248 A. D. 1607. 



The feaport town of Sunderland had no exiftence in Camden's rime, 

 otherwife it could not have eibaped the notice of that accurate author; 

 and the like may be obferved of Falmouth, now a wtU frequented port. 

 Of Norwich we have elfewhere noted the great improvements ; and the 

 like may be remarked of Briftol, and yet much more of Liverpool ; 

 alio of Newcaftle, and many others, both leaports and inland towns, 

 where manufadures now greatly flourifh, as Leeds, Halifax, Birming- 

 ham, Manchtfler, &c. 



It muft however, be admitted on the other hand, that fome few Eng- 

 lifli towns have decayed, which in old times were much more confi- 

 derable, particularly the cities of York and Lincoln. The latter efpe- 

 cially muft have had a fudden as well as a very grievous decay in Cam- 

 den's time, who obferving how much the city of Lincoln was funk un- 

 der the weight of time and antiquity, adds, ' that of fifty churches 

 ' which were remembered to have been in it by our grandfathers, there 

 ' are now fcarce eighteen remaining.' Since Camden's time they are 

 reduced to thirteen fliabby ones. 



Since we are upon this fubjed of the increafe and decline of cities, 

 Thuanus (who likewife wrote in 1607), fpeaking of the famous com- 

 mercial city of Dantzick, obferves, that from a fmall and oblcure be- 

 ginning it has fince fo greatly increafed, that at this day it may be 

 efteemed the moft frequented and richeft emporium, not only of the 

 north and weft, but even of the whole earth, which was probably fay- 

 ing rather too much, as Amfterdam may be prefumed to have been 

 then much more frequented by ftiipping, of greater magnitude, of a 

 more extenfive commerce, and more opulent than Dantzick. But be 

 that as it may, Dantzick is fince in fome degree declined from its former 

 profperity, though ftill a noble and opulent city. 



King James gave a charter for feven years to Richard Penkevell of 

 Cornwall, Efq. and his colleagues, for the fole difcovery of a pafiage to 

 China, Cathay, the Moluccos, and other parts of the Eaft-Indies, by 

 the north, north-eaft, or north-weft. They were hereby incorporated 

 by the name of the colleagues of the fellowftiip for the difcovery of the 

 north paft^age, and v/ere to enjoy for ever all the lands they fhould dif- 

 cover (not already found by any Chriftians), referving to the crown 

 the fuprem.e fovereignty, and alfo certain prerogatives, duties, &c. 

 [Fcedi'ra, V. xvi, p. 660.] But as nothing followed (that we can learn) 

 trom this charter, we need fay nothing farther about it. * 



Captain Henry Hudion (whether connecSted with the above company 

 or not is uncertain) now failed as far north as 80^- degrees, in quell of 

 the paflage ; and he repeated his attempt in the following year to as 

 little purpofe, after having in vain tried a north-eaft paflage by Nova 

 Zem.bla the fame year. His name, however, is perpetuated, by being 

 given to a great bay in the northern part ot America. 2 



