Parliament called wherein Justice might be done and himself pardoned all Offences he would be ready to come to him on his knees and as an humble Subject to obey him Yet upon this Conference with the Earl some say the King required only that himself and eight more whom he would name might have honourable allowance with assurance of a private quiet Life and that then he would resign his Crown and that upon the Earls Oath that this should be performed the King agreed to go with the Earl to meet the Duke but after four miles riding coming to the place where they had laid an Ambush the King was seized and carried Prisoner to Flint Castle where the Duke of Lancaster came to him and bowing the knee thrice came toward him whom the King took by the hand and lifted up saying Dear Cousin you are welcome the Duke humbly thanking him said My Soveraign Lord and King the Cause of my coming at this present is your honour saved to have restitution of my Person my Lands and Heritage whereto the King answered Dear Cousin I am ready to accomplish your Will so that you enjoy all that is yours without exception After this coming out of the Castle the King called for Wine and then mounted on Horseback and by easie Journeys came to London and the next day he was committed to the Tower As the King was carried toward London divers Citizens conspired to lye in wait by the way and suddenly slay him partly for private Grievances and partly for the Severity he had used toward the whole City But the Maior having notice thereof prevented it and rid forth with a Considerable Company to conduct him safely to the Tower and soon after a Parliament was called by the Duke of Lancaster but in the name of King Richard where many heinous points of Misgovernment were laid to his Charge and were drawn up into three and thirty Articles the Cheif whereof were Thâ—t be had wastefully spent the Treasure of the Realm upon unworthy Persons whereby great Taxes were laid upon the People That he had borrowed great sums of Money and given his Letters Patents to repay the same and yet not one peny ever paid That he had taxed men at the pleasure of himself and his unhappy Council and had spent the money in folly and not in paying poor men for their victual and viand That he said the Laws of the Realm were in his Head and Breast by reason of which phantastical Opinion he destroyed Noblemen and Impoverished the Commons That he most Tyranously and unprincely said that the Lives and Goods of all his Subjects were in his hands and at his disposition That when divers Lords as well spiritual as Temporal were appointed by Parliament to Treat of matters concerning the good of the Kingdom while they are busie therein he and others of his Party went about to impeach them of Treason and that the King caused all the Rolls and Records to be kept from them contrary to his promise made in Parliament and to his open dishonour That he had private Spies in every place and if any discoursed of his Lascivious living or his Illegal Actings he presently apprehended them and grievously fined them That he changed Knights and Burgesses of Parliament at his Pleasure putting out divers Persons and placing others in their Room to serve his Will and Appetite That when divers Lords and Justices were sworn to speak the truth in many things which concerned the honour and profit of the Realm the King so threatned them that they durst not speak what was right That by force and threats he compelled the Judges of the Realm to condescend to him for destruction of divers of the Lords That he caused his Fathers own Brother the Duke of Glocester without Law to be Attached and sent to Callice and there without Cause to be secretly Murdered That contrary to the Great Charter of England he caused several lusty young men to Challenge divers old men upon matters determinable at Common Law in the Court Martial where Tryal is only by battel which old men fearing submitted themselves to his mercy whom he fined unreasonably at his pleasure That in all his Leagues with Forreign Princes his way of Writing was so subtill and dark that no other Prince nor his own Subjects could beleive or trust him That he craftily devised certain private Oaths contrary to Law causing several to swear the same to the utter undoing of many honest men That he assembled certain Lancashire and Cheshire-men to make War upon the Lords and suffered them to rob and spoil without prohibition That notwithstanding his pardon granted them he inforced divers of those who joined with the Lords to be again Intollerably fined to their utter undoing Upon these and some other Articles which were read it was demanded of the Nobility and the Commons what they judged both of the Truth and desert of these Articles who all agreed that the Crimes were Notorious and King Richard was worthy for the same to be deposed from all Princely Honour and Kingly Government The Duke of York who a little before had been Governour of the Realm for the King and directed him much thought it best that King Richard should both Voluntarily Resign and also be Solemnly deposed by consent of all the States of the Realm for Resignation only would be imputed to fear and deprivation to force and therefore this being concluded on there came Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury the Archbishop of York the Bishop of Hereford the Duke of Lancaster and several other Lords and Abbots to King Richard in the Tower of London When all were set in their places King Richard was brought forth apparelled in his Royal Robes the Crown on his head and the Scepter in his hand and was placed among them in a Chair of State Never was Prince so Gorgeous with less Glory and greater Grief to whom it was not disgrace sufficient to lose both the honour and Ornaments of a King but he must openly do even in great scorn renounce the one and deliver up the other After a little Pause and expectation the King rose from his Seat and spake to the Assembly these words or to this effect I assure my self that some at this present and many hereafter will account my Case lamentable either that I have deserved this Dejection if it be just or if it be wrongful that I could not avoid it Indeed I do confess that many times I have shewed my self both less Provident and less painful for the benefit of the Commonwealth than I should or might or intended to do hereafter and have in my Actions more respected the satisfying of my own particular humour than either Justice to some private persons or the Common Good of all yet I did not at any time omit duty or Commit Grievance upon natural dulness or set malice but partly by abuse of Corrupt Councellors partly by Error of my Youthful Judgment
Hisstorical Remarques London in Flames London in Glory Historical Remarques AND OBSERVATIONS Of the Ancient and Present State of LONDON and WESTMINSTER Shewing The Foundation Walls Gates Towers Bridges Churches Rivers Wards Palaces Halls Companies Inns of Court and Chancery Hospitals Schools Government Charters Courts and Priviledges thereof With an Account of the most Remarkable Accidents as to Wars Fires Plagues and other Occurrences which have happened therein for above Nine Hundred Years past till the Year 1681. Illustrated with Pictures of the most considerable Matters curiously Ingraven on Copper Plates With the Arms of the Sixty Six Companies of London and the time of their Incorporating By RICHARD BURTON Author of the History of the Wars of England LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell next to Kemps Coffee house in Exchange Alley over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhil 1681. TO THE READER AN Ingenious Historian who was a great Traveller writing concerning this famous City about Thirty years since ventured to compare it as to Scituation Government Trade Artists and all other Accommodations to the greatest Cities in Europe yea all things considered to the Greatest in the World and if at that time it deserved such high Encomiums then certainly since its Rise out of those Ruines that unhappily befell a great part thereof by the dreadful fire in 1666 it doth even excel it self and the Beauty thereof is very much increased especially as to Vniformity and Curiosity of Buildings largeness of Streets and many other Excellencies which that fiery Purgation hath occasioned So that we may invert what was formerly said of Solomon's Temple in Ezra's time That the Glory of the former City is not to be compared with the Glory of the latter There needs then no Apology for making this short Collection concerning this great Subject especially since there are few Books now extant that Treat of the Antiquities thereof and none that I know of who have written of the particular Accidents that happened thereunto It cannot therefore be unacceptable to have a short Manunual of so many particulars for so long time past at so small a price as this is The serious perusal whereof will very much confirm the Truth of what the wise Solomon writ so long since Eccl. 1.9 The thing that hath been it is that which shall be and that which is done is that which shall be done and there is no new thing under the Sun Richard Burton Historical Remarques OF LONDON c. CHAP. I. The Original and Foundation of the Famous City of London THough it may seem difficult to discover the Original of some Nations and Cities yet it is no hard matter to find out the Foundation of this Honourable and Famous City of London But as the Roman Writers to magnify the City of Rome drew its Original from Gods and Demy-Gods by the race of the Trojans so Jeffery of Monmouth our Welsh Historian for the greater Glory of this Renowned City deduceth it from the same Original relating that Bruce who descended from the Demy-God Aeneas the Son of Venus Daughter of Jupiter about the year of the World 2855 and 1108 years before the Nativity of our blessed Saviour built this City near the River now called Thames and named it Troynovant or Trenovant but this Account has no great Authority The same Historian tells us that K. Lud afterward repaired and increased this City with fair Buildings Towers and Walls and called it after his own name Caire Lud or Luds Town and the Gate which he built in the West part thereof he likewise for his own Honour named Ludgate He adds That this Lud had two Sons Androgeus and Theomantius who being not of Age to Govern at the Death of their Father their Uncle Cassibelan took upon him the Crown in the eight year of whose Reign Julius Caesar arrived in England with a formidable Army to Conquer it and obliged the Brittains to pay a yearly Tribute to Rome Caesar calls London the City of the Trinobantes which sounds somewhat like Troy Nova though learned men think that Trinobantes signifies the State or Signiory of the Trinobantes But in those dayes the Cities of the Brittains were not artificially built with Stone or Timber but were only thick and Troublesome Woods plashed together and intrenched round like to those which the Irish at this day call Fastnesses Some are of Opinion that whence London had her Fame from thence she had also a Name that is from Ships which the Brittains call Lough and Dinan a Town so that London is no other than Shipton a Town of Ships which Title no City hath more Right to assume than this being scituated upon the gentle Ascent of an Hill near a gallant Navigable River which swelling at certain times with the Ocean Tides she is able by her deep and safe Channel to entertain the greatest Ships which bring in all the richest Commodities the World can afford Some would have Llwndian the Welsh name of London to be derived from Llhwn which signifies a fenced Town made of Trees cast down and barricadoed together as aforementioned for so the Poet sings Their Houses were the Thicks And bushy queachy hollow Caves And Hurdles made of Sticks And it is probable that in the Place where St. Pauls Church now stands there was a Wood or Grove and a Temple dedicated to Diana which was usually set up in the Woods and in a place about St. Pauls there were the Heads and Bones of Oxen lately found which is supposed were offered in Sacrifice to her Now though it be not certainly known who was the Founder of London yet whoever it was he shewed much Prudence in the Choice of Scituation for she seems to have been built in an happy hour having continued for so many Ages Amianus Marcellinus who wrote near thirteen hundred years ago calls her then an Ancient City When the Romans had reduced the hither parts of Brittain into the form of a Province and had sown the seeds of Civility here as well as over all Europe this City began to be renowned and famous for Wealth Riches and Prosperity yea she continued always the same under the Romans Saxons and Normans being seldom or never afflicted with any great Calamities In the Reign of Nero when the Brittains had conspired to recover their lost Liberty under the Conduct of Boadicia the Londoners could not with all their weeping and Lamentations keep Suetonius Paulinus in the City but after he had raised a Power of the Citizens he would needs go from thence leaving the City naked to the Enemy who presently surprized it and slew those whom either weakness feebleness or sweetness of the place had detained there Nor was London in less danger by the Gaules or French if she had not been wonderfully preserved for when Caius Alectus had Treacherously destroyed Carausius he kept to himself the Revenues of Brittain and Holland and called himself Augustus Emperour as his Coins often found here do
1. And in the Civil VVars between K. John and his Barons 1215. the Londoners were on the Barons part who then besieged Northampton and after came to Bedford Castle where they were well received by William Beauchamp Captain thereof and having then secret Notice that if they pleased they might enter the City they removed their Camp to Ware and from thence coming to London in the Night they entred by Aldgate and placing Guards at the Gates they disposed of all things at their pleasure They spoiled the Fryers Houses and searcht their Coffers after which Robert Fitzwater Jeffery Magnaville the Earl of Essex and the Earl of Glocester cheif Commander in the Army applied themselves to repair the Gates and VValls of the City with stones taken from the Jews Houses as aforesaid and Aldgate being most ruinous and having given them an easie entrance they repaired or rather new built it after the manner of the Normans with strong Arches and Bulwarks of Stone small brick and Flanders Tile In the 11 of Edw. 4. 1471 Thomas Bastard Fauconbridge having Assembled a Riotous Company of Seamen and others in Essex and Kent came with a great Navy of Ships up to the Tower of London whereupon the L. Mayor and Aldermen with consent of the Common Council fortified the Thames sides with Armed Men Guns and other warlike weapons from Baynards Castle to the Tower to prevent their Landing But the Rebels being denied passage that way they fell upon Aldgate Bishopsgate Cripplegate Aldersgate London Bridge and along the Bankside shooting Arrows and Guns into the City and burning above threescore houses in the Suburbs And upon Sunday May 11 1471. Five thousand of them assaulting Aldgate won the Bulwarks and entred the City but the Portcullice being let down those that were in were slain And Robert Basset Alderman of that Ward commanded them in the name of God to draw up the Portcullice which being done the Londoners issued out of the Gate and couragiously beat back their Enemies to St. Buttolphs Church by which time the Earl Rivers and the Lieutenant of the Tower coming with fresh Forces joined them and then they soon routed the Rebels and made them fly Alderman Basset and other Citizens chasing them to Miland and from thence pursued some of them to Poplar and others to Stratford killing many and taking divers Prisoners In the mean time Fauconbridge their Commander having in vain assaulted other Places on the Waterside fled to his Ships Thus much of Aldgate as it was of old we shall speak of the rebuilding when we come to Aldgate Ward The third Gate toward the North is BISHOPSGATE supposed to be built by some Bishop of London though now unknown But the occasion thereof was for the ease of Passengers especially to Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgshire c. who before were forced to go much about yet it is somewhat Ancient for we read that in the year 1210 some Land was sold to the Procurators or Wardens of London Bridge situate in the Parish of St. Buttolph without Bishopsgate And in a Charter dated 1235. It is writt That Walter Brume and Rosia his Wife having founded the Priory or New Hospital of our Blessed Lady since called St. Mary Spittle without Bishopsgate have confirmed the same to the Honour of God and our Blessed Lady for Canons Regular Also in 1247 Simeon Fitz Mary Sheriff of London the 29 Hen. 3. founded the Hospital of St. Mary called Bethlem without Bishopsgate And for repairing this Gate Hen. 3. confirmed certain Liberties to the Merchants of the Haunce to keep it in repair which they did for many years But in the year 1551 having prepared Stone and a new Gate to be set up at the Complaint of the English Merchants their Charter was taken from them so that the Old Gate remained Next to this upon the Northside of the City is MOREGATE of which we read that in the 3d of Hen. 5. 1415 Thomas Faulconer Mayor caused the VVall of the City to be broken through near Coleman-street and there builded a Postern now called Moregate of a Moory ground hard by which is now drained and made fair and firm and turned into several Feilds and delightful VValks with Trees set in curious Order for the Accommodation of the Citizens This Gate since the dreadful Fire of London in 1666 has been new built and is made very Noble with a great Arch and two Posterns so that it now equals if not excels any other Gate of the City Between this Gate and Cripplegate there have been lately made two Posterns through the VVall for the better ease of Passengers and several new Houses built near them CRIPPLEGATE is next which is of great Antiquity being so called before the Conquest for we read that in 1010 the Danes spoiling the Kingdom of the East-Angles Alwyn Bishop of Helinham caused the body of King Edmund the Martyr to be brought from Bredisworth now called St. Edmunds Bury through the Kingdom of the East-Saxons and so to London in at Cripplegate Some say it was so named from Cripples begging there and that when the body of St. Edmund passed through it many Miracles were wrought thereby as that some of the Lame were cured praising God c. This Body continued three years in St. Gregories Church near St. Pauls And further William the Conquerour in his Charter for Confirming the Foundation of the Colledge in London called St. Martins le Grand saith thus I do give and grant to the same Church and Canons serving God therein all the Lands and the Moor without the Postern which is called Cripplegate on either part of the Postern VVe read likewise That Alfune builded the Parish Church of St. Giles nigh a Gate of the City called Porta Contractorum or Cripples-gate about the year 1090. This Gate was formerly a Prison for Citizens for Debt or otherwise like one of the Counters It was new built in 1244 by the Brewers of London and Edmund Shaw Goldsmith in 1483. gave by his VVill 400 Marks and the stuff of the the old Gate called Cripplegate to build the same again which was accordingly done in 1491. ALDERSGATE or Aeldersgate is next not so called from Aldwich or of Elders or Ancient men building the same nor of Elder Trees growing more plentifully there than in other places as some have fancied but only from the Antiquity thereof it being one of the four first Gates of this City serving for the Northern as Aldgate doth for the Eastern Parts and being both Old Gates for distinction one is called Aldersgate and the other Aldgate This Gate hath had several Additional buildings to it as on the Southside where several large Rooms and Lodgings of Timber have been made And on the Eastside a Great Timber building with one large Room paved with Stone or Tile there is likewise a well curbed with Stone and of a great depth which rises into that Room though two Stories high from the Ground which is very
was furnished formerly with Towers and Bulwarks in due distance from each other and the River of Thames with its Ebbing and Flowing had overthrown the Walls and Towers on the Banks thereof whereupon William the Conquerour for the defence of the City which lay open to the Enemy having taken down the second Bulwark in the East part of the Wall toward the Thames built the Great White Tower which hath been since enlarged at several times with buildings adjoining thereto This Tower in the 4th of William Rufus 1092. was much shaken and defaced by a great Tempest of Wind but was again repaired by William Rufus and Henry the first who likewise built a Castle on the South-side thereof toward the Thames intrenching the same round about Historians say of this William Rufus That he challenged the Investiture of Prelates He pilled and shared the People with Tribute especially to spend about the Tower of London and the Great Hall at Westminster The four first Constables or Keepers of the Tower were Othowerus Acolinillus Otto and Jeffry Magnaville Earl of Essex who was also Sheriff of London Middlesex Essex and Hertfordshire He fortified the Tower of London against K. Stephen but the King seizing him at his Court at St. Albans would not discharge him till he had delivered it up together with the Castles of Walden and Plashey in Essex In 1153 the Tower of London and Castle of Windsor were delivered by the King to Richard de Lucie to be safely kept In 1155 Thomas Becket Chancellor to Hen. 2. caused the Flemings to be banished out of England their Castles lately built to be demolished and the Tower of London to be repaired In the 2. of Rich. first 1190. William Longshamp Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellor by reason of some difference between him and Earl John the Kings Brother who was in Rebellion inclosed the Tower and Castle of London with an outward Wall of Stone embatailed and likewise caused a deep ditch to be made about the same designing as is aforementioned to have invironed it with the River of Thames This inclosure and Ditch took away some ground from Trinity Church in London which King Edward recompenced And a great quantity of Ground likewise was taken from the City upon this Account yet the Citizens had no recompence nor were offended thereat since it was done with their liking as being for the defence of the City But another Historian saith that in 1239 Hen. 3. Fortified the Tower of London to another Purpose and the Citizens fearing it was intended to their detriment complained to the King who answered That he had not done it to their hurt but saith he I will do from henceforth as my Brother doth in building and fortifying Castles who beareth the name of being wiser than I. But the next year all these Noble Buildings of the Stone Gate and Bulwark were shaken as with an Earthquake and fell down which the King commanded to be again built better than before And in the year 1241. Though the King had bestowed above 12000 Marks in the work yet the Wall and Bulwarks irrecoverably fell down at which the Citizens were very well pleased for they were threatned that when this Wall and Bulwarks were built if any of them should contend for the Liberties of the City they should be Imprisoned therein Yet were they again rebuilt and finished by Edward the 1. and the Bulwark at the West-gate now called the Lyon Tower added the Original of which name and of Lyons in England we read was thus Henry the 1. built the Mannor of Woodflock and walled the Park about with stone seven Miles in compass destroying to that purpose divers Villages Churches and Chappels and this was the first Park in England and as the Record saith He appointed therein besides great store of Deer divers strange beasts to be kept and nourished such as were brought to him from far Countreys as Lyons Leopards Linxes Porpentines and such other for such was his Estimation among Outlandish Princes that few would willingly offend him In the year 1235 we read that Frederick the Emperour sent Henry 3. three Leopards in token of his Regal sheild of Arms wherein they were pictured since which time the Lyons and other Creatures have been kept in a part of this Bulwark now called the Lyons Tower In the 16 of Edward 3. One Lyon One Lyonefs One Leopard and two Cattes Lyons were committed to the custody of Robert Boure Edw. 4. Fortified the Tower of London and inclosed a peice of Ground West from the Lyon Tower upon Tower-bill with brick now called the Bulwark And in the 6th year of his Reign he ordered a Scaffold and Gallows to be set upon the Hill for the Execution of Offenders upon which the L. Mayor and Aldermen complained to the King but were answered That it was not done in Derogation of the Cities Liberties and caused Proclamation to be made thereof accordingly Richard the 3. and Henry the 8. repaired this Tower but in the 2. of Edward 6 1548. Nov. 22. A Frenchman lodging in the round Bulwark between the Westgate and the Postern by setting fire to a Barrel of Gunpowder in the night blew up that Bulwark yet burnt none but himself this Bulwark was soon rebuilt again This west Gate of the Tower is the Principal Gate for receiving and delivering all manner of Carriages and without it there are divers Bulwarks and Gates turning to the North within this Gate to the South is a strong Postern for Passengers by the VVard-house over a Drawbridge which is let down and pull'd up at pleasure Next to this on the South side East-ward is a large VVater-gate commonly called Traytors Gate because some have been carried in that way this Gate is partly under a strong Stone Bridge from the River of Thames Beyond which was a small Postern with a Drawbridge seldom let down but for receiving in some Great Persons Prisoners Further to the East was a Great and strong Gate called the Iron Gate but not usually opened And so much for the Foundation building and repairing of the Tower with the Gates and Posterns There are many Fair Houses within the walls of the Tower wherein the Officers belonging thereto and other Inhabitants live there is also a Chappel In the year 1196 William Fitz Ozbet a Citizen seditiously moving the People to stand up for their Liberties and not to be subject to the Rich and Mighty was taken and brought before the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Tower where he was condemned by the Judges and being drawn thence by the Heels to the Elms in East-Smithfield he was there hanged In 1214. King John writ to Jeffery Magnaville to deliver the Tower of London with the Prisoners Armour and all other things found therein belonging to the King to William Archdeacon of Huntington In the first of Henry 3. 1216. the Tower was delivered to Lewes of Franse and the Barons of England In 1206 Pleas of the
in this manner not only our Streets but our Shops and Houses shall never be free from violence and wrong this we neither will nor can endure for it doth not become us And hereupon they approached the Gates with great Fury But the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs having notice hereof came to them and told them That this â—as not Courage but Outrage which they shewed whereby they would procure both danger to themselves and displeasure against the whole City and that though wrong had been done yet they were not the Persons neither was this the way to redress the same Thus partly by perswasion and partly by their Presence and Authority they suppressed the Riot and sent every man home with strict charge to keep the Peace Hitherto there was no great mischeif done and the quarrel might have been ended without any further trouble had not the Bishops stirred in it and kindled the Coals of Contention afresh For the Londoners were at that time not only secretly suspected but openly noted to be Favourers and Followers of Wickliffs Opinions which were contrary to the Pope and Church of Rome and upon that account the Bishops were malicious against them and most of their Actions were interpreted to proceed from other Causes and to tend to worse Purposes than they outwardly seemed to bear yea many accidental matters were charged upon them to be done out of Design and on purpose Whereupon John Waltham Bishop of Salisbury and Lord Treasurer of England made a grievous Complaint against them for this last Attempt to Thomas Arundel Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor alledging That if upon every slight pretence the Citizens should be suffered in this manner to affront the Bishops without reproof or punishment they would endanger not only the Dignity and State but the Liberty of the whole Church also For said he did they not lately take upon them the punishment of Adulteries and other Crimes appertaining to Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction maliciously alledging That either the Bishops and their Officers were infamous for those Vices themselves and did therefore Connive at the same in others Or else by Covetous Commutation and taking of Money did rather set those sins to Sale than endeavour carefully to suppress them Did they not said he rudely and irreverently break open the doors upon the Archbishop of Canterbury and interrupt his Proceedings against John Aston an open Disciple of Wickliff and do we imagine that this is the last Indignity they will offer no certainly nor yet the least for if this boldness and Insolence be not supprest our Authority will soon fall into Contempt and Scorn and will be made a Common Football for every base and unworthy Citizen to kick at Armed with these furious Arguments they went together to King Richard and so incensed him against the Londoners his Mind being before prepared by former Provocations that he was once resolved to have utterly ruined and destroyed the whole City But being perswaded to use more Moderation he in Revenge first caused the Lord Maior Sheriffs and many of the Principal Citizens to be committed to several Prisons the Lord Mayor to Windsor Castle and others to other Places and then seized the Liberties of the City into his hands declaring that no Lord Mayor should for the future be Elected any more but that the King should at his Pleasure appoint a Warden or Governour over the City And this Office was first committed to Sir Edward Darlington who for his kindness toward the City was soon removed and Sir Baldwin Radington put in his place The King was likewise perswaded by Arundel Archbishop of York to remove the Terms and Courts that is the Chancery Exchequer Kings Bench the Hamper Office and the Common-pleas from London to York where they continued from Midsummer 1393. till Christmas next following to the great dammage and loss of the City of London But at last upon the earnest intreaty of the Dukes of Lancaster and Glocester his Uncles the King sent for the Londoners before him to Windsor where having first terrified them with the sight of a great Number of Souldiers he caused all the Priviledges and Charters of the City both old and new to be produced some of which he restored to them and detained others Yet were not the Citizens received fully into favour neither did they recover the Person or Dignity of their Lord Mayor at that time Shortly after the King went to London at whose coming the Citizens turned all their Greif into Joy the Vulgar being without measure in both entertaining him with such joyful Triumphs and Rich Presents as if it had been the day of his Coronation thinking by all these costly preparations to have pacified all former Anger and displeasure against them but they found themselves much deceived there being no Reconciliation to be made without Money for they were not absolutely restored to their Liberties till they had paid Ten Thousand pound to the King as a Fine Thus did the Londoners shew a strange diversity of Disposition in rashly committing an Offence and patiently induring punishment yet upon this Account as soon as the first occasion was offered against King Richard they shewed themselves either his earnest Enemies or faint Friends as by the sequel appears In 1387. King Richard II. held his Feast of Christmas in the Tower of London And in the year 1399 the same King was sent Prisoner to the Tower which being a very remarkable Transaction it may be necessary to give a breif Account thereof Richard the II. was the only Son of a Renowned Father Edward Sirnamed the Black Prince who died before his Father Edward III. and thereupon Richard was by his Grandfather in his Life-time declared to be his Heir and lawful Successor and accordingly after his Death was Crowned King of England at Westminster July 16. 1377. But being of tender age only eleven years old several Persons were commissioned to be his Protectors or Guardians and soon after a Parliament was called at Westminster wherein Alice Peirce the late Kings Concubine was banished and all her Goods Confiscate and two Tenths of the Clergy and two Fifteenths of the Temporality were granted but so as that two Citizens of London William Walworth and John Philpot should receive and keep it to see it bestowed for defence of the Realm At which time Sir Hugh Calverly Deputy of Callice burnt 26 French Ships in the Haven of Bulloigne But one Mercer a Scottish Pyrate came to Scarborough and took divers Ships committing likewise many Outrages and no Order being taken to repel them John Philpot set out a Fleet at his own Charge and encountring him in his own Person took Mercer and all his Ships and returning home instead of being rewarded for his Service he was questioned for presuming to fit out a Navy without Advice of the Kings Council While the King was in his Minority matters were carried indifferent well but in the year 1387 King Richard begins to enter as we
give it him but that not sufficing he pulled out an handfull of Angels and gave him a good many a Knight that was in his Company telling him that he was glad to see him have so many Angels Yes answered he I love to carry my Friends always about me Not long after the Lady Jane was beheaded there and upon the Scaffold she made a most ingenious Speech full of Pity That she came thither to serve for an Example to Posterity that Innocence cannot be any Protection against Greatness and that she was come thither not for aspiring to a Crown but for refusing one when it was offered her In King James his time there was no Blood spilt in the Tower or upon Towerhill only Sir Gervase Elways was hanged there when he was Lieutenant about the Murder of Sir Thomas Overbury and one remarkable passage there was in his Speech upon the Ladder That being in the Low-Countreys and much addicted to Gaming he made a serious wish that if ever he played more above such a sum he might be hanged but he Violated the Oath and so the just Judgment of Heaven fell upon him according to his words The Earl of Castle haven in the year 1631 was brought from the Tower to be Executed for Horrid Crimes and divers others since have been Executed there as the Earl of Strafford Arch-Bishop Laud and many more This stately Tower serves not only for a Goal to detain Prisoners but for many other uses it is a strong Fort or Citadel which secures both City and River It is the Treasury of the Jewels and Ornaments of the Crown It conserves all the Old Records of the Courts of Justice at Westminster it is the place for the Royal Mint and the Coynage of Gold and Silver it is the chief Magazine and Armory of the whole Land for Martial Engines and Provision and there only is the Brahe or Rack usually called the Duke of Exeters Daughter because he was the first Inventor of it and Lastly it is a great Ornament by the situation of it both to the River and City This City hath had divers other Towns besides one at the North End of London-Bridge which is now utterly demolished and the other at the South End which hath suffered many Accidents of Fireing and otherwise and was still repaired at the charge of the City Upon this Gate the Heads of Traytors are commonly placed and some there are thereon at this day Historians mention two Castles that were built in the West part of the City one called the Castle of Montfiquet built by a Lord of that name which is now demolished and the Black Fryers rose up instead of it the other called Baynards Castle from one Baynard whose Family long enjoyed it and after that Robert Fitz-Walter who was called Banner Bearer of the City of London and had great Priviledges This Castle fell afterwards to the Earl of March who was Crowned there by the Title of Edward the Fourth to whom this City always stuck very close but in the Seventh Year of his Reign many of the greatest men in London were accused of High Treason and divers Aldermen whereof they were acquitted yet did they forfeit their Goods to the value of Forty Thousand Marks and among them Sr. Thomas Cook formerly Lord Mayor without Hawkins were committed to the Tower neither could be discharged without paying Eight Thousand Marks to the King Henry the Seventh repaired Baynards Castle and rid through the City in State with all the Knights of the Garter from the Tower to St. Paul's Church where they heard Mass and Lodged that Night at Baynards Castle Queen Mary was likewise proclaimed at Baynards Castle though the Lady Jane had been proclaimed a little before There was also another Tower or Castle near Baynards Castle but there is now no sign of it remaining And another in the place where Bridewell now stands which being demolished yet there was a Royal Palace left where the Kings of England kept their Courts and King John summoned a Parliament there and afterwards Henry the Eight repaired it and made it much more stately for the entertainment of his Nephew Charles the Fift Emperour and King of Spain who in the year 1522 was Magnificently Treated there There was another Tower called the Tower Royal where King Stephen kept his Court Barbican was likewise another Tower There was another called Sernes Tower in Bucklersbury where we read Edward the III. kept his Court and gave it afterward to his free Chappel of St. Stephens in Westminster now called Henry the sevenths Chappel who spent fourteen thousand pound in building of it and about the same time he built a Great Ship which cost just so much Thus much for the Towers and Castles of London CHAP. IV. The Rivers Wells Conduits Ditches and Bridges c. in and about this City IN former times before William the Conquerour and long after the City was watered besides the famous River of Thames in the South with the River of Wells as it was then called and in the West with a water called Walbrook running through the midst of the City into the River of Thames There was also another Water which ran within the City through Langbourn Ward watering that part in the East There were three Principal Fountains or Wells in the other Suburbs that is Holywell Clements Well and Clarkes Well and near to the last were divers other Wells as Skinners Well Fogs Well Todewell and Radwell all which flowing into the River afore-mentioned much increased the stream and gave it the name of Wells It is recorded that in West-Smithfield there was a Pool called Horse-pool and another in the Parish of St. Giles Besides which they had in divers streets and Lanes of the City fair Wells and fresh Springs by which the City was served with sweet Water and many Conduits were built in divers Streets which continued till the dreadful Fire in 1666. Since which time for the Conveniency and enlargement of the Streets and likewise by reason of the new River Water contrived by Sir Hugh Middleton most of these Conduits are taken down and removed For Queen Elizabeth having before granted to the Citizens of London by Act of Parliament Liberty for cutting and conveying a River from any part of Middlesex or Hertfordshire to the City of London with a limitation of Ten years time her life ended before any would undertake it whereupon the like Act was passed by King James but without Date of time and when all others refused it Sir Hugh Middleton undertook to bring a River from Chadwell and Amwell to the Northside of London near Islington where he built a large Cistern to receive it This work was begun Feb. 20. 1608 and in the five years space was fully accomplished though with great difficulty by reason of the difference and unevenness of the Ground the depth of the River in some places being Thirty Foot and in other places the water is carryed
of the River against an Invasion and securing Merchandizing and Navigation by Block-Houses Forts or 〈…〉 There are divers Courts of Judicature belonging to the Lord Mayor and City of London the highest and most ancient Court is called the Hustings which preserves the Laws Rights Franchises and Customs of the City There is a Court of Requests or Conscience the Court of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen where also the Recorder and Sheriffs sit two Courts of the Sheriffs one for each Counter the Court of the City Orphans whereof the Lord Mayor and Aldermen have the Care The Court of Common-Council consisting as the Parliament of England of two Houses one of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and the other of Commoners but they fit all together In which Court are made all B. -Laws which bind all the Citizens of London for every man either by himself or by his Representative gives his assent thereto wherein consists the happiness of the English above all other Subâ—â—cts in the world that neither in Laws By Laws Taxes nor Imposts no man is obliged to pay any thing but by his own consent There is another Court of the Chamberlain of the City to whom belong the Receipts of the Rents and Revenues thereof and likewise the Inrolling and making Free Apprentices over whom he hath great Authority Also the Courts of Coroner and Escheator and another Court for the conservation of the River of Thames lastly the Court of Goal Delivery at Newgate held usually eight times a â—ear at the Old Baily both for the City and Middlesex for the Trial of Criminals whereof the Lord May or is cheif Judge There are other Courts called Wardmote or the meeting of Wards whereof there are 26 in the whole City every Alderman having a several Ward In this Court Inquiry is made into all things that conduce to the Regulating and well Governing of the City Also the Court of Hallmote or Assembly of every Guild and Fraternity for Regulating what belongs to every company in particular There are two Sheriff belonging to this City which like the Lord Mayor are only for a year and are elected generally upon Midsummerday The name is thought to be Saxon from Shire or Country and Rive Governour His Office is to serve the King's Writs of Attachment to return indifferent Juries to see that the publick Peace be kept and that condemned Persons be executed c. Newgate Ludgate and the two Counters are put into the Custody of the Sheriffs For the Ecclesiastical Government there is a Bishop and the present is Dr. Henry Compton and to the Cathedral of St Paul's belongs a Dean a Chapter a Treasurer and 〈◊〉 Prehends A Rector or Vicar is placed in every Parish for the Cure of Sâ—uls and there is in most Parishes a Parsonage or Vicarage-House for the Minister and a Competent Allowance of Tithes CHAP. VI. The several Companies or Corporations of the City of London with the Arms of each Company and the time of their Incorporating THE Traders of the City of London are divided into Companies or Corporations and are so many Bodies Politick enjoying large Priviledges by the Charters of divers Kings granted to them and have Halls to meet in some like Pallaces with Arms belonging to each Company The Arms of this famous City of London are Argent Cross Gules with the Sword of St. Paul say some and not the Dagger of William Walworth for they say it is recorded this Coat did belong to the City long before Wat Tyler's Rebellion The ARMS of London The ARMS of the rest of the Companies follow Merchant Adventurers Incorporated by Ed. 4. consirmed by Q. Eliz. Turkey Merchants Incorporated by Q. E. their Charter inlarged by K. James 1. East-India Company They were first Incorporated by Q. E. 1600. 1. Mercers They were Incorporat 17 Rich. 2. 1393. 2. Grocers First called Pepperers Incorporated 28 E. 3. 3. Drapers They were Incorporâ—â—â— in the 17 H. 6. 4. Fishmongers The Stock and Salt Incorporated 28 H. 8. 5. Goldsmiths They were made a Company 16 R. 2. 6. Skinners Incorporated first by Edw. 3. confirmed 18 Rich 2. 7. Merchant Taylors They were compleatly Incorporated by Hen. 7. 1531. 8. Haberdashers Incorporat 17 Hen. 7. called St. Kath. Society 9. Salters Had their Arms 22 Hen. 8. Crest and Supporters by Q. Eliz. 10. Iroâ—mongers They were made a Company the 3d of Edward 4. 11. Vintners Incorpor by Edw. 3. and confirmed by Hen. 6. 12. Clothworkers Grew to be a Company the 22 of Henry 8. 13. Dyers Incorporated first by a Charter from Henry 6. 14. Brewers Incorporated by Hen. 6. confirmed by Q. Eliz. 15. Leathersellers First Incorporated in the 6th of Richard 2. 16. Prwterers They were made a Society by K. Edw. 4. 17. Barber-Chirurgeons First Incorporated by Edw. 4. and confirmed by every Prince since 18. Armorers Incorporated by Hen. 6. himself being of the Company 19. White Bakers They are Ancient being Incorporat 1 Edw. 2. 20. Wax Chandlers In great credit in the times of Popery Incorporat 2 Rich. 3. 1484. 21. Tallow Chandlers Incorporated 2 Edw. 4. and confirmed by King James 1. 22. Cutlers They were made a Company by Henry 5. and others since 23. Girdlees They were made a Company 27 Henry 6. 24 Butchers They were not Incorporated till 3 of King James 1. 25. Sadlers They are Ancient from Edw. 1. 300 years ago 26. Carpenters They were Incorporated 7 July 17 Edw. 4. 27. Cordwinders or Shoemakers were Incorporated 17 Hen. 6. and confirmed since 28. Painters or Painter Stainers were Incorgor 23 Q. E. 1580. 29. Curriers They are ancient but not Incorporated till 12 Jnne 3 of King James 30. Masons or Free Masons were made 〈◊〉 Company 12 Hen. 4. 31. Plumbers They were made a Corporation 9 K. James 1. 32. Inholders They were made a Company 6 Henry 8. 33. Founderes Incorporated the 18 Sept. 12 K. James 1. 34. Embroiderers They were Incorporated in the 4 of Q. Eliz. 35. Poulterers Incorporat by Henry 7. and confirmed 33 Q. E. 36. Cooks Indorpor 12 E. 4. confir by Q. E. K. J. 1. 37. Coopers They were made a Company the 18 H. 7. 38. Bricklayers or Tylers Incorporated by Q. E. confirm 2 K. J. 1. 39. Bowyers The of their Incorporated was 21 K. J. 1. 40. Fletchers They are also a Corporation but when made is uncertain 41. Blacksmiths Incorporated 20 Q. E. confirmed 2 K. Ja. 1. 42. Joyners Incorporated 13 Q. E. 43. Plaisterers They were Incorporain the Reign of King Henry the 7. 44. Weavers now Silk Weavers very ancient having 3 Societies 45. Fruiterers Incorporated 3 K. J. 1. 49. Scriveners Ancient yet not Incorporated till 14 K. J. 1. 50. Bottlemakers Horners are of great Antiquity but not Incor 51. Stationers Of great Antiquity before Printing Incorporated 3 Phil. and M. 52. Marblers Not Incorporat unless joined with the Masons 53. Wool-packers They flouâ—â—â—hed in the time of the Woâ—â—staple 54. Farriers They rise
Thomas Becket that proud and insolent Archbishop of Canterbury a Londoner by birth The King requiring to have it ordained That the Clergy who were malefactors should be tried before the Secular Magistrate This Becket opposed it alledging it was against the Liberty of the Church and therefore against the honour of God Many Bishops stood with the King and some few with Becket the Contention grew long and hot so that the King being extreamly disturbed said on a time Shall I never be at quiet for this Priest If I had any about me that loved me they would find some way or other to rid me of this trouble Which complaint four of his Knights that stood by hearing they presently went to Canterbury and finding Becket in the Cathedral they struck him on the head and felling him down killed him in the place But this created more trouble for though with much Intercession the Pope pardoned the four Knights being onely enjoined Pennance to go on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem Yet the Kings was more severe for going to Canterbury as soon as he came in sight of Beckets Church alighting off his Horse and putting off his Hose and Shoes he went barefoot to the Tomb and for a further Penance suffered himself to be beaten with rods upon his bare skin by every Monk in the Cloister This King Henry first ordained that the Lions should be kept in the Tower of â—â—ndon In the tenth Year of his Reign London Bridge was new built with Timber by Peter of Colechurch a Priest And in his twenty second Year after the foundation of St. Mary Overies Church in Southwark the Stone Bridge began to be founded toward which a Cardinal and an Archbishop of Canterbury gave a thousand Marks This King had many Concubines and among the rest Rosamond daughter of Walter Lord Clifford whom he kept at Woodstock in Lodgings so cunningly contrived 〈◊〉 â—o Stranger could find the way in Yet Queen Eleanor did by a clew of silk fallen from Rosamonds â—ap as she sate to take the Air who suddenly flying from the sight of her Pursuer the end of the silk fastned to her foot and the Clew still unwinding remained behind which the Queen followed till the found her whom she sought for in her Labyrinth So much is the Eye of Jealousie â—uicker in finding out than the Eye of Care is in hiding What the Queen did to Rosamond when she came to her is uncertain but this is certain that Rosamond lived but a short time after King Henry had two sons by her William called Long-Sword Earl of Salisbury and Jeffery Archbishop of York In the sixteenth year of his Reign King Henry caused his eldest son Henry to be crowned at Westminster by the hands of Roger Archbishop of York and caused all the Lords to swear Allegiance to him as having found by Experience That Oaths for Succession are commonly eluded but Oaths for present Allegiance can have no evasion At the Feast of this Solemnity King Henry to honour his son would needs carry up the first dish to his Table Whereupon Archbishop Roger standing by and saying merrily to the new King What an honour is this to you to have such a Waiter at your Table He briskly replied Why what a matter is it for him that was but the son of a Duke to do service to me that am the son of a King and a Queen Which the old King hearing began to repent of what he had done yet he passed it over and set the best side outward This young King died before his Father so that Richard the First the eldest son then living succeeded his Father in the Throne and was crowned at Westminster 1189. He drained great sums of money from the Londoners and made them recompence in Franchises and Liberties And indeed the Laws and Ordinances in his time were chiefly made for the Meridian of London For whereas before his time the City was governed by Portgraves this King granted them to be governed by two Sheriffs and a Mayor as it is now And to give the first of these Magistrates the honour to be remembred the names of the Sherifts were Henry Cornhill and Richard Reyner and the name of the first Lord Mayor was Henry Fitz-Alwin who continued Mayor during his life which was four and twenty Years But Fabian who was himself Sheriff of London and therefore most likely to know the truth affirmeth That the Officers ordained now by K. Rich. were but only 2 Bailiffs and that there was no Mayor nor Sheriffs till the tenth of King John But however the City now began first to receive the Form and State of a Common-wealth saith the Historian and to be divided into Fellowships and Corporations as at this day and this Priviledge was granted the first of Richard 1. 1189. This King left no Children behind him that we have any certain account of unless we reckon as a Popish Priest did who coming to King Richard told him that he had three very wicked Daughters which he desired him to bestow or else Gods wrath would attend him But the King denying he had any Daughters at all Yes saith the Priest thou cherishest three Daughters Pride Covetousness and Lechery The King apprehended his meaning and smiling thereat called his Lords attending and said My Lords this Hypocritical Priest hath descovered that I maintain three Daughters Pride Covetousness and Lechery which he would have me bestow in Marriage and therefore if I have any such I have found out very fit Husband for them all My Pride I bequeath to the haughty Templers and Hospitallers who are as proud as Lucifer himself my Covetousness I give to the White Monks of the Cistercian Order for they covet the Devil and all but for my Lechery I can bestow it no where better than on the Priests and Bishops of our times for therein they place their greatest felicity and happiness In this Kings time for three or four years together there happened so great a drougth that a Quarter of Wheat was sold for eighteen shillings eight pence and thereupon followed so great a Mortality of People that the living scarce sufficed to bury the dead King Richard being dead the Right of Succession remained in Arthur son of Jeffery Duke of Anjou elder brother to E. John but John thinking Arthurs Title but a Criticism of State and not so plain to common capacities as his own who was Son of a King and Brother to a King ascended the Throne as confidently as if he had no Competitor onely Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury made an Oration on his behalf wherein waving the Right of Succession he insisted wholly upon the Right of Election by the People whereby it would follow that those who brought him in might throw him out Of which the Bishop being told said He did it on purpose to cause King John to be more careful of his Government by making him sensible upon what an uncertain foundation his Regality stood King
King John went with a full Resolution having now got a very great Army together to give present Battle to Lewis but as he was passing the Washes of Lincolnshire which are always dangerous all his Carriages Treasure and Provision were irrecoverably lost in the the Sands himself and his Army hardly escaping The kingdom was now made the Stage of all manner of Rapine and Cruelty having two Armies in it at once each of them seeking to prey upon the other and both of them upon the Country Which the Lords seriously reflecting upon and finding likewise their faithful Services to Lewis little regarded since he bestowed all places that were conquered upon French men onely they began to consider how they might free themselves from these Calamities But that which startled them most was that a Noble French man called Viscount de Melun whâ— was very much in esteem with Lewis being upon his death-bed in London desired to have somâ— private conference with those English Lords and Londoners to whom Lewis had committed the Custody of that City to whom he discovered That lamentable desolation and secret and unsuspected ruine and destruction hung over their heads since Lewis with sixteen others of his chief Earls and Lords of whom himself was one had taken an Oath that if ever the Crown of England were setled on his head they would condemn to perpetual banishment all such as now adhered to him against King John as being Traitors to their own Sovereign and that all their Kindred and Relations should be utterly rooted out of the Land This he affirmed to be true as he hoped for the salvation of his now departing soul and thereupon counselling them timely to prevent their approaching miseries and in the mean while to lock up his words under the Seal of Secresie he soon after departed this life These dreadful Tidings strangely amazed the Auditors and though many of the Lords doubted whether if they returned to their Allegiance toward King John he would ever accept of their Repentance since they had so highly provoked him Yet forty of them immediately sent submissive Letters to the King therein expressing their sorrow and hoping that true Royal Bloud would be ever ready to yield mercy to such as were ready to yield themselves prostrate to intreat for it But these solicitors for mercy came too late for King John through vexation of mind for the loss of his Carriages fell into a high Fever whereof within few days he died Though the manner of his death is otherwise reported by other Authors one of whom saith he was poisoned at Swinshead Abby by a Monk of that Covent upon the following account The King being told that Corn was very cheap said That it should be dearer ere long for he would make a penny loaf to be sold for a shilling At which Speech the Monk was so offended that he put the poison of a Toad into a Cup of Wine and brought it to the King telling him There was such a cup of Wine as he had never drank in all his life and therewithal drank first of it himself which made the King drink more boldly of it but finding himself very ill upon 〈◊〉 he asked for the Monk and when it was told him that he was fallen down dead Then saith the King God have mercy upon me I doubted as much Others say Poison was given him in a dish of Pears and add that this was judged such a meritorious act that the Monk had a Mass appointed to be said for his soul for ever after by his Fellow-Monks This King is charged with Irreligion by the Monks of those times who did not love him and therefore we know not how far they are to be believed And among other Speeches That having been a little before reconciled to the Pope and afterward receiving a great overthrow from the French he in great anger cried out That nothing had prospered with him since he was reconciled to God and the Pope And that at another time being a hunting â—e merrily said at the opening of a fat Buck See how this Deer hath prospered and how fat he is and yet I dare swear he never heard Mâ—ss He is likewise charged that being in some distress he sent Thomas Hardington and Ralph Fitz-Nichols Knights Ambassadors to Miramâ—malim King of Africa and Morocco with offer of his kingdom to him if he would assist him and that if he prevailed he himself would become a Turk and renounce the Christian Religion To this time the City of London had been governed by two Bailiffs but the King in his tenth Year taking displeasure against them for denying his Purveyors Wheat he imprisoned them till 35 of the chief Citizens repaired to him and acquainted him with what small store the City had and how the Commons were ready to make an Insurrection about it he was then satisfied and likewise at their suit he by a New Charter granted â—o the Citizens to elect a new Mayor and 2 Sheriffs to be chosen yearly nine days before Michaelmas which Order hath continued to this day though with some alteration as to time In this Kings time likewise five and thirty of the most substantial Citizens were chosen out and called the Common Council of the City In this Kings time there fell Hail as big as Goose eggs with great Thunder and Lightning so that many Men Women and Cattle were destroyed Houses overthrown and burned and Corn in the Fields beaten down In 1202. and the 4. of King John there began a Frost the 14. of January which continued to the 22. of March that the Ground could not be tilled so that in the Summer following a Quarter of Wheat was sold for a Mark which in the days of Henry the second was sold for twelve pence and a Quarter of Beans or Oats for a Groat and why the disproportion in the prices is now so great since the price of Silver is much less altered for an ounce of Silver was then valued at twenty pence which is now valued at five shillings must be left to Philosophers to give the reason for since scarcity makes things dear why should not plenty make them cheap About this time Fishes of strange shape were taken armed with Helmets and Shields like armed men onely they were much bigger A certain Monster was likewise found stricken with Lightning not far from London which had an head like an Ass a belly like a Man and all other parts far differing from any other Creature And in another place a Fish was taken alive in the form of a Man and was kept six Months upon Land with raw flesh and fish and then because they could not make it speak they cast it into the Sea again In the ninth of King John the Arches and Stone bridge over the Thames at London was quite finished by Serle Mercer and William Alman then Procurators and Masters of the Bridge-house and soon after a great Fire happened there of which
should wear any Hood except striped with divers colours nor Furs but Garments turned the wrong side outward This King confirmed the Liberties of the City of London and ordained that the L. Mayor should sit in all places of Judgment within the Liberty of the same as chief Justice the Kings person only excepted and that every Alderman that had been Mayor should be Justice of Peace in all London and Middlesex and every Alderman that had not been Mayor should be Justice of Peace in his own Ward Also he granted to the Citizens of London that they should not be forced without their own consent to go out of the City to fight or defend the Land and likewise that after that day the Charter and Franchises of the City should not be seized into the Kings hands but onely for Treason and Rebellion done by the whole City Likewise that Southwark should be under the Government of the City and the Lord Mayor to chuse a Bailiff there as he pleased He also granted to the Citizens of London that the Officers of the Mayor and Sheriffs should from that day forward use Maces of silver parcel gilt In the twenty second year of his Reign a contagious Pestilence arose in the East and South parts of the World and coming at last into England it so wasted the people that scarce the tenth person of all sorts were left alive There died in London some say in Norwich between the first of January and the first of July 57374 persons This Plague lasted nine Years In the thirty fifth year of his Reign another Plague happened which was called the second Pestilence in which died many Lords and Bishops In this Kings time a Frost lasted from the midst of September to the Moneth of April In the fourth year of his Reign a solemn Just or Turnament was held in Cheapside London between the great Cross and the great Conduit In the eleventh year of his Reign was so great plenty that a Quarter of Wheat was sold at London for 2 s. a fat Ox for a noble a fat Goose for 2 d. a Pig for a penny and other things after that rate But in his 27 year there was a great scarcity by reason there fell little or no Rain from the end of March to the end of July and was therefore called the Dry Summer John Barns Mayor of London gave a chest with three Locks and a thousand Marks to be lent to young men upon security and for the Use of it if learned they were to say the Psalm De Profundis c. for the soul of John Barns if otherwise to say a Pater Noster but however the money is lent the cheft stood long after in the Chamber of London without money or security In the time of the Princes sickness the King calls a Parliament at Westminster and demands supplies upon which they demand redress of the Grievances of the Subjects and among the rest that John Duke of Law after and Alice Perice the Kings Concubine with others might be removed from the Court this Woman presuming so much upon the Kings favour that she grew very insolent and intermedled with Courts of Justice and other Offices where she her self would sit to countenance her Causes And this was so vehemently urged by the Speaker of the House of Commons that the King rather than want Supplies gave way to it and so they were all presently put from Court But the Prince dying soon after they were all recalled to Court again and restored to their former plâ—ces and Sir Peter de la More the Speaker was at the sâ—â—t of Alice Perice confined to perpetual Imprisonment though by making great Friends he got his Liborty in two years About this time John Wickliff bringeth in a new Doctrine inveighing against the abuses of Church-men Monks and other Religious Orders whom the Duke of Lancaster favoured Whereupon a great contention arose between him and the Bishop of London the Londoners take the Bishops part and set upon the Duke of Lancasters house at the Savoy upon which the Duke after the Tumult caused the Mayor and Aldermen to be displaced and others put in their rooms and Wickliff is banished to Bohemia where his Doctrine continues in great veneration to this day among that People King Edward died in the 64 year of his age and fiftieth of his Reign and his Grandchild Richard the second succeeded of whose unfortunate Reign and Deposition you have heard before we shall therefore onely add a few particulars more In his thirteenth year a Royal Just or Turnament was proclaimed to be holden in Smithfield London and at the day appointed about three of the clock in the Afternoon there issued out of the Tower threescore fine Horses apparelled for the Justs and upon every one an Esquire of Honour riding a soft pace after them came four and thirty Ladies of Honour mounted on Palfreys and every Lady led a Knight with a chain of gold These Knights being on the Kings side had their armour and apparel garnished with white Harts and Crowns of gold upon their heads and so they came riding through the streets of London to Smithfield This Just lasted twenty four days all which time the King and Queen lay at the Bishops Palace by S. Pauls Church and kept open house to all comers In the year 1â—89 whilest the King was at Sheen near London there swarmed in his Court such a multitude of Flies and Gnats skirmishing one with another that they were swept away with Brooms by heaps and Bushels were filled with them In the one and wentieth year of his Reign King Richard caused the great Hall at Westminster to be repaired both with Walls Windows and Roofs In his twelfth year in March there were terrible Winds and afterward a great Mortality and Dearth A Dolphin was likewise taken at London Bridge being ten foot long and very big Also in Parliament time an Image made by Necromancy in Wax as it is said at an hour appointed uttered these words The Head shall be cut off the Head shall be lifted up aloft the Feet shal be lift up above the head This hapned in that called the Marvellous Parliament not long before that called the Parliament that wrought wonders Henry IV. his Uncle succeeded K. Rich. against whom several Rebellions were raised especially one Henry Piercy called Hotspur and others who were overthrown King Henry himself killing thirty six with his own hands the Earl of Worcester among the rest was taken and beheaded with many others whose Heads were set on London Bridge In his time a Parliament was called at Westminster in which the Commons presented a Petition to the King and the House of Peers desiring that the King might have the Temporal Possessions of the Bishops and Clergy affirming that they would maintain 150 Earls 1500 Knights 6200 Esquires and 100 Hospitals for maimed Souldiers They desired likewise that Clerks Convict should not be delivered into the Bishops Prison
demonstrate But when Marcus Asclepiodotus had slain him in Battel those French who remained alive after the Fight hastening to London would have plundred the City had not the River Thames who never fail'd to help the Londoners at need very happily brought the Roman Legions to their Assistance who put the Barbarians to the Sword all the City over About which time it is Recorded that Lucius Gallus was slain by a Brookside which ran almost through the City and of him was called by the Brittains Wantgall in English Walbrook which name remains to this day under which there is a Sewer within the ground to carry the Kennel water of the City into the Thames This is not far from London-stone which is thought to be a Milemark or Miliary such as were in the Market Places of Rome from which were taken dimensions of Journeys every way which seems the more probable because this Stone is near the midst of the City as it lyeth in length After this Julius Agricola the Roman Lieutenant perswaded the Brittains to build Houses for themselves and Temples for their Gods to bring up their Children in Learning and to Apparel themselves like Romans so that in a few years after our Saviours Nativity she became famous but especially for the multitude of Merchants Provision and Trade thereof as Cornelius Tacitus notes and was then called by some Authors Londinum by others Augusta under which name her Fame is celebrated by an Ancient Author which is thus Translated by Philemon Holland This City was Augusta call'd To which a truth to say Air Land Sea and all Elements Show favour every way The Weather no where milder is The Ground most rich to see Which yields all sorts of useful Fruit That never spent will be The Ocean that with Thames her Streams His flowing Tyde doth blend Conveys to it Commodities All that the World can send The Noble Seat of Kings it is For State and Royalty Of all the Realm the Fence the Heart The Life the Light the Eye The People Ancient Valorous Expert in Chivalry Enriched with all sorts of Goods Of Art or Mistery Take a strict view of every thing And then say thus in brief This either is a World it self Or of the World the Chief CHAP. II. The Ancient and present Walls and Gates of the City HIstorians report That about the year after Christ 306 Constantine the Great at the desire of his Mother Helena did first build a Wall about this City which may seem more probable considering that the Brittains did understand how to build Walls with Stone as may appear by the following Relation About the Year of Christ 399 when the Empire of Rome was invaded and that City destroyed by the Goths the Romans called away all their Forces from Brittain for the Defence of their own Countrey After which the Brittains being not able to defend themselves were for many years oppressed by two cruel Nations that is the Scots and Picts whereupon they sent Ambassadors with Letters full of Lamentable Supplications and Complaints to Rome to desire their assistance promising constant Obedience to them The Romans sent them a Legion of Souldiers who fought with their Enemies and drove them out of the Countrey And leaving the Brittains at Liberty they advised them to make a Wall cross the Countrey from one Sea to the other for their defence against their troublesome Neighbours and then the Romans returned home in Triumph The Brittains built this Wall in the North of England but wanting Masons they did not make it of Stone as the Romans directed but of Turf which was so weak that it was little Security to them For their Enemies perceiving the Romans were gone they presently came in Boats and invaded their Countrey ruining and wasting all before them Upon which Ambassadors were again sent with fresh Lamentations to Rome beseeching them not to suffer their miserable Countrey to be wholy destroyed The Romans then sent them another Legion who coming suddenly surprized their Enemies and made a great slaughter among them chasing them back again even to their own Countrey The Romans departing home again told the Brittains plainly that the Journey hither was long and troublesome and therefore they must expect no further help from them but must learn to use Armour and weapons themselves thereby to be able to resist their Enemies who were incouraged to invade them because of their Cowardice and Faintheartedness However for the incouragement of their Tributary Friends whom they were now forced to forsake the Romans made them a Wall of hard Stone from the West Sea to the East Sea and built two Cities at each end thereof the Brittains labouring therein also This Wall was built Eight Foot thick and twelve Foot high directly East and West as appears by the ruins to be seen at this day The work being finished the Romans gave them a strict charge to look to themselves and to instruct their People in the use of Arms and Millitary Discipline and least the Enemy should come by Sea Southward they made divers Bulwarks at some distance from each other by the Seaside And then bid the Brittains farewel as intending to return no more This happened in the Reign of Theodosius the younger near 500 years after the first Arrival of the Romans here and about the year of our Lord 434. The Brittains after this had several Skirmishes with the Picts and Scots and made Choice of Vortiger to be their King and Leader who is said to have been neither Wise nor Valiant being wholly given up to Lust and Debauchery And the People likewise having some rest from their Enemies ran into Gluttony Drunkenness Pride Contention Envy and all manner of Vice to the great scandal of their Christian Profession At which time a dreadful Pestilence fell upon them which destroyed such a multitude of them that the quick were not sufficient to bury the dead and yet those that remained alive continued so impenitent that neither the death of their Friends nor fear of their Enemies had any Effect upon them whereupon Divine Justice pursued them even almost to the Destruction of the whole sinful Nation For being now again in danger of utter ruin from their old Neighbours the Scots and Picts they consult with their King Vortiger what to do and at last conclude to call in the Saxons who soon after arrived in Brittain where saith Bede they were received as Friends For having driven out the Picts and Scots they likewise drove out the Brittains forcing some of them to fly over the Seas and others into the barren and waste Mountains of Wales and Cornwall The Saxons were likewise ignorant of building with Stone till the year 680. for it is affirmed that Bennet Abbot of Werral and Master to Reverend Bede first brought in Artificers for Stone houses and Glass Windows unknown before to the Saxons who built only with Wood. And to this Polychronicon agrees who speaking of those times saith
Then had ye wooden Churches nay wooden Chalices but Golden Priests but now you have Golden Chalices and Wooden Priests And to conclude this Argument King Edgar in his Charter to the Abby of Malmsbury dated the year of Christ 974 writes to this Effect All the Monasteries in my Realm to the outward sight are nothing but wormeaten and rotten Timber and Boards and which is worse within they are almost empty and void of Divine Worship Thus much as to Walls in General now to return to London This City was destroyed and burnt by the Danes and other Pagan Enemies about the year of our Lord 839 and was nobly rebuilt and repaired in the year 886 by Alfred King of the West Saxons so that it lay waste and uninhabited for almost fifty years Alfred committed the custody of this new built City to his Son in Law Etheldred Earl of Mercia to whom he had before married his Daughter Ethelsted And that this City was then strongly Walled may appear by divers Accidents William of Malmsbury writes that about the year 994 the Londoners shut up their Gates and defended their King Etheldred within their Walls against the Danes In the year 1016 Canutus the Dane made War against Edmond Ironside King of the West-Saxons and brought his Navy to the West part of the Bridge casting a Trench about the City of London and attempted to have won it by assault but the Citizens repulsed him and drove him from their Walls Likewise in the year 1052 Earl Godwin with his Navy Sailed up by the South end of the Bridge and assailed the Walls of this City William Fitz Stephen in the Reign of Henry 2. writes thus The Wall of London is High and Great well Towered on the North side with due distance between the Towers On the South side also the City was Walled and Towered but the Fishful River of Thames by his ebbing and flowing hath long since subverted them Where by the Northside he means from the River in the East to the River of Thames in the West for so the Wall stretched in his time and the City being far longer from East to West than in breadth from South to North and also narrower at both ends than in the midst is therefore compassed with the Wall on the Landside in the form of a Bow except where it is indented in betwixt Cripplegate and Aldersgate But the Wall on the Southside along the River of Thames was streight as the string of a Bow and fortified with Towers or Bulwarks as we now term them in due distance from each other as our Author says and we our selves may observe at this day this demonstrates that the Walls of this City are of great Antiquity Now for repairing and maintaining this Wall we find That in the year 1215 and the 6th of King John The Barons entring the City by Aldgate first took Assurance of the City and then broke into the Jews houses and seizing their Money and Goods for their own uses they with great diligence repaired the Walls and Gates of this City with Stones taken from the Jews broken Houses In the year 1257 Henry 3. ordered the Walls of this City which were much decayed and without Towers to be handsomely repaired and beautified at the common Charge of the City In the 17th of Edward 4. Ralph Joceline Mayor caused part of the Wall of the City of London to be repaired between Aldgate and Aldersgate He also caused Morefields to be searched for Clay to make brick for that purpose The Skinners made that part of the Wall between Aldgate and Buvies Marks commonly call'd Bevis Marks toward Bishopsgate as may appear by their Arms fixed in three places there The Lord Mayor and his Company of Drapers made all that part between Bishopsgate and Alhallows Church in the Wall and from Alhallows toward the Postern called Moregate A great part of the same Wall was repaired by the Executors of Sir John Crosby Alderman his Arms being in 2 places and other Companies repaired the rest of the Wall to Cripplegate the Goldsmiths repaired from Cripplegate to Aldersgate and there the work ceased The Circuit of the VVall of London on the Lands side that is from the Tower of London in the East to Aldgate is 82 Perches From Aldgate to Bishopsgate 86 Perchees From Bishopsgate to Cripplegate 162 Perches From Cripplegate to Aldersgate 75 Perches From Aldersgate to Newgate 66 Perches From Newgate to Ludgate 42 Perches in all 513 Perches of Assize From Ludgate to Fleet Ditch 60 Perches From Fleetbridge to the River of Thames about 70 Perches So that the total of these Perches amounteth to 643 and every Perch being 5 Yards and an half makes 3536 Yards and an half containing 10608 Foot which is two English Miles and 608 Foot more In former time there were but four Gates in the VVall of this City that is Aldgate for the East Aldersgate for the North Ludgate for the VVest and Bridgate over London Bridge for the South but of late days for the Conveniency of Passengers divers other Gates and Posterns have been made Fitz Stephen saith that in the Reign of Henry 2 there were seven Double Gates in the VVall of this City but names them not we may therefore suppose them to be 1. The Gate next the Tower of London called the Postern 2. Aldgate 3. Bishopsgate 4. Aldersgate 5. Newgate 6. Ludgate 7. Bridge-gate Since which there hath been built Moregate now a Famous Gate and several other smaller Posterns as one between Bishopsgate and Moregate and two between Moregate and Cripplegate besides other in other Places As to the first called the Postern near the Tower which was destroyed by the dreadful Fire in 1666 of which you have a particular Account in this Treatise and never since rebuilt or like to be by that which remained of it before it seemed to have been a fair strong Arched Gate built of hard Stone In the year 1190 and the 2. of Richard 1. William Longshamp Bishop of Ely Chancellor caused part of the City VVall from that Gate to the White Tower to be broken down for inlarging the Tower round which he made a VVall imbattelled which is now the outermost VVall He likewise made a broad deep Ditch without the VVall to let in the Tyde from the Thames But the Southside of this Gate was by undermining the Foundation much weakned and about two Hundred years after that is 1440 the 18 Hen. 6. it fell down and was never since rebuilt The next in the East is ALDGATE or Oldgate of the Antiquity thereof having been one of the four Principal Gates and also one of the seven Double Gates aforementioned It had two pair of Gates and Portcullises though now but one yet the hooks of the other Gate and the place of letting down the other Portcullice are yet to be seen This Gate appeareth to be very Ancient being named in a Charter in King Edgars time and likewise in K. Edward
remarkable John Day a famous Printer dwelt in this Gate and built many Houses upon the City wall toward St. Anns Church You may read more of the new building this Gate in Aldersgate Ward In the sixth year of Edw. 6. Three was a Postern Gate made through the City VVall on the Northside of the late dissolved Cloister of Friars Minors commonly called Gray Friars Now Christ Church and Hospital this was done to make a Passage from Christ Church Hospital to St. Bartholomews Hospital in Smithfield and License was given to Sir Richard Dobbs Lord Mayor to do it by Virtue of an Act of Common Council Aug. 1. in the 6 of Edw. 6. The next Gate is on the Northwest and is called NEWGATE and is the fifth Principal Gate though built later than the rest being erected about the Reign of Hen. 1. or K. Stephen upon this occasion The Cathedral of St. Pauls being burnt down in the Reign of William the Conquerour 1086. Mauritius then Bishop of London did not repair the Old Church as some have thought but laid the Foundation of a new one which it was judged would hardly ever have been finished it was so wonderful for length bredth and height and likewise because it was raised upon Vaults or Arches after the Norman fashion and never known in England before After Mauritius Richard Beumore did very much advance the building of this Church purchasing the large Streets and Lanes round about which ground he incompassed with a strong Stone VVall and Gates By reason of this inclosure for so large a Church-yard the High-street from Aldgate in the East to Ludgate in the West was made so streight and narrow that the Carriage through the City was by Paternoster-Row down Ave-Mary Lane and so through Bouger Row now called Ludgatestreet to Ludgate or else by Cheapside through Watlingstreet and so through Carter-lane and up Creed-lane to Ludgate which Passage by reason of the often turning was very Inconvenient VVhereupon a New Gate was made to pass through Cheapside North of St. Pauls St. Nicholas Shambles and Newgate-street to Newgate and from thence westward to Holbourn Bridge or Turning without the Gate to Smithfield and Islington or Iseldon or to any place North or VVest This Gate hath for many years been a Prison for Felons Murderers Highwaymen and other Trespassers as appeareth by the Records of King John and others and among the rest in the 3. of Hen. 3. 1218. That King writ to the Sheriffs of London commanding them to repair the Goal of Newgate for the safe keeping of his Prisoners promising that the Charges thereof should be allowed them upon their Account in the Exchequer In the year 1241. The Jews of Norwich were hanged being accused for Circumcising a Christian Child their House called the Thor was pulled down and destroyed Aaron the Son of Abraham a Jew and other Jews in London were constrained to pay twenty thousand Marks at two Terms in the year or else to be kept perpetual Prisoners in Newgate at London and in other Prisons In 1255 King Henry 3. lodged in the Tower and upon some displeasure against the City of London for the escape of John Offrem a Clerk Convict Prisoner in Newgate for killing a Prior who was Cousin to the Queen He sent for the Lord Mayor who laid the fault on the Sheriffs to whose Custody the Prisoners are committed the Mayor was discharged but the Sheriffs were imprisoned above a month though they alledged the fault was in the Bishops Officers who though he was imprisoned in Newgate yet they were to see that he was kept safe But however the King required three thousand Marks of the City for a Fine In the third year of Edw. 3. 1326. Robert Baldock the Kings Chancellor was put into Newgate In 1237 Sir John Pouitney gave four Marks a year for releif of the Prisoners in Newgate In 1358 William Walworth gave likewise toward their relief and so have many others since In 1414 the Jaylors in Ludgate and Newgate died and 64 Prisoners In 1418 the Parson of Wertham in Kent was Imprisoned in Newgate In the first of Henry 6 1412. The Executors of Richard Whittington repaired Newgate And Thomas Knowles Grocer sometimes L. Mayor brought the wast water from the Cestern near St. Nicholas Chappel by St. Bartholomews Hospital to Newgate and Ludgate for the Accommodation of the Prisoners In 1431 all the Prisoners in Ludgate were conveyed to Newgate by the Sheriffs of London And soon after they fetcht from thence 18 Persons Freemen of the City who were led pinioned to the Counters like Felons by the false suggestion of the Jaylor of Newgate But Ludgate was a while after again appointed for Freemen who were Debtors and they were all carried back again thither In 1427. There was a great Skirmish in the North Countrey between Sir Thomas Percie Lord Egremond and the Earl of Salisburies Sons whereby many were wounded and slain but the Lord Egremond being taken was found to give the occasion and was thereupon condemned by the Kings Council to pay a considerable Sum of Money to the Earl of Salisbury and in the mean time was committed to Newgate and a while after both he and his Brother Sir Richard Percie brake out by night and went to the King The other Prisoners got upon the Leads over the Gate and defended it against the Sheriffs and all their Officers a great while till they were forced to call more Citizens to their Aid who at last subdued them and laid them in Irons Thus much of Newgate LUDGATE is the next in the VVest and the Sixth Principal Gate of this City and Historians say was built by King Lud near 66 years before our Saviours Nativity which shews its great Antiquity This being built for the VVest as Aldgate for the East In the year 1215. aforementioned being the 17th of King John when the Barons who were in Arms against the King entred this City and pull'd down the Jews Houses repairing the VValls and Gates of the City with the Stones thereof It appeareth that they then repaired or rather new built this Gate For in 1586 when this Gate was pulled down in order to its being repaired there was a stone found within the wall which seems to have been taken from one of the Jews Houses there being several Hebrew Characters ingraven thereon which being interpreted are thus in English This is the Station or Ward of Rabbi Moses the Son of the Honourable Rabbi Isaac This it is thought had been fixed upon one of the Jews Houses as a sign he lived there In 1260 Ludgate was repaired and beautified with the Images of Lud and other Kings but in the Reign of Edw. 6. these Images of the Kings had their Heads smitten off and were defaced by such as judged every Image to be an Idol In the Reign of Q. Mary they were repaired and new heads set upon their old Bodies which remained so till the 28 of Q. Elizabeth 1586.
VVhen this Gate was quite taken down and nobly Rebuilt with the Images of K. Lud and others on the East-side and Q. Elizabeth on the VVest which was done at the City Charge being above 1500 pounds In 1463. Stephen Foster Fishmonger and Dame Agnes his VVife added several large Rooms to Ludgate and gave other releif to the Prisoners who are only such Citizens as are Debtors All Persons for Treasons Felonies and other Criminal Offences being committed to Newgate In one of these rooms there was a Copper Plate hanging with the following Rhimes ingraven thereon Devout Souls that pass this way For Stephen Forster late Mayor heartily pray And Dame Agnes his Spouse to God Consecrate That of pity this House made of London in Ludgate So that for lodging and water Prisoners here nought pay As their keepers shall all answer at dreadful Doomsday This Gate as well as Newgate in the late dismal Fire in 1666 was burnt down but since they are both repaired and very curiously Beautified having a new Postern for Foot Passengers added thereto with several other Conveniencies Thus much for Ludgate Next to this before the late Fire there was only a breach in the VVall of the City and a Bridge of Timber over Fleet Ditch directly against Bridewell Hospital but since it is all laid open and a handsome Bridge of Stone built in that Place the Ditch being very much enlarged and a VVharf made of Stone and cleared from all Houses on each side up to Holborn Bridge The Bridge likewise at the lower end of Ludgate Hill being nobly rebuilt or rather new built and made much broader and another Gallant Bridge is built upon the same Ditch almost over against the Fleet Prison All this has been done since the dismal Fire to the very great Charge of the City And so much for the Gates in the Wall Now for the VVatergates on the Banks of the River Thames which formerly have been many though most or all of them have been ruined by the late Fire however take a breif Account of what they were Black Fryers Stairs is a free landing place now gallantly rebuilt with a useful Bridge by Sir Tho. Fitch who has built a very curious house upon the VVharf and cleared it so that now the Lord Mayor when he comes from Westminster to be sworn Lands there instead of Pauls Wharf as being much more convenient Then there is Puddle Wharf Pauls Wharf Broken Wharf besides divers others all along the River which are made by the Citizens for their Private use Next is Ripa Regina the Queens Bank or Queen Hyth which was accounted the Cheif and Principal VVatergate of this City far exceeding Billings-Gate as it appears in Queen-hithe VVard Wat Tyler kild by the Lord Mayor K Richard 2. Resigns his Crown King Richard 2. Murdered The next was called Wolfes Gate in the Ropary afterward called Wolfes lane but now out of use The next was called Ebgate of old time as appeareth by Ancient Records and stood near St. Lawrence Pountneys Church it is now a narrow Lane and called Ebgate lane but usually the Old Swan There was another Gate at the Bridgfoot called Oyster Gate of Oysters that were there sold that being the Market-place for them and other small Fish But now there standeth an Engine to carry up the water into the City in the place thereof Then there is the BRIDG-GATE so called of London Bridge whereon it standeth This long before the Conquest was one of the four first or Principal Gates of the City where there was only a Bridge of Timber and is the seventh and last Principal Gate mentioned by Fitz Stephen when the Bridge was new built of Stone this Gate was rebuilt again In the year 1436 this Gate with the Tower upon it fell down and two of the furthest Arches of the Bridg Southward fell therewith yet none were killed or hurt thereby to the repairing whereof several Citizens gave very Liberally When the Bastard Fauconbridg aforenamed came with the Kentish Mariners into this City they burnt this Gate and thirteen Houses besides on the Bridge and likewise the Brewhouses at St. Katherines and many others in the Suburbs Next hereunto was a Gate commonly called Buttolphs Gate of the Parish Church adjoyning This was given or confirmed by William the Conquerour to the Monks of Westminster Then there is Billingsgate which is much used by small Ships Barges so that Queen Hyth is almost forsaken It is somewhat uncertain why this Gate was so named only Jeffry of Monmouth writes that Belin a King of the Brittains about 400 years before Christs Nativity built this Gate and called it after his own name that when he was dead his Body was burned and the Ashes were put into a vessel of Brass and set over that Gate upon an High Pinacle of Stone yet it doth not seem to be so Ancient but rather to have taken the name from some late Owner called it may be Beling or Billing as Somers Key Smarts Key Fresh Warf and others have done Then there was a Watergate on the South-end of Water-lane by the Custom-house Key but of all these more hereafter One other Watergate there was more by the Bulwark of the Tower and this is the last and farthest Gate Eastward on the River of Thames as far as the City of London extends within the Walls Besides these Common Water Gates there were formerly divers private Wharfs and Keys all along from the East to the West of this City on the Thames side where Merchants of all Nations landed their Goods and had Warehouses Cellars and Stowage form them And in the 42 of Hen. 3. 1258. it was appointed that the Ports of England should be strongly Guarded and the Gates of London should be newly repaired and diligently kept in the night for fear of French deceits CHAP. III. Of the Tower of London and other Ancient Towers and Castles of this City with several Remarkable Accidents happening therein THe City of London saith Fitz Stephen hath in the East a very Great and most Strong Palatine Tower whose Turrets and Walls do rise from a deep Foundation the Mortar thereof being tempered with the Bloud of Beasts It is the Common Opinion that Julius Caesar the first Conquerour or indeed Discoverer of Brittain was the Original Founder thereof and of many other Towers Castles and Great Houses But there is little Reason for it in regard of his short stay here having other things to think on designing only to dispatch his Conquest over this Barbarous Countrey and then to perform greater Enterprizes Neither do the Roman Historians mention any such Buildings erected by him here The more probable Opinion therefore is That William the Conquerour built the Great white and square Tower there about the year of our Lord 1078 as appears by Ancient Records and that made Gundulph Bishop of Rochester Principal Surveyor of the work The Wall of the City of London as it is aforementioned
Crown were pleaded in the Tower and divers times afterward In 1222 the Citizens having made a Tumult against the Abbot of Westminster Hubbert of Burg Cheif Justice of England sent for the Lord Mayor and Aldermen to the Tower of London to enquire who were Principal Authors thereof Amongst whom one named Constantine Fitz Aelufe boldly avowed That he was the man and had done much less than he thought to have done whereupon the Cheif Justice sent him with two others to Falks de Brent who with armed men brought them to the Gallows and hanged them In 1244 Griffith Prince of Wales being a Prisoner in the Tower attempted an escape and having in the night tyed the Sheets and hangings together he endeavoured thereby to slide from the top of the High Tower but being a Fat man the weight of his Body brake the Rope and he fell The next morning he was found dead his head and neck being driven into his Breast between the Shoulders In 1253 K. Hen. 3. imprisoned the Sheriffs of London in the Tower above a Month about the escape of a Prisoner out of Newgate as is aforementioned In 1260 this King with his Queen for fear of the Barons lodged in the Tower And the next year he sent for his Lords and held his Parliament there In 1263 As the Queen was going by water from the Tower toward Windsor several Citizens got together upon London Bridge under which she was to pass who not only used reproachful words against her but threw stones and dirt at her forcing her to go back again but in 1265. they were forced to submit themselves to the King for it and the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs were sent to several Prisons Othon Constable of the Tower being made Custos or keeper of the City About this time Leoline Prince of Wales came down from the Mountain of Snowdon to Montgomery and was taken at Bluith Castle where using reproachful words against the English Roger le Strange fell upon him and with his own sword cut off his head leaving his dead body on the Ground Sir Roger Mortimer caused this Head to be set upon the Tower of London crowned with a wreath of Ivy And this was the end of Leoline who was betrayed by the Men of Bluith and was the last Prince of the Brittish bloud who Ruled in Wales In 1290 Several Judges as well of the Kings Bench as the Assize were sent Prisoners to the Tower and with great Sums of Money obtained their Liberty Sir Thomas Weyland had all his Estate confiscated and himself banished Sir Ralph Hengham Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench paid 7000 Marks Sir John Lovet Cheif Justice of the Lower Bench 3000 Marks Sir William Brompton 6000 Marks Yea their Clerks were fined also as being confederate with their Masters in Bribery and Injustice Robert Littlebury Clerk paid 1000 Marks and Roger Leicester as much But a certain Clerk of the Courts called Adam de Straton paid thirty two thousand Marks of Old and new Money besides Jewels without number and precious vessels of Silver which were found in his House together with a Kings Crown whiâ—h some said was King Johns After this the King constrained the Judges to swear That for the future they should take no Pension Fee or Gift of any man except a breakfast or some such small kindness In the 14 of Edw. 2. The King allowed to the Prisoners in the Tower two pence a day to a Knight and a peny a day to an Esquire for their Diet. In 1320. The Kings Justices sate in the Tower for Trial of divers matters at which time John Gissors late Lord Mayor of London and several others fled to the City for fear of being charged with things they had presumptuously done The next year the Mortimers yeilding themselves to King Edw. 2. he sent them Prisoners to the Tower where they were condemned to be drawn and hanged But Roger Mortimer of Wigmore by giving his Keepers sleepy drink made his escape but his Uncle Mortimer died there above 5 years afterward In 1326. The Citizens of London took possession of the Tower and taking away the keys from the Constable they discharged all the Prisoners and kept both the City and Tower for the use of Queen Isabel and her son Edward who was afterward Edw. the III. In 1330 Roger Mortimer Earl of March was taken and committed to the Tower from whence he was drawn to the Elmes and their hanged on the Common Gallows where he hung two days and two nights by the Kings Command and was then buried in the Gray Friers Church This Earl was condemned by his Peers and yet was never brought to make his Defence before them He himself having procured a Law to that purpose by which the Earls of Lancaster Winchester Glocester and Kent were put to death and now he himself suffered by the same Law In the 3. of Edw. 3. 1344. The King commanded Florences of Gold to be coyned in the Tower Perceval de Port of Lake being then Master of the Mint and this is the first coining we read of there we read likewise that the same year the King appointed his Exchange of Money to be kept in Sernes Tower being part of the Kings House in Buckles or Bucklers Bury And we find that in former times all great Sums were paid by weight that is so many pounds or Marks of Gold or Silver cut into blank peices without any stamp upon them and smaller Sums were paid in Starlings which were pence so called for they had no other Moneys This Starling or Easterling money took its name as it is judged from the Easterlings which first made it in England in the Reign of Hen. 2. though others imagine it so called from a Star stamped in the Ring or Edge of the Peny or of a Bird called a Starling stamped on it others yet more unlikely of being coyned at Striveling or Sterling a Town in Scotland but the first Opinion seems the most probable In 1360. A Peace being concluded between England and France Edward the 3d. came back into England and went to the Tower to visit the French King who was Prisoner there setting his Ransome at three Millions of Florences which being paid he was discharged from his Imprisonment and the King conducted him with Honour to the Seaside In the 4th of Rich. 2. 1381. A grievous Tax was laid upon the Subjects which caused much Trouble For the Courtiers greedy to inrich themselves informed the King that the Tax was not so carefully gathered as it ought And therefore they would pay a great Sum of Money to Farm it which they would raise above what it was before by being more severe in gathering it This Proposition was soon accepted so that having the Kings Authority and Letters these Farmers or Commissioners met in several Places in Kent and Essex where they levied this Tax of Groats or Polemoney with all manner of severity which so discontented the
from Henry de Ferraris Master of the Horse to W. Conqueror 55. 〈◊〉 They have kept friendship together many ye 56. Lovimers They have a Hall in Colemanstreet Ward upon London Wall 57 Brown Babers They are or long stand 〈…〉 Incor 10 K.J. â— 58. â—â—â—â—â—ongers Incor 3 K. J. 1. have lost their Charter 59. Vâ—hâ—lsterers Formerly much esteemed but we do not find when Incorporat 60. Turners They were made a Comp. 2 K. J. 1. 61. Glasiers Of ancient Friendship but their Incor unkn 62 Clerks called Parish â—lerks were Incorporated 17 Henry 3. 63. Watermen They are a Brotherhood regulated by the 64. â—â—othâ—â— wies Divided from the Grocers In or 15 K. J. 1. 65. Silk Throwers They were Incor 1. April in the 5 K. Char. Out of the 12 first of these Companies is the Lord Mayor chosen or at least he is made Free of one of them after he is Elected The Livery men of all these Companies meet together at Cuildhaâ—l for chusing Lord Mayor Sheriffs Parliament Men whereof there are four for this City and their Officers which is called a Common Hall They are Elected by the Majority of Voices CHAP. VII The Wards and Precincts of the City of London THE General Division of the Wards of this City since their purchasing the Liberties of Southwark in the County of Surrey consists of twenty six parts which have twenty six Aldermen to govern them the names of which are as follow 1. Towerstreet Ward so called from the Tower of London it contains Sydon or Seething lane part of Mark-lane Mincing lane and Beer lane in which is Bakers-Hal two Lanes called Church-lanes and next to them Fowl lane the Church of St. Dunstans in the East the Custom-house where are paid all the Impositions laid on Merchand ses imported or exported which is so considerable that all the Customs of England being divided into three parts the Port of London pays two Thirds that is above 330000 Pound yearly This House being destroyed by the Fire 1666 is now rebuilt in a more magnificen Uniform and commodius Manner by the King and cost 10000 l. the building In this Ward are the Tower of London two Halls of Companies the Clothworkers and the Bakers It hath an Alderman a Deputy 11 Common Council Men and 3 Parish Churches Alhallows Barking St. Olave Hartstreet and St. Dunstans in the East the last of which with great part of the Ward was burnt down by the Fire but is lately rebuilt and an Organ placed therein It hath 13 Constables 12 Scavengers 13 of the Wardmote Inquest and a Beadle 2. Portsoaken Ward contains the East part of the Tower the Hospital of St. Katharines East-Smithfield and Tower-hill where there is a Store-house for Provisions for the Navy Royal called the Slaughter House the Merchant Taylors have in this Ward Alms-houses for 14 Women next is the Minories then Hog-lane near Goodmans Fields and ends at Petticoat-lane This Ward hath an Aldermen and his Deputy six Common Council Men two Parish Churches Trinity Minories and St. Buttolphs Aldgate 4 Constables 4 Scavengers 18 of the Wardmote Inquest and a Beadle 3. Aldgate Ward so named from the Gate the chief Street begins between the Gate and Limestreet and goes again to Billeter-Lane and Fenchurch-Street to Culver Alley from thence to Crutched Friers Woodroof-Lane Hart-Street and the North end of Mark-Lane where the Ward endeth Wherein there are 3 Parish Churches St. Katharine-Cree-Church St. Andrew Vndershaft and St. Katharine Coleman and there were 3 Halls of Companies that is Bricklayers Fletchers and Ironmongers Hall It hath an Alderman Deputy and six Common Council Men 6 Constables 9 Scavengers Wardmote Inquest 18 and a Beadle 4. Lime-Street Ward bath no Parish Church in it nor any one whole Parish but small Portions only of two Parshes it hath an Alderman his Deputy and four Common Council Men 4 Constables 2 Scavengers Wardmote Inquest Men 16 and a Berdle 5. Bishopsgate Ward part of which is without the Gate from St. Mary Spittle to Bishopsgate and almost half Hounsditch Old Bethlem East of the New Postern to Morefields in this Ward is Fishers Folly now called Devonshire House and lately made into a square with stately Buildings the Old Artillery Ground Spittle Fields now built into Streets and the Church of St. Buttolphs Pishopsgate-gate within the Gate it contains Bishopsgate Street to the East end of St. Martins Outwich Church and then winding by Leadenhall down Leaden Hall Street Great St. Hellens and Little St. Hellens In this Ward there was Bethlem now removed to Morefields St. Mauy Spittle where Sermons were formerly preached Monday Tuesday and Wednesday in Easter week yearly Also the Church of St. Buttelphs Bshopsgate the small Church of St. Ethelborough and the fair Church of St. Helen near this Church a Child was found buried in the Sea-coal Ashes by his unnatural Mother with his Face upward yet found alive without any ragg about it but all bloody because the Navel string was untied and the body crusted over with Sea-coal Durst yet being made clean it was found to be a handsome Manchild without any harm but only by sucking in the Ashes he was Christned and named Job Cinere Extractus Job taken out of the Ashes he lived three days and lies buried in that Church-yard This Ward hath an Alderman and two Deputies one within and another without the Gate eight Common Council Men within and three without the Gate seven Constables seven Scavengers 13 Wardmote Inquest Men and a Beadle 6. Broadstreet Ward so called from the Street wherein is Throgmorton-Street Threadneedle-Street half Finch-Lane and an Alley and to the East end of St. Margaret Lothbury and to a Pump formerly against St. Bennet Fink's Church In this Ward is part of Gresham Colledge and eight Alms-houses the Church of St. Peters Poor in Broadstreet Augustine Friers now the Dutch Church the Church of St. Martins Outwich St. Bennet Fink St. Bartholomew Exchange and St. Christophers Parish also Carpenters Hall Drapers Hall and Merchant Taylors Hall Then there was St. Anthonies Colledge or Hospital which is now a Church for French Calvinists Scalding Ally is the farthest part of this Ward wherin there is an Alderman his Deputy and nine Common Council Men ten Constables eight Scavengers of the Ward note Inquest thirteen and a Beadle 7. Cornhil Ward so called from a Corn-Market anciently kept there It 's chief Ornament is the Royal Exchange formerly called the Burse which was erected in 1566 and burnt down 100 years after in 1666. It was built by Sir Thomas Gresham a noble Merchant and by Command of Q. Eliz. proclaimed and named the Royal-Exchange The Merchants before met in Lumbarddreet after the Fire it was rebuilt most part with Stone with such curious Architecture especially the Front Turret and Arch-work that it surpasseth all other Burses It is Quadrangular with a large Court wherein the Merchants may assemble and the greatest part in case of Rain or Sunshine
and Country who had been quiet for 22 years before so all these calamities were imputed to the Misgovernment of this unhappy Prince The Danes perceiving the Hearts of the Subjects to be drawn from their Sovereign landed in Kerâ— with seven Ships spoiling the Country for eleven years together till at last the King by advice of his Lords paid them ten thousand Pounds to depart the Realm This served for the present but they returned year after year and still obliged the King to give them more Money till at last it came to forty thousand Pound a year which emptied the Land of all the Coin and the English were forced to plough and sow while the Danes sate idle and eat the fruit of their Labours abusing also their Wives and Daughters whereupon they were called Lord Danes now Lurdains signifying a Lazy Lubber In this distressed State the King thought of this expedient to be rid of them He sent out Commissions into every City in his Dominions that at an appointed time they should Massacre all the Danes that were amongst them The Day was Novem. 13 1002 his Command was accordingly performed and that with such Rigour that in Oxford the fearful Danes for refuge took into the Church of St. Frideswide as a Sanctuary of venerable Antiquity but they in their fury regarding neither Place nor Person set the Church on fire wherein many Danes were burnt with divers rich Ornaments and the Library utterly defaced At which time it is said King Etheldred himself was in Oxford and had summoned a Parliament both of English and Danes to meet there and afterwards repaired the Ruins the fire had made In this Masfacre the Lady Gunhild Sister to the King of Denmark and a continual Friend to the English with her Husband and Son were slain Upon the News of this Massacre King Swain with a great Navy of Danes lands in several parts in England and carries all before him and other Danes with 94 ships sailed up the River of Thames and besieged London but the Citizens made such valiant Resistance that they forced them to retire however they fell severely upon Essex Kent Sussex and Hampshire These Calamities were seconded with others as fearful for about this time the City was destroyed by Fire whose beauty then chiefly extended from Ludgate Westward for that within the Walls where the heart of the City now is was then neither beautiful nor orderly built To add to these Miserie 's a dreadful Sickness raged in London and most parts of England hitherto anknown in this Kingdom being a burning Fever and the bloody Flux there was also great scarcity by reason of the Murrain and Death of all sorts of Cattel All these Judgments were imputed to the King and his Abettors Dunstan prophecying further woes to the Land after his death though the King made great lamentation for the Murther of his Brother K. Edward for which his Mother beat him so violently with a wax Taper which stood before her that he could never after well endure the sight of a Taper In 1013 K. Swain came again from Denmark landing a great number of Men in the River Humber and conquered all before him till he came to London and presently besieged King Etheldred within it Swain doubted not of carrying the City but the Citizens considering they had their King with them and that London was the Eye of the Land grew very couragious beating the Danes from the Walls and then sallying out slew them on heaps so that King Swain himself was in great danger had he not desperately ran through the midst of his Enemies Swords and by flight escaped marching day and night in great fear till he had got to Bath where Ethelmere Earl of Devonshire and his people submitted to him but this last overthrow and want of Victuals caused him after he had received a sum of Money to hasten into Denmark but returning with greater Strength he met with the English again and utterly defeated them by reason of the treachery of some English who revolted to the Danes So that the whole Kingdom yea Loudon it self was forced to comply with the calamity of the Times wherewith Etheldred being utterly dejected he sent his VVife Emma and his two Sons to his Brother Richard Duke of Normandy and went himself in one of his Ships to the Isle of Wight and afterwards to Normandy to his Brother leaving the Danes sole Lords and Masters of the Realm A while after King Swain coming to St. Edmundbury in Suffolk threatned to burn down the Church unless they would give him a sum of Money having done the like in several other Places which the Iuhabitants refusing to pay he went to disturb the Bones of St. Edmund so called which while he was doing he suddenly cried out saith the Historian that He was struck by St. Edmund with a Sword being then in the midst of his Nobles and no man seeing from whose hand it came and so with great Horror he died three days after and the Danes advanced Ganutus his Son to the Throne Soon after King Etheldred died also and his third Son called Edmund Ironside of his enduring Labour succeeded A great part of the English both feared and favoured Canutus especially the Clergy who at Southampton swore fealty to him But the Londoners stood firm to Prince Edmund and elected him King In revenge whereof Canutus who had besieged the City before the death of King Etheldred caused his Ships to be towed up the Thames to the East side of the Bridge and from the River with a deep Trench encompassed the City shutting up all the Passages in or out of it But the coming of their new King Edmund to their assistance did much encourage them and disheartned the Danes so that they brake up the Seige King Edmnnd having sent a Challenge to Canutus to fight him in single Combat which he neither accepted nor staid at London but sailed down the Thames to the Isle of Shâ—ppey where he wintred with his Navy and in the Spring assailed the West of England where the Danes were routed After this at a place called Sherostan in Worcestershire another Battle was fought where the Danes were like again to have been discomfited which Edrick an English Man perceiving he cut off the Head of a Soldier whose name was Osmearus who was like King Edmund both in Hair and Countenance and shaking his bloody Sword with the gasping Head cried out to the English Army Fly wrethes fly and get away for your King is slain behold here is his Head therefore seek now to save your own Lives Edmund having notice of this treacherous Stratagem hastned to shew himself whose sight so encouraged his Men that they had got a total Victory if night had not prevented them The Soldiers bent their Bows against Dake Edrick and had shot him to death had he not excused the Fact as being mistaken in the Countenance of the Man and desirous to save the blood
wear the English Crown But Harold being destinated to destruction would neither accept the counsels of his Friends nor the offers of his Enemies but referred the decision to Heaven saying That it should be tried the next day with more Swords than one Next day was the 14 of October which upon a credulous Errour he always held to be fortunate to him it being his Birth-day and therefore he greatly desired to engage in fight His Souldiers likewise dreaming of nothing but Spoil and Victory and that their heads should be crowned with Lawrel spent the preceding night in all manner of Jollity Banquetting Revelling and Noise whereas on the contrary the Normans wisely and seriously considering the great importance of the work they were to engage in applied themselves to their Prayers and Vows for the safety of their Army and its victorious sucâ—ess And in the morning as soon as it was light they were all in Battle Aray and ready prepared to fight Harold likewise with all expedition marshalled his Souldiers placing the Kentish men in the Van according to an ancient custom with their heavy Axes and Halberts the Londoners and the Middlesex men were in that Squadron which he himself and his Brother led The Normans advancing forward discharged a fierce Volley of Arrows like a Tempestuous Hail which was a kind of Weapon the English never understood and therefore thought their Enemies had been in the midst of them already Soon after the Battle began in earnest King Harold like an expert General had placed his men in so firm a Body that no force of the Normans could disorder their Ranks till Duke William used a stratagem commanding his men to sound a Retreat and counterfeit flight though he still kept them in good order The English supposing the Normans to have been fled and themselves Masters of the Field carelesly broke their ranks when suddenly the Normans came on again and fell upon them before they could put themselves in a posture of defence whereby multitudes of them were slain on every side not being able to make head again Yet did not the English leave the Field but resolved rather to maintain their honour in Arms and casting themselves into a Round they preferred dying for their Country rather than to forsake the Standard of their King and thereupon encouraging one another they made resistance for a long time but showers of Arrows like a mighty storm falling among them one of them most fatally and unhappily for the English Nation wounded King Harold into the Brains through the left Eye so that falling from his Horse he was slain under his own Standard and an Ambush of Horsemen cut many others to pieces Duke William fought so valiantly that he had this day three Horses slain under him and King Harold shewed no less courage in killing many Normans with his own hands The Mother of Harold named Thyra offered a great sum of mony for the Kings body which falling among such a multitude it being reckoned that there died about threescore thousand men that day it could by no means be found for it was despoiled of all its Royal Ornaments by the plundering Souldiers so that King Harold lying stript wounded bemangled and gored in his bloud could not be known from another man till a Lady named Editha was sent for who for her extraordinary beauty was called Swans Neck she having been very familiar with him before he was King knew some secret mark in his body by which she discovered him After which the Duke freely delivered it to his Mother and it was buried in Waltham Abby This Battle was fought October 14. 1066. a doleful day of destruction to the English when the Royal bloud of the Saxons perished who first divided this Land into seven Kingdoms and afterwards made of them one glorious Monarchy not inferiour to any in Europe and whose Kings for Valour and Magnanimity were ranked with the greatest in the World But the over-ruling providence of Heaven which sets up and pulls down at pleasure was pleased at this time for the sins of the English or some other cause unknown to us to put the Scepter into the hands of another Family and another Nation Morcar and Edwin Brethren to the unfortunate Queen escaped by night out of the Râ—â—le and came to London where consulting with the rest of the Lords they began to revive their hopes and posted Messengers from thence to raise new Forces And because the English were struck into a dreadful astonishment at the news of this great â—oss they to keep them from despair sent them Word That the chance of War was uncertain the number of the English yet many and there were Commanders enough left to try another Battle Alfred Archbishop of York being President of the Assembly very couragiously and prudently advised â—hat they should immediately proclaim and crown Edgar Atheling the true Heir for their King to which the Londoners and divers Sea Captains agreed But the Queens brethren and likewise the Earls of Yorkshire and Cheshire being themselves â—mbitious of the Crown though their Country was in such a deplorable condition hindered this wise and noble design In the twentieth Year of William the Conqueâ—our there happened so great a Fire in London â—hat from the West Gate to the East it consumed Houses and Churches all the way and among the â—est St. Pauls as much as was combustible was â—urnt to ashes and most of the principal Cities in England were much damaged by Fire Other great calamities likewise happened as Burning Fevers Murrains upon Cattle abundance of Rain and Water-flouds insomuch that the Hills seemed to â—e softned to the very foundation and with their â—all overwhelmed many Villages there was likewise such a dearth in London and England that â—en eat Horses Cats Dogs and mans flesh In 1077. upon Palm Sunday about Noon a blaâ—ing Star appeared nigh the Sun yea which is â—â—range tame Fowls such as Hens Geese Peaâ—cks and the like fled into Forests and Woods becaâ—â—â— wild There was likewise a great Forst which lasted from the middle of November to the midst of March There was also a greaâ— Wind on Christmas day accompanied with a terrible Earthquake This King William seized all the Lands between Barnee and London-stone which belonged to the Abby of St. Albans and also all the Treasure Chalices and Shrines of all the Abbies and Monasteries in England He likewise laid great Taxes upon the Land and caused an exact Survey to be taken of the whole Kingdom so that he knew the value of all the Rents and Profits of the Lands and likewise of all Cities Towns Villages Hamlets Monasteries and Religious Houses causing all the People in England to be numbred and their names taken with an account what every one could spend in the Year After which be exacted fix shillings upon every hide of Land which amounted to a vast sum of money The Book which contained this Actual Survey was called by the English
you have already an account After the death of King John his eldest Son Henry being not above ten years old succeeded him and was therefore very unfit to govern in such a distracted time when a great part of the kingdom had sworn Allegiance to Prince Lewis However upon October 8. 1216. he was crowned at Glocester by the name of Henry the Third where besides the usual Oath taken by all Kings he did Homage also to the Church of Rome and to Pope Innocent for the kingdoms of England and Ireland and promised the true payment of the Thousand Marks a year which his Father had granted to the Church of Rome And then William Marshal Earl of Pembroke was by general consent made Protector of the Realm during the Kings Minority In the mean time Lewis who thought himself sure of the kingdom by the death of King John now hearing of the solemn Crowning of the young King with such unanimous consent he begins to grow jealous of the English Lords who indeed had some conflicts in their minds whom they should obey they thought it great ingratitude to forsake Prince Lewis whom they themselves had invited to come and yet it seemed extream disloyalty to stand in opposition to Henry their innocent natural Soveraign but the discovery of Viscount Melun that Lewis intended to extirpate all the English Nobility and the curse of Wallo the Popes Legate against all who should join with Lewis with divers other reasons caused the principal of them to shrink from Lewis and join with King Henry as thinking no obligation so great as Allegiance many others staid with Lewis as thinking none greater than an Oath And now Prince Lewis fearing that his enemies having gotten an head should likewise gather a head and draw more Forces together staying himself in London sent his Lieutenant with an Army of Twenty thousand to take in what Towns he could get some of which they took with small resistance but William Earl of Pembroke the Protector coming against them with an Army utterly routed Lewis and took most of the Lords that adhered to him Prisoners and though his Father Philip sent him more Forces yet they were defeated at Sea so that Lewis upon payment of some monies and other conditions returned into France and King Henry took an Oath and for him the Popes Legate Wallo and the Protector That he would restore to the Barons of the Realm and other his Subjects all their Rights and Priviledges for which the discord began between the late King and his People And afterward he confirmed the two Charters of Magna Charta and Charta Forestae granted by his Father King John In the Tenth year of King Henries Reign and the nineteenth of his Age he claimed to take the Government upon himself and no longer to be under a Protector after which there presently appeared the difference between a Prince that is ruled by good counsel and one that will do all of his own will and take no Advice For thirteen years he was ruled by a Protector and then all passed as it were in a calm without noise or clamour but as soon as he took upon him the Government storms and tumults presently arose neither was there any quietness with the Subject nor himself nothing but Grievances all the long time of his Reign For as soon as he was crowned again he presently cancels and annuls the Charter of the Forests as granted in his Nonage and therefore not bound to observe it and then makes a new Seal forcing all that had Grants by the former to renew them whereby he got abundance of money After which he goes over into France to recover his Rights there to which purpose he raises great sums of money from the Londoners for Redemption of their Liberties About which time Constantine Fitz-Arnulf a Citizen of London upon a tumult which arose in the City at a Wrestling which he purposely appointed endeavoured to set up Lewis again and in the heat of the disturbance he traiterously cried out Mountjoy Mountjoy God for us and our Lord Lewis And though the Lord Mayor who was a very discreet person earnestly persuaded them to be quiet yet Constantine by his seditious Orations had made the people incapable of good counsel so that there was little hope of appeasing them The Lord Chief Justice having notice hereof presently raised Forces and entered the Tower of London and sent for the principal men of the City to come before him who all disclaimed their being concerned therein and charged Fitz Arnulph to be the chief Author thereof But he resolutely answered That he had not done so much therein as he ought Whereupon he was condemned to die together with the Crier who published the Proclamation and his Nephew and was accordingly executed though when he saw the Halter about his neck he offered Fifteen thousand Marks for the saving of his life This Execution being done without noise or the knowledge of the Londoners the Lord Chief Justice comes into the City and apprehending several who where guilty of this Tumult he causeth their hands and feet to be cut off for a terrour to the rest and then set them at liberty The King likewise deposed several of the Magistrates but afterwards finding that the baser sort of People onely were concerned in the Disorder he thereupon was reconciled to the City About this time an Execrable Impostor was brought before the Archbishop of Canterbury who observing how easily the People were deluded in those times of Darkness and Superstition he impudently caused himself to be wounded in his hands feet and sides that by the resemblance of these bloudy Impressions he might be acknowledged for their very Saviour who was thereupon deservedly immured up between four Walls and with him a wretched Woman who pretended to be Mary the Mother of this Christ and some say another who called her self Mary Magdalene this punishment being thought fittest for such Miscreants as Monsters too impious and unworthy to die by Humane hands though it is very remarkable that this man should have such a severe judgment at Oxford and yet St. Francis who was guilty of the same Imposture as to the wounds of Christ though not the name should soon after be canonized at Rome for the chief of Saints and perhaps if this Monster had been at Rome he had been likewise Sainted and if Saint Francis had been at Oxford he had been immured King Henry returning from France brought over many French men with him which he puts in places of Trust and Profit and removes and fines his old Officers The Lords could no longer endure so many indignities to see themselves slighted and Strangers advanced their Persons likewise exposed to danger and their Estates to ruine for which they could find no remedy but the Kings confirming their Charter of Liberties wherein it is strange to see upon what different grounds the King and the Lords went It seems the King thought that to