Pedigrees and Coats of Arms. They were made a College or Corporation by Charter of King Richard the III. and by him had several Priviledges granted unto them as to be free from Subsidies Tolls and all troublesom Offices of the Kingdom Another Charter of Priviledges was granted unto the Society by King Edward the VI in the Third year of his Reign Of this Collegiate Society are three stiled Kings at Arms six called Heralds and four Pursuivants at Arms. The first and principal among the Kings at Arms is called Garter Instituted by King Henry the fifth whose Office as was said in the Section wherein the King's Court is treated of is to attend the Knights of the Garter at their Solemnities and to Marshal the Solemnities at the Funerals of the higher Nobility of England to advertise those that are chosen of their New Election to call on them to be Instalâ—ed at Windsor to cause their Arms to be hung up upon their Seats there to Carry the Garter to Kings and Princes beyond Seas for which purpose he was want to be joyn'd in Commission with some principal Peer of the Realm c. The next is Clarencieux so called from the Duke of Clarence to whom he first belonged For Lionel Third Son to Edward the Third Marrying the Daughter and Heir of the Earl of Vlster in Ireland had with her the honour of Clare in Thomond whereupon he was afterwards Created Duke of Clarence or the Territory about Clare which Dukedom Escheating to King Edward the Fourth by the Death of his Brother George Duke of Clarence he made this Herald who properly belonged to that Duke a King at Arms and named him Clarencieux in French and Clarentius in Latine His Office is to Marshal and dispose the Funerals of the Lower Nobility as Baronets Knights Esquires and Gentlemen on the South-side of Trent and therefore sometimes called Surroy or Southroy The Third King at Arms is Norroy or Northroy whose Office is to do the like on all the North-side of Trent These two are called Provincial Heralds England being divided by them into two Provinces These by Charter have power to visit Noblemens Families to set down their Pedigrees to distinguish their Arms to appoint men their Arms on Ensigns and with Garter to Direct the Heralds The Six Heralds antiently belonging properly to Dukes have been called Dukes at Arms and are thus called and Ranked 1. Windsor 2. Richmond 3. Chester 4. Somerset 5. York 6. Lancaster who now wait at Court attend Publick Solemnities Proclaim War and Peace c. Of these Heralds there are at present but Four who are named Rouge-Cross Rouge-Dragon Portcullice and Blew-mantle from such Badges heretofore worn by them as it is thought The Service of the whole College is used in Marshalling and ordering Coronations Marriages Christnings Funerals Interviews Feasts of Kings and Princes Cavalcades Shews Justs Tournaments Combats before the Constable and Marshal c. to take care of the Coats of Arms of the Genealogies of the Nobility and Gentry and whatsoever concerns Honour They all receive yearly Sallaries out of the Exchequer and are to be Gentlemen at least The Six Heralds are Expâ—esly made Esquires by the King when they are Created which is now done by the Earl-Marshal who hath a special Commission for every particular Creation which anciently was performed by the King himself For the Creating and Crowning Garter King at Arms there are provided a Sword and Book whereon to take a Solemn Oath then a Gilt Crown a Collar of SS's a Bowl of Wine which Bowl is the Fee of the New Created King also a Coat of Arms of Velvet richly Embroidered He is thus Created First he kneels down before the Earl-Marshal and laying his hand on the Book and Sword another King at Arms reads the Oath which being taken and the Book and Sword the Letters Patents of his Office are read during which the Earl-Marshal pours the Wine on his head giving him the Name of Garter then puts on him the Coat of Arms and Collar of SS's and the Crown on his head His Oath is To obey the Supream Head of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and then the Noble Knights of that Order in such things as appertain to his Office to inquire diligently what Notable or Noble Acts are performed by every Knight of the Order and certifie the same to the Register of the Order that he may Record it and to give Notice to the King and the Knights of the Order of the Death of any of that Society To have an exact knowledge of all the Nobility to instruct Heralds and Pursuivants in doubts concerning Arms and to eschew and avoid all persons of ill reputation to be more ready to excuse then to blame any Noble person unless called by Authority to Witness against them c. This Officer hath a Double Sallary that is twice as much as the other two Kings he hath Fees at Instalments yearly Wages given by the Knights of the Garter and their uppermost Garment when Installed c. The two Provincial Kings at Arms Clarencieux and Norroy are Created by Letters Patents a Book a Sword c. as Garter and with almost the same Ceremonies A Herald at Arms is Created with the like Ceremony but his Coat of Arms is to be Satin imbroidered richly with Gold he is brought in by two Heralds as a King at Arms is by two Kings at Arms. They take a Solemn Oath to be true to the King to be serviceable to Gentlemen to keep Secrets of Knights Esquires Ladies and Gentlewomen to assist distressed Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Widows and Virgins to avoid Taverns Dicing and Whore-Houses c. The Pursuivants at Arms are Created likewise by Letters Patents a Book a Bowl of Wine and a Coat of Arms of Damask and to be brought in as the Heralds before the Earl-Marshal or his Deputy to Swear Solemnly to be true to the King to be serviceable to all Christians to be Secret and Sober more ready to commend than to blame to be humble lowly c. This College felt the fury of the great Fire but is since very beautifully re-built by the Members and the bountiful contribution of Honourable Persons Here are always Officers waiting to satisfie Comers touching Descents Pedigrees Coats of Arms c. These Officers are the King 's Sworn Servants of which see the fourth Section of the third Chapter where we treated of the King 's Court. Inns of Courts The Colleges of Municipal or Common-Law-Professors and Students are Fourteen which may be not unfitly stiled an Vniversity where the Students of the Law and Practitioners thereof live not of common Stipends but by their Places or Practice or their own Proper Revenues or their Friend Exhibition for they are most commonly Gentlemen by Descent and it was the command of King James that none but such should be admitted because others may be prone to debase the honour of the Law and play tricks whereas the
Mr. Sutton to affect that House as the only Place whereon to build the Foundation of his Religious Purpose For among other his Christian Determinations he had formerly intended to build an House at Hallingbury-Bouchers in Essex to be an Hospital for such Poor Men and Children as he himself in his life time or future Governors for the same to be Deputed should think fit to be Lodged and Relived there Also for a School-Master and Vsher to Teach Children to Read and Write and instruct them in the Latin and Greek Grammar with a Learned Divine likewise to Preach the Word of God to them all And a Master beside to Govern all those People belonging to that House But finding this Goodly Mansion of the Charter-House to be much more convenient for the purpose he became an earnest Suitor to the Earl of Suffolk to purchase that House of him acquainting his Honour with the alteration of his mind concerning Hallingbury and his earnest Desire to make the Charter-House the Hospital The Earl being Honorably inclin'd to so Godly a motion the Price being concluded on the Bargain and Sale was assured The Sum disburs'd for this purpose amounted to 13000 l. which was Paid down in hand before the unsealing of the Conveyance Then he became Suitor again to his Majesty to perform all that at the Chartor-House which he had formerly intended at Hallingbury Whereto the King readily yielded being Graciously affected to so Charitable a Work and Granted His Letters Patents to the same effect This Gentleman lived always a Batchelor and by sundry Employments and Parsimony grew to great Wealth which he well Employed to his immortal honnour He endowed 〈◊〉 Hospital with above 3000 l. a Year in Land viz. All and singular the Mannors Lordships Messuages Lands Tonements Reversions Services Meadows Pastures Woods Advowsons Patronages of Churches and Hereditaments of the said Thomas Sutton whatsoever Situate lying and being within the County of Essex Lincoln Wilts Cambridg and Middlesex or in any of them with all and every of their Rights Members and Appurtenances whatsoever Except all his Mannors and Lordships of Littlebury and Haddestock with their Appurtenaâ—ces in the County of Essex In this Hospital he placed Fourscore Poor Men with convenient Lodging Dyet and Allowance of Money for Apparel also Forty Poor Children with the like Provision and a Grammar School with a Master and an Vsher to Teach them over all whom he ordained a Learned Man to be Master of the Houshold to be chosen by the Governors whom he appointed for the present by the Authority of the Kings Letters Patents to be George Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Lord Elsemore Lord Chancellor Robert Earl of Salisbury Lord Treasurer John Bishop of London Lancelot Bishop of Ely Sir Edward Cook Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Sir Thomas Foster a Judg of the Common-Pleas Sir Henry Hubbard the Kings Attorney-General Doctor Overal Dean of Pauls Doctor Mountain Dean of Westminster Henry Thursby Esq Master of the Chancery Richard Sutton Esq Auditor of the Impress Geoffery Nightingale Esquire John Low Gentleman Thomas Brown Gentleman and Master of the Houshold for the time being to be always one and as any of those Sixteen Governors should die the Survivors to make present Additions of others Towards the building of this Hospital Chappel and School-House he gave 5000 l. but he lived not to see it performed but what Death bereft him of he left to the performance of his Faithful Executors Mr. Richard Sutton and Mr. John Low Men of Religious and upright Souls who carefully accomplished the Work so that the Monday after Michâ—â—â—mas day being the 3 d of October Anno Dom. 1614. The Captains Gentlemen and Officers entered into their Famous prepared Hospital to the Glory of God Honour of the King's Majesty Credit of the Governors and Joy of Honest minds and the Eternal Fame of the Noble Founder who is laid in a goodly Tomb in the Chappel of his own Hospital With this Inscription Sacred to the Glory of God in Grateful Memory of Thomas Sutton Esquire Here lieth buried the Body of Thomas Sutton late of Castel Camps in the County of Cambridge Esq at whose only Costs and Charges this Hospital was Founded and Endued with large Possessions for the Relief of Poor Men and Children He was a Gentleman born at Knayth in the County of Lincoln of Worthy and Honest Parentage He lived to the Age of 79 Years and Deceased the 12th Day of December Anno Domini 1611. Though we Design to avoid all Prolixity yet 't is hoped it will be Pardoned if we Transcribe an Epitaph made upon this Worthy Man by a Friend to Piety and Goodness for he being a Rare Example challenges as his due Merit a more than ordinary mention When bad Men die the Memory Remains Of their Corruptions and ungodly ways As Merit to their mis-applyed pains Out of ill actions forming as ill praise For Vertue wounded by their deep disgrace Leaves Fame to their posterity and Race When Good Men die the Memory remains Of their true Vertue and most Christian ways As a due Guerdon to their Godly gains Out of good Actions forming as good praise For Vertue cherish'd by their Deeds of Grace Leaves Fame to their Posterity and Race Among these Good if Goodness may be said To be among the seed of Mortal Men In upright Ballance of true Merit weigh'd Needs must we reckon Famous SUTTON then In whom as in a Mirror doth appear That Faith with Works in him did shine most clear And let us not as is a common use Measure him by a many other more In Death to cover their bad lifes abuse To lanch out then some bounty of their store No SUTTON was none such his Hospital And much more else beside speaks him to all For as God blest him with abundant Wealth Like to a careful Steward he emplo'd it And order'd all things in his best of health As glad to leave it as when he enjoy'd it And being prepared every hour to die Disposed all his Gifts most Christianâ—y In Abrahams bosome sleeps he with the blest His Works they follow him his worth survives Good Angels guide him to eternal rest Where is no Date of time for Years or Lives You that are Rich do you as he hath done And so assure the Crown that he hath woâ—â— To conclude in a word this Famous Hospital with the value of the Lands laid into it the Purchase of the House Stock laid in which he hath given into the Treasury or Store of the said Hospital to begin with and to defend the Rights of the House being 1000 l. and Allowance towards the Building also the Remainder of his Goods unbequeathed his large Gifts and Legacies to divers Honorable and Worthy Friends besides great store of far more inferior account which would puzle me to number and the residue of 20000 l. left to the discretion of his Executors may truly and deservedly be said to be
of the Tower of London fell asleep and could not be awaked with Pâ—â—ching or Burning till the first Day of the next Term which was full Fourten Days and when he Awaked was found in all points as if he had Slept but one Night and lived forty Years after In the Second of King James a strange accident happened to the terrour of all Bloody Murderers A Woman called Ann Waters inticed by a Lewd Persou she was wont to keep Company with consented to have her Husband strangled and then Buried him secretly under the Dunghil in a Cowhouse whereupon the Man being mist by his Neighbours and the Wife making an extraordinary shew of wondring with much counterfeit Sorrow for his Absence she past on unsuspected for a time But it pleased God that one of the Inhabitants of that Street Dream't That his Neighbour Waters was Strangled and Buried under the Dunghil in a Cowhouse and upon Declaring his Dream search being made by the Constable the dead Body was found as he had Dreamed whereupon the Wife was Apprehended and upon Examination confessing the Fact was burned What hope therefore of Concealment can any Murderers have when they are subject to be Discovered by any mans Dream In the Fifth of Queen Mary there fell Hail-stones that were fifteen Inches about I my self saw Hail-stones that fell in London in May last was Twelve Month some of which were Six some Nine Inches about and others say they saw some that were more About the Sixth of Edward the Fourth one Walter Walker a wealthy Citizen dwelling at the Crown in Cheapside one day when his Child cryed did bid him be quiet and he would make him Heir of the Crown which words being subject to Interpretation he was call'd in question about them Arraigned Condemned and put to Death which was an Act of great Severity for the Man had no other meaning than that he would make his Child Heir of his own House with that Sign Anno One thousand five hundred ninety five upon Digging for a Vault to be made in Cheapside there was found at Seventeen Foot deep a fair Pavement like unto that above ground and at the further end of the Channel was found a Tree sawed into five steps which was to step over some Brook running towards Walbrook upon the edge of which there lay the bodies of two great Trees the ends wereof were then sawed off and were firm Timber so that the Ground of the City had been raised to that time above Seventeen Foot In the Third of William the Second anno 1090. On St. Lukes day Six hundred Houses in London were thrown down by a terrible Tempest and then it was that the Roof of Bow-Church in Cheapside fell with that violence mentioned page 46 before In the time of Henry the First the Thames so failed of Water that between the Tower of London and the Bridge men waded over on Foot for the space of two days In the Seventh year of Henry the Sixth November Eight The Duke of Norfolk was like to have been Drowned passing through London-Bridge his Barge being set upon the Pâ—les was over-whelmed so that Thirty Persons were Drowned and the Duke with others that escaped were fain to be drawn up with Ropes The same year the Postern Gates of London by East Smithfield against the Tower of London did sink by Night more than Seven Foot into the Earth In his Eighteenth year all the Lyons in the Tower Dyed And in this present year three of the Lions in the Tower died In the year 1623 Octob. 26. A Popish Priest Preached in the Afternoon at Hunsdon-house in Black-fryers London in an upper Chamber where there were Assembled above Three hundred Men and Women when about the middle of the Sermon a great part of the Floor fell with such violence that it brake down the next Floor under it In the Fall whereof the Preacher and almost a Hundred of his Auditors were Killed besides as many more hurt About the Year One thousand two hundred eighty two through a great Frost and deep Snow five Arches of London-Bridge were born down and carried away Anno One thousand three hundred ninety six November 30. The young Queen Isabel of about Eight years old being to be conveyed to the Tower such a Multitude went to see her that Nine persons were crowded to Death on London-Bridge In the time of Richard the First for three or four years together there was so great a Dearth that Wheat was sold for Eighteen Shillings six pence a Quarter and then followed so great a Mortality of Men that the Living could scarce Bury the Dead In the Seventeenth Year of Henry the Third were seen five Suns at one time together after which followed so great a Dearth that People did eat Horses and Barks of Trees and in London 20000 were starved for want of Food Anno 1313. 7 Edward 2. The price set on Victuals was for a fat stalled Ox twenty four shillings A fat Mutton twenty pence a fat Goose two pence half penny A fat Capon two pence A fat Hen one penny Two Chickens one penny Three Pigeons one penny Twenty four Eggs a penny Yet the next year there was such a Famine and Mortality of People that the Living were scarce sufficient to Inter their Dead Friends And the next year again there was so early a Harvest that a Bushel of Wheat which had been sold for Ten shillings was now sold for Ten pence In the Fifteenth of King Stephen Horses and Carts passed over the Thames upon the Ice Anno 1609. 6 King James A Frost began in December which continued till April following with such violence that not only the Thames was so Frozen that Carts Loaden were driven over it as on dry Land but also many Fowls and Birds perished and also much Herbage in Gardens especially Hartichoaks and Rosemary were destroyed The like violent Frost happened in the Seventh of Eliz. That Men perform'd all kinds of Exercises upon the Thames In her 35th year the River so fail'd that a Horseman might Ride over near London-Bridge In 5 Q. Mary There fell so great a Rain in September that Westminster-hall was full of Water and Boats were Rowed over Westminster-Bridge to Kingstreet In the 9 th of Hen. 4. There was so sharp a Winter and such a bundance of Snow continued December January February March that almost all small Birds dyed through Hunger In the time of Edw. 3 d. A Frost lasted from the midst of September to the Month of April In his Eleventh Year there was so great Plenty That a Quarter of Wheat was sold at London for two Shillings A fat Oxe for a Noble A fat Sheep for six pence Five Pigeons for a penny and other things after that Rate But in his 27 th Year there was great Scarcity by reason there fell little or no Rain from March to July and it was therefore called the dry Summer In June Anno 1603 There was one Whipped