HENTZNER's

TRAVEL S.

W

E arrived at Rye, a fmall English Sea-port. Here, as foon as we came on Shore, we gave in our Names to the Notary of the Place, but not till he had demanded our Bufinefs; and being answered, that we had none but to fee England: We were conducted to an Inn, where we were very well entertained; as one generally is in this Country.

We took poft Horfes for London: It is surprizing how swiftly they run, their Bridles are very light, and their Saddles little more than a Span over.

Flimwell, a Village; here we returned our firft Horses, and mounted fresh ones.

We paffed through Tunbridge, another Village.

Chepfted, another Village; here for the second Time we changed Horfes.

VOL. II.

R

London,

.

London, the Head and Metropolis of England: Called by Tacitus, Londinium; by Ptolomy, Longidinium; by Ammianus Marcellinus, Lundinium; by Foreigners, Londra, and Londres; is the Seat of the British Empire, and the Chamber of the English Kings. This most ancient City, is in the County of Middlefex, the fruitfulleft and wholesomest Soil in England. It is built upon the River Thames, 60 Miles from the Sea, and was originally founded, as all Hiftorians agree, by Brutus, who, coming from Greece into Italy, thence into Africa, nextinto France, and laft into Britain, chofe this Situation, for the Convenience of the River, calling it Troja Nova, which Name was afterwards corrupted into Trinovant. But when Lud, the Brother of Caffibilan, or Caffivelan, who warred against Julius Cæfar, as he himself mentions, lib. v. de Bell. Gall. came to the Crown he encompaffed it with very strong Walls, and Towers very artfully conftructed, and from his own Name called it Caier Lud, i. e. Lud's City. This Name was corrupted into that of Caerlunda, and again in Time by change of Language, into Lundres. Lud, when he died, was buried in this Town, near that Gate which is yet called in Welsh, Por Lud, in Saxon, Ludefgate.

The famous River Thames, owes Part of its Stream, as well as of its Appellation, to the fis rifing a little above Winchelcombe, and being encreased with several Rivulets, unites both its Waters and its Name to the Thame, on the other fide of Oxford;

thence,

thence, after paffing by London, and being of the utmoft Utility, from its Greatness and Navigation, it opens into a vaft Arm of the Sea, from whence the Tide, according to Gemma Frifius, flows and ebbs to the Distance of 80 Miles, twice in 25 Hours, and according to Polydore Vergil, above 60 Miles, twice in 24 Hours

This City being very large of itself, has very extenfive Suburbs, and a Fort called the Tower, of beautiful Structure. It is magnificently ornamented, with public Buildings and Churches, of which there are above 120 Parochial.

On the South, is a Bridge of Stone 800 Feet in Length, cf wonderful Work; it is fupported upon 20 Piers of fquare Stone, 60 Feet high, and 30 broad, joined by Arches of about 20 Feet Diameter. The whole is covered on each fide with Houses, fo difpofed, as to have the Appearance of a continued Street, not at all of a Bridge.

Upon this is built a Tower, on whofe Top the Heads of fuch as have been executed for High Treafon, are placed upon Iron Spikes: We counted above 30.

Paulus fovius, in his Description of the most remarkable Towns in England, fays, all are obfcured by London: Which, in the Opinion of many, is Cafar's City of the Trinobantes, the Capital of all

Britain, famous for the Commerce of many Nations; its Houses are elegantly built, its Churches fine, its Towns ftrong, and its Riches and Abundance furprizing. The Wealth of the World is wafted to it by the Thames, fwelled by the Tide, and navigable to Merchants Ship, through a fafe and deep Channel for 60 Miles, from its Mouth to the City: Its Banks are every where beautified with fine Country Seats, Woods, and Farms; below, is the Royal Palace of Greenwich; above, that of Richmond ; and between both, on the West of London, rife the noble Buildings of Westminster, moft remarkable for the Courts of Juftice, the Parliament, and St. Peter's Church, enriched with the royal Tombs. At the Distance of 20 Miles from London, is the Caftle of Windfor, a moft delightful Retreat of the Kings of England, as well as famous for feveral of their Tombs, and for the Ceremonial of the Order of the Garter. This River abounds in Swans, fwimming in Flocks; the Sight of them and their Noife, is vaftly agreeable to the Fleets that meet them in their Courfe. It is joined to the City by a Bridge of Stone, wonderfully built; is never encreased by any Rains, rifing only with the Tide, and is every were spread with Nets for the taking Salmon and Shad. Thus far Paulus Jovius.

Polydore Vergil affirms, that London has continued to be a royal City, and the Capital of the Kingdom, crowded with its own Inhabitants and Foreigners, abounding in Riches, and famous for its great Trade, from the Time of King Archeninus, or Erchenvinus.

Here

Here the Kings are crowned, and folemnly inaugurated, and the Council of the Nation, or Parliament, is held. The Government of the City is lodged, by antient Grant of the Kings of Britain, in 24 Aldermen, that is, Seniors: These annually elect out of their own Body a Mayor, and two Sheriffs, who determine Causes according to municipal Laws. It has always had, as indeed Britain in general, a great Number of Men of Learning, much distinguished for their Writings.

The Walls are pierced with fix Gates, which, as they were rebuilt, acquired new Names. Two look Eastward:

I. Ludgate, the oldeft, fo called from King Lud, whofe Name is yet to be feen, cut into the Stone over the Arch on one Șide; though others imagine it rather to have been named Fludgate, from a Stream over which it stands, like the Porta Fluentana at Rome. It has been lately repaired by Queen Elizabeth, whofe Statue is placed on the oppofite Side. And

II. Newgate, the beft Edifice of any: So called from being new built, whereas before it was named Chamberlain-Gate. It is the public Prison.

On the North are four:

I. Alderfgate, as fome think, from Alder Trees; as others, from Aldricius, a Saxon.

II. Criplegate, from an Hospital for the lame.