When the King Prorogues or Dissolves the Parliament He commonly comes in Person to the House of Lords in his Robes with the Crown on his Head and sends by the Vsher of the Black-Rod for all the House of Commons to the Bar of that House and after the King's Answer to each Bill signified as aforesaid his Majesty usually makes a Solemn Speech the Lord Chancellor another and the Speaker of the House of Commons a Third Then the Lord Chancellor by the special Command of the King doth pronounce the Parliament Prorogued or Dissolved The King being Head of the Parliament if his Death doth happen during the Sitting of the Parliament it is ipso facto Dissolved IV. Sommerset-House in the Strand is the Queens Palace In the Year 1549. Edward Duke of Sommerset Uncle to Edward the 6 th and Lord Protector pulled down several adjoyning Buildings to make him a Mansion-House there the Stones of which Houses and some other more remote Buildings which he demollished were converted to this Spatious and Beautiful Palace of which we cannot add much more but that it was the Fatal place where the wicked Romish Assassinates prompted by Hell and their accursed Principles most barbarously Murdered that Noble Patriot and never to be forgotten Knight Sir EDMOND-BERRY GODFREY on Saturday the 12 th of October 1678. The Bloody Villains being enraged at the Discovery of their Execrable Plot in which this brave Gentleman was very active made him a Sacrifice to their Revenge so that he may be truly stiled the Martyr of the English Protestant Interest and deserves a Memorial in all Loyal Christian Hearts The Narrative is published at large to which we refer our Reader only we cannot omit his Majesties Royal act who so resented this Abominable Villany that he issued his Proclamation the 20 th of October promising 500 l. to the Discoverer and a Pardon if one of the Malefactors and another soon after promising on the word of a King not only the said Reward of 500 l but such care for the Security of the Discoverer as he could in Reason propose upon which Captain William Bedlow since Dead and Mr. Miles Praunce a Silver-smith in Princes-street which last confessed to have been in the Fact made the Discovery and upon their clear and undoubted Evidence three of the Wretches were Executed viz. Green Berry and Hill the rest fled from Justice but cannot escape Divine Vengeance Having spoken of these principal Palaces it may be expected that we should speak something of the Great and Famous Houses of the Nobility which are very many and Magnificent not yielding to any in Europe as Clarendon-House which for Situation stately Architecture spacious solid uniform Structure is admirable Berkley-House Wallingford-House Northumberland-House Salisbury and Worcester Houses Bedford Leicester Newport Mountague and Southampton Houses and indeed most Houses of the great Peers But the brevity of our Volume will not admit a large Description only in General we shall say something of them in the Section that Treats of the Fire Anno 1666. and the Rebuilding of the City SECT 5. Of Exchanges and Publick-Halls THe Royal Exchange in Cornhil-Ward was Erected in the Year 1566 just one hundred Years before it was Burnt in this manner Certain Houses upon Cornhil containing Eighty Housholds were purchased by the City of London for above 3532 l. which they sold for 478 l. to such as would take them down and carry them away Then the Ground or Plot was made plain at the Charges of the City and Possession thereof was given to Sir Thomas Gresham Knight a Noble Merchant and Agent to Queen Elizabeth by certain Aldermen in the name of the whole for to Build an Exchange thereon for Merchants to Assemble On the 7 th of June he laid the first Stone in the Foundation being accompanied with some Aldermen where every one of them laid a piece of Gold which the Work-men took up The Work was advanced with such Expedition that in November 1567 it was finished and afterwards in the presence and by the special Command of the Queen it was Proclaimed by a Herald and with sound of Trumpet named The ROYAL EXCHANGE It was Built most of Brick and yet was the most splendid Burse all things considered that was then in Europe The Burse for Merchants was kept before in Lumbard-street In the great and dismal Conflagration Anno 1666. the Royal Exchange was consumed But it is since Rebuilt in a far more stately and Magnificent manner of excellent Portland Stone almost as durable as Marble with such curious and admirable Architecture especially for a Front a Turret and for Arch-work that it surpasseth all other Burses in Europe The Form is Quadrangular with a large Paved Court where the Merchants Meet it is Quadratum Oblongum an Oblong square and on each side are stately Galleries or Portico's Checquered with a smooth and delicate Stone-Pavement the Arches supported with strong Stone Pillars where in case of Rain or extream Heat the greatest part may be sheltered The whole Fabrick cost above 50000 l. whereof one half was disbursed by the Chamber of London and the other by the Company of Mercers And to reimburse them there are to be let 190 Shops above-stairs at 20 l. per annum and 30 l. Fine besides the several Shops below on the several sides and the huge Vaulted Cellars under ground so that it must needs be the richest piece of Ground in the World For The Exact Dimensions of the Ground whereon this Goodly Fabrick is Erected is but 171 Foot from North to South and 203 Foot from East to West and little more than three quarters of an Acre of Ground yet producing above 4000 l. Yearly Rent The New Exchange on the Strand was called Durham-House Built by Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham who being made Bishop of that See Anno 1549. continued so 36 Years It was a very Capacious Edifice on the North side stood a row of Thatcht low Stables which the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Salisbury then Lord High Treasurer of England purchased and pulled down Erecting in the room thereof at his own Charge a very goodly and beautiful Building with Cellars underneath and a Walk fairly Paved above it with Rows of Shops and the like above stairs The first Stone was laid the 10 th of June 1608 and it was finished in November following The Shops above and under were curiously adorn'd and in April following the Earl Invited King James the Queen the Prince the Duke of York to come thither who came attended with many of the Nobility where after a Rich Banquet the King named it Britains Burse There are also two Exchanges more viz. The Middle Exchange and Exeter Exchange which last was lately built in both which Goods are sold as at the Royal Exchange Having done with Exchanges we shall proceed to the Publick Halls of Companies As for the Great Guild-Hall for Orders sake the Reader is referred to the Section
of the said Doctors in a most Capacious and Beautiful manner where they keep their Courts and pleadings every Term which begins and ends almost at the same time with the Term at Westminster The Chief Court is that of the Arches so called from the Arched Church of St. Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside where this Court was wont to be held but now in the Common-Hall at Doctors Commons the Judge whereof is called the Dean of the Arches having Jurisdiction over a Deanry consisting of thirteen Parishes within London exempt from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of London Hither are directed all Appeals in Ecclesiastical matters within the Province of Canterbury to this belong divers Advocates all Doctors of the Civil Law two Registers and ten Proctors The Dean or Judge of the Arches sitteth alone without any Assessors and Heareth and Determineth all Causes without any Jury of Twelve Men. The manner is briefly thus Fist goes out a Citation then a Bill and Answer then by Proofs Witnesses and Presumptions the matter is Argued pro and con and the Canon and Civil Laws quoted and then the Definitive Sentence of the Judge passeth and upon that Execution But by Statute 25 Henry the VIII it was provided that it shall be Lawful for any Subject of England in Case of Defect of Justice in the Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Appeal to the King's Majesty in His Court of Chancery and that upon such an Appeal a Commission under the Great Seal shall be directed to certain Persons particularly Designed for that business so that from the Highest Court of the Archbishop there lyes an Appeal to this Court and beyond it to none other It is called the Court of Delegates and in Civil Affairs is the Highest Court in England Ecclesiastical Criminal Causes are Tried by way of Accusation Denunciation or Inquisition The first When some one takes upon him to prove the Crime The second When the Church-Wardens Present and are not bound to prove because it is presumed they do it without Malice and that the Crime is Notorious Thirdly By Inquisition when by reason of Common Fame inquiry is made by the Bishop ex Officio suo by calling some of the Neighborhood or the Party Accused to their Oaths But this Oath ex Officio was taken away by Parliament in the time of King Charles the First If the Party Accused after Admonition submits not he is Excommunicated from the Church and is disenabled to be a Plaintiff in a Law Suit c. Which is called Excommunicatio Minor Excommunicatio Major excludes from the Church and from Society in Temporal Affairs and that for Heresie Schism Perjury Incest or such grievous Crimes then a Man cannot be Plantiff or Witness in any Civil or Ecclesiastical Court. And if he continues Excommunicated 40 Days the King 's Writ de Excommunicato capiendo is granted out of the Chancery against him whereupon he is cast into Prison without Bail there to lye till he hath submitted to the Bishop and satisfied for what he is charged with by which many tender Consciences have suffered deeply There is an Anathematismus inflicted upon an obstinate Person that is Judged an Heretick wherein he is Curs'd and Rejected to Damnation There is also an Interdict Prohibiting all Divine Offices to a Place or People if against a People it follows them any where if against a Place the People may go elsewhere to hear Somtimes a Person Adjudged a Delinquent is punished another way which is called Publick Pennance and is to stand in the Church-Porch upon Sunday bare Headed and bare Footed in a White sheet and a White Rod in his Hand then he is to go into the Church and his Crime being publickly repeated and he professing Repentance is Absolved but in some Cases the Party may come off for Money to the Poor or some Pious Use which is not always converted that way Christian Burial is denyed to Persons Excommunicate or Perjured to such as are Hang'd for Felony or Kill themselves to Apostates Hereticks and Extortioners Somtimes the Clergy Men are suspened ab Officio viz. from the Exercise of their Functions somtimes there is a Deprivatio a Beneficio when deprived of their Livings somtimes they are Degraded that is Deprived of their Orders which is commonly for some Heinous Crime So much Briefly of these Censures and Punishments The Office of Actuary attending the Court of Arches is to set down the Judges Decrees Register the Acts of the Court and send them in Books of the Registry The Office of the Register is to Attend the Court by himself or Deputy and receive all Libels or Bills Allegations and Exhibits of Witnesses Files all Sentences and keeps the Records of the Court. The Beadle attends the Court carryeth a Mace before the Judge and calls the Persons Cited to appear The Judge and all the Advocates who are all Doctors of the Civil Law wear Scarlet Robes with Hoods lined with Taffata if they be of Oxford or White Miniver Furr if of Cambridge and the Proctors ought to wear Hoods lined with Lamb skin if not Graduates but if Graduates Hoods according to their Degree The Proctors are Persons that Exhibit their Proxies for their Clients and make themselves Parties for them and draw and give in Pleas or Libels and Allegations in the behalf of their Clients produce the Witnesses prepare the Causes for Sentence and and attend the Advocates with the proceedings All Arguments made by Advocates and all Petitions made by Proctors are to be in Latin All process of this Court runs in the Name of the Judge and returnable before him heretofore in Bow-Church but now in the Common-Hall at Doctors Commons The Places and Offices of this Court are in the Gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury These Ecclesiastical Laws consist of Canons made by General Councels the Opinion of Fathers the Decrees of several Bishops of Rome formerly admitted and our own Constitutions made antiently in several Provincial Synods which by 25 Henry VIII are in Force so far as they are not Repugnant to the Laws and Customs of England or the King's Prerogative Then the Canons made in the Convocations of latter times as Primo Jacobi and confirmed by him some Statutes Enacted by Parliament and divers old Customs not written but yet in use and where these fail the Civil Law takes place Amongst the Great Officers of the Crown which are Nine viz. the Lord High Steward of England the Lord High Chancellor the Lord High Treasurer the Lord President of the KING's Council the Lord Privy Seal the Lord Great Chamberlain the Lord High Constable the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Admiral of England The last only appertains to this place his Trust and Honour is so great that it has been usually given to the KING 's Younger Sons near Kinsmen or some of the Highest and Chiefest of all the Nobility He has the management of all Maritime Affairs as well in respect of Jurisdiction as
called Six-Clerks-Office in Chancery-Lane they keep Commons together in Term time The Three Clerks of the Petty-Bag are under the Master of the Rolls they make all Patents for Customers Comptrollers all Congeâ—d ' Estires first Summons of Nobility Clergy Knights Citizens and Burgesses to Parliament From the Subpoena-Office are Issued Writs to Summon Persons to appear in Chancery There are two Examiners who are to examin Witnesses upon upon their Oaths in any suit on both sides The Curssiters Office is to make out Original Writs they were antiently called Clerici de Cursu They are in Number 24 whereof each one hath certain Counties and Cities allotted to him They are a Corporation of themselves c. IV. EXCHEQVER Within the Port or Entry into the Hall on either side are ascendings up into large Chambers without the Hall adjoyning thereunto wherein certain Courts be kept namely on the Right hand is the Court of Exchequer which is so called as some think from a Chequer-wrought-Carpet covering the great Table in that Court or else from the French word Exchequer a Chess Board because the Accomptants in that Office were wont to use such Boards in their Calculation Here are Tried all Causes that belong to the King's Treasury or Revenue as touching Accounts Disbursements Customs and all Fines imposed upon any Man In this Court do Sit the Lord Treasurer the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Lord Chief Baron and Four other Learned Judges called Barons of the Exchequâ—r and one other Cursitor-Baron but the two first â—â—â—dom Sit and the five last seldom fail The first of these five is the Principal Judge of this Court which is a place of High Honour and Profit he iâ— stiled Lord Chief Baron is created by Letters Paâ—tents to hold this Dignity quam diu bene se gesseriâ— wherein he hath a more fixed Estate than the Chiâ— Justices of either Bench for the Law intends this aâ— Estate for Life In the absence of the Lord Chieâ— Baron the other three Barons supply his place acâ—cording to their Seniority but the 5 th is said to bâ— Cursitor of the Court and Administers the Oaths tâ— the Sheriffs under-Sheriffs Bayliffs Searchers Surveyors c. of the Custom-House In the Exchequer are held two Courts one oâ— Law another of Equity all Judicial proceedings according to Law are Coram Baronibus before the Barons but the Court of Equity held in the Exchequer-Chamber is Coram Thesaurario Cancellario Baronibus before the Treasurer Chancellor and Barons The Authority of this Court is of Original Jurisdiction without any Commission All the Twelve Judges belonging to these High Tribunals sit in Robes and Square Caps like Doctors of Divinity because as some say they were in old times most commonly Clergy Men. There are divers Officers belonging to the upper Exchequer as the King's Remembrancer in whose Office are Eight Sworn Clerks All Accounts pass there that concern the King's Revenue for Customs Excise Hearth-Money Subsidies and all aids granted to the King in Parliament and all other Accounts of what nature soever concerning the King's Revenue either Certain or Casual all Securities whether by Bond or Recognizances to the King for any of His Debts are taken here All proceedings upon any Statute by information for Custom Excises or any other Penal Law All proceedings upon the said Bonds or Recognizances or any other Bonds taken in the King's Name by Officers appointed thereunto under the Great Seal of England and transmitted into this Office for Recovery thereof From whence Issue forth Process to cause all Accountants to come in and Account c. This Office is in the King's Gift The Office of the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer is to make Process against all Sheriffs Receivers Bayliffs c. for their Accounts and many other things of Moment as Estreal Rules all Charters and Letters Patents whereupon any Rents are reserved to the King This also is in the KING's Gift The Clerk of the Pipe hath all the Accounts and Debts due to the King drawn down out of the Remembrancers Office and chargeth them down out of the Remembrancers Office and chargeth them down in the Great Roll or Pipe and therefore probably called the Pipe-Office he hath under him Eight Sworn Clerks Here Accountants have their quietus est and here are made Leafes of extended Lands The Comptroller of the Pipe writes out all Summons twice every Year to the High Sheriffs to Levy the Farms and Debts of the Pipe He keeps a Roll of the Pipe-Office Accounts whereby to discover any thing that shall be amiss In the Office of the Clerk of the Pleas all the Officers of the Exchequer and other priviledged Persons as Debtors to the King c. are to have their Priviledge to Plead and be Impleaded as to all matters at the Common Law And the Proceedings are accordingly by Declarations Pleas and Trials as at the Common Law because they should not be drawn out of their own Court where their attendance is Required In this Office are four Sworn Attorneys To the Forâ—ign Opposers-Office all Sheriffs repair to be by him opposed of their Green-Wax and from thence is drawn down a Charge upon the Sheriffs to the Clerk of the Pipe This Office is kept in Grays-Inn The Office of the Clerk of the Estreats is to receive every Term the Estreats or Extracts out of the Office of the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer and to write them out to be Levied for the King Also to make Schedules for such Sums as are to be discharged The Auditors of the Imprest Audit the Great accounts of the King's Customs Wardrobe Mint First Fruits and Tenths Naval and Military Expences Moneys imprested c. The Auditors of the Revenue Audit all the accounts of the King 's other Revenue that arise by Aids granted in Parliament The Remembrancer of the first Fruits and Tenths takes all Compositions for first Fruits and Tenths and makes Process against such as pay not the same This Office is kept in Hatton-Garden c. As to the other part of the Exchequer where the King's Revenue is received and disbursed the Principal Officer is the Lord Treasurer whose place is somtimes and is at this present managed by Commissioners appointed by His Majesty The next is the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is an Officer of great Account and Authority He hath a Principal Power not only in the Exchequer-Court but also here in the managing and disposing of the King's Revenue he hath the Custody of the Exchequer-Seal He hath the Gift of the Comptroller or Clerk of the Pipe of the Clerk of the Pleas of the Clerk of the Nichils and of the Seal of the Court He is also under Treasurer and hath the Gift of the two Praisers of the Court. Then there are two Chamberlains of the Exchequer in whose Custody are many ancient Records Leagues and Treaties with Foreign Princes the Standards of Moneys Weights and Measures those antient Books called Dooms-Day and the Black
sense of Honour in persons of Birth and Fortune engages them to preserve their Reputation These Colleges are called Inns which was the old English Word for the Houses of Noblemen or Bishops or men of great Note as the French word Hostel at Paris There are Two Inns of Sergeants Four Inns of Courts and Eight Inns of Chancery of which there are Nine within the Liberty of the City and five in the Suburbs Those within the City Liberties are Sergeants Inn Fleetstreet Sergeants Inn Chancery-lane For Judges and Sergeants only The Inner The Middle Temple in Fleet-street are Inns of Court Cliffords Inn Fleetstreet Thavies Inn Furnivals Inn Bernards Inn Staple Inn Holborn Are Inns of Chancery Without the Liberties are Grays Inn Holborn Lincolns Inn Chancery-lane Inns of Court Clements Inn New Inn Lyons Inn Inns of Chancery Of these we shall briefly speak in this Oâ—deras 1. The Sergeants Inns are so called because Divers Judges and Serjeants at Law keep their Commons and Lodge there in Term-time In these Inns or Colleges the Students of the Common-Law when they are arrived to the highest Degree have Lodging and Dyet They are called Servientes ad legem Sergeants at Law These are bred two or three years in the University and there chiefly versed in Logick and Rhetorick which are expedient for a Lawyer as also in the Theory of the Civil-Law and some knowledge in the French Tongue as well as Latine then the Student is admitted to be one of the Four Inns of Court where he is first called a Moot-man and after about seven years Study is chosen an Vtter Barrister and having then spent twelve years more and performed his Exercises of which more hereafter he is chosen a Bencher and sometime after a Reader During the Reading which heretofore was three Weeks and three Days as afore-mentioned the Reader keeps a Constant and sumptuous Feasting Inviting the Chief Nobles Judges Bishops Great Officers of the Kingdom and sometimes the King himself that it costs them sometimes 800 l. or 1000 l. Afterwards he wears a long Robe different from other Barristers and is then in a capacity to be made a Sergeant at Law when his Majesty shall be pleased to call him which is in this Manner When the Number of Sergeants is small the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas by the advice and consent of the other Judges makes choice of six or eight more or less of the most grave and learned of the Inns of Court and presents their Names to the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper who sends by the Kings Writ to each of them to appear on such a Day before the King to receive the State and Degree of a Serjeant at Law at the appointed time they being habited in Robes of two Colours viz. Brown and Blew come accompanied with the Students of the Inns of Courts and attended by a Train of Servants and Retainers in peculiar Cloath-Liveries to Westminster-Hall and there in publick take a Solemn Oath and are Cloathed with certain Robes and Coifs without which they may be seen no more in publick After this they Feast the great Persons of the Nation in a very Magnificent and Princely manner give Gold Rings to the Princes of the Royal Family the Archbishops Chancellor and Treasurer to the value of 40 s. each Ring and to Earls and Bishops Rings of 20 s. To other Great Officers to Barons c. Rings of less value Out of these are chosen all the Judges of the King's Bench and Common-Pleas Wherefore all those Judges do always wear the white Linnen Coif which is the principal Badge of a Sergeant and which he has had the priviledge to wear at all times even in the King's presence and whilst he spake to the King though antiently no Subject may be so much as capped in the King's presence When any of the Judges are wanting the King by advice of the Council makes choice of one of those Sergeants at Law to supply his place and by Letters Patents Sealed by the Lord Chancellor who Constitutes him sitting in the middle of the rest of the Judges by a set Speech Declaring to the Serjeant that upon this occasion he is called to do Justice with Expedition and Impartiality to His Majesties Subjects causing the Letters Patents to be read and then Departs after which the Lord Chief Justice places the said Sergeant on the Bench Junior to all the rest and having taken an Oath well and truly to Serve the King and his People in his Office to take no Bribâ— to do equal and speedy Justice to all c. He sets himself to the Execution of his Charge Being thus advanced he hath great honour and a considerable Salary besides perquisites for each one hath 1000 l. a year from the King His habit of a Sergeant is somewhat altered his long Robe and Cap his Hood and Coif are the same but there is besides a Cloak put over him and closed on his Right Shoulder and instead of a Caputium lined with Minever or de minuto vario divers small pieces of white rich Fur only the two Lord Chief-Justices and the Lord Chief-Baron have their Hoods Sleeves and Collars turned up with Ermine ☞ Note that the two Sergeants Inns belong to the twelve Judges and about twenty-six Sergeants The Fees in old times from a Client to a Sergeant at Law for advice in his Chamber or for pleading in any Court of Judicature was but 20 s. and the Fee of a Barrister 10 s. which is now more then is given in our Neighbour Nations but at present it is usual to give some some Sergeants 10 l. and some 20 l. and to a Barrister half as much at the pleading of any Considerable Cause so that some Lawyers gain 3000 or 4000 l. yearly in Fees and purchase great Estates in a few years and are sometimes advanced to be Peers of the Realm as late times especially have shewn When there was a call of Serjeants at Law it was almost incredible to hear of their preparations in old times they have often kept their Feasts in Ely House which was the Bishop of Ely's Palace in Holborn There was a call of Seven Sergeants in the year 1464. 4. E. 4. in Michaelmas Term who kept their Feast in this Palace to which Sir Matthew Philip Lord Mayor of London with the Aldermen Sheriffs and the most eminent Commoners were invited to which they came but the Lord Gray of Ruthen then Lord Treasurer of England was placed against the minds of the Serjeants as they said before the Lord Mayor who thereupon took such Distaste that he went away with the Aldermen Sheriffs and Commons without partaking of the Feast to the great trouble of the New Sergeants as well as the dissatisfaction of the City There was another Feast kept there for Five days by the Sergeants in the Year 1531. 23 Henry VIII where the King Queen and Foreign Ambassadors Dined as also the Lord Mayor the
Water for ten years towards the repairing of the Walls and cleansing the Ditch about London In the sixteenth of Edward the Fourth viz. Anno 1476. the Mayor of London Sir Ralph Joceline caused the part of the Wall betwixt Aldgate and Aldersgate to be repaired the Skinners repairing from Aldgate to Burys-marks towards Bishopsgate as may appear by their Arms in three places fixed there The Mayor with his Company of Erapers repaired from Bishops-gate to Allhallows-Church in the same Wall and from Allhallows towards the Postern called Moor-gate A great part of the same Wall was repaired by the Executors of Sir John Crosby Alderman as may appear by his Arms in two places fixed there and other Companys repaired the rest of the Wall to the Postern of Cripple-gate Bishops-gate was new built by the Merchants Almains of the Still-yard The Goldsmiths Repaired from Cripple-gate towards Alders-gate and there the work ceased which was a great Service for one Year The Circuit of the Wall on the Land side from the Tower to Aldgate in the East is 82 perches from thence to Bishops-gate 86 perches From Bishopsgate in the North to the Postern of Cripple-gate 162 perches From Cripple-gate to Alders-gate 75 perches From Alders-gate to New-gate 66 perches From New-gate in the West to Ludgate 42 perches From thence to the Fleet-Dyke West 60 perches From thence to the River Thames about 70. In all 643 perches every perch being 5 Yards and a half contains 3536 Yards and a half which is 10608 foot or two Miles and a half and 608 foot over to which if you add from Black friers to the Tower it will be found that the whole Circuit of the Walls was above three English Miles The Principal Gates of this Noble City are seven viz. on the West Ludgate of King Lud it being built by him as Geoffry of Monmouth says about the Year of Christ 66. Though some as Leland conjecture it may be called Lud-gate for Fludgate from a little Flud running beneath it It was made a Free Prison Anno 1379. Sir Nicholas Bremer being Mayor which was confirmed in the Year 1382. By a Common Counsel in the Guild-Hall by which it was Ordained That all Free-men 〈◊〉 this City should for Debt Trespasses Accounts and Contempts be imprisoned in Lud-gate where at first they paid nothing for Lodging and Water This Gate was Repaired in the 28 of Q. Elizabeth Anno 1586 at the Common charges of the City amounting to above 1500 l. In the 3 d of Edw. 4. Sir Mathew Philips being Mayor Dame Agnes Foster Relict of Sir Stephen Foster Fishmonger who was also Mayor in the one and thirtyeth Year of King Hen. 6. for the Comfort and Relief of all the poor Prisoners procured an Establishment of certain Articles in a Common Council viz. That the New Works then lately Edified by the same Dâ—me Agnes for the enlarging of the Prison of Lud-gate from thenceforth should be had and taken as a part and parcel of the said Prison of Lud-gate so that both the old and new Work aforesaid to be one Prison Goal keeping and charge for evermore The Quadrant built by the said Sir Stephen Foster and his Lady contained a large walking place by ground of 38 Foot and a half in Length besides the thickness of the Walls which were 6 Foot in all 44 Foot and a half the Breadth within the Walls was 29 Foot and a half which with the thickness of the Walls makes it 35 Foot and an half broad The like Room there was over it for Lodgings and over that fair Leads to walk upon well imbattelled for fresh Ayr and refreshment of Prisoners 2. New-gate which was so called for its Newness as being erected later than the rest viz. about the Reign of Henry the first or of King Stephen This was the fairest of all the Gates and was Rebuilt after its being destroied in the dreadful Conflagration in 1666 more stately than ever of which we will give a particular account hereafter as also of the Revival of London from those Ruinous heaps in which the Hellish Malice of â—â—cked Incendiaries had buried it This Gate being a Sumptuous and Capacious Fabrick is the Publick Goal or Prison for Criminals and also for Court-Actions for the County of Middlesex and has been so for many Ages as appears by Records in King John's time There have been many Benefactors to this place who gave somthing Yearly towards the Relief of Prisoners as Sir John Poultney who gave 4 Marks per annum Anno 1237. and many others since Anno 1312. It was re-edified by the Executors of Sir Rechard Whittington 3. Alders-gate is said to Derive its name of Elder-â—rees which grew about it others from its Antiquity viz. Olders-gate and some Derive it from Aldrich a Saxon. This also is and indeed all the Gates that have been consumed in the great fire are now built more Magnificently than ever they were 4. Cripple-Gate so called of a Spittle of Cripples somtimes adjoining thereto that were wont to beg at the said Gate It has been formerly a Prison where Persons were Committed as now to the Compters It was Re-edified by the Brewers of London in the Year 1244. And by the Executors of Edmund Shaw Goldsmith Mayor Anno 1491. 5. Moor-Gate so called from a Moorish ground hard by but now turned into very pleasant and delightful walks called Moor-fields This Gate was built by Thomas Falconer Lord Mayor in the 2 H. 5. Anno 1414. 6. Bishops-Gate so called of a Bishop the Benefactor which the Dutch Merchants or Hans of the Still-Yard were bound by Covenant to repair and defend at all times of Danger and extremity 7. Aldgate on the East so named from the oldness or Elbe-Gate this is one of the Principal Gates and of the 7 double Gates mentioned by Fitz-Stephens It is Rebuilt at the Charge of the City Besides these in ancient times there stood two Gates on that part of the City next the River whilst the Wall stood namely Billings-Gate now a Whaâ—f or a Key and Doure-Gate or the Water-Gate commonly called Dow-Gate There are some Posterns also which may go for Gates as that out of Christ-Church and Hospital to pass from thence to the Hospital of St. Baâ—tholomewsâ— in Smithfield to make which License was given to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in the 6. of E. 6. Sir Richard Dobbs Lord Mayor There is also another that leads to Moor-fields And that near the Tower by the Remains seems to have been a fair and strong Arched Gate of much trust there having formerly been always a Person of Quality as Custas or Keeper of it In the 2 R. 1. Ann. 1190. William Longshamp Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellor of England caused a part of the Câ—ty Wall to wit from the said Gate towards the River to the White Tower to be broken down for the enlarging the said Tower which he encompassed with the outer Wall and broad Ditch but coming too near
the foundation of the aforesaid Gate it was much loosned and weakned so that 200 and oddâ— years after viz. Anno 1440. 18 H. 6. It fell down and was never since re-edified There were several other Water-Gates which were purchased by private Men as at Black-frier-stairs a free landing place Puddle-Wharf Pauls-Wharf a free landing place Broken-wharf Queen-Hith a place called Woolf-Gate in the Parish of Aâ—lâ—allows after called Woolf-lane but the lower part being built on by the Earl of Shreâ—sâ—ury and the upper part by the Chamberlain of London it was grown out of use There was also a Gate called Ebgate now the Old Swan There was also a small Gate called Oyster-Gate because Oysters were sold there and other Shell Fish Bridg-gate so called of London-Bridg was reckoned by Fitz-Seephens one of the Principal Gates of the City Next Buttolph-gate so called of St. Buttolphs-Church adjoining Of Billingsgate we have spoke already There was a Water-gate by the Custom-House at the South end of Water-lanâ— and another Water-gate by the Tower Of the Tower of London THe Wall of the City was furnished round about with Towers and Bulworks at due and Regular distances Of which where the Wall ended towards the River on the East-side the most eminent was that which we call the Toâ—â—r of London Built by William the Conqueror about the Year 1078. Some say that Caesar built the White-Tower but that is not so nor does he mention it in his Commentary though an exact Recorder of his own Actions Gundulph Bishop of Rochester being Principal Surveyor and Overseer of the Work This was the great Square Tower now called the White-Tower which has been much inlarged by several Buildings since adjoyned at diverse times and incompassed with a Wall And Anno 1190 in the 2 R. 1. as was said the Bishop of Ely Chancellor of England inclâ—sed it with a thick and strong outward Wall of stone Embattailed and caused a Broad and Deep Ditch to be cast about the same thinking to have Invironed it with the River of Thames so that it is a most Famous Goodly Citadel resembling a big Town Edward the 4 th fortified this Tower inclosing a certain piece of Ground taken from Tower-Hill on the West which is now called the Bulwark Near West-gate opening to the South there is a strong Postern for passengers by the Ward-House over a Drawbridg let down for that purpose On the South side towards the East is a large Water-gate for the Receipt of small Vessels under a store Bridg from the River Thames beyond it 〈◊〉 a small Pâ—stern with a Draw-bridg seldom let down but to receive great Persons that are Prisoners The Lyon-Tower was built by Edward the 4 th This is not only a Fort or Citadel to Defend and Command both City and River but alâ—o a Royal Palace where our Kings with their Courts have Lodged some times 'T is furnished with an Armory and Royal Arsenaf of Arms and Ammunition for 60000 Men. Here are kept the Treâ—sury for the Jewels and Ornaments of the English Crown the only Mint now for Coining Silver and Gold in England And the most Antient Records of the King's Courts of Justice at Westminster This is the Chief Prison for the safe Custody of Great Persons that are Criminals It is out of any County or Parish yet a great part of it is within the liberty of the City For it was the Judges opinion that those that were to be Tried for the Murder of Sir Thomas Overbury must be Tried in the City the Fact being done there The Office of his Majesties Records is of venerable Antiquity And as the Chapel of the Rolls in Chancery-Lane and Petty Bag-Office doth fill with Records out of other Offices they are transmitted into the Tower after some years for preservation and security These Records contain the Foundations and Dissolutions of Abbeys Donation of Land c. These Records at the Rolls being joyned to those in the Tower will make a perfect continuance of all the Antient Rights of England as 1. The Leagues and Treaties of Foreign Princes 2. The Warlike Atchievments of the English in France and other Parts 3. The Original of all the Laws Enacted and Recorded till the Reign of Richard the 3. 4. The Homage and Dependancy of Scotland upon England The Establishment of Ireland in Laws and Dominions 5. The Dominion of the British Seas excluding both French and Dutch from Fishing there without the Kings License proved by Records before the Conquest 6. The Title of the Realm of France and how obtained 7. And all that the Kings or Princes of this Land have until that time done abroad on granted or confirmed unto their Subjects at home or abroad 8. Tenures of all Lands extents of Surveys of Mannors and Land Inquisitions post mortem 9. Libertys and Priviledges Granted to Citys Towns or private Men. 10. Several Writs Bleadings Proceedings c. in Courts of Chancery Common Law Exchequer c. 11. Inspeximus's and Inrollments of Charters and Deeds before the Conquest 12. Metes and Bounds of all Forrests with the respective Rights of the Inhabitants to common pasture besides many other things too tedious to be repeated and are in the Petition of the Commons of England in Parliament Anno 46. E. 3. Num. 43. Said to be the perpetual Evidence of every Mans Right and the Records of this Nation without which no Story of the Nation can be written or proved They are reposited in Wakefield-Tower adjoyning to the Blood-Tower near Traytors-gate It is to be kept open and constantly attended for all Resorters thereto from 7. to 11. of the Clock in the Morning and from 1. till 5. in the Afternoon every Day of the week but in December January and February from 8. in the Morning to 4. in the Afternoon except Holy-days c. The Governor is call'd the Lieutenant of the Tower who ought to be a Person of Worth and Fidelity and by Vertue of his Office is to be a Justice of Peace in Kent Surrey and Middlesex he is High Steward of a Court there held hath a Deputy may refuse an Habeas Corpus and may give Protection to all Debtors belonging to the Tower all England over He can take two Gallons and a Pint of all Wine-Ships that come His Sallary is 200 l. per annum His usual Fee for every Prisoner sent to the Tower who are commonly Men of Estates is 20 l. and 3. l. a week of an Esq 5. l. for a Knight for a Baron or above 5. l. at Entrance to whom the King weekly allows 10 l. whereof two parts to the Prisoner the third to the Lieutenant for Lodging and Dyet and 50 l. to the Lieutenant upon the Prisoners discharge The Gentleman Taylor is put in by the Lieutenant of the Tower and his Fee is 41 s. of a Gentleman and 5 l. of a Knight There are 40 Warders of the Tower accounted the King's Domestick Servants and sworn by the Lord
Edifices yet there is not in Christendom a Court more convenient and meet for Royal Accommodation nor more Richly Furnisht But for the Readers more distinct information we will give him a Brief account of our King 's Court under two heads Viz. 1. It s Government both Ecclesiastical Civil and Military 2. It s Hospitality and plentiful Tables 1. It s Government c. The Dean of the Kings Chappel is usually some Grave and Learned Prelate chosen by the King who only is his Superiour his Chappel being exempt from all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction being called Capella Dominica the Demean Chappel in no Diocess but is a Regal Peculiar Exempt and Reserved to the Visitation and immediate Government of the King who is Supream Ordinary and as it were Prime Bishop over all the Churches and Bishops of England By the Dean are chosen all other Officers of the Chappel viz. A Sub-Dean or Praecentor Capellae Thirty two Gentlemen of the Chappel whereof twelve are Priests the other twenty commonly called Clerks of the Chappel are to perform with the said Priests the Office of Praying Singing c. One of these being well skill'd in Musick is chosen Master of the Children whereof are twelve in Ordinary to instruct them in the Rules and Art of Musick for the service of the Chappel three others are chosen to be Organists to whom is joyned upon Solemn Days a Consort of the King's Musick to make the Musick more full and compleat There are four Officers called Vergers because they carry Silver Rods in their hands viz. a Sergeant two Yeomen and a Groom of the Chappel Common Prayers are Read there three times a day The King has his private Oratory where some of his Chaplains in Ordinary perform the Office every day of the Week Upon twelve high and Principal Festivals in the Year the King after the Service is over attended with the Principal Nobility offers a Sum of Gold to God in signum specialis Domini that by his Grace he is King and holds all of Him which belongs to the Dean to be distributed amongst the Poor This Gold offered is called the Bizantine which anciently was a Piece of Gold Coyned by the Emperours of Constantinople in Latin Bizantium That which was used by King James was a piece of Gold having on the one side the Pourtrait of the King kneeling before an Altar with four Crowns before Him and this Motto circumscribed Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quae retribuit mihi On the other side was a Lamb lying by a Lyon with this Motto viz. Cor Contutum humiliatum non despiciet Deus The King hath besides His Extraordinary which are many Fourty Eight Chaplains in Ordinary who are Eminent Doctors in Divinity whereof Four every Month wait at Court to Preach The Lord High Almoner is usually the Bishop of London who disposeth of the Kings Alms and for that use receiveth besides other Moneys allowed by the King all Deodands and bona felonum de se to be that way disposed Under the Lord High Almoner there is a Sub-Almoner two Yeomen and two Grooms of the Almonry Then there is the Clerk of the Closet usually some Reverend Divine much esteemed by His Majesty who attends at his Right hand in Service time to Resolve Doubts about Spiritual matters to wait upon His Majesty in His private Oratory or Closet The Dean of the Chappel's Fee is 200 l. Yearly And the Sub-Deans one hundred pound The Clerk of the Closet's Fee is twenty Nobles per annum The Chief Officer of Civil Government in His Majesties Court is the Lord Steward To whom the State of the Kings-House is committed to be Ruled and Guided by his Discretion whose Commands in Court are to be obey'd whose Power State and Dignity is very great He hath Authority over all Officers and Servants of His Majesties Court except those of His Majesties Chappel Chamber and Stable c. He may by his Office without any Commission Judge of all Discords as Treasons Murders Felonies Bloodsheds committed within the Court or the Verge thereof which is every way within Twelve Miles of the Chief Funnel of the Court only London by Charter is exempted because where the King is Justice ought to be immediatly sought of the King 's own Officers So that the Jurisdiction of the Verge hath been from very Antient times Executed by the Lord Steward with great Ceremony in the Ntaure of a peculiar King 's Bench and that not only within but without the Kings Dominions The Lord Steward is a White-staff-Officer for he in the King's presence carrieth a White-staff and at other times going abroad it is carried by a Footman bare-headed Which White-staff is taken for a Commission When the King Dies he breaketh his Staff over the Herse made for the King's Body and thereby discharges all the Officers whom the succeeding Kings usually establish in their former Offices His Fee is 100 l. yearly and 16 Dishes of Meat daily besides Wine Beer c. The next Officer is the Lord Chamberlain who hath the Over-sight of all Officers belonging to the King's Chamber except the Precincts of the King's Bed-Chamber which is wholly under the Groom of the Stole and all above Stairs who are all sworn by him or his Warrant to the Gentlemen Ushers to the King He hath also the Over-sight of the Officers of the Wardrobe at all His Majesties Houses and of the Removing Wardrobes or of Beds of the Tents Revels Musick Comedians Hanting and of the Messengers of the Trumpeters Drummers of all Handicrafts and Artizans retained in the King's Services He hath also the Over-sight of the Heralds and Pursuivants and Sergeants at Arms of all Physicians Apothecaries Chyrurgeons Barbers Chaplains though himself be a Lay-man Also of the Charges of Coronations Marriages Entries Cavalcades Funerals c. His Fee is 100 l. yearly and 16 Dishes each Meal with the Appurtenances The third great Officer is the Master of the Horse anciently called Comes Stabuli or Constable who hath the ordering and disposal of all the King's Stables and Races or Breed of Horses He hath also power over the Escuries and Pages Footmen Grooms Riders of the Great Horses Farriers Smiths Coachmen Sadlers and all other Trades working to the King's Stables to all whom he or by his Warrant the Avener giveth an Oath to be true and faithful He hath the Charges of all Lands and Revenues appointed for the King's Breed of Horses and for Charges of the Stable and for Litters Coaches Sumpter-Horses c. At any Solemn Cavalcade he Rides next behind the King and leads a Leer Horse of State His annual Fee is 666 l. 16 s. 4 d. and a Table of 16 Dishes each Meal The Accompt of the Stables for Horse-meat Livery Wages and Board-Wages are brought by the Avener being chief Clerk of the Avery to be passed and allowed by the Green-Cloth Under these Principal Officers are almost all the other Officers and Servants as under
the City in Ancient Times The first Passage I shall produce shall be out of Polydore Virgil Printed at Basil 1534. 147 years ago He saith thus Hoc 〈◊〉 successâ— Danus ferocior effectus Londinum quo 〈…〉 Etheldredum se recepisse mâ—tuâ— causa aggrediendum â—â—â—stituit Itaque c. Which in English is to this sence The Dane being grown more fierce by the success of his Affairs resolved to make his Approaches to London where he understood that Ethelred had retired having therefore prepared all things necessary for his Expedition he proceeds to beleaguer the City and begirt it round by this perillous Attempt either to terrifie the Enemy or try their Strength and Courage On the other side the Citizens although somewhat fearing the effect of so great a Storm yet considering that upon their case depended the General Fate of their Countrey and that this was the Principal City defended themselves bravely some sally out and others annoy the Besiegers from the Walls every one in all places striving to excel others in Bravery of Courage and Gallantry of Action At last though the Danes gave many stout and sharp Assaults yet the Valiant Londoners in Defence of their King notwithstanding the peril of such an Enterprize gather into a Body and set open the Gates and ran upon the Enemy with great Fury and Courage But the Dane whilst he encourages his men and was striving to compleat the Victory which he thought he was almost in possession of is incompassed and beset on all sides and his men slain in great numbers yet he breaks out through his Enemies Weapons and with the residue of his before huge but now Routed Army marching night and day arrives at Bath in two days c. So far he This happened almost sixty years before the Conquest in the days of Ethelred King Sweyne being then King of Denmark After the death of this Sweyne his Son Canutus afterwards King of England besieged London both by Land and Water but after much dangerous labour judging it impregnable by the obstinate Valour of the Defendants he departed but returned with greater Forces the same year and besieged the City again but the Citizens behaved themselves so gallantly and destroyed so many of his Souldiers that he was forced to betake himself to a shameful flight In the dissention between King Edward the Coâ—fessor and his Father-in-law Earl Godwyn which was the mightiest Subject within this Realm the Earl with great Army came to London yet was by the Citizens resisted till by means of the Nobility they were reconciled Seventy years after the Conquest Maud the Empress made War upon King Stephen for the Right of the Crown and had taken his Person Prisoner but by the Strength of the Londoners and Kentish-men she was routed at Winchester and her Brother Robert Earl of Glocester was taken in exchange for whom King Stephen was delivered In the year 1383 but Polidore Virgil says Anno 1581. about 4 R. II. and 298 years ago there fell out an Accident which created much disturbance in the Kingdom and particularly in London occasioned as I find Recorded in several Chronicles through the Rudeness of a Poll-money Collector who coming into the house of one John Tyler at Deptford in Kent demanded of his Wife Poll-money for her Husband her Self their Servants and Daughter the Woman alledges that the Daughter was not of Age to pay The rude Fellow said he would try that and by force immodestly turns up her Coats having in several places as was reported used the same trial the Mother makes an Out-cry and Neighbours run in her Husband being at work hard by and hearing the noise comes in with his Lathing-Staff in his hand for he was a Tyler with which after he had reasoned a while with the Collector who gave him provoking Language and strook at him he knock'd his Brains out and making his Appeal to the People who were apt to receive any occasion of Tumult he so incensed them with the help of a Factious Clergy-man one John Ball that the Commons from divers parts drew together and whether beginning in Kent or Essex they drew into their Faction the Commons of Sussex Hertfordshire Cambridgeshire Suffolk Norfolk and other Shires and apprehending all Passengers made them swear to be true to K. Richard and never to receive any King that should be called John which they did for the Envy they bore to John Duke of Lancaster Thus their Number still increased that by that time they were come so far as Black-Heath they were esteemed to be One hundred thousand They took upon them to cut off the Heads of all that professed the Law Justices of the Peace the Countrey Jarors and any person that they thought to be learned especially if they found any to have Pen and Ink they pull'd off his Hood and with one voice cry'd Hale him out and cut off his Head and it was immediately done They resolved to burn all Court-Rolls and Records with all old Monuments Their Chaplain John Ball a wicked Priest advised them to destroy all the Nobility and Clergy so that there should be no Bishop in England but one Archbishop which should be himself and that there should not be above two Religious persons in one house but that their Possessions should be divided among the Laity for which Doctrine they held him as a Prophet The King was at this time at Windsor but removed in all haste to the Tower of London to whom repaired the Archbishop of Canterbury Chancellor the Bishop of London the Prior of St. John Treasurer the Earls of Buckingham Kent Arundel Warwick Suffolk Oxford and Salisbury and others of the Nobility and Gentlemen to the number of 600. The Commons of Essex came on the other part of the River Thames From Black-Heath the Kentish Rebels came to Southwark and broke open the Prisons of the Marshalsea and the Kings-Bench with other Prisons and let out the Prisoners The Essex Rebels spoiled the Archbishop's house at Lambeth and burnt all the Goods with the Books Registers and Remembrances of the Chancery with several other Outrages Then they came to London over the Bridge and sent for one Richard Lyon a grave Citizen who had been Tyler's Master and struck off his Head carrying it upon a Pole in Triumph before them The next day they came to the Savoy the Duke of Lancaster's House which they set on Fire burning all the rich Furniture breaking in pieces Plate and Jewels to an extraordinary value and then throwing them into the Thames saying They were men of Justice and would not like Robbers enrich themselves with any mans Goods And when one of their Fellows was seen to convey a fair piece of Plate into his bosom they took him and threw him and that into the Fire Thirty two of them were got into the Dukes Wine-Cellar where they stay'd Drinking so long that they were not able to come out in time but were shut in with Wood and