of the peculiar Customs and priviledges in each place it makes some
variation. Those that have most of voices which are Legal to Chuse, the
Bailiff or major of the place or sherriffs return up to the Crown
office, from whence the precept Came, the Name of such persons so Chosen
to sitt in the parliament. This was an Excellent Constitution and order
when kept to its order that none were Chosen but the Gentlemen of the
shire or town Living there, or Else the Chiefe of their Corporation that
Lived there, by w^{ch} meanes they were fully instructed what was for
the weale and good of Each place they serv’d for, and so Could promote
designes for their advantage and trade and represent their Grievances to
be redress’d, they also know the strength and riches of the nation and
soe Could with a more Equal hand Lay y^e taxes on all answerable to
their ability; but instead of this the nation is so Corrupted that what
with hopes of prefferrment at Court or being skreen’d by their
priviledges from paying their debts, which is thus: dureing the sessions
or forty dayes before or after, such as are parliament men Cannot be
arrested or troubled for money they owe, y^e reason at first was well
grounded that these persons were known to be, and in Case a troublesome
person had money due and had been delay’d by some Extraordinary Cause
that this troublesome person might find such a one at the parliament
house might Lay him in prison and so hinder y^e buissness of the nation.
But this is abused to a great prejudice of the subject, men run out of
their Estates strive to get into the Parliament to be skreen’d from
their Creditors; and how Can those that are worth Little or nothing be
good disposers of the kingdom treasure or priviledges, or stand up for
them, but by this there is such bribeing by debauching by drinke and
giving them mony, y^t Instead of the parliament men which use to be
Chosen to be the Countrys representatives and servants, to whome they
allowed soe much a day for their expences in London from their homes
while attending the parliament, that now those that would be parliament
men spend prodigious summs of money to be Chosen. Some to serve for
knights of y^e shire have spent 1000 and 1500^{lb} and for Corporation
and Burroughs in proportion, so y^t they Come in with design to be
bribed by the Court or any body y^t has any buisness before them, y^t so
they may be reemburz’d and may gaine more—some place at Least they
Expect and these Care Little for y^e good of y^e nation, being for the
most part perfect strangers to the places for whome they serve, and
consequently to all their Circumstances and so can appeare for none of
them to their advantage, indeed its their own game they mainly aime and
pursue, for they have in their power to form good Laws suiteable to the
fundamentall and Explanatory of such with additionalls to them, tending
to the enlargeing as well as secureing their priviledges. Such Laws
being brought in manner of a bill is read three tymes three severall
dayes, so as all the members might or should have tyme to heare debate,
consider and amend it, and Every member of this house of Commons that
are so chosen and have met and take the oathes required of allegiance,
they Come up to the house of Lords where y^e King meetes them and
desires them to Chuse a speaker for themselves out of their own number,
which they do and Come and present him to the King for his approbation,
w^{ch} done the King makes them a speech and tells them what is
requisite to be done relateing to the Crown, to fforreign things if any
warre or any breach of peace any injury from thence, what is necessary
to be done thereon, if any want of money which they only Can supply, the
reasons of its wants, his promise well and faithfully to dispose it, he
exhorts them to rectifye disorders in practice and soe dismisses them.
This speaker of theirs is the Kings officer Dureing his being speaker
and has a sallery and must keep a Great table. The king gives him one
thousand pound presently to fitt him in his Equipage, he always goes in
Coach or a foote haveing a mace carry’d before him, he has the advantage
of all bills brought into the house a Certainty for Each, he has the
advantage of all the votes printed, to sell them, he sitts in a Chaire
above all the rest of the House to give him advantage to see or heare
any member that speakes. He is to put all Questions, to Count the voices
of noes and yeas on y^e division of the house. There are many Comittees
in this house as well as in the Lords House, appoynted by the whole to
Inspect severall buissness, and to form bills on such buissness to be
brought in to the house. If it be a matter of great Consequence there
may be a Comittee of the whole house which is only thus, y^e speaker
Leaves his Chaire and they resolve themselves into such a Committee and
debate matters, and for that tyme Choose a Chairman for the Committee.
Then the speaker reasumes the Chaire and this Chaireman of y^e Comittee
reports the debate of y^t Committee to the Speaker and whole House. When
there is a full house, which may be never was, there is 500 as I said
before. When they have pass’d a bill thrice through the house with
approbation they send it up to the Lords, and if they pass it three
tymes also without amendment then it is jnGross’d, haveing been pass’d
the two states, and so Lyes ready to pass the Last which is the Kings
Consent. But if either the bills sent down by the Lords are amended by
y^e Comons, and when brought up to the Lords againe and they Like not
those amendments then they Cast out the bill; so Likewise any bill sent
up by the Commons for the Lords assent in Case they make amendments
which y^e Comons Like not then they Cast out their bill; but if Each
other agree to the amendments or pass the bills without amendment
through both houses then they are Engross’d and prepared for the Royal
assent, the third state of our government w^{ch} is in this manner. The
King sends to y^e house of Lords to attend him in their own house, with
their Robes w^{ch} are Scarlet Cloth with Earmine and Rows of Earmine
w^{th} gold galloone on Each row, the rows are Encreassed to Each
dignity and here y^e bishops weare robes w^{ch} are scarlet also, but
they have about their neck a Large Cape w^{ch} hangs to their waste all
round of a ffurr that Lookes Like Lambskinns, it hangs Like the Capes of
the Cloakes y^e shepheards weare in the open plaine downes. The King
enters; or the Queen as now it is—but I saw King William pass bills in
his Royal Robes of Purple Lined Earmine w^{th} rows of Earmine and the
crown on his head which was the Crown I spake of that had great pearles
on the cross and saphires Rubies and Emeraulds—the Scepter in their
hand—the Usher of the Black Rod is sent to the House of Comons to attend
the King in the House of Lords which they do, with their Speaker that
brings up such bills w^{ch} are so prepared and holds them in his hand,
one by one presenting them to the King, who touches them with the
scepter and sayes, “je le veux bieu” and so to all of them one by one,
w^{ch} done if there be any thing necessary to be told them, the king
either speakes to them or Else orders the Lord Chancellour or Lord
Keeper to acquaint them of any thing in the Kings name if its the Kings
pleasure to prorogue y^m for a few dayes weekes or months. Then that
putts an End to that session till the tyme prefix’d and at that tyme
they must meete againe without summons, and if they are not to meete so
soone, y^e king Issues out a proclaimation y^t its his pleasure y^e
parliament should be prorogued so much Longer. These prorogations
allwayes puts an end to all debates and all bills which are not
ffinished and brought the king to pass, so that at their meeteing againe
they must begin the things they would have or were about the Last tyme
anew. This prorogation is in the kings power and is often done for ten
dayes only to put a stop to heares and debates in the houses, and also
to put an end to something that is not Lik’d by y^e government. True
Indeed they may begin y^e same things at their next meeteing, but if it
be for the great and absolute service of the nation they may, but its
contrived in another method so as not openly to Confront our governours,
tho’ too often we have seen it in our dayes against our Glorious truely
great King William whose wisdom and Compassion for our good pass’d it by
and forgave it. Now in some Cases the King may and does call the
Parliament by a proclaimation to sitt before the tyme of the prorogation
be Expired which takes it off. The parliament does often adjourn
themselves, as every night so sometymes for a weeke, but still the
parliament is Look’d on as in sitting and so buisness is not jnterrupted
but goes on from day to day as they appoint it. The king may also
adjourn them and the two Houses may be adjourned together, but sometymes
they may adjourn seperately, for one may adjourn themselves and y^e
other Continue to act within themselves. Its also in the Kings power to
dissolve y^e parliament w^{ch} puts a finall End to all their buisness
which was not ffinished and brought to the King to pass, it also
disperses the members of y^e House of Commons to be noe more
representatives of y^e nation till another parliament be summon’d and
y^e nation make new Choices, which sometymes and in some places falls on
the old members. It is in the Kings prerogative thus to Call and disolve
parliaments, to declare warre or peace and making alliances, but y^e
Kings ought not nor do rightly undertake any such thing but by the
advice of his standing Privy Councill, which I have spoken before, and
so his proclaimations allwayes runs by and with the advice of his Privy
Councill he does so and so, to which he joyns y^e great Councill of the
nation w^{ch} is his two Houses of Parliament, Lords spiritual and
temporall and Commons of England, when great matters are in agitation as
y^t of peace or warre, w^{ch} is in y^e Constitution of the government,
and strengthened by this that the sinnews of warre is in the people, for
without them no money is to be had; they give the taxes and subsidies
for such expences, nay y^e very revenue is given by them to the King or
the Queen only dureing the then prince’s Life and must be asked of them
that succeed at the death of their predecessors, at the death of such
that is in the throne. Formerly the Parliament of Course was dissolved,
all offices even to a justice of peace was vacant, but our wise King
William contriveing only our good not only Laid a scheme which if be
followed will carry on all the Confederacys and designes against the
Common Enemy of mankind, but also as farre as he could to secure our
peace w^{ch} was by obtaining an Act of Parliam^t that y^e parliament in
being when y^e King died or Else the parliament but just then dissolv’d
by the King, after he dies should assemble together to take care of the
government and to act under y^e next prince for six months, and till
that tyme all offices should remain as they were unless the next heir
should before y^t full tyme were Expired should make any Change of
places. This thing made the Loss of his death Less felt immediately and
our Queen Ann found a quiet Easye ascention into the throne. there was
also at the same tyme an Act to settle the succession in the protestant
Line, and just before our heroe resign’d his Life crown and throne he
pass’d an Act to secure us more firmly against any popish successour or
pretended heirs to the Crown, by an abjuration oath to be taken by all
subjects, of any prince thats a papist, w^{ch} Confirms the Acts of
Parliam^t in years past which made a papist prince unable to be king or
queen of England, because a papest. So this Engages the subjects to
abjure all such or any of their abbettors or pretenders. This was a
great pleasure to our dying king to Leave us with all the Security
possible to Enjoy what he Came to save us in, and give us and what he
had fought to obtaine for us, Liberty in religion and priviledges. I
pray God we do not by our provokeing sinns move his anger not only to
take from us our Benefactor and deliverer but also our said valuable
Blessings and priviledges, the Gospel Light and being a free nation.
I should have said when the king Comes in his robes to the Parliament
and all the Lords have theirs, so if there be any Prince of Wales he is
also in his and weares his Prince of Wales Cap with a branch of diamonds
in forme of a plume of feathers. He sitts in the house of Lords often—he
may allwayes—to hear debates and to vote and he does present them to the
king any of their addresses they desire, which he is attended with some
of the Lords which are the privy Councellors; they bring back the kings
answere. The Like is observ’d by the House of Commons, if they have any
address or any petition to the king they desire some of their members
which are of the Privy Councill to move y^e King when the House shall
attend him or her, which they knowing do it and their Speaker is their
mouth. So when they would have a Conferrence with y^e House of Lords
they send to them to meete them in y^e painted Chamber or Lobby of their
house; so does the Lords send to y^e Commons when they would have a
Conferrence with them. These things are so well adjusted and so for the
Common good that if Rightly maintain’d in their proper places would be a
happy Constitution. All Acts of Parliament so pass’d are printed, but
y^e records of them are kept in the journalls of y^e Parliament by the
Clerke of y^e Parliament. To him are added in the House of Commons also
scribes or secretaryes which record and take minutes also. Now it is on
these Laws that all Causes are tryed, for there are Laws made of all
sorts both what relates to religious matters as well as humaine; true
indeed as to points of religion for Rectifying matters as to the orders
and Church government, that is debated and agreed by a Convocation,
which is allwayes summoned at y^e same tyme a parliament is Chosen,
which Consists of two houses, also the Bishops and deanes, and off the
Inferior Clergy, and is managed by way of debates and disputation which
have a moderatour and prolocutors. Here they endeavour to reforme any
abuse in the Church, any deffect in their Cannon Laws, and to Explaine
those Laws and if they should find such, as in our religion not agreable
to y^e word of God, they form it into a bill or petition which is
presented the King in way of an address, he being owned as head and
supreame under Christ over these Churches and realmes. So this is to
request his Care of it which y^e King does by Laying it before y^e
Houses of Parliament who Enacts Laws to secure our religion, and reforme
evil both in Doctrine and practise by their Acts Duely pass’d. As I said
before the arch-Bishop’s Chiefe of this convocation house.
Next I will proceed to give some short account of tryalls on our Laws
which is thus. Every free man of England being oppress’d Comes in due
form of Law to demand his right, which being heard by the judges and a
jury of his own fellow subjects—his Country men—they give their verdict
in the matter as they thinke most just according to the statutes and
Laws, and so the right between man and man which does vary from y^e
different Customs of Each County or precinct. This jury are twelve men
all sworne on the Bible solemnly to do Justice, not out of feare, fraud
or malice, favour or affection to jnjure any man, and y^e first man is
their foreman and speakes for the rest, Either acquit or Condemns the
person, w^{ch} is in Life or Death, so determining other Causes the same
manner, and these twelve men must all be agreed in their verdict, which
is after they have heard all Can be witness’d or alleadged on all sides,
w^{ch} verdict the Judges also must pronounce on y^e Causes as they have
brought it in. Now those suites of Law as well as Causes of Life and
death are brought in by bill to y^e Grand-jury, which are twenty four
and these all of the best Gentry and many of them justices of peace,
they examine the matter and if they find it (that is by any Act of
Parliament) is pleadable or to be enquired into, they draw it up into an
jndictm^t and so its sent into the Court to be tryed by the Petty Jury,
after whose Verdict and the Judges pronouncing it, the matter must be at
an End and taken out of that Court. Sometymes indeed if the Subject is
oppress’d he may appeale to another Court y^{ts} higher, as from the
sessions to the assizes, thence to the Kings Bench, thence to y^e
Chancery, or the Parliament House which when a matter has there been
Debated and decided there Can be noe more done in it because they are
the makers of the Laws so best able to Interpret. Sometymes in these
other Courts a Jury brings in a matter speciall, that is, Leaves it on
the Judges to determine being a matter of Law, then y^e Judges must
Consult and do it all of them together.
All persons are tryed by those of their own ranke a Commoner of England
is tryed by a Jury of Commoners in all Cases and of Life and death, a
peer of England is tryed by his Peers, and in case it is not the tyme of
y^e Parliament sitting, then by a bill of oyer and terminer issued out,
there is 12 Peers are jmpannell’d as a jury. But I must mention one
thing as to the petty Juryes of Commoners, a person which is tryed for
his Life may Challenge some of those w^{ch} are brought to be sworne for
his Jury, that is except against them to such a number without giving
reason, but if he exceeds that number he must give reason for such
exception, either to be a man he had injured or one w^{ch} had former
malice or one related to y^e persons who Either is dead or injured; for
our Laws Condemn to Death murther, fellony, treasons. By this order you
see its Justice and Care. Then in matters of Life and Death the witness
for the King are sworne, but y^e witness for the prisoners are not
sworne but only Examined to declare the truth. But to returne to the
tryals of a peer which by such a jury is tryed, in Case the house of
Lords y^e parliament is sitting, then they prepare Westminster hall for
the tryal, the House of Comons manage the Evidence and prosecute them,
and the House of Lords are the Judges and Jury in this manner if it be
for Life or death, w^{ch} is grounded on a statute either against
murther, treason or fellony, and so y^e arraignment is read and y^e
Councill for both sides. Y^e house of Commons produces their Evidence
and witness and the King Constitutes a Lord High Steward for that day or
in case the tryal be long he must be Continued till the tryall finishes.
He beares a white staff as badge of his great office which Indeed is y^e
greatest officer in England and for the tyme can act for the King, so
above him. He is usually the person that is Lord Chancellor if he be a
peer which allwayes is. There he sitts as Judge to whome the other
peeres of the whole House of Lords are Joyn’d and after a full
Examination on both sides, and the Criminall haveing had full Leave to
Cleer himself, then the Lord High Steward askes y^e Lords one by one
beginning with the puny Lord, so to the highest “in honour my Lord such
a one do you thinke my Lord that the prisoner at the Barre is guilty or
not Guilty?”—to which Each Lord stands up and answeres for himself
Either, so as he Judges, “guilty upon my honour,” or Else “not guilty
upon my honour” and so it goes from one to all, in this manner the Lord
High Steward marks down to Each Lords name his answere, and at the Last
reckons them up so many Guiltyes, so many not Guiltyes, then he adds his
own thoughts to the side he thinks best, but usualy he is so Crafty as
to add to the side of the Majority, which being done he pronounces the
verdict as y^e majority said, Either Guilty or not. Now this verdict the
Lords give thus on their honour is Equivalent to the oath the Commoners
take that serve in Juryes, for y^e peeres take no oath in these matters,
otherwise than so. Now in Case y^e matter against a peer be only a Law
matter of nuise-prise, then the matter being debated and the answere by
y^e Lord made in his deffence read, and Councell pleading, then y^e Lord
High Steward askes Each Lord in same order as before, but in this forme
“in y^e matter which has been debated before y^r Lord —— Concerning the
Lord at the Barre w^{th} his deffence whether his deffence be sufficient
to Cleer him or not what sayes y^r Lordships Content or not content on
y^r honour?” they all answer as they are affected or understand y^e
matter “content,” or else “not content” which are fixed to each name and
so reckon’d up, and y^e majority Carry’s it Either to quitt or not to
quitt him, to which the Lord High Steward adds his as he pleases also,
after which they shew the High Steward a respect as a king. He is serv’d
on the knee and drinkes some wine and when that is done he breakes his
white staff and so pulls off his hatt. When he was the High Steward he
had all the maces Carry’d before him all y^e officers attending. But in
case there be no Chancellour, only a Lord Keeper as at present is, which
is no peer of y^e realme then he has no vote with y^e Lords only Count
up y^e votes and declares them w^{ch} has the Majority, without the
addition of his, haveing none, and he is only substituted the deputy
steward for the day and so sitts, but on a wool sack as he does in the
House of Lords and is only their speaker and officer and must aske Leave
for himself and the Judges to put on their Caps before they might do it,
now the High Steward sitts in the throne of justice under a Cannopy but
I see this Lord Keeper only sate on a wool sack at the foote of the
throne which stood Empty behind him. He had noe Compliment paid him more
than at another tyme, being only as the Speaker to y^e House of Lords
and so their officer.
There are severall great officers of y^e Court as Lord Treasurer which
takes account of all the kings revenues—this sometymes is in Commision
between 3 or more. There is also the High Admirall of England that has
the Command of all the shipps and stores. This sometymes is in Comisions
also of 3 or more under whome are y^e Vice Admirall and Rear Admirall,
also und^r the Treasurer are severall officers. There is also two
principal Secretaryes of State which write all things, the Kings
Lett^{rs} &c, and relateing to the government, maintain all Inteligences
in y^e kingdom and abroad.
There is also a Master of the Generall Post Office that has all the
under masters and officers of y^e posts both for forreign Letters and
inland Lett^{rs}.
There are also governours as Lord Lieutenant of Jreland—that sometymes
is held in Commission. There is also Lords Justices there, all which
have their Salleryes ariseing out of the same kingdom. There is also to
all our forreign plantations govern^{rs} sent from England and their
salleryes arise from the plantation. The Kings revenues arise from y^e
Customs of goods exported and jmported, from the Excise on all Liquors
that are made in England and sold, besides which there is a Considerable
revenue from Lands belonging to y^e Crown, tho’ that is much Lessen’d by
the severall donations of our kings for many yeares to their favourites.
Out of those revenues all y^e Civil List is maintain’d, which is y^e
Judges salleries, the great officers, the household of y^e king. There
is another great revenue in y^e Post Office, besides at all
Extraordinary occasions of the marriage of any of our princess’s their
portion, or any warre, then the Parliament raises taxes on the nation on
Land or trade, additional Customs, and also on the Excise, Encreasing
that under the Civil List is the Expences of the Court, the guards, and
also the ambassadors which are sent by the king into forreign kingdoms
to treate matters for Each others good: their Expences while there are
allowed and so of all Envoyes or Consulls w^{ch} are lesser
Embassadours. There is also the maintaining the navy, building shipps,
the wood of which Indeed is out of the King’s fforest.
There remaines now only in what manner the kings or queenes of England
give publick audience to fforreigne ambassadours Either when they Come
in their first Entrance or at the tyme of their takeing Leave; but first
I may give account of our Bishops and Gentry. There is 26 Bishopricks
with the two Archbishops Canterbury and york and there are as many
Cittyes and Cathedralls which in my travells have described. All these
Bishopricks are held of the Crown and are Given by the king, to whome is
due the first fruites which is one yeares income of the Bishopricks.
They are held for Life, true jndeed they admit of being removed from one
Bishoprick to another for advancem^t, nay they may forfeit their
Bishoprick by not being qualify’d, if they will not sweare to be
faithfull to y^e government and so they may be suspended, as in y^e Case
of severall in the last revolution would not sweare to King William and
Queen Mary and so now refuse also to sweare to her present Majesty Queen
Ann. These Bishops are only Barrons in themselves, their wives have noe
honnour thereby nor their Children; but for all peeres of England theirs
is hereditary from father to son and their Ladies partake of it, nay y^e
honour descends on a daughter in default of male jssue. The peere must
first be made Barrons by which they hold all their priviledges—Barrons
of England—which is from y^e king by patent; all his Children are Called
y^e hon^{bl} adding the Christian name to their sirname, and this
remaines to daughters when marry’d. By this patent or another of y^e
same they may be Created viscount, Earles, Marquesses, dukes, and if
they are dukes their patent Expresses all the four other titles. Alsoe
viscounts Children are the same w^{th} Barrons; and Earle’s, marquess,
and duke’s are Called, the daughters Lady, by their Christian names,
before and after marriage, unless they marry a Barron then they Lose y^t
name and are Called a Barroness and so Loses their place. The Eldest son
of an Earle is Called Lord by his fathers title of Barron, the Eldest
son of a Marquiss is Called Earle, by the title of his fathers
Earledome, and all marquiss’s younger sons are Called Lord by their
Christian name added to their sirname. So the same of dukes Children,
the Eldest son is Called Marquiss. Now if any dowager to a Lord marry a
Private Gentleman she in Law is sullied and has Lost her peeress, so if
a Dutchess or Marquess or Countess or viscountess marry a Barron or
Either of the degrees which was below her, she Looses it and is only
Called as the Lady of the present peer She has marry’d now. Though these
titles be given the noblemens sons and Daughters its not that they are
really soe, for in our Law they are only Called and Esteemed in the
first ranke of Gentlemen, and so take place before all Gentlemen
w^tsoever. The Lower titles made by patents by y^e king is Barronets,
and is differenc’d only from a Knight by takeing place of all knights
and that it is hereditary and goes from father to son; a Knight only is
for his own Life and the king makes them thus: any Gentleman that is to
be made a knight kneeles down and y^e king draws his sword asking him
his Christian name, Layes the sword on his head and shoulder, and bids
him rise up sir such a one as for Example S^r James Bateman our Last
Sherriff &c. These severall titles and patents pays great fees to the
severall officers according to the ranke, a Duke cost £1000—, so in
proportion. Y^e same manner the Knights of the Garter are made as other
knights nevertheless it may be to those w^{ch} were dukes before. Their
jnstallment is at Windsor Castle, in this manner: the herraulds which I
have mentioned several tymes before as a part and management of all the
Cerimony, and also the persons that studdy all matters of honours and
are the Recorders of all the titles in England, and all their Coates of
armour, and knows and keepes Each in their ranke at all Cerimonyes, and
gives out their armes for Eschuteons at Every bodyes funeralls; they
have an office just by D^r Commons by S^t Pauls Cathedrall. There is one
Principal king at armes and 3 if not more other king at armes and other
under herraulds and Sergeants, which all weare Coates with the kings
armes all aboute it; these as I say officiates at the jnstalling for
they record it and add the blew garter about such a Lords atchievement.
Y^e Cerimony I have in part described together with y^e account of
Windsor.
* * * * *
Maulbery is in view at some distance from y^e adjacent hills and Lookes
very fine, with a good river that turns many mills. Its buildings are
good and Compact, one very Large streete where stands the market place
and town hall, and at Each end the two Churches, its of a great Length
jncludeing the two parishes, and the town stands itself on a high hill.
Beyond one of the Churches is the Duke of Sommersets house, has been a
greate Rambling building but now most pulled down and newly building,
they were painting it, good appartments for what is done but none
furnish’d, and its but one Wing and is built with drawing dineing roomes
and bed Chambers with Closets and dressing-roomes and two StairCases and
some roomes above, which is to have another such a wing on the other
side and Joyn’d with a Greate hall.
The only Curious thing is out of y^e bowling green. You go many stepps
down into a Grass-walke with quick sett hedges cut Low, this Leads to
the foote of the mount, and that you ascend from y^e Left hand by an
Easye ascent bounded by such quick sett hedges Cut Low, and soe you rise
by degrees in 4 rounds bounded by the Low Cutt hedge, and on the top is
with same hedge Cut in works, and from thence you have a prospect of y^e
town and Country round and two parishes two mile off in view, and the
Low Grounds are watered with ditches, and this mount is Encompass’d
about with such a Cannal which Emptys itself into a ffish pond, then it
Empts itself into the river. There is a house built over the ffish pond
to keep the ffish in. At the ffoote of the mount as I began out of a
Green walke on the Left hand to ascend it, so on the Right hand Leads to
another such a walke quite round by y^e Cannall to the other side of y^e
bowling-green. In the midst of y^e top of the mount was a house built
and pond but thats fallen down. Halfe way down is a seate opposite to
y^e dwelling house which is Brick’d. Maulbery is one of the towns in
Wiltshire y^e quarter sessions is kept in, its 8 mile to Hungerford over
Savernack Forrest where is many deer. Ffrom Hungerford to Newbury in
Barkshire 7 mile all very deep way, 15 mile thence to Reading in
Barkshire flatt way, but y^e vale is heavy sand for 3 or 4 mile. Reading
is the shire town, its pretty Large and accomodated for travellers being
a great Road to Gloucester and y^e West Country, but it is very dear.
From London to Rusbery 18 mile by Stanes—pretty house and gardens in
sight of Windsor in Buckinghamshire—thence Uxbridge 7 mile, pretty good
way, thence Amersham 9 mile all in the Alesbury road, thence
Barkminstead 6 Long miles, steep hills into Hartfordshire, a good market
town, good jnns, thence Dunstable 7 or 9 Long miles steep hills, thence
Arsly in Bedfordshire 10 mile, which I Entred at Astick 2 mile from
Arlsy, 2 good old houses of the Edwards and Browns, but this was base
way, narrow, and Lanes Rooty and Long. Thence Bedford town 9 miles good
way, a village in a mile or two distance, Hanlow, Clifton Sheford
Checkston and Bedford. Y^e great road Comes in good way, thence Turvoy 5
mile belonging to the Earle of Peterborough where he was.
They make much bonelace in these towns. In the Church are fine tombs and
monuments of that familly, the first with two Ladyes on Each side, he
higher, one in a widdows dress all marble finely Gilt and painted on a
bed, and Rowles of Matt very naturall at their head and feete. There was
another and the Lady dyed in Childbed the Child by her Costly Carved and
Gilt and 4 beadmen at the feete (he allowed for four old mens
maintenance), by it another and his Lady all rich marble Gilt and
painted.
Here I Enter Buckinghamshire againe over the Bridge, so to Northampton
10 mile over a pretty good road, and Entred the shire within 4 mile of
the town.
I describe nothing more of Northampton, but the Church was finish’d, the
Entrance with a breast wall and paved and stepps within round 3 sides of
the Church, which was begun w^n I was there before. So I proceeded on to
Litchfield very good way as Exactly straight as a Line, the Whatling
Streete way, but it was deep heavy ground as in all these Rich Countrys.
I passed between two noble seates, Homby on the Right hand on the side
of a hill in woods, stone buildings with towers almost Like a Castle,
old built, the rows of trees Exact on Each side and avenues, which is
Earle of Ffevershams. The other on the left hand Lay Low within a
thicket of wood on all sides but the front, where it appear’d Like a
Princes Court of Brick and Stone, very fine, Lord Sunderlands, with a
Large Parke walled in of a good Extent. Thus I went to a Bridge not very
Large of stone but it is the Boundary of three Countys.
I pass’d from Northampton into Leicestershire with Warwickshire on my
Left hand, and so went to a Rich Land, here it Lookes of a Redder Earth.