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
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
is Chosen Yearly a Treasurer who Receiveth Disburseth and Accounteth for all Monies belong to the House Vtter-Barristers are such as from their Learning and Standing are called by the Benchers to Plead and Argue in the Society doubtful Cases and Questions which are called Moots from Meeting the old Saxon word for the French Assemble or else from the French Mot a word and whilst they Argue the said Cases they sit outermost on the Forms of the Benchers which they call the Bar. Out of these Moot-Men are chosen Readers for the Inns of Chancery belonging to the Inns of Court whereof they are Members where in Term time and Grand Vacations they Argue Cases in the presence of Attornies and Clerks All the rest are accounted Inner-Barristers who for want of Learning or time are not to Argue in these Moots and yet in a Moot before the Benchers two of these Inner-Barristers sitting on the same Form with the Vtter-Barristers do for their Exercises recite by heart the pleading of the same Moot-Case the one taking the part of the Plaintiff and the other of the Defendant They divide the Year into three parts 1. The Learning Vacation 2. The Term times 3. The Dead or Mean Vacation They have two Learning Vacations viz. Lent Vacation which begins the first Monday in Lent and continues Three weeks and Three days and Summer Vacation which begins the Monday after Lammas day and continues also Three weeks and Three days In these Vacations are the greatest Conferences and Studious Exercises in this manner The Benchers appoint the Eldest Vtter-Barristers to Read among them openly in the Hall whereof he hath Notice half a Year before he then the first day about Eight of the Clock makes choice of some Act or Statute whereupon he Grounds his whole Reading for that Vacation and declares such Mischiefs and Inconveniencies as were not provided against before the same Act and then Reciteth certain Doubts and Questions which he hath devised that may grow upon the said Statute and declareth his Judgment therein after which one of the Younger Vtter-Barristers repeats one Question propounded by the Reader and doth by way of Argument labour to prove the Readers Opinion to be against Law and after him the Senior Vtter-Barristers and Readers one after another according to Seniority do declare their Opinions and Judgments in the same and then the Reader who did put the Case endeavours to Confute the Objections laid against him and to confirm his own Opinion After which the Judges and Sergeants if any be present declare their Opinions then the Youngest Vtter-Barrister again Rehearseth another Case which is Prosecuted as the former was And this Exercise continues Daily Three or Four hours Out of those who have Read once in the Summer Vacation and are Benchers is chosen always one to Read in Lent who observes the same Method and Order as the former Out of these Readers Sergeants at Law are usually chosen The manner of Mooting is thus In these Vacations after Supper in the Hall the Reader with one or two of the Benchers comes in to whom one of the Vtter-Barristers propounds some doubtful Case which being Argued by the Benchers and lastly by him that moved the Case the Benchers sit down on the Bench at the upper end of the Hall whence they are called Benchers and upon a Form in thâ— Middle of the Hall sit two Vtter-Barristers anâ— on both sides of them on the same Form sits oâ—â— Inner-Barrister who doth in Law French declarâ— to the Benchers as the Sergeants do at the Bar iâ— the KING's Court to the Judges some kind oâ— Action the one being as it were retained by thâ— Plaintiff and the other for the Defendant Whicâ— ended the two Vtter-Barristers Argue such Questions as are Disputable within the Case Afteâ— which the Benchers do likewise declare their Opinions how they take the Law to be in thosâ— Questions In those Mootings the Junior always argueth firstâ— as is used among the Judges in the Exchequer-Chamber and among the Sergeants in open Courts oâ— Judicature The Inner and Vtter-Barrister Pleaâ— in Law French and the Benchers in English anâ— at the Readings the Readers Cases are put iâ— English Mootings in the Inns in Chancery are thus Iâ— the Learning Vacation each Vtter-Barrister who is a Reader in the Inns of Chancery goes with two Students of the same Inn of Court to the Inn oâ— Chancery where he is appointed to Read and there meet him Commonly two of each of the other Inn of Court who sitting as the Benchers do in the Inns of Court at their Moots hear and Argue his Case in the Four Inns of Chancery the Moots are read by those of Greys-Inn or Lincolns-Inn in the other Four by these of the two Temples In Term Time the only Exercises of Learning is Arguing and Debating Cases after Dinner and Mooting after Supper in the same manner as in the Vacation time The time between the Learning Vacations and Terms is called the Mean Vacation during which time every day after Dinner Cases are Argued aâ— at other times and after Supper Moots are brought in and Pleaded by the Inner-Barristers in the presence of the Vtter-Barristers which sit there in the Room of the Benchers and Argue as they do in Term Time and Learning Vacation Every quarter Commonly the Benchers cause one of the standing Officers of the House to Summon a Parliament which is only an Assembly and Conference of Benchers and Vtter-Barristers which are called the Sage Company and meet in a place called the Parliament-Chamber and there Treat of such matters as shall seem expedâ—ent for the good ordering of the House and the Reformation of such things as they shall Judge meet to be Reformed Here are the Readers for Lent and Summer Vacation Elected also the Treasurer is here chosen and the Auditors appointed to take accounts of the old Treasurer c. Here Offences Committed by any of the Society are punished c. In these Four Inns of Court are estimated to be about 800 Students SECT 7. Of Bridges Rivers c. VVE shall begin with the Bridge which for admirable Workmanship vastness of Foundation for all Dimensions for Solid Stately Houses and Rich Shops built thereon surpasseth all others in Europe it hath Nineteen Arches besides the Draw-bridge Founded in a deep broad River It is 800 Foot in Length Sixty High and Thirty Broad it hath a Draw-bridge almost in the middle and 20 Foot between each Arch. It was about the Year 1176 begun to be Built of Stone and after the Labour of 33 Years Finished viz. Anno 1209. which was a work of exceeding cost and difficulty considering the great flux and reflux of the River in that place so that it hath been frequently known that at the Ebbing and Flowing of the water it falls with so violent a Cataract that it has Drown'd many that would adventure to Shoot through the Arches at such times Before some part of the
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