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guild-hall_n which_o
occasion_v some_o difficulty_n in_o settle_v the_o draught_n of_o the_o lease_n hereafter_o mention_v from_o the_o company_n to_o the_o city_n the_o city_n claim_v interest_n in_o the_o soil_n of_o the_o weigh-house-yard_n upon_o some_o surmise_n that_o they_o have_v more_o ground_n there_o than_o what_o they_o claim_v under_o the_o company_n be_v title_n belong_v to_o they_o until_o i_o have_v make_v the_o contrary_n appear_v both_o by_o evidence_n and_o certificate_n of_o the_o ancient_a inhabitant_n there_o as_o also_o that_o as_o well_o all_o the_o ground_n so_o demise_v by_o the_o company_n to_o the_o city_n as_o that_o whereon_o the_o house_n on_o all_o part_n of_o the_o weigh_v house-yard_n be_v build_v be_v bound_v on_o the_o north_n with_o the_o ground_n of_o the_o merchant-taylor_n and_o front_v the_o high_a street_n of_o cornhill_n be_v part_n of_o that_o ground_n so_o devise_v by_o mr._n john_n bilsdon_n to_o the_o company_n of_o grocer_n so_o as_o all_o the_o interest_n the_o city_n have_v there_o appear_v to_o be_v thus_o viz._n the_o grocer_n have_v as_o above_o be_v mention_v the_o management_n of_o the_o office_n of_o the_o king_n beam_n do_v former_o accommodate_v the_o city_n with_o a_o weigh-house_n there_o weigh-house-yard_n how_o the_o city_n have_v interest_n in_o the_o message_n in_o weigh-house-yard_n convenient_a for_o execute_v the_o same_o office_n under_o some_o reserve_a rent_n for_o that_o the_o whole_a duty_n arise_v thereby_o the_o weigh-master_n and_o porter_n wage_n deduct_v belong_v to_o the_o city_n until_o the_o year_n 1625._o some_o difference_n happen_v between_o the_o then_o lord_n mayor_n and_o the_o company_n touch_v the_o nomination_n of_o one_o to_o succeed_v the_o weigh-master_n then_o late_o dead_a a_o committee_n of_o alderman_n be_v appoint_v for_o the_o city_n and_o a_o committee_n of_o grocer_n for_o the_o company_n who_o determine_v the_o same_o and_o the_o company_n pursuant_n to_o that_o agreement_n be_v to_o grant_v the_o city_n a_o lease_n of_o their_o weigh-house_n be_v one_o adhere_v low_a room_n for_o 99_o year_n under_o the_o rent_n of_o 10_o l._n per_fw-la annum_fw-la which_o the_o city_n according_o have_v and_o enjoy_v and_o the_o company_n to_o enjoy_v their_o privilege_n so_o to_o nominate_v the_o weigh-master_n and_o porter_n the_o company_n afterward_o grant_v a_o lease_n to_o one_o lionel_n newman_n of_o a_o small_a warehouse_n at_o one_o end_n of_o the_o same_o weigh-house_n and_o of_o all_o the_o room_n as_o well_o over_o the_o weigh-house_n as_o over_o the_o same_o warehouse_n for_o a_o long_a term_n at_o 40_o s._n per_fw-la annum_fw-la the_o city_n afterward_o purchase_v the_o say_a lionel_n newman_n interest_n and_o the_o whole_a be_v so_o consume_v by_o the_o fire_n upon_o application_n of_o the_o city_n to_o the_o judge_n at_o clifford_n sin_n it_o the_o judge_n decree_v a_o lease_n to_o the_o city_n of_o it_o and_o on_o hear_v the_o city_n and_o company_n they_o 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as_o also_o every_o other_o branch_n thereof_o be_v charge_v as_o also_o the_o several_a school_n and_o ecclesiastical_a promotion_n in_o the_o company_n be_v disposition_n and_o under_o their_o government_n and_o inspection_n i_o have_v digest_v into_o a_o orderly_a method_n as_o most_o proper_a there_o to_o be_v see_v in_o book_n for_o that_o purpose_n provide_v at_o the_o hall._n thus_o this_o company_n long_o flourish_v both_o before_o and_o after_o that_o time_n with_o many_o eminent_a and_o worthy_a member_n who_o become_v very_o liberal_a benefactor_n and_o have_v so_o great_a a_o share_n all_o along_o in_o the_o senator_n of_o this_o famous_a city_n revenue_n have_v always_o a_o alderman_n their_o master_n entrust_v with_o many_o charity_n which_o they_o faithful_o discharge_v 〈◊〉_d the_o fire_n consume_v their_o revenue_n that_o they_o never_o want_v a_o alderman_n of_o their_o member_n yearly_a to_o succeed_v master-warden_n of_o this_o company_n and_o so_o faithful_o do_v they_o acquit_v themselves_o of_o those_o charity_n they_o be_v entrust_v withal_o that_o it_o give_v they_o the_o great_a reputation_n of_o any_o company_n in_o london_n insomuch_o that_o many_o well-disposed_a person_n do_v covet_v to_o make_v this_o corporation_n as_o it_o be_v the_o corban_n of_o their_o charity_n which_o in_o process_n of_o time_n become_v their_o snare_n as_o in_o this_o discourse_n will_v immediate_o appear_v wherein_o i_o shall_v endeavour_v by_o give_v a_o true_a account_n of_o the_o nature_n of_o those_o charity_n to_o remove_v the_o reproach_n that_o have_v be_v cast_v on_o this_o company_n as_o if_o they_o have_v misemployed_n they_o and_o make_v it_o plain_o appear_v that_o the_o company_n of_o grocer_n have_v in_o the_o judgement_n of_o every_o impartial_a man_n who_o shall_v well_o weigh_v their_o circumstance_n from_o the_o first_o to_o the_o last_o acquit_v themselves_o in_o all_o the_o trust_n and_o affair_n of_o this_o company_n as_o become_v worthy_a citizen_n and_o beyond_o what_o the_o worst_a of_o their_o detractor_n may_v have_v just_o expect_v from_o they_o especial_o consider_v how_o small_a a_o part_n of_o their_o yearly_a revenue_n remain_v to_o the_o company_n when_o the_o yearly_o payment_n issue_v thereout_o pursuant_n to_o the_o disposition_n of_o the_o donor_n be_v deduct_v most_o part_n of_o all_o the_o land_n and_o house_n they_o though_o charge_v with_o nigh_o the_o value_n and_o so_o rather_o charge_v than_o benefit_n to_o they_o give_v to_o the_o grocer_n company_n be_v by_o the_o donor_n charge_v with_o yearly_a charity_n issue_v thereout_o to_o certain_a uses_n by_o they_o limit_v and_o appoint_v well_o nigh_o amount_v to_o as_o much_o as_o the_o rent_n reserve_v upon_o long_a lease_n in_o be_v and_o let_v before_o they_o contract_v any_o of_o their_o debt_n as_o be_v hereafter_o mention_v all_o or_o most_o part_n of_o which_o lie_v in_o the_o city_n of_o london_n and_o the_o same_o lease_n many_o of_o they_o be_v nigh_o expire_a about_o the_o time_n of_o the_o late_a dreadful_a fire_n those_o other_o charity_n which_o be_v sum_n of_o money_n charity_n in_o regard_v many_o of_o they_o be_v sum_n of_o money_n leave_v they_o to_o pay_v yearly_a charity_n give_v by_o several_a benefactor_n unto_o this_o company_n there_o to_o remain_v as_o a_o fund_z who_o charge_v this_o company_n on_o that_o account_n with_o yearly_a payment_n to_o certain_a parish_n place_n and_o uses_n well_o nigh_o as_o much_o as_o the_o full_a interest_n thereof_o amount_v to_o or_o very_o small_a advantage_n to_o the_o company_n over_o and_o above_o the_o same_o so_o that_o the_o company_n be_v necessitate_v to_o dispose_v of_o those_o sum_n of_o money_n at_o interest_n on_o the_o best_a security_n they_o can_v get_v bad_a which_o be_v put_v out_o on_o security_n many_o prove_v bad_a to_o enable_v they_o to_o make_v good_a those_o yearly_a charity_n many_o of_o which_o security_n may_v in_o all_o probability_n become_v very_o backward_o in_o payment_n and_o sometime_o quite_o desperate_a so_o that_o the_o company_n have_v daily_a money_n press_v upon_o they_o be_v enforce_v to_o accept_v the_o same_o at_o interest_n and_o thereout_o continue_v constant_a payment_n of_o those_o yearly_a sum_n and_o also_o to_o accommodate_v young_a man_n of_o their_o member_n with_o money_n on_o security_n to_o set_v up_o pursuant_n to_o the_o will_n of_o several_a donor_n of_o that_o kind_n whereof_o they_o have_v not_o a_o few_o benefactor_n so_o that_o in_o time_n by_o occasion_n of_o many_o loss_n and_o casualty_n of_o this_o nature_n they_o and_o so_o loss_n accrue_v to_o they_o it_o can_v be_v imagine_v but_o the_o company_n must_v sustain_v much_o damage_n notwithstanding_o all_o their_o care_n and_o endeavour_n though_o they_o be_v not_o in_o the_o least_o sensible_a thereof_o till_o they_o have_v long_o after_o under_o great_a pressure_n try_v their_o security_n their_o credit_n be_v very_o high_a and_o
in_o great_a reputation_n but_o their_o great_a debt_n they_o contract_v as_o follow_v viz._n l._n their_o great_a debt_n contract_v by_o money_n borrow_v on_o their_o common_a seal_n viz._n anno_fw-la 1640._o to_o accommodate_v k._n char._n i._n 4500_o l._n about_o the_o year_n 1640._o his_o late_a majesty_n king_n charles_n the_o royal_a martyr_n have_v occasion_n for_o money_n in_o his_o exigency_n and_o make_v his_o condition_n and_o desire_v know_v to_o this_o company_n as_o well_o as_o other_o they_o do_v take_v up_o money_n upon_o their_o common_a seal_n and_o to_o supply_v he_o do_v on_o security_n of_o some_o of_o his_o peer_n accommodate_v his_o say_a majesty_n with_o 4500_o l_o which_o the_o unhappy_a war_n succeed_v be_v yet_o unpaid_a l._n to_o relieve_v his_o say_a late_a majesty_n distress_a subject_n in_o ireland_n 9000_o l._n afterward_o about_o the_o year_n 1642._o this_o company_n in_o compliance_n with_o other_o corporation_n and_o indeed_o with_o the_o whole_a city_n be_v again_o require_v to_o raise_v 9000_o l._n for_o the_o defence_n of_o the_o kingdom_n of_o ireland_n and_o relief_n of_o his_o say_v then_o majesty_n distress_a subject_n there_o which_o they_o likewise_o take_v up_o upon_o security_n of_o their_o commnn_n seal_n and_o which_o be_v never_o repay_v l._n anno_fw-la 1643._o compel_a to_o lend_v the_o city_n of_o london_n 4500_o l._n and_o afterward_o in_o the_o year_n 1643_o in_o compliance_n with_o other_o company_n they_o be_v compel_v to_o lend_v the_o city_n of_o london_n 4500_o l._n which_o they_o in_o like_a manner_n advance_v and_o have_v the_o common_a seal_n of_o the_o city_n for_o security_n thereof_o some_o small_a part_n whereof_o they_o afterward_o receive_v the_o residue_n be_v yet_o unpaid_a these_o great_a loan_n be_v the_o only_a mean_n that_o bring_v this_o company_n at_o last_o into_o such_o extremity_n yet_o do_v they_o appear_v to_o be_v so_o just_a in_o their_o intention_n among_o themselves_o short_a 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either_o principal_a or_o interest_n they_o receive_v no_o interest_n of_o any_o to_o who_o they_o themselves_o have_v so_o lend_v and_o despair_v of_o the_o principal_a and_o upon_o audit_n of_o the_o warden_n account_n find_v such_o prodigious_a sum_n every_o year_n swallow_v up_o in_o discharge_n of_o interest_n it_o and_o their_o debt_n every_o year_n swell_v they_o call_v a_o court_n in_o 1662._o and_o appoint_v a_o committee_n to_o consider_v of_o mean_n to_o discharge_v it_o several_a of_o the_o member_n take_v the_o company_n be_v condition_n into_o consideration_n move_v the_o court_n of_o assistant_n and_o a_o committee_n be_v appoint_v to_o inspect_v the_o same_o and_o to_o consider_v of_o some_o way_n how_o to_o obviate_v the_o far_a increase_n of_o the_o company_n be_v debt_n by_o discharge_v they_o gradual_o but_o other_o matter_n intervening_a no_o progress_n be_v make_v therein_o till_o afterward_o about_o the_o month_n of_o august_n 1663._o 1663._o again_o the_o like_a in_o 1663._o upon_o the_o like_a occasion_n they_o be_v reminded_a thereof_o and_o the_o committee_n revive_v and_o the_o far_a consideration_n resume_v but_o have_v spend_v some_o time_n in_o consider_v which_o way_n to_o advance_v money_n the_o fair_a prospect_n they_o have_v of_o advance_v money_n within_o a_o few_o year_n by_o renew_v lease_n of_o their_o estate_n in_o london_n all_o but_o the_o prospect_n of_o fine_n on_o renew_v lease_n than_o nigh_o expire_a respite_v that_o consideration_n till_o the_o fire_n in_o 1666._o consume_v all_o to_o discharge_v the_o great_a part_n of_o their_o debt_n and_o have_v money_n daily_o press_v on_o they_o to_o supply_v their_o occasion_n on_o security_n of_o their_o common_a seal_n they_o be_v not_o hasty_a to_o propose_v the_o renew_n of_o their_o lease_n many_o of_o they_o judge_v it_o for_o the_o company_n be_v advantage_n to_o defer_v that_o for_o some_o time_n long_o and_o to_o endeavour_v to_o get_v in_o their_o own_o debt_n in_o which_o circumstance_n they_o continue_v till_o soon_o after_o and_o before_o they_o have_v renew_v any_o lease_n it_o please_v god_n the_o late_a dreadful_a fire_n happen_v anno_fw-la 1666._o whereby_o not_o only_o their_o hall_n but_o their_o whole_a revenue_n in_o london_n so_o high_o improvable_a upon_o expire_a lease_n be_v consume_v and_o the_o several_a member_n then_o at_o the_o helm_n who_o most_o of_o they_o great_o suffer_v in_o their_o own_o private_a capacity_n be_v separate_v and_o so_o take_v up_o with_o care_n of_o dispose_n of_o themselves_o and_o family_n that_o very_o few_o can_v attend_v the_o affair_n of_o the_o company_n and_o so_o that_o dreadful_a calamity_n render_v this_o company_n which_o sustain_v so_o great_a damage_n therein_o uncapable_a to_o comply_v any_o long_o with_o due_a payment_n of_o their_o debt_n and_o charity_n thing_n till_o which_o time_n the_o book_n make_v appear_v they_o just_o comply_v with_o their_o trust_n in_o all_o thing_n which_o plain_o appear_v by_o the_o warden_n book_n to_o have_v be_v all_o along_o before_o that_o time_n punctual_o pay_v and_o discharge_v as_o they_o grow_v due_a and_o be_v from_o time_n to_o time_n call_v for_o and_o demand_v member_n the_o fire_n have_v consume_v their_o whole_a revenue_n in_o london_n in_o which_o their_o hope_n be_v depend_v to_o raise_v great_a sum_n by_o renew_v lease_n than_o well_o nigh_o expire_v to_o pay_v off_o their_o debt_n they_o apply_v themselves_o to_o the_o parliament_n on_o the_o say_a by-law_n to_o assess_v their_o member_n have_v before_o 66_o pay_v 30000_o l._n for_o interest_n of_o 18000_o l._n they_o so_o take_v up_o but_o the_o parliament_n reject_v it_o as_o bind_v no_o more_o than_o be_v party_n they_o be_v force_v to_o let_v their_o ground_n to_o builder_n on_o long_a lease_n and_o small_a rent_n and_o prepound_v to_o raise_v by_o benevolence_n what_o they_o can_v not_o by_o fines_n and_o to_o that_o purpose_n to_o get_v subscription_n of_o 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