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A
SURVEY
OF THE
CITIES
OF
London and Westminster.
BOOK I.
Containing a General Description of the CITY of
LONDON
CHAP. I.
The Situation ,
Populousness ,
Extent ,
Commodiousness ,
Original, Antiquity ,
and Name of LONDON .
King LUD .
The City of the Trinobantes .
Submits to JULIUS CÆSAR .
LONDON, What before CÆSAR ;
And whether it was a Colony under the Romans .
Proclamations about new Buildings there; And Fore-fronts
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LONDON, the Metropolis and Glory of the Kingdom, was
anciently the Seat of the British Empire; and since, stiled commonly, the Royal
Chamber of our Kings. The Kings Chamber, the Heart of the Commonwealth, and a
Short Draught of the whole Kingdom: As it was once described by Sir Edward Coke,
sometime Recorder of this City. It may boast it self to be the largest in Extent, and the
fairest built, the most Populous, and best inhabited (and that by a Civil, Rich and Sober
People) of any in the World. And for a
general
Trade throughout the Universe, all
other must give her the Precedence.
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Camera Regis Reip. Cor, totius Regni
Epitome.
J. S.
London the best City in the World
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How considerable a Figure she makes in the Government of the Kingdom, appears by
the Influence her Inclinations and Actions have had upon the Affairs of the whole
Nation in past Ages, as well as they have in the present. It
is easy to perceive, that this City must have gradually arisen from its first Beginning to
its present Grandeur, through a long Tract of successive Times and Ages, by the
Benefit of Traffick, with the Concurrence of the Favour of Princes, and likewise the
Convenience and Advantage of its Situation; as will abundantly appear in the Progress
of this SURVEY.]
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It is placed by Nature on a little Hill; having an easy
Ascent all along from the South,
and stands no less pleasant than commodious by the River of Thames; which washeth
its South Parts, forming an Half-Moon, or Bow bent. And in its hasty Course toward
the Sea, payeth its Duty to the City; dividing it into two (but unequal) Parts: The one,
(and which is the greater) taking the Name of LONDON and WESTMINSTER, and
the other, the Name of SOUTHWARK.
Which Parts are joined together by a stately
Stone Bridge, hearing the Name of LONDON-BRIDGE: Which is supported by
Nineteen great Arches; and so
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London's Situation.
R. B.
London Bridges
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