the Bridge-house London about nine years where as is well known to many he did faithfully and industriously serve the City and meerly for his good services done there and for his great fidelity in acting for the just Interest of the City as by Orders of Court he was Ordered to do and as by his said Place and his Oath he was bound to do against the wills and mislead apprehensions of some persons he became a very great sufferer to the spoyl and ruine thereby of him his wife and many children being now destitute of imployment for his and their maintenance is forced to become a Suitor to your Honour and Worships That in consideration of his said faithful services and great sufferings you would favourably choose and admit him a Bridgemaster of London Bridge into one of the places now void whose fidelity and ability in serving as Clerk-Comptroler there nine years as aforesaid hath been largely manifested which renders him fit able and capable for the Execution thereof wherefore I being infirm in body unable to waite on you myself to move your favours on hiâ— behalf am bold hereby to recommend him unto your Choice as aforesaid being well assured of his care fidelity and good ability in all respects to servâ— you therein humbly praying your Lordship and Worships and all mâ— good freinds in and about London Westminster and Southwark who havâ— Right in the said choice favourably and freely to choose and admit hiâ— thereunto who hath so faithfully carefully and industriously served we deserved from and greatly suffered for the Cities interest without aâ—â— Reward and with very hard usages as are largely set forth in other wrâ—tings he will present unto you Thus begging your Pardon for this my prâ—sumption in all Humility I subscribe my self Your most devoted Friend and Servant Tho. Lee. Justice of the Peace at Newington-Butts in Surrey 〈…〉 Names are subscribed Justices of the Peace for the County of Surrey and Burrough of Southwark do hereby also recommend unto your Choice and pray your Favours on the behalf of the said Mr. Rich. Lee as aforesaid most humbly also subscribing our selves Your most faithful friends and Servants Hunsdon the Earl of Dover's Son Edmund Bowyer Knight and Barronet William Haward Knights Tho. Foster Knights George Chute T. Barker James Reading Peter Rich Justices Rich. How Justices Jos Coling Justices Jo. Freeman Will. Castle We whose Names are Subscribed Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex and City of Westminster do also recommend unto your Choice and pray your favour on the behalf of the said Mr. Richard Lee as aforesaid most humbly also subcribing our selves Your faithful friends and servants Tho. Gery Knights Will. Bowle Knights Edm. B. Godfrey Knights Charles Pitfield Justices James Deuy Justices Ellis Lloyd Justices Edw. Parry Justices Hum. Weld Justices Peter Sabbs Justices The said Rich. Lee having too late Knowledge of the vacancy of the said Places to make his personal Applications to the Commoners of London therefore is forced at great charges to Print and Publish abroad among all good Citizens these his Requests A true Copy of his Reversion before mentioned To all Christian People to whom these Presents shall come or that the same shall hear sée oâ— Read Henry Garway Lord Mayor of the City of London and the Aldermen of the same send Greeting Know ye That at a Court holden in the Chamber of the Guild Hall of the said City upon Tuesday the Eight day of October last past before day of the Date hereof before Sir Morris Abbot Knight then Lord Mayor of the City of London and the Aldermen of the same City then present amongst other things is Entred and Recorded as followeth Viz. This day at the Request of the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor this Court doth freely and lovingly Give and Grant unto Richard Lee Son of Lancelor Lee of Alveley in the County of Sallop Esq the Reversion and next Avoidance of the Clerkship of the Bridge-house at what time soever the same shall first and next happen to fall or become void To have hold Exercise and Enjoy the same Place with all Fees Profits and Commodities thereunto due and of Right belonging so long as he shall well and honestly use and behave himself therein saving to all and every other person and persons his and their Right and Interest in and to the same by force and vertue of any former Grant made thereof by this Court and so alwayes and upon condition That he the said Richard Lee at such time as he shall come to claim and Enjoy the benefit of this his Grant be thought and adjudged by this Court fit apt and able for the due Execution thereof and not otherwise In faith and testimony whereof We the said Lord Mayor and Aldermen have caused the Seal of the Office of Mayoralty of the said City to be put to these Presents Dated at London the tenth day of January in the year of our Lord 1639. And in the 15th year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charles by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. Michel A true Copy of the Auditors and Committees Certificate before mentioned To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Councel Assembled We the Auditors of the Bridge-house Accompts and Committees for Leasing of the Lands and Tenements belonging to the Bridge house London whose Names are subscribed do certify that we have perused the several Books and Writings belonging to the said Bridge house written and made up by Rich. Lee Clerke there and do find that there hath been and is a great deal of Labour Pains and Attendants required continually to be by him performed in the Execution of his said Place and that all the Fees and Profits now allowed unto him the Sallery of fifty pounds per Annum which was formerly allowed to his Predecessors being lately Ordered to be â—ith-held are very small and do not amount unto a competent maintenance for his subsistance any wayes equivolent to his Labours Endeavours and Attendance therein And do therefore think it Requesite Just and Reasonable that he be confidered for the time past and that the said Fee of Fifty pound Pounds a year may be restored unto him for the future All which nevertheless we humbly recommend and leave to your Honours and Worships Wisdomes and further Order Dated the 25th day of May Anno 1652. John Wollaston John Stone Fr. Pecke Henry Brandreth A true Copy of the Bridgemasters Certificate before mentioned We whose Names are Subscribed Wardens of London Bridge do humbly certify on the behaâ—â— of Rich. Lee Clerk Comptroler of the Bridge-house that he together with a Clerk which he keeps and imploy for his assistance have taken a great deal of Pains Labour and Industry in performance of his said Place since his admission thereunto and we do humbly conceive that the Profits he hath received therein have been very small much beneath his Pains Endeavours and attendance therein and that all the just Fees and Profits payd and allow'd to him cannot nor do amount unto above forty pounds a year one year with another besides his dwelling house witness our Hands May 25. 1652. Bridgemasters Fra. Kirby Nich. Clagett And although he had two such Certificates under the hands of the hands of the Bridgehouse Auditors Committees and Bridgemasters twice almost every year for about 9 years together and did present his Petition with his Certificates annexed to the Court of Aldermen and Common-councel very often every year for the restoration of the antient Sallery of 50 ll a year and did by great means and endeavours prosecute the same yet could never get the same restored by reason of the Opposers and Obstructors mentioned To the Right Honourable Sir Fran. Chaplin Kt. Lord Mayor and to the Right worshipful the Aldermen Masters Wardens Assistants and Liveries of the several Companies of the Honourable City of London Whereas Rich. Lee late Clerk Comptroler of the Bridgehouse London and many years associate to the Clerk of Assizes of the home Circuite being now destitute of Imployment for the maintenance of him his wife and many small Children is humbly bold to become a suitor unto you to choose and admit him a Bridgemaster of London Bridge We whose Names are subscribed upon good grounds and large testimonials of his good deserts of his care fidelity and good ability to do and perform business do therefore hereby recommend him unto your choice praying your Favours freely to choose and admit him thereunto accordingly whereof having good hopes we subscribe our selves May 30. 1678. Your most faithful Friends and Servants Fr. North Will. Mountague Tho. Twisden Will. Wilde Hugh Windham Tim. Littleton Tho. Jones Fd. Thurland The said Rich. Lee most humbly also prayes That no matter in his said Case mentioned may be understood as by him intended to Reflect on any worthy Aldermen or Citizens of London or in a general â—anner nay he professeth he intends them not to reflect on all who were seduced in those cases but on those who were Seducers and acted more from a Revengeful than a just and right spirit strangely byassed and self-ended FINIS
THIS MOST Deplorable CASE Of an Antient CITIZEN VVHO Hath been an Old Honest and faithful Servant of and very great Sufferer for the Interest of the City of LONDON is most Humbly desired to be Read over by all good Citizens with great Care Seriousness and due Consideration LONDON Printed in the Year 1678. To the Right Honorable Sir Francis Chaplin Knight Lord Mayor and to the Right Worshipful the Aldermen Common Council Masters Wardens Assistants and Liveries of all the several Companies of the City of London The Case and Humble Remonstrances of Richard Lee Citizen and Fishmonger of London who hath been of the Livery of that Company near 30 years Aged 56 years having had 17 Children Humbly shewing THat 40 years agoe he came to London and serv'd his Unkle Mr. John Lee Deputy to the Town-Clerk of London and Clerk of Fishmongers-Hall Bridewel and Bethlem 8 years and about 1648. he was admitted Clerk Comptroller of the Bridge-house London wherein he serv'd about Nine years till for the Causes hereafter mentioned in the year 1657 he left and surrendred the same Place Also he served as Clerk and Associate to the Clerk of Assizes of the home Circuit many years till for hopes of better Preferment he also left that Place whereof being disappointed having no Imployment a great charge of Children to maintain being willing to be improving what he had and to be doing what he could for the maintenance of him his wife and many small children he took a Brew-house and followed the Brewing Trade from 1657 till 1667 with very unhappy success Malt Coles and Hops being all generally in those years very dear and the dreadful and contagious Sickness and Fire also faâ—lâ—ng very heavy upon him whereby and by very many great Losses and crosses he susteined by bad Customers and desperate Debts and other ways by the succession and concurrency of all which several cross Providences he suffered so greatly that he was disabled longer to carry on his said Trade but in 1667 was forced to leave off and sell his Brew-house and all Appurtenances for 530 l. which cost him 1600 lib. in Purchasing Building and Planting his real Losses by his said several sore Sufferings amounting to above 5000 lib. And after he had left off his said Trade with so great loss he used all means he could to get into some certain and setled Imployment for their Maintenance but could meet with none so that ever since 1667 he hath acted only as a Sollicitor whereby having been other ways imploy'd many years as aforesaid he hath found but little benefit for their Maintenance wherefore he is still necessitated to seek for a certain and setled imployment and hearing that both the Bridge-Masters of London Bridge are lately dead and their Places void whereby he hopes that a good Door of hope by Providence is opened for his comfort after all his sore disconsolations he having many great Reasons and good ground of hopes for the most considerable weighty causes herein mentioned and made known not doubting but they will take deep impressions in the hearts of all good Citizens and move them to take special cognizance consideration and commiseration thereof in favor to him and his Therefore he is imbolden'd to become an humble Suitor that he may be freely chosen and admitted a Bridge-Master into one of their Places Reason 1st Because when he was admitted into the Clerkship of the Bridge-house one Mr. White who had for several years been Clerk to the Committees of the City whereby he had great Acquaintance and favour with many of the then Aldermen he being a Suitor also and Competitor with the said Richard Lee for the Place was malitiously invective against him because he had carried the Place from him which malice he did bear and pursue against him nine years together irreconcileably and did closely work with several of the Aldermen his Friends and tried all Projects they could to get the said Richard Lee out and put the said Mr. White in which to effect they informed the Court of Aldermen that the said Clerkship was much more profitable than indeed it was whereby as they designed they prevailed with the Court to order the antient Sallery of 50 lib. a year always paid to former Clerks there to be with-held from the said Richard Lee hoping thereby to discourage him so that without doubt he would have declin'd and have accepted that barren Place without the said antient Sallery as he would not had he not been confident it should soon in Right and Reason have been restored again then they might have usher'd in their good friend Mr. White to whom they could soon have restor'd the said Sallery though the same nor any part thereof for the causes herein mentioned was ever paid to the said Richard Lee during his stay there to his great grief dammage and wrong Notwithstanding in 1639 the Reversion of the said Place with all Fees Profits Commodities and Appurtenances c. was Purchased and Granted to him by the Court of Lord May or and Aldermen in the Mayoralty of Sir Morris Abbot under the City Seal and therefore by the Custome and Usage of this City it was his just and undoubted Right and ought not to be detein'd from him and his Father did purposely at great Charges breed him up a Clerk to enable and make him fit for the execution of the said Place after the best manner for Learning and Clerkship yet though often every year he continued there he Petitioned the Court of Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council for Restoration thereof with Certificates annexed under the hands of the Auditors of the Bridge-house Accompts and of the Bridge-Masters who had the Proposal and Inspection of all Accompts Books Writings and concerns there and therefore were best able to Judge and Report of his care labours and fidelity in the Execution of his Duty therein and of the smallness of his Profits far short of his Deserts not amounting to a competent Maintenance for him Therefore certifying that they thought fit and reasonable the said Sallery should be paid to him from his Admittance and fully restored to him for the future And the several Lord Mayors Aldermen Auditors Committees and many of the Common Council often every year promised him that it should be restor'd and payd to him accordingly though delayed and never perform'd to him during his stay there who as is well known and was often acknowledged by many did in his time there as well perform his Duty in the Execution of his said Place and as good service for the City as any Clerk there ever did and therefore deserv'd the said antient Sallary as any Clerk there ever did and more especially it being his right by Purchase and Grant under the City Seal as aforesaid And it hath been restored and constantly paid to all Clerks there almost ever since he was fore'd for want of a competent Maintenance and continual Abuses and unkindnesses
as herein are mentioned voluntarily to leave the said Place after he had serv'd the City therein carefully faithfully diligently and industriously about Nine Years without any Sallary or Reward for his extraordinary Labors which all Clerks there before and since him ever had but were ever unjustly and undeservedly kept from him only for the causes herein mentioned Reason 2. Because at his first Admittance to the Place he found many Accompts Bills Orders and Writings thereof long standing not made up or Entred as they ought to have been by his Predecessors there and all Business very imperfect and greatly out of order so that he was necessitated at his own charges to hire a Clerk at dear Rates to sit constantly with him above eight Months together to make up Enter perfect and put all things in good order and also he and his said Clerk took great pains above six Months together after perusing all the Leases and Writings there and taking out Breviates of them and making two great Books of all the Tenants Names Date Rent and term to come of every Lease whereby upon Demand he could readily give Accompt of every Lease Tenant and House Also he and his Clerk took a great deal of pains a long time together in perusing many long and great Writings in much writing and often carrying them and attending with them upon Serjeant Maynard Serjeant Conyers Mr. Philips and other Council for their advice thereon concerning Sir George Monax his Lands all which were extraordinary Labours for which he ought to have been paid and the several Lord Mayors Aldermen and Committees and many of the Common Council often promised every year that he should be well paid though always delay'd and he never received one penny for the same Also Gratuities of 10 lib. and 5 lib. at a time were usually given to his Predecessors Servants for their Labours but never a Penny to any of his by reason of Persons ever obstructing as herein is mentioned Reason 3. Because some time before his admittance to the said place a Lease waâ— granted to Alderman Fowke and another to Gilbert Keate Esq of Houâ—es Ware houses and Ground in Water-lane Tower-street which did lie intricately intermixed with and between Ground and other great Buildings of their own so that for long timâ— there had been great jars contests and continual complaints betwixt them and many Views by the City Committees for settlemet thereof to assertain both theirs and thâ— Cities Rights by strickt Admeasurement of the Dimensions who did fairly and justly set down in writing each Parties right exactly strictly ordering the Clerk of the Bridgâ— house so directly to express the same in their several Leases not otherwise as theâ— were so done yet notwithstanding such cares and endeavors and Orders of the Committees upon many Views though Alderman Fowk was present at the Views and dissented not yet four or five years after his Lease was made did twice or thrice almoâ—â— every week send for the said Richard Lee to his House keeping him often there prâ—vately till past one of the Clock in the night by all Arguments labouring with him â—â—race several whole Lines out of the Lease and to write in the room thereof what he haâ— prepar'd in writing which was greatly differing from the said Orders of Court greatly to the indangering of the Cities Right and promoting of continual Jars and Vexations betwixt him and Mr. Keate and for the first two years â—ogether did only use fair perswasions to prevail to get it done to his wiâ—l whereby not prevailing he did for about three years more together after use very harsh and severe words and threats in a tyrannical manner to force him to do it saying often to him Mr. Lee Do you not know that I was an Instrument to turn Mr. Mongre your Predecessor out of his place whereby you got into his place by which words implying that if he would not do it he would also work him out of his place whereto he modestly Replyed Sir I hope that you nor any else shall find any such causes to turn me out of my place as by Relation were against Mr. Mongre Alderman Fowke added further and often used to hint the same words Mr. Lee You have a long time and often Petitioned the court of Aldermen and Common-council to restore you to the antient Salary of 50 lib. a year and to gratifie Your extraordinary Labour which I think you deserve and its just and fit should be done for you Therefore consider Mr. Lee be not averse in what I require of you who can soon help you in what you Petition for Therefore Mr. Lee be not perverse to me for what I desire shall not be to the prejudice of the City Whereto Richard Lee again replied Sir I hope you will not impute me averse or perverse to you or that I would in the least offend you or deny to serve you in any thing I justly may Therefore I hope you will be so favourable and just as to be friend me in my just Petition which you have been pleas'd very often to say it was just and fit to be granted to me yet nevertheless I hope that no self-ends shall ever tempt me to act unfaithfully and as for what you require me to do It hath upon many Views and Orders of Court been specially Ordered to be done word for word as it is done and not otherwise so that if I should privately alter it but a tittle and seal the Lease I should be concluded very unfaithful and justly turn'd out of my Place for a Knave And when Alderman Fowke found after about five years tryal by sore tormenting and wearying of me by all fair and foul means and could not force me to do it he having his Lease in his own hands got it alter'd to his mind and signed by two of the Committee who were ignorant of the Alteration then sent for me gave me his Lease and order'd me the next day after he being then Lord Mayor to attend the Court of Aldermen with his and all other Leases ready for sealing to be sealed I humbly pâ—ay'd his Lordships excuse saying I ought not I durst not offer 〈◊〉 to be seal'd without first acquainting the Court with the said alteration as I did openly and fully which greatly inragâ—d his Lordship buâ— though he was then Lord Mayor yet could not get it seal'd Reason 4th Because about the year 1651 several Joâ—rneymen Carpenters Maâ—ons Labourers and other Woâ—kmen then Servanâ—s belonging to the Bridge-house 〈◊〉 out of just honest and good Principles did exhibite about 40 Articles against the Purâ—eyor of the Bridge-house for purloyning and carrying away by Water and Land from the Bridge-house and the buildings thereto belonging at several times and concerting to his own use at his own Buildings then at Deptford and other places great quantities of Timber Planks Deal Boards ready plain'd shot and fitted for use Stones Lead Iron Spikes Nayls and
all manner of Materials which should have been used at the Bridge-house Buildings which were then credibly valued to be worth above 600 lib. Sterling to the great dammage of the City whereby he who few years before come to the Bridge-house very poor was then by such Practices become very rich When the said Articles were first exhibited the poor Exhibitors thereof were greatly thanked commended and charged to go on to prosecute effectually by the Aldermen and Committee appointed to examine and hear the same and it did go on prosperously with great applause and incouragement to the Prosecutors at several of their first meetings But after the said Purloyner whose place there was to overlook the Workmen and Labourers the Goods Materials and the Utensils of the House and to warn all Courts and Committees and to atiend and keep their Doors whereby he had great opportunities to be well known to them who knew well how to tell his own Tale and by his subtle insinuations to get credit and favour with them and having got time did so prevail with several of the Aldermen and Committee to be strongly on his side being ignorant of his Devices and evil Practices who did pervert most of the Committee so that at many Meetings of the Committee after the Tyde was so turn'd that the poor Prosecutors instead of being incouraged as before were altogether curb'd checkt and discouragâ—d only supported by some few the poor men being so overaw'd the work of Justice was at a stand without hopes of future good which made the Purloyner impudent and insolent greatly to vapour insult and in his pufft-up pride and confidence to arrest some of the poor Prosecutors for defaming him and being so befriended he was Cock-sure thereby to have affrighted and stopt further proceedings And indeed they being poor and so much discouraged by their Masters not only so deserting them and their Cities just cause but by their so highly owning the Purloyner they had reason to have declin'd and had done had they not been honest and courageous resolving not to be conquered by his so impudent actings nor by the checks of the Aldermen Committe Bridge-masters or any oâ—hers discouraging them well knowing their cause to be so just and good And they did come and advise with and earnestly intreat the said Richard Lee to give them help in their just prosecution else they said by their want of skill and knowledge the Advers Party by their over-potency would overpower them who by his Oath being bound to be faithful in his place in all things for the good of the City Thereupon though he well knew the potency of the Adverse party and the meanness and unlikeliness of the poor Men so mightily oppos'd to prevail let their cause be ever so just yet the said Richard Lee thinking it his Duty what justly he could do he ought to do therein and did undertake with his might the management thereof it being for the Cities Right and to preserve the poor men in their just cause though so much oppos'd by those who ought not to have done it from being run down and ruin'd by them for their honesty and faithfulness to the City their Masters And the said Richard Lee though greatly against his own interest to act against the Purloyner being so strongly own'd by many of the Aldermen and Committee and both the Bâ—â—ge-Masters who were made Judge in the case he the said Richard Lee then having his Petition and Certificates annexed lying before the Court of Aldermen and Common Council for restoring to him his said antient Salary of 50 lib. a year and for gratifying his extraordinary Labours as aforesaid yet the said Richard Lee for the Cities good waved his own Interest and did resolvedly go on therewith and drew up their Articles in a right form and put all their Charge and what every witness could say in good order and then procur'd the Committees to meet again several times and to examine and hear the matter in difference in order to do Right and Justice and give Judgment and did what possibly he could therein yet all would amount to nothing the Purloyner being still so own'd and the poor men so curb'd that the Purloyner grew so hardy that shortly after he also arrested the said Richard Lee for defaming him no other ways but in doing his Duty in the said prosecution as a sworn Servant to the City and did stoutly prosecute them all at the Assizes in Surry and though â—e thought assuredly to have eaten up the poor men alive he being rich and having many great persons siding with him and did use as great means as possibly he could by appearance of Aldermen Committee men both the Bridge-Masters divers of the Bridge-house chief Work-masters and Servants and the chiefest of the Learned Counsel in the Law on his side far beyond what the poor men were able to procure yet the poor Defendants at the Tryal at the Assizes notwithstanding all disadvantages did obtain a Verdict against the Plaintiffs And indeed it was a very long and tedious Tryal heard with great patience and great respects to the many Great and Grave Men who were on the Plaintiffs or Purloyners side yet the honest Jury being upon their sacred Oaths better observ'd the good Scripture-Rules had more respect to the truth of the Evidence and justness of the Cause than to the persons of grave men therefore justly and honestly found for the poor honest Defendants against the rich and highly mannag'd Plaintiffs thirty or forty Witnesses upon their Oaths on each side being fairly examined and heard which Verdict given did greatly put to shame all the Great and Grave peâ—sons and all others who so unjustly sided with the Purloyner and had so many years retarded Justice who were in a shameful manner hissed out of the Court. And after obtaining of the said Verdict the poor abused Defendants most justly applied again to the Court of Aldermen and Committee humbly certifying their said Verdict appealing for further Justice against the Purloyner and upon very hard and close pursuit thereof for about half a year together after prevail'd to have several re-examinations and Rehearings and Judgment upon the whole matter whereupon they also being soundly rous'd up for shame found him Guilâ—y and justly turn'd him out of his place to the great shame there also of all who had so long retarded and would have perverted Justice which great contest hung in great pain and Travel for want of good Midwivery above three years and a half almost to the utter ruine of the poor prosecutors the long forced prosecution whereof cost them out of their own purses above 100 lib. yet upon their humble and importunate petititoning the Court of Aldermen to allow them their Expences and consideration for their loss of â—ine by their Attendances and good Services done to the City they had but 30 lib. upon all these considerations given them in full for all to the
clear loss and dammage of the said Richard Lee above 60 lib. out of his own purse besides his loss of time above three years and half together his Labour Attendances and doing all Writings concerning the said long Prosecution better worth then 50 lib which good Works were greatly applauded and commended by many good Citizens though they prov'd undeservedly to the dammage and ruine of him the said Richard Lee his Wife and many small Children by his intermedling therewith because though often every year during his continuance at the Bridge-house he Petitioned the Court of Aldermen and Common Council to restore to him the said antient Sallary of 50 lib. a year justly due to him and to reward his extraordinary Labours as aforesaid with Certsficates to his Petitions annex'd under the Auditors and Bridge-Masters hands certifying his great Labours care and fidelity in the execution of his Duty in his said place and of the smallness of his profits he received far short of his Deserts not amounting to a competent Maintenance for him Therefore they thought fit and reasonable the said 50 lib. a year should be paid to him from his Admittance and fully restor'd for the future And the several Lord Mayors Aldermen Auditors Committees and many of the Common Council continually every year promised it should be paid to him accordingly and that he should be gratified for his extraordinary Labours yet they were still delay'd and never performed to him during his stay there though he well deserv'd the same as aforesaid and the Reason why they were not perform'd to him was because the said Mr. Whites Friends the said Alderman Fowke and the Aldermen and Committee-men of the said Advers Party always bore a grudge against him only for his fidelity in speaking and acting on the Cities behalf as by his Oath he was bound to do in the management of the said Cases gasnst their wills and misled Apprehensions Therefore they did oppose and obstruct the Grant of all Petitions he ever could present for the same Whereupon the said Richard Lee having served the City as Clerk of the Bridge-house about Nine years and upon so long tryal finding his profits so small that he could not subsist thereby but for the necessary supply of him and his Family was forc'd every year to waste of his own Stock and grew every year worse worse in his Estate not in the least by improvident living and also finding that by no means possible he could hope for the restoration of the said Sallery of 50 lib. a year nor gratification for his said extraordinary Labours by reason of the said Parties continual opposing and obstructing for no other causes but for his fidelity to the City in the Cases mentioned and that by reason of their undeserved disfavour he could not continue in his Place with any peace comfort or contentment whose implacable Spirits and unjust dealings with him upon all opportunities were unsufferable did more grieve and trouble him he never in the least deserving them than the want of the said 50 lib. a year and gratifications so justly due to him and by their means so long and so unjustly kept from him as hereby evidently appears which were the true sole and only causes of his being forc'd voluntarily to leave and surrender his said Place and consequently of all his said sore losses crosses and sufferings he unhappily underwent since by the Brewing Trade to his dammage above 5000 lib. as aforesaid to the great spoyl and ruine of him his Wife and many Children All which might have been well sav'd and preserv'd to the unspeakable comfort and happiness of him and his if those irreconcilable Gentlemen whose favour he sought by all endeavors had but been courteous and not extremely severe to him as they were beyond measure without any just or rational cause otherwise he had in all probability continu'd still at the Bridge-house and ended his days there and prevented all his said harms which thereafter happen'd to him and his as aforesaid for whose honesty and fidelity to the City in doing his Duty as bound by his Oath in the two last mentioned cases concerning which Cases forty times-more may be said than herein is but hinted to shew the unsavory actings and how greatly the said Richard Lee suffer'd by both the said Parties cruelty for about Nine years together during his whole time of his being at the Bridge-house too tedious to be born or here inserted such a life as they led him so many years together for no other causes but for doing his Duâ—y in those two Cases as mentioned he hereby professeth he would not be hir'd to undergo so many years for 500 lib. a year Sterling in whose Coat they could never pick a hole nor find a blot in his Scutcheon for which they watched and sought for as hid Treasure which if they could they would soon have hit it for brevities sake he 'll add no more here being enough set down to declare how the City hath been greatly wronged by bad Servants and how hardly such brought to punishment not by the Justice of their own appointed Judges who rather indulg'd them and discountenanced their honest Intelligencers their Servants also and suffer'd them to be in danger of ruine for their honesty and fidelity to their Masters giving the Offendors such indulgencie through bewitched incredulity and the contrary to the poor Complainants who being poor and disown'd by their Masters in their just complaint the offenders though guilty being rich and buoyed up grew bold and impudat eresoved to play Counter-scuffle to cudgel or Arest the poor men for Defamation as they did thereby thinking to affright them from further prosecuâ—ion standing upon their Guard of Justification pleading Innocency therefore defam'd by which Indulgency they took Rope long enough to hang or bring themselves to just punishment and whipt themselves with their own Rod the poor Arrested Complainants would not be daunted though poor made Defendants forc'd to Trial and unkindly disown'd and deserted by their Masters but rather than to bend basely under the Offenders feet though through poverty want of great Friends and with all disadvantages trusting to the Justice of the Cause go on courageously to Tryal not before known Friends or Citizens in the City but before strangers in the Country where they obtain'd a just Verdict with Victory and Triumph in three or four days time which they could not do by their greatest endeavors among their Masters in the City in above three years and a half prosecution though for their own Interest and almost to the utter ruine of the poor deserted men and this is a true Parallel of one of the said Cases And if the poor mens Cause had not been honest just and good it was a Miracle they should prevail at the Assizes in the Country among strangers with such disadvantages as they did to the shame of all the Opposers Retarders and Obstructors And that after that Tryal
the Citizens also upon further Applications made to them praying further Justice had Re-examinations and Rehearings and gave their Judgments thereupon and that then they also found the Offendor guilty and turn'd him out of his Place And though they did not pay the poor men their full Expences and Charges they were at nor reward their Labours loss of Time and Attendances nor pay for the many Writings in and about the long retarded Prosecution as they ought liberally to have done considering their great fidelity and their great Abuses there being among them a spice of the said Advers Party who still hindred all they could yet in as much they gave them 30 lib towards the same as aforesaid they thereby own'd their service done and their fidelity to the City and it was no less strange that the Citizens who were first made Judges in the Case in the Cities behalf having the same Testimony and much better Advantage to search out the Truth yet in above three years and an halls time they could not find the Offendor guilty which the poor Country Jury upon their Oaths did in six or seven hours time and then soon after the Aldermen and Committee could also find him Guilty and turn him out of his place as aforesaid notwithstanding the great opposition of the Advers Party who certainly were strongly byassed and strangely perswaded to act so strongly and strangely so many years as they did against the great Interest of the City and with such violent and implacable wrath against the poor honest Prosecutors for the City even to their spoyl and ruine it may be truly said they were very hardly used and sorrily rewarded from first to last for their so long faithful and chargeable good Services done for the City their Masters as aforesaid the good Scripture Caution may conveniently be here added Let not these things be told in Gath nor published in Askelon and for the said Richard Lee his just modest and moderate managing and defending the said just and honest Cause on the Cities behalf as he was by the Aldermen and Committee Order'd to do and as by his Place and Oath he ought to do he did do and perform the same honestly and faithfully not as being forward or putting himself on therein but as being order'd as aforesaid yet for those his faithful actings by reason of the disfavour of the said Advers Party of the said Alderman Fonke and of the said Aldermen the said Mr. Whites Friends only for the causes mentioned the said Richard Lee doth here affirm that in the very time of his Nine years continuing Clerk of the Bridge-house he clearly lost and suffer'd out of his Purse thereby above 1500 lib. Sterling and of the truth hereof and how he doubts not but to give fair and full satisfaction to any good Citizens besides the into Herable Abuses and Injuries he undeservedly yet patiently suffer'd the Nine years of his continuance at the Bridge-house from those said Parties which he would not have indured for 500 lib. a year as aforesaid besides the loss of his said Bridge-house Place where he hoped to have ended his days only occasioned by their undeserved unkindnesses and hard usages and by their unjust obstructing his Rights and just and reasonable Maintenance from him as aforesaid and besides his misfortunate and most unhappy sore Sufferings afterwards by his Brewing Trade consequently also occasioned only by their gross abuses to his dammage above 5000 lib. as aforesaid to the great spoyl and ruine of him his Wife and many Children all which otherwise might have been well saved and preserved to them to their great comfort and happiness All which matters with the matters in his several Certificates asserting truth upon just serious and judicious considerations he humbly hopes will be adjudged good grounds and inducements to prevail with all Right Honourable Honourable Right Worshipful and Worshipful Citizens and with all good Citizens good men and good Christians in tender consideration of the Premisses to have respect to him who hath undergone such long tryals so many hard usages so many great Losses crosses and sufferings unjustly and undeservedly for his honest faithful and unrewarded services for the Cities interest even to the sacrifising himself and all his and is now destitute of imployment and that you would favourably think fit by your free Election to admit him into one of the said Bridgemasters places rather to gratify and raise from death to life him who hath so justly faithfully and industriously served so greatly suffered for and so well deserved from the City than on any others who have not such causes such necessities or such deserts to merit the same from the City as he hath as is here amply demonstrated hardly to be paralleld who by his many years Experience by his service as Clerke there better knows and understands the Books Writings Records Orders Business and concerns of the Bridgehouse than any man living doth and consequently how to do and act in all things there for the best benefit of the City and as for his care diligence honesty and fidelity to do and perform his duty in the management thereof his former good and faithful services there well known and remembred by many yet living will sufficiently evidence Upon all which moving causes and considerations he humbly hopes that the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor the Right Worshipful the Aldermen Common-councel and Liveries of this Honourable City of London of your accustomed goodness will favourably think him fit and capable and by your free Election of him to admit him into one of the said Bridgemasters places who by God's gracious assistance will ever be most grateful careful diligent and faithful in the due Execution thereof to the utmost of his ability for the Cities best benefit or otherwise he humbly hopes that the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor the Right Worshipful the Aldermen and Common-Councel will be pleased to think fit to Order the said ancient Sallery of 50 l. a year for about nine years service never paid unto him as to all other Clerks there before and since him so justly due to him and so hardly and unjustly kept from him as aforesaid to be paid unto him and reasonable satisfaction for his said extraordinary Labours for moneys he disbursed out of his Purse and for all his Writings Labours and attendances for above three years and a half together in and about the said long Prosecution as aforesaid and some favourable recompence for his hard usages and great sufferings for hâ—s good and faithful services done for the City as aforesaid which he humbly hopes will be adjudged just and reasonable to be granted to him To the Right honble Sir Francis Chaplin Knight Lord Mayor and to the Right VVorshipful the Aldermen Masters VVardens Assistants and Liveries of the several Companies of the Honorable City of London WHereas my Brother Mr. Richard Lee who lately serv'd the City as Clerk Compâ—roler of