The history of England giving a true and impartial account of the most considerable transactions in church and state, in peace and war, during the reigns of all the kings and queens, from the coming of Julius Cæsar into Britain : with an account of all plots, conspiracies, insurrections, and rebellions ... : likewise, a relation of the wonderful prodigies ... to the year 1696 ... : together with a particular description of the rarities in the several counties of England and Wales, with exact maps of each county / by John Seller ...

Remarks on the County Palatine of Chester, &c.

THis County is an Antient Palatinate, and one of the Pleasantest Counties in that part of England; famous for producing Kine, of whose Milk is made the best Cheese in the Nation, from which the County seemes to take its Name. Its Pastures are exceeding Rich, and Corn-Land produces ex∣traordinary Crops; it abounds with Fish, Fowl, Sheep, and some Goats: It is Bounded with Lancashire, Yorkshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Darbyshire, Flintshire, Den∣bighshire, and the Ocean. It Contains Eighty Six Parishes, One City, Seven Hundreds, Thirteen Market Towns, and Nine Rivers; and gives denomination to a Bishop of its Diocess. It sends Members to Parliament Four, viz. The City of Chester two, and two Knights of the Shire.

The City of Chester is famous in many respects, as for its Minster, Castle, and Stone Bridge; and has particular to it a Chief Justice, for the Entertainment it gave King Edgar, who was Rowed in a Barge on the River Dee, by

Eight Kings, whilst himself held the Helm, as their Su∣preame Sovraign.

It was made a Principality upon Hugh Lupus, a Noble Norman, being Invested in it by William the Conqueror; To be holden as Freely by his Sword, as the King himself holds England by his Crown; which was the Tenure of all Counts Palatines; more like Princes than Subjects, as a modern Author has it.

Its stately Minster was Builded by Leofrick an Earl, to the Honour of St. Werburga; and in it was Buryed the Body of Henry the Fourth Emperour of Germany; and it gave a Title to the Eldest Sons of our Kings who by Birthright are Earls of Chester.

Calvely is a very Pleasant Town, giving Birth to Hugh Calvely a great General against the French, in the Reign of Edward the Third, Sr. Robert Knowles and divers others of Note.

Eccleston is Memorable for the Birth of Thomas, thence called Eccleston. Banbury is a plesant seated Town, as also Wrenbury. The large Rivers Dee and Mersey, Flow very spaciously on its Western part; Chester being advan∣tageously situate on the former, and Fordestham on a branch of the latter; on the East side it has many pleasant Hills, with very fertil Valleys: Northwich is likewise pleasantly situate on a stream of Mersy, over which is a curious Bridge, as there is at Dutton, Coxton, &c.

The Seats of the Nobility are Clifton, alias Rock, Savage and Fordsham belonging to the Earl of Rivers; Gawsworth and Alford belonging to the Earle of Macles∣field; Dutton belonging to the Lord Gerard Barron of Gerards Bonley; Dunham Massey the Seat of the Late Lord Delamer, Earl of Warrington. Besides many stately Houses of the Gentry.