CHATHAM, (Kent) is passed by the Medway from Rochester, to which it is a suburb; lies partly in the p. of Gillingham, and
was built by K. Cha. II. after the first Dutch war; but the dock was begun by Q. Eliz. and has been so improved by her
successos, that there is not a compleater arsenal in the world, here being whose streets of warehouses and storehouses.
The houses of the officers are well-built, and some of them stately, and the publick buildings are surprizingly large,
like the ships of the royal navy that are here stationed. This place gives the title of Baron to the D. of Argyle. That
called the Chest at Chatham was instituted anno 1558, when the seamen in the service of Q. Eliz. agreed to allow a portion
of each man's pay for the relief of their fellows, that had been wounded in the defeat of the Spanish Armada, which custom
has continued ever since. An hos. was also erected here, at the private expence of Sir John Hawkins, and incorporated by
the said Q. for the relief of 10 or more aged and maimed mariners or shipwrights. Here is a Fair Sept. 8.