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
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
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
is watered Among which the Iddie which empty's it self Northward into the Dun is the most considerable As for the Air 't is counted as good here especially in the sandy Parts as any where else in England Nottingham the Shire-Town from whence the whole County takes its Denomination is 94 miles from London to the North-West Viz. from London to Leicester 78 miles the Particulars whereof you may see in Leicestershire from thence to Loughborow 8 and to Nottingham 8 more 'T is seated about a mile on the North-side of the River Trent upon a Hill which overlooks it Over this River it has a fair Stone-bridge and another over the Lean a small River besides two other Bridges over two Ponds called the Cheney Bridges The Town is large containing 3 Parish Churches for Buildings fair Streets and a spacious Market-Place not yielding to many Cities But of most fame for its Castle which for strength stateliness and prospect did formerly challenge the precedency of most Castles in England Honoured besides with the Title of an Earldom at this time injoy'd by the Right Honourable Daniel Finch Earl of Nottingham and principal Secretary of State Descended to him from his Father Heneage Finch Lord High Chancellour of England in the Reign of King Charles II and by him created Earl of Nottingham Baron Finch of Daventry c. Which hapned soon after the Death of the Lord Charles Howard who dying without Issue male was the last of that Family which injoy'd that Title In short Nottingham is a Town well inhabited and frequented this being the Place where the County-Goal is and where the Assizes are held and injoy's as good a Trade as most Inland Towns For Provisions it has 3 Markets a Week Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays this last the most considerable The other Market Towns are Southwell Sat. Redford Sat. Tuxford Mund. Newark Wedn. Worksop Wedn Mansfield Thu. Bingham Thu. Blith Thu. Southwell is seated on a Rivulet that falls not far off from hence into the Trent 'T is an ancient Town and has a Collegiate Church Redford is situate on the River Iddel Not far from which is Littleburg on the Trent noted for its Ferry much resorted unto for a Passage into Lincolnshire Tuxford from its Clay-Ground called Tuxford upon Clay has nothing remarkable in it but its Church and Steeple both very neat and pretty though in a dirty Soil For the Conveniency of Travellers this being a Road-Town to and from the North is accommodated with two very good Inns lately built Newark the Place of most note in this County next to Nottingham ly's in the high Road to York on the Banks of the River Trent where it divides it self into two Branches and makes up an Island before the Town This is a good large Town otherwise Inconsiderable but for its Market Place it s Church and Steeple and the Ruins of a stately Castle which are still to be seen 'T is true it gives the Title of Viscount to the Earl of Kingston Mansfield and Worksop are both in the Forest of Sherwood The first a good large Town graced with well-built Houses well inhabited and having a good Trade for Malt and other Provisions The other of chief note for the great store it yields of the best Licorish in all the Northern Parts As for Ringham and Blith they are but indifferent Towns and their Markets accordingly To conclude this County now in the Diocese of York was part of the ancient Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants part of the Câ—ritani as the Romans called them Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire but six Members to serve in Parliament Viz. Two by Nottingham two by Newark and two more by Eastretford Oxfordshire OXFORDSHIRE another Inland County is bounded on the East by Buckinghamshire from which it is divided in part by the Chiltern-Hills on the West by Glocestershire on the North by the Counties of Warwick and Northampton on the South by the Thames which parts it from Parkshire It contains in Length from North to South about 40 Miles in Breadth from East to West 26. The Whole divided into 14 Hundreds 280 Parishes and 15 Market-Towns The Air of this County is mightily commended for its sweetness and temperateness as the Soil is for its fruitfulness Both which make this Country so much inhabited as it is by Gentry And that which adds much to it is the pleasantness of its Hills here well doathed with Wood and stored as well as the Downs with Variety of Game both for the Hawk and Hound Besides the Thames which waters the South Parts of it here 's the Tame and the Isis which make up the Thames the Cherwell the Windrush and the Evenlode So that this County is as well Irrigated as most are in the Kingdom Oxford the principal Place in this Shire from whence it takes its Name bears from London West-North-West and is distant therefrom 47 Miles thus From London to Vxbridge 15 to Beaconfield 7 more thence to High Wickam 5 to Stoken-Church 5 more from thence to Wheatly-Bride 9 and to Oxford 6 more A Place of that Importance especially in relation to the Muses that it deserves a particular Description for which I refer you together with that of London and Cambridge to the Conclusion of this Part. So I proceed to The other Market-Towns of this County Burford Sat. Deddington Sat. Watlington Sat. Woodstock Tame Bampton Wed. Chipping-Norton Wed. Banbury Thu. Henly Thu. Witney Thu. Burcester Frid. Fairford Bistow Coleford Among which Burford seated on an Ascent near the River Windrush in the West of Oxfordshire is a Town of good Antiquity Remarkable heretofore for a great Battle fought near it about the Year 750. between Cuthbert a Tributary King of the West-Saxons and Ethelbald the Mercian King whose insupportable Exactions Cuthbert could not indure In this Fight Cuthbert had the fortune to overthrow the Mercian King and to win his Banner wherein was depicted a golden Dragon The Memory whereof has continued for several Ages in the Custom used here of making a Dragon yearly and carrying it about the Town in great Jollity on Midsummer Eve with the addition of a Giant to it At present Burford is a famons Place for Saddles and something advantaged besides by the neighbouring Downs much resorted unto by the Gentry for Horse races Of late become of further note by giving the Title of Earl to the Duke of St. Albans Woodstock a well-compacted Borough-Town is pleasantly seated near a small River on a rising Ground with a large Park near it surrounded with a Wall and said to be the first inclosed Park In which was once a Royal House called Woodstock Bower built by King Henry I and inlarged by Henry II but demolished in the long Civil Wars In this House was born Edward the black Prince and in the Labyrinth that belonged to it the beautifull Rosamond King Henry the Second's Mistress catched her Death by the poysonous
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
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
of the Officers of Arms with a Sergeant at Arms and two Trumpets went before to Temple-Bar where the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs were by this time arrived and had ordered the Gates to be shut The Herald at Arms knocked thereat and the Sheriffs being come to the Gate on Horse-back he acquainted them That he came by Order of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster to demand Entrance into that famous City for the Proclaiming of WILLIAM and MART King and Queen of England France and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging and therefore required their speedy Answer Whereupon the said Sheriffs ordered the Gates to be opened Thus the Head-Bayliff Constables and Beadles of Westminster being left without the Bar the rest of the Proceeding entered Where they found the Lord Mayor Aldermen Recorder and Sheriffs all in their Formalities and on Horse-back Except the Lorâ— Mayor who was in his Coach attended by the Sword-bearer and other of his Officers The Proceeding being there joyfully received they made a Stand between the two Temple-Gates and Proclaimed Their Majesties a second time From whence they marched towards Cheapside a Class of the City-Trumpets and the Lord Mayor's Livery-men leading the Way the said Aldermen and Lord Mayor falling into the Proceeding And near Wood-street end the Place where Cheap-side Cross formerly stood they made another stand and Proclaimed Their Majesties a third time At last arriving at the Royal Exchange about two of the Clock they Proclaimed Them a fourth time Each Proclamation was ecchoed with universal Acclamations of Joy by the Multitudes of people which crowded the Streets Windows and Balconies the Streets all the way from Temple-Bar to the Royal Exchange being lined with four Regiments of the City Militia And the Night was concluded with Bonfires Ringing of Bells and all other Expressions of Duty and Affection towards Their Majesties King WILLIAM and Queen MARY with hearty Wishes for Their long and happy Reign Their Coronation was performed at Westminster in Manner following Apr. 11th 1689. Their Majesties being come about Noon from Whitehall to the Palace at Westminster where the Nobility and others who were to go into the Proceeding were assembled came down in State from the House of Lords to Westminster-Hall then fitted up for this great Solemnity Where being seated on the Throne the Sword of State the Curtana or pointless Sword being an Emblem of Mercy and the two pointed Swords together with the gold Spurs were presented to Their Majesties and laid on a Table before Them Then the Dean and Prebends of Westminster having before brought the Crowns and other Regalia in solemn Procession from the Collegiate Church there came up the Hall and presented them severally to Their Majesties Which being likewise laid on the Table were together with the four Swords and Spurs delivered to the Lords appointed to carry them in the Procession which was thus First marched The Drums and Trumpets The Six Clerks in Chancery two abreast as the rest of the Proceeding went Chaplains having Dignities The Aldermen of London Masters in Chancery Sollicitor and Attorney General Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber Judges Then the Children of Westminster and of the King's Chappel The Choir of Westminster Gentlemen of the Chappel Prebend of Westminster Master of the Jewel-House Privy Counsellors not Peers Two Pursuivants The Baronesses Barons Bishops A Pursuivant A Vicountess The Vicounts Two Heralds The Dutchesses The Dukes Two Kings of Arms. The Lord Privy Seal Lord President of the Council Arch-bishop of York The Prince of Denmark Two Persons in Robes of State representing the Dukes of Aquitain and Normandy Next the Lords who bore Their Majesties Regalia with the Sergeants at Arms going on each side of them Viz. The Earl of Manchester carrying S. Edward's Staff and the Lord Grey of Ruthen now Vicount of Longueville the Spurs The Earl of Clare carrying the Queen's Scepter with the Cross and the Earl of Northampton the King's The Earls of Shrewsbury Derby and Pembroke the three Swords Then Garter King Arms between the Vsher of the Black Rod and the Lord Mayor of London The Lord Great Chamberlain single The Earl of Oxford with the Sword of State between the Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal and the Duke of Ormond Lord High Constable for that Day Next the Earl of Bedford with the Queen's Scepter of the Dove and the Earl of Rutland with the Kings The Duke of Bolton with the Queens Orb and the Duke of Grafton with the Kings The Duke of Somerset with the Queen's Crown and the Earl of Devonshire Lord Steward of the King's Houshold and Lord High Steward of England for that Day with the King's Crown The Bishop of London with the Bible between the Bishop of S. Asaph with the Paten and the Bishop of Rochester with the Chalice The KING and QUEEN followed next under a rich Canopy born by Sixteen Barons of the Cinque-Ports the King assisted by the â—ishop of Winchester and the Queen by the Bishop of Bristol Both Their Majesties array'd in Royal Robes of Crimson Velvet furred with Ermine the King with a Velvet Cap and the Queen with a gold Circlet on her head His Majesties Train born by the Master of the Robes assisted by the Lords Eland Willoughby Lansdowne and Dunblain and Her Majesties by the Dutchess of Somerset assisted by the Ladies Eliz. Pawlet Diana Vere Eliz. Cavendish and Henrietta Hyde The Gentlemen Pensioners marched on each side of the Canopy Next to the King followed a Gentleman and two Grooms of the Bed-Chamber And after the Queen a Lady of the Bed-Chamber and two of Her Majesties Women Who were followed by the Captain of His Majesties Gard between the Captain of the Yeomen of the Gard and the Captain of the Band of Pensioners And these by the Officers and Band of the Yeomen of the Gard who closed the Proceeding Thus Their Majesties with all the Nobility in Crimson-Velvet Robes and their Coronets in their hands and the rest of the Proceeding being richly habited or wearing their proper and peculiar Robes proceeded on foot upon blue Cloth spread from the Steps of the Throne in Westminster-Hall to the Steps of the Theater in the Quire of the Collegiate Church of S. Peter Westminster The whole Passage was Railed in and Garded with Their Majesties Horse and Foot-Gards all the Way and Houses on each side being Crowded with vast Number of Spectators expressing their great Joy and Satisfaction by loud repeated Acclamations Being entred the Church and the Nobility and others all duly placed Their Majesties ascended the Theater Who being seated in their Chairs of State the Bishop of London who performed this great Solemnity began with the Recognition which ended with a mighty Shout Then Their Majesties Offered and the Lords who bore the Regalia presented them at the Altar where they were deposited After that the Litany was sung by two Bishops And after the Epistle Gospel and Nicene Creed the Bishop
King Who in such Case usually make choice of such a Person among the Nobility as is fit for that Station whose private Interest is to preserve the Kings Life and Authority and to whom least benefit can accrue by his Death or Diminution Thus in the Case of Edward VI the Duke of Somerset his Uncle by the Mothers side was made Lord Protector during the Kings Minority And when this Rule has not been observed as in the Minority of Edward V it has proved of very ill consequence But this is observable withall that when thâ— King comes to be 24 Years of Age he may bâ— his Letters Patents under the Great Seal aâ—cording to a Statute made in the Reign of Heâ—ry VIII revoke and utterly null whatsoeveâ— has been Enacted in Parliament during his Mâ—nority When the King was Absent upon any so reign Expedition as several of our Kings have been with good success the Custom was for merly to constitute a Vicegerent by Commission under the Great Seal with the Titâ— of Lord Warden or Lord Keeper of the Kingdom and sometimes that of Protector And such was the Latitude of his Power that except wearing of the Crown he was as great aâ— the King But sometimes the Kingdom durinâ— the King's Absence has been committed to thâ— Care of several Noblemen During the Absence of Henry VIII in France which hapned two several times the Queeâ— was made Regent And so is at this time oâ—â— Gracious Queen Mary during his Majesties so reign Expedition So in case of the Kings Incapacity to govern either through Age or Weakness or by reason of some Incurable Disease a Gardian 〈◊〉 Regent is constituted to govern the Kingdom for Him Such a one was John Duke of Lâ—â— caster in the latter Days of King Edward 〈◊〉 appointed by the King himself who then what with Age and Weakness what with Sickness and Grief for the untimely Death of 〈◊〉 dear Son the Black Prince was much decayâ— both in Body and Mind I come now to the Succession to the Crâ—â— Which is not in England as in France Turâ—â— and amongst Barbarians by excluding Females from the Crown For the Crown of England in its natural Course descends from Father to Sâ—n for want of Sons to the eldest Daughter and her Heirs for want of Daughter to the Brother and his Heirs for want of Brother to the Sister and her Heirs In short upon the Death of the King or Queen upon the Throne the next of Kindred though born out of the Dominions of England or of Parents not Subjects of England is immediately King or Queen before any Proclamation or Coronation And contrary to the Descent of Estates among Subjects the Half Blood inherits as in the Case of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth who succeeded King Edward the Sixth though they were his Sisters only by the Father's side But the Government being lately Dissolved by King James his Misgovernment as well as Abdication the Crown was settled in this manner by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons assembled at Westminster in the Month of December Anno 1689. First upon William and Mary then Prince and Princess of Orange during their Lives and the Life of the Survivor of Them but the sole and full Exercise of the Regal Power to be only in and executed by the said Prince of Orange in the Names of the said Prince and Princess during their joynt Lives And after their Deceases the said Crown and Royal Dignity to be to the â—eirs of the Body of the said Princess And for default of such Issue to the Princess Anne of Denmark and the Heirs of her Body And for default of such Issue to the Heirs of the Body of the said Prince of Orange Upon which the said Prince and Princess now King and Queen of England c. did accept thâ— Crown and Royal Dignity of the Kingdoms oâ— England France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging And for preventing all Questions and Divisions in this Realm by reason of any pretended Titles to the Crown and for preserving a Certainty in the Succession thereof the Settlement of the Crown as aforesaid was Confirmed by an Act of the Insuing Parliament which passed the Royal Assent Dec 16. 1689. With this excellent Proviso That Whereas it hath been found by Experience that it is Inconsistent with the Safety and Welfare of this Protestant Kingdom to be Governed by a Popisâ— Prince or by any King or Queen Marrying Papist all and every Person and Persons thaâ— is are or shall be Reconciled to or shall holâ— Communion with the See or Church of Rome or shall profess the Popish Religion or shalâ— Marry a Papist shall be Excluded and be soever Uncapable to Inherit Possess or Injoy thâ— Crown and Government of this Realm and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonâ—ing or any Part of the same or to Have Usâ— or Exercise any Regal Power Authority or Jâ—risdiction within the same And in all and 〈◊〉 very such Case or Cases the People of theâ— Realms shall be and are hereby Absolved 〈◊〉 their Allegiance and the said Crown and Government shall from time to time Descend 〈◊〉 and be Injoy'd by such Person or Persons â—â—ing Protestants as should have Inheritâ—â— or Injoyed the same in case the said Pâ—â—son or Persons so Reconciled holding Coâ—munion or Professing or Marrying as afoâ—â—said were naturally Dead By which Act further Confirmed and Asserted by the Act of Recognition passed in the last Session of Parliament the Crown is by Law for ever Insured into Protestant Hands and all Pretence of Popish Succession Nulled and Invalidated CHAP. XI Of the Royal Family Particularly of the Queen and the Sons and Daughters of England THe Queen of England is either a Sovereign or Queen Consort or else Queen Dowager When the Queen is Sovereign as were Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth the two Daughters of Henry VIII and Sisters of Edward VI. he is invested with all the Regal Power and â—cts as Sovereign And whoever she does marry â—o far from following her Husbands Condition â—he is her Husbands Sovereign as Queen Mary â—as Philip's The Case indeed of our present Queen Mary is â—ifferent She is a Sovereign joyntly with her â—usband King William but the Administration 〈◊〉 the Government and the sole Executive Power â—â—lodged only in the King during their Joynt â—â—ves Except the Time of his Majesties Absence 〈◊〉 his foreign Expedition during which Her â—jesty is Vested by a late Act of Parliament with the Administration and acts as Queen Regent A Queen Consort without Sovereignty is Reputed however the Second Person in the Kingdom and Respected accordingly The Law sets so high a value upon Her as to make it High Treason to conspire her Death or to violate her Chastity She has her Royal Court and Officers apart with a large Dower to maintain her Greatness And though she be an Alien born yet without Denization or Naturalization she may purchase Lands in
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 â—ring 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 â—hree A Peer of the Realm has also the Priviledge â—f Retaining six Aliens whereas another may â—ot Retain above four These are the chief Priviledges belonging to â—e Nobility of England which are great and â—onsiderable 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
Carteret Lord Carteret John Bennet Lord Ossulston George Legg Lord Dartmouth Giles Allington Lord Allington John Stawell Lord Stawell Francis North Lord Guilford â—idney Godolphin Lord Godolphin â—lenry Jermin Lord Dover â—ohn Jeffreys Lord Jeffreys â—enry Waldegrave Lord Waldegrave â—dward 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 Ayliâ—bury 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
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
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 Shâ—re 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 â—iver 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 â—reat 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
was part of the ancient Kingdom of Mercia and its Inhabitants part of the Cornavii in the Time of the Romans Out of it are elected besides the two Knights of the Shire seven Members of Parliament Viz. 2 by Worcester 2 by Droitwich 2 by Evesham 1. by Bewdley And so much for Worcestershire Yorkshire YORKSHIRE a Maritime County and the greatest in the whole Kingdom is bounded Eastward by the German Ocean Westward by Lancashire and Westmorland Northward by the said Ocean and the Bishoprick of Durham from which parted by the River Tees and Southward by Lincoln Nottingham and Derby Shires It s Length from East to West is 80 miles its Breadth from North to South 70. The Whole divided first into three Parts called Ridings viz. the East West and North Riding Which together contain 26 Wapentakes or Hundreds wherein 563 Parish-Churches and 49 Market-Towns A small number of Parishes for such an Extent of Ground but that there are great many Chappels of Ease equal for bignesss and resort of people to any Parish elsewhere The East-Riding which is by much the least of the three takes up only that part of Yorkshire which lies between the River Derwent went and the Sea The North-Riding takes up the North Parts as far as Westmorland And the West-Riding the largest of the three is bounded on the North by the two former Ridings on the South by the Counties of Derby Nottingham and Cheshire Eastward by Lincolnshire and Westward by Lancashire The Soil is generally fruitfull in a very good measure And as says Speed if one Part thereof is stony and barren Ground another is as fertile and richly adorned with Corn and Pasturage If here you find it naked and destitute of Woods in other Places you shall find it shadowed with most spacious Forests If it be somewhere moorish miry and unpleasant elsewhere it is as pleasant as the Eye can wish As for Rivers here are many of good note For besides the Tees which parts this County from Durham here you will find the Swale the Youre and the Nyd of which the Ouse at York is a Compound Besides the Warfe the Are the Calder and Derwent which from several Parts fall into the Ouse below York To which add the Dun which severs part of this County from Lincolnshire and the Hull which falls into the Humber at Hull As for the Humber which is the largest of all it cannot be said properly to be a distinct River but rather a Compound or a Mouth of several Rivers joyning into one Stream as I have already hinted in the beginning of this Part. York in Latin Eboracum the chief Place of Yorkshire bears from London North-by-West and is distant therefrom 150 miles thus From London to Huntington 48 miles for the particulars of which I refer you to Huntingtonshire from Huntington to Stamford 21 to Grantham 16 more thence to Newark 10 to Tuxford 9 more from Tuxford to Duncaster 18 to Wentbridge 7 more thence to Tadcaster 12 and to York 9 more A City which for fame and greatness is the second City of England It is in the North-Riding situate on the River Ouse which divides it into two Parts but joyned together by a stately Stone-Bridge Of which two Parts that towards the East is the most populous the Houses standing thicker and the Streets narrower In general 't is a fair large and beautifull City adorned with many fair Buildings both publick and private and inclosed with a strong Wall with several Turrets upon it A City rich and populous well inhabited by Gentry and wealthy Tradesmen and containing about 30 Parish-Churches and Chappels besides its Cathedral dedicated to St. Peter First built by Edwyn the first Christian King of the Northumbers Anno 627 and finished by King Oswald his next Successor but one But being afterwards destroyed by Fire and by the fury of the Danes that which now stands was erected in the place thereof by Archbishop Thomas the 25th of this See and after by degrees adorned and beautify'd by his Successors Of that magnificent Structure which may justly put her in the first Rank of the Cathedrals in Europe In short the Romans of old had this City in such great esteem that Severus their Emperour had his Palace here where he ended his Days Here also upon the Death of Fl. Valerius Constantius surnamed Chlorus his Son Constantine was forthwith proclaimed Emperour Nor did this City flourish only under the Romans for it has been of as eminent Reputation in all Ages since and in the several Turns and Changes which have befallen this Kingdom under the Saxons Danes and Normans has still preserved its ancient Lustre Adorned it was with an Archbishops See in the time of the Britains nor stooped it lower when the Saxons imbraced the Gospel Richard II laying unto it a little Territory on the West-side thereof made it a County Incorporate as our Lawyers term it in which the Archbishops of York injoy the Right of Palatines It is governed as London by a Lord Mayor London and York being the only Cities whose Mayors bear the Title of Lord. But not so much famed by that as by the Title of Duke it has given to divers Princes of the Royal Bloud and particularly to the late King James before he came to the Crown As for its Markets it has two a Week viz. on Thursdays and Saturdays The other Market-Towns are 1. In the East-Riding Heydon Sat. Howden Sat. Burlington Sat. Pocklington Sat. Hull Tue. and Sat. Wighton Wedn. Beverley Wedn. and Sat. Kilham Thu. 2. In the West-Riding Duncaster Sat. Sherburn Sat. Tickhill Sat. Bautrey Sat. Pontefract Sat. Boroughbridge Sat. Skipton Sat. Rotheram Mund. Selby Mund. Otley Tue. Settle Tue. Sheffield Tue. Leeds Tue. and Sat. Wakefield Thu. Frid. Ripley Frid. Snathe Frid. Thorne Barnesley Wedn. Knaresborough Wedn. Hallifax Thu. Bradforth Thu. Tadcaster Thu. Weatherby Thu. Rippon Thu. 3. In the North-Riding Richmond Sat. Whitby Sat. Stokesly Sat. Malton Sat. Helmley Sat. Pickering Mun. Middleham Mun. Gisborough Mun. Thirsk Mun. Bedal Tue. Masham Tue. North-Allerton Wed. Abberforth Wed. Kirby-Moreside Wed. Scarborough Thu. Yarum Thu. In the East-Riding the Town of chief note is Hull otherwise called Kingston upon Hull seated at the very fall of the Hull into the Humber A Town of no great Antiquity being first built by King Edward I who called it Kingston made an Harbour tâ— it and gave such Incouragements to its Inhabitants by the Priviledges he granted them that it grew up quickly to what it is A large Town to this day though containing but two Parish Churches graced with faiâ— Buildings and well ordered Streets with a Custom-house and Key by the Water-side Here Ships come to lade and unlade their Merchandises and in the next Street to it not unlike Thames-street in London they find all Necessaries for Shipping such as Pitch Tar Cordage Sails c. A Town so fortified withall with Walls Ditches Forts Block-houses and Castles that with
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
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 Tallyâ—utter 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