Through England on a side saddle in the time of William and MaryFiennes, Celia
History
Through England on a side saddle in the time of William and Mary
Fiennes, Celia
England -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
on Causeys which are here in good repaire. I pass’d over a Bridge where
two armes of the river meetes where y^e tyde is very high and rowles in
the sand in many places and Causes those Whirles or Hurricanes that will
Come on storms w^{th} great jmpetuosity.
Thence I proceeded over another Bridge into y^e town whose streetes are
very well pitch’d, Large and Cleane. There is a faire Market place and
Hall for y^e assizes w^{ch} happened just as we Came there, soe had y^e
worst Entertainem^t and noe accomodation but in a private house. Things
ought not to be Deare here, but Strangers are allwayes imposed on and at
such a publick tyme alsoe they make their advantages. Here is a very
Large good Key on the river, they are supply’d w^{th} Coales by y^e
shipps and Barges w^{ch} makes it plentifull; they Carry it on sledges
thro’ y^e town—its the great Warwickshire Coale I saw unloading. Here
they follow knitting stockings, gloves wauscoates and peticoates and
sleeves all of Cotten, and others spinn the Cottens. The Cathedrall or
minster is Large, Lofty and very neate, the Quire pretty. At y^e
Entrance there is a seate over head for y^e Bishop to sit in to hear the
sermon preached in y^e body of y^e Church, and therefore the organ is in
the Quire on one side w^{ch} used to be at y^e Entrance. There was a
tomb stone in y^e middle w^{th} a statue of Duke Roberts, second son to
William the Conquerours son, w^{th} his Legs across as is the manner of
all those that went to the holy warre; this is painted and resembles
marble tho’ it is but wood and soe Light as by one ffinger you may move
it up, there is an jron Grate over it. At y^e alter the painting is soe
ffine that y^e tapistry and pillars and ffigure of Moses and Aaron soe
much to the Life you would at Least think it Carv’d. There are 12
Chappells all stone finely Carv’d on y^e walls and rooffs, the windows
are pretty Large and high w^{th} very good painting, there is a Large
window just over y^e Alter but between it and y^e alter is a hollow
walled in on each side w^{ch} is a Whispering place; speake never so Low
just in the Wall at one End the person at y^e other End shall heare it
plaine tho’ those w^{ch} stand by you shall not heare you speake—its y^e
Wall Carrys y^e voyce. This seems not quite soe wonderfull as I have
heard, for y^e Large roome in Mountague house soe remarkable for fine
painting I have been in it, and when y^e Doores are shutt its so well
suited in y^e Walls you Cannot tell where to find the Doore if a
stranger, and its a Large roome Every way. I saw a Lady stand at one
Corner and turn herself to the wall and whisper’d, y^e voice Came very
Cleer and plaine to y^e Company that stood at y^e Crosse Corner y^e
roome soe y^t it Could not be Carry’d by y^e side wall, it must be the
arch overhead w^{ch} was a great height.—But to return to y^e Church,
the tower was 203 stepps, the Large bell I stood upright in but it was
not so bigg as y^e great Tom of Lincoln, this bell at Glocester is
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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