is now called Bacon-House because the same was new builded by Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal Down on that side by Serjeant Fleet-Woods house Recorder of London who also new builded it to Saint Olaves Church in Silver-Street which is by the North-West End of this Noble-Street Then have ye Maine Street of this Ward which is called Saint Martins lane in cluding Saint Martin on the East side thereof and so down on both the sides to Aldersgate And these be the bounds of this Ward within the Wall and Gate Without the Gate the main Street called Aldersgate-Street runneth up North on the East side to the West end of Hounds-ditch or Barbican-Street a part of which Street is also of this Ward And on the West side to Long-Lane a part whereof is likewise of this Ward Beyond the which Aldersgate is Goswell Street up to the Barrs And on the West side of Hidersgate Street by Saint Buttolphs Church is Briton-Street which runneth West to a Pumpe and then North to the Gate which entreth the Church-Yard sometimes pertaining to the Priory of Saint Bartholomews on the east side on the west side towards St. Bartholomews Spittle to a paire of posts there fixed And these be the bounds of this Aldersgate Ward without The antiquities be these first in Stainâ—ng lane of old time so called as may be supposed of Painter-stainers dwelling there On the East side thereof adjoyning to the Aaberdashers Hall be ten Almes-houses pertaining to the Haberdashers wherein be placed ten Almes people of that Company every of them having Eight pence the peece every Friday for ever by the gift of Thomas Huntlow Haberdasher one of the Sheriffs in the year 1539. Then is the small Parish Church of Saint Mary called Staining because it standeth at the North end of Staining lane Then is Engain lane or Maiden lane and at the North-West Corner thereof the Parish Church of St. John Zachary a fair Church with the Monuments well preserved of Thomas Lichfield who founded a Chancery there in the fourteenth of Edward the second On the East side of this Foster Lane at Engane Lane end is Goldsmiths Hall a proper House but not large and therefore to say that Bartholmew Read Goldsmith Mayor in the year 1502 kept such a feast in this Hall as some have fabuled is far incredible and altogether unpossible considering the smallnesse of the Hall number of the Guests which as they say were more than one hundred persons of great estate But of late years the said Goldsmiths Hall is much enlarged and in a stately and sumptuous manner in so much that it may compare with any other Hall in London Then at the North end of Noble-street is the Parish Church of St. Olave in Silver-street a small thing On the West side of Foster-Lane is the small Parish Church of St. Leonards for them of St. Martins le Grand A number of Tenements being lately builded in place of the great Collegiate Church of St. Martin that Parish is mightily encreased Then in Pope-lane so called of one Pope that was owner thereof On the North side is the Parish Church of Saint Anne in the Willowes so called I know not upon what occasion but some say of Willowes growing thereabouts but now there is no such void place for Willowes to grow more than the Church-yard wherein do grow some high Ash-trees to this day Then in St. Martins Lane was of old time a fair and large Colledge of a Dean and Secular Canons or Priests and was called Saint Martins le grand founded by Ingelricus and Edwardus his Brother in the year of Christ 1056 and confirmed by William the Conqueror as appeareth by his Charter dated 1068. This Colledge claimed great Priviledges of Sanctuary and otherwise as appeareth in a Book written by a Notary of that House about the year 1442 the nineteenth of Henry the sixth wherein amongst other things is set down and declared that on the first of September in the year aforesaid a Souldier prisoner in Newgate as he was led by an Officer towards the Guild-Hall of London there came out of Panyer Alley five of his fellowship and took him from the Officer brought him into Sanctuary at the West door of St. Martins Church and took Grithe of that place But the same day Philip Malpas Robert Marshall then Sheriffs of London with many other entred the said Church and forcibly took out with them the said five men thither fled led them fettered to the Counter and from thence chained by the Necks to Newgate of which violent taking the Dean and Chapter in large manner complained to the King and required him as their Patron to defend their Priviledges like as his Predecessors had done c. All which complaint and suite the Citizens by their Counsel Markham Serjeant at the Law Iohn Carpenter common Clerk of the City and others learnedly answered offering to prove that the said place of St. Martin had no such Immunity or Liberty as was pretended Notwithstanding after long debating of this Controversie by the Kings commandment assent of his Councel in the Starr-Chamber the Chancellour and Treasurer sent a Writ unto the Sheriffs of London charging them to bring the said five persons with the cause of their taking and withholding afore the King in his Chancery on the Vigil of Alhallowes on which day the said Sheriffs with the Recorder and Counsel of the City brought and delivered them accordingly afore the said Lords where the Chancellour after he had declared the Kings Commandement sent them to St. Martins there to abide freely as in a place having Franchises whiles them liked c. Without Aldersgate on the East side of Aldersgate-street is the Cookes Hall which Cooks or Pastlers were admitted to be a Company and to have a Master and Wardens in the two and twentieth of Edward the fourth From thence along unto Houndsditch or Barbican street be many fair Houses on the West side also be the like fair buildings till ye come to Long-Lane and so to Goswell street In Britaine street which took that name of the Duke of Britain Lodging there is one proper Parish Church of St. Buttolph In which Church was sometime a Brotherhood of St. Fabian and Sebastian founded in the year 1377 the fifty one of Edward the third and confirmed by Henry the fourth in the sixth of his Reign Then Henry the sixth in the twenty fourth of his Reign to the honour of the Trinity gave Licence to Dame Joane Astley sometime his Nurse to R. Cawood and T. Smith to found the same a Fraternity perpetually to have a Master and two Custos with Brethren and Sisters This Brotherhood was endowed with Lands more than thirty pounds by the year and was suppressed by Edward the sixth Of the One and Twentieth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Faringdon Ward Intra ON the South side of Aldersgate Ward lyeth Faringdon Ward called
businessse aforesaid so that the business may not by any means remain undone for want of such power or by reason of the unprovident Election of the foresaid Knights Burgesses and Citizens 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 certifie without delay unto us in our Chancery under your Seal and the Seals of them who shall be present at the Election sending back unto us the other part of the Indenture aforesaid affil'd to these presents ogether with the Writ Witness our Self at Westminster This Commission or Writ is the foundation whereon the whole fabrick of the power and duty of both Houses of Parliament is grounded The first House is to parley or have conference and to treat and consult with the King the other House is to do and consent only unto what the other shall ordain This was the Law and usage in former times but what is the power of the Commons in these dayes now that the Government is altred and cast into another mould the House of Peers being dissolved it is not the intent of this Discourse to determine At the return of the Writs aforesaid the Parliament could not begin but by the Royal presence of the King either in Perâ—on or by Representation By Representation two wayes either by a Gardian of England by Letters Patenrs under the Great Seal when the King was in remotis out of the Realm or by Commission under the Great Seal to certain Lords of Parliament representing the Person of the King he being within the Realm but absent in respect of some infirmity On the first day of the Parliament the King himself or most commonly the Lord Chancellor or Keeper in the presence of the Lords and Commons did shew the causes of the calling of High Court of Parliament but the King might have appointed any other to be his Prolocutor in this case Then the Commons are to choose their Speaker but in regard that after their choyce the King might refuse him for avoiding of time and contestation the use was as in the Congè deslire of a Bishop that the King doth recommend a discreet and learned man whom the Commons elect but without their Election no Speaker can be appointed for them because he is their mouth and intrusted by them and so necessary that the House of Commons cannot sit without him therefore a grievous sickness is a good cause to remove him as in Henry the 4th Raign Iohn Chervy Speaker was for sickness discharged and Sir Iohn Dorewoold chosen in his place but sickness is no cause to remove any Knight Citizen or Burgesse The Speaker being voted in the House was presented to the King where being allowed he made a supplication consisting of three parts First That the Commons in Parliament might have free speech Secondly That in any thing he should deliver in the name of the Commons if he should commit any error no fault should be imputed to the Commons Thirdly That as often as necessity for his Majesties service and the good of the Common-wealth shall require he may by the directions of the House have access to his Royal Person Any of the Peeâ—s by the Kings leave may absent himself and make a proxy to another Lord but a Knight Citizen or Burgess cannot make a Proxy because he is elected and intrusted by multitudes of people And it is to be observed though one be chosen for one particular County or City yet when he is returned and sits in Parliament he serveth for the whole Common-wealth There belongs to Parliament a Prorogation or adjournment which differ in this A Prorogation presupposeth a Session and then such Bills as passed in either House or by both Houses and had no Royal assent unto them must at the next Assembly begin again for every Session in Parliament is in Law a several Parliament but if it be but adjourned then there is no Session When a Parliament is called and doth sit and is dissolved without any Act passed or judgement given it is no Session of Parliament but a Convention Touching the Power and Jurisdiction of Parliament for making of Lawes in proceeding by Bill it is so transcendent and absolute as it cannot be confined within any bounds No Alien is capable to be chosen a Parliament-man nor can any of the Judges of the Kings Bench or Common Pleas or Barons of the Exchequer that have Judicial places or any Church-man that hath care of souls be chosen a member of the House of Parliament For others the King cannot grant a Charter of Exemption to any man to be freed from Election of Knight or Burgesse of the Parliament because the Elections of them ought to be free for the publique service OF THE COVRT OF THE KINGS-BENCH THE Royallest Court in the Land Now called The Upper Bench. THe Lawes of England presuppose the King to be the Fountain and Oracle of Justice and to have special inspirations from Heaven to that purpose therefore all the Tribunals of Judicature were used to be ambulatory with his Court and He was wont to sit in Person in the Upper Bench which is the Supreme Tribunal of the Land The Justices in this Court are the soveraign Justices of Oyer and Terminer Goal-delivery Conservation of the Peace c. in the Realm In this Court the Kings of this Realm have sat as being the highest Bench and the Judges of that Court on the lower Bench at his Feet but Judicature only belongeth to the Judges of that Court and in his presence they answer all Motions c. The Justices of this Court are the soveraign Coroners of the Land and therefore where the Sheriffs and Coroners may receive appeals by Bill à fortiori the Justices of this Court may do it so High is the authority of this Court that when it comes and sits in any County the Justices of Eire of Oier and Terminer Coal-delivery they which have conusance c. do cease without any writing to them But if any Indictment of Treason or Felony in a Forain County be removed before certain Commissioners of Oier and Terminer in the County where this Court sits yet they may proceed because this Court for that this Indictment was not removed before them cannot proceed for that offence But if any Indictment be taken in Midd in the vacation and after this Court sit in the next Term in the same County if this Court be adjourned then may special Commissioners of Oier and Terminer c. in the interim proceed upon that Indictment but the more usual way is by special Commission And this was resolved by all the Judges of England at Winchester Anno 1 ' Iacobi Regis in the Case of Sir Everard Digby and others and so had it been resolved Mich. 25 and 26 Eliz. in the Case of Arden and Somervile for
away at last their own Legions whereupon the Iland being thus grown weak much depopulated and to a long deâ—uetude of Arms the Saxons who are now the English yet keep still their first denomination of Saxons both in the British and Irish Tongues to this day came over with a considerable strength and having in a Parly on Salsbury Plains musiered most of the British Nobility by a stratagem and taken Vortiger the King Prisoner He for his ransom was forc'd to give not only London but most part of the Iland to the Saxons And the chief Magistrate of London they call'd Portreve which is a Gardian or Governour of a Port and that name is yet used in England in some places The Saxons then changed their names into Englishmen yet they continued Pagans a long time after but at last the Britains converted them to Christianity and then the City of London flourished exceedingly for many Ages till there came over a swarm of Danes who proved more fatal to London then any other Nation for by fire and sword they had almost utterly destroyed Her had not the Londoners at last rowz'd up their spirits who making vertue of necessity did fall upon King Swein the insulting Enemy with such a resolution that by a mighty slaughter and extraordinary prowesse they utterly repel'd him The City having recovered her former lustre though 't was a good while first she continued under the English Government and the Magistracy of a Portreve till the Norman rush'd in yet the Title was not alter'd a good while after when at last he came to be call'd Bayliffe and sometimes Provost Richard the first for supporting the Croy sada and his Warres in the Holy Land got great Contributions of monies from the Londoners in lieu whereof he gave them leave to choose two Bayliffs annually King Iohn after him chang'd their Bayliffs into a Maior and two Sheriffs To these Henry the third adds some Aldermen who though yeerly Elegible at first grew afterwards Perpetual Now this Word Alderman is consonant to Senator being both derived from old Age and Gravity The first Alderman we read of in England was in the time of King Edgar about 800 years agoe whose name was Ailwine and was descended of the blood Royal as appeares by his Epitaph in that goodly Monastery in the I le of Ely whereof he was founder himself which Epitaph runs thus Hic requiescit Dom. Ailwinus inclyti Regis Edgari Cognatus totius Angliae Aldermannus hujus Sacri coenobii miraculosus Fundator Here resteth the Lord Ailwine Cousin to Noble King Edgar Alderman of all England which some interpret chief Justice miraculous Founder of this holy Abbey Hence it may be infer'd that the appellation of Alderman is not only venerable but ancient honourable And from this Lord Ailwine it seemes the first Maior of London descended who was Henry Fitz-Alwin Anno 1191. who continued many years in the Office lies buried in St. Mary Bothaw near London-stone and the next Maior to him was Roger Fitz-Alwin after whom he Office grew annual The City being thus in tract of time come to a fixed and setled Government she began to flourish exceedingly And as she increased in Men Manufactures and Merchandizing so the Kings did enlarge their royal favours unto Her Anno 1226. Henry the third confirmed unto the Citizens of London free Warren or liberty to hunt about the City and in the Warren of Stanes Moreover that the Citizens of London should passe Toll-free throughout all England and that the Keddles and Weres in the Rivers of Thames and Medway should be plucked up and destroyed for ever because Navigation to London might be more free Roger Renger was Maior when these Patents were granted A few years after the liberties and franchises of London were ratified by the same King who granted that either Sheriff should have two Clarks and two Sargeants and that the Citizens should have a Common Seal A little after the same King granted that the Maior Elect should be presented to the Barons of the Exchequer and they should admit him Moreover he gave way that the City should be fortified with Posâ—s and Iron Chains drawn athwart over the streets Anno 1326. Edward the third much increased the Immunities of the City and the Authority of the Maior for he granted that the Maior should be Iustice for the Gaol delivery at Newgate and have power to reprieve Prisoners That the Citizens of London should not be constrained to go out of the City of London to any Warre He granted also that the liberties and franchises of the City should not after that time be taken into the Kings hands as it had bin often before when a Custos was put in Moreover He granted by Letters Patents that there should be no other Eschetor in the City but the Maior Anno 1338. He granted that the Sargeants attending the Maior and the Sheriffs should bear Maces silver and gilt with the Royal Arms engraven Anno 1356. The same King ordained that whereas the Aldermen were used to be chang'd yeerly they should not be removed without special cause for the future Then for the higher honour and Authority of the Office the Sword was added with the Cap of Maintenance Thus in proceâ—s of time the Government of London grew to be more and more established Anno 1415. Sir Henry Barton being Maior ordained Lanthorns and Lights to be hang'd out on the Winter Evenings betwixt Alhollontide and Candlemas Sir Iohn Norman being Maior was the first who went upon the River to Westminster having made a stately Barge to that purpose Anno 1453. And the rest of the Companies followed that laudable Example with their Barges also Anno 1473. Sir Iohn Tate being Maior the Sheriffs of London were appointed each of them to have sixteen Serjeants and every Serjeant to have his Yeoman Moreover they were to have six Clerks a Secondary a Clark of the Papers with fower other Clarks besides the Under Sheriffs Clark Anno 1484. It happened that there was successively one after the other three Mayors and three Sheriffs of London in the compasse of one year by reason of the sweating sickness which rag'd so extreamly Anno 1501. Sir John Sha being Maior added some state to the Office for it was ordered that the Aldermen his Brethren should attend him on Horseback from Guild-hall to the Rivers side when he took Barge for Westminster Besides he was the first who kept Court in his own House for redressing of such matters that came before him Sir William Capel being Maior of London caus'd Cages to be set up in every Ward for the punishments of Vagabends and Rogues Anno 1556. Sir Thomas Ossley being Mayor the Night Bel-man was first ordained Queen Elizabeth did much favour the City of London and for the better Government thereof gave way for a Provost Marshal to be appointed Thus have we observed that the Governours in chief of the City of
Bridge-house and the Leaden-hall how they were stored of Grain for the service of the City And because we have here before spoken of the Bread-carts coming from Stratford at the Bow ye shall understand that of old time the Bakers of Bread at Stratford were allowed to bring daily except the Sabbath and principal Feasts divers long Carts laden with bread the same being two ounces in the penny wheaten loaf heavier than the penny wheaten loaf baked in the City the same to be sold in Cheap three or four Carts standing there 'tween Gâ—therans Lane and Fausters Lane end one Cart on Cornhil by the Conduit and one other in Grasse-street And we may read that in the fourth year of Edward the second Richard Reffeham being Mayor a Baker named Iohn of Stratford for making Bread lesser than the Assize was with a fools hood on his Head and loaves of Bread about his Neck drawn on a hurdle through the streets of the City Moreover in the four and fortieth of Edward the third Iohn Chichester being Mayor of London as we may read in the visions of Pierce Plowman a Book so called as followeth There was a careful commune when no Cart came to Town with Basket Bread from Stratford tho gan beggars weep and workmen were agast a little this will be thought long in the date of our dirte in a dry Averel a thousand and three hundred twice thirty and ten c. We read also in the twentieth of Henry the eighth Sir Iames Spencer being Mayor six Bakers of Stratford were amerced in the Guild-hall of London for baking under the size appointed But these Bakers of Stratford left serving this City I know not upon what occasion above forty years since In the year 1519 a Petition was exhibited by the Commons to the Common-Councel and was by them allowed concerning the Leaden-hall how they would have it used viz. Meekly beseeching sheweth unto your good Lordship and Masterships divers Citizens of this City which under correction think that the great place called the Leaden-hall should nor ought not to be letten out to Farme to any person or persons and in special to any fellowship or Company incorporate to have and hold the same Hall for term of years for such conveniences as thereby may ensue and come to the hurt of the Common-weale of the said City in time to come as somewhat more largely may appear in the Articles following First if any assembly or hasty gathering of the Commons of the said City for suppressing or subduing of miâ—ruled people within the said City hereafter shall happen to be called or commanded by the Mayor Aldermen and other Governours and Councellors of the said City for the time being there is none so convenient meet and necessary a place to assemble them in within the said City as the said Leaden-hall both for largenesse of room and for their sure defence in time of their counselling together about the premises Also in that place hath been used the Artillery Guns and other Armors of the said City to be safely kept in a readinesse for the safegard wealth and defence of the said City to be had and occupied at times when need required As also the store of Timber for the necessary reparations of the Tenements belonging to the Chamber of the said City there commonly hath been kept Item If any Triumph or Noblenesse were to be done or shewed by the Commonalty of the City for the honour of our Soveraign Lord the King and Realm and for the worship of the said City the said Leaden-hall is the most meet and convenient place to prepare and order the said Triumph therein and from thence to issue forth to the places thereof appointed Item at any Largesse or dole of any money made unto the poore people of this City it hath been used to be done and given in the said Leaden-hall for that the said place is most meet therefore Item the honourable Father that was maker of the said Hall had a speciall will intent and mind that as it is commonly said the Market men and women that came to the City with victuals and other things should have their free standing within the said Leaden-Hall in wet weather to keep themselves their Wares dry and thereby to encourage them and all other to have the better will and desire the more plentiously to resort to the said City to victual the same And if the said Hall should be letten to Farme the will of the said honourable Father should never be fullfilled nor take effect Item if the said place which is the chief Fortresse and most necessary place within all the City for the tuition and safegard of the same should be letten out to Farme out of the hands of the chief Heads of the same City and especially to any other Body politick it might at length by likelihood be an occasion of discord and debate between the said Bodies politick which God defend For these and many other great and reasonable causes which hereafter shall be shewed to this honourable Court your said Beseechers think it much necessary that the said Hall be still in the hands of this City and to be surely kept by sad and discreet Officers in such wise that it might alwaies be ready to be used and occupied for the Common-weale of the said City when need shall require and in no wise to be letten to any Body politick Thus much for the Petition About the year one thousand five hundred thirty four great means was made about the Leaden-hall to have the same made a Burse for the Assembly of Marchants as they had been accustomed in Lumbard-street many Common-Councels were called to that end but in the year 1535 Iohn Champneys being Mayor it was fully concluded that the Burse should remain in Lumbard-street as afore and Leaden-hall no more to be spoken of concerning that matter The use of Leaden-hall was us'd to be thus In a part of the North Quadrant on the East side of the North Gate were the common Beams for weighing of Wooll and other Wares as had been accustomed On the West side of the Gate was the Scales to weigh Meal the other three sides were reserved for the most part to the making and resting of the Pageants shewed at Mid-Summer in the watch the remnant of the sides and Quadrants were employed for the stowage of Wool-sacks but not closed up the lofts above were partly used by the Painters in working for the decking of Pageants and other devices for beautifying of the Watch and Watch-men the residue of the Lofts were letten out to Marchants the Wooll-winders and Packers therein to winde and pack their Wools. And thus much for Leaden-hall may suffice Now on the North of Limestreet Ward in the Highstreet are divers fair houses for Marchants and proper Tenements for Artificers with an Alley also called Shalt Alley of the Shaft or May-pole sometime resting over the Gate thereof as I have
Christ our Saviour and called upon the Devil to help and deliver him such was the end of this deceiver a man of an evil life a secret murtherer a filthy fornicator a keepâ—r oâ— Concubines and amongst other his detestable facts a false accuser of his elder Brother who had in his youth brought him up in learning and done many things for his preferment In the year 1271. a great part of the Church of Bow fell down and slew many people men and women In the year 1284 the thirteenth of Edward the first Lawrence Ducket Goldsmith having grievously wounded one Ralph Crepin in West Cheap fled into Bow-Church into the which in the night time entred certain evil persons friends unto the said Ralph and slew the said Laurence lying in the Steeple and then hanged him up placing him so by the Window as if he had hanged himself and so was it found by Inquisition for the which fact Lawrence Ducket being drawn by the feet was buried in a ditch without the City but shortly after by relation of a Boy who lay with the said Lawrence at the time of his death and had hid him there for fear the truth of the matter was disclosed for the which cause Iordan Good-Cheape Ralph Crepin Gilbert Clarke and Ieffrey Clarke were attainted and a certain Woman named Alice that was chief causer of the said mischief was burned and to the number of sixteen men were drawn and hanged besides others that being richer after long imprisonment were hanged by the purse The Church was interdicted the Doors and Windows were stopped up with Thorns for a while but Lawrence was taken up and honestly buried in the Church-yard afterwards The Parish-Church of St. Mary Bow by meanes of incroachment and building of Houses wanting room in their Church-yard for burial of the Dead Iohn Rotham or Rodham Citizen and Taylor by his Testament dated the year 1465. gave to the Parson and Church-wardens a certain Garden in Hosier-lane to be a Church-yard which so continued near a hundred years but now is builded on and is a private mans house The old Steeple of this Church was by little and little re-edified and new builded up at the least so much as was fallen down many men giving sums of money to the furtherance thereof so that at length to wit in the year 1469 it was ordained by a Common Councel that the Bow Bell should be nightly rung at nine of the Clock Shortly after Iohn Donne Mercer by his Testament dated 1472 according to the trust of Reginald Longdon gave to the Parson and Church-wardens of St. Mary Bow two Tenements with the appurtenances since made into one in Hosierlane then so called to the maintenance of Bow Bell the same to be rung as aforesaid and other things to be observed as by the Will appeareth The Arches or Bowes thereupon with the Lanthorns five in number to wit one at each Corner and one on the top in the middle upon the Arches were also afterward finished of Stone brought from Cane in Normandy delivered at the Customers Key for four shillings eight pence the Tun 1515 and 1516 William Copland being Church-warden It is said that this Copland gave the great Bell which made the fifth in the Ring to be rung nightly at nine of the Clock This Bell was first rung as a Knell at the Burial of the same Copland It appeareth that the Lanthorns on the top of this Steeple were meant to have bin glazed and lights in them placed nightly in the Winter whereby Travellers to the City might have the better sight thereof and not to misse of their wayes In this Parish also was a Grammar-School by commandment of King Henry the sixth which School was of old time kept in an house for that purpose prepared in the Church-yard But that School being decayed as others about this City the School-house was let out for Rent in the Reign of Henry the 8th for four shillings the year a Cellar for two shillings the year and two Vaults under the Church for 15 s. both There are Monuments of divers Citizens of note in this Church but most of them much defac'd and mouldred away Without the North side of this Church of St. Mary Bow towards West-Cheape standeth one fair building of Stone called in Record Sildam a shed which greatly darkneth the said Church for by meanes thereof all the Windows and doors on that side are stopped up King Edward the third upon occasion as shall be shewed in the Ward of Cheap caused this side or shed to be made and strongly to be builded of Stone for himself the Queen and other States to stand there to behold the Justings and other shewes at their pleasures And this House for long time after served to that use namely in the Reign of Edward the third and Richard the second but in the year 1410. Henry the fourth in the twelfth of his Reign confirmed the said shed or building to Stephen Spilman William Marchford and John Wattle Mercers by the name of one new Sildain Shed or Building with Shops Cellars and Edifices whatsoever appertaining called Crounsild or Tamersild scituate in the Mercety of West-Cheape and in the Parish of St. Mary de Arcubus in London c. Notwithstanding which grant the Kings of England and other great Estates as well of forraign Countries repairing to this Realm as Inhabitants of the same have usually repaired to this place therein to behold the shewes of this City passing through West-Cheape namely the great Watches accustomed in the night on the Even of St. John Baptist and St. Peter at Midsommer the Examples whereof were over-long to recite wherefore let it suffice briefly to rouch one In the year 1510 on St. Johns Eve at night King Henry the eight came to this place then called the Kings-Head in Cheape in the Livery of a Yeoman of the Gard with an Halberd on his shoulder and there beholding the Watch departed privily when the Watch was done and was not known to any but whom it pleased him But on Saint Peters night next following He and the Queen came Royally riding to the said place and there with their Nobles beheld the Watch of the City and return'd in the morning Of the Sixteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of LONDON called Cheape-Ward WE enter now into the Center of the City which is Cheap-Ward taking name of the Market there kept called West Cheaping which Ward as a River as Mr. Stow saith that hath three heads and running along to the uttermost of his bounds issueth out on the sides into little streams so this Ward beginning on the Course of Wallbrook and is not the meanest of the Wards if for no other cause yet because it is nearest to the heart of the City hath his beginning on the East from three places The High street of the Poultrey the lower end of Buckles bury and the nether part of the Venell or entry into Scalding Alley
Tribulations and perplexities wherein we have exceeding much bin encumbred by comforting us and by applying and in powring remedies upon us beyond all hope and expectation There was also adjoyning hereto a Palace the ancient Habitation of the Kings of England from the time of King Edward the Confessor which in the Raign of King Henry the eighth was burnt by casual fire to the ground A very large stately and sumptuous Palace this was and in that age for building incomparable with a Vawmure and Bulwarks for defence The remains whereof are the Chamber wherein the King the Nobles with the Councellors and Officers of State do assemble at the High Court of Parliament and the next unto it wherein anciently they were wont to begin the Parliaments known by the name of St. Edwards painted Chamber because the Tradition holdeth that the said King Edward therein dyed Adjoyning unto this is the White-Hall wherein at this day the Court of Requests is kept beneath this is that Hall which of all other is the greatest and the very Praetorium or Hall of Justice for all England In this are the Judicial Courts namely The Kings Bench The Common Pleas and the Chancery and in places near thereabout the Star-Chamber the Exchequer Court of Wards and Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster c. In which at certain set times we call them Termes yearly Causes are heard and tryed whereas before King Henry the third his dayes the Court of Common Law and principal Justice was unsetled and alwayes followed the Kings Court But he in the Magna Charta made a Law in these words Let not the Common Pleas follow our Court but be holden in some certain place which notwithstanding some expound thus That the Common Pleas from thenceforch be handled in a Court of her own by it self a part and not in the Kings Bench as before This Judgement-Hall which we now have King Richard the second built out of the ground as appeareth by his Arms engraven in the Stone-work and many Arched Beams when he had plucked down the former old Hall that King William Rufus in the same place had built before and made it his own Habitation For Kings in those dayes sate in Judgement place in their own persons And they are indeed the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Judges whose mouth as the Royal Writer saith shall not erre in judgement But the foresaid Palace after it was burnt down in the year of our Lord 1512. lay desolate and King Henry the eighth translated shortly after the Kings Seat from thence to an House not far off which belonged but a while before to Cardinal Woolsey and is called White Hall This House is a Princely thing enclosed on the one side with a Park that reacheth also to another House of the Kings named Saint James where anciently was a Spittle for Mayden Lepers demolished by King Henry the eighth as is spoken else-where Hard by near unto the Mues so called for that it served to keep Hawkes and now is become a most fair Stable for the Court Horses there remaineth a Monument in memorial of that most pious and kind Queen Eleanor erected by King Edward the first her most dearly beloved Husband and certainly the memory of her conjugal love shall remain worthy to be consecrated to eternity For she the Daughter of Ferdinand the third King of Castile being given in Mariage to Edward the first King of England accompanied him into the Holy Land where when as he was secretly fore-laid and by a certain Moor wounded with an envenomed Sword and by all the remedies that Physitians could devise was not so much eased as afflicted she took her to a strange cure I must needs say and never heard of before howbeit full of love care and affection For her Husbands wounds infected with the poyson and which by reason of the malignity thereof could not be closed and healed she day by day licked with her Tongue and sucked out the venomous humor which to her was a most sweet Liquor by the vigour and strength whereof or to say more truly by vertue of a Wives sâ—ingular fidelity she so drew unto her all the substance of the poyson that the wounds being closed and cicatrized he becam perfectly healed and she caught no harm at all what then can be heard more raâ—e what admirable then this Womans faithful more love That a Wives Tongue thus annoynted as I may so say with faith and love to her Husband should from her well beloved draw those poysons which by an approved Physitian could not be drawn and that which many and those right exquisite Medicines effected not the love only and piety of a Wiâ—e performed These are the words of the aâ—cient Record But we must not passe by the Mewse so sleightly that place was called so of the Kings Faulcons there kept which in former times was an Office of high esteem But Henry the eighth having his Stablings at Lomesberry now called Blomesberry which was then a Mâ—nnor in Holborn it fortuned that the same was consumed by â—ire with Hay and Horses whereupon the Mewse was enlarged and made fit for the Kings Stables which hath continued ever since receiving divers additions from time to time But now we are according to the method of our Discourse summoned to appear at Westminster-Hall But I had almost pretermitted one signal thing which belongs to the great Dome or Temple of Westminster Abbey which is the great priviledge of Sanctuary it had within the Precincts thereof viz. the Church the Church-yard and the Close whereof there are two the little and the great Sanctuary vulgarly now called Centry from whence it was not lawful for the Soveraign Prince himself much lesse any other Magistrate to fetch out any that had fled thither for any offence which Prerogative was granted near upon a thousand years since by King Sebert then seconded by King Edgar and afterwards confirmed by Edward the Confessor whose Charter I thought worthy the inserting here the Tenor whereof runs thus in the modern English Edward by the Grace of God King of Englishmen I make it to be known to all Generations in the VVorld after me that by special Commandment of our holy Father Pope Leo I have renewed and honoured the holy Church of the blessed Apostle St. Peter of Westminster and I order and establish for ever that what Person of what estate or condition soever he be and from whence soever he come or for what offence or cause it be either for his refuge into the said holy place he be assured of his life liberty and Limbs And over I forbid under pain of everlasting damnation that no Minister of mine or any of my Successors intermeddle themselves with any the Goods Lands or possessions of the said persons taking the said Sanctuary For I have taken their Goods and Livelihoods into my special protection And therefore I grant to every each of them in as much as my Terrestrial
this kind of special Commission of Oier and Terminer and herewith agreeth Pl. Com. in the Earl of Leic ' Case Anno 1 Mar. Reginae And so supream is the Jurisdiction of this Court that if any Record be removed into this Court it cannot being as it were in his Center be remanded back unlesse it be by Act of Parliament And this appeareth by the Judgment of the Parliament in Anno 6. H. 8. but by the authority of that Act Indictments of Fellonies and Murders removed into the Kings Bench may by the Justices of that Court be remanded and this Court may send down aswell the Bodies of all Felons and Murderers as their Indictments into the Counties where the same Murders of Felonies were committed or done c. in such manner c. as if the Indictments had not been brought into the Kings Bench. Out of this Court are other Courts derived as from one Fountain several Springs and Rivers in repect of the multiplicity of Causes which have encreased Jurisdictio istius curiae est originalis seu ordinaria non delegata The Justices of this Court have no Commission Letters Patents or other means to hold Pleas c. but their power is original ordinary They were called ancienlty Iusticiae Justiciarii locum tenentes Domini Regis c. The chief Justice Justicia Angliae Justicia prima Iusticiarius Angliae Capitalis and Iusticiarius noster Capitalis adplacita coram nobis terminand ' To observe the Changes of these names and the reason and Changes thereof is worthy of observation Before the Reign of E. 1. the Chief Justice of this Court was created by Letters Patents and the form thereof taking one example for all was in these words Rex c. Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus Prioribus Comitibus Baronibus Vicecomitibus Forestariis c. omnibus aliis fidelibus regni Angliae salutem Cum pro conservatione nostra tranquillâ—tatis regni nostri ad justiciam universis singâ—lis de rengo nostro exhibendam constituerimus dilectum et fidelem nostrum Philippum Basset Iusticiarium Angliae quamdiu nobis placuerit capit alem vobis mandamus in fide qua nobis tenemini firmiter insungentes quatenus in omnibus quae ad officium Justitiarii praedicti nec non ad conservationem pacis nostrae et regni nosâ—ri eidem dum in officio praedicto steterit pleniùs sitis intendentes Teste Rege c. The King c. to all Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Vicounts Foresters c. and to all other faithful to the Kingdom of England greeting Whereas for our conservation and the tranquillity of our Kingdom c. for the exhibition of justice to all and every one of our Kingdom We haâ—e constituted our beloved and faithful Philip Basset chief Justice of England as long as we shall please We command you upon the faith you hold unto us and firmly enjoyn you to all things that belong unto the office of Chief Justice aforesaid for the conservation of our Peace and of our Kingdom and that you be very intentive as long as you stand in the said Office Witnesse the King c. This Philip Basset was the last of this kind of creation by any like Letters Patents and he died Chief Justice near to the end of the Reign of H. 3. King E. 1. being a wise and prudent Prince knowing that Cui plus licet quam par est plus vult quà m licet as most of these Summi Iusticiarii did made three alterations 1. By limitation of his authority 2. By changing Summus Iusticiarius to Capitalis Iustic 3. By a new kind of creation viz. By Writ lest if he had continued his former manner of creation he might have had a desire of his former Authority which three do expresly appear by the Writ yet in use c. Rex c. E. C. Militi salutem Sciatis quod constituimus vos Justiciarium nostrum capitalem ad placita coram nobis tenenda durante beneplacito nostro Teste c. The King c. to E. C. greeting Know ye that we have constituted you our Capital or Chief Justice in Pleas held before us during our pleasure Witnesse c. A short Writ but of large extent in point of Authority The rest of the Judges of the Kings Bench have their Offices by Letters Patents in these words Rex omnibus ad quos praesentes literae pervenerint salutem Sciatis quod constituimus dilectum et fidelem Johannem Doderidge Militem unum Justiciariorum ad placita coram nobis tenenda durante beneplacito nostro Teste c. These Justices of the Kings Bench are styled 1. Capitales 2. Generales 3. Perpetui 4. Majores à latere Regis residentes But the Chief Justice is only by the King Capitalis Justiciarius noster They are called first Capitales in respect of their supream Jurisdiction 2. Generales in respect of their general jurisdiction throughout all England c. 3. Perpetui for that they ought not to be removed without just cause 4. Majores à latere Regis residentes for their honor and safety that they should be protected by the King in administration of justice for that they be à latere Regis that is by the Kings fide And vvhereas 5. E. 4. it was holden by all the Justices in the Exchequer Chamber that a man cannot be Justice by Writ but by Patent or Commission it is to be understood of all the Judges saving the Chief Justice of this Court But both the Chief Justice and the rest of the Judges may be discharged by Writ under the Great Seal None can be a Judge of this Court unlesse he be a Serjeant of the degree of the Coif and yet in the Writ or Patent to them made they are not named Sergeants There have been for a long time and still there are great Complaints for multiplicity of Suits in Law and it were a wholsome and happy thing could it be prevented but because a Disease cannot be cured without knowledge of the Cause it is to be observed that there be six Causes of the increase of them whereof two be general the other four particular The general be Peace and Plenty The particular 1. The dissolution of so many Monasteries Chanâ—eries c. and the dispersing of them into so many several hands 2. The swarm of Informers 3. The number of Concealors 4. The multitude of Atturneys For the first general In the Reign of E. 3. R. 2. H. 4. H. 5. and part of the Reign of H. 6. in respect of the wars in France c. in the residue of the Reign of H. 6. in the Reign of E. 4. in respect of the bloody intestine Wars in almost continual Alarms within the bowls of this Kingdom between the Houses of Lancaster York there could not be so many Suits in Law as since this Kingdom hath enjoyed Peace which is
the first general cause Peace is the Mother of Plenty which is the 2d general cause and Plenty the Nurse of Suits In particulars by the dissolution of Monasteries Chanteries c. and dispersing of them c. upon the Statutes made concerning the same there being such a confluence of Ecclesiastical possessions there aroâ—e many questions and doubts whereupon Suits were greatly increased 2. Informers and Relators raised many Suits by Informations Writs c. in the Kings Courts at Westminster upon penai Statutes many whereof were obsolete inconvenient and not fit for those daies and yet remained as snares upon the Subject so as the Subject might justly say with Tacitus Priùs vitiis laboravimus nunc legibus 3. Concealers Helluones that endeavoured to swallow up Cathedral Churches and the Ecclesiastical possessions of Church-men and the Livings of many others of the Kings Subjects Lastly the multitude of Atturneys more than is limited by Law is a great cause of encrease of Suits Touching the jurisdiction of this Court which was used to be called the King Bench it is of a larger extent of power and more incontroulable than any other Tribunal for the Law presums that the King is there still in Person He being the Lord Chief Justice of England himself as King James gave a check to one who call'd Lord Coke Lord Chief Justice of England saying that he was but Chief Justice of his Bench and that it was his own Office to be Chief Justice of England Yet it is observable that though the King be Chief Justice of England and that he personally sit upon the Bench yet he can passe no sentence of judgment but by the mouths and mediation of his Judges who did use to sit there at his Feet when he was present Of the Court of Chancery or Equity and Conscience IT is taken pro confesso by all Antiquaries that both the Brittish and Saxon Kings had their Chancellors and Court of Chancery the only Court out of which original and remedial Writs do issue as taking some few examples before the Conquest Edward the Confessor had Reinbald his Chancelor this Edward granted many Mannors Lands c. and Franchises to the Abbot of Westminster and endeth his Charter thus Adultâ—mum cartam istam sigillari jussi ipse manu meâ propriâ signum Crucis impressi idonâ—os testes annotari praecepi And amongst those Witnesse this you shall find Swardus Notarius ad vicem Reinbaldi regiae dignitatis Chancellarii hanc cartam scripsi c. subscripsi He had also Lefrick to his Chancelor King Etheldred also had a worthy name and a worthy man to his Chancelor Rex Etheldredus statuit atque concessit quatenus Ecclesiam de Elye ex tunc semper in regis curia Cancellariae ageret dignitatem c. This King began his Reign Anno Domini 978 which albeit it was void in Law to grant the Chancelorship of England in succession yet it proveth then there was a Court of Chancery King Edgar had Adulph King Edred had Thurkettle King Edmond the same King Athelstane Wolsine their Chancelors c. In the Chancery are two Courts one ordinary Coram Domino Rege in Cancellaria wherein the Lord Chancelor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal proceeds according to the right line of the Laws and Statutes of the Realm Secundum legem consuetudinem Angliae Another extraordinary according to the Rule of equity secundum aquum bonum And first of the former Court He hath power to hold Plea of Scire fac ' for repeal of the Kings Letters Patents of Petitions Monstrans de droite Traverses of office Partitions in Chancery of Scire fac ' upon recognizances in this Court Writs of Audita querela and Scire fac ' in the nature of an Audita querela to avoid Executions in this Court Dowments in Chancery the Writ De dote assignanda upon Offices found Executions upon the Statute Staple or Recognizance in nature of a Stature Staple upon the Act of 23. H. 8. but the Execution upon a Statute Merchant is retornable either into the Kings Bench or into the Common place and all personall actions by or against any Officer or Minister of this Court in respect of their service or attendance there In these if the parties descend to issue this Court cannot try it by Jury but the Lord Chancelor or the Lord Keeper delivereth the Record by his proper hands into the Kings Bench to be tried there because for that purpose both Courts are accounted but one and after trial had to be remanded into the Chancery and there Judgment to be given But if there be a Demurrer in Law it shall be argued and adjuged in this Court Nota the legal proceedings of this Court be not inrolled in Rolls but remain in Filaciis being filed up in the Office of the Peâ—y-bag upon a judgement given in this Court a Writ of Error doth lye retornable into the Kings Bench. The style of the Court of the Kings Bench is Coram Rege as hath been said and the style of this Court of Chancery is Coram domino Rege in Cancellaria and Additio probat minoritatem And in this Court the Lord Chancelor or the Lord Keeper is the sole Judge and in the Kings Bench there are four Judges at the least This Court is Officina Justiciae out of which all original Writs and all Commissions which passe under the Great Seal go forth which Great Seal is Clavis regni and for those ends this Court is ever open And this Court is the rather alwaies open for that if a man be wrongfully imprisoned in the Vacation the Lord Chancellor may grant a Habeas Corpus and do him Justice according to Law where neither the Kings Bench nor Common Pleas can grant that Writ but in the term time but this Court may grant it either in Term time or Vacation so likewise this Court may grant Prohibitions at any time either in Term or Vacation which Writs of Prohibition are not retornable but if they be not obeyed then may this Court grant an Attachment upon the Prohibition retornable either in the Kings Bench or Common Place The Officers and Ministers of this Court of Common Law do principally attend and do their service to the Great Seal as the twelve Masters of the Chanceâ—y whereof the Master of the Rolls is the chief who by their original institution as it is proved before should be expert in the Common Law to see the forming and framing of original Writs according to Law which are not of course whereupon such are called in our ancient Authors Brevia Magistralia Then you have the Clerk of the Crown the Clerk of the Hamper the Sealer the Chafe wax the Controuler of the Chancery twenty four Cursitors for making Writs of course or form'd Writs according to the Register of the Chancery The Clerk of the presentations the Clerk of the Faculties the Clerk Examiner of the Patents
Right and Prerogative due to the Crown in that they have seized and converted to their own use Goods and Chattels of infinite value taken at Sea and other Goods and Chattels which in no sort appertain unto his Lordship by his Letters Patents wherein the said Non obstante is contained and for which he and his Officers remain accountable to his Majesty And they now wanting in this time of peace causes appertaining to their natural jurisdiction do now encroach upon the jurisdiction of the common Law lest they should sit idle and reap no profit They added further That touching their proceedings in granting of Prohibitions concerning any of the said Articles two things were to be considered of first the matter then the manner touching the matter nothing hath bin done therein by the Court of Westminster but by good Warrant of Law and former judicial Precedents And for the manner they granted none in the Vacation time nor in their Terme time in any of their Chambers nor in the Court in the Terme-time ex officio but upon motion made in open Court by learned Councel and after a day prefixed and warning given to the adverse party c. Hereupon they proceeded to prove and confirm their answers by three kind of Authorities in Law First By Authority of High Court of Parliament Secondly By Judgement and judicial Precedents Thirdly By Book-Cases Concerning the Acts of Parliament they urged the Statute of Richard the second viz. That the Admiralls and their Deputies shall not meddle from henceforth with any thing done within the Realm of England but only with things done upon the Sea according to that which hath been duly used in the time of the Noble King Edward Grandfather to Richard the second Concerning the second proof by Judgements and Iudicial Precedents and the third by Book-Cases they alledged divers Cases which are to be seen in that great light and laborious Champion of the Common Law of England the Lord Coke in the third part of his Institutes But the Result of all which the Iudges of the Common Law driv ' at was that the Court of Admiralty was to take no Cognizance nor had power to determine any thing that had happened and should give occasion of Plea upon any Waters either fresh or salt that were within the Precincts of any County but it was tryable by the Common Law of England and by the Empanelment and Verdict of twelve men which is not the way of Tryal of the Civil Law by which the Admiralty is directed By this notable clash and contestation 'twixt the Iudges of Westminster-Hall and the Lord Admiral the Reader may learn what the extent of the Authority of that Court is and that the jurisdiction of the Admiral is confined to the high Sea In times past there were distinct Admirals in point of power as we read in Richard the seconds Raign the Earl of Northumberland was Admiral of the North and the Earl of Devonshire Admiral of the West who were to receive the Subsidy of Poundage and Tonnage for the garding of the Seas Among other Prerogatives which belonged to the Lord Admiral of England one was to erect Beacons upon the Maritim Coasts which word is derived from the old Saxon or Dutch Becnam which signifieth to give a signe as we use the word to becken at to this day Before the Reign of Edward the 3d there were but stakes of Wood set upon high places which were fired upon the discovery of any enemies but in his time pitched Barrels were set up and by the Law of the Land whosoever fired a Beacon commits Felony unless there were Authority and just cause for it In other Countries they are called Phares which are no other then speculatory or maritime monitory fires which serve for two ends as well to direct Seafaring men as to fore-warn the approach of an Enemy which with such wonderful celerity give the whole Land an Alarum and so puts them in a posture of defence But there are three main matters whereof the Lord Admiral is to take Cognizance which are Flotsan Ietsan and Lagan whereof the first is when a Ship is sunk and perished and the Goods floating upon the waters The second is Ietsan when in stresse of weather or other occasions the Goods are thrown over-board The third is when Goods are tyed to a Cork or Cable and may be found again But the Court of Admiralty hath not to do with Wrecks for then the Goods are deposited in the custody of the Officers of the next Town where if the Proprietor come within a twelve moneth and a day he may claim them by Law Henry the sixth did constitute by Charter Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter and Henry his Son to be Admirallos Angliae But the Iudges of the Common Law held that Charter to be invalid and the Reason they alledged was that that Charter being of a Iudicial Office it could not be granted to two When the former contestation happened 'twixt the Court of Admiralty and Westminster-Hall they were choyse powerful men at that time who swayed as Grandees of the Common Law as Sir Edward Coke the Lord Bacon Iudge Doddridge and Hubbard which made them carry the Bucklers from the Civilians at that time But there were some learned Treatises published afterward to vindicate the Right of the Civil Law which without controversie hath more in it of natural equity and reaches of pure Reason then any other It is the Product of that mighty Monarchy of the Romans who though they conquered by the Lance yet they conâ—erâ—ed by their Lawes so many vast distant Territories and Nations which they had subdued leading so many people Captive by their policy as much as by their Prowesse And indeed the Civil Law is fitted for the general Affaires of mankind and for all Nations For though every particular state hath some few municipal Lawes peculiar to it self yet no where beyond the Seas is there any profession or Science of Law but of the Civil nor are there any other studied in Vniversities Only in England there are Inns of Court which are equivalent to an Academy where lex Terrae or the common municipal Law of the Land is studied and Graduates proceed and are made therein accordingly which is no where else But the Civil Law extends to all man-kind And if regard be had to the University of humane Reason it is no where â—o narrowly discussed and eventilated and the judgement rectified by clear notions Moreover there is nothing of what nature soever it be but the Civil Law hath ordained a means to bring it to a Tryal either by giving a speciall action in the case or a general one releeving by ordinary remedies or if those fail by such as are extraordinary helping the Clyent Iure actionis or Officio Iudicis Yet there was one notable Example of one business that not only caused a clash 'twixt the Civilian and Common Lawyer but puzzel'd them both so that
representing whereof there were more theaters in London then any where else And it was a true observation that those comical and tragical Histories did much improve and enrich the English Language they taught young men witty Complements and how to carry their Bodies in a handsome posture Add hereunto that they instructed them in the stories of divers things which being so lively represented to the eye made firmer impressions in the memory Lastly They reclaimed many from Vice and Vanity for though a Comedy be never so wanton yet it ends with vertue and the punishment of vice 13. For a stately Cathedral Temple and Dome of devotion the time was that London did not yield to any City under the Sun in this particular Saint Pauls Church being esteemed by all Nations to be one of the eminentest and visiblest Temple one of the most glorious Piles of Stones under Heaven taking all the dimensions together with the chearful conspicuous Site thereof being near the Center of the City and upon a rising ground Being also founded upon Faith's by having a large Church of that name truckling as one may say under her Chancel Add hereunto what a comfortable Object it was to behold above twenty miles distance round about this goodly Structure raysing it self above the rest and serving as it were for a Crest to the whole City But now this famous Fabrick which was accounted the greatest glory of London is become her greatest shame For many Fortainers who are none of those that place any inherent Sanctity in senseless inanimat stones have bin overheard to say that Pauls Church in that posture she now is is the saddest sight and most ruthful Spectacle upon the Surface of the whole Earth nay some have bin heard to say that whereas a Stable became once a Temple in Palestine a Temple among us hath bin made a Stable nay they went further not sticking to say that as Christ was born in a Stable so Antichrist is like to be born in a Stable in England The time was that London was used to have a greater care of this Temple when a solemn Act of the Lord Mayors and Common Councel passed which stands yet upon good Record to this effect and stands still in force Forasmuch as the material Temples of God were first ordained for the lawfull and devout Assembly of people there to lift their hearts and lawd and prayse Almighty God and to hear his Divine Service and his holy Word and Gospel sincerely said sung and taught and not to be used as Markets and other prophane places or thorow faires by carriage of things And for that of late years many of the Inhabitants of the City of London and other people repairing thither do commonly use and accustom themselves very unseemly and unreverently the more the pitty to make their common carriage of great Vessels â—ll of Ale and Beere great Baskets full of Bread Fish Flesh and Fruit â—â—d such other things Fardels of Stuffe and other grosse Wares and things through the Cathedrall Church of Saint Pauls and some in leading Moyles Horses and other Beasts through the same unreverently to the great dishonour and displeasure of Almighty God and the great grief also and offence of all good people Be it therefore for remedy and Reformation thereof â—dained enacted and established c. That no person either fiâ—e or forren of what estate or condition soever do at any time from henceforth carry or convey or cause to be carried and conveyed through the said Cathedrall any manner of great Vessel or Basket with Bread Ale Beer Fish Flesh or any other like thing or things upon pain of forfeiture or loosing for every such his or their offence three shillings four pence for the second six shillings eight pence for the third ten shillings And for every other offence after such third time to forfeit ten shillings and to suffer two dayes and two nights imprisonment without Bayl or Mainprize The one moyety of all which pains and penalties shall be to Christs Hospital within Newgate and the other half to him that will sue for the same in any Court of Record within the City by Bill original Complaint or Information to be commenc'd or sued in the name of the Chamberlain of the said City for the time being wherein no Essoyne or wager of Law for the Defendant shall be admitted or allowed c. Such was the Reverence that London shewed her Cathedral Church not long agoe which may be said to look now like the hulk of a great weather beaten Ship that had cross'd the Line eight times forward and backward to the East Indies and lies rotting upon the Carine such is the condition of this stately Church which is like to be buried shortly in her own ruines and so become a heap of rubbish and then how bâ—ld London will look let them judge who have taken a judicious prospect of Her Moreover there 's another Reason that may induce London to prevent this for if Pauls were down She forfeits the name of a City for all Lawyers concur in this opinion that there can be no City without a Cathedral Church t' is but a Village without one or a Town at most therefore London hath great cause to wish that those unlucky Scismaticks had never bin born who first brought Pauls Church to this pittiful passe for it may well be said that all those casual fires which she suffered whereof there were many did not do her as much mischief as the faruous fires of some fanatical Zelots have done as one said also of the House of Peers that the Long Parliament was more destructive unto it then the Powder-plot had bin if it had taken effect Touching particular appropriated places for the service of God We know there were such from the beginning As soon as Noah got footing on dry ground he erected an Altar which was in liue of a Church the Patriarks had theirs then from Altars they came to have Arks and ambulatory Tabernacles and we read what a conceit of holiness was carried towards them Then Salomon by Instructions from Heaven did build a fix'd and standing material Temple And we well know how highly our Saviour himself was incensed against the money changers and others who prophan'd that place and what sharp reprehensions his Apostle gave afterwards to those who used to eat and drink in those places which were appointed for devotion That Hyperâ—â— or room where our Saviour did please to celebrate the Passe-over and institute his last Supper may well be thought to have more Sanctity in it then an ordinary Chamber considering how many holy things were done there afterwards for our Saviour appeared in that very place twice after his Resurrection the Holy Ghost came down in cloven tongues in that place Iames was created Bishop of Hierusalem and seven Deacons were elected in that place which in regard of so many holy transactions was enlarged and made afterwards a goodly Church long
story to tell so that there were many thousands born which were not baptized and whereof the Bill speaks not Touching the form and shape of London it may be aptly compared to a Lawrel leaf which is far more long then broad and were London round as Paris and other Cities are she would appear more populous by a more often encounter of the passengers Concerning the length of London take all Buildings that are contiguous one to another from East to West from the utmost point of Westminster to the utmost point beyond the Tower she may be well thought to be near upon five Italian miles in longitude and about half so much in latitude and in Circuit above twelve miles 'T is true that the Suburbs of London are larger then the Body of the City which make some compare her to a Iesuites Hat whose brims are far larger then the Block which made Count Gondamar the Spanish Ambassador to say as the Queen of Spain was discoursing with him upon his return from England of the City of London Madam I believe there will be no City left shortly for all will run out at the Gates to the Suburbs and for the Men I think they are gone by this time into the Country for I left them all booted and spur'd when I came away But touching the amplitude and largeness of London whereas Charles the Emperor to put a Complement upon Paris said that she might be called a Province rather then a City this term may better befit London who is a County of her self 16. From proportions and quantity we will now go to the quality of the persons she hath produced from time to time whereof there have been great numbers of most gallant and generous most wealthy and worthy most eminent and munificent brave men who had souls as large as their substance I mean such that received either their first being or well being from Her Charles the Quint was used to glory that he was a Citizen of Ghent having bin born there Henry the Great in answer to a Letter of the King of Spains wherein he had enumerated above a score of Soveraign Titles stiled himself only Henry Roy de France Bourgeois de Paris Henry King of France and Burgesse of Paris But London hath greater cause to glory in this point for Constantine the first Christian Emperor a Britain born was her Child And a foul mistake it was in Him who writ the Book of Martyrs when in his Epistle Dedicatory he saith that Constantine was the Son of Helena an English Woman being pure British for the name of English was not then in the World nor did the Saxons whence the English are derived take footing in great Britain but a long time after Maud the Empress was also a Londoner born with divers other great Kings and Princes Thomas Becket a man very famous in all the Catholick Countries and held one of the highest Saints was born in London he was first one of the Sheriffs Clarks then he was Parson of St. Mary Hilâ— then he went to Bologna in Italy to study the Law and at his return he was made Chancellor of England and Arch Bishop of Canterbury Innumerable other great Clarks and eminent Bishops were born in London and of late times Bishop Lancelot Andrews who for his vast stock of learning might be called the Universal Bishop There are now living two great Luminaries of the Church Doctor Wren and Doctor Warner born both in London the one Bishop of Ely the other Bishop of Rochester a person of most acute Intellectuals and of rare excellent knowledge Fabian the famous Chronologer was Sheriff of London and born there what a number of most munificent Benefactors hath London had among her own Natives besides those whom she bred what a Noble useful Structure is Leaden-hall built at the sole charge of Sir Simon Eyre Draper and Lord Mayor of London what a worthy Foundation is St. Iohns Colledge in Oxford built by Sir Thomas White Lord Mayor of London who was Benefactor also to Bristoll Reading and above twenty Towns besides what a bountiful Benefactor was Mr. William Lambe free of the Company of Clothworkers what a world of charitable deeds did he do in Town and Countrey what a Noble soul had Sir Thomas Gresham Mercer and Marchant who built the Royal Exchange Gresham Colledge with another great Countrey Palace in Middlesex what a notable Benefactor was Mr. Thomas Howel bred in his youth in Spain and afterwards in London who was one of the greatest Benefactors of the Company of Drapers and besides many other large acts of charity he hath left such means to Drapers Hall that if any Mayden can derive her self from the right linage of Howel in Wales the said Hall is to give her 21 l. towards her portion and this to continue for ever what a free large Soul had Mr. William Iones Marchant and free of the Haberdashers who in Monmouth the Countrey where he was born did build a fair Free School with very large allowance to the Masters he was Benefactor also to Hamborough Stoad and divers other places at home and abroad To these two Britains we will add a third which is Sir Hugh Middleton Goldsmith what a hazardous expenceful mighty work did he perform in bringing Ware-River to run through the streets of London what an infinite universal benefit doth accrue thereby to the whole City and Suburbs how often did this great design take heat and cold what faintings and fears what oppositions did it break through before it was perfectly finished What a large noble Soul had Sir Baptist Hicks Lord Vicount Campden what a number of worthy things did he in his life and at his death both for the advancement of Religion and Iustice At Campden in the County of Glocester he repaired and adorned God Almighties House and reard another for the poor before he built any for himself He founded also there a very commodious Market-house and having done many things more for the publick good in that place he erected afterwards a stately Palace for his Posterity though the hard fate of the times and the fury of the Warre hath half destroyed it He was also a great Benefactor to the Churches and the poor of Hamsted and Kensinton to St. Bartholomewes and Christ-Church Hospitals in London to all the Prisons as also to St. Laurence Church in the old Iury He purchased divers Impropriations and bestowed them upon the Church in divers counties He was at the charge of erecting a convenient Session-house for the Justices of Middlesex to meet in the middest of St. Iohn's street which is called Hicks Hall and will so be called to all posterity All these great lights he carried before him and at his death he gave a World of Legacies and divers Pensions to pious Ministers and others and bequeathed a great sum to be distributed among all his Servants To speak of all those Noble Londoners who have done glorious