CII.M-. III. TiiK STATK OF T11K i;n.\DS. 183 



kind of ngres. Lancashire was supposed to be almost 

 impeuetrable as indeed it was to a considerable extent, 

 and inhabited ly a 1 mil-savage race. Camden vaguely 

 described it, previous to his visit in 1607, as that part 

 of the country lying " beyond the mountains towards 

 the Western Ocean." He acknowledged that he ap- 

 proached the Lancashire people "with a kind of dread," 

 but determined at length "to run the hazard of the 

 attempt/' trusting in the Divine assistance. Camden 

 was favoured in his northern visit even beyond his 

 expectations, and after making his survey of the county, 

 lie succeeded in returning within the bounds of civiliza- 

 tion in safety. 



About a century later, in 1700, the Rev. Mr. Brome, 

 rector of Cheriton in Kent, entered upon a series of 

 travels in England as if it had been a newly-discovered 

 country. He set out in spring, so soon as the roads had 

 become passable. His friends convoyed him on the first 

 stage of his journey, and left him, commending him to 

 the care of Providence. He was, however, careful to 

 employ guides to conduct him from one place to another, 

 and in the course of his three years' travels he saw 

 ninny new and wonderful things; but when the winter 

 and wet weather set in, he was compelled to suspend 

 his travelling and lay up, like an arctic voyager, for 

 several months, until spring came round again. He 

 passed through Northumberland into Scotland, down the 

 western side of the island towards Devonshire, where he 

 found the fanners gathering in their corn upon horse- 

 bark, the roads being so narrow that it was impossible 

 for tlirm to use waggons. He desired to travel into 

 Cornwall, the boundaries of which he reached, but was 

 prevented proceeding farther by tin- rains, and accord- 

 ingly made the best of his way homewards. 1 



The vicar of Hieriton was considered a wonderful 



1 'Tlirtv Years' Travels in Kn^- I P.roine, M.A., Hector of Clicritmi, 

 land, Scotland, and Wales.' P.y .IMHU-S ] Kent. London, 1726. 



