Founded upon the Calculations of Gregory King, Lancaster Herald, and
forming part of "An Essay upon the Probable Methods of making a
People gainers in the Balance of Trade." Published in 1699.


The writer of these papers has seen the natural and political
observations and conclusions upon the state and condition of England
by Gregory King, Esq., Lancaster Herald, in manuscript. The
calculations therein contained are very accurate, and more perhaps
to be relied upon than anything that has been ever done of the like
kind. This skilful and laborious gentleman has taken the right
course to form his several schemes about the numbers of the people,
for besides many different ways of working, he has very carefully
inspected the poll-books, and the distinctions made by those acts,
and the produce in many of the respective polls, going everywhere by
reasonable and discreet mediums: besides which pains, he has made
observations of the very facts in particular towns and places, from
which he has been able to judge and conclude more safely of others,
so that he seems to have looked further into this mystery than any
other person.

With his permission, we shall offer to the public such of his
computations as may be of use, and enlighten in the matter before
us.

He lays down that if the first peopling of England was by a colony
or colonies, consisting of a number between 100 and 1,000 people
(which seems probable), such colony or colonies might be brought
over between the year of the world 2400 and 2600, viz., about 800 or
900 years after the Flood, and 1,400 or 1,500 years before the birth