a city of England, and capital of the county of Kent, situated in E. Long. 1. 15. N. Lat. 51. 16. It has the names of Durovernum and Darvernum given it by the Romans, and Durobernia by Bede, which are thought to be derived from Durwheam, signifying a rapid stream, such as the Stour, on which it stands, is. The Britons call it Caer Kent, i.e. the city of Kent; and its present English name is of the same import, derived from the Saxon. Modern writers in Latin call it Cantuaria. Its great antiquity appears not only from Antoninus's Itinerary, but from the military way which has been discovered here, and the causeways leading to Dover and Lymne, besides the coins and other curiosities found about it. The archiepiscopal and metropolitan dignity seems to have been settled here very early; and to prevent its being removed, an anathema was decreed against any who should attempt it. After that, the city flourished greatly; though it suffered in common with other towns during the Danish invasions, and at other times by the casualities of fire. The city was given entirely to the bishops by William Rufus, and was held in the utmost veneration in the Popish times, especially after the murder of Becket in the reign of Henry II., to whose shrine so great was the resort, and so rich were the offerings, that Erasmus, who was an eye-witness of its wealth, says the whole church and chapel in which he was interred glittered with jewels; and at the dissolution, the plate and jewels filled two great chests, each of which required eight strong men to carry out. The cathedral was granted by Ethelbert, king of Kent, upon his conversion, to Austin the monk, together with his palace, and the royalty of the city and its territories. This Austin founded a monastery for monks, called from him Augustine. After the cathedral had been several times destroyed by fire and rebuilt, the present was begun about the year 1174, and augmented and embellished by the succeeding archbishops, till it was completed in the reign of Henry V. It is a noble Gothic pile, and before the Reformation had 37 altars. A great many kings, princes, cardinals, and archbishops are buried in it. At the dissolution, Henry VIII. seized all the revenues both of the church and monastery, except what he allotted for the maintenance of a dean, 12 prebendaries, and five preachers, whom he established in place of the monks. During the grand rebellion, it suffered much; the usurper Cromwell having made a stable of it for his dragoons. After the Restoration, it was repaired, and made what it now appears.

Besides the cathedral and other churches, as well as a monastery, the city had anciently a castle on the south side, and strong walls, with towers, a ditch, and rampart; it had also a mint and an exchange. As to its government, it seems to have been entirely subject to the archbishop, both in spirituals and temporals; at least from the time that William Rufus gave it solely to Bishop Anselm, till the Reformation. It is now a county of itself: and the corporation consists of a mayor, recorder, 12 aldermen, a sheriff, 24 common councilmen, a mace-bearer, sword-bearer, and four ferjeants at mace. Every Monday a court is held at Guildhall Canterbury for civil and criminal causes: and every other Tuesday for the government of the city. Here were formerly 2000 or 3000 French Protestants employed in the silk manufacture; but this branch is now greatly decayed in the place, since Spitalfields became so flourishing. Besides the cathedral, it contains 15 parish churches, seven hospitals, a free school, a house of correction, a gaol for criminals, and sumptuous conduit for supplying the inhabitants with water. It consists of four streets, disposed in the form of a cross, and divided into six wards, which are about three miles in circumference. It is surrounded on all hands with hop grounds much to its advantage, and is famed for its excellent brown.

The diocese of Canterbury contains 257 parishes, besides chapels, in Kent, and about 100 more in other dioceses. These are called Peculiars; it being an ancient privilege of this fee, that, wheresoever the archbishop had either manors or advowsons, the place was exempted from the jurisdiction of the ordinary of the diocese where it was situated, and was deemed in the diocese of Canterbury. This fee is valued in the king's books at £816l. 17s. 9½d., but is reckoned to produce a clear revenue of £8000 a year. The clergy's tenths come to £615l. 18s. 2½d. This fee had many great privileges in the time of Popery, some of which it still retains. The archbishop is accounted primate and metropolitan of all England, and is the first peer in the realm; having the precedence of all dukes not of the blood-royal, and of all the great officers of state. In common speech he is styled His Grace, and he writes himself Divina Providentia; whereas other bishops style themselves Divina Permissione. At coronations, he places the crown on the king's head; and, wherever the court may be, the king and queen are the proper domestic parishioners of the archbishop of Canterbury. The bishop of London is accounted his provincial dean, the bishop of Winchester his sub-dean, the bishop of Lincoln his chancellor, and the bishop of Rochester his chaplain. This fee hath yielded to the church 18 saints; to the church of Rome, 9 cardinals; to the civil state of England, 12 lord chancellors, 4 lord treasurers, and 1 lord chief justice; and 9 chancellors to the university of Oxford. To this fee belongs only one archdeacon, viz. of Canterbury. To the cathedral belongs an archbishop, a dean, a chancellor, an archdeacon, 12 prebends, 6 preachers, 6 minor canons, 6 substitutes, 12 lay clerks, 10 choristers, 2 masters, 50 scholars, and 12 almsmen.