it often happens that one years service after seven years shall be expired may be very considerable to the Master A Freemans Widow may take a Maid Apprentice for seven years and Inroll her in like manner as a youth in case she be above fourteen years of age but if the Indenture shall be made for less then seven years it is naught and against the Custom of London and will not oblige the Apprentice If an Exchange-woman or Sempstriss that hath a Husband free of London take a Maid Apprentice such Apprentice must be bound to the Husband and not for less then seven years and may be Inrolled and made Free at the expiration of her term in case she continue so long unmarried If any Master refuse to make his Apprentice Free when the time mentioned in the Indentures is expired such Apprentice may if he have duly served force his Master to make him Fre◠by summoning him before the Court of Aldermen or before the Chamberlain of London for the time being This Court is also a Court of Equity or Chancery for any matters within London and the Liberties thereof and the Recorder for the time being usually sits as Judge or Chancellor to determine such matters The manner of exhibiting a Bill in this Court is thus First it must be drawn and signed by one of the four City Councel whose Fee for perusing and signing thereof is 6 s. 8 d. then it must be ingrossed and entered in Court and one of the Officers belonging to this Court must give the Defendant a Summons personally within the Liberties of London to answer such Bill otherwise he is not obliged to appear The charge of drawing the Bill is 4 d. for every Sheet accounting twelve Lines to a Sheet and 6 d. a Sheet for ingrossing thereof and for the entering it in Court 2 s. and for the Attorney's Fee 3 s. 4 d. If an Action shall be depending in this Court and the party Defendant cannot be relieved but in Equity in such case he may exhibit his Bill against the Plaintiff in the Action and the entring the Bill in Court is a good Injunction to stay the Plaintiffs proceedings at Law without any motion until the Plaintiff shall give in his Answer thereto And note that when the Bill is to be relieved against an Action at Law the Plaintiff in the Bill shall not be compell'd to give the Plaintiff at Law any Summons to make answer to the Bill but if Affidavit shall be made that the Plaintiff at Law was 100 miles from London at the time of the exhibiting the Bill then upon motion to the Court the Plaintiff at Law shall and may proceed to Trial notwithstanding the Bill but Judgment and Execution must stay till the Plaintiff at Law answer the Bill or the Court shall make an Order to the contrary If an Action at Law shall be commenced in the Sheriffs Court the Defendant must cause the Action to be removed into this Court before he can stay the Plaintiffs proceedings at Law by exhibiting a Bill as aforesaid and if the Plaintiff at Law answer the Bill the Plaintiff in Equity may in eight days after the Answer put in exceptions to the Answer but if the Answer shall be full and the Plaintiff in Equity cannot prove the matters in his Bill suggested the Plaintiff at Law shall recover all his Costs against the Plaintiff in Equity Note That where a Bill is exhibited and no Action at Law depending the Defendant hath 8 Court days given him to Answer the Bill after his Appearance and if he does not answer the Bill in that time the Plaintiff in Equity may have an Attachment against him for which the Fee is 2 s. 6 d. and the Officers Fee for serving thereof is also 2 s. 6 d. which Fees the Defendant must pay when he gives in his Answer After Answer the Plaintiff may reply generally or specially and may examine Witnesses in like manner as is done in the high Court of Chancery to prove the Equity of his Bill and within a Month after Replication may bring his Cause to a hearing The Town-clerk or his Deputy is appointed to examin all Witnesses on both sides and his Fee for swearing and examining every Witness is 2 s. 4 d. and for the Copies of the Depositions 4 d. per Sheet but for the Copies è contra his Fee is 8 d. per Sheet The Town-clerk's Fee for every Order for publication or hearing of any Cause is but 6 d. and for an Order at hearing but 1 s. but if the Decree be drawn up and inrollect his Fee is 10 d. per Sheet and for the Copy 4 d. per Sheet After a Decree made the Plaintiff must serve the Defendant with a Copy thereof personally and make Affidavit thereof before an Attachment will be granted against the Defendant That the Plaintiff may serve the Defendant with a Copy of the Decree in any place whatsoever Note although out of the Liberties of London A Bill may be removed out of this Court into the high Court of Chancery any time before publication is passed after which time the high Court of Chancery will not retain the Cause The manner of removing a Bill out of this Court is thus First the Defendant must file a Bill in the high Court of Chancery against the Plaintiff in this Court and then must at the Registers Office give Bond to prove the suggestions in his Bill within fourteen days and procure Certificate that his Bill is filed and security given as aforesaid and then Petition the Lord Chancellor for a Certiorary to remove the Bill out of this Court And when the Petition is answered by his Lordship the Clerk in Chancery will make the Certiorary which must be delivered to the Town-clerk and he will allow it for which his Fee is 2 s. and then the Attorney for the Defendant in this Court will certifie the Bill Answer and Proceeding into the high Court of Chancery for which his Fee is 10 d. per Sheet If exceptions shall be put in to an Answer in this Court and a Cause at Law depending between the Parties the Plaintiff in Equity must the next Court move for a day to argue those exceptions otherwise they are over-ruled in course If the Defendant in Equity demurr or plead to the Plaintiffs Bill he must the next Court after the Demurrer or Plea is entred move for an Order to argue such Demurrer or Plea otherwise the same will be over-ruled in course and the Defendant will be compelled to give an Answer When a Freeman's Apprentice is legally discharged from his Master his proper way to recover part of the Money which his Master received with him Apprentice is to exhibit a Bill in this Court against his Master but if the Apprentice hath served five years or near that time this Court will not relieve him in ordering any money to be returned unless there be very extraordinary cause A
Lawrence Pountney One hundred and twenty pounds St. Mary Aldermary and St. Thomas Apostles One hundred and fifty pounds St. Mary le Bow St. Pancras Soperlane and Alhallows Honylane Two hundred pounds St. Mildred Poultry and St. Mary Colechurch One hundred and seventy pounds St. Michael Woodstreet and St. Mary Staining One hundred pounds St. Mildred Breadstreet and St. Margaret Moses One hundred and thirty pounds St. Michael Queenhith and Trinity One hundred and sixty pounds St. Magdalen Old-Fishstreet and St. Gregory One hundred and twenty pounds St. Mary Somerset and St. Mary Mounthaw One hundred and ten pounds St. Nicholas Coleabby and St. Nicholas One hundred and thirty pounds St. Olave Jury and St. Martin Ironmonger-lane One hundred and twenty pounds St. Stephen Walbrook and St. Bennet Sheerhogg One hundred pounds St. Swithin and St. Mary Bothaw One hundred and forty pounds St. Vedast alias Fosters and St. Michael Quern One hundred and sixty pounds Which respective sums of money to be paid in lieu of Tithe within the said respective Parishes and assessed c. shall be and continue to be esteemed deemed and taken to all intents and purposes to be the respective certain Annual maintenance over and above Glebes and Perquisites Gifts and Bequests to the respective Parson Vicar and Curate of any Parish for the time being or to his or their respective Successors or to other persons for his or their use of the said respective Parsons Vicars and Curates who shall be legally Instituted Inducted and Admitted into the respective Parishes aforesaid In which Act there is a Provision in these words Provided always and be it Enacted That where any of the Parishes within the said City have since the late Fire by death or otherwise become vacant the surviving or remaining Incumbent of the other Parish thereto united or therewith consolidated shall have and enjoy and have like remedy to recover the Tithes hereby settled to be paid as if he had been actually Presented Admitted Instituted and Inducted into both the said Parishes since the Vnion and Consolidation thereof And be it Enacted c. That the Aldermen of such respective Ward or Wards within the said City wherein any of the said Parishes lye and his or their Deputy or Deputies and the Common Councel-men of such respective Parish wherein the maintenance aforesaid is respectively to be Assessed to be nominated by such respective Aldermen Deputy Common Councel-men and Church-wardens or any Five of them whereof the Alderman or his Deputy to be one shall at some convenient and seasonable time before the 20th day of May 1671. assemble c. and they or the major part of them so assembled shall proportionably assess upon all Houses Shops Warehouses and Cellars Wharfs Keys Cranes Waterhouses and Tofts of ground remaining unbuilt and all other Hereditaments whatsoever except Parsonage and Vicarage-Houses the whole respective sum by this Act appointed or so much of it as is more then what each Impropriator is by this Act enjoyned respectively to allow in the most equal way that the said Assessors according to the best of their Iudgments can make it which said Assessments shall be made and finished before the 24th of July then next And be it further Enacted c. That if any variance or doubt happen to arise about any sum so assessed as aforesaid or that any Parishioner or Parishioners or Owner or Owners of any House Shop Warehouse or Cellar Wharf Key Crane Waterhouse or other Hereditament within any of the said Parishes shall find himself or themselves aggrieved by the assessing of any sum or sums of money in manner and form aforesaid that then upon complaint by the party or parties aggrieved to the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen of the said City within Fourteen days after notice given to the party or parties assessed of such Assessment made the said Lord Major and Court of Aldermen summoning as well the party or parties aggrieved and the Aldermen and such others as made the said Assessment shall hear and determine the same in a summary way and the Iudgment by them given shall be Final and without Appeal Provided always and be it enacted That any Assessment or Rate to be made by virtue of this Act shall or may in all or any the Parishes aforesaid in like manner be received or altered or laid again within three months after the 24th day of June 1674. according to the aforesaid Rules and any such Assessment or state shall or may be again received or re-assessed within three months after the 24th day of June 1681. And that all and every such new Assessment and state shall be liable to the like Appeals as aforesaid and shall be collected levied and paid as any other Assessment or Rate mentioned in this Act may or ought to be And be it further Enacted c. That if any the Inhabitants in any respective Parish or Parishes as aforesaid shall or do refuse or neglect to pay to the respective Incumbents aforesaid of any of the said respective Parishes any sum or sums of money to him respectively payable or appointed to be paid by this Act or any part thereof contrary to the true intent and meaning of this Act being lawfully demanded at the House or Houses Wharf Key Crane Cellar or other Premisses whereout the same is payable that then it shall and may be lawful to and for the Lord Major of the City of London for the time being upon Oath to be made before him of such refusal or neglect to give and grant out Warrants for the Officer or Person appointed to collect the same with the Assistance of a Constable in the day time to Levy the same Tithes or Sums of Money so due and in arrear and unpaid by Distress and Sale of the Goods of the party or parties so refusing or neglecting to pay restoring to the Owner or Owners the Overplus of such Goods over and above the said Arrears of the said Moneys so due and unpaid and the reasonable Charges of making such Distress which he is to deduct out of the Moneys raised by sale of such Goods In pursuance of which Act the Lord Major upon Complaint to him made by any Minister against any Parishioner for refusing to pay the Rate assessed will cause such Parishioner to be summoned to appear before his Lordship and if he refuse to appear or to pay the money assessed on his House or Warehouse his Lordship will upon Oath made of the Demand thereof grant his Warrant to Distrein the Goods of such Offender which Warrant is usually as followeth The Form of a Warrant to Distrein for Tithes or Moneys Assessed and Rated to be paid in lieu of Tithes WHereas A. B. is the Parson and present Incumbent of the Parish of St. M. B. in London burnt by the late dreadful Fire and hath for One year at the Feast of the Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary last past and ever since been legally Instituted
unless it be spoken to his said Brother or to other which in his Conscience or Discretion he shall think it to be for the Common weal of this City And that well and lawfully ye shall do all such things that to the Office of Attorney pertaineth to do as God you help The manner of entring Actions in this Court is different from the Sheriffs Court For you cannot enter an Action in this Court at either of the Compters but must go to one of the four Attorneys and enter your Action with him and if it be an Action of Debt it must be entered thus R. B. Defend ' versus G. W. Quer ' in pl'ito deb'ti super demand ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. If in Case In pl'ito transgr ' super cam ' dam ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. If in Trespass In pl'ito transgr ' dam ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. If for Account In pl'ito quod reddat ei computum super receptor ' diversor ' bon ' merchandiz ' ipsius Quer ' ad valenc ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. If for Covenants broken In pl'ito convention ' fract ' damn ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. If in Debt at the Chamberlains Suit J. F. Defend ' versus T. P. Mil ' Camerar ' Civitatis London Quer ' in pl'ito deb'ti super dem ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. If in Debt upon a Penal Statute R. G. Defend ' versus W. B. Qui tam pro Domino Rege quam pro seipso in hac parte sequitur in pl'ito deb'ti super dem ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. When your Action is thus entered by the Attorney or his Clerk you must not imploy any of the Sheriffs Officers to Arrest the Defendant but give your Action or a Note thereof to one of the Serjeants at Mace belonging to the Major and Aldermen There is six Serjeants belonging to this Court who are men of good Estates and do not belong to either of the Sheriffs Most of them attend daily at the Attorneys Offices and one of them is constantly attending at the Lord Majors House If you give any of them a Note of your Action he will Arrest the Defendant and in case such Defendant cannot find Bayl the Officer will carry him to one of the Compters that being the Prison as well for this Court as the Sheriffs Court which Imprisonment and the Cause thereof is constantly Recorded in a Publick Book called the Book of Impri by the Attorney that entred the Action But if the Party arrested find Bayl the eldest of the four Attorneys must take the same he being Clerk of the Bayl 's and in Case he shall take in sufficient Bayl and the Defendant do abscond the Plaintiff may after he hath a Judgment for his Debt or Damages compel the Clerk of the Bails to pay the same Debt or Damages by Petition to the Court of Aldermen or to Mr. Recorder An Action entered in this Court will remain in force for ever although no proceedings be had thereupon whereas an Action entered at either of the Compters dies and may be crossed after sixteen weeks And the Charge of entering an Action in this Court is but 4 d. besides the King's Duty An Action commenced in this Court may be brought to a Trial for 30 s. Charge and in fourteen days time whereas in the Sheriffs Court they require more time and much more money as those that have had occasion know by experience If there happen to be six weeks time between the putting in Bayl to an Action in this Court and the time of the Defendants Plea in such Case the Defendant cannot remove the same Action or Suit into any other Court Note That an Action commenced in this Court cannot be removed into the Sheriffs Court but an Action commenced in the Sheriffs Court may be removed into this Court either by the Plaintiff or Defendant at any time before a Jury is sworn to try the Cause The manner of removing such Action is set forth hereafter If any man that is not a Freeman of London keep any Shop inward or outward within the City or Liberty for the Sale of any Goods or Wares by Retail he forfeits 5 l. for every day and an Action of Debt lies against him for the same in this Court in the Name of the Chamberlain of London for the time being pursuant to an Act of Common Councel made in the-Majoralty of Sir Leonard Halliday Knight which Act is as followeth WHere by the ancient Charters Customs Franchises and Liberties of the City of London confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliament no person not being free of the City of London may or ought to sell or put to sale any Wares or Merchandizes within the said City or the Liberties of the same by Retail or keep any open or inward Shop or other inward place or room for shew sale or putting to sale of any wares or merchandizing or for use of any Art Trade or Occupation Mystery or Handicraft within the same And whereas also Edward sometime King of England of famous memory the third of that name by his Charter made and granted to the said City in the Fifteenth year of his Reign confirmed also by Parliament amongst other things granted That if any customs in the said City before that time obtained and used were in any part hard or defective or any thing in the same City newly arising where remedy before that time was not ordained should need amendment the Major and Aldermen of the said City and their Successors with the assent of the Commonalty of the same City might put and ordain thereunto fit remedy as often as that should seem expedient unto them So that such Ordinance should be profitable to the King for the profit of the Citizens and other his People repairing to the said City and agreeable to reason And whereas by force of the said Customs Franchises and Liberties and of the Charter last aforementioned confirmed as is afore specified by Parliament The Lord Major Aldermen and Commons of the said City did the twelfth day of October in the third year of the Reign of Edward sometime King of England the fourth as a thing thought fit and convenient for that time amongst other things agree and ordain that the Basket-makers Goldwire-drawers and other Forreigners contrary to the Liberty of the said City holding open Shops in divers places of the City and using Mysteries within the said City should not from thenceforth hold Shops within the Liberty of the City aforesaid But if they would hold any Shop or dwell in the same City they should dwell at Blanchappleton and there hold Shops so as they might have sufficient dwelling there And whereas the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons of the same City did afterwards the Sixteenth day of May in the Seventeenth year of the Reign of our late Sovereign Lord of famous
Freeman's Widow by a Bill in this Court may recover her customary part of her Husband's Estate against the Executor of her Husband but if the Executor live out of the Liberties of London she will be compelled to exhibit her Bill in the high Court of Chancery If a Plaintiff in Equity shall be advised not to examin any Witness he may go to a hearing upon the Bill and answer within fourteen days after Answer and in such case the whole Charge will not in probability exceed 3 l. If any person exhibit a Bill in this Court whose Habitation shall be out of the Liberties of London this Court upon a motion will order the Plaintiff to give security by Bond to pay the Defendants Costs in case the Bill shall happen to be dismist or in default thereof will dismiss the Bill and until such Security be given the Court will not compell the Defendant to give any answer to the Bill After answer given to a Bill in this Court if the Plaintiff do not give in Exceptions in eight days the Court upon motion will order the Bill to be dismist unless the Plaintiff do reply in a weeks time For which Order the Fee is 6 d. and in case the Bill happen to be dismist the Fee for drawing up the Dismission is 6 s. 8 d. which will be allowed to the Defendant in the Costs The form or beginning of a Bill in this Court is thus To the Right Honourable Sir R. C. Knight Lord Major of the City of London and to his Right Worshipful Brethren the Aldermen of the same City IN all humility complaining sheweth unto your Lordship and Worships your daily Orator c. The Conclusion thus May it therefore please your Lordship Worships out of your accustomed goodness to cause the said A. B. and E. D. to be warned by one of your Lordships and Worships Serjeants at Mace and Ministers of this Honourable Court personally to be and appear in the same Court at a day certain to be by your Lordship and Worships to them thereunto prefixed then and there to make answer unto all and singular the Premisses upon their Corporal Oaths And that they may be enjoyned to stand unto perform and abide such Order and Decree in the Premisses as to your Lordship and Worships upon hearing the Cause shall seem meet The Practice of the Orphants Court THis Court is held before the Major and Aldermen of the City of London who are Guardians to the Children of all Freemen of London that are or shall be under the Age of 21 years at the time of their Fathers decease The common Serjeant of this City is the only person intrusted by the Court of Aldermen to take all Inventories and Accompts of Freemen's Estates And the common Crier is intrusted to summon all Executors and Administrators of Freemen to appear before the Court of Aldermen to give in Inventories and Accompts of the personal Estate of such Freemen The youngest Attorney in the Lord Major's Court is always Clerk of the Orphants and is appointed to take all Securities for Orphants Portions which Securities are constantly taken in the name of the Chamberlain of London for the time being And the Custom is that in case the Security live out of London they are taken bound by Bond but if they live within London they are constantly bound by Recognizance When a Freeman of London dies leaving Children under age the Clerks of the respective Parishes within the Bill of Mortality ought to give the name of such Freeman to the common Crier of this City who is thereupon to summon the Widow or Executor of such Freeman to appear before the Court of Aldermen there to be bound to bring in an Inventory of the Testator's Estate And note that the Court of Aldermen always allow two Months time for the bringing and exhibiting such Inventories If the party summoned do not appear the Lord Major may if he please send his warrant and force an appearance And if any Executor refuse to become bound to bring in an Inventory the Court of Aldermen may by their power send such Executor to Newgate there to remain till he submit and the Courts at Westminster will not release such person The Condition of a Bond for exhibiting an Inventory THe Condition of this Obligation is such That if the above bound A. B. do and shall within two Months now next ensuing bring and exhibit into the Court of our Sovereign Lord the King holden before the Major and Aldermen of the City of London for the time being in the Chamber of the Guild-hall of the same City a true and perfect Inventory in writing upon his Corporal Oath of all and singular the Goods Chattels Rights and Credits Plate Iewels ready Money and Debts which were due and belonging unto the said R. R. deceased at the time of his death And also if the said A. B. do not in the mean time purloyn or convey the fame or any part thereof out of the Freedom or Liberties of the same City without the licence and consent of the same Court first had and obtained in writing Then c. or else c. After such Bond given the Executor must procure four Freemen to appraise the Testators Goods and must cause them to appear before a Justice of the Peace in London and take the Oath following before they appraise the Goods The Oath YOu and every of you shall swear that the Appraisment you shall make of the Goods and Chattels of A. B. late Citizen and Mercer of London deceased shall be a just and true Valuation and Appraisement of the same Goods and Chattels according to the best of your Iudgments and Skills So help you God For which Oath the Fee is only 1 s. 4 d. The common Crier must have notice when the Appraisement is to be made for he is appointed by the Court of Aldermen to be present when all such Appraisments are taken that he may see the same be fairly done to the best advantage of the Orphants And unless the common Crier or his Deputy be present and the Inventory shall be signed by the common Crier the Court of Aldermen will not allow thereof The common Criers Fee for signing every Inventory is 10 s. and for his attendance during the time of the Appraisment at least 10 s. per day When the Appraisment is made as aforesaid and signed by the common Crier and the Appraisors it must be given to Mr. common Serjeant or one of his Clerks at his Office in Guildhall-yard and if he approves thereof he will cause it to be Ingrossed and a Duplicate thereof to be made for the Executor or Administrator And when the same is examined by him and his hand is set thereto in testimony thereof the Executor or Administrator must in the Court of Aldermen swear the same Inventory is a true Inventory of the Goods and Chattels of the Party deceased according to the best of his
that the Flesh so offered to be put to sale shall be forfeited and disposed of to such Prisons of this City as the Lord Major for the time being shall direct and appoint Now it being found by Experience that such secret Offenders shun and escape all search and due punishment and the Markets of this City are thereby neglected and decayed And such secret sales of Flesh are also found to be a means of encouraging many thievish idle and ill-disposed persons to steal Cattle in the Country and parts adjacent to this City to the great deceipt and damage of his Majesties Subjects and scandal of the Government of this City For the prevention whereof for the future These are in his Majesties Name straitly to charge and command you forthwith on sight hereof to be from time to time Aiding and Assisting unto the Bearer or Bearers hereof and every of them who shall from time to time give you notice of such Offenders And you are hereby required to apprehend and bring before me or some other of his Majesties Iustices of the Peace the body or bodies of all such Offenders as shall hereafter be found to sell or offer to be put to sale in such manner any Beef Pork Mutton Lamb or Deal by way of Hawking in any Inn Lane Ware-house or other obscure place or open Street within this City or Liberties thereof to be examined and dealt withal as to Law and Iustice shall appertain And also that you seize such Flesh so offered to be put to sale by way of Hawking in such manner and bring it before me or some other of his Majesties Iustices of the Peace to the end that it may be disposed of as by the said Act is limitted and appointed And hereof fail not Given under my Hand and Seal c. To all and every the Constables within the City of London and Liberties thereof This Warrant is usually granted pursuant to an Act of Common Councel Intituled An Act for the settlement and well-ordering of several publick Markets within the City of London Which Act is in these words FOr the better Order and Regulation to be had of the Market at Leaden-hall and the Greenyards there with the other Market Grounds thereunto belonging and of the Market at Wool-church and the Market of Honey-lane or Milk-street as also the Market near Newgate and all other Common Markets already settled and appointed or which hereafter shall be settled and appointed within the City of London Be it Enacted by the Right Honourable the Lord Major and the Aldermen his Brethren and the Commons in this Common Councel Assembled and by the Authority of the same That the Rules Orders and Directions hereafter prescribed he duly observed by all persons that are or may be concerned therein And first whereas by former Acts of Common Councel the sale of Beef hath been restrained and appointed to be only in Leaden-hall and the Greenyards there which if now observed would be very inconvenient to the Inhabitants of this City in regard the late Butchery of the Stocks and St. Nicholas Shambles which heretofore furnished with Beef and other Flesh Victuals those parts of the City are now removed and otherwise disposed of Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every Butcher and Butchers Poulterer and Poulterers other then such as are hereafter excepted Country Farmer Victualler Lader or Kidder who keepeth Butchers or Poulterers Shop or Shops within the City of London or Liberties thereof or within two Miles distance of the Liberties of the same City may from and after the publication of this Act take to Farm or hire Standings Stalls or Places in any the aforesaid respective Markets and there sell utter and put to open shew or sale his or their Beef Mutton Veal Lamb Pork and other Butchery or Poultry Wares or other Provisions upon the four days of the week in manner as is hereafter expressed viz. upon Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays weekly between the Feast of the Annunciation and the Feast of St. Michael from six of the Clock in the Forenoon until eight of the Clock in the Evening of the same day and between the Feast of St. Michael and the Annuntiation from eight of the Clock before Noon until five of the Clock in the Evening of the same day and upon every Saturday in the Week all the Year long from the aforesaid respective hours of six and eight of the Clock before Noon until eight of the Clock in the Evening of the same day for so long time only as he or they shall furnish the said Stalls Standings and Places with wholsom Flesh and other Provisions in his or their own right and not as Servant or Servants or otherwise in behalf of any others any thing in any former Act of Common Councel contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding Provided always That no Butcher or Poulterer whatsoever who keepeth no Shop or Shops within the City of London or Liberties thereof or within two Miles distance of the same City shall in the said respective Markets sell utter or put to open shew or sale his or their Butchery or Poultry Wares upon Mondays and Fridays weekly upon pain that every such Butcher or Poulterer shall for every time he or they shall sell utter or put to open shew or sale in the said Markets his or their Butchery or Poultry Wares upon Monday or Friday in any week forfeit the sum of ten shillings And to the end the respective hours aforesaid may the better be observed in the said Markets It is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that a Market Bell in all the several Markets within the City of London shall Ring twice every day that is to say the first Ringing from the twenty fifth of March yearly until the twenty ninth day of September at seven of the Clock before Noon except upon Monday and then the first Ringing shall not begin till eight of the Clock in the Forenoon And from the twenty ninth day of September yearly until the twenty fifth day of March at eight of the Clock before Noon and not before except upon Monday and then the first Ringing shall not begin till nine of the Clock before Noon and that the second Ringing of the Market Bell for raising of the said Markets shall begin to Ring from and after the twenty fifth of March yearly until the twenty ninth day of September except on Saturdays half an hour after four in the Afternoon and to continue Ringing till five of the Clock and from and after the twenty ninth day of September until the twenty fifth day of March yearly except on Saturdays to begin to Ring half an hour after three of the Clock and to continue Ringing until four of the Clock in the Afternoon And that the second Ringing of the Market Bell upon Saturday weekly throughout the year shall begin half an hour after seven of the Clock and to continue Ringing
until eight of the Clock in the Evening of the same day And if any Butcher or Butchers Poulterer or Poulterers Victualler or Country Farmer Lader Kidder or other person whatsoever shall sell or put to open sale any manner of Butchery or Poultry Wares or other Provisions in the said Markets before Ringing of the Market Bell at the said several hours and times in the Mornings respectively such Offender or Offenders shall be proceeded against as forestallers of the Market as by the Law in this case is directed and appointed And that no Butcher Poulterer Victualler Country Farmer Lader Kidder or other person whatsoever shall sell or put to open sale any Butchery or Poultry Wares or other Provisions after the end of Ringing the Market Bell at the said several hours in the Afternoon respectively but shall then depart from the said Markets upon pain that every person selling Butchery or Poultry Wares or other Provisions after the said respective hours in the aforesaid Markets shall forfeit the Sum of ten Shillings for every such Offence And if any Butcher Poulterer Country Farmer Lader Kidder or other person whatsoever shall sell utter or put to open sale in the said Markets any manner of Flesh-meat upon any other day or days then is before hereby limited and expressed such Butcher Poulterer Country Farmer Lader Kidder or other person shall for every such Offence forfeit the sum of twenty Shillings Provided always That no Butcher Poulterer Country Farmer Lader Kidder or other person whatsoever shall upon the Saturday in any week bring into any of the said Markets any manner of Flesh-meat after six of the Clock in the Afternoon between the twenty fifth of March and the twenty ninth of September yearly nor after four of the Clock in the Afternoon between the twenty ninth of September and the twenty fifth of March upon pain of forfeiting the sum of ten Shillings for every time any such person shall bring into any of the said Markets any manner of Flesh-meats after the said respective hours And further be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no Stall Standing or Place within any of the said Markets shall from and after the publication of this Act be letten or allotted to any Butcher or Poulterer who doth or shall keep any Butchers or Poulterers Shop within the City of London or Liberties thereof or within two miles distance of the Liberties of the said City for so long time as he or they shall keep any Butchers or Poulterers Shop within the limits aforesaid And further That no Butcher Poulterer or other person whatsoever shall have and enjoy more then two Stalls Standings or Places within any one of the Markets aforementioned at one time Provided always That the Country people and others resorting to the said Markets being not Butchers not Poulterers nor selling any manner of Flesh-meat or Poultry may stand or sit and vend their Herbs Fruit Eggs Butter and other such like Provisions and Commodities in the Markets upon every working day in the week between the Feast of the Annuntiation and the Feast of St. Michael the Arch-Angel from seven of the Clock in the Morning until five of the Clock in the Evening of the same day And upon every working day between the Feast of St. Michael and the Annuntiation from six of the Clock in the Morning until four of the Clock in the Evening of the same day so as the same persons that bring them first to Market do continue the selling thereof and do observe the Ringing of the Market Bell for keeping the said hours accordingly And it is also further Enacted in regard that the Market is most principaâ—ly intended for the benefit of House-keepers who buy for their own use and behoof That the Retailers and Traders of this City who buy to sell again shall not enter into any of the aforesaid Markets to make their Provisions and buy of any of the Market people there to carry the same to their several Houses and Shops until the Afternoon of every day to the end that House-keepers may provide themselves in the morning of every day at the first hand and pay moderate Rates for their Provisions upon pain that every such Retailer or Retailers or Traders shall for every time Offending herein forfeit forty Shillings And forasmuch as all dead Flesh-meat and other Victuals and provisions of all sorts of Fruits Herbs Fish and the like ought to be sold in open and common Markets allowed and appointed and not under private Stalls or at Tavern doors or in any Street or Common passages or in any private places or carried up and down and sold by way of Hawking by means whereof much unwholsome Provisions dangerous to the Health and Bodies of his Majesties Subjects may be uttered and sold Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no Butcher Poulterer Country Farmer Lader Kidder Victualler Gardener Fruiterer Fish-seller or other person or persons whatsoever shall from and after the publication of this Act sell utter or put to shew or sale by way of Hawking or as a Hawker or in any otherwise any Beef Mutton Lamb Veal Pork Poultry Butter Cheese Fish Fruit Herbs or other Victuals or provision whatsoever in any private House Lane Alley Inn Warehouse Street-stall or Common passage or other place or places whatsoever within the City of London or Liberties thereof but only in his or their open Shop or Shops or in the publick Market place or places and in Market time only according as is before appointed upon pain that every such person so carrying or offering to put to sale by way of Hawking or in any otherwise any Flesh-meat Poultry or other Victuals whatsoever as aforesaid in any private House Lane Alley Inn Warehouse Street-stall or Common passage or other places whatsoever being not his or their open Shop or Shops or the common Market place shall forfeit the same Goods so offered to sale without any manner of favour according to the ancient Custom of the City of London used and approved and the same so forfeited shall be disposed of to such prisons within this City of London as the Lord Major for the time being shall direct and appoint And to the intent that Forestalling Regrating and Ingrossing of Victuals and other Commodities may be the better prevented and the Laws made against the same more effectually observed It is Declared and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no person or persons from and after the publication of this Act shall buy or cause to be bought any Victuals or other things whatsoever within the said City of London or Liberties thereof coming to any the Common Markets of this City or make any Bargain Contract or Promise for the having and buying of the same or any part thereof so coming as aforesaid before the same shall be brought into one of the said Markets ready to be there sold And also That no person or persons that shall by any means
Regrate Obtain or Get into his or their Hands or Possession in any the said Markets any Victuals or other things whatsoever that shall be thither brought to be sold shall from henceforth sell the same again in their Shop or Shops or any of the Markets or other places within this City and Liberties therof or shall ingross or get into his or their Hands by buying contracting or otherwise any of the things aforesaid in the said Markets with intent to sell the same again in the same or any other Markets or places within this City and Liberties thereof upon pain that every such Fore-staller Regrater and Ingrosser shall for every such Offence forfeit forty Shillings And whereas for Accommodation of Market people with Stalls Boards Shelter and all other like things necessary for their standing in any of the Market places within this City of London and cleansing and keeping clean the same and otherwise for defraying the incident Charges of Repairing and maintaining the same Market and to Gratifie and Reward the Care and Attendance of such persons as shall be imployed therein there hath always been given and paid certain reasonable Rates for the said Accommodations and Charges And to the intent that the said Rates may be ascertained and made publick to all Market people whereby the persons that shall from henceforth by Order of the Committee for Letting of the City Lands with Approbation of this Court be imployed therein as Collectors or Receivers of the same Rates may be prevented from Demanding or Extorting more then is allowed as is herein after expressed Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every person and persons resorting to any of the said Markets to sell and vend their Commodities shall from henceforth pay unto such person or persons as from time to time shall be thereunto appointed as aforesaid to take and receive the Profits of all or any of the said Markets to the use of the Major Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London of and from all Market people thereunto resorting for their Stalls Standings and other Accommodations in the several Market places aforesaid after the Rates following that is to say for every Stall or Standing of the length of eight Foot and breadth of four Foot used or imployed for sale of Flesh-meat or Fish for every day eight pence or two shillings six pence per week and for every such Stall or Standing used or imployed for sale of any other Commodities for every day four pence or eighteen pence per week and for every Stall or Standing of the length of six Foot and breadth of four Foot used or imployed for the sale of Flesh-meat or Fish six pence for every day or two shillings per week and for every such Stall or Standing used for other Provisions or Commodities for every day three pence or sixteen pence per week and for every Standing for Tanned Leather six pence per day and for every raw Hide an half peny and for every Horse Load of any Provisions or Commodities not upon Stalls three pence and for every Cart-load of such Commodities six pence Provided that all Gardeners and Country people and others resorting to the said Markets early in the morning to sell Herbs Fruit and other like Commodities and there continue for no long space quitting the Markets at eight or nine of the Clock in the morning shall pay for the Larger Places or Standings only three pence for every time they resort thither and for the Lesser Places or Standings only two pence And that the said Collectors or Receivers shall not Demand or Require of the Market people more then according to the aforesaid Rates without the free Consent and Agreement of the said Market people for some extraordinary Conveniency or Accommodation unless in Leaden-hall Market where other and larger Rates have been anciently payed for Stalls or Standings therein and that no person or persons Inhabiting in or near to any the said Market places or other person or persons whatsoever upon pretence of any right whatsoever other then the Receivers or Collectors of the said Rates and Duties shall from henceforth provide any Stalls or other Accommodations in any of the aforesaid Market places or directly or indirectly take require or exact any sum or sums of money or other reward of the Market people for any Stalls Standings or Accommodation of their place and station in the said Markets upon pain that every person offending herein shall forfeit and lose for every time so doing and offending twenty Shillings And for the better Order and Quiet of the Market people and the reconciling all Differences that may arise therein betwixt them and the Collectors or Receivers in the foresaid Markets as also that the Rates and Duties may be the better collected and certainly paid into the Chamber of London without fraud and the said Markets more effectually supervised for prevention of Abuses and Disorders that may arise therein Be it enacted That the Committee for Letting the City Lands for the time being shall and are hereby Authorized from time to time by and with the Approbation of this Court to appoint fitting persons for Overseers of the said respective Markets and Collectors or Receivers of the Profits or Duties arising or growing out of the same and to Treat and Agree with the said persons and allow them for their care and pains such part or portion of the said profits as in their discretions shall be found requisite Provided the said Allowance exceed not the tenth part of the whole clear profits all necessary Charges being deducted upon condition that the said Overseers and Collectors or Receivers that shall from time to time be thereunto appointed by order as aforesaid do give sufficient Security to the satisfaction of the said Committee for their diligence and faithful performance in their Office and overseeing the Orders and Provisions aforesaid observed and giving a just and true accompt of their Receipts and Payments of the moneys every week into the Chamber and that the said Committee do once in every week meet together at the Guildhall and then and there audite the Accompts and Payments of the said Overseers and Collectors or Receivers for prevention of any abuses that by neglect thereof might arise or happen and also endeavour upon any Complaints and Grievances of the Market people against the said Overseers and Collectors or Receivers or otherwise to compose and redress the same as soon as possibly they can that so all disturbances to the Market people and unnecessary Suits at Law may be avoided And that the said Overseers and Receivers or Collectors shall frequently attend and be in the said Markets during Market time and diligently oversee the same to prevent with their best care any abuses or disorders that may happen or be committed therein and also to take care that the provisions and penalties appointed by this Act against all Offenders contrary to the same be duly and
Inducted and Admitted into the Parish aforesaid and hath for that time officiated and preached as Incumbent and Parson of the said Parish in a convenient place within the said Parish nominated and appointed by the Lord Bishop of London And whereas an Assessment of Ten shillings per Annum hath been duly made upon a certain House called or known by the Name or Sign of the Bull within the said Parish now and for two years last past inhabited by R. B. towards the raising of the Maintenance of the said A. B. the said present Incumbent of the said Parish according to a late Act of Parliament Intituled An Act for the better Settlement of the Maintenance of the Parsons Vicars and Curates in the Parishes of the City of London burnt up by the late dreadful Fire there And whereas I am informed that the sum of Ten shillings is due and payable to the said A. B. Incumbent and Parson of the said Parish for four quarters payment of the said Rate and Assessment at the Feast of the Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary last past before the date hereof And forasmuch as Oath hath been this day made before me Sir J. S. Lord Major of the City of London by C. W. he being the person appointed to collect the said Assessment that he hath lawfully demanded the said Ten shillings at the said House whereat the same is payable And that the said R. B. the said Inhabitant of the said House in the Parish aforesaid doth refuse and neglect to pay to the said A. B. the said present Incumbent of the said Parish the said sum of Ten shillings to him payable as aforesaid These are therefore in his Majesties Name streightly to Charge and Command you the said C. W. being the person appointed to collect the same with the Assistance of a Constable in the day time to levy the said sum of Ten shillings so due and in arrear and unpaid of the said Assessment on the House aforesaid by Distress and Sale of the Goods of the said R. B. restoring unto him the Overplus of such Goods over and above the said Ten shillings and the reasonable Charges of making the said Distress according to the said Act in such case made and provided And these are further in his Majesties Name streightly to Charge and Command all and every the Constables within this City and Liberties thereof to be aiding and assisting unto the said C. W. in the due execution hereof and this shall be your Warrant Dated c. To C. W. and all every or any of the Constables within the City of London and Liberties thereof The Lord Major for the time being may grant a Warrant under his Hand and Seal to examine and try Weights and Measures which is usually done in these words viz. Lond ' ss WHereas great Abuses are and have been committed in the City of London and Liberties thereof by using and keeping unlawful unsealed and unsized Weights and Measures which are found to be very false and deceitful and not warrantable by his Majesties Laws to be used in buying and selling And whereas many persons Inhabitants within this City and Liberties thereof as I have been informed do ordinarily use Weights called or known by the name of Venice Weights not allowed or appointed by the Laws of this Realm nor by any other lawful Authority and do usually buy by one Weight and sell by another These are to authorize and appoint you and either of you my lawful and sufficient Deputies at all and every time and times fit and convenient peaceably and quietly to enter into all Shops Houses Warehouses and other places whatsoever within this City Liberties thereof where any Beams Weights Measures Yards Ells Sacks for Charcoals and such like shall be suspected to be and there to try and search all manner of Beams Weights Sacks for Charcoal and Measures whatsoever whether they be true just sealed and sized as by the Laws and Statutes of this Land they ought to be and if you or either of you shall find any false Beams or any unlawful unsealed or unsized Weights Sacks or Measures That then you bring the same or cause the same to be brought to Guildhall there to remain until Order shall be taken for the defacing or otherwise disposing thereof and certifie me the Names and Sirnames and dwelling places of the Offenders to the end they may be dealt withal as to Iustice shall appertain and as the Law requireth And also if you or either of you do find any of the said Sacks of Charcoal that shall not be well and sufficiently filled that then you or either of you do cause the said Sacks to be set upright and filled out of the rest of the said Sacks according as is directed and appointed that so the people of this City may not be deceived therein And I do hereby require in his Majesties Name to Charge and Command all and every the people of this Nation resorting to and inhabiting in this City or Liberties thereof who have used or do use or shall have any cause to use Weights or Sacks for Charcoals or Measures that they do not in any wise hereafter use any but those that are or shall be just and true and that they do not in any wise from henceforth hinder or withstand my said Deputies or either of them in the due Execution of the Premisses And I do hereby require all Constables Serjeants at Mace and Beadles of the Ward and other Officers and Ministers whatsoever within the said City and Liberties thereof that they be aiding and assisting to my Deputies J. M. and G. M. Citizens and Weavers of London and either of them in the due and lawful Execution of the Premisses as they and every of them will answer the contrary if they shall fail or refuse to do that which shall be lawfully required of them in that behalf Dated c. To J. M. and G. M. and to either of them The Lord Major and Aldermen may if they please punish all Constables and others that shall neglect to Watch pursuant to an Act of Common Councel made in the Majoralty of Sir John Robinson Intituled An Act for the better ordering of the Night Watches within the City of London and Liberties thereof which followeth in these words WHereas by the ancient good and laudable Custom of the City of London all and every person and persons which do dwell occupy or inhabit in any House or Houses within the same City or the Liberties thereof as well such as are not free of the said City as other the Freemen of the same being persons able and fit to watch or to find an able and fit person to watch for him her or them or in his her or their stead ought by reason of their habitation occupation and dwelling to keep watch within the Ward wherein he she or they do occupy and inhabit for the preservation of the King's Peace and for
the arresting and apprehending of all Night-walkers Malefactors and suspected persons which shall be found passing wandring and mis-behaving themselves And whereas every Constable of any Precinct is a Constable to all intents and purposes not only in the Precinct and Ward where he dwelleth but in all and every other Precinct Ward and place within the said City and the Liberties thereof And whereas there is now and of late years hath been by reason of the great concourse of people from all parts to the said City great necessity of a strong and sufficient Watch to be kept every Night within every Ward of the said City and the Liberties thereof and it hath been thought fit and provided by former Orders and Acts of Common Councel for the safety and peace of the said City that the number of men to watch every night in every Ward throughout the said City and Liberties thereof shall be as hereafter particularly followeth viz. Aldgate 34 Dukes-place 10 Aldersgate 44 S. Martin's le Grand 12 Bishopsgate 80 Broadstreet 30 Billingsgate 30 Bridge within 25 Bassishaw 12 Breadstreet 26 Cornhill 16 Candlewick 24 Cordweiner 24 Cheap 25 Cripplegate within 40 Colemanstreet 32 Cripplegate without 90 Castle Baynard 40 Dowgate 36 Farringdon within 50 Mugwelstreet 4 Blackfriers 14 Farringdon without 130 Whitefriers 8 Bridewel Precinct 8 Bartholomew Great 10 Bartholomew Less 4 Limestreet 11 Langborn 34 Portsoken 60 Queenhith 40 Tower 40 Vintry 34 Walbrook 20 Yet nevertheless the said Watches are very weak and wanting by reason that many ill-affected persons not willing to do any duty for the publick safety or not proportionable to the number of the Inhabitants where they dwell under pretence that they ought not to watch with any other Constable then the Constable of the Precinct wherein they inhabit whereas several Precincts within the said City and Liberties of late by multiplicity of new Buildings and Divisions of Houses are grown far more populous than other Precincts and many Precincts have not Inhabitants to make up a third fourth fifth or sixth part of the number of Watchmen aforesaid or a competent number of Watchmen for safeguard of the said Ward so that without some way other then the Inhabitants of every Precinct to watch with the Constable of that Precinct or some new Division of every Ward for proportioning and appointing the number therein to keep watch a sufficient Watch cannot be kept whereof divers refractory persons taking advantage and pretending that they are not by Law compellable thereunto will not yield obedience to the Government of the said City therein but refuse to watch when they are required whereby the Watches are generally much neglected and the Constables and other Officers much troubled and discouraged and the said City and Inhabitants therein much damaged and indangered thereby and likewise upon several occasions and disturbances of late have been put upon great and extraordinary charge and trouble in serving upon Military Guards of the Trained Bands and Auxiliary Forces of the said City Now the Right Honourable the Lord Major the Right Worshipful the Aldermen his Brethren and the Commons in this Common Councel assembled taking the Premisses into their consideration and conceiving it very necessary at all times that there should be sufficient Watches kept within the said City of London and Liberties thereof for remedy therein and for the better ordering and establishment of the Watches to be hereafter duly kept within the said City and the Liberties thereof do Enact and Ordain and be it Enacted and Ordained by the said Lord Major Aldermen and Commons in this Common Councel assembled and by Authority of the same that one Constable with the Beadle in every Ward and the said number of persons respectively shall watch every Night in every of the Wards aforesaid respectively from nine of the Clock in the Evening till seven of the Clock in the Morning from michaelmas-Michaelmas-day till the first of April and from the first of April till Michaelmas-day from ten of the Clock in the Evening till five of the Clock in the Morning And that the Alderman Deputy and Common Councel-men of every of the said Wards respectively or the major part of them shall forthwith take an exact Survey of all the Inhabitants and House-keepers within their respective Wards who are able and fit to watch or find Watchmen and shall nominate and appoint one Constable in their said Wards with the Beadle of their respective Wards and the full number of Inhabitants within the said respective wards according to the proportions beforementioned to watch eery night within the respective Wards beginning at one certain place within the said respective Wards from thence to proceed go forward in an orderly way and appoint the next Night one other Constable and the like full number of Inhabitants next adjoyning unto those who watched the Night before and so to proceed forward through the Ward one Constable and the full number of Inhabitants to watch every Night and then to begin again with those Inhabitants who first watched and proceed forwards every Night in turn as aforesaid without respecting any one Precinct more than another but that all the Inhabitants within the said Wards respectively do watch or find Watchmen in their turns as aforesaid who shall watch with the Constable appointed as aforesaid though he be not of the same Precinct as the Inhabitants be and that all the Constables within the respective Wards shall in their turns one after another watch with the said Inhabitants and when they have watched all over by turns as aforesaid he that began shall begin again and the rest follow in their turns and so one after another as often as it shall come to their or any of their turns And that the said Alderman Deputy and Common Councel-men of the respective Wards aforesaid or the major part of them shall likewise appoint a certain place within the said Ward where the Constable and all the Watchmen shall every Night first meet for that Night agree to what places they shall afterwards go to watch in the said Ward in such manner and order that the Constables and Watches of every Ward may maintain a correspondence and intelligence with each other and be ready upon some sound or sign to be made or given to come in in an instant if there be need upon any disorder or other occasion to the help and assistance of one another and shall also appoint the number of Watchmen which shall be and continue together in every place and cause the name of the Constable and of every Inhabitant which is to watch with every several Constable and the times and places of their meeting and watching particularly every several Night to be printed and delivered to every Constable within their Ward respectively and one or more papers thereof so printed to be set upon posts or open places where every constable and such as are to watch with him respectively dwell that