now corruptly the Charter house it being heretofore a Covent of Carthusian Monks called in French des Chartreux This Colledge called also Suttons Hospital consists of a Master or Governor at present Sir Ralph Sidenham a Chaplain Doctor Thriscross a Master and Usher to instruct 44 Scholars besides fourscore decayed Gentlemen Souldiers and Merchants who have all a plentiful maintenance of Dyet Lodging Clothes and Physick c. and live altogether in a Collegiate manner with much cleanliness and neatness and the four and fourty Scholars have not onely all necessaries whilst they are here taught but if they become fit for the Universities there is allowed unto each one out of the yearly Revenues of this Colledge 20 l. yearly and duly paid for 8 years after they come to the University and to others fitter for Trades there is allowed a considerable Sum of money to bind them Apprentices There are moreover all sorts of officers expedient for such a Society as Physitian Apothecary Steward Cooks Butlers c. who have all competent Salaries This vast Revenue and Princely Foundation was the sole Gift of an ordinary Gentleman Mr. Thomas Sutton born in Lincoln-shire and 't was of such high Account as it was thought fit that by the Kings Letters Patents under the Great Seal divers persons of the highest Dignity and Quality in Church and State should alwayes be the Overseers and Regulators of this Society as the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer and 13 others Besides there are in London divers endowed Schools which in France would be stiled Colledges as Paul's School foundded 1512. by John Collet Doctor of Divinity and Dean of Pauls for 153 Children to be taught there gratis for which purpose he appointed a Master a Sub-master or Usher and a Chaplain with large stipends for ever committing the oversight thereof to the Masters Wardens and Assistants of the Mercers in London for his father Henry Collet sometime Lord Mayor of London was of the Mercers Company This famous School was also lately burnt down and now is reedified in a far more magnificent commodious and beautiful manner the worthy Master thereof is Mr. Samuel Crumholm alias Cromlum There are in London divers other endowed Schools as Merchant-Taylors Mercers-Chappel c. a particular Account whereof the designed Brevity of this Treatise will not admit It would also make this Book too much swell to give an Account of the many richly endowed Hospitals Almes-houses Work-houses or Houses of Correction the many stately built Taverns Inns and Coffee Houses some whereof surpass all others in foreign parts and are worthy to be viewed by curious Travellers who may also find it worthy their pains to remarque the several spatious well-built Theaters which for variety of Scenes excellent Actors Language Designs Musick c. are hardly to be equalled Moreover they may observe the many well furnisht Markets the weekly Horse-fairs the great commodiousness of Hackney-Coaches of Sedans of Boats c. belonging to this famous City also to consider the City of Westminster and the Burrough of Southwark both which now seem to be swallowed up in London Within the Precincts of Westminster are many Magnalia several things are as remarkable as any aforementioned the antient stately Abby Church founded before the Norman Conquest by the Pious King Edward the Confessor and most richly endowed afterwards rebuilt from the ground by Henry the III. with that rare Architecture now seen wherein are the most magnificent Tombs and Monuments of our Kings and Queens and greatest Nobles of England To the East end of which is added a Chappel of King Henry the VII which for the most admirable artificial work without and within for a Monument of massy Brass most curiously wrought is scarce to be paralleld in the World This huge Fabrick stands where first was the Temple of Apollo and afterwards King Sebert the East Saxon King that first built St. Pauls aforementioned built here a Church to St. Peter Queen Elizabeth converted this Abbey into a Collegiate Church and therein placed a Dean 12 Secular Canons or Prebendaries Petty Canons and others of the Quire to the number of 30 ten Officers belonging to the Church as many servants belonging to the Collegiate Dyet two Schoolmasters 40 Scholars 12 Almes-men with plentiful maintenance for all besides Stewards Receivers Registers Collectors and other Officers the principal whereof is the high Steward of Westminster who is usually one of the prime Nobility and is at present the Lord Chamberlain The Dean is entrusted with the custody of the Regalia at the Coronation honored with a place of necessary service at all Coronations and a Commission of Peace within the City and Liberties of Westminster the Dean and Chapter invested with all manner of Jurisdiction both Ecclesiastical and Civil not onely within the City and Liberties of Westminster but within the Precincts of St. Martin le grand within the Walls of London and in some Towns of Essex exempted in the one from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of London and in the other from that of the Archbishop of Canterbury For Ecclesiastical Causes and probate of Wills it hath a Royal Jurisdiction Dr. Richard Lloyd is Commissary from whom Appeal must be onely to the King in his High Court of Chancery who thereupon issueth out a Commission of Delegates under the Great Seal of England When the Convocation is adjourned from St. Pauls for the conveniency of being nearer to the Parliament to Westminster the Bishops first declare upon a Protestation made by the Dean there that they intend not thereby to violate that high Priviledge viz. That no Bishop or Archbishop may come there without leave of the Dean first obtained There is also a fair Publick Library free for all strangers to study both morning and afternoon alwayes in Term time Next this Church stood the Royal Palace and usual place of Residence for the Kings of England who ordinarily held their Parliaments and all their Courts of Judicature in their dwelling Houses as is done at this day at Madrid by the King of Spain and many times sate themselves in the said Courts of Judicature as they do still in their Court of Parliament A great part of this huge Palace was in the time of Henry the VIII destroyed by fire what remained hath still been employed for the use of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament and for the chief Courts of Judicature The great Hall where these are kept some say was built by King William Rufus others by King Richard the II. about 300 years agoe and for all dimensions is not to be equalled by any Hall in Christendom Moreover Strangers and Foreigners may take notice of the extraordinary commodiousness conveniency and situation of the present Royal Palace and usual place of Residence called Whitehall belonging heretofore to Cardinal Woolsey seated between a noble navigable River and a most delectable Park of the great Chamber there called the Banquetting-House
a Bishop for their Prolocutor and the Lower being required by the Highe House to choose them a Prolocutor or Speaker which done they present him to the Upper House by two of their Members whereof one makes a Speech in Latin and then the Elect person makes another Speech in Latin Lastly the Archbishop answers in Latin and in the name of all the Lords approves of the person Both Houses debate and transact only such matters as His Majesty by Commission expresly alloweth In the Upper House things are first proposed and then communicated to the Lower House The Major vote in each House prevailes Out of Parliament time they usually assemble every day about Nine of the clock and first the Junior Bishop sayes prayers in Latin beginning with the Letany and then for the King c. And in the Lower House the Prolocutor says prayers In Convocation are debated only matters concerning Religion and the Church and sometime of giving His Majesty assistance in Money for as the Laity cannot be taxed without their own consent signified by their Representative in Parliament so the Clergy cannot be taxed without their consent signified by their Representative in Convocation The Clergy in Convocation might antiently without asking the Royal Assent and now may with the Royal Assent make Canons touching matters of Religion to bind not only themselves but all the Laity with-out consent or ratification of the Lords and Commons in Parliament Till the late Rebellion the Parliament did not at all meddle in the making Canons or in matters Doctrinal or in Translation of Scriptures only by their civil Sanctions when they were thereto required did confirm the Results and Consultations of the Clergy that so the people might be the more easily induced to obey the Ordinances of their Spiritual Governors The Clergy of England had antiently their Representatives in the Lower House of Parliament as appears by that antient Record so highly prized by the late Lord Coke and as the Upper House had and still hath Lords Spiritual as well as Temporal so in the Lower House there were always Commons Spiritual as well as Temporal for that Record saith expresly that the Commons in Parliament consist of three degrees or kinds First ex Procuratoribus Cleri Secondly ex Militibus Comitatuum Thirdly ex Burgensibus and the words of the Writ directed now to the Procuratores Cleri seem to give them the very same right to sit in that House as the words of the Writ to the Knights Citizens and Burgesses do give to them All the Members of both Houses of Convocation have the same priviledges for themselves and menial Servants as the Members of Parliament have and that by Statute The Archbishop of York at the same time holds at York a Convocation of all his Province in like manner and by constant correspondence doth debate and conclude of the same matters as are debated and concluded by the Provincial Synod of Canterbury Now for the Executive power in Church matters throughout the Kingdom of England there have been provided divers excellent Courts whereof the highest for criminal Causes was the High Commission Court for the jurisdiction whereof it was enacted primo Elizabethae that Her Majesty and Successors should have power by Letters Patents under the Great Seal to nominate Commissioners to exercise jurisdiction throughout the whole Realm to visit reform and correct all Errors Heresies Schisms Abuses and Delinquencies that may by any Ecclesiastical power be corrected or reformed This Court consisted of the highest persons of England in the Church and State and was the principal Bulwark and Preservative of the Church of England against the practices and assaults of all her Adversaries whether Romanist Puritan or Atheist yet for some pretended abuses the use thereof was taken away in the late seditious long Parliament whereupon followed a deluge of Errors in Religion Apostacy Atheism Blasphemy Sacriledge Incest Adultery impious Libels Schisms Conventicles c. all which so overwhelmed the manners of English men and occasioned at length so many profest Atheists that until the re-establishment of this or the like Court there cannot a Reformation be reasonably hoped for For civil affairs that concern the Church the highest Court is the Court of Delegates for the jurisdiction whereof it was provided 25 H. 8. that it shall be lawful for any subject of England in case of defect of justice in the Courts of the Archbishop of Canterbury to appeal to the Kings Majesty in his Court of Chancery and that upon such appeal a Commission under the Great Seal shall be directed to certain persons particularly designed for that business so that from the highest Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury there lies an Appeal to this Court of Delegates and beyond this to none other Next to the Court of Delegates are the Courts of the Archbishop of Canterbury where any Ecclesiastical Sutes between any persons may waving all inferior Courts be decided amongst them the highest Court is the Court of Arches so called from the Arched Church and Tower of S. Maries in Cheapside London where this Court is wont to be held the Judge whereof is called Dean of the Arches having jurisdiction over a Deanery consisting of 13 Parishes within London exempt from the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London Hither are directed all Appeals in Ecclesiastical matters within the Province of Canterbury To this Court belongs divers Advocates all Doctors of the Civil Law two Registers and ten Proctors the Dean at present is Doctor Sweat In the next place the Archbishop of Canterbury hath his Court of Audience kept within the Archbishops Palace and medleth not with any difference between parties but concerning Elections and consecration of Bishops Admission and Institution to Benefices dipensing with Banes of Matrimony c. The next Court is called the Prerogative Court which judgeth of Estates fallen by Will or by Intestates so called because the Archbishops jure Praerogativae suae hath this power throughout his whole Province where the party at the time of death had 5 l. or above in several Dioceses and these two Courts hath also the Archbishop of York Lastly the Court of Peculiars which dealeth in certain Parishes lying in several Dioceses which Parishes are exempt from the jurisdiction of the Bishops of those Dioceses and are peculiarly belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury in whose Province there are 57 such Peculiars Besides these Courts serving for the whole Province every Bishop hath his Court held in the Cathedral of his Diocess over which he hath a Chancellor tearmed antiently Ecclesiecdicus Episcopi Ecdicus the Church Lawyer or the Bishops Lawyer who being skill'd in the Civil and Canon Law sits there as Judge and if his Diocess be large he hath in some more remote place a Commissary whose authority is only in some certain place of the Diocess and some certain Causes limited to him by the Bishop in his Commission and these are called Consistory Courts
of Venice and as it doth the Senators of Rome at this day c. The time of sitting in Parliament is on any day in the morning or afore dinner onely it hath antienly been observed not to assemble upon some high Festival days but upon ordinary Sundays oft-times as days accounted by all Christians less solemn then divers other Festivals which are celebrated but once a year When the day prefixt by the King in his Writs of Summons is come the King usually cometh in person with his Crown on his Head and clothed with his Royal Robes declares the cause of the Summons in a short Harangue leaving the rest to the Lord Keeper who then stands behind His Majesty the Commons in the mean time standing bare at the Barr of the Lords House are afterwards in the Kings name commanded to choose them a Speaker which without the Kings Command they may not do whereupon they returning to their own House make choice of one of their own Members whom afterwards upon another day they present to the King and being approved of by His Majesty sitting in his Chair and all His Lords both Spiritual and Temporal in their Robes of Scarlet he makes a modest refusal which not allowed he petitioneth His Majesty that the Commons may have during their sitting First a free Access to his Majesty Secondly Freedom of Speech within their own House Thirdly Freedom from Arrests Before any affair be medled with all the Members of the House of Commons take the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy in the presence of an Officer appointed by the King By that old Manuscript called Modus tenendi Parliamentum it doth appear that the House of Commons did antiently as the House of Lords at this day consist of Clergy-men as well as Lay-men there sate the Procuratores Cleri two for each Diocess representing all the Clergy-Commons of the Diocess as the Knights of the Shire doth all the Lay-Commons of the Shire for it was then judged expedient that every Freeman of England as well Clergy as Laity should in passing of all Laws touching propiety whereunto they were to be subject give their consent personally or immediately by themselves or else by some that by their Election should mediately undertake for them and the words of the Writ for summoning the Procuratores Cleri as aforesaid seem to warrant the same at this day The Power and Priviledges of both Houses of Parliament are divers and distinct one from an other The Lords House hath a power not onely in making and repealing Laws but also in tractando consilium impendendo as the words of the Writ are also in judging of Controversies judging in the arraignment of any Peer of the Realm putting men to their Oaths especially in matters of importance as the Corruption of Judges and Magistrates in Errours Illegal proceedings in other Courts in Appeals from Decrees in Chancery c. The Lords that in their Religion conform not to the Church of England may yet sit and have Suffrage in the Lords House All the Lords Spiritual and Temporal have this Priviledge That if by reason of Sickness or other business they cannot appear they may make Proxies to vote in their stead after Licence obtained by a Letter under the Kings Signet to be excused for their absence so that in every Parliament every person in England either by himself Proxy or Representative is said to be there and to have his Suffrage for making or repealing any Law The Commons have also a power in making and repealing Laws they also have their Negative Voyce for Levying of any money upon the Subject the Bill is to begin in the Commons House because from them doth arise the greater part of Moneys The Commons have the Priviledge to supplicate and propose Laws to impeach publick Delinquents even the highest Lords of the Kingdom both Spiritual and Temporal The House of Commons is the Grand Inquest of the Realm summoned from all parts to present publick grievances and Delinquents to the King and Lords to be redressed and punished by them and to this purpose the Lords sit in their Robes on the Bench covered as Judges do in other Judicatories they swear and examine Witnesses and at length pass sentence whilst the Members of the Commons House stand bare at the Bar of the Lords House produce Witnesses mannage evidence c. Note that although every Member of the Commons House is chosen to serve for one particular County City or Burrough yet he serves for the whole Kingdom and his voyce equal to any other his power absolute to consent or dissent without ever acquainting those that sent him or demanding their assent as the States General of the United Neatherlands are obliged to do in many Cases Yet are they to make that their special care to promote the Good of that County City or Borough for which they serve Although the Lords of Parliament are to bear their own charges because they represent there only themselves yet all the Commons both Lay and Clergy that is the Procuratores Cleri are to have rationabiles Expensas as the words of the Writ are that is such allowance as the King considering the Prices of all things shall judge meet to impose upon the people to pay In the 17 Edward 2. it was 10 groats for Knights and 5 groats for Burgesses but not long after it was 4 s. a day for dubbed Knights and 2 s. for all others which in those days as appears by the prices of all things was a considerable sum above 20 times more than it is now for not onely their expences were considered though that was great by reason of the sutable attendance that then every Parliament man had but also their pains their loss of time and necessary neglect of their own private affairs for the service of their Country and when the Countries Cities and Burroughs paid so dear for their expences they were wont to take care to choose such men as were best able and most diligent in the speedy dispatch of affaires by which means with some other more business in those times was dispatched in Parliament in a week then is now perhaps in ten so that the Protections for Parliament men and their Servant from Arrests were not then grievous when scarce any Parliament or Session lasted so long as one whole Term. In the Raign of Edward 3. the Parliaments sometimes sate but eight days and sometimes less as may be seen in the Records of the Tower and yet transacted several and weighty affairs of the Nation many things being prepared before hand as some think by the King and his privy Council as they are at present in Sweden and that commonly they then debated onely upon such things as the King did propose which is now done by the Convocation of the Clergy of England The afore-mentioned expences being duly paid did cause all the petty decayed Burroughs of England to become humble Suitors to the King
Bench so called because anciently the King sometimes there sate in person on a high Bench and his Judges on a low Bench at his Feet to whom the Judicature belongs in the absence of the King In this Court are handled the Pleas of the Crown all things that concern loss of life or member of any Subject for then the King is concerned because the Life and Limbs of the Subject belong only to the King so that the Pleas here are between the King and the Subject Here are also handled all Treasons Felonies Breach of Peace Oppression Misgovernment c. This Court moreover hath power to examine and correct all Errors in facto in jure of all the Judges and Justices of England in their Judgements and Proceedings and this not only in Pleas of the Crown but in all Pleas Real Personal and mixt except only in the Exchequer In this High Court sit commonly Four Grave Reverend Judges whereof the First is stiled the Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench and is created not by Patent but by a short Writ thus Johanni Keeling Militi salutem Sciatis quod constituimus vos Justiciarium nostrum Capitalem ad placita coram nobis tenenda durante beneplacito nostro Teste me ipso apud Westm The rest of the Judges of the Kings Bench hold their places by Letters Patents in these words Rex omnibus ad quos praesentes literae pervenirint salutem Sciatis quod constituimus dilectum fidelem Richardum Rainsford Militem unum Justiciariorum ad placita coram nobis tenenda durante beneplacito nostro Teste c. These Judges and all the Officers belonging to this Court have all Salaries from the King and the chief of them have Robes and Liveries out of the great Wardrobe In this Court all young Lawyers that have been called to the Bar are allowed to plead and practice This Court may grant Prohibitions to keep other Courts both Ecclesiastical and Temporal within their Bounds and due Jurisdiction The Jurisdiction of this Court is general and extendeth to all England is more uncontroulable than any other Court for the Law presumes that the King is alwayes there in person None may be Judge in this Court unless he be a Serjeant of the Degree of the Coif that is a Serjeant at Law who upon taking this high Degree is obliged to wear a Lawn Coif under his Cap for ever after A List of the several Officers belonging to His Majesties Court of Kings-Bench LOrd Chief Justice Sir John Keeling Knight Justices are Sir Thomas Twisden Knight and Baronet Sir Richard Rainsford Knight Sir William Morton Knight Clerk of the Crown Sir Thomas Fanshaw Knight his Secondary Jasper Waterhouse Esquire Protonotary Sir Robert Henley Knight his Secondary William Livesay Esquire Marshal or Keeper of the Kings Bench Prison Stephen Mosedell Esquire Custos Brevium Justinian Paget Esquire Andrew Vivean and Francis Woodward Clerks of the Paper Office Sealer of the Writs Edward Coleman Gilbert Barrel Clark of the Rules Clerk of the Errors Henry Field George Bradford Clerk for Filing Declarations a Cryer Porter and some other inferiour Officers Then there are Filacers for the several Counties of England whose Office is in this Court to make out all Process upon original Writs as well real as personal and mixt They were lately these that follow Humphrey Ironmonger Edward Parnel James Buck Samuel Astrey Francis Greg John Hynde Thomas Stone Thomas Leach Gilbert Eveleigh Henry Ewin Joshua Langrige William Oglethorp John Philips William Osborn Rob. Hyde and Anthony Rouse The manner of Tryals in this and all other Common Law Courts in England being different from that of all other Countries and peculiar to England shall be at large described apart in a Chapter with other peculiars Of the Court of Common Pleas. THe next Court for execution of Laws is the Court of Common-Pleas so called because there are debated the usual Pleas between Subject and Subject Some say this Court as well as other Courts were at first held in the Kings House wheresoever he resided but by the Statute of Magna Charta it was ordained that this Court should not be ambulatory but be held at a certain place and that hath ever since been in Westminster-Hall None but Serjeants at Law may plead in this Court and so many of them as the King shall appoint are bound by oath to assist all that have any Cause depending in that Court This Court may grant prohibitions as the Court of the Kings Bench doth The chief Judge in this Court is called the Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas or of the Common-Bench holdeth his place by Letters Patent durante bene placite and so do the other inferiour Judges of this Court whereof there are commonly three In this Court all Civil Causes Real and Personal are usually tryed according to the strict Rule of the Law Real Actions are pleadable in no other Court nor Fines levyed or Recoveries suffered but only in this Court at Westminster The King allows to the Lord Chief Justice of this Court a Fee Reward Robes and two Tun of Wine â—s is done to the Lord Chief Justice of the other Bench also to the other Judges of this Court and to four Serjeants is allowed Fees Reward and Robes to each one In the 11th and 12th of Edward 3. there were eight Judges belonging to the Common Pleas at other times seven six and five and so in the time of Henry 6. and Edward 4. but since usually but four as at this day Before the Reign of Queen Mary these and the rest or the twelve Judges rode upon Mules and not upon Horses as they now do in great State aâ— the beginning of the Term. A List of the several Officers belonging to His Majesties Court of Common-pleas LOrd Chief Justice Sir John Vaughan Kt. Sir Thomas Tyrrel Kt. Sir John Archer Kt. Sir William Wylde Kt. and Bar. these are the present Judges of that Tribunal Then there is an Officer called Custos Brevium the first Clerk of the Court whose Office it is to receive and keep all Writs returnable in that Court to receive of the Protonotaries all the Records of Nisi Prius called Postea's He holdeth his Place by Patent from the King and hath the Gift of the second Protonotary's Place and of the Clerk of the Juries· Sir Joseph Ash hath this Office and doth execute it by his Deputy Thursby Esquire There are three Protonotaries a word compounded of Greek and Latin which with the Antients was usual and signifies the first Notaries they are chief Clerks of this Court and by their Office are to enter and inroll all Declarations Pleadings which the Filazers did formerly promiscuously do Assises Judgments and Actions to make out Judicial Writs c. These considerable Offices are in the hands of Thomas Robinson Alan Lockhart and Humphrey Wirley Esquires The Chirographer also from two Greek words signifying to acknowledge a Debt by setting ones
hand is an Officer who ingrosseth Fines acknowledged c. He holdeth his Place also by Patent and is at present Mr. Sparks in trust for Sir William Drake who doth execute it by a Deputy Mr. Wayt. All these Officers aforementioned sit in the Court covered with black round knit Caps according to the mode immediately before the invention of Hats which was since the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth Moreover they are all sworn and have their Offices for life as a Freehold There are in this Court 3 Officers unsworn and hold their Places durante bene placito One Clerk of the Treasury Mr. George Ingram who hath the charge of keeping the Records of this Court and makes out all Records of Nisi Prius and divers other things This Office is in the Gift of the Lord Chief Justice 2. Clerk of the Inrolements of Fines and Recoveries who is by Statute under the three puisne Judges of this Court and removeable at their pleasure Note that the Inrolement of Fines and Recoveries or any part thereof by Stat 23 Eliz. cap. 3. is of as good force and validity in Law to all intents and purposes for so much of any of them so inrolled as the same being extant and remaining were or ought by Law to be The general neglect whereof in this Kingdom hath occasioned many Law Suits and hath proved in process of time exceeding dangerous to many mens Estates 3. The Clerk of the Outlawries Mr. Annuel who makes out the Writs of Capias Utlagatum after the Outlawry in the name of the Kings Atturney whose Deputy he is pro tempore There are five Clerks more 1. Clerk of the Kings Silver Henry Nurse Esquire unto whom every Fine or Final Agreement in sale of Lands is brought after it hath been with the Custos Brevium and to whom Money is paid for the Kings use 2. Clerk of the Warrants Mr· Thomas Brown executed by a Deputy Mr. James Mayo who entreth all Warrants of Atturney for Plaintiff and Defendant 3. Clerk of the Juries Mr. John Green who makes out the Writs called Habeas Corpora and Distringas for appearance of the Jury either in this Court or at the Assises in the Country 4. Clerk of the Essoins or Excuses for lawful cause of absence Mr. Townley 5. Clerk of the Super sedeas Mr. Abbot which is held by Patent but before King James time made by the Exchequer In this Court are also Filazers for the several Counties of England so called from the French Fil a Thred because they file their Writs These make out all Process upon Original Writs and do many other things too long to be here set down of these there are 14. viz. Fabian Philips Esquire who hath London Middlesex Huntington and Cambridge Shires The rest of the Counties are divided amongst these that follow Sir Roger Hill Henry Dutton Spicer Grey Fr. Hill Robert Child Charles Clare Sir Thomas Stringer Thomas Child Bennet Mark Hildesley Herbert Matthews and Hughes who is Protonatory Filazer and Exigenter of Monmouth by Patent the rest in the Gift of the Lord Chief Justice and hold for life There are also four Exigenters whose Office it is to make all Exigents and Proclamations in all Actions where process of Outlawry doth lye This Writ is called an Exigent because it exacteth the Party that is requireth his appearance to answer the Law and lies against a Transgressor of the Law that cannot be found nor any of his Goods within the County so that after summons by the Sheriff at five several County Courts if he appear not he is outlawed The four Exigenters at present are William Petty John Dawling Charles Clare and Silvester Petty all in the Gift of the Lord Chief Justice and are for life There are also belonging to this Court four Cryers and a Porter Of the Court called the Exchequer THe next Court for Execution of Laws is that called the Exchequer so called as some think from a Chequer-wrought Carpet covering the great Table in that Court as the Court of Green Cloth in the Kings house is so called from the Green Carpet or else from the French word Eschequier a Chess board because the Accomptants in that Office were wont to use such Boards in their Calculation Here are tryed all causes which belong to the Kings Treasury or Revenue as touching Accounts Disbursements Customs and all Fines imposed upon any man In this Court may sit the Lord Treasurer the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Lord Chief Baron and four other Learned Judges called Barons of the Exchequer and one other Cursitor Baron but the two first seldom sit and the five last Seldom fail The first of these five is the Principal Judge of this Court and answers the Bar or the Baristers who direct their Speech to him takes Recognizances for the Kings Debts c. It is an Office of High Honour and Profit he is styled Lord Chief Baron is Created by Letters Patents to hold this Dignity Quam dieu bene se gesserit wherein he hath a more fixed estate then the Chief Justices of either Bench for the Law intends this an Estate for Life in the absence of the Lord Chief Baron the other three Barons supply his place according to their Seniority but the fifth is said to be a Cursitor of the Court and administers the Oaths to the Sheriffs Under-Sheriffs Baylifs Searchers Surveyors c. of the Custom-house In the Exchequer are held two Courts one of Law another of Equity All Judicial Proceedings according to Law are coram Baronibus but the Court of Equity held in the Exchequer Chamber is coram Thesaurario Cancellario Baronibus This Court had its beginning primo Ph. Mar. The Authority of this Court is of original jurisdiction without any Commission Note also that all the other forementioned Courts were not Instituted by any Statute or written Law but have their Original from the antient Custom of the Kingdom For a long time after the Conquest there sat in the Exchequer both Spiritual and Temporal Barons of the Realm and in later times there sate in their places others that were not Peers of the Realm yet stiled Barons quia ibi sedere solebant Barones All the Twelve Judges belonging to these High Tribunals sit in Robes and Square Caps like those Doctors of Divinity because as some say they were antiently most commonly Clergy-men and Doctors Bishops or Prelates A List of the several Officers belonging to His Majesties Court of Exchequer In the Vpper Exchequer THe Kings Remembrancer Thomas Lord Vicount Fanshaw in whose Office are 8 sworn Clerks whereof John Payn and Thomas Hall Esquires at present are the two Secondaries the rest are Ansel Beaumont Hugh Frankland Butler Buggin George Wats Nicholas Sanders c. In this Office pass all the Accounts concerning the Kings Revenue for Customs Excise Hearth-money Subsidies and all Ayds granted to the King in Parliament and all other Accounts of what nature soever
are as the Dies Nefâ—sti wherein the Courts sit not so that in one fourth part of the year and that in one City all considerable causes of the greatest part of England are fully decided and determined whereas in forreign parts the Courts of Justice are open all the year except high Holydayes and Harvest and that in all great Cities This may seem therefore strange to all Forreigners till they know that the English have alwayes been given more to peaceableness and industry then other people and that rather then go so far as London and be at so great Charges with Attourneyes and Lawyers they will either refer their differences to the Arbitration of their Parish Priests who do or ought to think it a Principal part of their Duty to reconcile differences within their Parishes or to the Arbitration of honest Neighbours or else are content to submit their differences to tryal before the Judges of Assises or the Itinerant Judges who twice a year viz. after the end of Hilary Term and after the end of Trinity Term two by two of these principal Judges ride several Circuits and at the Principal Town of every County sit to hear and determine all Causes of lesser moment both civil and criminal a most excellent wise Constitution begun by King Hen. 2. Anno 1176. who at first divided England into six Circuits not the same that are now and to each Circuit allotted three judges Wales also is divided into two Circuits North and South Wales for which are designed in like manner two Sergeants at Law for each Circuit These Judges give Judgment of the Pleas of the Crown and all Common Pleas within those Counties dispatching ordinarily in two or three days all Controversies in a County that are grown to issue in the fore-mentioned Courts at London between Plaintiffs and Defendants and that by their Peers a Jury of 12 men ex viceneto out of the neighbourhood where about the business lyes So that twice a year in England and Wales Justice may be said to be rightly and speedily administred even at our own doors Besides the forementioned Courts at Westminster Henry 8. erected for the more ease of the Subject a Court in the North of England another for the County of Wales and Counties adjoyning and intended another for Cornwall and Devonshire and these in manner of those Courts called in France Parlements where all cases might be decided both according to the Laws of England and according to equity in Chancery Of these Courts that for Cornwal was never fully erected those people desiring rather to come to London for Justice that of the North was by the late long Parliament taken away and so was that of Wales but this last since the Restauration of the King again erected Of this Court or Council of the Marshes of Wales is a Lord President at present the Lord Vaughan Earl of Carbury divers Councellors Secretary Attourney Sollicitor Surveyor who have Salaries from His Majesty HAving given a brief Account of the Civil Government of all England in General next shall be described the particular Government of Counties Hundreds Cities Burroughs and Villages For the Civil Government of all Counties the King makes choice of some of the Nobility Clergy Gentry and Lawyers men of worth and parts who have their usual residence in the County so many as His Majesty pleaseth to keep the Peace of the County and these by Commission under the great Seal are called Justices of Peace and such of them in whom the King doth more particularly confide or respect are called Justices of the Quorum from those words in the Commission Quorum A. B. unum esse volumus that is some business of more importance may not be transacted without the presence or concurrence of one of them One of the principal Justices of Peace and Quorum is by the Lord Keeper made Custos Rotulorum so called because he hath the Custody of the Rolls or Records of the Sessions and is to bring them to each Quarter Sessions The Original of Justices of Peace is from the first year of Edward 3. Their Office is to call before them examine and commit to Prison all Theeves Murderers wandring Rogues those that hold Conspiracies Conventicles Riots and almost all other Delinquences that may occasion the breach of Peace and quiet to the Kings Subjects to commit all such to prison as either cannot or by Law are not to be bailed that is cannot be set at liberty by Sureties taken for their appearance at a place and time certain land to see them brought forth in due time to Tryal Every Quarter or three months the Justices meet at the chief or Shire Town where the Grand Enquest or Jury of the County is summoned to appear who upon Oath are to inquire of all Traitors Hereticks Theeves Murderers Money-coiners Riots c Those that appear to be guilty are by the said Justices committed to prison to be tryed at the next Assises when the Judges of Westminster come their Circuits aforementioned For execution of Laws in every County except Westmorland and Durham the King every Michaelmas Term nominates for each County a Sheriff that is a Reeve of the Shire Praepositus or Praefectus Comitatus a Governor or Guardian of the County for the words of the Patent are Commisimus tibi Custodiam Commitatus nostri de N. The Sheriffs Office is to execute the Kings Mandates and all Writs directed to him out of the Kings Courts to empannel Juries to bring Causes and Criminals to Tryal to see the sentences both in Civil and Criminal affairs executed to wait on and guard the Itenerant Judges twice a year so long as they continue within the County which at the Assises is performed with great Pomp Splendor Feasting c In order to the better execution of his Office the Sheriff hath attendant his Under-Sheriff divers clerks Stewards of Courts Bayliffs of Hundreds Constables Gaolers Sergeants or Beedles besides a gallant train of servants in rich Liveries all on Horseback at the Reception of the Judges He was antiently chosen as Knights of the Shire but to avoid Tumults it is now thus Every year about the beginning of November the Judges Itinerant nominate six fit men of each County that is Kts. or Esquires of good Estates out of these the Lords Keeper Treasurer Privy Councellors and 12 Judges assembled in the Exchequer Chamber and sworn make choice of three of which the King himself after chooseth one to be Sheriff for that year only though heretofore it was for many years and sometimes heriditary as at this day to the Cliffords who by dissent from Robert de Vipont are Sheriffs heriditary of the County of Westmoreland by Charter from King John Furthermore the Sheriffs Office is to collect all publick profits Customes Taxes of the County all Fines Distresses and Amerceaments and to bring them into the Kings Exchequer or Treasury at London or else where as the King shall appoint The
Sheriff of each County hath a double function first Ministerial to execute all Processes and Precepts of the Courts of Law and to make returns of the same Secondly Judicial whereby he hath authority to hold two several Courts of distinct nature the one called the Sheriffs Turn which he holdeth in several places of the County enquiring of all Criminal Offences against the Common-Law not prohibited by any Statute The other called the County Court wherein he hears and determines civil Causes of the County under 40 s. which antiently was a considerable summe so that by the great fall of the moneys now the Sheriffs authority in that part is much diminished He is said to be the life of Justice of the Law and of the County for no suit begins and no process is served but by him then no Execution of the Law but by him lastly he is the chief Conservator of the Peace in the whole County Every County being subdivided into Hundreds so called at first either for containing an hundred houses or 100 men bound to find Armes or Wapentakes so called from touching a weapon when they swore Allegiance as the manner at this day is in Sweden at their solemn weddings for the chief witnesses to lay all their hands upon a Lance or Pike every such Wapentake oâ— Hundred hath commonly a Bayliff a very antient Officer but now of small Authority also Officers called High Constables first ordained by the Statute of Winchester 13 Edw. 1. for conservation of Peace and view of Armour they disperse Warrants and Orders of the Justices of Peace to each Pety Constable There are also in every County two Officers called Coroners whose Office is to enquire by a Jury of Neighbours how and by whom any person came by a violent death and to enter the same upon Record which is matter Criminal and a plea of the Crown and thence they are called Crowners or Coroners These are chosen by the Free holders of the County by vertue of a Writ out of the Chancery They were antiently men of estates Birth and Honour and therefore in the Reign of Edward III. a Merchant being chosen a Coroner was removed quia communis Mercator fuit whereas he ought to have been a Gentleman which have no Trades man is reckoned to be by our Laws Every County also hath an Officer called Clerk of the Mercat whose Office is to keep a Standard of all Weights and Measures exactly according with the Kings Standard kept in the Exchequer and to see that none others be used in the same County to Seal all Weights and Measures made exactly by the Standard in his custody and to burn such as are otherwise He hath a Court and may keep and hold Plea therein Of the Civil Government of Cities EVery City of England by their Charters or Priviledges granted by several Kings is a little Common-wealth apart governed not as the Cities of France by a Nobleman or Gentleman placed there by the King but wholly by themselves they choose amongst themselves their own Governor in Cities a Mayor is chosen commonly out of 12 Aldermen In some other Coâ—porations a Bailiff is chosen out of a certain number of Burgesses They are not taxed but by their own Officers of their own Corporation every trade having some of their own alwayes of the Council to see that nothing be enacted contrary to their profit Every City by Charter from the King hath haute moyenne basse Justice a jurisdiction amongst themselves to judge in all matters criminal and civil onely with this restraint that all civil causes may be removed from their Courts to the Higher Courts at Westminster The Mayor of the City is the Kings Lieftenant and with the Aldermâ—n and Common Council as it were King Lords and Commons in Parliament can make Laws called By-Laws for the Government of the City He is for his time which is but for one year as it were a Judge to determine matters and to mitigate the Rigour of the Law The next in Government of Cities are two principal Officers called though improperly the Sheriffs who are Judges in civil causes within this City and to see all execution done whether penal or capital and should rather be called Stat-reeves or Port-reeves i. e. Urbis vel Portus Praefecti In Cities the people are generally made more industrious by Manufactures and less idleness suffered then in other places so that in some Cities children of six or seven years old are made to gain their own expences In the City of Norwich it hath of late yeares been computed and found that yearly children from 6 to 10 years of age have gained 12 thousand pounds more then what they spend and that chiefly by knitting fine Jersey Stockings The Government of Burroughs and other Towns corporate is much after the same manner In some there is a Mayor in others one or two Bailiffs who have equal power with a Mayor and Sheriffs and during their Offices they are Justices of the Peace within their Liberties and have there the same power that other Justices of the Peace have in the County For the better Government of Villages the Lord of the place hath ordinarily power to hold a Court-Baron so called because antiently such Lords were called Barons as they are still in many parts of France or else Court Baron i. e. Court of Freeholders as the Barons of Germany are called Frey herren so the Barons of the Cinque Ports in England are but the Freeholders of the Cinque Ports And this Court may be held every 3 weeks Also for the Government of Villages there is a Pety Constable chosen every year by every one that is Lord of the place this Officer is to keep the Peace in case of quarrels to search any house for Robbers Murdrers or others that have any way broken the peace to raise the Hue and Cry after Robbers fled away to seize upon them and keep them in the Stocks or other Prison till they can bring them before some Justice of Peace to whom the Constables are subservient upon all occasiions either to bring crrminals before them or to carry them by their command to the common Prison Every little Village almost hath an Epitome of Monarchical Government of Civil and Ecclesiastical policy within it self which if duly maintained would render the whole Kingdome happy First for the civil Government there is the Lord of the Soyl who from the Crown immediately or mediately holds Dominium soli and is said to have in him the Royalty as if he were a little King and hath a kind of Jurisdiction over the Inhabitants of the Village hath his Court-Leetâ— or Court-Baron to which they owe suit and service and where may be tryed smaller matters happening within the Mannour Escheats upon Felonies or other accidents Custody of Infants and Lunaticks power of passing Estates and admitting of Tenants Reliefs Hariots Hunting Hawking Fishing c. under the Lord is the Constable or
following are a few heads or particulars of them viz. The Leagues of foreign Princes and the Treaties with them And all the Atchievements of this Nation in France and other Foreign Parts The Original of all the Laws that have been Enacted or Recorded until the Reign oi Richard the Third The Homage and Dependency of Scotland upon England The Establishment of Ireland in Laws and Dominions The Dominion of the British Seas totally excluding both the French and Hollander to Fish therein without Licence from England proved by Records before the Conquest The Interest of the Isle of Man and the Isles of Jersey Gernsey Sark and Alderny which four last are the remaining part of the Norman possession The Title to the Realm of France and how obtained And all that the Kings or Princes of this Land have until that time done abroad or granted or confirmed unto their Subjects at home or abroad Tenures of all the Lands in England Extents or Surveys of Mannors and Lands Inquisitions post mortem being of infinite advantage upon tryals of Interest or Descent Liberties and Priviledges granted to Cities and Towns Corporate or to private Men as Court-Leets Waiffs Estrays Mercats Fairs Free warren Felons Goods or what else could come to the Crown or pass out of it Several Writs Pleadings and Proceedings as well in Chancery as in all the Courts of Common Law and Exchequer Inspeximus's and Inrolments of Charters and Deeds made and done before the Conquest Deeds and Contracts between party and party and the just establishment of all the Offices in the Nation The Metes and Bounds of all the Forests in England with the several respective Rights of the Inhabitants therein to Common of Pasture c. Besides many other Priviledges and Evidences which are too long to be here repeated or inserted And are therefore in the Petition of the Commons of England in Parliament An. 46 Edw. 3. num 43. said to be the perpetual Evidence of every Mans right and the Records of this Nation without which no story of the Nation can be written or proved These Records are reposited within a certain Place or Tower called Wakefield Tower adjoyning to the Bloody Tower near Traytors Gate There is another place called Julius Caesars Chappel in the White Tower The going up to this Chappel is in Gold Harbor Eighty four Steps up with Six or eight great Pillars on each side and at the upper end thereof there was a Marble Altar which in the late times of Rebellion was caused to be beaten down as a Monument of Tyranny and Superstition There are many Cart load of Records lying in this place out of which William Prynne Esquire late Keeper of the same with indefatigable labor Collected and Printed many of Publick Utility Annis 1659 1660 1662 1664. in Four several Volumes beginning Primo Regis Johannis for before that time there are no Rolls but onely Chartae Antiquae or Ancient Transcripts made and done before and since the Conquest until the beginning of King John Then follows His Son Henry the Third where the first Offices Post Mortem begins Then there is Edward the First Second and Third Richard the Second Henry the Fourth Henry the Fifth Henry the Sixth and Edward the Fourth and the Inquisitions Post Mortem of Richard the Third who reigned onely Three years The Rolls of that King are in the Chappel of the Rolls in Chancery Lane The Rolls in the Tower are variously distinguished viz. Rotuli Patentium Cartarum Parliamentorum Clausarum finium Scotiae Vasconiae Franciae Hiberniae Walliae Normanniae Alemanniae Oblatae Liberatae Extractae Perambulationes Forestae Scutag Rotul Marescal Romae de Treugis Chart. Patent fact in partibus transmarinis Patent de Domibus Judaeorum Protection de Perdonation c. Stapulae cum multis aliis which are lately depicted upon the outside of every Press in the Repository belonging to each Kings Reign and very easily to be brought forth for the use of the Client By a Table of Orders hanging up in the said Office and subscribed by the Keeper hereof The same is to be kept open and constantly attended for all Resorters thereto from the hours of Seven till eleven of the Clock in the Morning and from One till five in the Afternoon every day of the week except in the Moneths of December January and February and in them from Eight till eleven in the morning and from One to four in the Afternoon except on Holidays Publick Fasting and Thanksgiving days and times of great Pestilence The Governor of this great and important Fortress being called The Lieutenant of the Tower is usually a Person of great worth and fidelity who is Virtute Officii to be in Commission of the Peace for the Counties of Kent Surrey and Middlesex He is High Steward of a Court there held hath a Deputy and may refuse an Habeas Corpus may give Protection to all Debtors belonging to the Tower Infra Regnum Angliae Hath the Priviledge to take Unam lagenam Two Gallons and a Pint Antâ— malum retro of all Wine Ships that come and to be as some hold Custos Rotulorum of the County of Middlesex His Salary is 200 l. per annum His usual Fee for every Prisoner sent to the Tower who are commonly Men of Estates is 20 l. and 3 l a week for an Esquire and 5 l. for a Knight For a Baron or above 50 l. at entrance to whom the King allows weekly 10 l. whereof two parts go to the Prisoner the third to the Lieutenant for Lodgings and Diet and 50 l. to the Lieutenant upon the Prisoners discharge The present Lieutenant of the Tower is Sir John Robinson Baronet The Gentleman Porter of the Tower holds his place by Patent and at the entrance of a Prisoner hath for his Fee Vestimenta superiora or else a Composition for the same The Gentleman Jaylor is put in by the Lieutenant of the Tower his Fee is 41 s. of a Gentleman and 5 l. of a Knight Then there are Forty Warders of the Tower accounted the Kings Domestick Servants and sworn by the Lord Chamberlain of His Majesties Houshold or by the Clerk of the Check The Moneys allowed by the King to the several Officers and Servants in the Tower and for keeping in repair that huge structure amounts to a vast sum Near the Tower is S. Katherines which hath a Royal Jurisdiction for the Ecclesiastical Causes and Probate of Wills and belongeth to the Queen Dr. Bud is Commissary from whom if any will appeal it must be to the King in His Court of Chancery who thereupon issueth out a Commission under the Great Seal as in Appeals from the Arches or Prerogative The next thing remarkable in the City of London may be the Bridge which for admirable Workmanship for vastness of Foundation for all Dimensions and for the solid stately Houses and rich Shops built thereon surpasseth all others in Europe it hath Nineteen
placito The Proctors belonging to this Court aforementioned are persons that exhibite their Proxies for their Clients and make themselves parties for them and draw and give in Pleas or Libells and Allegations in the behalf of their Clients produce the Witnesses prepare the Causes for Sentence and attend the Advocates with the Proceedings They are also admitted by the Fiat of the Archbishop introduced by the Two Senior Proctors and are allowed to practise immediately after their admission they wear Black Robes and Hoods lined with White Fur. According to the Statutes of this Court all Arguments made by Advocates and all Petitions made by the Proctors are to be in the Latin Tongue All Process of this Court run in the name of the Judge thus Egi. Sweit Miles LL. Dr. Almae Curiae Cant. de Arcubus Lond. Officialis Principalis and returnable before him heretofore in Bow Church now in the Common Hall at Exeter House The Places and Offices belonging to this Court are all in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury whose Court it is Here note That the next Morning after the sitting of this Court the Judge of the Court of Audience did usually sit but since the late Troubles that Court hath been discontinued Next is the Court of Admiralty whereof see more in Chapter of the Military Government The present Judge of this Court is Sir Leolin Jenkins Knight Doctor of Laws whose Title is Supremae Curiae Admiralitatis Angliae locum tenens Judex sive Praesidens The Writs and Decrees run in the name of the Lord High Admiral and are directed to all Vice-Admirals Justices of Peace Majors Sheriffs Bailiffs Constables Marshals and others Officers and Ministers of our Soveraign Lord the King as well within Liberties as without To this Court belongs a Register Orlando Gee Esquire a Marshal who attends the Court and carries a Silver Oar before the Judge whereon are the Arms of the King and of the Lord High Admiral The Lord Admiral hath here his Advocate and Proctor and all other Advocates and Proctors are presented by them and admitted by the Judge This Court is held on the same day with the Arches but in the afternoon and heretofore at St. Margarets Hill in Southwark but now in the same Common Hall at Exeter house But the Admiralty Session is still held for the Tryal of Malefactors and Crimes committed at Sea at the Antient place aforesaid The places and Offices belonging to this Court are in the Gift of the Lord High Admiral Next is another Court belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury called the Prerogative Court whereof see more in the Chapter of the Ecclesiastical Government of England The Judge of this Court is the forenamed Sir Leolin Jenkins and his Title here is Curiae Prerogativae Cant. Magister Custos sive Commissarius All Citations and Decrees run in the name of the Archbishop This Court is kept in the same Common Hall in the afternoon next day after the Arches and was heretofore held in the Consistory of St Pauls The Judge is attended by a Register Marke Cottle Esquire who sets down the Decrees and Acts of the Court and keeps the Records all Original Wills and Testaments of parties dying having Bona Notabilia c. The place is commonly called the Prerogative Office now kept in the Savoy where for a moderate Fee one may search for and have a Copy of any such Testament made since the Rebellion of Wat Tiler and Jack Straw by whom many Records and Writings in several places of London were then burnt and destroyed The Places belonging to this Court are in the Gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury From the forementioned Courts Appeals do lye to the Court of Delegates whereof more pag. 76 the Judges whereof are appointed by the Lord Keeper under the great Seal of England pro illa vice and upon every cause or business there is a new Commission and new Judges according to the nature of the Affair or Cause as sometimes Bishops Common-Law-Judges and Civilians and sometimes Bishops and Civilians and sometimes Common-Law-Judges and Civilians and sometimes Civilians onely To this Court belongs a standing Register and the Court is kept in the same Common Hall in the afternoon the day after the Prerogative The Citations and Decrees here run in the Kings Name From this Court lyes no Appeal in Common course But the King of His meer Prerogative Royal may and many times doth grant a Commission of Review under the Broad Seal In this Colledge also usually resides the Vicar-General belonging to the Archbishop bishop of Canterbury who as he is Primate hath the Guardianship of the Spiritualties of every Bishop within his Province during the Vacancy and executes all Episcopal Power and Jurisdiction by his Vicar-General who is at present in the Province of Canterbury Sir Richard Chaworth Knight Doctor of Laws The Archbishop of York hath the like Power in his Province and his Vicar-General is Dr. Burnel he also hath a Prerogative Court whereof the Judge is Dr. Levet Of the Colledge of Physitians in London AMongst other excellent Institutions in the City of London there is a Colledge or Corporation of Physitians who by Charters and Acts of Parliament of Henry VIII and since his Raign have certain Priviledges whereby no man though a Graduat in Phsick of Oxford or Cambridge may without Licence under the said Colledge Seal practice Physick in London or within seven miles of this City nor in any other part of England in case he hath not taken any Degree in Oxford or Cambridge Whereby also they can administer an Oath fine and imprison any Offenders in that and divers other particulars can make By-Laws purchase Lands c. Whereby they have Authority to search all the shops of Apothecaries in and about London to see if their Drugs and Compositions are wholesome and well made whereby they are freed from all troublesome Offices as to serve upon Juries to be Constable to keep watch and ward to bear Arms or provide Armes or Ammunition c. any Member of that Colledge may practice Surgery if he please not onely in London but in any part of England This Society had antiently a Colledge in Knight-Rider-Street the Gift of Doctor Linacre Physitian to King Henry the VIII since which a House and Ground was purchased by the Society of Physitians at the end of Amen street whereon the ever famous Dr. Harvey Anno 1652. did erect at his own proper charge a Magnificent Structure both for a Library and a Publick Hall for the meeting of the several Members of this Society endowed the same with his whole Inheritance which he resigned up while he was yet living and in Health part of which he assigned for an Anniversary Harangue to commemorate all their Benefactors to exhort others to follow their good Examples and to provide a plentiful Dinner for the worthy Company Anno 1666. This goodly Edifice could not escape the Fury of that dreadful Fire and