and Earl it has given to several noble Personages but with frequent Interruptions As for the Title of Duke I find but one that has injoy'd it till of late viz. John Dudley Earl of Warwick and Lord Admiralâ Duke of Northumberland beheaded by Queeâ Mary Put that of Earl has gone through several Changes and different Families Thâ Piercies are those who have injoy'd it the long est of any and yet not without some Interruption too The first of 'em that had the Title conferred upon him was Henry Piercy Lord Constable who took possession of iâ Anno 1377. under the Reign of Richard II. Three of his Name and Family injoy'd it after him before John Nevil Lord Montague was advanced to this Honour by King Edward II who after six years resigned it to Henry Piercy that had been dispossessed of it Another Henry Piercy injoy'd it after him who died in the Year 1527. And 24 years after his Death the foresaid John Dudley Earl of Warwick was by Edward VI. created Duke of Northumberland viz. Anno 1551. Six Years after this the Title of Earl returned to the Piercies in the person of Thomas Earl of Northumberland In which Family it has continued ever since till the Year 1670 when Joceline Piercy died at Turin in Italy without Issue male At present we have a Duke of Northumberland his Grace George Fitz-Roy third Son to the Dutchess of Cleveland who in the Year 1674. was created by King Charles II. Baron of Pontefract Viscount Falmouth and Duke of Northumberland Nottinghamshire NOTTINGHAMSHIRE an Inland County is bounded Eastward with Lincolnshire from which it is separated a good way by the River Trent Westward with Derbyshire and some part of Yorkshire Northward with Yorkshire and Southward with Leicestershire It is of an oval Form doubling in length twice its breadth It s Length from North to South is about 40 miles the Breadth from East to West 20. The Whole divided into 8 Wapentakes or Hundreds 168 Parishes and 9 Market-Towns As for the Soil of this County part of it is Clay-Ground part sandy Ground and the rest Woody The South East Part being watered by the Trent and small Rivers that fall into it is the most fruitfull and this is the Clay Part. The Western where the Forest of Shirwood is so famous for Robin-Hood and his Companions is stocked not only with Wood but Pit-Coal well served besides with Game Besides the River Trent here are several small Streams whereby this Country
Dose the jealous Queen forced upon her Whereupon she was interred at a Nunnery called Godstow not far from this Town with this Latin Epitaph Hà c jacet in Tumbâ Rosa Mundi non Rosa munda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet Tame so called from the River of that Name which with its Branches does almost incompass it is a pretty large Town having one spacious Street and in the midst of it the Market-Place Over the River is a Bridge which leads to Buckinghamshire so near this Town is seated to its Borders Here is a famous Free School with a small Hospital founded by the Lord Williams of Tame and its Market is eminent chiefly for the buying of Cattle which makes it much frequented by Grasiers and Butchers from London and other Parts Bampton near the Isis is a large Town within a larger Parish having several Places besides belonging to it It has a Chappel of Ease to which belong 3 Vicars with a liberal Maintenance Banbury for wealth and beauty the second Town in this County is seated in a Flat on the River Cherwell Memorable for a great Battle sought near it between the two Houses of York and Lancaster which proved so favourable to the Lancastrians that Edward the Pretender to the Crown was taken Prisoner in it This Town also has been dignify'd with the Title of an Earldom first in the person of William Lord Knolles created Earl of Banbury Anno 1626 and continued in his Son Nicholas the late Earl of Banbury Lastly in this Town is made a delicate sort of Cheese which has added something to its Fame Henley stands upon the Thames over which it has a fair Bridge 'T is a large Town Corporate driving a great Trade of Malt. And its Market is so considerable for Corn and Barley especially that there is often sold in one day about 300 Cart-load of Barley for the Malt-Trade of it The Barge-Men besides of Henley which make up a good Part of its Inhabitants gain a good Livelyhood by transporting of Malt Wood and other Goods to London From whence they bring in return such Commodities as they and the Inhabitants of the neighbouring Towns stand in need of Witney seated on the Banks of the River Windrush and not far from Burford is a large stragling Town Most of whose Inhabitants get a Livelihood by spinning and carding for Blankets and Rugs whereof the Clothiers here drive a good Trade Here is a Free School for the Education of Youth with a fine Library Not far from this Town and near Enisham is a Monument of huge and unwrought Stone called Roll-rich-Stones set in a circular Compass not unlike those of Stonehinge and supposed to be there erected in memory of some great Victory In this Tract of Ground is a Forest of a large extent called Whitwood-Forest At the Confluence of the Thame and Isis stands Dorcester Which indeed is no Market-Town but as it is seated on the Road is well frequented and accommodated with Inns. A Town formerly of more note than now it is when Berinus Apostle of the West Saxons had his Episcopal See here which was afterwards removed to Lincoln However it is graced to this day with a very large and fair Church To conclude Oxfordshire now in the Diocese of Oxford was Part of the ancient Kingdom of Mercia And its Inhabitants together with those of Glocestershire were known a mong the old Romans by the Name of Dobuni Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire eight Members to sit in Parliament Viz. 2 by the Vniversity and 2 by the City of Oxford 2 by Banbury and 2 more by Woodstock Rutland RVTLAND another Inland County and the smallest in England is bounded East and North by Lincolnshire Westward by Leicestershire and Southward by Northamptonshire from which it is severed by the River Weland It contains in Length from North to South 12 miles in Breadth from East to West but ãâã The Whole divided into five Hundreds wherein 48 Parishes and but 2 Market-Towns As little as this County is yet for quality it yields to none of the best either as to Air or Soil As for the Air it is temperate wholesom and not subject to Fogs The Soil exceeding good either for Corn or Pasture especially about the Vale of Catmoss For besides its plenty of Corn it feeds great Herds of Cattle and Flocks of Sheep whose Wool participates of the Colour of the Earth which is reddish 'T is also well cloathed with Wood. and watered with fresh Streams the chief among which are the Weland and the Wash Lastly this little County has more Parks considering its Extent than any other County in England Okeham the chief Place hereof bears from London North North-West and is distant therefrom 74 Miles thus From London to Bedford 40 for which see Bedfordshire from Bedford to Wellingbury 12 and to Kettering 5 more thence to Vppingham 12 and to Okeham 5 more Called Okeham as some would have it from the plenty of Oaks that grow in its Neighbourhood and seated in a rich and pleasant Valley called the Vale of Catmoss Its Buidings are indifferent good especially the Church the Free-School and the Hospital The Castle where the Assizes are held is a Place of more antiquity than beauty And its Market which is on Saturdays is indifferently well served with Provisions This Town has an ancient Priviledge belonging to its Royalty which is if any Noble-man enter within its Precinct on Horseback he forfeits a Shoe from his Horse unless he redeem it by Mony Which Homage has been acknowledged by several of âhe Nobility that have passed this Way as is evidenced by many Horse-Shoes nailed upon the Shire-Hall Door In which Hall over the Judges Seat is a Horse-Shoe of Iron curiously wrought 5 foot and a half long with a breadth proportionable Vppingham the other Market-Town seated on an Eminence is a pretty compacted and well-built Town having the Accommation of a Free School and an Hospital It s Market kept on Wednesdays is counted better than that of Okeham In short this County which formerly was Part of the Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants Part of the Coritani as the Romans called them is now in the Diocese of Peterborough It is dignify'd with the Title of an Earldom now in the person of the Right Honourable John Mannors Earl of Rutland and Baron Ross c. Derived to him from his Ancestor Tho. Mannors created Earl of Rutland by King Henry VIII in the Year 1325 and descended by the Lady Ann his Mother from Richard second Son of Edmund of Langley Duke of York Out of this County are only elected the two Knights of the Shire to serve in Parliament CHAP. XIV Of Shropshire Somersetshire and Staffordshire Shropshire SHROPSHIRE or Salop an Inland County is bounded on the East with Staffordshire on the West with the Welch Counties of Denbigh and Montgomery on the North with Cheshire and on
the South with Herefordshire It s Length from North to South is about 35 miles its Breadth from East to West 26. The Whole divided into fifteen Hundreds wherein 170 Parishes and 15 Market-Towns Here the Air is counted very wholesom and the Soil as fruitfull both for Corn and Pasture T is well cloathed with Wood and in the Bowels of the Earth are Mines of Iron and Pitcoal in great plenty But towards the West and South Parts the Country is very hilly and mountainous As for fresh Streams no County is better watered than this For besides the Severn which in its crooked and winding Course cuts the Shire in the midst here are the Roden the Terne Clum Rea and Teme In all which are plenty of fresh-Water Fish And as this County is inferiour to none about it either for delight or penty So for the Number of Towns and Castles standing exceeding thick on every side as having formerly been a Frontier-County towards Wales it is far above ' em Shrewsbury the chief Place hereof bears from London North-West and by West and is distant therefrom 124 miles thus Viz. From London to St. Albans 20 and to Dunstable 10 more thence to Stony-Stratford 14 to Towcester 6 and to Daventry 10 more from thence to Covenrry 14 and to Bermingham 14 more then to Dudley 8 to Bridgenorth 12 more from Bridgenorth to Wenlock 6 and from thence to Shrewsbury 10. 'T is seated in the very midst or Center as it were of the County on a pleasant Ascent and on the Banks of the Severn not far from the Place where stood Vriconium out of whose Ruins 't is said to be raised The Severn do's almost incompass it round and that Part of it which is not fenced with it is fortified with a strong Castle built by Roger de Montgomery the first Earl hereof A Town which for neatness of Buildings both publick and private for variety and fineness of Streets for extent and populousness yields to few Cities in England It contains five Parish-Churches two of which viz. St. Marie's and St. Alchmond's are fair Structures and beautify'd with lofty Spires And here are still to be seen the Remains of a stately Abbey founded by the foresaid Earl of Montgomery Besides the natural Strength of this Place it is fenced about with a strong Wall with a Bulwark ranging from the Castle unto and part along the Severn On the East and West there are three Entrances into the Town by two fair Stone-bridges with Gates Towers and Bars and on the North by a Gate over which stands the Castle once exceeding strong Remarkable besides for giving the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable Charles Talbot the present Earl of Shrewsbury In short 't is a well-traded and frequented Town by all sorts of people both English and Welch whose frequent Intercourse brought them to speak both Speeches The principal Trade they drive here is in Cloths Frizes Welch Cottons and some other Commodities this being the common Mart or Empory between England and Wales And here are Weekly 3 Markets Viz. On Wednesdays for Provisions on Thursdays for Welch Cottons c. here sold in great abundance and thence sent to London on Saturdays for all sorts of Provisions The other Market-Towns are Bridgenorth Sat. Newport Sat. Ludlow Mund. Great Wenlock Mund. Oswestree Mund. Ellismeer Tue. Shipton Tue. Drayton Wedn. Wem Thu. Wellington Thu. Stretton Thu. Whitechurch Frid. Bishops Castle Frid. Clebury Among which Ludlow seated in the South Parts of the County upon the Banks of the Teme is the most considerable The Town is large and populous beautified with many fair Edifices It is also defended by a Wall and a Castle both built by Earl Roger of Montgomery But it is of chief note for being the Place where the Court for the Marshes of Wales were kept first ordained by King Henry VIII for the Trial of Causes but suppressed in the late Session of Parliament Bridgenorth or the Borough of Bruges is situate upon the Severn over which there 's a fair Stone-bridge 'T is a good large Town divided into two Parts the one called the Upper the other the Lower Town containing two Parish Churches In former time fortified with Walls a Ditch and a stately Castle seated on a Rock now decay'd Drayton on the River Terne where it severs this County from Staffordshire is a Place of some note for a Battel there fought betwixt the Houses of York and Lancaster Newport lies South of Drayton on a Plain or Flat adjoyning to Staffordshire Great Wenlock in the Road from Worcester to Shrewsbury Bishops Castle in the South Parts not far from the River Clun Wem on the Roden in the North Parts of the County noted for the Title of Baron it lately gave to the Lord Chancellour Jeffreys Oswestree and Ellismore near the Borders of Wales Whitechurch on the Confines of the County near Cheshire At Wenlock in the Time of Richard the Second was found a rich Copper Mine And at Pitchford in this County is a Well or Spring in a private Man's Yard wherein flow's a thick Scum of liquid Bitumen which being cleared and taken off one day will have the like upon it again the next Alderbury though no Market-Town is famed for being the Birth-place of old Thomas Parre who lived to a great Age and about two years before he died was brought up to London to King Charles I. Where he died and lies buried in Westminster Abbey He was born Anno 1483 died in the Year 1635 lived 152 Years and saw ten âeigns Lastly this County which formerly was Part of the Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants part of the Cornavii as the Romans called them stands now divided betwixt the Dioceses of Lichfield and Hereford Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire ten Members of Parliament Viz. two out of each of these following Towns Shrewsbury Ludlow Great Wenlock Bridgenorth and Bishops-Castle Somersetshire SOMERSETSHIRE a large Maritime County in the West of England is so called from Somerton once the most famous and most considerable Town in all the County and now but a small Market-Town of little or no credit 'T is bounded on the East by Wiltshire and part of Devonshire on the West by Devonshire Northward by the Severn Sea and part of Glocestershire Southward by the Counties of Devon and Dorset It s Length from East to West is about 55 miles its Breadth from North to South 40. The Whole divided into 42 Hundreds wherein 385 Parishes and 30 Market-Towns The Air of this County in the Summer Season is very agreeable but in Winter-time 't is apt to be too moist and foggy Accordingly the Soil in Winter is wet miry and moorish especially in the midst of the Country which makes the Roads very uneasy to Travellers But in Summer there is no pleasanter Country being garnished as it is with rich Pastures and delightful Meadows Which has given occasion to an usual Proverb here
as you may see in Essex and 12 from thence to Ipswich This is one of the best and most thriving Towns in England seated in the South-East Parts of the County on the Banks of the Orwell about 20 miles from its fall into the Sea A Place of great Antiquity formerly walled about by a Rampire of Earth which in the Year 991 was thrown down by the Danes who grievously harassed these Parts and some years after came with such a fury that they left scarce any thing of Ipswich but the Ruins of its Buildings But that Storm being over it began in the Normans Time to recover it self So that at this present whether we consider its Extent Populousness or Trade it yields to very few Cities in England It reaches a mile in length and above a mile in breath with no less than 12 Parish Churches which shews its Populousness Within that Compass are several fair Buildings both publick and private and among those the Place of Judicature a free School with the Conveniency of a good Library and for the Relief of the Poor an Hospital And as for Cleanliness 't is counted next to Bristol one of the cleanliest Towns in England It s chief Trade consists in the Manufacture of Cloth both Linnen and Woollen besides Fishing and Ship-building For Provisions c. it has 3 Markets a Week Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays And to conclude it is of some note for being the Birth-place of Cardinal Wolsey who began here to build a stately Colledge bearing his Name to this day The same gives the Title of Viscount to his Grace the Duke of Grafton The other Market-Towns are Orford Mun. Hadleigh Mun. Lavenham Tue. Mendlesham Tue. Halesworth Tue. Bury Wedn. Iestoft Wedn. Woodbridge Wedn. Haveril Wedn. Bilston Wedn. Needham Wedn. Stow. Market Thu. Tansdale Thu. Saxmundsham Thu. Swold Thu. Buddesdale Thu. Bungay Thu. Newmarket Thu. Iksworth Frid. Mildenhall Frid. Clare Frid. Neyland Frid. Debenham Frid. Dunwich Sat. Eye Sat. Sudbury Sat. Framlingham Sat. Beckles Sat. Alborough Sat. Among which Bury or S. Edmunds Bury is the most remarkable being so called from King Edmund the Martyr here interred Who for not renouncing the Christian Faith was shot to death at Hoxon by the Danes and his Body stuck by degrees with Arrows In this Town was erected the first Christian Church by Sigebert King of the East-Angles in which King Edmund was buried And in Memory of him here was erected a most stately Abbey of which and the Town it self take this Description from an ancient Author The Sun says he has not seen a Town more finely or delicately seated upon the East Ascent of a Hill with a River running on the East side Nor a more stately Abbey incomparable either for Magnificence or Revenues in whose prospect appeareth rather a City than a Monastery So many Gates it has for entrance and many of them Brass so many Towers and above all a most glorious Chuch Upon which attend three others standing all in the same Church-yard all of them very fine and of curious Artifice The Town at present do's consist of two Parish-Churches the Houses pretty well built the Market-hill Fair-stead and Corn-Cross spacious and handsom And for what remains of the Abbey it self in whose Yard stands an old Shire-House 't is far more majestick than any other Ruins of its kind The Market is of special note for the extraordinary Quantities of Corn brought to it for which 't is usually the Standard of the Country Lastly not far from this Town was that great Battel fought against King Henry the Second where this King had the good fortune to overthrow Robert Earl of Leicester with his Rabble of Flemings who joyned with the rebellious Son of King Henry the Earl himself and his Wife being taken Prisoners Stow-Market and Needham are both seated upon the Orwell The first as it were in the Center of the County having a fair Prospect down the River Eastward 'T is a large and beautifull Town graced with a spacious Church and its Steeple adorned with a huge and lofty Pinnacle not easy to be parallelled The grand Trade of this Town is in Tammeys and other Norwich Stuffs this being the only Town in Suffolk considerable for such Things Needham an ominous Name drives still a Trade but less than formerly in the Suffolk blue and broad Cloths for Russia Turky and orher Countries Which creates spinning Work for the poorer sort of Women whilst others get a Livelyhood by making of Bone-lace Debenham and Woodbridge are on the River Deben The last a large Town seated on the East-side of a sandy Hill watered with several Streams and having a pleasant Prospect down the River Deben which about 12 miles lower discharges it self into the Sea Here is a fair Church with several Monuments in it In the midst of its Market-Place is also a fair Pile of brick in a Chamber whereof are held the Quarter-Sessions for the Liberty of S. Ethelred and Audry The Market well traded unto especially for Hemp. In this Town are four or five good Docks for building of Ships most of 'em well imploy'd and noted among Seamen for good Workmanship The Inhabitants for their part drive a considerable Trade by Sea for which they are furnished with several Ships of burden And the principal Commodities they deal in are Butter Cheese Pouldavis Sackcloth Planks c. besides their refining of Salt Orford a few miles East and by South from Woodbridge is seated between the River Ore on the East and a smaller Stream on the West within two miles from the Sea Here is a Church well mounted but unsightly within and hard by it the Ruins of a high close-built Castle Which together with the Church-Steeple are good Directions to Seamen as the Light-house at the Ness is by night In the Reign of Henry the Second say's Sir Richard Baker there was taken near Orford a Fish in the Shape of a Man which was kept in the Castle above 6 months This Fish eat all manner of Meat but delighted chiefly in Fish An Author that comments upon it says very seriously that he spoke not one Word and Reason good for it was a Fish and that the People brought him sometimes to Church but he never shewed any Sign of Adoration which is no wonder of a Fish At length for want of looking to this Man-Fish stole into the Sea and was never more seen because I guess the Water was his Element But here is something more admirable On the narrow stony Beach that shoots Southerly betwixt the Town and the Sea 't is said that in the Year 1555 when there was a great Dearth there sprang up among the Meer-shingle such Quantities of Pease that the People gathered of 'em above 100 Quarters which both abated the price of Corn and preserved many from famishing And at the South Point of it there still comes up yearly certain course gray Pease and good Coleworts out of the Stone-heaps Alborough
Ships Horsham a large Borough-Town is situate near S. Leonards Forest It s Market is good for all sorts of Provisions but Fowl especially most of which is bought up by the London Hagglers East-Greenstead near Surrey and not far from Ashdown Forest is a goodly Town graced with a fair Church and the Place where the Assizes are sometimes kept Called East-Greenstead in opposition to another lying West-South-West from it and therefore called West-Greenstead Petworth but a small Town is finely seated near two Parks and not far from the River Arun. Of chief note for its noble House formerly belonging to the Earls of Northumberland and now by Marriage to the Duke of Somerset Arundel stands in a Dale or Valley on the Western Banks of the River Arun from whence it is called Arundel by contraction from Arundale Over the River it has a Wooden Bridge and from the Sea 't is but a small distance This is an ancient Town noted for its Castle once of great fame and strength but far more famous for the Lords and Earls thereof than either for its strength or beauty A Place in this far different from the rest of England the Title of Earl of Arundel being annexed to the Castle and its Lordship and going along with the possession of it Witness the Judgment given in that great Controversy between Sr. John Fiâz-Allen being in possession of the Castle against John Mowbray Duke of Norfolk being the right Heir in the nearest degree Thus it passed through several hands viz. the Montgomery's the Albeneys and the Fitz-Allens till Anno 1604 both Castle and Title came to the possession of Thomas-Howard Earl of Arundel and Surrey and Earl Marshal of England From whom is descended in a right Line the present Duke of Norfolk Earl of Arundel c. Rye a Member of the Cinque-Ports stands on the edge of the County towards Kent and at the very fall of the Rother into the Sea where it has a commodious Haven 'T is not a Town of any beauty But as it stands convenient for a ready Passage over Sea to Normandy and particularly to Diepe it is upon that account much frequented in Time of Peace Its Inhabitants are for the most part Fishermen who fish here excellent Herrings Winchelsey stands near the Place where stood another of that Name which in the Year 1250 was swallowed up by the raging Sea being a large strong and beautiful Place in which were numbered 18 Parish Churches Whereas the present Winchelsey consists but of one Parish and that going still to decay insomuch that its Markets are in a manner disused 'T is seated upon an Inlet of the Sea in the Neighbourhood of Rye But its Haven long since so choakt up that the Town suffers much by it Rye having got the advantage of it However it is still a Member of the Cinque-Ports and what it lost in Wealth it has got in Honour being advanced to the Reputation of an Earldom first in the person of Finch Viscount Maidstone created Earl of Winchelsey by King Charles I Anno 1628. The Title from him devolved to his Son Thomas after him to Heneage the late Earl and lately to his Son and Heir the Right Honourable Thomas Finch the present Earl of Winchelsey Battel is seated in a dirty part of the Country some miles West from Winchelsey A noted Place for the Battel fought here Oct. 14. 1066. betwixt King Harold II. and William the Conquerour where Harold lost his Life and William obtained the Crown of England After which the Conquerour built an Abbey here called Battel-Abbey Hastings one of the Cinque-Ports is a Town of good note and antiquity It has two Streets extending from North to South and in each Street a Parish-Church It s Haven is fed by a small River and had once for its Defence a strong Castle seated on a Hill which as ruinous as it is serves in the Night as a Direction to Sailers by the Lights that are there placed But besides the said Market-Towns which are the most considerable Pevensey and Bramber ought to find a place here as giving the Denomination to two of the six Rapes The first commonly pronounced for shortness sake Pensey is the very Harbour where William the Conquerour landed from Normandy with 896 Ships such as they were in those Times Buckhurst a Town in the North-East Parts of this County is of some Note for giving the Title of Earon to the Earl of Dorset To conclude this County now being in the Diocese of Chichester made up with Surrey the Kingdom of the South-Saxons and its Inhabitants were part of the Regni as the Romans called them Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire 24 Members of Parliament Viz. two out of each of these following Towns Chichester Horsham Midhurst Lewes New Shoreham Bramber Skeyning East-Greenstead Arundel besides these three Cinque-Port Towns Hastings Winchelsey and Seaford As for honourary Titles it has been for several Ages dignify'd with that of an Earldom 1. in the House of Albeneys 2. in two Plantagenets 3. in six Ratcliffs 4. in two Savils and now in the Right Honourable Thomas Leonard who upon his Marriage with Anne Fils-Roy eldest Daughter to the Dutchess of Cleveland was by King Charles II. created Earl of Sussex Anno 1674. CHAP. XVI Of Warwickshire Westmorland and Wiltshire Warwickshire WARWICKSHIRE an Inland County is bounded on the East by the Counties of Leicester and Northampton on the West by Worcestershire on the North by Staffordshire on the South by the Counties of Oxford Glocester and Worcester It s Length from North to South is something less than 40 miles its Breadth from East to West about 30. The Whole divided into sive Hundreds wherein 158 Parishes and 15 Market-Towns Here both the Air is wholsom and the Soil rich especially the South Parts of it called Feldon Which affords rich Meadows feeds store of Sheep and Cattle and is exceeding grateful to the Husbandman in its Crops of Corn. The North Parts formerly called Arden and since Woodland from its great plenty of Woods though at this time much wasted by reason of its Iron Mines are not altogether sofruitful as the Southern Parts It is generally well watered with fresh Streams the principal of which is the Avon which with many windings and turnings runneth through the Country and falls at last into the Severn Warwick the Shire-Town from whence the County took its Name bears from London North-West and is distant therefrom 70 miles thus From London to Buckingham 44 miles as you may see in Buckinghamshire from thence to Banbury 10 to Kyneâon 8 more and to Warwick 8 more 'T is seated on the Banks of the River Avon over which it has a well compact Stone-Bridge A Town adorned with very fair Houses spacious and well ordered Streets with a fine Market-house of free-Stone sustained by several Pillars It contains two fair Parish-Churches of which S. Maries is the chief Here is also
And of all the Cities of Europe none can so justly challenge the Preeminency in this Point as London the Metropolis of England being not only perhaps the most ancient but also the wealthiest and reckoning all its Annexes the greatest City now extant in Europe Such a City as contains above 600 Streets Lanes Courts and Alleys and in them all by a late Computation at least a hundred thousand Houses So that allowing only 8 Persons to each House one with another which I think is moderate the Number of the Inhabitants will amount at that rate to above eight hundred thousand Souls Befides a World of Seamen that live and swarm in that constant tho' moving Forest of Ships down the River on the East side of the Bridge The Dwelling Houses raised since the Fire are generally very fair and built much more convenient and uniform than heretofore Before the Fire they were most Timber Houses built with little regard to Uniformity but since the Fire Building of Bricks has been the general Way and that with so much Art and Skill in Architecture that I have often wondered to see in well-compact Houses so many Conveniences in a small compass of Ground In short our English Builders have built so much of late Years that no Nation perhaps at this time can vy with them for making much of any Ground tho' never so little and contriving all the Parts of it to the best advantage in the neatest and most regular way with all the Conveniences the Ground can possibly afford And that which adds much to the Neatness of the late Buildings is the Wainscot now so much in use Which as it is the cleanest Furniture so it is the most durable and indeed the most proper for so moist a Country If we come to Stateliness I confess the Noblemens Houses at Paris being built of free Stone as most of that City are with large Courts before 'em for the Reception of Coaches make a fine outward Appearance But for uniformity state and magnificence we have some here and chiefly Montague-House that exceed by far most of ' em As for great Merchants Houses and fair Taverns scarce any City surpasseth London in this particular For publick Buildings as Halls Inns of Court Exchanges Market-Places Hospitals Colledges Churches besides the Bridge upon the River the Monument Custom-House and the Tower they are Things worth any Strangers Curiosity to view at least a good part of them Most of which have indeed the disadvantage of being built backward and out of the way to make room for Tradesmens Shops in the Streets Whereas if they had been all built towards the Street as generally they are in other Countries few Cities could make so great an Appearance But for stately strait and spacious Streets to pass by many curious Courts where shall one see finer than Cheapside Cornhill âombard-Street Fleet-Street Hatton Garden Pallnall and several others especially near the Court What forein City can shew so many Piazzas or fine Squares such as Lincolns-Inn-Fields Lincolns-Inn-Square Grays-Inn Red Lion and Southampton-Squares the Golden Square King 's Square in Sohoe S. James's Square Leicester-Fields and Covent-Garden The first of which is chiefly noted for its Spaciousness and King 's Square for its Stateliness Lastly when I reflect upon that disinal Fire which in three Days time consumed above thirteen thousand Houses besides 89 Parish Churches the vast Cathedral of S. Paul divers Chappels Halls Colledges Schools and other publick Edifices it is a matter of amazement to me to see how soon the English recovered themselves from so great a Desolation and a Loss not to be computed At 3 Years end near upon ten thousand Houses were raised up again from their Ashes with great Improvements And by that time the fit of Building grew so strong that besides a full and glorious Restauration of a City that a raging Fire had lately buried in its Ashes the Suburbs have been increased to that degree that to speak modestly as many more Houses have been added to it with all the Advantages that able and skilfull Builders could invent both for Conveniency and Beauty But it is time to come to Particulars The City properly so called is begirt with a Wall which gives entrance at seven principal Gates besides Posterns of later erection Viz. on the West-side Ludgate and Newgate both which serve for Prisons the first for such Debtors as are Freemen of the City the other for Malefactors both of the City and Country and is besides the County Goaâ for Debt Northwards those of Aldersgate Cripglegate Moorgate and Bishopsgate And Eastward Aldgate Within the Compass of the Walls there are reckoned 97 Parishes and in relation to the Civil Government the City within the Walls and Freedom is divided into 26 Wards or Aldermanries of which more hereafter As to the publick Buildings here I shall begin with the Tower a Fort upon the Thames which commands both the City and River Called the Tower from the great white Tower in the middle which gives Name to the Whole 'T is all surrounded with a Wall and Ditch about a mile in compass with Cannon planted on the Walls and the Turrets thereof But it is besides the principal Store-house of England for Arms and Ammunition such as is said to contain Arms for about 60000 Men. Here are also kept the Jewels and Ornaments of the Crown and the ancient Records of the Nation As among others the Original of all the Laws that have been enacted or recorded till the Reign of Richard II. The Grants of several Kings to their Subjects at home and abroad and the Confirmations thereof The several Treaties and Leagues with forein Princes The Dominion of the British Seas The Title of the Kings of England to the Kingdom of France and how obtained All the Atchievements of this Nation in France and other forein Parts The Homage and Dependency of Scotland upon England The Establishment of Ireland in Laws and Dominions These and many other Records are reposited in Wakefield Tower near the Traytors Gate under the Custody of an Officer called the Keeper of the Records and whose Salary is 500 l. per Annum This Place is properly in the Master of the Rolls his Gift Every day of the Week except Sundays Holy-Days publick Fasting and Thanksgiving-Days and Times of great Pestilence they that have occasion to look into the Records have admittance In the Morning from 7 to 11 a clock and in the Afternoon from one till five Except in the Months of December January and February where Attendance is not given till 8 in the Morning and in the Afternoon not beyond 4 a clock In the Tower is the only Mint of England for Coyning of Gold and Silver To which belong several Offices which I intend to muster in my second Part where I shall speak of the English Coyns Lastly the Tower which has been formerly honoured with the Residence of several Kings who kept their Courts here is
now the chief Prison where Persons of quality that are charged with Crimes against the Government are kept in Custody Here are also many Dwelling-Houses foâ the Officers that belong to it either as aâ Arsenal or a Mint c. And as an Arsenal here is kept the Office of his Majesties Oâdinance to be explained in my second Part For the publick Devotion of all the Dwelleââ in the Tower there is within its Walls onâ Parochial Church called S. Petri ad Vinculâ infra Turrim being the Kings Donative without Institution and Induction and exempâ from all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Archbishop The Government of the Tower as it is a Place of great Trust so it has been usually put in the hands of two Persons of great worth the one called Constable and the other Lieutenant of the Tower The Constable has the chief Command and is Lord Lieutenant of the 21 Hamlets belonging to it which ly in several Parishes of large extent Whose Train-bands making two intire Regiments of Foot and above 3000 Men are to attend the Kings Person when commanded but are to march no farther than the King They were sometimes the Gards of the Tower and are bound if occasion be to reinforce the Garrison upon the Constable's Command Who by his Place is to be in the Commission of the Peace for the City of London and the Counties of Middlesex Kent and Surrey And so is the Lieutenant who is subordinate to the Constable for the time being but in his absence commands with the full Power of both His Salary is 200 l. per annum with all the Fees and Perquisites which are very considerable both from the Prisoners that happen to be in the Tower and from the Warders Places which are all at his Disposal Under the Command of the Constable and the Lieutenant of the Tower in his absence are the Gentleman Porter the 24 âeomen Warders and the Gunners of the Tower The Gentleman Porter who holds his Place by Patent has the Charge of the Gates The Keys whereof he is every night to deliver to the Constable and in his absence to the Lieutenant and to receive them of him the next morning He commands the Warders that are upon duty and claims for his Fee at the entrance of a Prisoner his Upper Garment or else a Composition for the same The Warders are accounted the King's Domestick Servants and sworn accordingly by the Lord High Chamberlain or by the Clerk of the Check Their Duty is to wait at the Gates and by the Lieutenant of the Tower's appointment to attend Prisoners of State which is the most profitable and beneficial part of their Station At the Gates they examine every Stranger that offers to go in and before admittance according to the Rules of Military Discipline those that âear Swords must leave 'em in their hands âill they go out Ten of them are usually upon the Days Wait and two upon the Watch âvery night The Gunners are to look after the Ordâance mounted on the Batteries and Lines ând ready for Service on the shortest Warning One or more of them are upon Duty âay and night to wait for Orders For the Liberty of the Tower to which âas been annexed the old Artillery Garden ây Spittle-Fields and the little Minories here is an ancient Court of Record held by a Steward every Monday by Prescription for Debts Trespasses c. And in the said Liberty the Gentleman Porter has the same Power and Authority as Sheriffs have within their respective Counties He constitutes Bayliffs thereof to execute all Process and Warrants directed to them by the Steward of the Court and has all Escheats Deodands and Goods of all Felones deâse For Ecclesiastical Causes and Probate of Wills the Tower and Liberties thereof have a Royal Jurisdiction From which there is no Appeal but to the King in his Court of Chancery who thereupon issues out a Commission under the Great Seal as in Appeals from the Arches or Prerogative Courts But whether the Tower be in the County that is under the Jurisdiction of Middlesex or in the Liberty of the City 't is undetermined to this day Some will have it to be part of it in Middlesex and part in the Liberty of the City And in the Case of Sir Thomas Overbury's Murder the Judges Opinion was that the Trial must be made in the City the Fact being done in that Part of the Tower held to be in the City Liberties Next to the Tower I come to the Custom House placed between the Tower and thâ Bridge Which having been destroy'd by the Fire in the Year 1666 was soon afteâ rebuilt much more commodious uniform anâ magnificent and the Building cost the Kinâ 10000 pounds Here are received and managed all the Impositions laid upon Merchandise Imported and Exported from this City Which are so considerable that of all the Customs of England divided into 3 Parts the Port of London pay's two Thirds that is when Trade flourishes about 400000 l. yearly In this Office are imploy'd a great Number of Officers an Account whereof you will find in my Second Part where I speak of the King's Revenues The Bridge of London offers it self in the next place to our Consideration Which considering the constant great Flux and Reflux at that Place was certainly a very difficult and costly piece of Work It consists of 19 Arches at 20 foot distance of each other with a Draw-bridge almost in the middle 'T is about 800 foot long and 30 broad Set out with a fine Row of Houses all along with Shops furnished with most sorts of Commodities So that it looks more like a Street than a Bridge the Street being widened in the late Reign from 12 to 20 foot It was built in the year 1200 in the Reign of King John And so great are the Charges of keeping it in repair that there is a large Revenue in Lands and Houses set apart for that purpose and two Bridge-Masters besides other Officers chosen out of the Liverv-men on Midsummer-Day to look after the same Near this Bridge is the fatal Place where the dreadful Fire afore-mentioned first began In perpetualâ Memory whereof was erected by virtue of an Act of Parliament that âaster-piece of Building called the Monument begun Anno 1671 in the Mayoralty of Sir Richard Forde Knight and finished Anno 1677 Sir Thomas Davies being Lord Mayor of London This Pillar not unlike those two ancient white Marble Pillars at Rome erected in honour of the Emperours Trajan and Antonius is all built of Portland Stone as durable almost as Marble and is of the Dorick Order 202 foot high and 15 foot Diameter Within-side is a fair winding Stair-case with Iron rails up to the top where this stately Pile is surrounded with an Iron-Balcony yielding a pleasant Prospect all over the City The Pedestal is 40 foot high and 21 foot Square the Front of it adorned with ingenious Emblems and the North and
South-sides with these two Latine Inscriptions Anno Christi MDCLXVI Die IV. Nonis Septembris hinc in Orientem pedum CCII. Intervallo quae est hujusce Columnae Altitudo erupit de medià Nocte Incendium quod Vento spirante hausit etià m longinqua Partes per omnes populabundum ferebatur cum impetu fragore incredibili XXCIX Templa Portas Pratorium Aedes publicas Ptocotrophia Scholas Bibliothecas Insularum magnum Numerum Dâmuum âOOOOOOCC Vicos CD absumpsit De XXVI Regionibus XV funditus delevit alias VIII laceras semiustas reliquit Vrbis Cadaver ad CDXXXVI Jugera Hinc ab Arce per Thamisis Ripam ad Templariorum Fanum Illinc ab Euro Aquilonali Portâ secundum Muros ad Fossae Fletanae Caput perrexit adversus Opes Civium Fortunas infestum erga Viros innocuum ut per omnia referret supremam illaâ Mundi Exustionem Velox Clades fuiâ exiguum Tempus eandem vidit Civitatem florentissâ mam nullam Tertio die cum jam evicerat humana Consilia Subsidia omnia Coelitus ut par est credere jussus steâit fatalis Ignis quaquaversum clanguit The same thus Englished by Dr. Chamberlain In the Year of Christ 1666 the second Day of September Eastward from hence at the Distance of Two hundred and two foot the height of this Column a terrible Fire broke out about Midnight which driven on by a high Wind not only wasted the adjacent Parts but also very remote Places with incredible noise and fury It consumed eighty nine Churches the City-Gates Guildhall many publick Structures Hospitals Schools Libraries a vast Number of stately Edifices Thirteen thousand two hundred Dwelling-houses four hundred Streets Of the six and twenty Wards it utterly destroy'd fifteen and left eight others shattered and half-burnt The Ruins of the City were four hundred thirty six Acres from the Tower by the Thames-side to the Temple-Church and from the North-East Gate along the City-Wall to Holborn-Bridge To the Estates and Fortunes of the Citizens it was merciless but to their Lives very favourable that it might in all things resemble the last Conflagration of the World The Destruction was sudden for in a small space of time the same City was seen most flourishing and reduced to nothing Three days after when this fatal Fire had baffled all humane Counsels and Indeavours in the Opinion of all it stopt as it were by a Command from Heaven and was on every side extinguished The other Inscription runs thus on the other side Carolus II. C. Mart. F. Mag. Brit. Fran. Hib. Rex Fid. D. Princeps Clementissimus miseratus luctuosam Rerum faciem plurima fumantibus jam tum Ruinis in Solatium Civium Vrbis suae Ornamentum providit Tributum remisit Preces Ordinis Populi Londinensis retulit ad Regni Senatum qui continuo decrevit ut publica Opera Pecunia publicâ ex Veâtigali Carbonis fossilis oriunda in meliorem formam restituerentur utique Aedes Sacrae D. Pauli Templum a Fundamentis omni Magnificentia extruerentur Pontes Portae Carceres novi fierent emundarentur Alvei Vici ad regulam responderent Clivi complanarentur aperirentur Angiportus Fora Macella in Areas sepositas eliminarentur Censuit etiam uti singulae Domus Maris intergerinis concluderentur universae in frontem pari altitudine consurgerent omnesque Parietes Saxo quadrato aut cocto latere solidarentur utique nemini liceret ultra Septennium adificando immorari Ad haec Lites de Terminis orituras Iege lata proescidit adjecit quoque Supplicationes annuas ad aeternam Postererum Memoriam H. C. P. C. Festinatur undique Resurgit Londinum majori celeritate an splendore incertum unum Triennium absolvit quod Saeculi Opus credebatur In English thus Charles II. Son of Charles the Martyr King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith a most gracious Prince Commiserating the deplorable state of Things whilst the Ruins were yet smoaking provided for the Comfort of his Citizens and the Ornament of his City Remitted their Taxes and referred the Petitions of the Magistrates and Inhabitants to the Parliament who immediately passed an Act that publick Works should be restored to greater Beauty with publick Mony to be raised by an Imposition on Coals That Churches and the Cathedral of S. Paul's should be Rebuilt from their Foundations with all Magnificence That Bridges Gates and Prisons should be new made the Sewers cleansed the Streets made strait and regular such as were steep levelled and those too narrow made wider Markets and Shambles removed to separate Places They also Enacted that every House should be built with Party Walls and all in Front raised of equal height and those Walls all of square Stone or Brick and that no man should delay Building beyond the space of seven Years Moreover Care was taken by Law to prevent all Suits about their Bounds Also anniversary Prayers were injoyned and to perpetuate the Memory hereof to Posterity they caused this Column to be erected The Work was carried on with diligence and London is restored but whether with greater speed or beauty may be made a question At three years time the World sees that finished which was supposed to be the Business of an Age. From the Monument I come now to the Royal Exchange the finest Building of this kind in Europe First erected in the year 1566 just one hundred years before it was burnt at the Cost and Chargers of a noble Merchant Sir Thomas Gresham and by the special Command of Queen Elizabeth proclaimed in a solemn manner by the Name of the Royal-Exchange But then it was built most of Brick and now all of free-stone within and without with admirable Architecture The same is Quadrangular with a stately Front to it and a high Turret at the top with a Chime of 12 Bells Within is a large Court wherein the Merchants meet daily about one a Clock and all round it fine arched Galleries or Walks for a Shelter in case of Rain or hot Sun-shiny Weather In the middle of the Court stands a fine Statue of white Marble upon a Pedestal 7 foot high 'T is the Statue of King Charles II done with great beauty and spirit in the ancient Habit of the Roman Caesars with a Wreath of Laurel on his Head The Work of Mr. Gibbons a most skilfull Artist at the charge of the Merchant Adventurers of England But the greatest Ornament of this Place is in the Niches above where the Kings of England from William the Conquerour are now partly set up till the rest can be finished Above Stairs is the Exchange chiefly for wearing Apparel It consists of almost 200 Shops where the richest sort of Commodities are sold both for Use and Ornament The whole Fabrick cost above 50000 l. whereof one half being disbursed by the Chamber of London and the other by the Company of Mercers they now reimburse themselves by the
Civil Affairs by a MAYOR with the Title of Lord prefixt given to no Mayor in England but that of London and of late to the Mayor of York In the Time of the Romans he was called Prefect of London in the Saxons time Port-greeve and sometimes Provost of London and after the Coming in of the Normans Bayliff 'T was King Richard I who in the Year 1189 being the first of his Reign changed the Name of Bayliff into that of Mayor a French Word originally which has continued ever since This great and mighty Magistrate is yearly chosen by the Citizens upon Michaelmas Day the 29th of September The Body out of which he is chosen are the 26 Aldermen all Persons of great Wealth and Wisdom at least ought so to be Those that chuse him are first the Livory-men or Members of the several Companies of Tradesmen within the City and at last the Aldermen which is done in this manner First the Livery-Men do usually put up four Candidates out of which they chuse two by the Plurality of Voices and out of these two the Court of Aldermen select whom they think fit And though they be free in their Choice yet commonly they have a regard for the Senior Alderman that has not been Lord Mayor and give him the Precedence The Mayor Elect being Proclaimed is sworn first at Guildhall and afterwards at Westminster There he swears to maintain the Priviledges of the People and here to be True to the King The Installation-Day is the 29th of October a Month after the Election The Solemnity of which Day upon his Account is so great that no Magistrate in Europe appears with so much state and grandure as the Mayor of London upon his Installation First he go's by water to Westminster in his Barge of state accompanied with the Aldermen in all their Formalities with their Scarlet Robes and Chains of gold hanging before their Breasts The Twelve Companies also in their several Barges âet out with their Arms Colours and Screamers on both sides attend him in their furred Gowns In his way he is saluted from the Shore with the noise of great Guns and as he passes by Whitehall the King from thence viewing the Solemnity gives him and his Brethren a Mark of his Respect At last being landed at Westminster Bridge the several Companies march in order to their Hall and after them the Mayor and Aldermen with the Sword and Mace before them the Sword-bearer with his Cap of Maintenance on his head At their Entrance into the Hall the Hall is Intertained with the harmonious Musick of a Set of Hoboys marching in order before them and playing all the Way First they walk round the Hall where they pay their respects to each Court of Judicature and from the Hall they proceed to the Exchequer-Chamber where the New Lord Mayor is Sworn by the Barons This done they walk again in Procession round the Hall to invite the several Judges of each Court to Dinner at Guildhall And after this the whole Procession returns in the same manner by Water to Black-Friars From whence the Lord Mayor and Aldermen make their Cavalcade to Guildhall all mounted upon Horses richly Caparisoned the Livery-Men marching before in good order And now the Artillery men make their best appearance with their Buff-coats and Head-pieces But the most diverting Sight is that of the Pageants here and there in motion to divert the Spectators At last a most splendid Dinner to which besides the Judges many of the great Lords and Ladies the Privy Counsellours the forein Embassadors and oftentimes the King and Queen are invited concludes the Solemnity Such is the Magnificence of the Lord Mayor of London though always a Citizen and Tradesman being a Member of one of the 12 Companies Who for his great Dignity is usually Knighted by the King before the Year of his Mayoralty be expired unless he had received that Honour before whilst he was an Alderman as of late has been âshal His Authority reaches not only all over this great City and part of the Suburbs except some particular Places but also on the Thames as far as the Mouth of it and Westward as far as Stanes-Bridge And so great is his Power that he may cause any Person inhabiting within London or the Liberties thereof to be Summoned to appear before him upon the Complaint of any Citizen and for Non-appearance may grant his Warrant to bring such Person before him For he has Power to determine Differences between Party and Party His Attendance whilst he is a Mayor is very considerable For besides his proper Servants first he has four principal Officers that wait on him as Lord Mayor who are reputed Esquires by their Places And those are the Sword-bearer the Common Hunt the Common Crier and the Water-Bayliff whose Places are very advantageous and purchased when vacant at a great rate from the Lord Mayor for the time being Besides them there is the Coroner 3 Sergeants Carvers 3 Sergeants of the Chamber 1 Sergeant of the Channel 4 Yeomen of the Waterside 1 Vnder Water-Bayliff 2 Yeomen of the Chamber 3 Meal-Weighers 2 Yeomen of the Wood-Wharf and several others Most of which have Servants allowed them with Livories Among which the Sword-bearer has a 1000 l. a Year allowed him for his Table in the Lord Mayor's House When he appears abroad on horseback which is his usual Appearance 't is with rich Caparison and always in long Robes sometimes of fine Scarlet-Cloth richly furred sometimes Purple and sometimes Puke with a black Velvet Hood over his Robes and a great Chain of Gold with a rich Jewel to it hanging from his Neck downwards Attended by several Officers walking before and on both sides of him He keeps an open Table all the Year to all Comers of any quality and so well furnished that it is always fit to receive the greatest Subject of England or of any other Potentate He has a Priviledge to hunt not only in Middlesex but also in Essex and Surrey and for this purpose has a Kennel of Hounds always maintained On the King's Coronation-Day he claims to be the chief Butler and bears the King's Cup among the highest Nobles of the Kingdom which serve on that Day in other Offices And upon the King's Death he is said to be the prime Person of England Therefore when King James I was invited to come and take the Crown of England Robert Lee then Mayor of London subscribed in the first place before all the Officers of the Crown and all the Nobility One Thing is observable which hapned not long since I mean four Mayors the City had in little more than half a Year viz. Sir John Shorter Sir John Eyles Sir John Chapman and Sir Thomas Pilkington For upon the Death of the first in September 1688 Sir John Eyles was made Lord Mayor and in October following the Charter being restored Sir John Chapman was chosen Lord Mayor Who dying in March following
the Night at Sun-set which is according to the old Babylonian Account The Old Style is used in England as in most Protestant States and the New Style in all Popish States According to this Style these reckon ten Days before us regularly as to the beginning of Months and all fixt Festivals but for all moveable Feasts the Account proves various The Old Style is otherwise called the Julian Account from Julius Caesar who 43 Years before our Saviours Birth ordained the Year to consist of 365 Days and 6 âours And as these 6 hours at 4 Years end make up 24 hours therefore a Day is then added to the Month of February and that Year called Leap Year or Bissextile Year from the Latine Bissextilis The New Style is otherwise termed the Gregorian Account from Pope Gregory XIII who above 100 Years ago undertook to correct the Calendar by the advice and direction of Antonius Lilius and other excellent Mathematicians For tho the Julian Account for many Ages seemed to have no sensible Errour yet it was at last discovered to be not altogether agreeable with the natural Motion of the Sun In short it was made out that the Julian Year exceeded the true Solar Year by 10 Minutes and 48 Seconds whereby the Equinoxes and Solstices yearly changed their places and flew back so many minutes and seconds Therefore Pope Gregory ordered the Year to consist of 365 Days 5 hours 49 minutes 12 seconds And that the Vernal Equinox which then was on the 11th of March might be reduced to the 21th as it was at the time of the first Nicene Council he commanded ten Days in October to be left out by calling the fifth Day thereof the fifteenth To find Easter the Church of England observes still the Cycle found out and finished in the sixth Century by that worthy Roman Dionysius Exiguus or Abas Whereas the Roman Church having invented new Rules about Easter it happens sometimes that their Easter is full five Weeks before ours sometimes with but never after ours CHAP. III. Of the English Way of Living as to Lodging Fewel Food Raiment Exercise Recreations and some particular Customs WHen I compare the Modern English Way of Building with the Old Way I cannot but wonder at the Genius of old Times Nothing is more delightful and convenient than Light nothing more agreeable to health than a free Air. And yet of old they used to dwell in Houses most with a blind Stair-case low Cielings and dark Windows the Rooms built at random often with Steps from one to another So that one would think the Men of former Ages were afraid of Light and good Air or loved to play at Hide and Seek Whereas the Genius of our time is altogether for lightsom Stair-Cases fine Sash-Windows and lofty Cielings And such has been of late our Builders Industry in point of Compactness and Uniformity that a House after the new Way will afford upon the same Quantity of Ground as many more Conveniences The Contrivance of Closets in most Rooms and the painted Wainscotting now so much used are also two great Improvements the one for Conveniency the other for Cleanness and Health And indeed for so damp a Country as England is nothing could be better contrived than Wainscot to keep off the ill Impression of damp Walls In short for handsom Accommodations and Neatness of Lodgings London undoubtedly has got the preeminence The greatest Objection against the London-Houses being for the most part Brick is their Slightness occasioned by the Fines exacted by the Landlords So that few Houses at the common rate of Building last longer than the Ground-Lease that is about 50 or 60 Years In the mean time if there happens to be a long fit of excessive Heat in Summer or Cold in Winter the Walls being but thin become at last so penetrated with the Air that the Tenant must needs be uneasy with it But those Extreams happen but seldom And this Way of Building is wonderful beneficial to all Trades relating to it for they never want Work in so great a City where Houses here and there are always repairing or building up again The plaistered Cielings so much used in England beyond all other Countries make by their Whiteness the Rooms so much lightsomer and are excellent against a raging Fire They stop the passage of Dust and lessen the Noise over-head In Summer-time the Air of the Room is something the cooler for 't and the warmer in Winter The Use of Stoves so common in Northern Countries as Germany Denmark Sueden Poland and Moscovy and even so far Southward as Swisserland is in a manner unknown in this Country And indeed its Temperateness does no way require it Therefore the English use no outward Remedy against Cold Weather but a Chimney-Fire which is both comfortable to the Body and chearful to the Sight 'T is true there is a double Conveniency in Stoves First in point of Savingness for once heating of a Stove in the Morning keeps the Room warm a whole Day Secondly in Point of Warmth the Room being so warm with it that all Places in it feel the benefit thereof But those two Conveniences are more than over-ballanced by one Inconveniency viz. the aptness of Stoves to gather and foment all the noisom Smells of a Room for want of Vent which must needs be very unwholsom whereas a Chimney-fire draws 'em to it and there they find vent with the Smoak To that Inconveniency we may add the chilling Impressions of a cold and sharp Air upon ones coming into it out of so warm a Room as commonly Stove-rooms are Besides the Cumbersomness of Stoves in Summer-time when being altogether useless they take up a great deal of room to no purpose As for Fewel England affords three Sorts Wood Coals and Turves but Coals is the most common in London especially where they have 'em by Sea from Newcastle and Sunderland A lasting sort of Fewel being a mixture of small and round Coals together which by their aptness to cake is the most durable of any and for Kitchin Use far beyond Wood it self as yielding not only a more even but more piercing Heat The Smoak of it is indeed grosser and of a corrosive nature but yet nothing so offensive to the Eye whatever it is to the Lungs as some pretend it to be In many Parts of the Country they have Pit-coals which is a cleaner and more chearful Fewel but not so durable as Sea-coals But the Cheapness of these at London in Time of Peace is worth taking notice where for so small a matter as two or three pence a Day one may keep a constant moderate Fire from Morning till Bed-time Which is a mighty Advantage to so vast and populous a Place especially considering it comes 300 miles by Sea And whatever the Parisians can say to the praise of their Wood-fires I dare say the common sort of People there would be glad could they compass it to change in
Charta the same all over England that is according to the King's Standard kept in the Exchequer by the Clerk or Comptroller of the Market The Weights now used throughout all England are of two sorts the one called Troy-Weight and the other Avoir du pois the first containing 12 Ounces and the other 16 in the Pound But then the Ounce Avoir du pois is lighter than the Ounce Troy by almost a 12th part For whereas in Troy-Weight the Ounce consists of 480 Grains the Ounce Avoir du pois containeth but 438 Grains By the Troy-Weight are weighed Pearls precious-Stones Gold Silver Bread all manner of Corn and Grain and this Weight the Apothecaries do or ought to use By Avoir du pois are weighed all Grocery Ware Flesh Butter Cheese Iron Hemp Flax Tallow Wax Lead Steel and all things whereof comes Waste In consideration whereof 112 Pound Avoir du pois goes to a Hundred-Weight and proportionably 56 pound to half a Hundred and 28 to a Quarter or Tod A Stone amongst London Butchers makes 8 pounds of this Weight but in the Country 't is for the most part 14. In Troy-Weight 20 Grains make a Scruple thus marked â 3 Scruples a Drachm Ê 8 Drachms an Ounce ⥠and 12 Ounces a Pound lb. In Avoir du pois Weight 16 Drachms make an Ounce 16 Ounces a Pound 28 Pound a Quarter 4 Quarters a Hundred and 20 Hundred a Tun. In Troy Weight 24 Grains of Wheat make a Peny-Weight Sterling 20 Peny-Weights an Ounce and 12 Ounces a Pound And when Wheat is at 5 Shillings the Bushel the Peny Wheaten Loaf is then by Statute to weigh 11 Ounces Troy and three half Peny White Loaves to weigh as much But the Houshold Peny-Loaf is to weigh 14 Troy Ounces and two thirds As for the Weight called Venice-Ounce used here as in other Countries by Silk-men there is no Standard of it nor is it allowed by Law This Ounce being but 13 Peny Weight and 12 Grains it falls out that 12 Ounces Venice is but 8 Ounces 4 peny Troy and 9 Ounces Avoir du pois Measares are either Applicative or Receptive that is such as Things are measured by outwardly or inwardly Of the first Sort there is first an Inch or fingers Breadth 4 whereof make a Hand-full and 12 a Foot Now 3 Foot makes a Yard and one Yard and a quarter an Ell. Five Foot makes a Geometrical Pace 6 a Fadom 16 and a half a Perch Pole or Rod. Forty Perches make a Furlong 8 Furlongs or 320 Perches an English Mile and 3 English Miles a French League whereof 3 go to a Degree But this observe by the way that by a Statute under the Reign of Henry VII an English Mile ought to be 1760 Yards or 5280 Foot that is 280 Foot more than the Italian Mile Now an Acre of Land in England consists of 40 Perches in length and 4 in breadth a Yard-Land commonly of 30 Acres and an Hide of Land of 100 Acres The Receptive Measure is two-fold that is either for liquid or dry Things For Liquid as a Pint which is subdivided into lesser Parts as half a Pint a Quartern or quarter of a Pint. Now 2 Pints make a Quart 2 Quarts a Pottle 2 Pottles a Gallon 8 Gallons a Firkin of Ale and 9 a Firkin of Beer Two Firkins of either sort make a Kilderkin and 2 Kilderkins a Barrel But still the Difference in the Number of Gallons as to Beer and Ale ought to be minded and allowed For as a Kilderkin of Beer contains 18 Gallons and one of Ale but 16 so a Barrel of Beer being double a Kilderkin contains 36 Gallons and one of Ale but 32. Now a Barrel and a half of Beer being 54 Gallons make a Hogshead 2 Hogshheads a Pipe or Butt and 2 Pipes a Tun. Note that a Barrel of Butter or Soap is the same with a Barrel of Ale As for Wine-Measures they fall so much short of those of Ale and Beer that Four Gallons of these make Five Gallous of Wine measure Thus they hold proportion as four to five Of these Gallons a Rundlet of Wine holds 18 half a Hogshead 31 and a half a Tierce 42 a Hogshead 63 a Punchion 84 a Pipe or Butt 126 a Tun 252. For dry Things such as Corn or Grain there is first the Gallon of a fize between the Wine and the Beer Gallon Two of these Gallons make a Peck 4 Pecks a Bushel 4 Bushels a Comb or Curnock 2 Curnocks a Quarter 10 Quarters a Last or Wey To conclude now with the Great Trade of England to Foreign Parts besides the several Companies I have took notice of in my Description of London there are other Companies or Societies of Merchants established for the promoting or incouraging of foreign Trade Which have Power and Immunities granted them to make Acts and Orders for the benefit of Commerce in general and of their Companies in particular Such are amongst others the Company of Merchant Adventurers the Russia Turky and East-India Companies and the Royal African Company Besides the Spanish French East-Land and Greenland Companies and the Company trading to Hudson's Bay the Priviledges and Trade of which last were lately confirmed by Act of Parliament The first being the Company of Merchant Adventurers is the most ancient of all having had their Original in the Reign of Edward I and their Continuance ever since Grounded at first upon the Exportation of Wool only being the prime and staple Commodity of England since converted into Cloathing and now including all manner of Drapery This Company is managed in England by a Governour Deputy and certain Assistants beyond Sea by a Deputy and certain Assistants The Russia Company had their Beginning in the Reign of Edward VI upon the Discovery made by the English of the North-East Passage to Archangel whereby they opened a great Trade in the Dominions of the âzars of Moscovy removed hither from Narva upon the Baltick Their Charter was afterwards confirmed and inlarged by Queen Elizabeth The Turky-Merchants otherwise called the Levant Company from their Trade in the Levant was Incorporated by Queen Elizabeth and had their Charter Confirmed and Inlarged by King James I. But the greatest and most eminent Company is that which manages the East-India Trade which begun likewise in Queen Elizabeths Time Anno 1600. For the Managing whereof they imploy a joint Stock and have a great House in Leaden-Hall-Street called the East-India House By which Trade and Stock they have built a great Number of War-like Ships and brought hither those Indian Commodities which before were brought to us by the Portugueze being the first Discoverers of the East-India Passage So that by the East-India and the Levant Companies England and many other Countries by their second Transportation have ever since been supplied with those Rich Merchandizes which Italy Turky Arabia Persia India and China yield where they have their respective Agents On the Coast of Coromandel
is the Fort St. George belonging to the East-India Company where they have a President of all the Factories on that Coast and of the Bay of Bengala As to the Royal African Company King Charles II was pleased by his Letters Patents to grant them a Liberty of Trading all along the Western Coasts of Africk from Cape Vert as far as the Cape of good Hope with prohibition of Trading there to all his other Subjects At Cape-Coast is the Residence of the chief Agent of the Company where they have a strong Place or Fort. I pass by the other Companies though some of them very considerable and the great Trade of the West-Indies generally managed by Merchants not Incorporated Only I shall add that every Company has the Priviledge to govern themselves by setled Acts and Orders under such Governours Deputies Assistants and Agents as they think fit to chuse among themselves And this way has been found to be so profitable and beneficial by Exporting the native Commodities thereof by setting the Poor on Work by building of many brave Ships and by Importing hither of forein Commodities both for Use and Ornament that the Benefit accruing thereby to these Nations cannot be expressed The principal Commodities exported from hence into forein Countries are Woollen Cloths of all sorts broad and narrow the English being now the best Cloth-Workers in the World To which add Sattins Tabies Velvets Plushes and infinite other Manufactures some of which make very good Returns from the foreign Plantations Abundance of Tin Lead Alum Copper Iron Fullers Earth Salt and Sea-Coal of most sorts of Grains but Wheat especially of Skins and Leather of Trane Oyl and Tallow Hops and Beer Saffron and Licorish besides great Plenty of Sea-fish is yearly transported over Sea to forein Conntries From whence the Merchants make good Returns and bring a great deal of Treasure and rich Commodities to the Inriching of themselves the unspeakable benefit of the Nation and the Credit of the English in general Who are as industrious and active as fair Dealers and great Undertakers as any Nation in the World For though the Hollanders perhaps do drive a greater Trade 't is neither for want of Stock nor for want of Industry on the side of the English The Hollanders being squeezed as they are within the narrow Bounds of their Country find little or no Land to purchase with the Returns of their Trade This puts 'em upon a kind of Necessity of improving still their Stock and of sending back those Riches a floating upon the Sea which they cannot fix on the Land Whereas our English Merchants having the Opportunity of Injoying the Fruits of their Industry in a spacious delicate fruitful Country by purchasing Estates for themselves and Families are apt to yield to the Temptation and to exchange the hurry of Trade for the pleasures of a Country-life CHAP. V. Of the English Laws and Religion THE Laws of England are of several Sorts and severally used according to the Subject First there is the Common Law that is the Common Customs of the Nation which have by length of time obtained the force of Laws This is the Summary of the Laws of the Saxons and Danes first reduced into one Body by King Edward the Elder about the Year 900. Which for some time being lost were revived by King Edward the Confessor and by Posterity named his Laws To these William the Conquerour having added some of the good Customs of Normandy he caused them all to be written in his own Norman Dialect which being no where vulgarly used varies no more than the Latine Therefore to this day all Reports Pleadings and Law-Exercises Declarations upon Original Writs and all Records are written in the old Norman But where the Common Law falls short the Statute Law makes it up Which are the Laws made from time to time by King and Parliament The Civil Law which is counted the Law of Nations is peculiarly made use of in all Ecclesiastical Courts in the Court of Admiralty in That of the Earl Marshal in Treaties with forein Princes and lastly in the Two Universities of the Land The Canon-Law otherwise called the Ecclesiastical Laws takes place in Things that meerly relate to Religion This Law comprehends the Canons of many ancient General Councils of many National and Provincial English Synods divers Decrees of the Bishops of Rome and Judgments of ancient Fathers received by the Church of England and incorporated into the Body of the Canon Law By which she did ever proceed in the Exercise of her Jurisdiction and do's still by virtue of an Act in the Reign of Henry VIII so far as the said Canons and Constitutions are not repugnant to the Holy Scripture to the Kings Prerogative or the Laws of this Realm But whereas Temporal Laws inflict Punishment upon the Body these properly concern the Soul of Man And as they differ in several Ends so they differ in several Proceedings The Martial Law reaches none but Souldiers and Mariners and is not to be used but in time of actual War But the late King who ran headlong to Arbitrary Power made nothing of violating this and most other Laws The Forest-Law concerns the Forests and in flicts Punishment on those that trespass upon them By virtue of this Law the Will is reputed for the Fact so that if a Man be taken hunting a Deer he may be Arrested as if he had taken it Lastly there are Municipal Laws commonly called Peculiar or By Laws proper to Corporations These are the Laws which the Magistrates of a Town or City by virtue of the King's Charter have a Power to make for the benefit and advantage of their Corporation Provided always that the same be not repugnant to the Laws of the Land These By-Laws properly bind none but the Inhabitants of the Place unless they be for publick Good or to avoid a publick Inconvenience In which Case they bind Strangers Thus much in general as to the Laws of England The chief Particulars will come in of course when I come to treat of the Government The Religion of England as it is established by Law is the best Reformed Religion and the most agreeable to the primitive Times of Christianity But before I come to shew the Occasion Time and Methods of its Reformation it will not be improper to give a brief historical Account how the Christian Faith came to be planted in this Island to set forth its Progress Decay and Restauration then its Corruption with Rome and at last its Reformation That Christianity was planted here in the Apostles Times long before King Lucius is plainly demonstrated by the Antiquity of the British Churches writ some Years since by Dr. Stillingfleet the present Bishop of Worcester Where he learnedly disproves the Tradition concerning Joseph of Arimathea supposed by many to have been the first Planter of the Gospel here as an Invention of the Monks of Glassenbury to serve their Interests by advancing
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 âpetty 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
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 aââ its Rights should remain to King Henry and his Heirs for ever which was agreed to ân âoth sides And though Henry did not live âo possess the Kingdom yet his Son Henry VI âad 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 Gloâester 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 ãâã 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 ââre greater than ours As baâ as this Nation ãâã 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
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 iâ 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 ãâã Demesns of it have been Alienated that hâ Revenues are chiefly out of the Tin-Mines iâ Cornwall Which with all other Profits of the Dutchy amount yearly to the Sum of 140â 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
claim to do Services at the King's Coronation and to receive the accustomed Fees and Allowances In the Procession on the Coronation-Day 't is he that carries the King's Crown The Right Honourable the Earl of Devonshire was honoured with this great Office in the last Coronation Upon the Trial of a Peer he sits under a Cloth of State and his Commission is to proceed secundum Legem Consuetudinem Angliae He is not Sworn nor the Lords who are the Tryers of the Peer arraigned and tho he call all the Judges of the Land to assist him yet he is the sole Judge Next to the Lord High Steward is the Lord High Chancellour who in Civil Affairs now there is no High Steward is the highest Person in the Kingdom next to the Royal Family as the Arch-bishop of Canterbury is in Ecclesiastical His Oath is to do Right to all manner of People rich and poor after the Laws and Customs of the Realm truly to counsel the King and keep secret the King's Counsel to stand for the Rights of the Crown c. The Great Seal of England is in his Custody He is the Judge of the Court of Chancery otherwise called the Court of Equity where he is to judge not according to the Rigour and Letter of the Law but with Equity and Conscience He also bestow's all Ecclesiastical Benefices in the King's Gift under 20 l. a Year in the King's Books Since the Reign of Henry VII this great Office has been commonly executed by Lawyers whereas formerly Bishops and other Clergy-men learned in the Civil Laws were usually intrusted with it The Lord High Chancellour holds his Place but durante Regis Beneplacito during the King's Pleasure And his Place is counted to be worth 8000 l. a Year Anciently he had sometimes a Vice-Chancellour commonly called Keeper of the Great Seal But of later Times they differ only in Name For the late Kings have always beflowed the Great Seal either with the Title of Lord Keeper or of Lord Chancellour but still with the same Power and Right of Precedence Only the Lord Chancellour receives a Patent from the King for his Office which the Lord Keeper do's not and by the Title of Chancellour he is lookt upon as in greater favour with the King But his present Majesty since his Accession to the Crown thought fit to have this Office managed by Commissioners and accordingly it has been hitherto managed by three Lords Commissioners The third Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord High Treasurer who has the Charge and Government of all the King's Revenue kept in the Exchequer He has the Gift of all Customers Comptrolers and Searchers in all the Ports of England and the Nomination of all Escheators in every County He has also the Check of all the Officers imploy'd in collecting all the Revenues of the Crown He has power either by himself or with others joyned in Commission with him to let Leases of all the Crown-Lands And it is he that gives Warrants to certain Persons of Quality to have their Wine Custom-free Anciently he received this Office and Dignity by the delivery of the golden Keys of the Treasury which is now done by delivery of a white Staff to him by the King His Oath do's not differ much from that of the Lord Chancellour and he holds his Place as he do's during his Majesties Pleasure His Place is also reckoned to be worth 8000 l. per ann But this great Office is now executed by four Persons called the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury Next is the Lord President of the King 's Privy Council an Officer as ancient as King John's Time made by the King's Letters Patent under the Great Seal durante Beneplacito His Office is to manage the Debates in Council to propose Matters from the King and report the Transactions to his Majesty In the late Reigns this Office was often supplied by the Chancellour Next to the Lord President is the Lord Privy Seal whose Office is of great Trust and Skill He is so called from the Privy Seal which is in his custody All Charters and Grants of the King and all Pardon 's signed by the King pass through his hands before they come to the Great Seal of England And hââ ought not to put this Seal to any Grant withâ out good Warrant under the King 's Privy Signet nor with Warrant if it be againsâ Law or Custom until the King be first acquainted He manages also divers other Matters of less concernment which do not pass the Great Seal He is by his Place of the King 's Privy Council and takes his Oath accordingly besides a particular Oath as Lord Privy Seal Wheâ there is a Court of Requests he is the chieâ Judge of it His Place is also during the King's Pleasure ãâã and his Salary is 1500 l. per annum The sixth Great Officer of the Crown iâ the Lord Great Chamberlain of England an Officer of State and of great Antiquity whose chief Business is on the Coronation-Day For it is his Office that Day to bring the King his Shirt Coyf and Wearing Cloaths before his Majesty rises and to carry at the Coronation the Coyf Gloves and Linnen to be used by the King upon that Occasion In the Church where the King is Crowned he undresses and attires his Majesty with Robes Royal and giveâ Him the Gold which is offered by Him at the Altar Before and after Dinner he serves the King with Water to wash his hands For this Service he has 40 Ells of Criââson Velver for-his own Robes the King 's Beâ and all the Furniture of his Bed-Chamber all the King's Night-Apparel and the Basoâ and Towels used at Dinner for his Fees He has also Livery and Lodging in the King's Court certain âees from all Peers of the Realm at their Creation and from each Arch-Bishop or Bishop when they do their Hoââage or Fealty to the King To him belongs the Care of providing all Things in the House of Lords in Parliament-Time and therefore has an Apartment allowed him near the House of Lords This Office is Hereditary and belongs to the Earls of Lindsey The Lord High Constable is another great Officer but of too great Authority and Power to be continued and therefore is only created for the Solemnity of the King's Coronation The Duke of Ormond was High Constable in the last The next is the Earl Marshal of England an Officer of great Antiquity and anciently of great Power His proper Office is to summon the Nobility to the King's Coronation with such Directions for State and publick Appearance as becomes that Solemnity He also takes Cognizance of Matters of War and Arms out of the reach of the Common Law and in these Matters he is commonly guided by the Civil Law Neither can any obtain a Coat of Arms but he must first apply himself to the Earl Marshal to whom the Heralds Colledge is subordinate The last is the Lord
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 ãâã Way as the present state of Affairs would âow King James having thus deserted the
Rate 3 Rate  s. d s. d. s. d. Capt. 15 00 12 00 10 00 Lieut. 03 00 03 00 02 06  4 Rate 5 Rate 6 Rate Capt. 07 06 06 00 05 00 Lieut. 02 06     The Lieutenants of the fifth and sixth Rate Ships are paid by the Month and so are all others belonging to the Ships Now you must know that in the several Rates there is a Proportion greater or lesser of some sort of Officers As in a first Rate Ship 6 Master's Mates and Pilots in a second 4 and in a third 3 in a fourth and fifth 2 in a sixth 1. Quarter-Masters 4 in all Rates except the fifth and sixth which have but 2 each Quarter-Master's Mates 4 in the first and second Rates 2 in the third and fourth 1 in the fifth and sixth Boatswains Mates 2 in the first and but 1 in âhe rest Yeomen of Sheets 4 in the first and second Rates 2 in the third and fourth that is in each of them Gunners Mates 2 in the first and second and but 1 in each of the rest Quarter-Gunners 4 in the first second and third 1 in each of the rest Carpenters-Mates 2 in the first and second 1 in each of the rest Ordinary or Crew 9 in the first 6 in the second 4 in the third 3 in the fourth 1 in each of the fifth and sixth Midshipmen 8 in the first 6 in the second 4 in the third 3 in the fourth 2 in the fifth and 1 in the sixth For the Building Repairing and Cleaning of their Majesties Ships there are six great Yards where they are usually laid up Viz. Chatham Deptsord Woolwich Harwich Sheerness and Portsmouth Fitted with several Docks Wharfs Lanches and Graving places always furnished with great Quantities of Timber and other Materials having convenient Store-houses with vast Quantities of Cables Rigging Sails Blocks and other sorts of Stores with great Rope-Yards to make Cables and all sorts of Cordage for the Navy In those Yards are imployed divers Officers the principal whereof are as follow with their Yearly Salaries Viz.  l. A Clerk of the Checque 245 A Store-Keeper 260 A Master Attendant 124 His Assistant 80 A Master Shipwright 133 His Assistants each 70 Clerk of the Survey 160 Note that the Charges of the Clerks and Inââruments are included in their Salaries All these are under the Direction and Management of the Navy Office kept in the Crouched Friars London Where the whole Business concerning the King's Ships is managed by four principal Officers and four Commissioners of the Navy besides other Commissioners for Victualling the Navy The four principal Officers are the Treasurer Câmptroller Surveyor and Clerk of the Acts. The Treasurer's Office is to pay the Charges of the Navy out of the Exchequer having first a Warrant for the Mony from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury and for the Payment thereof another Warrant from the principal Officers of the Navy His Allowance is 3000 l. a Year The Comptroller's Office is to attend and comptroll all Payments of Wages He is likewise to know all the Mârket Rates of all Stores for Shipping to audit and examine all Treasurers Victuallers and Store-Keepers Accounts His Salary is 500 l. per Annum and his Assistants 400. The Surveyor's Business is to know the state of all Stores and see their Wants supplied to survey the Hulls Masts and Yards and have their Defects repaired at reasonable rates What Stores the Boatswains and Carpenters receive in order to a Voyage he is to charge them with by Indenture and at their return to state and audit their Accounts His Salary is 400 l. a Year The Clerk of the Acts is to record all Orders Contracts Bills Warrants c. relating to the Navy and his Salary is 500 l. pen Annum Amongst the four Commissioners one's Province is to Comptroll the Victualler's Accounts another's the Accounts of the Store-keepers of the Yards and the two others have the managing of Their Majesties Navy the one at Chatham and the other at Portsmouth The Salary of each is 500 l. Both the principal Officers and Commissioners hold their Places by Patent under the Great Seal of England and have Clerks allowed to each of them with respective Salaries for the Dispatch of Business The Commissioners for Victualling the Navy are commonly four and their Salary is each 400 l. a Year Lastly the Navy-Office is subordinate to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty as they execute the Office of the Lord High Admiral of England of whose Power and great Priviledges I have already spoken amongst the Great Officers of the Crown For transacting of Maritime Affairs they keep a Court called the Court of Admiralty of which in my Third Part. By virtue of their Place they appoint in divers Parts of the Kingdom several Vice-Admirals with their Judges and Marshals by Patent under the Great Seal of the High Court of Admiralty Now there are 17 of these Vice-Admiralties in England besides 2 in Wales Those in England are Chester Parts Cornwal North Parts Cornwal South Parts Devonshire Dorset Durham Northum berland Westworland and Cumberland Essex Glocester Kent Lancaster Lincoln Norfolk Somerset Southampton or Hampshire Suffolk Sussex York In Wales there 's but two Vice-Admiralties one in the North and the other in the South Parts of Wales To reflect upon what is past relating to our Naval Force this I confess was much weakened by the late King Charles his strange Neglect of Shipping and Seamen to the great discredit and damage of this Nation Then and not till then the French grew upon us and grew like a Weed so fast that they have been ever since a great Discouragement and Obstruction to our English Trade To see those Sea-Mushrooms the French dare be so bold as to crow over the English who would not have Imployed them for Swabbers some Years since 't were enough to inrage a sensible Nation But if one may guess at future Events from the present Disposition of Things I am apt to think this prodigious Gallicinium or Crowing of the French King is a Presage of his Fall And without Inquiring into the secret Causes of the late unusual and wonderful Tameness of our Fleet which gave him the satisfaction to rove a while undisturbed in our Seas now such Measures are taken as will in all probability make him lower his Top-sail As for Tourville his Admiral 's Exploit at Tingânouth 't is such as deserves Derision more than a Triumph Tingmouth a small open and obscure Place the Resort of a few Fishermen who had there some Thatched Houses was wonderfully Stormed and irresistibly Burnt by this Victorious Fleet. Which flushed with this great Expedition and its happy Come-off in the Sea-fight sailed few Days after with flying Colours for Brest Brest which expected great Spoils from the British Shore and some Return for Millions expended to make this proud Appearance at Sea wondered to see nothing but their Fleet come
noble Exercises and appearing abroad according to their Rank and Quality Honour and Integrity Justice and Sobriety Courage and Wisdom were Virtues they excelled in A Lord's House was then lookt upon as a well disciplined Court where Servants lived not only in Plenty but in great Order with the Opportunity of getting good Breeding and the Prospect of raising themselves in the World by their Lords Bountifulness and innate Generosity How far the Case is altered 't is but too plain Yet it is hoped a virtuous and generous Prince will bring back that Golden Age. But there is an additional Honour the most ancient Order of the Garter wherein some of the chief of our Nobility have ever had a share since its first Institution The Founder of this Order was that warlike and potent Prince King Edward III who several times triumphed over France and Scotland Polydore Virgil gives it a slight Original but his Grounds by his own Confession grew from the vulgar Opinion Which is that Edward III having obtained many great Victories King John of France and David Bruce of Scotland being both his Prisoners King Henry of Castille the Bastard expulsed and Don Pedro restored by Edward the Black Prince did upon no weighty Occasion first erect this Order Anno 1350. Who dancing with the Queen and other Ladies of the Court took up a Garter that hapned to fall from one of them Whereat some of the Lords smiling the King said that e're it were long he would make that Garter to be of high Reputation and shortly after instituted this Order A very unlikely Thing that so noble an Order should be raised on so mean a Foundation Whereas according to Cambden and several others the Institution of this Order by the foresaid King Edward was upon his good success in a Skirmish wherein the King's Garter was used for a Token The Order first Instituted by the Name of the Order of S. George the Patron of England and of this Order in particular And because the Garter was the only part of the whole Habit of the Order made choice of at first to be constantly worn it came in process of Time to be called the Order of the Garter The same consists of a Sovereign which is always the King of England and 25 Companions called Knights of the Garter some of them Princes of other Countries and the rest Noblemen of this Kingdom And 't is observed that there have been of this Order since the Institution no less than 8 Emperours and 27 or 28 forein Kings besides many Sovereign Princes of a lower Rank The Garter to be daily worn upon the left Leg by the Companions of this Order is a blue Garter deckt with Gold Pearl and precious Stones and a Buckle of gold They are not to be seen abroad without it upon pain of paying two Crowns to any Officer of the Order who shall first claim it Only upon a Journey a blue Ribbon may serve instead of it The Meaning of the Garter is to put the Companions of the Order in mind that as by this Order they were joyned in a firm League of Amity and Concord so by their Garter as by a fast Tie of Affection they are obliged to love one another Now to prevent an ill Construction of it King Edward commanded these French Words to be fixt upon it Honi soit qui mal y pense that is Shame be to him that thinks evil of it And it was done in France because England being then possessed of a great Part of France the French Tongue was the usual Language in the King of England's Court. Besides the Garter the honourable Companions are to wear at Installations and high Feasts a Surcoat a Mantle a high black Velvet Cap a Collar of pure gold with other stately and magnificent Apparel The Collar composed of Roses enamelled Red within a Garter enamelled Blue with the usual Motto in Letters of gold and between each of these Garters a Knot with Tassels of gold By an Order made April 1626 they are to wear on the left side of their Upper Garment whether Cloak or Coat an Escutcheon of the Arms of S. George that is the Cross of England incirled with the Garter and Motto from whence round about are cast Beams of Silver like the Rays of the Sun in full lustre which is commonly called the Star To this Order belongs a Colledge seated in the Castle of Windsor with S. George's Chappel there erected by King Edward and the Chapter-house The Colledge being a Corporation has a great Seal and several Officers belonging to it The principal of these is the Prelate of the Garter which Office is settled on the Bishoprick of Winchester Next the Chanceliour of the Garter the Bishop of Salisbury for the time being A Register the Dean of Windsor Garter the principal King at Arms who manages and marshals their Solemnities at their Installations and Feasts And lastly the Usher of the Garter who is also the Usher of the Black-Rod To the Chappel there belongs 14 Secular Canons and 13 Vicars all Priests Besides 26 poor Knights maintained by this Colledge for their Prayers to the Honour of God and S. George The Solemnity of this Order is performed yearly on S. George's Day the 23th of April As for the Orders and Constitutions belonging to this Society touching the Solemnities in making these Knights their Duties after Creation and their high Priviledges they are too long to be inserted here CHAP. XX. Of the Gentry of England NExt to the Nobility which is lookt upon as the Flower of the Kingdom let us take a View of the English Gentry called by some the lesser or lower Nobility and Keeping a middle Rank betwixt the Nobles and the Common People Of these there are three Degrees Knights Esquires and Gentlemen We have now but three sorts of Knights in England besides the Knights of the Garter Viz. Baronets Knights of the Bath and Knights Batchelours The Degree of Baronets is the next to Barons and the only Degree of Knighthood that is Hereditary An Honour first Instituted by King James I Anno 1611 conferred by a Patent upon a Man and his Heirs Males of his Body lawfully begotten The Purchase of it does commonly arise Fees and all to 1200 l. the Purchaser being to pay besides the Fees as much Mony as will pay for 3 Years 30 Foot-Souldiers at 8 pence a Day to serve in the Province of Ulster in Ireland Therefore they have the Priviledge to bear in a Canton of their Coat of Arms or in a whole Scutcheon the Arms of âlster viz. in a Field Argent a Hand Gules In the King's Armies they have place in the gross near the King's Standard And for their Funerals they have also particular Priviledges The whole Number of them by the first Institution is not to exceed 200 at one and the same time After which Number compleated as any one for want of Heirs come to be extinct the Number is
Opinion of the Yeomanry that occupy Lands than of Tradesmen or Artificers And accordingly Yeomen are capable of bearing some Offices as of Constable and Church-Warden to serve upon Juries to be Train-Souldiers to vote in the Election of Knights of the Shire to serve in Parliament c. And by the Statutes of England certain Immunities are given to Freeholders and Land-men tho they are not Gentlemen Next to Freeholders are the Copy-holders who are much of the same nature I mean those Copy-holders that hold Copy-holds certain Which is a kind of Inheritance in many Places called Customary because the Tenant dying and the Hold being void the next of Bloud paying the Customary Fine as two Shillings for an Acre or such like may not be denied his Admission They are called Copy-holders from the Copy of Court-Roll of the Mannor within which they hold their Land by which Copy only they hold it For this is all a Copy-holder has to shew for his Title which he takes from the Steward of the Lord of the Mannor's Court. But as England is one of the most trading Countries in Europe so the greatest Body of its Commonalty is that of Traders or Men that live by Buying and Selling. The most eminent whereof are those we call Merchants who trade only by Whole-sale These are the Men who by their Stock and Industry have found the Way not only to Inrich themselves but to make the whole Nation thrive and flourish by a perpetual Circulation of Trade by exporting home-bred and importing forein Commodities by incouraging thereby Navigation and by procuring comfortable Imployment to a vast Number of Artificers Tradesmen and ââetailers In short such is the benign Influence of Trade and Commerce by their means all over the Nation that there is scarce any part of it but feels the Benefit thereof And for this great Advantage to the Publick as well as their private Wealth they have got a proportionable esteem and respect from the rest of the Nation Insomuch that whereas Trading formerly rendred a Gentleman ignoble now an ignoble Person makes himself by Merchandizing as good as a Gentleman and many Gentlemen Born some of them Younger Sons of Noblemen take upon them this Profession without any prejudice or blemish to their Birth Nay the Law of England that ever had but a slight Opinion of Traders is so far Obliterated in this Point by Custom and Interest that whereas by Law a Ward come to Age may bring his Action of Disparagement against his Gardian for offering any such in Marriage now 't is common for Gentlemens and Merchants Sons and Daughters to Intermarry The truth is Gentility with competent Means is an excellent Compound but without it 't is but a wretched Condition as the World goes now And who would not rather be a substantial honest Trader so as to stand upon his own Legs and make some figure in the World than for want of Imployment to starve with a point of Honour or live a borrowed Life in this Age especially where Poverty is so little pitied and grown so contemptible Poverty says an Author the general Scare-crow of Mankind the fear of which keeps Men in perpetual Morion and makes them run headlong into the greatest Dangers Per Mare Pauperiem fugiunt per Saxa per Ignes Poverty a lingering kind of Death that having once seized upon ones Spirits dejects and stupifies him takes away the edge of his Senses weakens his Memory discomposes his Mind and makes him almost uncapable of any Thing Poverty in a Word that turns Men into ridicule as Juvenal has it in these Words Nil habet Paupertas durius in se Quam quod Ridiculos homines facit In France indeed where if a Gentleman born betakes himself to Trade forfeits his Gentility the Gentry stand so much upon their Honour that it is very rare to see a French Gentleman turn to Merchandizing But there they have greater Opportunities for preferring themselves according to their quality especially by the Way of Arms. And so jealous is the whole Body of them of this their Gentility that rather than have it exposed in any of their Members by naked and hungry Poverty their Way is to help one another to the utmost of their Power and which is very commendable they seldom fail to give a Gentleman though never so needy the Respect due to his Birth But it is something surprizing they should so much decline Merchandizing their King Lewis le Grand not to mention his other Commodities being the greatest Salt-Merchant in the Known World But to return to our Commonalty it may be said to comprehend three Parts in four of the Nation the Generality of them Imployed in Husbandry Trade and Navigation some in a higher others in a lesser Degree And such is the Happiness of this People in general that none injoy greater Priviledges or are more secure by Law from Oppression They are subject to no Taxes or Laws but what they contrive themselves by their Representatives in Parliament And in point of Trials none of them can be Tried but by a Jury of his Peers that is by Twelve Men Commoners like himself Nor can he be Condemned but by the Laws of the Land In short the Government is so very favourable to the Common People of England that unless the Laws be invaded which are the Bulwark of the Government they need not fear to be any Way oppressed CHAP. XXII Of the Clergy of England and first of the Bishops THE Clergy of England is like the Laity divided into several Ranks or Degrees For as the Laity consists of Nobility Gentry and Commonalty so the Clergy is divided into Bishops Dignitaries and Inferious Clergy The Bishops are those who take upon them the Government of the Church of England according to Law every one in his Diocese And as England consists of 26 Dioceses or Bishopricks so there are accordingly 26 Bishops or Diocesans Besides the Bishoprick of the Isle of Man which is a distinct Bishoprick Their Office being Pastoral their Business is to feed their Flocks with the wholsom Doctrine of the Church and so to oversee the Inferiour Clergy that by their Lives and Doctrine the People may Keep the Truth and live according to the Rules of Christianity And as each of them has a Canonical Authority over all the Priests of his Diocese so they have all in chief the Power of Ordination Which however is never performed but by the Bishop joyntly with some other Priests They are also Impowred to grant Institutions to Benefices upon Presentations of other Patrons to command Induction to be given to order the collecting and preserving of the Profits of vacant Benefices for the Successors Use They are bound to defend the Church-Liberties and once in three Years to Visit each his Diocese In this triennial Visitation they Inquire of the Manners Carriages and Offences of Ministers Church-Wardens and the rest of the Parishioners principally of Offenders against Justice
Piety and Sobriety Wardens of Hospitals Physicians Chirurgeons Schoolmasters and Midwives fall particularly under the Care of their Visitation Of the foresaid 26 Bishops there are two called Archbishops the one of Canterbury and the other of York These have a Superintendency over all the Church of England and in some measure over the other Bishops They have each of them his Province or Jurisdiction but that of Canterbury is much the greater of the two For of 26 Dioceses it takes up 22. Whereof 18 in England viz. Canterbury London Winchester Lincoln Exeter Hereford Salisbury Coventry and Lichfield Bath and Wells Oxford Chichester Ely Norwich Carlisle Worcester Glocâster Bristol Peterborough and four in Wales viz. S. Asaph Landaff Bangor and S. Davids Whereas the Province of York has but four Diocesses York Durham Chester and Carlisle besides that of the Isle of Man Each of these Archbishops is called Primate of England and Metropolitan of his Province Yet the first has some kind of Supereminency over the other and has Power to Summon him to a National Synod Next to the two Archbishops are the Bishops of London Durham and Winchester the Order of the rest being by no other Rule than the Priority of their Consecration The Bishop of London has the Precedency of all the other Bishops not only as being Bishop over the Metropolis of England but as Provincial Dean of Canterbury And upon the Vacancy of the Archiepiscopal See the Bishop of London has been usually translated to that See excepting the Case of Dr. William Sandcroft the present Archbishop of Canterbury who from Dean of Paul's was preferred to this Dignity by King Charles II. The Bishop of Durham has been a Count Palatine six or seven hundred Years The common Seal of his Bishoprick has been of a long time an Armed Knight holding in one hand a Naked Sword and in the other a Church He has also at this day the Earldom of Sadberg annexed long ago to this Bishoprick The Bishop of Winchester was anciently reputed Earl of Southampton and so stiled by Henry VIII in the Statutes of the Honourable Order of the Garter But that Earldom was soon after disposed of The Manner of making a Bishop in England is so solemn that it is not to be pretermitted When a Bishops See becomes vacant first the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral give notice of it to the King as the Patron of all the Bishopricks in England and humbly request his Majesty that He will give them Leave to chuse another Whereupon the King grants them his Conge d'eslire that is Leave to elect and withal does usually recommend unto them whom His Majesty thinks fit Then the Dean summons a Chapter that is the Prebendaries of the Cathedral who either elect the Person recommended by the Kings Letters or shew Cause to the contrary The Election being over it is certified to the Party elected Who does modestly refuse it the first and second time if a third time the same is certified to the King who recommends another When the Election is accepted it is certified to the King and the Archbishop of that Province The King thereupon gives his Royal Assent under the Great Seal of England which is exhibited to the Archbishop of that Province with Command to confirm and consecrate him Then the Archbishop subscribes Fiat Confirmatio and gives Commission under his Episcopal Seal to his Vicar General to perform all the Acts thereunto required Then a Citation comes forth from the said Vicar General in the Name of the Archbishop summoning all the People that have any Thing to object against the Party elected to appear at a certain Time and Place to make their Objections Which is done first by Proclamation three several times at Bow-Church and then the Citation is affixt on the Church door for all people to read At the Day and Place assigned for the Opposers Appearance the Vicar General sitting as Judge the Proctor for the Dean and Chapter exhibits the Royal Assent and the Commission of the Archbishop Which being read and accepted by the Vicar General the Proctor exhibits the Proxy from the Dean and Chapter presents the Bishop elect returns the Citation and desires the Opposers to be called in three times This being done accordingly and none appearing they are pronounced Contumacious and a Decree made to proceed to Sentence in the behalf of the Bishop elect Who thereupon takes the Oaths of Supremacy Simony and Canonical Obedience and then the Judge of the Arches reads and subscribes the Sentence After which there is usually an Entertainment made for the Officers and other there present And the Bishop elect being thus Confirmed may act as Bishop even before he is Consecrated Some time after this follows the Consecration For the Bishops are a distinct Order of themselves there being three Orders in the Church of England Bishops Priests and Deacons And as none may be admitted a Deacon without a Dispensation under the Age of 23 Years nor a Priest under 24 so none can be made a Bishop till he be full 30 Years of age And whereas Priests and Deacons when they take their respective Orders are said to be Ordained a Bishop when he takes the Episcopal Order is said to be Consecrated The Consecration is performed by the Archbishop of the Province or some other Bishop Commissioned by him with the Assistance of two other Bishops either in the Chappel of the Archbishop or of any other Bishop And it is done either upon a Sunday or Holy-day after Morning-Service Then the Archbishop or his Deputy begins the Communion-Service And after a certain Prayer appointed for this Occasion one of the Bishops present reads the Epistle 1 Tim. 3 another the Gospel John 21. Which is followed by the Nicene Creed and next to that a Sermon After Sermon the Bishop elect being vested with his Rochet or Linnen-Garment is by two Bishops presented to the Archbishop or his Deputy sitting in his Chair who demands the King's Mandate for the Consecration and causes it to be read That done the Bishop elect takes the Oath of Supremacy and of Canonical Obedience to the Archbishop After which they fall to Prayers Then the Bishop elect does Answer several Interrogatories that are put to him and after his Answers the rest of the Episcopal Habit is put upon him This done they Kneel down to Prayers again Which being ended the Bishop elect being upon his Knees the Archbishop and Bishops there present lay their Hands on his Head and by a pious grave Form of Words they Consecrate him Afterwards the Archbishop delivers a Bible to the Bishop elect with another set Form of Words Then they all proceed to the Communion and having received the Sacrament they depart with the Blessing Then the new Bishop treats at a spelendid Dinner the chief of the Nobility Clergy Judges Privy Counsellours c. Which Dinner with the Fees of Consecration does usually amount to five or six hundred
Pounds Next to the Consecration of a Bishop follow his Installation by virtue of a Mandate from thâ Arch-Bishop to the Arch-Deacon of his Prevince This is performed in the Cathedral Church upon any Day between the hours of nine and eleven in the presence of a publick Notary Wheâ the Bishop elect or his Proxy which is most âsual is introduced into the Cathedral by thâ Arch-Deacon or his Proxy There he declaies iâ the first place his Assent to the King's Supremacy and swears that unless he be otherwise Dispeâsed with he will be Resident according to thâ Custom of that Cathedral and observe the Customs of the said Church and cause others to observe the same Whereupon the Arch-Deacon with the Petty-Canons and Officers of thâ Church accompany the Bishop up to the Quinâ and there place him in a Seat prepared for him between the Altar and the right side of the Quine Then the Arch-Deacon pronounces these Wordâ in Latine Ego Authoritate mihi commissa Induco Inthronizo Reverendum in Christo Patrem Dominââ N. N. Episcopum Dominus custodiat suum Introâtum Exitum ex hec nunc in saeculum c. Upon which Te Deum is sung and the Bishop in thâ mean while conducted from his own Place ãâã the Dean's Seat where in Token of his takiâ Possession he stands till Ye Deum and some âther Prayers be ended After Prayers the Bishop is conducted inâ the Chapter-house and there placed on a hiâ Seat Where the Arch-Deacon together with ãâã the Prebends and Officers of the Church coâ before him and acknowledge Canonical Obeâence to him Finally the publick Notary is ãâã the Arch-Deacon required to make an Insââment declaring the whole Matter of Fact iâ this Affair Afterwards the new Bishop is introduced into be Kings Presence to do his Homage for his âemporalities or Barony Which he does by âeeling down before the King sitting in a Chair âf State by putting his Hands between his Maâsties Hands and by taking a Solemn Oath to âe true and faithful to Him and that he holds is Temporalities of him After this he Compounds for the first Fruits âf his Bishoprick that is agrees for his first âears Profits to be paid to the King within two âears or more if the King please When a Bishop is Translated from one Bishopick to another all the Difference there is in the âranslation from the manner of making a Biâop is that there is no Consecration And âhen a Bishop is made Archbishop the Diffeââce is only in the Commission which is directed ãâã King to four Bishops or more to Confirm ãâã Now there is this Difference between an Archishop and a Bishop that whereas a Bishops Caââical Authority reaches no further than the âunds of his Diocese the Archbishops Power âtends it self over all his Province so that he ãâã Ordinary to all the Bishops thereof Accorâingly the Bishop Visits only his Diocese but ãâã Archbishop Visits the whole Province The âishop can Convocate only a Diocesan but the ârehbishop may Convocate a Provincial Synod The Bishop with other Priests does Ordain a âriest but the Archbishop with other Bishops ââes Consecrate a Bishop 'T is Observable that several Bishops of Engând having large Bishopricks it was provided ãâã a Statute made in the Reign of Henry VIII âat they should have a Power to Nominate âme to the King to be with his Approbation Suffragan or Assistant Bishops in case that anâ of them desired it for the better Government of his Diocese or easing himself of some part oâ his Burden The Sees of those Suffragan Bishopâ were only to be at Dover for the Diocese oâ Canterbury at Nottingham and Hull for thaâ of York For the Diocese of London at Coâchester of Durham at Berwick of Winchester in the Isle of Wight at Southampton and Guilford For the Diocese of Lincoln at Bedford Leicester Huntington and Grantham of Norwich at Theâford and Ipswich of Salisbury at Shaftsbury Melton and Marlborough of Bath and Wells at Taunton of Hereford at Bridgenorth of Coventry and Lichfield at Shrewsbury of Ely at Cambridge of Exeter at S. Germans of Carlisle at Perith. Now for any one of the foresaid Places appointed for Suffragan Bishops Sees the respective Bishop of the Diocese presented two able Men whereof the King chose one These Suffragan Bishops had the Name Title and Dignity of Bishop and as other Bishops were Consecrated by the Archbishop of the Province They executed each of them such Power Jurisdiction and Authority and received such Profits as were limited in their Commissions by the Bishops or Diocesans whose Suffragans they were In these Bishops absence when they were either residing at Court to advise the King or imployed upon Embassies abroad the Suffragans usually supply'd their Places Whââ in publick Assemblies took place next after the Temporal Peers of the Realm But since the Diocesan Bishops grew less Courtiers and more Residentiary the Suffragan Bishops began to be laid aside so that there have been none for many Years in the Church of England I come now to the Prerogatives Priviledges Bower Revenues and great Deeds of Bishops All the Bishops of England are Barons and Peers of the Realm and sit as such in the House of Lords They are the Spiritual Lords lookt upon as the Fathers or Gardians of the Church and therefore commonly stiled Right Reverend Fathers in God And as 't is usual in England for well-bred Children to ask their Parents Blessing Morning and Evening with one Knee upon the Ground so the true Sons of the Church looking upon the Bishops as their Spiritual Fathers commonly begin their Addresses to them by asking their Blessing in the same respectful manner Besides the Priviledges injoy'd by Bishops as Peers and therefore common with those of the Temporal Lords they have some peculiar Prerogatives and those of a high nature 'T is undeâiable that all Jurisdiction in England is inseparably annexed to the Crown And yet the Bishops Courts tho held by the King's Authority are not counted to be properly the King's Courts Therefore the Bishops send forth Writs in their own Names Teste the Bishop and not in the King's Name as all the King's Courts properly so called do And whereas in other Courts there are several Judges to each a Bishop in his Court judges and passes Sentence alone by himself A Bishop besides has this transcendent Priviledge that he may as the King does depute his Authority to another as to a Bishop Suffragan his Chancellour or Commissary Which âone of the King's Judges can do Bishops in whatsoever Christian State they come their Episcopal Dignity and Degree is acknowledged and may as Bishops confer Orders c. Whereas no Temporal Lord is in Law acknowledged such out of the Prince's Dominions who conferred his Honour The Law of England attributes so much to the Word of a Bishop that not only in the Trial of Bastardy the Bishops Certificate shall suffice but also
in Trial of Heresy which toucheth a Mans Life If a Clergy-man Kills his Bishops or Ordinary the Law looks upon it as a Parricide and 't is Petty-Treason by Law Every Bishop may by Statute Law qualify six Chaplains which is as many as a Duke But if the Bishops Priviledges be so great the Archbishops are much greater especially his Grace of Canterbury's Who is the first Peer of the Realm and next to the Royal Family precedes not only all Dukes but all the great Officers of the Crown Though he holds his Place from the King yet in the King's Writs to him he is stiled Dei Gratia Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi and whereas other Bishops write Divina Permissione he writes himself Divina Providentia When he is Invested in the Archbishoprick he is said to be Inthroned It belongs properly to him to Crown the King and he had formerly the Power of appointing the Lent Preachers which is now in the Lord High Chamberlain The Bishop of London is accounted his Pravincial Dean the Bishop of Winchester his Chancellour and the Bishop of Rochester his Chaplain He has the Probate of all Wills in his Province and the Power of granting Letters of Administration where the Party at the time of his Death had 5 l. worth or above out of the Diocese wherein he died or 10 l. within the Diocese of London For all such as die Intestate within his Province he has Power to make Wills and to administer their Goods to the Kindred or to pious uses according to his Discretion In all Cases heretofore sued for in the Court of Rome he has Power to grant Licences and Dispensations either by himself or his Deputy called the Master of Faculties Provided the same be not repugnant to the Law of God or the King's Prerogative As to allow a Clerk to hold a Benefice in Commendam or Trust to allow a Son contrary to the Canons to succeed his Father immediately in a Benefice a Beneficed Clerk upon some Occasions to be Non-resident for some time a Clerk rightly qualified to hold two Benefices with Cure of Souls and a Lay-man to hold a Prebend c. whilst by Study he is preparing himself for the service of the Church He may also bestow one Dignity or Prebend in any Cathedral Church within his Province upon every Creation of a new Bishop And the new-created Bishop is also to provide a sufficient Benefice for one of the Archbishops Chaplains or to maintain him till it be effected He has the Prerogative with two other Bishops to Consecrate a new made Bishop to appoint Coadjutors to infirm Bishops to confirm the Election of Bishops within his Province to call Provincial Synods according to the King 's Writ directed to him to be Moderator in the Synods or Convocations and there to give his Suffrage last of all 'T is both his Power and Duty to Visit the whole Province and during the Vacancy of any Bishoprick within the same to appoint a Guardian of the Spiritualities So that to him belong all the Episcopal Rights and Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions of the Diocese as Visitations Institutions c. To decide all Differences in Ecclesiastical Matters he holds several Courts of Judicature for which I refer you to my Third Part. Lastly he may retain and qualify 8 Chaplains which is two more than any Duke is allowed The Archbishop of York has also the Precedence of all Dukes that are not of the Royal Bloud and of all great Officers of State except only the Lord Chancellour He is also stiled Primate of England and Metropolitan of his Province and has many of those Prerogatives and Priviledges which the Archbishop of Canterbury has within his own Province Each of the Archbishops is honoured as Dukes are with the Title of His Grace And whereas the Inferiour Bishops are stiled Right Reverend the Archbishops are in a Superlative manner stiled Most Reverend As to the Revenues of the English Bishops the best Bishopricks are those of Canterbury Durham and Winchester which yield a plentiful Income Amongst the rest some have but a Competency and others are not much better some worse than many Parsonages And yet I must say this to the eternal Praise of the Episcopal Order that they have done great Things for the Publick out of their Revenues For most of the great publick Works now ââmaining in England acknowledge their Being eather to the sole Cost and Charge or to the liberal Contributions of Bishops I mean not only Pallaces and Castles but Churches Colledges Schools Hospitals Alms-houses a great Number whereof have been founded and built by Bishops Nay that famous and chargeable Structure of London-Bridge stands to this day obliged to the liberal Contributions of an Archbishop In former Reigns when the Clergy were judged to be the fittest Persons to execute most of the chief Offices and Places of the Realm such Benefits and Advantages accrued thereby to this Kingdom that there are few Things of any great Consequence to the Welfare thereof but the Bishops and Prelates were the chief Actors therein The excellent Laws says an Author made by several of the Saxon Kings from whom we have our Common Laws and our Priviledges mentioned in Magna Charta were all made by the Persuasions and Advice of Bishops named in our Histories And 't was a Bishop of London at whose Request William the Conqueror granted to this City so large Priviledges that in a grateful Remembrance thereof the Lord Mayor and Aldermen did before the late dreadful Fire upon some solemn Days of their Resort to S. Paul's Church use to go in Procession about the Grave-stone where that Bishop lay interred The Union of the two Houses of York and Lancaster whereby a long and cruel Civil War was ended was by the Advice and Counsel of Bishop Morton then a Privy Counsellour And the happy Union of England and Scotland was brought to pass by the long Foresight of the Reverend Bishop Fox a Privy Counsellour in advising Henry VII to match his eldest Daughter to Scotland and his Younger to France But above all the Converting England to Christianity the Reforming of it when corrupted and the Defence of the Reformation against all Romish Writers is principally if not solely owing to Bishops and Prelates CHAP. XXIII Of the Dignify'd Clergy AS amongst the Laity the Gentry Keeps a middle Rank betwixt the Nobility and the Commonalty so amongst the Clergy of England there is a middle Station between the Episcopal Order and the inferiour Clergy Which Station is properly that of the Dignify'd Clergy as Deans Arch-Deacons and Prebendaries the Subject of this Chapter For a Supply of able and fit Persons to make Bishops or to assist Bishops a certain Number of eminent Divines both for their Piety and Learning were thought fit by our Fore-fathers to be placed in a Collegiate manner at every Cathedral or Episcopal See out of which Seminaries fit Persons from time to time might be chosen to govern the
of them and then asks the People if they Know any notable Impediment or Crime in any of them Then follow certain godly Prayers with the Collect and Epistle appointed for this Solemnity After which the Oath of Supremacy is administred to every one of them and the Bishop puts divers godly Questions to them Which being answered they all Kneel and he laying his Hands upon them severally does Ordain them Deacons Then he delivers to every one of them the New Testament and gives them Authority to read the same in the Church Whereupon the Bishop appoints one of them to read the Gospel This done they with the Bishop proceed to the Communion and so are dismissed with the Blessing pronounced by the Bishop The Ordination of Priests is much after the same manner Only the Epistle and Gospel are different and after the Questions and Answers made the Bishop puts up a particular Prayer for them Which being ended he desires the Congregation to recommend them to God secretly in their Prayers for doing of which there is a competent time of general Silence Then follows Veni Creator Spiritus in Meter to be sung And after another Prayer they all Kneeling the Bishop with one or two of the grave Priests there present lays his Hands upon the Head of every one of them severally and so gives them Ordination in a grave set Form of Words different both from that of Bishops and that of Deacons The rest is the same as in the Ordaining of Deacons What the Office of a Parish-Priest is is so well known that I need not insist upon it His Orders he has from the Bishop but the Benefice he holds from the Patron Now we call those Patrons of Churches who by first building of Churches or first indowing them with I ands have obtained for them and their Heirs a Right of Advowson or Patronage Who when the Church is void is to propose a fit Clerk to the Bishop to be by him Canonically Instituted As to the Revenues of the Inferiour Clergy they are as in all Places unequally divided So that some Parsons have a very plentiful some but a competent and others but a small Maintenance some two or three hundred pounds per Annum or more others one hundred or thereabouts and some much short of that Which besides the Glebe-Land is mostly raised by way of Tythes and the Duties paid for Christenings Marriages and Funerals The Plurality of Benefices that is the Priviledge of holding more Livings than one allowed by the Church of England for the Incouragement of worthy and eminent Divines makes room for many Curates So we call those who officiate in those Churches where such as hold Plurality of Livings do not Keep their Residence These Curates are such Clergy-men as they think fit to appoint in their places with such an Allowance as is agreed upon amongst themselves The Condition of Vicars is much the same as that of Curates if not worse These properly officiate in those Livings which are called Impropriations of which there are in England no less than 3845. For above a third part of the best Benefices of England being anciently by the Popes Grant appropriated to Monasteries towards their Maintenance were upon the Dissolution of the Monasteries made Lay-fees Which Benefices ever since have been accordingly provided not with the best Allowances nor with the best of the Clergy Amongst the Priviledges of the Clergy this is one of the principal that all Deans Arch-Deacons Prebendaries Rectors and Vicars may some by themselves others by Proxy or by Representative sit and vote as Commons Spiritual in the Lower House of Convocation No Subsidies or other Tax to the King might formerly be laid upon them without their own Consent first had in Convocation And indeed the Clergy paying to the King the first Fruits that is the first Years Profits of all Spiritual Benefices and yearly the Tenth of all the said Benefices 't was thought but reasonable they should be exempted from all other Taxes Though to give the Laity good Example they have often laid upon themselves Subsidies and other great Taxes The Glebe-Lands and Spiritual Revenues of Clergy-men being held in pura perpetua Eleemosyna that is as the Law calls it in Frankalmoine are exempted from arraying and Mustering of Men or Horses for the War And as by their Function they are prohibited to wear any Arms therefore they cannot serve personally in War But they serve their Country otherwise by being our Leaders in our Spiritual Warfare Neither can any Clergy-man be compelled to undergo any other Personal Functions or Services in the Common-wealth For if any Man by reason of his Land be liable to be elected to any Servile Office if he takes Orders he is free and there lies a Writ purposely to free him Clergy-Men are not obliged to appear at Sheriffs Turns or Courts-Leet there to take their Oath of Allegiance By Magna Charta no Clergy-man ought to he Fined or Amerced according to his Spiritual Means but according to his Temporal Estate and to the Crime committed The Goods of Clergy-men are discharged by the Common Law of England from Tolls and Customs of Average Pontage Murage and Panage for which they have the King 's Writ to discharge them provided they don 't trade with them All Clergy-men are free from the King's Purveyors Carriages Post c. for which they may demand a Protection from the King with the Clause Nolumus As to the whole Number of the Clergy in England besides the two Archbishops and the twenty four Bishops there are 26 Deans of Cathedral and Collegiate Churches 576 Prebendaries 9653 Rectors and Vicars besides as many more Curates and others in holy Orders In point of Learning and good exemplary Life England I dare say is outdone by no Clergy in the Christian World If amongst the Inferiour Clergy there be some ignorant lewd Livers the dignified Clergy and the Episcopal Colledge are generally Men noted both for their great Piety and deep Learning And the late Scuffle they had with the Romanists in so difficult a Juncture as King James his Reign as it has sufficiently shewn the greatness of their Parts and the Depth of their Learning so it expressed to the World their strong and invincible Zeal for the Protestant Religion and the gross Mistake of Dissenters that lookt upon them as broad-faced Papists Nothing troubles me more than to see some of the Clergy so much infatuated as to indeavour to defeat as far as in them lies the late signal Providence that rescued us so wonderfully from Popery and Slavery I do not reflect upon those who remain quiet under their Scruples of Conscience and are not so far disturbed in their Mind as to disturb the Government But to see some so low-spirited as to fall a hugging their old Enemies the French and admire them as their Tutelar Angels who were but 'tother Day the greatest Object of their Scorn and Contempt this affords
matter of admiration 'T is pretty to see the Temper of these Men and those they have infected all made up of Contradictions They hate their Friends and love their Enemies They deride Popery and yet do their utmost to bring it in None more averse than they from Slavery but leave no Stone unturned to work it into these Kingdoms Whose Condition is like that of a Sick Person that longs for Health and yet is greedy to catch at any Thing that pleases his Fancy let it prove never so fatal The Truth is 't is nothing else in the bottom but a malignant Humour that causes Inflammation and strikes up to the Brain lately a catching but now thanks be to God a vanishing Disease I conclude with the Parish-Church Officers which are indeed Lay-men but as they have a peculiar Relation to the Church they may be counted to be half-Clergy-men The Church-Wardens amongst these are the principal Whose Office is to see that the Church be in good Repair and want nothing for Divine Service c. That the Church-yard be well inclosed and an exact Terrier of the Glebe-Land be Kept They are also to sue for any Thing Kept from the Church that is of right belonging to it to inquire after admonish and present to the Bishop scandalous Livers and to collect the Charity of the Parishioners The Bishops Orders they are both to declare and to execute They serve commonly two Years in that Station and Easter-Week is the time for their Election Usually they are elected by the Parson and the Parishioners where it is so agreed If not the Parson chuses one and the Parishioners the other In some great Parishes there are joyned Sidesmen to the Church-Wardens to assist them in the Inquiries into the Lives of inordinate Livers and in presenting Offenders at Visitations Next is the Clerk whose Office is to serve at Church the Priest and Church-Wardens He ought to be at least 20 Years old and a Man of good Life and Conversation that can read write and sing Psalms the tuning whereof is part of his Office He is commonly chosen by the Parson only In many Parishes there is also one Sexton or more So we call those that attend the Parishioners at Church and let them into their Pews Which in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches is commonly performed by the Vergers so called from a Silver Verge which they carry in their hands To take care of the Parish-Concerns both Civil and Ecclesiastical a great Power is by Law committed to the Vestry-men So called from the Vestry a Room adjoyning to the Church for the Use of the Parson and Parish-Officers They are a select Number of the chief Parishioners in every Parish within the City of London and Suburbs and elsewhere who yearly chuse Officers for the Parish as Church-Wardens Constables Scavengers Collectors for the Poor c. The Beadle's is a standing Office CHAP. XXV Of Women ALL Women in England are either Noble or Ignoble The first are so by Descent Creation or Marriage By Descent as when a Lady holds an Estate by a noble Title For Titles of Honour sometimes for want of Males do descend to Females But only to one of them because they are Things in their own nature intire and not to be divided amongst many as the Lands and Tenements are which descend in equal Proportion to all the Daughters By Creation some Women have been made at the King's pleasure Baronesses Countesses and Dutchesses But the greatest Part of the English Noblewomen are so only by Marriage all Women being counted Noble that are married to any Peer of the Realm And so as the Law says Uxor fulget Radiis Mariti Yet if afterwards they marry to Men not Noble they lose by Law their former Dignity and follow their latter Husbands Condition though by the Courtesy of England they are still lookt upon and respected as Noble and called by the Name of the former Husband But Women Noble by Descent or Birth-right or by Creation retain by Law their Nobility tho they Marry afterwards to Husbands under their Degree 'T is observable that any Noble-woman by Birth being married to a Baron takes place but as Baroness though she be a Duke's Daughter But if she marry to one under the Degree of a Nobleman as to a Knight or Gentleman the Courtesy of England gives her place according to her Birth and not her Husbands Condition A Noble-woman marrying to an Ignoble Man adds no Honour to him Her Honour is all hers and he has no share in it though by Marriage he becomes Master of all her Goods and Chattels But her Dignities with the Lands descend to her next Heir Noble-women in the Eye of the Law are Peers of the Realm and accordingly they injoy most of the Priviledges of Peers But it is thought they cannot maintain an Action upon the Statute De Scandalo Magnatum As happy as the Condition of married Women is generally all over England yet the Laws of this Kingdom are in the main very severe upon them For when a Woman marries she gives her self over and what she brings with her to the power of her Husband Whatever she is possessed of the Husband becomes the Proprietor of it and her very necessary Apparel is not hers in Propriety If she has any Tenure it is all in Capite that is she holds it of and by her Husband who is the Head of his Wife And all the Chattels personal she had at the Marriage are so much her Husbands that he dying before her they shall not return to his Wife but go with his other Goods and Chattels to the Husband's Executor or Administrator Except the Paraphernalia that is those Goods which a Wife besides her Dower or Joynture is after her Husbands Death allowed to have as Furniture for her Chamber wearing Apparel and Jewels if she be of quality which are not to be put into her Husband's Inventory especially in the Province of York The Wife can make no Contract without her Husband's Consent and without it she cannot set sell give away or alienate any Thing So great is her Subjection to her Husband's Will that in the Sense of the Law she has no Will of her own Therefore when a Man and his Wife commit a Felony together the Wife can neither be Principal nor Accessory the Law supposing she was forced thereunto in regard of the Subjection and Obedience she ows to her Husband In short by the Law of England a Wife is so much in the Power of her Husband that she is no better than a Child or the best of Servants For she can call nothing her own more than a Child whom his Father suffers to call many Things his own yet can dispose of nothing And when she offends 't is in her Husband's Power to correct her as a Servant Therefore if she wrong another by her Tongue on by Trespass her Husband must answer for her Fault and make Satisfaction But a
the Fee He is free to consent to Marriage and may by Will dispose of Goods and Chattels At the Age of 15 he ought to be Sworn to his Allegiance to the King at 21 he is said to be of full Age. Then he is free to make any Contracts and to pass by Will both Goods and Lands which in other Countries may not be done till the Age of 25 called Annus Consistentiae A Daughter at the Age of 7 Years may consent to Marriage but at 12 she is free to retract or confirm it If she confirms it then the Marriage is good and she may make a Will of Goods and Chattels At 21 she may Contract or Alienate her Lands by Will or otherwise Servants in England are either tied to a certain Number of Years or only by the Year these being free to quit their Service at such a Warning as is agreed upon between the Master or the Mistris and the Servant By those that are tied to a certain Number of Years I mean Apprentices the usual Time for their Apprentiship being 7 Years This is the most Servile Condition in England considering the Lash they ly under together with their long and strict Confinement under Articles And whereas other Servants receive Wages for their Service these commonly do pay a Sum of Mony to their Masters for their Prenticeship The Condition of other Servants is much easier all over England For besides that few undergo the Hardship that Prentices do they may be free at the Years end giving 3 Months Warning and if a Servant do not like one Master he may go to another where perhaps he may find more favour or advantage But before a Person ventures upon such a Servant 't is civil first to get his former Masters Leave and prudential to have from him a testimony of his faithfulness and diligence Now there are so many Degrees of Serâants in England that if some live meanly there are others who live genteely and some of these so splendidly as to keep Servants of their own In great Families where a Person of quality makes a proper Figure and has a sutable Attendance there is a necessary Subordination of Servants so that the Inferiour Servants may be at the beck of their Superiour Officers to answer the several parts of their respective Duties Thus a great Man lives like a Prince and Keeps a Court of his own In general it may be said no Country is more favourable than England to Servants who generally live here with more ease and less Subjection and have larger Salaries than any where else The truth is if we consider the nature of a Servant how by going to Service he devests himself of what is dearest to Mankind his Liberty and Subjects his Will to another who sometimes proves magget-headed cruel or tyrannical I think it but reasonable to have a tender Regard for good Servants For this amongst other Things was that great Man of Spain Cardinal Ximenes so noted in his time who proved so bountiful and so generous a Master to his Servants that History to this day does admire him for it As for stubborn and unruly Servants the Law of England gives Masters and Mistresses Power to correct them and Resistance in a Servant is punished with severe Penalty But for a Servant to Kill his Master or Mistris is so high a Crime that it is counted Petty Treason or a Crime next to High Treason Since Christianity prevailed here England admits of no forein Slaves In forein Plantations indeed the English as other Nations buy and sell Negro's as Slaves But a forein Slave brought over into England is upon Landing ipso facto free from Slavery though not from ordinary Service 'T is true there has been a sort of Tenure here called a Tenure in Villenage and the Tenant Villain who was in effect a Bond-man to the Lord of the Land For the Lord might take Redemption of him to marry his Daughter and to make him free He might put him out of his Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels at his Will and might beat and chastise but not maim him Now such Villains are out of date though the Law concerning them stands unrepealed to this day Servorum Nativorum says Spelman apud nos sublata est Conditio quas ideo possidebant Terras vel Praedia hodie libere tenent sub antiquae Servitutis Consuetudinibus And Sir Edward Coke out of Fortescue has this Note Impius Crudelis judicandus qui Libertati non favet for which he gives this as the Reason of it Anglia Jura in omni Casu dant favorem Libertati the Laws of England in all Cases stand for Liberty The End of the Second Part. THE THIRD PART OF THE New State OF ENGLAND Under Their MAJESTIES K. William and Q. Mary CONTAINING A Description of the several Courts of Judicature Viz. The highest Court of Parliament Privy Council and all other Courts with a Catalogue of the present Officers in Church and State London Printed in the Year 1691. THE NEW STATE OF ENGLAND PART III. Of the Courts of Judicature CHAP. I. Of the Parliament of England THE High Court of Parliament being the Great Council of England the Supreme Court of Judicature and One of the most August Assemblies the World is the Court that I am to speak in the first place It came to be called Parliament from the French Parlement and this from their Verb Parler to speak or talk together The same is taken in a two-fold Sense First as it includes the Legislative Power of England as when we say an Act of Parliament In which Acceptation it includes the King Lords and Commons each of which have a Negative Voice in making Laws so that without their joynt Consent no Law can by either abrogated or made Secondly in a Vulgar Sense as when we say the King and Parliament or the King has called a Parliament by which is meant the Two Houses viz. the House of Lords and the House of Commons This Court is a Body Corporate consisting according to the first Acceptation of the Word of the Three Estates of the Realm And though the Name Parliament by which it is now called be not probably older than the Conquest by William Duke of Normandy yet 't is made plain by ancient Records and Precedents that the former Kings of England even in the Saxons-time had from time to time great National Councils much of the same nature as our Parliaments In the Saxons Time says Lambard the great Council of the Nation consisted of the King Lords and Commons It is most apparent says Prinn by all the old Precedents before the Conquest that all our ancienâ Councils were nothing else but Parliaments called by different Names in several Ages till at lasâ that of Parliament was fixed upon them and that our Kings Nobles Senators Aldermen Wisemen Knights and Commons were usuall present and voted there as Members and Judge The same is averred
by many Records anâ Precedents touching this Matter in the Appendix to Petyt's Miscellanea Parliamentaria Which does not quadrate with the Opinion of those who have affirmed that there was never any Parliament in England according to the present Constitution thereof till the Reign of Henry III that is betwixt four and five hundred Years since and that the grand Council consisted only of the great Men of the Nation till that King was pleased to call the Commons to sit also in Parliament The Power of Convening or Calling a Parliament is solely in the King But if the King be under Age or not Compos Mentis or Absent out of the Realm upon some Expedition 't is lodged in the Protector or Regent who then summons the Parliament but still in the King's Name The Summons ought to be at least 40 Days before the Day appointed for the Meeting and it is done by Writ in Law-Latin expressing that it is with the Advice of the Privy Council Which Writ is a kind of short Letter directed and sent by the Lord Chancellour or Commissioners of the Chancery to every Lord Spiritual and Temporal to appear at a certain Time and Place to treat and give their Advice in some important Affairs concerning the Church and State c. And as for the House of Commons Writs are sent to all the Sheriffs commanding them to summon the People to elect two Knights for each County two Citizens for each City and one or two Burgesses for each Borough according to Statute Charter or Custom And whereas there are some Cities and Towns that are Counties of themselves or that have each within it self the Priviledge of a County the Writ is directed to them as it is to Sheriffs of other Counties At every County after the Delivery of the Parliament Writ to the Sheriffs Proclamation is made in the full County of the Day and Place appointed for the Parliament to sit and for all Freeholders to attend such a Time and Place for the Election of the Knights for that County But the Sheriff ought to give a convenient Time for the Day of Election and sufficient Warning to those that have Voices that they may be present Otherwise the Election is not good if for want of due Notice part of the Electors be absent Now by an Act in the Reign of Henry VI it was Ordained that none should have any Suffrage in the Election of the Knights of the Shire but such as were Freeholders did reside in the County and had a yearly Revenue at least to the Value of 40 Shillings which before the Discovery of the Gold and Silver in America was as much as 30 l. now And the Sheriff has Power by the said Act to examine upon Oath every such Chuser how much he may expend by the Year if he doubt the value of it If any Man keep a Houshold in one County and remain in Service with another Family in another County yet he may be at the Chusing of Knights of the Shire where he Keeps his Family for it shall be said in Law a Dwelling in that County The Election ought to be in full County between 8 and 9 of the Clock according to Statute And no Election says the Lord Coke can be made of any Knight of the Shire but between 8 and 11 of the Clock in the Forenoon But if the Election be begun within the Time and cannot be determined within those Hours the Election may be proceeded upon Before Election can be made or Voices given the Precept directed to the Sheriff ought to be read and published And if the Party or Freeholders demand the Poll the Sheriff ought not to deny the Scrutiny for he cannot discern who be Freeholders by the View In short of so many as stand for Competitors the two that have most Voices are declared to be duly elected for the insuing Parliament Plurality of Voices does likewise carry it for Citizens that stand for Cities and Burgesses for Boroughs Where in some Places none but Freeholders have a Right of Election in others all Housholders have a share in it And though no Alien can be a Parliament Man yet if he be a Housholder his Voice is good as in the Election of the Members for the City of Westminster A Burgess elected for two several Boroughs as it sometimes happens must wave one Election when he comes to the House and chuse for which Place of the two he will serve so as a Writ may issue for a new Election that the Number may be full All Elections ought to be freely and indifferently made notwithstanding any Prayer or Command to the contrary Or else the Parliament is not as it should be free 'T is true the Elections can never be so free as not to be liable to the Temptations of private Interest or the Influence of Feasting two unavoidable Evils Yet it does not follow but that a Parliament may be called Free when the Court has no hand in the Elections by such unlawful Methods as were used in the late Reign by Closetting by fair Promises and foul Threats The Returns concerning the Parties chosen are made in the Crown-Office by the Sheriffs Mayors or Bayliffs whom the Writs were sent to and to whom it belongs to manage the Elections Upon a false Return which happens but too frequently the Sheriff who made the Return is liable to the Forfeiture of 100 l. to the King and 100 l. more to the Party injured and to be Imprisoned for a Year without Bail or Mainprize And every Mayor or Magistrate of a Town so offending is to pay 40 l. to the King and as much to the Party This Action to be within 3 Months after the Parliament commenced by the Party injured or by any other Man who will In the mean time the Party returned remains a Member of the House till his Election be declared void by the same For denying the Poll when required also for advising and abetting the same the guilty Party has been adjudged by the House to stand Committed to the Sergeant during Pleasure to pay all due Fees to defray the Charge of Witnesses to be Assessed by four of the Committee to acknowledge his Offence upon his Knees at the Bar and read a Submission This was the Case of Thomson Sheriff of York and his Abettor Alderman Henlow in the Reign of Charles I. The Persons to be Elected as the fittest to answer the true Interest of the Nation ought to be Sober Understanding Well-principled and Well-affected to the establish'd Government by Law If Men of Estates it is so much the better such Men being supposed to be less Corruptible But this is left to the Peoples Choice 'T is true that by Law such as stand for Knights of the Shire ought to be Knights Esquires or Gentlemen fit to be made Knights By the Statute none ought to be chosen a Burgess of a Town in which he do's not inhabit But the Usage of
72 Earls 9 Viscounts 65 Barons and 26 Spiritual Lords whereof 2 Arch-bishops and 24 Bishops But the King may by virtue of his Prerogative increase the Number of the Peers to sit and vote in their House as Barons by sending his Writs for that pupose to whomsoever His Majesty thinks fit for that Service The Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper when there is one is of course the Speaker of this House Otherwise they may appoint any of their own Members or else one of the Judges for that Place as in the Case of their late Speaker the Right Honourable the Marquis of Hallifax and that of Sir Robert Atkins Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer the present Speaker of the House of Lords Besides the first Wool-sack which is the usual Seat for the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper there are other Wool-sacks Upon which the Judges the Kings Council at Law and the Masters of Chancery not being Barons sit not to give their Suffrage but only their Advice when required thereto The Use of which Wool-sacks is probably to put them in mind of the great Advantages the English Wool has brought to this Nation so that it may never be neglected On the lowermost Wool sack are placed the Clerk of the Crown and Clerk of the Parliament The first being concerned in all Writs of and Pardons in Parliament and the other in keeping the Records of all Things passed therein Under this there are two Clerks who kneeling behind the Wool-sack write upon it Without the Bar of the House sits the Black Rod so called from a black Stick he carries in his hand who is as it were the Messenger of this House For he is imploy'd amongst other Things to call for the House of Commons to the House of Lords upon His Majesties Command and to his Custody are Committed all such Peers as the House things fit to Commit upon any Trespass Under him is a Yeoman Vsher that waits at the Door within a Crier without and a Sergeant at Mace always attending the Speaker The House of Commons otherwise called the Lower house is by much the greater Body of the two For as England consists of 40 Counties in which there are 25 Cities 8 Cinque-Ports 2 Universities and 168 Borough-Towns all which are Priviledged to send Members to Parâament if we reckon two Members from each the Whole amounts to 486 Members To which adding 24 from Wales the Whole is 510. 'T is true there are three Boroughs in England each of which sends but one Member viz. Abington in Oxfordshire Higham-Ferrers in Northamptonshire and Bewdley in Worcestershire But these three wanting of the Number are made up by the City of London which sends four Members and by the City of Bath which sends three Of all this great Number many are usually absent upon Business or Sickness c. So that if they be three hundred met together 't is counted a pretty full House And if they be but forty Members in all they make a house This House representing the whole Commons of the Realm do's generally consist of the Flower of the Gentry some of them Noblemens Sons Privy Counsellors Courtiers Men learned in the Law Officers and Commanders Merchants c. but most of them Gentlemen of good Estates with the advantage of a liberal and genteel Education This is an aggregate Body from all Parts of the Nation whose Learning and Eloquence Wit and Policy strive to outdo each other A âoble School for young Gentlemen chiefly to be versed in Things relating to the English Government Here they Sit promiscuously except the âpeaker who has a Chair placed about the middle of the Room with a Table before him the Clerk of the House sitting near him at the Table But none wears a Robe but the Speaker except as I hinted before the Members of Parliament for the City of London who at their first Meeting appear in their Scarlet Robes Every Member wears what he fancies most and so do the Temporal Lords in their House on all Days when the King comes not thither in State To Strangers I confess it looks something odd that so august an Assembly vested with a Legislative Power and met together for the Exercise of the same should have no proper Garb for so great a Council but appear in their usual Dress But Custom has so far prevailed against the Inconveniencies that attend those Formalities which the English Nebility and Gentry are generally averse from that they are not like to be ever ballanced by the Respect and Veneration that might be gained as in forein Countries by the small trouble of them The usual Time for the Meeting of each House is in the Forenoon from eight or nine a clock till twelve or one except Sundays high Festivals and Fast-Days These Things being premised my next Business is to speak about the Choice of the Speaker of the House of Commons Who is the Mouth of the House and so necessary a Part thereof that they can do no Business without him For 't is the Speakers Part to see the Orders of the House observed to state the Bills that are brought in to collect the Substance of the Debates and the Sense of the House upon them The fitst Day each Member is called by his Name every one answering for what Place he serveth That done a Motion is made to chuse their Speaker who ought to be a Person of great Ability and is usually one of the long Robe And to avoid all Delays the Choice is commonly such as the King approves of This Choice is made by the Plurality of Votes Upon which the Party chosen desires according to ancient Custom to be excused from so weighty an Office and prays the House to proceed to a new Election But he is commonly answered with a full Consent of Voices upon his Name And then two of the principal Members go to him and lead him from his Place to the Speakers Chair where being set they return to their Places Then the Speaker rises and makes a short Speech to the House consisting of his humble Thanks for their good Opinion of him with Promises of his best Indeavours for their Service At the Day appointed for his Presentation to the King which is usually the next Day His Majesty being come to the House of Lords in his Royal Robes and the Lords also in their Robes the Commons are called in Who being come the Speaker is brought between two of them with low Obeysance to the Bar and so presented at the Bar to His Majesty where he makes likewise a modest Refusal But the King approving the Commons Choice and not allowing of his Excuse the Speaker nakes an Oration to His Majesty the Matter whereof is left to his own Thoughts having âo Direction about it from the Commons But it usually ends with these three Petitions First that the Commons may have during their Sitting a free Acess to His Majesty Secondly Freedom of Speech in their
c. There are also in every County commonly four Officers called Coroners vulgarly pronounced Crowners because they deal principally with Pleas of the Crown or Matters concerning the Crown His Office is to Inquire by a Jury of Neighbours how and by whom any Person came by a violent Death and to enter the same upon Record And whereas the Sheriff in his Turn may inquire of all Felonies by the Common Law except a Mans Death the Coroner can inquire of no Felony but of the Death of Man and that super visum Corporis upon view of the Body Which Inquisition of Death taken by him he ought to deliver at the next Goal-Delivery or certify the same into the Kings Bench. Therefore he ought to put in writing the âffect of the Evidence given to the Jury beâore him and has power to bind over Witnesses to the next Goal-Delivery in that Counây For doing his Office he is to take nothing âpon grievous Forfeiture But by 3 H. 7. he ãâã to have upon an Inditement of Murder 13 s. d. of the Goods of the Murderer But besides his Judicial he has likewise a âinisterial Power as a Sheriff As when there ãâã just Exception taken to the Sheriff Judicial Process shall be awarded to the Coroners for the execution of the Kings Writs in which Cases he is locum tenens Vicecomitis or supplies the Sheriffs place And in some special Case the Kings Original Writ shall be immediately directed unto him There are as I said before commonly four of these Officers in every County of England But Cheshire has but two and each Shire in Wales has no more The same are chosen by the Freeholders of the County by virtue of a Writ out of the Chancery and continue notwithstanding the Demise of the King in their Office Which was of old in so great esteem that none could have it under the degree of a Knight And by the Writ De Coronatore eligendo the Party to be chosen must have sufficient Knowledge and Ability to execute this Office which is implied in these Words Et talem eligi facias qui melius sciat possit Officio illi intendere After he is elected the Sheriff is to take his Oath only to execute his Office And the Court which he holdeth is a Court of Record Every County also has an Officer called Clerk of the Market Whose Office is to keep a Standard of all Weights and Measures exactly according to the Kings Standard kepâ in the Exchequer and to see that none other be used in the same County He is to seal aâ Weights and Measures made exactly by thâ Standard in his Custody and to burn such a are otherwise He has a Court wherein hââ may keep and hold a Plea CHAP. VIII Of Mayors and Aldermen Bailiffs Stewards and their respective Courts with an Account of the Constables Every City of England says Dr. Chamberlain is by their Charters or Priviledges granted by several Kings a little Common-wealth apart governed not as the ââties of France and Spain by a Nobleman ãâã Gentleman placed there by the King but wholly by themselves For in Cities the Citizens chuse themselves for their Governour Mayor commonly out of 12 Aldermen And ân some other Corporations a Bayliff is chosen âf a certain Number of Burgesses The Mayor is the Kings Lieutenant and âuring his Mayoralty which is but for one âear is in a manner a Judge to determine âatters and to mitigate the Rigour of the ââw Therefore he keeps a Court with his âethren the Aldermen With these and the âommon Council he can make By-Laws for âe better Government of the City provided ââey be not repugnant to the known Laws of ââe Realm So that the Mayor Aldermen ââd Common Council assembled are in a manner an Image of the King Lords and Commons convened in Parliament If the Citizens be Taxed 't is by themselves or their Representatives every Trade having some of their own Members always of the Council to see that nothing be enacted to their Prejudice But the Sheriffs have also a good share in the Government of Cities as being the proper Judges of Civil Causes within the same and the principal Officers appointed to see all Executions done whether Penal or Capital As every County of England is divided into Hundreds so the King's Subjects formerly had Justice ministred to them by Officers of Hundreds called Bayliffs who might hold Plea of Appeal and Approvers But in the Reign of Edward III these Hundred Courts certain Franchises excepted were dissolved into the County-Courts Yet there are still divers considerable Towns the chief Magistrates whereof have retained the name of Bayliff as Ipswich Yarmouth Colchester c. Where the Bayliff's Authority is the same with the Mayor's in other Places and they keep Courts accordingly The Truth is they differ in nothing but the Name For the Mayor of London before the Reign of Richard the First was called the Bayliff of London So King John following the Example of Richard made the Bayliff of Kings Lynn a Mayor in the year 1204 and Henry V. made the Bayliff of Norwich a Mayor Annoââ 1419. But there are others to whom the name of Bayliff is still appropriate as the Bayliff of Dover Castle that is the Governour thereof There be likewise Bayliffs of Mannors or Husbandry such as have the Oversight of Under-Servants to private Men of great Substance that set every Man to his Labour and Task gather the Profits to their Lord and Master and give him an Account thereof The vilest sort of Bayliffs to this day are those Officers that serve Writs and Arrest People by virtue thereof And these are of two Sorts Bayliffs Errants and Bayliffs of Franchises The first are such as the Sheriff makes and appoints to go any where in the County to serve Writs to summon the County Sessions Assizes and such like Bayliffs of Franchises be those that are appointed by every Lord of a Mannor to do such Offices within his Liberty as the Bayliff Errant doth at large in the County By Stewards I mean here such as are Imployed by some Lords of Mannors to hold their Courts called Court-Leet or View of Frank-pledge the word Leet signifying properly a Law-Day This is a Court of Record not incident to every Mannor but to those only which by special Grant or long Prescription hold the same For 't is likely Kings did not intrust any with this Power but such as they had great Kindness for and Confidence in To this Court those that are within the Homage and sometimes those out of it are called to Swear Fidelity to the Prince Here also Inquiry is made of Privy Conspiracies Frays Bloodshed and Murders To which was added the Oversight of Measures And what Offences are found especially great ones ought to be Certified to the Justices of Assize by a Statute made in the Reign of Edward III. For in whose Mannor soever this Court be Kept it is accounted
Carteret Lord Carteret John Bennet Lord Ossulston George Legg Lord Dartmouth Giles Allington Lord Allington John Stawell Lord Stawell Francis North Lord Guilford âidney Godolphin Lord Godolphin âlenry Jermin Lord Dover âohn Jeffreys Lord Jeffreys âenry Waldegrave Lord Waldegrave âdward Griffin Lord Griffin Hugh Cholmondley Lord Cholmondley John Ashburnham Lord Ashburnham Archbishops 2 and Bishops 24. Dr. William Sandcroft Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Thomas Lampleugh Lord Archbishop of York Dr. Henry Compton L. Bishop of London Dr. Nathaniel Crew L. Bishop of Durham Dr. Peter Mew L. Bishop of Winchester Dr. Herbert Crofts L. Bishop of Hereford Dr. Thomas Wood L. Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry Dr. William Lloyd L. Bishop of Norwich Dr. Thomas Barlow L. Bishop of Lincoln Dr. William Beau L. Bishop of Landaff Dr. William Lloyd L. Bishop of S. Asaph Dr. Robert Frampton L. Bishop of Glocester Dr. Francis Turner L. Bishop of Ely Dr. Thomas Smith L. Bishop of Carlisle Dr. Thomas Sprat L. Bishop of Rochester Dr. Thomas Ken L. Bishop of Bath and Wells Dr. Thomas White L. Bishop of Peterborough * Dr. Jonathan Trelawney L. Bishop of Exeter Dr. Thomas Watson L. Bishop of S. Davids * Dr. Gilbert Burnet L. Bishop of Salisbury * Dr. Humphry Humphrys L. Bishop of Bangor * Dr. Nicholas Stratford L. Bishop of Chester * Dr. Edward Stillingfleet L. Bishop of Worcester * Dr. Simon Patrick L. Bishop of Chichester * Dr. Gilbert Ironside L. Bishop of Bristol * Dr. John Hough L. Bishop of Oxford 1. Note That the Lord President of the Council takes place of all Dukes not of the Royal Bloud 2. That the Lord Great Chamberlain of England the Lord Steward of the Kings Houshold and the Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold take place above all of their Degree 3. That the Archbishop of Canterbury takes place next to the Princes of the Blood and above all the Nobility and Great Officers The Archbishop of York above all the Nobility and Great Officers except the Lord Keeper and the rest of the Bishops next after the Viscounts and above the Temporal Barons Whereof the Bishops of London Durham and Winchester do always precede the other Bishops the rest taking place according to the Seniority of their Consecrations A True List of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Parliament at Westminster in October 1690. Bedfordshire 4. THE Honourable Edward Russel Esq Thomas Browne Esq Town of Bedford Thom. Hillersdon Esq Thom. Christie Esq Berks 9. Sir Hen. Winchcombe Bar. Sir Humfrey Forster Bar. Borough of New-Windsor Sir Charles Porter Knt. William Adderly Esq Borough of Reading Sir William Rich Bar. Sir Henry Fane Kt of the Bath Borough of Wallingford William Jennens Esq John Wallis Esq Borough of Abington Simon Harcourt Esq Bucks 14. The Right Honourable Tho. Wharton Esq The Right Honourable Rich. Hambden Esq Town of Buckingham Sir Richard Temple Knight and Baronet Alexander Denton Esq Borough of Chipping-Wicomb William Jephson Esq Thom Lewes Jun. Esq Porough of Ayliâbury Sir Thomas Lee Bar. Thomas Lee Esq Borough of Agmondesham Will. Mountague Esq Edmond Waller of Beconsfield Esq Borough of Wendover Richard Beake Esq John Backwell Esq Borough of Great Marlow James Chase Esq Sir Will. Whitelocke Knt. Cambridge 6. Sir Levinus Bennet Bar. Sir Robert Cotton Knt. University of Cambridge Sir Robert Sawyer Kt. The Honourable Edward Finch Esq Town of Cambridge Sir John Cotton Bar. Granado Pigott Esq Chester 4. Sir John Mainwaring Bar. Sir Robert Cotton Kt. and Bar. City of Chester Sir Thomas Grosvenor Bar. Richard Leving Esq Cornwal 44. The Honourable Francis Robert Esq The Right Honourable Hugh Boscowen Esq Borough of Dunhivid alias Launceston The Right Honourable Will. Harbord Esq The Honourable Bernard Granville Esq Borough of Leskard Sir Bourchier Wray Kt. of the Bath and Bar. Emanuel Pyper Esq Brough of Lestwithiel Sir Bevill Grenville Kt. Walter Kendall Esq Borough of Truro Sir Henry Ashurst Bar. Henry Vincent Esq Borough of Bodmin Sir John Cutler Kt. and Bar. Nicholas Glynn Esq Borough of Helston Sir John St. Aubin Bar. Charles Godolphin Esq Borough of Saltash Sir John Carew Bar. Richard Carew Esq Borough of Camelford Ambrose Manaton Esq Henry Manaton Esq Borough of Port-Higham alias Westlow Edward Sevmour Esq Jonathan Trelawny Es Borough of Grampound John Tanner Esq Walter Vincent Esq Borough of Eastlow Charles Trelawny Esq Henry Trelawny Esq Borough of Peryn Sidney Godolphin Esq Alexander Pendarvi Esq Borough of Tregony Sir John Tremaine Kt. Serjeant at Law Hugh Fortescue Esq Borough of Bossiny Samuel Travers Esq Sir Peter Colleton Bar. Borough of St. Ives James Praed Esq William Harris Esq Borough of Foway Jonathan Rashleigh Esq Shadrach Vincent Esq Borough of St. Germans Daniel Elliot Esq Henry Fleming Esq Borough of St. Michael Francis Scobell Esq Humph. Courtney Esq Borough of Newport The Right Honourable Charles Lord Cheyne John Speccot Esq Borough of St. Maws Sir Joseph Tredenham Kt. John Tredenham Esq Borough of Kellington Francis Fulford Esq Cumberland 6. Sir George Fletcher Bar. Sir John Lowther of Whitehaven Bar. City of Carlisle Jeremiah Bubb Esq Christopher Musgrave Esq Borough of Cocker-mouth Sir Orlando Gee Kt. Sir Wilfred Lawson Bar. Derby 4. Sir Gilbert Clarke Kt. Henry Gilbert Esq Town of Derby The Honourable Anchitel Gray Esq Robert Wilmot Esq Devonshire 26. Francis Courtney Esq Samuel Rolle Esq City of Exeter Sir Edward Seymour Bar. Christopher Bale Esq Borough of Tornes Sir John Powell Bar. Henry Seymour Esq Borough of Plimouth The Honourable John Greenville Esq Borough of Oakhampton William Cary Esq Henry Nortleigh Esq Borough of Branstable The Right Honourable Sir George Hutchins Kt. Arth. Champneys Esq Borough of Plimpton Sir George Treby Kt. John Pollexsen Esq Borough of Honiton Sir William Drake Kt. and Bar. Sir Walter Yonge Bar. Borough of Tavistock The Honourable Robert Russel Esq Sir Francis Drake Bar Borough of Ashburton Sir Richard Reynel Kt. and Bar. William Stawell Esq Borough of Clifton Dartmouth and Hardness Sir Joseph Herne Kt. William Hayne Esq Borough of Beralston Sir Francis Drake Bar. John Swinfen Esq Borough of Tiverton Samuel Foote Esq Thomas Bere Esq Dorsetshire 20. Thomas Strangeways Esq Thomas Freke Esq Town of Pole Sir Nathaniel Napier Kt. and Bar. Sir John Trenchard Kt. Borough of Dorchester Sir Robert Nappier Kt. and Bar. James Gould Esq Borough of Lime Regis Henry Henley Esq John Burridge Esq Borough of Weymouth Sir John Morton Bar. Michal Harvey Esq Borough of Melcomb Regis Henry Henning Esq Nicholas Gould Esq Borough of Bridport John Michel Esq Sir Stephen Evance Kt. Borough of Snafton alias Shaftsbury Sir Matthew Andrews Kt. Edward Nicholas Esq Borough of Wareham Thomas Erle Esq William Okeden Esq Borough of Corf-Castle Richard Fownes Esq William Culliford Esq Durham 4. Sir Robert Eden Bar. William Lambton Esq City of Durham William Tempest Esq George Morland Esq Essex 8. Henry Mildmay Esq Sir Fran. Masham Bar. Borough of Colchester Samuel Reynolds Esq Edward Cary Esq Borough
Lieutenant General Sir Henry Goodrick Kt. and Bar. Surveyor John Charleton Esq Clerk of the Ordnance Sir Thomas Littleton Kt. Keeper of the Stores Thomas Gardiner Esq Clerk of the Deliveries Philip Musgrave Esq Assistant Surveyor William Boulter Esq Treasurer or Pay-master Charles Bertie Esq Master Gunner Capt. Richard Leak Principal Engineer Sir Martin Beckman Kt. Keeper of the small Guns Mr. Charles Beaumont The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty and of the Admirals The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty The Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery The Earl of Carbery Sir Michael Wharton Bat. Sir Thomas Lee Bat. Sir John Chichley Bat. Sir John Lowther Bat. William Sacheveril Esq Admirals Sir Richard Haddock Kt. Henry Killigrew Esq Sir John Ashby Kt. A List of the Commissioners and other Principal Officers belonging to the Navy The Commissioners Sir Richard Haddock Kt. Charles Sergison Esq Sir John Tippet Kt. Sir Richard Beach Kt. The Treasurer Edward Russel Esq Comptroller Sir Richard Haddock Kt. Surveyor Sir John Tippet Kt. Clerk of the Acts Charles Sergison Esq Victuallers of the Navy Thomas Papilion Simon Macne John Agur Humphrey Ayles and James How Esquires Commissioners for Sick and Wounded Seamen and exchange of Prisoners of War Thomas Addison Esq Edward Leigh Esq Anthony Shepherd Esq John Starkey Esq Of the Martial Court THis Court you have too short an Account of in my Third Part Page 91. I therefore beg leave here to inlarge upon it 'T is called the Martial or Military Court or High Court of Chivalry otherwise the Court of Honour and in Latine Curia Militaris The Place anciently appointed for holding thereof was the King's Hall wherein the Constable and Earl Marshal of England sat as Judges Where any Plaintiff in case of Dignities or Matters of Arms or of any other Sute or Controversy concerning Nobility Gentility or Arms might sue the Defendant But now that great Office of Constable of England is hid aside the whole Power is vested in the Earl Marshal And the Present Possessor of that honourable Office is his Grace Henry Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal of England Who has appointed the Hall in the Colledge of Arms to be the Place for Keeping the said Court. And upon Application made to him by any of the Nobility or Gentry of this Kingdom being abused in Matters of Honour and Arms may there have relief from his Grace Officers belonging to this Court Their Majesties Advocate William Odys Dr. of Laws Register of the Court Robert Plott Dr. of Laws Secretary and Seal-Keeper Francis Negus Esq Deputy-Register Mr. John Cheek Proctors Samuel Francklyn Esq Batchelour of Laws Mr. Ralph Suckley Mr. Everard Exton Batchelour of Laws Mr. John Hill Mr. Francis Nixon Mr. Robert Chapman Mr. Samuel Wiseman Mr. Keate Waller Marshal of the Court. Mr. John Curry A List of the Lords Lieutenants Bedford Earl of Bedford Berks Duke of Norfolk Bucks Earl of Bridgewater Cambr. Earl of Bedford Cheshire Earl of Warrington Cornwal Earl of Bath Cumberland Earl of Carlisle Derbysh Earl of Devon Devonsh Earl of Bath Dorcetsh Earl of Bristol Essex Earl of Oxford Gloc. and Heref. Earl of Maclesfield Hartfordsh Earl of Shrewsbury during the Minority of the Earl of Essex Huntingt Earl of Manchester Kent Earl of Winchelsey Lancashire Earl of Derby Leicestersh Earl of Rutland Lincolnsh Earl of Lindsey Middlesex Earl of Clare Monmouthsh Earl of Maclesfield Norfolk Duke of Norfolk Northampt. Earl of Monmouth Northumb. Earl of Scarborough Nottinghamsh Earl of Kingston Oxon Earl of Abington Salop Lord Visc Newport Somersetsh Lord Visc Fitz-Harding Southampton Duke of Bolton Staffordsh Lord Paget Suffolk Lord Cornwallis Surrey Duke of Norfolk Sussex Earl of Dorset and Middlesex Warwicksh Earl of Northampton Wiltshire Earl of Pembroke Worcestersh Earl of Shrowsbury York East-Riding Earl of Kingston York North Riding Earl of Falconberg York West-Riding Earl of Derby South and North Wales Earl of Maclesfield Governours of Garrisoned Places Barwick Christ Babington Esq Calshot Francis Pawlet Esq Carlisle Jeremiah Bubb Esq Chepstow Chester Sir John Morgan Cinque-Ports Col. John Beaumont Esq Dartmouth Nich. Roope Esq Graves-end William Selwyn Esq Guernsey Lord Hatton Holy Island Hull Marquess of Caermarthen Hurst-Castle Henry Holmes Jersey Lord Jermyn Isle of Wight Sir Robert Holmes Landguard-Fort Henry Killigrew Esq S. Maws Pendennis Earl of Bath Plimouth Earl of Bath Portland Portsmouth John Gibson Esq Scarborough Scilly Islands Sheerness Robert Crawford Esq Tinmouth Sir Edw. Villiers Tower of London Lord Lucas Upner Castle Robert Minors Esq Windfor Castle Duke of Norfolk Governours of Foreign Plantations Of Jamaica Earl of Inchqueen Virginia Lord Effingham New York Col. Sloughter Barbadoes James Kendal Col. Leeward Islands Col. Godrington As for New England the Governor is not yet setled Mary-Land Pensylvania and Carolina are governed by their respective Proprietors who have there their Deputies Their Majesties Embassadors Envoys and Residents Abroad At Vienna Lord Paget At Constantinople Sir William Hussey In Holland Lord Dursley Spain William Stanhop Esq Flanders John Eckart Esq Sweden William Duncomb Esq Denmark Robert Molesworth Esq Brandenburg James Johnston Esq Lunenburg and Brunswick Sir William Dutton Colt Swisserland Thomas Cox Esq Hamburg Sir Paul Rycaut Geneva Philibert Herbert Esq Agent in Germany Hugh Hughes Gent. Consuls in Foreign Parts At Venice Hugh Broughton Esq Cadiz S. Maries Sevil S. Lucar in Spain Wartin Nescomb Robert Godschall Walter Doleman Eââ Alicant Genoua Leghorn Naples in Italy Thomas Kirk Esq Robert Serle Esq Sir George Davis Kt. Argiers in Barbary Thomas Baker Esq Foreign Ministers at present residing in their Majesties Court. Spain Don Pedro de Ronquillo Ambassador in Ordinary Portugal Don Simon de Soza de Magellanes Envoy Extraordinary Sweden Baron Leyonbergh Envoy Denmark Monsieur Alfeldt Envoy Holland The Heer Van Zitters Ambassador in Ordinary Brandenburg Monsieur Dankelman Envoy Lunenburg Baron de Schutz Envoy Extraordinary Savoy The President de la Tour Envoy Extraordinary Vienna Monsieur Hofman Resident A Scheme of the Sovereign and Knights Companions of the most Noble Order of the Garter ââe King of Denmark The Sovereign The King of Sweden Prince George of Denmark * Elector of Brandenb Earl of Oxford Earl of Strafford Duke of Beaufort Earl of Bedford Duke of Southampton Earl of Mulgrave Duke of Newcastle Marquis of Caerm  Duke of Richmond Duke of Hamilton Duke of Somerset Duke of Northumb. Duke of Norfolk Earl of Peterborough Earl of Rochester Earl of Feversham Earl of Sunderland Duke of Ormond * Earl of Devonshire  A List of the Knights made by His Present Majesty King William Knights Baronets Hender Moulesworth Esq created Baronet July 19th 1689. Sir John Ramsden of Yorkshire Esq created Baronet Dec. 30. 1689. Sir William Robinson of Newby in Yorkshire Esq created Baronet Febr. 13th 1689. Knights Batchelours Anthony Keck Esq Counsellor at Law Knighted at Whitehall March 5th 1688. William Rawlinson Esq One of the Lords Commissioners of the Chancery Knighted at Whitehall March 5th
that purpose and a Place of good resort Gravesend is seated on a rising Hill on the Banks of the Thames A Town of great Refort for Travellers both by Sea and Land that either come up the Thames to London or go down the River in order to take Shipping well furnished therefore with Inns and other Houses of Entertainment but noted for their exactings Over against it in Essex is Tilbury-Fort that commands this Passage Nearer to London stands Dartford on the River Darent not far from its Influx into the Thames which gives good advantage to the Town in conveying their Goods to London The Town is large and being in Dover Road is therefore well accommodated with Inns and Houses of Entertainment Of chief note for the Rebellion begun here and headed by John Tiler commonly nick-named Jack-straw in the Reign of Richard the second Anno 1381. Woolwich seated on the Thames is remarkable for nothing but its Dock used for the Royal Navy But nearer to London stand Greenwich and Deptford two Towns of better account tho they be no Market-Towns The first is pleasantly seated on the Banks of the Thames a neat and healthful Place well inhabited and frequented by Gentry Adjoyning to which is a Royal House called Queen Elizabeth's Pallace with a Park about it yielding a fair Prospect Besides another Pallace by the Rivers-side first built by Humphrey Duke of Glocester and after him inlarged and beautify'd by several Kings till being fallen to ruin King Charles II. attempted to make it a stately Pile of Building but left it unfinished Adjoyning to Greenwich is Black-Heath noted for the Battels fought here against Rebels under the Reigns of Richard II. Henry VI. and Henry VII Deptford is another large Town divided into the Upper and the Lower seated the nearest to Surrey at the very fall of the Ravensburn a small River into the Thames among rich and low Meadows A Town well inhabited and frequented by Sea-men by reason of its Docks and Store-houses for the Navy Royal. Bromley stands upon the same River graced with the Bishop of Rochester's Seat a Country House by it One of whose late Predecessors I mean Dr. Warner founded here a Colledge for 20 Clergy-mens Widows Where each one hath a fair Apartment and 20 l. a Year Rent-Charge duly paid and for their publick Devotion a Chaplain provided with fair Lodgings and 50 l. a Year Rent-Charge Eltham seated on the South-side of Shootersâhill among Woods is a neat Town and well inhabited by Gentry Formerly honoured with â Royal Pallace but laid aside and gone to decay since Greenwich came to be lookt upon as indeed it is a Place of greater Delight Near Westram on the Darent stands Otford on or near the same River a place of good Antiquity Noted for the Battel sought here betwixt King Edmund surnamed Ironside and Canute the Dane wherein Canute was put to flight with the Loss of 5000 Danes S. Mary Cray is so called from Cray a small but swift River on which it is situate in a Wood-land Country It s Market is very inconsiderable Sevenoke not far distant from thence is a Town of good Resort Here is an Hospital and a Free-School founded by one William Sevenoke Lord Mayor of London Anno 1418. who was a Foundling in this Town and from hence took his Name Tunbridge so called from the River Tun upon which it is seated within few miles of its fall into the Medway is a noted place for its mineral Waters so much resorted unto by the Gentry and drunk in the Summer-Season Known by the Name of Tunbridge-Wells tho' at some distance from thence at a Place called Speldherst Cranbrook is seated at the very head of the River Medway and Lenham at the Spring of the Stower Upon which last River you will find also both Ashford and Wye And upon the Rother Appledore an Island called Oxney-Isle This Island is seated in the South-West Parts of Kent towards Sussex incompassed with the River Rother and a lesser River that runs into it It has but 3 Towns in it Wittrisham Stonae and Ebony all three but inconsiderable North-Eastward near the Isle of Shepey lie Milton and Feversham the first a Place of good account in the Reign of Edward the Confessour but Feversham the best trading Place at this time For it has the Conveniency of a Creek that comes up to it which makes it the chief Port-Town for all this Part of Kent being well frequented by Hoys and such like small Vessels The Town is large and well inhabited and its Markets well served with Provisions But it is counted an Aguish Place Here was erected an Abbey by King Stephen where himself his Queen and Eustace his Son were buried Of late years it has been dignified with the Title of an Earldom in the Person of the Right Honourable Lewis de Duras Earl of Feversham c. And since that it has made a greater Noise in the World on the account of the late King 's landing there Incognito in the first Attempt he made to withdraw himself into France Not far from this Town are Pits of a great depth narrow at the mouth and very broad below with several distinct Rooms in 'em and Pillars of Chalk as it were to support them Whitstable and Reculver are two Sea-Towns few Miles North of Canterbury well frequented by Hoymen and Fishermen Reculver of special note for that Ethelbert the first Christian King of Kent had his Palace and did reside here It s Church remarkable for its lofty spired Steeple which serves for a Sea-Mark I come now to the Cinque-Port Towns that belong to this County Those are called CinqueForts which lying on the Coast of Kent and Sussex had great Priviledges granted them by former Kings the better to enable 'em to seture these Coasts against the Incroachments of France They were at first but five as is âmply'd by the Word which is originally French But three more were added to 'em which makes up the Number of eight Whereof four are in this County Viz. Dover Sandâich Hythe and Nâw Rumney the others in Sussex to wit Rye Winchelsey Seaford and Hastings And of these in their proper place Dover the principal of 'em stands over against Calais in France the Passage by Sea being reckoned but 7 Leagues or 21 Miles over Seated it is in the very South-East Point of Kent in a Bottom among Cliffs from whence one may easily discern the Coast of France Upon one of those Cliffs stands the Castle both to command and defend the Town which some will have to be built by Julius Caesar A Castle of that importance that Philip King of France when Lewis his Son being called in hither by the factious Barons against King John had gotten many Towns and Forts without being able to get the mastery of this slighted all that was taken and said his Son had not one Foot of Land in England if he were not Master of Dover-Castle As to
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 ãâã 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 âirst of which is of most note in these Parts for the Fleets that from time to time harbour âereabouts in order to sail East or West The Kentish Isles Thanet and Shepey In the North-East Parts of Kent near âandwich 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 Châshire It s Length from North to South is 57 miles its
Places to amongst the numerous Towns that are here few can boast of any Beauty Stafford the Shire-Town from whence the County takes its Name bears from London North-West and is distant therefrom 104 miles thus From London to Northampton 54 miles for the particulars whereof I refer you to Northamptonshire from thence to Coventry 20 miles to Lichfield 20 more and thence to Stafford 10. A Town pleasantly seated on the Banks of the-River Sowe which washes its South and West Parts with a Bridge over it Formerly fenced with a Wall except where it was secured by a large Pool or Water on the North and East Here are two Parish-Churches a free School and a fine Market-Place The Streets are large and graced with many good Buildings And its Market which is kept on Saturdays is well served with most sorts of Provisions This Town did formerly belong to the noble Family of the Staffords first with the Title of Earl hereof and afterwards of Lord or Baron Henry Stafford was the last of that Line who dying Anno 1639 the Family of the Staffords died also with him But the next year after William Howard Knight of the Bath and second Son of Thomas Earl of Arundel and Surrey having to Wife a Daughter of the last Lord Stafford was by King Charles I. created Viscount and Lord Stafford Who being found Guilty of High Treason by his Peers Dec. 7th 1680 was beheaded upon Tower-Hill Dec. 29. But the Title was in the late Reign revived in his Son Henry the present Earl of Stafford Lastly though Stafford be the County-Town yet it is not the chief either for extent or beauty it being out-done by Lichfield a City and County of it self seated in a low and Moorish Ground on a shallow Pool by which it is divided into two Parts both joyned together by a Bridge and a Causey and making up a City of indifferent bigness In the South Part which is the greater of the two stands a Grammar-School for the Education of Children and an Hospital dedicated to S. John for the Relief of the Poor In the other Parts there 's nothing considerable but a fair Cathedral and that sufficient of it self to renoun the Place First built by Oswin King of Northumberland about the Year 656 who gave the Bishops hereof many Possessions Afterwards being taken down by Roger de Clinton the 37th Bishop of this Diocese that which now stands was built by him and dedicated to the Virgin Mary and S. Chad. Besides the Cathedral this City has 3 Parish Churches And its Weekly Markets kept on Tuesdays and Fridays are well served with Provisions But Lichfield is not only honoured with a Bishops See 'T is dignify'd besides with the Title of an Earldom in the person of the Right Honourable Edward Henry Lee who was created by Charles II. Baron of Spellesbury Viscount Quarendon and Earl of Lichfield Anno 1674. The other Market-Towns are Newcastle Mund. Stone Tue. Betles Tue. Pagets Bromley Tue. Tudbury Tue. Walsall Tue. Ridgeley Tue. Penkridge Tue. Brewood Tue. Leek Wedn. Vtoxeter Wedn. Wolverhampton Wedn. Checkley Thu. Burton Thu. Eccleshall Frid. Tamworth Sat. Among which Newcastle commonly called Newcastle under Line from the Rivulet Line upon which it is seated and that to distinguish it from Newcastle upon Tine in Northumberland is a large Town but mean in its Buildings most of 'em being thatched Vtoxeter and Tudbury are seated on the River Dove Stone and Burton upon Trent the first in the Road from London to Chester and the last famous for its Bridge leading into Derbyshire Pagets Bromley on the Blithe and Checkley on the Teane Tamworth is seated on the Tame where the Auker falls into it with a Stone-Bridge over each It stands part in this County and part in Staffordshire one part washed by the Tame and the other Part by the Auker In short 't is a good Town beautified with a large Church and strengthened with a small but strong Castle Walsall is seated on the top of a high Hill pretty well built and driving a good Trade of Nails Spurs Stirrups Bridle-bits and Bellows made here in great plenty Penkridge a Place of good Antiquity seated near the River Penk is now only famous for its Horse-Fair and chiefly for Saddle-Nags And Brewood for that the Bishops of this Diocese had here their Pallace before the Conquest Wolverhampton was only called Hampton till such time as one Vulver a devout Woman inriched the Town with a Religious House It stands upon a Hill and has a Collegiate Church annexed to the Deanry of Windsor About four miles from this Place stood the Oak where the late King Charles took Sanctuary for some Days after his Defeat at Worcester till he was conveyed to the House of Mrs. Jane Lane who was a chief Instrument in his Conveyance beyond Sea From whence this famous Tree came to be called the Royal Oak Lastly this County formerly Part of the Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants part of the Cornavii is now in the Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire eight Members of Parliament Viz. two out of each of these following Towns Stafford Lichfield Newcastle under Line and Tamworth CHAP. XV. Of Suffolk Surrey and Sussex Suffolk SVFFOLK a large Maritime County is bounded on the East with the German Ocean on the West with Cambridgeshire Northward with Norfolk and Southward with Essex Called Suffolk q. d. Southfolk in opposition to Norfolk which lies North from it It contains in Length from East to West about 45 miles in Breadth from North to South where broadest at least 30. The Whole divided into 22 Hundreds wherein 575 Parishes and 30 Market-Towns A strong Argument of its Populousness Here the Air is counted so wholsom that some London Physicians have prescribed it for the Cure of their consumptive Patients As to the Soil the Eastern Parts all along the Coast for five or six miles Inland are generally heathy sandy and full of bleaâ Hills yet such as yield abundance of Rye Pease and Hemp and feed abundance oâ Sheep The more Inland Part commonly called high Suffolk or the Wood-Lands is for the moââ part Clay-Ground and is husbanded chiefly for the Dairy this County being noted foâ its excellent Butter The Southern Parts along the Borders of Essex and Cambridgeshire are much of the same nature for Wood and Pasture-Ground But the Parts about Bury and to the North-West from thence are generally Champain abounding with excellent Corn of all sorts And as for Parks here are reckoned in this County near upon fifty For Rivers few Counties are so well watered Besides the little Ouse and the Waveney which part it from Norfolk here is the Stoure which severs it from Essex the Orwell or Gippe the Ore Blithe Deben and Breton c. Ipswich the chief Place hereof bears from London North-East and is distant from thence 55 miles thus From London to Colchester 43 miles
Conveyance for Letters to and from the said Post Office in the due Course of the Mails every Post There are Weekly three general Post Days to send from London to any Part of England Wales Scotland and Ireland viz. Tuesday Thursday and Saturday The Returns certain upon Mundays Wednesdays or Fridays except Ireland from whence the Return is not so certain by reason of the Sea As to Kent and the Downs the Post goes thither from London every Day of the Week except Sundays The Post Days fix'd for France Italy Spain and Portugal are Mundays and Thursdays For the Low-Countries Germany Denmark Sweden and other Parts that way Tuesdays and Fridays But since our late Breach with France his Majesty to out off all immediate Correspondency with that Kingdom has settled the Correspondency with Spain and Portugal by Sea from Falmouth iâ Cornwal to the Groyn a Sea-Port Town of Gallicia in Spain And the Letters to Italy go by the way of Flanders For the Transports of Letters and Pacquets over Sea there are Between England and Flanders 2 Pacquet Boats Between England and Holland 3 Pacquet Boats Between England and Ireland 3 Pacquet Boats Between England and Spain 2 Pacquet Boats The last of which goes out on Tuesdays every Fortnight All which Offices Post-Masters and Pacqueâ Boats are maintained at the Post-master General 's own Charge For the better Ordering whereof he has several Officers under him amongst which these are the chief viz. two Comptrollers one of thâ Inland and the other of the Outland Office ãâã Receiver General an Accomptant General aâ twelve Clerks whereof six of the Inland aâ the other six of the Outland Office Now for the Conveniency of the Londoners that live far from the Post-Office there are particular Post-Houses from Place to Place appointed to take in the Letters to be transmitted from thence in due time to the General Post-Office By what is said it may easily be guessed in general that the Charge of the Post-Office is infinitely great But the Return of it to the King does so much over-ballance it that this Office yields to his Majesty yearly about Fifty thousand pounds all Charges born Another Use of this excellent Conveniency is in relation to Travellers whose Business requires expedition To which purpose there are always Post-horses in readiness in every Post-Stage which is the main Profit of the Deputy Post-Masters The Pay is 3 pence for every English Mile besides the Allowance to the Post-Boy for Conducting As for the Peny-Post which is used only for London and its Neighbourhood I have already spoke of it in my Description of London And so I proceed to the Coyns Formerly all English Coyns were coyned or stamp'd by Hammers but since the Restauration of King Charles II a new Way of Stamping by a Mill or Screw was found out and followed ever since Which makes the English Coyns for neatness and security from Counerseiting to be the most excellent The Mony of England is either Gold or Silâer called Sterling Mony The Gold is either Guinea or a half Guinea the first valued at ãâã Shillings and six pence the half Guinea proârtionably that is at Ten shillings nine pence âlled Guinea from a Country of that Name in Africa from whence is brought the Gold whereof this Coyn is made But there is besides an old sort of Goid called Jacobus from King James I. under whose Reign it was Coyned at the value of 22 shillings now current at 25 shillings 6 pence Another Coyn called Broad-piece coyned in the several Reigns of King James and King Charles I at the value of 20 Shillings and now current at 23 and 6 pence But the Broad-pieces and Jacobus's being both a pure sort of Gold are kept close by the Curious and therefore seldom seen abroad The Silver Coyns now current in England are a Crown Half-crown Shilling Six-pence Four-pence Three-pence Two-pence and One Peny Amongst which the Half-crowns Shillings and Six-pences are the most common 'T is true there are still besides some Ninepences and Four-pence half peny's also some pieces of Thirteen-pence-half-peny and others half their value But these are at this time very scarce For the Conveniency of small Change and the Benefit of the Poor Farthings and Half-pence first of Copper and lately of Tin have been suffered to be Coyned but no man is bound to receive them in pay for Rent or Debt But besides the Species we have as other Nations such Collective Words as fignify a Sum greater or lesser As the Word Piece for 20 Shillings Pounds when the Sum amounts to 60 Shilling and above a Mark whch is 13 Shillings 4 pence an Angel 10 Shillings a Noble 6 Shillings 8 Pence 'T is true there are Angels to be seen in Specie which is a piece ãâã Gold so called from the Impression of an Angel But the proper Use of it has been in former Reigns for such as the King touched for the Evil. The Spanish French and Flemish Gold is almost of equal fineness with the English and so is the French Silver almost as fine as the English The Office of the Mint where all English Coyns are coyned is kept in the Tower of London And the Officers that belong to it were made a Corporation by King Edward III by virtue of whose Charter they have been always exempted from all publick Offices and their Estates free from all Taxes and Parish Duties The chief Mint Officers are  l. The Warden Whose Fee is 400. The Master and Worker Whose Fee is 500. The Comptroller Whose Fee is 300. The Assay-Master Whose Fee is 250. The Two Auditors each Whose Fee is 20. The Surveyor of the Melting Whose Fee is 100. The Weigher and Teller Whose Fee is 100. The His Assistant Whose Fee is 40. The Engineer Whose Fee is 100. The Two Gravers each Whose Fee is 125. The Warden or Keeper of the Mint receives the Gold and Silver brought in by the Merchants Goldsmiths and others and pays them for the same He is the chief Officer and oversees all the rest The Master and Worker receives the Bullion that is the Gold and Silver to be coyned from the Warden causes it to be melted delivers it to the Moneyers and when it is Minted receives it again from them The Comptroller's Office is to see that the Mony be all made according to just Assize and to comptroll the Officers if it don't prove accordingly The Assay-Master weighs the Bullion and sees that it be according to the Standard The Auditors take and make up the Accounts The Surveyor of the Melting sees the Bullion cast after the Assay-Master has made trial thereof and that it be not altered after it is delivered to the Melter But besides the foresaid Officers there is the Provost of the Company of Moneyers the King 's chief Clerk and four other Clerks for the Receipt Office the Melters and Smiths the Blanchers Moulders Labourers c. The Weights and Measures ought to be by Magna