[473] An early notice of building leases.

London is in Midlesex; Southwark thats above the Bridge is in Surrey, thats under it is in Kent.

Having stayed til the 28 of October (about which very tyme my mother was safely delivered of Walter), Hadow and I took our places in the coach for York.  Their was a squire in Westmorland with his lady and hir sister returning home to his oune country, also a Atturneys wife who dwelt in the Bischoprick of Durham in the Coach with us.  Had large discourses of the idlenes and vitiousnese of the citizens wifes at London being wery cocknies.  We will not forget what contest we had with some of them at the taking of our places.

Having left London, came first to Hygate, 4 miles, my Lord Lauderdales house, a village adjoining on the croup of a hill; then to Barnet, 10 miles from London; then to Hatfield wheir we dined, 17 miles, wheir we saw Hatfield house with brave parcks, all belonging to my Lord of Salisburie.  A litle of this is the greatest hy way in England leading to S’t Albanes.  Came at night to Stesinwich,[474] 20 miles of London.

    [474] Stevenage.

Nixt day, being Tuesday, and 29 came to Baldoc 5 miles; Begleswith[475] 10 miles; dined their at the Croun, wery bad entertainment; afternoon to Bugden,[476] 10 miles further, sad way.  That night arrived their my Lord Rothes, my Lord Arley,[477] Sir J. Strachan, and others going to London.  Its some 3 or 4 miles from Huntington; the country is all couered with willows like to Holland.

  [475] Biggleswade.

  [476] Now Buckden.

  [477] Arley, probably Airlie.

Nixt day Vednesday, 30, baited at a willage called Walsford,[478] 17 miles of wery bad way.  Came at night to Stamford 5 miles furder; within a mile of the toune we saw on each hand a brave stately house belonging to my Lord of Exeter, in one of them lived the Duc of Buckinghame.  It stands on a river:  whats besouth the bridge is in Northamptonshire, benorth in Lincolne.  Its held amongs the greatest tounes of England after London.  Norwich is the 2’d, it hath 50 churches in it:  Bristol is a great toune to.

    [478] Watlingsford (Blaeuw), now Wansford.

Nixt day, Thursday, 31, leiving Postwitham[479] and Grantham on our right hand, we entred unto the most pleasant valley of Bever, the best ground for corn and pasturage thats in all England:  saw its castle at a distance, seimed to be most artificially fortified; it stands in Leister, Nottinghame, and Lincolneshires.  Dined at Lougbirlington,[480] 18 miles:  a long rabble of a toune indeed.  Afternoon came to Newwark upon Trent; had fowll weather with haille.  Its in Nottinghame:  its commonly called the line of England, dividing it into 2 halfes south and north (all that live benorth it are called North country men) by its river of Trent, which embraces the sea at Hull; yet the halfes are not aequal.  We saw the Kings Castle their, tho demolisht in the last Civill wars.