Fragmenta Regalia | Page 4

of the men who served
Queen Elizabeth when he was near the close of his own life. It was
after 1628, because he speaks of Edward Somerset, Earl of Worcester,
as dead, and before 1632, because he speaks of Sir William Knollys
living as the only Earl of Banbury. He was created Earl of Banbury in
1626, and died in 1632. The "Fragmenta Regalia" were first published
in 1641, after Sir Robert's death. They were reprinted in 1642 and 1653,

since which date they have appeared in various collections. 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.
On the south is a bridge of stone eight hundred feet in length, of
wonderful work; it is supported upon twenty piers of square stone, sixty
feet high and thirty broad, joined by arches of about twenty feet
diameter. The whole is covered on each side with houses so disposed as
to have the appearance of a continued street, not at all of a bridge.
Upon this is built a tower, on whose top the heads of such as have been
executed for high treason are placed on iron spikes: we counted above
thirty.
Paulus Jovius, in his description of the most remarkable towns in
England, says all are obscured by London: which, in the opinion of

many, is Caesar'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 strong, and its riches and abundance
surprising. The wealth of the world is wafted to it by the Thames,
swelled by the tide, and navigable to merchant ships through a safe and
deep channel for sixty miles, from its mouth to the city: its banks are
everywhere beautified with fine country seats, woods, and farms; below
is the royal palace of Greenwich; above, that of Richmond; and
between both, on the west