*WORCESTER, (Worcestershire) 85 cm. 112 mm. from London, has a stone-bridge over the Severn, that had a tower on it, which
being ruinous, was pulled down. 'Tis supposed to have been one of the cities built by the Romans, for curbing the Britons
who dwelt beyond that r. In 1041, it was plundered and burnt down by the Danish K. Hardicanute, who also put the inh. to
the sword, because some of them had murdered his tax-gatherers. Soon after the R. of Will. Rufus, it was burnt down again,
as suspected, by the Welch. K. Stephen besieged, took, and burnt it a third time. In 1202 it was again destroyed by fire;
and it was plundered in 1641, after that famous battle here on the 3d of September, wherein K. Charles II. was defeated by
Cromwell, and narrowly escaped being taken. In Camden's time this city was governed by 2 bailiffs, chosen out of 24 C. C.
2 ald. and 2 chamberlains, with 48 assistants; but by a charter of October 2, in the 19th of James I. it is governed by a
mayor and 6 ald. who are justices of peace, (that are chosen out of the 24 C. C.) a sheriff, usually chosen out of the
same body, (for 'tis a city and Co. of itself, divided into 7 wards) and 48 assistants, out of which number are yearly
elected the 2 chamberlains. They have also a recorder, T.-clerk, 2 coroners, and a sword-bearer, 13 constables, and 4
serjeants at mace. This city has, ab origine, sent members to Pt. who are elected by the citizens and freemen, in number
above 2000, and returned by the sheriff. Here are near 2000 houses, it being reputed the sixth biggest city in England.
'Tis much larger than Glocester, but lies in a bottom. One part of it is inhabited by the Welch. Its chief mfs. are broad-
cloth and gloves, especially the former, in which 'tis incredible what numbers of people are employed here and hereabouts.
The publick buildings make a grand appearance, particularly the guildhall and the workhouse, but the former, though large,
is very old. It has three scurvy statues of Cha. I. Cha. II. and Q. Anne. It had formerly a castle, as also walls 1650
paces in com. but both walls and castle are long since destroyed. The cathedral is a large edifice, the exact model of
that at Brussels, with an elegant choir, of very curious workmanship, 120 feet long, in the middle of which lies K. John,
bet, 2 Bps, viz. Wulstan and Oswald, his two saints, by whose neighbourhood he hoped for salvation. The whole length of
the Ch. is 394 feet, the breadth 78, and the tower is 162 feet high. Prince Arthur, elder brother of Hen. VIII. lies
interred here; and here is a very fine monument of the Countess of Salisbury, who dropt her garter as she danced before K.
Edward III. at Windsor. There are several angels cut in stone about this tomb, strewing garters over it. Here are also 12
p.-Chs. 9 within the city, and 3 without. The streets are broad and well-paved, of which the Foregate-Street is remarkably
regular and beautiful; and take the whole together, 'tis a delightful place. Here is a noble hos. in the building of which
Robert Berkley of Spetchley laid out 2000 l. and endowed it with 4000 l. for 12 poor men. There are 6 or 7 others in and
about the city; and besides the K's. school here, founded by Henry VIII. which has been famous both for its masters and
scholars, here is a grammar fr. sc. with 2 others for the same learning; and the lists mention 6 ch. scs. in which 110
boys are taught, and part of them cloathed. The Mts. here, which are M. W. and F. are well supplied with cattle, corn, and
all provisions, and every S. is a considerable hop-Mt. Its Fairs are on the eve of Palm-Sunday, the S. after Easter, Aug.
15, and Sept. 8. 'Tis remarked that the Severn, though generally rapid elsewhere, glides gently by this city. Here is a
very good water-house and quay, to which many ships come. This city formerly gave title of Earl to several noble families,
as it now does both of Marquis and Earl to the D. of Beaufort. It was erected into an episcopal See by the Saxon K.
Ethelred, anno 679. Of its Bps. who have been just a hundred from the learned Talfrith, the first mentioned by Godwin, to
the right reverend prelate (Dr. Maddox) who now enjoys this See, 'tis observed there have been one pope, 4 saints, 7 Ld.
high chancellors, 11 Abps. 2 Ld.-treasurers, one chancellor to the Q. one Ld.-president of Wales, one vice-president; and
by the confession even of A. Pope, the satyrist, one UNSULLY'D mitre, viz. the late pious Dr. Hough; an acknowledgment the
more extraordinary, from a poet of that religion, for opposing of which this divine was by K. Ja. II. expelled from the
presidentship of Magdalen college in Oxford. The bones of those who were slain in the battle above-mentioned, between the
forces of Charles II. and Cromwell, are often dug up in a garden just without the S. gate of this city; and in the park
above, is a great work, with 4 bastions, called the royal mount, from whence a vallum and ditch run both ways to incompass
that side of the city. 'Tis recorded that K. Henry I. anno 1130, Henry II. anno 1158. and K. John, anno 1214, kept
Christmas here. This city is the sixth in order of the 24 Ts. which has the benefit of the gift of 100 l. by Sir Thomas
White, merchant-taylor of London, to be lent without interest to four young traders, giving good security for the
repayment of it, after 10 years use of it. The original fund is in the mayor and commonalty of Bristol, to whom he gave
2000 l. to purchase an estate of 120 l. a year for this purpose. This gift first began to be distributed in 1577; and
therefore 'tis supposed that this city must have had it in its course six or seven times. Coals are carried here on horses
backs in panniers, like those of our higlers, only they are open at top, and they are sold here by the horse-load, as they
are in London by the chaldron. In this city the Kts. of St. John of Jerusalem had a mon. without the S. gate of the city,
in the London road, now in possession of Mr. Wylde. 'Tis a fine old house of timber; and the hall, roofd with Irish oak,
which makes one side of it, was built for the reception of pilgrims.