Lawrence Church-yard and so down again and to the West corner of St. Martin Orgar lane and over against Ebgate-lane and this is all of Downgate-vvard the thirteenth in number lying East from the Water-course of VVallbrooke and hat hnot any one House on the West side of the said Brook This Dowgate vvard is more considerable then others in divers things for it hath more Halls then any other it hath also the Great Hans or the Teutonique Guild call'd now the Stil-yard Mr. John Robinson who hath his House in Milk-street is lately made the Alderman of this VVard a generous discreet and worthy Gentleman being of the Company of the Turkie or Levantine Marchants Of the Fourteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Vintry Ward THe Wards spoken of hitherto may besaid to lye on the East Now I am to treat of the other Wardâ— twelve in number all lying on the West side of the course of Wallbrook and first of the Vintry Ward so called of Vintners and of the Vintry a part of the Bank of the River of Thames where the Merchants of Bourdeaux craned their Wines out of Lighters and other Vessels and there landed and made sale of them within forty daies after until the twenty eighth of Edward the first at which time the said Merchants complained that they could not fell their Wines paying poundage neither hire Houses or Cellars to lay them in and it was redressed by virtue of the Kings Writ directed to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London dated at Carlaveroke or Carlile since the which time many fair and large houses with Vaults and Cellars for stowage of Wines and lodging of Burdeaux Merchants have been builded in place where before time were Cooks houses for Fâ—tz Stephen in the Reign of Henry the second writeth that upon the Rivers side between the Wine in Ships and the Wine to be sold in Taverns was a common Cooks row c. as in another place I have set down Whereby it appears that in those daies and till of late times every man lived according to his own professed Trade not any one interrupting another The Cooks dressed meat and sold no Wine and the Taverner sold Wine but dressed â—o meat for sale c. This Ward beginneth in the East at the West end of Downgate Ward at the Water-course of Walbrook which parteth them to wit at Granthams Lane on the Thames side and at Elbow-Lane on the Lands side it runneth along in Thames street West some three houses beyond the Old Swan a Brew-house and on the Land side some three Houses West beyond Saint Iames at Garlick Hithe In breadth this Ward stretcheth from the Vintry North to the Wall of the West gate of the Tower Royal the other North part is of Cordwainer-street Ward Out of this Royal street by the South gate of Tower Royal runneth a small street East to St. Iohns upon Walbrook which street is called Horseshooe-Bridge of such a Bridge sometime over the Brook there which is now vaulted over and pavâ—d Then from the South gate West runneth one other street called Knight-riders street by Saint Thomas Apostles Church on the North side and Wrâ—â—gwren Lare by the said Church at the West end thereof and to the East end of Trinity Church in the said Knight-riders street where this Ward endeth on that South side the street but on the North side it runneth no farther than the corner against the new builded Taverne and other Houses in a plot of ground where sometime stood Ormond place yet have ye one other Lane lower down in Royall-street stretching forth from over against Saint Michaels Church to and by the North side of Saint Iames Church by Garlick Hithe this is called Kerion Lane and thus much for the bounds of the Vintry Ward Now on the Thames side West from Granthams Lane have ye Herbert Lane or Brickles Lane so called of Iohn Brickles sometimes owner thereof Then is Simpsons Lane of one Simpson or Emperours head Lane of such a Sign then the Three Cranes Lane so called not only of a Sign of three Cranes at a Taverne door but rather of three strong Cranes of Timber placed on the Vintry Wharf by the Thames side to Crane up Wines there as is aforesaid this Lane waâ— of old time to wit the ninth of Richard the second called the Painted Tavern Lane of the Tavern being painted Then next over against St. Martins Church is a large House builded of Stone and Timber with Vaults for the stowage of Wines and is called the Vintry There dwelled John Gisers Vintner Mayor of London and Constable of the Tower and then was Henry Picard Vintner Mayor In this house Henry Picard feasted four Kings in one day as is shewed before Then next is Vanners Lane so called of Vanner that was owner thereof it is now called Church Lane of the coming up from St. Martins Church Next is Proad-Lane for that the same is broader for the passage of Carts from the Vintry Wharf than be the other Lanes At the Northwest corner of this Lane is the Parish Clarkes Hall by them purchased since they lost their old Hall in Bishopsgate-street Next is Spittle-Lane of old time so called since Stodies-Lane of the owner thereof named Stodie Sir John Stodie Vintner and Mayor in the year 1357 gave it with all the Quadrant wherein Vintners Hall now standeth with the Tenements round about unto the Vintners The Vintners builded for themselves a fair Hall and also thirteen Alms-houses there for thirteen poor people which are kept of Charity Rent-free The Vintners in London were of old time called Marchant Vintners of Gascoyne and so I read them in the Records of Edward the second the eleventh year aâ—d Edward the third the ninth year they were as well English-men as strangers born beyond the Seas but then subjects to the King of England great Burdeaux Merchants of Gascoyne French Wines divers of them were Mayors of this City namely John Adrian Vintner Reignold at Conduit John Oxenford Henry Picard that feasted the Kings of England France Scotl and and Cypres John Stodie that gave Stodies Lane to the Vintners which four last named were Mayors in the Reign of Edward the third and yet Gascoyne Wines were then to be sold at London not above fourpence nor Rhenish Wines above six pence the Gallon I read of Sweet Wines that in the fiftieth of Edward the third Iohn Peachie Fishmonger was accused of for that he procured a License for the only sale of them in London which he endeavoured to justifie by Law yet he was imprisoned and fined More I read that in the sixth of Henry the sixth the Lombards corrupted their Sweet Wines when knowledge thereof came to Iohn Raynwel Mayor of London he in divers places of the City commanded the heads of the Buts and other Vessells in the open streets to be broken to the number of a hundred and fifty so that the liquour running forth
LONDINOPOLIS AN Historicall Discourse OR PERLUSTRATION Of the City of LONDON THE Imperial Chamber and chief Emporium OF Great Britain WHEREUNTO Is added another of the City of WESTMINSTER WITH The Courts of Justice Antiquities and new Buildings thereunto belonging By Iam Howel Esq Senesco non Segnesco LONDON Printed by I. Streater for Henry Twiford George Sawbridge Thomas Dring and Iohn Place and are to be sold at their Shops 1657. DE PONTE LONDINENSI Ejusque Stupendo Situ Structurâ Ad instar Celebris illius Hexastichi poetae Sannazarii de urbe Veneta Viderat Hadriacis Cum Londinensem Neptunus viderat Urbem Vectus ibi propriis atque revectus aquis Dum densam penetrat Syluam Lucosque ferentes Pro ramis funes pro foliisque Cruces Cum superimpositum Torrenti flumine Pontem Viderat et rapido ponere jura freto Cum tantos muros ferrumina castra tot Arcus Vidit haec tergo cuncta jacere suo Arcus qui possent totidem formare Rialtos Metiri si quis summa vel ima cupit Haec Deus undarum aspiciens fluxusque retrorsum Tundere horrendos inde boare Sonos Nunc mihi quanta velis Terrae miracula pandas Est primus Mundi Pons ait Iste Stupor The same paraphrased in English Of London-Bridg and the Stupendous Site and Structure thereof When Neptune from his billows London spyde Brought proudly thither by a high Spring-Tyde As through a floating Wood He steer'd along And dancing Castles cluster'd in a throng When he beheld a mighty Bridg give law Unto his Surges and their fury awe When such a shelf of Cataracts did roar As if the Thames with Nile had changed her shoar When he such massy Walls such Towrs did eye Such Posts such Irons upon his back to lye When such vast Arches he observ'd that might Nineteen Rialtos make for depth and height When the Cerulean God these things survayd He shook his Trident and astonish'd said Let the whol Earth now all Her wonders count This Bridg of Wonders is the Paramount To the Renowned City of London To the Right Honourable Honourable and all others Who owe their first Birth or wellbeing to so Noble a Metropolis IT was a notable Character which Cornelius Tacitus that famous Register of Time who had lived here many years did give of London about fifteen hundred years agoe Londinum copiâ Negotiatorum Comeatu maximè celebre London a most renowned Mart for multitude of Marchants and Commerce If She deserved such a Character in those dayes what would She merit now who being compared to what she was then may be said in point of magnitude to be as a large Volume in Folio to a Book in Decimo Sexto And in point of Trade as in an East Indy Carack to a Quinbourough Oyster ketch I have read of some who have bin enamor'd of Cities as others use to be of Mistresses so Charles the Emperor was struck with the love of Florence when among other expressions he said That she was a fair Lady fit to be seen only on Holidayes So a French Baron was so taken with the City of Paris which is known to be none of the neatest that he said Could he live ever in Paris he would quit his right to Paradise And it is storied of Tamberlain that having got Constantinople the first Complement he put upon Her was that he had heard so much of Her rare beauty that He came from so far off to Court Her but answer was made that it was the Custom of Thrace to Court fair Ladies not with Trumpets and Drums but with Dulcimers and other melodious Instruments I may well affirm that London is not inferior to any of these as will appear in a Parallel hereunto annexed And having breath'd Air and slept in her bosom now near upon forty years except the times that I was abroad upon forren Employments it is no wonder if I be habitually in love with Her nor have I bin wanting to express it many times by dedicating unto Her the great French Dictionary refin'd and enrich'd with divers Additionals Then in giving Her some warnings by the sad destiny of Jerusalem in an Epitome that goes of Josephus I shewed my self also very sensible of Her case at that time when I addressd unto Her Englands Teares and Mercurius Acheronticus nor is it long since that I made publick love to Venice and Courted Naples also and I came off with no ill success I hope to do the like here I know others â—ave treated already of the same Subject and given a laudible account of the City of London but Gold may be often told over without fouling the fingers I have read near upon a dozen several Survayes of Rome and Venice with other Cities and I alwayes found new Observations But it is now above thirty foure years agoe which are near upon five Ages in the Law since any thing was written of London and Westminster her collateral Sister which tract of time affords variety of accidents which the Reader shall find in this new Account wherein as I have bin careful not to preâ—ermit any thing that 's Material so my special Caution hath bin not to thrust in any frivolous pedantick things or Superfluities whereunto my nature hath bin alwayes averse Moreover I promise the Reader that he shall meet with many other Observations here which were never yet drawn off the Presse or exposed to publick light until now I will conclude my Epistle with this Question If it was esteemed an honour among the Greeks to be born in Athens If among the Italians to be a Roman If among the Spaniards to be a Toledano why should it be lesse honour for an Englishman to be born in London My hearty prayers to Heaven are for the incolumity and welfare of this Great City for the aversion of all Iudgements and that she may still flourish with affluence of all Earthly felicity by which prayer I subscribe my self Much Honoured Sirs Your humble and ready Servant Iam Howel SOME ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE READER THey who make researches into Antiquity may be said to passe often through many dark Lobbies and dusky places before they come to Aula lucis the Great Hall of light They must repair to old Archives and peruse many mouldred and moth-eaten Records and so bring light as it were out of darkness to inform the present World what the former did and make us see truth through our Ancestors eyes Now though we commonly term Them that went before us our Ancestors yet if we have respect to the extent of Time and the Age of the World we who live now may be called the more Ancient For They lived some of them in the Non-age some in the Youth some in the Adolescence some in the virility of the World And We who now crawl up and down the earth may be said to live in the declining and doting old decrepit Age Therefore if relation be had
Courts of Justice the chiefest Court of the Prince and the chiefest Court of the King of Heaven for every Temple is his Houâ—e and Court Now the Abbey of Westminster hath bin alwayes held the greatest Sanctuary and randevouze of devotion of the whole Iland wâ—ereunto the scituation of the very place seemes to contribute much and to strike a holy kind of Reverence and sweetness of melting piety in the hearts of the behoâ—ders But before we steer our course to Westminster we must visit the Dutchy oâ— Lancaster and the Savoy which are liberties of themselves and lie as a Parenthesis 'twixt London and Westminster Without Temple-barre Westward is a liberty pertaining to the Dutchy of Lancaster which beginneth on the North side of the Thames and stretcheth West to Ivy-bridge where it terminates And again on the North side some small distance without Temple-Barre in the High street there stretcheth one large middle row or troop of small Tenements partly opening to the South and partly towards the North up West to a Stone Crosse over against the Strand and this is the bounds of the liberty which first belonged to Brian Lisle after to Peter of Savoy and then to the House of Lancaster Henry the third did grant to his Uncle Peter of Savoy all those Houses upon the Thames which pertained to Brian Lisle or de Insula in the way or the street called the Strand to hold to him and his Heires yielding three gilded Arrowes every year in the Exchequer This Peter Earl of Savoy and Richmond Son to Thomas Earl of Savoy Brother to Boniface Arch Bishop of Canterbury and Uncle unto Eleanor Wife to Henry the third was the first Founder of the Savoy Anno 1245. which he gave afterwards to the Fraternity of Monjoy Queen Eleanor did purchase it for Edmund Duke of Lancaster her Son of the Fraternity which Duke did much augment and improve the structure Iohn the French King was lodged there being then the fairest Mannor of England Anno 1381. The Rebels of Kent and Essex did most barbarously burn this House with many Vessels of Gold and Silver which they threw into the River all which they did out of a popular malice to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster It came afterwards to the Kings hands and Henry the seventh did re-edifie and raise it up again but converted it to the Hospital of St. Iohn Baptist yet was he content that it should be still called the Savoy and bestowed Lands for maintenance of 100. poor men But afterwards it was suppressed by his Granchild Edward the sixth the Beds and Bedding with other Furniture were given to the City of London together with Bridewell to be a Work-house for idle persons and some of Savoy Furniture was given also to furnish St. Thomas Hospital in Southwark But afterwards the Savoy Hospital was refounded and endowed with Lands by Queen Mary who made one Iackson first Master thereof And it is memorable how the Mayds of Honour and Ladies of the Court in those times did much contribute for storing it again with new Beds and Furniture and so it hath continued ever since the Chappel of this Hospital serving for a Parish Church to the Neighbors thereof near adjoyning and others Now touching the Prerogatives and enfranchisements of the Dutchy of Lancaster let the Reader know that Henry the fourth by his Royal Charter and concurrence of Parliament did sever the possessions of the said Dutchy from the Crown And that which Iohn of Gaunt held for term of life was established to perpetuity by the Statutes of Edward the fourth and Henry the seventh which separation was made by Henry the fourth in regard he well knew that he had the Dutchy o Lancaster par Regno by sure and indefesble Title whereas his Title to the Crown was not so assured because that after the death of Richard the second the Royal right was in the Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence second Son of Edward the third And John of Gaunt who was Father to Henry the fourth was the fourth Son therefore his policy was to make it a distinct thing from the Crown for fear of after-claps It was Edward the third who erected the County of Lancaster to a County Palatine and honoured the Duke of Lancaster therewith giving him Jura Regalia having a particular Court The Officers whereof were the Chancellor the Attorney the Receiver General Clark of the Court the Auditors Surveyors the Messenger The Seal of the Dutchy of Lancaster remains with the Chancellor but the Seal of the County Palatine remains alwayes in a Chest in the County Palatine under the safe custody of a Keeper Now all Grants and Leases of Lands Tenements and Offices in the County Palatine of Lancaster should passe under that Seal and no other but all Grants and Leases out of the County Palatine and within the Survey of the Dutchy should passe under the Seal of the Dutchy and no other otherwise such Grants are voyd Ipso facto Though this County Palatine was a younger Brother yet it had more honours mannors and Lands annexed unto it thâ—n any of the rest and all this by Acts of Parliament whereby all the Franchises Priviledges Immunities Quittances and Freedoms which the Duke of Lancaster had for Himself and his Men and Tenants were confirmed The Liberty of the Dutchy was used to be governed by the Chancellor who had under him a Steward that kept Court Leâ—t with an Attorney of the Dutchy There were also four Burgesses and four Assistants a Bayliffe who had others under him four Constables four Wardens that kept the stock for the poor four Wardens for high wayes a Jury of 14. Ale-cunners which looked to the assise of measures four Scavengers and a Beadle and the common Prison is Newgate And now we must make a step back towards Temple-barre and so by degrees to Westminster all along we will begin with the right hand or the Northside and so pasâ—e up West through a back lane or street wherein do stand as was touched before three Inns of Chancery The first called Clements Inne in regard it is near St. Clements Church and Clements Well The second New Inne which was made of a common Hostery about the beginning of the Reign of Henry 7. The third is Lions Inne This street stretcheth up unto Drury lane which lane extends Northward towards St. Giles in the Field But now we must go back as was said before towards Temple-barre and so by taking the Strand all along return by degrees to Westminster it self in a direct line I have heard often of a British Prophecy which came from an old Bard viz. The Church man was the Lawyer is and the Soulâ—ier shall be True it is that Bishops lived in the Equipage of Princes in former times and among other inâ—â—arâ—es one is the goodly Palaces they had in and about London and Westminster for from Dorset House in Fleetstreet as far as White-hall all the great Houses which were built
power may suffice all manner of freedom of joyous liberty and whosoever shall presume or doth contrary to this my grant I will he lose his name VVorship Dignity and Power and that with the great Traytor Judas that betrayed our Saviour he be in the everlasting fire of Hell And I will and ordain that this my Grant endure as long as there remaineth in England either love or dread of Christian name And this Record may be ranked among the most ancient of the Land About what time King Edward the Confessor did renew it he removed St. Margarets Church which before was within the Abbey to the place where now it stands Of Westminster-Hall and all the Tribunalls of Iustice which have their motion therein And first of the High Court of Parliament HAving visited God Almighties House we will now take a view of the chief Praetorium of Great Britain which is VVestminster-Hall and of the Courts of Judicature which are thereunto annexed And first of the Court Paramount the high national Court of Parliament vvhich great Councel vvas used to be the Bulwark of our liberties the boundary and bank vvhich kept us from slavery from the inundations of Tyrannical encroachments and unbounded VVill-Government And in this High Court there was used to be such a Co-ordination of power such a wholsome mixture 'twixt Monarchy Optimacy and Democracy I mean 'twixt Prince Peers and Commonalty during the time of consultation that of so many distinct parts by a rare co-operation and unanimity they made but one Body Politique like that sheaf of Arrowes in the Fable they made but one entire concentrical peece and the results of their deliberations but as so many harmonious Diapazons arising from the touch of different strings And what greater mark of freedom can there be to a people then to be lyable to no Lawes but what they make themselves to be subject to no Contribution Assement or pecuniary Levies whatsoever but what they vote and voluntarily yield unto themselves For in this great compacted Body politick there be all degrees of people represented The Yeoman Marchant Tradesman and mechanick have there their inclusive Votes as well as the Gentry and Freeholders in the persons of their Trustees viz. their Burgesses and Knights The Clergy also which make a considerable part of the Common-wealth were used to have their Representatives there not only in the persons of the Bishops which at the first constitution were the prime Parliament and continued so many Ages but in the Convocation which was an Assesmbly of Divines fairly chosen to that purpose Nor is this Soveraign super-intendent Councel and Epitome of this Iland only but it may be said to represent the whole Universe according to the primitive constitution The Soveraign Prince was as the Sun the Nobles the fixed Starres the Itinerant Iudges and other Officers that were wont to go with Messages 'twixt both Houses to the Planets The Clergy when there was a Convocation House as was said before to the Element of fire The Commons to the solid body of the Earth and the rest of the Elements He who hath bin conversant with the Chronicles of this Iland will finde it hath bin her fare to be four times conquered but the Scot never till now of late These so many Conquests must needs bring with them many tumblings and tossings many disturbances and changes in Government yet I have observed that notwithstanding these various tumblings England retained still the form of Monarchy and something there was alwayes that held an Analogy with the great Assembly of Parliament The first Conquest was made by Claudius Caesar at which time it may be said that the Standard of the Crosse came in together with the Roman Eagles 't is well known how the Roâ—an governed He had his Comitia which bore a resemblance with our Convention in Parliament the place of meeting was called praetorium and the Lawes which were enacted were called Plebiscita The Saxon Conquest succeeded next in which were the English and the Saxons governed by Parliament though it was under other names as Michel Gemote Michel Sinoth and VVitenage Mote There are Records near upon a thousand years of these Parliaments in the Raigns of King Ina Offa Ethelbert and others The third Conquest was by the Danes and they governed also by such generall Assemblies in the Raign of Canutus and others Then came the Norman whose Successors did revive and ratifie the way of governing by Parliament witness Magna Charta which was used to be called the Foundation of the English liberty and it may be compared to divers outlandish graffs set upon one stock for the choysest of the British Roman Saxon Danish and Norman Lawes being cull'd and pick'd out and gathered as it were in one bundle out of them the foresaid grand Charter was extracted the establishment whereof was a work of a Parliament Now by an ancient Statute of Edward the third it was enacted That all Statutes are repealed which are against Magna Charta or Charta de foresta Nor are the Lawes of this Iland only and the immunities of the people conserved by Parliament but all the best policed Countries of Europe have the like The Germans have their Diets The Dane and Swedes their Rich-daghs The Spaniard las Cortes and the French the Assembly of the three Estates though it hath bin for many years discontinued And touching England the Parliament was uâ—ed to be the principal Fountain whence the Soveraign Prince derived his happiness and safety It was the great Conduit-Pipe which conveighed unto him the Peoples bounty and love It was the truest Looking-Glasse wherein he discerned their affections and allegiance In Parliament the Soveraign Prince used to appear like the Sun in the Meridian in the altitude of his glory in his highest Royal State as the Law tells us But we will go now more particularly to work and treat of this great National Conncel according to the first constitution and establishment thereof This Court consisteth of the Kings Majesty sitting there as in his Royal politick Capacity and of the three Estates of the Realm viz. of the Lords spiritual Arch Bishops and Bishops being in number twenty four who sit there by succession in respect of their Counties or Baronies parcel of their Bishopricks which they hold also in their politick Capacity And every one of these when any Parliament is to be holden ought Ex debito justitiae to have a writ of Summons The Lords Temporal Dukes Marquesses Earls Viscounts and Barons who sit there by reason of their Dignities which they hold by Descent or Creation and likewise every one of these being of full age ought to have a writ of Summons ex debito justitiae for they are called Parliamentary Barons The third Estate is the Commons of the Realm whereof there be Knights of shires or Counties Citizens of Cities and Burghesses of Burghes All which are respectively elected by the Shires or Counties Cities and Burghes
businessse aforesaid so that the business may not by any means remain undone for want of such power or by reason of the unprovident Election of the foresaid Knights Burgesses and Citizens But we will not in any case that you or any other Sheriff of our said Kingdom shall be elected And at the day and place aforesaid the said Election being made in a full County Court you shall certifie without delay unto us in our Chancery under your Seal and the Seals of them who shall be present at the Election sending back unto us the other part of the Indenture aforesaid affil'd to these presents ogether with the Writ Witness our Self at Westminster This Commission or Writ is the foundation whereon the whole fabrick of the power and duty of both Houses of Parliament is grounded The first House is to parley or have conference and to treat and consult with the King the other House is to do and consent only unto what the other shall ordain This was the Law and usage in former times but what is the power of the Commons in these dayes now that the Government is altred and cast into another mould the House of Peers being dissolved it is not the intent of this Discourse to determine At the return of the Writs aforesaid the Parliament could not begin but by the Royal presence of the King either in Perâ—on or by Representation By Representation two wayes either by a Gardian of England by Letters Patenrs under the Great Seal when the King was in remotis out of the Realm or by Commission under the Great Seal to certain Lords of Parliament representing the Person of the King he being within the Realm but absent in respect of some infirmity On the first day of the Parliament the King himself or most commonly the Lord Chancellor or Keeper in the presence of the Lords and Commons did shew the causes of the calling of High Court of Parliament but the King might have appointed any other to be his Prolocutor in this case Then the Commons are to choose their Speaker but in regard that after their choyce the King might refuse him for avoiding of time and contestation the use was as in the Congè deslire of a Bishop that the King doth recommend a discreet and learned man whom the Commons elect but without their Election no Speaker can be appointed for them because he is their mouth and intrusted by them and so necessary that the House of Commons cannot sit without him therefore a grievous sickness is a good cause to remove him as in Henry the 4th Raign Iohn Chervy Speaker was for sickness discharged and Sir Iohn Dorewoold chosen in his place but sickness is no cause to remove any Knight Citizen or Burgesse The Speaker being voted in the House was presented to the King where being allowed he made a supplication consisting of three parts First That the Commons in Parliament might have free speech Secondly That in any thing he should deliver in the name of the Commons if he should commit any error no fault should be imputed to the Commons Thirdly That as often as necessity for his Majesties service and the good of the Common-wealth shall require he may by the directions of the House have access to his Royal Person Any of the Peeâ—s by the Kings leave may absent himself and make a proxy to another Lord but a Knight Citizen or Burgess cannot make a Proxy because he is elected and intrusted by multitudes of people And it is to be observed though one be chosen for one particular County or City yet when he is returned and sits in Parliament he serveth for the whole Common-wealth There belongs to Parliament a Prorogation or adjournment which differ in this A Prorogation presupposeth a Session and then such Bills as passed in either House or by both Houses and had no Royal assent unto them must at the next Assembly begin again for every Session in Parliament is in Law a several Parliament but if it be but adjourned then there is no Session When a Parliament is called and doth sit and is dissolved without any Act passed or judgement given it is no Session of Parliament but a Convention Touching the Power and Jurisdiction of Parliament for making of Lawes in proceeding by Bill it is so transcendent and absolute as it cannot be confined within any bounds No Alien is capable to be chosen a Parliament-man nor can any of the Judges of the Kings Bench or Common Pleas or Barons of the Exchequer that have Judicial places or any Church-man that hath care of souls be chosen a member of the House of Parliament For others the King cannot grant a Charter of Exemption to any man to be freed from Election of Knight or Burgesse of the Parliament because the Elections of them ought to be free for the publique service OF THE COVRT OF THE KINGS-BENCH THE Royallest Court in the Land Now called The Upper Bench. THe Lawes of England presuppose the King to be the Fountain and Oracle of Justice and to have special inspirations from Heaven to that purpose therefore all the Tribunals of Judicature were used to be ambulatory with his Court and He was wont to sit in Person in the Upper Bench which is the Supreme Tribunal of the Land The Justices in this Court are the soveraign Justices of Oyer and Terminer Goal-delivery Conservation of the Peace c. in the Realm In this Court the Kings of this Realm have sat as being the highest Bench and the Judges of that Court on the lower Bench at his Feet but Judicature only belongeth to the Judges of that Court and in his presence they answer all Motions c. The Justices of this Court are the soveraign Coroners of the Land and therefore where the Sheriffs and Coroners may receive appeals by Bill à fortiori the Justices of this Court may do it so High is the authority of this Court that when it comes and sits in any County the Justices of Eire of Oier and Terminer Coal-delivery they which have conusance c. do cease without any writing to them But if any Indictment of Treason or Felony in a Forain County be removed before certain Commissioners of Oier and Terminer in the County where this Court sits yet they may proceed because this Court for that this Indictment was not removed before them cannot proceed for that offence But if any Indictment be taken in Midd in the vacation and after this Court sit in the next Term in the same County if this Court be adjourned then may special Commissioners of Oier and Terminer c. in the interim proceed upon that Indictment but the more usual way is by special Commission And this was resolved by all the Judges of England at Winchester Anno 1 ' Iacobi Regis in the Case of Sir Everard Digby and others and so had it been resolved Mich. 25 and 26 Eliz. in the Case of Arden and Somervile for
Buildings did much increase and the Suburbs strerch'd forth from the Gates a great way on every side but Westward especially which may be said to be best peopled and the civillest part For there all the twelve Inns of Court are situate for the Students of the Law whereof fower being very fait and large belong to the Iudicial Courts the rest to the Chancery Besides two Inns more for the Servientes ad legem or the Sargeants at Law â—ere such a number of young Gentlemen do so ply their Studies in all kind of Sciences and other civilities besides the Law that for a choyse way of Education and Gallantry Sir Iohn Fortescue in his Treatise of the Lawes of England doth affirm It is not inferior to any place of Christendom The said four principal Houses are the Inner Temple the middle Temple Graies Inne and Lincolns Iune The two former stand in the very same place where in times pass'd during the Raign of King Henry the second Heraclius Patriark of Ierusalem consecrated a Church for the Knight-Templers which they had newly built according to the form of the Temple neer unto the Sepulcher of our Saviour at Ierusalem for at their first Institution about the yeer of our Lord 1113. they dwelt in part of the Temple hard by the Holy Sepulcher whereof they were so named and vow'd to defend Christian Religion the Holy Land and Pilgrims going to visit the holy Sepulcher against all Mahumetans and Infidels professing to live in chastity and obedience whereupon all men voluntarily and with candid Christian hearts embrac'd and honor'd them so that through the royal munificence of Princes and other devout people having got very fair possessions and exceeding great wealth they flourish'd in a high reputation for piety and devotion yea out of an opinion of the holiness of the men and of the Place King Henry the third and many Noblemen desired much to be buried in their Church among them where some of their Statues are to be seen crosse-legd to this day for so they were used to be buried in that Age having taken upon them the Crosse to serve in the holy Warres and vow'd the same accordingly among whom was William Marshall the elder a powerful man in his time VVilliam and Gilbert his Sonnes Marshals of England and Earls of Pembroke Upon VVilliam the Elder there were in the upper part engraven these words Comes Pembrochiae and upon one side this Verse Miles eram Martis Mars multos vicerat armis But in process of time when with insatiable greediness they had hoarded up much wealth by withdrawing Tithes from many Churches and appropriating spiritual Livings unto themselves and by other meanes their riches turnâ—d to their ruine which may be one day the fortune of the Jesuites as I heard Count Gondamar once say For thereby their former innocence and piety began to be stifled they sell a clashing with other Religious Orders their professed obedience to the Patriark of Ierusalem was rejected they drâ—w daily more envy upon themselves and an ill repute insomuch-that in the yeer 1312. this Order was condemned of impiety other hainous crimes all this by the Popes Authority but specially by the instigation of the French King they were utteâ—ly abolished Nevertheless their possessions here were by Authority of Parliament assigned unto the Knights Hospitalers of St. Iohn of Ierusalem lest that such Lands given to Religious and good uses should be alienated against the pious Donors Wills Yet it appeares in ancient writings that this place after the expulsion of the Templers was the Seat and Habitation of Thomas Earl of Lancaster and Sir Hugh Spencer King Edward the seconds Minion afterwards of Sir Aimer de Valence Earl of Pembrook and in the end turned to two Colleges or Inns of Court for the study of the Lawes The other two great Inns were also the mansions of Noble men Grayes Inne of the Lord Grey of Wilton and the other of the Earls of Lincoln Neer unto this Henry the third erected between the two Temples a House for Converts as they call'd it for the maintenance of those that were conâ—erted from Iudaisme to Christianity which Edward the third afterwards made an Archive to keep Rolls and Records in and therefore 't is called to this day The Rolls In the yeer 1381. the Rebels of Essex and Kent among other places destroyed and pulled down the Lodgings and Houses of this Temple took out of the Church the Books and Records that were in hutches of the Apprentices of the Law carried them out into the street and burnt them The House they spoiled and burnt also out of an hatred they bore to Sir Robert Hales Lord Prior of St. Iohn of Jerusalem which was a place of so high a Dignity that the Prior of St. John's was accounted the first Parliamentary Peer of England But the said House at sundry times was repaired again and touching the Gate-house of the middle Temple Sir Amias Paulet did build it up while he remained Prisoner having incur'd the indignation of Cardinal Wolsey for an old grudge The great Hall in the middle Temple was built about the yeer 1572. in the Raign of Queen Elizabeth The Temple-Church had of old a Master and four stipendary Priests with a Clerk for the ministration of divine service who had allowance given them out of the Revenues of St. John of Jerusalem and that Hospital but now by the revolution of time and Ecclesiastical alterations they have but one Minister to serve them Of fresh water Rivers Aqueducts Conduits and Fountains that belong to the City of LONDON AS the principal thing that conduceth to the health of humane bodies is the blood that runneth through their Veins so the chiefest thing that tends to the welfare of a City is to have Springs and Conduits of fresh water run within her therefore we will proceed now to give an account of those ancient and present Rivers Brooks Boorns Pools Wells Conduits and Aqueducts which serve to refresh the City of London In former Ages until the Conquerors time and long after the City of London was watred besides the River of Thames on the South part with the River of Wells as it was then call'd and on the West with water call'd Wallbrook running through the midst of the City to pay Tribute unto the Thames There was another water or boorn which run within the City through Langborn Ward watring the East part In the West Suburbs was also another great Water call'd Oldborn which had its fall into the River of Wells Then were there 3. principal Fountains or Wells in the other Suburbs to wit Holy Well Clements Well and Clarks Well Near unto this last named Fountain were divers other Wells viz. Fags well Skinners well Tode well Loders well and Rad well All which Wells having the fall of their over-flowings into the said River much encreased the stream and in that place gave it the name of Well In West-Smithfield
Writs and Precepts under the teste of the Lord Mayor to the Sheriffs of Kent and Essex for the returning of Juries before him to enquire of Offences done in the River The same right of the City appeares also by Commissions whereof divers have bin directed to the Lord Mayor to put in execution the Acts of Parliament made for the Conservancie of the Thames and Medway and to enquire of all offences made or done in the said waters and to punish the Delinquents accordingly Lastly He makes good the Right and Title of the City by the continual claim she made thereunto as appears in those various contests she had with the Lord Admiral of England wherein after divers debates and bandings she kept still above water and made her Title good which moved King James Anno the 3d of his Raign to put a final determination to the business by the Letters Patents he passed unto the City wherein he saith that ad omnem controversiam in hac parte temporibus tam presentibus quà m futuris tollendam omne dubium amovendum that to cut off all controversies as well of the present times as of future and to remove all doubts he did confirm and ratifie the said right unto the City of London Thus was the Title Prerogative and right of the City of London stoutly and strongly asserted by eleven pregnant and convincing proofs to the conservation of her dearly beloved Minion the River of Thames both by prescription by allowance in Eire by ancient Charters by Acts of Parliament by Inquisitions by Decrees coram ipso Rege By Letters Patents by Proclamations by Report of the learned Councel by a quo Warranto And lastly by ancient usage custom and continual claim Mr. Stow in his survey of the City of London hath more about this business then here is inserted which made the last King Charles the first to command Sir John Coke his Secretary to write to Sir Henry Martin Judge of the Admiralty to this effect That His Majesty understanding that a second Edition of Stowes Survey of the City of London was put new to sale wherein there are some passages prejudicial to His Majesties Right in his Admiralty and derogatory to the just power belonging thereunto his Majesty did therefore require him his Iudge in that high Court to examine the said Boâ—k and to cause the said passages inserted in prejudice of the Admirals Iurisdiction and in support of any other pretence against the same to be left out or else to prohibite the publishing and sale of the said Book c. Sir Henry Martin having received this Letter after the Book was printed and publiquely sold all that he could do was to have Sir John Cokes Letter inserted in the last Folio of Stow to stand there for a Cautionary Reserve and Record for the future Now there be many things that concern the incumbency of the Conservator of so Noble a River it being an Office of no small extent His first duty is to preserve the currency of the stream and the banks on both sides Secondly He must preserve the Fish and Fry within the same He must prevent all Encroachments upon the River and the banks thereof as also he must enquire of all Flud-gates Mill-dams and such like annoyances and whether any do hurl in any soyl dust or rubbish or other filth whatsoever to choak her But for the strength and safety of the River against the invasion of an enemy by Block-houses Forts Bastions or Castles and the securing of the Merchant and Navigation to and fro that charge belongs to the Soveraign Prince and not to the City But indeed touching the former charge circumspection and care of the River of Thames it is most proper for the City of London who lies perpetually by her Beds side and therefore in a fit posture to be watchful of her for which vigilance the Thames rewards her abundantly by bringing her in the Spices of the South the Jewels of the East and Treasure of the West Insomuch that it may be well said this Office of Conservatorship or superintendency of so Noble and useful a River is as a fair flower or rich Jewel in the Cap of maintenance This famous River taking all her advantages together surpassing all other whatsoever that pay tribute to the Ocean if you regard the streightness of her course the stilness of her stream for her proportionable latitude as also her length for she comes sporting along from her first source above ninescore miles before she embosomes her self in the Arms of Neptune Add hereunto the great store and variety of Fish she abounds withall the most delectable and fertile soiles on both sides And lastly the conveniency of her scituation being towards the Center of England And then in her entrance to the Sea she opens upon France and Flanders having them both in her eye Besides she hath another advantagious property that to the knowing Native the entrance into the River is safe and easie but difficult and hazardous to strangers either to come in or go out Insomuch that the Thames may be said to be Londons best friend which puts me in minde of a passage of drollery that happened in the time of King James who being displeased with the City because she would not lend him such a sum of money and the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen attending him one day being somewhat transported he said that he would remove his own Court with all the Records of the Tower and the Courts of Westminster-Hall to another place with further expressions of his indignation The Lord Mayor calmly heard all and at last answered Your Majesty hath power to do what you please and your City of London will obey accordingly but she humbly desires that when your Majesty shall remove your Courts you would please to leave the Thames behind you Of the great and admirable BRIDGE In the City of LONDON over the Thames HAving bin thus long upon water and accompanied the Thames to Thetis lap 't is time now to land and take a view of her greatest Bridge which if the stupendious Site and structure thereof be well considered may be said to be one of the Wonders of the World though as some think it hath too many Arches so that it may be said If London Bridge had fewer eyes it would see far better Now as we ferch'd the Thames from her Spring so we will fetch her Bridge from its first foundation At first there was but a Ferry kept in the place where now the Bridge is built at length the Ferriman and his Wife deceasing left the said Ferry to their only Daughter a Mayden who with other goods left her by her Parents together with the profits arising from the said Ferry did build a holy House for Nuns in place whereof the East part of St. Mary Overies stands now above the Quire where she was buried and unto that House of Nuns she bequeathed the over-sight and benefit
Anno 1289 the Bridge was â—o sore decayed for want of reparations that people were afraiâ— to pass thereon and a subsidy was granted towards the amendment thereof Afterwards Sir Iohn Britain being then Custos of London Anno 1381 a great Collection was made by all the Clergy for the repair of London-Bridge In the year 1381 on St. Georges day was a great solemnity of Justs and Tournements upon London-Bridge between David Earl of Crawford of Scotland and the Lord Wells of England whereby one may infer that the houses were not there so thick at that time The Tower on London-bridge at the North end of the Draw-bridge which was then in a posture to be drawn up was built Anno 1426 in the Majoralty of Iohn Rainwell Anno 1471 a house call'd the Common siege on London-Bridge tumbled down into the Thames by death of diyers persons a little after But in the year sixteen hundred thirty three there happen'd a most raging dismal fire upon the North side of London-bridge which by computation consum'd above the third part of the Buildings thereof But by the commendable care of the City there are other goodly structures rais'd up in some of their rooms of a stronger and more stately way of building and pity it is that the work were not compleated there being no object after the Church of St. Pauls that can conduce more to the glory and Ornament of this renowned City Besides this Bridge that may be call'd the Bridge of the world there are other inferior Bridges which have still the names of Bridges that belong to the City of London the first is Fleet-bridge in the West fenc'd with iron Pikes on which towards the South there be certain Lanthorns of Stones for lights to be placed in Winter Evenings for commodity of passengers Under this Bridge runs a water sometimes call'd the River Wells but since Turn-hill brook and now Fleet Dike because it runs by the Fleet under ground to the River of Thames this Bridge hath been far greater in times pass'd but lessened as the water course hath been narrowed Over the sayd River of Wells northerly stands Oldenbridge now Holborn-bridge so call'd of a boorn that sometimes ran down Holborn hill into the River this Bridge like Fleet-bridge-serves for passage only Then comes Cow-bridge more Northerly over the same water near unto Cow-lane but this Bridge being decayed another of Timber is made more North towards Chicklane There are some other small Bridges over the Town-ditch viz. without Eald-gate without Bishopsgatâ— Mooregate the Postern of Cripplegate as also without Aldersgate the Postern of Christs Hospital Newgate and Ludgate which are now paved eaven with the streets only there remains one of Timber over the River of Wels or Fleet Dike There have 〈◊〉 informer ages divers Bridges in sundry places over the course of Wallbrook but 〈◊〉 they are made levell with the paâ—ements of the Streets so that the water-course can now be hardly discover'd being vaulted over with Brick Of the chief Fortresse or Tower of LONDON ANd now that we are come so near the famous and great Tower Palatine or Citâ—adel of London we will try whether we can get in thither without paying fees and take a view thereof as briefly as we can it being an ill-favoured and tedious thing to stay there long I know it is the current vulgar opinion that Julius Caesar the first Conquerour or rather indeed Discoverer of Britain was the Original Founder thereof but there is â—ery litle probability of truth in that for two Reasons The first is the little stay he made here during which he had other things to think on The second is that he himself who is so exact in his relations specially if they conduce to his honour nor any other Roman Author makes any mention of of such a work or Fabrique Therefore that opinion which approacheth truth the neerest is that William of Normandy the Conqueror was the first tracer and erector of the Tower of London as Edmond de Hadenham an old English Antiquary affirms The first part that was built was the great square and White Tower though black to some which was about the year 1078 whereof Gundulph Bishop of Rochester was principal Superviser and Surveyer who was log'd then in the house of Edmere a Burgesse of London as it stands upon Latine Record in the forenamed Author Now it is to be considered that at first the wall of the City was in many places furnish'd with sundry Bastions and Turrets in due distance one from the other and divers stood on the waters side where some of the said Wall extended at first but the Thames with her ebbings and flowings did as it were corrode and subverâ— those Buildings on the South side Wherefore the Conqueror for then the Art of fortification was come to a greater perfection for defence of the City and River pitch'd upon that place as most convenient to erect a Buâ—wark in the East part of the Wall The White square Tower as was formerly said was first erected and finished in the Conquerors time but stood naked and single without other Buildings a good while and the story â—aith that in William Rufus time it was by the injury of the Heavens and violence of tempest sore shaken and some part tumbled down which was repair'd by the said Rufus and Henry the first who also caused a Castle to be built under the said White Tower on the South side towards the Thames and he surrounded that also with a strong Wall Now Henry of Huntindon relates that VVill. Rufus challeng'd the inveâ—â—iture of Prelates and pill'd the people pitifully to spend the treasure about the Tower of London and the great Hall at VVestminster whereof he was Founder The first Keeper of the Tower of London was call'd Constable Ostowerus Acolinillus Otho and Geoffrey Magnaville were the first four Constables of the Tower of London by succession all which held a portion of Land that appertain'd to the Priory of the Holy Trinity near Algate viz. East Smithfield as belonging to that Office making thereof a Vineyard and would would not part with it till the second year of King Stephen when by judgment of the Court it was restored to the Church The foresaid Geoffery Magnaville was at one time Constable of the Tower Sherif of London Middlesex Essex Hartfordshire as the Chronicles relate He also fortified the Tower of London against King Stephen but the King took him at last at St. Albanes and would not free him till he had surrendred the Tower of London with the Castles of VValden and Plashey in Essex Richard de Lucie was Anno 1155 Constable of the Tower of London and also of Casâ—le the of VVinsore About the beginning of the Raign of Richard the first William Longshank Bishop of Ely and Chancellour of England for some dissentions 'twixt him and John the Kings Brother who was in Rebellion enclos'd the Tower of London with an outward
Wall of stone embattail'd and also caused a deep ditch to be cast about the same and thought to have environ'd it with the River of Thames The Lion Tower was built by Edward the fourth Frederick the Emperor having sent for a present three Leopards they were first kept at Woodstock which was the first Park of England seven miles about to the destruction of some Churches and Chappels adjacent by Henry the third but afterwards all such wild Beasts as Lions which are call'd the Beasts of the Royall Prerogative together with Leopards Linxes and Propentines have been kept in that part of the Tower which is called Lions Tower And we read that Edward the 2d commanded the Sheriff of London to pay 6d per diem to the Keeper oâ— the Lions and Leopards for their sustenance and three half pence a day for the Keeper's diet out of the Fee-farm of the City In former times there were persons of high quality that kept these Beasts whereof the Earl of Oxford was one and they had a Pension from the Crown belonging to the Office Mr. Robert Gill a very worthy Gentleman hath the place now and hath had it many years Noâ— was the Tower ever better furnish'd with Lions than it is now there being six in all young and old Edward the fourth fortified the Tower of London and enclosed with Brick a certain enclosure of ground taken from Tower-hill Westward now call'd the Bullwark His Officers also set up upon the said Hill a Gallowes and a Scaffold for the execution of offendors whereupon the Lord Mayor complaining to the King all the answer he had was that it was not done to the derogation of the City In the year 1216 the Tower of London was delivered to Lewis of France by the Barons of England who banded against the King Anno 1222. the Citizens of London having made an uprore against the Abbot of Westminster Huberâ— de Burgh chief Justice of England came to the Tower of London and summoned before him the Mayor and Aldermen of whom he enquired and demanded the principal Authors of that Insurrection Among whom one Constantine Fitzaeluphe confess'd that he was the man saying undauntedly that he was the man and that he had done much lesse than he had thought to have done Whereupon the Justice passed him over to Fulke de Brent who with a band of arm'd men brought him to the Gallowes where he was executed Anno 1244. Griffeth the eldest Son to Luellin Prince of Wales being kept prisoner in the Tower devised means to escape and having made a Line of the Sheets and Hangings he put himself down from the top of the Tower but in the sliding the weight of his Body he being a corpulent man brake the rope with his neck together King Hen. the 3d. imprisoned the Sheriffs of London Anno 1253. for the escape of a prisoner out of Newgate The same Henry with his Queen to secure himself from rebelling Barons kept his Court at the Tower sent for the Lords to hold a Parliament and the next year his Queen passing through London-Bridge the Londoners did outrage her as she pass'd hurling stones and dirt at her in so much that she was forc'd to return hereupon the Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs were sent to divers Prisons and a Custos was set over the City for the time ' viz. Othon Constable of the Tower until submission had bin made and other satisfaction given It is upon Record that Edw. 2. allowed a Knight 2d per diem and a Squire a peny for their Diet as long as they were prisoners in the Tower upon his Command Roger Mortimer being prisoner in the Tower gave his Watchmen a sleeping potion and so escaped but afterwards he was arraigned and condemned by his Peers without personal appearance and so executed at the Elmes where he hung two dayes The Londoners in the year 13â—6 seized upon the Tower wresting the keys out of the Constables hands they freed all the Prisoners and kept it in their hands for the use of Queen Isabel and her Son Edward both Tower and City The first gold that was coin'd in the Tower was in the raign of Edward the third and the peeces were call'd Florences of the value of 6s 8d Perceval de post being Master of the Mint at that time All great sums before were used to be payd by the weight as so many pounds or marks of silver or so many pounds or marks of gold but they bore no stamp the lesser payments were in Starlings which was the only coin then current and stamp'd which were pence so call'd And they had their antiquity no further then from the raign of King Henry the second Nevertheless the Saxon coines before the Conquest were pence of fine silver somewhat weightier and better then the latter starlings and the probablest Reason that is given why it was starling money was because in the ring or border of the peny there was a Starre stamped But to return to the Tower of London In the year 1360. Iohn the French King being Prisoner in the Tower King Edward the third being newly returned victoriously from France the first thing he did was to visit his Prisoner whose ransome was assessed afterwards at three millions of Florences or Nobles whereupon he was brought honourably to the Sea side Anno 1387. King Richard kept his Christmas in the Tower and the year after was clapt up Prisoner there In the year 1458. there were Justs and Tournements in the Tower wherein the chief Actor was the Duke of Somerset Anno 1465 Henry the sixth was brought Prisoner to the Tower where he remained many years of whom was given this Character that he was a good King but born in an ill time The Mayor of London Sir Richard Lee and the Aldermen freed the said King Henry once from his imprisonment but being sent thither again he was pittifully murthered Anno 1478. The Duke of Clarence was drowned in a But of Malmsey within the Tower and 5. years after young Edward the fifth with his Brother were by the practices of Richard the third stiâ—â—ed there betwixt two Fetherbeds as the current story goes Iohn Earl of Oxford Anno 1485. was made Constable of the Tower and he had also the keeping of the Lions and Leopards as the story makes mention Queen Elizabeth Wife to Henry the 7th died in the Tower Anno 1502. in Child-birth and the year before there was running at tilt and tourney there The Chappel in the high white Tower was burnt Anno 1512. Queen Anno Bullein was beheaded in the Tower 1541. and a little after the Lady Katherine Howard both Wifes to Henry the eighth Anno 1546. a strange accident happened in the Tower for one Foxley who was Pot-maker for the Mint being fallen asleep he could not be awakened by pinching cramping or burning for fourteen dayes at which time he awak'd as fresh as at the first day he began to sleep In Henry the
shall be sadled with a saddle of the Arms of the said Bannerer and shall be covered with â—indalls of the said Arms. Moreover they shall present unto him twenty pounds Starling money and deliver it to the Chamberlain of the said Bannerer for his expences that day Then the said Bannerer shall mount on Horseback with the Banner in his hand and as soon as he is up he shall say to the Lord Maior that he cause a Marshal to be chosen for the Host one of the City which Marshal being nam'd the said Bannerer shall command the Maior and Burgesses of the City to warn the Commons to assemble and they shall all go under the Banner of St. Paul and the said Bannerer shall bear it himself unto Ealdgate and there the said Bannerer and the Maior shall deliver the said Banner from thence to whom they shall assent and think good And in case they make any issue out of the City then the said Bannerer ought to choose two out of every Ward the most sage Personages to foresee and look to the safe keeping of the City after they be gone forth And this Councel shall be taken in the priory of the holy Trinity near unto Aldgate And also before every Town or Castle they shall besiege if the siege continue a whole year the said Bannerer shall have for every siege one hundred shillings and no more of the Comminalty of London These be the Rights that the said Bannerer shall have in time of War But the Rights that belong unto the said Bannerer Sir Rob Fitzwater in time of peace are these that is to say The said Robert hath a Soke or Ward in the City that is to say a Wall of the Canonry of St. Paul unto the Thames so to the side of the Mill which is in the water that cometh from Fleet bridge so goeth by London walls betwixt the Fryars Preachers Ludgate so returneth back by the house of the said Fryrs unto the said Walls of the said Canonry of St. Pauls viz. all the Parish of St. Andrews which is in the gift of his Ancestors by the said Signority And so the said Robert hath appendant unto the said Soke all these things under-written if any of the Sokemanry be impleaded in Guild-hall of any thing that toucheth not the Body of the Lord Mayor or the Sheriffs for the time being it is not lawful for the Sokeman of the Sokmanry of the said Robert to demand a Court of the said Robert And the Mayor and the Citizens of London ought to grant him a Court and in his Court he ought to bring his Judgments as it is assented and agreed upon in the Guild-hall that shall be given him If any therefore be taken in his Sokemanry he ought to have his stocks and imprisonment in his Soke and he shall be brought thence to the Guild-hall before the Mayor and there they shall provide him his judgement that ought to be given of him but his judgement shall not be publish'd till he come unto the Court of the said Robert and in his Liberty And the Judgement shall be such that if he have deserved death for Treason he is to be tied to a Post in the Thames at a good Wharf where Boats are fastened two ebbings and two flowings of the water And if he be condemn'd for a common thief he ought to be led to the Elmes and there suffer his judgement as other thieves So the said Robert and his Heirs hath the honour that he holdeth a great Franchise within the City that the Mayor of the City and the Cittizens are bound to do him of Right viz. that when the Mayor will hold a great Councel he ought to call the said Robert and his Heir to be with him in the Councel of the said City and the said Robert ought to be sworn of the Councell of the said City against all people saving the King and his Heirs And when the said Robert comes to the Hustings in the Guild-hall of the said City the Mayor or his Livetenant ought to rise and set him down to sit neer him and so long as he is in the Guild-hall all the judgements ought to be given by his mouth according to the Records of the Recorders of the said Guildhall And so many Waifes as come while he he is there he ought to give them to the Bayliffs of the said Town or to whom he will by the Councel of the City These are the ancient Franchises that belong to the Bannerer of London as they stand upon ancient authentick Records But when this honor fell from the Fitzwaters and from Baynards Castle 't is incertain Now that Castle fell afterwards to the Earl of March who was Crown'd there by the Title of Edward the fourth to whom this City stuck very close But in the seventh year of King Edward's Reign many of the greatest men of London were attach'd for Treason with divers Aldermen whereof though they were acquitted yet they did forfeit their goods to the value of 40000 marks among whom Sir Thomas Coke Sir Iohn Plummer and Humfrey Howard were of the number And the said Coke Lord Mayor a little before was committed to the Tower with one Hawkins nor could Coke be acquitted until he had paied 8000 Marks to the King Henry the seventh rode in Majesty through the City with all the Knights of St. George from the Tower to St. Pauls Church where they heard Vespers and so the King lodg'd that night at Baynards Castle which he had newly repair'd before Queen Mary was also proclaim'd there notwithstanding that the Lady Jane had been proclaim'd a little before There was also another Tower or Castle near adioyning unto Baynards Castle which was call'd Legates Inne but now there is no trace of it leâ—t There was also another Castle call'd the Tower of Monfiquet spoken of a little before upon the River of Thames more Westward where afterwards a Monastery of Fryars was erected call'd to this day the Black fryars first built by Kelwarby Archbishop of Canterbury to whom the Mayor of London gave two Lanes or wayes adjoyning to Baynards Castle There was also another Tower stood there above 300 years which was demolished by Iohn Sha Lord Mayor of London Anno 1502 the King giving leave to do it There was another Tower or Castle that stood in the same place that Bride-well now stands which being demolished yet notwithstanding there was a Royal Palace stood still where the Kings of England kept their Courts and call'd Parliaments and among others it stands upon good Record that King Iohn summoned a Parliament thither where he exacted of the Clergy in a Parliament held at Saint Brides in London 100000 Marks and besides this the white Monks were compelled to cancel their Priviledges and pay the King 40000 Marks This House of Saint Brides of later time being left and not used or inhabited fell to ruine yet the Platform still remained
away at last their own Legions whereupon the Iland being thus grown weak much depopulated and to a long deâ—uetude of Arms the Saxons who are now the English yet keep still their first denomination of Saxons both in the British and Irish Tongues to this day came over with a considerable strength and having in a Parly on Salsbury Plains musiered most of the British Nobility by a stratagem and taken Vortiger the King Prisoner He for his ransom was forc'd to give not only London but most part of the Iland to the Saxons And the chief Magistrate of London they call'd Portreve which is a Gardian or Governour of a Port and that name is yet used in England in some places The Saxons then changed their names into Englishmen yet they continued Pagans a long time after but at last the Britains converted them to Christianity and then the City of London flourished exceedingly for many Ages till there came over a swarm of Danes who proved more fatal to London then any other Nation for by fire and sword they had almost utterly destroyed Her had not the Londoners at last rowz'd up their spirits who making vertue of necessity did fall upon King Swein the insulting Enemy with such a resolution that by a mighty slaughter and extraordinary prowesse they utterly repel'd him The City having recovered her former lustre though 't was a good while first she continued under the English Government and the Magistracy of a Portreve till the Norman rush'd in yet the Title was not alter'd a good while after when at last he came to be call'd Bayliffe and sometimes Provost Richard the first for supporting the Croy sada and his Warres in the Holy Land got great Contributions of monies from the Londoners in lieu whereof he gave them leave to choose two Bayliffs annually King Iohn after him chang'd their Bayliffs into a Maior and two Sheriffs To these Henry the third adds some Aldermen who though yeerly Elegible at first grew afterwards Perpetual Now this Word Alderman is consonant to Senator being both derived from old Age and Gravity The first Alderman we read of in England was in the time of King Edgar about 800 years agoe whose name was Ailwine and was descended of the blood Royal as appeares by his Epitaph in that goodly Monastery in the I le of Ely whereof he was founder himself which Epitaph runs thus Hic requiescit Dom. Ailwinus inclyti Regis Edgari Cognatus totius Angliae Aldermannus hujus Sacri coenobii miraculosus Fundator Here resteth the Lord Ailwine Cousin to Noble King Edgar Alderman of all England which some interpret chief Justice miraculous Founder of this holy Abbey Hence it may be infer'd that the appellation of Alderman is not only venerable but ancient honourable And from this Lord Ailwine it seemes the first Maior of London descended who was Henry Fitz-Alwin Anno 1191. who continued many years in the Office lies buried in St. Mary Bothaw near London-stone and the next Maior to him was Roger Fitz-Alwin after whom he Office grew annual The City being thus in tract of time come to a fixed and setled Government she began to flourish exceedingly And as she increased in Men Manufactures and Merchandizing so the Kings did enlarge their royal favours unto Her Anno 1226. Henry the third confirmed unto the Citizens of London free Warren or liberty to hunt about the City and in the Warren of Stanes Moreover that the Citizens of London should passe Toll-free throughout all England and that the Keddles and Weres in the Rivers of Thames and Medway should be plucked up and destroyed for ever because Navigation to London might be more free Roger Renger was Maior when these Patents were granted A few years after the liberties and franchises of London were ratified by the same King who granted that either Sheriff should have two Clarks and two Sargeants and that the Citizens should have a Common Seal A little after the same King granted that the Maior Elect should be presented to the Barons of the Exchequer and they should admit him Moreover he gave way that the City should be fortified with Posâ—s and Iron Chains drawn athwart over the streets Anno 1326. Edward the third much increased the Immunities of the City and the Authority of the Maior for he granted that the Maior should be Iustice for the Gaol delivery at Newgate and have power to reprieve Prisoners That the Citizens of London should not be constrained to go out of the City of London to any Warre He granted also that the liberties and franchises of the City should not after that time be taken into the Kings hands as it had bin often before when a Custos was put in Moreover He granted by Letters Patents that there should be no other Eschetor in the City but the Maior Anno 1338. He granted that the Sargeants attending the Maior and the Sheriffs should bear Maces silver and gilt with the Royal Arms engraven Anno 1356. The same King ordained that whereas the Aldermen were used to be chang'd yeerly they should not be removed without special cause for the future Then for the higher honour and Authority of the Office the Sword was added with the Cap of Maintenance Thus in proceâ—s of time the Government of London grew to be more and more established Anno 1415. Sir Henry Barton being Maior ordained Lanthorns and Lights to be hang'd out on the Winter Evenings betwixt Alhollontide and Candlemas Sir Iohn Norman being Maior was the first who went upon the River to Westminster having made a stately Barge to that purpose Anno 1453. And the rest of the Companies followed that laudable Example with their Barges also Anno 1473. Sir Iohn Tate being Maior the Sheriffs of London were appointed each of them to have sixteen Serjeants and every Serjeant to have his Yeoman Moreover they were to have six Clerks a Secondary a Clark of the Papers with fower other Clarks besides the Under Sheriffs Clark Anno 1484. It happened that there was successively one after the other three Mayors and three Sheriffs of London in the compasse of one year by reason of the sweating sickness which rag'd so extreamly Anno 1501. Sir John Sha being Maior added some state to the Office for it was ordered that the Aldermen his Brethren should attend him on Horseback from Guild-hall to the Rivers side when he took Barge for Westminster Besides he was the first who kept Court in his own House for redressing of such matters that came before him Sir William Capel being Maior of London caus'd Cages to be set up in every Ward for the punishments of Vagabends and Rogues Anno 1556. Sir Thomas Ossley being Mayor the Night Bel-man was first ordained Queen Elizabeth did much favour the City of London and for the better Government thereof gave way for a Provost Marshal to be appointed Thus have we observed that the Governours in chief of the City of
passed through the City like a stream of rain water in the sight of all the people from whence there issued a most loathsome savour I read in the Reign of Henry the seventh that no Sweet VVines were brought into this Realm but Malmsyes by the Longobards paying to the King for his Licence six shillings eight pence of every Butt besides twelve pence for Bottellage In those daies Malmsey was not to be sold above three half-pence the pint For proof whereof it appeareth in the Church of St. Andrew Under-shaft that in the year 1547 I. G. and S. K. then Church-Wardens for eighty pints of Malmsey spent in the Church after one penny half penny the pint paid at the years end for the same ten shillings Moreover no Sacks were sold but Rumney that for Medicine more than fo r drink but now many kinds of Sacks are known and used And so much for Wines I read further that in the Reign of Henry the fourth the young Prince Henry T. Duke of Clarence I. Duke of Bedford and Humphrey Duke of Glocester the Kings sons came to Supper amongst the Merchants of London in the Vintryâ— in the House of Lewes Iohn a Briton The successors of those Vintners and Wine-drawers that retailed by the Gallons Pottel quart and pint were all incorporated by the name of Wine-tunners in the Raign of Edward the third and confirmed the fifteenth of Henry the sixth Next is Palmers Lane now called Anchors Lane the Plummers have their Hall there but are Tenants to the Vintners Then is Worcester House sometimes belonging to the Earls of Worcester now divided into many Tenaments The Fruiterers have there Hall there On the Land side is the Royal street and Pater noster Lane I think of old time called the Arches for I read that Robert de Suffolk gave to Walter Darford his Tenement with the apurtenance in the Lane called Les Arches in the Parish of Saint Michael de Pater noster Church between the Wall of the field called Winchester field on the East and the same Lane on the West c. More there was a stone House called Stoda de Winton juxta Stodum Bridge which in that Lane was over Walbrook water Then is the fair Parish Church of Saint Michael called Pater noster Church in the Royal street This Church was new builded and made a Colledge of S. Spirit and S. Mary founded by Richard VVhittington Mercer four times Mayor for a Master four Fellows Masters of Art Clerks Conducts Chorists c. and an Alms-house called Gods house or Hospital for thirteen poor men one of them to be Tutor and to have sixteen pence the week the other twelve each of them to have fourteen pence the week for ever with other necessary provision an Hutch with three Locks with a common Seal c. The Licence for this foundation was granted by King Henry the fourth the eleventh of his Reign and in the twelfth of the same Kings reign the Mayor and the Communalty of London granted to Richard VVhittington a vacant piece of ground thereon to build his Colledge in the Royall all which was confirmed by Henry the sixth the third of his Reign to Iohn Coventry Jenkin Carpenter and VVilliam Grove Executors to to Richard Whittington This foundation was again confirmed by Parliament the tenth of Henry the sixth and was suppressed by the Statute of Edward the sixth The Alms-Houses with the poor men do remain and are paid by the Mercers This Richard VVhittington was in this Church three times buried first by his Executors under a fair Monument then in the Reign of Edward the sixth the Parson of that Church thinking some great riches as he said to be buried with him caused his Monument to be broken his Body to be spoiled of his Leaden sheet and again the second time to be buried And in the Reign of Queen Mary the Parishioners were forced to take him up and lap him in Lead as afore to bury him the third time and to place his Monuments or the like over him again which remaineth still and so he rested Among others Sir Thomas Tanke Knight of the Garter born in Almain a great Martial man lieth buried there At the upper end of this street is the Tower Royall whereof that street taketh name This Tower great place was so called of pertaining to the Kings of this Realm but by whom the same was first builded or of what Antiquity continued it doth not appear more than that in the Reign of King Edward the first the second fourth and seventh year it was the Tenement of Simon Beawmes Also that in the thirty sixt of Edward the third the same was called the Royal in the Parish of St. Michael de Pater noster and that in the three and fortieth of his Reign he gave it by the name of his Inne called the Royall in his City of London in value twenty pounds by year unto his Colledge of Saint Stephen at Westminster Notwithstanding in the Reign of Richard the second it was called the Queens Wardrobe as appeareth by this that followeth King Richard having in Smithfield overcome and dispersed the Rebels He his Lords and all his Company entred the City of London with great joy and went to the Lady Princesse his Mother who was then lodged in the Tower called the Queens Wardrobe where she had remained three daies and two nights much affrighted But when she saw the King her Son she was greatly rejoyced Ah Son What great sorrow have I suffered for you this day The King answered and said Certainly Madam I know it well but now rejâ—â—ce and thank God for I have this day recovered mine Heritage and the Realm of England which I had near-hand lost This Tower seemeth to have been at that time of good defence for when the Rebels had beset the Tower of London and got possession thereof taking from thence whom they listed the Princesse being forced to fly came to this Tower-Royall where she was lodged and remained safe as ye have heard and it may be also supposed that the King himself was at that time lodged there I read that in the year 1386 Lyon King of Armony being chased out of his Reaâ—m by the Tartarians received innumerable gifts of the King and of his Nobles the King then lying in the Royall where he also granted to the said King of Armony a Charter of a thousand pounds by year during his Life This for proof may suffice that Kings of England have been lodged in this Tower though the same afterwards hath been neglected and turned into stabling for the Kings Horses and now letten out to divers men and â—ivided into Tenements In Horse-Bridge-street is the Cutlers Hall Richard de Wilehale 1295 confirmed to Paul Butelar this House and Edifices in the Parish of Saint Michael Pater noster Church and Saint Iohn upon Walbrook which sometime Lawrence Gisers and his son Peter Gisers did possesse and afterward Hugonis
Edmonds bury Lincoln Stanford and Lyn were robbed and spoyled and at York to the number of five hundred besides Women and Children entred a Tower of the Castle profered money to be in surety of their lives but the Christians would not take it whereupon they â—â—t the throats of their own Wives and Children and cast them over the Walls on the Christianâ— heads and then entring the Kings Lodging they burned both the House and themselves King John in the 11th of his Reign commanded all the Jews both Men and Women to be imprisoned and grievously punished because he would have all their Money some of them gave all they had and promised more to escape so many kinds of torments for every one of them had one of their eyes at the least plucked oâ—t Amongst whom there was one which being tormented many wayes would not ransome himself till the King had caused every day one of his great teeth to be plucked out by the space of seven dayes and then he gave the King ten thousand Marks of silver to the end they should pull out no more the said King at that time spoylâ—d the Jews of sixty six thousand Marks The 17th of this King the Barons brake into the Jews Houses rifled their Coffers and with the Stone of their Houses repaired the Gates and Walls of London King Henry the third in the 11th of his Reign granted to Semaine or Ballaster the house of Benomie Mittun the Jew in the Parish of St. Michael Bassing-hanghe in which the said Benomy dwelt with the fourth part of all his Land in that Parish which VVilliam Elie held of the Fee of Hugh Nevel and all the Land in Colemanstreet belonging to the said Benomy and the fourth part of the Land in the Parish of St. Lawrence which was the Fee of Thomas Buckerel and were excheted to the King for the murther which the said Benomy committed in the City of London to hold to the said Semaine and his Heires of the King paying at Easter a pair of gilt Spurs and to do the serviâ—e thereof due unto the Lords Court In the like manner and for like services the King granted to Guso for his Homage the other part of the Lands of the said Benomye in St. Michaels Parish which Law the Painter held and was the Kings Excheter and the Lands of the said Benomye in the said Parish which VValter Turner held and fifteen foot of Land which Hâ—gh Harman held with fifteen Iron Ells of Land and an half in the front of Iron-monger-lane in the Parish of St. Martin which were the said Benomyes of the Fee of the Hospital of St. Giles and which Adam the Smith held with two Stone-Houses which were Moses the Jew of Canterbury in the Parish of St. Olave and which are of the Fee of Arnold de Reus and are the Kings Exchetes as aforesaid The 16th of the said Henry the Jews in London builded a Synagogue but the King commanded it should be dedicated to our blessed Lady and after gave it to the Brethren of St. Anthonies of Vienna and so was it called St. Anthonies Hospital This King Henry founded a Church and House for converted Jews in a new street by the Temple whereby it came to passe that in short time there was gathered a great number of Converts The twentieth of this King Henry seven Jews were brought from Norwich vvhich had stolen a christened Child had circumcised and minded to have cruciâ—â—ed him at Easter vvherefore their Bodies and Goods vvere at the Kings pleasure The six and twentieth the Jews vvere constrained to pay to the King twenty thousand Marks at two Termes in the year or else to be kept in perpetual Prison The five and thirtieth He taketh inestimable sums of money of all rich men namely of Aaron a Jew born at York fourteen thousand Marks for himself and ten thousand Marks for the Queen and before he had taken of the same Jew as much as in all amounted to thirty thousand Marks of Silver and two hundâ—red Marks of Gold to the Queen In the fortieth year vvere brought up to VVestminster two hundred Jews from Lincoln for crucifying a Child named Hugh eighteen of them were hang'd The forty third a Jew at Tewksbury fell into a Privie on the Saturday and would not that day be taken out for reverence of his Sabbath wherefore Richard Clare Earl of Gloucester kept him there till Monday that he was dead The forty seven the Barons slew of the Jews at London seven hundred the rest were spoiled and theiâ—r Synagogue defaced because one Jew would have forced a Christian to have payd more than two shillings for the lone of twenty shillings a week The third of Edward the first in a Parliament at London usury was forbidden to the Jews and that all Usurers might be known the King commanded that every Usurer should weare a Table on his brest the breadth of a Paveline or else to avoid the Realm The sixth of the said King Edward a Reformation was made for clipping of the Kings Coyn for which offence two hundred sixty seven Jews were drawn and hanged three were English Christians and other were English Jews The same year the Jews crucified a child at Northampton for the which fact many Jews at London were drawn at Horses Tayls and hanged The 11th of Edward the first Iohn Perkham Arch Bishop of Canterbury commanded the Bishop of London to destroy all the Jewes Synagogues in his Diocese The 16th of the said Edward all the Jews in England were in one day apprehended by precept from the King but they redeemed themselves for twelve thousand pounds of silver notwithstanding in the nineteenth of his Reign he banished them all out of England giving them only to bear their Charge till they were out of this Realm the number of Jews then expulsed were fifteen thousand and sixty persons the King made a mighty masse of money of their Houses which he sold and yet the Commons of England had granted and gave him a fifteenth of all their Goods to banish them and thus much for the Jewes In this street called the Old Iewry is a proper Parish-Church of St. Olave Upwell so called in Record 1320 John Brian Parson of St. Olave Upwell in the Iewry founded there a Chauncery and gave two Messuages to that Parish the sixteenth of Edward the second and was by the said King confirmed In this Church to the commendations of the Parsons and Parishioners the Monuments of the dead remain lesse defaced than in many other From this Parish Church of St. Olave to the North end of the Old Iewry and from thence West to the North end of Ironmonger-lane almost to the Parish Church of St. Martin was of old time one large building of stone very ancient made in place of Jews Houses but of what antiquity or by whom the same was builded or for what use is not known more than that King Henry the sixth in the sixteenth of his
Reign gave the Office of being Porter or Keeper thereof unto John Stent for terme of his life by the name of his principal Pallace in the Old Jewry This was called the Old Wardrobe but of latter time the outward Strone-Wall hath bin by little and little taken down and divers fair Houses builded thereupon even round about Now or the North side of this Lothbury beginning again at the East end thereof upon the Water-Course of Wallbrook have ye a proper Parish Church called St. Margaret which was newly re-edified and builded about the year 1440. By the West end of this Parish-Church have ye a fair Warter-Conduit builded at the Charges of the City in the year 1546. Next is the Founders Hall a hansom House and so to the South-West corner of Basing-hall-street have ye fair and large Houses for Marchants namely the Corner-house at the end of Basings-Hall-street an old peece of work builded of Stone sometime belonging to a certain Jew named Mansere the Sonne of Aaron the Sonne of Coke the Jew the seventh of Edward the first since to Rahere Sopers-Lane then to Simon Francis Thomas Bradbury Mercer kept his Majoralty there deceased 1509. part of this House hath bin lately imployed as a Market-house for the sale of Woollen Bayes Watmoles Flanels and such like On this North side against the Old Iewry is Colemanstreet so called of Coleman the first builder and owner thereof is also of Cole-Church or Coleman-Church against the great Conduit in Cheape This is a fair and large street on both sides builded with divers fair Houses besides Allies with small Tenements in great number on the East side of this street almost at the North end thereof is the Armorers-Hall which Company of Armorers were made a Fraternity of Guild of St. George with a Chantry in the Chappel of St. Thomas in Pauls Church in the first of Henry the sixth also on the same side is Kings Allâ—y and Love-lane both containing many Tenements And on the West side towards the South end is the Parish Church of St. Stephen wherein the Monuments are defaced This Church was sometime a Synagogue of the Jews then a Parish Church then a Chappel to Saint Olaves in the Jewry until the seventh of Edward the fourth and was then incorporated a Parish Church Of the Eighteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Basings-Hall-Ward THe next adjoyning to Coleman-street-Ward on the West side thereof is Bassings-Hall-VVard a small thing and consisteth of one street called Basings-Hall-street of Basings-Hall the most principal House whereof the Ward taketh name it beginneth in the South by the late spoken Market House called the Bay Hall which is the last of Coleman-street-VVard This street runneth from thence North down to London-Wall and some distance both East and West against the said Hall And this is the bounds of Basings-Hall-VVard Amongst divers fair Houses for Marchants have ye three Halls of Companies namely the Masons Hall for the first but of what Antiquity that Company is I have not read The next is the Weavers Hall which Company hath bin of great Antiquity in this City as appeareth by a Charter of Henry the second in these words Rex omnibus ad Quos c. to be englished thus Henry King of England Duke of Normandy and of Guyan Earl of Anjou to the Bishop Justices Sheriffs Barons Ministers and all his true Lieges of London sendeth greeting Know ye that we have granted to the Weavers in London their Guild with all the Freedoms and Customs that they had in the time of King Henry my Grandfather so that they intermit none but within the City of their Craft but he be of their Guild neither in Southwark or other places pertaining to London otherwise than it was done in the time of King Henry my Grand-father wherefore I will and straightly command that over all lawfully they may treat and have all aforesaid as well in peace free worshipful and wholly as they had it ftreer better worshipfuller and whollier than in the time of King Henry my Grand-father so that they yield yearly to me two Marks of Gold at the feast of St. Michael And I forbid that any man to them do any Unright or Disease upon pain of ten pound c. Lower down is the Girdlers Hall and this is all touching the East side of this Ward On the West side almost at the South end thereof is Bakewell-Hall corruptly called Blackwell-Hall concerning the Original whereof I have heard divers Opinious which I over-passe as Fables without colour of truth for though the same seemed a Building of great Antiquity yet in mine Opinion the Foundation thereof was first laid since the Conquest of VVilliam Duke of Normandy for the same was builded upon Vaults of Stone which Stone was brought from Cane in Normandy The like of that in Pauls Church builded by Mauritius and his Successors Bishops of London but that this House hath bin a Temple or Jewish Synagogue as some have fantisied I allow not seeing that it had no such form of roundness or other likeness neither had it the form of a Church for the Assembly of Christians which are builded East and West but contrariwise the same was builded North and South and in the form of a Noblemans House and therefore the best Opinion in my judgement is that it was of old time belonging to the Family of the Bassings which was in this Realm a name of great Antiquity and Renown and that it beares also the name of that Family and was called therefore Basings-Haugh or Hall Now how Bakewell-hall took that name is another Question For which I read That Thomas Bakewel dwelled in this House in the 36. of Edward the 3d and that in the 20. of Richard the 2d the said King for the sum of 50. pounds which the Mayor and the Communalty had paid into the Hanapar granted Licence so much as was in him to Iohn Frosh William Parker and Stephen Spilman Citizens and Mercers that they the said Messuage called Bakewell-hall and one Garden with the appurtenances in the Parish of St. Michael of Bassings-Haugh and of St. Lawrence in the Jewry of London and one Messuage two Shops and one Garden in the said Parish of St. Michael which they held of the King in Burgage might give and assign to the Mayor and Communalty for ever This Bakewell-Hall thus established hath bin long since imployed as a weekly Market-place for all sorts of Woollen Clothes broad and narrow brought from all parts of this Realm there to be sold. In the 21. of Richard the second Richard Whittington Mayor and in the 22 Drew Barringtine being Mayor it was decreed that no Forraign or stranger should sell any Woollen-Cloth but in Bakewell-hall upon pain of forfeiture thereof This House of late years growing ruinous and in danger of falling Richard May Merchant-Taylor at his decease gave towards the new building of the outward part thereof 300l upon condition
where the Abbot of Garendon had an house or Cell called Saint Iames in the wall by Cripple-gate and certain Monks of their house were Chaplains there wherefore the Well belonging to that Cell or Hermitage was called Monks-well and the street of the well Monks-well street The East side of this street down against London wall and the South side thereof to Cripple-gate be of Cripple-gate Ward as is afore-shewed In this street by the corner of Monks-well street is the Bowyers Hall On the East side of Monks-well street be convenient Alms-houses twelve in number founded by Sir Ambrose Nicholas Salter Maior 1575. wherein he placed twelve poor and aged people rent-free having each of them seven pence the week and once the yeer each of them five sacks of Charcoals and one quartem of one hundred of Faggots of his gift for ever On the North side of the way turning towards Cripple-gate and even upon or close to London wall as it were are certain new erected Almes-houses six in number of the cost and gift of Mr. Robert Rogers Leather-Seller and very good maintenance allowed for ever to such people as are appointed to dwell in them Then in little VVood-street be seven proper Chambers in an Alley on the West side founded for seven poor people therein to dwell rent-free by Henry Barton Skinner Maior 1516. Now without the Postern of Cripple-gate first is the Parish Church of Saint Giles a very fair and large Church lately repaired after that the same was burned in the yeer 1545 the thirty seventh of Henry the Eighth by which mischance the Monuments of the dead in this Church are very few In VVhite Crosse-street King Henry the Fifth builded a fair house and founded there a Brotherhood of S. Giles to be kept which house had sometime been an Hospitall of the French Order by the name of Saint Giles without Cripple-gate In the reign of Edward the First the King having the Jurisdiction and pointing a Custos thereof for the Precinct of the Parish of Saint Giles c. which Hospitall being suppressed the lands were given to the Brotherhood for relief of the poor One Alley of divers Tenements over against the North wall of Saint Giles Church-yard was appointed to be Alms-houses for the poor wherein they dwelled rent-free and otherwise were releeved but the said Brotherhood was suppressed by Henry the Eighth since which time Sir Iohn Gresham Maior purchased the lands and gave part thereof to the maintenance of a Free School which he had founded at Holt a Market-town in Norfolk In Red Crosse-street on the West side from S. Giles Church-yard up to the said Crosse be many fair houses builded outward with divers Alleys turning into a large plot of ground of old time called the Iews Garden as being the only place appointed them in England wherein to bury their dead till the year 1177 the twenty fourth of Henry the Second that it was permitted them after long suit to the King and Parliament at Oxford to have a speciall place assigned them in every quarter where they dwelled On the East side of this Red Crosse-street be also divers fair houses up to the Crosse and there is Beech-lane peradventure so called of Nicholas de la Beech Lievtenant of the Tower of London put out of that office in the thirteenth of Edward the Third This Lane stretcheth from Red Crosse-street to VVhite Crosse-street replenished not with Beech trees but with beautifull houses of Stone Brick and Timber Amongst the which was of old time a great house pertaining to the Abbot of Ramsey for his lodging when he repaired to the City it is now called Drewry House of Sir Drew Drewry who dwelt there On the North side of this Beech-lane towards VVhite Crosse street the Drapers of London have lately builded eight Alms-houses of Brick and Timber for eight poor widows of their own Company whom they placed there rent-free Then is Golding-lane Richard Gallard of Islington Esquire Citizen and Painter-Stainer of London founded thirteen Alms-houses for so many poor people placed in them rent-free He gave to the poor of the same Alms-houses two pence the peece weekly and a load of Charcoals among them yeerly for ever He left fair lands about Islington to maintain his Foundation T. Hayes sometime Chamberlain of London in the latter time of Henry the Eighth married Elizabeth his daughter and heir which Hayes and Elizabeth had a daughter named Elizabeth married to Iohn Ironmonger of London Mercer who had the ordering of the Alms-people On the West side of Red Crosse-street is a street called the Barbican because sometime there stood on the North side thereof a Burghkenning or VVatch-tower of the City called in some language a Barbican as a Bikening is called Beacon This Burgh-kenning by the name of the Mannour of Base Court was given by Edward the Third to Robert Ufford Earl of Suffolk and was afterward pertaining to Peregrine Barty Lord VVilloughby of Ersby Next adjoyning to this is one other great house called Garter Place sometime builded by Sir Thomas VVrithe or VVrithesly Knight alià s Garter principall King of Arms second son of Sir Iohn VVrithe Knight alià s Garter and was Uncle to the first Thomas Earl of Southampton Knight of the Garter and Chancellor of England He built this house and in the top thereof a Chappell which he dedicated by the name of S. Trinitatis in Alto. Of the Twentieth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of LONDON callâ—d Aldersgate Ward THe Next is Aldersgate Ward taking name of that North Gate of the City this Ward also consisteth oâ— divers Streets and Lanes lying as well within the Gate and Wall as without And first to speak of that part within the Gate thus it is the East part thereof joyneth unto the West part of Cripplegate Ward in Engain lane or Maiden lane It beginneth on the North side of that Lane at Staining lane End runneth up from the Haberdashers Hall to St. Mary Staining Church and by the Church East winding almost to Wood Street and West through Oate lane and then by the South side of Bacon house in Noble-Street back again by Lilipot lane which is also of that ward to Maiden lane and so on that North side West to Saint Iohn Zacharies Church and to Foster lane Now on the south side of Engain or Maiden lane is the West side of Gutherons lane to Kery lane and Kery lane it self which is of this ward and back again into Engain lane by the North side of the Goldsmiths Hall to Foster lane are almost wholly of this Ward which beginneth in the South toward Cheap on the East side by the North side of Saint Fosters Church and runneth down North West by the East end of Engain lane by Lilipot lane and Oate lane to Noble-Street and through that by Shelly house of old time so called as belonging to the Shellies Sir Thomas Shelley Knight was owner thereof in the first of Henry the fourth It
Intra or within for a difference from another Ward of that name which lyeth without the Walls of the City and is therefore called Farringdon Extra These two Wards of old time were but one and had also but one Alderman The whole great Ward of Faringdon both Intra and Extra took name of W. Farrendon Goldsmith Alderman of that Ward and one of the Sheriffs of London in the year 1281 the ninth of Edward the first He purchased the Aldermanry of this Ward as by the Abstract of Deeds which are yet extant may appear At the South-West corner of Wood-street is the Parish Church of St Peter the Apostle by the said Crosse a proper Church John Sha Goldsmith Mayor deceased 1503 appointed by his Testament the said Church and Steeple to be new builded of his goods with a flat roof Notwithstanding Tho. Wood Goldsmith one of the Sheriffs 1491 is accounted a principal Benefactor because the roof of the middle Isle is supported by Images of Woodmen thought to be at his charge The long Shop or Shed encroaching on the High-street before this Church Wall was licenced to be made in the year 1401 yielding to the Chamber of London three shillings four pence yearly for the time Also the same Shop was letten by the Parish for three pounds at the most many years since Then is Guthuruns Lane so called of Guthurun sometime owner thereof the Inhabitants of this Lane of old time were Gold-beaters as doth appear by Records in the Exchequer For the Easterling money was appointed to be made of fine Silver such as men made into foyle and was commonly called Silver of Guâ—hrons Lane c. The Imbroyderers Hall is in this Lane Iohn Throwstone Imbroyderer then Goldsmith Sheriff deceasing 1519. gave forty pound towards the purchase of this Hall Hugon Lane on the East side and Key Lane called of one Kery on the West Then in the High street on the same North side is the Sadlers Hall and then Foster-Lane so called of Saint Fosters a fair Church lately new builded Henry Coote Goldsmith one of the Sheriffs deceased 1509 builded St. Dunstans Chappel there Iohn Throwstone one of the Sheriffs gave to the building thereof one hundred pounds by his Testament John Brown Sergeant-painter Alderman deceased 1532 was a great Benefactor and was there buried William Trist Selerar to the King 1425. John Standelf Goldsmiths lye buried there Richard Galder 1544 Agnes Wife to William Milbourne Chamberlain of London 1500. In this West side is the Barber Chirurgions Hall This Company was Incorporated by means of Thomas Morestead Esquire one of the Sheriffs of London a thousand four hundâ—ed thirty six Chirurgion to the Kings of England Henry the fourth fifth and sixth He deceased 1450. Then Jaques Fries Physitian to Edward the fourth and William Hobbs Physician and Chirurgion to the same Kings Body continuing the Suite the full terme of twenty years Edward the fourth in the second of his Reign and Richard Duke of Glocester became Founders of the same Corporation in the Parish of Saint Cosme and Damiane The first assembling of that Mystery was by Roger Strippe William Hobbs Thomas Goddard and Richard Kent since the which time they builded their Hall in that street c. At the North corner of this street on the same side was sometime an Hermitage or Chappel of Saint James called in the Wall near Creplegate it belonged to the Abbey and Covent of Garadon as appeareth by a Record the seven and twentieth of Edward the first and also the fiftieth of Edward the third William de Lions was Hermit there and the Abbot and Convent of Garadon found two Chaplains Cestercâ—an Monkes of their House in this Hermitage one of them for Aymor de Valence Earl of Pembrooke and Mary de Saint Paul his Countesse Of these Monks and of a Well pertaining to them the street took that name and is called Monkes-Well street This Hermitage with the appurrenances was in the Reign of Edward the sixth purchased from the said King by W. Lambe one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Chappel Citizen and Cloth-worker of London He deceased in the year 1577 and then gave it to the Cloth-workers of London with other Tenements to the value of fifty pounds the year to the intent they shall hire a Minister to say Divine Service there Again to the High street of Cheap from Foster Lane end to St. Martins and by that Lane to the Shambles or Flesh-markâ—t on the North side whereof is Pentecost Lane containing divers Slaughter-houses for the Butchers Then was there of old time a hansome Parish Church of Saint Nicholas whereof the said Flesh-market took the name and was called Saint Nicholas Shambles This Church with the Tenements and Ornaments was by Henry the eighth given to the Mayor and Communalty of the City towards the maintenance of the New Parish Church then to be erected in the late dissolved Church of the Gray Fryers so was this Church dissolved and pulled down in place whereof and of the Church-yard many fair Houses are now builded in a Court with a Well in the middest whereof the Church stood Then is Stinking Lane formerly so called or Chick Lane at the East end of the Gray Fryers Church it is now kept clean and free from annoyance and called by the name of Butchers Hall Lane for there is the Butchers Hall In the third of Richard the second motion was made that no Butcher should kill any flesh within London but at Knightsbridge or such like distant place from the Walls of the City Then is there the late dissolved Church of Gray Fryars the Originall whereof was thus In the year 1224 being the 8th year of the Reign of King Henry the 3d there came out of Italy nine Fryers of the order of the Franciscans or Frior Minors five whereof were Priests and the other four Lay-men the Priests placed themselves at Canterbury in Kent but the other four came to London and were lodged for some short while among the preaching Fryers who lived then in Oldburn now Holborne Afterwards they obtained to be placed in Cornhil London man House belonging to one Iohn Travers who was then one of the Sheriffs of London in the same year 1224 in which House they made themselves Cells and inhabited there for a certain time till their number so encreased and the Citizens devotion grew to be so great that within few years after they were thence removed by the means of one Iohn Ewin Mercet who purchased a void plot of ground near to St. Nicholas Shambles where to erect an House for the said Fryers Divers Citizens seemed herein to joyn with the said Iohn Ewin and erected there very beautiful Buildings upon the same ground so formerly purchased by John Ewin and a great part builded at his own Charge which he appropriated to the Communalty of London and then entred into the same Order of Friers as a Lay-Brother himself This whole Church contained in length
three hundred foot of the feet of St. Paul in breadth eighty nine foot and in heighth from the ground to the roof sixty four foot and two inches c. It was consecrated 1325 and at the Generall suppression was valued at thirty two pound nineteen shillings and surrendred the twelfth of November 1538 the thirty of Henry the eighth the Ornaments and goods being taken to the Kings use the Church was shut up for a time and used as a Store-house of goods taken prizes from the French but in the year 1546 on the third of January it was again set open on the which day preached at Pauls Crosse the Bishop of Rochester where he declared the Kings gift thereof to the City for the relieving of the poor which gift was inroll'd by Patents St. Bartholmews Spittle in Smithfield lately valued at three hundred five pounds six shillings seven pence and surrendred to the King was of the said Church of the Gray Fryars and of two Parish Churches the one of St. Nicholas in the Shambles and the other of St. Ewins in Newgate-Market they were to be made one Parish Church in the said Fryers Church In Lands he gave for maintenance of the said Church with Divine Service reparations c. five hundred Marks by year for ever The thirteenth of January the thirty eighth of Henry the eighth an agreement was made betwixt the King and the Mayor and Communalty of London dated the twenty seven of December by which the said gift of the Gray Fryers Church with all the Edifices and ground the Fratrie the Library the Portar and Chapter House the great Cloistry and the lesser Tenements Gardens and vacant grounds Lead Stone Iron c. The Hospitall of St. Bartholmew in West Smithfield the Church of the same the Lead Bells and Ornaments of the same Hospitall with all the Messuages Tenements and appurtenances The Parishes of Saint Nicholas and of Saint Ewin and so much of Saint Sepulchres Parish as is within Newgate were made one Parish Church in the Grey Fryers Church and called Christs Church founded by King Henry the eighth In the year 1552 began the repairing of the Gray Fryars House for the poor fatherlesse Children and in the Month of November the children were taken into the same to the number of almost four hundred On Christmas day in the afternoon while the Lord Mayor and Aldermen rod to Pauls the Children of Christs Hospital stood from Saint Lawrence Lane end in Cheap towards Pauls all in one Livery of Russet Cotton three hundred and forty in Number and in the Easter next they were in Blue at the Spittle and so have continued ever since For these sorts of poor three several Houses were provided First for the innocent and fatherlesse which is the Beggars Child they provided the House that was the late Gray Fryers in London and called it by the name of Christs Hospitall where poor Children are trained up in the Knowledge of God and some vertuous exercises to the overthrow of beggary For the second degree was provided the Hospitals of Saint Thomas in Southwark and Saint Bartholmew in West Smithfield where are continually at least two hundred diseased persons which are not only there lodged and cured but also fed and nourished For the third degree they provided Bridewell where the Vagabond and idle Strumpet is chastised and compelled to labour to the overthrow of the vicious life of idlenesse They provided also for the honest decayed housholder that he should be relieved at home at his House and in the Parish where he dwelled by weekly relief and Pension And in like manner they provided for the Lazer to keep him out of the City from clapping of dishes and ringing of Bells to the great trouble of the Citizens also to the dangerous infection of many that they should be relieved at home at their Houses by several Pensions St. Bartholmewes Hospital is incorporated by the name of Mayor Communalty and Citizens of the City of London Governours of the Hospital for the poor called little St. Bartholmews near to West Smithfield of the Foundation of King Henry the eighth Christs Hospitall Bridewell and Saint Thomas the Apostle in Southwarke are incorporated by the names of the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London Governours of the Possessions Revenues aâ—d Goods of the Hospitals of Edward King of England the sixth of Christ Bridewell and Saint Thomas the Apostle c. This Church was full of many great Monuments as of the Lady Margaret Daughter to Philip of France and Wife to Edward the first Of Queen Isabel Wife to Edward the second Of Joane Queen of the Scots Wife to David Bruce Of Isabel Daughter to Edward the third Of Eleanor Dutchesse of Britain Of the Lady Beatrix Dutchesse of Britain Daughter to Henry the third Of Roger Mortimer Earl of March Of John Hastings Earl of Pembrook Of John Duke of Bourton who had been taken Prisoner at Agencourt with divers other great Personages There is lately erected there in the South end of the Chancel and extraordinary hansome Monument to the Lady Venetia Stanley Wife to the noble Knight Sir Kenelme Digby Now for the South side of this Ward beginning again at the Crosse in Cheap from thence to Fryday-street and down that street on the West side till over against the North-west corner of Saint Matthewes Church And on the West side to the South corner of the said Church is wholly in the Ward of Faringdon From this Fryday-street West to the old Exchange a street so called of Kings Exchange there kept which was for the receipt of Bullion to be coyned For Henry the third in the sixth year of his Reign wrote to the Scahines and men of Ipreâ— that he and his Councel had given prohibition that no Englishmen or other should make change of Plate or other Masse of Silver but only in his Exchange at London or at Canterbury Andrew Bukerel then had to â—arm the Exchange of England was Maior of London in the Reign of Henry the third Iohn Somercote had the keeping of the Kings Exchange overall England In the eighth of Edward the first Gregory Rockâ—ley was Keeper of the said Exchange for the Kingâ— in the fiâ—th of Edward the second William Hausted was Keeper thereof And in the eighteenth Roger de Frowick c. These received the old stamps or Coyning-Irons from time to time as the same were worn and delivered new to all the Mints in England This street beginneth by VVest-Cheap in the North and runneth down South to Knight-rider-street that part thereof which is called Old Fish-street But the very Housing and Office of the Exchange and Coynage was about the midst thereof South from the East Gate that entreth Pauls Church-yard and on the West side in Baynards-Castle Ward On the East side of this Lane betwixt West-Cheap and the Church of St. Augustine Henry VValleis Mayor by Licence of Edward the first builded one row of Houses
these new buildings is Cow-bridge street or Cow-lane which turneth toward Holdbourn in vvhich Lane the Prior of Semperingham had his Inne or London Lodging The rest of that West side of Smithfield hath divers fair Inns and other comely Buildings up to Hosier-lane which also turneth down to Houldbourn till it meet with Cowbridge-street from this Lane to Cock-lane over against Pie-Corner In the year 1362 the thirty sixth of Edward the third on the first five dayes of May in Smithfield were Justs holden the King and Queen being present with the most part of the Chivalry of England and of France and of other Nation to the which came Spaniards Cyprians and Armenians Knightly requesting aid of the King of England against the Pagans that invaded their Confines The 48. of Edward the third Dame Alice Perrers or Pierce the Kings Concubine as Lady of the Sun rode from the Tower of London through Cheape accompanied by many Lords and Ladies every Lady leading a Lord by his Horse Bridle till they came into West Smithfield and then began a great Just vvhich endured seven dayes after In the year 1393. the 17th of Richard the second certain Lords of Scotland came into England to get vvorship by force of Arms the Earl of Marre chalenged the Earl of Nottingham to Just vvith him and so they rode together certain Courses but not the full Challenge for the Earl of Marre was cast both Horse and Man and two of his Ribs broken vvith the fall so that he vvas conveighed out of Smithfield and so towards Scotland but dyed by the vvay at York Sir VVilliam Darel Knight the Kings Banner-bearer of Scotland challenged Sir Percey Courtney Knight the Kings Banner-bearer of England and vvhen they had run certain Courses gave over vvithout conclusion of Victory Then Cookborne Esquire of Scotland challenged Sir Nicholas Hawberke Knight and rode five Courses but Cookborne vvas born over Horse and Man Now to return through Gilt-spur-street by Newgate vvhere I first began there standeth the fair Parish Church called St. Sepulchers in the Bayly or by Chamberlain Gate in a fair Church-yard though not so large as of old time for the same is letten out for buildings and a Garden plot This Church vvas newly re-edified or builded about the Reign of Henry the sixth or of Edward the fourth one of the Popham's vvas a great builder there and 't is lately also vvashed over and furbish'd Next to this Church is a fair and large Inne for the receipt of Travellers and hath to signe the Sarasens Head vvhere Oxford men resort There lyeth a street from Newgate West to the end of Turn again-lane and winding North to Oldbourne Conduit but of late a new Conduit vvas there builded in place of the old namely in the year 1577. by VVilliam Lambe sometime a Gentleman of the Chappel to King Henry the eighth and afterward a Citizen and Clothworker of London From the West side of this Conduit is the high way there called Snow-hill stretching out by Oldbourne-bridge over the oft-named Water of Turn-mill-Brook and so up to Old-bourn-hill all replenished with fair Buildings Without Ould-bourn-bridge on the right hand is Gold-lane as is before shewed up higher on the Hill be certain Inns and other fair Buildings amongst the which of old time was a Messuage called Scroops Inne for so we finde the same recorded in the 37. of Henry the sixth This House was sometime letten out to Sergeants at the Law as appeareth and was found by Inquisition taken in the Guild-hall of London before William Purchase Mayor and Escheater for King Henry the 7th in the 14th of his Reign Then is the Bishop of Elies Inne so called of belonging and pertaining to the Bishops of Ely Will de Luda Bishop of Ely deceased 1297 and gave this House by the name of his Mannor with the Appurrenances in Holdbourne to his Successors with condition that his next Successor should pay a thousand Marks towards the finding of three Chaglains in the Chappel there The first in the year 1464. the fourth of Edward the fourth in Michaelmas Terme the Sergeants at Law held their Feast in this House to the which amongst other Estates Matthew Philip Mayor of London with the Aldermen Sheriffs and Commons of divers Crafts being invited did repair but when the Mayor looked to keep the state in the Hall as it had bin used in all places within the City and Liberties out of the Kings presence the Lord Gray of Ruthen then Lord Treasurer of England unwitting the Sergeants and against their wills as they said was first placed whereupon the Mayor Aldermen and Commons departed home and the Mayor made the Aldermen to dine with him howbeit he and all the Citizens were wonderfully displeased that he was so dealt with and the new Sergeants and others were right oâ—ry therefore and had rather then much good as they said it had not so happened Next beyond this Mannor of Ely-house is Lither-lane turning into the Fields Then is Furnivals Inne now an Inne of Chancery but sometime belonging to Sir William Furnival Knight and Thomasin his Wife who had in Holdbourne two Messuages and thirteen Shops as appeareth by Record of Richard the second in the sixth of his Reign Now again from Newgate on the left hand or South side lyeth the Old Baylay which runneth down by the Wall upon the Ditch of the City called Houndsditch to Ludgate we have not read how this street took that name but it is like to have risen of some Court of old time there kept and we finde that in the year 1356. the thirty four of Edward the third the Tenement and ground upon Houndsditch between Ludgate on the South and Newgate on the North was appointed to Iohn Cambridge Fishmonger Chamberlain of London whereby it seemeth that the Chamberlains of London have there kept their Courts as now they do in the Guild-hall and till this day the Mayor and Justices of this City keep their Sessions in a part thereof now called the Sessions Hall both for the City of London and Shire of Middlesex over againâ— the which House on the right hand turneth down St. Georges Lane towards Fleet Lane In this St. Georges Lane on the North side thereof remaineth yet an old wall of stone inclosing a peece of ground up Sea-cole-Lane wherein by report sometime stood an Inne of Chancery which House being greatly decayed and standing remote from other Houses of that Profession the Company removed to a Common Hostery called of the signe out Lady Inne not far from Clements Inne which they procured from Sir Iohn Fineox Lord chief Justice of the Kings Bench and since have held it of the owners by the name of the New Inne paying therefore six pounds Rent by the year as Tenants at their own will for more as is said cannot be gotten of them and much lesse will they be put from it Beneath this Saint Georges Lane is the Lane called Fleet-lane winding
to the Court at White-hall and there at that time the King gave unto him for the Communalty and Citizens to be a Work-house for the poor and idle persons of the City his house of Bridewell and seven hundred Marks Land late of the possessions of the house of Savoy and all the Bedding and other Furniture of the said Hospital of the Savoy towards the maintenance of the said Work-house of Bridewel and the Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark This gift King Edward confirmed by his Charter dated the 26. of Iune next following And in the year 1555. in the moneth of February Sir William Gerrard Mayor and the Aldermen entred Bridewel and took possession thereof according to the gift of the said King Edward the same being confirmed by Queen Mary The Bishop of St. Davids had his Inne over against the North side of this Bridewell as I have said Then is the Parish Church of St. Bridget or Bride of old time a small thing which now remaineth to be the Quire but since increased with a large Body and side Iles towards the West at the charges of William Vinor Eâ—quire Warden of the Fleet about the year 1480. all which he cauâ—ed to be wrought about in the stone in the figure of a Vine with Grapes and Leaves c. The partition betwixt the old work and the new sometime prepared as a Screne to be set up in the Hall of the Duke of Summersets House at the Strand was bought for eightscore pounds and set up in the year one thousand five hundred fifty seven The next is Salisbury Court a place so called for that it belonged to the Bishops of Salisbury and was their Inne or London House at such time as they were summoned to come to the Parliamâ—nt or came for other business It hath of late time bin the dwelling first of Sir Richard Sackvile and after of Sir Thomas Sackvile his Sonne Baron of Buckhurst Lord Treasurer who very greatly inlarged it with stately Buildings Then is Water-lane running down by the West side of a House called the Hanging Sword to the Thames Then was the White Fryers Church called Fratres beatae Mariae de monte Carmeli first founded saith Iohn Bale by Sir Richard Gray Knight Ancestor to the Lord Gray of Codner in the year 1241. King Edward the first gave to the Prior and Brethren of that house a plot of ground in Fleet-street whereupon to build their House which was since reedified or new builded by Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire about the year one thousand three hundred and fifty the four and twentieth of Edward the third Iohn Lufken Mayor of London and the Commonalty of the City granted a Lane called Crockers-lane reaching from Fleetstreet to the Thames to build in the West end of that Church Then is the Sergeants Inne so called for that divers Iudges and Sergeants at the Law keep a Commons and are lodged there in Terme time Next is the New Temple so called because the Templers before the building of this House had their Temple in Oldbourn This house was founded by the Knights Templers in England in the Reign of Henry the second and the same was dedicated to God and our Blessed Lady by Heraclius Patriark of the Church called the Holy Resurrection in Jerusalem in the year of Christ 1185. Many Parliaments and great Councels have been there kept as may appear by our Histories In the year 1308. all the Templers in England as also in other parts of Christendom were apprehended and committed to divers Prisons Anno 1310. a Provincial Councel was holden at London against the Templets in England upon Heresie and other Articles whereof they were accused but denyed all except one or two of them notwithstanding they all did confesse that they could not purge themselves fully as faultless and so they were condemned to perpetual penance in several Monasteries where they behaved themselves modestly Philip King of France procured their over-throw throughout the whole World and caused them to be condemned by a general Councel to his advantage as he thought for he believed to have had all their Lands in France and therefore seizing the same in his hands caused the Templers to the number of 54. or after Fabian threescore to be burnt at Paris Edward the second in the year 1313. gave unto Aimer de la Valence Earl of Pembrook the whole place house called the new Temple at London with the ground called Fiquetes Croft and all the Tenements and Rents with the appurtenances that belonged to the Templers in the City of London and Suburbs thâ—reof After Aimer de Valence saith some Hugh Spencer usurping the same held it during his life by whose death it fell again to the hands of Edward the third but in the mean time to wit 1324. by a Councel holden at Vienna all the Lands of the Templers lest the same should be put to prophane uses were given to the Knights Hospitalers of the Order of St. Iohn Baptist called Saint Iohn of Ierusalem which Knights had put the Turks out of the I le of Rhodes and after wan upon the said Turk daily for a long time In the Reign of the same Edward the third was granted for a certain Rent of ten pounds by the year the said Temple with the Appurtenances thereunto adjoyning to the Students of the Common Lawes of England in whose possession the same hath ever sithence remained and is now divided into two Houses of several Students by the name of Inns of Court to wit the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple who keep two several Halls but they resort all to the said Temple-Church in the round walk whereof which is the West part without the Quire there remain Monuments of Noblemen buried to the number of eleven eight of them are Images of Armed Knights five lying Crosse-legged as men vowed to the Holy Land against the Infidels and unbelieving Jews the other three straight-legged The rest are coaped stones all of Gray Marble the first of the Crosse-legged was William Marshal the elder Earl of Pembrooke who died 1219. William Marshall his Sonne Earl of Pembrooke was the second he dyed 1231. And Gilbert Marshall his Brother Earl of Pembrooke slain in a Turnament at Hartford besides Ware in the year 1241. Of the Twenty sixth or the last Ward of the City of LONDON called the Bridge-Ward without containing the Bourough of Southwark WE have now almost finished the Perambulation for having treated of Wards in London on the North side of the Thames in number five and twenty we are now to crosse over the said River into the Burough of Southwark which is also a Ward of London without the Walls on the South side thereof as is Portsoken on the East and Faringdon Extra on the West But before we come to the particular Description of this Ward it will not be impertinent to declare when and by what meanes the Burough of Southwark now called Bridge-Ward without
was made one of the six and twenty Wards belonging to the City of London which was in this manner After the dissolution of the Monasteries Abbeys Priories and other Religious Houses in this Realm of England The Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of this City of London taking into their Considerations how commodious and convenient it would be unto the City to have the Burough of Southwark annexed thereunto and that the same Burough was in the Kings hands wholly they became humble suiters unto King Henry the eighth and unto the Lords of his Highness Privy Councel for the obtaining of the same Which suit not being granted unto them after the Decease of King Henry the eighth they renewed their Suit unto his Sonne and next Successour King Edward the sixth and to the Lords of his Privie Councel for the obtaining of the same Borough At the length after long suit and much labour it pleased King Edward the fixth by his Letters Parents sealed with the great Seal of England bearing date at VVestminster the three and twentieth day of April in the fourth year of his Reign as well in consideration of the sum of six hundred forty seven pounds two shillings and a penny of lawful money of England paid to his Highnesses use by the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London as for divers other considerations him thereunto moving To give and grant unto the said Mayor and Communalty and Citizens of London divers Messuages Lands and Tenements lying near the Borough of Southwark in the said Letters Parents particularly expressed which were sometimes the Lands of Charles late Duke of Suffolk and of whom King Henry the eighth did buy and purchase the same But there was excepted out of the said grant and reserved unto the said King Edward the sixth his Heirs and Successors and all that his Capitall Messuage or Mansion Hoâ—se called Southwark place late of the said Duke of Suffolke and all Gardens and Land to the same adjoyning and all that his Park in Southwarke and all that his Messuage and all Edifices and ground called the Antelope there And the said King Edward the 6th did by his said Letters Patents give grant to the said Mayor Communalty and Citizens and their Successors all that his Lordship and Mannor of Southwarke with all and singular the Rights Members and Appurtenances thereof in the said County of Surrey then late belonging to the late Monastery of Bermondsey in the same County And also all that his Mannor and Borough of Southwarke with all and singular the Rights Members and Appurtenances thereof in the said County of Surrey then late parcel of the Possessions of the Arch-Bishop and Bishoprick of Canterbury together with divers yearly Rents issuing out of the divers Messuages or Tenements in the said Letters Patents particularly expressed But there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant to the said King Edward the sixth his Heirs and Successors all his Rights Jurisdictions Liberties and Franchises whatsoever within the Walk Circuit and Precinct of his Capital Messuage Gardens and Park in Southwarke and in all Gardens Curtilages and Lands to the said Mansion House Gardens and Park belonging Also there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant the House Messuage or lodging there called the Kings-Bench and the Gardens to the same belonging so long as it should be used as a Prison for prisoners as it was then used Also there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant the House Messuage or Lodging there called the Marshalsey and the Gardens to the same belonging so long as it should be used as a Prison for prisoners as it was then used Also it was provided that the said Letters Patents should not be prejudicial to the Offices of the great Master or Steward of the Kings Houshold within the Borough and Precincts aforesaid to be executed while the same Borough and Precincts should be within the Verge Nor to Iohn Gates Knight one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Privy Chamber concerning any Lands Tenements Offices Profits Franchises or Liberties to him granted during his life by the said King Edward the sixth or by his Father King Henry the eighth About the space of a Month after the said Borough of Southwark was so granted by King Edward the sixth to the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London and that they by force of the said Letters Patents stood charged with the Ordering Survey and Government of the same Borough and of all the Kings Subjects inhabiting therein and repairing thither At a Court holden before Sir Rowland Hill Knight then Lord Mayor of London and the Aldermen of the same City in the Guild-Hall of London on Tuesday the eight and twentieth of May in the said fourth year of the Reign of King Edward the sixth the said Town or Borough was named and called the Ward or Bridge VVard without Not long after it was enacted that besides the then ancient accustomed number of five and twenty Aldermen there should be one Alderman more elected to have the Rule Charge and Governance of the said Borough and Town And that four discreet persons or more being Freemen of London and dwelling within the said City or the Borough of Southwarke or in other the Liberties of the said City should from thenceforth as often as the Case shall require be from time to time nominated appointed and chosen by the Inhabitants of the said Borough for the time being before the Lord Mayor of London for the time being And that the said Lord Mayor for the time being should at the next Court of Aldermen to be holden at the Guild-Hall of the said City next after such election present the Names and Sirnames of all such persons as to should be named before him and put in the said Election And that the said Lord Mayor and Aldermen for the time being should of those four persons or mo so presented Elect and Chuse one by way of Scrutinie to be an Alderman of the said City and to have the peculiar Ordering Rule and Governance of the said Borough and Town of Southwarke and of the Inhabitants thereof and of all other the Kings liege people repairing to the same This Borough being in the County of Surrey consisteth of divers streets waies and winding Lanes all full of Buildings inhabited And first to begin at the West part thereof over against the West Suburbe of the City on the Bank of the River Thames there is now a continual building of Tenements about half a mile in length to the Bridge Then South a continual street called Long Southwark builded on both sides with divers Lanes and Alleys up to St. Georges Church and beyond it through Blackman street towards New Town or Newington the Liberties of which Borough extend almost to the Parish Church of New Town aforesaid distant one mile from London Bridge and also South-west a continual building almost to Lambeth more than one mile from the said Bridge Then from
Redcrosse-street and Beech-lane with Golding-lane full of small Tenements Then is there Barbican anciently called Houndsditch all these populous places are within the Precincts of St. Giles Parish Aldersgate Suburb is next where the Parish of St. Buttolph stands and little Britain street on the one side then it stretcheth all along North with very handsome Edifices and a large street as far as Barbican on the one side and Long-lane on the other This street resembleth an Italian street more then any other in London by reason of the spaciousness uniformity of Buildings and streightness thereof with the convenient distance of the Houses on both sides whereof there are divers very fair ones as Peter-House the Palace now and Mansion of the most Noble Marquis of Dorchester Then is there the Earl of Tenets House with the Moon and Sun-Tavern very fair structures Then is there from about the middle of Aldersgate-street a handsome new street butted out and fairly built by the Company of Goldsmiths which reacheth athwart as far as Redcrosse-street At the furthest point of this Suburb Northward there was a Winde-Mill in times past which being blown down by a Tempest Queen Katherine of Aragon first Wife to Henry the 8th erected there a Chappel and named it Mount Calvary which was afterwards suppressed and the place came to be called Mount-mill whereof the Long-Parliament made much use for their fortifications We are going now to Newgate where towards Smithfield I meet with Gilt-spur and Knight-riders-street Then is Smithfield it self which hath bin spoken of before in Faringdon Ward Without Smithfield Barres there is St. Johns street on the right hand whereof stood the Charter-house founded by Sir Walter Manuy Knight of the Garter to Edward the third Hard by is Pardon Church-yard whereas the Annales record above fifty thousand souls were buried in one year who had dyed of a raging great sweeping Pestilence in the Reign of the foresaid Edward the third The Chievalrou and most devoâ—t Knight first buiâ—t a Chappel there then a Monastery of Carthusian Fryers which are the â—evereâ—â— one most rigid of all claustral Societies this Monastâ—ery was called at first the Salutation In this Charter-House was the Monument of the said Sir Walter Mâ—nny and above twenty Knights more besides Ladies and other perâ—ons of high Rank and at the suppression of Abbeys this Monastery had 642 l. yearly Rent a mighty sum in those dayes This demolish'd Charter-House came a while after to the possession of Thomas Earl of Suffolk Lord Treasurer of England in King James his Raign and the place being sweetly scituated with accommodations of spacious Walks Orchards and Gardens with sundry dependencies of Tenements and Lands thereunto belonging gave occasion to that worthy and well disposed Gentleman Mr. Thomas Sutton of Castâ—e Camps in the County of Cambridge Esquire but born at Knayth in Lincolnshire to alter his Resolution of erecting an Hospital at Hallingbury in Essex where he had first pitched his design and to purchase this place of the Earl for 13000 l. first peny payd before the sâ—aling of the Conveyance which charitable great and noble enterprize was countenanced by King James and his privy Councel So having in few years raised up that goodly Fabrique though it pleased God to take him to himself before it was quite finish'd and endowed it with competent allowance by passing away many goodly Mannors he had in Lincoln Wiltshire Middlesex Cambridge and Essex with other goodly possessions the work was compleated and nominated the Hospital of King James which Hospital consisted of a Master a Governor a Preacher a Free School with a Master and Usher 80. poor people and 40. Schollers maintained all by the Revenues of the House Anno 1614. on Munday next after Michaelmas day the Captains Gentlemen and Officers entred into this new Hospital Now there were by Letters Pattents under the great Seal of England divers Governors appointed of this Hospital whereof the Arch Bishop of Canterbury was chief The Lord Chancelor and Treasurer The Bishops of London and Ely the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas the Attorney General the Dean of Pauls the Dean of Westminster and divers others But the late long Parliament inverting the order and will of the founder did nominate others in their rooms A little without the Barres of West Smithfield is Charter-house Lane but in the large yard before there are many handsome Palaces as Rutland House and one where the Venetian Embassadors were used to lodge which yard hath lately bin conveniently raised and made more neat and comely Then is there St. Johns street with Turnmill-street which stretcheth up West to Clarken-well and it is vulgarly called Turnball-street There is another Lane called St. Peters Lane which turns from St. Johns street to Cow-Crosse The dissolved Priory of St. John of Jerusalem stood on the left hand founded almost 600. years since by Jorden Briset a pious brave man who had founded alâ—o a Priory of Nuns at Clarken-Well The Rebels and Rabble of Kent did much mischief to this House 1381. setting it on fire and letting it burn seven dayes At the suppression of Abbeys this House among the rest felt the fury of fare yet it was not quite demolished but employed as a Store-house for the Kings toyles and tents as well for hunting as for the Warres But in Edward the sixth's time that goodly Church for the most part I mean the body and side Iles with the great Bell-Tower a most curious peece of fabrick being engraven gilt and enamel'd to the great Ornament of City and Suburb was barbarously undermined and blown up with Gunpowder the stones whereof were carried to finish the then Protectors House in the Strand viz. the Duke of Somerset but strange Judgements fell afterwards upon him as is before mentioned Cardinal Pool in Queen Maries Raign closed up again part of the Quire and side Walls on the West side and made Sir Thomas Tresham Prior thereof but thinking to bring the place to its first principles it was suppressed again by Queen Elizabeth A great number of Knights of that Order had Monuments in that Church North from the said House of St. John's was the Priory of Clarken-Well which also was very ancient being built Anno 1100. We must now go back to Giltspur-street where this Suburb first begins where hard by standeth a comely fair Church called St. Sepulcher in the Baylie Hard by is Turnagain-lane Hosier-lane and Cow-lane then you come down Soreâ—hill now vulgarly called Snow-hill to Oldborne now called Holborn-Bridge then you go up by Chick-lane and Lither-lane but before you come thither you passe by the Bishop of Elies great Palace and Hatton-House and Brook-House beyond the Barres there is Postpool-lane and Grayes Inne Lane Southward of this Lane there is a row of small Houses which is a mighty hindrance to Holborn in point of prospect which if they were taken down there would be from Holborn Conduit to St. Giles in
the Minister 100l per annum On the left hand of Charing-Crosse there are divers fair Houses built of late yeaâ—s specially the most stately Palace of Suffolk or Northampton House built by Henry of Northampton Son to the Duke of Norfolk and Lord Priâ—ie Seal to King Iames. Then is there a large plot of ground enclosed with Brick called Scotland yard where the Kings of Scotland were used to be lodg'd and Margaret Queen Dowager of Scotland eldest sister to Henry the 8th kept her Court there aâ—â—er the King her Husband had been kill'd in Flodden field And now we are come to White-Hall belonging of old to Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent and Iusticier of England who gave it to the Black-Fryers in Holborne but being fallen to Henry the 8. ordained it to be called an Honor and built there a huge long Gallery with two Gate-houses thwart the street to St. Iames Park From these Gates we passe in a direct Line to Kings street on one side whereof passing through St. Stephen Alley is Canon Row but now though very corruptly calld Channel Row to called because it belonged to the Dean and Canons of Saint Stephens Chappel who were lodg'd there but now they are all turn'd to be temporal habitations Then we come to Woolstaple now the common Market place of Westminster In the Reign of Edward the first we read that the Staple being at Westminster the Pâ—rishioners of Saint Margarets and Merchants of the Staple buiâ—ded the said Church of new Henry the sixth had six Wool-houses within the Staple at Westminster which he granted to the Dean and Canons of Saint Stephens Becâ—use we are not yet ready to speak of the Abbey we will passe by it to the Gatehouse of Westminster and so to Totehill and Petty France The Gate-house is called so of two Gates the one out of the Colledge Court towards the North on the Eastside whereof was the Bishop of Londons Prison for Clerks convict the other Gate-house is a Goal or Prison for Felons one Walter Warfield Cellerer to the Monastery of VVestminster was founder of both these Gates in Edward the third's Reign On the South side of these Gates Henry the the seventh founded an Alms-House for 13 poor men one of them to be a Priest and above 45 years old the rest to be aged 50 years without Wives Near to this place was of old the Chappel of St. Anne where the Lady Margaret Henry the sevenths Mother erected an Alms-House for poor women and it was called Eleemosynary and now Almory or Ambry because the Alms of the Abbey were there distributed to the poor And there Islp Abbot of VVestminster set up the first Press of Book-printing that ever was in England Anno 1471. And one Caxton Citizen of London was the first who brought over that Art Then is there Totehill street where there are of late years sundry fair Houses on the back of St. Iames Park The Lady Anne Dacre built there an Hosptall for twenty poor Women and so many Children to be brought up under them Then is there Petty France where upon a place called St. Hermits Hill Cornelius Van Dun a Brabanter born and Yeoman of the Guard to Henry the 8th Edward the sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth built twenty Houses for poor Women to dwell Rent-free And near hereunto there was of old a Chappel of St. Mary Magdalen which is now quite ruinated There is of late years a new large Chappel of Brick erected there at the entrance to Totehil fields Where Mr. Palmer a well diâ—posed and reverend Divine hath also erected lately another new Hospital with a competent allowance to the poor that shall be admitted thereinto And now we will return to the Abbey of VVestminster a place which was us'd to be of very high devotion It gives the denomination to the whole City and certainly that place cannot choose but be happy which hath Gods House for its Godfather as Munster a great and renowned City in Germany takes her name from the chief Church Of Westminster Abbey THis Church is famous especially by reason of the inauguration and sepulture of the Kings of England Sulcard writeth that there stood sometimes a Temple of Apollo in that place and that in the daies of Antoninus Pius Emperor of Rome it fell down with an Earthquake out of the remains whereof Sebert King of the East-Saxons erected another to St. Peter which being by the Danes overthrown Bishop Dunstane re-edified and granted it to some few Monks But afterwards King Edward surnamed the Confessour with the tenth penny of all his Revenues built it a new for to be his own Sepulture and a Monastery for Benedictine Monks endowing it with Livings and Lands lying dispersed in divers parts of England But listen what an Historian saith who then lived The devout King destined unto God that place both for that it was near unto the famous and wealthy City of London and also had a pleasant scituation amongst fruitful fields and green grounds lying round about it with the principal River running hard by bringing in from all parts of the World great variety of Wares and Merchandize of all sorts to the City adjoyning But chiefly for the love of the Chief Apostle whom he reverenced with a special and singular affection He made choice to have a place there for his own Sepulchre and thereupon commanded that of the Tenths of all his Rents the work of a noble Edifice should be taken in hand such as might beseem the Prince of the Apostles To the end as the Annales have it that he might procure the propitious favour of the Lord after he should finish the course of this transitory life both in regard of his devout Piety and also of his free Oblation of Lands and Ornaments wherewith he purposed to endow and enrich the same According therefore to the Kings commandement the work was nobly began and happily proceeded forward neither the charges already disbursed or to be disbursed were weighed and regarded so that it might be presented in the end unto God and Saint Peter and made worth their acceptation Thus the words of the old Record run Touching the Form of that ancient building we read in an old Manuscript Book that the principal plot or ground-work of the building was supported with most lofty Arches cast round with a four square work and semblable joynts But the compasse of the whole with a doâ—bâ—e Arch of Stone on both sides is enclosed with joyned-work firmly knit and united together every way Moreouer the Crosse of the Church which was to compasse the mid Quire of those that chaunted unto the Lord and with a twofold supportance that it had on either side to uphold and bear the lofty top of the Tower in the midst simply riseth at first with a low and strong Arch then mounteth it higher with many winding stairs artificially ascending with a number of steps But afterward with a single Wall it reacheth up
to the roof of Timber well and surely covered with Lead But after an hundred and threescore years King Henry the third subverted this Fabrick of King Edwards and built from the very foundation a new Church of very rare Workmanship supported with sundry rowes of Marble Pillars and the roofe covered over with sheets of Lead a piece of work that cost fifty years labour in building which Church the Abbots enlarged very much toward the West end and King Henry the seventh for the burial of himself and his Children adjoyned thereto in the East end a Chappel of admirable artificial elegancy The Wonder of the Worlde as Leland calleth it for a man would say that all the curious and exquisite work that can be devised is there compacted wherein is to be seen his own most stately magnificial Monument all of solid and massâ—e Copper This Church when the Monks were driven thence from time to time was altered to and fro with sundry changes First of all it had a Dean and Prebâ—ndaries soon after one Bishop and no more namely T. Thurlbey who having wasted the Church Patrimony surrendred it to the spoil of Courtiers and shortly after were the Monks with their Abbot â—et in possession again by Queen Mary and when they also within a while after were by authority of Parliament cast out Queen Elizabeth converted it into a Collegiate Church or rather into a Seminary and Nurse-Garden of the Church appointing twelve Prebendaries there and as many old Souldiers past service for Alms-men fourty Schollars who in their due time are preferred to the Universities and from thence sent forth into the Church and Common-weale c. Over these they placed D. Bâ—ll Dean whose Successor was Gabriel Goodman a right good man indeed and of singular integrity and an especial Patron of Literature Within this Church are intombed that I may note them according to their dignity and time wherein they died Sebert the first of that name and first Christian King of the East-Saxons Harold the bastard Son of Canutus the Dane King of England Edward King and Confessour with his Wife Edâ—th Maud Wife to King Henry the first the Daughter of Malcolme King of Scots King Henry the third and his Son King Edward the first with Eleanor his Wife Daughter to Ferdinando the first King of Castile and of Leon King Edward the third and Philippa of Henault his Wife King Richard the second and his Wife Anne Sister to VVencelaus the Emperour King Henry the fifth with Katherine his Wife Daughter to Charles the sixth King of France Anne Wife to King Richard the third Daughter to Richard Nevil Earl of VVarwick King Henry the seaventh with his Wife Elizabeth Daughter to Kiâ—g Edward the fourth and his Mother Margaret Countesse of Richmond King Edward the sixth Anne of Cleave the fourth Wife of King Henry the eighth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Prince Henry eldest Son of King Iames the sixth of Scotland and first of England who lies there also interred with Queen Anne his Wife and lastly the first male born of Charles the first dying an Infant Of Dukes and Earls Degree there lie here buried Edmund Earl of Lancaster second Son of King Henry the third and his Wife Aveline de Fortibus Countesse of Albemarle William and Audomar of Valence of the Family of Lusignian Earls of Pembrooke Alphonsus Iohn and other Children of King Edward the first Iohn of Eltham Earl of Cornwall Son to King Edward the second Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester the youngest Son of King Edward the third with other of his Children Eleanor Daughter and Heir of Humphrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and of Essex Wife to Thomas of VVoodstock the young Daughter of Edward the fourth and King Henry the seventh Henry a Child two Months old Son oâ— King Henry the eighth Sophia the Daughter of King Iames who died as it were in the very first day-dawning of her age Phillâ—ppa Mohun Dutches of Yorke Robert of Hexault in right of his Wife Lord Bourchier Anne the young Daughter and Heir of Iohn Mowbray Duke of Norfolk promised in marriage unto Richard Duke of York younger Son to K. Edward the 4th Sir Giles Daubeny Lord Chamberlain to King Henry the 7th and his Wife of the house of the Arundels in Cornwal I. Viscount VVells Farnces Brandon Dutchess of Suffolk Marry her Daughter Margaret Douglasse Countesse of Lennox Grandmother to Iames King of great Britain with Charles her Sonne VVinifred Bruges Marchionesse of Vâ—inchestèr Anne Stanhope Dutchess of Sommerset and Iane her Daughter Anne Cecill Countesse of Oxford Daughter to the Lord Burleigh Lord High Treasure of England with Mildred Burghley her Mother Elizabeth Berkeley Countesse of Ormond â—Frances Sidney Countess of Sussex Iames Butler Vicount Thurles Son and Heir to the Earl of Ormond Besides these Humphrey Lord Bourchier of Cromwall Sir Humphrey Bourchier Son and Heir to the Lord Bourchier of Beruers both slain at Bernet field Sir Nicholas Carew Baronesse Powisse T. Lord Wentworth Thomas Lord Wharton John Lord Russel Sir T. Bromley Lord Chancellour of England Douglas Howard Daughter and Heir general of H. Vicount Howard of Bindon Wife to Sir Arthur Gorges Elizabeth Daughter and Heir of Edward Earl of Rutland Wife to William Cecill Sir John Puckering Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England Francis Howard Countesse of Hertford Henry and George Cary the Father and Son Barons of Hundsdon both Lords Chamberlains to Queen Elizabeth the Heart of Anne Sophia the tender Daughter of Christopher Harley Count Beaumont Embassador for the King of France in England bestowed within a small gilt Urne over a Pyramid Sir Charles Blunt Earl of Devonshire Lord Livetenant General of Ireland And whom in no wise we must forget the Prince of English Poets Geoffrey Chaucer as also he that for pregnant wit and an excellent gift in Poetry of all English Poets came nearest unto him Edmund Spencer William Cambden Clarencieux King of Arms Causabon the greaâ— French Writer Michael Drayton Then there is George Villers Duke Marquiss and Earl of Buckingham favorite to King James and Charles the first The late Earl of Essex with divers other during the Reign of the long Parliament There was also another Colledge or Free-Chappel hard by consisting of a Dean and twelve Chanons Dedicated to St. Stephen which King Edward the third in his princely Magnificence repaired with curious Workmanship and endowed with fair possessions so as he may seem to have built it new the time as he had with his Victories over-run and subdued all France recalling to mind as we read the Charter of the Foundation and pondering in a due weighty devout consideration the exceeding benefits of Christ whereby of his own sweet mercy and pitty he preventeth us in all occasions delivering us although without desert from sundry pâ—ills and defending us gloriously with his powerful right Hand against the violent assaults of our adversaries with victorious successes and in other
Tribulations and perplexities wherein we have exceeding much bin encumbred by comforting us and by applying and in powring remedies upon us beyond all hope and expectation There was also adjoyning hereto a Palace the ancient Habitation of the Kings of England from the time of King Edward the Confessor which in the Raign of King Henry the eighth was burnt by casual fire to the ground A very large stately and sumptuous Palace this was and in that age for building incomparable with a Vawmure and Bulwarks for defence The remains whereof are the Chamber wherein the King the Nobles with the Councellors and Officers of State do assemble at the High Court of Parliament and the next unto it wherein anciently they were wont to begin the Parliaments known by the name of St. Edwards painted Chamber because the Tradition holdeth that the said King Edward therein dyed Adjoyning unto this is the White-Hall wherein at this day the Court of Requests is kept beneath this is that Hall which of all other is the greatest and the very Praetorium or Hall of Justice for all England In this are the Judicial Courts namely The Kings Bench The Common Pleas and the Chancery and in places near thereabout the Star-Chamber the Exchequer Court of Wards and Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster c. In which at certain set times we call them Termes yearly Causes are heard and tryed whereas before King Henry the third his dayes the Court of Common Law and principal Justice was unsetled and alwayes followed the Kings Court But he in the Magna Charta made a Law in these words Let not the Common Pleas follow our Court but be holden in some certain place which notwithstanding some expound thus That the Common Pleas from thenceforch be handled in a Court of her own by it self a part and not in the Kings Bench as before This Judgement-Hall which we now have King Richard the second built out of the ground as appeareth by his Arms engraven in the Stone-work and many Arched Beams when he had plucked down the former old Hall that King William Rufus in the same place had built before and made it his own Habitation For Kings in those dayes sate in Judgement place in their own persons And they are indeed the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Judges whose mouth as the Royal Writer saith shall not erre in judgement But the foresaid Palace after it was burnt down in the year of our Lord 1512. lay desolate and King Henry the eighth translated shortly after the Kings Seat from thence to an House not far off which belonged but a while before to Cardinal Woolsey and is called White Hall This House is a Princely thing enclosed on the one side with a Park that reacheth also to another House of the Kings named Saint James where anciently was a Spittle for Mayden Lepers demolished by King Henry the eighth as is spoken else-where Hard by near unto the Mues so called for that it served to keep Hawkes and now is become a most fair Stable for the Court Horses there remaineth a Monument in memorial of that most pious and kind Queen Eleanor erected by King Edward the first her most dearly beloved Husband and certainly the memory of her conjugal love shall remain worthy to be consecrated to eternity For she the Daughter of Ferdinand the third King of Castile being given in Mariage to Edward the first King of England accompanied him into the Holy Land where when as he was secretly fore-laid and by a certain Moor wounded with an envenomed Sword and by all the remedies that Physitians could devise was not so much eased as afflicted she took her to a strange cure I must needs say and never heard of before howbeit full of love care and affection For her Husbands wounds infected with the poyson and which by reason of the malignity thereof could not be closed and healed she day by day licked with her Tongue and sucked out the venomous humor which to her was a most sweet Liquor by the vigour and strength whereof or to say more truly by vertue of a Wives sâ—ingular fidelity she so drew unto her all the substance of the poyson that the wounds being closed and cicatrized he becam perfectly healed and she caught no harm at all what then can be heard more raâ—e what admirable then this Womans faithful more love That a Wives Tongue thus annoynted as I may so say with faith and love to her Husband should from her well beloved draw those poysons which by an approved Physitian could not be drawn and that which many and those right exquisite Medicines effected not the love only and piety of a Wiâ—e performed These are the words of the aâ—cient Record But we must not passe by the Mewse so sleightly that place was called so of the Kings Faulcons there kept which in former times was an Office of high esteem But Henry the eighth having his Stablings at Lomesberry now called Blomesberry which was then a Mâ—nnor in Holborn it fortuned that the same was consumed by â—ire with Hay and Horses whereupon the Mewse was enlarged and made fit for the Kings Stables which hath continued ever since receiving divers additions from time to time But now we are according to the method of our Discourse summoned to appear at Westminster-Hall But I had almost pretermitted one signal thing which belongs to the great Dome or Temple of Westminster Abbey which is the great priviledge of Sanctuary it had within the Precincts thereof viz. the Church the Church-yard and the Close whereof there are two the little and the great Sanctuary vulgarly now called Centry from whence it was not lawful for the Soveraign Prince himself much lesse any other Magistrate to fetch out any that had fled thither for any offence which Prerogative was granted near upon a thousand years since by King Sebert then seconded by King Edgar and afterwards confirmed by Edward the Confessor whose Charter I thought worthy the inserting here the Tenor whereof runs thus in the modern English Edward by the Grace of God King of Englishmen I make it to be known to all Generations in the VVorld after me that by special Commandment of our holy Father Pope Leo I have renewed and honoured the holy Church of the blessed Apostle St. Peter of Westminster and I order and establish for ever that what Person of what estate or condition soever he be and from whence soever he come or for what offence or cause it be either for his refuge into the said holy place he be assured of his life liberty and Limbs And over I forbid under pain of everlasting damnation that no Minister of mine or any of my Successors intermeddle themselves with any the Goods Lands or possessions of the said persons taking the said Sanctuary For I have taken their Goods and Livelihoods into my special protection And therefore I grant to every each of them in as much as my Terrestrial
this kind of special Commission of Oier and Terminer and herewith agreeth Pl. Com. in the Earl of Leic ' Case Anno 1 Mar. Reginae And so supream is the Jurisdiction of this Court that if any Record be removed into this Court it cannot being as it were in his Center be remanded back unlesse it be by Act of Parliament And this appeareth by the Judgment of the Parliament in Anno 6. H. 8. but by the authority of that Act Indictments of Fellonies and Murders removed into the Kings Bench may by the Justices of that Court be remanded and this Court may send down aswell the Bodies of all Felons and Murderers as their Indictments into the Counties where the same Murders of Felonies were committed or done c. in such manner c. as if the Indictments had not been brought into the Kings Bench. Out of this Court are other Courts derived as from one Fountain several Springs and Rivers in repect of the multiplicity of Causes which have encreased Jurisdictio istius curiae est originalis seu ordinaria non delegata The Justices of this Court have no Commission Letters Patents or other means to hold Pleas c. but their power is original ordinary They were called ancienlty Iusticiae Justiciarii locum tenentes Domini Regis c. The chief Justice Justicia Angliae Justicia prima Iusticiarius Angliae Capitalis and Iusticiarius noster Capitalis adplacita coram nobis terminand ' To observe the Changes of these names and the reason and Changes thereof is worthy of observation Before the Reign of E. 1. the Chief Justice of this Court was created by Letters Patents and the form thereof taking one example for all was in these words Rex c. Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus Prioribus Comitibus Baronibus Vicecomitibus Forestariis c. omnibus aliis fidelibus regni Angliae salutem Cum pro conservatione nostra tranquillâ—tatis regni nostri ad justiciam universis singâ—lis de rengo nostro exhibendam constituerimus dilectum et fidelem nostrum Philippum Basset Iusticiarium Angliae quamdiu nobis placuerit capit alem vobis mandamus in fide qua nobis tenemini firmiter insungentes quatenus in omnibus quae ad officium Justitiarii praedicti nec non ad conservationem pacis nostrae et regni nosâ—ri eidem dum in officio praedicto steterit pleniùs sitis intendentes Teste Rege c. The King c. to all Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Vicounts Foresters c. and to all other faithful to the Kingdom of England greeting Whereas for our conservation and the tranquillity of our Kingdom c. for the exhibition of justice to all and every one of our Kingdom We haâ—e constituted our beloved and faithful Philip Basset chief Justice of England as long as we shall please We command you upon the faith you hold unto us and firmly enjoyn you to all things that belong unto the office of Chief Justice aforesaid for the conservation of our Peace and of our Kingdom and that you be very intentive as long as you stand in the said Office Witnesse the King c. This Philip Basset was the last of this kind of creation by any like Letters Patents and he died Chief Justice near to the end of the Reign of H. 3. King E. 1. being a wise and prudent Prince knowing that Cui plus licet quam par est plus vult quà m licet as most of these Summi Iusticiarii did made three alterations 1. By limitation of his authority 2. By changing Summus Iusticiarius to Capitalis Iustic 3. By a new kind of creation viz. By Writ lest if he had continued his former manner of creation he might have had a desire of his former Authority which three do expresly appear by the Writ yet in use c. Rex c. E. C. Militi salutem Sciatis quod constituimus vos Justiciarium nostrum capitalem ad placita coram nobis tenenda durante beneplacito nostro Teste c. The King c. to E. C. greeting Know ye that we have constituted you our Capital or Chief Justice in Pleas held before us during our pleasure Witnesse c. A short Writ but of large extent in point of Authority The rest of the Judges of the Kings Bench have their Offices by Letters Patents in these words Rex omnibus ad quos praesentes literae pervenerint salutem Sciatis quod constituimus dilectum et fidelem Johannem Doderidge Militem unum Justiciariorum ad placita coram nobis tenenda durante beneplacito nostro Teste c. These Justices of the Kings Bench are styled 1. Capitales 2. Generales 3. Perpetui 4. Majores à latere Regis residentes But the Chief Justice is only by the King Capitalis Justiciarius noster They are called first Capitales in respect of their supream Jurisdiction 2. Generales in respect of their general jurisdiction throughout all England c. 3. Perpetui for that they ought not to be removed without just cause 4. Majores à latere Regis residentes for their honor and safety that they should be protected by the King in administration of justice for that they be à latere Regis that is by the Kings fide And vvhereas 5. E. 4. it was holden by all the Justices in the Exchequer Chamber that a man cannot be Justice by Writ but by Patent or Commission it is to be understood of all the Judges saving the Chief Justice of this Court But both the Chief Justice and the rest of the Judges may be discharged by Writ under the Great Seal None can be a Judge of this Court unlesse he be a Serjeant of the degree of the Coif and yet in the Writ or Patent to them made they are not named Sergeants There have been for a long time and still there are great Complaints for multiplicity of Suits in Law and it were a wholsome and happy thing could it be prevented but because a Disease cannot be cured without knowledge of the Cause it is to be observed that there be six Causes of the increase of them whereof two be general the other four particular The general be Peace and Plenty The particular 1. The dissolution of so many Monasteries Chanâ—eries c. and the dispersing of them into so many several hands 2. The swarm of Informers 3. The number of Concealors 4. The multitude of Atturneys For the first general In the Reign of E. 3. R. 2. H. 4. H. 5. and part of the Reign of H. 6. in respect of the wars in France c. in the residue of the Reign of H. 6. in the Reign of E. 4. in respect of the bloody intestine Wars in almost continual Alarms within the bowls of this Kingdom between the Houses of Lancaster York there could not be so many Suits in Law as since this Kingdom hath enjoyed Peace which is
the first general cause Peace is the Mother of Plenty which is the 2d general cause and Plenty the Nurse of Suits In particulars by the dissolution of Monasteries Chanteries c. and dispersing of them c. upon the Statutes made concerning the same there being such a confluence of Ecclesiastical possessions there aroâ—e many questions and doubts whereupon Suits were greatly increased 2. Informers and Relators raised many Suits by Informations Writs c. in the Kings Courts at Westminster upon penai Statutes many whereof were obsolete inconvenient and not fit for those daies and yet remained as snares upon the Subject so as the Subject might justly say with Tacitus Priùs vitiis laboravimus nunc legibus 3. Concealers Helluones that endeavoured to swallow up Cathedral Churches and the Ecclesiastical possessions of Church-men and the Livings of many others of the Kings Subjects Lastly the multitude of Atturneys more than is limited by Law is a great cause of encrease of Suits Touching the jurisdiction of this Court which was used to be called the King Bench it is of a larger extent of power and more incontroulable than any other Tribunal for the Law presums that the King is there still in Person He being the Lord Chief Justice of England himself as King James gave a check to one who call'd Lord Coke Lord Chief Justice of England saying that he was but Chief Justice of his Bench and that it was his own Office to be Chief Justice of England Yet it is observable that though the King be Chief Justice of England and that he personally sit upon the Bench yet he can passe no sentence of judgment but by the mouths and mediation of his Judges who did use to sit there at his Feet when he was present Of the Court of Chancery or Equity and Conscience IT is taken pro confesso by all Antiquaries that both the Brittish and Saxon Kings had their Chancellors and Court of Chancery the only Court out of which original and remedial Writs do issue as taking some few examples before the Conquest Edward the Confessor had Reinbald his Chancelor this Edward granted many Mannors Lands c. and Franchises to the Abbot of Westminster and endeth his Charter thus Adultâ—mum cartam istam sigillari jussi ipse manu meâ propriâ signum Crucis impressi idonâ—os testes annotari praecepi And amongst those Witnesse this you shall find Swardus Notarius ad vicem Reinbaldi regiae dignitatis Chancellarii hanc cartam scripsi c. subscripsi He had also Lefrick to his Chancelor King Etheldred also had a worthy name and a worthy man to his Chancelor Rex Etheldredus statuit atque concessit quatenus Ecclesiam de Elye ex tunc semper in regis curia Cancellariae ageret dignitatem c. This King began his Reign Anno Domini 978 which albeit it was void in Law to grant the Chancelorship of England in succession yet it proveth then there was a Court of Chancery King Edgar had Adulph King Edred had Thurkettle King Edmond the same King Athelstane Wolsine their Chancelors c. In the Chancery are two Courts one ordinary Coram Domino Rege in Cancellaria wherein the Lord Chancelor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal proceeds according to the right line of the Laws and Statutes of the Realm Secundum legem consuetudinem Angliae Another extraordinary according to the Rule of equity secundum aquum bonum And first of the former Court He hath power to hold Plea of Scire fac ' for repeal of the Kings Letters Patents of Petitions Monstrans de droite Traverses of office Partitions in Chancery of Scire fac ' upon recognizances in this Court Writs of Audita querela and Scire fac ' in the nature of an Audita querela to avoid Executions in this Court Dowments in Chancery the Writ De dote assignanda upon Offices found Executions upon the Statute Staple or Recognizance in nature of a Stature Staple upon the Act of 23. H. 8. but the Execution upon a Statute Merchant is retornable either into the Kings Bench or into the Common place and all personall actions by or against any Officer or Minister of this Court in respect of their service or attendance there In these if the parties descend to issue this Court cannot try it by Jury but the Lord Chancelor or the Lord Keeper delivereth the Record by his proper hands into the Kings Bench to be tried there because for that purpose both Courts are accounted but one and after trial had to be remanded into the Chancery and there Judgment to be given But if there be a Demurrer in Law it shall be argued and adjuged in this Court Nota the legal proceedings of this Court be not inrolled in Rolls but remain in Filaciis being filed up in the Office of the Peâ—y-bag upon a judgement given in this Court a Writ of Error doth lye retornable into the Kings Bench. The style of the Court of the Kings Bench is Coram Rege as hath been said and the style of this Court of Chancery is Coram domino Rege in Cancellaria and Additio probat minoritatem And in this Court the Lord Chancelor or the Lord Keeper is the sole Judge and in the Kings Bench there are four Judges at the least This Court is Officina Justiciae out of which all original Writs and all Commissions which passe under the Great Seal go forth which Great Seal is Clavis regni and for those ends this Court is ever open And this Court is the rather alwaies open for that if a man be wrongfully imprisoned in the Vacation the Lord Chancellor may grant a Habeas Corpus and do him Justice according to Law where neither the Kings Bench nor Common Pleas can grant that Writ but in the term time but this Court may grant it either in Term time or Vacation so likewise this Court may grant Prohibitions at any time either in Term or Vacation which Writs of Prohibition are not retornable but if they be not obeyed then may this Court grant an Attachment upon the Prohibition retornable either in the Kings Bench or Common Place The Officers and Ministers of this Court of Common Law do principally attend and do their service to the Great Seal as the twelve Masters of the Chanceâ—y whereof the Master of the Rolls is the chief who by their original institution as it is proved before should be expert in the Common Law to see the forming and framing of original Writs according to Law which are not of course whereupon such are called in our ancient Authors Brevia Magistralia Then you have the Clerk of the Crown the Clerk of the Hamper the Sealer the Chafe wax the Controuler of the Chancery twenty four Cursitors for making Writs of course or form'd Writs according to the Register of the Chancery The Clerk of the presentations the Clerk of the Faculties the Clerk Examiner of the Patents
the Clerks of the Petty-bag and the six Attorneys Having spoken somewhat of this Court 's ordinary Jurisdiction something shall be said of the extraordinary proceedings thereof according to the Rule of Equity secundum aquum et bonum or according to the dictates of Conscience for the Lord Chancelor or Keeper of the Great Seal of England may be said to be Keeper of the Kings Conscience for mitigation of the rigour of the Common Law Yet this Court of Equity proceeding by English Bill is no Court of Record therefore it can bind but the Person only and neither the State of the Defendants Lands nor property of his Goods and Chattles therefore if the Lord Chancelor impose any fine it is void in Law he having no power but on the Person only Yet the Lord Chancelor or Keeper is sole Judge both in this Court of Equity and in the Court concerning the Common Law but in cases of weight or difficulty he doth assist himself with some of the Judges and no greater exception can be taken hereunto than in case of the Lord Steward of England being sole Judge in tryal of the Nobility who also is assisted with some of the Judges Touching this Court of Equity the ancient Rule is that three things are to be considered in a Court of Conscience Covin Accident and Breach of confidence All Covins collusions frauds and deceits for which ther 's no remedy by the ordinary course of Law Accident as when the servant of an Obligor or Morgageor is sent to pay the money on the day and he is robb'd c. then remedy is to be had in this Court against the forâ—eiture The third is breach of tru't and confidence whereof there are plentiful examples The ancient Custome was when one was made Lord Chancellor for the King to hang the Great Seal about his Neck Cardinal Woolsey had the Chancelorship by Letters Patâ—ents during life but it was held void because an ancien Office must be granted as it was accustomed Henry the 〈◊〉 had two great Seals one of Gold which he delivered the Bishop of Durham and another oft Silver which he delivered the Bishop of London The Chancellors Oath consists of six parts 1. That well and trâ—ly he shall serve the King our Soveraign Lord and his People in the Office of Chancellor or Lord Keeper 2. That â—e shall do right to all manner of people poor and rich after the Laws and usages of the Realm 3. That he shall truly Counsel the King and his Counsel he shall layne or conceal and keep 4. That he shall not know nor suffer the hurt or disheriting of the King or that the Rights of the Crown be decreased by any means as far as he may let it 5. And in case he cannot let it he shall make it clearly and expresly to be known to the King with his true advice and counsel 6. He shall do and purchase the Kings profit in all that he reasonably may There be in this Court many Officers whereof mention is made before the principal whereof is the Master of the Rolls which is an ancient Office and grantable either for life or at will according to the Prince his pleasure Edward the third by Letters Patents annex'd the House of the converted Iews in Chancery Lane to this Office for keeping of the Records of the Chancery viz. Charters Letters Patents Commissions Deeds Recognizances which before the Reign of Henry the seventh were used to be transmitted to the Tower of London The Master of the Rolls used to have Iure Officii the gift of the Offices of the six Clerks in the Chancery and in the absence of the Lord Chancellor he heareth Causes and giveth Orders OF THE COVRT OF COMMON-PLEAS IN WESTMINSTER-Hall IN times pass'd the Courts and Benches or Banks of Justices as was touched before followed the Kings Person wheresoever he went as well since the Conquest as before which thing being found chargeable and cumbersome The ninth of Henry the third it was resolved that there should be a standing place appointed where matters should be heard and determined And the Court of the Common Pleas was the first that was fix'd wherein tenures of Lands and civil Actions used to be pleaded And it is one of the Statutes of Magna Charta Quod Communia placita non sequantur Curiam nostram sed teneantur loco certo That the Common Pleas follow not our Court but be kept in a certain place Now Pleas are distinguished into Pleas of the Crown as Treason and Felony with misprision of Treason and Felony which belong to the Upper Bench and to Common or Civil Pleas whereof this Court takes Cognizance This Court therefore is call'd the Lock and Key of the Common Law of England and the Judges there sitting had need to be more knowing and learned than any other for here all Reall Actions whereupon Fiâ—es and recoveries the common assurances of the Land do passe and all other reall Actions by original Writs are to be determined as also of all Common 〈◊〉 mixt or personal in divers of which the Kings Bench this Court have a concurrent authority But regularly this Court cannot hold Common 〈◊〉 in any Action real mix'd or personal but by Writ out of the Chancery and returnable to this Court yet this Court in some cases may hold Plea by Bill without any Writ in the Chancery as for or against any Officer 〈◊〉 or priviledged Person of this Court. This Court also without any Writ may upon a suggestion grant Prohibitions to keep Temporal as well as Ecclesiastical Courts within their bounds and jurisdictions without any Original or Plea depending for the Common Law which in those cases is a Prohibition of it self stands instead of an Original The Chief Justice of this Court is created by Letters Patents during the pleasure of the Prince and so are the rest of his Associats but none is capable to be constituted a Judge here unlesse he be a Sargeant at Law of the degree of the Coif The jurisdiction of this Court is general extendeth throughout England The Officers of this Court are many viz. Custos Brevium three Protonotaries Clerk of the Warrants Clerk of the Kings Silver four Exigenters fourteen Filazers Clerk of the Juries Clerk of the Essoins Clerk of the Outlaries which belongeth to the Attorney General who doth exercise it by Deputy In former times great abuses have been by Attorneys of this Court by suing out a Judicial Processe with any Original which when detected have been severely punished OF THE COVRT OF THE EXCHEQUER THe Authority of this Court is of Original Jurisdiction without any Commission In the chief place of account for the Revenues of the Crown The Hearers of the accounts have Auditors under them and they who are the chief for the accounts of the Prince are called Barons of the Exchequer whereof one is called Lord Chief Baron The greatest Officer of all is the Lord Treasurer In
this Court are heard those that are Delators or Informers in popular or penal Actions having thereby part of the profit assign'd unto them by the Law In this Court if any question be 't is determined by the Common Law of England by twelve men and all Subsidies Taxes and Customes by account For in this Office the Sheriffs of the Countries do attend upon the execution of the Commandements of the Judges If any Fines or Amercements be extracted out of any Court or any arrearages of accounts of such things as is of Customes Taxes Subsidies and other such like occasions the same the Sheriff of the Country doth gather and is answerable therefore to the Exchequer This Court is divided into two parts viz. Iudicial accounts called Scaccarum computorum And into the Receit of the Exchequer The prime Officer of this Court as was meâ—tioned before is the Lord high Treasurer of England who receives a White Staff from the King But in former time he had this Office by delivery of a Golden Key Then there is Cancellarius Scaccarii the Chancelor of the Exchequer who keepeth the Seal Then you have the chief Baron and his Associates whereof one though he sits there yet he hath no voice therefore he was used to be call'd by way of Drollery Baron Tell-clock yet he takes the same Oath that others do he hath a Fee of 100 Marks per annum At daies of prefixions he hath to do with the Sheriffs Accounts he can take Recognizances but he hath not the Robes nor any suffrage upon the Bench in point of Judicature And that nickname Baron Tellclock came up first in Baron Southertons time who when he felt the Chimes ring in his Stomach towards dinner he was us'd to tell chief Baron Tanfield My Lord 't is twelve a clock Then have you sundry other inferiour Officers more then in any other Court except the Kings House This Court is called Exchequer from a French word vne place quarree a four-square place because the Carpet that lay before the Judges is in the form of a Chess-board and of two colours thence the name of Exchequer was derived Now it is to be observe'd that albeit the Barons are the sole Judges of the Exchequer Court yet the Lord Treasurer is joyn'd with them in keeping of the Records The Lord Treasurer hath also granted him by Parent under the great Seal Thesaurarium Scaccarii Regis Angliae which of ancient time as the Lord Coke hath it was a distinct Office by it self Then is there the Pipe Office whereof the Chancelor of the Exchequer is Contrarotulator or Controuler The Original institution of the Pipe Office was taken from a Conduit of water which was conveyed by Pipes into a Cestern which lay in a Court for as water is derived from many Fountains Springs by Aquaeducts into a Cestern House and from thence into several Offices of the same so this golden and silver stream is drawn from sundry Courts as Fountains of Justice and other Springs of Revenue reduc'd and collected into one Pipe and thereby conveyed into the Grand Cestern of the Princes receit c. Therefore all Accounts and Debts to the Crown are delivered and collected out of the Offices of the Kings Remembrancer and Treasurers Remembrancer and so drawn and pâ—t in charge in the Pipe There be five Auditors of the Revenue Royal within the survey of this Court and their Office is to take Accounts of the Kings Receivers Sheriffs Escheators Collectors and Customers and to audite and perfect the Account But an Auditor cannot allow any Licence or Grant in regard he knoweth not whether it be good this belongs to the Barons Neither can the Auditor put any thing in Charge his Office being only to take and audite Accounts There is the Auditor of the Prests whose Office it is to take the Accounts of the Mint Ireland and Barwick and of all other imprested or moneys advanc'd before hand Then is there the Auditor of the Receits which is an Office very considerable and consisting of many parts For first he is a kind of Filazer for he fileth the Tellers Bills and entreth them Secondly he is a Remembrancer for he gives the Lord Treasurer a certificate of the money received the week before Then he is an Auditor for he makes Debenturs to every Teller before they pay any money and takes and audites their Accounts Besides all this he keepeth the black Book of Receits and the Lord Treasurers Key of the Treasury and seeth every Tellers money lock'd up in the new Treasury Of those Tellers there are four and their Office consists in four duties First to receive money due to the Soveraign Prince Secondly to pay all persons moneys by Warrant of the Auditor of the Receit Thirdly to make yearly and weekly Books of their Receits and payments which they deliver to the Lord Treasurer And lastly to give the Clerk of the Pell a Bill of what moneys they receive whereby he may be charged Now touching Clericus Pellis the Clerk of the Pell his duty is to enter every Tellers Bill into a Roll call'd Pellis Receptorum his Office also is to enter ino another Roll payments call'd Pellis exitus signifying by what Warrant the payment was made Concerning the Kings Remembrancer in the Exchequer his Office consists in eight Duties First to write Process against Collectors of Customs Subsidies and Fifteens 2. He entreth in his Office all Recognizances before the Barons and taketh Bond for any of the Kings Debts for observing of Order for appearances and his duty is to make out Process upon every of them 3. He maketh Process upon Informations upon penal Statutes all which Informations are entred into his Office 4 He maketh Bills of composition upon Informations upon penal Statutes 5. He taketh the stallment of Debts and entreth them 6. The Clerk of the Star-Chamber was us'd to certifie into his Office what fines were there set whereof he maketh a Record and draweth them down in the Pipe 7. In this Office ought to be kept all Assurances Conveyances and Evidences whereby any Lands Tenements Herediraments or other things are granted to the Soveraign Prince 8. There is a Court of Equity holden in the Exchequer Chamber by English Bill whereof all the proceedings and Bills are entred into this Office The Lord Treasurers Remembrancer is also an Office of trust and consequence which consisteth of seven Duties First To preserve the Royal tenures and to make out Process for the Revenues thereof 2. He maketh Process of Fierifacias to extend for Debts due to the Prince either in the Pipe or with the Auditors 3. He awards Process against all Sheriffs Escheators Receivers and Bayliffs to bring them to account 4. He is to make an entry of Record whereby it appears whether Sheriffs and other Accountants pay their proffers due at Easter and Michaelmas 5. He makes another entry of Record to the end that it may be known whether
Sheriffs and other Accounts keep their day of prefixion 6. The green Was is certified into this Office and by him delivered to the Clerk of the Estreats 7. There ought to be brought into this Office all the Accounts of Customers Controulers and all other to make an entry of Record in this Office to avoid delay and concealments The Oath of the Barons of the Exchequer consists of ten parts First That he shall well and truly serve in the Office of Baron 2. That truly he shall charge and discharge all manner of people as well poor as rich 3. That for Higness nor for Riches nor for hatred nor for any deed gift or promise of any person which is made unto him nor by craft engine he shall let the Kings right 4. He shall not let disturbe or respite contrary to the Lawes of the Land the Right of any other person 5. He shall not put in respite the Kings Debts where goodly they may be levied 6. That he shall speed the Kings need before others 7. That neither for gift wages nor good deed he shall layn disturb nor let the profit or reasonable advantage of the King in the advantage of any other Person nor of himself 8. That nothing he shall take of any Person to do wrong or right to delay or deliver or to delay the people that have to do before him that as hastily as he may them goodly to deliver without hurt of the King c. 9. Where he may know any wrong or prejudice to be done to the King he shall put and do all his power and diligence that to redresse 10. The Kings Counsel he shall keep and layne in all things In the Exchequer Chamber all cases of difficulty either in the Kings bench or the Common Pleas were used to be debated argued and resolved by all the Judges of England and the Exchequer Barons The Treasurer of the Kings Chamber and the Keeper of the privy purse with such domestick Offices of the Kings House are not subject to this Court of Exchequer This Court was first erected for the particular profit and service of the Soveraign Prince And this profit is mediat or immediat Immediat as of Lands Rents Franchises Hereditaments Debts Duties Accounts Goods Chatrels and other profits and benefits whatsoever due unto the Soveraign Prince Mediate as the priviledge of the Officers and Ministers of the Court for two things do principally support the jurisdiction of a Court as my Lord Coke hath it first the preservation of the dignity thereof and then the due attendance of the Officers and Ministers of the same The chief Baron is created by Letters Patents and the Office is granted Quamdiu se bene gesserit wherein he hath a more fixed estate it being an estate of life than the Justices of other Benches have who are durante beneplacito And in like manner are the rest of the Barons constituted with the Patents of the Attorney General and Solicitor There is a Court called the Court of Equity in the Exchequer Chamber The Iudges of this Court are the Lord Treasurer the Chancelor of the Exchequer and the Barons Their jurisdiction is as large for matter of Equity as the Barons of the Exchequer have for the benefit of the King by the common Law but if in either Court they hold any Plea that doth not concern the profit of the King there lieth a Prohibition To conclude there are seven Courts that belong to the Exchequer 1. The Court of Pleas or of the Barons 2. The Court of Accounts 3. The Court of Receits 4. The Court of the Exchequer Chamber being the Assembly of all the Iudges of England for matters in Law 5. The Court of Exchequer for Errors in the Court of Exchequer 6. A Court in the Exchequer Chamber for Errors in the Kings Bench. 7. The Court of Equity spoken of a little before But touching all the Officers either coordinate or inferior that belong to the Exchequer and the Revenues Customes perquisits of the Soveraign Prince they are very many far more in number than in any other Court as was touched before yet nothing so numerous as those Financiers and swarm of other Officers which belong to the Revenues of France which are so many that their fees being payed there comes not a Quardecu in every Crown clearly to the Kings Coffers which is but the fourth part But there is one publick advantage in it that thousands of younger Brothers and others have a handsome subsistance to carry themselves hereby in the garbe and equipage of men OF THE COURT OF ADMIRALTY HAving thus made some inspections into so many Courts we must not pretermit the Court of Admiralty for Great Britain being an Island which makes the Sea and Woodden Castles to be her chiefest Conservators the Court of Admiralty may be said to be more pertinent and necessary to her then to divers other States therefore the Lord High Admiral is by the Law of England one of the four Officers of the Crown with the Lord Chancelor the Lord Treasurer and Lord privy Seal Some hold the Etymology of Admirall to come from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth Salsugo maris the saltness of the Sea others derive it from Ammir an Arabian word which signifieth a King or Emperor And some would have it to come from the low Dutch Aen-meer-all which signifie on the Sea all The Reader according as his own judgement leads him may adhere to which he please for I know of none that have positively asserted which is the truest But to know the nature and jurisdiction of this Court it will conduce very much if we insert here certain grievances which the Lord Admiral presented in the 8th year of K. Iames concerning Prohibitions granted by the Judges of the Courts of Westminster against the Jurisdiction and Prerogatives of this Court with the answer which the Judges returned to every point 1. The first Objection was that whereas the cognizance of all Contracts and other things done upon the Sea belongeth to the Admirals jurisdiction the same are made tryable at the common Law as if they had bin done in Cheapside and such places The Judges of Westminster-Hall answered that by the Lawes of the Realm the Court of the Admiral hath no cognizance power or jurisdiction of any manner of Contract plea or querele within any County of the Realm either upon the Land or the water but every Contract Plea or querele and all other things arising in any County of the Realm either upon the Land or the water and also Wrecks of the Sea ought to be tryed discussed determined and remedied by the common Lawes of the Land and not before or by the Admiral or his Lieutenant in any manner so that it is not material whether the place be upon the water intra fluxum refluxum aqua or whether it be upon any other water within the precincts of a County But the said
Right and Prerogative due to the Crown in that they have seized and converted to their own use Goods and Chattels of infinite value taken at Sea and other Goods and Chattels which in no sort appertain unto his Lordship by his Letters Patents wherein the said Non obstante is contained and for which he and his Officers remain accountable to his Majesty And they now wanting in this time of peace causes appertaining to their natural jurisdiction do now encroach upon the jurisdiction of the common Law lest they should sit idle and reap no profit They added further That touching their proceedings in granting of Prohibitions concerning any of the said Articles two things were to be considered of first the matter then the manner touching the matter nothing hath bin done therein by the Court of Westminster but by good Warrant of Law and former judicial Precedents And for the manner they granted none in the Vacation time nor in their Terme time in any of their Chambers nor in the Court in the Terme-time ex officio but upon motion made in open Court by learned Councel and after a day prefixed and warning given to the adverse party c. Hereupon they proceeded to prove and confirm their answers by three kind of Authorities in Law First By Authority of High Court of Parliament Secondly By Judgement and judicial Precedents Thirdly By Book-Cases Concerning the Acts of Parliament they urged the Statute of Richard the second viz. That the Admiralls and their Deputies shall not meddle from henceforth with any thing done within the Realm of England but only with things done upon the Sea according to that which hath been duly used in the time of the Noble King Edward Grandfather to Richard the second Concerning the second proof by Judgements and Iudicial Precedents and the third by Book-Cases they alledged divers Cases which are to be seen in that great light and laborious Champion of the Common Law of England the Lord Coke in the third part of his Institutes But the Result of all which the Iudges of the Common Law driv ' at was that the Court of Admiralty was to take no Cognizance nor had power to determine any thing that had happened and should give occasion of Plea upon any Waters either fresh or salt that were within the Precincts of any County but it was tryable by the Common Law of England and by the Empanelment and Verdict of twelve men which is not the way of Tryal of the Civil Law by which the Admiralty is directed By this notable clash and contestation 'twixt the Iudges of Westminster-Hall and the Lord Admiral the Reader may learn what the extent of the Authority of that Court is and that the jurisdiction of the Admiral is confined to the high Sea In times past there were distinct Admirals in point of power as we read in Richard the seconds Raign the Earl of Northumberland was Admiral of the North and the Earl of Devonshire Admiral of the West who were to receive the Subsidy of Poundage and Tonnage for the garding of the Seas Among other Prerogatives which belonged to the Lord Admiral of England one was to erect Beacons upon the Maritim Coasts which word is derived from the old Saxon or Dutch Becnam which signifieth to give a signe as we use the word to becken at to this day Before the Reign of Edward the 3d there were but stakes of Wood set upon high places which were fired upon the discovery of any enemies but in his time pitched Barrels were set up and by the Law of the Land whosoever fired a Beacon commits Felony unless there were Authority and just cause for it In other Countries they are called Phares which are no other then speculatory or maritime monitory fires which serve for two ends as well to direct Seafaring men as to fore-warn the approach of an Enemy which with such wonderful celerity give the whole Land an Alarum and so puts them in a posture of defence But there are three main matters whereof the Lord Admiral is to take Cognizance which are Flotsan Ietsan and Lagan whereof the first is when a Ship is sunk and perished and the Goods floating upon the waters The second is Ietsan when in stresse of weather or other occasions the Goods are thrown over-board The third is when Goods are tyed to a Cork or Cable and may be found again But the Court of Admiralty hath not to do with Wrecks for then the Goods are deposited in the custody of the Officers of the next Town where if the Proprietor come within a twelve moneth and a day he may claim them by Law Henry the sixth did constitute by Charter Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter and Henry his Son to be Admirallos Angliae But the Iudges of the Common Law held that Charter to be invalid and the Reason they alledged was that that Charter being of a Iudicial Office it could not be granted to two When the former contestation happened 'twixt the Court of Admiralty and Westminster-Hall they were choyse powerful men at that time who swayed as Grandees of the Common Law as Sir Edward Coke the Lord Bacon Iudge Doddridge and Hubbard which made them carry the Bucklers from the Civilians at that time But there were some learned Treatises published afterward to vindicate the Right of the Civil Law which without controversie hath more in it of natural equity and reaches of pure Reason then any other It is the Product of that mighty Monarchy of the Romans who though they conquered by the Lance yet they conâ—erâ—ed by their Lawes so many vast distant Territories and Nations which they had subdued leading so many people Captive by their policy as much as by their Prowesse And indeed the Civil Law is fitted for the general Affaires of mankind and for all Nations For though every particular state hath some few municipal Lawes peculiar to it self yet no where beyond the Seas is there any profession or Science of Law but of the Civil nor are there any other studied in Vniversities Only in England there are Inns of Court which are equivalent to an Academy where lex Terrae or the common municipal Law of the Land is studied and Graduates proceed and are made therein accordingly which is no where else But the Civil Law extends to all man-kind And if regard be had to the University of humane Reason it is no where â—o narrowly discussed and eventilated and the judgement rectified by clear notions Moreover there is nothing of what nature soever it be but the Civil Law hath ordained a means to bring it to a Tryal either by giving a speciall action in the case or a general one releeving by ordinary remedies or if those fail by such as are extraordinary helping the Clyent Iure actionis or Officio Iudicis Yet there was one notable Example of one business that not only caused a clash 'twixt the Civilian and Common Lawyer but puzzel'd them both so that
best peopled but Madrid where the Catholique Court is kept though a Village hath more then any of them but all these come short of London in point of greatness and populousness with divers advantages besides Vienna the Imperial Court is of an extraordinary bigness being fenced about with English Walls which Richard the first rear'd up for his Ransome It is also well peopled so is Prague Which though the latter be made up of three Cities yet they both come short of the City of London in amplitude and number of people with divers other properties mentioned before Germany hath divers fair Cities that may take place amongst them of the first magnitude as Mentz Colen Frankfort Strasburg Norimburg Auspurg Magdenburg and others which though they beat a Land Trade being mediterranean Cities and abound with wealth and numbers of Artisans yet they are inferior to London for many respects Touching the Hans and imperial Towns there are divers of them large wealthy and full of Trade as Lubeck Danzick and Hamburgh the biggest of them which owes much of her prosperity to the Staple of the London Marchant Adventurers who are there setled but there 's none of these Cities though they be threescore more in number that will presume to compare with London in any of those twenty properties before mentioned Touching Copenhagen in Denmark and Stockholm in Swethland they come far short nay if you go more Northward upon the white Sea as far as the gran Mosco the Emperor of Russias Court which is a huge woodden City and inviron'd about with a treble wall to stop the incursions of the Tartar you will find it inferior to London in every of those twenty particulars Touching Low Germany or the Netherlands which is one of the greatest Countries of Commerce in Christendom 't is true there are there many Noble Cities Among others the City of Gant in Flanders which for bigness bears the Bell of all the Cities of Europe being computed to be twenty miles in circuit which makes the Flemins twit the French by saying Nous auons un Gant qui tiendra Paris dedans We have a Glove meaning Gant which is a Glove in French that will hold Paris within it yet for number of humane souls this great City is but a kind of Desart being compared to London Antwerp is a Noble City both for her Cittadel and Fortifications which are so vast that two Coaches may go abrest upon the Walls She may compare with any other City she was in former times one of the greatest Marts this side the Alps Insomuch that Guicciardin reports that after the Intercursus Magnus was established betwixt England and the Netherlands the Trade 'twixt London and Antwerp came to above twelve Millions yearly But upon the Revolt of the Confederate Provinces from the King of Spain when Secretary Walsingham told Elizabeth that he would give both the Spaniard and the French King such bones to gnaw that might shake both their teeths in their heads meaning thereby the Revolt of the Hollander from the one and the kindling of the Ligue in France I say when these tumults began Amsterdam may be said to have risen up out of the ruines of Antwerp which Town is come in lesse then fourscore years and by a stupendous course of Commerce and Negotiation to be one of the greatest Marts of the World being before one of the meanest Towns of the first magnitude in Holland but she is swoln since twice if not thrice as big as she was Insomuch that she may be said to give the Law to all the rest of the united Provinces and to smell rank of a Hans Town or little Common-wealth of her self Among other causes this may be imputed to the Trade of the East and West Indies which is appropriated unto Her and to a mixture with the Jewes who have there two Synagogues yet is this fresh great Mercantile Town much inferior to London almost in all things First in point of populousness as may be conjectured out of her weekly Bills of Mortality which at the utmost come but to about threescore a week whence may be inferred that London is five times more populous for the number that dies in Her every week comes commonly to near upon three hundred Secondly in point of Wealth Amsterdam comes short of London for when Sir Ralph Freeman was Lord Mayor it was found out by more than a probable conjecture that He with the 24. Aldermen his Brethren might have bought the Estates of one hundred of the richest Bourgemasters in Amsterdam Then for sweetnesse of Site and salubrity of Air she is so far inferior to London that her Inhabitants may be said to draw in Fogs in lieu of free Air the Countrey being all marsh and moorish about Her so that Amsterdam is built as it were in a bog or quag for in their fabriques they are forced to dig so deep for a firm foundation by ramming in huge Piles of Wood that the Basis of a House doth oftentimes cost more then the superstructure Moreover Amsterdam hath neither Conduit Well or Fountain of fresh water within her but it is brought to her by Boats and they wash with Rain water which every House preserves in Cisterns to that purpose Touching the River of Texel that brings her in all Commodities she is nothing comparable to the Thames in point of security of sayling or sweetness of water touching the first they say there stood a Forrest of Wood in times past where now the Texel makes her bed which could not be cut down so clean but there are divers ill favoured Trunks and stubs of Trees still found under water which is a great annoyance to Ships There are in the United Provinces many jolly Towns besides which may be ranked among them of the first magnitude especially Utrecht which hath the face of an ancient stately Town subsists more by her self the rest grow great and flourish in Wealth Buildings and People by having some peculiar staple-Commodity appropriated unto them as Amsterdam hath the Trade of the East and West Indies assigned Her as was formerly mentioned Rotterdam hath the Staple of English Cloth Dort of the Rhenish-Wine and Corn that comes from Germany Haerlam hath a Charter for Weaving and Knitting Leyden is an University The Hague subsists by the residence of the Hoghen Moghen the Councel of State Middleburgh in Zeland by the Staple of French Wines Trevere by the Scots Commodities c. but none of these bear any proportion with the City of London who trades in all these several Commodities together and hath particular Corporations accordingly with many more We will now hoyse up Sayl for France which also hath divers Cities of the first Magnitude as Rouen in Normandy Bourdeaux in Gascogny Tholouse in Languedock with the other five Courts of Parliament as also Amiens in Picardy and the City of Lions and Marseilles the one whereof subsists by her Bank the other by being the
duties touching the execution of the Statute made for punishment of Rogues Vagabonds and sturdy Beggars c. They are to inquire if those to whom the execution of the Statute for the relief of the poor doth appertain be remisse in discharging their duties that way They are to inquire if any Executor or others keep in their hands any Legacy sum of money or other thing given to charitable uses They are to inquire if any that keep Horses in their Houses do lay their Stable dung or such kind of noysome filth in any streets or lanes of the City and do not cause the Dung-cart to be led to the Stable door The Ward-mote Inquest by vertue of their Office are bound to search into all these enormities and to meet once a moneth or oftner if need require to that purpose And whosoever doth judiciously observe these several heads will find there 's nothing wanting to preserve a City or the people thereof in the wayes of neatness safety and industry or for the advancement of Vertue and suppression of Vice By these particulars with what hath bin spoken of formerly in the Body of this Book the Reader may observe how exact the City of London is in her Urban Government 3. Now touching the magnificence gravity and state of the chief Magistrate neither the Pretor of Rome or the Prefect of Milan neither the Proctors of Saint Mark in Venice or their Podestas in other Cities neither the Provost of Paris the Markgrave of Antwerp can compare with the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London If one go to the variety of their Robes sometimes Scarlet richly fur'd sometimes Purple sometimes Violet and Puke What a goodly Spectacle it is to behold the Lord Mayor and the Companies attending him in so many dainty Barges when he goes to be sworn in Westminster-Hall and what brave shews there are attending him by Land at his return what a plentiful sumptuous Dinner consisting of so many huge Tables is provided for him what a variety of domestick Officers wait upon him perpetually whereof with the Remembrancer there are five of them Esquires by their places as was hinted before what a comely sight it is to see the Lord Mayor Sheriffs and Aldermen going in their Robes upon Festivals to the Cathedral Church of Saint Pauls though they who stand not so well affected to the present Government say that he goeth in now at the wrong end of the Church what a goodly sight it is when he goeth upon Easter Holidayes to the Spittle with the Sword and Cap of Maintenance going before him How his Robes are fitted for the season as from Michaelmas to Whitsontide he weares Violet fur'd from Whitsontide to Michaelmas Scarlet lined And for distinction among the Aldermen they who have bin Lord Mayors have their Cloaks lined with changeable Taffata but those that have not with green Taffata what great places of trust are committed to the Lord Mayor as the keeping of the great Bridge in repair which hath such large Revenues belonging unto it with a particular stately Seal which of old had the Effigies of Thomas of Becket a Londoner born upon it with this Inscription in the name of the City Me quae te peperi ne cesses Thoma tueri But the Seal was altered in Henry the eighths Raign what a great trust is it for the Lord Mayor to have the conservation of the Noble River of Thames from Stanes Bridge till She disgorgeth her self into the Sea How stately is he attended when he goes to take a view of the River or a Swan-hopping and lately what a Noble addition was it for the Lord Mayor to have a Park of Deer of his own so near the City to find him sport and furnish him with Venison what an Honour is it for the Lord Mayor to be accounted the first man of England upon the death of the Soveraign Prince As when King Iames was invited to come and take the Crown of England Robert Lee Lord Mayor of London was the first man who subscribed and then the Officers of the Crown with the chief Noblemen after him The Recorder of London also is primus Consiliarius Angliae and is priviledged to plead within the Barre The Lord Mayors of London have bin called sometime to sit at the Councel Table as Sir Iohn Allen was in Henry the eighths time with others which Allen gave that rich Collar of Gold which the Lord Mayors use to wear and the Aldermen his Brethren were used to be called Barons 4. We are come now to Regulation of Trade wherein London is not inferior to any City whatsoever witness among others what prudential Lawes Restraints and Cautions the Marchant Adventurers who trade in the Golden Fleece of England viz. in Woollen Manufactures have propos'd to themselves as likewise all other Corporations in like manner for the improvement of that particular Trade and preserving it from confusion 5. Touching variety of Artisans London yields to no other 't is true that mingling with Forreiners hath much advantag'd her in this kind but 't is observed and confessed by all Nations that though the Londoners be not so apt to invent yet when they have got the Invention they use alwayes to improve it and bring it to a greater perfection 6. Touching Corporations Halls Fraternities Guilds and Societies London hath not her Fellow witness the twelve Honourable Companies out of one of which the Lord Mayor is yearly chosen The several Societies of those who venter abroad in all parts of the habitable Earth as far as the Antipodes And threescore Companies of Citizens besides whereunto the new Company of Coachmen is lately added who have their Halls their regular Orders and Officers accordingly And touching all sorts of Artificers and variety of industrious wayes to improve all kind of Manufactures and thereby gain an honest Livelihood and so enrich the place London may be called a Hive of Bees as formerly was touched or a Hill of Ants which have bin alwayes made the Emblems of industry and providence 7. Touching plenty and abundance of all kinds of Provision as Flesh Fish Fowle Fruits Fuel variety of Drinks and Wines with any other Commodity that conduceth to pleasure and delight as well as necessity London may glory to be as well served as any City under Heaven A knowing Spaniard said that he thought Eastcheape Shambles alone vends more Flesh in the year then all the Court of Spain Gascon Wines drink better in London then in Bourdeaux and so do all other provided they be not sophisticated Nor doth London abound with all things so plentifully for the belly alone but also for the back either to keep it warm or make it gay what varieties of woollen Stuffs there are in every Shop with broad Cloth equal to the price of Silk being come to that heighth of perfection that some hath bin made of ten pounds a yard in price But the Hollanders and others have now got the art of
Of Cordwainers-ward 107 Of Cheap-ward 111 Of the great Crosse in Cheap 115 Of Colemanstreet-ward 119 Of Cripplegate-ward 301 Of the Chappel of Jesus hard by Pauls 314 The Counter removed from Bread-street to VVood-street 319 Of Castle-Baynard-ward 324 A Clash 'twixt the Lord Mayor and the Lawyers 330 D. Of Diana's Chamber hard by Pauls 3 A Description of Pauls 7 The duty of the Lord Mayor to conserve the Thames 18 Divers small Bridges in former times in London 23 Of Drapers-Hall 73 Of Dowgate-ward 97 Dowgate-ward hath many things considerable 100 Of the Dance of Death painted at Pauls 323 The difference 'twixt Southark and London in point of Government 340 Of the Dutchy of Lancaster and Savoy with the Liberties thereof 347 Of Dorham-House 349 E. The English converted to Christianity by the Britains 33 The Emperor Charles lodged in the Black-Fryers 316 Of the Elms the place of common Execution in times passed 326 Edward the Consessors Charter to VVestminster 355 Of the Exchequer Court 369 Of the Court of Equity or Chancery 365 An Encomium of the Civil Law 377 Of the City of Florence 387 An extravagant saying of a French Baron In the Epist. Of the eminent Citizens of London 405 F. The foundation and first Rise of the City of London 2 Fitstephen reports of London 8 Of the fresh water Rivers that were in London 10. A factious saying of the Lord Mayors to King James 19 Fearful Fires on London-Bridg 21 Of the four Inns of Court 31 Of the present factions in London 47 Of Fishers Folly hard by Bishops-gate 67 Of Fenchurch 83 Of the Fishmongers Company 88 Of Faringdon Intra Ward 309 Of Faringdon Ward Extra 327 Of Bartholomew-Fair 328 Of Fewter or Fetter-lane 331 G. Of the Gates of London 4 Of the great famous River of Thames 12 Of Grayes Inne 32 Of Grâ—tham Colledge 31 The Government of London 33 Of Knighten Guild 49 Of Grasse-street vulgarly called Gracious-street 40 Of Grocers-Hall 113 Of the Guild-Hall 117 Of St. Giles by Cripplegate 304 Of Golding-lane ibid. The History of the Gray Fryers by Newgate Market 310 Of the great wardrobe 325 Of St. Giles of the Field 345 Of the Gran Cayro 384 Of Genoa 387 A guesse at the number of humane souls breathing in London 403 Of the general Trade of London 396 Of the Gravity and state of the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen 395 H. Of Sir Hugh Middleton and Ware River 11 The History of London Bridge from its beginning 20 The History of the great Tower of London 24 The History of the Saxons or Englishmen 33 Of the Hustings Court 37 Of the Holy Trinity by Algate a famous Priory with the great Prerogatives thereof 50 Of St. Helens Church sometimes a Nunnery 70 Of the Haunce of Almain or the Styliard 97 Henry the eighth came in habit of a Yeoman to see the Watch. 110 The History of Cheap-side-Crosse 115 The History of the Guild Hall 117 The History of the Jews in England 120 The History of Moorfields 301 The History of Sion Colledg 302 The History of Pauls Church 312 Of Houndsditch 341 Of Hamburg and the Hans Towns 388 fol. Of the Inns of Court 9 Iusts and Tournments in former times upon London-Bridg 22 Of the Inns of Chancery 31 Julius Caesar only a Discoverer of Great Britain 〈◊〉 Claudius Caesar the Conqueror 33 The ill May-day 40 Of Jack Straw 81 The Jews banish'd out of England 119 Where the Jews had their Synagogue in London 119 700 Jews murthered by the Londoners 119 Of the Jew that fell into a Iakes at Tewksbury 121 Of James the fourth King of Scots 303 Of St. James Hospital or the Charter-house 343 Of St. James's House and Park 356 L. fol. Of London-Stone 4 Of Ludgate 4 London Bridg hath two many Eyes 20 London much beholden to her Bishops 39 London like a Hive of Bees 41 London a Lick-peny 406 Of Lumley-House 48 Of Limestreet Ward 59 Of Leaden-Hall and the foundation thereof 59 A laudable Custom at St. Mary Spittle for rehearsal of Sermons 67 Of Loseworth or Spittle-field and strange Monuments that were found there 68 Of Langborn Ward 82 Of Lombard-street 82 Of Lothberry 119 Of Lollards Tower 326 Of Lincolns Inne 344 The length of London 404 The latitude of London 404 M. fol. The Method of the work 1 Of Moorgate 5 The Lord Mayors of London had divers appellations 34 Of the Lord Mayor and manner of his Election 36 Of Mart-lane and Minchinlane 48 Of the Minories 51 Of St. Mary Spittle 67 Of Marchantaylors-Hall 73 Of St. Michael in Corn-hill 81. Of Mercers Chappel 116 Of Melitus Bishop of London 312 Of the ancient Monuments in Pauls Church 312 Of the Monuments in the Temple Church 334 Of the Marshalsey 339 The chief Monuments of Westminster 355 Of the Mewse 355 N. fol. A notable saying of Count Gundamar touching the Iesuites 9 Of Northumberland-House 57 A new Monument of a Porter in Cheape-side 115 Of Newgate and the Market thereof 317 Of the New Market in St. Clements Field 344 Of the City of Naples 387 O. fol. Otia Imperialia an ancient Book of Gervase of Tilberry 5 Of the Officers attending the Lord Mayor of London 38 Of the old Jury 120 Of the old Exchange 319 Of old Fishstreet-Hill 322 Of the Heralds Office 326 Of Old Burn or Holburn 327 Of the Old Baylie 330 Of the Clink 337 Of St. Mary Overy 338 Of St. Olaves 330 P. The Proeme 1 The Parallel 381 Of the Posterns about London 5 Of Pauls Church 7 Pauls Church built partly at first and now destroyed by the sins of the People 7 The passage of the Thames from her first Spring 12 The pittiful Speech of Queen Jane when beheaded 26 Divers priviledges given to the Lord Mayor of London 34 Provost Marshal given the City by Queen Elizabeth 35 The Prior of the holy Trinity at Aldgate once a great man in the Government of the City of London 39 Paris a Pick-purse 406 Of Portsoken-Ward 49 The famous Priory of the holy Trinity built by Queen Matilda 53 The Prior of the Holy Trinity alwayes an Alderman of London 53 Of Pawlet or Winchester House in Broad-street 72 Of St. Peter upon Corn-hill and of the ancient Table that hangs there 79 Of the Priory of St. Bartholomew 328 Of the priviledges of London 407 The Popes-head-Tavern a Kings Palace in times passed 81 Of the priviledges of the Styliard 98 Pauls Steeple and Church-fired 313 Parliament kept in Black Fryers 313 Of Puddle-Wharf 325 A Purchase made of much Lands in Southwark by the City of Edward the sixth 335 Of the Prisons in Southwark 339 Of the high Court of Parliament 356 Of the Common Pleas. 368 Of Palermo 387 Of Paris 391 Q. Of Queen Hith 322 Of the pious Queen Matilda 345 Of the most pious Queen Eleanor 356 Of the City of Quinzay call'd the Celestial City 383 R. Restitutus Bishop of London sâ—te at the Councel of Arles in Constantines
time 39 Of the Royal Exchange and the name given unto it by Queen Elizabeth with the Ceremonyes us'd 78 Of Robert Fabian the Chronicler 81 Of the Rolls and six Clerks Office 344 Of Rome 386 Rome eight times sack'd 386 Of the City of Roven 391 S. Of the publick Schools in London 31 Of the Sheriffs of London and their Election 37 The several Courts belonging to the City of London 38 Of the spiritual Government of London 39 Of Sydon lane vulgarly Sithinglane 48 Of the Shaft of St. Andrew 55 A strange accident happened in St. Michaels Church in Corn-hill 18 A strange Tomb found in St. Mary Hill Church 86 Of the Stock and Salt Fishmongers and their antiquity 89 Of the Stocks 84 Of the Steelyard or Guilda aula Teutonicorum 97 Of sweet Wines 102 Of the Standard in Cheap 115 A Shank-bone and Tooth of a marvellous bigness in St. Laurence Church 118 Of Sion Colledge 302 Of St. Martin le grand and the great priviledges it had 307 Of Smithfield 328 Of Southwark Ward 335 Of the Stew-houses allowed in times pass'd 337 Of the Suburbs of London 341 Of Suttons Hospital 343 The strange Iudgements fallen upon the Duke of Somerset for Sacriledge 343 Of the Savoy 347 Of the shape of London 406 T. Of the Tower of London 23 Of the Lyon Tower ibid. The Tower of London delivered to Lewis of France 24 The on the Britain first Bishop of London 39 Of Tower-street Ward 48 The Prerogatives of the Tower 48 Of the Tun a Prison in Cornhill in times passed now a Conduit 77 Of the Tower Royal. 103 The Tragical end of William Fitzosbert 109 Great Tryumph in Smithfield in times pass'd 329 The Templer Knight arraigned in London 333 Twenty particulars wherein the City of London may compare with any other City 385 V Of the Vintry Ward 101 The Vintners of old called Marchant-Vintners of Gascogne 103 The Lady Venetia Stanley hath a fair Monument in Christ-Church 311 Of the Upper Bench Court 363 Of Venice 386 Of Vienna 388 W. William the Conquerors Charter to the City of London 40 The Wardmore-Inquest a wholsome Constitution 39 Of the six and twenty several Wards of London 49 Westminster first called Thorney 80 Of Wat Tylar 81 Of Sir William Walworth and the manner of his knighting 91 Of Wallbrook Ward 83 Whittington four times Lord Mayor and thrice buried 103 The Weavers ancient Charter 123 Of Watling-street 318 Of Winchester-House 338 Of Wapping 341 Westminster and London compared 346 Of Westminster-Abbey with the History thereof 353 Of White-Hall 356 A witty Speech of Henry the 4th of France 391 A witty saying of Charles the Emperor in Epist. Of the Wardmote lâ—quest 394 A witty passage of Henry the Great of France 404 A witty saying of Count Gandamar of London 404 A Catalogue of Mr. Howels Works in several Volumes Printed by Mr. Humphrey Mosely 1. Mr. Howels History of Lewis the thirteenth King of France with the life of his Cardinal de Richelieu Fol. 2. Mr. Howels Epistolae Hoelianae familiar Letters Domestick and Forreign in six Sections partly Historical Political Philosaphical the first Volume with Additions Octavo 3. Mr. Howels New Volume of Familiar Letters partly Historical Political Philosophical the second Volume with many Additions Octavo 4. Mr. Howels third Volume of additional Letters of a fresher date never before published Octavo 5. Mr. Howels Dodona's Grove or the Vocall Forrest in Folio together with the second part in Folio never printed before 6. Mr. Howels Englands Teares for the present Warres 7. Mr. Howels pre-eminence and pedigree of Parliament in duodecimo in an answer to Mr. Pryn. 8. Mr. Howels Instructions and Directions for forrain Travels in Twelves with divers Additions for travelling into Turky and the Levant parts 9. Mr. Howels Votes or a Poem-Royal presented to his Majesty in Quarto 10. Mr. Howels Angliae Suspiria and Lachrymae in Twelves Tumulus Thalamus two Counter-Poems the first an Elegy upon Edward Earl of Dorset the second an Epithalamium to the Lord M. of Dorchester Parallels reflecting on the times A German Dyet or the Ballance of Europe wherein the power and weakness Glory and Reproach Vertues and Vices Plenty and Wants Advantages and Defects Antiquity and Modernness of all the Kingdoms and states of Christendom are impartially poiz'd by Iames Howel Esq Fol. Parthenopoeta or the History of the most Noble and Renowned Kingdom of Naples with the Lists of all their Kings the first part translated out of the Italian by Mr. Samson Lennard the second part continued to the present times 1654. by Iames Howel Esq More of Mr. Howels Works printed by other men THe great French Dictionary refined and augmented in a large Folio A Survey of the Signiory of Venice in Folio A Dialogue 'twixt the Soul and the Body The first part of the late Revolutions in Naples The second part of the said Revolutions The Warre of the Jews epitomiz'd Sir Robert Cottons works which he was desired to publish Saint Pauls Progresse upon Earth Some sober Inspections made into the Cariage and Consults of the late long Parliament A Venetian Looking-glasse A Winter Dream The Trance or Mercurius Acheronticus A Dialogue 'twixt Patricius and Peregrin An Inquisition after blood The Instruments of a King The late Kings Declaration in Latine French and English Bella Scoto Anglica or the Traversâ—s of Warr 'twixt England and Scotland Mercurius Hibernicus The Process and Pleadings in the Court of Spain for the Death of Mr. Ascham in Folio Londinopolis or a new Prospect of the City of London and Westminster Three of all which Books are Translations the rest his own Compositions * The prime Bridge in Venice