Near this Palace are feen an immenfe Number of Swans, who wander up and down the River for fome Miles, in great Security; no body daring to molest, much less kill any of them, under Penalty of a confiderable Fine. In Whitehall are the following Things worthy of Obfervation: I. The Royal Library, well ftored with Greek, Latin, Italian and French Books: Amongst the reft, a little one in French, upon Parchment, in the hand Writing of the prefent reigning Queen Elizabeth, thus infcribed: To the moft High, Puiffant, and Redoubted Prince, Henry VIIL of the Name, King of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith: Elizabeth, his most humble Daughter, Health and Obedience. All these Books are bound in Velvet of different Colours, though chiefly red, with Clafps of Gold and Silver; fome have Pearls, and precious Stones, fet in their Bindings. II. Two little Silver Cabinets of exquifite Work, in which the Queen keeps her Paper, and which The uses for writing Boxes. III. The Queen's Bed, ingenioufly compofed of Woods of different Colours, with Quilts of Silk, Velvet, Gold, Silver, and Embroidery. IV. A little Cheft ornamented all over with Pearls, in which the Queen keeps her. Bracelets, Ear-rings, and other Things of extraordinary Value. V. Chrift's Paffion, in painted Glass. VI. Portraits: Among which are Queen Elizabeth at 16 Years old. Henry, Richard, Edward, Kings of England; Rofamond; Lucrece, a Grecian Bride, in her nuptial Habit; the Genealogy of the Kings of England; a Picture of King Edward VI. representing at first Sight something quite deformed, till by looking through a small Hole in the Cover, which is put over it, you fee it in its true Proportions; Charles V. Emperor; Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy, and Catherine of Spain, his Wife; Ferdinand Duke of Florence, with his Daughters; one of Philip King of Spain, when he came into England and married Mary; Henry VII. Henry VIII. and his Mother: Befides many more of illuftrious Men and Women; and a Picture of the Siege of Malta. VII. A fmall Hermitage, half hid in a Rock, finely carved in Wood. VIII. Variety of Emblems,on Paper, cut in the Shape of Shields, with Mottoes, ufed by the Nobility at Tilts and Tournaments, hung up there for a Memorial. IX, 1 IX. Different Inftruments of Mufick, upon one of which two Perfons may perform at the fame Time. X. A Piece of Clock-work, an Ethiop riding upon a Rhinoceros, with four Attendants, who all make their Obeifance, when it ftrikes the Hour; these are all put into Motion by winding up the Machine, At the Entrance into the Park from Whitehall is this Inscription; *The Fisherman who has been wounded, learns, though late, to beware; But the unfortunate Acteon always preffes on. A Difgrace to those that belong to him! The Security of those that belong to her! In this Park is great Plenty of Deer, In a Garden joining to this Palace, there is a Jet d'eau, with a Sun-dial, which while Strangers are looking at, a Quantity of Water, forced by a Wheel, *This romantic Infcription probably alluded to Philip II. whe wooed the Queen after her Sifter's Death; and to the Destruction of his Armada, S4 which which the Gardner turns at a Distance, through a Number of little Pipes, plentifully fprinkles those that are standing round. Guild-Hall, a fine Structure, built by Thomas Knowles: Here are to be seen the Statues of two Giants, faid to have affifted the English when the Romans made War upon them; Corinius of Britain, and Gogmagog of Albion. Beneath upon a Table the Titles of Charles V. Emperor, are written in Letters of Gold. The Government of London is this: The City is divided into 25 Regions, or Wards; the Council is compofed of 24, Aldermen, one of which prefides over every Ward. And whereas of old, the Chief Magiftrate, was a Portreve, i, e. Governor of the City: Richard I. appointed two Bailiffs; instead of which King John gave a Power by Grant, of chufing annually a Mayor, from any of the twelve principal Companies, and to name two Sheriffs, one of which to be called the King's, the other, the City's. It is fcarce credible how this City encreased, both in public and private Buildings, upon establishing this Form of Government. Vide Cambden's Britan Middlefex. It is worthy of Obfervation, that every Year upon St. Bartholomew's Day, when the Fair is held, it is ufual for the Mayor, attended by the 12 principal Aldermen, to walk in a neighbouring Field, dreffed in his fearlet Gown, and about his Neck a golden Chain, Chain, to which is hung a * Golden Fleece, and befides, that + particular Ornament, which diftinguishes the most noble Order of the Garter. During the Year of his Magiftracy, he is obliged to live fo magnificently, that Foreigner or Native, without any Expence, is free, if he can find a Chair empty, to dine at his Table, where there is always the greatest Plenty. When the Mayor goes out of the Precincts of the City, a Scepter, a Sword, and a Cap, are borne before him, and he is followed by the principal Aldermen in fcarlet Gowns, with Gold Chains; himself and they on Horfeback: Upon their Arrival at a Place appointed for that Purpose, where a Tent is pitched, the Mob begin to wrestle before them, two at a time; the Conquerors receive Rewards from the Magiftrates. After this is over, a Parcel of live Rabits are turned loofe among the Crowd, which are pursued by a number of Boys, who endeavour to catch them, with all the Noife they can make. While we were at this Shew, one of our Company, Tobias Salander, Doctor of Phyfic, had his Pocket picked of his Purfe, with nine Crowns du foleil, which without doubt was fo cleverly taken from him, by an Englishman who always kept very close to him, that the Doctor did not in the least perceive it. The Castle, or Tower of London, called Bringwin, and Tourgwin, in Welch, from its Whiteness, is en This probably alluded to the Woollen Manufacture; -Stow mentions his riding through the Cloth Fair, on the Eve of St. Barthelomew, p. 651. The Collar of SS. compaffed |