England.

Extent of England.

Ar of Eng land.

Confeffor, the 7th Son of King Ethelred, and Brother of the aforefaid King Edmund.

Next to King Edward, and Harold his Succeffor, this Kingdom fell, Anno 1066. into the Hands of the Normans, under William Duke of Normandy, firnamed the Conqueror; who by one fingle Battle, in which Harold was flain, got Poffeffion of the Crown of England.

Thus this Part of Great-Britain was no lefs than four times conquered by four different Nations, viz. the Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans. But 'tis obfervable, that the Saxon and Norman Blood were united afterwards, in the Year 1154. in the Perfon of Henry II. from whom are defcended all the fucceeding ' Kings and Queens of England to this prefent Time.

ENGLAND, the largeft, richest and most fruitful Part of Great-Britain, and the Refidence of her Monarchs, lies South of Scotland, North of France, East of Ireland, and Weft of the Netherlands. The River Tweed parts it a good way from Scotland; the Channel from France; the Irish Sea from Ireland; and the German Sea from the Netherlands. In reference to the Globe, England lies between the 50th and 56th Degree of Northern Latitude; the longest Day in the moli Northern Parts being 17 Hours, 30 Minutes; and the fhorteft Day in the Southern Parts, almost eight Hours long.

As the Situation of England contributes much to its Security, fo it is moft advantagious and convenient for Trade, Nature having furnish'd its Sea-Coaft with many good Ports and Havens: Among which, Falmouth, Plimouth, Dartmouth, Weymouth, Southampton and Portsmouth upon the Channel; Bristol near the Mouth of the Severn; London upon the Thames; Yarmouth and Hull upon the German Sea; Liverpool and White-Haven in Saint George's Channel, are the principal. England has this Advantage befides, that its Sea-Coaft is for the most part fecur'd with high Cliffs from the Irruptions of the Sea.

As for its Extent, from Berwick upon Tweed Northward, to the South Parts of the Isle of Wight, it reaches about 330 Miles. And from Sandwich Eaft, to the Land's-End, Weft and by South, 280.

The Air of England is generally grofs, the Winters most commonly rainy and foggy, and the Weather variable. However, People live here to as great an Age, as in any Part of Europe; and 'tis recorded, That one Thomas Parr, of Alderbury in Shropfire, lived 152 Years, under Ten feveral Reigns; for he was born in 1483. in the Reign of Edward IV. and died in 1635. in the Reign of Charles 1. He lies buried in Westminster-Abbey. We are told also of one Henry Jenkins, in Yorkshire, who died in 1671. aged 168 Years; and of Eight aged Men, Neighbours in the West of England, who not many Years ago danced a Morris-Dance, and whole Ages put together, made up 800 Years.

On

t

On the other Hand, England gets great Advantages from the Thickness of her Air.

1. As it is apt to diffolve into Rain, fo it makes the Fields look Green almost all the Year round. A peculiar Advantage both to this Ifland and Ireland.

2. It makes England abound in Pafture for Cattle.

3. The Summer Heat is the lefs fcorching, and the Cold in Winter lefs fevere; the Summer lefs fübject to great Droughts, and the Winter to hard Frofts. For here the Heats of Summer are very temperate, by the frequent Interpofitions of Clouds, by the Rains falling now and then, and by the refreshing Winds from the Western Ocean. Likewife the Cold in Winter is commonly temperate by the Dampnefs of the Air; fo that deep Snows or hard Frosts, are nothing near fo frequent here, as on the Continent.

4. England is lefs fubject than other Countries to the dreadful Meteors of Hail, Thunder, Lightning, Thunderbolts, Earthquakes, and Hurricanes.

Moreover, it may be obferved, that Rain does for the most part fall gently in England, and not pour down, as in hot Climates, where violent Showers drown the fairest Hopes of the Husbandman. And that if Nature be fomewhat too prodigal of Moisture in this Country, fhe takes Care to cure it. For, after Winds. a great Glut of Rain, a Wind does commonly rife from the West, to dry it up. This is the Wind that predominates in England, which purifies its Air, and is the wholfomeft.

The Eafterly Winds are commonly drier, but unwholfome, efpecially in the Spring. As to the North, and North-West Winds, but efpecially the laft, they commonly bring fair Weather: But thofe oppofite to them, viz. South and South-Eaft, that blow but feldom in England, do for the most part bring Rain.

England has no Rivers of a very long Course, none that comes Rivers, near the Danube or the Rhine in Germany, or the Volga in Muf cory. But there is one, the Thames, which carries more Wealth in the Space of 25 Leagues, between its Mouth and London-Bridge, than all thofe Three great Rivers in their utmost Extent.

I do not intend to give a Description of an infinite Number of Rivers with which England is irrigated, and which afford great Plenty of Fish: The principal are the Thames, Medway, Severn, Humber, Trent and Oufe.

The Thames is made up of two Rivers, Tame and Ifis, which Thames. join together near Dorchester in Oxfordshire; from whence it runs Eastward, parting Buckinghamshire from Berkshire, Middlefex from Surrey, and Effex from Kent. In its Course it waters Reading and Windfor in Berkshire, Kingston and Southwark in Surrey, London in Middlefex, Barking in Effex, and Gravesend in Kent. For Navigation, Europe does not afford a more commodious River. Its Stream is eafy, its Tides convenient, and the

B 4

Water

Medway.

Severn.

Humber.

Trent.

Tine.

Water wholfome. In a long Voyage, this Water purifies it self by Fermentation, and then 'tis excellent to drink. The Tide comes up this River about 100 Miles, that is, 20 Miles above London. In short, fuch is the Trade upon this River, that it fwarms with Seamen, about London especially; and we reckon at least 20000 of them that live by this River, to which London owes its Greatness and Wealth, as may be observed by the Anfwer of a Lord Mayor of London to King James I. to whom the City refused the Loan of a great Sum of Money. The King refented the Refusal with so much Indignation, that he threatned the Lord-Mayor and Aldermen, he would not only remove his Royal Court, but also his Courts of Judicature, and the Records of the Tower: Sir, faid the Lord-Mayor, 'Tis the Comfort of your Loyal City of London, that your Majefty will leave the Thames behind you.

The Medway in Kent runs through Maidstone, Rochefter and Chatham into the Thames, not far from the Mouth of it. This River being very deep, is made ufe of to lay up the greatest Ships of War in Winter, its Entrance being defended by a strong Fort call'd Sheerness.

The Severn rifes in North Wales, and runs from Montgomery in that Principality, through Shropshire, Worcester and Gloucefterfhires in England. In the laft of these Counties it does fo expatiate it felf, that the Mouth of it is call'd the Severn Sea. It waters, in its Courfe, Shrewsbury, Worcester and Gloucester, and receives into its Channel several Rivers of good Note, particularly the Avon, Wye and Usk, abounding with Salmon and Trout.

Humber is a Yorkshire River, but hath no Spring of its own, for it is compounded of feveral leffer Rivers running into one Channel, viz. the Trent, Oufe, Dun and Darwent. This River is of a great Breadth, and the famous Port of Hull is feated at the Mouth of it.

The Trent rifes in Staffordfire, and runs through the Counties of Derby, Nottingham and Lincoln, where it falls into the Humber. It waters in its Course Nottingham, Newark, and Gainsborough. By this River England is divided into two Parts, the North Side and the South Side of Trent.

The Oufe is another River, which begins its Course in the South Parts of Northamptonshire, and from thence runs through the Counties of Buckingham, Bedford, Huntington, Cambridge, and Norfolk, where it empties it felf at Lyn into the Sea. The Towns watered by it are Buckingham, Bedford, Huntington, and Ely. Rivers of the fecond Rank.

The Tine, famous for its Sea-Coal Trade. It divides Part of the County of Durham from Northumberland, and runs by Newcafile; hence call'd Newcastle upon Tine, to distinguish it from Newcafle under Line in Staffordshire. Seven Miles below Newcafle, it falls into the German Sea, at Tinmouth.

The

The Tweed, which parts England from Scotland, and falls into Tweed. the Sea near Berwick, upon the Borders of Scotland.

The Oufe, that runs through York; and another of that Name, Oufe. which parts Norfolk from Suffolk, and falls into the Norfolk Oufe.

The Avon, which having croffed the Counties of Warwick, Avon. Worcester, and Gloucefter, falls into the Severn near Tewksbury. Another of that Name, which runs through Bath and Bristol, and from hence into the Sea, at the Severn's Mouth. A third Avon, that waters Salisbury, and falls into the Sea near Chrift Church in Hampshire.

CHA P. III.

Of the natural Beauty of England, and Fertility of its Soil. The Advantage it has of being free from hurtful and voracious Beafts.

As Holland is admired for is an open and level Country, ex

S Holland is admired for its Artificial, fo is England for its Beauty of

England.

cepting fome Hills here and there, agreeably diverfified with Arable Land, Meadows, and Woods: And its Forests seem to have Forests. been preferved only for the Pleasure of Variety, and the Diverfion of Hunting. The principal of 'em are Windfor-Foreft in Berkshire, New Foreft in Hampshire, the Foreft of Dean in the County of Gloucefter, and Sherwood-Foreft in Nottinghamshire. William the Conqueror was fo taken with New-Foreft, that to enlarge it, he caused several Towns and Villages, with 36 Parish Churches, to be demolished: Which Sacrilege was not left unpunished; for two of his Sons, namely Richard and William, befides Robert his Grandfon, loft their Lives in this very Foreft, which is faid to be 50 Miles in Compass.

England is alfo to be admired for its excellent Verdure, which Verdure, continues commonly nine Months together; and the great Number of her Streams makes the Country fruitful and agreeable. In fhort, if Italy be the Garden of the South Parts of Europe, England may justly be called the Garden of the North.

England yields to no Country in point of Fertility; efpecially Fertility for Corn, Cattle, Fish and Flesh. As for its Soil, 'tis rank in fome Places, in others light and fandy, and elsewhere clayifh, 'Tis true, there are many Heaths, Downs and Plains, that yield only Grafs for Sheep; but they can't be faid to be altogether barren. Here is also abundance of Hares, wild Fowl, and Poultry. As for Variety of Fruits, and edible Roots and Herbs, no Country goes beyond it: And fo conftant is Plenty here by the benign Influence of the Air, that there has been no Famine in the three lait Centuries.

Commodities

Ferrel.

Horfes.

To feafon the Meat, here is not only Salt made of Sea-water, but alfo Springs of Salt in Staffordshire, and the best at Nantwich in Cheshire.

As for Drink, 'tis true, we have no Rich Wines of our own Growth: But, by Navigation, we have the greatest Variety that can be got. Our common Drink is Beer or Ale; which is beft in England, especially in the Northern Parts. Befides this Liquor, great Quantities of Cyder, Perry, Mead, Mum, and Punch; Cherry, Goofeberry, and Curran-Wines, &c. are made in England.

For Raiment, English Wooll is famous all over the World. Of which is made the best and most serviceable Cloth: And befides the great Confumption of this Commodity in England, vast Quantities of it are tranfported beyond Sea.

Fullers Earth, fo neceflary in the Manufacture of Cloth, is alfo moft excellent, and plentiful in England.

"Tis the Opinion of feveral Authors, That the Order of the Golden Fleece, in fo high a Reputation in the House of Auftria, was inftituted by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in Honour of the English Wooll: For which the Staple was fettled in his Dominions, to the great Benefit of his Subjects.

As to Linnen, the Soil is very fit for it in many Places; especially in Lancashire, which yields good Hemp and Flax. But the Land is commonly improv'd to better Ufes. And as for Leather, no Country yields better, nor in greater Quantity.

For Building, 'tis true, here is no great Stock of Timber, which for the most part is fetch'd from Abroad. However, England wants neither Stones, Bricks, Tiles, Glass, nor Iron. Portland in Dorfetfire is noted for its Quarry, the Stone whereof is almost as hard as Marble. Cornwall and Staffordshire have Quarries of Marble; and in this laft, as well as Lincolnshire, is to be found Alal after.

The Firing here is Wood, Turf, and Pit-Coals: But the last is the most common Fewel, whofe Heat is greater, and the Fire more lafting than either that of Wood or Turf. For Kitchen Ufe it is belt, because its Heat is more piercing and even. 'Tis true, the Smoke of it is thicker, but lefs hurtful to the Sight, whatever it is to the Lungs of fome People. In fome Inland Counties they have a fort of Coals that make a very clear Fire, but are fooner confumed than Newcastle or Sunderland Coals, commonly called Sea-Coal, as coming from thence by Sea to London. In fone Counties, Wood is the common Fewel.

For Carriage, and all other Uies, there's no Country better ftock'd with Horfes than England, either for Carts or Coaches, Plough or Pack. To ride, no where better Hörfes, or greater abundance of 'em. For Hunting and Racing, few can match 'em. And for Fineness, fet afide Spain and Barbary, no Country can fhew finer, or of brifker Mettle. Geldings are most used in England for the Saddle, because more manageable.

Here