Fee-simple make Leases and Grants and sue in her own Name without the King which is not in the power of any other Feme-covert or married Woman to do A Queen Dowager or Widow-Queen is still Respected as a Queen in her Widowhood and keeps a Court accordingly And though she should marry a private Gentleman as did Queen Catharine King Henry the Fifths Widow she does not lose her Dignity By the Sons and Daughters of England I mean the King's Children So called because all the Subjects of England have a special Interest i◠Them though their Education and the Disposing of Them is only in the King The Eldest Son commonly called the Prince of Wales is born Duke of Cornwal and afterwards created Prince of Wales Upon his Birth he is by Law of full Age to sue for the Livery of the said Dukedom as if he were full a Years of Age. But so much of the Lands 〈◊〉 Demesns of it have been Alienated that h◠Revenues are chiefly out of the Tin-Mines i◠Cornwall Which with all other Profits of the Dutchy amount yearly to the Sum of 140◠Pounds and the Prince's whole Revenues to about 20000 l. When King Edward I had compleated the Conquest of Wales He divided it into Seven Shires to which Henry VIII added five more out of the March Lands Over each of the Seven Shires King Edward placed a particular English Lieutenant and over the whole he designed a Vicegerent The Welch being disgusted at this He sent for his Queen then great with Child to Caernarvan where she was delivered of a Son Upon the News whereof the King assembled the Chief Men of that Nation and offered to name them a Governour born in Wales who could not speak one word of English and against whose Life they could take no just exception Such a one when they had all sworn to obey he named his young Son Edward Whereupon He created him Prince of Wales and since that time the Kings of England eldest Sons have been called Princes of Wales Whereas while Normandy was in the Power of the English which lasted till the Reign of King John they were stiled Dukes of Normandy The Investiture is performed by the Imposition of a Cap of Estate and a Coronet on the Princes Head as a Token of his Principality by delivering into his hand a Verge of Gold the Emblem of Government by putting a Gold Ring on his Finger in token that he must be a Husband to his Country and a Father to her Children and by giving him a Patent to hold the said Principality to Him and his Heirs Kings of England By which Words the Separation of it from the Crown is prohibited and the King keeps to himself an excellent Occasion of obliging unto Him his Son when he pleases In Imitation of which Custom John I King of Castille and Leon made his Son Henry Prince of the Asturias a Country so Craggy and Mountainous that it may not improperly be called the Wales of Spain And all the Spanish Princes ever since have been honoured with that Title The Mantle worn in Parliament by the Prince of Wales has for Distinctions sake one gard more than a Duke's his Coronet of Crosses and Flower de luces and his Cap of State indented His Arms differ from the Kings only by addition of a Label of three points And his peculiar Device is a Coronet beautified with three Ostrich Feathers inscribed with ICH DIEN that is I serve Alluding perhaps to that in the Gospel The Heir while he is a Child differs not from a Servant Which Device was born at the Battel of Cressy by John King of Bohemia serving there under the French King and there slain by Edward the Black Prince Since worn by the Princes of Wales and by the Vulgar called the Princes Arms. In short the King of England's Eldest Son has ever since been stiled Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitain and Cornwal and Earl of Chester and Flint these Earldoms being conferred upon him by Letters Patent As Eldest Son to the King of Scotland he is Duke of Rothsay and Seneschal of Scotland from his Birth Though he is a Subject yet the Law looks upon his Person as so Sacred that it is high Treason to imagine his Death or violate his Wife The Younger Sons of England depend altogether upon the King's Favour both for Titles of Honour and Revenues sutable to their Birch For they are not born Dukes or Earls but are so created according to the Kings Pleasure Neither have they as in France certain Appanages but only what Revenue the King pleases to bestow upon them They are indeed by Birth-right as well as the Prince of Wales Counsellors of State whereby they may fit themselves to manage the weighty Affairs of the Kingdom The Daughters are called Princesses And to violate them unmarried is High Treason The Title of Royal Highness is common to all the King's Children All Subjects ought to be uncovered in their Presence to kneel when they are admitted to kiss their hands and to be served on the Knee at Table unless the King be present Lastly all Persons of the Royal Bloud being a Lawful Issue have the Precedency of all others in England As for the King 's Natural or Illegitimate Sons and Daughters they are commonly created Dukes and Dutchesses and bear what Surname the King pleases to give them King Henry I. and Charles II. of blessed Memory are noted to have had the most of any CHAP. XII Of the Nine Great Officers of the Crown NEXT to the Royal Family the Great Officers of the Crown come of course to be Inquired into which are Nine in Number Viz. The Lord High Steward The Lord High Chancellor The Lord High Treasurer The Lord President of the Kings Council The Lord Privy Seal The Lord Great Chamberlain The Lord High Constable The Lord Earl Marshal The Lord High Admiral The Lord High Steward of England is the highest Officer under the King His Office not unlike that of the Mayre of the Pallace under the ancient Kings of France is to rule and govern the Kingdom under the King in Time of Peace and War during his Reign Which Power being thought too large and exorbitant for a Subject to have this Great Officer has been discontinned ever since Henry of Bullingbrock Son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster afterwards King of England under the Name of Henry IV. Only at a Coronation also for the Trial of a Peer or Peeress for Treason or Felony or some other great Crime the King makes a High Steward for that Time Who during his Stewardship is called His Grace and bears a white Staff in his hand which he openly breaks when the Business is over and so ends his Office By virtue of his Office at a Coronation he sits Judicially at the King's Pallace at Westminster Where he receives the Bills and Petitions of all such Noblemen and others who by reason of their Tenure or otherwise
the 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 Aâ—â—zes 80 Attachment 95 B. BAyliffs 74 Benefit of the Clergy 58 C. CHancery see Court Circuâ—ts 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 Genâ—l 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 aâ—â— 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.
Rivers it is almost incompassed It lies about 8 miles from the Sea between two Hills upon one of which stands the Church and upon the other a Castle It s chief Trade is of course broad Cloaths here made And here is a Custom common to most other Market Towns of this County to hire Servants at their Fairs to which end such as want either Service or Servants do resort hither Egremont and Ravenglass are seated not sar from the Sea The first on the Banks of a River over which it has two Bridges Ravenglass betwixt two Rivers which together with the Sea incompass three Parts of it White-Haven is situate on a Creek of the Sea at the North end of a Hill where is a great Rock or Quarrey of hard white Stone which gives name unto it This Harbour is of late much improved in its Buildings being well frequented and inhabited and driving a good Trade to Ireland Scotland Chester Bristol and other Places Whose chief Trade is of Salt and Coals here plentifully digged up for which they bring in exchange several good Commodities Keswick seated in a Valley hemmed in with Hills has been a famous Town for Copper Mines and much frequented by mineral Men who had here many Smelting Houses But now it is gone to decay Not far from this Town is dug up Wadd or Black Lead in great plenty Formerly they reckoned in this County 25 Castles few of which are remaining most of them being decayed and gone to ruin Lastly this County which in the time of the Heptarchy was part of the Kingdom of Northumberland and whose Inhabitants as well as those of most part of the North besides were called Brigantes by the ancient Romans is partly in the Diocese of Carlisle and partly in That of Chester For the South Part of it called Copeland lying betwixt the Rivers Duddon and Darwent is within the Arch. Deaconry of Richmond in Chester-Diocese and all the rest of the County in the Diocese of Carlisle Out of this County besides the two Knights of the Shire there are but four Members chosen to sit in Parliament 2 from Carlisle and 2 from Cockermouth In the North Parts of it is a Tract called Gillesland from whence the Earl of Carlisle intitles himself Baron Dacre of Gillesland and South-Westward near the Sea stands the Barony of Millum In short this County became first an Earldom in the Reign of King Henry VIII who bestowed the Title upon Henry Lord Clifford Anno 1525 in whose Issue it continued till the Year 1642 the last that injoyed it being also a Henry Clifford Of an Earldom it became a Dukedom in the Person of the late Illustrious Prince Rupert second Son of Frederick Prince Elector Palatine and of Elizabeth his Wife the only Daughter of King James the first being Created Duke of Cumberland and Earl of Holderness by King Charles I. his Uncle Anno 1643. He died without Issue at Whitehall Nov. 29. 1682. And the Title of Duke of Cumberland is now in the Person of his Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark Of the Isle of Man Isle of Man The Isle of Man lying most of it opposite to Cumberland between this County and the North of Ireland this I think therefore to be the most proper Place to take notice of it This Island runs in Length from North to South about 30 miles and in Breadth where it is broadest 10 miles The Whole divided into two Parts North and South the Inhabitants of the one having affinity with the Scotch and the other with the Irish And in these Parts defended by Two Castles are reckoned 17 Parishes and but 5 Market Towns It is generally an High-land on the Sea-Coast and that well garded with Rocks The middle part of it runs up into high Hills The highest of all called Seafull has this very remarkable in it That from the Top of it on a clear Day one may easily behold three Kingdoms at once viz. England Scotland and Ireland England Eastward Scotland Northward and Ireland Westward The Air of this Island is sharp and subject to high Winds but 't is healthful And as sharp as it is in Winter yet the Frosts are short and the Snow does not ly very long in the Valleys The Soil is pretty fruitful both in Corn and Pasture affording good store of Wheat and other Grain and feeding good Flocks of Sheep and Herds of Cattle but none of the biggest size Here are also red Deer abundance of Conies and Fowl of sundry sorts In a little adjacent Island called the Isle of Calf is abundance of Puffins a sort of Sea Fowl that breeds in Cony-holes chiefly used for their Feathers and Oyl made of them But their Flesh being pickled or salted as it has a Fish-like taste so it comes little short of Anchoves And as for Fish both the Sea and Rivers yield great plenty of it It s chief Places are Douglas Laxi and Ramsâ—y on the East Shore Rushin on the South and Peel with its strong Castle on the West Shore 'T was about the Year 1340 that this Island was conquered from the Scots by William Montacute Earl of Salisbury who was thereupon honoured with the Title of King of Man Afterwards it was sold to the Lord Scrope who being convicted of Treason forfeited it to the Crown Henry IV. gave it to Henry Pierce Earl of Northumberland the last that kept it with the Title of King But he proving also false to his Sovereign the King gave it to William Lord Stanley whose Grandchild Thomas Lord Stanley was created Earl of Derby In whose House this Estate has continued hitherto with the Title of Lord of Man though a King in effect For he has here all kind of Civil Power and Jurisdiction over the Inhabitants and the very Nomination of the Bishop of Man but still under the Fief and Sovereignty of the Crown of England And as to the Bishop he must be presented to the King for his Royal Assent then to the Archbishop of York for his Consecration Which is the Reason why the Bishop of Man is no Lord of Parliament none being admitted to that Honour but such as hold immediately of the King himself Derbyshire DERBYSHIRE or as some spell it DARBYSHIRE an Inland County is bounded on the East by Nottinghamshire on the West by Cheshire and Staffordshire on the North by Yorkshire and on the South by Leicestershire And it lies so in respect to the rest of ENGLAND that the South Parts of this County are in a manner the Center of it It is in Length from North to South about 34 miles and in Breadth from East to West 16. The Whole divided into six Hundreds wherein 106 Parishes and 10 Market Towns The Temperature of the Air of this County is very wholsom as most of the Inland Counties are Next to the River Trent wherewith the South Parts of it are irrigated that of chief note is Derwent which crossing the Country from North to
South empties it self into the Trent and so divides the County into East and West The Soil in the South and East Parts is very fruitful and yields both good Grass and Corn. But the North and West Parts being both Hilly and Stony with a black and mossy barren Ground are not so fertile Yet they are not without some rich Valleys and on the Hills themselves are bred abundance of very good though not very large Sheep For Fewel it is not beholden to Wood the Woods having been destroyed in a great measure by the Countries Iron-Works Lead-mines and Coal-Delfs But 't is so well stored with Coals that it supplies with this sort of Fewel many neighbouring Counties as Leicester Northampton Rutland and Lincoln Whose Inhabitants frequently bring Barley to sell at Darby and load themselves back with Coals For Buildings it affords not only good Clay for Bricks but also store of Free-Stone or durable Greet Stone and in many parts Lime-stone both useful in Building and for manuring the Ground Here is also Alabaster Crystal black and grey Marble not only very durable but such as polishes well As for Mill-Stones and Whet-stones here 's whole Quarries of 'em in the working whereof a great many hands are imployed before they come to be dispersed over the Nation But the chiefest Commodity of this Country is Lead which for goodness or Plenty yields to no Place in the World Famous for this is the Peak of Derbyshire as well as for its Quarries but particularly for its three wonderful Caves This Peak ly's amongst the Mountains in the North-West Parts and its three Caves of a wonderful vast height length and depth are known by the Names of Devils Arse Elden-hole and Pools hole From the Devils Arse a Water comes which is said to ebb and flow 4 times in an hour as the Well in the Peak Forest and to keep its just Tides Noted besides for the strange Irregularities of the Rocks within the Water Eldenhole is very spacious but wiâ—h a low and narrow entrance The Waters which trickle down from the top thereof do congeal into Stone and hang like Isicles in the root thereof Some are hollow within and grow Taper-wise very white and not unlike to Crystal But the greatest Wonder of all is that of Buxton-Wells Nine Springs arise out of a Rock in the compass of 8 or 9 Yards eight of which are warm and the ninth very cold These Springs run from under a square Building of Free Stone and about 300 foot off receive another hot Spring from a Well inclosed with four flat Stones near unto which another very cold Spring bubbles up These Waters are experimentally found good for the Stomach and Sinews and good to bathe in And now I come to Mineral Waters I cannot but mention Kedlaston Well Quarndon and Stanly Springs The first of which being in Kedlâ—ston Parish is noted for having cured as 't is said the Leprosy and for being singular in the Cure of old Ulcers Quarndon Springs are two Springs about a mile and a half from Derby much of the nature of Tunbridge-Waters in Kent and the Spaws in Yorkshire as strong of the Mineral and as effectual in the Operation As for Stanly-Spring 't is of the same nature but not so strong But about Wirksworth there 's a warm and a cold Spring so near each other that one may put one hand in the cold and the other in the warm Derby the Shire-Town from whence the County it self is denominated bears from London North and by West and is distant therefrom 98 miles thus From London to Leicester 78 as you may see in Leicestershire thence to Lougborough 8 and to Derby 12 more This Town is seated upon the West Bank of Derwent from whence probably the Name of Derby is extracted over which there is a fine Bridge of free Stone and upon the Bridge a Chappel called St. Maries Chappel But besides Derwent which empties it self but 6 miles lower into the Trent this Town has the Conveniency of a Brook rising Westward and running through it under nine several Bridges 'T is a large populous and rich Place few inland Towns equalizing it Here are five Parish Churches of which that of All-Saints is the fairest Whose Tower-Steeple in which are 8 tunable Bells built at the only Charge of the young Men and Maids about the Reign of Q. Mary is equalled for height and beauty by few in the Nation Here is also a fair Hall built not many years since of free Stone at the Counties Charge where the Assizes are constantly kept In short 't is a Place of good Trade and Resort no less famous for good Ale than Banbury for its Cakes and Cheese Here is chiefly a great Vent for Barley which they make into Malt and so sell it again in Cheshire Lancashire and the North of this County It s Market is on Fridays which is very great for Cattel Corn and all Provisions besides small Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays Lastly this Town is dignify'd with the Title of an Earldom now in the person of the Right Honourable William Stanley Earl of Derby and Lord of the Isle of Man Descended to him from his Ancestor Thomas Lord Stanley and of Man created Earl of Derby by King Henry VII Anno 1486. Which Title was first injoy'd by the Earls of Ferrers and Derby and afterwards by several Princes of the Royal Family till it came as I said before to Thomas Lord Stanley by Creation The other Market Towns are Chesterfield Sat. Ashbourn Sat. Alfreton Mund. Bakewell Mund. Wirksworth Tue. Tideswal Wedn. Dronfield Thu. Bolsover Frid. Drawfield Amongst which Chesterfield is pleasantly seated in a good Soil for the most part on the South-side of a little Hill and that between two small Rivers A Town which by the Ruins of it does seem to be of good Antiquity and therefore likely to have had some more ancient Name now buried in its Ruins It was made a free Borough in the time of King John And hard by it was the Battel fought between King Henry III and his Barons in which Robert de Ferrers Earl of Derby being taken Prisoner lost his Estate and Dignity though not his Life But that wherein it has most cause to glory is that from an ordinary Market Town it is become the Seat of an Earldom the Stile and Title of Earl of Chesterfield being conferred by King Charles I. upon Philip Lord Stanhop of Shelford created Earl of Chesterfield Anno 1628. From whom it descended next by Henry his eldest Son to the Right Honourable Philip Lord Stanhop the present Earl of Chesterfield Wirksworth is so called from the Worth of the Lead-Works And 't is the greatest Lead-Market in England This County formerly Part of the ancient Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants part of the Coritani is now in the Diocese of Lichfield Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire but two Parliament Men and these two by
the edge of this Shire between Luckington and great Badminton They are about nine in Number all lying in a Row but of different Dimensions The Manner of them is two long Stones set upon the sides and broad Stones on the top to cover them The least of these Caves is 4 foot broad and some of them 9 or 10 foot long They are credibly thought not 〈◊〉 be Gyants Caves as the Country-people give it out but rather the Tombs of some heroick Men among the ancient Romans Saxons or Danes And that which makes it so much the more probable is that Spurs and pieces of Armour c. have been found there not long since by those who digged into them Lastly this County has given the Title of an Earl to several Families which now belongs to his Grace Charles Pawlet Duke of Bolton Marquess of Winchester Earl of Wiltshire and Baron S. John of Basing All which Titles except that of Duke devolved to him from his Ancestor William Pawlet Created Earl of Wiltshire and afterward Marquess of Winchester by King Edward VI. And that of Duke was lately conferred upon him by his present Majesty CHAP. XVII Of Worcestershire and Yorkshire Worcestershire WORCESTERSHIRE an Inland County is bounded on the East by Warwickshire and part of Glocestershire on the West by Herefordshire and part of Shropshire on the North by Staffordshire and on the South by Glocestershire It contains in Length from North to South about 35 miles in Breadth from East to West about 25. The Whole divided into seven Hundreds wherein 152 Parishes and 11 Market-Towns A County of an Air so temperate and a Soil so fortunate that it gives place to none about it either for health or plenty Abundant certainly it is in all sorts of Fruits this Climate can afford Pears and Cherries especially insomuch that here is made abundance of Perry Here are also many Salt-pits called Wiches which yield excellent Salt and such as for whiteness and hardness imitateth Loaf-Sugar 'T is true this County is pretty full of Hills but such Hills as are not barren yielding plenty of Wood and store of Pasturage whilst the Valleys on the other side feed abundance of Cattle and bear good Crops of Corn. Through these Valleys run so many Rivers that few Counties are better watered with fresh Streams Here we meet again that noble River the Severn which runs quite through the Country from North to South and affords here great store of fresh-Water Lampreys Besides the Avon the Team the Salwarp c. which run into the Severn and yield abundance of Fish Worcester the chief Place hereof and from whence the County is denominated bears from London West-North-West and is distant therefrom near upon 90 miles thus From London to Oxford 47 miles as you may see afterwards in my Description of Oxford from thence to Chipping-Norton 12 and to Campden 12 more thence to Pershore 10 and to Worcester 6 more Pleasantly seated on the East Bank of the Severn over which it has a fair Stone-Bridge with a Tower upon it and thence arising with a gentle ascent affords to the upper Parts a very goodly Prospect in the Vale beneath A City every way considerable for Situation neat Buildings Number of Churches and Wealth of the Inhabitants by reason of their Cloth-Trade which does here flourish very much This City called by Antonine and Ptolomy Branonium and by the Romans Vigornia is said to have been first built by the Romans the better to secure themselves from the Britains beyond the Severn But in the time of King Canute it suftered much from the Danes and afterwards by frequent Conflagrations which laid it almost waste and despairing of a Recovery Yet it rose at last out of its Ashes and by degrees so improved as to contain at present nine Parish-Churches besides the Cathedral This is a stately Structure in whose Quire are the Monuments of King John in white Marble and of Arthur Prince of Wales and Son to Henry VII in blak Jeat The Castle I shall say nothing of as having nothing left of it but the Name and Ruins But Worcester is particularly memorable for the Battel fought there Sept. 3. 1651. betwixt the late King Charles and the Parliament Forces wherein the King's Army was totally defeated So that he was fain to shift for himself and to wander six Weeks in Disguise about the Country till he was at laft transported from a Creek near Shoram in Sussex to Feccam near Havre de Grace in France Lastly this City has a long time given the Title of Earl and at last that of Marquess to the Family of the Somersets extracted by the Beauforts from John of Gaunt For Charles Somerset who was created Earl of Worcester by King Henry VIII was base Son of Henry Beaufort the 8th Duke of Somerset beheaded in Edward the fourth's Reign Lastly this City keeps 3 Markets a Week viz. Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays The other Market-Towns are Bewdley Sat. Evesham Mund. Pershore Tue. Bromes-grove Tue. Tenbury Tue. Vpton Thu. Kidderminster Thu. Sturbridge Frid. Shipton Frid. Droitwich Frid. Among which Bewdley and Vpton stand upon the Severn the first in the North the other in the South Parts of this County Bewdley near the Forest of Wire was in former time a Place of great delight and of good account in the Reign of Henry VII where he built a retiring House for Prince Arthur and called it Ticken-Hall The Town at present is neat and well-built and injoys a good Trade for Barley Malt Caps and Leather Vpton is also a well-built Town and was of great account in the time of the Romans Not far from which are the Malvern-Hills and opposite to 'em Eastwards the Bredon-Hills Evesham or Evesholm and Pershore are both seated on the Avon over which they have each a Bridge The first esteemed the best Town in the County next to Worcester containing two or three Parish-Churches and driving a good Trade of Stockings especially The other a great Thorough-fare betwixt London and Worcester but somewhat decayed in its Trade since the Dissolution of its ancient Abbey Droitwich and Bromes-grove are both situate on the Banks of the Salwarp The first noted for its Salt-pits and the last for its Clothing Trade Not far from Droitwich is Fakenham-Forest and Norton-Wood which stand commodious for the Salt-Works to supply them with Wood for the boyling the brine in their Coppers Sturbridge and Kidderminster two goodly Towns stand both on the River Stower over which they have each a Bridge The first is situate on a Flat and has the accommodation of a Free-Shool with a Library Kidderminster is well inhabited much traded unto for its Stuffs and beautify'd with a very fair Church As for Tenbury and Shipton the first stands on the very edge of Shropshire upon the Banks of the River Tent. And Shipton upon Stower in a slip of the County taken off from Warwickshire To conclude this Connty now in the Diocese of Worcester
a suitable Garrison to it it may be looked upon as one of the strongest Holds in the Kingdom and the most capable of Defence 'T is a Borough-Town and a County of it self dignify'd with the Title of an Earldom in the person of the Right Honourrble William Pierpont the present Earl of Kingston upon Hull Viscount Newark c. From Hull there runs a Promontory which shoots its self forth a great way into the Sea A Promontory called by Ptolomy Ocellum and by us Holderness in which are divers Towns Honoured with the Title of an Earldom 1. In the person of John Ramsey Viscount Hardington in Scotland Created Earl of Holderness and Baron of Kingston upon Thames by King James I. Anno 1620. 2. In the person of the late Prince Rupert Count Palatine of the Rhine Created Duke of Cumberland and Earl of Holderness by King Charles I. in the Year 1643. 3. In the person of the Right Honourable Coniers D'Arcie the present Earl of Holderness advanced to that Dignity by King Charles II. Beverly a few miles North of Hull is seatâ—d on the Western Bank of the River Hull which gives passage for Boats and Barges â—own into the Humber 'T is a large Borough-Town containing two Parish-Churches â—nd well-inhabited both by Gentry and Tradesmen Of some note for being the Burial-Place of Sir John of Beverly Archbishop of York â—ho being weary of the World resigned up his Bishoprick and here ended his Days 〈◊〉 a holy Life about the Year 721. Heydon stands few miles East of Hull upon 〈◊〉 small River near its fall into the Humber 'T is an ancient Borough-Town formerly of great account and injoying a good Trade â—ill the Rise of its neighbour Hull occasioned â—ts Decay Howden a good large Town but unhealthfull is seated near the Confluence of the Ouse â—nd Derwent It gives name to a small Territory from hence called Owdenshire North-West from this Territory is another called Derwentwater lying betwixt the Ouse and the Derwent Honoured with the Title of an Earldom in the person of the Right Honourable Francis Ratcliff created Earl of Derâ—entwater by King James II. Pocklington a small Town stands North â—nd by East from Howden upon a small River that falls into the Derwent Kilham North-East from Pocklington is a long Town driâ—y seated on the Woulds but in a good Soil for Corn. Burlington or Bridlington noted for its famous Bay from hence called Burlington-Bay stands high about a mile from the Sea But â—y the Sea-side is the Key called Burlington-Key where the Ships in the Harbour are supplied with such Provisions as they stand in need of The Town of some note besides for giving the Title of an Earl to the Right Honourable Richard Boyle Baron Clifford of Landsborough Youghal and Bandon Viscount of Kynalmeaky and Dungarvan and Earl of Cork in Ireland Created Earl of Burlington by King Charles II. Anno 1664. Within two miles from Burlington North-Eastward is that noted Promontory or Foreland called Flamborough-Head from Flamborough a small Town in it In the West-Riding upon the River Dun you will find Sheffield Rotheram and Duncaster Upon the Calder Halifax and Wakefield Near or upon the Are Skipton Bradforth Leeds Pontefract and Snathe Upon the Warfe Otley Wetherby and Tadcaster Betwixt the Are and Warfe Sherburn Upon the Ouse Selby On the Nyd Ripley and Knasborough Upon the Youre Rippon and Boroughbridge And on the Rible Settle Sheffield upon the Dun is a good large Town whose Houses are built of Stone It s Market is great for several Commodities but Corn especially which is much bought up here for the supply of some Parts of Derbyshire Nottinghamshire and the West of Yorkshire A Town that trades much besides by reason of the Iron Mines in these Parts in Iron Wares and Edge-tools especially Knives and Blades Whereof so ancient an Author as Chaucer takes notice speaking of a Person that had a Sheafield Whittle by his side Here is still to be seen the Rains of a Castle one of the five which were seated on this River all within ten miles distance Lastly this Town with divers others belongs to the Wapentake of Strafford Which gives the Title of an Earl to the Right Honourable William Wentworth the present Earl of Strafford Rotheram has a fine Stone-Bridge over the River Dun and its Houses are also built of Stone A Place of some note for giving birth to Thomas of Rotheram Archbishop of York who founded here a Colledge with three Schools for the instructing of Youth in Grammar Musick and Writing but long since laid aside Duncaster a great Thorough-fare in the Northern Road is so called from a Castle that stood here on the River Dun but not â—ong since ruinated In the Year 759. this Town was reduced to ashes and lay for some time in its Ruins But it was raised up again with a fair Church and Steeple And it is now a goodly Town well accommodated with Inns for Travellers and driving a good Trade of knit Wastcoats Peticoats Gloves and Stockings But we must not omit that of late years it became of more remark by giving the Title of Viscount to James Hay Baron of Sauley Created by King James I. Viscount of Duncaster and Earl of Carlisle Which from him passed to his Son and Heir James Hay but he dying without Issue-male the Title fell with him In the Reign of King Charles II. it was improved by that King to the Title of an Earldom which he conferred with the Title of Duke of Monmouth upon the late James Fitz-Roy Anno 1663. Halifax anciently called Horton stands betwixt the Calder and a small River that falâ— into it 'T is a good large Town with Stone built Houses but seated in a barren Soil upon a steep descent of a Hill It is said to contain at least 10000 Inhabitants and yeâ— but one Parish-Church which Defect is indeed supplied by divers Chappels of Ease The Inhabitants noted for their Industry iâ— making of Cloth and other Manufactures but chiefly for the strict Law they have within themselves for the present Punishmenâ— of Cloth-stealers To which the Proverb alludes as it refers to Beggars and vagranâ— People From Hell Hull and Hallifax goâ— Lord deliver us The Town not further considerable till it attained the honour of giving the Title first of Viscount secondly oâ— Earl and lastly of Marquess to the Righâ— Honourable George Savil the present Marquelâ— of Halifax To all which degrees of Honour he was successively advanced by King Charles II. About 6 miles from Halifax near the Calder and on a steep Hill is seated Almondbury the ancient Cambodunum A Place of great repute when the English-Saxons first began their Regal Government For it was then the Royal Seat and had in it a Cathedral built by Paulinus the Apostle of these Parts Here was also a Fort and Castle long since reduced to ruins Wakefield on the Calder is a large Stone-built Town of good Antiquity Over the River
Democracy for ever all the World know's No Stone was left unturned and what came of it As soon as ever Opportunity served the very Presbyterians themselves joyned with the Royalists to bring in the exiled King and re-establish the ancient Government So soon the Nation grew sick of the Commonwealth and so strong was then the Current for Monarchy that without the shedding of a drop of Bloud the first was in a manner hissed out of the Nation and Monarchy restored with the greatest Pomp and Joy imaginable I set aside the Zeal of our English Clergy for Monarchy and their Influence upon the Laity The great Number alone of our Nobility and Gentry with their proportionable Ascendent upon the People makes me look upon it as a moral Impossibility for Commonwealth-Government ever to prevail here 'T is well known the Genius of Commonwealths is for keeping down the Nobility and extinguishing all those Beams of Royalty Therefore as 't is their Interest so I suppose it will be their Care to stick to Monarchy CHAP. VII Of the KING of ENGLAND And first of his Dominions Titles Arms his Ensigns of Royalty and Marks of Sovereignty THE King of England is otherwise called King of Great-Britain as being the sole Sovereign and supreme Head of this great and famous Island containing the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland besides the Principality of Wales Which Principality was first united by Conquest to the Crown of England Anno 1282 by King Edward I. Who overcame and slew in Battel Llewellen the last Sovereign Prince of Wales of the Race of Cadwallader the last King of the Britains After the Conquest thereof he took all the provident Care imaginable to secure it to the Crown but the Welsh seldom contained themselves within the bounds of true Allegiance till the Reign of Henry VII who was extracted from the Welsh Bloud In whose Successor's Reign Henry VIII they were made by Act of Parliament one Nation with the English subject to the same Laws capable of the same Preferments priviledged with the same Immunities and inabled to send Knights and Burgesses to the English Parliament So that the Name and Language only excepted there is now no Difference between the English and Welsh A very happy Union Scotland was also brought into Subjection by the same King Edward so that he received Homage of its King and Nobility and had there his Chancery and other Courts under a Viceroy But with much strugling they recovered at last their Liberty and set up a King of their own Robert Bruce who had the luck to be confirmed in it by the Defeat given to Edward II one of our unfortunate Kings 'T is true his Son King Edward III a most virtuous and valorous Prince changed the face of Affairs in Scotland and brought again the Scots to Obedience Insomuch that he excluded David the Son of Robert Bruce from the Crown then forced to fly into France and restored the House of Baliol to the Kingdom in the person of Edward Son of King John Baliol. Who upon his coming to the Crown did Homage to this King Edward as his Father had done to King Edward I. But 't was not long before the Scots quitted again their Subjection and Vassalage to the Crown of England the Roll of Ragman being treacherously delivered into their hands by Roger Mortimer Earl of March Which Roll contained a Confession and Acknowledgement of the Estates of Scotland subscribed by all their Hands and Seals whereby they owned the Superiority of the Kings of England not only in regard of such Advantages as the Sword had given them but as of their original and undoubted Right But setting aside this point of Vassalage the Kings of England are Kings of Scotland by a better Title For King James VI of Scotland and the first of England succeeded Q. Elizabeth in the Realm of England as the next Heir to the Crown Anno 1602 being descended by Mary Queen of the Scots his Mother from Margaret the eldest Daughter of Henry the VII King of England and Wife to James IV of Scotland And here the Wisdom and prudent Foresight of Henry is very remarkable Who having two Daughters bestowed the Eldest contrary to the Mind of his Council on the King of Scots and the younger on the French King that if his own Issue Male should fail as it did by the Death of his Grandson King Edward VI and that a Prince of another Nation must inherit England then Scotland as the lesser Kingdom should depend upon England and not England wait on France as upon the greater In which Succession of the Scots to the Crown of England the Prophecy of the fatal Stone received accomplishment I mean the Stone which the Scots lookt upon as their Palladium kept at Scone in Scotland the usual Place for the Coronation of the Scotish Kings upon which they received their Crown till the Removal of it unto Westminster by King Edward I. The Verses of old ingraven upon this Stone run thus Non fallat Fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Invenient Lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem Translated in old Meeter thus The Scots shall brook that Realm as natif Ground If Weirds fail not where ere this Stone is found Thus the Scots so often quelled and curbed by the English never subdued England but by this blessed Victory Ever since this happy Union Scotland has been deprived of its Kings Residence there who changed the worse Seat for the better But under the King there is a chief Governour appointed by his Majesty the Lord High Commissioner of Scotland who by that Title injoys the ordinary Power and Authority of a Viceroy In this manner Scotland has continued to this day a separate Kingdom governed by its own Laws 'T is true there have been several Attempts made to unite it into one Kingdom with England as Wales was by Henry VIII But hitherto they proved unsuccesfull So far we have cleared in few Words by History the whole Isle of Great Britain to the King of England with the numerous Islands about it the principal of which are the Isles of Shepey Thanet Wight Anglesey and Man The next that offers it self is the Kingdom of Ireland a great Part whereof was Conquered by the English about the Year 1172. in the Reign of Henry II and the Occasion thus Ireland being then divided amongst several â—petty Kings the King of Leinster was by the King of Meath driven out of his Kindom He fled to England for Refuge where applying himself to King Henry Henry resolved to attempt his Restauration which he did effectually and in the doing of it brought the best part of the Island under the English Subjection King John the Younger Son of Henry was the first who was Intituled Lord of Ireland Which Stile was granted him by Pope Urban III and continued to his Successors though in effect Kings thereof till the Year 1542 when Henry VIII was declared in an Irish Parliament King of
High Admiral of England an Office held by Patent and of so great a Trust that it has usually been given to Princes of the Royal Bloud For the Lord High Admiral is Intrusted with no less than the Management of all Maritime Affairs with the Government of the King's Navy with Power of Decision in all Causes Maritime aswell Civil as Criminal of all Things done upon or beyond the Sea in any Part of the World in all Ports and Havens upon the Sea-Coasts and all Rivers below the first Bridge next towards the Sea In short the Admiralty being in a manner a separate Kingdom from the rest the Lord High Admiral may be reputed at least the Viceroy thereof A Multitude of Officers high and low are under him both at Sea and Land some of a Military others of a Civil Capacity some Judicial others Ministerial And under him is held the High Court of Admiralty the Places and Offices whereof are in his Gift The last High Admiral of England was the late King when Duke of York For since he came to the Crown the Office was executed by Seven Lords Commissioners as it is to this day CHAP. XIII Of Their present Majesties King WILLIAM and Queen MARY With a brief Account of Their Accession to the Crown KING WILLIAM our present Monarch is the only Issue of the late Illustrious Prince William of Nassaw Prince of Orange and of the Deceased Princess Royal Mary eldest Daughter to King Charles I who was wedded to the foresaid Prince in the Year 1641. His Majesty was born in Holland Nov. 4th 1650 ten days after his Fathers Death and was Christened by the Names of William Henry William being his Fathers Name and Henry his Grandfathers The House of Nassaw is an Ancient and most Illustrious Family so called from Nassaw a Town and County in Weteravia a Province of Germany That Branch of it from whence the King is descended had their usual Seat at Dillenburg not far from Nassaw before they settled in the Low-Countries whence for Distinctions sake they were named the Earls of Nassaw of the House of Dillenburg Otho of Nassaw who died Anno 1190 was the Founder of the present Family of the Princes of Orange out of which descended Adolph Earl of Nassaw who was chosen Emperour in the Year 1292. By the Marriage of Engelbert the seventh Earl of this House with Mary Daughter and Heir of Philip Lord of Breda in Brabant that Town and Barony with many other fair Estates in the Netherlands was added to the Family And by the Marriage of Henry the tenth Earl of Nassaw Anno 1515. with Claude of Chalons Sister and Heir of Philibert Prince of Orange this Principality bordering upon Provence and Dauphene within the Dominions of France accrued to the Family So much the worse for having so ill an Neighbour as the present French King who has long since rapaciously seized upon it but left however what he could not take away the King 's just Title to it In short our Gracious King William is the 18th Earl of Nassaw beginning with Otho aforesaid and the 7th Prince of Orange of his Family beginning with Rene of Nassaw Son of Henry and Claude who succeeded Philibert his Uncle in the Principality of Orange A Family as much honoured for the personal Merit of the Princes of it as any other in Europe and to which the States of Holland ow the Liberty and Greatness they injoy All the World knows how great a Patron and Assertor of the Belgick Liberties against the Spaniard was the most noble and generous Prince William of Nassaw one of his Majestieâ— Ancestors And to pass by the generous Exploits of his noble Successors till the present King William 't is well known what his Majestly has done to rescue not only his Native Country but the best Part of Europe from its Oppressors It has been of late Years both at home and abroad the Maxim of some Princes to outvy each other in preying upon and destroying not only their Neighbours but their own Protestant Subjects by all Methods of Perfidiousness and Cruelty To establish or maintain their Tyranny they went about to introduce a general Ignorance For where Subjects part with their Reason 't is easy for them to part with their Liberty witness those miserable Inslaved Countries where Popery domineers On the contrary the House of Orange has always appeared against that ravenous and inhumane Principle And as if Providence had appointed them for a Check to Tyranny God has been pleased accordingly to bless their just Indeavours Never the Liberty of England and the Protestant Interest in general lay more at stake than it did in the late Reign 'T is plain there was a general Design to extirpate Herely in a Popish Sense and to inslave all Europe The Plot was laid in the Reign of blessed King Charles who with a shew of Proteslantism made the Way smooth for Popery At last when all Things were finely prepared to the hand of his next Heir King Charles go's off the Stage and his Brother to play the last Act enters and ascends the Throne No Prince more Courteous more Obliging or more Promising at first than He was to his new Subjects The Church of England Triumphed in his Exaltation and Addressed Him from all Parts of the Kingdom as their Tutelaâ— Angel The People in general look'd upon him as an Incomparable Hero who would quickly make it his Business to pull down the Hector of France and to carry the Glory of England beyond all his Predecessors In short so great were the Hopes of this King that Edward III and Henry V the most glorious Monarchs of England were upon his Account to be hissed out of our English Chronicles No body dreamed of a Popish Catechism to be the first step to this Glory nor of an Army to be raised for the defence of it Under whose shelter besides a secret League with France the Prerogative began presently to swell above its Banks the Laws to be Overwhelmed the Liberty and Property of the Subject Invaded the Church of England Crushed that had raised the King to the Throne Popery crowing over all the Nation and to crown all their Hopes presto a Prince of Wales In short to speak in terms of War the Miner was fix'd and we must either Surrender or be Stormed This was our Condition when the Prince of Orange our present King undertook our Deliverance and effected it under God in a miraculous manner Upon whose Approach our Mass-Hero fled left us to shift for our selves and the Popish Party to the mercy of the Rabble This hapned Dec. 11th 1688 a fatal Year in this and the foregoing Age to Popery iâ— England In that state of Anarchy what could the Nation do less than provide for a Settlement under the gracious Influences of the Prince Which was accordingly done in as regular 〈◊〉 Way as the present state of Affairs would â—ow King James having thus deserted the
eldest Son is Frederick the Heir apparent born in the Year 1671 and the two others are Christiern and Carolus The Duke of Glocester is the only Son and Heir of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Denmark He was born July 24th 1689 and on the 27th he was Christened at Hampton-Court by the Lord Bishop of London and named William the King and the Earl of Dorset Lord Chamberlain of His Majesties Houshold being Godfathers and the Lady Marchioness of Hallifax Godmother CHAP. XIX Of the Nobility of England THE English Nobility is divided into five Degrees Viz. Duke Marquess Earl Viscount and Baron And they are called the Peerage of England because they are all Peers the Barons as well as the rest They have also all of them the Title of Lord. All these Honours are given by the King who is the sole Fountain of Honour and whatever Title a Subject of England receives from any forein Prince is not only Insignificant here but Unwarrantable by Law All Noblemen at their Creation have two Ensigns which signify two Duties Their Heads are adorned in token that they are to assist their King and Country with good Counsel in time of Peace and they are girt with a Sword as being to support the King and defend the Kingdom with their Lives and Fortunes in time of War A Duke is created by Patent Cincture oâ— Sword Mantle of State Imposition of A Cap and Coronet of gold on his head and a Vergâ— of gold put into his hand A Marquess and aâ— Earl by Cincture of Sword a Mantle of State with a Cap and Coronet put upon him by the King himself and a Patent delivered into his hand Viscounts and Barons are made by Patent and these sometimes by Writ whereby they are called to sit in the House of Lords All the Peers have Coronets but with these Distinctions A Baron has six Pearls upon the Circle a Viscount the Circle of Pearls without number an Earl has the Pearls raised upon Points and Leaves low between a Marquess a Pearl and a Strawberry-leaf round of equal height and a Duke Leaves without Pearls Only the Dukes of the Royal Blood bear like the Prince of Wales a Coronet of Crosses and Flower de Luce. Which is the same with the King 's excepting the Arches Globe and Cross on the top of the King's Crown But the greatest Distinction amongst the Nobles is their Parliament Robes in their several Gards on their Mantles and short Cloaks about their Shoulders For a Baron has but two Gards a Viscount two and a half an Earl three a Marquess three and a half and a Duke four Besides that the Mantle of a Duke Marquess and Earl is faced with Ermine that of a Viscount and Baron with plain white Furr Dukes were at first so called a ducendo being anciently Generals and Leaders of Armies in time of War Marquesses from their Government of Marches and Frontire-Countries Earls in Latine Comites because they had the Government of Counties Viscounts in Latine Vice-Comites as being Assistants or Deputies in the Government of Counties Barons according to Bracton quasi Robur Belli the safety of the King and People in Time of War depending upon their Courage and Skill in Martial Affairs Anciently a Duke was made so for Term of Life then held by Lands and Fees till Dukes came to be Titular and Hereditary In those Times likewise there was no Earl but had a County or Shire for his Earldom who for the support of his State had the third Peny out of the Sheriffs Court issuing out of all Pleas of that County whereof he was Earl Also those Barons only were accounted Peers of the Realm that held of the King per integram Baroniam which consisted of 13 Knights Fees and one third part that is of 400 Marks each Knights Fee being 20 l. And whoever had so much was wont to be summoned to Parliament But then 100 Marks was as much as 2000 pounds at this day as may be guessed by comparing the Prices of Things 'T is true King Henry III after he had with much ado suppressed his Barons called by Writ unto Parliament only such great Men as had continued loyal or were like so to be Which Example being followed by his Successors they only were accounted Peers of the Realm that were so called by the King 's special Writ Till Barons came to be made by Patent as well as by Writ and at last most by Patent which makes it hereditary But there are Barons in England that have noâ— share in the Peerage as such viz. the Barons of the Exchequer and the Barons of the Cinque-Ports Such as these the Earls Palatines and the Eath of England Marches had anciently under them and such there are yet in Cheshire The chieâ— Burgesses of London were also called of oâ— Barons All Dukes Marquesses and Earls at this day have their respective Titles from some Shire or part of a Shire Town or City Castle Park or Village Except two Earls whereof one is Officiary and the other Nominal the first being the Earl Marshal of England and the last the Earl Rivers who takes his Denomination from an Illustrious Family Barons are so denominated from their chief Seat or a Castle belonging to the Family Which is not to be divided amongst Daughters if there be no Sons but must descend to the eldest Daughter None of these Honours can be lost but these two Ways Either by want of Issue male except where the Patent extends to Issue female as sometimes it does Or else by some heinous Crime and then it cannot be restored to the Bloud but by Act of Parliament A Duke has the Title of Grace given him and the other Peers that of Lordship on Honour Accordingly we commonly give to these the Epithet of Right Honourable All Dukes and Marquesses Sons are called Lords by the Courtesy of England and the Daughters Ladies I say by the Courtesy of England for the Law makes no such Distinction but looks upon all as Commoners that have no Right to sit in the House of Peers Of an Earl none but the eldest Son is called Lord though all the Daughters be Ladies And as for the Issue of Vicounts and Barons none of their Sons is Lord nor of the Daughters Lady A Dukes eldest Son is called Lord Marquess and the younger Sons by their Christen-names with the Title of Lord prefixt as Lord William Lord Thomas c. A Marquesses eldest Son is called Lord of a Place and the younger Sons as those of a Duke that is by their Christen-names with the Title of Lord prefixt as Lord William Lord Thomas An Earl's eldest Son is born as a Viscount and called Lord of a Place In point of Precedency this is the Rule Af-the Princes of the Bloud the first amongst the Nobility are the Dukes and these are thus followed Viz. Dukes Marquesses Dukes eldest Sons Earls Marquesses eldest Sons Dukes younger Sons Vicounts Earls
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 Engâ—and 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
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
Goâ—ernment nine and twenty of the Lords Spiâ—â—al and Temporal such as â—â—â—ned to be at â—t time in and about the Cities of London â—d Westminster immediately assembled at â—ildhall Where they unanimously Reâ—â—ved to apply themselves to His Highness 〈◊〉 Prince of Orange and to assist Him â—â—th their utmost Endeavours in the obâ—â—ing with all speed such a free Parliament 〈◊〉 the security of our Laws Liberties and â—operties as thereby the Church of England 〈◊〉 particular with a due Liberty to Proteâ—â—nt Dissenters and in general the Protestant â—eligion and Interest over the whole World â—ight be supported and incouraged to the â—lory of God the Happiness of these Kingâ—oms and the Advantage of all Princes and â—ates in Christendom Whereof they made publick Declaration signed by every one of 〈◊〉 Lords amongst which the Earl of Pemâ—ke the Lord Viscount Weymouth the Bishop 〈◊〉 Ely and the Lord Culpeper were chosen to â—tend forthwith His Highness with the said â—eclaration and at the same time acquaint 〈◊〉 with what they had further done at that â—eeting Few days after this the Lord Mayor Alderâ—en and Commons of the City of London in â—mmon Council Assembled made an humble â—ddress to the Prince wherein they returned 〈◊〉 Highness their Thanks for his glorious Unâ—rtaking to rescue these Kingdoms from Poâ—ry and Slavery look'd upon him as their Reâ—â—e implored his Protection and humbly beâ—ght Him to repair to this City where he should be received with Universal Joy and Sâ—tisfaction The Prince was then at Henley where he râ—ceived the Addressers in the most obliging maâ—ner with Aâ—â—rances of his Protection aâ— of his Readiness to comply with their Dâ—fires In the mean time King James was unhappiâ— taken in a Disguise at Feversham in Kent as 〈◊〉 was going for France Where being soon Dâ— covered he was at last prevailed upon to Return so that his Guards and Coach being seâ— for Him he came back to Whitehall Sundâ—â— Dec. 16 and reassumed the Government Whilâ— King James came up to London from the South the Prince made his Way thither from tâ—â— West in hopes that his Majesty would come 〈◊〉 an amicable and equitable Accommodation by referring all Grievances to a free Parlâ—â—ment But the King not being able to bear the hâ—â— of a Free Parliament after so many notoriâ—â— Violations of the Laws of the Realm grew foâ— uneasy at Whitehall and his Heart beat agâ— for France as his only Place of Refuge 〈◊〉 Rochester he goes from whence few Days â—â—ter he privately Withdrew himself the secâ—â— time but with more success than the 〈◊〉 For he got clear to France where the Quâ—â— and the supposed Prince of Wales had soâ— time before taken Sanctuary Mean while the Prince of Orange was 〈◊〉 to St. James's Dec. 19th where his Highâ—â— received the Compliments of all the Nobiâ—â— and other Persons of the chiefest quality Town and at Night the Streets were 〈◊〉 with Bonfires with Ringing of Bells and ther publick Demonstrations of Joy Then the Scene of Affairs was so very much â—ered that nothing but a new Settlement â—â—uld Resettle us In order to which a great Assembly of Lords and Commons Members of â—rmer Parliaments besides the Lord Mayor â—ldermen and Common Council of the City of London was held at Westminster to consult â—hat was fit to be done Who after some Deâ—â—tes upon the present Juncture came to this resolve that his Highness the Prince of Oâ—â—nge should be humbly Intreated to Summon 〈◊〉 Convention of Lords and Commons by his Cirâ—ular Letters these to be chosen by the People in a Parliamentary Way to meet at Westminster on â—he 22th of January following And that His sighness in the mean time would be pleased â—o take upon Him the Administration of pubâ—ick Affairs both Civil and Military and the disposal of the publick Revenue Which was â—one accordingly The Convention being met at the Time â—ppointed the House of Commons broke the 〈◊〉 Voted the Abdication of the Governâ—ent by King James and the Vacancy of the â—â—rone that is in short a Dissolution of the whole Frame of Government The House of Lords being divided as to the Word Abdicate â—â—d several Conferences about it with the Comâ—ons till at last their Lordships Concurred with them by Plurality of Votes Which hapâ—ed on the 6th of Febr the same Day upon which King James had ascended the Throne The Government being thus declared in a â—ate of Dissolution and the Throne Vacant â—he next Business was to Resettle the first by â—lling up the last It was then in their power 〈◊〉 bestow the Crown upon whom they pleased 〈◊〉 after several Debates the Two Houses at last fully agreed upon a joynt Declaration concerning the Misgovernment of King James the Offer of the Crown to the Prince and Prince of Orange the Abrogation of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and the new Oaths tâ— be taken instead of them All this was done by the 12th of February upon which Day Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange arrived at Whitehall about twâ— in the Afternoon the welcome News whereoâ— was received with universal Demonstrations oâ— Joy The next Day Febr. 13th both Houses being Assembled at Westminster came to thâ— Banqueting House where they presented tâ— the Prince and Princess of Orange the Instrument in Writing agreed upon for Declarinâ— Their Highnesses KING and QUEEN oâ— England France and Ireland with all the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging and received Their Consent Whereupon Their Majesties were immediately Proclaimed in thaâ— solemn Manner as I have already described iâ— the Seventh Chapter And thus was accomplished the Curse of King James J a Prince whose Learned Pen baffleâ— all the Conclave which he solemnly pronounced on any of his Posterity that should turn Papists I am heartily sorry that it should fall 〈◊〉 heavy upon the late King but it is better so than that three Kingdoms should perish And yet had he kept within some reasonable Bounds and his Religion to himself withouâ— his open Violations of the Laws as it were iâ— defiance 't is very likely the Nation would haâ—â— been upon his account very indulgent to thâ— Roman Catholick Party They might have gâ— by this means some legal Toleration which 〈◊〉 the space of few Years would have Incouraâ—â—d and Strengthned their Party here consideâ—bly So quick of growth are the Roman â—atholicks where they find Incourageâ—ent Therefore the very Court of France did oâ—enly declare his Errors to the World and â—ssed this Verdict upon him That his whole â—onduct had been very little Judicious The â—mperour on the other side in his Letter to â—ing James from Vienna Apr. 9. 1689 could â—â—t forbear amongst his tender condoling â—xpressions to tell him the Cause of his â—in But King James would never be advised to Moderation and no Counsellors were welcome 〈◊〉 him but such as prompted him to Vioâ—nce The Issue whereof proved accordingly â—ll Covet all Lose I conclude with a Character of Their
not to be made up by new Creations but be suffered to diminish as appears by their Patent And yet the very Founder King James I transgressed the first his Rule by creating 203. Charles his next Successor made 455. But King Charles II outdid them both by creating near upon 900 during his Reign At this time there are reckoned above 700 living Sir Nicholas Bacon of Suffolk was the first Baronet created whose Successor is therefore stiled Primus Baronettorum Angliae No Honour is ever to be created between Barons and Baronets As for the other two Degrees of Knighthood they are but Personal and not Hereditary so that the Honour dies with the Person Knighted and descends not to his Son Knights of the Bath are so called from their Bathing the Night before the Creation within the Lists of the Bath The first of this sort were made by Henry IV but now they are usually made at the Coronation of a King or Queen or Creation of a Prince of Wales They wear a Scarlet Ribbon Belt-wise and take place of Knights Batchelours but come after Baronets There are but a few Knights of this Order Knights Batchelours are the lowest sort of Knights and the most common Anciently this Degree was in greater esteem than it is at the present when it was only conferred upon Sword-men for their military Service who from the Gilt Spurs usually put upon them were called in Latine Equites Aurati Whereas now a days this Honour is also bestowed upon Gown-men viz. Lawyers and Physicians And all the Ceremony used in their Creation is their Kneeling down before the King and His Majesties lightly touching them on the shoulder with a naked Sword Anciently there was another Sort of Knights now disused I mean the Knights Bannerets who were Knighted in the Field This Order was accounted very honourable had the precedency of the Knights of the Bath and bore their Arms with Supporters which was not allowed to any under this Degree Next to Knights are the Esquires so called from the French Escuyer this from the Latine Scutiger which Name was given of old to him that attended a Knight in time of War and carried his Shield Whereas Esquire with us is a meer Title of Dignity next to and below a Knight and signifies a Gentleman or one that beareth Arms as a Testimony of his Nobility and Gentry They who by right claim this Title now are all the younger Sons of Noblemen and by the Common Law of England their very eldest Sons are Esquires and no more Next are the Esquires of the King's Body the eldest Sons of Noblemens younger Sons Knights eldest Sons and their elder Sons for ever Next Esquires created by the King by putting about their Necks a Collar of S's and bestowing on them a pair of Silver Spurs Those that are reputed or lookt upon as equal to Esquires tho none of them be really so are several Magistrates and Officers in the King's Court as Judges Sergeants at Law Sheriffs Mayors Justices of the Peace Counsellors at Law and the principal Commanders of an Army So Heads of Houses in the Universities Doctors of Law Physick and Musick usually take place next to Knights and before ordinary Gentlemen Lastly Gentlemen are properly such as are descended of a good Family bearing a Coat of Arms without any particular Title And these we call Gentlemen born But Use has so far stretched the signification of this Word both high and low that every Nobleman nay the King himself may be called a Gentleman And on the other side any one that without a Coat of Arms has either a liberal or genteel Education that looks Gentleman-like whether he be so or not and has wherewithall to live freely and handsomely is by the Courtesy of England usually called a Gentleman Others by their Offices are lookt upon as such particularly most of the King 's Menial Servants and the principal Officers in Noble-mens Families c. The Military Profession which has been always counted Noble seems to give the very meanest Professors of it a Title to this Quality But it is more particularly adapted to two distinct Bodies of the King's Guards the one called Gentlemen Pensioners who gard his Person within Doors and the other the Gentlemâ—n of the Guard by whom is meant his Body of Horse Guards who gard the Kings Person on horseback without Doors As in Germany all Noblemens so in England all Gentlemens Arms descend to all the Sons alike Only the eldest Son bears Arms without difference which the younger may not Besides above 700 Knights Baronets and the few Knights of the Bath there are reckoned to this day above 1400 ordinary Knights and 6000 Esquires and Gentlemen whose younger Brothers in all may make up at least 12000 all over England And the Land in the Possession of them all has been computed to amount at least to four Millions yearly The Law of England which is so Favourable to the Nobility has not a proportionable Regard for the Gentry For whether they be Knights Esquires or Gentlemen they are all reckoned by law even Noblemens Sons amongst the Commons of England So that the eldest Son of a Duke though by the Courtesy of England stiled an Earl shall be Arraigned if charged with a Crime by the Title of Esquire only and tried by a Jury of Common Free-holders In Parliament he can sit only in the House of Commons if elected unless he be called by the King 's Writ to the House of Lords Knights are distinguished in England by the Title of Sir prefixt to their Christen names And Gentlemen have no other Title but that of Master when spoken of and that of Sir when spoken to But if one writes to an Esquire the Direction ought to be thus as To Thomas Whitfield Esquire The Epithet of Honourable is usually given to any Knight Esquire or Gentleman distinguished by some eminent and personal Worth CHAP. XXI Of the Commonalty of England BY the Commonalty I mean Yeomen Merchants Artificers Tradesmen Mariners and all others getting their Livelyhood after a Mechanick Way Yeomen are such amongst the Commonalty who having Land of their own to a good value Keep it in their own hands husband it themselves and live with their Families upon it They are therefore by the Law called Freeholders because they hold Lands or Tenements Inheritable by a perpetual Right to them and their Heirs for ever Their Number is great in England and many of them have Estates fit for Gentlemen Forty or Fifty pounds a Year is veâ—â—â—ordinary 100 or 200 l. a Year in some Counties is not rare in Kent there are those who have 1000 l. and some more per Annum Which is not easy to be found amongst Men of this Rank any where else in Europe And whereas Husbandry is commonly lookt upon as the most innocent Life and the freest from the Corruption and Cheats that attend other Professions therefore the Law of England has a better