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be built； and which by the plan should run wholly out into the
river； so to flank the two curtains of each side； I say； in the
place where it should have been； stands a high tower； which they
tell us was built in Queen Elizabeth's time； and was called the
Block House； the side next the water is vacant。
Before this curtain； above and below the said vacancy； is a
platform in the place of a counterscarp； on which are planted 106
pieces of cannon； generally all of them carrying from twenty…four
to forty…six pound ball； a battery so terrible as well imports the
consequence of that place； besides which； there are smaller pieces
planted between； and the bastions and curtain also are planted with
guns； so that they must be bold fellows who will venture in the
biggest ships the world has heard of to pass such a battery； if the
men appointed to serve the guns do their duty like stout fellows；
as becomes them。
The present government of this important place is under the prudent
administration of the Right Honourable the Lord Newbrugh。
From hence there is nothing for many miles together remarkable but
a continued level of unhealthy marshes； called the Three Hundreds；
till we come before Leigh； and to the mouth of the River Chelmer；
and Blackwater。 These rivers united make a large firth； or inlet
of the sea； which by Mr。 Camden is called IDUMANUM FLUVIUM； but by
our fishermen and seamen； who use it as a port； it is called Malden
Water。
In this inlet of the sea is Osey； or Osyth Island； commonly called
Oosy Island； so well known by our London men of pleasure for the
infinite number of wild fowl； that is to say； duck； mallard； teal；
and widgeon； of which there are such vast flights； that they tell
us the island； namely the creek； seems covered with them at certain
times of the year； and they go from London on purpose for the
pleasure of shooting； and； indeed； often come home very well laden
with game。 But it must be remembered too that those gentlemen who
are such lovers of the sport； and go so far for it； often return
with an Essex ague on their backs； which they find a heavier load
than the fowls they have shot。
It is on this shore； and near this creek； that the greatest
quantity of fresh fish is caught which supplies not this country
only； but London markets also。 On the shore； beginning a little
below Candy Island； or rather below Leigh Road； there lies a great
shoal or sand called the Black Tail； which runs out near three
leagues into the sea due east； at the end of it stands a pole or
mast； set up by the Trinity House men of London； whose business is
to lay buoys and set up sea marks for the direction of the sailors；
this is called Shoe Beacon； from the point of land where this sand
begins； which is called Shoeburyness； and that from the town of
Shoebury； which stands by it。 From this sand； and on the edge of
Shoebury； before it； or south west of it； all along； to the mouth
of Colchester water； the shore is full of shoals and sands； with
some deep channels between； all which are so full of fish； that not
only the Barking fishing…smacks come hither to fish； but the whole
shore is full of small fisher…boats in very great numbers；
belonging to the villages and towns on the coast； who come in every
tide with what they take； and selling the smaller fish in the
country； send the best and largest away upon horses； which go night
and day to London market。
N。B。 … I am the more particular in my remarks on this place；
because in the course of my travels the reader will meet with the
like in almost every place of note through the whole island； where
it will be seen how this whole kingdom； as well the people as the
land； and even the sea； in every part of it； are employed to
furnish something； and I may add； the best of everything； to supply
the City of London with provisions； I mean by provisions； corn；
flesh； fish； butter； cheese； salt； fuel； timber； etc。； and clothes
also； with everything necessary for building； and furniture for
their own use or for trade； of all which in their order。
On this shore also are taken the best and nicest； though not the
largest； oysters in England； the spot from whence they have their
common appellation is a little bank called Woelfleet； scarce to be
called an island； in the mouth of the River Crouch； now called
Crooksea Water； but the chief place where the said oysters are now
had is from Wyvenhoe and the shores adjacent； whither they are
brought by the fishermen； who take them at the mouth of that they
call Colchester water and about the sand they call the Spits； and
carry them up to Wyvenhoe； where they are laid in beds or pits on
the shore to feed； as they call it； and then being barrelled up and
carried to Colchester； which is but three miles off； they are sent
to London by land； and are from thence called Colchester oysters。
The chief sort of other fish which they carry from this part of the
shore to London are soles； which they take sometimes exceeding
large； and yield a very good price at London market。 Also
sometimes middling turbot； with whiting； codling and large
flounders； the small fish； as above； they sell in the country。
In the several creeks and openings； as above； on this shore there
are also other islands； but of no particular note； except Mersey；
which lies in the middle of the two openings between Malden Water
and Colchester Water； being of the most difficult access； so that
it is thought a thousand men well provided might keep possession of
it against a great force； whether by land or sea。 On this account；
and because if possessed by an enemy it would shut up all the
navigation and fishery on that side； the Government formerly built
a fort on the south…east point of it； and generally in case of
Dutch war； there is a strong body of troops kept there to defend
it。
At this place may be said to end what we call the Hundreds of Essex
… that is to say； the three Hundreds or divisions which include the
marshy country； viz。； Barnstable Hundred； Rochford Hundred； and
Dengy Hundred。
I have one remark more before I leave this damp part of the world；
and which I cannot omit on the women's account； namely； that I took
notice of a strange decay of the sex here； insomuch that all along
this country it was very frequent to meet with men that had had
from five or six to fourteen or fifteen wives； nay； and some more。
And I was informed that in the marshes on the other side of the
river over against Candy Island there was a farmer who was then
living with the five…and…twentieth wife； and that his son； who was
but about thirty…five years old； had already had about fourteen。
Indeed； this part of the story I only had by report； though from
good hands too； but the other is well known and easy to be inquired
into about Fobbing； Curringham； Thundersly； Benfleet； Prittlewell；
Wakering； Great Stambridge； Cricksea； Burnham； Dengy； and other
towns of the