john Tailors last Voyage, AND ADVENTURE, PERFORMED from the twentieth of july last 1641. to the tenth of September following. In which time he passed, with a Sculler's Boat from the City of London, to the Cities and Towns of Oxford, Gloucester, Shrewesbury. Bristol, , Monmouth and Hereford. The manner of his Passages and Entertainment to and fro, truly described. With a short touch of some wand'ring and some fixed schismatic, such as are Brownists, Anabaptists, Famalies, Humorists and foolists, which the Author found in many places of his Voyage and journey.  
By john Taylor.  
Printed at London by F. L. for john Taylor, and may be had at the shop of Thomas Bates in the Old Bailie. 1641.   

To his Friend Mr. John Tailor, on his voyage and journey.  

IF true affection doth your muse inspire  
Toth' honoured welfare of your native place,  
Then set your hand to now I you desire;  
The time is now, when you may do us grace.   

This Subject sure is large, if you think of it  
You are not bounded, but you may at ease  
Survey, collect the good the honour profit  
Of trade, of City, Country, Rivers, Seas.   

It may provoke some yet not thought upon  
To raise the ruins of this decayed place;  
To procecute this hopeful work begun  
And leave some honour to our after Race.   

From ancient Monmouth Geoffrey took his name,  
So Henry did from Huntingdon likewise;  
Why may not Gloucester add to Tailor's fame,  
Since that from thence his birth and name did rise.   
Gloucester this 3 of August. 1641. Yours to command HENRY ELLIS.   

john Taylor Water-Poet ANAGRAMME: Loapety-Troian roweth.  

STrange News! There is arrived at our Key;  
A wand'ring Poet always in his way;  
Whose wilful Errors makes him thus to vaunt,  
Aeneas-like, I came from Troyonvant.  
I rowed in Rivers sometimes checked by Milles,  
Steered under Bridges, and came over Hills.  
The Oars of pleasure and of profit brought  
This Water-Poet hither in his boat;  
And hence he must, but yet he will I trow  
To the Britons rather than the Latins row:  
English will serve him rightly to rehearse  
His crooked travels in good prose or verse.  
When as the winds of fancy cease to blow him;  
If he have watermen to row or tow him;  
Expect Relations, I believe in fine  
The Poet's waterworkes will go in wine,  
And all his dry-land passages appear  
With casual events both here and there.  
Now I do wish he may accomplsh it  
Without expense of any thing but wit.   
Gloucester 3. August. 1641. Yours IO. DORNEY.   

JOHN TAILORS LAST VOYAGE, AND ADVENTURE performed from the twentieth of july last 1641. to the tenth of September following.  

OF famous Rivers, Brooks, Bournes, Rills, & Springs,  
Of Deeps and Shallows my invention Sings,  
Of Rocks Impenetrable, fourds and Mills  
Of Stopps, and Wears, Shelves, Sands, and mighty Hills  
Of Navigable passages (Neglected)  
Of Rivers Spoilt, men beggared and dejected.  
Of Tame, of Isis, Seaverne, Wye, and Teme  
Lugg', Laden, Doyre, and Monnoes' Pearly Stream,  
Of these, of more than these, and of their Uses,  
And of their miserable strange Abuses.  
I truly treat that men may note and see  
What blessings Navigable Rivers be,  
And how that thousands are debarred those blessings,  
By few men's Avaricious hard oppressings.  
I also show how those faults may be mended  
And no man have just cause to be offended.  
And with a pair of Oars (for that intent)  
I once from London unto Lincoln went,  
Whereas a passage seven miles was cut thorough  
From Lincoln into Trent, and to Gainsborowe;  
That way I passed, and into Humber passed  
To Hull, from thence to Owse, and York at last,  
Another Voyage to the West, again  
I (with a Wherry) past the raging maine  
From London to the Isle of Wight, and thence  
To Salisbury (with Time and Coins expense)  
Since when our gracious sovereign did ordain  
The Uiscount Dorchester to take the pain  
To view what wrongs the River Thames did bear  
I served then, and every Stop and Wear  
And all impediments, I found I writ  
And hoping for amendment) printed it.  
For care was taken, and true industry  
That from fair Oxford's University  
To London I Annottomized the flood  
And showed its qualities both bad and good.  
Promise was made, Thames wrongs should be reformed  
And some small helps were speedily performed  
But yet not half is done that then was spoken  
(All promises are either kept or broken)  
For as a monument, of our disgraces  
The Rivers too too fowl in many places.  
I have described here many an injury  
In three great Rivers, Severne, Thames, and Wye)  
Besides two Rivers Avon, one makes speed  
To Bristol, (and doth make it rich indeed.)  
And would  cure that Rivers great amiss  
That City would be richer than it is,  
But each man to himself bears private love  
And no man will the general grief remove.  
The other Avon Ruins past Gloster West  
From Bristols Avon fifty miles at least,  
It glides to Stretford Town from Coventry  
And into Severne falls at Tewxbury.  
Of Rivers, many writers well have done  
Grave Camden, Draytons' Polyolbyon  
And painful Speed, doth in his Maps declare  
Where all these Brooks and waters were and are,  
But yet not any one have sought (but I)  
To find their wrongs, and show some remedy.  
I show the mean neglect of Navigation  
For few men's profit, public lamentation,  
T'e increase some five or six men's Treasury  
Whiles twenty thousand lives in misery,  
From shore to shore brave Rivers are damned so  
That not a wooden dish hath room to go,  
no not a hand breadth, but that all is stopped  
And from the poor man all relief is stopped  
It is the goodness of our God to give  
To us four Elements, whereby we live:  
Those Elements, Fire, Water, Aire are named  
And Earth (of which allthings are made and framed,  
And all those blessings, the great God of Heaven  
(Some more, some less to every man hath given.  
By air and breath (and breath no man buy  
Air serves all creatures in community)  
And though earth yield materials for the fire,  
Which many a son (by right) holds from his sire,  
Yet sure me thinks the water should be free  
For passage, for all men of each degree.  
And though the Rivers in proportions are  
Shared thine, or mine, or this or that man's share  
Yet sure, where God gives water, boats to bear  
It should not be stopped up, with Mill or Weare.  
And now my meaning plainer to disclose,  
A little while I'll turn my Verse to Prose.   
AS Rain from the Firmament is drawn from the Sea, and other waters and vapours of the Earth, and Air, by the vigour of the Sun, whereby Rivers spring and overflow Grass, Groves, Fruits increase, fishes multiply, beasts and cattles breed and wax fat, Corn plentifulls, Butter and Cheese in abundance, and all other blessings for the life of man or beast is nourished with milk of Heaven (as rain may justly be called) So Navigable Rivers are the Cherishing veins of the body of every Country, Kingdom, and Nation: And as the veins of man doth distil supporting sustinence, to every part and member of his Body; so do passable Rivers convey all manner of commodities from place to place, to the benefit of all and every place in every Country and territory.  
Myself bearing a natural affection to Portable Rivers, and a settled inclination and desire of the preservation and use of them, did for the same intent especially lately pass with a small Sculler's boat into five great Rivers of this Kingdom; for the which intent, (to bear charges) I procured divers of my friends to subscribe to several Bills, for them to pay me some several small sums of money, upon my delivery to each of them a book at my return of the passages and entertainments which I had in my journey; which book this is, which you are now reading, and how I passed out and came bacl again, with many occurrences that happened I have truly related as followeth.  
On the twentieth day of july last, 1641. (the second day of the dogged Dog-days (I with my two men and a brace of boys were embarked with a Sculler's boat first from London, and within half a quarter of an hour after, I passed from my house near the Bear's College on the Bankside, I took leave of some friends, and had a flag advanced as a token of my public departure; but some enemies gave out that I was Run away, who I do know (since my return,) to be a crew of malicious Vermin, (that still being the most ancient name of their Captain and leader,) on the day afforesaid with many stops, stays, and taking leaves, we got to oatland's at night, and lodged at Weybridge at the sign of the six Ankers. The next day, being wendnesday I strove against the stream as fare as Great Marlowe, in Bucking hamshire, where I Lodged at the sign of the Crown. Thursday the 22. of july, I passed (with much toil) from Marlowe to Goring; and the next day I came to Abington. If it be demanded why I was so may days in passing 130 miles, I answer that the River (by reason of a great drought) wanted water in may places, so that we were forced to wade, and lead or hale the boat divers times, and moreover we did pull the said Boat over or through 14. Locks, besides many other impediments, which hindered our passage.  
As fare as above Stanes (which is forty miles by water from London, The River Thames is by the care and providence of the Lord Mayor well conserved and kept from impediments of Stops, Wears, Sand beds and other hindrances of passages of either Boats or Barges, and from Stanes to the furthest part almost there is no stoppage (but only Wears, which Wears have Locks to open and shut for the passing to and fro of all manner of vessels (passable through from London to Oxford; betwixt which Cities the Barges do draw up nineteen of those Locks with engines (like Capstanes) which are called Crabs. I do relate this hear, because the Reader may by that which followeth understand, that though Wears be necessary in Rivers, yet they ought not to stop up all passages, but to suffer Locks to be opened and shut as Thames hath.  
Thursday the twenty seven, I passed with my Boat from Abington to Oxford, where I was well entertained with good cheer and worshipful company at University College; The next day I passed to a place called Bablack Hive (or Hithe.) And on Thursday the twenty nine, I passed by Lechlad, and came to Creeklad; This town of Creeklad is five miles distant by land from Ciciter, but it is easier to row sixty miles by water on the River of Thames, than it is to pass between those two towns, for there are so many mills, fords and shallows with stops, and other impediments that a whole days hard labour with myself and four more could neither by toil or Art get but to a Mill of one Master Hortones at a place called Suddington, a mile short of Ciciter, so that according to land measure we went but four miles in a long days travel. The last of july I left Suddington Mill, with the honest welcome of the Miller and his wife, and with much a do for want of water I gatt to Ciciter, where the River was so dry that it would bear my boat no further; at the hither end of that Town there stands a great Barn belonging to one Cook, of whom I hired a Wain, wherein I put my Boat myself and my Men, Boys and luggage, this Wain did in less than five hours draw me from the River Isis near Ciciter, to a brook called Stroud, which book hath its head or Spring in Bessley Hundred near Misserden in Cotswould in Glostershire, (Stowed and Churn might be cut into one, and so Severne & Thames might be made almost joined friends) are within 4. miles of Churn, which hath its first spring near Coberley, 7. miles from Gloucester & falls into Isis about Laechlad, so that 4 miles cutting in the Land betwixt Churn and Stroud, would be a means to make passages from Thames to Severne, to Wye, to both the Rivers of Avon in England, and to one River of Avon in Monnouthshire, which falls into the River of uske near Cirlion in Wales. By which means goods might be conveyed by water too & from London, in Rivers at cheap rates without danger, almost to half the counties in England and Wales. But there is a devil or two called sloth and covetousness, that are the bane of all good endeavours and laudable Actions, but more of this shall be said hereafter.  
I being uncarted (with my boat) at a place called Stonehouse, in the Afforesaid brook called Stroud, with passing and wading, with haling over high banks at fulling mills (where there are many) with plucking over sunk trees, over and under strange Bridges of wood and stone, and in some places the brook was scarce as broad as my Boat, I being oftentimes impeached with the boughs and branches of willows and Alder Trees, which grew so thick, hanging over and into the brook, so that the day light or Sun could scarce peep through the branches, that in many places all passages were stopped; so that I was some times forced to cut and hue out my way with a hatchett; with this miserable toil all the day I got at night to a Mill called Froombridge Mill, whereas (for our comfort) was neither Victualling house, meat, drink or lodging, but that a good gentlewoman, one Mistress Bowser, there did comiserare our wants, and though she were not accustomed to victual or lodge Travellers, yet the rarety of our boat, and strangeness of my adventure moved her so fare that she at an easy rate did furnish us with good diet, myself with a bed in an outhouse, and my men and boys with a sweet new mowed and new made hayloft.  
I am much engaged to a gentleman (one Master john Stephens,) whose worthy father Nathaniel Stephanes Esquire) is one of the Knights of the Shire for the County of Gloucester, in this Honourable and high Court of Parliament. To this House at Estington (corruptly called Eston) I was invited from the Mill with my company, where we both at dinner and supper had welcome and good entertainment on Sunday the first of August. I do further acknowledge my gratitude, ●o Master Mew the Minister there, both for his Spiritual pains taking, twice the said Saboth, and and also I thank him for other courtesies which he bestowed on me.  
Monday the second of August I took my leave at Froombridge Mill, and (falling to our old work again of haleing and drawing from Mill to Mill, and from one hindrance to another, I came at last to Whitmister, where after I had plucked my boat over, I with my Murnivall of followers were stayed at the command of a worthy Gentleman named Master Thomas LLoyd, to whose house near there we went upon small intreatty, whence my sudden entertainment was so freely generous as might have beseemed the person of a good Knight or Esquire. The said gentleman went with me to the brooks mouth, and saw me entered into the River of Severne, where (with thanks) I took my leave of him, and in two or three hour's space I swom up the Severne to the ancient City of Gloucester, where I was borne, and where by reason of almost fifty year's absence I was scarce known. But the right worshipful Thomas Hill Esquire, Mayor of Gloucester gave me noble entertainment, and invited me and my servants to his house: the next day at dinner, and afterwards about three in the afternoon, he came to the key at the River side, where I entered my boat and took leave of him, & went to Tewxbury being (some twelve miles by water that night, the fourth of August I passed by the city of Worcester up the River to Bewdley, where I lodged at the sign of the Pied Bull; The third of August, I went from Bewdley (being an extreme rainy day) and that night approaching I saw a fair house belonging to a Knight named Sir William Whitmore, thither I went and demanded of some of his servants whether lodging might be had for money, where a poor man did answer, that if I would but cross the River with him, and go but half a mile up a hill, I should have the best entertainment his poor cottage could afford, and necessity having no law, I accepted willingly;  
And surely that fair house I last spoke of, was of a strange operation, for I was wet to the skin when I went thither, and in less than half a quarter of an hour I came away as dry as ever I was in my life; this is a mystery or a Riddle, for I saw not the butler.  
The sixth of August I passed through many sharp streams, fords, and shallows to a place called Coondlane-end, where I lodged at a Smiths, it being the one and only house there  
The seventh of August (being Saterdy) I arrived at Shrosebury, where I took harbour at one Luckmans' house upon the lower bridge, in the afternoon I went to the Major Thomas wingfield Esquire, he bade me welcome (but had no leisure to bid me drink,) but he came from the Town Hall with me to my lodging, and saw me in my boat, and afterwards with his hand and seal of his office, took his leave dryly of me. But Master Thomas jones, an Alderman there, that had borne the office of a Bailiff there, six times before Shrewesbury was a Mayor Town, and (as I was informed he was the first Mayor of that place, and he hath also been high Sheriff of the County of Salop (or Shropshire) that Gentleman invited me to dine with him on monday the ninth of August, where there was no want of good company, fish, flesh, foul, venison, wine, and welcome.  
That afternoon I left Shewesbury, and returned down the River twelve miles by water to Coonde-lane-end, where I lodged at my old Hosts the Smith's house.  
The tenth of August I came to the City of Worcester, where the Right worshipful William Norris Esquire, Mayor there made me extraordinarily welcome, giving his testimonial under his hand and seal of Mayoraltie, that I was there with my boat.  
Wendnesday the eleventh of August I returned to Gloucester, where I was well entertained at a venison feast, by the right Worshipful Master Mayor and his Brothers. And presently (after dinner) I took boat and left Gloucester, and past down the River 12. miles to a place called Gatcombe, there I stayed while such time as the tide would serve me towards Brystow, (which was about midnight,) But one Master Hooper that dwells there, being a very good Seaman, did give me good instructions and directions to avoid many dangers in that nightly passage, besides I followed the tract of a boat laden with fruit which was bound for Bristol, so that after all night's labour amongst rocks and perilous deeps, whirling Gulfs and violent streams, about the Break of day, on Friday the 13 of August, I came to Kingroad, and staying there a while for the flood, I passed up that River of Avon at Hungroad by Crockhampill, and by nine of the clock in the forenoon I came to the rich and famous City of Bristol.  
My entertainment there I will set down in brief, which was by the Right Worshipful john Taylor Esquire Mayor, a Gentleman endowed (by the bounty of Heaven) both with right and left hand blessings, on Sunday the fifteenth of August myself and followers were his invited guests twice: and the next day he gave me a Certificate under hand and seal of my Arrival at that City, and at my taking leave of him (he knowing that travel was chargeable) did discharge a piece at me, and I unfearefull of the shot, did put it up most thankfully; my humble thanks to my Cousin Master Thomas Tailor at the Marsh there, whose friendship and favour I cannot requited or forget.  
On the sixteenth of August I departed from Bristol, towards the City of Bath, which is ten miles distant by land, and near seventeen by water, which with passing by water over four or five Milles and Wears, I attained to, at which City of  I stayed two nights, being welcome to the Right Worshipful Master Matthew Clift Mayor, with good entertainment from him & some other Townsmen, I took his hand and seal of Mayoraltie for my Certificate, and so returned to Bristol again on wednesday the eighteenth of August.  
The nineteenth of August, at midnight I left Bristol, and with the tide passed down the River into Kingroad, where I lay at the Hole mouth (as they call it) till the flood came, and day light beginning to appear, with the same tide I passed the broad water twelve miles to the River of Wye in Monmouth shire; that day I passed by Cheapstow, by the old Abbey of Tinterne, and to little Tinterne where I lay all that night, in a very cleanly wholesome welsh English Alehouse. The twenty one I came to Monmouth (the shire Town of that Country) where one Master William Guilliam) did give me such entertainment at his house (on Sunday the twenty two of August) as I am bound gratefully to remember.  
Monday the twenty three of August, I left Monmouth, and (with a whole days labour by water) according to the miles by land) I got not a foot of ground; for at night when I came to a place called Lidbrooke, I was twelve miles from Hereford, and I was but twelve miles from the said City when I was in the morning at the Town of Mounmouth, this doth show that the River of Wye doth run a little crooked from Lidbrooke. I went (on Saint Bartholomewes' day) to the Town of Rosse, where I lodged ne'er Wilton Bridge there: and on the twenty five I went to Foane Hope; and the twenty six day about ten of the clock I got to the City of Hereford, which was the last place and the end of my painful travel, joruney, Voyage, Perambulation, and Peregrination, or what you please to call it; At Hereford I was invited to three several places to dine on the friday, and I being not able to satisfy them all, gave them all the slip, the three places were Edmond Ashton Esquire Mayor, the second the Vicars at the Minster or College; thirdly, at a Tavern with divers Gentlemen, but I having gotten the Mayor's hand & seal, because I could not please all, left all, and stole away like a true man, leaving my thanks for Master Mayor, and Master Philip Traherne, with all the rest, for their kindness to me the day before.  
At my being at Hereford I was in a quandary or browne study, whether it were best to sell my boat, & return to London by land, or else to bring the boat home again either by land or water, or both, or how I could: at last I determined &. resolved to bring the monumental vessel bacl again, which I did as followeth.  
On friday the 27. of August I passed down the River of Wye to a place called Inckson Wear, where, with great entertainment and welcome I was lodged and my men also at the house of one Master Aperley, dwelling there, to whom (for many) favours I do acknowledge myself to be extraordinarily beholding. And on the Saturday I came to Lidbrook to my former Host Master Moss, where understanding and knowing the passage down Weigh and up Severne to be very long & dangerous (especially if stormy weather should arise, the boat being split, torn & shaken that she did leak very much) these things considered, & that I was within five miles of Severne by land to Newnham, and that by water thither there was no less than 50 miles, I hired a Wain frow Lidbrook to Newnham. And on Monday the 30. of August I passed up Severne, by Gloucester (and working all night) came in the morning betimes to Tewxbury, into another River called Avon, which by thegreat charge and industry of Master Sands is made Navigable, many miles up into the Country. Tuseday the 31 of August I came to a Market Town in Worcestershire called Pershore. On the first of September I came to the Ancient Town of Evesholm (corruptly called Esham) and seeing that River to be further and further out of my way home, I hired another Wain from Esham to Burford, where I found a crooked brook called Windrush, in which brook (after one night's lodging) with my appendices having taken each of us a Burford bait, we passed many strange lets and hindrances in't o'th' River of Isis or Thames: Again at Newbridge 12. or 14. miles from Oxford by water. By which University I passed to Abingdon. The fourth of September, where I stayed till Wednesday the eight day: from thence was I with my boat at home on the Friday following And thus in less than twenty day's labour 1200. miles were passed to and fro in most hard, difficult and many dangerous passages, for the which I give God most humble and hearty praise and thanks; and now I crave the Readers patlence a little whilst I briefly treat of a few things that may be profitable as well as pleasant.  
I have before related of certain stops, mills, and wares that do hinder the passages of boats of Thames and Isis, now I will treat a little of the abuses and uses of other Rivers.  
As for the River of Severne, it is almost as much abused as used, for an instance, there are Coale-mines near it, and by the benefit of that River, mane a hundred family is served with suficient fuel at cheap rates, but some of those Cole-mines do yield near 1000 tons of Rubbish yearly, which by reason of the nearness of the River is all washed into it, and makes so many shallows, that in time Severne will be quite choked up, and all passage stopped, but of that River more at the conclusion.  
Avon River, that serveth Bristol would also be made to serve , and many other parts and places, if Locks were made at west Hanham wear, and at Kenisham, (with 4. or 5. places more) for the River doth offer God's blessing to the people's mouths, if they would but open their lips to receive them.  
The River Wye is debarred of all passages with Boats, by 7. Wears, 2. of them are Monmouth Wear, & Wilton Wear, the other 5. are Inkson Wear, Carow, Founehope, Hancocks and Bondnam Wear, these seven wears (like the seven deadly sins) do damn up all goodness that should come from Monmouth to Hereford by water, and if the iron mills in the forest of Deane do eat up all the wood there (as it hath already done reasonably well and ill) within these few years, if the passages be stopped with Wears that coals cannot be carried by water to Hereford and many other places, it is to be feared that many rich men will be glad to blow their fingers ends in the Winter through want of firing, and numbers of poor will perish with extreme cold; the complaints and cries are grievous already; which if I had not heard and seen I would not have believed: and 7. locks at those Wears would help all and hinder nobody, or else only two Locks would do much good, the one at Monmouth Wear, & the other at Wilton, which is but eight miles from Hereford, and good way by land, for the carriage of any thing that might be brought by water.  
For the other Kiver Avon, it comes from beyond the City of Coventry, and running by the Towns of Stretford, Evesholme, and Pershore, it falls into Severne at Tewexbury, so that Gloucestershire (my native Country) is encompassed round with Navigable Rivers, of which City and Country I will speak a little for Country's sake, but most of all for love I bear to truth and Charity.  
Records and Histories do make true relation of the antiquity of the City of Gloucester, that it was built by Arviragus (a Britain King) in the time of Claudus Tiberius Caesar, The said Claudius being the Roman Emperor, and commander of the whole World; in whose Reign our blessed Saviour suffered; King Arviragus and Lucius (the first Christian King do lie there buried: when the Saxons had the rule and domination here in the reign of Vier Pendragon and the renowned worthy King Arthur, that City and County had a Duke, a Bishop, and a Major; above 1100 years past, their names were Edell, Eldadus, and Eldor, the shire is divided in 33. Hundreds, of which the City itself is one, and two Hundreds more named Kings Burton and Dunstone, with 30. Towns and Villages are annexed to the said City; which is all under the command of the Major and his brethren. It hath been anciently famous for the Trade of Merchandising, (now altogether decayed, the more is the pity) King Henry the third was Crowned there the 28. of October 1216. there hath been many Dukes & Earls of Gloucester since the Norman Conquest, as first Robert fittz Hamon, second William de Mondevill, third Robert de Millent, which Robert was taken prisoner & was exchanged for King Stephen, the said King being then taken prisoner by Maude the Empress) the fourth Earl of Gloucester, was William son to the said Robert, and Lord of Glamorgan, was buried at Kinsham 1183. john (who was afterwards King of England) was the third Earl of Gloucester, the sixth was Almerick Mountfort, buried at Keinsham. sixth Geoffery de mandevile, he was slain at a Tilting or Tournament 1216. The 7. was Gilbert de Clare 1230. The 8. Richard de Clare 1262. The 9 Gilbert de Clare, the second of that name 1295. all these three were buried at Tewxbury. Richard de Mount hermer was the 10. Earl 1323. Gilbert de Clare (the son of Gilbert the second) was the 11. Earl, was slain at Sherbin in Scotland, and buried at Tewxbury 1313. Hugh de Audley the 12 Earl died 1347. buried at Tunbridge. Thomas of Woodstock, the son of K. Edward the third, Duke of Gloucester, was murdered at Calais 1397. Thomas Spencer the 13 Earl, was beheaded at Bristol 1400. Humphrey Plantagenet, the fourth son of K. Edward the fourth (who was called the good Duke Humphrey) was murdered, buried at S. Albon's 1440. Richard Duke of Gloucester (afterwards King of England) was slain at the battle of Bosworth, and buried at Leicester, 1485. Henry of oatland's the fourth son to our Sovereign Lord King Charels, was borne at oatland's in Surey on wednesday the eight of july 1640. now Duke of Gloucester, whom God bless. And so much (though much more might be said for the honour of Gloucester and Glocestershire.  
That commerce and Trade is the strength and sinews of the common wealth, the chief and only subsistence of Cities and Corporations, it is apparently evident. And the greatest honour and glory of Kingdoms, & the reasons why several means there are that brings wealth and honour to a city, all of them put together in one balance, and the trade of Merchandising in the other, it shall overprize them all, upon it alone hangs and depends almost all other trades, it brings great wealth and honour to all places where it is prosecuted with success. Witness that of Leogorne, which within this 30. or 40. years was but a poor fishing town which by that trade alone is now the greatest Mart of the Medeterenian Seas. As likewise the Low-countries, although they cannot build a ship, but must fetch the materials from 6. several kingdoms, yet they build and have more ships than all Christendom besides, & have not any thing almost of a natural staple commodity to deal upon, yet by that trade alone they have engrossed the greatest part of the trade, of the Christian World to themselves; & some of them (if they please) may be gainful in the trade of merchandising there. Now that the City of Gloucester is situated in as convenient a place as any other within this Kingdom, the reasons following shall demonstrate. First the said City hath been an ancient Port town, graced & infranchesed with privileges as ample as London, or any other city or Town within this Kingdom, & dignified with the title of the 3. son of the Kings, and hath been famous in former ages for the trade of Merchandizing now altogether decayed; And is likewise situated in as rich a soil as any in this Kingdom, whose Markets are always stored with abundance & varieties of all commodities that the kingdom of England affords, incident to the life and being of man. And it is likewise situated in as convenient a place for any trade of Merchandizing being upon the famous River of Severne, than which there is not any more miles Navigable within this Kingdom, & also the River of Avon being made Navigable with in four miles of Warwick which standeth in the heart and centre of the said Kingdom, having both the said Rivers, the advantage of all opportunities both for exportation & importation of all goods and commodities whatsoever into and from at least a third part of the said Kingdom, & which parts vents as many foreign commodities and yields as many varieties of commodities as any other part of the said Kingdom doth. And which said parts cannot be served by or from any other parts; then by the said Rivers unless they will fetch & bring their commodities over the land three or four score miles at a great charge, which cannot be conceived they will do, if it may be brought home to their doors by water; the said City having by special grant under the Great Seal, a spacious and convenient Key or Wharfe built of stone near the King's Customhouse upon the said River, at which Key or Wharfe the Sea doth in its due course continually ebb and flow for the bringing in and out of ships, and other boats of convenient burden, so that a ship of a hundred and fifty ton, or thereabouts, may at every tide come to Gatcombe, which is but 12 miles from Gloucester, and therelye secure, and the River of Wye runneth into the Severne ten miles above Kingrode, where ships of two or three hundred Tons may lie secure and safe.  
And I have observed, that the trade that Bristol driveth up to the city of Gloucester: and beyond it, in small Barks hoighes and Trowes, is at the least two hundred Tons of all commodities, every spring, which is every fortnight or less. And it is conceived and more than probable, that if the said trade of Merchandizing were settled within the said City of Cloucester, (as heretoforeit hath been) that neither the trades men of the said City of Gloucester, nor others that live three or four score miles above it, will go down to Bristol, and may have their commodities in Gloucester, for divers Reasons and inconveniences that may thereby happen.  
As first it saveth threescoure miles riding in a dirty Country, next the venturing of their goods from Bristol to Gloucester by Water, sometimes cast away, sometimes (the spring not serving) they are benept, and so cannot have their commodities to serve their turn, but usually much abused by Trow-men, so that many that live up the River beyond Gloucester, are thereby greatly discouraged, and do many times buy their commodities at London, Souththampton, Hull, and Chester, and so bring it home by land three or fourscore miles at a great charge, which if the trade were settled at Gloucester they would not do, for which Reasons aforesaid and many other that might be alleged, it hath caused divers men well skilled and versed in the said trade of Merchandizing, much to wonder that the said trade hath been so long neglected, many of which hath concluded that the said City of Gloncester with the said key and havens, and the King's custom house thereunto, do lie as convenient for the said trade of Merchandizing, as any other City or Town within this kingdom, and might drive the greatest trade of any other (London only excepted.) For this City of Gloucester, stands almost within (or near) the Centre of this kingdom, and for exportation and Importation, of all Native and foreign commodities (by Reason of the riches of the soil) and Commodiousness of the Adjacent Rivers, it is comparable to any place, except the Metropolis London. The village of Galcombe being at first built for the trade of Gloucester, (most commodious.) Now forasmuch as it may be objected, that the River of Seavern is dangerous, I must confess it is so to those that know it not; and through want of practice (whereby experience showeth) but to those that know it, no danger at all. For there is not one Barge in twenty that hath been cast away, but it hath been by the owner's covetousness in loding too deep, or venturing too rash upon the tide, for fear they should be be kept, & so lose the spring, all which with a certain trade up and down the River might wisely be prevented; All other difficulties that can or may be alleged, are of small consequence to hinder, if men of means and ingenious spirits do undertake it. The reason aforesaid hath induced some men well affected to the public good, and welfarre of this City, to endeavour a beginning of this most honourable action, and were they seconded with that encouragement from others, which if they were as willing, as every way able, both with their place and means, The necessity of this cause so earnestly requiring it, the necessity of this cause (I say) so greatly moving it, there is no doubt but by the blessing of the Almighty, and that in a short time it might raise the ruins of the decayed trade of this City, so much complained of by all, and make it as honourable as now it is contemptible, which is & shall be the deadly prayers and desires of him, who presenteth this Hoping that no Churlish Naball, Malicious Sanballar, corrupted Tobiah, proud Haman, unmerciful Dives, or any of the deadly sins, can or shall hinder so good a work.  

FOr who can (but with pity) here behold  
These multitudes of mischiefs manifold,  
Shall Rivers thus be barred with stops and locks,  
With Mills, and Hills, with gravels beds, and rocks:  
With wears, and weeds, and forced Islands made,  
To spoil a pulique for a private Trade?  
Shame fall the doers, and th' Almighty's blessng  
Be heaped upon their heads that seek redreffing.  
Were such a business to be done in Flanders  
Or Holland mongst the industrious Netherlanders,  
They to deep passages would turn our hills,  
To Windmills they would change our watermils.  
All helps unto these rivers they would aid,  
And all impedunents shall be destroyed:  
Our vagabonds (the wand'ring brood of Cain,)  
They would enforce those runna gates take pain,  
Whereby much profit quickly would accrue,  
(For labour robs the hangman of his due.)  
In common reason, all men must agree  
That if these Rivers were made clean and free,  
One Barge, with eight poor men's iudustrious pains,  
Would carry more than forty carts or wanes.  
And every wain to draw them horses five,  
And each two men or boy to guide or drive.  
Charge of an hundred horse and eighty men  
With eight men's labour would be served then,  
Thus men would be imploud, and horse preserved,  
And all the Country at cheap rates be served.  
'Tis said the Dutchmen taught us drink and swill,  
I'm sure we go beyond them in that skill,  
I wish (as we exceed them in what's bad,)  
That we some portion of their goodness had:  
Then should this worthy work be soon begun,  
And with successful expedition done?  
Which I despair not of, but humbly plead,  
That God his blessings will increase and spread  
On them that love this work, and on their heirs,  
Their goods and chattels, and on all that's theirs?  
I wish them blest external, and internal,  
And in the end with happiness eternal.   
In the most part of my journey, I came to few places but their was to be found plenty of beggars, or Doggmaticall, schismatical, full of Beggarly Rudiments, as the Apostle saith, Galathians. 4. Opinionated divers ways; and every one would have his own fancy, to stand for his Religion; for they all differ one from another, yet all join against that which they have been baptised and brought up in; In one place there is a blind old woman, and she repeats, and Interprets: in another a Pavier, and he will take upon him to mend the way. Then their is a Strange fellow (a Baker,) one light loaf and he will new bolt, sift, Knead, and mould Religion. In another a quondam Brewer's Clerk, (would feign be a Priest) and Preaches most wonderfully in a malt house, besides a zealous Sowgelder, that professeth most desperate doctrine. Good Lord in thy mercy look upon us, and give us true peace and unity, both in Church and Common wealth.  
FINIS.