Londoners the Princess having heard what stirs were abroad comforted him and told him that she would do her endeavour to compose the difference By this time the Londoners understanding that the Duke and his accomplice Sir Henry Piercy were Fled in great Fury hasted to the Savoy where meeting a Priest who demanded what the matter was they told him that they went to sease the Persons of the Duke and Sir Henry Piercy that thereby they might compel them to deliver up Sir Peter de la Moor which they unjustly detained in Prison upon the hearing of which the Priest replyed that Sir Peter de-la Moor was a Traytor to the King and deserved to be Hang'd upon which words so unseasonably Spoken the Multitude cryed out That it was Piercy in Disguise that Traytor to England and that his Speech betray'd him though he had changed his Habit and thereupon they so belaboured him with Swords Clubs and other mischievous Instruments that he fell down upon the place as Dead but they finding him yet to breath they halled him to Prison where he Dyed The Bishop of London hearing of these Stirs as he sate at Dinner left his Company and hasted towards the Multitude where being Arrived he admonished them by many perswasive Arguments to cease from such Rebellious proceedings and to depart to their respective homes affirming that he wonld bring all things that had been done to their prejudice to an amicable composure upon these perswasions of the Bishop every one returned to their Habitations so that all the Multitude were dispersed in less then three hours yet their hatred against the Duke could not be so thoroughly oblitered but that the same day they hung up his Arms reverse in the principal Streets of the City in token of his being a Traytor to the Kingdom as they then Related thereby to cast an odium upon his Name the which when the Duke heard he requested the Bishop to Pronounce Sentence of Excommunication against the doers thereof the Bishop of Bangor therefore being assisted by the Aldermen and other of the prime Citizens did pronounce the aforesaid Sentence the Bishop of London being unwilling to Incurr the Peoples hate thereby declining it Within three or four days after the Duke went to the Parliament House where he and several of the Lords that were his Friends being Seated they demanded of the Knights and Burgesses to return an answer to what had been formerly proposed as to the Subsidie and had return made by the Knights Burgesses c. that they would not help their Soveraign Lord the King with one penny a head only but with a groat for every Head throughout the Kingdom above 14 years of Age if so be that Mony might be deposited in the Hands of certain Lords and Barrons till such time occasion required the disposure of the same in the mannagement of the Kings affairs and that every Religious Person promoted should pay one Shilling The Duke having thus obtained his desire in this point began to call to mind the affront offered to him by the Londoners wherefore he caused the King to send for the Mayor Sheriffs and Aldermen of the City who being Introduced into the Kings presence he being at his mannor of Sheene now Richmond they found him placed in a Chair not well able to Speak by reason of his Sickness the Duke the Arch-Bishop and other Bishops with many Lords and Honourable Personages sitting about him where after due Reverence made and Silence commanded Sir Robert Aston began an Oration perswading the Citizens to confess their great and Heinous offences against the King and Duke and to submit themselves to their Mercy whereunto the Londoners answered that they had not conspired against the Duke neither had there heen any Evildone or spoken against him which they did consent to or know off which they were ready to prove before their Soveraign Lord the King and Duke himself yet they confessed that they could not stay the Insolency of the unruly Multitude by whom that which had chanced was committed wherefore they requested the King that he would not by any means Punnish those that were Innocent and Ignorant of the Fact instead of those that committed it promising that they would do their utmost endeavour to apprehend such as were guilty and compell them by Law to make satisfaction saying that they were no able to do in that point for the Duke as they would whereupon they were dismissed not a little glad that they came off so well A while after the King sent privately to them and commanded That they should Assemble together and make a Wax Candle or Taper with the Dukes Arms on it and carry it in a General Procession to St. Pauls Church there continually to burn before the Image of the Virgin Mary at the Charges of the City This was exactly performed but when the Duke came to hear of it it rather Exasperated him then any ways gave him Satisfaction wherefore he threatned the Citizens more than formerly saying that it rather redounded to his disgrace than Honour for that during his Life and in a time of Health they had offered up his Arms But they excused themselves by alledging it was done at the Commandment of the King his Father and that they would have done any thing that might have pleased him But this would not avail them for the Duke ceased not till he had displaced Adam Staple Mayor of the City and obtained Nicholas Brember to be Elected in his room and on the 29th of March 1377. caused him to take his Oath at the Tower of London as likewise several Aldermen were Outed and others placed in their steads And thus have I given the Reader an Impartial Relation of what happened to the Citizens and City of London during the Reign of King Edward the Third who Dyed at Richmond Anno. 1377. In the 65 Year of his Age having Reigned 50 Years 4 Months and 6 Days And now I shall proceed to relate what happened to the City during the Reign of Richard the Second Son to the Black Prince and Grand-Son to the beforementioned King But before I Treat of the Discord that happened I do not think it amiss though indeed it may be counted by some a Digression to inform the Reader how at the beginning of this Kings Reign the Citizens were Reconciled to their Capital Enemy the Duke of Lancaster King Edward was no sooner departed this Life but the City sent several of the Chief Citizens to wait upon Richard at Kinington where he and the Princess his Mother remained to promise him their ready Obedience in Proclaiming him King as his Right by Confirmation of Parliament and the Established Laws of the Kingdom and to assure him of their Loyalty and constant Fidelity Humbly beseeching him That he would take upon him to end the discord between them and his Uncle the Duke of Lancaster to accomplish which he promised to use his utmost endeavour and with many thanks
THE FORFEITURES OF Londons Charter Or an Impartial Account of the SEVERAL SEISURES OF THE City Charter Together with the Means and Methods that were used for the Recovery of the same with the Causes by which it came forfeited as likewise the Imprisonments Deposing and Fining the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs since the Reign of King Henry the Third to this present Year 1682. Being faithfully collected out of Antient and Modern Historys and now Seasonably Published for the satisfaction of the Inquisitive upon the late Arrest made upon the said Charter by Writ of Quo Warranto Printed for the Author and are to be Sold by Daniel Brown at the Black-Swan and Bible without Temple-Bar and Thomas Benskin in St. Brides-Church-Yard 1682. Since the Charter was granted to the Antient and Famous City of London by William the Conqueror Henry the Second and other Kings of this Realm we find several Inspections have been made into it and that at sundry times the Priviledges and Charter of the said City hath been taken away and suspended The Historical Relation of which as it is Recorded by the most Authentick of our English Writers Being now thought seasonable and useful is intended to be the Subject of this Treatise TO begin at the 50 year of the Reign of Henry the Third Anno Dom. 1265. Upon the Citizens taking part with the Earl of Leicester and the Barons against the King after the said Earl was Slain at the Battle of Eversham and the King again was restored to his Royal Dignities he began to call to mind how the Citizens had shut their Gates against him and succour'd his Enemies so that calling a Parliament at Westminster about the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in the year aforesaid all the Statutes that had been made by the Parliament the Barons had Assembled at Oxford were Repealed and also all such as had favoured the Barons and were as then either in Prison or abroad should be disinherited It was also ordain'd and passed the Assent of both Houses that many of the Wealthiest Citizens of London should be cast into Prison and the City should be deprived of the Liberties and Priviledges that had been formerly granted and confirmed to them as likewise that all the Chains and Posts should be pulled up and taken away thereby to leave the Streets fenceless c. This was no sooner Enacted but put in Execution for the chief Citizens were Arrested and committed to Ward within the Castle of Windsor till they should pay such Fines as were demanded which was 300 pounds a peice at least whereupon the Liberties of the City pursuant to the said Act were suspended and the Tower of London fortified with Outworks for its better Security as likewise such Posts and Chains as had been brought out of the City were placed about the Defences in nature of Barracado's not long after another Parliament was called at Westminster wherein a great number of such as had been aiding to the Barons had their Lands confiscated which Lands the King no sooner seized but he gave them to such as had faithfully served him in the Wars so that a considerable number as well of Citizens as others were obleiged to Compound with such as had the Donation bestowed upon them Upon these and such like proceedings of the King the Londoners thought it their safest way to submit to the Kings Mercy and after long attendance and at the incessant Intreaties of such Noble Persons at Court as they could make their Friends they obtained a Pardon though many of the Commoners refused to joyne with the Mayor and Aldermen and other Wealthy Citizens therein being rather inclined to stand it out and held several Debates about defending the City against the King but their Resolutions in that affair were by most of the wisest sort held as pernicious and dangerous to the Peace and Tranquility of the Nation The reason that induced them to such obstinacy as most conjecture was because the City at that time was Inhabited by sundry Nations who during the Intestine Broils had been admitted as Citizens to defend the same but in the end all those Debates and Consultations came to no effect for when every Man had spent his Verdict it was thought the safest way to submit to the Kings Pleasure and consent to what he should think fit upon which Submission and a Fine of 20000 Marks the King received them again into his Favour and ordered that such Lands Houses and other things as had been Confiscated and not disposed of should be restored again to the Owners After which he did not deliver them the possession or keeping of the City as formerly but placed Sir Othon as Custos or Guardian of the same who was also Constable of the Tower he likewise chose to be Bayliffs or as they are now called Sheriffs John Adrian and Walter Henery Citizens The King proceeded yet farther and compelled the most substantial amongst them to give their Sons as Pledges or Hostages thereby to prevent any Revolt for the future which Pledges or Hostages he caused to be kept in the Tower of London and maintained at the Cost of their Parents as likewise by advice of his Counsel he constituted a Captain in every County now called by the name of Lord Lieutenant to suppress any Rebellion that might arise upon the distast of the unruly multitude The King having all this while continued in the City the better to have an Eye upon and keep in awe such as upon the aforementioned occasions were ever now and then ready to make Insurrections and upon his departure ordained Sir John Lind and John Waldren Governours in his Absence by the Names of Seneschals or Stewards but such earnest Suits were made by the Londoners to obtain a free Pardon that in the end after the said Guardians or Governours had taken sufficient Security for the payment of the Fine of 20000 Marks the King granted them his Charter of Pardon under the Great Seal and sent it them wherein he freely remitted and pardoned all Trespasses and offences that had been committed by them during the War only the Lands Houses Goods and Persons which he had given to Prince Edward his Eldest Son were excepted This Charter of Pardon and Restauration of the Cities Liberties Priviledges and Immunities was dated at Northampton in the 50 Year of his Reign Anno Dom. 1266. upon which the Senescal was discharged and the Citizens chose then for Mayor William Fitz Richards and for Sheriffs Thomas de la Fourd and Gregory de Rocksledge and had the mannagement of the City intire as ever so that Trade began to flourish and the Companies began to Incorporate but this happiness lasted not long for in the 52 year of the said King Henry the Third Anno Dom. 1267. The King being absent in the Country the Earl of Gloucester taking great displeasure for that he might not have his Will as well for Banishing of Strangers as for Restitution to
Barrons Knights and Burgesses that 15 days after St. Hillary they should be present at London there to Assemble in Parliament to adjust matters appertaining to the Publick Wee l of the Kingdom to this Parliament came Richard of Burdaux Son to Edward the black Prince and Grand-Child to the King accompanyed with a great number of Knights and Gentlemen and was received by the Londoners after the best manner being presented with many Rich Gifts as likewise his Uncle the Duke of Lancaster seemed to Honour him above the rest placeing him in the Chair of State and advised him to demand that they would give the King two Tenths in one year or else of all the Merchandice that were sold in England for one year 12 pence of every pound of every Fire-House one Penny and of every Knights Fee one Pound of Silver which demands the Duke earnestly Prosecuted saying they of necessity must grant one of these Points for that the Enemies had Proclaimed War and would suddainly Invade the Realm upon which the Parliament desired time to debate the matter when as the day appointed for delivering their Opinions was come one Mr. Hungerford was elected to deliver their Opinions who had been if at that time he was not the Dukes Steward though some were of Opinion that Sir Peter de la Moor was the fittest Man on that occasion but these latter being few in number they prevailed nothing Whilst these things were doing the Duke proceeded yet farther and demanded a Subsidy of the whole Clergy which so thoroughly netled the Bishops that they mightily opposed it but the Duke consulting with one Wicliffe who greaaly Inveighed against the Clergy he affirmed that it was lawful not only for the King but for Temporal Lords to take the Goods of Clergy-men towards their Subsistance if necessity required it the better to effect this by pleasing the Bishops he Treated with the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to call a Convocation which was accordingly done and William Wickam Bishop of Winchester who had been Banished several Miles from Court was by the Dukes order brought there to this Convocation it was ordained that the aforesaid Wicliffe should appear to answer for his spreading his Doctrine throughout the City and in other places as likewise giving his Opinion to the Duke in prejudice to the Clergy and that being Tryed and Convicted for the same he should undergo such Penaltys as that Assembly should think fit And on the 15 of February in the year aforesaid the Convocation being Assembled he was brought forth by the Dukes command and as he came he was greatly annimated by such of his followers as had embraced his Doctrine and Councelled neither to fear the Bishops nor the great concourse of People seeing not only the Duke but likewise all the Nobillity present were his Friends when he came into our Ladys Chapple in St. Pauls Church Henry Peircy chief Marshal of England willed him to sit down and in a manner compelled him so to do saying that he had much to answer and therefore ought to sit upon which the Bishops were highly offended the Bishop of London in the name of all the rest alledging that since he was come as a Criminal to answer before his ordinary to such things as should be objected against him he ought to shew more Respect and Reverence to the Convocation The Duke being present and hearing the words of the Bishop began sharply to reprehend him Swearing that he would pull down not only his Pride but that of all the Bishops in England and added that although he Trusted in his Parents they could profit him nothing to which the Bishop replyed that he neither Trusted in his Parents nor in the Life of any Man but in God only in whom he ought to trust This last answer so Inraged the Duke that he Whispring the Bishop softly told him he would rather draw him out of the Church by the Hair of the Head then suffer such things at his Hands The Londoners who were all this while waiting in Crouds without hearing how the Duke had threatned their Bishop gave a Loud Shout Swearing that they would rather loose their Lives then any violence should be offered to their Bishop in his own Church and that which heightened their Fury the more was that the Duke being President in Parliament where the day before it was requested in the Kings name that from that day forwards there should be no more Mayor of London but that a Captain should be appointed and that the Marshal of England as well in the City as in other places might Arrest such as offended with many other things which were mannifestly against the Libertys of the City The Morrow after the Londoners Assembled themselves to take Councel what they should do in such a strait they were like to fall into in case a Captain should be chosen they concluing their Liberties must be no longer continued especially if the Marshals Office extended it self within their Jurisdiction and farther they argued what might be done in Reperation of the affront or Injury put upon their Bishop and whilst they were debating these matters and differing in Opinions about coming to a conclusion what to do the Lord Fitz Walter and Sir Guidio Brian entered the City whether to know their minds or otherwise is uncertain but the unruly Multitude construing things in the worst Sense were hardly restrained from falling upon them nor had they escaped the Hands of the Multitude had not they Sworn they came not in the least to perjudice the City when having no soonor obtained belief and pacified the Rabble but the Lord Fitz Walter stood up and made an Oration the effects of which was that whereas he being by Antient Inheritance Standard Bearer to the City was to take Injuries offered to them as to himself and thereupon willed them to look to their Defence He had no sooner ended but they run to their Arms every one taking what came next to hand and in a great rage went to the Inn where the Marshal lay breaking open the Doors and searching all parts of the House where they imagined he might be but not finding him they brought out a Prisoner whom they found there in Fetters and set him at Liberty and then went to other places in Quest of the Marshal but found him not for that day he and the Duke Dined with one John of Ipre of which they were Ignorant but they supposed at least to have found them at the Savoy and thereupon many of them came with all expedition thither in the mean while one of the Dukes Servants advertized his Lord what had happened and advised him to Shift for his safety whereupon in a great Fright he left his Provision and Fled by Water to his Mannor at Kennington where finding the Princess and the Young Prince viz. Richard of Burdeaux Son to Edward the Black Prince he related what had happened and grievously complained against the Insolency of the
Persons who were actually in the Insurrection aiding abetting or encouraging the same were Guilty of High-Treason The business being brought to this pass they Adjourned to Guild-Hall where on the 2d of May the Offenders were brought before them and Indicted as well for the Insurrection as the several Robberies that were Committed during the Uproar to which they pleaded Not Guilty a great many of them not exceeding 14 years of Age yet were there amongst them Laborours Husband-men and others that were not of the City the whole number amounting to 278 Persons amongst whom was John Lincoln who was Indicted as the principal Contriver of the said Insurrection to which he pleaded Not Guilty and had three days given him to prepare for his defence so that for that day there were no farther Proceedings but upon the day affixed the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Surry came again attended with 2000 Armed men who kept the Streets and the Prisoners being brought upon their Tryals 13 were found Guilty and adjudged to be Hanged whereupon Eleven pair of Gallows were set up in divers parts of the City when at the day appointed for Execution the Prisoners were brought forth with Ropes about their Necks and Arms and in the presence of the Lord Edmund Son to the Duke of Norfolk to whom the charge of seeing it done was committed they were Executed without any respect to their Youth On the 17th of May Lincoln Sherwin and the two Bettses being Brothers with several of their Confederates were found Guilty and received Sentence as the former when within a short time after they were drawn upon Hurdles to the Standard in Cheapside where Lincoln was first Executed but as the rest were about to be turn'd off a Reprieve came from the King to stay Execution upon which the people Shouted crying God Save the King and thereupon the Prisoners were carryed back to Prison there to attend the Kings farther pleasure After this all the Armed Men which before had kept Watch in the City were withdrawn which gave the Citizens hope that the Kings displeasure towards them was not so great as themselves conceived whereupon on the 11th of May the King Riding at his Mannor of Greenwich the Mayor Recorder and divers Aldermen went in Mourning Gowns to wait upon him and having admittance to the Privy-Chamber door and after they had attended there for some time the King attended with several of his Nobles came forth whereupon they falling upon their Knees the Recorder in the Name of the rest spake as followeth Most Natural Benign and our Soveraign Lord we well know that your Grace is highly displeased with us of your City of London for the great Riot done and Committed there wherefore we assure your Grace that none of us nor no Honest Person were condescending to that Enormity yet we our Wives and Children every hour lament that your Favour should be taken from us and forasmuch as Light and Idle Persons were the doers of the same we most humbly beseech your Grace to have Mercy on us for our negligence and compassion on the Offenders for their Offences and Trespasses To which the King Replyed Truly you have highly displeased and offended us and therefore you ought to wail and be sorry for the same and whereas you say that you the Substantial Citizens were not consenting to what happened it appeareth to the contrary for you never moved to let them nor stirred to fight with those whom you say were so small a number of light persons wherefore we must think and you cannot deny but that you did wink at the matter therefore at this time we will neither grant you our Favour nor Good-will nor to the Offenders mercy but resort to our Lord Chancellor and he shall make you an Answer and declare to you our pleasure At this Speech of the Kings the Citizens departed very sorrowful but having notice that the King intended to be at his Pallace of Westminster on the 22d of May they resolved to repair thither which they did accordingly though not without the appointment of Cardinal Wolsey who was then Lord Chancellor when as a Cloth of Estate being placed at the upper-end of Westminster-Hall the King took his place and after him the Cardinal the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk the Earls of Wilt-shire Surry Shrewsbury and Essex with several others the Lord Mayor Recorder and Aldermen together with many of the Commons attending in their Liveries when about Nine of the Clock order was given for the bringing forth the Prisoners which was accordingly done so that in they came in their Shirts bound together with Ropes and Halters about their Necks to the number of 400 Men and Eleven Women one after another which fight so moved several of the Nobility that they became earnest Intercessors to the King for their pardon When silence was made and they were all come into the Kings presence the Cardinal sharply Rebuked the Mayor Aldermen and Commonalty for their Negligence and then addressing his Speech to the Prisoners he told them That for their Offences against the Laws of the Realm and against his Majesties Crown and Dignity they had deserved Death whereupon they all set up a piteous cry saying Mercy Gracious Lord Mercy which so moved the King that at the earnest Intreaty of the Lords he pronounced them pardoned upon which giving a great Shout they threw up their Halters towards the Roof of the Hall crying God Save the King When this News was bruited abroad several that had been in the Insurrection and had escaped came in upon their own accords with Ropes about their Necks and received the benefit of the Kings pardon after which the Cardinal gave them several good Exhortations tending to Loyalty and Obedience and so dismissed them to their no small joy and within a while after the Gallowses that were set in the several parts of the City were taken down which so far pleased the Citizens that they expressed infinite thanks to the King for his Clemency This Company was called the Black VVaggon and the day whereon this Riot and Insurrection hapned bears the name of Ill-May-day to these our present times And thus have you heard how the Citizens escaped the Kings displeasure and were again received into favour though as it is thought not without paying a considerable Summ of Money to the Cardinal to stand their Friend for at that time he was in such Power that he did all with the King This Broil being over the Citizens lived in Peace all the days of King Henry the Eighth lending him at divers times great Summs of Money to carry on his Wars against France and upon other occasions During the Reign of his Son King Edward likewise all things were preserved peaceably within the City a good Understanding being for the most part between them and their Prince insomuch that the City greatly flourished under his Pious Goverment he giving to them his Pallace of Bridewell Christ's-Hospital