unfurnished. There are two Churches; Ely minster is a Curious pile of
Building all of stone, the outside full of Carvings and great arches and
fine pillars in the front, and the jnside has the greatest variety and
neatness in the works. There are two Chappels most Exactly Carved in
stone all sorts of figures, Cherubims Gilt and painted in some parts.
Y^e Roofe of one Chappell was one Entire stone most delicately Carved,
and hung down in great poynts all about y^e Church. The pillars are
Carv’d and painted w^{th} y^e history of y^e bible, Especially the new
testament and description of Christs miracles. The Lanthorn in y^e quire
is vastly high and delicately painted and fine Carv’d worke all of wood,
in it the bells used to be hung, five, the dimention of y^e biggest was
so much when they rung them it shooke y^e quire so and y^e Carv’d worke
that it was thought unsafe, therefore they were taken down. Its 80 odd
steps to the top of y^e Lanthorn and 160 steps round in Compass. There
are very good monuments and abundance of niches in the walls where
Statues have been; there is one of white marble Laying at length and so
Exactly Cut y^t y^e hand lookes Extreamely natural, the sinewes and
veines and every turn of y^e fingers so finely done as to appear very
proper. There is another that was a Bishop made by Queen Elizabeth whose
garments and all are marble and so finely Embroydered Carv’d and painted
and gilt and a verge all down before and Round y^e neck w^{th} y^e
ffigures of the apostles done in Embroydery as it were, all marble very
fine. There was 4 or 5 more good Marble Statues. There was on one of y^e
Pillars y^e shape of y^e seameless Coate w^{ch} Christ wore. In another
place there is a great Red Cross very high on some of y^e arches, and
its very dangerous to go or Climbe round, the pillars to it being of a
vast height and this used to be as a pennance to y^e people in y^e tyme
of popery. There is one Chappell for Confession w^{th} a Roome and
Chaire of State for y^e priest to set to hear y^e people on their knees
Confess into his Eare through a hole in y^e wall. This Church has y^e
most popish remaines in its walls of any I have seen. There still
remaines a Cross over the alter; the Candlesticks are 3 quarters of a
y^d high massy silver gilt very heavy. The ffont is one Entire piece of
White Marble stemm and foote, the Cover was Carv’d wood w^{th} y^e image
of Ch^{sts} being baptised by John and the holy Dove Descending on him,
all finely Carv’d white wood w^{th} out any paint or varnish. They Draw
up the Cover by a pully and so Let it down again w^{ch} shutts Close
unless against raines then it swells open as it did now and I believe in
y^t Citty its usually annoy’d with wet. This Cathedrall was much
frequented by the priests in K James the Seconds tyme and many of their
Relicts washed ffaire to be seen, and y^e woman told me the priest use
to shew her where Every thing was, and they hoped quickly to be in
possession of it, and made many promises how kind they would be to them
their retainers to the Church; but blessed be God y^t put a tymely stop
to the protestants utter ruin and y^e hopes of the papists. When I was
upon the tower I Could see Cambridg and a great prospect of y^e Country
w^{ch} by reason of y^e great rains just before under water, all the
ffenny ground being all on a flatt unless it be one side of the town
w^{ch} is all the high dry grounds, into w^{ch} they drive up their
Cattle to secure them in the wet seasons. There is no tradeing in the
town, their maine buissiness and dependance is on draining and fencing
their Grounds and breeding and grasseing Cattle. There is a fine gate of
stone arch’d Like a Church w^{ch} is Called the abbey, but no remaines
of y^e Abby Left, only as its built into houses for the Doctors and
Clergy, within which is the palace for the Bishop which is their
temporall as well as spiritual prince or Lord. From this Citty I passed
over those higher grounds on w^{ch} was some good Corn but mostly is for
grass for their Cattle. You see many pretty Little towns 4 or 5 in view
together 2 or 3 miles distant. I went to Sutton, one of them, 6 miles
off the Citty, this was a Little Market town; thence to y^e ffenn banks
on y^e top of which I Rode at Least two miles w^{th} y^e ffenns on both
sides w^{ch} now were mostly under water, a vast tract of such grounds
w^{ch} are divided by the Dikes w^{th} out trees, as those I observ’d
before, and these high banks are made to draine and ffence out y^e water
from y^e Lower grounds, and so from one banck to another w^{ch} are once
in many acres of Land 100, so that at length it does bear off the water
but in the winter it returns, so as they are forced to watch and be all
wayes in repaireing those bancks; and Considering y^e vast allowance
yearly for draining those fenns at least 3000^£ an. I wonder they have
not perfectly runn off y^e water and so Barracadoed it as not to (?) soe
it often overflows it againe as it does in many places; but they are all
a lazy sort of people and are afraid to do too much. Here I see y^t many
swans nests on Little Hillocks of Earth in the wett ground that they
Look as if swimming w^{th} their nests, some were with their young
signetts, 3 or 4 in heape w^{th} their damms hovering over them for
their security. This brought me to the Armitage along 8 mile in all from
Ely town, and here I Repass’d the River Lin on a wooden Bridge and so
went out of y^e jsland of Ely w^{ch} was in Cambridgshire and Entred
into Huntingdonshire.
There was another bridge over a deep place of y^e River under w^{ch} the
boates and barges went, and this bridge was in the water; one must pass
thro’ water to it and so beyond it a good way, and y^e Road was so full
of holes and quicksands I durst not venture, y^e water Covering them
over and a stranger there Cannot Easily Escape y^e danger, tho’ I see
the Carryers went y^t way to save the Expense of y^e fferry, but I
Rather chose to Ride round and fferry over in a boate 2 pence a horse to
a Little town. This river runs along by S^t Ives w^{ch} was an old
monastery and a Rich one. From this fferry its 8 mile to Huntington
town; one goes much in sight of y^e River and y^e severall places built
on its bancks w^{ch} Looks well—these are pretty long miles. From
Huntington town I went to Stillton 9 mile more, and thence I went to y^e
Citty of Peterborough in Lincolnshire w^{ch} was 5 long miles, the wayes
deep and full of Sloughs. It stands very high and to be seen at a great
distance y^e towers of y^e minster being all in view—one would think it
but a quarter of a mile when you have a mile or two still to it. Y^e
whole Citty Looks very well and handsomely built but mostly timber
worke: you pass over a Long stone bridg. The Streetes are very clean and
neate, well pitch’d and broad as one shall see any where, there is a
very spacious market place, a good Cross and town Hall on the top. The
Cathedrall is a magnificent building standing in the midst on advanced
ground, all stone, y^e walls very neately wrought, the front is in 3
great arches full of Small stone pillars smoothly turn’d and halfe paces
as it were in y^e 2 side arches, the head is w^{th} no high tower but 5
Little ones, 3 of w^{ch} in the middle are higher and bigger than the
other; between Each are 3 peakes Like great Canteliver windows but all
finely Carv’d in stone. Ye middle arch is the Entrance w^{ch} is
Exceeding Lofty, as is the Roofe of y^e whole, and so well painted that
it appears to be hollow Carving, this seems to be the two remarkable
things in y^e whole. Its a spacious place, but one large jsle w^{ch} is
in y^e middle Leading up to y^e quire, where I observed they put y^e
seate of any of their deceased dignatorys of y^e Church in Black w^{th}
an Escutcheon: here was one, so now here was y^e Statue of y^e person
y^t was last abbott and first Bishop of y^e place; there was also y^e 2
monuments of 2 queens, y^t of Catherine of Spain being Harry y^e 8^{ths}
queen, and also the statute of y^e queen Mary of Scotts that was both
beheaded and buried here, and there is also y^e picture of an old man
w^{th} y^e Inscription of y^e whole matter, w^{ch} was y^e Sexton and
dugg both their graves. Here is a pallace for y^e Bishop, of stone
Building very neate, and y^e Doctors houses, all in a space Called the
Colledg—very neate but nothing Curious. The river Linn washes the town
almost round; it Looks like a very jndustrious thriveing town—spinning
and knitting amongst y^e ordinary people.
I went thence to Wansford and passed by M^{rs} S^t Johns house w^{ch}
stands on a hill a mile from y^e town in a fine parke. There was no gate
to Peterborough town and as I pass’d y^e Road I saw upon y^e walls of
y^e ordinary peoples houses and walls of their out houses, y^e Cow dung
plaister’d up to drie in Cakes w^{ch} they use for fireing, its a very
offensive fewell, but y^e Country people use Little Else in these parts.
Wansford is 5 mile from Peterborough, where I passed over the Bridge
w^{ch} Entred me into Northhamptonshire, the town being part in that
shire w^{ch} is towards London, y^e other in Lincolnshire w^{ch} a mile
or two farther joyns w^{th} Rutlandshire at Stamford, w^{ch} town stands
in y^e 3 Countyes, where I Lay at “y^e Swan in Wansford in England,”
being a jest on a man makeing hay fell a sleep on a heap of it, and a
great storme washed y^e Hay and man into y^e River and Carry’d him to
y^e Bridge, where he awoke and knew not where he was, Called to y^e
people in y^e grounds and told them he liv’d in a place Called Wansford
in England w^{ch} goes for a jest on y^e men of Wansford to this Day.
Thence I went to Durant 5 miles and passed over a very good stone
bridge. Here we are neare y^e quarry’s of stone, and all y^e houses and
walls are built of stone as in Glocestershire. This River and bridge
Enter’d me into Leicestershire w^{ch} is a very Rich Country—Red land,
good Corne of all sorts and grass, both fields and jnclosures. You see a
great way upon their hills y^e bottoms full of Enclosures, woods and
different sort of manureing and Herbage, amongst w^{ch} are placed many
little towns w^{ch} gives great pleasure of y^e travellers to view. Y^e
miles are long but hither its pretty hard good way; to Coppingham 5 mile
more w^{ch} is a neate market town. Satturday is their market w^{ch} is
very good affording great quantetyes of Corn, Leather garne and Cattle;
such a Concourse of people y^t my Landlord told me he used to have 100
horse set up at his jnn, and there were many publick houses. Here you
see very Large fine sheep and very good land, but very deep bad roads.
From hence to Leister w^{ch} they Call but 13 miles, but y^e longest 13
I ever went and y^e most tiresome being full of sloughs, y^t I was near
11 hours going but 25 mile, as they Reckon it, between Wansford and
Leicester town—a footman Could have gone much faster than I Could Ride.
Their fewell here is as I said but Cowdung or Coale w^{ch} they are
supplyed with out of Warwickshire. Leicester town stands on the Side of
a little riseing Ground, tho’ at a distance from y^e adjacent hills it
Looks Low, but its a good prospect. It has 4 gates, y^e streetes are
pretty Large and well pitch’d, there are five parishes; the Market place
is a Large space very handsome w^{th} a good Market Cross and town hall.
Y^e river Sow w^{ch} runs into y^e river Reeke and both Empts themselves
into y^e Trent. Trent to y^e Bow Bridge w^{ch} is one arch over into y^e
Priory, w^{ch} King Rich^d y^e third pass’d over out of y^e Priory when
he went to fight in Bosworth field w^{th} King Henry the seventh, but
the stone he struck his heele at and against, w^{th} w^{ch} his head was
struck at his return when brought athwart the horse Dead, I Could not
see it, being removed, but I saw a piece of his tombstone he Lay in,
w^{ch} was Cut out in exact form for his body to Lye in; y^t remains to
be seen at y^e Greyhound in Leaster but is partly broken. There I saw a
piece of y^e jury wall as its Called being in arches and was a place
where the Jews burnt their sacrifices.
There are two Hospitalls, one for old men y^e other women 24 in number;
they are allowed 2^s : 8^d p^r weeke, Candle, fewell oatmeale, butter
and salt. I saw the Library w^{ch} is pretty large, there was two Large
Divinity Books the arch-Bishop gave them lately, and the names of all
their Benefactors; there was one book all written hand by a scribe
before printing was found out, it was a fine vellum; and there was
another Book of y^e New Testament in Chineaze Language and Characteur.
Y^e town is old timber building Except one or two of Brick. There is
Indeed that they Call y^e Newark w^{ch} is Encompass’d w^{th} a wall of
a good thickness and two great gates w^{th} towers as the town gates
are, in w^{ch} they keep their arms and amunition. Y^e walls now are
only to secure gardens that are made of y^e ruin’d places that were
buildings of strength. In this Newark w^{ch} is a large space of ground
are severall good houses some of stone and Brick In which some Lawyers
Live ffrank; there is also a new pile of Building all of Brick w^{ch} is
the Guild Hall where y^e assizes are kept twice in y^e yeare and y^e
session quarterly.
S^t Martins Church w^{ch} is one of y^e biggest—there is none very big
and none fine—but here I saw Hyricks tomb who was major of y^e town and
was married to one wife 52 years in all, w^{ch} tyme he buried neither
man woman or Child tho’ most tymes he had 20 in his family, his age was
79 and his widdow 97 at her death, she saw 142 of her posterity
together. They have a water-house and a water mill to turn y^e water in
deep Leaden tubbs or Cisterns for their use: there are wells in some
streetes to draw water by a hand wheele for y^e Common use of the town.
The major and alderman goes about in procession on Holy Thursday which
was y^e day I was there. Here are a great many descenters in this town.
This Country as I s^d was all Rich deep land, and they plough their land
all w^{th} ploughs w^{th} out wheeles as they do in Oxfordshire and
other deep lands. From thence I passed to Bosworth 8 miles, and went by
a Gentlemans house and thro’ a little parke where the deer were very
tame, and passed through Bosworth and over y^e ground where was y^e
battle between King Richard y^t Lost his Life by y^e hand of y^e Earle
of Richmond afterwards King Henry y^e Seventh, who was Crown’d in this
Bosworth field w^{th} y^e Crown taken off from King Richards head, who
being dead was Ignominiously Cast aCross a horse and Carried to
Leicester and buried there as a just judgm^t of God for Killing his two
nephews and reigning in their stead.
This is a great flatt full of good Enclosures. Near this is Narsby where
was y^e great battle fought between King Charles y^e First and y^e
parliam^t of England. From thence I went to Fallmouth 7 miles more and
so into Warwickshire over a bridge. This is a little market town; thence
3 miles more to Tamworth a neate town built of Brick and mostly new; in
sight at its approach it look’d like Litchfield but not a quarter so big
a market town, it stands halfe in Warwickshire and halfe in
Staffordshire, and so to Litchfield over a large stone bridg that
Crosses y^e Tamworth river that gives name to y^e town. To Litchfield is
5 mile more all very good way mostly Gravel; I went it in an hour. This
side Entring y^e town I Came by a Large good Almshouse w^{ch} I saw not
before. They have in this town a Custome at Whitsontide y^e Monday and
Tuesday Call’d y^e green Bower feast, by which they hold their Charter.
The Bailiff and Sheriff assist at y^e Cerimony of dressing up Baby’s
w^{th} garlands of flowers and Carry it in procession through all y^e
streetes, and then assemble themselves at y^e Market place and so go on
in a solemn procession through the great streete to a hill beyond y^e
town where is a Large Bower made w^{th} greens in w^{ch} they have their
feast. Many lesser Bowers they make about for Conveniency of y^e Whole
Company and for selling fruite Sweetemeetes and Gingerbread w^{ch} is a
Chief Entertainment.
Thence I went to Woolsely 7 mile farther, to S^r Charles Woolsley where
I staid 6 weekes it being my aunt his Lady who Engaged my stay. His
seate stands very finely by y^e river Trent; there is also a moate
almost round ye house. Y^e house is old timble building, only a Large
parlour and noble stair Case w^{th} handsome Chambers S^r Charles has
new built. It is built round a Court w^{th} a gate house w^{ch} Leads to
y^e outward Court that has a paved walke, broad stone y^e same as y^e
first Court is paved with.
There are green spaces and a fine green banck w^{th} box or philteroy
hedge Cut round. There are very good gardens abundance of fruite of all
sorts and y^e ffinest dwarfe trees I ever saw, so thick like a hedge and
a huge Compass Every single tree, and very full of fruite of apples,
pears and Cherries; there are fine flowers, Heber roses white and
yellow; there was a fine Sena trees y^t bears a great Branch of yellow
fflowers. Y^e ground Lyes all well about y^e house and a fine park by
the End of it, part of w^{ch} is on a high hill y^e side of w^{ch} the
deer sport themselves, w^{ch} looks just on y^e house and is wonderfull
pleasant: its a Large parke 6 miles round full of stately woods and
replenish’d w^{th} red and fallow deer, one part of it is pretty full of
Billberryes w^{ch} thrive under y^e shade of y^e oakes, its a black
berry as big as a large pea and are Ripe about Harvest. There is a very
ill Custome amongst them now not to be broken, when they are Ripe. The
Country Comes and makes Boothes and a sort of faire y^e outside of y^e
parke, and so gather y^e berries and sell y^m about y^e Country. The
greenes they Call Wissums and on these wissums the Deer Brouse in y^e
winter and on holly of which there is great quantetys. In Kankwood just
by there is also great quantety’s of fferne w^{ch} tho’ it over runs
their ground and so spoiles y^e grass where its much, yet y^e
usefullness of it renders it necessary to be preserv’d; when it is at
its maturity w^{ch} happens just before harvest or hay tyme, y^e whole
Country are Employ’d in Cutting it up and burning it in heapes for y^e
sake of y^e ashes w^{ch} they make fine and Rowle them up in Balls and
so sell them or use them all y^e year for washing and scouring, and send
much up to London, y^e ashe balls being Easily sent about, without
w^{ch} they would have no ashes in the Country for such uses; for their
fewell is altogether Coales w^{ch} Indeed are very good and plenty, you
might have a load for 3 or 4 shillings brought home y^t would serve a
poore mans familly y^e winter. Its in great pieces and so Cloven burns
light so as the poorer sort works by it and so it serves for heate and
light: its very shineing Coale all about this Country tho’ they
Complaine they have lost y^e vein of the best sort w^{ch} they Call
Channell Coale and is y^e sort they have still in Wales and Lancashire
w^{ch} burnt much Lighter and less waste, but this I thought to be very
good, no better than it. I have in London given 40^s for such a Load.
In this parke is severall ponds w^{ch} affords good ffish, as does y^e
moate and y^e Trent as trout, Eeles, tench, perch &c, the Largest perch
I ever saw just Caught and dress’d immediately w^{ch} Eates in
perfection. Y^e hill in y^e parck Called Hartshill is so high that from
y^e top of it you see near 20 miles round, and shews all y^e Country
w^{ch} in this part of Staffordshire is full of woods and jnclosures and
good land, Except y^e Kanck-wood w^{ch} is but a barren heath ground,
but good wood—its fine for Hawking in y^e heath. Its full of little
Brookes and Rivulets w^{ch} abounds with Crawfish and they were the
sweetest and Largest I have seen any where. From hence to Stafford town
is 5 mile—you go by y^e banck of y^e Trent most of y^e way and passing
over two Rivers on stone bridges, Called y^e Sore and the Pink w^{ch}
both Empt themselves into y^e Trent and so Enter y^e town through a
gate. Its an old built town, timber and plaister pretty much, in Long
peaked Rooffes of tileing; 3 gates to the town—there was another w^{ch}
Leads to the Castle w^{ch} now is ruinated, and only remaines on a hill
the fortification trenches y^t are grown over w^{th} green. Y^e streetes
are pretty Large and well pitched; a broad space for y^e market place
Wherein is a good Market house on stone pillars w^{th} a handsome town
hall over it—some of the houses are pretty good. This Country is much
for Entertainments, in every house you must Eate and drinke.
From thence back to Woolsley againe 5 miles, from thence to Heywood
parke w^{ch} was 2 mile where Lived a Daughter of my aunt
Woolsley—marryed M^r Hedgewood—a little neate box they Live in.
From thence back againe 2 miles. To the Kank wood is pleasant Rideing,
its 20 mile long belongs to y^e Lord Paget, there are 4 lodges; in it a
great deale of wood and deer and goates. I went to Ffurnes Coppice
w^{ch} is 4 mile—on it a fine Covert of tall trees on a hill and a mile
farther was a fine wood Called Hedgford; Poole a quarter of a mile long
full of good fish; thence home 5 mile. Another day I went to Stiles
Coppice 3 mile off w^{ch} is on a high hill and a fine tufft of trees,
it Looks but Little at a distance but is a fine Covert for y^e sheep and
Cattle: I went quite round it from whence Could see y^e Country a good
distance and see into 7 Countys together, Warwickshire, Leicestershire
Glocestershire Derbyshire Staffordshire Shropshire and Cheshire; so home
againe by Ridgly a mile aboute so it was 4 mile.
Another day I went to Boudezworth the Lord Pagets house 4 mile off, and
passed by y^e Coale pitts where they were digging: they draw up the
Coale in baskets with a Little wheele or Windlass like a well—its very
good.
Lord Paget’s house is old Brick built, y^e ffront is uniforme and very
handsome with towers, but there is no good roome but a Long gallery
thats worth seeing: its a fine parke; just by it is a high hill on
w^{ch} is the remaines of an old ffortification, they Call it the Castle
wall, its of very great antiquity but now grown over w^{th} grass; from
thence the prospect of the Country is great. The parke is of Large
Extent and some of those pitts are in it—y^e Channell Coales, but y^e
water has over flow’d some of them and spoyl’d their digging; thence I
went home againe 4 miles—Another day I went to Panckeridge race over y^e
Kankwood 7 mile, where were most of y^e Gentlemen and Ladies of the
Country, severall Coaches and six horses, Indeed y^e miles are Long and
y^e wayes bad in the winter that obliges them to drive more horses;
these were persons of good Estates also. There appear’d only one horse
to run for y^e plaite which was a salver; thence to Woolesley again 7
mile more. Its a fine Country here about for Rideing one has a pleaseing
prospect Every way Especially on any advanc’d ground.
I went to Brinsy Coppice w^{ch} was 4 mile, thence Could see towards
Shrewsbury and y^e high hill the Reekee, and in a Cleare day Could see
something of Chester, and so home againe 4 mile more. Another day I went
upon Jtching hill 1 mile w^{ch} is a sort of Rock, but y^e stone is of a
Red Coullour and looks Like a sandy stone by its Moldring, but they tell
me when its wrought in a wall and have been season’d w^{th} y^e weather
it grows very hard and serviceable in building. From thence I went a
Compass round to Heywood parke 4 mile off and y^n home againe 2 miles;
and another day I went the same tour about to Heywood parke and back
w^{ch} was 6 mile more. While I stay’d at Woolsley I went directly to
Heywood parke above what I mentioned before and returned home w^{ch} was
in all 8 miles, and another day I went to a poole in the Kanckwood 3
mile to ffish and from thence to Heywood parke thro’ a very fine Coppice
of trees on a hanging brow of a hill w^{ch} Look’d very fine, and so
home 2 mile more. I name y^e number of miles I went only to see y^e
whole accō of miles I travell’d this yeare. These Coppices there are
many of them w^{ch} is a good shelter for y^e Cattle.
Another journey to Darby town from Woolsley by Colton and Blithbery 3
mile, thence to Yoxwell 3 mile over Nedwood forest of y^e King, w^{ch}
is 40 mile in Extent, all y^e way you have a fine prospect of y^e
Country, Enclosed good lands, admirable Corne of all sorts, good grass:
I went in sight of Tetbery Castle w^{ch} is y^e Kings—a great
ffortification, but all decay’d—here 4 mile more and there it was that I
pass y^e river Dove on a stone Bridge Called Dovebridge w^{ch} Enters me
into Darbyshire and thence its 8 mile more to Darby town.
Darby town Lies down in a bottom built all of brick or for y^e most
part; in it are 5 Churches built of stone y^e biggest of w^{ch} I was
in, y^e tower was finely Carv’d full of niches and Pedistals where on
Statues had been set, but nothing worth notice in y^e jnside except a
monument w^{ch} was over y^e vault of y^e Duke of Devonshire, on w^{ch}
stands 2 Effigees at length all of white marble y^e Earle and his
Countess of Devonshire w^{th} an arch or Cannopy of Stone over their
heads; this is rail’d in w^{th} Iron gates. There is also another statue
of marble painted and Gilded lying at length w^{ch} is also railed in.
Y^e River Derwent runns by the town and turns many mills, and y^e water
Engine w^{ch} turns y^e water into y^e pipes that serves y^e town, y^e
same wheele grinds also, but they do it for a half penny a strike w^{ch}
is the same measure as our Bushill. At this Engine they Can grind if its
never so high a flood, w^{ch} hinders all y^e other from working at y^e
flood, they are quite Choaked up, but this they Can set higher or lower
just as the water is. There are bays w^{ch} they make w^{th} stones to
keep the water to run to y^e mill and thence it falls againe into y^e
Derwent; there is also a fine stone Conduit in the Market place, w^{ch}
is very spacious, well pitch’d a good Market Cross. This is a dear place
for strangers notwithstanding y^e plentyfullness of all provision. My
Dinner Cost me 5^s and 8^d, only 2 servant men w^{th} me and I had but a
shoulder of mutton and bread and beer.
Here they mak great quantetys of gloves, I did not observe or Learn any
other trade or Manufacture, they had only shops of all sorts of things.
They Carry much of their Carriages on sledges to secure their pitching
in the streetes. Thence I went to Chartly 6 mile Lord Fferrers, and
thence Bradby Lord Chesterfields, and passed by a fine parke of some
Gentlemans in w^{ch} was a summer house on y^e side of y^e hill amongst
fine tall trees w^{ch} Look’d very well, and on y^e Right hand I turned
up to y^e Earle of Chesterfields parke full of fine Rows of trees
running up y^e avenue to y^e house. One Enters an outward Court and
drives round a Little pond like a ditch all pav’d w^{th} stone, or great
basin of stone, in which were two swans swimming about in y^t little
Compass; y^e gates are all jron barrs and the whole front of y^e house
open jron pallasadoe spikes in a Compass round Like a half moone.
Answerable to y^t beyond y^e stable yard is another such a demy Circle
of open pallasadoe, y^t lets you out to y^e prospect of y^e grounds
beyond, full of regular Rows of trees. Y^e house has a visto quite thro’
by a glass bellcony door into y^e gardens, and so to y^e parke beyond on
y^t side. Y^e front have something surpriseing in it; its all of free
stone w^{ch} is dipt in oyle that adds a varnish to its Lustre as well
as security to its foundation. Y^e Roofe is not flatt as our Modern
buildings so y^e garret windows Come out on y^e tileing w^{ch} is all
flatt None of y^e windows are sashes which in my opinion is y^e only
thing it wants to render it a Compleate building: its halfe a roman H.
There is an ascent of 5 or 6 steps all stone to y^e gates, and so you
proceed on a broad paved walke w^{ch} is divided by a Cross walke of y^e
same towards y^e upper End; thence y^e ascent by as many more stone
steps into a noble hall y^t has a Row of white marble pillars at y^e
upper End. Y^e middle a Little roome w^{th} a marble table in the middle
w^{ch} is y^e Balcony into y^e Garden, but y^{ts} without Steps down
into y^e Garden. From these Rows of Pillars on y^e Right hand runs a
passage to y^e Servants roome and all the offices, and at y^e End is a
Chappell w^{ch} was very neate. Over y^e alter is a large ovall of Glass
of y^e sort of Private glass used in Windows to obscure y^e Sight from
without, but hinders not y^e Light w^{th} inside; this Look’d pretty as
being particular and uncomon.