WELLINGTON, (Somerset) on the r. Tone, has a large Ch. in the road from Taunton to Exeter, from the former of which 'tis 7
mm. and 124 cm. 151 mm. from London. 'Tis chiefly noted for the seat of Ld. chief justice Popham, who by his last will
made provision for an hos. here for 6 poor men, and as many women, besides other charities; and for its vicar, Mr.
Salkeld, who being converted by K. James I. from popery, and preferred to this living, called himself the royal convert,
in compliment to the K. who in return stiled him the learned Salkeld, to shew what a conquest he had made, though he was
indeed a master both of divine and human learning. Here is a mf. of serges, druggets, &c. a considerable pottery, where
are made curious stone mugs, &c. a Mt. on Th. Fairs June 24, Nov. 10, and every Th. from that before Easter to Holy-Th.
which are famous for cattle from the W. country and the Marsh; but it is a low dirty place. In the R. of Edw. the elder
here were 6 mansion-houses, which he gave, together with Lediard having 12 mansion-houses, to the Bp. of Shirborn. The
abovementioned judge Popham built a fine large and strong house here, which in the civil wars was made a garrison for the
Pt. and held out against Sir Richard Greenvil by Mr. Bovet of Taunton, for some time; by which means it was ruined. Some
of the judge's descendants still reside here.