London, the Head and Metropolis of England: Called by Tacitus, Londinium; by Ptolomy, Longidinium; by Ammianus Marcellinus, Lundinium; by Foreigners, Londra, and Londres; is the Seat of the British Empire, and the Chamber of the English Kings. This moft ancient City, is in the County of Middlefex, the fruitfulleft and wholesomest Soil in England. It is built upon the River Thames, 60 Miles from the Sea, and was originally founded, as all Hiftorians agree, by Brutus, who, coming from Greece into Italy, thence into Africa, next into France, and laft into Britain, chofe this Situation, for the Convenience of the River, calling it Troja Nova, which Name was afterwards corrupted into Trinovant. But when Lud, the Brother of Caffibilan, or Gaffivelan, who warred against Julius Cæfar, as he himself mentions, lib. v. de Bell. Gall. came to the Crown he encompassed it with very strong Walls, and Towers very artfully conftructed, and from his own Name called it Caier Lud, i. e. Lud's City. This Name was corrupted into that of Caerlunda, and again in Time by change of Language, into Lundres. Lud, when he died, was buried in this Town, near that Gate which is yet called in Welsh, Por Lud, in Saxon, Ludefgate.

The famous River Thames, owes Part of its Stream, as well as of its Appellation, to the Isis; rifing a little above Winchelcombe, and being encreased with feveral Rivulets, unites both its Waters and its Name to the Thame, on the other fide of Oxford; thence,

thence, after paffing by London, and being of the utmoft Utility, from its Greatnefs and Navigation, it opens into a vast Arm of the Sea, from whence the Tide, according to Gemma Frifius, flows and ebbs to the Distance of 80 Miles, twice in 25 Hours, and according to Polydore Vergil, above 60 Miles, twice in 24 Hours

This City being very large of itself, has very extenfive Suburbs, and a Fort called the Tower, of beautiful Structure. It is magnificently ornamented, with public Buildings and Churches, of which there are above 120 Parochial.

On the South, is a Bridge of Stone 800 Feet in Length, of wonderful Work; it is fupported upon 20 Piers of fquare Stone, 60 Feet high, and 30 broad, joined by Arches of about 20 Feet Diameter. The whole is covered on each fide with Houses, fo difpofed, as to have the Appearance of a continued Street, not at all of a Bridge.

Upon this is built a Tower, on whofe Top the Heads of fuch as have been executed for High Treafon, are placed upon Iron Spikes: We counted above 30.

Paulus Fovius, in his Defcription of the most remarkable Towns in England, fays, all are obfcured by London: Which, in the Opinion of many, is Gafar's City of the Trinobantes, the Capital of all

Britain, famous for the Commerce of many Nations; its Houses are elegantly built, its Churches fine, its Towns ftrong, and its Riches and Abundance furprizing. The Wealth of the World is wafted to it by the Thames, fwelled by the Tide, and navigable to Merchants Ship, through a fafe and deep Channel for 60 Miles, from its Mouth to the City: Its Banks are every where beautified with fine Country Seats, Woods, and Farms; below, is the Royal Palace of Greenwich; above, that of Richmond; and between both, on the Weft of London, rife the noble Buildings of Westminster, most remarkable for the Courts of Juftice, the Parliament, and St. Peter's Church, enriched with the royal Tombs. At the Distance of 20 Miles from London, is the Castle of Windfor, a moft delightful Retreat of the Kings of England, as well as famous for feveral of their Tombs, and for the Ceremonial of the Order of the Garter. This River abounds in Swans, swimming in Flocks; the Sight of them and their Noife, is vaftly agreeable to the Fleets that meet them in their Courfe. It is joined to the City by a Bridge of Stone, wonderfully built; is never encreased by any Rains, rifing only with the Tide, and is every were fpread with Nets for the taking Salmon and Shad. Thus far Paulus Jovius.

Polydore Vergil affirms, that London has continued to be a royal City, and the Capital of the Kingdom, crowded with its own Inhabitants and Foreigners, abounding in Riches, and famous for its great Trade, from the Time of King Archeninus, or Erchenvinus.

Here

Here the Kings are crowned, and folemnly inaugurated, and the Council of the Nation, or Parliament, is held. The Government of the City is lodged, by antient Grant of the Kings of Britain, in 24 Aldermen, that is, Seniors: These annually elect out of their own Body a Mayor, and two Sheriffs, who determine Causes according to municipal Laws. It has always had, as indeed Britain in general, a great Number of Men of Learning, much diftinguished for their Writings.

The Walls are pierced with fix Gates, which, as they were rebuilt, acquired new Names. Two look Eastward:

I. Ludgate, the oldeft, fo called from King Lud, whofe Name is yet to be seen, cut into the Stone over the Arch on one Side; though others imagine it rather to have been named Fludgate, from a Stream over which it ftands, like the Porta Fluentana at Rome. It has been lately repaired by Queen Elizabeth, whofe Statue is placed on the oppofite Side. And

II, Newgate, the beft Edifice of any: So called from being new built, whereas before it was named Chamberlain-Gate. It is the public Prifon.

On the North are four:

I. Alderfgate, as fome think, from Alder Trees; as others, from Aldricius, a Saxon.

II. Criplegate, from an Hospital for the lame.

III. Moorgate, from a neighbouring Morafs, now converted into a Field, firft opened by Francetius the Mayor, A. D. 1414.

IV. And Bishopsgate, from fome Bifhop: This the German Merchants of the Hans Society were obliged by Compact to keep in Repair, and in Times of Danger to defend. They were in Poffeffion of a Key, to open or shut it, so that upon Occasion they could come in, or go out, by Night, or by Day.

There is only one Gate to the Eaft:

Aldgate, that is Oldgate, from its Antiquity; though others think it to have been named Elbegate.

Several People believe, there were formerly two Gates (befides that to the Bridge) towards the Thames.

I. Billingsgate, now a Cothon, or artificial Port, for the Reception of Ships. *

II. Dourgate, vulgo Dowgate, i. e. Water-Gate.

The Cathedral of St. Paul was founded by Ethelbert, King of the Saxons, and being from Time to Time re-edified, encreased to Vaftnefs and Magnificence, and in Revenue fo much, that it affords a plentiful Support to a Bishop, Dean, Præcentor, Treasurer, four Archdeacons, 29 Prebendaries, and

His Name was Sir Thomas Falconer.

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