Here it was that the most noble Prince Edward the IIId died of Grief, for the Lofs of his warlike Son, which was fuch an Affliction to him, as was not to be conquered even by Confolation itself: And indeed England had just Occasion to forrow; for, in the Space of one Year, it was entirely bereaved of its two great Masters in Military Discipline and untainted Valour; both thefe Princes carried their conquering Swords thro' France, and left fuch a Terror in that Kingdom, as might defervedly give the Father, with Antrochus, the Name of Thunderbolt, and the Son, with Pyrrbus, that of an Eagle. In this Place was interred Ann, Wife of King Richard the IId, Sifter to Weazelaus the Emperor, and Daughter to the Emperor Charles the IVth. She was the firft that taught the English Women the Way of Riding on Horfeback that is now in Ufe, their Custom before being to ride a-ftride, like the Men. Her Husband laid her Death fo much to heart, and mourned fo immoderately, that he even abhorred and abandoned the House: But Henry the Vth took a Liking to it, and beautified the Palace with new Buildings, fo that Henry the VIIth received it in a flourishing Condition. Concerning this Palace and the River of Thames, take the following Verfes out of the Wedding of the Thame and Ifis. Now ftately Richmond to the Right is feen, Who Richmond's Earl had by bis Father been. } Again, Again, *Here Thames great Current, with alternate Course, Maintains its Rife and Fall at conftant Hours; When Phoebe refts at our Meridian Line, * At Richmond. This Place was properly called Sheine, which in the Saxon Tongue fignifies bright or fhining, it being fo beautifully fituated on the lofty Bank of the Silver Thames, whereon the Sun extending his glorious Rays, the Reflection of them advances to the Town. Our Monarchs often retired hither, from the Fatigues of the Court, to regale themselves with various Pleafures, efpecially that of Hunting in the fpacious Park adjoining thereto, (in which Sir Robert Walpole has lately built a beautiful Lodge) fo well stocked with Game as not to be excelled by any one in the Kingdom. In King William the IIId's Time his Grace the Duke of Ormond bought Part of the Ground that belonged to the old Palace, on which he founded and almost finished a noble Houfe; but in the first of King George the Ift, the Duke being unfortunately attainted, the Eftate defcended to the Earl of Aran, who fold it to the Crown, and by his prefent Majefty was conferred on his late Queen in Parliament, at whofe Expence it has been made compleat, being augmented with } But Buildings, and fundry Parcels of Ground purchased to enlarge the Gardens, Park, &c. all curioufly (and at no fmall Expence) adorned in fo delightful a Manner, as renders it fecond to none in the Nation. King Henry the Vth adjoined to this Palace a religious House of Carthufian Monks, out of which probably that Refemblance of Antiquity, called the Hermitage, was built by his prefent Majefty. The Gardens are beautified with Vifto's, Grotto's, Walks, Groves, Arbours, Statues, &c. At a Diftance you view the Park, Fields, River, and City; at a remoter Prospect, the Country all round, which makes it one of the most delectable Places in Great Britain. Near to this ftands Kew Palace, the Seat of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, a compleat Refidence, very beautiful in its Situation, Gardens, &c. all laid out at his Highnefs's Expence, and affords a pleafant Profpect of the River and the oppofite Country. On the Green, Hill, and in fẹveral Parts of the Parish are many fine Houfes, inhabited by Sir John But to return: The other Misfortune, which attended England, was of worfe Confequence to the People, being that of the Plague raging in divers Parts, which carried off abundance of the Inhabi tants. John Buckworth, Bart. Charles Selwin, Efq; Stephen Child, Efq; George Smith, Efq; William Cary, Efq; Abraham Cropp, Efq; Thomas Gardiner, Efq; John Dorrell, Efq; Edward Sanderfon, Efq; Henry Gaultier, Efq; Abraham Jofeph de Cappidocia, Elq; Abraham Levi, Efq; William Gough, Efq; John Knapp, Efq; Henry Lafjells, Efq; Alexander Ouchterlony, Efq; Dr. Cox, Colonel Johnson, Mr. Bignell, Mr. Black, Mr. Sheppard, Mr. Powell, Mr. Heydegger, Mr. Lee, Mr. Ogden; Lady Houblon, Mrs. Featherston, Mrs. Gardiner, Mrs. Floyer, and other Gentlemen and Ladies; particularly on the Green is a neat Seat, with exquifite Gardens planted by Sir Charles Hedges, (formerly Secretary of State to King William) but lately purchased by a moft worthy Gentleman, Sir Matthew Decker. In the Gardens, befides feveral other Curiofities, there is one of the largest and highest Hedges of Holly in Europe; and the House is very handfome, and neatly furnished after the Manner in Holland. Juft on the other Side the River, Jofeph Wyndham Afb, Efq; has a fine Seat; at Eaft-Sheine the great Sir William Temple made those beautiful Gardens mentioned in his Works, now enjoyed by his Son the Lord Palmerfton; and contiguous to Richmond are the Seats of the This Duke of Argyll, the Duke of Queensbury, the Dutchefs of Rutland, the Earl of Dyfart, the Earl of Strafford, the Lord Harring ton, the Countess of Shrewsbury, the Lord Walpole, the Lord Blundel, Sir William Yonge, and others. To describe every Seat and Villa belonging to the Nobility and Gentry in and near this Garden of England would fill a Volume. The Town is fo far enlarged, that it runs above a Mile up the Hill, and has been so much frequented by the best Company of late Years, that several elegant Houses of Entertainment have been opened for the Accommodation of the Nobility and Gentry. From Richmond to London, the Sides of the River are full of Villages, and thofe Villages are full of beautiful Buildings, elegant Gardens, and rich Habitations of Gentlemen and Quality. In short, they reprefent in part the Grandeur and Magnificence of the Nation: Nay, the whole Country here fhines with a Luftre not to be described. The Banks of the Seine are not thus adorned from Paris to Roan, or from Paris to the Loign above the City; the Danube can fhew nothing like it above or below Vienna; or the Po, above and below Turin. This Distemper, having for fome time raged in London and other Places, made the King very uneafy. He frequently changed his Refidence, and at laft refolved to take his Family to Calais, till the Danger was over. Upon his Arrival there the Arch-duke Philip fent Ambaffadors to welcome him into thofe Parts, and express his Defire of paying his Majefty a Vifit; but they were to requeft him not to appoint for their Interview a walled Town, being unwilling to confer with a Sovereign Prince in a fortified Place, notwithstanding he perfectly confided in his Honour. Henry very civilly received the Arch-duke's Compliment, and according to his Request appointed to meet him at St. Peter's Church, without the Gates of Calais, particularly charging Philip's Ambaffadors to inform their Mafter, that he fhould expect him with the utmoft Impatience. Some Days after the Arch-duke repaired to the Place appointed, and the King rid out to receive him. When Philip faw his Majefty he alighted, and offered to hold his Stirrup, but Henry would not permit it: After they had very affectionately embraced each other, they retired into the Church, where they had a long Conference. The Arch-duke called the King his Patron and Father, as appears by his Majefty's Letter to the Lord Mayor of London, wherein he acquaints him with the Substance of what paffed at the Interview. Before the End of September, the Plague ceafing, Henry fet out with his Court for England, where he arrived in good Health. Our Sovereign had not been long returned, before he bethought himself of finding out fome new Scheme to raife Money from his Subjects, notwithftanding they had been just before miferably harraffed by the Plague; but, as he was at Peace with all the World, he had no Pretence to demand of his Parlia ment new Subfidies, therefore other Methods were to to be devised. Perkin Warbeck's Affair was a plentiful Fountain, which was not yet exhausted: Tho' the Commiffion he had given regarded properly fuch only as had been in Arms against him, and the Commit fioners had fo well executed their Trust as to bring to his Coffers large Sums; yet he was not fatisfied, but iffued a fecond Commiffion, directed to the former Commiffioners, wherein Notice was taken, that all Perfons, who had any way adhered to Warbeck, were still liable to the Rigour of the Law; but the King, in his great Clemency, was ready to grant them a Pardon, on Condition that they paid proper Fines. Upon this the Commiffioners caufed fresh Inqueft to be taken of those that affifted Michael the Farrier, one of the Authors of the first Cornish Rebellion, and Warbeck the Impoftor, having a Power, even where the Parties that had tranfgreffed were dead, to fell their Estates, if the Heirs refused to make a reasonable Compofition. It was observed upon this Occafion, that, if the King had been favourable to the Rebels, during the Troubles, it was only out of fear of driving them to defperate Measures, while they were yet heated, fince he fpared them not, as foon as he believed them to be no longer dangerous: And, tho' Morton was accufed as being the Author of these Oppreffions, yet, after the Cardinal's Death, it was plainly perceived, that the Accufation was falfe, and that they sprung from the King himself. When Princes under Colour of Law put Hardfhips on Particulars, a Remedy is to be fought from the Law; and when the Law, fairly administered, will afford none, the People will acquiefce; or, if they blame any thing, they will blame the Law; and when they fuffer not by Law, but from meer Violence, they will have recourfe to Violence; much Provocation, fome Management, and a skilful Leader will find or raise fome Spirit in them, often enough to ac complish |