decaying growing into poverty or insufficiency in Estate or Estates as aforesaid And lastly if the said S. D. c. or any of them do yearly appear before the Major and Aldermen of the City aforesaid for the time being in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the same City on Munday next after Midlent Sunday That then c. or else c. The Lord Major and Court of Aldermen do meet at Guildhall and sit in the Orphants Court there once in every year viz. on the Munday morning after Midlent Sunday purposely to hear the Names of all the Securities that stand bound for Orphants Portions called over and therefore that day is termed Call-day upon which day one of every of the Sureties ought to appear to give an account whether the other Securities are living and in good condition and whether the Orphants are living and married If none of the Security appear upon that day they forfeit their Recognizances and Bonds and the Clerk of the Orphants in such case must make out Process against the Security and force them to give the Accompt above required and pay the Charges of the Process The Security must take particular care that none of the Orphans marry or be put Apprentice with their consents without the leave of the Court of Aldermen first obtained for that purpose And as the Orphans come to be of the age of One and twenty years or shall be married with the consent of the Court of Aldermen they must take care to bring them to Guildhall with a person to prove the age of such Orphan and then the Orphan must acknowledge satisfaction for the Money due to him or her of the Testators Estate which must be done in the Court of Aldermen but one of Mr. Common Sergeant's Clerks must first draw up a Note to this or the like effect J. B. Parish-Clark and Register of All-hallows Lumberstreet London is come to prove unto this Honourable Court upon his Corporal Oath That R. B. one of the Sons and late Orphans of R. B. late Citizen and Mercer of London deceased is of the full Age of 21 years And the said R. B. the Son is come to acknowledge satisfaction to this Honourable Court for 500 l. growing due unto him for his own part and portion of the Goods Chattels Rights and Credits of the said R. B. his late Father deceased by the Laws and Customs of the City of London If a Freeman leaves Lands and Tenements to his Children the Executor must become bound with Sureties to accompt for the Rents and Profits of such Lands with Condition as followeth The Condition of a Bond to Accompt for Rents c. THe Condition of this Obligation is such That whereas A. W. Executor of the last Will and Testament of J. W. late Citizen and Skinner of London deceased is by order of the Court of Orphans holden before the Major and Aldermen of the City of London appointed to receive the Rents Issues and Profits of certain Lands Messuages and Tenements in the Parish of B. in the County of M. which are bequeathed to R. the Son and Orphan of the said J. W. in and by the last Will of the said J. W. when the said Orphan shall attain the Age of 21 years If therefore the said A. W. her Executors or Administrators do and shall from time to time and at all times hereafter until the said Orphan shall attain the Age of 21 years well and truly pay or cause to be paid the yearly Rent of 10 l. reserved in the Grants or Leases of the same Lands and Messuages according to the Covenants of the same Leases And also do until the said Orphan shall attain the aforesaid Age keep and maintain the said Messuages and every of them in good repair And do and shall convey assign and assure unto the said Orphan when he shall attain the full Age of 21 years the same Lands and Messuages and every of them discharged and freed from all Rent or Rents in the said Leases or Grants reserved and from all and all manner of Forfeitures and Rentries and well and sufficiently repaired and sustained And if the said A. W. her Executors or Administrators shall not do any act or acts thing or things whereby the said Orphan shall not enjoy the said Land and Messuages at the said Age of 21 years without incumbrances from her them or any of them That then c. or else c. WHen any Orphan is of full Age and shall acknowledge satisfaction in the Court of Aldermen for all Moneys due to him or her The same Court upon motion made by Mr. Common Sergeant doth constantly order That all Bonds entered into for the payment of such Orphans Portion shall be delivered up and cancelled and if the Security became bound by Recognizances the Clerk of the Orphans will cross and discharge such Recognizances for which his Fee is 2 s. upon each Recognizance The Chamber of London is accounted the safest and best Security in or about London for the Moneys paid therein to the use of the City or any Orphan is constantly repaid upon demand without any trouble And when Orphans come to Age or be married with the consent approbation of the Court of Aldermen they may receive their Portions if paid into the Chamber at an hours notice although the sum shall be Ten thousand pounds or more Mr. Chamberlain or his Clerks attending daily for that purpose The Interest or finding Money is constantly paid as it becomes due and the Court hath always taken great care that every Orphan shall receive his and her Portions out of the Chamber of London without paying any other or greater Fees then hath been anciently taken and if any Officer exact or take any other Fees the Parties will upon their application and evidence of the Fact to the Court of Aldermen have remedy and all just relief against the Offenders Mr. Common Sergeant keeps his Office in Guildhall-yard near St. Lawrence's Church and constantly attends to dispatch all persons that are concerned for Orphans and will not permit any Fees to be taken for any business to be done by virtue of his Office more then hath been paid time out of mind and if any of his Clerks exact any greater Fees he will upon complaint cause satisfaction to be given to the Party grieved The Widow of every Freeman if she shall be Executrix or Administratrix of her Husbands Estate ought by the Custom of London to exhibit a true Inventory of her Husbands Estate into this Court before she contract Marriage otherwise the Court of Aldermen may impose a reasonable Fine upon such Executrix or Administratrix to the use of the Orphans of such Freeman To prevent abuses that sometimes happen to Freemens Estates in prejudice of Orphans by Executrixes and Administratrixes not giving an Inventory in due time after the Testator's decease The Court of Aldermen have made an Order not to allow any finding Money or
was elected by the Court of Aldermen And always before and since Major Gunstone's Election the Court of Aldermen have elected the respective Clerks of that Court. And it hath been declared by Counsel Learned in the Law That the right of electing Clerk of the Court of Requests is not in this Court THE COURT OF ALDERMEN THis is a Court of Record and is held in the inner Chamber of Guildhall every Tuesday and Thursday except Holy-days and in the time of Sessions of Goal delivery All Matters touching Lights Water-courses and Party-walls may be determined in this Court The Assize of Bread is constantly appointed by this Court All Bonds and Leases that pass under the City Seal must be sealed in this Court Several places are in the Gift of the Lord Major and this Court viz. The Recorder Sword-Bearer Four City Counsel City Remembrancer Common Hunt Water-Bailiff Cities Solicitor Comptroler of the Chamber Two Secondaries Four Attorneys of the Lord Majors Court Clerk of the Chamber Hall-Keeper Three Sergeant Carvers Three Sergeants of the Chamber Sergeant of the Chanel Yeomen of the Chamber Four Yeomen of the Water-side Yeoman of the Chanel Under Water-Bailiff Meal-weighers Clerk of the Cities Works Six Young-men Two Clerks of the Papers Eight Attorneys in the Sheriffs Court Eight Clerk-Sitters Two Prothonotaries Clerk of the Bridge-house Clerk of the Court of Requests Beadle of the Court of Requests Thirty six Sergeants at Mace Thirty six Yeomen The Gager The Sealers and Searchers of Leather Keeper of the Green-yard Two Keepers of the Compters Keeper of Newgate Keeper of Ludgate Measurer Steward of Southwark Bailiff of Southwark Bailiff of the Hundred of Ossalston There are other Places in the Gift of the Major Aldermen and Sheriffs as the City Carpenter and other Artificers But the Rent-gatherer hath been put in by Mr. Chamberlain If any Officer shall mis-behave himself in his Office upon Complaint made thereof to this Court and Proof of the Fact such Offender may be and is usually suspended from the Profits of his Place during the pleasure of this Court The Rulers of the Company of Watermen are Annually elected and appointed by this Court pursuant to an Act of Parliament made in the Second and Third Year of Philip and Mary which is as followeth WHereas heretofore for lack of good Government and due Order amongst Wherry-men and Water-men c. there have divers and many misfortunes and mischances happened and chanced of late years past to a great number of the King and Queens Subjects as well to the Nobility as to other the common People that have passed and repassed and been carried by Water by reason of the rude ignorant and unskilful number of Water-men which for the most part be Masterless men and single men of all kinds of Occupations and Faculties which do work at their own hands and many Boys being of small Age and of little Skill and being Persons out of the Rule and Obedience of any honest Master and Governor c. For reformation whereof be it Enacted by the King and Queens Majesties c. That there shall be yearly appointed chosen and elected by the Major and the Court of Aldermen of the City of London for the time being the number of eight persons of the most wise discreet and best sort of Water-men being Housholders and occupying as Water-men upon the said River between Gravesend and Windsor which Election shall be yearly at the first Court of Aldermen to be holden within the said City next after the First day of March And the same eight Persons so elected shall be named and called The Overseers and Rulers of all the Wherry-men and Water-men that from and after the said First day of March shall use occupy or exercise any rowing upon the said River of Thames betwixt Gravesend and Windsor aforesaid which said Overseers and Rulers shall keep and maintain good order and obedience amongst the said Water-men according to the true meaning of this present Act. And also be it further Enacted That the Lord Major of London and the Aldermen of the same City and the Iustices of Peace within the Shires next adjoyning to the said River of Thames every of them within their several Iurisdiction and Authorities shall have full Power and Authority by virtue of this present Act upon Complaint made to them or any of them by the said Overseers and Rulers or two of them or the Master or Masters of any such Servants not only to examine hear and determine all Complaints or Offences to be done or committed by any such person or persons that shall offend contrary to the true meaning of this present Act and to set at large all and every such person and persons as shall fortune to be imprisoned by the said Overseers and Rulers according to this Act if just cause shall appear unto them so to do but also by their good discretions and wisdom to punish correct and reform the said Overseers and Rulers and every of them that shall unjustly or without good cause or ground punish any person or persons by colour of this present Act or any thing therein contained And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any person or persons which at any time hereafter shall be elected or chosen to be a Ruler or Overseer as before is expressed do happen negligently to use and exercise his or their room or place or that will obstinately refuse to take upon him or them the room or rooms place or places of any the said Overseers or Rulers that then all and every such Offender or Offenders shall lose and forfeit the sum of Five pounds of lawful Money of England the one half whereof shall be to out said Sovereign Lord c. and the other half to him or them that will sue for the same c. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the said Major and Court of Aldermen of the said City of London for the time being shall from time to time at their discretions limit set and assess the price and prices and sums of Money that every person or persons so authorized to rowe as is aforesaid betwixt Gravesend and Windsor aforesaid shall take for his or their labour or fare from place to place particularly betwixt Gravesend and Windsor aforesaid and the same prices and assessments to be set shall bring or cause to be brought to the Privy Council of our Sovereign Lord c. to be viewed and seen by some of the said Privy Council and after that the said assessments and prices shall be signed and subscribed with the hands of two of the said Privy Council at the least and the said Major and Court of Aldermen for the time being shall cause the said prices and assessments to be written and set up in Tables in the Guild-hall in the City of London Westminster-hall and elsewhere where the said Major and Court of Aldermen shall think convenient And every
shall at any time hereafter ship their Draw-nets called Shipping a Stern into their Boats before such time as they have laid forth all their whole Net as they do when they land towards a low water nor that they ship some part of their said Net and land the rest but that from henceforth they shall fulfil and observe that ancient order of landing their Nets as they have heretofore usually done at low water upon the like payment 6. Item That not Fisher-man or other person whatsoever shall use any Spear called an Eel-spear at any time of the year for that they are likewise very great destroyers of Barbels and other kinds of Fish nor shall work with any Bley-net Rugge-net or Smelt-net upon the said water westward farther then Isleworth Church from the Tenth day of March yearly until Holyrood day be past being the Fourteenth day of September upon the like payment 7. Item That no Fisher-man or other shall at any time of the year use or exercise any Flue Trammel Double-walled-net or Hooped-net whatsoever for that they are not only the utter destruction of all breeding Barbels but also a great spoil and hurt to other sorts of the young brood and fry of Fish being with those kind of Nets infinitely destroyed to the general ruin of the River aforesaid upon the like payment 8. Item That no Fisher-man or other shall lay any Weels called Kills in any place of the River from the Tenth of March till the Tenth of May yearly for that all Roches do then shed their spawn nor that no man whatsoever cut any Bull-rushes or other Flaggs or Sedges growing upon the River from Richmond unto the Markstone above Stains-bridge for that they are a great succour and safeguard unto the Fish upon the like payment 9. Item That no Fisher-man or other shall use within the said River of Thames any Wee l called a Lomb or a Mill-pot or any other Engine with the head thereof against the Stream upon pain of forfeiture of Ten pounds and imprisonment at the discretion of the Lord Major Nor that no man whatsoever shall occupy upon the said River of Thames any Nets called Purse-nets otherwise Casting-nets upon the like payment 10. Item That no Fisher-man or others shall be suffered to rug for Flounders either by Ebbe or by Flood at any time of the year between London-bridge and Stran-gate on the South side and Westminster-bridge on the North side but only two casts at low water and two casts at full sea or high water for the safeguard of the fry and brood of Fish and no Flounder shall be taken under the assize of six inches Nor that no Fisher-man or other shall fleet with any Bley-net upon the benches from Whitehall to the Temple-stairs upon high waters from Whitsontide to Bartholomewtide upon like payment 11. Item That no Fisher-man or other person whatsoever shall cast bring or cause to be brought any Carrion Soil Gravel Rubbish Sods of Earth or any other Filth or Annoyance whereby Banks and Shelves are raised and the common passage hindred to the great danger of Fares Boats and Barges passing to and fro upon the said River Nor that no Fisher-man or other shall drive or cause to be driven any Piles Stumps or Stakes within the said River of Thames upon which the like mischief and dangers may arise until such time as they be lawfully licensed so to do upon the like pain and penalty as aforesaid 12. Item That no Fisher-man or other shall presume to take up any Rack or Drifth upon the water of Thames without notice given thereof to the Water-Bailiff or his Substitute within convenient time he satisfying him for his pains as shall be reasonable and thought fitting nor shall conceal and keep secret the said Rack or Drifth from the said Water-Bailiff to the end that such order and care may be taken therein as hath been accustomed according to the Laws and Ordinances ordained for the preservation of the said River upon like payment and penalty 13. That no Fisher-man or other shall fish with any kind of Net or use any Angle-rod with more then two Hooks upon a Line or saw or scratch for Barbel within the Limits of London-Bridge or shall use any other Engine nearer unto the Bridge then St. Botolphs Wharf and the Bridge-house Wharf on the East side nor nearer on the West side then St. Mary Overies Stairs and the Old Swan upon the pain of imprisonment at the discretion of the Lord Major and Sx shillings eight pence to the Chamber of London 14. Item That no Peter-man shall at any time hereafter fish or work with any manner of Net upon the said water Westward farther then Richmond Crane unto which place or near thereabouts the water ebbeth and floweth for that the Fishing beyond that place hath caused a great destruction of Fish upon pain of forfeiture of Twenty shillings for every time they shall so offend and farther punishment according to the quality of his Offence 15. Item It is ordered that no Peter-man shall hereafter at any time of the year take the Tides above Richmond nor go in company together it being found very prejudicial and hurtful both to the River and Fisher-men and nothing available for the furnishing of any Markets nor shall go to fish more then five together in one company between Richmond and London-Bridge upon pain of forfeiting for every time Ten shillings and imprisonment during pleasure 16. Item That no Peter-man or any other take any Flounders or any other short Fish which they have usually called Kettle-fish not being six inches of assize being found to be to the great destruction of the Fish upon the like penalty and pain 17. Item That whereas many inconveniencies have heretofore risen to the River of Thames by divers Fishermens keeping of Boys who had neither sufficiency to take the charge of Fishing nor bound Apprentice to the same Therefore from henceforth it shall not be lawful for any Fisher-man to keep two Boys in one Boat unless the one of them be at mans estate or thought sufficient by the Water-Bailiff to take the charge or else that one of them be an Owner Nor that no Fisher-man from henceforth do take any Apprentice to the said trade of Fishing unless he first enter his name into the Register-Book of the Water-Bailiff of this City kept for that purpose nor under the term of seven years and that after the expiration of his said term he likewise come again before the said Water-Bailiff to be by him admitted a lawful Fisherman as of ancient time hath been accustomed upon like payment 18. Lastly That every Fisher-man upon the River of Thames from London-Bridge unto Stains-Bridge shall once every year viz. upon St. Paul's day being the Five and twentieth day of January appear before the Water-Bailiff of this City at the Chapel of the Guild-hall by Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon of the same day there to enter their several names
into his Register-Book kept for that purpose And farther to hear the Orders and Institutions ordained for the preservation of the said River to be openly and publickly read to the intent that they and every of them may the better perform the same upon pain of Six shillings eight-pence for every default so made And if any man whatsoever Fisher-man or other shall contemptuously or stubbornly resist the Water-Bailiff being Sub-Conservator under the Lord Major in the due performance and execution of his said Office he shall make such Fine or be imprisoned at the discretion of the Lord Major for the time being as unto his Lordship shall seem most fitting Articles to be inquired upon by the Jury for the River of Thames Eastward INprimis You shall faithfully and truly present without any respect all such persons Fishermen and others as do prophane the Lords Sabbath in their unlawful Fishings and going forth that day to their labour being to the high displeasure of Almighty God and availeth not to the furnishing of any Market And if any such Fisherman have gone forth to fish having been at home before Sunday at night Sundown you shall faithfully and truly present them 2. Item Trincker-men That no Trincke shall stand for Smelts till the One and twentieth day of October yearly and so to continue until Good-Friday following And to use no manner of Net for Smelts than full two inches in the fore-part inch and a half in the second part and in the third part which is the Hose or God inch and quarter wet and dry And the Hose not to exceed eleven foot in length and in compass sixty Meishes and not above And five Hoops placed a foot and a half asunder in the said God the last Hoop to be placed within two foot of the end of the God and each Hoop to be a foot and a half over every way upright within the Hoop and not otherwise 3. Item That no Trincke shall stand to Fish above Nine Tides in the week viz. three Tides against Wednesday three Tides against Friday and three Tides against Saturday Market and so likewise 3 Tides against Saints Eves other Fasting days and then to wash hale up go home with their said Nets and Boats every Saturday morning to their own Houses And in Lent time they may stand every day the Sabbath day excepted 4. Item That no Trincke shall stand in any Byrth more than is allowed him to stand but shall stand in all such several places and in such manner as hereafter followeth and in no other place That is to say He shall keep his Cooplement At Blackwal Ferry two one Breast or front and no more At Ley shelp two and no more At Woolwich shelp two and no more At Woolwich Town five and no more At Gallions nasse three and no more At Buzards-bush five and no more At the East and West end of Barkin shelp two at each place and no more At Dagnam shelp six and no more At the Carrick four and no more At Julian tree job three and no more At Dartford job three and no more At the Bight at Ereth nasse three and no more At Stoke-fleet nasse alias Stakes end five and no more At Avely hole five and no more At Purfleet five and no more At Grayes Thorock six and no more At the two Thoroughs three and no more And every Trincke to keep his true Cooplement and to stand no more in a Byrth 5. That no Trincke shall stand to fish for Whitings till the Ember-week before Michaelmas yearly and to come no higher then Purfleet and to have the Hose or Cod of his Net full inch and a half And upon Saturday Sun up to wash off his Net hale up and go home and not to return to his labour again till Monday morning day-light And so likewise shall every Fisherman do from London-Bridge Westward to Gravesend-Bridge in the East and not otherwise 6. Item That no Trinckerman or other Fisherman shall buy any Trincke or take to receive any Copy under the Seal of the Office of Majoralty until he be allowed and thought fit by the Lord Major of London or by his Substitute the Water-Bailiff for the time being with the general liking and consents of the said Company of Trincker-men and seventeen Trinks allowed and no more 7. Item That no Trincke shall stand to Fish before any breach mouth at the rising or sinking of any mother-fishes or in the time of Spawn or Brood of Fish and that every Trincke shall at all times and seasons take up and carry away his Anchor at the time of his leaving off from fishing and not leave his said Anchor behind him to keep his Byrth contrary to the ancient Order and Custom 8. Item That each Trincke shall every dark and foggy night hang forth out of his said Trinck-boat one Lanthorn with sufficient Candle light for the better and safer passage of Ships Boats and Vessels passing to and fro upon the said River And that every Trincke Cable be no more then twenty fathom long at the most or any Henbilt above twenty two fathom And likewise to have a Warpe of forty fathom to sheer off and give way if any Ship Crayer or other Vessel shall chance to drive upon them 9. Item That every Trincker-man shall one week before his going forth to Fish come up to the Chapel of Guildhal London and there appear before the Water-Baliff as well to receive leave and licence for their going forth as also to hear the Orders and Institutions ordained for the preservation of the said River to be there openly and publickly read to the end that they may the better observe and keep the said Orders and every thing therein contained 10. Item That no Hebber-man Hebber-man shall fish for Smelts before the twenty fourth day of August yearly and so to continue till Good-Friday And that no Hebber-man shall fish in any Haven Creek Breach or Issue with any Net of less Assize than three inches for Flounders from the Feast of Easter until the said twenty fourth day of August yearly And shall likewise appear before the Water-Bailiff of London at the Chapel of Guildhall there to receive leave and licence for their said going forth And that the Meish of their said Smelt-nets be full inch wet and dry and not otherwise 11. Item That every Hebber-man shall fish by the shore and pitch their Pole at half Ebb and shall have but forty fathom Rope allowed from the pitch of their Pole into the River and not to lie a floring or flatting for Smelts between two Anchors in the middest of the stream nor shall have any kind of weight of Lead Iron Stone Barrel Firkin Kilderkin Cask or with any Wherry or other Device Nor shall fish from Good-Friday till Bartholomewtide yearly betwixt London-Bridge and Graves-end with any Net under two inches except with a Wade-net for Bait only 12. Item That no Hebber-man shall
come Greeting Whereas our beloved in Christian part the Major and Commonalty and Citizens of our City of London time out of memory of man have had exercised and ought and have accustomed to have and exercise the Office of Bailiff and Conservation of the Water of Thames to be exercised and occupied by the Major of the same City for the time being during the time of his Majoralty or by his sufficient Deputies in and upon and about the water of Thames That is to say From the Bridge of the Town of Stains in the County of Middlesex and towards the West unto London-Bridge and from thence to a certain place called Kendal otherwise Yenland otherwise Yenleet towards the Sea and East and in Medway and in the part of the City of London aforesaid and upon whatsoever Banck and upon every Shore and every Wharf of the same Water of Thames within the Limits and Bounds aforesaid And in upon and about all and every of them And also for all the time aforesaid have had and taken and ought and have accustomed to have and take to their own proper use by the Major of the aforesaid City for the time being during the time of his Majoralty or his sufficient Deputies all wages regards fees and profits appertaining and belonging to the same Office of Bailiff We therefore to the Intent that the said Major and Commonalty and Citizens may more securely freely and quietly use have exercise and enjoy the Office aforesaid and the fees wages regards and profits thereunto belonging to them and their Successors for ever of our especial Grace and certain knowledge and meer motion have granted and by these Presents for Vs our Heirs and Successors do grant to the foresaid Major and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors That they the aforesaid Major and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors may exercise and execute the aforesaid Office of Bailiff and Conservation of the Water of Thames by the Major of the said City for the time being during the time of his Majoralty or his sufficient Deputies from time to time for ever in upon or about the same water of Thames That is to say from the aforesaid Bridge of Stains in the County of Middlesex towards the West to the Bridge of London and from thence to a certain place called Yendall otherwise Yenland otherwise Yenleet towards the Sea and East and in Medway and in the Port of the City of London aforesaid and upon whatsoever Banck and whatsoever Shore and whatsoever Wharf of the same Water of Thames within the Limits and Bounds aforesaid in upon and about every one of the same and to have receive collect and enjoy all and singular wages regards fees and profits to the same Office of Bailiff pertaining and belonging to the proper use of the same Major and Commonalty and Citizens by the Major of the City aforesaid for the time being during the time of his Majoralty or by his sufficient Deputies without the hinderance of Vs our Heirs or Successors or any of our Officers Bailiffs or Ministers or of our Heirs or Successors or our Admiral of England or of our Successors or any others of our Subjects or of our Heirs or Successors whatsoever or of any grant by Vs our Heirs or Successors to be made to the contrary To have hold and enjoy the aforesaid Office and all and singular the Premisses with all and singular Wages Regards Fees Profits and Appurtenances whatsoever to the said Office belonging or appertaining to the aforesaid Major and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors for ever by the Major of the foresaid City for the time being during the time of his Majoralty or by his sufficient Deputies to be exercised and executed without any Accompt or any other thing to be rendred or made thereof to Vs our Heirs or Successors So as no other Bailiff or Conservator of the aforesaid Water shall be or shall in any wise intermeddle in the Premisses THE COURT OF REQUESTS Commonly called The Court of Conscience THE first beginning of this Court was in the Ninth Year of King Henry the Eighth by Act of Common Councel then made whereby it was ordained That the Major and Aldermen of the City of London should monthly assign and appoint two Aldermen and four Commoners to be Commissioners to sit in the same Court in Guildhall upon Wednesday and Saturday in every week there to hear examine and determine all Matters brought before them between party and party Citizens of London where the Debt did not exceed forty shillings which Act was to continue two years and no longer But being found beneficial for the relief of such poor Debtors as could not make present payment of their Debts and also to be a great ease and help to such poor persons as had small Debts owing to them and were not able to prosecute a Suit in Law for the same The said Act hath since been continued by divers other Acts of Common Councel and besides the two Aldermen monthly assigned the number of Commissioners was encreased from four to twelve and by that authority the same Court continued till the first Year of the Reign of King James And then divers malicious people slighting the Authority of the same Court and not regarding the expence how great soever if they might ruin their poor Debtors And being often animated thereunto by divers Attorneys and Sollicitors did frequently commence Suits for petty Debts and Causes against poor men Citizens of London in the High Courts at Westminster or elsewhere out of the said Court of Requests to avoid the Jurisdiction thereof and to barr the said Commissioners from staying such Suits and examining the said Causes and thereby caused such poor men many times to pay ten times as much Charges as the principal Debt did amount unto to the undoing such poor men their Wives and Children and also to the filling of the Prisons with the poor so sued For Remedy whereof and for the strengthning and establishing the said Court. An Act of Parliament was made in the third Year of the Reign of King James Intituled An Act for the recovering of small Debts and for the relieving of poor Debtors in London The Tenor of which Act is as followeth WHereas by virtue of divers Acts of Common Councel made within the City of London the Lord Major and Aldermen of the same City for the Relief of poor Debtors dwelling within the said City have accustomed monthly to assign two Aldermen and twelve discreet Commoners to be Commissioners and sit in the Court of Requests commonly called the Court of Conscience in the Guildhall of the same City there to hear and determine all matters of Debt not amounting to the sum of xlx to be brought before them And whereas at the Sessions of Parliament holden at Westminster the Nineteenth day of March in the first Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord the Kings Majesty that now is for the further