Bofworth, 104 Miles from London, ftands pleasantly upon a Hill in a wholefome Air and fruitful Soil both for Corn aud Grass. The Field of Action fo noted in History for the decifive Battle between the Houses of York and Lancaster, and in which Richard III. was flain, was Redmere Plain, three M. from the T. in which are frequently dug up Pieces of Armour, Weapons, Heads of Arrows, &c.

Lutterworth, 84 M. from London, chiefly famous for having that great and good Divine John Wickliffe, the Day Star of our Reformation, for its Rector. The Parish Church is very handfome, with a lofty Spire, and fome Years ago was beautified, but the old Pulpit is ftill continued in Memory of that learned and pious Divine, who died and was buried here in Peace; yet by Order of the Council of Conftance his Bones were taken out of his Grave 40 Years after and burnt. The Roman Watling-ftreet, runs on the W. Side of this Town.

Afhby de la Zouch, 98 Miles from London, has a handfome Church, a plentiful Market, and neat Stone Cross. Its Castle, where King Charles had a Garrison, was de-, molished in 1648. The Ale of this Town is thought" not inferior to Burton, and the Inhabitants remarkably fociable and generous. They have a Bowling-Green which is much frequented. From the Remains of the Walls of the Earl of Huntingdon's Castle here, it must have been one of the principal in England. King James I. continued here with his whole Court for feveral Days; the Dinner being ferved up every Day by 30 poor Knights, with Gold Chains and Velvet Gowns. Near this Town is a noted Mineral Water called Griffydam...

Melton Mowbray, a large well built Town, 88 Miles from London, has the moft confiderable Market for Cattle of any in this Part of England. Its Church is remarkably large and hand fome, and well built in the Form of a Crofs. The Town is almost furrounded by a little River called the Eye, over which it has two fine Bridges.

Burton Lazers, once noted for an Hofpital of Lazars of Lepers, the richest in England, all the inferior ones being.

fubject

Subject to its Mafter, as he was to the Master of the Lazars of Jerufalem.

The chief Antiquities in this County:

The Bennones of Antoninus must be about Cleybrook, in the S. W. Side of the County, from the ancient Ways croffing here, and from the ancient Coins and Foundations of Buildings difcovered on both Sides the Roman Way: Bensford Bridge, not far off, is thought to have fome Relation to the old Bennones.

Barrow-hill and Erdburrow, supposed to be the ancient Vernometum.

Segs-hill, or Sex-bill, 7 M. from Leicester, where fix Parishes center, and fet the Marks of the Bounds; 'tis one of the Roman Tumuli.

Olvefton Priory, built in the Reign of Henry II. by Judge Grimbold.

Ulvefcroft Priory, founded and endowed by Robert Blanchmaines, Earl of Leicefter, in the Reign of HenIII.

ry

Grace Dieu Nunnery, founded by Roifia Wife of Berbam de Verdun, in the 24th Year of Henry III. for Ciftercian Nuns.

Not far from Higham, near Watling-Street, fome Treafure was found, and a Mahometan Talifman.

The principal Seats of the Nobility and Gentry are, The late Duke of Montagu's, at Garrenton, ten Miles from Leicester.

The Earl of Huntingdon, at Ashby de la Zouch and Dunnington, four Miles from it.

The Earl of Harborough, at Stapleford, 13 Miles from Leicester.

Stanton Harold, Earl Ferrers, near Abby de la Zouch. The Earl of Stamford, at Groby, five Miles from Leicefter.

The Earl of Cardigan, at Stanton Brudenel, four Miles from Bofwerth.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Is

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE:

S bounded by Lincolnshire on the E. Leicestershire on the S. E. and S. Derbyshire on the W. and Yorkshire on the N. W. and N. It is 43 Miles in Length, 24 in Breadth, and 110 in Compafs; contains befides Nottingham nine Market Towns, 168 Parishes, 450 Villages, 8 Hundreds, or rather fix Wapentakes and two Liberties. Its eaft Side is very fruitful in Corn and Pafture, but the Weft woody, and in fome Places producing nothing but Coal. Its Commodities are Cattle, Corn, Malt, Wool, Coal, Wood, Cheese, Butter, Leather and Tallow, feveral Sorts of Marl, a foft Stone like Alabafter, which when burnt makes a Plafter wherewith they floor their Rooms, and is harder than that of Paris.

Nottingham, 122 from London, reckoned one of the neatest Places in England, and has as good Trade as moft inland Towns. It ftands pleasantly on the Afcent of a Rock overlooking the River Trent, which runs parallel with it about a Mile to the S. and has been made navi❤ gable. It has 3 Churches, a grand Town Houfe built on Piazzas, a fine fpacious Market-place with two Croffes in it, and a Gaol for the Town and County: A Manufactory for weaving Frame Stockings; and likewise for Glafs and Earthen Ware. It is a fporting Country, a fecond Newmarket for Races and other public DiverLions; there being a fine Plain for a Horse Course on the N. Side of the Town. The Rock on which the Town ftands is fo remarkably foft, as to be capable of being cut out into Steps and other Purposes with great Eafe. The Cellars are many and very good for keeping Beer, and the Country abounds in Barley, that the Malt and Beer-trade are greatly followed. They pretend to rival Derby in Malt, which they fend into Lancashire, and Cheshire. Here is a House built on the Side of a Hill, where one enters at the Garret and afcends to the Cellar, which is at the Top of the Houfe. Marfhal Tallard was Prisoner in this Town 7 Years. As the Caftle has oftener been the Refidence of our Monarchs than any Place fo far

from

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from London, the Town has more Gentlemens Houses than any Town of the Bignefs in Britain. In the Duke of Newcastle's Park there is a Ledge of perpendicular Rocks hewn into a Church, Houfes, Chambers, DoveHouses, &c. The Altar of the Church is natural Rock, and there appears to have been a Steeple and Pillars; and between this and the Caftle there is a Hermitage of the like Workmanship. These are eminent Specimens of British Antiquity. The Affizes, Seffions, &c. are held in a Place called King's Hall. The Corporation have great Eftates for the Maintenance of the Free School, the public Bridges over the Trent, &c. There is a noted Hospital here called Plumtree's, from ts Founder, for 13 poor old Widows; three Charity Schools, one for 35 Boys, who are cloathed and taught, and for 20 Girls; an Alms-house endowed with 100l. a Year for 12 poor People; feveral religious Foundations, &c.

Eaft Retford, 26 Miles from Nottingham, 135 from London, is an ancient Borough in the midst of a large Plantation of Hops, in which, and in Barley for Malt it drives a great Trade. Here is a good Town Hall, a Free Grammar Sohool, and a handfome Church. This Place is joined by a Stone Bridge to another called Weft Retford, where is Trinity Hofpital, governed by a Mafter who has 15. a Year, and 10 Brethren 10. befides 10 s. for Coals, and fix Yards of Cloth for a Gown; an Allowance for reading Prayers, and 10l. to maintain a Scholar in Exeter College, Oxford.

Newark upon Trent, 11 M. from Nottingham, 118 from London, a great Thoroughfare on the York Road, is a handsome well built Town with Bridges over that River, which here forms an Ifland, by dividing itself into two Streams two Miles above the Town, which meet again two Miles below it. The N. Gate is built of Stones that feem to be of a Roman Cut. Many Antiquities have been found about it; particularly four Urns, and a Brafs Lar or Houfhold God, an Inch and half in Length. Its Church is fine and fpacious, and the Market Place fo large, that Lord Bellafyfe drew up 10,000 Men in it, when he defended this T. for King Charles I.

against

against the Scots Army. It is a Place of pretty good Trade in Corn, Cattle, Wool, &c. The Caftle is faid to have been built by Alexander Bishop of Lincoln in the Reign of King Stephen.

Other Towns of Note are,

Mansfield, 136 Miles from London, a well built popu lous Town in the Foreft of Shirwood, which drives a great Trade in Malt; the Market is well ftocked with Corn, Cattle, and other Goods. It is well known for the old Story and Song of Sir John Cockle, the Miller of Mansfield, and the frequent Refort of the Kings hither for Pleasure. Near this Place are the Remains of Welbeck Abbey, begun in the Reign of King Stephen and finished in Henry IId's.

Workfop, feven Miles from Retford, 133 from Lond. is a fmall Town near the Head of the River Ryton, with a Market noted for Plenty of Malt. There are certain Oaks in this Parifh denominated Shire Oaks, from a large Oak that hangs over three Shires, viz. Nottingham, Derby, and Yorkshire. Here are the Ruins of a famous Monaftery called Workfop or Radford Abbey, founded in 1103. It belongs to the Duke of Norfolk, and was fome Years fince burnt down by an accidental Fire; but is now rebuilding with great Magnificence.

Tuxford, the Poft and Stage Town betwixt Newark and Bawtree, fituated on that Part of the Shire called South Clay, because there is another called the North Clay. Here is a good Free School with 50l. a Year for a Mafter and Ufher, 207. for boarding and teaching four Minors or decayed Gentlemens Sons, and 20 l. more for teaching the Town Boys.

Southwell, 5 Miles from Newark, 114 from London, has a large Church called a Minifter, both Parochial and Collegiate; the Chapter hath Jurifdiction over 28 Churches, to most of which it has the Right of Prefentation, befiles others in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. The Civil Government of its Jurifdiction is diftinct from that of the County, and is called the Soke of Southwel cum Scrooby, which is another Town in this County. The Church

is