St. Thomas his Hospital c. p. 81. Of the Charter-House or Sutton's Hospital p. 90 Of Old and New Bedlam p. 97. Sect. 4. Of its Palaces viz. Whitehall or the Kings Court c. p. 99. Of St. James's Palace and the Park p. 122 Of Westminster-hall and the Courts there viz. Common-Pleas Kings-Bench Chancery and Exchequer p. 126. Of Dooms-day-Book p 135. A full Account of the High-Court of Parliament c. p. 193. Of Somerset-house p. 156. Sect. 5. Of the Royal Exchange c. p. 159. Sect. 6. Of Colledges and Inns of Court viz. Gresham-Colledge Sion-Colledge Physitians-Colledge Doctors Commons Colledge of Heralds c. and Inns of Court and Chancery p. 162 179. Sect. 7. Of London-Bridge p. 191. Of the River of Thames and Lord Mayors Jurisdiction there p. 195. Of the New River p. 209. Chap. 4. Of the Government of London Ecclesiastical Temporal and Military c. p. 213. to 288. Of the Charters By-Laws and Courts in London p. 263. to 277. Chap. 5. Of the Trade of London its Merchants the Original of Money an Account of the several Corporations and their Coats of Arms blazon'd p. 269. The Oath of a Freeman p. 331. Of Guild-hall Leaden-hall Blackwel-hall and the Custom-house p. 333 to 336. Of Docks Porters c. p. 340. Of the Markets for Coals Corn and Fish p. 342. Of the Navy-Office and Post-Office p. 343 345. Of the Penny-Post p. 350. The Rates of Coachmen p. 359. An Alphabetical Account of the Carriers Waggoners and Stage-Coaches that come to the respective Inns in London from all parts of England and Wales with the days of their Coming in and Going out p. 383. The Rates of Carmen and Watermen p. 436 442. An Historical Account of the Wars Tumults Fires Epidemical Diseases Rarities and Accidents that have happened in the City of London Briefly abstracted from Ancient and Modern Writers p. 443. An Appendix containing the Names of the present Aldermen and the respective Wards they Govern With a List of the present Officers of the Lord Mayors House and the Officers belonging to the Two Counters THE PRESENT STATE OF LONDON CHAP. I. Of its Antiquity and Original OUr Famous Antiquaries generally agree that the Britains whose Posterity now inhabit the Dominion of Wales and are called Welsh â—eâ—e the Founders of the Renowned City of LONDON They were in old times known by the Name of Aborigines because they first inhabited the Countrey Some derive the name London which is the greatest probablity from the British word Llhong which signifies a Ship and Dinan a Town that is a Town of Ships this City being in all Ages since its foundation very renowned for Shipping and Navigation 2. Others from Llhwindian because as Caesar in his Commentaries and Strabo mention the Ancient Britains called their fortified Woods Llhwn which is equivalent to a fenced Town and that where S. Pauls Church now stands there was in old times a Wood where a Temple was built for Diana it being the custom of those Pagan Times to build their Fanes or Temples to Diana in Woods or Groves and so it signifies Dianas Town 3. Some derive it from Llhandian the Britains still calling Llan a Church and so may signifie Dianas-Church or Temple for there have been frequently digged up Oxens Heads and Bones which have been offered as Victims or Sacrifices there viz. in Camera Dianae So that this word came in tract of time to be pronounced London Caesar Comment lib. 5. calls it Civitas Trinobantum viz. The City of the Trinobants some would have it translated the state of Trinobants for Trosa Nova or Troy Novant New Troy Which appellation was in old times by many ascribed to London as Geoffery of Monmouth the Welsh Historian affirms It is said by the same Author that King Lud repaired this City and much augmented it with fair buildings calling it Caire Lud that is Lud's Town and from him Ludgate takes its Name This City was built 2789 years ago that is 1108 years before the birth of Christ and by the exactest computation in the time of Samuel the Prophet and 350 years before the building of Rome Of all Historians Cornelius Tacitus who first called it Londinum says that it was in his time which is about 1655 years ago Copia Negotiatorum Commeatu valde celebre that is very famous for multitude of Merchants and Traffick or Commerce Herodian in the Life of the Emperour Severus says it was Vrbs magna opulenta that is a Great and Rich City Marcelinus says That in his time which is 1200 and odd years ago it was Vetustum oppidum an ancient Town Fitz-Stephens tells us That haec Civitas Vrbe Roma secundum Chronicorum fidem satis Antiquior est c. Viz. This City according to the credit of Chronologers is far more ancient then Rome In the flourishing Estate of London it was called Augusta a Name denoting Dignity and Majesty for the Great Octavian Successor to Julius Caesar took to himself the Name of Augustus as a Title most Sacred and Honourable This Marcellinus witnesses in his 27 and 28 Books calling it Augusta and that in old times it was called London It was very famous by that Appellation under the Emperour Valentinian And in Constantine's time there was a Mint appointed there and Money stamp'd with this Impression P. Lon. S. that is Pecunia Londino Signata Money stamp'd in London And the Overseer or Master of the Mint was called Praepositus Thesaurorum Augustensium that is Provost of the Treasures of Augusta in Britain CHAP. II. Of the Situation of London THe Wisdom of our Ancestors is very Eminent and Remarkable in the Excellent Situation of this famous City which we shall shew 1. With respect to Air 2. Its conveniencies of being supplied with all sorts of Provisions by Sea and Land 1. With respect to Air This City being situate on the North side of the River in the Latitude of 51 Degrees 30 Minutes and so far distant from the Sea that it is not annoyed with the boistrous Winds or unwholsom Vapours of it and yet so near that it enjoys the mild salubrious Breezes of the Eastern Southern and Western Seas with the wholsom gusts and fresh Air of the Country round about it must needs therefore have an Excellent Air. And it is by Experience found to be as healthy a City considering its greatness and Number of Inhabitants with the prodigions quantity of Coals burnt yearly in it as any in the known World 2. The Soil is rich and fertile abounding with plenty of all things useful for the life of Man The Country round about it being very well Inhabited supplying it with plenty of all Sorts of Provision and the Respective Manufactories of England to furnish not only the Inhabitants but for Transportation to the several parts of the World where its Merchants Trade For which it has the advantage of large strait and fair High-ways for Carriages and Passengers by Land
Water for ten years towards the repairing of the Walls and cleansing the Ditch about London In the sixteenth of Edward the Fourth viz. Anno 1476. the Mayor of London Sir Ralph Joceline caused the part of the Wall betwixt Aldgate and Aldersgate to be repaired the Skinners repairing from Aldgate to Burys-marks towards Bishopsgate as may appear by their Arms in three places fixed there The Mayor with his Company of Erapers repaired from Bishops-gate to Allhallows-Church in the same Wall and from Allhallows towards the Postern called Moor-gate A great part of the same Wall was repaired by the Executors of Sir John Crosby Alderman as may appear by his Arms in two places fixed there and other Companys repaired the rest of the Wall to the Postern of Cripple-gate Bishops-gate was new built by the Merchants Almains of the Still-yard The Goldsmiths Repaired from Cripple-gate towards Alders-gate and there the work ceased which was a great Service for one Year The Circuit of the Wall on the Land side from the Tower to Aldgate in the East is 82 perches from thence to Bishops-gate 86 perches From Bishopsgate in the North to the Postern of Cripple-gate 162 perches From Cripple-gate to Alders-gate 75 perches From Alders-gate to New-gate 66 perches From New-gate in the West to Ludgate 42 perches From thence to the Fleet-Dyke West 60 perches From thence to the River Thames about 70. In all 643 perches every perch being 5 Yards and a half contains 3536 Yards and a half which is 10608 foot or two Miles and a half and 608 foot over to which if you add from Black friers to the Tower it will be found that the whole Circuit of the Walls was above three English Miles The Principal Gates of this Noble City are seven viz. on the West Ludgate of King Lud it being built by him as Geoffry of Monmouth says about the Year of Christ 66. Though some as Leland conjecture it may be called Lud-gate for Fludgate from a little Flud running beneath it It was made a Free Prison Anno 1379. Sir Nicholas Bremer being Mayor which was confirmed in the Year 1382. By a Common Counsel in the Guild-Hall by which it was Ordained That all Free-men 〈◊〉 this City should for Debt Trespasses Accounts and Contempts be imprisoned in Lud-gate where at first they paid nothing for Lodging and Water This Gate was Repaired in the 28 of Q. Elizabeth Anno 1586 at the Common charges of the City amounting to above 1500 l. In the 3 d of Edw. 4. Sir Mathew Philips being Mayor Dame Agnes Foster Relict of Sir Stephen Foster Fishmonger who was also Mayor in the one and thirtyeth Year of King Hen. 6. for the Comfort and Relief of all the poor Prisoners procured an Establishment of certain Articles in a Common Council viz. That the New Works then lately Edified by the same Dâ—me Agnes for the enlarging of the Prison of Lud-gate from thenceforth should be had and taken as a part and parcel of the said Prison of Lud-gate so that both the old and new Work aforesaid to be one Prison Goal keeping and charge for evermore The Quadrant built by the said Sir Stephen Foster and his Lady contained a large walking place by ground of 38 Foot and a half in Length besides the thickness of the Walls which were 6 Foot in all 44 Foot and a half the Breadth within the Walls was 29 Foot and a half which with the thickness of the Walls makes it 35 Foot and an half broad The like Room there was over it for Lodgings and over that fair Leads to walk upon well imbattelled for fresh Ayr and refreshment of Prisoners 2. New-gate which was so called for its Newness as being erected later than the rest viz. about the Reign of Henry the first or of King Stephen This was the fairest of all the Gates and was Rebuilt after its being destroied in the dreadful Conflagration in 1666 more stately than ever of which we will give a particular account hereafter as also of the Revival of London from those Ruinous heaps in which the Hellish Malice of â—â—cked Incendiaries had buried it This Gate being a Sumptuous and Capacious Fabrick is the Publick Goal or Prison for Criminals and also for Court-Actions for the County of Middlesex and has been so for many Ages as appears by Records in King John's time There have been many Benefactors to this place who gave somthing Yearly towards the Relief of Prisoners as Sir John Poultney who gave 4 Marks per annum Anno 1237. and many others since Anno 1312. It was re-edified by the Executors of Sir Rechard Whittington 3. Alders-gate is said to Derive its name of Elder-â—rees which grew about it others from its Antiquity viz. Olders-gate and some Derive it from Aldrich a Saxon. This also is and indeed all the Gates that have been consumed in the great fire are now built more Magnificently than ever they were 4. Cripple-Gate so called of a Spittle of Cripples somtimes adjoining thereto that were wont to beg at the said Gate It has been formerly a Prison where Persons were Committed as now to the Compters It was Re-edified by the Brewers of London in the Year 1244. And by the Executors of Edmund Shaw Goldsmith Mayor Anno 1491. 5. Moor-Gate so called from a Moorish ground hard by but now turned into very pleasant and delightful walks called Moor-fields This Gate was built by Thomas Falconer Lord Mayor in the 2 H. 5. Anno 1414. 6. Bishops-Gate so called of a Bishop the Benefactor which the Dutch Merchants or Hans of the Still-Yard were bound by Covenant to repair and defend at all times of Danger and extremity 7. Aldgate on the East so named from the oldness or Elbe-Gate this is one of the Principal Gates and of the 7 double Gates mentioned by Fitz-Stephens It is Rebuilt at the Charge of the City Besides these in ancient times there stood two Gates on that part of the City next the River whilst the Wall stood namely Billings-Gate now a Whaâ—f or a Key and Doure-Gate or the Water-Gate commonly called Dow-Gate There are some Posterns also which may go for Gates as that out of Christ-Church and Hospital to pass from thence to the Hospital of St. Baâ—tholomewsâ— in Smithfield to make which License was given to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in the 6. of E. 6. Sir Richard Dobbs Lord Mayor There is also another that leads to Moor-fields And that near the Tower by the Remains seems to have been a fair and strong Arched Gate of much trust there having formerly been always a Person of Quality as Custas or Keeper of it In the 2 R. 1. Ann. 1190. William Longshamp Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellor of England caused a part of the Câ—ty Wall to wit from the said Gate towards the River to the White Tower to be broken down for the enlarging the said Tower which he encompassed with the outer Wall and broad Ditch but coming too near
a Garden-Plat till the time of Queen Elizabeth and then Built upon and made a Store-House for Merchants Goods The Church was Beautified and Repaired in the Year 1613. III. On the East-side of Bread-street at the corner of Watling-street is the Church of All-hallows Bread-street wherein were divers Monuments This Church had a fair Spired-Steeple of Stone which in the Year 1559. September the Fifth about Noon by a great Tempest of Lightning and a great Clap of Thunder was struck about Nine or Ten Foot beneath the Top out of which fell a stone that overthrew a Man and slew a Dog but the Spire was taken down to save the Charge of Repair This Church was Repaired and Beautified at the Parish Charge Anno 1625. IV. Great All-hallows in Thames-street was a fair Church with a large Cloyster on the South side in which were Sundry Monuments but now Ruinated It was Repaired and richly Beautified at the Parish Charge Anno 1627. and 1629. In the year 1632. all the Iles to the Chancel were raised a Foot and a half and the Pews a Foot above that for conveniency of Hearing which cost six hundred Pound There was a Monument of Queen Elizabeths with these Verses If Royal Vertues ever crown'd a Crown If ever Mildness shin'd in Majesty If ever Honour honour'd true Renown If ever Courage dwelt with Clemency If ever Princess put all Princes down For Temp'rance Prowess Prudence Equity This this was She that in Despight of Death Lives still Admir'd Ador'd ELIZABETH Many Daughters have done Vertuously but thesâ— excellest them all In the Figure of a Book over her were these words They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion which shall not be removed On the one side Spains Rod Romes Ruine Netherlands Relief Heavens Jem Earths Joy Worlds Wonder Natures Chief On the the other side Britains Blessing Englands Splendor Religions Nurse the Faiths Defender Under her I have fought a good Fight I have finished my Course c. V. In Hony-lane near the Standard in Cheap-side is the small Parish-Church called All-hallows Hony-lane Repaired at the Parish Charge anno 1625. At the cost of above Fifty Five Pound VI. In Thames-street is the Parish-Church of All-hallows the less which stood on Vaults and said to be Built by Sir John Poultney sometimes Mayor of London the Steeple and Quire stood on an Arched-gate which was being fallen Re-built by the Parish anno 1594. The whole Church was Repaired and Beautified at the cost of the Parishoners anno 1616. Here was also a Monument of Queen Elizabeths VII In Lumbard-street stood the Parish-Church called All-hallows Lumbard-street begun to be New Built anno 1494. and finished 1516. To which the Pewterers were good Benefactors the Steeple was finished 1544. about the 36 of H. 8. Here were also divers Monuments It was Repaired and Beautified at the Parish-charge Anno 1622 and 1623 and cost 177 l. 9 s. VIII The Parish-Church of Alhallows-Stayning or as commonly call'd Stane-Church lies on the South-side of Langborn-Ward somewhat within Mart-lane in which were divers fair Monuments as of John Costin a Cirdler who dyed 1244. and gave the Poor of the Parish an Hundred Quarters of Charcoals yearly for ever John Mann Citizen and Mercer who gave an Hundred Pounds towards the Repair of the Church and dyed in the year 1615. It was Repaired and Beautified at the Parish-charge Anno 1630. IX The Parish-Church of Alhallows the Wall so called because it stands close to the Wall of the City in Bread-street-Ward It was Repaired and Beautified at the Charge of the Parishioners Anno 1613. Again most curiously Repaired and Beautified Anno 1627. at 220 l. Cost Queen ELIZABETHS Monument Read but her Reign the Princess might have been For Wisdom call'd Nicaulis Sheba's Queen Against Spain's Holofernes Judith she Dauntless gain'd many a glorious Victory Not Deborah did her in Fame excel She was a Mother to our Israel An Hester who her Person did ingage To save her People from the Publick Rage Chaste Patroness of True Religion In Court a Saint in Field an Amazon Glorious in Life Deplored in her Death Such was Vnparallel'd ELIZABETH Born Anno 1534. Crowned An. 1558. Jan. 15. Reigned years 44. mon. 4. days 17. Dyed An. 1602. Mar. 24. X. The Parish-Church of St. Alphage The principal Isle of this Church towards the North was pulled down and a Frame of Four Houses set up in the place The other part from the Steeple upward was converted into a Parish-Church of St. Alphage And the Parish-Church which stood near unto the Wall of the City by Cripplegate was pulled down the Plat thereof made a Carpenters Yard with Saw-Pits This being decay'd the Parishioners Repaired it Anno 1624. and being Beautifully finished Anno 1628. it cost the Parish 500 l. XI St. Andrew Hubbard or St. Andrew in East-Cheap is situate in Love-Lane in Billingsgate-Ward which was Repaired and Beautifully adorned at the Cost of the Parish Anno 1630. amounting to above 600 l. XII St. Andrew Vndershaft stands at the North-West-Corner of Aldgate-Ward a Fair and Beautiful Parish-Church so called because every May-Day in the morning they were wont in old times to set up a high Shaft or May-pole in the Street before the South-door which when fixt was higher than the Steeple But this practice was discontinued since Evil May-Day when there was an Insurrection of Apprentices and other Young Persons against Foreigners Anno 1517. The said Shaft being laid along under the Pent-houses of a Row of Houses upon Iron Hooks till the 3d of Edw. 6. the People Saw'd it in pieces after it had lay'n 32 years every man taking the length of his House Which was occasioned by the Preaching of one Stevin who at Pauls Cross said It was an Idol as giving Name to the Church It was New Built by the Parish Anno 1520. to which Stephen Jennings Merchant-Taylor sometimes Lord Mayor was a great Benefactor as also John Kerby Merchant-Taylor sometimes one of the Sheriffs John Garland Merchant-Taylor and his Executor Nicholas Levison and several others and fully finished Ann 1532. It was afterwards Repaired and Beautified at the Parish-charge Anno 1627. They had at the lower end of the North Isle a fair Wainscot-Press full of good Books the Works of many Learned Divines where at convenient times any that would may read XIII The Church of St. Andrew Wardrobe was a proper Church in Baynard-Castle-Ward but few Monuments in it John Parut founded a Chauntry there it was Repaired at the Charge of the Parish Anno 1627. XIV On the North of Pope-Lane so called of one Pope that owned it is the Parish-Church of St. Ann in the Willows or St. Ann Aldersgate so called as some think of Willows growing formerly thereabouts It was Burnt in part 1548. but since Repaired It was afterwards much decay'd but beautifully repaired Anno 1624. XV. St. Ann Black-friers it seems was built in the Reign of Edw. III. It was new
French or Latin He knew the state of Foreign Princes perfectly and his own more He could call all Gentlemen of Account through his Kingdom by their Names And all this when he had scarce yet attained to the Age of Fifteen Years and dyed before Sixteen That from hence we may gather It is a sign of no long Life when the Faculties of the Mind are ripe so early His Pious and Religious Life was Remarkable as may be seen in the whole series of it and his Death was no less for the hour before he dyed he was over-heard to pray thus by himself O Lord God deliver me out of this miserable and wretched life O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy Chosen's sake if it be thy Will send me life and health that I may truly serve thee O Lord God save thy chosen People in England and defend this Realm from PAPISTRY and maintain thy true Religion that I and my People may praise thy Holy Name for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake So turning his Face and seeing some by him he said I thought you had not been so nigh Yes said Dr. Owen we heard you speak to your self Then said the King I was praying to God I am faint Lord have mercy upon me and receive my Spirit And in so saying his blessed Spirit departed to take possession of an heavenly Crown when he had enjoyed an earthly Crown six years five months and nine days He was buried the 9th of August in Henry the Seventh's Chappel at Westminster near the Body of the said King Henry the Seventh his Grandfather This small Digression I hope will not be unacceptable to all true Christians being in memorial of that Peerless and Never-enough Bewailed Prince but he was too good for the World and rests now in endless Happiness In the year 1552 began the Repairing of the Gray-Fryers House for the poor Fatherless Children and in the month of November the Children were taken in to the same to the Number of almost 400. On Christmas-day in the Afternoon while the Lord Mayor and Aldermen Rode to Pauls the Children of Christs-Hospital from St. Lawrence-lane end in Cheapside towards Pauls all in one Livery of Russet-Cotton Three hundred and forty in Number and at Easter next they were in Blue at the Spittle and so they have continued ever since but they were this Year at St. Sepulchres This indeed was a work of extraordinary Piety and in my judgment it is a very Comely Sight to see the Poor Boys when they Sup all together with what Decency Order and Neatness they are serv'd and Governed by the respective Persons in that Office how plentifully they are provided with good Dyet Washing Lodging and Learning to fit them for business which the City takes care to settle them in according to their respective Capacities and it is known that many of them came to be Men of Note Wealth and great Usefulness in their Countrey Christs-Hospital Bridewel and St. Thomas are Incorporated by the Names of the Mayor Commonalty and Commons of the City of London Governors of the Possessions Revenues and Goods of the Hospitals of Edward King of England the Sixth oâ— Christ Bridewel and St. Thomas the Apostleâ— c. St. Bartholomew-Hospital is Incorporated by thâ— Name of the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens 〈◊〉 the City of London Governors of the Hospital 〈◊〉 the Poor called Little Saint Bartholomews near to West-Smithfield of the Foundation of King Henry the Eighth In the Year 1533 the 10th of April Sir George Barnâ— being Mayor of this City was sent for to the Court at Wâ—itehall where the King gave him 〈◊〉 was said his House of Bridewel and 700 Marks of Land late belonging to Savoy Hospital and all the Bedding and other Furniture c. for Bridewel and St. Thomas in Southwark The Gift was confirmed by Charter dated June 26. following And in the Year 1555 Sir William Gerrard Lord Mayor and the Aldermen entred Bridewel and took possession thereof according to the Gift of the said King Edward the same being confirmed by Queen Mary This Bridewel is now buâ—lt in a very curious and stately manner To reckon up the several Eminent and Bountiful Benefactors to these Hospitals would be endless they except some that would be concealed are to be found in the Records of those places to which the Reader is referred Only it being a very singular Example of Honesty Industry and Piety not to detract in the least from any Worthy and Bountiful Benefactor I will Remark one Richard Castel oâ— Castellâ—r Shoemaker dwelling in Westminster a Man of great labour and care in his Faculty with his own hands so that he was called the Cock of Westminster because both Winter and Summer he was at his Work before Four a Clock in the morning This Man thus honestly and painfully labouring for his Living God blessed and increased his Labours so â—bundantly that he purchased Lands and Tenements â—n Westminster to the yearly value of 44 l. And having no Child with the consent of his Wife who survived him and was a virtuous good Woman gave the same Lâ—â—ds wholly to Christs-Hospital aforesaid to the Relief of the Innocent and Fatherless Children and for the Succor of the Miserable Sore and Sick harboured in other Hospitals about London Sir William Chester Kt. and Alderman of London and John Calthrop Citizen and Draper of the same City at their own proper Costs and Charges â—â—ade the Brick-Walls and Way on the Back-side which leadeth from the said New Hospital unto the Hospital of St. Bartholomew and also covered and vaulted the Town-Ditch from Aldersgate to Newgate which before was very Noisom and Contagiouâ— to the said Hospital Sir Rowland Hill Lord Mayor in the 3d Year of this King besides many large and bountiful Charities on other things gave this Hospital 500 l. in his Life and 100 l. at his Death In the Year 1552 the Citizens of London having purchased the void suppressed Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark in the Month of July began the Reparations thereof for Poor Impotent Lame and Diseased People so that in November following the Sick and Lame were taken in II. Of all the Hospitals that ever were Founded in Christendom there is none can parallel that of Thomas Sutton Esq called Sutton's Hospital which will commend to all succeeding Posterity the duely deserved Praises of that truely Worthy and Never-to-be-forgotten Gentleman the Phoenix of Charity in our Times The Dissolved Charter-house by West-Smithfield belonging to the Right Honourable Thomas Earl of Suffolk after Lord Treasurer of England is sufficiently known to be a very large and goodly Mansion beautified with spacious Gardens Walks Orchards and other Pleasures Enriched with divers Dependencies of Lands and Tenements thereunto belonging and very aptly seated for wholesom Air and several other Commodities All which Commodiousness of Situation and largeness of Circuit gave occasion to this well minded Gentleman
Judges the Barons of the Exchequer the Aldermen of the City and several Eminent Persons Merchants and Publick Officers and many Gentlemen of Quality There were brought to the Slaughter-House 24 great Beefs at 26 s. 8 d. a piece from the Shambles one Carkass of an Oxe at 24 s. One hundred Fat Muttons at 2 s. 10 d. a piece 51 great Veals at 4 s. 8 d. a piece 34 Porks at 3 s. 8 d. a piece 91 Piggs at 6 d. each 10 Dozen of Capons of one Poulterer for they had three at 20 d. a piece Capons of Kent 9 Dozen and a half at 12 d. a piece Capons Course Nineteen Dozen at 6 d. a piece Cocks of Gross 7 Dozen and 9 at 8 d. a piece Cocks Course 14 Dozen and 8 at 3 d. a piece Pullets the best 2 d half penny other Pullets two pence Pigeons 37 Dozen at 10 d. the Dozen Swans 14 Dozen Larks 340 Dozen at 5 d. the Dozen c. with all other Appurtenances needful for a Splendid and Magnificent Entertainment Which is mentioned the rather to shew the Change of Prices this being but 150 Years ago The two Temples near Temple-Bar were formerly the dwelling of the Knights Templers who founded them in the Reign of Henry the II. These Templers took beginning about the Year 1118. Their first profession was for safeguard of Pilgrims coming to visit the Sepulchre at Jerusalem and increased mightily They bare Crosses of red Cloth on their uppermost Garments to be known from others they were called Templers or Knights of the Temple because their first Mansion was near the Temple in Jerusalem granted to them by King Baldwin Many Noblemen afterwards in all parts of Christendom became Brethren of this Order and built themselves Dwellings in every great Town but this at London was their chief Dwelling in England Matthew Paris Reports that they were first so Poor that they had but one Horse to Serve two of them but they became very Rich and Pompous afterwards and entertained the Nobility and Foreign Ambassadors and the Prince Himself frequently their Seal for the reason aforesaid was two Men riding upon one Horse Many Parliaments and Great Councels have been there kept as appears in our Historys In the Year 1308. all the Templers in England and all Christendom were apprehended and committed to divers Prisons for Heresie and other Articles by means of Philip King of France who procured them to be Condemned by a General Councel whose Lands were given by a Councel at Vienna Anno 1324 to the Knights Hospitallers called the Order of St. John of Jerusalem who took the Island of Rhodes from the Turk and bravely maintained it till the time of Solyman the Magnificent who after a most sharp and tedious Siege of six Months took it when they had Valorously kept it about 200 Years and made a dismal slaughter in Solymans great Army consisting of about 200000 Men and 300 Gallies c. These Knights have since Inhabited Malta another Island in the Mediterranean Sea given them by the King of Spain In the Reign of Edward the III. this Temple was purchased by the Students of the Common Law which is above 300 Years ago they are called the Inner and Middle Temple in Relation to Essex-House which was part of the Knights Templers and called the Outer-Temple because Sealed without Temple-Bar As to the Casualties of Fire and Tumults by which this Temple suffered but now restored in a Beautiful and Stately manner we refer to the Chapter that particularly Treats of such things The Inns of CHANCERY are Cliffords-Inn in Fleet-street somtimes belonging to the Lord Clifford but afterwards let to Students of Law Thavies-Inn in Holborn begun in the Reign of Edward the III and since purchased by Lincolns-Inn as was also Furnivals-Inn in Holborn Bernards-Inn and Staple-Inn belonging to the Merchants of the Staple These Five Inns of Chancery are within the Liberties of the City And Clements-Inn so called because it stands near St. Clements Church without Temple-Bar New-Inn so called because of a Newer Foundation than the others and Lyons-Inn antiently a Common-Inn with the Sign of the Lyon which three last are without the City Liberties These were heretofore Preparatory Colledges for Younger Students and many were entred here before Admitted to the Inns of Courts But now they are for the most part taken up by Attornies Solicitors and Clerks who have here their Chambers apart and their Diet at a very easie 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 Barristers to Read to these In each of which one with another there are about 60 or 70 Persons There are two Inns of Court without the City Liberties called Lincolns-Inn which antiently belonged to the Earls of Lincoln and Greys Inn belonging to the Noble Family of the Greys These two Inns are very Capacious and Stately Colleges with very lovely Walks and Gardens Greys-Inn especially being Seated upon the very Edge or Skirt of the Subâ—rbs in Holborn yeilds a most Gallant Prospect into the Country and in its Beautiful Walks one may partake of the fresh Country Ayr as well as if in the Country In these two Inns and in the two Temples which are our four Inns of Court as was said the Gentlemen that are Studious of the Common Law reside in a Collegiate manner And in the Reign of Henry the VI they florished so that there were in each about 200 Students each expending Yearly about 20 l. which was as much as 200 l. now and were as Fortescue saith Vltra Studium legum quasi Gymnasia omnium morum that is Besides the Studies of the Law as it were Schools of all sorts of Civility and Good breeding or manners 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 Excommoned or put out of Commons not to eat with the rest and for greater Offences they lose their Chambers and are expelled the College and being once expelled they are never received by any of the three other Societies Which deprivation of Honour to Young generous Spirits is more grievous than perhaps Deprivation of life They wear a Grave black Robe and Cap when they meet at Chappel at the Hall or at Courts of Justice and at other times walk with Cloak and Sword or what they please These Colleges have no Lands nor Revenues because being no Corporations they cannot purchase but the charges of the House are defray'd by what is paid at Admittances and Quit-Rents for their Chambers The whole Company of Gentlemen in each Society may be divided into 4 parts Benchers Vtter-Barristers Inner-Barristers and Students Benchers are the Seniors to whom is Committed the Government and ordering of the whole House and out of these
the foundation of the aforesaid Gate it was much loosned and weakned so that 200 and oddâ— years after viz. Anno 1440. 18 H. 6. It fell down and was never since re-edified There were several other Water-Gates which were purchased by private Men as at Black-frier-stairs a free landing place Puddle-Wharf Pauls-Wharf a free landing place Broken-wharf Queen-Hith a place called Woolf-Gate in the Parish of Aâ—lâ—allows after called Woolf-lane but the lower part being built on by the Earl of Shreâ—sâ—ury and the upper part by the Chamberlain of London it was grown out of use There was also a Gate called Ebgate now the Old Swan There was also a small Gate called Oyster-Gate because Oysters were sold there and other Shell Fish Bridg-gate so called of London-Bridg was reckoned by Fitz-Seephens one of the Principal Gates of the City Next Buttolph-gate so called of St. Buttolphs-Church adjoining Of Billingsgate we have spoke already There was a Water-gate by the Custom-House at the South end of Water-lanâ— and another Water-gate by the Tower Of the Tower of London THe Wall of the City was furnished round about with Towers and Bulworks at due and Regular distances Of which where the Wall ended towards the River on the East-side the most eminent was that which we call the Toâ—â—r of London Built by William the Conqueror about the Year 1078. Some say that Caesar built the White-Tower but that is not so nor does he mention it in his Commentary though an exact Recorder of his own Actions Gundulph Bishop of Rochester being Principal Surveyor and Overseer of the Work This was the great Square Tower now called the White-Tower which has been much inlarged by several Buildings since adjoyned at diverse times and incompassed with a Wall And Anno 1190 in the 2 R. 1. as was said the Bishop of Ely Chancellor of England inclâ—sed it with a thick and strong outward Wall of stone Embattailed and caused a Broad and Deep Ditch to be cast about the same thinking to have Invironed it with the River of Thames so that it is a most Famous Goodly Citadel resembling a big Town Edward the 4 th fortified this Tower inclosing a certain piece of Ground taken from Tower-Hill on the West which is now called the Bulwark Near West-gate opening to the South there is a strong Postern for passengers by the Ward-House over a Drawbridg let down for that purpose On the South side towards the East is a large Water-gate for the Receipt of small Vessels under a store Bridg from the River Thames beyond it 〈◊〉 a small Pâ—stern with a Draw-bridg seldom let down but to receive great Persons that are Prisoners The Lyon-Tower was built by Edward the 4 th This is not only a Fort or Citadel to Defend and Command both City and River but alâ—o a Royal Palace where our Kings with their Courts have Lodged some times 'T is furnished with an Armory and Royal Arsenaf of Arms and Ammunition for 60000 Men. Here are kept the Treâ—sury for the Jewels and Ornaments of the English Crown the only Mint now for Coining Silver and Gold in England And the most Antient Records of the King's Courts of Justice at Westminster This is the Chief Prison for the safe Custody of Great Persons that are Criminals It is out of any County or Parish yet a great part of it is within the liberty of the City For it was the Judges opinion that those that were to be Tried for the Murder of Sir Thomas Overbury must be Tried in the City the Fact being done there The Office of his Majesties Records is of venerable Antiquity And as the Chapel 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 preservation and security These Records contain the Foundations and Dissolutions of Abbeys Donation of Land c. These Records at the Rolls being joyned to those in the Tower will make a perfect continuance of all the Antient Rights of England as 1. The Leagues and Treaties of Foreign Princes 2. The Warlike Atchievments of the English in France and other Parts 3. The Original of all the Laws Enacted and Recorded till the Reign of Richard the 3. 4. The Homage and Dependancy of Scotland upon England The Establishment of Ireland in Laws and Dominions 5. The Dominion of the British Seas excluding both French and Dutch from Fishing there without the Kings License proved by Records before the Conquest 6. The Title of the Realm of France and how obtained 7. And all that the Kings or Princes of this Land have until that time done abroad on granted or confirmed unto their Subjects at home or abroad 8. Tenures of all Lands extents of Surveys of Mannors and Land Inquisitions post mortem 9. Libertys and Priviledges Granted to Citys Towns or private Men. 10. Several Writs Bleadings Proceedings c. in Courts of Chancery Common Law Exchequer c. 11. Inspeximus's and Inrollments of Charters and Deeds before the Conquest 12. Metes and Bounds of all Forrests with the respective Rights of the Inhabitants to common pasture besides many other things too tedious to be repeated and are in the Petition of the Commons of England in Parliament Anno 46. E. 3. Num. 43. Said to be the perpetual Evidence of every Mans Right and the Records of this Nation without which no Story of the Nation can be written or proved They are reposited in Wakefield-Tower adjoyning to the Blood-Tower near Traytors-gate It is to be kept open and constantly attended for all Resorters thereto from 7. to 11. of the Clock in the Morning and from 1. till 5. in the Afternoon every Day of the week but in December January and February from 8. in the Morning to 4. in the Afternoon except Holy-days c. The Governor is call'd the Lieutenant of the Tower who ought to be a Person of Worth and Fidelity and by Vertue of his Office is to be a Justice of Peace in Kent Surrey and Middlesex he is High Steward of a Court there held hath a Deputy may refuse an Habeas Corpus and may give Protection to all Debtors belonging to the Tower all England over He can take two Gallons and a Pint of all Wine-Ships that come His Sallary is 200 l. per annum His usual Fee for every Prisoner sent to the Tower who are commonly Men of Estates is 20 l. and 3. l. a week of an Esq 5. l. for a Knight for a Baron or above 5. l. at Entrance to whom the King weekly allows 10 l. whereof two parts to the Prisoner the third to the Lieutenant for Lodging and Dyet and 50 l. to the Lieutenant upon the Prisoners discharge The Gentleman Taylor is put in by the Lieutenant of the Tower and his Fee is 41 s. of a Gentleman and 5 l. of a Knight There are 40 Warders of the Tower accounted the King's Domestick Servants and sworn by the Lord
Chamberlain of His Maiesties Houshold or by the Clerk of the Check In this Tower is kept the Office of His Majesties Ordnance the standing and grand Magazine of the principal Preparatives Habiliments Utensils and Instruments of War by Sea and Land It is under the Government in chief of the Master of the Ordnance by whom it is committed to principal Officers as a Lieutenant who in the absence of the Master of the Ordnance imparts all Orders and Warrants directed to the Office and is to see them duely executed and to give Order for the discharging great Ordnance when required at Triumphs Festivals c. As also to see the Train of Artillery and all its Equipage fitted for motion upon any occasion The Surveyor is to survey all the Stores and Ordnance to allow Bills of Debt and see that all Provision be good c. The Clerk of the Ordnance Records all Orders and Instructions for the Government of the Office and Patents Grants Names of Officers c. Draw Estimates of Provision and supplys Letters Contracts c. Make all Bills of Imprest and Debentures Keep Journals and Liegers of Receipts and Returns of Stores The Store-keeper takes into his charge the Munitions and Stores and is to look that the Store-houses be kept in due Repair The Clerk of the Deliveries is to draw all Proportions for Deliveries of any Stores or Provisions and to be present at the Delivery There are other Patent Officers as the Master-Gunner of England the Keeper of the small Guns a principal Engineer with divers inferior Attendants and Artificers which for brevity we omit In the Tower is also the Office of Warden of the Mint where is Coined all the Bullion that is minted in England The chief Officer is the Warder of the Mint who receives all the Silver and Gold brought in by Merchants Goldsmiths or others and pays them for it Then the Master-Worker who causes the Bullion to be melted delivers it to the Moneyers and when minted receives it again from them The Comptroller who is to see that all the Money be made according to the just Assize c. The Assay-Master weighs the Bullion and is to see that it be according to the Standard The Auditor passes all Accompts The Surveyor of the Melting is to see the Bullion cast out and not to be altered after it is delivered to the Melter There are several other inferior Officers c. As for the Money c. See the Present State of England p. 10. The first Gold that was Coined in the Tower was in the Reign of Edward III. and the Pieces were called Florences of the value of 6 s. 8 d. All great Sums before were used to be paid by the Weight as so many Pounds or Marks of Silver or Gold but not stampt Lesser Payments in Starlings probably because there was a Star stamped upon them and were called Pence nor can we read of them before the Reign of Henry II. In this Tower only is the Brake or Rack usually called The Duke of Exeter ' s Daughter because he was the first Inventer of it So much of the Tower of London Besides the Towers on the Bridge which have suffered by the Accidents of Fire Antiquaries speak of two Castles that were on the West-part of London one the Castle of Monfiquet built by a Baron of that Name that came over with the Conqueror but since demolished and the Black-Fryars risen out of the Ruines of it The second is Baynard's Castle by Paul's Wharf built by one Baynard who came hither likewise with the Conqueror who being Ennobled the Honour succeeded from Father to Son a long time till it came to Robert Fitz-water a brave and valiant Knight who falling into the displeasure of King John was banished and the Castle ruined but recovering his favor by a notable Combat he perform'd in France against an English Knight Fitz-water being on the French side he was re-invested in his Possessions and so repaired the Castle again He was made chief Bannerer or Banner-bearer of London what his Office was and the Solemnity about it is to be seen in Stowes Survey of London in the Chapter of Towers and Castles When thiâ— Honour fell from the Fitz-Waters or Baynard Castle is uncertain Henry VII repaired this Castle and Queen Mary was proclaimed there We reaâ— of a Tower that stood where Bridewell now stands and a Royal Palace where our Kings kept theâ— Courts and summon'd Parliaments A great parâ— of this on the West-side was given to the Bishop 〈◊〉 Salisbury and thence is derived the Name of Salisbury-Court The Eastern-part was waste till Hen. 〈◊〉 built a stately Palace there and call'd it Bridewelâ— where the Emperor Charles V. was most magnificently entertained Anno 1522. There was a Tower call'd the Royal Tower iâ— the Parish of St. Michael de Pater Noster wherâ— King Stephen kept his Court afterwards call'd Thâ— Queens Wardrobe There was another at Bucklerâ—bury called Serns Tower where King Edward II kept his Court and his Exchange of Money Barbican was likewise another Tower where thâ— City Centinels were wont to Watch but demolisheâ— by King Henry III. Anno 1227. after he was râ—â—conciled to the Barons Sect. 2. Of its Churches and Monuments THE Number of Parish-Churches besides Chapels within the Weekly Bills of Mortality is 132 twice more than any City in Christendom can shew The Cathedral of which is dedicated to the Apostle St. PAVL and the onely Cathedral of that Name in Europe It was founded by Aethelbert King of Kent Anno 610. under whom Segbert a Saxon Reigned in this Tract of Ground in a place where stood a Temple of Diana and afterwards did endow it with Lands and Privileges so did afterwards Athelstan Edgar and Eward the Confessor It was much enlarged by Erkenwald the Fourth Saxon Bishop thereof And being almost destroyed by Fire Anno 1078. Mauritius another of its Bishops began the Foundation of this magnificent Pile and went on about 20 years but the Quire and Tower were not finished till Anno 1221. As to other Casualties we refer you to the Chapter that treats of Fires As to its Dimensions the length of it according to Stow was 240 Taylors Yards or 720 Foot the Breadth 130 Foot the Heighth of the Steeple 520 Foot whereof the Stone Work was 260 and the Spire 260 Foot The Length of it according to others was 690 Foot that is 20 Foot more than St. Peters at Rome It stood upon so much Ground as contained above three Acres and an half Upon the Spire of Timber was a Bowl of Copper Gilt 9 Foot and 1 Inch in compass whereon stood the Cross 15 Foot and an half high and very near 6 Foot across made of Oak covered with Lead and another Cover of Copper over the Lead Above all stood the Eagle or Cock of Copper Gilt 4 Foot long and the Breadth of the Wings 3 Foot and an half It was built in Form of a Cross
repairs and charges in the Years 1623 1624 and 1625. which cost above Five hundred pound in the Year 1629. it was very richly and beautifully adorned all at the proper cost and charge of the Parish XLVIII The fair Parish Church of St. Margarets Lothbury in Coleman-Street Ward stands upon the Water-Course of Walbrooke which was Reedified Anno 1440. Robert Large gave to the Quire of that Church One hundred Shillings and Twenty pounds for Ornaments and to the Vaulting over the Water-course of Walbrook by the said Church for the inlarging thereof Two hundred marks This Church was repaired and richly beautified at the charge of the Parishioners Anno 1621. XLIX In Friday street in Breadstreet-Ward is the Parish Church of St. Margaret Moses so called of one Moses that was Founder or Newbuilder thereof It was Repaired and Beautified at the cost of the Parishioners Anno 1627 L. In the same Wardon Fishstreet-hill stands the Parish Church of St. Margarets New Fish-street which was a Proper Church but without any Monuments of Note LI. St. Margaret Pattens in Rood-lane Billings-gate Ward being much decayed was Repaired and Beautified at the charge of the Parishioners Anno. 1614. who from that year to 1632 expended 275 l. five s. 6 d. upon it LII St. Mary Abchurch standeth near unto the South-end of Abchurch-lane in Candleweek-street-Ward upon a rising ground and was a Fair Church with sundry Monuments in it It was Beautified and Repaired at the proper cost and charge of the Parishioners in the year of our Lord 1611. LIII In Alderman-bury-street is the Fair Parish Church of St. Mary Alderman-bury with a Church-Yard and Cloyster adjoyning in which Cloyster as Mr. Stow says was hanged and fastned a shank-bone of a man in length Twenty eight inches and a half of a size larger by three inches and a half than that in St. Laurence Jewry but not so hard this is Monstrous for it is more then after the proportion of Five shank bones of any Man now living amongst us The Church was repaired and beautified An. 1633. at the cost of the Parish LIV. Alder-Mary Church on the South-side of Budg-Row by the West corner thereof in Cordwainer-street-Ward is so called because older than any Church of St. Mary in the City Sir Henry Keble Grocer and Lord Mayor who deceased 1518 gave a 1000 l. by his Testament towards the Rebuilding it It was repaired and beautified by the Parish Anno 1632. LV. At the upper end of Hosier-lane toward West Cheap is the fair Parish-Church of St. Mary-le-Bow vulgarly Bow-Church This Church in the Reign of William the Conqueror being the first in this City builded on Arches of Stone was therefore called New Mary Church or St. Mary de Arcubus or le Bow in West Cheaping The Court of the Arches is kept in this Church and taketh Name of the place not the place of the Court 'T is in Cordwainer-street-Ward We read that anno 1090. the Third of William Rufus by tempest of Wind the Roof of this Church was overturned wherewith some persons were slain and Four of the Rafters of twenty six Foot in length were pitcht with such violence in the Ground of the high street that scarce four Foot of them remained above Ground which were fain to be cut even with the Ground because they could not be plucked out for the City of London was not then paved but a Moorish ground Anno 1271 a great part of the Church fell down and slew many people Men and Women John Rotham or Rodham by his Will Anno 1465 gave the Parish wanting room in their Church-Yard a certain Garden in Hosier-lane for burial of their Dead which so continued near a hundred Years but now is built up and converted to a private dwelling The old Steeple was Re-edified Anno 1469 so that it was ordained by a Common Councel that the Bow-Bell should be nightly Rung at Nine a Clock to maintain which viz. the Ringing of Bow-Bell John Denne Mercer by his Testament dated 1472 according to the trust of Reginald Langdon gave to the Parson and Wardens two Tenements with the Appurtenances since made into one in Hosier-lane This Church has been Re-built very gorgeously since the great fire and the Steeple finished with that Elegancy of rare Architecture height and curiosity that it excels any in Christendom of which more hereafter LVI On the South-side of Walbrook-Ward from Candlewick-street in the mid way betwixt London-stone and Wallbrook-corner is the proper Parish-Church called St. Mary Bothaw or Boathaw because adjoyning to an Haw or Yard wherein of old times Boats were made and Landed from Dowgate to be mended It was repaired and beautified at the Charge of the Parish in the Year of our Lord 1621. LVII The Parish-Church called St. Mary-Cole-Church in Cheap-Ward is so named of one Cole that Builded it upon a Vault above Ground so that Men were forced to ascend thereunto by certain steps It was repaired and beautified at the Parish charge Anno Feb. 1623. LVIII In St. Mary-Hill-lane is the fair Parish-Church of St. Mary on the Hill because of the ascent from Billingsgate In the Year 1322 Richâ—rd Hackney one of the Sheriffs of â—â—ondon was buryed there Stow. p. 227. and Alice his Wife as Robert Fabian writeth saying thus In the Year 1379 in the Month of April as Labourers digged for the Foundation of a Vault within the Church of St. Mary-Hill near unto Billingsgate they found a Coffin of Rotten Timber and therein the Corps of a Woman whole of skin and of bones undissevered and the joints of her Arms pliable without breaking of the skin upon whose Sepulchre this was ingraven Here lies the Bodies of Richard Hackney Fishmonger and Alice his Wife the which Richard was Sheriff in the 15 th of Edward II. viz. anno 1322. So that her Body was 175 years after she had been buried found uncorrupted It was kept above ground three or four days without Noyance but then it waxed unsavoury and was again buried This Church was repaired and beautified at the charge of the Parish Anno 1616. LIX In Milk-Street in Cripple-Gate-Ward stands the Parish-Church of St. Mary Magdalen in which were several Monuments amongst which one for Queen Elizabeth It was repaired and beautified at the charge of the Parish in the year 1619. LX. Over against the North-west end of Lambert-hill-lane in Knight-Riders-street is the Parish-Church of St. Mary Magdalen commonly called so with the addition of Old Fish-street It was repaired and beautified at the charge of the Parish Anno 1630. which came to 140 l. in this was a Monument of Queen Elizabeth it is in Castle-Baynard-Ward LXI The Parish-Church of St. Mary de Monte also commonly called St. Mary Mounthaw is situate on the West-side of Old Fish-street in Queen-hith-Ward It was built to be a Chapel of the House of the Mounthaunts and the Bishop of Hereford is Patron thereof It was in part new built and very much inlarged
called Six-Clerks-Office in Chancery-Lane they keep Commons together in Term time The Three Clerks of the Petty-Bag are under the Master of the Rolls they make all Patents for Customers Comptrollers all Congeâ—d ' Estires first Summons of Nobility Clergy Knights Citizens and Burgesses to Parliament From the Subpoena-Office are Issued Writs to Summon Persons to appear in Chancery There are two Examiners who are to examin Witnesses upon upon their Oaths in any suit on both sides The Curssiters Office is to make out Original Writs they were antiently called Clerici de Cursu They are in Number 24 whereof each one hath certain Counties and Cities allotted to him They are a Corporation of themselves c. IV. EXCHEQVER Within the Port or Entry into the Hall on either side are ascendings up into large Chambers without the Hall adjoyning thereunto wherein certain Courts be kept namely on the Right hand is the Court of Exchequer which is so called as some think from a Chequer-wrought-Carpet covering the great Table in that Court or else from the French word Exchequer a Chess Board because the Accomptants in that Office were wont to use such Boards in their Calculation Here are Tried all Causes that belong to the King's Treasury or Revenue as touching Accounts Disbursements Customs and all Fines imposed upon any Man In this Court do Sit the Lord Treasurer the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Lord Chief Baron and Four other Learned Judges called Barons of the Exchequâ—r and one other Cursitor-Baron but the two first â—â—â—dom Sit and the five last seldom fail The first of these five is the Principal Judge of this Court which is a place of High Honour and Profit he iâ— stiled Lord Chief Baron is created by Letters Paâ—tents to hold this Dignity quam diu bene se gesseriâ— wherein he hath a more fixed Estate than the Chiâ— Justices of either Bench for the Law intends this aâ— Estate for Life In the absence of the Lord Chieâ— Baron the other three Barons supply his place acâ—cording to their Seniority but the 5 th is said to bâ— Cursitor of the Court and Administers the Oaths tâ— the Sheriffs under-Sheriffs Bayliffs Searchers Surveyors c. of the Custom-House In the Exchequer are held two Courts one oâ— Law another of Equity all Judicial proceedings according to Law are Coram Baronibus before the Barons but the Court of Equity held in the Exchequer-Chamber is Coram Thesaurario Cancellario Baronibus before the Treasurer Chancellor and Barons The Authority of this Court is of Original Jurisdiction without any Commission All the Twelve Judges belonging to these High Tribunals sit in Robes and Square Caps like Doctors of Divinity because as some say they were in old times most commonly Clergy Men. There are divers Officers belonging to the upper Exchequer as the King's Remembrancer in whose Office are Eight Sworn Clerks All Accounts pass there that concern the King's Revenue for Customs Excise Hearth-Money Subsidies and all aids granted to the King in Parliament and all other Accounts of what nature soever concerning the King's Revenue either Certain or Casual all Securities whether by Bond or Recognizances to the King for any of His Debts are taken here All proceedings upon any Statute by information for Custom Excises or any other Penal Law All proceedings upon the said Bonds or Recognizances or any other Bonds taken in the King's Name by Officers appointed thereunto under the Great Seal of England and transmitted into this Office for Recovery thereof From whence Issue forth Process to cause all Accountants to come in and Account c. This Office is in the King's Gift The Office of the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer is to make Process against all Sheriffs Receivers Bayliffs c. for their Accounts and many other things of Moment as Estreal Rules all Charters and Letters Patents whereupon any Rents are reserved to the King This also is in the KING's Gift The Clerk of the Pipe hath all the Accounts and Debts due to the King drawn down out of the Remembrancers Office and chargeth them down out of the Remembrancers Office and chargeth them down in the Great Roll or Pipe and therefore probably called the Pipe-Office he hath under him Eight Sworn Clerks Here Accountants have their quietus est and here are made Leafes of extended Lands The Comptroller of the Pipe writes out all Summons twice every Year to the High Sheriffs to Levy the Farms and Debts of the Pipe He keeps a Roll of the Pipe-Office Accounts whereby to discover any thing that shall be amiss In the Office of the Clerk of the Pleas all the Officers of the Exchequer and other priviledged Persons as Debtors to the King c. are to have their Priviledge to Plead and be Impleaded as to all matters at the Common Law And the Proceedings are accordingly by Declarations Pleas and Trials as at the Common Law because they should not be drawn out of their own Court where their attendance is Required In this Office are four Sworn Attorneys To the Forâ—ign Opposers-Office all Sheriffs repair to be by him opposed of their Green-Wax and from thence is drawn down a Charge upon the Sheriffs to the Clerk of the Pipe This Office is kept in Grays-Inn The Office of the Clerk of the Estreats is to receive every Term the Estreats or Extracts out of the Office of the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer and to write them out to be Levied for the King Also to make Schedules for such Sums as are to be discharged The Auditors of the Imprest Audit the Great accounts of the King's Customs Wardrobe Mint First Fruits and Tenths Naval and Military Expences Moneys imprested c. The Auditors of the Revenue Audit all the accounts of the King 's other Revenue that arise by Aids granted in Parliament The Remembrancer of the first Fruits and Tenths takes all Compositions for first Fruits and Tenths and makes Process against such as pay not the same This Office is kept in Hatton-Garden c. As to the other part of the Exchequer where the King's Revenue is received and disbursed the Principal Officer is the Lord Treasurer whose place is somtimes and is at this present managed by Commissioners appointed by His Majesty The next is the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is an Officer of great Account and Authority He hath a Principal Power not only in the Exchequer-Court but also here in the managing and disposing of the King's Revenue he hath the Custody of the Exchequer-Seal He hath the Gift of the Comptroller or Clerk of the Pipe of the Clerk of the Pleas of the Clerk of the Nichils and of the Seal of the Court He is also under Treasurer and hath the Gift of the two Praisers of the Court. Then there are two Chamberlains of the Exchequer in whose Custody are many ancient Records Leagues and Treaties with Foreign Princes the Standards of Moneys Weights and Measures those antient Books called Dooms-Day and the Black
Book of the Exchequer The former was six Years a making by William the Conqueror and is a Cense or compute of all England as it was then viz. all the Lands with the value and Owners and Account of all Cities Towns Villages Families Men Souldiers Husbandmen Bondmen Servants Cattle how much Money Rents Meadow Pasture Woods Tillage Common Marsh Heath every one possessed So that in Disputes about Taxes this determined it without further controversie as the Book of the Great day of Doom will then and therefore so called It is kept under three Locks and not to be lookt into under 6 s. 8 d. And for every Line Transcribed is to be paid 4. d. The Auditor of the Receipts is to File the Bills of The Tellers whereby they charge themselves with all Money Received and to draw all Orders to be Signed by the Lord High Treasurer for Issuing forth all Moneys by Vertue of the Privy Seals which are Recorded and Lodged in his Office He makes all Debentures to the several Persons who have Fees Annuities or Pensions by Letters Patents from the King out of the Exchequer and directs them for payment to the Tellers He receives every Week the state of the Account of each Teller and also Weekly certifies the whole to the Lord High Treasurer who presently presents the Estimate or Ballance to the King He takes the Tellers Account in Gross at Easter and Michaelmas By him are kept the several Registers appointed for paying all Persons in Course upon several Branches of the King's Revenue he is Scriptor Talliorum hath five Clerks to manage the whole Estate of Moneys received disbursed and remaining There are four Tellers who Receive all Moneys due to the King and thereupon throw down a Bill through a Pipe into the Tally-Court where it is received by the Auditors Clerk who there attends to write the words of the said Bill upon a Tally and then delivers the same to be Entred by the Clerk of the Pells or his under Clerk who Enters it in his Book Then the Tally is cloven by the two Deputy Chamberlains who have the Seals and while the Senior Deputy reads one part the Junior Examines the other part with the other two Clerks The Clerk of the Pels Enters every Tellers Bill into a Parchment of Skin in Latin Pellis whence this Office hath its Name all Receipts and Payments for the King for what cause or by whomsoever and is in Nature of a Comptroller hath four Clerks whereof one is for the Introitus and another for the Exitus Moreover he is to make Weekly and half Yearly Books both of the Receipts and Payments which are delivered to the Lord Treasurer He that Pays the King any Moneys receives for his Acquittance a Tally so called from the French Verb Tallier to cut that is one half of a Stick cloven with certain proportionable Notches thereon expressive of the Sum from the said Deputy Chamberlains who keep the other cloven part of the Stick called the Foyl and Delivers it to the Tally-Joyners on the other side of the Exchequer who are also Deputies to the Chamberlains an◠they joyn it with the Foyl which agreeing the◠give it their Test and send it by an Officer of the◠own to the Pipe where their quietus est is Ingrosse◠in Parchment In the Office of the Deputy-Chamberlains Westminster are preserved all the Counterfoyls 〈◊〉 these Tallies so exactly ranged by Months an◠Years that they are to be presently found out t◠be joined with their respective Stock or Tally when required which proving true they deliver it Attested for a Lawful Tally to the Clerk of the Pipe for to be allowed in the great Roll but in Case any Corruption hath been used the same is easily and soon discovered and the Offender severely punished by Fine and Imprisonment This Antient way of striking of Tallies hath been found by long experience to be absolutely the best way that ever was invented for it is Morally impossible so to Falsifie or Counterfeit a Tally but that upon rejoyning it with the Counterfoyl it will be obvious to every Eye either in the Notches or in the Cleaving in the Longitude Latitude Natural growth or shape of the Counterfoyl whereas Acquittances in Writing cannot be so done but that they may be Counterfeited by skilful Penmen and that so exactly as that he who wrote the Original shall not be able to know his own hand from the Counterfeit as hath been frequently seen in all the Courts of Westminster There are two Vshers whose Office it is to secure the Exchequer by Day and Night and all the Avenues leading to the same and to furnish all Necessaries as Books Paper c. There is a Tally-Cutter and four Messengers This Exchequer is the best ordered publick Revenue in the World Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster Before we come to treat of the High Court of Parliament we will give an Account of the Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster kept at Westminster-Hall on the left hand above Stairs which takes Cognizance of all Causes that any way concern the Revenue of that Dutchy which hath been long since Annexed to the Crown The Chief Judge of this Court is the Chancellor of the Dutchy who is assisted by the Attorney of the Dutchy To this Court belong divers other Officers It is kept near the lower Exchequer and at the Office of Sir Gilbert Gerrard at Grays-Inn Of the High Court of PARLIAMENT Sir Richard Baker tell us in his Chronicle that King Henry the I. instituted the Form of the High Court of Parliament and that the first Council of this sort was held at Salisbury on the 19 th of April and the 16 th of his Reign which is 560 and odd Years ago Before the Conquest the great Council of the King consisting only of the Great Men of the Kingdom was called Magnatum Conventus the Convention or Meeting of the Grandees or Great Men or else Prelatorum Procerumque Concilium and by the Saxons in their own Tongue Michel Gemot the great Assembly After the Conquest it was called Parlementum a French word derived of Parler to talk together consisting still only of the great Men of the Nation till the aforesaid King's Reign None but the King hath Authority to Summon a Parliament In the King's absence out of the Realm the Custos Regni in the King's Name doth Summon a Parliament and During the King's Minority within the Realm the Protector Regni doth the same When the King of England is with His Parliament in time of peace He is then said to be in the height of His Royal Dignity as well as when He is at the head of His Army in time of War He can with the concurrence of his Lords and Commons then do any thing in point of Enacting or Repealing Laws Legitimate one that is born Illegitimate Bastardize one that is born Legitimate He can make an Infant of full Age make an Alien or
sense of Honour in persons of Birth and Fortune engages them to preserve their Reputation These Colleges are called Inns which was the old English Word for the Houses of Noblemen or Bishops or men of great Note as the French word Hostel at Paris There are Two Inns of Sergeants Four Inns of Courts and Eight Inns of Chancery of which there are Nine within the Liberty of the City and five in the Suburbs Those within the City Liberties are Sergeants Inn Fleetstreet Sergeants Inn Chancery-lane For Judges and Sergeants only The Inner The Middle Temple in Fleet-street are Inns of Court Cliffords Inn Fleetstreet Thavies Inn Furnivals Inn Bernards Inn Staple Inn Holborn Are Inns of Chancery Without the Liberties are Grays Inn Holborn Lincolns Inn Chancery-lane Inns of Court Clements Inn New Inn Lyons Inn Inns of Chancery Of these we shall briefly speak in this Oâ—deras 1. The Sergeants Inns are so called because Divers Judges and Serjeants at Law keep their Commons and Lodge there in Term-time In these Inns or Colleges the Students of the Common-Law when they are arrived to the highest Degree have Lodging and Dyet They are called Servientes ad legem Sergeants at Law These are bred two or three years in the University and there chiefly versed in Logick and Rhetorick which are expedient for a Lawyer as also in the Theory of the Civil-Law and some knowledge in the French Tongue as well as Latine then the Student is admitted to be one of the Four Inns of Court where he is first called a Moot-man and after about seven years Study is chosen an Vtter Barrister and having then spent twelve years more and performed his Exercises of which more hereafter he is chosen a Bencher and sometime after a Reader During the Reading which heretofore was three Weeks and three Days as afore-mentioned the Reader keeps a Constant and sumptuous Feasting Inviting the Chief Nobles Judges Bishops Great Officers of the Kingdom and sometimes the King himself that it costs them sometimes 800 l. or 1000 l. Afterwards he wears a long Robe different from other Barristers and is then in a capacity to be made a Sergeant at Law when his Majesty shall be pleased to call him which is in this Manner When the Number of Sergeants is small the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas by the advice and consent of the other Judges makes choice of six or eight more or less of the most grave and learned of the Inns of Court and presents their Names to the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper who sends by the Kings Writ to each of them to appear on such a Day before the King to receive the State and Degree of a Serjeant at Law at the appointed time they being habited in Robes of two Colours viz. Brown and Blew come accompanied with the Students of the Inns of Courts and attended by a Train of Servants and Retainers in peculiar Cloath-Liveries to Westminster-Hall and there in publick take a Solemn Oath and are Cloathed with certain Robes and Coifs without which they may be seen no more in publick After this they Feast the great Persons of the Nation in a very Magnificent and Princely manner give Gold Rings to the Princes of the Royal Family the Archbishops Chancellor and Treasurer to the value of 40 s. each Ring and to Earls and Bishops Rings of 20 s. To other Great Officers to Barons c. Rings of less value Out of these are chosen all the Judges of the King's Bench and Common-Pleas Wherefore all those Judges do always wear the white Linnen Coif which is the principal Badge of a Sergeant and which he has had the priviledge to wear at all times even in the King's presence and whilst he spake to the King though antiently no Subject may be so much as capped in the King's presence When any of the Judges are wanting the King by advice of the Council makes choice of one of those Sergeants at Law to supply his place and by Letters Patents Sealed by the Lord Chancellor who Constitutes him sitting in the middle of the rest of the Judges by a set Speech Declaring to the Serjeant that upon this occasion he is called to do Justice with Expedition and Impartiality to His Majesties Subjects causing the Letters Patents to be read and then Departs after which the Lord Chief Justice places the said Sergeant on the Bench Junior to all the rest and having taken an Oath well and truly to Serve the King and his People in his Office to take no Bribâ— to do equal and speedy Justice to all c. He sets himself to the Execution of his Charge Being thus advanced he hath great honour and a considerable Salary besides perquisites for each one hath 1000 l. a year from the King His habit of a Sergeant is somewhat altered his long Robe and Cap his Hood and Coif are the same but there is besides a Cloak put over him and closed on his Right Shoulder and instead of a Caputium lined with Minever or de minuto vario divers small pieces of white rich Fur only the two Lord Chief-Justices and the Lord Chief-Baron have their Hoods Sleeves and Collars turned up with Ermine ☞ Note that the two Sergeants Inns belong to the twelve Judges and about twenty-six Sergeants The Fees in old times from a Client to a Sergeant at Law for advice in his Chamber or for pleading in any Court of Judicature was but 20 s. and the Fee of a Barrister 10 s. which is now more then is given in our Neighbour Nations but at present it is usual to give some some Sergeants 10 l. and some 20 l. and to a Barrister half as much at the pleading of any Considerable Cause so that some Lawyers gain 3000 or 4000 l. yearly in Fees and purchase great Estates in a few years and are sometimes advanced to be Peers of the Realm as late times especially have shewn When there was a call of Serjeants at Law it was almost incredible to hear of their preparations in old times they have often kept their Feasts in Ely House which was the Bishop of Ely's Palace in Holborn There was a call of Seven Sergeants in the year 1464. 4. E. 4. in Michaelmas Term who kept their Feast in this Palace to which Sir Matthew Philip Lord Mayor of London with the Aldermen Sheriffs and the most eminent Commoners were invited to which they came but the Lord Gray of Ruthen then Lord Treasurer of England was placed against the minds of the Serjeants as they said before the Lord Mayor who thereupon took such Distaste that he went away with the Aldermen Sheriffs and Commons without partaking of the Feast to the great trouble of the New Sergeants as well as the dissatisfaction of the City There was another Feast kept there for Five days by the Sergeants in the Year 1531. 23 Henry VIII where the King Queen and Foreign Ambassadors Dined as also the Lord Mayor the
sumptuous Fane The Lands Chief Seat that challengeth for hers Kings Coranations and their Sepulchers Then goes along by that more beautious Strand That shews the Wealth and glory of the Land Such sumptuous Seats within so little space Th' all-viewing Sun scarce sees in all his Race By London leads which like a Crescent lies Whose Windows view with the be-spangled Skies Her rising Spires so thick themselves do show As do the Reeds that on her Banks do grow There sees his Wharffs and People-crowded Shores His bosom spread with shoals of labouring Oars With that great Bridge that doth him most Renown By which he puts all other Rivers down This Noble River hath her Original out of the side of an Hill in Cotswold Downs a little above a Village called Winchcomb in Oxfordshire where it was antiently called Isis or the Ouse running to Oxford and by the way receiving many small Rivulets and Brooks joyning at that City with the Charwell then by Abington Dorchester where the River Thame and Isis joyn from whence it is called Thamâ—sis or Thames thence by Reading Maiden-head Windsor Stanes and several other considerable Palaces Towns and stately Houses to London and receives the Medway a considerable River that runs by the City of Rochester and Waters all the Southern parts of Kent The length of it being at least if measured by the Journeys at Land 180 Miles and Ebbs and Flows as before near 80 Miles The Common difference betwixt Tide and Tide is found to consist of 24 Minutes which wanteth but 12 of a whole hour in 24 by which they come later than the other Mr. Stow tells us that in his time the first Edition of his Survey being Printed above 80 years ago there were 2000 Wherries or small Boats whereby 3000 Water-men got their Living their Gains being most in Term-time but now there are a great many more this River being a Nursery to breed young Men sit for the Sea to Serve His Majesty or the Merchants c. Besides these there is an Infinite Number of Wherries Tide-Boats Tilt-Boats Barges Hoys c. for Passengers or to bring necessary Provision of all sorts from all Quarters of Oxfordshire Berkshire Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire Hartfordshire Middlesex Essex Surrey and Kent unto the City but of the Navigation of London we refer to the Chapter of Trade and the Rates of Water-men to a distinct head to be Treated of hereafter The Extent of the Jurisdiction and Prerogative of the Lord Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of London on the River Thames c. THe Lord Mayor of LONDON for the time being and his Successors for ever in that great Dignity have full Power and Authority over the Rivers of Thames and Medway to inflict punishment upon all Transgressors relating to the said Rivers the Water-Bayly of London being his Substitute The Extent of this Jurisdiction begins at a place called Colnie-Ditch a little above Stains-Bridge Westward as far as London-Bridge and from thence to a place called Yendall otherwise Yenland or Yenleete and the Waters of Medway This Authority and Jurisdiction belongs to the Lord Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of London by divers Grants Charters and Confirmations made by the Kings and Queens of England besides sundry Acts of Parliament Yet there have been some contests betwixt the Lord Mayor and the Lord High Admiral of England about it but after a fair and Judicial Tryal in open Court the Controversie was decided in favour of the City and the Lord Mayor was adjudged to be Conservator of the Thames There were also some Controversies about the Rivers of Thames and Medway but all differences were absolutely concluded Anno 1613. Sir John Swinnerton being then Lord Mayor and Thomas Sparry Esq being then his Deputy in that Office So that the Lord Mayor bears always since as in former times the stile of Conservator of the said River within the said Limits and Bounds And whereas there was a Company of Fishermen called Tinckermen that with unlawful Nets and other devices made an infinite destruction of the young Brood or Fry of Fish to feed their Hogs by the singular care and cost of the Lord Mayor and vigilance of the Citizens they were many years ago supprest and a regular and orderly manner of Fishing brought in use that such a havock may not be made of the young Fry As also sundry other abuses by unlawful Fishing and some annoying Timbers in Tilbury-hope dangerous to Passengers and destructive to the young Brood of Fish and Fishermens Nets were also to general benefit reformed Likewise they took care to clear and cleanse the River Westward of about 79 Stops or Hatches consisting of divers great Stakes and Piles erected by Fishermen for their private lucre and standing ill-favouredly for Passengers near the Fair-Deep but none now are left except such as stand out of the passable high stream that can prejudice none The like Course was kept in the time of Henry the 4 th and Henry the 8 ths times There is also a watchful Eye that no Carrion nor Dead Carkasses be thrown into the River to pollute or infect the stream To all these intents and purposes the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen his Brethren with the under Officers meet eight times a year in the four Counties of Middlesex Surrey Kent and Essex and have a Judicial sitting for Maintenance of the Rivers Rights and Priviledges where they have power to Impanel Juries to make Inquisition after all Offences committed upon the River within their Exteâ—â— and as the Verdict given by the Jury makes it appear so they proceed to the punishment of the 〈◊〉 sors according to the quality of the offence whereof it may be proper to give this Memorable Instance as it is Recorded by Mr. Stow in his Survey page 20 Printed Anno 1633. and more briefly delivered by Mr. Howel in his Londinopolis Printed Anno 1657. page 15. Thus. Sir John Rolls Knight and Lord Mayor of the City of London and Conservator of the River of Thames and Waters of Medway assisted and accompanied by the Aldermen and two Sheriffs then contemporary and attended by the Recorder and the Sub-conservation or Water-Bayly with 50 Officers and Servants took their Barges at Billings-gate the third of July 1616. and in a few hours arrived at Graves-end in Kent where a Session for Conservancy of the said River was kept before the said Lord Mayor and his said Assistants at which place and time a Jury of the Free-holders of the said County being sworn to inquire of all Offences committed in any part of the River whatsoever within the said County The Common Sergeant of the City the Recorder being then absent upon extraordinary occasions Delivered them a Charge to this effect That for as much as there had not been any Session of Conservancy in many years passed kept by any Lord Mayor of London in that place it was probable and evident they could not be well informed neither of the Lord Mayor's
amongst the highest Nobles of the Kingdom which serve on that Day in other Offices He presents the King with Wine in a Golden Cup having a Cover of which the King Drinks and the Lord Mayor receives the said Cup for his Fee The first Lord Mayor that went by Water to Westminster was Sir John Norman Draper Anno 1453. the 32. of H. 6. that is 228 years ago The two Sheriffs of this City are also Sheriffs of the County of Middlesex and are annually Chosen by the Citizens from among themselves in the Guild-Hall upon Midsummer-day a high Priviledge among many others anciently granted to this City by several Kings and Queens of this Kingdom but they are not Sworn till Michaelmas-Eve and then are also presented at the Exchequer to be allowed by the Barons and Sworn after which they enter upon their Office If the Persons so chosen refuse to hold they incur a Penalty unless they will take a Solemn Oath that they are not worth 10000 l. In the Year 1199. that is 482 years ago King John granted the Sheriff-Wick of London and Middlesex to the City as King Henry the First before had done for the sum of 300 l. a year which is paid into the Exchequer to this Day He gave them also Authority to Chuse and Deprive their Sheriffs at pleasure In the 1. of R. 1. the Citizens obtained to be Governed by two Bayliffs which Bayliffs are in Divers antient Deeds called Sheriffs according to the Speech of the Law which called the Shire Ballâ—va c. which King also as formerly said gave the City liberty to be governed by a Mayor as their Principal Governour and their Bayliffs were changed into Sheriffs The Sheriffs of London In the Year 1471. were appointed each of them to have Sixteen Sergeants every Sergeant to have his Yeoman and Six Clerks viz. A Secondary a Clerk of the Papers and Four other Clerks besides the Under-Sheriffs Clerks their Stewards Bâ—tlers Porters and other in Houshold many There are Twenty-six Aldermen that preside over the Twenty-six Wards of the City of which more when we speak of Wards when any of these die the Lord Mayor and Aldermen chuse another out of the most substantial men of the City If any so chosen refuse to hold he is usually Fined 500 l. All the Aldermen that have been Lord Mayors and the Three eldest Aldermen that have not yet arrived to that Honourable Estate are by their Charter Justices of the Peace of this City In the Year 1555. Seven Aldermen Died in less than Ten Months The Recorder of London is usually a Grave and Learned Lawyer that is skilful in the Customs of the City who is to be an Assistant to the Lord Mayor He taketh his place in Councels and in Courts before any man that hath not been Mayor and Learnedly Delivers the sentences of the whole Court The Present Recorder is Sir George Treby an eminent Gentleman and a Worthy Member of our last Parliaments The Chamberlain of London is at present Sir Thomas Player a Gentleman that has deserved very well of this City and the Protestant Interest in General both in that Station and as a Member for this Honourable City in the last Parliaments The Chamberlain is Elected by the Commons upon Midsummer-day so are the Two Bridge-Masters The Auditors of the City and Bridge-House Accounts the Surveyors for BEER and ALE. There is also a Town-Clark or Common-Clerk and a Remembrancer who are Esquires The Chamberlain of London is an Officer very considerable in point of power for without him can no man set up Shop or Occupy his Trade without being Sworn before him no man can set over an Apprentice to another but by his Licence he may Imprison any that disobeys his Summons or any Apprentice that misdemeans himself or punish him otherwise On Munday and Tuesday in Eâ—ster-week all the Aldermen and Sheriffs come unto the Lord Mayor's House before Eight of the Clock in the Morning to Break-fast wearing their Scarlet Gowns Furr'd and their Cloaks as also their Horses attending When Break-fast is ended they mount their Horses and ride to the Spittle which is an ancient Custom not changed but once in 300 years and that upon extraordinary occasion till this year when they went to S. Sepulchres the Sword and Mace being born before the Lord Mayor There they hear a Sermon and then return to Dinner and some of the Aldermen Dine with the Sheriffs and some with the Lord Mayor On Wednesday in Easter-week they go thither in the same manner only the Lord Mayor and Aldermen wear their Violet Gownes and sutable Cloaks But the Ladies on the former Days wearing Scarlet on this Day are attired in Black On Whitsunday all the Aldermen use to meet the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs at the New-Church-yard by Moorfields wearing their Scarlet Gowns lined without Cloaks there they hear a Sermon appointed for that Day and so return to Dinner When they chuse Parliament-men all the Aldermen meet the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs at the Guild-Hall by nine of the Clock in the Morning wearing their Velvet Gowns and their Cloaks either furred or lined according as the time of the year requireth when they are to be chosen and they sit in the Hastings-Court untill the Commons do make Choice of them The last Honourable Members that served for this Renowned City were Sir Robert Clayton Knight that was Lord Mayor the last year Thomas Pilkinton Alderman Sir Thomas Player Knight and William 〈◊〉 Esq of whose real worth courage fidelity and wisdom in the management of that great Trust the City is very sensible as appears by the publick demonstrations deservedly given of it and no less sensible was the last Parliament but one of the Cities Loyalty Fidelity and great care to preserve his Majesties Royal person and the Protestant Religion that the thanks of the House was order'd to be given them which was accordingly done by the Worthy Members aforesaid What the Office of the Constables in the City of London is you may gather from their Oath which is thus Ye shall Swear that ye keep the Peace of our Soveraign Lord the King well and lawfully after your power And ye shall Arrest all them that make Contest Riot Debate or Affray in breaking of the said Peace and lead them to the House or Compter of one of the Sheriffs And if ye be withstood by strength of Misdoers ye shall rear on them an Out-cry and pursue them from Street to Street and from Ward to Ward till they be Arrested And ye shall search at all times when ye be required by the Seavengers or Beadles the Common Noysance of your Ward And the Beadle and Raker ye shall help to Rear and gather their Sallary and Quarterage if ye be thereunto by them required And if any thing be done within your Ward against the Ordinance of this City such defaults as ye shall find there done ye shall them present to the Mayor and
And by Charter of Ed. 6. The Lord Mayor Recorder and Aldermen that are Justices of the Peace in London are to be Justices of the Peace in Southwark All Forfeited Recognizances about Ale-houses Inmates Bastard Children Appearance at Sessions of Goal-Delivery Fines and Issues of Jurors except Fines or Issues Royal c. Granted to the City by Charter of King Charles 1. Chart. 1. That no Aliens are to keep Houses in London nor be Brokers by Charter of E. 3 ch 5. That no Citizen shall wage Battel H. 1. H. 2. R. 1. ch 1. John ch 1. H. 3. ch 4. ch 9. No Stranger is to buy Goods before they be weighed by the King's Beam H. 3. ch 9. The Inhabitants of Black-Fryers to be exempted from Taxes and Fifteenths King James ch 2. By Letters Patents of King Henry the VIII Dated at Westminstor Jan. 13. In the 28 th Year of his Reign he did give and grant unto the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors the Keeping Ordering and Governing of the House and Hospital called Bethlehem situate without and near Bishops-gate and all Mannors Lands Tenements Possessions Revenues and Hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever lying and being belonging or appertaining unto the said Hospital or House called Bethlem and Made and Constituted by the same his Letters Patents these the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors Masters Keepers and Governours of the said House and Hospital called Bethlem and of the said Mannors Lands Tenements and other premisses belonging to the same House or Hospital to have hold and enjoy the said Custody Order and Government of the said House or Hospital called Bethlem c. for ever c. London is by King James Char. 3. stiled his Royal Chamber who not only confirmed the Charters of his Predecessors but did give grant and confirm unto the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of London and to their Successors the weighing of all Coals called Stone-Coals weighable Earth-Coals and all other Coals weighable of what kind soever in or at the said Port of London coming or brought up the said River of Thames in any Ship Boat or Barge or other Vessel whatsoever floating or being in any Port of the same Water of Thames and upon whatsoever Bank Shore or Wharf of the same Water of Thames from the Bridge of Stanes to London-Bridge and from thence to a place called Yendal or Yenland towards the Sea For which the Duties Payable to the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens c. is Eight pence for every Tunn none is to unlade Coals till the Mayor has Notice and of the quantity because the Mayor c. should be capable at any time when required to inform His Majesty c. what quantity of Coals of what sort soever from time to time is brought into the City c. and how the City and Adjacent places are supplied No Markets of Coals to be in any Boats Lighters or other Vessel whatsoever except in the Ship that first brought in the Coals no Forestalling Ingrossing Regrating upon pain of incurring such Pains and Punishments as the Law provides for contemners and neglecters of Royal Mandates By Charter of Ed. IV. ch 4. In consideration of 7000 l. c. was granted to the Mayor c. the Offices or Occupations of Packing all manner of Woollen Cloaths Sheep-Skins Calves-Skins Goat-Skins Vessels of Amber and all other Merchandizes whatsoever to be Packed Tunned Piped Barrelled or any wise to be included with the oversight of opening all manner of Customable Merchandizes arriving at the Port of Safety as well by Land as by Water within the Liberties and Franchises of the said City and Suburbs c. And alsâ— the Office of Carriage and Portage of all Woolâ— Sheep-Skins Tynn-Bails and other Merchandizes whatsoever which shall be carryed in London from the Water of Thames unto the Houses of Strangers and contrariwise from the said Houses to the same Water or of other Merchandizes which ought to be carryed being in any House for a time And also the Office c. of Garbling of all manner of Spices and other Merchandizes coming to the said City at any time which ought to be Garbled Also the Office of Gager Office of Wine-Drawers c. to be exercised by them or their Deputies The Office of Coroner to beat the Mayors c. disposal Severed them from the Office of Chief-Butler c. Witness the King at Westminster the 20 th of June Anno Regni 18. By Charter of E. III. ch 1. It is granted thus Whereas in the Great Charter of the Liberties of England it is contained that the City of London may have all their antient Liberties and Customs and the same Citizens at the time of the making of the Charter from the time of Saint Edward King and Confessor and William the Conqueror and of other our Progenitors had divers Liberties and Customes as well by the Charters of those our Progenitors as without Charter by Antient-Customs whereupon in divers the Circuits and other the Courts of our said Progenitors as well by Judgments as by Statutes were Invaded and some of them Adjudged We Will and Grant for us and our Heirs that they may have the Liberties according to the Form of the above-said Great Charter and that Impediments and Usurpations to them in that behalf made shall be revoked and Annulled c. That the Mayor be one of the Justices of Goal-Delivery of Newgate and to be Named in every Commission thereof to be made That the Citizens may have Infangtheft This is a Saxon word signifying a Liberty Granted to certain Lords of Mannors to Judge any Thief taken within their Fee And Outfang-theft that is a Liberty Granted to the Lord to try any Thief taken out of his Fee and Chattels of Felons of all those which shall be Adjudged before them within their Liberties c. Citizens may Devise Lands in London in Mortmain or otherwise Merchant Strangers to Sell Goods within Fourty Days and may not keep Houses but are to be with Hosts that is Lodgers The KING 's Marshall Steward or Clerk of the Market of the King's Houshold may not Sit within the City Liberties No Citizen is to be drawn to Plead without the Liberties of the City about any thing that happens within the Liberties thereof No Escheator may Exercise that Office in the City but the Mayor for the time being is to do it Citizens to be Taxed in Subsidies as other Commoners not as Citizens To be quit of all Tallages this word is derived from the French word Taille a piece cut out of the whole signifying the paying a part or share of a Mans substance by way of Tribute Tax or Toll and that the Liberty of the said City shall not be taken into the hands of us or our Heirs for any Personal Trespass or Judgment of any Minister of the said City Neither shall a keeper in the said
City for that occasion be Deputed but the same Minister shall be punished according to the quality of his Offence c. No Purveyor of the Kings c. is to make any Prices of the Goods of the Citizens without the Consent of the Party no Price to be made of the Citizens Wines against their Wills c. No Purveyor is to be a Merchant of the Goods whereof he is Purveyor That no market is to be kept nor afterterwards to be Granted to any within Seven Miles in Circuit of the said City That all Inquisitions to be taken by the Justices of London c. shall be taken in St. Martins le Grand in London but not elsewhere except the Inquisitions to be taken in the Circuits at the Tower of London and for the Goal-Delivery at Newgate That no Citizen is to be Impleaded in the Exchequer unless it concern the King c. By Charter of Henry the First the Citizens to be free from Scot and Lot and Dane-Guilt that is a Tribute laid upon our Ancestors of Twelve pence for every Hide of Land throughout the Realm by the Danes for clearing the Seas as they pretended of Pyrates H. the II. R. the I. ch 1. King John ch 1. Henry the III. ch 8. The Citizens may Traffick with their Commodities and Merchandizes wheresoever they please throughout His Majesties Kingdoms and Dominions as well by Sea as by Land without Interruption of him or his as they see Expedient quit from all Custom Toll Lestage that is a Custom challenged in Fairs fer carrying of things and Paying c. and may abide for their Trading wheresoever they please in the same His Kingdom c. as in times past they were Accustomed c. Henry the VII Granted a Charter That no Stranger from the Liberty of the City may Buy or Sell from any other Stranger to the Liberty of the same City any Merchandizes or Wares within the Liberties of the same City upon pain of Forfeiture of the said Goods c. to the Use and Profit of the Mayor Commonalty c. Strangers may Buy things in Gross for their own Use but not to Sell again c. None is to take Loding in the City by Force by Charters of H. the I. R. the I. ch I. H. the III. ch 4. H. the III. ch 9. By Charter of King CHARLES the I. the Offices of Paccage of Cloaths Wools Woollfels c. Balliage of Goods c. Portage of Goods Seavage of all Goods c. Customable granted to the Mayor Commonalty c. with a power to Administer an Oath for the discovery of concealed Goods c. The Sergeants of London may bear Maces of Gold or Silver Ed. III. ch 4. By Charter of King Henry I. It was granted to the Citizens of London to hold Middlesex to Farm for 300 l. upon Account to them and their Heirs so that the said City shall place as Sheriff whom they will of themselves and shall place whomsoever or such one as they will of themselves for keeping of the Pleas of the Crown and of the Pleading of the same and none other shall be Justice over the same Men of London c. This was confirmed by King John by Charter dated July 5 Anno Reg. 1. the City paying 300 l. as aforesaid of Blank Sterling Money at two Terms in the Year viz. at the Easter-Exchequer 150 l. and at Michaelmas-Exchequer 150 l. saving to the Citizens all their Liberties and Free Customs c. If the Sheriffs offend so as to incur the loss of Life or Member they shall be Adjudged as they ought to be according to the Law of the City c. wherefore says the Charter we Will and Stedfastly Command that the Citizens of London and Middlesex with all the said Sheriffwich belonging of us and our Heirs to possess and enjoy Hereditarily Freely and Quietly Honorably and Wholly by Fee Farm of 300 l. c. All Fishâ—rs Vintners and Victualers coming to the City shall be in the Rule of the Mayor and Aldermen 7 R. II. cap. 11. Aldermen shall not be Elected Yearly but remain till they be put out Ibidem Cap. 11. Merchants may Sell Cloth Wine Oyl Wax or other Merchandize as well by Wholesale as Retail to all the KING's Subjects as well as Londoners notwithstanding Franchise to the Contra 7 H. IV. ch 9. Citizens worth 400 Marks in Goods or Chattels may be Jurors in Attaint and the Justices to sit only at the Guild-Hall or within the City notwithstanding 23 H. VIII cap. 3. The Mayor c. next Court after the first of Michaelmas is to name Watermen Yearly to be Overseers of Rowing between Graves-End and Windsor the 2 and 3 Pbillip and Mary cap. 16. Sect. 3. The Mayor c. to Assess the Fare of Watermen and two Privy-Councellors to sign it 2 and 3 Phillip and Mary chap. 16. Sect. 11. Citizens of London and other Inhabitants Tradesmen c. for Debts under 40 s. may Summon in to the Court of Conscience that is the Court of Requests and the Commissioners there to Determine the Difference and to Register Orders 3 Jac. cap. 15. Sect. 2. These brief Memorandums are produced not as comprehending the full Abstract much less the words at length of the several Charters and Priviledges of thiâ— Famous City but as Guides to direct where they may read at large to be more full would be inconsistent with the designed brevity of this small Tract for it would make a Volume it self yet what is here pointed at with what 's scatterd up and down the Book under particular Heads which to avoid repetition are not mentioned here may inform the Reader of the most Memorable which was the thing only intended He that would consult them more largely is referred to a Book Intituled the Royal Charter of Confirmation granted by King CHARLES the II. to the City of London by S. G. Gent. And Rastals Statutes at Large from whence with some others these Memorials were Collected Some brief Heads of the most memorable Customs or particular Laws of the City of LONDON IN this place we shall only mention some of the most remarkable of these Laws referring the Reader to a Book called the City Law Printed 1658. The Mayor and Aldermen have always used to cause to come before them the Malefactors which have been taken and Arrested within the said City for carrying of Tales and spreading abroad of News imagined in disturbance of the Peace makers and Counterfeiters of false Seals false Charters and for other notorious Defects and those which they have found culpable of such misdeeds by confession of the Parties or by inquest thereof made shall be punished by setting in the Pillory or further Chastised by Imprisonment according to their Merit and according to the Reasonable Discretion of the said Mayor and Aldermen Men and Women by usage of the said City may Devise their Tenements Rents and Reversions within the said City and Suburbs thereof
to run away withdraw or absent himself the Sheriff may arrest the Defendant by his Body or Goods as a Foreigner c. When a Debtor in the said City is bound by Obligation in a certain sum to be paid at a certain time to come the which Debtor was held sufficient at the time when he was bound and after is become Fugitive or not sufficient then if the Creditor come before the Mayor and Sheriffs of the said City making such a suggestion and hath with him six or four credible Freemen of the same City that will truly testifie that the Debtor will withdraw and Convey his Goods out of the City or that he is not sufficient to make Payment then the Mayor or one of the Sheriffs before whom the Suggestion is made useth to Arrest the Debtor although the Day contained within the Obligation be not yet come and to keep the same Debtor in Prison untill the Day of Payment be come or otherwise that he shall find Pledges to attend at the same Day and so to Arrest for House-hire before the Day if the Tenant be Fugitive If a Free-man of the City find his Debtor suddenly within the same City which Debter hath absented himself before or that he be Fugitive City-Law pag. 105. and the which Debtor will Escape away before that the Creditor can have an Officer the usage is in such Case that the Free-man himself with aid of his Neighbours without other Officer may Arrest his Debtor and carry him to the Office of one of the Sheriffs and there make his Suit as the Law requires A Brief Account of the Courts held in this Honourable City THe highest and most ancient Court in this famous City is that called the Hustings a Saxon Word Hus signifying a House and Sthing or Thing a Cause or Plea so that it is Domus Causarum a House of Causes or Pleas or Pleadings This Court preserves the Laws Rights Franchises and Customs of the City There be handled the the Intricatest Accounts and Pleas of the Crown and of the whole Kingdom It is of great Antiquity the Laws of Edward the Confessour much referring to it where may be read these words Debet enim in London quae caput est Regni Legum semper Curia Domini Regis singulis septimâ—nis die Lunae Hustingis sedere teneri c. That is The Court of our Lord the King ought to sit and be held every Week on Monday at the Hustings in London which City is the head of the Kingdom and Laws c. But now it is held on Tuesdays in the Guild-Hall of London before the Lord Mayor Sheriffs and Aldermen every Week All the Lands and Tenements Rents and Services within the City and Liberties are pleaded there in two Hustings one is called Husting de placito terrae Husting of Plea of Land the other de Communibus placitis of Common-Pleas It is held on Monday to Demand the Demandants and to award Non-suites to allow Essoynes and on Tuesday to award the Default and Plead For certain times no Hustings may be held by Custom of the City viz. Husting of Plea of Land ought to be held a Week by it self at the aforesaid days but the Inrollments and Titles of the said Hustings make mention of Monday only In Husting of Plea of Land are Pleaded Writs of Right Patents Directed to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London which Writs have this process by Custom of the City viz. The Tenant or Tenants shall first have three Summons at the Tenements Demanded at three Hustings of Plea of Land next ensuing after the Livery of the Writ and of the Hustings without Demanding the Tenements at any aforesaid And after the three Summons ended three Essoynes at three other Hustings of Plea of Land then next ensuing and at the next ensuing after the third Essoyne and the Tenants making Default Process shall be made against them by a Grand cape or petit cape after the appearance and other Process at the Common-Law And if the Tenants shall appear the Demandants shall Count against the Tenants in the Nature of what Writ they will except certain Writs which are Pleadable in Husting of Common-Pleas c. without making Protestation to see in the Nature of any Writ And the Tenants shall have the view and shall be Essoyned after the view as at the Common-law And the Tenant shall have an Essoyn after every appearance by Custom of the City And although that such a Writ be abated after the view by exception of Joynt-Tenancy or other exception Dilatory or other such Writ be â—evived the Tenants by the Custom of the City shall have the view in the second Writ Notwithstanding the view before had And if the parties plead to Judgment the Judgment shall be pronounced by the Recorder and six Aldermen at least were wont to be present at the giving of every such Judgment Every Beadle of the City by the advice of the Alderman of his Ward against every Hustings or Plea of Land shall Summon Twelve Men Freeholders being the best and most sufficient of his Ward to come to Guild-Hall for to pass in an Inquest if there be need for the rest of the Free-holders of the said Ward And if the parties plead and descend to an Inquest then shall the Inquest be taken of the People Inheritors having at the least Frank-Tenement of the same Ward where the Tenements are and other three Wards next to the place where the Tenements are so that four sufficient men of the same Ward where the Tenements are shall be sworn in the same Inquest if there be so many No Damages by Custom of the City are recoverable in any such Writ of Right Patent and the Inquest may pass the same day by such common Summons of the Beadle if the parties be at Issue and the Jurors come Otherwise Process shall be made to cause the Inquest to come at another Husting of Plea of Land ensuing by Precept of the Mayor directed to the Sheriffs who shall be Ministers by the Commandment of the Mayor to serve the Writs and to make Execution thereof notwithstanding that the Original Writ be directed to the Mayor and Sheriffs Joyntly And it is to be understood that as well the Tenants as the Demandants may make their Attorneys in such Pleas c. See City-Law p. 46. c. In the Hustings of Common-Pleas are Pleadable Writs called ex gravi querela for to have Execution of the Tenements out of the Testaments which are Inrolled in the Hastings Writs of Dower unde nihil habet Writs of Gavelkind and Custom and of Service Instead of a Cessavit Writs of Error of Judgments given before the Sheriffs Writs of Waste Writ de Partitione facienda between Co-partners Writs of quid Juris clamat and per quae â—ervitiâ— and others which Writs are close and directed to the Mayor and Sheriffs and also Replegiaries of things taken and of Distresses wrongfully taken are
of Weights and Measures of the Fineness Goodness and Currant Value of Money c. A Merchant is to know what to Bargain for how to Bargain when to Bargain and with whom which comprehends the knowledge of the Commodity Weights and Measures proper Seasons and credit of the Party Bargained with In the third sort there is necessary a knowledge of the Fineness Goodness and Currant Value of the Princes Coin where the Remitter and Party Receiving abide a knowledge of the Currant Rate of Exchanging of the Par or Value for Value both according to the Standard of the Country and according to the Valuation of the Currant Coin there passable Then of the Usance of the Place and a knowledge of the Drawer and Receiver As also the due Manner and Form of making of all Legal Intimations Protests and other such needful Instruments Circumstances and Observations as are requisite upon Default of Payment according to the strict and Solemn Rules required in a Bill of Exchange These General Heads are not to instruct Merchants but to give a kind of a view of this Noble Calling to others that are strangers to it More particularly in this Famous City is a great Number of Merchants who for Wealth for Stately Houses within the City in Winter and without in Summer for rich Furniture plentiful Tables Honorable living for great Estates in Money and Land excel some Princes in some of our Neighbour Nations A great many of whom have frequently born the Dignity of the Chief Magistracy in the City and have been Bountiful and very Liberal Benefactors to the Publick and other Pious Uses The Merchants of London have been by divers Princes of this Kingdom Incorporated into Societies and Companies to incourage their Endeavours and in reward of the Discoveries of the Trade of those Countries whereof they take their Name they have Power and Immunities granted them do make Acts and Orders for the Benefit of Commerce in General and of their Companies in particular The Company of Merchants of Russia were Incorporated by King Edward VI and their Charter Confirmed and Enlarged by Queen Elizabeth As also the Company of Merchants of Ebbing the Eastland Company the Green-Land Company the Spanish Company the French Company of New Adventurers the Company of French 〈◊〉 There is also the Merchants of Virginia Bermudas or Summer Islands the Affirican or Guiney Company c. These Companies besides others not at all Incorporated being encouraged by sundry Priviledges Govern themselves by setled Acts and Orders under certain chosen Governors Deputies and a Selected Number of Assistants which have been found to be so profitable to these Kingdoms by Exporting the Native Commodities thereof by setting the Poor on Work by Building of many brave Ships and by Importing hither of sundry Necessaries both for Use and Ornament that the Benefit thereof cannot here be certainly expressed But for a taste I shall Transcribe one Instance from Mr. Lewis Roberts in his Map of Commerce Written near Fifty Years ago about the Levant Company in particular It was found says he p. 295. that in our last Voyage to Cales and to the Isle of Rhee they were the owners of Twenty great Sail of Ships that served in both those Voyages and it is probable that they are owners of Thirty Sail more which one with the other may contain 12 or 13000 Tuns of Burthen 1200 Guns at least and about 4 or 5000 Saâ—lers Yearly besides Porters Weighers Bargemen Lightermen Carmen which cannot be less than 2 or 3000 more and they pay above 50000 l. Yearly Customs to the King partly by Exportation of Cloth Tin and other Goods and partly Importation of Silks Cottons Galls Grograms Spices Drugs Currans and other Levantine Commodities Which shews the great Benefit of a well Govern'd Trade And we may well Estimate if it was so then that 't is much greater now and that the Benefit of these and the other Estinent Societies to this City and Kingdom is mighty considerable â— Of the Trade of London into the Country OF this we need say no more but what is expressed already it being so Universally known to the whole Land The Londoners using to supply all the Trading places of the Kingdom especially on great Fairs to which they resort in great Numbers and afford their Goods at the best hand to their own and their Countries great Benefit and in Requital the Adjacent Counties supply the City with all manner of Necessaries for Food Hay Fuel c. insomuch that Strangers have admired at the Prodigious plenty of all Sorts that are to be seen in the Great and well Furnished Markets of Leaden-Hall Stocks Milk-shreet Newgate Clare South-hampton St. Albans Westminster Hungerford and Brooks with several others so that here is a perpetual Mart where any sort of Goods may be Purchased at a Convenient and Reasonable Rate Nor is there any Place in the Kingdom where Poor People or such as would be very Frugal may live Cheaper or the Splendid Liver Gallanter c. The Laws of the Market Stow. p. 664. 1. IN all the Markets of this City no Victual shall be Sold but by the Price set by the Mayor of this City 2. No Man shall Forestall any Victual coming to the Market as for to Buy in any Inn or other prlvy place or yet coming to the Market whether it be found in the Hands of the Buyer or of the Seller under pain of Forfeiture of the same And no Inn-holder shall suffer any thing to be Sold in his House upon pain of Forfeiture of Forty Shillings 3. No man shall regrate any Victuals which is in the Market or buy any Victual to ingrate in the Market so that the Commons can or may have any part of such Victual as in especial such as be known for Hucksters or other people occupying their Living by such Victual as they would so ingress under pain of forfeiture of such Victuals so regrated Provided always that any Steward for any Noble Feast may buy or ingrate such Victual as is convenient for the same Feast 4. No Butter shall be sold but according to the Weight for the time of the year allowed 5. No Poâ—ltâ—rers shall deceiveably occupy the Market to sell any stale Victual or such as be Poulterers of this City for to stand in strange Cloathing so to do under pain of forty shillings and the forfeiture of such Victual forty shillings 6. No Hucksters shall stand or sit in the Market but in the lower place and the ends of the Market to the intent they may be perfectly known and the stranger-market-people have the preheminence of the Market under pain of three shillings four pence if the Hucksters disobey the same 7. No unwholesom or stale Victual shall be sold under pain of forty shillings and forfeiture of the same Victuals Of the Foreign-Trade of London 4. AS to the Trade of London into Foreign Parts we have almost prevented our self by what is delivered before we
shall therefore only add that England abounding with many rich and useful native Commodities as Woollen-Cloaths of all sorts Broad and Narrow called by several Names in several Shires also Perpetuances Bays Says Serges Cottons Kersies Buffins Mocadoes Grogams Sattins Tabbys Calimancaes Camlets Velvets Plushes Worsteds Fustians Durances Tukes Crapes Flannels and infinite others Furrs and Skins as Coney-skins Squirrel-skins Fitches Calf-skins Hides c. Mines as Tin Lead Allom Copper Iron of all sorts Sea-Cole Salt c. All manner of Grain as Oats Pease Barâ—â—y Rye and Wheat in great plenty c. Also Linnen-Cloath Flâ—x Hemp c. All Iron Wares Tallouâ— Leather Glasses of all sorts and Glass Venice Gold and Silver Train-Oyl Salmons Pilchards Herrings Hâ—ke Conger Haberdine Cod Ling Hops Wood Butter Cheese Beer Cyder Salt-Peter Gunpowder Honey Wax Alabaster and other Stones Woolls Woolfells Yarn Fullers-Earth Saffron Liquoris c. and many other good and rich Commodities too tedious to be enumerated the Merchants of London do yearly export great Quanties of such of these Goods as are not prohibited to Foreign Markets and make good Returns and bring to supply the Kingdom a great deal of Treasure and rich Commodities from all parts of the World to the enriching of themselves unspeakable benefit of the Nation and credit of the English in general who are generally as fair Dealers as any in the World and of as active and undertaking Souls and the Principal Seat or Emporium of this great Trade is the great and famous City of London Of the Corporations of London 5. THe other Traders in London are divided into Companies or Corporations who are as so many Bodies Politique Of these there are Twelve 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. Fishmengers 5. Goldsmiths 6. Skinners 7. Merchant-Taylors 8. Haberdashers 9. Salters 10. Ironmongers 11. Vintners 12 Clothworkers And if it happen that the Lord Mayor Elect is of any other Company he presently removes to one of the Twelve All these Companies have Assembly-places called Halls which are so many Basilikes or stately and sumptuous Palaces worthy to be view'd by all Strangers It hath been the Custom 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 Orange was not long ago made free of the Company of Drapers Each Company or Mystery hath a Master annually chosen from among themselves and other subordinate Governours called Wardens or Assistants These do exactly correspond with the general Government of the City by a Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel who are selected out of these several Companies so excellent a harmony there is in this Government Of the Twelve Chief Companies out of which the Lord Mayor is to be annually Chosen 1. MERCERS The Mercers have been always allowed the first place who were Incorporated into a Society 17 R. 2. Anno 1393. For their Arms they bear Gules a Maiden-head proper crown'd Or Wascot purple issuing out of Clouds proper within a Bordure Nebulee Or. 2. GROCERS The Grocers were at first call'd Pepperers and Incorporated by the name of Grocers Anno 1345. 20 E. 3. They bear a Chevron nine Cloves Sable with this Motto God grant Grace Supporters Helm and Crest granted by Clarencieux in the Reign of H. 8. Anno 1562. 3. DRAPERS The Drapers were Incorporated 17 H. 6. An. 1430. The Arms first granted by Garter Crest and Supporters by Clarencieux The Coat Gules three Triple Crowns Or Capt Gules issuing out of Clouds resting upon Sun-beams their Motto Vnto God only be Honour and Glory 4. FISH MONGERS The Fishmongers were at first two Companies to wit Stock-Fishmongers and Salt-Fishmongers but 28 H. 8. They were imbodied into one Company Their Arms Azure three Dolphins in pale paper crown'd Or betwixt four lives Salterways Argent all crown'd Or on a Chief Gules three Cross-keys Salterways Argent the Motto All Worship be to God only 5. GOLDSMITHS The Goldsmiths were Incorporated 16 R. 2. Their Arms quarterly Gules and Azure two Leopards heads Or two Golden Cups covered 'twixt two Buckles Or the Motto To God only be all Glory 6. SKINNERS The Skinners were Incorporated 1 E. 3. Anno 1327. and made a perfect Fraternity 18 R. 2. Their Arms Ermin on a Chief Gules three Ducal Crowns Or sin'd of the first their Motto the the same with the Goldsmiths To God only be all Glory 7. MERCHANT-TAYLORS The first Patent of these Arms were granted by Clarencieux to the Company of Taylors and Linnen Armourers 21 E. 4. 1480. And Incorporated 17 H. 7. 1501. by the name of Merchant-Taylors Their Arms Argent a Tent two Robes Gules on a Chief Azure a Lyon passant regardant Or the Motto Concordia parvae res crescunt 8. HABERDASHERS The Haberdashers called of old Hurrers were Incorporated a Society of St. Katharines 26 H. 6. Anno 1447. Confirmed 17 H. 7. by the name of Merchant-Haberdashers Their Coat Nebulee Argent and Azure on a Bend Gules a Lyon passant regardant Or the Crest and Supporters granted by Clarencieux Anno 1571. The Motto Serve and Obey 9. SALTERS The Salters had the Arms of â— Society given them 22 H. 8. Anno 1530. the Crest and Supporters by â— Clarencieux 29 Eliz. Anno 1587. The Coat party per Chevron Azure and Gules three Salts covered over-flowing Argent with this Motto Sal sapit omnia 10. IRONMONGERS The Iron-mongers were Incorporated 3 E. 4. 1462. Their Arms Granted by Lancaster King at Arms Marshal to Clarencieux An. 1455. 34 H. 6. Their Coat Argent on a Chevron Gules three Lockets capted Or between three Steel Gads Azure 11. VINTERS The Vintners were Incorporated by E. 3. by the name of Wine-Tonners confirmed 15. H. 6. Anno. 1436. Their Arms first Granted by Clarencieux 6 H. 6. 1427. They bear Sable a Chevron between three Tunns Argent 12. CLOATH-WORKERS The Cloath-Workers grew to be a Company 22 H. 8. Anno 1530. Their Arms then Granted by Clarencieux Sable a Chevron Ermin in Chief two Crabbets Argent in base a Beazel Or Supporters and Crest granted by Clareucieux Anno 1587. The other Corporations besides these Twelve enjoy large Privileges by the King's Charter and they have fair Halls to meet in most of which were consumed in the great Fire Anno 1666. but they are since rebuilt for the most part in a very stately and magnificent manner The Hall belonging to the Company of Dyers was a few weeks ago consumed by an unhappy Fire that happen'd near as were also some Houses in Thames-street Of the other Corporations in London 1. DYERS The Dyers were first Incorporated by a special Charter of H. 6. 16 Feb. in the 49 th of his Reign Their Coat a Chevron Engrail'd between three Woolsacks 2. BREWERS The Brewers were Incorporated 22 d February 6
Stones that immur'd up the Door they were heard to cry seven days after and then perished From the Savoy they went to the Temple where they burnt the Lawyers Lodgings with their Books and Writings and all they could lay hands on They broke up the Fleet Prison and let the Prisoners go where they would The like they did at Newgate and made a most dreadful havock up and down The house of St. Johns by Smithfield they set on fire so that it burnt seven days together After this they came to the Tower where the King was then lodged And though he had at that time 600 armed Men and 600 Archers about him yet he durst not but suffer them to enter where they abused the King's Mother in a rude manner offering to kiss her c. that she fell into a Swoon And finding in the place Simon Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor and Sir Robert Hale Prior of St. John and Lord Treasurer and one Richard a Carmelite Monk the King's Confessor these they led to Tower-hill and there most cruelly cut off their heads as they served divers others Indeed Polidore Virgil writes That the Rebels were not at all in the Tower but that the King sent these three men to appease them hoping that they would not offer to abuse such eminent Clergy-men For saith he Si vulgus it a concitatus turrem expugnasset non eos utique tres duntaxat uti credere par est sed Regem relquos ommes quos imprimis ad supplicium petebat interfecisset that is If the enraged Common People had taken the Tower by force they would in all probability destroy not only those three but the King also and all the rest whom first of all they demanded to be deliver'd to them â—or punishment They drew Thirteen Flemings out of Austin-Fryers and Beheaded them in the Streets Seventeen more out of another Church And Thirty two out of the Vintry and several out of their own or others whom they Beheaded yet after all these barbarous and bloody Outrages the King proclaimed Pardon to all such as would lay down Arms and go quietly home which the Essex men did but the Kentish men continued still with their Captain Wat-Tyler of Maidstone a crafty Fellow of an acute wit but very graceless Polidore Virgil says He was Manibus promptus ac Consiliis praeceps of a ready hand and hasty or precipitate in counsel To this Ringleader of Mischief the King sent Sir John Newton to understand what his meaning was Wat Tyler was offended because he came on Horse-back telling him It became him to alight from his Horse in his presence and therewith drew out his Dagger to strike him The King perceiving this Noble Knight to be in danger to qualifie the severity of Wat for a time commanded Sir John to alight which did not pacifie but made Wat the more insolent and would have the King's Sword which Sir John carried offering again to assault him But the Lord Mayor of London William Walworth with other Persons of Quality being just come affirm'd it to be an unheard-of Indignity and a most intolerable Disgrace if the King should suffer so Noble a Knight to be basely murdered in his presence Upon which the King commanded the Lord Mayor to arrest him who did it to purpose for being a man of an invincible Courage and a brave Mind he regarded not the hazard that probably would follow his attacking that Darling and Leader of a Rude Numerous and Rebellious Rabble but prefer'd his Duty to his King and Countrey and the Generosity of rescuing an abused Gentleman even before life I insert this as a Remark due to this brave and memorable Action which deserves never to be forgotten The Mayor immediately rides up to Wat and Arrests him with such a salutation of his Mace on his head that he tumbles him down and then he was by some of the King's Servants some say by John Cavendish Esq run through in several places many persons encompassing him so as that he could not be seen by his Plebeian Army and then caus'd his dead Body to be drawn into St. Bartholomews Hospital But the Commons perceiving it they cry'd Their Captain was slain and animated each other to revenge Upon which the King though not above 15 years of age was so Couragious as to ride up to them telling them That now their Leader was dead he would be their Leader himself and if they would follow him into the Fields they should have whatsoever they desired In the mean time the Lord Mayor Walworth with one Servant Rides speedily into the City and raised One thousand armed Men where meeting Sir Robert Knolls a Citizen by accident got him to be their Leader who coming into the Field where the Rebels were so daunted them that throwing down their weapons they cry'd for mercy so that it was a wonderful thing to see how suddenly Fear overtook Presumption and how quickly terms of the most servile Submission succeeded their insolent Brags viz. That they had the King's life in their power c. and what else they would do On the other side 't was as strange to see how quickly Boldness surprized Fear in those about the King for a little before they trembled at the sight of the Rebels but now they are mad to be at them which the King would not suffer but commanded the Charter they had demanded to be scaled and delivered to them because these Commotions might have the speedier End for the Commons in other places were not yet quiet and the King thought it more prudent rather to pacifie than provoke them The Rabble being dispersed the King called for the Mayor and Knighted him in the Field as also five Aldermen his Brethren viz. Nicholas Brember John Philpot Robert Lawnd John Standish Nicholas Twyford and Adam Francis Some affirm that the Dagger was added to the City Arms for this Reason but Antiquaries make out that this Coat with the Sword of St. Paul not a Dagger belonged to the City long before this hapned The Mayor of London after this sate in Judgment upon Offenders where many were found Guilty and were Executed amongst others Jack Straw John Kirby Alane Tredder and John Sterling who gloried that he slew the Archbishop Sir Robert Tresilian the Chief Justice was appointed to sit in Judgment against the Offenders before whom above 1500 were found Guilty and in several places put to Death amongst whom was John Ball the Priest their Incendiary And thus ended that dangerous Rebellion About the Year 1450. 29 H. 6. there was another Insurrection in Kent headed by one Jack Cade who stiled himself John Mortimer Captain Mend-all He marches with a small but well-order'd Number to Black-Heath where he lay about a Month exercising his Men and in the mean time presents several Complaints to the King and Parliament of various Grievances and Oppressions but they were judged too insolent and therefore rejected
of the Tower of London fell asleep and could not be awaked with Pâ—â—ching or Burning till the first Day of the next Term which was full Fourten Days and when he Awaked was found in all points as if he had Slept but one Night and lived forty Years after In the Second of King James a strange accident happened to the terrour of all Bloody Murderers A Woman called Ann Waters inticed by a Lewd Persou she was wont to keep Company with consented to have her Husband strangled and then Buried him secretly under the Dunghil in a Cowhouse whereupon the Man being mist by his Neighbours and the Wife making an extraordinary shew of wondring with much counterfeit Sorrow for his Absence she past on unsuspected for a time But it pleased God that one of the Inhabitants of that Street Dream't That his Neighbour Waters was Strangled and Buried under the Dunghil in a Cowhouse and upon Declaring his Dream search being made by the Constable the dead Body was found as he had Dreamed whereupon the Wife was Apprehended and upon Examination confessing the Fact was burned What hope therefore of Concealment can any Murderers have when they are subject to be Discovered by any mans Dream In the Fifth of Queen Mary there fell Hail-stones that were fifteen Inches about I my self saw Hail-stones that fell in London in May last was Twelve Month some of which were Six some Nine Inches about and others say they saw some that were more About the Sixth of Edward the Fourth one Walter Walker a wealthy Citizen dwelling at the Crown in Cheapside one day when his Child cryed did bid him be quiet and he would make him Heir of the Crown which words being subject to Interpretation he was call'd in question about them Arraigned Condemned and put to Death which was an Act of great Severity for the Man had no other meaning than that he would make his Child Heir of his own House with that Sign Anno One thousand five hundred ninety five upon Digging for a Vault to be made in Cheapside there was found at Seventeen Foot deep a fair Pavement like unto that above ground and at the further end of the Channel was found a Tree sawed into five steps which was to step over some Brook running towards Walbrook upon the edge of which there lay the bodies of two great Trees the ends wereof were then sawed off and were firm Timber so that the Ground of the City had been raised to that time above Seventeen Foot In the Third of William the Second anno 1090. On St. Lukes day Six hundred Houses in London were thrown down by a terrible Tempest and then it was that the Roof of Bow-Church in Cheapside fell with that violence mentioned page 46 before In the time of Henry the First the Thames so failed of Water that between the Tower of London and the Bridge men waded over on Foot for the space of two days In the Seventh year of Henry the Sixth November Eight The Duke of Norfolk was like to have been Drowned passing through London-Bridge his Barge being set upon the Pâ—les was over-whelmed so that Thirty Persons were Drowned and the Duke with others that escaped were fain to be drawn up with Ropes The same year the Postern Gates of London by East Smithfield against the Tower of London did sink by Night more than Seven Foot into the Earth In his Eighteenth year all the Lyons in the Tower Dyed And in this present year three of the Lions in the Tower died In the year 1623 Octob. 26. A Popish Priest Preached in the Afternoon at Hunsdon-house in Black-fryers London in an upper Chamber where there were Assembled above Three hundred Men and Women when about the middle of the Sermon a great part of the Floor fell with such violence that it brake down the next Floor under it In the Fall whereof the Preacher and almost a Hundred of his Auditors were Killed besides as many more hurt About the Year One thousand two hundred eighty two through a great Frost and deep Snow five Arches of London-Bridge were born down and carried away Anno One thousand three hundred ninety six November 30. The young Queen Isabel of about Eight years old being to be conveyed to the Tower such a Multitude went to see her that Nine persons were crowded to Death on London-Bridge In the time of Richard the First for three or four years together there was so great a Dearth that Wheat was sold for Eighteen Shillings six pence a Quarter and then followed so great a Mortality of Men that the Living could scarce Bury the Dead In the Seventeenth Year of Henry the Third were seen five Suns at one time together after which followed so great a Dearth that People did eat Horses and Barks of Trees and in London 20000 were starved for want of Food Anno 1313. 7 Edward 2. The price set on Victuals was for a fat stalled Ox twenty four shillings A fat Mutton twenty pence a fat Goose two pence half penny A fat Capon two pence A fat Hen one penny Two Chickens one penny Three Pigeons one penny Twenty four Eggs a penny Yet the next year there was such a Famine and Mortality of People that the Living were scarce sufficient to Inter their Dead Friends And the next year again there was so early a Harvest that a Bushel of Wheat which had been sold for Ten shillings was now sold for Ten pence In the Fifteenth of King Stephen Horses and Carts passed over the Thames upon the Ice Anno 1609. 6 King James A Frost began in December which continued till April following with such violence that not only the Thames was so Frozen that Carts Loaden were driven over it as on dry Land but also many Fowls and Birds perished and also much Herbage in Gardens especially Hartichoaks and Rosemary were destroyed The like violent Frost happened in the Seventh of Eliz. That Men perform'd all kinds of Exercises upon the Thames In her 35th year the River so fail'd that a Horseman might Ride over near London-Bridge In 5 Q. Mary There fell so great a Rain in September that Westminster-hall was full of Water and Boats were Rowed over Westminster-Bridge to Kingstreet In the 9 th of Hen. 4. There was so sharp a Winter and such a bundance of Snow continued December January February March that almost all small Birds dyed through Hunger In the time of Edw. 3 d. A Frost lasted from the midst of September to the Month of April In his Eleventh Year there was so great Plenty That a Quarter of Wheat was sold at London for two Shillings A fat Oxe for a Noble A fat Sheep for six pence Five Pigeons for a penny and other things after that Rate But in his 27 th Year there was great Scarcity by reason there fell little or no Rain from March to July and it was therefore called the dry Summer In June Anno 1603 There was one Whipped
through the City of London for going to Court when his House was Infected December 22. 1607. Nineteen Pyrates were Executed at Wapping These Historical Memorandums with what is scattered up and down the Book Comprehend the most memorable Tumults Fires Plagues Rarities and Casualties in which this Great City has been concern'd I confess there are many more of less Remark but I must of necessity refer the Reader at present to larger Tracts if he be so Curious as to pe ruse them An APPENDIX Containing the Names of the Present Aldermen of the City of London and the respective Wards they Govern Also a List of the Officers of the Lord Mayors House and the Offices belonging to the Two Compters IN this Appendix shall be inserted some few things that should have been put into their proper place could I have timely obtained distinct Information The City of London is divided into Twenty Six Wards each of which is Governed by its Respective Alderman the Names of which are these that follow with the several Wards which they Govern Aldersgate-Ward Sir Thomas Bludworth Alderman Algate-Ward Sir Thomas Bâ—câ—ford Alderman Bassishaw-Ward Sir Simon Lewis Alderman Billingsgate-Ward Sir John Peak Alderman Bishopsgate-Ward Sir Joseph Sheldon Alderman Breadstreet-Ward Sir Henry Tulse Alderman Bridge-Ward Sir George Waterman Alderman Broadstreet-Ward Sir William Pritchard Alderman Candlewike-Ward Sir James Edwards Alderman Castlebaynard-Ward Sir William Turner Alderman Cheapside-Ward Sir Robert Clayton Alderman Colemanstreet-Ward Sir John Frederick Alderman Cordwayner-Ward Sir Robert Jeffery Alderman Cornhil-VVard Sir William Hooker Alderman Cripplegate-VVard Sir John Shorter Alderman Dowgate-VVard Sir Thomas Gold Alderman Farringdon-Ward within The Right Honourable Sir Patience Ward L. Mayor Farringdon-VVard without Thomas Pilkington Esq Alderman Langborne-VVard Sir Robert Viner Alderman Limestreet-VVard Sir William Rawsterne Alderman Portsoken-VVard Sir James Smith Alderman Queen-Hythe-VVard Sir John Lawrence Alderman Tower-Street-Ward Sir John Chapman Alderman Vintry-VVard Henry Cornish Esq Alderman Walbrook-Ward Sir John Moore Alderman Sir Thomas Allen Alderman of Bridge-Ward without A List of the Officers of the L. Mayors House William Man Esq Sword-Bearer John Wells Esq Common-Cryer Ro. Cheney Esq Common-Hunt Harvey Esq Water-Baily John Robotham Coroner Jo. Bancroft R. Capel Tho. Blenksop Serjeant Garvers John Clare John Beverly John Cole Seâ—â—eants of the Chamber John Bradnox Serjeant of the Channel William Jones Thomas Cross William Page Lee Sadler Yeomen of the Water-side John Noyes Yeoman of the Channel William Shaw Under Water-Bayliff Daniel Man and Samuel Boufoy Yeomen of the Chamber Francis Brown Richard Ball Thomas Hewit Sydrach Denham John Doley Young Men. John Weightman and two more Meal-Weighers William Cave John Fickels Yeomen of the Wood-Wharf William Cave Fruit-Meter Daniel Man Hall-keeper Officers belonging to Woodstreet-Compter Richard Normansel Secundary George Kingswel Clerk of the Papers Benjamin Woodworth William Scot John Mordent and Marshal Clerks Sitters Longworth Cross and Robert Reves Attornies Serjeants Wil. Newton Edw. Howard â—ohn Prigmore â—ohn East â—ohn Boyer â—no Brown â—ohn Hill Wells â—ohn Costhust Ed. Thompson Fran. Bromley John Bell Andr. Lambeth Henry Lee Ralph Lewis W. Thorn dead Will. Keath John Rand Yeomen Dan. Beverly Rob. Cooper Will. Bell sen Will. Jacobs John King Steph. Webb Jos Hill Tho. Stanton Na. Churchman Nath. Thwait Henry Witt Will. Bell jun. Tho. Audley Geo. Cotterel Andrew Harris Edward Omans Tho. Crayford William Alcock Officers belonging to the Poultrey-Compter Trotman Secundary William Pim Clerk of the Papers John Normansel George Dixon Ger. Green Gabriel Neve Clerks Sitters Dutton Seymour Robert Brabon Godfrey Woodward Richard Dalling Thomas Baynes Lewis Newenham Attornies Serjeants Richard Cole Arth. Seth Taylor John Cushy Simon Sâ—nds Edward Cole Robert Cole George Benson Henry Linnet James Witham Edward Tudor Richard Ashby James Smith Thomas Bond Abraham New 〈…〉 Tricâ—â— Samuel Mabbs Archibald Sparks Yeomen Fletcher Edward Hen Sheldon John Lâ—â—son John Wesâ—â—â—cut Will. Trickle Tim. Cotterel Will â—â—therston Mabâ— John 〈◊〉 William Philâ—ps William Parker Zach Gardner Edward Barber 〈…〉 〈…〉 Joseph 〈◊〉 John 〈◊〉 Note That though the several Attornies Serjeanâ—â—â— and Yeomen belonging to the two Compters are in a strict sence said to belong but to One Compter yet do they do business in Both as occasion requires and as they happen to be Employ'd FINIS Advertisement IF there be any defect or imperfection in the Accounâ— of the Carriers Waggoners and Stage-Coachâ—â— it is really the fault of such Persons to whom 〈◊〉 was made in the respective Inns for a Perfect Account to get which there were six Persons employed Yet in many places partly by the ignorance of some the discourtesie or suspitions of others the Persons employed could not procure so Satisfactory an Account 〈◊〉 â—â—uld be wished Therefore if any Carriers Waggâ—â—â— or Stage-Coachmen will send their Names 〈…〉 Days to the Booksellers for whom this 〈…〉 Care shall be taken for Common Benefit 〈…〉 them in due place