Page images
PDF
EPUB

ada ta quied bus

London, the Head and Metropolis of England: Called by Tacitus, Londinium; by Ptolomey, 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 Middlesex, 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 Caffivelan, who wared against Julius Cæfar, as he himself mentions, lib. v. de Bell, Gall, came to the Crown, he encompaffed it with very ftrong 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 Carlunda, and again în Time by change of Language, into Lundres. Lud, when he died, was buried in that is Town, near Gate which is yet called in Welch, in, Ludesgate, lige pol unge

[ocr errors]

Por Lud, in Sax

Music 916 nol

The famous River Thames, owes Part of its Stream, , as well as of its Appellation, to "the Mis; 12mg rifing a little above Winchelcomb, and being encreated with feveral Rivulets, unites both its and Waters, 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 Greatness and Navigation, it opens into a vaft 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 Virgil, aboye 60 Miles, twice in 24 Hours.

si

99

yd

[ocr errors]

This City being very large of itfelf, has very ex13 tenfive 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.

[ocr errors]

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 Houfes, fo dif pofed, 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 Trea fon, are placed upon Iron Spikes: We counted above 30.

ati to

Paulus levius, in his Defcription of the moft reremarkable Towns in England, fays, all are obfcured by London: Which, in the Opinion of many, is Cafar's City of the Trinobantes, the Capital of all

[ocr errors]

R 2

Britain,

Britain, famous for the Commerce of many Nations its Houfes 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 Ships, 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, moft remarkable for the Courts of Juffice, the Parliament, and St. Peter's Church, enriched with the royal Tombs. At the Distance of 20 Miles from London, is the Caftle of Windfor, a most delightful Retreat of the Kings of England, as well as famous for feveral of their Tombs, and for the Ceremonial of the Order Garter. This River abounds in Swans, fwimming 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 where fpread with Nets for the taking of Salmon and Shad. Thus far Paulus Lovius.

[ocr errors]

the

Polydore Virgil affirms, that London has continued to be a 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, sand folemnly inaugu rated, 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 Aldere men, that is, Seniors: These annually elect out of their own Body a Mayor, and two Sheriffs, who/dee termine Caufes according to the municipal Laws. (It bas always had, as indeed Britain in general, a great Number of Men of Learning, much diftinguished for their Writings.d.

s no,dind 59wied The Walls are pierced with fix Gates, which as they were rebuilt, acquired new Names Two look Eaftward: dow bedeling budo I. Ludgate, the oldeft, fo called from King Lud, whofe Name is yet to be feen, cut into the Stone over the Arch on one Side; though others imagine it rather to have been named Fludgate, from a Stream Cover which it ftands, like the Porta Fluentang at Rome. It has been lately repaired by Queen Elizabeth, th, whofe Statue is placed on the oppofite Side. abnow sno12 3.

[ocr errors]

And

28

[ocr errors]

901

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.

[ocr errors]

1 amino, est. On the North are four: a tub do 4

A

no. Alderfgate, as fome think, from Alder Trees i die Dobwod as others, from Aldricius, a Saxon. Door ᏭᎢ *oi zuomsT AbiЯ nig ibmoods ane II Criplegate, from an Hospital for the Tame

[merged small][ocr errors]

comic to looЯ T 19dio 5.

IH. Morgatjfrom a neighbouring Morafs, now converted into a Field, firft opened by Francetius the Mayor, A. D. 1414.

dmoT sidis Motio

[ocr errors]

IV. And Bishopfgate, from fome Bishop: 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 fhut it, fo that upon Occafion they could come into or go out, by Night, or by Day. adbands Wo Nadca 1 0 1G a crotts) There is only one Gate to the East:

Aldgate, that is Oldgate, from its Antiquity; though others think it to have been named Elbegate.no “liɔnuoƆ qvinq odi O to niengeƆ

3

Several People believe, there were formerly two Gates (befides that to the Bridge) towards the Thamesi 'I 249 bobaɔ ɔ7 is to his engi91903 ~I. Billingsgate, now à Cothon, or artificial Port, for the Reception of Ships. SCH LN in 12 t

211

١٢م

„JA „radingue II. Dourgate, vulgo Dowgate, i, e. Water-Gate. Did bat ad wodgo Tranguid thi mo yd The Cathedral of St. Paul was founded by Ethel bert, King of the Saxons, and being from Time to Time re-edified, encreased to Vaftness and Magnificence, and in Revenue fo much, that it affords a plentiful Support to a Bishop, Dean Præcentor) Treasurer, four Archdeacons, 29 Prebendaries, and neignɔtal aids

His Name was Sir Thomas Falconer.

many

« PreviousContinue »