Corporations and are so many Bodies Politique Of these there are 12 called the chief Companies and he that is chosen Lord Mayor must be free of one of these Companies which are 1 Mercers 2. Grocers 3. Drapers 4. Fishmongers 5. Goldsmiths 6. Skinners 7. Merchant-Taylors 8. Haberdashers 9. Salters 10. Ironmongers 11. Vintners 12. Clothworkers All which Companies have Assembly places called Halls which are so many Basilikes or Palaces and many of them worthy to be viewed by all Strangers It hath been the custom of some of our Kings to honour some of these Companies by taking their freedom thereof and the present King was pleased to be made free of the Company of Grocers and the present Prince of Orenge lately chose to be made free of the Company of Drapers There are besides near 60 other Companies or Corporations all enjoying large Priviledges by the Kings Gracious Charter granted unto them and fair Halls to meet in For the security and defence of this famous City and River there have been antiently divers Fortresses but that called the Tower of London hath been eminent above all others It is not only a Fort or Cittadel to defend and command both City and River but a Royal Palace where our Kings with their Courts have sometimes lodged a Royal Arsenal where are Arms and Ammunition for 60000 Soldiers the Treasury for the Jewels and Ornaments of the English Crown the only Mint for coyning of Gold and Silver the great Archive where are conserved all the Records of the Court of Westminster the chief Prison for the safe custody of great Persons that are Criminal in short if the great extent thereof within the Walls be considered and its authority over the several Hamlets without and the many high Priviledges and Liberties belonging thereto it may rather be reputed a City then a Cittadel The Tower of London is out of all County or Parish only a small part some hold to be in Middlesex is a liberty of it self exempt from all Taxes to the King to the Church or to the Poor It hath a Parochial Church exempt ftom all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Archbishop and is a Donative bestowed by the King without Institution or Induction There are Thirteen Hamlets in several Parishes of large extent belonging to the Tower whose Trainbands are all bound to assist the Constable or Lieftenant of the Tower they are all called the Kings Company are to wait on the Kings person in time of need and to go no farther than the King Within the Tower is kept the Office of Master of the Ordnance called in France le grand Mastre de l' Artillerie so called ab arte telorum mittendorum and hath been alwayes an Office of great Account and Importance commonly conferred on persons of great eminency and integrity It hath the ordering of that grand Magazin there lodged wherein and at the Minories Woolwich and Chatham is Ammunition at all times for as many Land and Sea forces as may not onely defend England but be formidable to all our Neighbours The place of Master of the Ordnance is since the death of that accomplished Gentleman Sir William Compton executed by Commissioners viz. by the Lord John Berkley now Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Sir John Duncomb Knight and Thomas Chichely Esquire Lieutenant of the Ordnance is David Walter Esquire and Groom of his Majesties Bed-chamber and the Pay-master is Captain George Wharton Surveyor is Jonas More Esquire Keeper of the Stores is Richard March Esquire Clerk of the Ordnance is Richard Sherborn Esquire Clerk of the Deliveries is George Clerk Esquire Under which several Officers there are many Officers and Servants for brevity sake to be passed over The forementioned Commissioners have the charge and superintendence of all the Ordnance Arms offensive Ammunition of War by Sea and Land The Lieutenant of the Ordnance is Treasurer doth receive and disburse all moneys touching this Office The Surveyor of the Ordnance doth supervise all Arms. Clerk of the Ordnance is to record all Orders touching that Office Keeper of the Stores is to have the custody of all the Arms offensive Clerk of the Deliveries takes Indentures for all Stores issued out All these hold by Patent immediately from the King All Inferior Officers and Artificers places are in the gift of the Master or Commissioners of the Ordnance Moreover in the Tower is kept the office of Warden of the Mint where onely of later times is minted all the Bullion that is minted in England The Warden of the Mint is a very considerable charge and is at present Sir Anthony St. Leger Master Worker is Henry Slingsby Esquire Comptroller is James Hore Esquire These hold by Patent of the King Assay-Master to try the pureness of the Mettal is Mr. John Brittle Surveyor of the Meltings and Clerk of the Irons is Mr. Thomas Swallow There is moreover a Weigher a Teller and a Graver all which five last named Officers hold also by Patent from the King but are to be approved by the three first Commissioned Officers in whose custody is all Money or Bullion brought in by the Subject There are besides many other Inferior Officers and Servants belonging to the Mint The office of His Majesties Records kept in the Tower of London is of venerable Antiquity and the place of Keeper and Deputy of the same dignified with special trust whereof Sir Algernon May Knight is at present the Keeper salary 500 l. per annum and William Ryley Esquire of the Inner Temple is Deputy thereof This place is properly in the Master of the Ro'ls his gift and then His Majesty by His Letters Patents hath usually confirmed it As the Chappel of the Rolls in Chancery-lane and Petty-Bag office doth fill with Records out of other Offices they are transmitted into the Tower after some years for it hath been the wisdom and care of former Ages to send the Records of several Courts to the Tower for their preservation and safety not onely as a Policy of State but the particular Interest of all Men having Estates requiring it there being many precedents for it remaining in the Records of the Tower and a particular Form of a Writ to send the Records in the Chappel of the Rolls to the Tower of London The Records of the Tower amongst other things contain the Foundations of Abbeys and other Religious Houses and the Records in the Rolls contain the dissolution of those Abbeys and the donation of the Lands of which many Families are now possest and if those Records were all in one place the people might have access unto them all under one and the same search and charge which would be a great ease and benefit to the people and a safety to the Records of this Nation Besides these Records at the Rolls being joyned to those in the Tower will make a perfect continuance of all the Ancient Rights of the English Nation which are now set forth in the Records of the Tower whereof these
Sheriff of each County hath a double function first Ministerial to execute all Processes and Precepts of the Courts of Law and to make returns of the same Secondly Judicial whereby he hath authority to hold two several Courts of distinct nature the one called the Sheriffs Turn which he holdeth in several places of the County enquiring of all Criminal Offences against the Common-Law not prohibited by any Statute The other called the County Court wherein he hears and determines civil Causes of the County under 40 s. which antiently was a considerable summe so that by the great fall of the moneys now the Sheriffs authority in that part is much diminished He is said to be the life of Justice of the Law and of the County for no suit begins and no process is served but by him then no Execution of the Law but by him lastly he is the chief Conservator of the Peace in the whole County Every County being subdivided into Hundreds so called at first either for containing an hundred houses or 100 men bound to find Armes or Wapentakes so called from touching a weapon when they swore Allegiance as the manner at this day is in Sweden at their solemn weddings for the chief witnesses to lay all their hands upon a Lance or Pike every such Wapentake oâ— Hundred hath commonly a Bayliff a very antient Officer but now of small Authority also Officers called High Constables first ordained by the Statute of Winchester 13 Edw. 1. for conservation of Peace and view of Armour they disperse Warrants and Orders of the Justices of Peace to each Pety Constable There are also in every County two Officers called Coroners whose Office is to enquire by a Jury of Neighbours how and by whom any person came by a violent death and to enter the same upon Record which is matter Criminal and a plea of the Crown and thence they are called Crowners or Coroners These are chosen by the Free holders of the County by vertue of a Writ out of the Chancery They were antiently men of estates Birth and Honour and therefore in the Reign of Edward III. a Merchant being chosen a Coroner was removed quia communis Mercator fuit whereas he ought to have been a Gentleman which have no Trades man is reckoned to be by our Laws Every County also hath an Officer called Clerk of the Mercat whose Office is to keep a Standard of all Weights and Measures exactly according with the Kings Standard kept in the Exchequer and to see that none others be used in the same County to Seal all Weights and Measures made exactly by the Standard in his custody and to burn such as are otherwise He hath a Court and may keep and hold Plea therein Of the Civil Government of Cities EVery City of England by their Charters or Priviledges granted by several Kings is a little Common-wealth apart governed not as the Cities of France by a Nobleman or Gentleman placed there by the King but wholly by themselves they choose amongst themselves their own Governor in Cities a Mayor is chosen commonly out of 12 Aldermen In some other Coâ—porations a Bailiff is chosen out of a certain number of Burgesses They are not taxed but by their own Officers of their own Corporation every trade having some of their own alwayes of the Council to see that nothing be enacted contrary to their profit Every City by Charter from the King hath haute moyenne basse Justice a jurisdiction amongst themselves to judge in all matters criminal and civil onely with this restraint that all civil causes may be removed from their Courts to the Higher Courts at Westminster The Mayor of the City is the Kings Lieftenant and with the Aldermâ—n and Common Council as it were King Lords and Commons in Parliament can make Laws called By-Laws for the Government of the City He is for his time which is but for one year as it were a Judge to determine matters and to mitigate the Rigour of the Law The next in Government of Cities are two principal Officers called though improperly the Sheriffs who are Judges in civil causes within this City and to see all execution done whether penal or capital and should rather be called Stat-reeves or Port-reeves i. e. Urbis vel Portus Praefecti In Cities the people are generally made more industrious by Manufactures and less idleness suffered then in other places so that in some Cities children of six or seven years old are made to gain their own expences In the City of Norwich it hath of late yeares been computed and found that yearly children from 6 to 10 years of age have gained 12 thousand pounds more then what they spend and that chiefly by knitting fine Jersey Stockings The Government of Burroughs and other Towns corporate is much after the same manner In some there is a Mayor in others one or two Bailiffs who have equal power with a Mayor and Sheriffs and during their Offices they are Justices of the Peace within their Liberties and have there the same power that other Justices of the Peace have in the County For the better Government of Villages the Lord of the place hath ordinarily power to hold a Court-Baron so called because antiently such Lords were called Barons as they are still in many parts of France or else Court Baron i. e. Court of Freeholders as the Barons of Germany are called Frey herren so the Barons of the Cinque Ports in England are but the Freeholders of the Cinque Ports And this Court may be held every 3 weeks Also for the Government of Villages there is a Pety Constable chosen every year by every one that is Lord of the place this Officer is to keep the Peace in case of quarrels to search any house for Robbers Murdrers or others that have any way broken the peace to raise the Hue and Cry after Robbers fled away to seize upon them and keep them in the Stocks or other Prison till they can bring them before some Justice of Peace to whom the Constables are subservient upon all occasiions either to bring crrminals before them or to carry them by their command to the common Prison Every little Village almost hath an Epitome of Monarchical Government of Civil and Ecclesiastical policy within it self which if duly maintained would render the whole Kingdome happy First for the civil Government there is the Lord of the Soyl who from the Crown immediately or mediately holds Dominium soli and is said to have in him the Royalty as if he were a little King and hath a kind of Jurisdiction over the Inhabitants of the Village hath his Court-Leetâ— or Court-Baron to which they owe suit and service and where may be tryed smaller matters happening within the Mannour Escheats upon Felonies or other accidents Custody of Infants and Lunaticks power of passing Estates and admitting of Tenants Reliefs Hariots Hunting Hawking Fishing c. under the Lord is the Constable or
conjectured by the charges of building and rigging of Ships and of one Months expences at Sea afore specified so that the English Subject need no longer wonder how their late large Contributions and Aides have been spent but rather how the Kingdomes necessary Expences should be discharged with so little Of the City of LONDON LONDON being the Epitome of England the Seat of the British Empire the Chamber of the King and the chiefest Emporium or Town of Trade in the World it will not be impertinent to give some account thereof To describe particularly all things in this City worthy to be known would take up a whole Volumn therefore according to the intended brevity of this Treatise here shall be inserted onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Magnalia Londini such things as strangers and foreigners commonly count remarkable Take then a summary account of the Name Antiquity Situation Magnitude Streets Houses Number of Inhabitants Parish-Churches Cathedral Royal Exchange River Conduits Aqueducts Trade Government Publick Halls of Companies of the Tower Bridge Custom-House Publick Offices Colledges Schooles Hospitals Work-houses c. Name LONDON so called as some conjecture from Llongdin the British word signifying in the Saxon Tongue Shipton or Town of ships was built as some write 1108 years before the Birth of our Saviour that is 2778 years agoe Antiquity in the time of Samuel the Prophet and about 356 years before the building of Rome Situation In the most excellent situation of London the profound wisdom of our Ancestors is very conspicuous and admirable It is seated in a pleasant ever green valley upon a gentle rising Bank in an excellent Aire in a wholesome soyl mixt with gravel and sand upon the famous Navigable River Thames at a place where it is cast into a Crescent that so each part of the City might enjoy the benefit of the River and yet not be far distant one from the other about 60 miles from the Sea not so near that it might be in danger of Surprisal by the Fleets of Forreign Enemies or be annoyed by the boysterous Winds and unwholesome Vapours of the Sea yet not so far but that by the help of the Tide every twelve hours all the Commodities that the Sea or World can afford may by ships of great burden be brought into her very bosome nor yet so far but that it may injoy the milder warmer Vapours of the Eastern Southern and Western Seas yet so far up in the Country as it might also easily partake even of all the Country commodities in an excellent air upon the North side of the River for the Villages seated on the South-side are noted to be unhealthy in regard of the Vapours drawn upon them by the Sun burroughed by gentle hills from the North and South Winds it lies in 51 Degree 34 Minutes Latitude The High-ways leading from all parts to this Noble City are large straight smooth and fair no Mountains nor Rocks no Marshes nor Lakes to hinder Carriages and Passengers so that as Corn may easily be brought and Cattel commodiously driven unto it by Land so those heavy though necessary Commodâ—ties Hay and Fuel are more cheaply conveyed by water in a word all the blessings of Land and Sea near about and by the benefit of shipping all the blessings of the Terrestrial Globe may be said to be here injoyed above any City of the world Magnitude The City of LONDON with its Suburbs and places adjacent is of a vast extention From Lime House measured to the end of Tothill or Tuttle street from East to West is above 7500 Geometrical paces that is above 7 English Miles and a half and from the farther end of Blackmanstreet in Southwark to the end of St. Leonard Shoreditch is 2500 paces or two Miles and a half Streets In this great City the streets lanes and allyes as they are called are in number above 500 and yet some of them above half a measured mile in length Dwelling houses before the late dreadful Fire were computed onely within the Walls above fifteen thousand and that was accounted but a fifth part of the whole City as may be judged by the weekly Bills of Mortality Houses The Buildings especially of late years are generally very fair and stately but within the City the spacious Houses of Noble men rich Merchants the Halls of Companies the fair Taverns are hidden to strangers by reason that they are generally built backward that so the whole room towards the street might be reserved for Tradesmen shops If they had been all built toward the street as in other Countries no Forreign City would even in this particular much surpass London Yet if a Stranger shall view Lincolns-Inne fields Southampton Buildings Covent Garden St. James Fields Hatton-Garden Cheapside Lumbard street Canon street Fleet street c. He must confess that for fair Piazza's or open Places for stately uniform buildings for spatious streight streets there is scarce the parallel in Europe Number of Inhabitants That the Reader may the better guess at the number of Inhabitants or humane Souls within this great City he must know that in one year there were computed to be eaten in London when it was less by one fourth part 67500 Beefs ten times as many Sheep besides abundance of Calves Lambs Swine all sorts of Poultry Fowl Fish Roots Milk c. Also that communibus annis to supply London with Newcastle Coal there is brought into the River of Thames two hundred and seventy thousand Chaldron and every Chaldron is 36 Bushels Again the number of Inhabitants may be guessed at by the Burials and Births in London which in ordinary years when there is no Pestilence amount of late to Twenty thousand in a year three times more then in Amsterdam and but one 20th part less then in Paris as may be seen by the Bills of these three Cities As also by the quantity of Beer drank in London in a year which to all Forreigners will be incredible for in the year 1667 according to exact computation there was brewed within that year in London four hundred fifty two thousand five hundred sixty three Barrels of strong Beer sold at 12 s. 6 d. the Barrel and five hundred and eighty thousand four hundred twenty one Barrels of Ale sold at 16 s. the Barrel and four hundred eighty nine thousand seven hundred ninety seven Barrels of Table Beer or small Beer sold at 6 s 6 d. the Barrel The Beer strong and small is 36 Gallons to the Barrel and the Ale 32 Gallons to the Barrel and now since the Pestilence and the Fire that this City is again fully peopled there is much more Liquor brewed It is true that some heâ—eof is transported beyond the Sea but that is scarce considerable Besides all this Beer and Ale there is consumed in London a vast quantity of French and Spanish wines much Rhenish-wine Sider Coffee Chocolatte Brandy and other Drinks The Excise
and of the Liberties thereof ought still according to the aforementioned Acts to pay 2 s. 9 d. in the pound according to the true yearly value of the Rent of their Houses and Shops from time to time but the Citizens who think 2000 l. per annum not enough for an Alderman or for a Lawyer and yet 200 l. too much for a Pastor of a Parish opposing the same the business lies yet unestablished to the great dishonor of the Reformed Religion The Civil Government is not as it is at Paris Rome Madrid Vienna and other Capital Cities by a chief Magistrate some Nobleman set over the City by the King or Supreme Governor or as it was here in the time of the Romans when the chief Magistrate was called as it is still in Rome the Prefect of London or as it was in the time of the Saxons when he was called the Portgreve that is Custos or Guardian and sometimes Provost of London but after the coming in of the Normans the chief Magistrate was called Bailive from the French word Bailler tradere committere that is Commissarius or one that hath Commission to govern others and there were sometimes two Bailiffs of London till King Rich. I. Anno 1189. changed the name of Bailiff into MAYOR which also being derived from the French hath continued ever since a Citizen chosen by the Citizens annually unless sometimes for the disloyalty of the Citizens their Priviledges and Franchises have been taken from them and a Guardian set over them as was done by Hen. III. and Edw. I. Of latter times the Mayor of London though alwayes a Citizen and Tradesman hath been of such high repute and esteem that in all writing and speaking to him the Title of Lord is prefixt which is given to none others but either to Noblemen to Bishops Judges and of later times to the Mayor of York or to some of the highest Officers of the Realm He is also for his great Dignity usually knighted by the King before the year of his Mayoralty be expired His Table is and also the Table of each Sheriff such that it is not only open all the year to all commers strangers and others that are of any quality but so well furnished that it is always fit to receive the greatest Subject of England or of other Potentate nay it is recorded that a Lord Mayor of London hath feasted four Kings at once at his Table His domestick Attendance is very honorable he hath seven Officers that wait on him who are reputed Esquires by their places that is the Sword-bearer the Common Hunt who keepeth a gallant Kennel of Hounds for the Lord Mayors Recreation abroad the Common Cryer and four Water Bailiffs There is also the Coroner three Sergeants Carvers three Sergeants of the Chamber a Sergeant of the Channel four Yeomen of the Water-side one Under-water Bailiff two Yeomen of the Chamber three Meal-weighers two Yeomen of the Wood-wharfs most of which have their servants allowed them and have Liveries for themselves His State and Magnificence is remarkable when he appears abroad which is usually on horse-back with rich caparison himself alwayes in long Robes sometimes of fine Scarlet cloth richly furred sometimes Purple sometimes Puke with a great Chain of gold about his neck with many Officers walking before and on all sides of him c. but more especially on the 29. of October when he goes to Westminster in his Barge accompanied with all the Aldermen all his Officers all the several Companies or Corporations in their several stately Barges with their Arms Colours and Streamers and having there in the Exchequer Chamber taken his solemn Oath to be true to the King returns in like manner to Guild-Hall that is the great Common Hall of Guilds or incorporated Confraternities where is prepared for him and his Brethren a most sumptuous Dinner to which many of the great Lords and Ladies and all the Judges of the Land are invited This great Magistrate upon the Death of the King is said to be the prime person of England and therefore when King James was invited to come and take the Crown of England Robert Lee then Lord MAYOR of London subscribed in the first place before all the great Officers of the Crown and all the Nobility He is usually chosen on Michaelmas day out of the 26 Aldermen all persons of great wealth and wisdom His Authority reaches not only all over this great City and a part of the Suburbs but also on the famous River of Thames Eastward as far as Yendale or Yenleet and the mouth of the River Medway and Westward as far as Colny ditch above Stanes Bridge He hath power to punish and correct all that shall annoy the Stream Banks or Fish onely the strength and safety of the River against an Invasion and securing Merchandizing and Navigation by Blockhouses Forts or Castles is the Care of the King To the Lord Mayor and the City of London belong divers Courts of Judicature of high importance The highest and most antient Court is that called the Hustings i. e. Domus Causarum which doth preserve the Lawes Rights Franchises and Customs of the City There is a Court of Requests or Conscience The Court of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen where also the Recorder and Sheriffs sit Two Courts of the Sheriffs one for each Counter The Court of the City Orphans whereof the Mayor and Aldermen have the custody The Court of Common-Council consisting as the Parliament of England of two Houses one for the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and the other for the Commoners in which Court are made all By-laws which bind all the Citizens of London for every man either by himself or by his Representative gives his Assent thereunto wherein consists the great happiness of the English Subject above all the Subjects of any other Prince in the world that neither in Laws nor By-laws neither in Taxes or Imposts any man is obliged but by his own consent There is another Court of the Chamberlain of the City to whom belongs the Receipts of the Rents and Revenues of the City and to his Court the business of Apprentices over whom he hath a great authority To the Lord Mayor also belongs the Courts of Coroner and of Escheator and another Court for the conservation of the River of Thames Lastly the Court of Goal-delivery held usually eight times a year at the Old-Baily both for the City and Middlesex for the Tryal of Criminals whereof the Lord Mayor is the chief Judge and hath power of reprieving condemned persons There are other Courts called Wardmote or the meeting of Wards whereof there are 26 in the whole City In which Court inquiry is made into all things that can conduce to the regulating and well governing of the City Also the Court of Hall mote or Assembly of every Gild or Fraternity for regulating what belongs to each Company in particular The Traders of London are divided into Companies or
coming in not too late This office is now kept in Bishopsgate-street Of the Kings great Wardrobe THis Office was usually kept within the City near Puddle Wharfe in an antient House built by Sir John Beauchamp Son to Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick and afterward sold to King Edward the Third The Master or Keeper of the Great Wardrobe is an office of great Antiquity and Dignity High Privileges and Immunities were conferred by Henry the Sixth and confirmed by his successors King James enlarged the same and ordained that this Great Officer should be an incorporation or Body Politique for ever His Office is to make Provisions for Coronations Marriages and Funerals to furnish the Court with Beds Hangings Carpets and other necessaries to furnish Houses for Ambassadors at their first arrival here Presents for Foreign Princes and Ambassadors Cloaths of Estate and other furniture for the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Lord President of Wales and all His Majesties Ambassadors abroad to provide all Robes for Foreign Knights of the Garter for the Officers of the Garter Coats for Heralds and Pursuivants at Arms Robes for the Lord Chancellor Lord Treasurer c. Rich Liveries for the two Lords Chief Justice all the Barons of the Exchequor divers Officers in those Courts all Liveries for His Majesties domestick servants all Linnen for the Kings person c. To defray all the forementioned charges ordinarily there is expended yearly about twenty five thousand pounds besides all Extraordinaries as Coronations Funerals c. This Office is at present enjoyed by Edward Montague Earl of Sandwich one of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter The present Salary to his Lordship in compensation of all other antient Fees and Allowances is yearly 2000 l. The said House near Puddle Wharfe was long ago annext for ever to the Master of this Office but since the great Fire this Office is kept in the Savoy The chief Officers under the Master are a Deputy Thomas Townsend Senior Esq his Salary 200 l. and a Clerk Thomas Townsend Junior Esq whose Salary in compensation of all Fees and Allowances is yearly 300 l. Both these Officers had likewise fair dwelling houses which were also consumed by the fire Belonging to this Office are divers Tradesmen Artificers and others to the number of about 40 all sworn Servants to the King To this Office have lately been added by Patent during pleasure two cousiderable Officers viz. a Controuler Andrew Newport Esquire Brother to the Lord Newport and a Surveyour Colonel Bullen Reymes whose Salaries are 300 l. yearly to each one Of the Colledges in London THe Famous City of LONDON may not unfitly be stiled an University for therein are taught all Liberal Arts and Sciences not onely Divinity Civil Law Physick which in other Universities are usual are read here but also the Municipal or Common Law of the Nation is here taught and Degrees taken therein which can be said in no other Nation Moreover all sorts of Languages Geography Hydography the Art of Navigation the Art of Fortification Anatomy Chirurgery Chymistry Calligraphy Brachygraphy or Short-Hand the Arts of Riding Fencing Dancing Art Military Fire-works Limming Painting Enamelling Sculpture Architecture Heraldry all sorts of Musick Arithmetick Geometry Astronomy Grammar Rhetorick Poetry and any other thing that may any way contribute to the accomplishment of an ingenious Nobleman or Gentleman The Colledges of Municipal or Common-Law Professors and Students are 14 called still Innes the old English word for Houses of Noblemen or Bishops or of extraordinary note and which is of the same signification with the French word Hostel at Paris There are Two Inns of Sergeants Four Inns of Court and Eight Inns of Chancery The Inns of Chancery were probably so named because there dwelt such Clerks as did chiefly study the forming of Writs which regularly appertain to the Cursitors that are Officers of Chancery The first of these is called Thavies Inn begun in the Reign of Edward the Third and since purchased by Lincolns Inn as was also Furnivals Inn then there is Bernards Inn New Inn Clements Inn Cliffords Inn antiently the House of the Lord Clifford Staple Inn belonging to the Merchants of the Staple and Lyons Inn antiently a common Inn with the Sign of the Lyon These were heretofore preparatory Colledges for younger Students and many were entred here before admitted into the Inns of Court Now they are for the most part taken up by Atturneys Sollicitors and Clerks who have here their Chambers apart and their Dyet at a very easy rate in a Hall together where they are obliged to appear in grave long Robes and black round knit Caps These Colledges belong all to some Inns of Court who send yearly some of their Barresters to read to to these In these Inns of Chancery one with another may be about Sixty persons The Innes of Court were so named as some think because the Students therein are to serve the Courts of Judicature or else because antiently these Colledges received onely the Sons of Noble men and better sort of Gentlemen as Fortescue affirmeth Of these there are Four First The Two Temples heretofore the dwelling of the Knights Templers and purchased by some Professors of the Common Law above Three hundred years ago They are called The Inner and Middle Temple in relation to Essex House which was a part of the Knights Templers and called The Utter Temple because it is seated without Temple Bar. The two other Inns of Court are Lincolns Inn belonging anciently to the Earls of Lincoln and Greys Inn belonging to the Noble Family of the Greys In the Reign of Henry the Sixth they so flourished that there were in each of these about Two hundred Students and a Student then expended yearly about 20 l. Which was as much as Two hundred pounds now for they had usually as the French Nobles have now in their Academies every one an old discreet Servant and divers Masters for to instruct them in all laudable qualities and therefore saith the same Fortescue Ultra Studium legum sunt quasi Gymnasia omnium morum And the Students were onely saith he Nobilium Filii that is Gentlemen at least for so the word Nobilis was then taken here and is still in France And therefore by command of King James none were to be admitted into these Colledges but Gentlemen by descent Our Ancestors thought those of inferior rank would rather debase the honor of the Law and would be prone to chicane or play tricks and not like to be so fit for Trusts and Honors whereas the consideration of Birth and Fortune makes Men more careful of their Honor and Reputation These Societies are no Corporations nor have any Judicial Power over their Members but have certain Orders among themselves which have by consent the Force of Laws For lighter offences they are onely excommoned or put out of Commons not to eat with the rest and
the like whereof for spatiousness beauty and exact proportion no King in Europe can parallel of another Royal Palace called Saint James's of Clarendon-House which for situation and a uniform solid structure is admirable of the many stately uniform Piles in S. James's Fields of Northumberland-House of Britains Burse or the New Exchange a place excellently furnished with all kinde of choice Commodities and Wares for Ladies of York Salisbury and Worcester Houses of the Savoy a vast building first erected by Peter Earl of Savoy and Richmond Uncle to Eleanor Wife to our King Henry the Third who after purchased the same for Her Son Edmund Duke of Lancaster and is now a famous Hospital built all of huge Stone and more like a Kings Palace of another Palace called Somerset-House built by Edward Duke of Somerset Uncle to King Edward the Sixth of the uniform stately Buildings and forementioned large Piazza's or open places for which the Cities in Italy are so highly esteemed in Covent-Garden Lincolns-Inn Fields and Southampton Buildings not to be equalled in any of our Neighbor Countreys As for the Borough of Southwark granted by King Edward the Sixth by His Letters Patents to the Major Commonalty and Citizens of London called The Bridge Ward without and governed by one of the Twenty six Aldermen of London it hath nothing much remarkable onely that it is so rich and populous that it pays more in a Subsidy to the King and musters more Men then any other City in England besides London Lastly Very remarkable also is the Campaign or Country on all sides of this great City for the number of Royal Palaces the multitude of Stately Houses and Gardens of Noblemen the innumerable fair Summer Dwelling-Houses of the Wealthy Citizens the pleasant fertile Meadows enclosed Pastures and Corn Fields the abundance of Nurseries and Seminaries where are to be sold all sorts of Fruit-Trees Flowers Herbs Roots as well for Physick as for Food and Delight the frequency populousness and wealthiness of the Villages whereas the Campaigns about Rome and Madrid are more like Desarts The Arms of the City of London are Argent Cross-Gules with the Sword of S. Paul not the Dagger of William Walworth as some have conceited for this Coat did belong to this City before Walworth slew Wat Tyler the Rebel as Learned Antiquaries affirm Of the Vniversities of England THe English Universities are so famous beyond the Seas and so much surpass all other in the World that they abundantly deserve a larger account then can sute with the designed brevity of this Manual however they shall not be passed over in silence Nothing was ever devised more singularly beneficial to Gods Church and Mans happiness then what our Ancestors have to their eternal renown performed by erecting such admirable Structures for Learning as our Universities do contain and by providing thereby that choice parts after reasonable time spent in contemplation may be called forth to act and practice in Church and State In the beautiful Fabrick of the Kingdom of England the Two Eyes are the Two Universities Oxford and Cambridge those Two Nurseries or Seminaries of Learning and Religion which for number and magnificence of richly endowed Colledges for liberal Stipends to all sorts of Publick Professors for well furnished Publick and Private Libraries for large Charters Priviledges and Immunities for number and quality of Students for exact Discipline and Order are not to be parallel'd in the whole World They were anciently called Academies from a Grove so named new Athens whither Plato Xenocrates and other Philosophers retired for the study of Sciences Of later times they have been stiled Universities A Professione Universalium Scientiarum Artium liberalium An University now is properly an Incorporation under one Government of many Publick Schools ordained especially for the Study and Profession of Divinity Civil Law and Physick and also of Philosophy and of other Liberal Sciences and Arts as Hand-maids to the former Oxford Quasi Ousford Isidis Vadum the name of the cheif River whereon it is seated or perhaps from Bovis Vadum a Ford for Oxen to pass through before the use of Bridges as Thracius Bosphorus signifying the like is by the Germans called Ochenfurt It is seated at the meeting of two clear Fishy Rivers in such a healthy Air and pleasant rich Soyl that it hath anciently been called Bellositum or Baulieu It lies in 51 Degrees 50 Minutes Latitude and about 22 Degrees Longitude Oxford was a place of Publick Studies above Nine hundred years ago and much augmented not founded by the Learned Saxon King Alfred hath been very anciently reckoned the Second University amongst the Four Principal of Europe whereof the others are Paris in France Bononia now called Bologna in Italy and Salamanca in Spain and although Paris hath usually been named in the first place yet it hath been acknowledged to be Oxoniae Propago and if Paris for a time was more flourishing yet since in many respects is it excelled by this of Oxford Oxford is an antient City consisting of two sorts of Inhabitants viz. Students and Citizens living one amongst another though wholly separate for Government and Manners for when former Kings of England perceived that they could not as at Paris be separated by a River they thought best to disjoyn them as much as might conveniently be by Priviledges and whole manner of Government so that there are not the same limits for the University have them much larger nor the same stroke and Authority of Justice or power of Magistrates for the Chancellor of the University and in his absence his Vice-Chancellor is not onely in place but in all affairs of Moment though concerning the City itself superior to the Mayor of the Town Nor are they governed by the same kind of Laws for all Members of the University are subject to the Vice-Chancellors Judicial Courts which are ruled wholly by the Civil Law Over the University next under the King is placed the forementioned Magistrate called the Chancellor who is usually one of the Prime Nobility and nearest in favour with the Soveraign Prince Elected by the Students themselves in Convocation to continue durante vita whose Office is to take care of the Government of the whole University to maintain the Liberties and Priviledges thereof to call Assemblies to hear and determine Controversies call Courts punish Delinquents c. This great Honour is enjoyed at present by James Duke of Ormond Lord Steward of the Kings Houshold The next in Dignity amongst the Officers of the University of Oxford is the high Steward who is nominated by the Chancellor and approved by the University and is also durante vita whose Office is to assist the Chancellor Vice-Chancellor and Proctors upon their Requests in the execution of their Places also to hear and determine Capital Causes according to the Laws of the Land and Priviledges of the University so oft as the Chancellor shall require him This Honour is held by
but for avoiding of tumults and trouble it was enacted by H. VI. that none should have any suffrage in the election of Knights of the Shire but such as were Freeholders did reside in the County and had yearly Revenue 40 s. which till the discovery of the Gold and Silver in America was as much as 30 or 40 l. now whence it came to pass that the Lay-Commons were then elected as the Clergy-Commons the Procuratores Cleri were and ever have been viz. sine Prece sine Pretio sine Poculo c. The persons elected for each County are to be Milites Notabiles or at least Esquires or Gentlemen fit to be made Knights as it is in the Statutes of H. VI. They ought to be de discretioribus Militibus ad laborandum potentioribus as the words in some Writs have been they ought not to be of younger years for then it would be Juvenaâ—us si sic loqui liceat potiús quam Senatus not lazy Epicures but men of years vigorous active and abstemious men that will be content to give their constant attendance in Parliament or else to enjoy neither Priviledge nor Expences allowed to every Member of the Commons House They ought to be native English men or at least such as have been Naturalized by Act of of Parliament No Alien or Denizon none of the Twelve Judges no Sheriff of a County no Ecclesiastical person that hath cure of souls may be chosen a Parliament man to serve for any County City or Burrough Two things are said to be requisite to the legality of sitting in Parliament first that a man should be of full age that is 21 years old at the least for if no man under that age can dispose of his Estate nor make one legal Act to that purpose then much less may he bear any part in the supreme power of the Nation to Judge Vote or Dispose of the Estate of the whole Realm yet the practice in the House of Commons though never in the House of Lords hath sometimes been otherwise All Members of Parliament both Lords and Commons that they may attend the publick Service of their Countrey 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 they are at Parliament and all the time they are on the way home again Eundo Morando ad propria redeundo for so were the old words but they are not priviledged from Arrests for Treason Felony or breach of the peace The place of meeting for the High and Honourable Assembly is in whatsoever City Town or House the King pleaseth but of latter times it hath been usually held at the Kings antient Palace and usual Residence at Westminster all the Lords in a fair Room by themselves and the Commons not far from them in another fair Room which was heretofore the antient free Chappel of S. Stephen The manner of sitting in the Lords House is thus The King as oft as he comes which hath usually been only at the opening of Parliaments or at the passing of Bills or at some solemn debates as the present King hath frequently done is placed at the upper end of the room in a Chair of State under a Cloth of State under which on either hand none but the Kings Children On the Kings right hand is a seat antiently for the King of Scotland when he was summoned to Parliament as he sometimes was in side legiantia but now it is for the Prince of Wales On the Kings left hand is a Seat for the Duke of York On the Kings right hand and next the wall are placed on a Form the two Archbishops next below on another Form the Bishops of London Durham and Winchester all the rest of the Bishops sit according to the priority of their Consecration On the Kings left hand upon Forms are placed the Lords Chancellor Treasurer President of the Kings Council and 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 Woolsacks On the same side sit the Dukes Marquisses and Earls according to their Creations Upon the first Form a cross 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 Secretaries of State the Kings Council at Law the Masters of Chancery Thâ—se being not Barons have no suffrage in Parliament onely sit to give their advice when it is required The reason why these Sages are placed upon Woolsacks may probably be to mind them of the great importance of Wooll and Sheep to the Nation that it-never be neglected On the lowermost Woolsack are placed the Clerk of the Crown now Henry Barker Esquire and Clerk of the Parliament at present John Brown Esquire whereof the former is concerned 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 Kings first Gentleman Usher called the Black Rod from a black sttaff he carries in his hand under whom is a Yeoman Usher that waits at the door within a Cryer without and a Sergeant at Mace always attending the Lord Keeper 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 Kings Presence-Chamber The Judges then may sit but may not be covered till the Chancellor or Keeper signify unto them the leave of the Lords The Kings Council and Masters of Chancery sit also but may not be covered at all The Commons in their House sit promiscuously onely 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 fancieth most which to strangers seems very unbecoming the Gravity and Authority of the Great Council of England and that during their attendance on Parliament a Robe or grave vestment would as well become the Honourable Members of the House of Commons as it doth all the Noble Venetians both young and old who have right to sit in the Great Council
concerning the Kings Revenue either certain or casual All Securities either by Bond or Recognizances to the Kings Majesty for any of his Debts are taken here All Proceedings upon any Statute by Information for Custom Excises or any other penal Law All proceedings upon the said Bonds or Recognizances or any other Bonds taken in the Kings name by Officers appointed thereunto under the Great Seal of England and transmitted into this Office for recovery thereof From hence issue forth Process to cause all Accountants to come in and account In the Court of Exchequer there being a Court of Equity all proceedings touching the same are in this Office with many other things concerning the Kings Revenue This Office is in the Kings Gift Next is the Lord Treasurers Remembrancer John Osburn Esquire whose Office is to make Process against all Sheriffs Receivers Bailiffs c for their Accounts and many other things of moment as Estreat-Rules all Charters and Letters Patents whereupon any Rents are reserved to the King In this Office there were heretofore twelve sworn Clerks whereof the two first were called Secondaries but since the Tenures were taken away the said Office is declined and the number of Clerks diminished This Office also is in the Kings Gift Clerk of the Pipe is Sir Robert Crook Knight who hath all the Accounts and Debts due to the King drawn down out of the Remembrancers Office and chargeth them down in the Great Roll or Pipe and therefore probably was it called the Pipe Office He hath under him eight sworn Clerks William Burnet Esquire chief Secondary Nicholas Highmore Wil. Satterthwayte Burnet Junior Caryl c. Here also Accountants have their Quietus est and here are made Leases of extended Lands Comptroller of the Pipe Brewster Esquire who writeth out Summons twice every year to the High Sheriffs to levy the Farms and Debts of the Pipe he also keepeth a controlment of the Pipe that is keepeth a Roll of the Pipe Office Accounts whereby to discover any thing that shall be amiss Clerk of the Pleas is Richard Beresford Esquire in whose Office all the Officers of the Exchequer and other Priviledged persons as Debtors to the King c. are to have their Priviledge to plead and be impleaded as to all matters at the Common Law And the proceedings are accordingly by Declarations Pleas and Tryals as at the Common Law because they should not be drawn out of their own Court where their attendance is required Forrein Opposer is Charles Whittaker Esquire whose Office is whereunto all Sheriffs repair to be by him opposed of their Green Wax and from thence is drawn down a Charge upon the Sheriff to the Clerk of the Pipe this Office is kept in Greys-Inn Clerk of the Estreats Williams Esquire whose Office is to receive every Term the Estreats or Extracts out of the Office of the Remembrancer of the Lord Treasurer and to write them out to be levied for the King also to make Schedules for such Summs as are to be discharged Auditors of the Imprest Bartholemew Beal and Robert Wylde Esquires who audit the great accounts of the Kings Customs Wardrobe Mint First Fruits and Tenths Naval and Military Expences Moneys imprested c. Auditors of the Revenue there are seven Sir Edmond Sawyer Kt. John Philips Esq Sir Joseph Seymour Kt. Aldworth Parsons Morice Esquires and Sir William Godolphin Kt. These audiâ— all the accounts of the Kings other Revenue that ariseth by Aydes granted in Parliament Remembrancer of First Fruits and Tenths James Roger Esq whose Deputyes George Farrington and William Prettyman take all Compositions for First Fruits and Tenths and make process against such as pay not the same this Office is kept in Hatton Garden There are also two other considerable Officers called Deputy Chamberlains Mr. Vines and Mr Lawrence in whose Office at Westminster are preserved all the Counterfoyles of the Talleys whereof more anon so exactly ranged by Months and years that they may presently be found out to be joyned with their respective Stock or Tally when thereunto required which being done and proving true they deliver the same attested for a lawful Tally to the Clerk of the Pipe for to be allowed in the Great Roll but in case any corruption hath been used the same is easily and soon discovered and the Offender severely punished by Fine and imprisonment There are also divers other Officers as Clerk of the Parcels Clerk of the Nichils Marshals Usher of the Exchequer whose Office is executed by a Deputy also 4 under Ushers Of the other part of the Exchequer called by some the Lower Exchequer where the Kings Revenue is received and disbursed with admirable Order and Frugality THe Principal Officer is the Lord Treasurer of whom see the First Part of the Pres State of England Since the Death of the Earl of Southampton 1667. This great Office hath been in the hands of five Commissioners Now there are but three Commissioners the Lord Ashley Sir Thomas Clifford and Sir John Duncomb who execute the same at Whitehall They have each one a considerable Salary from the King There is one Secretary Sir George Downing Knight and Baronet Next is the Chancellour of the Exchequer who is also an Officer of great Account and Authority he hath a principal power not onely in the Exchequer Court but also here in the managing and disposing of the Kings Revenue he hath also the Custody of the Exchequer Seal This Office is injoyed by the forementioned Lord Ashley Then there are two Chamberlaines of the Exchequer Sir Nicholas Steward and Mr. Hyldiard in whose Custody are all Antient Records Leagues and Treaties with forreign Princes the Standards of Moneys Weights and Measures those antient famous Books called Doomes-day and the Black book of the Exchequer whereof the former is Liber Censualis totius Angliae the Tax Book of England made by William the Conqueror wherein is described all the Lands of England with the true value and their Owners name it was six years in making viz. from the 14th to the 20th year of that King and called at first Rotulus Wintoniae but since named Doomes-day Book because therein was set down an exact Account not onely of all the Cities Towns and Villages of England but the number of Families of Men Souldiers Husbandmen Bondmen Servants Cattle how much mony what Rent how much Meadow Pasture Woods Tillage Common Marsh Heath every one possessed and when any one cited or any difference arose about those things or Taxes c. there was no place for denying or deceiving the King whereof many men ever made little Conscience though all good Christians ever counted it a grievous and hainous sin when this Book was opened like as it will be at the opening of the Book at the great day of doom or general Judgment of the World This Book is kept under three Locks and Keys not to be lookt into under 6s 8d and for every line transcribed is to be paid 4d
of proceedings not used in Common Law Courts as the Defendants answering to the Bill and sometimes to the Interrogatories upon Oath though to the accusing of a mans self in divers matters dammageable and penal also by the whole manner of publication the depositions of Witnesses by the examining of witnesses upon Interrogatories and in perpetuam rei memoriam by the term and use of final Decree and many other points differing from the Common Law and wholly agreeing with the Civil Law This Court is alwayes open when all the others are shut but onely in Term time so that if a man be wrongfully imprisoned in the Vacation time out of Term the Lord Chancellour may grant his Writ of Habeas Corpus and do him justice according to Law So likewise may this Court grant Prohibitions in time of Vacation as well as in Term time A List of the several Officers belonging to the High Court of Chancery SIR Orlando Bridgman Knight and Barronet Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England Then the 12 Masters of the Chancery as followeth Sir Harbottle Grimston Baronet Master of the Rolls Sir William Childe Knight Doctor of Laws Sir Justinian Lewin Knight Doctor of Laws Sir Thomas Escourt Knight Sir Mundeford Bramston Knight Doctor of Laws Sir Nathaniel Hobart Knight Sir William Glascock Knight Sir John Coel Knight Sir Robert Stewart Knight Sir Timothy Baldwin Knight Doctor of Laws Sir Andrew Harket Knight Sir William Beversham The House founded at first for the converted Jews was after their expulsson out of England annext for ever to the Office of Master of the Rolls where he hath the custody of all Charters Patents Commissions Deeds Recognisances which being made up in Rolls of Parchments gave occasion of the Name At present there are kept all the Rolls since the beginning of Henry 7. the rest are kept in the Tower of London In his gift are besides the six Clerks Offices the Offices of the Examiners and three Clerks of the Pettibag Next Clerk of the Crown Henry Barker Esquire this Office is of high importance he is either by himself or Deputy continually to attend the Keeper of the Great Seal for special matters of State and hath a place in the Higher House of Parliament he makes all Writs for summoning Parliaments and upon a Warrant directed to him by the Speaker of the House of Commons upon the Death or removal of any Member he makes a Writ for a new Election Protonatary of this Court is Robert Pescod Esquire this Office is chiefly to expedite Commissions for Embassies It is executed by a Deputy Clerk of the Hamper or Hannaper sometime stiled Warden of the Hannaper Whose Office is to receive all the Money due to the King for the Seals of Charters Patents Commissions and Writs and to attend the Keeper of the Seal dayly in Term time and at all times of Sealing with leather baggs now but antiently probably with Hampers wherein are put all sealed Charters Patents c. and then those Baggs delivered to the Comptroller of the Hamper This Office is now enjoyed by Henry Seymer Esquire and executed by a Deputy Warden of the Fleet or Keeper of the Fleet-Prison is an Office very considerable and is to take care of the Prisoners there who are commonly such as are sent thither from this Court for contempt to the King or his Laws or such as will not pay their Debts c. The present Warden is Sir Jeremy Whitchcote It is executed by a Deputy Serjeant at Armes is Humphrey Ley Esq whose Office is to bear a great gilt Mace before the Lord Keeper c. Six Clerks are Officers of great account next in degree to the twelve Masters in Chancery whose Office is to inroll Commissions Pardons Patents Warrants c. That are passed the Great Seal They were antiently Clerici and afterwards forfeited their places if they did marry till by Act of Parliament in the time of Hen. 8. they were allowed to take Wives They are also Atturneys for Plaintiffs and Defendants in causes depending in this Court The present six Clerks Sir John Marshal Matthew Pindar Esq Matthew Bluck Esq Sir Cyril Wyche John Wilkinson Esq and Edward Abney Esq who sit altogether at their Office in Chancery Lane Examiners in Chancery there are two Sir Robert Peyton and Sir Nicholas Strode Their Office is to examine the Witnesses in any suit on both sides on their Oaths This Office also is executed at the Rolls Clerks of the Petty Bag in Chancery are three Edmund Warcup Esq John Hobson Esq and George Low Esq they are under the master of the Rolls Their Office is to make all Patents for Customers Comtrollers all Conge d' eslires first summons of Nobility Clergy Knights Citizens and Burgesses to Parliament c. The Subpena Office is to issue out Writs to call a person into Chancery This Office is in the hands of Frances Lady Vane Sir Walter Vane and Charles Vane and executed by a Deputy Clerk of the Patents or of Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England is Sir Richard Pygot and executed by a Deputy erected 16 Jac. The Register of the Court of Chancery the Farl of St. Albans under whom are three Deputy Registers for the Court two Deputy Registers for the Rolls two entring Clerks and a Keeper of the Books Cursiters Office in the Chancery is to make out Original Writs they were antiently called Clerici de Cursu of these there are twenty four whereof each one hath certain Counties and Cities allotted to them into which they make out such Original Writs as are required These Clerks are a Corporation within them-themselves and are all persons of Quality whose names follow The Names of the Cursiters now in being are these that follow JOhn Symonds Principal William Barker Assistants Benjamin Gladman Assistants Henry Edmonds Ge. Norbury Abr. Nelson Rich· Plumpton Roger Brown John Norbury Richard Cross Edmund Eyre Will. Adderley Abr. Skynner Jo. Shelbury Will. Plumpton Thomas Fisher Elias Gladman Roger Twisden Ben. Storke John More William Loe. H. Amhurst Philip Barecroft Rich. Parmee Esquires who execute these Offices by themselves or by their Deputies This Office is kept near Lincolns Inn. Clerk of the Presentations of Spiritual Benefices Edwes Esquire Commissioners Sir George Courthop Sir Edm. Turner Halsal Esq Alienation Office N. Crew Esq Receiver Gen. Joh. Nichols All the forementioned Courts of Judicature at Westminster are opened four times the year called the four Termes viz. Easter Term which beginneth alwayes the seventeenth day after Easter and lasteth 27 dayes Trinity Term begins the 5 th day after Trinity Sunday and lasteth 20 dayes Michaelmas Term began heretofore a little after that Feast but now by a late Statute begins the 23 October and lasteth 37 dayes Lastly Hilary Term begins now 10 dayes after St. Hilary Bishop or the 23 of January and lasteth 21 dayes so in all 105 dayes from whence must be deducted about 20 Sundayes and Holydayes which
are as the Dies Nefâ—sti wherein the Courts sit not so that in one fourth part of the year and that in one City all considerable causes of the greatest part of England are fully decided and determined whereas in forreign parts the Courts of Justice are open all the year except high Holydayes and Harvest and that in all great Cities This may seem therefore strange to all Forreigners till they know that the English have alwayes been given more to peaceableness and industry then other people and that rather then go so far as London and be at so great Charges with Attourneyes and Lawyers they will either refer their differences to the Arbitration of their Parish Priests who do or ought to think it a Principal part of their Duty to reconcile differences within their Parishes or to the Arbitration of honest Neighbours or else are content to submit their differences to tryal before the Judges of Assises or the Itinerant Judges who twice a year viz. after the end of Hilary Term and after the end of Trinity Term two by two of these principal Judges ride several Circuits and at the Principal Town of every County sit to hear and determine all Causes of lesser moment both civil and criminal a most excellent wise Constitution begun by King Hen. 2. Anno 1176. who at first divided England into six Circuits not the same that are now and to each Circuit allotted three judges Wales also is divided into two Circuits North and South Wales for which are designed in like manner two Sergeants at Law for each Circuit These Judges give Judgment of the Pleas of the Crown and all Common Pleas within those Counties dispatching ordinarily in two or three days all Controversies in a County that are grown to issue in the fore-mentioned Courts at London between Plaintiffs and Defendants and that by their Peers a Jury of 12 men ex viceneto out of the neighbourhood where about the business lyes So that twice a year in England and Wales Justice may be said to be rightly and speedily administred even at our own doors Besides the forementioned Courts at Westminster Henry 8. erected for the more ease of the Subject a Court in the North of England another for the County of Wales and Counties adjoyning and intended another for Cornwall and Devonshire and these in manner of those Courts called in France Parlements where all cases might be decided both according to the Laws of England and according to equity in Chancery Of these Courts that for Cornwal was never fully erected those people desiring rather to come to London for Justice that of the North was by the late long Parliament taken away and so was that of Wales but this last since the Restauration of the King again erected Of this Court or Council of the Marshes of Wales is a Lord President at present the Lord Vaughan Earl of Carbury divers Councellors Secretary Attourney Sollicitor Surveyor who have Salaries from His Majesty HAving given a brief Account of the Civil Government of all England in General next shall be described the particular Government of Counties Hundreds Cities Burroughs and Villages For the Civil Government of all Counties the King makes choice of some of the Nobility Clergy Gentry and Lawyers men of worth and parts who have their usual residence in the County so many as His Majesty pleaseth to keep the Peace of the County and these by Commission under the great Seal are called Justices of Peace and such of them in whom the King doth more particularly confide or respect are called Justices of the Quorum from those words in the Commission Quorum A. B. unum esse volumus that is some business of more importance may not be transacted without the presence or concurrence of one of them One of the principal Justices of Peace and Quorum is by the Lord Keeper made Custos Rotulorum so called because he hath the Custody of the Rolls or Records of the Sessions and is to bring them to each Quarter Sessions The Original of Justices of Peace is from the first year of Edward 3. Their Office is to call before them examine and commit to Prison all Theeves Murderers wandring Rogues those that hold Conspiracies Conventicles Riots and almost all other Delinquences that may occasion the breach of Peace and quiet to the Kings Subjects to commit all such to prison as either cannot or by Law are not to be bailed that is cannot be set at liberty by Sureties taken for their appearance at a place and time certain land to see them brought forth in due time to Tryal Every Quarter or three months the Justices meet at the chief or Shire Town where the Grand Enquest or Jury of the County is summoned to appear who upon Oath are to inquire of all Traitors Hereticks Theeves Murderers Money-coiners Riots c Those that appear to be guilty are by the said Justices committed to prison to be tryed at the next Assises when the Judges of Westminster come their Circuits aforementioned For execution of Laws in every County except Westmorland and Durham the King every Michaelmas Term nominates for each County a Sheriff that is a Reeve of the Shire Praepositus or Praefectus Comitatus a Governor or Guardian of the County for the words of the Patent are Commisimus tibi Custodiam Commitatus nostri de N. The Sheriffs Office is to execute the Kings Mandates and all Writs directed to him out of the Kings Courts to empannel Juries to bring Causes and Criminals to Tryal to see the sentences both in Civil and Criminal affairs executed to wait on and guard the Itenerant Judges twice a year so long as they continue within the County which at the Assises is performed with great Pomp Splendor Feasting c In order to the better execution of his Office the Sheriff hath attendant his Under-Sheriff divers clerks Stewards of Courts Bayliffs of Hundreds Constables Gaolers Sergeants or Beedles besides a gallant train of servants in rich Liveries all on Horseback at the Reception of the Judges He was antiently chosen as Knights of the Shire but to avoid Tumults it is now thus Every year about the beginning of November the Judges Itinerant nominate six fit men of each County that is Kts. or Esquires of good Estates out of these the Lords Keeper Treasurer Privy Councellors and 12 Judges assembled in the Exchequer Chamber and sworn make choice of three of which the King himself after chooseth one to be Sheriff for that year only though heretofore it was for many years and sometimes heriditary as at this day to the Cliffords who by dissent from Robert de Vipont are Sheriffs heriditary of the County of Westmoreland by Charter from King John Furthermore the Sheriffs Office is to collect all publick profits Customes Taxes of the County all Fines Distresses and Amerceaments and to bring them into the Kings Exchequer or Treasury at London or else where as the King shall appoint The
only of Beer and Ale for the City of London though it be a very moderate Imposition is farmed or rented of the King at above one hundred and twenty thousand pounds a year and about one fourth part of all that Excise throughout England Churches Parish Churches besides Chappels there were in all 130. that is double the Number of Churches parochial to be found in any City of Christendom the Mother Church whereof is dedicated to the memory of Saint Paul the only Cathedral of that Name in Europe and founded by Sebert a Saxon King about the year 610. in a place where had stood a Temple dedicated to Diana and afterward enlarged by Erkenwald the 4 th Saxon Bishop thereof and that old Fabrick being almost destroyed by Fire Mauritius another Bishop of London in One thousand eighty three began and finished a great part of the present magnificent Pile in the space of 20 years but the Quire and Tower were not finished till 1221 and then it was dedicated in a most solemn manner as was the Temple of Solomon the King the Bishops and a vast number from all Parts of the Nation assisting thereat It is seated on the highest part of all the City and was more conspicuous perhaps then any Cathedral Church in the World it was a structure for length height and antiquity surpassing all other Churches the length thereof was 690 Foot therein excelling by 20 foot St. Peters in Rome which for beauty proportion and divers other things excels all other Temples it was in height 102 foot and in breadth 130. The Church was built as other Cathedrals in a perfect Cross and in the midst of the Cross upon mighty high Arches was a Tower of Stone 260 foot high and on that a spire of Timber covered with Lead in height 260 foot more in all from the ground 520 foot above which was a â—ole of Copper Gilt of 9 foot in compass whereon stood the Cross 15 foot and a half high and almost 6 foot a cross made of oak covered with Lead and another cover of Copper over the Lead above all stood the Eagle or Cock of Copper Gilt four foot long and the breadth over the Wings 3 foot and a half In the year 1561. a part of this magnificent Pile was much wasted and the rest endangered by a fire begun in that stately Timber Spire by the negligence of a Plummer who left his Pan of Fire there whilest he went to Dinner as he confest of later years on his Death Bed But by the great Bounty and Piety of Queen Elizabeth of the Citizens of London and of all the Clergy of the Province of Canterbury it was again repaired in the space of Five years After which the Stone work decaying apace by reason of the corroding quality of the abundance of Sea-coal smoak the Learned and Pious Doctor Laud coming to be Bishop of London and after of Canterbury was so zealous and vigorous for upholding this most Ancient Church and Stately Monument of England and glory of the City of London that by the Kings favor and liberal contribution of Godly People maugre all opposition of the Puritans the work was so eagerly pursued that before the year 1640. the whole Body was finished with Portland Stone excellent against all smoak and weather and the Tower scaffolded up to the top with a purpose to take it all down and to rebuild it more fair and of a greater height with a stately Pinnacle at each corner because the Arches were not thought strong enough to support another Steeple and to place in that Tower the biggest and most tunable Bells in the World For performance whereof and for adorning the Church there was in the Chamber of London above One hundred and seventy thousand pounds all taken out soon after and employed in an Unnatural War by a stiff necked People against the best of Kings in which one single act a great part of the Citizens of London and of the Long Parliament became deeply guilty of a horrid Rebellion and detestable Sacriledge After the Murder or rather Martyrdom of the forementioned Archbishop the Skaffolds were taken away and sold with some of the Lead which covered this famous Structure and this House of God made a Stable for Horses by the Disloyal Army and almost all suffered to decay till the Restauration of the King who having a pious intent to set upon the repair thereof again it was all ruined by the late dreadful Conflagration in 1666. Which yet hath not so discouraged our gracious King and the rest of our Church Governors but that in a short time they intend to begin again the repair of the Mother Church of the Mother City of this Kingdom to the glory of God and high honor of this City and Nation for the speedy promoting whereof both King and Parliament City and Countrey Clergy and Laity high and low seem to stand engaged to lend their aid and assistance Of the forementioned Fire that was able to destroy such a vast solid Structure as the Cathedral of S. Paul a brief account may here be acceptable especially to Foreigners who have had imperfect relations thereof THe City of LONDON within the Walls was seated upon near Four hundred and sixty Acres of Ground whereon was built about Fifteen thousand Houses besides Churches Chappels Halls Colledges Schools and other Publick Buildings whereof about Four parts of five were utterly devoured in the late dismal Conflagration and about One part of five of the whole City and Suburbs counting therein Westminster and Southwark There were then destroyed Eighty seven Parochial Churches Six Consecrated Chappels all the Principal Publick Edifices as the forenamed Cathedral of S. Paul the great Guild-Hall wherein are held Nine several Courts belonging to the City the Royal Exchange the Custome-House most Halls of Companies c. whereof the whole damage is almost incredible In that one commodity of Books onely wherewith London abounded was lost as Judicious Stationers have computed One hundred and fifty thousand pounds for the loss fell most upon that and Three or four other cumbersome commodities not easie on a sudden to be removed viz. Wines Tobacco Sugars and Plumbs wherewith this City was furnished beyond any City in the World Yet in this vast Incendy not above Six or eight persons were burnt Of this dreadful Fire there were many concurrent occasions First The Drunkenness or Supine negligence of the Baker in whose House it began or of his Men. Next The dead time of the night wherein it began viz. between One and two of the Clock after Midnight when some were wearied with working others filled with drink all in a dead sleep Thirdly The dead time of the week being Saturday night when Traders were retired to their Countrey Houses and none but Children or Young Servants left behind Fourthly The dead time of all the year being then the long Vacation on the Second of September when Tradesmen were generally abroad
as the Feciales of the Romans did and from hence probably Seven Danish Kings and some Kings of Norway and of Sweden and some of England before the Conquest have had the name of Harold which is all one saith Verstegan with Herald These have no certain Province under them but by turns wait upon the Kings at Arms and have part of their Fees Of these Heralds in England there were anciently many and so likewise of Pursuivants whereof at present there are but four thus named Rouge Cross Rouge Dragon Portcullice and Blewmantle from such Badges heretofore worn by them as it is thought The service of these and of the Heralds and of the whole Colledge is used in marshalling and ordering Coronations Marriages Christnings Funerals Interviews Feasts of Kings and Princes Cavalcades Shews Justs Tournaments Combats before the Constable and Marshal c. Also they take care of the Coats of Arms of the Genealogies of the Nobility and Gentry briefly whatsoever concerns Honor is their care and study they are Tanquam Sacrorum Custodes Templi Honoris Aeditui All these receive Annual Stipends out of the Kings Exchequer They are all to be Gentlemen at the least and the Six Heralds are expresly made Esquires by the King when they are created Heralds Anciently the Kings at Arms were Created and solemnly Crowned by the Kings of England themselves and the Heralds and Pursuivants had their Creations from the Kings hand but of later times the Earl Marshal hath had a special Commission for every particular Creation and to do all that before was done by the King For the Creating and Crowning of Garter King at Arms there are first to be provided a Sword and a Book whereon to take a Solemn Oath then a Gilt Crown a Coller of S's a Bowl of Wine which Bowl is the Fee of the new created King also a Coat of Arms of Velvet richly embroidered His Creation is on this manner first he kneels down before the Earl Marshal and laying his hand on the Book and Sword another King at Armes reads the Oath which being taken and the Book and Sword kissed next are read the Letters Patents of his Office during which the Earl Marshal powres the Wine on his head and gives him the Name of Garter then puts on him the Coat of Armes and Collar of S's and the Crown on his head The Oath is to obey first the Supream head of the most noble Order of the Garter and then the Noble Knights of that Order in such things as belong to his Office to inquire diligently of all the Noble and notable Acts of every Knight of this Order and thereof to certify the Register of that Order that he may record the same and to give notice to the King and the Knights of the Order of the death of any of that Society to have an exact knowledge of all the Nobility to instruct Heralds and Pursuivants in doubts concerning the Office of Arms to eschew and avoid all persons of ill reputation to be more ready to excuse then to blame any noble person unless called by Authority to witness against them c. This Officer hath a double Salary double to the two other Kings and hath moreover Fees at the Instalments yearly wages given by the Knights of the Garter hath the uppermost Garment at their Installments c. The two Provincial Kings at Armes Clarentius and Norroy are created by Letters Patents a Book a Sword c. as Garter and with almost the same Ceremonies A Herald at Armes is also created with the like Ceremony onely his Coat of Armes must be Sattin embroidered and enricht with gold and must be brought in with two Heralds as the Kings at Arms are by two Kings at Armes They take a solemn Oath to be true to the King to be serviceable to Gentlemen to keep secrets of Knights Esquires Ladies and Gentlewomen to assist distressed Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Widows and Virgins to avoid Taverns Dicing and Whore-houses c. Pursuivants at Armes are created also by Letters Patents a Book a Bowl of Wine and a Coat of Arms of Damask and to be brought in as the Heralds before the Earl Marshal or his Deputy and to swear in solemn manner to be true to the King to be serviceable to all Christians to be secret and sober to be more ready to commend then to blame to be humble lowly c. This Office since the late dreadful fire is held in the Queens Court at Westminster where are some always waiting to satisfy comers touching Descents Pedigrees Coates of Armes c. as was formerly done at the forementioned house up in London which is now begun to be rebuilt by the Members of the Colledge and it is hoped may in a short time by the bountiful Contributions of all men that have any sence of Honour remaining be compleated to the glory of this City and Kingdom All of this Colledge being the Kings sworn servants the Reader may find a List of their Names in the First Part about the Kings Court. Within the Walls of London also is seated a Colledge built by the forementioned worthy person Sir Thomas Gresham and indowed in manner following After he had built the Royal Exchange he gave the Revenue thereof the one Moity to the Mayor and Commonalty of London and their Successors and the other moity to the Company of Mercers in trust that the Mayor and Aldermen should find in all time to come four able persons to read within this Colledge Divinity Geometry Astronomy and Musick and to allow to each of them besides their fair lodging 50 l. a year And that the Company of Mercers should find Three more able men to read Civil Law Physick and Rhetorick and to allow to each one of them besides fair Lodgings 50 l. a year And that these several Lecturers should read in Term time every day in the week except Sundayes aforenoon in Latin and afternoon the same in English The Musick Lecture to be read onely in English There is also within London another called Sion Colledge founded by Thomas White Doctor in Divinity for the use of the Clergy of London and of the Liberties thereof and a part thereof to be for 20 poor people to perform all which he gave 3000 l. and for the maintenance of those poor he setled 120 l a year for ever and 40 l. a year for a Sermon in Latin at the beginning of every quarter and a plentiful Dinner for all the Clergy that shall then meet there In this Colledge is a fair spacious Library built by John Sympson Rector of Saint Olaves Hart street and one of the said Doctor Whites Executors and by the bounty of divers Benefactors this Library hath been well furnished with Books chiefly such as are useful for Divines This Colledge felt the rage of the late Fire but is almost repaired again A little without the Walls stands another Colledge or Collegiate House called antiently the Chartreuse
now corruptly the Charter house it being heretofore a Covent of Carthusian Monks called in French des Chartreux This Colledge called also Suttons Hospital consists of a Master or Governor at present Sir Ralph Sidenham a Chaplain Doctor Thriscross a Master and Usher to instruct 44 Scholars besides fourscore decayed Gentlemen Souldiers and Merchants who have all a plentiful maintenance of Dyet Lodging Clothes and Physick c. and live altogether in a Collegiate manner with much cleanliness and neatness and the four and fourty Scholars have not onely all necessaries whilst they are here taught but if they become fit for the Universities there is allowed unto each one out of the yearly Revenues of this Colledge 20 l. yearly and duly paid for 8 years after they come to the University and to others fitter for Trades there is allowed a considerable Sum of money to bind them Apprentices There are moreover all sorts of officers expedient for such a Society as Physitian Apothecary Steward Cooks Butlers c. who have all competent Salaries This vast Revenue and Princely Foundation was the sole Gift of an ordinary Gentleman Mr. Thomas Sutton born in Lincoln-shire and 't was of such high Account as it was thought fit that by the Kings Letters Patents under the Great Seal divers persons of the highest Dignity and Quality in Church and State should alwayes be the Overseers and Regulators of this Society as the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer and 13 others Besides there are in London divers endowed Schools which in France would be stiled Colledges as Paul's School foundded 1512. by John Collet Doctor of Divinity and Dean of Pauls for 153 Children to be taught there gratis for which purpose he appointed a Master a Sub-master or Usher and a Chaplain with large stipends for ever committing the oversight thereof to the Masters Wardens and Assistants of the Mercers in London for his father Henry Collet sometime Lord Mayor of London was of the Mercers Company This famous School was also lately burnt down and now is reedified in a far more magnificent commodious and beautiful manner the worthy Master thereof is Mr. Samuel Crumholm alias Cromlum There are in London divers other endowed Schools as Merchant-Taylors Mercers-Chappel c. a particular Account whereof the designed Brevity of this Treatise will not admit It would also make this Book too much swell to give an Account of the many richly endowed Hospitals Almes-houses Work-houses or Houses of Correction the many stately built Taverns Inns and Coffee Houses some whereof surpass all others in foreign parts and are worthy to be viewed by curious Travellers who may also find it worthy their pains to remarque the several spatious well-built Theaters which for variety of Scenes excellent Actors Language Designs Musick c. are hardly to be equalled Moreover they may observe the many well furnisht Markets the weekly Horse-fairs the great commodiousness of Hackney-Coaches of Sedans of Boats c. belonging to this famous City also to consider the City of Westminster and the Burrough of Southwark both which now seem to be swallowed up in London Within the Precincts of Westminster are many Magnalia several things are as remarkable as any aforementioned the antient stately Abby Church founded before the Norman Conquest by the Pious King Edward the Confessor and most richly endowed afterwards rebuilt from the ground by Henry the III. with that rare Architecture now seen wherein are the most magnificent Tombs and Monuments of our Kings and Queens and greatest Nobles of England To the East end of which is added a Chappel of King Henry the VII which for the most admirable artificial work without and within for a Monument of massy Brass most curiously wrought is scarce to be paralleld in the World This huge Fabrick stands where first was the Temple of Apollo and afterwards King Sebert the East Saxon King that first built St. Pauls aforementioned built here a Church to St. Peter Queen Elizabeth converted this Abbey into a Collegiate Church and therein placed a Dean 12 Secular Canons or Prebendaries Petty Canons and others of the Quire to the number of 30 ten Officers belonging to the Church as many servants belonging to the Collegiate Dyet two Schoolmasters 40 Scholars 12 Almes-men with plentiful maintenance for all besides Stewards Receivers Registers Collectors and other Officers the principal whereof is the high Steward of Westminster who is usually one of the prime Nobility and is at present the Lord Chamberlain The Dean is entrusted with the custody of the Regalia at the Coronation honored with a place of necessary service at all Coronations and a Commission of Peace within the City and Liberties of Westminster the Dean and Chapter invested with all manner of Jurisdiction both Ecclesiastical and Civil not onely within the City and Liberties of Westminster but within the Precincts of St. Martin le grand within the Walls of London and in some Towns of Essex exempted in the one from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of London and in the other from that of the Archbishop of Canterbury For Ecclesiastical Causes and probate of Wills it hath a Royal Jurisdiction Dr. Richard Lloyd is Commissary from whom Appeal must be onely to the King in his High Court of Chancery who thereupon issueth out a Commission of Delegates under the Great Seal of England When the Convocation is adjourned from St. Pauls for the conveniency of being nearer to the Parliament to Westminster the Bishops first declare upon a Protestation made by the Dean there that they intend not thereby to violate that high Priviledge viz. That no Bishop or Archbishop may come there without leave of the Dean first obtained There is also a fair Publick Library free for all strangers to study both morning and afternoon alwayes in Term time Next this Church stood the Royal Palace and usual place of Residence for the Kings of England who ordinarily held their Parliaments and all their Courts of Judicature in their dwelling Houses as is done at this day at Madrid by the King of Spain and many times sate themselves in the said Courts of Judicature as they do still in their Court of Parliament A great part of this huge Palace was in the time of Henry the VIII destroyed by fire what remained hath still been employed for the use of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament and for the chief Courts of Judicature The great Hall where these are kept some say was built by King William Rufus others by King Richard the II. about 300 years agoe and for all dimensions is not to be equalled by any Hall in Christendom Moreover Strangers and Foreigners may take notice of the extraordinary commodiousness conveniency and situation of the present Royal Palace and usual place of Residence called Whitehall belonging heretofore to Cardinal Woolsey seated between a noble navigable River and a most delectable Park of the great Chamber there called the Banquetting-House
Arches founded in a deep broad River and some say on a soft ozy Ground is Eight hundred Foot in length Sixty high and Thirty broad hath a Draw bridge almost in the middle and Twenty Foot between each Arch it was built Anno 1209. in the Reign of King John The first Stone-bridge in England having been built above One hundred years before by Queen Maud Wife to Henry the First at Stratford on the River Lee Three miles from London so called from the Highway there passing over a Ford and since called Stratford Bow from the Arched Bridge a piece of Architecture then new to the English Nation The building of this Bridge of London was an exceeding difficult and costly piece of Work and to those that consider the constant great Flux and Reflux at that place it seems almost impossible to be done again The charges of keeping it in repair is so great that it hath been thought fit by our Ancestors to have a large House a vast Revenue in Lands and Houses divers considerable Officers c. to be set apart for the constant care and repair thereof Concerning this Bridge and the stupendious site and structure thereof take here the fancy of an ingenious Person deceased WHen Neptune from his Billows London spi'd Brought proudly thither by a High Spring-Tide As through a Floating Wood he steer'd along And moving Castles cluster'd in a throng When he beheld a mighty Bridge give law Unto his Surges and their fury aw When such a Shelf of Cataracts did roar As if the Thames with Nile had chang'd her shoar When he such Massie Walls such Towers did eye Such Posts such Irons upon his back to â—ie When such vast Arches he observ'd that might Nineteen Rialto's make for depth and height When the Cerulean god these things survey'd He shook his Trident and astonish'd said Let the whole Earth now all Her Wonders count This Bridge of Wonders is the Paramount Not far below this famous Bridge is placed the Custome House where is received and managed all the Impositions laid on Merchandise Imported or Exported from this City which are so considerable that of all the Customs of England divided into three parts the Port of London pays Two thirds that is above 330000 l. yearly In this Office there are employed many persons of great ability and worth Collectors Customers Comptrollers Surveyors Registers whereof some have Salaries of 500 l. yearly besides many perquisites The House where this great Office was kept being destroyed by the late Fire is now rebuilt in a very much more magnificent uniform and commodious manner by the King and will cost His Majesty 10000 l. the building There are at present within this City of London divers other very considerable Offices whereof take the account following Of the Office of Post-Master General THe Profits of the said Office are setled by Act of Parliament on his Royal Highness the Duke of York but His Majesty doth constitute His Post-Master General by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England and accordingly hath conferred that Office upon the Right Honorable Henry Lord Arlington His Principal Secretary of State The present Post-Master General keepeth one Grand or General Office in the City of London from whence Letters and Pacquets are dispatched Every Monday to France Italy Spain Flanders Germany Sweden Danemark c and to Kent Every Tuesday to the United Netherlands Germany c. And to all parts of England Scotland and Ireland Every Wednesday to Kent onely and the Downs Every Thursday to France Spain Italy and all parts of England and Scotland Every Friday to the Spanish and United Netherlands Germany Sweden Danemark and to Kent Every Saturday to all parts of England Scotland and Ireland And the Answers of the said Letters and Pacquets are received in the said Office in due Course And from thence dispersed and delivered according to their respective directions with all expedition The said Office is managed by a Deputy and other Officers to the number of Seventy seven Persons who give their actual attendance respectively in the dispatch of the business Upon this Grand Office depends One hundred eighty two Deputy Post-Masters in England and Scotland most of which keep Regular Offices in their Stages and Sub Post-Masters in their Branches and also in Ireland another General Office for that Kingdom which is kept in Dublin consisting of Eighteen like Officers and Forty five Deputy Post-Masters The present Post-Master General keeps constantly for the transport of the said Letters and Pacquets Between England and France Two Pacquet-Boats Flanders Two Pacquet-Boats Holland Three Pacquet-Boats Ireland Three Pacquet-Boats And at Deal Two Pacquet-Boats for the Downs All which Officers Post-Masters Pacquet-Boats are maintained at his own proper charge And as the Master piece of all those good regulations established by the present Post-master General for the better government of the said office he hath annexed and apropriated the Market Towns of England so well to the respective Post-stages that there is no considerable Market-Town but hath an easy and certain Conveyance for the Letters thereof to and from the said grand office in the due Course of the Mailes every Post Note also that all Letters are conveyed with more expedition and less charges then in any forreign Country A Letter containing a whole sheet of Paper is conveyed 80 miles for 2 d. 2 sheets 4 d. and an ounce of Letters but 8 d. and that in so short a time by night as well as by day that every 24 hours the Post goes 120 miles and in 5 dayes an answer of a Letter may be had from a place 300 miles distant from the Writer Moreover if any Gentleman desires to ride Post to any principal Town of England Post-Horses are alwayes in readiness taking no Horse without the consent of his owner which in other Kings reigns was not duly observed and only 3 d. is demanded for every English mile and for every Stage to the Post boy 4 d. for conducting Besides this excellent convenience of conveying Letters and Men on Horseback there is of late such an admirable commodiousness both for Men and Women of better rank to travel from London to almost any great Town of England and to almost all the Villages near this great City that the like hath not been known in the World and that is by Stage Coaches wherein one may be transported to any place sheltred from foul weather and foul ways free from endamaging ones health or body by hard jogging or over violent motion and this not onely at a low price as about a shilling for every 5 miles but with such velocity and speed as that the Posts in some forreign Countryes make not more miles in a day for the Stage Coaches called flying Coaches make Forty or Fifty miles in a day as from London to Oxford or Cambridge and that in the space of Twelve hours not counting the time for Dining setting forth not too early and