Riding is a Tract of Land called Richmondshire, whofe Hills afford Lead, Copper, and Pit-Coal. Its chief Town Richmond. Here is in all 563 Parifh-Churches, with many Chapels of Eafe, and 49 Towns. The Shire-Town York, 150 Miles from London, is reputed to be the fecond City of England, large and beautiful; hath in the Middle of it a noble Stone-bridge over the River Oufe, confifting principally of one huge Arch: 'Tis enclofed with a ftrong Wall; contains 32 Churches and Chapels, whereof 28 are ftill in ufe. Has a Magnificent Cathedral Church, and is an Archbishop's See. This City is govern'd by a Mayor, who has the Title of Lord, which no other Mayor has but he of London. Hull, otherwife called Kingston upon Hull, is one of the ftrongeft Fortreffes of England; Sheffield is noted for Smiths Trade; Rotheram for three Schools; first for Languages, fecond for Mufick, third for Writing: Knaresbo Tough for four Medicinal Springs of different Operations; one of which, called the Dropping-Well, is the most famous of all the petrifying Springs in England; Doncaster for knit Waftcoats, Gloves, and Stockings; Leeds for Clothiers; Sherborn for its Free-School; Pontefra, Knaresborough, and Ripley, for Liquorice; Rippon for Clothiers and Spurmakers. Borough-bridge has near it four huge Pyramidal-Stones, (call'd by the Vulgar, The Devil's Arrows) a Monument of Antiquity. Here are many excellent Harbours, as Scarborough, famous likewife for its Medicinal Spaw-Waters, Burlington, &c. Chief Seats are Cafle-Howard, the Earl of Carlife's; Stainborough, the Earl of Strafford's; Londesburgh, the Earl of Burlington's; Temple-Newfam, Lord Ingram's; Newby, Sir Edward Blacket's Bar. ConftableBurton, Sir Marm. Wyvell's Bart. Great Rifton, Sir Henry Goodrike's Bart. Swilington, William Lowther Efq; Spratborough, Sir Godfrey Copley's Bar. Acklam, Sir William Huftler's; Angleby Mannor, Sir William Foules's, Bar. Kirkleatham, Charles Turner, Efq; Whixley, Chriftopher Tancred, Efq;.

WALES is generally divided into Twelve Counties.

Ingleley.

I in the Diocese of Bangor, 60 Miles in Circumference; contains about 200,000 Acres, and 1840 Houfes: An Island encompaffed by the Irish Sea on all fides but the South-East, where it is parted from Carnarvan by the River Menia. This Ifland was anciently called Infula Opaca, from the great quantity of Wood with which it was overgrown; but it is now fo bare, efpecially in the Northern and Western Parts, that very few Trees can be feen fit either for Timber or Shelter. Its principal Commodities are Corn, Cattle, Fifh, and Fowl. It has 74 Parishes, and two Towns; the chief Beaumaris, 184 Miles from London, well built, and a good Harbour for Ships. Chief Scat, Lord Bulkeley's, near Beaumaris.

Brecks

Brecknockshire,

Is in Landaff Diocese, 106 Miles in Circumference; contains about 620,000 Acres, and 5934 Houses. Its Mountains are barren, but its Valleys very fruitful. Its principal Commodities are Corn, Cattle, Fish, and fome Otter Furr. It hath 61 Parifhes, and 4 Towns; the chief Brecknock, 124 Miles from London; at the meeting of the Rivers Hodney and Usk. 'Tis a wellbuilt Town, where the Affizes are kept. and hath a good Trade for Clothing. Its chief Seats are Crickhowel Caftle and TretowreCaftle, Duke of Beaufort's.

Cardiganshire,

Is in the Diocese of St. David's, 94 Milès in Circumference ; contains about 520000 Acres, and 3163 Houfes. A plentiful Country, and noted for it's Lead and Silver Mines. It hath 77 Parishes, and 4 Towns. The Shire and Affize Town Cardigan, is pleafantly feated on the River Tyevye, over which it has a fair Stone Bridge. 'Tis a large populous Town, wall'd about and fortified with a Caftle; hath a fair Church, and is 148 Miles from London.

Caermarthenshire,

Is in the Diocese of St. Davids, 102 Miles in Circumference; contains about 700,000 Acres, and 5352 Houses; not so mountainous as other Counties in Wales; abounds with Corn, Grafs, Cattle, Salmon, Wood, Pit-coal. and the best Lead. Here are 87 Parishes and 8 Towns. The Shire and Affize-Town is Caermarthen, upon the River Tony, with a large Bridge. Here is a Mayor, 2 Sheriffs, and Aldermen, all in Scarlet Gowns, with other Enligns of State; 178 Miles from London. At Caftle Karreg are vaft Caverns, fuppofed to have been Copper Mines of the Romans. Its chief Seats are Golden Grove, and Emlyn, late Earl of Carbury's. Carnarvanfhire,

Is in the Diocese of Bangor, 95 Miles in Circumference, contains about 370,000 Acres, and 2765 Houfes; is very strong by Nature, with fpiry Hills, the highest in all Wales; plentiful in Cattle, Fowl, Fifh, and Wood. It has 68 Parishes, and 6 Towns, all Havens. Carnarvan is the County Town, 180 Miles from London.

Denbighshire,

Is moftly in the Diocese of St. Asaph; but the Vale of Clwyd is all or most of it in Bangor Diocese, and Denbigh it felf is in that of St. Asaph; and here it may not be improper to obferve that the reason why the Jurifdictions of the Bishops of St. Asaph and Bangor are fo intermixt, is fuppofed to be, because the former was Bishop in the Dominions of the Princes of NorthWales, and the latter in thofe of the Princes of Powis-Land. This County is 116 Miles in Circumference; and contains about 410,000 Acres, and 6398 Houses. The East part is natu rally fruitful, and the Weft improved with the Ashes of burnt

Turf

Turf. The Inhabitants are chearful and long-liv'd. Here is plenty of Rye or Amel Corn, Goats and Sheep, and good quantity of Lead-Oar in many parts of this Country. It hath 57 Parishes, and 4 Towns, one of which is Denbigh, which hath a moft impregnable Caftle. This is a Town of good Trade for Tanners and Glovers. Wrexham, the biggest Town in NorthWales, has a neat Church and lofty Steeple. The chief Seat is Chirk-Caftle, Sir Richard Middleton's.

Flintshire,

Is moftly in the Diocese of St. Asaph, and the reft in Chester: 'Tis 40 Miles in Circumference; contains about 160,000 Acres, and 3150 Houfes. Its Valleys are very fruitful, and its Inha bitants long-liv'd. The chief Commodities are Cattle, Butter, Cheefe, Pit-coal, Lead, Mill-ftones, and Honey, with which they make good fore of Metheglin. It has 28 Parithes, and 3 Towns Flint, the Shire-Town, is fo fmall, that it hath not a Market. St. Asaph is an ancient Epifcopal See, upon the River Elwy, 159 Miles from London. Caerwys is the chief Market-Town in the County, every Village being well furnished of its felf. Chief Seats, Moftyn, Sir Roger Moftyn's, near which are the famous Coal-pits of that Place, which go a great way to fupply Dublin with Coal; and Llannerk, Mr. Davies's. Glamorganshire,

Is in Llandaff Diocefe, 112 Miles in Circumference; contains about 540,000 Acres, and 9644 Houses. The North part is mountainous, the South a fruitful Valley, called The Garden of Wales. Its chief Commodities are Corn and Cattle. Here are 118 Parishes, and 9 Towns. Llandaff, 216 Miles from London, the Bishop's See, is a City, but fo fmall it hath not a Market. The chief Seats are, Swanzey-Caftle, Duke of Beaufort's; CardiffCaftle, Earl of Pembroke's; Coyty Caftle, Earl of Leicester's. At Newton is a Well which fwells up when the Sea ebbs, and finks as the Flood encreases.

Merionethshire,

Is in the Diocefe of Bangor, 108 Miles in Circumference; contains about 500,000 Acres, and 2590 Houfes ; extreamly mountainous, and the Mountains fteepy. The Inhabitants are very comely. It abounds with Sheep, Fish, Fowl, and wrought Cottons. It has 37 Parifhes, and 3 Towns; the chief Harlech, 168 Miles from London, of note heretofore for its ftatem ly Caftle.

Bontgomeryshire,

Is in three Diocefes; New-Town, Pool, Llanvellin, and Machynlleth, are in St. Asaph; Llanydlos in Eanger; but the Town of Montgomery is in Hereford. 'Tis 94 Miles in Circumference; contains about 560,000 Acres, and 5660 Houfes; delightful with many Hills, and fruitful Valleys; breeds very good Horfes and plenty of Goats. It hath 47 Parishes, and 6 Towns.

Montgomery,

24

Montgomery, the Shire-Town, 120 Miles from London, is pleaantly feated, and has a strong Castle. Its chief Seats are PowisCaffle, and Buttington-Hall, Marquifs of Powis's; Llymore Lodge, and Llyffin, Lord Hertbert's of Cherbury; and Lloydierd, Richard Vaughan's Efq;

Pembrokeshire,

Is in the Diocese of St. David's, 93 Miles in Circumference; contains about 420,000 Acres, and 4329 Houses. The East part is very pleafant, and the whole County plentiful in all Neceffaries for Life. Part of it is inhabited by Flemings, placed here by Hen. I. Their Country is called Little England beyond Wales. Here is plenty of Fish, Fowl, Pit-coal, and Marl. It has 45 Parishes, and 9 Towns; Pembroke the Shire-Town 195 Miles from London, is well inhabited by Gentlemen ard Tradefmen, fortified with a Wall and ftrong Castle'; St. David's the Epifcopal See. An ancient Seat. in it Picton-Caftle, belonging to Sir John Philipps, Bar. In this Shire is alfo contained the Town and County of Haverford Weft: And Milford-Haven, the largest and moft capacious Harbour in the Kingdom.

Radnozhire.

Is in the Diocese of Hereford, so Miles in Circumference; contains about 310,000 Acres, and 3158 Houfes: Hath great varieties of Air and Soil, ftored with Woods, Rivers, and Meers. Its chief Commodities are Cheefe and Horses. It Towns. Radnor the Shire-Town, 119 hath Parishes and 52 Miles from London, hath a Caftle. Prefteigne is a large well-built Town, where the Affizes are held, 116 Miles from London.

There are in all, in England and Wales together, 25 Cities, 750 great Towns, called Market-Towns, 9913 Parishes, fome of 40 or 50 Miles Circuit, 61 Forefts, and about 300 Parks.

It appears from the Obfervations and Calculations of the late Gregory King, Efq; publish'd by Dr. D'avenant, that the Rents of the Lands, by the Produce of the late Taxes, feem to be near 10 Millions per Annum: And that the Houses (not let with the Lands) amount to 2 Millions per Annum: And all other Hereditaments to about 2 Millions more; in all 14 Millions: So that the People and Territories of the King of England alone, may be valued for Wealth and Strength at above one half of those of France. And fince the whole Annual Expence of the King of England's Subjects is about 50 Millions, it will require but an 8th part thereof to maintain 100,000 Foot, 300,00 Horfe, 40,000 Seamen, and to defray all other Charges of the Government Ordinary and Extraordinary.

England without Wales, is divided into 6 Circuits, alotted to the 12 Judges to hold Affizes twice a Year. It is alfo divided by the King's Juftices in Eyre of the Forefts, and by the Kings of Arms, into North and South; that is, all Counties upon the North and South-fide of Trent.

CHAP.

ir.]TH

CHAP. IV.

Of its Air, Soil, and Commodities.

"HE Air is far more mild and temperate (if not moré healthy) than any part of the Continent under the

fame Climate.

By reason of the warm Vapours of the Sea on every fide, and the very frequent Winds from the huge Western Ocean, the Cold in Winter is oftentimes lefs fharp than in fome parts of France and Italy, which yet are feated far more Sou therly.

And the Heat in Summer is lefs fcorching than in fome parts of the Continent that lié much more Northward.

Soil.] It is bleffed with a very fertile wholfom Soil, watered abundantly with Springs and Streams, and in divers parts with great Navigable Rivers; and feveral of late years have been made fo. It hath few barren Mountains and craggy Rocks, but generally pleasant Hills rifing with eafie Afcents, and fruitful Vallies, apt for Corn, Grafs, or Wood.

Commodities.] As it is divided by the Sea from the rest of the World, so it may without the Affiftance of any other part of the World, more easily fubfift than any of its neighbouring Countries.

Firft, For wholfom fubftantial Food, (as well as Delicates) there is plenty of Fowl, Fish, and Flefh of all forts.

England likewise abounds with Wheat, Barley, Rye, Pulse, Beans, and Oats, with excellent Butter and Cheefe, Honey, Saffron, and many other choice Commodities for Food, Medicine and Pleasure.

The Fields are fufficiently full of every thing the Earth produces for the use of Life.

For Drinks, we abound with Beer, Ale, Cyder, Perry, Metheglin and Mede, Brandy, made either of Malt, or Ap ples, &

Here is great plenty of excellent Fruit of all forts; but in Orchards and Gardens you have Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries, Peaches, Apricots, Nectarines, Strawberries, &c. variety of all forts, and in almost as great perfection as any of the faid Fruits, especially Pears, are found in the Kingdom of France.

The Kitchen-Garden affords us as great plenty of all forts of Herbs and Roots, and they come to as great Maturity as any of the fame Species in our neighbouring Nations.

It is endless to reckon up the Varieties of the Flower-Gardens. From all Quarters and Climates curious Plants have C

been