called Six-Clerks-Office in Chancery-Lane they keep Commons together in Term time The Three Clerks of the Petty-Bag are under the Master of the Rolls they make all Patents for Customers Comptrollers all Congeâ—d ' Estires first Summons of Nobility Clergy Knights Citizens and Burgesses to Parliament From the Subpoena-Office are Issued Writs to Summon Persons to appear in Chancery There are two Examiners who are to examin Witnesses upon upon their Oaths in any suit on both sides The Curssiters Office is to make out Original Writs they were antiently called Clerici de Cursu They are in Number 24 whereof each one hath certain Counties and Cities allotted to him They are a Corporation of themselves c. IV. EXCHEQVER Within the Port or Entry into the Hall on either side are ascendings up into large Chambers without the Hall adjoyning thereunto wherein certain Courts be kept namely on the Right hand is the Court of Exchequer which is so called as some think from a Chequer-wrought-Carpet covering the great Table in that Court or else from the French word Exchequer a Chess Board because the Accomptants in that Office were wont to use such Boards in their Calculation Here are Tried all Causes that belong to the King's Treasury or Revenue as touching Accounts Disbursements Customs and all Fines imposed upon any Man In this Court do Sit the Lord Treasurer the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Lord Chief Baron and Four other Learned Judges called Barons of the Exchequâ—r and one other Cursitor-Baron but the two first â—â—â—dom Sit and the five last seldom fail The first of these five is the Principal Judge of this Court which is a place of High Honour and Profit he iâ— stiled Lord Chief Baron is created by Letters Paâ—tents to hold this Dignity quam diu bene se gesseriâ— wherein he hath a more fixed Estate than the Chiâ— Justices of either Bench for the Law intends this aâ— Estate for Life In the absence of the Lord Chieâ— Baron the other three Barons supply his place acâ—cording to their Seniority but the 5 th is said to bâ— Cursitor of the Court and Administers the Oaths tâ— the Sheriffs under-Sheriffs Bayliffs Searchers Surveyors c. of the Custom-House In the Exchequer are held two Courts one oâ— Law another of Equity all Judicial proceedings according to Law are Coram Baronibus before the Barons but the Court of Equity held in the Exchequer-Chamber is Coram Thesaurario Cancellario Baronibus before the Treasurer Chancellor and Barons The Authority of this Court is of Original Jurisdiction without any Commission All the Twelve Judges belonging to these High Tribunals sit in Robes and Square Caps like Doctors of Divinity because as some say they were in old times most commonly Clergy Men. There are divers Officers belonging to the upper Exchequer as the King's Remembrancer in whose Office are Eight Sworn Clerks All Accounts pass there that concern the King's Revenue for Customs Excise Hearth-Money Subsidies and all aids granted to the King in Parliament and all other Accounts of what nature soever concerning the King's Revenue either Certain or Casual all Securities whether by Bond or Recognizances to the King for any of His Debts are taken here All proceedings upon any Statute by information for Custom Excises or any other Penal Law All proceedings upon the said Bonds or Recognizances or any other Bonds taken in the King's Name by Officers appointed thereunto under the Great Seal of England and transmitted into this Office for Recovery thereof From whence Issue forth Process to cause all Accountants to come in and Account c. This Office is in the King's Gift The Office of the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer is to make Process against all Sheriffs Receivers Bayliffs c. for their Accounts and many other things of Moment as Estreal Rules all Charters and Letters Patents whereupon any Rents are reserved to the King This also is in the KING's Gift The Clerk of the Pipe hath all the Accounts and Debts due to the King drawn down out of the Remembrancers Office and chargeth them down out of the Remembrancers Office and chargeth them down in the Great Roll or Pipe and therefore probably called the Pipe-Office he hath under him Eight Sworn Clerks Here Accountants have their quietus est and here are made Leafes of extended Lands The Comptroller of the Pipe writes out all Summons twice every Year to the High Sheriffs to Levy the Farms and Debts of the Pipe He keeps a Roll of the Pipe-Office Accounts whereby to discover any thing that shall be amiss In the Office of the Clerk of the Pleas all the Officers of the Exchequer and other priviledged Persons as Debtors to the King c. are to have their Priviledge to Plead and be Impleaded as to all matters at the Common Law And the Proceedings are accordingly by Declarations Pleas and Trials as at the Common Law because they should not be drawn out of their own Court where their attendance is Required In this Office are four Sworn Attorneys To the Forâ—ign Opposers-Office all Sheriffs repair to be by him opposed of their Green-Wax and from thence is drawn down a Charge upon the Sheriffs to the Clerk of the Pipe This Office is kept in Grays-Inn The Office of the Clerk of the Estreats is to receive every Term the Estreats or Extracts out of the Office of the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer and to write them out to be Levied for the King Also to make Schedules for such Sums as are to be discharged The Auditors of the Imprest Audit the Great accounts of the King's Customs Wardrobe Mint First Fruits and Tenths Naval and Military Expences Moneys imprested c. The Auditors of the Revenue Audit all the accounts of the King 's other Revenue that arise by Aids granted in Parliament The Remembrancer of the first Fruits and Tenths takes all Compositions for first Fruits and Tenths and makes Process against such as pay not the same This Office is kept in Hatton-Garden c. As to the other part of the Exchequer where the King's Revenue is received and disbursed the Principal Officer is the Lord Treasurer whose place is somtimes and is at this present managed by Commissioners appointed by His Majesty The next is the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is an Officer of great Account and Authority He hath a Principal Power not only in the Exchequer-Court but also here in the managing and disposing of the King's Revenue he hath the Custody of the Exchequer-Seal He hath the Gift of the Comptroller or Clerk of the Pipe of the Clerk of the Pleas of the Clerk of the Nichils and of the Seal of the Court He is also under Treasurer and hath the Gift of the two Praisers of the Court. Then there are two Chamberlains of the Exchequer in whose Custody are many ancient Records Leagues and Treaties with Foreign Princes the Standards of Moneys Weights and Measures those antient Books called Dooms-Day and the Black
the Queens Chamber was consumed but after that repaired In the year 1397 King Richard II. caused the Walls Windows and Roof to be taken down and new made with a stately Porch and divers Lodgings of a marvelous Work and with great Costs which being finished Anno 1399. He kept a most Royal Christmas there with daily Justings and Runnings at Tilt whereunto resorted such a number of People that there was every day spent 28 or 26 Oxen 300 Sheep and Fowl without number He caused a Gown to be made for himself of Gold garnished with Pearl and precious Stones to the value of 3000 Marks There daily fed there 10000 People as appeareth by the Messes told out from the Kitchin to 300 Servitors A great part of this Palace was burnt Anno 1512 the 4th of Henry VIII since which time it hath not been Re-edified Only the Great Hall with the Offices near adjoining are kept in good Reparations and serveth as afore for Feasts at Coronations Arraignments of Great Persons charged with Treason and keeping of the Courts of Justice For whereas formerly the Courts and Benches followed the King wheresoever he went before and since the Conquest but being found to be troublesom chargeable and inconvenient to the People it was Anno 1224 9 H. 3. agreed that theâ—e should be a standing place appointed where Matters should be heard and judged which was in the Great Hall at Westminster I. The Court of COMMON-PLEAS Where he appointed Three Judgment-Seats viz. at the Entry on the Right-hand the Court of Common-Pleas So called because there are debated the usual Pleas between Subject and Subject as about Tenures of Lands and Civil Actions None but Sergeants 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 Pleas are distinguished into Pleas of the Crown as Treason and Felony with Misprision of Felony which belong to the Kings-Bench and Common or Civil Pleas whereof this Court takes Cognizance This Court may grant Prohibitions as the Kings-Bench doth The Chief Judge is called the Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas or de Communi Banco the Common Bench who holds his place by Letters Patents Durante Beneplacito and so do the other inferior Judges of this Court whereof there are commonly Three Here 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 levied or Recoveries suffered but only in this Court The King allows to the Lord Chief Justice of this Court a Fee Reward Robes and two Tun of Wine Also to the other Judges of this Court and to four Sergeants is allow'd Fees Reward and Robes to each one The Officers are many Custos Brevium three Protonatories Clerk of the Warrants Clerk of the Kings Silver four Exigenters fourteen Filazers Clerk of the Juries Clerk of the Essoignes Clerk of the Outlawries which belongeth to the Attorney General who exercises it by Deputy c. For which at large see the Present State of England Pag. 102. Edit 1679. II. KINGS-BENCH At the upper End of the Hall on the Right-hand or South-east Corner the Court of Kings-Bench was appointed which is of a larger Extent of Power and more Uncontroulable than any other Tribunal For the Law presumes that the King is there still in Person He being Lord Chief Justice of England Himself yet it is observable that though He should personally sit upon the Bench He can pass no Sentence of Judgment but by the Mouths of His Judges who did use to sit there at His Feet when He was present After the House of Lords in Parliament this is the Highest Court in England and the Judicature in the Absence of the King belongs to His Judges 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 concern'd because the Life and Limb of the Subject in the sense of the Law belong only to the King so that the Pleas here are between the King and the Subject Here are handled all Treasons Felonies Breach of Peace Oppression Misgovernment c. This Court hath power to Examine and Correct all Errors in Facto and in Jure of all the Judges and Justices of England in their Judgments 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 yet of large Extent in point of Authority thus Rex c. Mathaeo Hale Militi salutem Sciatis quod constituimus vos Justiciarium nostrum Capitalem ad placita coram nobis tenenda Durante beneplacito nostro teste Me Ipso apud Westm c. That is in English The King c. To Sir Matthew Hale Kt. Greeting Know ye That we have Constituted you our Capital or Chief Justice in Pleas held before Vs during Our Pleasure Witness My Self at Westminster c. The rest of the Judges of the Kings-Bench hold their Pleas by Letters Patents in these words Rex omniblis ad quos praesentes literae pervenerint Salutem Sciatis quod Constituimus Dilectum Fidelem nostrum A. B. 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 practise This Court may grant Prohibitions to keep other Courts both Ecclesiastical and Temporal within their due Bounds and Jurisdiction The Jurisdiction of this Court is general extending to all England as before None can be a Judge in this Court unless he be a Sergeant of the Degree of the Coif that is a Sergeant at Law and yet in the Writ or Patent to them made they are not called Sergeants who upon taking this high Degree is obliged to wear a Lawn Coif under his Cap for ever after For the Officers of this Court see the Present State of England of the same Edition Pag. 98. III. CHANCERY On the Left-hand or South-west Corner sitteth the Lord Chancellor accompanied with the Master of the Rolls and eleven other Men learned in the Civil Law and called Masters of Chancery which have the King's Fee This Court is placed next the Kings-Bench to mitigate the Rigor of it It is Curia Cancellariae because as some think the Judge of this Court sate anciently intra Cancellos or Lattices as the East-end of Churches are separated per Cancellos from the Body of the Church as
9 28. Rutland 2 29. Shropshire 12 30. Somersetshire 18 31. Southampton Or Southamptonshire 26 32. Staffordshire 10 33. Suffolk 16 34. Surrey 14 35. Sussex 20 36. Warwickshire 6 37. Westmorland 4 38. Wiltshire 34 39. Worcestershire 9 40. Yorkshire 30 BARONS of the CINQUE-PORTS Port of Hastings 2 Town of Winchelsey 2 Town of Rye 2 Port of new Rumney 2 Port of Hieth 2 Port of Dover 2 Port of Sandwich 2 Port of Seaford 2 WALES 1. Anglesey 1 Bewmaris 1 2. Brecon 1 Town of Brecon 1 3. Cardigan 1 Town of Cardigan 1 4. Carmarthen 1 Town of Carmarthen 1 5. Carnarvan 1 Town of Carnarvan 1 6. Denbigh 1 Town of Denbigh 1 7. Flint 1 Town of Flint 1 8. Glamorgan 1 Town of Cardiff 1 9. Merioneth 1 10. Pembrook 1 Town of Haverford-west 1 Town of Pembrook 1 11. Montgomery 1 Town of Montgomery 1 12. Radnor 1 Town of Radnor 1 The Barons of the Cinque-Ports are at this Day only as Burgesses in Parliament yet they are still called Barons after the antient manner because heretofore they got Renown by their Exploits at Sea in defending the Kingdom in Memory whereof they have yet the priviledge to send Burgesses to bear the Cloth of State over the King's Head on the day of His Coronation and to Dine that Day in the King's presence The Writ or Summons to the Sheriff for Election of Members to Serve in the House of Commons runs to this purpose The KING to the Sheriff c. Greeting WHereas by the Advice and Assent of our Council for certain arduous and urgent Affairs concerning Vs the State and Defence of our Kingdom of England and the Church of England We have Ordamed a certain Parliament of Ours to be held at this Our City of the Day of next Ensuing and there to have Conference and to Treat with the Prelates Great Men and Peers of Our said Kingdom We command and strictly enjoyn you that making Proclamation at Our next County Court after the Receipt of this Our Writ to be holden the day and Place aforesaid you cause two Knights girt with Swords the most fit and discreet of the County aforesaid and of every City of that County two Citizens of every Burrough two Burgesses of the discreetest and most sufficient to be freely and indifferently chosen by them who shall be present at such Proclamation according to the Tenor of the Statutes in that Case made and provided and the Names of the said Knights Citizens and Burgesses so châ—sen to be inserted in certain Indentures to be then made between you and those that shall be present at such Election whether the Parties so Elected be present or absent and shall make them to come at the said Day and Place so that the said Knights for themselves and the County aforesaid and the Citizens and the Burgesses for themselves and the Commonalty of the said Cities and Boroughs may have severally from them full and sufficient Power to do and to consent to those things which then by the Favour of GOD shall happen to be Ordained by the Common Councel of Our said Kingdom concerning the businesses aforesaid so that the business may not by any means remain undone for want of such Power or by reason of the improvident Election of the foresaid Knights Citizens and Burgesses But we will not in any Case that you or any other Sheriff of Our said Kingdom shall be Elected and at the Day and Place aforesaid the said Election being made in a full County Court you shall certify without Delay unto Vs in Our Chancery under your Seal and the Seals of them who shall be present at the Election sending back unto Vs the other part of the Indenture aforesaid affixed to these presents together with the Writ Witness Our Self at c. The King is in the sence of Law the Fountain of Justice He is Lord Chief Justice of England and therefore all the Laws of the Realm are called His Laws for He is Caput principium finis Parliamenti that is the head beginning and end of Parliament and nothing can have the Force of a Law but what has His Royal Assent The highest Court of Judicature in England is the House of Lords in Parliament who are assisted with the most Grave and Eminent Lawyers of England both in Common and Civil Law who are only Ministerial there and have no Voices but to give their Opinions in matters of Law which become doubtful To the Judicature of this Supreme and most Honorable Court all other Courts and Persons that are Subjects of England are accountable for all Crimes not properly Tryable Remediable or Punishable in other inferiours Courts of Justice and to this Court all last Appeals are made from whose Sentence there lies no Appeal but to a succeeding Parliament and this Supreme Judicatory or Judicial Power lies only in the King and House of Lords and at the Bar of this High Court may the House of Commons as the Grand Inquest of the Nation Impeach the Highest Subject of England whether of the Clergy or of the Laity and prosecute them till it come to a Sentence All Members of Parliament both Lords and Commons that they may attend the publick Service of their Country are priviledged with their Menial Servants attending on their Persons together with all their necessary Goods brought along with them from all Attachments and Imprisonments for Debts Trespasses Account or Covenant all the time that they are on the way to the Place of Parliament all the time that they tarry there and return Eundo Morando ad propria redeundo but not from Arrests for Treason Felony or breach of the Peace The place of Meeting for this High and Honorable Assembly is in whatsoever City Town or House the King pleaseth but most usually at Westminster All the Lords Sit in a fair Room by themselves and the Commons not far from them in another Fair Room heretofore the antient Free Chappel of St. Stephen The King as oft as he comes which is usually at the opening of Parliaments passing of Bills or Solemn Debates is placed at the upper end of the Room in a Chair of State under a Cloth of State under which on either hand sit none but the King's Children On the King 's right hand is a Seat for the Prince of Wales on His left hand is a Seat for the Duke of York On the King 's right hand next the Wall are placed on a Form the two Archbishops next below on another Form the Bishops of London Durham and Winchester Upon other Forms on the same side the rest of the Bishops sit according to the Priority of their Consecration On the King 's left hand upon Forms are placed the Lord Chancellor Treasurer President of the King's Council the Lord Privy Seal if they are Barons above all Dukes except those of the Royal Family if they are not Barons then they Sit uppermost on the Wool-sacks On the same side Sit
Book of the Exchequer The former was six Years a making by William the Conqueror and is a Cense or compute of all England as it was then viz. all the Lands with the value and Owners and Account of all Cities Towns Villages Families Men Souldiers Husbandmen Bondmen Servants Cattle how much Money Rents Meadow Pasture Woods Tillage Common Marsh Heath every one possessed So that in Disputes about Taxes this determined it without further controversie as the Book of the Great day of Doom will then and therefore so called It is kept under three Locks and not to be lookt into under 6 s. 8 d. And for every Line Transcribed is to be paid 4. d. The Auditor of the Receipts is to File the Bills of The Tellers whereby they charge themselves with all Money Received and to draw all Orders to be Signed by the Lord High Treasurer for Issuing forth all Moneys by Vertue of the Privy Seals which are Recorded and Lodged in his Office He makes all Debentures to the several Persons who have Fees Annuities or Pensions by Letters Patents from the King out of the Exchequer and directs them for payment to the Tellers He receives every Week the state of the Account of each Teller and also Weekly certifies the whole to the Lord High Treasurer who presently presents the Estimate or Ballance to the King He takes the Tellers Account in Gross at Easter and Michaelmas By him are kept the several Registers appointed for paying all Persons in Course upon several Branches of the King's Revenue he is Scriptor Talliorum hath five Clerks to manage the whole Estate of Moneys received disbursed and remaining There are four Tellers who Receive all Moneys due to the King and thereupon throw down a Bill through a Pipe into the Tally-Court where it is received by the Auditors Clerk who there attends to write the words of the said Bill upon a Tally and then delivers the same to be Entred by the Clerk of the Pells or his under Clerk who Enters it in his Book Then the Tally is cloven by the two Deputy Chamberlains who have the Seals and while the Senior Deputy reads one part the Junior Examines the other part with the other two Clerks The Clerk of the Pels Enters every Tellers Bill into a Parchment of Skin in Latin Pellis whence this Office hath its Name all Receipts and Payments for the King for what cause or by whomsoever and is in Nature of a Comptroller hath four Clerks whereof one is for the Introitus and another for the Exitus Moreover he is to make Weekly and half Yearly Books both of the Receipts and Payments which are delivered to the Lord Treasurer He that Pays the King any Moneys receives for his Acquittance a Tally so called from the French Verb Tallier to cut that is one half of a Stick cloven with certain proportionable Notches thereon expressive of the Sum from the said Deputy Chamberlains who keep the other cloven part of the Stick called the Foyl and Delivers it to the Tally-Joyners on the other side of the Exchequer who are also Deputies to the Chamberlains an◠they joyn it with the Foyl which agreeing the◠give it their Test and send it by an Officer of the◠own to the Pipe where their quietus est is Ingrosse◠in Parchment In the Office of the Deputy-Chamberlains Westminster are preserved all the Counterfoyls 〈◊〉 these Tallies so exactly ranged by Months an◠Years that they are to be presently found out t◠be joined with their respective Stock or Tally when required which proving true they deliver it Attested for a Lawful Tally to the Clerk of the Pipe for to be allowed in the great Roll but in Case any Corruption hath been used the same is easily and soon discovered and the Offender severely punished by Fine and Imprisonment This Antient way of striking of Tallies hath been found by long experience to be absolutely the best way that ever was invented for it is Morally impossible so to Falsifie or Counterfeit a Tally but that upon rejoyning it with the Counterfoyl it will be obvious to every Eye either in the Notches or in the Cleaving in the Longitude Latitude Natural growth or shape of the Counterfoyl whereas Acquittances in Writing cannot be so done but that they may be Counterfeited by skilful Penmen and that so exactly as that he who wrote the Original shall not be able to know his own hand from the Counterfeit as hath been frequently seen in all the Courts of Westminster There are two Vshers whose Office it is to secure the Exchequer by Day and Night and all the Avenues leading to the same and to furnish all Necessaries as Books Paper c. There is a Tally-Cutter and four Messengers This Exchequer is the best ordered publick Revenue in the World Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster Before we come to treat of the High Court of Parliament we will give an Account of the Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster kept at Westminster-Hall on the left hand above Stairs which takes Cognizance of all Causes that any way concern the Revenue of that Dutchy which hath been long since Annexed to the Crown The Chief Judge of this Court is the Chancellor of the Dutchy who is assisted by the Attorney of the Dutchy To this Court belong divers other Officers It is kept near the lower Exchequer and at the Office of Sir Gilbert Gerrard at Grays-Inn Of the High Court of PARLIAMENT Sir Richard Baker tell us in his Chronicle that King Henry the I. instituted the Form of the High Court of Parliament and that the first Council of this sort was held at Salisbury on the 19 th of April and the 16 th of his Reign which is 560 and odd Years ago Before the Conquest the great Council of the King consisting only of the Great Men of the Kingdom was called Magnatum Conventus the Convention or Meeting of the Grandees or Great Men or else Prelatorum Procerumque Concilium and by the Saxons in their own Tongue Michel Gemot the great Assembly After the Conquest it was called Parlementum a French word derived of Parler to talk together consisting still only of the great Men of the Nation till the aforesaid King's Reign None but the King hath Authority to Summon a Parliament In the King's absence out of the Realm the Custos Regni in the King's Name doth Summon a Parliament and During the King's Minority within the Realm the Protector Regni doth the same When the King of England is with His Parliament in time of peace He is then said to be in the height of His Royal Dignity as well as when He is at the head of His Army in time of War He can with the concurrence of his Lords and Commons then do any thing in point of Enacting or Repealing Laws Legitimate one that is born Illegitimate Bastardize one that is born Legitimate He can make an Infant of full Age make an Alien or
the Dukes Marquesses and Earls according to their Creations Upon the first Form across the House below the Woolsacks sit the Viscounts and upon the next Forms the Barons all in Order The Lord Chancellor or Keeper if the King be present stands behind the Cloth of Estate otherwise sits on the first Woolsack thwart the Chair of State his Great Seal and Mace by him he is Lord Speaker of the Lords House Upon other Woolsacks sit the Judges the Privy Counsellors and Secretaris of State the King's Council at Law the Masters of Chancery who being not Barons have no suffrage by Voâ—ce in Parliament but only sit as was said to give Advice when required The Reason of their sitting upon Woolsacks is thought to be to put them in mind of the Great Importance of our Woollen Manufactories which is the Grand Staple Commodity of England and so not to be by any means neglected On the Lowermost Woolsack are placed the Clerk of the Crown and Clerk of the Parliament whereof the former is concern'd in all Writs of Parliament and Pardons in Parliament The other Recordeth all things done in Parliament and keepeth the Records of the same This Clerk hath also two Clerks under him who kneel behind the same Woolsack and write thereon Without the Bar of the Lords House sits the King 's first Gentleman Usher called the Black-Rod from a Black-staff he carries in his hand under whom is a Yeoman Usher that waits at the Door within a Cryer without and a Serjeant at Mace always attending the Lord Chancellor When the King is present with His Crown on his Head none of the Lords are covered The Judges stand till the King gives them leave to sit When the King is absent the Lords at their entrance do Reverence to the Chair of State as is or should be done by all that enter into the King's Presence Chamber The Judges then may sit but may not be covered till the Chancellor or Keeper signifies unto them the leave of the Lords The King's Council and Masters of Chancery sit also but may not be covered at all The Commons in their House sit Promiscuously only the Speaker hath a Chair placed in the middle and the Clerk of that House near him at the Table They never had any Robes as the Lords ever had but wear every one what he fancyeth most The time of Sitting in Parliament is on any day in the Morning or before Dinner When the day prefixt by the King in His Writs of Summons is come the KING usually in his Royal Robes with His Crown on His Head declares the cause of their being Assembled in a short Speech leaving the rest to the Lord Chancellor who then stands behind His MAJESTY the Commons in the mean time standing bare at the Bar of the Lords House who are Commanded to chuse then a Speaker which without the KING's Command they may not do whereupon they Return to their own House and choose one of their own Members whom they present on another Day to the KING and being approved of by His MAJESTY sitting in His Chair and all the Lords in their Scarlet Robes he makes a modest refusal which not allowed he Petitioneth His Majesty That the Commons may have during their Sitting 1. A free Access to His Majesty 2. A freedom of Speech in their own House 3. Freedom from Arrests Which the King Grants Before they enter upon Affairs all the Members of the House of Commons take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy in the presence of an Officer appointed by the KING And since the Papists have been found by the Wisdom of the KING and Parliament to be Plotting and Contriving to introduce the pretended Supremacy of their Pope and inslave the Nation to their Tyrannical Anti-spiritual Jurisdiction by Horrid Projections Plots Intrigues c. to prevent any such from Voting in either House it was thought meet though no Oaths can bind such who profess the Impious Doctrine of Equivocation that all are to declare their Opinion against the Doctrines of Transubstantiation Invocation and Adoration of Saints the Sacrifice of the Mass which Test the Lords also are Obliged to take in their House before they can Sit and Debate upon any Affair The Lords House hath a power not only in Making and Repealing Laws but also in tractando Consilium impendendo that is in Treating and Counselling c. 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 Illegal proceeding in other Courts in Appeals from Decrees in Chancery No Papist is to Sit or have Suffrage in the Lords House The Lords in case of necessary or unavoidable absence may make their Proxies to Vote in their place after License obtained under the KING's Signet The Commons as was said have a power in Making and Repealing Laws they have a Negative Voice as the KING and Lords have for nothing can pass into a Law without the joint concurrence of the King and both Houses Bills for Levying of Mony upon the Subject begin in the House of Commons because the greater part of the same arises from them The Commons have a power to Supplicate and propose Laws and as before to Impeach publick Delinquents of the Highest Quality that are Subjects for they are the Grand Inquest of the Nation and are to present Publick Grievances to be Redressed and Delinquents to be punished To this end the Lords sit in their Robes on the Bench covered they Swear and Examine Witnesses and at last pass Sentence the Members of the House of Commons stand bare at the Bar of the Lords House produce Witnesses manage Evidences c. Though every Member of the House of Commons is chosen to Serve for one particular County City or Borough yet he Serves for the whole Kingdom and his Voice is equal to any other his power is absolute to consent or dissent They are to make it their special care to promote the good of that County City or Borough for which they Serve so as that no particular benefit may interfere with or be prejudicial to the Good of the whole Kingdom The Lords are to bear their own Charges because they Represent only themselves The Commons usually had their Reasonable expences In the 17 of Ed. II. they had Ten Groats for Knights and Five Groats for Burgesses a day and not long after Four s. a day for Dubbed Knights and Two s. for all others which in those days as appears by the Prices of all things was a considerable Sum above Twenty times more than it is now So that some decayed Boroughs finding the expence heavy Petitioned that they might not be obliged to send Burgesses to Parliament and so were Vnburgessed c. It is the Practice of each House to debate all publick Affairs relating to the general or
of the said Doctors in a most Capacious and Beautiful manner where they keep their Courts and pleadings every Term which begins and ends almost at the same time with the Term at Westminster The Chief Court is that of the Arches so called from the Arched Church of St. Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside where this Court was wont to be held but now in the Common-Hall at Doctors Commons the Judge whereof is called the Dean of the Arches having Jurisdiction over a Deanry consisting of thirteen 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 belong divers Advocates all Doctors of the Civil Law two Registers and ten Proctors The Dean or Judge of the Arches sitteth alone without any Assessors and Heareth and Determineth all Causes without any Jury of Twelve Men. The manner is briefly thus Fist goes out a Citation then a Bill and Answer then by Proofs Witnesses and Presumptions the matter is Argued pro and con and the Canon and Civil Laws quoted and then the Definitive Sentence of the Judge passeth and upon that Execution But by Statute 25 Henry the VIII it was provided that it shall be Lawful for any Subject of England in Case of Defect of Justice in the Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Appeal to the King's Majesty in His Court of Chancery and that upon such an 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 there lyes an Appeal to this Court and beyond it to none other It is called the Court of Delegates and in Civil Affairs is the Highest Court in England Ecclesiastical Criminal Causes are Tried by way of Accusation Denunciation or Inquisition The first When some one takes upon him to prove the Crime The second When the Church-Wardens Present and are not bound to prove because it is presumed they do it without Malice and that the Crime is Notorious Thirdly By Inquisition when by reason of Common Fame inquiry is made by the Bishop ex Officio suo by calling some of the Neighborhood or the Party Accused to their Oaths But this Oath ex Officio was taken away by Parliament in the time of King Charles the First If the Party Accused after Admonition submits not he is Excommunicated from the Church and is disenabled to be a Plaintiff in a Law Suit c. Which is called Excommunicatio Minor Excommunicatio Major excludes from the Church and from Society in Temporal Affairs and that for Heresie Schism Perjury Incest or such grievous Crimes then a Man cannot be Plantiff or Witness in any Civil or Ecclesiastical Court. And if he continues Excommunicated 40 Days the King 's Writ de Excommunicato capiendo is granted out of the Chancery against him whereupon he is cast into Prison without Bail there to lye till he hath submitted to the Bishop and satisfied for what he is charged with by which many tender Consciences have suffered deeply There is an Anathematismus inflicted upon an obstinate Person that is Judged an Heretick wherein he is Curs'd and Rejected to Damnation There is also an Interdict Prohibiting all Divine Offices to a Place or People if against a People it follows them any where if against a Place the People may go elsewhere to hear Somtimes a Person Adjudged a Delinquent is punished another way which is called Publick Pennance and is to stand in the Church-Porch upon Sunday bare Headed and bare Footed in a White sheet and a White Rod in his Hand then he is to go into the Church and his Crime being publickly repeated and he professing Repentance is Absolved but in some Cases the Party may come off for Money to the Poor or some Pious Use which is not always converted that way Christian Burial is denyed to Persons Excommunicate or Perjured to such as are Hang'd for Felony or Kill themselves to Apostates Hereticks and Extortioners Somtimes the Clergy Men are suspened ab Officio viz. from the Exercise of their Functions somtimes there is a Deprivatio a Beneficio when deprived of their Livings somtimes they are Degraded that is Deprived of their Orders which is commonly for some Heinous Crime So much Briefly of these Censures and Punishments The Office of Actuary attending the Court of Arches is to set down the Judges Decrees Register the Acts of the Court and send them in Books of the Registry The Office of the Register is to Attend the Court by himself or Deputy and receive all Libels or Bills Allegations and Exhibits of Witnesses Files all Sentences and keeps the Records of the Court. The Beadle attends the Court carryeth a Mace before the Judge and calls the Persons Cited to appear The Judge and all the Advocates who are all Doctors of the Civil Law wear Scarlet Robes with Hoods lined with Taffata if they be of Oxford or White Miniver Furr if of Cambridge and the Proctors ought to wear Hoods lined with Lamb skin if not Graduates but if Graduates Hoods according to their Degree The Proctors are Persons that Exhibit their Proxies for their Clients and make themselves Parties for them and draw and give in Pleas or Libels and Allegations in the behalf of their Clients produce the Witnesses prepare the Causes for Sentence and and attend the Advocates with the proceedings All Arguments made by Advocates and all Petitions made by Proctors are to be in Latin All process of this Court runs in the Name of the Judge and returnable before him heretofore in Bow-Church but now in the Common-Hall at Doctors Commons The Places and Offices of this Court are in the Gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury These Ecclesiastical Laws consist of Canons made by General Councels the Opinion of Fathers the Decrees of several Bishops of Rome formerly admitted and our own Constitutions made antiently in several Provincial Synods which by 25 Henry VIII are in Force so far as they are not Repugnant to the Laws and Customs of England or the King's Prerogative Then the Canons made in the Convocations of latter times as Primo Jacobi and confirmed by him some Statutes Enacted by Parliament and divers old Customs not written but yet in use and where these fail the Civil Law takes place Amongst the Great Officers of the Crown which are Nine viz. the Lord High Steward of England the Lord High Chancellor the Lord High Treasurer the Lord President of the KING's Council the Lord Privy Seal the Lord Great Chamberlain the Lord High Constable the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Admiral of England The last only appertains to this place his Trust and Honour is so great that it has been usually given to the KING 's Younger Sons near Kinsmen or some of the Highest and Chiefest of all the Nobility He has the management of all Maritime Affairs as well in respect of Jurisdiction as
to run away withdraw or absent himself the Sheriff may arrest the Defendant by his Body or Goods as a Foreigner c. When a Debtor in the said City is bound by Obligation in a certain sum to be paid at a certain time to come the which Debtor was held sufficient at the time when he was bound and after is become Fugitive or not sufficient then if the Creditor come before the Mayor and Sheriffs of the said City making such a suggestion and hath with him six or four credible Freemen of the same City that will truly testifie that the Debtor will withdraw and Convey his Goods out of the City or that he is not sufficient to make Payment then the Mayor or one of the Sheriffs before whom the Suggestion is made useth to Arrest the Debtor although the Day contained within the Obligation be not yet come and to keep the same Debtor in Prison untill the Day of Payment be come or otherwise that he shall find Pledges to attend at the same Day and so to Arrest for House-hire before the Day if the Tenant be Fugitive If a Free-man of the City find his Debtor suddenly within the same City which Debter hath absented himself before or that he be Fugitive City-Law pag. 105. and the which Debtor will Escape away before that the Creditor can have an Officer the usage is in such Case that the Free-man himself with aid of his Neighbours without other Officer may Arrest his Debtor and carry him to the Office of one of the Sheriffs and there make his Suit as the Law requires A Brief Account of the Courts held in this Honourable City THe highest and most ancient Court in this famous City is that called the Hustings a Saxon Word Hus signifying a House and Sthing or Thing a Cause or Plea so that it is Domus Causarum a House of Causes or Pleas or Pleadings This Court preserves the Laws Rights Franchises and Customs of the City There be handled the the Intricatest Accounts and Pleas of the Crown and of the whole Kingdom It is of great Antiquity the Laws of Edward the Confessour much referring to it where may be read these words Debet enim in London quae caput est Regni Legum semper Curia Domini Regis singulis septimâ—nis die Lunae Hustingis sedere teneri c. That is The Court of our Lord the King ought to sit and be held every Week on Monday at the Hustings in London which City is the head of the Kingdom and Laws c. But now it is held on Tuesdays in the Guild-Hall of London before the Lord Mayor Sheriffs and Aldermen every Week All the Lands and Tenements Rents and Services within the City and Liberties are pleaded there in two Hustings one is called Husting de placito terrae Husting of Plea of Land the other de Communibus placitis of Common-Pleas It is held on Monday to Demand the Demandants and to award Non-suites to allow Essoynes and on Tuesday to award the Default and Plead For certain times no Hustings may be held by Custom of the City viz. Husting of Plea of Land ought to be held a Week by it self at the aforesaid days but the Inrollments and Titles of the said Hustings make mention of Monday only In Husting of Plea of Land are Pleaded Writs of Right Patents Directed to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London which Writs have this process by Custom of the City viz. The Tenant or Tenants shall first have three Summons at the Tenements Demanded at three Hustings of Plea of Land next ensuing after the Livery of the Writ and of the Hustings without Demanding the Tenements at any aforesaid And after the three Summons ended three Essoynes at three other Hustings of Plea of Land then next ensuing and at the next ensuing after the third Essoyne and the Tenants making Default Process shall be made against them by a Grand cape or petit cape after the appearance and other Process at the Common-Law And if the Tenants shall appear the Demandants shall Count against the Tenants in the Nature of what Writ they will except certain Writs which are Pleadable in Husting of Common-Pleas c. without making Protestation to see in the Nature of any Writ And the Tenants shall have the view and shall be Essoyned after the view as at the Common-law And the Tenant shall have an Essoyn after every appearance by Custom of the City And although that such a Writ be abated after the view by exception of Joynt-Tenancy or other exception Dilatory or other such Writ be â—evived the Tenants by the Custom of the City shall have the view in the second Writ Notwithstanding the view before had And if the parties plead to Judgment the Judgment shall be pronounced by the Recorder and six Aldermen at least were wont to be present at the giving of every such Judgment Every Beadle of the City by the advice of the Alderman of his Ward against every Hustings or Plea of Land shall Summon Twelve Men Freeholders being the best and most sufficient of his Ward to come to Guild-Hall for to pass in an Inquest if there be need for the rest of the Free-holders of the said Ward And if the parties plead and descend to an Inquest then shall the Inquest be taken of the People Inheritors having at the least Frank-Tenement of the same Ward where the Tenements are and other three Wards next to the place where the Tenements are so that four sufficient men of the same Ward where the Tenements are shall be sworn in the same Inquest if there be so many No Damages by Custom of the City are recoverable in any such Writ of Right Patent and the Inquest may pass the same day by such common Summons of the Beadle if the parties be at Issue and the Jurors come Otherwise Process shall be made to cause the Inquest to come at another Husting of Plea of Land ensuing by Precept of the Mayor directed to the Sheriffs who shall be Ministers by the Commandment of the Mayor to serve the Writs and to make Execution thereof notwithstanding that the Original Writ be directed to the Mayor and Sheriffs Joyntly And it is to be understood that as well the Tenants as the Demandants may make their Attorneys in such Pleas c. See City-Law p. 46. c. In the Hustings of Common-Pleas are Pleadable Writs called ex gravi querela for to have Execution of the Tenements out of the Testaments which are Inrolled in the Hastings Writs of Dower unde nihil habet Writs of Gavelkind and Custom and of Service Instead of a Cessavit Writs of Error of Judgments given before the Sheriffs Writs of Waste Writ de Partitione facienda between Co-partners Writs of quid Juris clamat and per quae â—ervitiâ— and others which Writs are close and directed to the Mayor and Sheriffs and also Replegiaries of things taken and of Distresses wrongfully taken are
Pleadable before the Mayor and Sheriffs in the same Husting of Cowmon-Pleas by Plaint without Writ c. The Aldermen of London are summoned to the Husting and they ought by usage of the said City to be summoned by an Officer of the Sheriffs sitting upon an Horse of 100 s. price at least Of the Court of Requests or Conscience THis Court was first Erected by an Act of Common-Councel 9 H. 8. viz. That the Lord Mayor and Aldermen for the time being should Monthly assign two Aldermen and four Discreet Commoners to sit twice a week to hear and Determine all matters brought before them betwixt Freemen where the Due Debt or Damage did not exceed 40 s. Afterwards the said Number of Commissioners were enlarged to the Number of Twelve which continued till the end of Queen Elizabeths Reign and 3 Jacobi cap. 15. confirm'd by Act of Parliament where it was Enacted That every poor Citizen and Free-man inhabiting in London being sued for Debt under 40 s. may exhibit his suit in the Court of London called the Court of Requests where shall be nominated Twelve Commissioners three of which may send for any Creditor who is complained of in suing such a Debt under 40 s. and if he refuse to come or perform not their Orders they may cause him to be Arrested by any Sergeant of London and Commit him to Prison there to remain untill he perform the said Order c. This Court was to continue by the first Act of Common-Councel but for two years but being found Charitable and Profitable for the relief of poor Debtors unable to make present payment and to restrain malicious persons from proceeding in wilful Suits and to help poor persons as had small Debts owing to them and unable to prosecute Suits in Law elsewhere it was continued by divers Acts of Common-Councel as aforesaid Of the Court of the Lord MAYOR and ALDERMEN IN this Court the Lord Mayor and Aldermen as also the Recorder and Sheriffs who are usually Aldermen or else constantly Chosen upon the next vacancy sit this is a Court of Record principally instituted among other causes for the redressing and correcting the Errors Defaults and misprisions which happen in the Government of the City It is kept on Tuesdays and Thursdays In this Court are comprehended several other Courts as I. The Court of Orphans for the Mayor and Alderman as was said at large before by Custom have the Custody of the Orphans within the City c. The Chamberlain is a sole Corporation to himself and his Successors for Orphans and a Recognizance made to him and his Successours touching Orphans shall by Custom go to his Successor The Government of Orphans is so invested in the Mayor that if any Orphans sue in the Ecclesiastical Court or elsewhere for a Legacy or Duty due to them by the Custom a Prohibition doth lie 2. The Court of Wardmote or of the Wardmote Inquest for the whole City being divided into twenty-six Wards every Ward hath such an Inquest consisting of twelve or more who inquire after Abuses and Disorders and present them to be redressed inquiry is also made into all things that can conduce to the Regulating and well governing the City 3. The Court of Hall-mote or Hall-Court or Assembly of every Guild or Fraternity for Redressing what belongs to the said Companies in particular 4. The Court of the Conservation of the Water and River of Thames which belongs to the Lord Mayor from Stanes-Bridge unto the Water of Yendal and Medway of which we have spoke largly before when we Treated of the River of Thames 5. The Courts of the Coroner and Escheater which both belong to the Lord Mayor he being Coroner and Escheator by vertue of his Authority and Office 6. The Court of Policies and Assurances to Merchants that venture and Traffique on the Seas where Ships and Goods are Insured at so much per Cent. where there is an Officer of good Quality who Registers those Assurances 7. The Court of the Tower of London which is held within the Verge of the City before the Steward by prescription of Debt Trespass and other Actions Now part of the Tower is within the City and part in Middlesex viz the East part but the West in London whereof as was formerly said when we spoke of the Tower p. 14. there was a notable Example in the Person of Sir Thomas Overbury who being poysoned in a Chamber on the West part the principal Murderers were Tryed before Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer in London and so was Sir Gervase Elways the Lieutenant of the Tower at that time 8. The Court of Common-Councel consisting as the Parliament of England of two Houses one for the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and the other for the Commoners In which Court are made all By-Laws which bind all the Citizens of London for every Man either by himself or by his Representative gives his assent thereunto wherein consists the great happiness of the English Subject above all the Subjects of any other Prince in the World that neither in Laws nor By-Laws neither in Taxes or Imposts any man is obliged but by his own Consent The Oath of a Common-Councel-Man YE shall Swear that ye shall be true to our Soveraign Lord the King that now is and to his Heirs and Successors Kings of England and readily ye shall come when ye be summoned to the Common-Council of this City but if ye be reasonably excused and good and true Councel ye shall give in all things touching the Commonwealth of this City after your Wit and Cunning and that for favour of any person ye shall maintain no singular profit against the Common profit of this City and after that ye be come to the Common-Councel you shall not thence depart untill the Common-Councel be ended without reasonable cause or else by the Lord Mayors License And also any secret things that be spoken or said in the Common-Councel which ought to be kept secret in no wise you shall disclose as God you help The Common-Councel-Men are chosen at the Wardmote-Inquest for the respective Wards and are to be of the most sufficient honest and discreet Men of the Ward to serve for the ensuing year on St. Thomas the Apostles day 9. The Court of the Chamberlain of the City to whom belongs the Receipts of the Rents and Revenues of the City And to his Court belongs the business of Apprentices over whom he hath great Authority as was said before This Officer is chosen by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons He over-sees and keeps all the Books Rolls Records and other Monuments and Remembrances that ought to remain of Record and the City Treasure to keep and maintain all the Rents and Tenements pertaining to the Chamber of London His Office about Orphans we have shewed before as also about Apprentices to which we shall add that he is to cause their Indentures to be Inrolled and make those Apprentices to serve out
their time One may be a Freeman of London 1. By Seâ—vice as in case of Apprentiship 2. By Birth-right as being the Son of a Freeman 3. By Redemption by Order of the Court of Aldermâ—n For such as are made Free this way the Chamberlain of London is to set the Fines of such Redemptions He is to take Fines of such as are rebellious to their Masters or Guardians and for certain other Defaults c. To shew the Piety of the honourable Governours of this great City in ancient as well as modern times I shall produce the Instructions Recorded for the Apprentices of London out of Stow p. 668. Edit 1633. The Observation of which is heartily recommended to the Youth concern'd It is thus YOu shall constantly and Devoutly on your knees every day serve God Morning and Evening and make Conscience in the Due hearing of the Word Preached and endeavour the right practise thereof in your Life and Conversation You shall do diligent and faithful Service to your Master for the time of your Apprentiship and Deal truly in what you shall be trusted You shall often read over the Covenants of your Indenture and see and endeavour your self to perform the same to the uttermost of your power You shall avoid all evil Company and all occasions which may tend or draw you to the same and make speedy Return when you shall be sent of your Masters or Mistresses Errands You shall avoid Idleness and be ever Employed either for God's Service or in your Masters business You shall be of fair gentle and lowly speech and behaviour to all men and especially to all your Governours And according to your Carriage expect your Reward for Good or Ill from God and your Friends c. Of the Sheriffs Courts THere are two Courts of Sheriffs one for the Counter in Woodstreet and another for the Counter in the Poultry whereof there are two Lawyers as Judges well read in the Customs of the City as well as the Common-Laws but if an erroneous Judgment be given before the Sheriffs the party griev'd may sue a Writ of Error and remove it to the Hustings before the Mayor and Sheriffs if they yield no Redress then shall certain Justices be assigned by the King's Commission to sit at St. Martins le Grand by Nisi prius for to Redress the said Judgments and if there be default found in the the Mayor and Sheriffs they shall be punished for their Misprisions by the form contained in the Statute of 28 E. 3. c. 10. One taken in Execution in London upon a Condemnation in the Sheriffs Court and Removed by Habeas Corpus into the Kings-Bench shall be commited there in Execution for that Debt and having discharged all Causes in the Kings-Bench shall be remanded Then there is the Court of Sessions or Goal-Delivery held usually eight times a year at the Old-Bayly both for the City and Middlesex for the Tryal of Criminals whereof the Lord Mayor is the Chief Judge and hath the power of Reprieving condemned Persons The Prisons in London OF Ludgate we have spoken in the Section of Gates page 9. And of Newgate page 10. The Counter in the Poultry belongs to one of the Sheriffs of London and has been kept and continued there time out of mind The Counter in Woodstreet belongs also to one of the Sheriffs prepared to be a Prison-House Anno 1555. and on the 28 th of September that year the Prisoners that lay in the Counter in Breadstreet were removed to this Counter Both these Counters were burnt in the Year 1666 but Rebuilt since much more stately and Commodious than they were before There is also in the late Parish of St. Margaret Southwark a Prison called the Counter in Southwark c. The Fleet is also a Prison so called of the Fleet or Water running by it now made Navigable and called the Fleet-Dike There was also in Southwark a Prison called the Clink on the Banks-side also a Prison called the White-Lyon in Southwark so called because it was formerly an Inn with that Sign this being the appointed Goal for the County of Surry Stow p. 455. There are besides these two Prisons more in Southwark viz. The Kings-Bench and the Marshalsea which last belongs to the Marshals of England Lastly there is the Gate-House in Westminster a Prison likewise for Offenders c. Of the Watches in London To speak in general terms there cannot be found in the World more Regular Careful and Orderly Watches than are in this great City which indeed is very needful for where there is such a vast confluence of aâ—â— sorts of People it is of absolute necessity to keep diligent Watch to prevent Disorders and Mischiefs which else would happen William the Conquerour commanded that in every Town and Village a Bell call'd Curfew-Bell should be Nightly rung at Eight of the Clock and that all People should then put out their Fire and Candle and take their rest which Order was observed in his Reign and the Reign of William Rufus but Henry the First revoked that Order But Henry the Third Anno 1253. Commanded Watches in Cities and Burroughs to be kept in order to the preservation of Peace and Quietness amongst his Subjects c. There are in the Respective Streets convenient Stations for the Watchmen who are Citizens and obliged to perform that Duty in their turns with their Officers and are to Examine all persons that walk in unseasonable hours and to Apprehend Suspitious persons or such as are Riotous or otherwise mis-behave themselves and secure them At set and convenient times they appoint a Party to go their Rounds and to apprehend such as they find Tippling in Victualing-Houses at unseasonable hours or in Houses of ill-name or Night-walkers or any other persons wheresoever that are uncivil or cannot give a good account of themselves and the Reason of their being abroad and when any such are Apprehended they keep them all night in safe Custody on the Guard or send them to one of the Counters to be forth-coming before a Justice of the Peace the next day who deals with them according to the merit of their Cause By this means an Infinite deal of Evils as Murders Roberies Felonies Fires c. are prevented which would otherwise happen it being certain that in so great and populous a City amongst the many good People it cannot be avoided but that a great many wicked persons capable of the blackest Villanies do creep in as daily and sad experience shews Of the Military Government of London HAving Treated of the Ecclesiastical and Temporal Government of this Great City we will give some brief touches of its Military Government Ancient and Modern In the 23 of H. VIII 1532. At a General Muster in London were first taken the Names of all Men within this City and Liberties only which reach not far from the Walls from the Age of 16 to 60. Also the Number of all Harnesses and all