There Was A Good Edition Of Them In 1870 Among The
Very Valuable "English Reprints" For Which We Are Indebted To
Professor Edward Arber.
H.M.
TRAVELS IN ENGLAND
We arrived at Rye, a small English seaport. Here, as soon as we
came on shore, we gave in our names to the notary of the place, but
not till he had demanded our business; and being answered, that we
had none but to see England, we were conducted to an inn, where we
were very well entertained; as one generally is in this country.
We took post-horses for London: it is surprising how swiftly they
run; their bridles are very light, and their saddles little more
than a span over.
Flimwell, a village: here we returned our first horses, and mounted
fresh ones.
We passed through Tunbridge, another village.
Chepstead, another village: here, for the second time, we changed
horses.
London, the head and metropolis of England: called by Tacitus,
Londinium; by Ptolemy, Logidinium; by Ammianus Marcellinus,
Lundinium; by foreigners, Londra, and Londres; it is the seat of the
British Empire, and the chamber of the English kings. This most
ancient city is the the county of Middlesex, the fruitfullest and
wholesomest soil in England. It is built on the river Thames, sixty
miles from the sea, and was originally founded, as all historians
agree, by Brutus, who, coming from Greece into Italy, thence into
Africa, next into France, and last into Britain, chose 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 Cassibilan, or Cassivelan, who warred against Julius
Caesar, as he himself mentions (lib. v. de Bell. Gall.), came to the
crown, he encompassed it with very strong walls, and towers very
artfully constructed, 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 Londres. Lud, when
he died, was buried in this town, near that gate which is yet called
in Welsh, Por Lud - in Saxon, Ludesgate.
The famous river Thames owes part of its stream, as well as its
appellation, to the Isis; rising a little above Winchelcomb, and
being increased with several rivulets, unites both its waters and
its name to the Thame, on the other side of Oxford; thence, after
passing by London, and being of the utmost utility, from its
greatness and navigation, it opens into a vast arm of the sea, from
whence the tide, according to Gemma Frisius, flows and ebbs to the
distance of eighty miles, twice in twenty-five hours, and, according
to Polydore Vergil, above sixty miles twice in twenty-four hours.
This city being very large of itself, has very extensive suburbs,
and a fort called the Tower, of beautiful structure. It is
magnificently ornamented with public buildings and churches, of
which there are above one hundred and twenty parochial.
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