A new History and Survey of ... London, ... Westminster, and Southwark. With ... illustrations of their Antiquities, etc

Front matter

in&avcd by WWallis. , Drawn bv Tho. II Shepherd A NEW HISTORY AND SURVEY OF THE CITIES OF LONDON AND WESTMINSTER, AND THE BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK; WITH AUTHENTIC GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS OF THEIR Antiquities : THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THEIR INHABITANTS, AND THE PROGRESS OF THE ARTS FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD. W. SMITH. " Where finds philosophy her eagle eye, With which she gazes on yon burning disk, Undazzled, and detects, and counts, his spots ? In London. Where her implements exact, With which she calculates, computes, and scans All distance, motion, magnitude ; and now Measures an atom, and now girds a world ? In London." C~wp. I. VOL. I. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY EFFINGHAM WILSON, 88, ROYAL EXCHANGE. PLUMMER AND BREWIS, PRINTERS, LOVE LANE, EASTCHEAP. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR PETER LAURIE, KNT, LORD MAYOR, THE ALDERMEN AND COMMON COUNCIL OF the 4_Mtg of ftontron, THIS VOLUME OF A NEW HISTORY, SURVEY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE BRITISH METROPOLIS, ia RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED uv THEIR OBEDIENT SERVANT, W. SMITH. Poplar, March, 1833.

Preface

. VI But, although it must be admitted that numerous Histories and Surveys have already appeared, yet it must also be allowed by all impartial persons, that they are not, generally speaking, written in a style suitable to the taste, or calculated to afford entertainment to the great mass of readers of the present day. It may be said by some, that the subject is of a kind that will afford amusement to the few only, whose inclinations lead them to the ' fabulous and unsatiable study of antiquity ;' and to others who with more solidity, delight to search into their chartered rights and immunities ; but surely the peculiar interest excited by every event connected with this great Capital, ' tlie storehouse of the world,' ancient as well as modern, cannot fail to be a source of gratifica tion and instruction to all classes of the community.

As readers, says a modern Author, are expected to employ their time, either for amusement or for information, in matters of which they are doubtful or ignorant ; it is a writer's duty, so to connect his narrative, that while he engages the senses, he may feed the mind, — .to deliver his sentiments, and to describe his subject, so clearly, plainly, and justly, that he may be ' understood, relished and trusted.' Having taken this motto as a guidance, I shall now, without further apology, submit my labours to the opinion of the public, trust ing they will be found to possess some claim to their patronage ; — if not for brilliancy of composition, at least for utility, and impartiality. March, 1833. W. S. ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page

Chapter I

1—16 Introduction — Origin of the name uncertain — called by Tacitus Londinium and Colonia Augusta—its various appellations, Llyn Dyn or " town or the Lake" — its geographical situation — the primitive Britons, with remarks on their probable state previous to the Roman invasion, and conjectures on the natural rise and progress of society in its earliest stages, — a description of the inhabitants at Cæsar's first arrival in Britain, with an account of the Druidical magistracy and priesthood.

Chapter II

16—41 Conjectures on the origin of the City of London, said to have been founded by Brute, and called Troynovant or new Troy — presumed to be a City of the Trinobanies — its walls and fortifications attributed to King Lud — an authentic account of the invasion of Britain by the Romans, under Julius Cæsar (b. c. 55) — argument to prove London a British City — remarks on the situation of London at its foundation — error of Ptolemy and Dr. Gale in placing Londinium on the south side of the Thames— embankment of the River Thames by the Romans — Cæsar's ford and encampment, &c. together with an historical delineation of the metropolis to the Reign of Claudius (a. d. 43).

Chapter III

42—57 The Roman expedition in the reign of Claudius, with the interesting account, give by Tacitus, of the revolt of the Iceni — the total destruction of London, and the Roman settlements ; the defeat and massacre of the Londoners by Suetonius, to the final departure of the Romans from Britain, together with an historical description of the metropolis while under their government. ANALYTICAL TABLE Page 57—112

Chapter IV

The ancient walls of London built by the Romans — City walls erected by Helena, about the year 306 — said by Camden to have been built by Constantine — Maitland ascribes them to Theodosius — Direct course of the walls — their defences, heights, &c. — manner in wliich the walls were built — several times repaired — the City gates, posterns, &c. when erected — supposed Roman temple on the site of St. Paul's Cathedral — opinion of Sir Christopher Wren on the subject — brass figure of Diana — Temple of Jupiter — buck's head borne before the procession of Paul's — together with an account of the several Roman antiquities discovered at various periods in and about London ; viz. in the reign of Queen Elizabeth in Spital-fields, as urns, coins, pottery, glass, lachrymatories, penates, &c. — other discoveries in the reign of James I. — Roman ossuary of glass found in Spitalfields— cemetery in Sun Tavern Fields, Shadwell — another at St. Paul's, discovered by Sir Christopher Wren, and described in the • Parentalia ' — various antiquities discovered in Camomile Street, Bishopsgate — also at the re-building of Bishopsgate Church, in 1725 — where also a Roman grave, constructed with large tiles, was discovered — sepulchral stone found in Goodman's Fields — numerous Roman remains, such as tessellated pavements, glass and pottery, discovered in Lombard Street and Birchin Lane, in digging a new sewer there — a description of the beautiful Roman mosaic pavement, found opposite the East India House, in Leadenhall Street — also of the Lothbury pavement, removed entire by John Soane, Esq. — sundry antiquities found during the excavation of the New London Bridge — London Stone ; a Roman Milliary — regarded with superstitious zeal — description of it by Stow — misquoting of Fabian by various historians — considered as the Milliarium Aureum of Britain — mentioned by Holinshed in connexion with Jack Cade — mutilated after the great fire — its present state and situation — Roman remains found in Southwark, &c. &c.

Chapter V

112—152 History of London from the departure of the Romans till the Norman conquest (a. d. 1066)— Hengist obtains possession of the Capital — St. Augustine's mission — London becomes a Bishop's see — the foundation of St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey — legend of the Consecration of the latter by St. Paul — early simony — the Metropolis ravaged by a plague in 664 — several great fires — palace of Athelstan — the first Wittenagemot or Parliament, convoked by Edmund I., held at London — invaded by the Danes — brave resistance of the Citizens — Dane-gelt — the Londoners open their gates OE CONTENTS. Page to the Danes — Sweyn proclaimed King of England— Ethelred recalled— first Coronation mentioned in history besieged by Canute, who cuts a trench through the marshes of Kent and Surry, to bring up his ships above London Bridge— presumed course of the trench — assassination of Edmund Ironside by Edric Streon, and execution of the latter — Canute is afterwards proclaimed sole Monarch, and resides in the Capital— the City sends Members to Parlia ment—its consequent opulence at this period—Edward the Confessor erects a Palace at Westminster, and re-builds the Abbey Church— submits to the Norman yoke.

Chapter VI

152- 198 William the Conqueror grants two Charters to the City — the White Tower built— -St. Paul's burnt— reign of William Rufus — King Henry the First grants a charter — religious foundations— St. Catherine's Hospital — Bow bridge built influence of the citizens against Queen Maud — Henry the Second's Charter— London bridge built of stone— Fitz Stephen's description of "the most noble City of London "— general particulars of London — its castles, walls, towers, and royal palaces— gardens, fields, and forests— ancient springs— population — principal churches and schools — trades and cookery— horse mart in Smithfield— government and manners — sports and pastimes— spirit of the inhabitants- London the birth-place of Constantine the Great— chief magistrates claim to the butlership at the King's coronation ■ -first mayor of London— charter of King Richard the First for the conservacy of the River Thames— water bailiff appointed— standard of weights and measures at London —fires, huricanes, frosts, and many other interesting incidents, from the time of the conquest (a. d. 1066), to the death of King Richard the First (a. d. 1199).

Chapter VII

199—255 King John ascends the throne— grants four charters to the citizens-their affection for the King— first "Mayor of London— London bridge finished— a Parliament held at Bridewell -City wall encompassed by a ditch— great fires- Jews allowed a high priest— the Londoners join with the Barons, and oblige King John to grant Magna Charter and Charter of Forests— list of Mayors and Sheriffs to the death of John— King Henry the Third displeased with Londoncharters granted by that monarch— St. Paul's cathedral-consecrated— great famine— and various other occurrences to the demise of Henry the Third, a. d. 1272. ANALYTICAL TABLE X Pago 256—294

Chapter VIII

King Edward the First's entry into London— civil dissensions among the citizens — punishment of bakers and millers, and ordinances concerning engrossers, and forestallers — act against usury — earthquake — Blackfriars founded, Jews persecuted and banished — London bridge repaired — directions to parochial clergy — great frost — Ducket's murder detected — Court of Common Council instituted — King Edward's charter, granting the choice of a Mayor, and confirming ancient privileges — prices of provisions regulated by act of Common Council — manner of assessing, &c. &c. — King Edward the Second's accession — knights templars suppressed — orders for preserving the peace of the Cityexemption from taxes — elections regulated — famine and plague — freemen's oath — London chooses representatives ill Parliament — list of Mayors, and other occurrences, till the abdication of King Edward the Second, A. b. 1327.

Chapter IX

295—333 King Edward the Third begins his reign — grants a charter of confirmation, with additional liberties, with the consent of Parliament — charter concerning the farm of Southwark — dangerous riots — King's order respecting adulterated wines, provisions, and regrators — prices of provisions — method of taxation in the City — a quarrel between the fishmongers and the skinners — remarkable canons — order of knighthood imposed and rejected — election of Mayor regulated — fine for an Alderman not serving — famine and plague — several burial grounds purchased — charter granting gold and silver maces — complaint against the King's steward of the household — King's order concerning the slaughter of beasts — sumptuous feast — practice of archery commanded^Charter House founded— petition against foreigners — ordinances against usurers — price of wines regulated by the Lord Mayor — a public mask — proceedings against Wickliffe — disgust of the City with the Duke of Lancaster- --its consequences — magistrates punished — list of Mayors and Sheriffs, &c. and many other particulars, to the accession of King Richard the Second, a. d. 1377.

Chapter X

334—371 King Richard the Second's accession to the throne —City's claim to chief butlership of England — City's charters confirmed in Parliament — reconciliation with the Duke of Lancaster — ■ the King's grand entry into London — Sir John Philpot's expedition against the pirates, and fleet for the state — Wat OF CONTENTS XI Page Tyler's insurrection and death— Jack Straw's confession and execution — Parliaments address to the King for a con firmation of the City charters — the confirmation, and the Lord Mayor's proclamation thereon — privileges granted and confirmed to the Constable of the Tower — Northampton's riot — quarrel with the fishmongers and clergy — choice of Common Councilmen regulated — Sheriffs how to be sworn Parliament orders nuisances, laystalls, &c. to be removed — a grand tournament — citizens refuse to lend the King £'1000 —Acts of Parliament for removing laystalls, and the choice of Aldermen — Richard dethroned — Mayors and Sheriffs, &c.to a. d. 1399.

Chapter XI

372—415 Henry the Fourth's accession to the throne — his popular acts — act concerning the sale of fish in London — repeal of the statute of 27 Edward III., respecting the trial of Sheriffs, Aldermen and Mayor — Acts of Parliament for the encouragement of trade and navigation — conservacy confirmed — dreadful pestilence — a play acted by the Company of Parish Clerks at Clerkenwell — tournament and riots — the burning of John Bradley in Smithfield — Stocks market and Guildhall founded — Henry the Fourth's death — list of Mayors, Sheriffs, &c— the accession of Henry V. — a great mortality in Newgate — great rejoicing on account of the victory at Agincourt — the City of London first lighted with lanterns — the King's crown and jewels pawned — Leadenhall built — Sir Richard Whittington, Lord Mayor of London— the story of his cat refuted —death of Henry V. — Newgate rebuilt — Baynard's Castle destroyed by fire —leave given to bind citizens children apprentices — water brought from Tyburn, and conduits erected in Fleet-street, Aldermanbury, and Cripplegate — Sir Richard Wick burnt on account of his religious tenets — the cross in Cheapside rebuilt — Act of Common Council for observing the Sabbath — Eleanor Cobham, Dutchess of Gloucester, accused of witchcraft — Duke Humphrey, of Gloucester murdered — singular petition to Parliament for a license to open grammar schools — the rebellion of Jack Cade and its consequences — barges first used on Lord Mayor's Day — the King taken prisoner, and the Duke of York made Protector of Englandriots in St. Martin's-le-grand and Cheapside -the Court greatly alarmed — five thousand citizens mount guard— the royal army refused admission, and the Earl of March received into the City— King Henry VI. deposed, and the Earl of March chosen King by the name of Edward IV. — Mayors, Sheriffs, &c. to a. d. 1460.

ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS. XII Page 415—444

Chapter XII

Edward the Fourth's four charters — precedency of the Lord Mayor — City right to Tower Hill — grand tournament in Smithfield — a London Jury found guilty and punished for perjury — Sir Thomas Cook's persecution — Henry VI. restored— Sir Geoffrey Gale's insurrection — Henry dethroned and Edward restored — Fa Icon bridge's riot and attempt to plunder the City — stocks erected in every ward in the City — the art of Printing first introduced by Caxton — bawds and lewd women punished — choice of Mayor and Sheriffs confined to the liverymen — City wall repaired — four persons hanged and burnt for sacrilege — the City lends the King 5,000 marks towards the support of his army — a great plague — Mayors and Sheriffs, &c. — accession of Edward V — Lord Hastings beheaded — Duke of Gloucester's dissimulation and management of the citizens — usurps the crown — the young princes murdered in the Tower — conduct of the Londoners art this juncture — Shaw's sermon, at St. Paul's, and Duke of Buckingham's speech — Coronation of Richard III — copy of the citizens claim to tbe office of chief butler — the Earl of Richmond invades England — Richard slain at the battle of Bosworth — Mayors and Sheriffs, &c. to the year 1484. «■-"•"""-- Inferences >,,, ,7,1 .n,,,,,,:,,, 1,(D)1V.I.').LN I V >\ \\'{\\'7/y^ . '/■« ****->'< uji^m* Z JVeU'- I ,,,l , lt> I'.nti -I,,, I, , , /J„HAy,ilf K1/ AX -*- . a I _ 7, MJUrt.OmU H SaU__fS!

Chapter I

Behold ! Augusta's glittering spires increase, And temples rise, the heauteous works of peace ! The time shall come, when, free as seas or wind, Unbounded Thames shall flow for all mankind ! Earth's distant ends our glory shall behold, And the new world launch forth to seek the old." Pope. INTRODUCTION'. THE PRIMITIVE BRITONS WITH REMARKS ON THEIR PRO- BABLE STATE PREVIOUS TO THE ROMAN INVASION, AND CONJECTURES OX THE NATURAL RISE AND PROGRESS OF SOCIETY IN ITS EARLIEST STAGES. — A DESCRIPTION OF THE INHABITANTS AT CÆSAR's FIRST ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN, WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE DRUIDICAL MAGIS- TRACY AND PRIESTHOOD. PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. LONDON, the far famed Metropolis of the British Empire, and the Emporium of the Commerce of the World, presents a field for description, so vast in its extent, and so boundless in its relations, that the most ample volume would not be sufficient to do justice to its importance and variety.

The subjects which it opens for research, are alike numerous and complicated ; and the events connected with its history are of the most interesting kind. Vying with the proudest cities of antiquity, excelled by none, and equalled but by few, its renown has spread over the globe, and its influence been acknowledged in the most distant regions. Rome, the " World's Imperial Mistress," exists but in ruins ; yet the sceptre of her dominion has not been lost ; transferred to Augusta, it still bears imperial sway, and the glories of the new capital extend their radiance throughout both hemispheres. A description therefore of the origin and progressive improvement of a City* so justly extolled, * Various are the etymologies given of the name of this capital by antiquarians. — Tacitus calls it Londinium and Colonia Augusta ; Bede, Londinia ; King Alfred, in his translation of the passage in Bede, Lundenceaster ; other appellations given VOL. I. b cannot fail to be an object of concern to every reflecting or contemplative mind.

But to the citizens themselves, and to the inhabitants of this powerful dominion, it must be delightfully amusing and instructive to mark the rise of their magnificent capital, even from its first minute germe ; to observe its travels, and to accompany it through a develope ment of the vicissitudes to which it has been exposed, and the glorious triumphs it has achieved, (through the divine favor of an all gracious omnipotence,) during successive ages, and at length to behold it, like the stately oak, which tradition tells us once flourished on the site which it now occupies, overshadowing the earth with its gigantic branches. The immediate site of London is about sixty miles from the sea, westward, in a pleasant and spacious valley, stretching along the banks of the Thames,* which as it flows through the town, forms a bold curve or crescent.

On the northern side, the ground rises with a quick ascent, and then more gradually but unequally, heightens to the north-west and west, which are the most elevated parts. On the south side the ground is nearly level, and was anciently an entire morass of several miles extent, but was reclaimed through the artificial embankment of the river.f How considerable a figure this capital makes in the government of the kingdom, appears by the influence her inclinations and actions have to it by the Saxons, were Lunilenberig and Lundenwic or Lundenwye. Camden supposes it may be from Lwyn or Lon, the Gaulish term for a grove, and Din, a city, or, " the city in the grove." W. Owen, Esq. F. S. A. tbe learned editor of the Welsh Archæology, considers it to be derived from Llyn, a lake and Don a town ; Llyn being the term for a broad expanse of water.

And when all the lands on the Surrey side of the river, as far as the Camberwell Hills, were overflown by the Thames, as they must have been before they were protected by embankments, the term of the " Lake Town," or " Town by the Lake," would have been applicable — others mention it as Caer Lundain Lundoun Byriy, Lunden Berh or Luntlen-bttrg : — and some have supposed it might be derived from the British Llliong, a ship, and Din, a town, or the ship town : but this could only have been after the place became remarkable for the resort of shipping. — And since tbe conquest the records call it Londonia, Lnndonia, Londine, Londres, and for several past ages London. * The geographical situation of London, in respect to its position on the globe, is in latitude 51 degrees, SO minutes, 40 seconds, north ; and in longitude, 5 minutes, 47 seconds ; or 1 minute, 27 seconds, west from Greenwich.

Its distance from the principal cities of Europe is as follows : from Edinburgh 367 miles south ; from Dublin 338 miles south east; from Amsterdam, 190 miles west; from Paris, 225 miles north north west ; from Copenhagen, 010 miles south west ; from Vienna, 820 miles north west ; from Madrid, 8G0 miles north east by west ; from Rome, 950 miles north north west; from Constantinople, 1G00 miles north west; and from Moscow, 1660 miles east south east. The extent of London from west to east, or from Knightsbridge to Poplar, is full seven miles and a half; its breadth from north to south is very irregular, but may be described as varying from two to four miles. The outward line or circumference of the contiguous buildings, allowing for the numerous inequalities of bieadth, may be computed at about twenty-five miles; and the area of the whole comprehends between eight and nine square miles. t Whether this was effected by the Britons or by the Romans, is, at this distance of time, impossible to ascertain ; yet that the former people had fumed a settlement on the northern bank of the Thames, before the embankment was constructed on. the south, may be inferred from the ancient name Llyn Don, i. e. "The Town on the Lake," from which the term London was piobably corrupted. — Harrison's Lond. h&d upon the affairs of the whole nation in past periods, as well as at the present time.

It is easy to perceive that this city must have gradually ■arisen from its beginning to its present grandeur, through a long tract of successive times and ages, by the benefit of traffic, with the concurrence and favor of Princes, and likewise the convenience and advantages of situation, which gives it facilities in trade and commerce over every other city in the world ; its distance from the sea being sufficient to pro tect it from the attacks of a foreign enemy, and also from the unwhole some vapours arising from the ocean ; neither is it too great but that, by the help of one tide, every twelve hours, ships of great burthen are brought into her bosom. The moral and civil history of this metropolis, presents us with a view of the growth of civilization, and the sources of those events by the slow operation of which, during the period of eighteen centuries, an obscure and barbarous settlement has become the seat of commerce and the chief depository of the useful arts for the civilized world.

Respecting the earliest inhabitants of this great city, a variety of opinions have been elicited from the labours of the learned. To follow, however, the various elaborate reasonings of all who have written upon this interesting subject, does not come within the pale of the present history; we shall therefore content ourselves by giving the following extracts, collected from such authorities as we consider will afford the remotest and most authentic description of the PRIMITIVE BRITONS. .Of the Britons, or Britain before the Roman invasion. — " All history has its infancy of fables ; wholly to disregard which, is, perhaps, as unphilo sophical as to slight every account of the infancy of celebrated men, because such accounts also frequently abound in the marvellous." Milton traces, in the romantic details of British History, " many footsteps and reliques of something here ;" and Mr. Tl*rner, one of our ablest modern historians, insists that sufficient attention has not been paid to them by his predecessors.

Hume however contends that they ought entirely to be disregarded — we shall therefore advert to a few of the most interesting particulars, and leave the question of their credibility to the reader. The Argonautica of the Greeks, ascribed to their celebrated Orpheus, contains the earliest historical allusion to these islands. He describes a voyage undertaken by certain Thessalian heroes to Colchis, on the east of the Euxine, whence they pass to the Palus Mœtis, or sea of Azoph, thence up the land to the Northern Ocean ; and circumnavigating Europe return home. He mentions the island Iernida, which is presumed to be Ireland, and which the Argonauts pass with considerable fear in their voyage from the North Sea. Camden thinks that the island next mentioned under the name of Piceis Obsitam, was Britain, which some authors contend cannot be the fact, because, after they had left Iernida, they were tossed by a furious tempest for twelve days before Lynceus discerned Piceis Obsitam.

It is perhaps extraordinary, but not impossible, that they should have touched on the shores of Ireland first; but by no means impossible that they should have been tossed about i) the Irish or British Channels twelve days. Herodotus, who flourished about 450 years before'Christ, says, "I have nothing certain to relate concerning the western boundaries of Europe ; I know as little of the islands called Cassiterides, except from the tin which is thence imported among us ; and though I have diligently enquired, yet have I never seen any man, who, by his own experience, could inform me of the nature of that sea which bounds the extremities of Europe ; however it is certain that amber and tin come from its remotest parts." " Europe, he adds, has not been fully discovered by any man ; and we have no account whether it be bounded on the north and east side by the sea."

The first classical writer who expressly mentions the British isles, is the author of De Mundo, a work that has been ascribed to Aristotle : this writer speaks of a sea that comes toward the Gallic Gulf, and thence to the columns of Hercules. " In this sea," he says, "are two islands, (Britannia Albion, and Ierne,) larger than those we named above: they are directly above the Celts." He further des cribes the northern parts of Europe as inhabited by the Scythians, and the western by the Celts. Polybius, who lived about 200 years before Christ, promises "in his third book '* to write a treatise respecting the British Islands, and the making of tin ; but this tract unfortunately, if ever written, is lost. Strabo, and other Greek historians, constantly mention these islands; and there can be no doubt that they are intended by the Cassiterides of the classical authors.

The Phœnicians, according to Strabo, were long accustomed to visit the Cassiterides from Spain, for the sake of a profitable traffic in tin, lead, and skins ; so jealous were they, we are told, of that monopoly of this commerce which they at one time enjoyed, that when the Romans followed a Phœnician ship bound hither, for the purpose of discovering the market, the master ran the vessel aground, and destroyed it, rather than let them trace his course. There is great reason to suppose that the Phœnicians not only traded to Britain for tin, &c, but established a colony here at a remote period : certain it is that the date of the voyage of Hamilco, who was sent by the senate of Carthage, about the time of Darius Nothus, to discover the western shores and part of Europe, agrees almost precisely with the date of the coming over of several friendly tribes.

Dr. Vincent, in his treatise on the Commerce and Navigation of the ancients in the Indian Ocean, says, " that tin is mentioned as an import into Africa, Arabia, Scindi, and the coast of Malabar. It has continued an article of commerce brought out of Britain in all ages ; conveyed to all the countries in the Mediterranean, by the Phœnicians, Greeks and Romans, and carried into the Eastern Ocean from the origin of commerce : tin," he continues, "is enumerated by Arrian as exported to India, and if we find the produce of Britain conveyed to Malabar in the earliest period that history can reach, we find the spices of Malabar in Britain, in an age when the course of the commerce with India was probably as little known as the existence of America : the venerable Bede, who died in the year 735, was possessed of pepper, cinnamon, and frankincense.

The Phœnicians, in fact, traded to all parts of the known world, perhaps from the time of Abraham." They enriched themselves by exchanging their manufactures, and the productions of the East, for the silver of Spain and the tin of Britain. Spain was to them what America has been to us ; but Britain was so invaluable to their trade, that they uniformly endeavoured to throw a veil of mystery over its situation and its produce. "At every station they visited on the Mediterranean, these enterprising navigators established colonies : Strabo mentions their possessing not less than three hundred on the shores of that sea. It cannot therefore be unreasonable to infer that they established similar settlements in more distant countries, and particularly in Britain, where, for such a length of time, they possessed the monopoly of an article which enriched them, and was so much required by other nations.

In the Welsh Triads, we have a test of the accuracy of the only source of information on early British History, to which the investigator could at one time apply. (Geoffrey of Monmouth's Chronicle.) These write the word Britain, Prydyn or Prydian, a name which they state to have derived from Prydyn, the son of Aedd, who " brought it under rule." The Cymry or Cimbri, are said to have been the first people who came over ; the Bry thon, Britons, or Britones, were the next consider able colony. The groundwork of the narratives thus supplied, agree in attributing the origin of the British to one Brutus, a trojan, and his companions. " These Trojans after meeting with many reverses, and having passed through various scenes of adventure in Greece, Italy, and Gaul, which are very circumstantially related, at length found their way to Britain, about the same time that Samuel the Prophet governed Israel."