3 0 Ounce 4 0 The Carriage of Letters Outwards To Norembourgh Bremen Dantzick Lubeck Lipswick and other places of like distance Carriage paid to Hamburgh Single 1 0 Double 2 0 3 4 Oun. 3 0 Ounce 4 0 Paris Single 0 9 Double 1 6 Treble 2 3 Ounce 2 0 Dunkirk Ostend Lisle Ipers Cambrary Ghent Bruxels Bruges Antwerp and all other parts of Flanders Shâ—â—e Flushing Middleburgh Aâ—â—sterâ—am Rotterdam Delph Hague and all other parts of Holland and Zealand Single 0 8 Double 1 4 Treble 2 0 Ounce 2 0 All Merchants Accounts not exceeding a Sheet Bills of Eâ—change Invoices Bills of Lading shall â—e allowed without rate in the price of the Letters and also the Covers of the Letters not exceeding a Sheet to Mâ—rseilles Venice or Legorn towards Turkie The said Office is managed by a Deputy and other Officers to the Number of seventy seven persons who give their actual attendance respectively in the dispatch of the business Upon this Grand Office depends one hundred eighty two Deputy-Post-Masters in England and Scotland most of which keep Regular Offices in their Stages and sub-post-Sub-Post-Masters in their Branches and also in Ireland another General Office for that Kingdom which is kept in Dublin consisting of Eighteen like Officers and Forty-five Deputy post-Post-Masters The Present Post-Master-General keeps constantly for the transport of the said Letters and Pacquets Between England and France two Pacquet-Boats Flanders two Pacquet-Boats Holland three Pacquet-Boats Ireland three Pacquet-Boats And at Deal two Pacquet-Boats for the Downs All which Officers post-Post-Masters Pacquet-Boats are maintained at his own proper Charge And as the Master-piece of all those good regulations established by the present Post-Master-General for the better Government of the said Office he hath annexed and appropriated the Market-Towns of England so well to their Respective Post-Stages that there is no Considerable Market-Town but hath an easie and certain Conveyance for the Letters thereof to and from the said Grand Office in the due course of the Males every Post Though the Number of Letters Missive in England were not at all Considerable in our Ancestors days yet it is now so prodigiously great since the meanest People have Generally learnt to write that this Office is Farmed for above 40 rather 50000 l. a Year Of the PENNY-POST THis Ingenious Vndertaking being so extraordinary useful in the facilitating of Commerce and mutual Correspondence and consequently very serviceable to Traders c. shall be briefly handled and I hope that what proceeds from me who am no interessed Person will be resented Candidly and Examined as to the Argumentative part according to the Solidity and Strength of the Reasons produced I have heard this Undertaking disparaged by some Censorious Persons and have examined the Reasons with the quality of the Objectors and have found it all along opposed by none but the Ignorant or such as preferred some particular Ends before Publick Utility To my knowledge I never saw nor corresponded directly nor indirectly with any of the Undertakers till being very desirous to insert this Affair of the Penny-Post in this Book for Publick Information I made an Address to one of the Gentlemen concern'd who Courteously supply'd me with some particular Informations which I wanted and for which I am beholding to him This I speak to satisfie the Objectors that I do voluntarily and not by any inducement of theirs mention this Affair which in my opinion is so far from being a prejudice that the City as well as the whole Nation is beholding to them for their Ingenious Contrivance and their Constancy and Generosity in minding the Publick Good so much as they have done for 't is certain that they have been at very great Expence to hold it up under the Discouragements that some Persons have thrown upon them and the necessary Charge to support it is yet very considerable But to be more particular 1. I will give some Hints of what this Undertaking is in Point of Practice 2. It s general and particular Usefulness 3. I will consider an Objection or two 1. What I can say of this Undertaking in Point of Practice is briefly what follows only I would premise a few words as my opinion and the opinion of impartial Persons of my acquaintance as to the thing in general This useful Invention is little more than a year old being begun in April 1680. The chief Undertaker that introduc'd it into Practice is one Mr. William Dockwra Merchant a Native and Citizen of London formerly one of His Majesties Sub-Searchers in the Custom-House of London as in the List of those Officers appears A Person whose approved Reputation for Industry and Fidelity was well known to all for above ten years in that Office And to whom the Publick is obliged he having with his Partners spent much time and a great Sum of money to bring this Undertaking on foot wherein they encounter'd with no small Difficulties not only by Affronts and Indignities from the Vulgar sort who seldom weigh any Publick or Generous Designs but at the Beam of Little Selfish By-Ends but also by more dangerous Attaques for there have been Attempts made by some Persons to persuade his Royal Highness the Duke of York that it intrench'd upon the General Post-Office and damnifi'd it whereupon many Actions were brought and a chargeable Suit of Law follow'd But questionless the Duke is better inform'd now for it is most certain that this does much further the Revenue of the Grand Post-Office and is an universal Benefit to all the Inhabitants of these Parts so that whoever goes about to deprive the City of so useful a thing deserves no thanks from the Duke nor any Body else but to be Noted as an Enemy to Publick and Ingenious Inventions It is with all Humility submitted to the Consideration of all worthy Citizens that happen to peruse this small Tract that it becomes not the Honour of the City to suffer any of its Ingenious Natives especially Persons who have lived and do live in good Fashion and Repute to sink under the carrying on of an Undertaking so advantageous not only to the Publick but also to private Persons since their industrious Service to their Generation deserves encouragement from their Fellow-Citizens and all others viz. 1. To discountenance petty Persons that would for the profit of running of Errands rob the Community if they could of this more than ordinary convenience for safe cheap and necessary Dispatches 2. To reject any INTRUDER that may attempt to set up another Penny-Post because if the thing be hereafter profitable all the Reason and Equity in the world will plead for the Inventers viz. that they ought to reap the Benefit And it is a Note of Consideration That Mr. Dockwra has a numerous Family of eight young Children who being forsaken by some others soon after it began and left to shift for himself carried on this Undertaking singly for above half a year at his own proper charge and
Chamberlain of His Maiesties Houshold or by the Clerk of the Check In this Tower is kept the Office of His Majesties Ordnance the standing and grand Magazine of the principal Preparatives Habiliments Utensils and Instruments of War by Sea and Land It is under the Government in chief of the Master of the Ordnance by whom it is committed to principal Officers as a Lieutenant who in the absence of the Master of the Ordnance imparts all Orders and Warrants directed to the Office and is to see them duely executed and to give Order for the discharging great Ordnance when required at Triumphs Festivals c. As also to see the Train of Artillery and all its Equipage fitted for motion upon any occasion The Surveyor is to survey all the Stores and Ordnance to allow Bills of Debt and see that all Provision be good c. The Clerk of the Ordnance Records all Orders and Instructions for the Government of the Office and Patents Grants Names of Officers c. Draw Estimates of Provision and supplys Letters Contracts c. Make all Bills of Imprest and Debentures Keep Journals and Liegers of Receipts and Returns of Stores The Store-keeper takes into his charge the Munitions and Stores and is to look that the Store-houses be kept in due Repair The Clerk of the Deliveries is to draw all Proportions for Deliveries of any Stores or Provisions and to be present at the Delivery There are other Patent Officers as the Master-Gunner of England the Keeper of the small Guns a principal Engineer with divers inferior Attendants and Artificers which for brevity we omit In the Tower is also the Office of Warden of the Mint where is Coined all the Bullion that is minted in England The chief Officer is the Warder of the Mint who receives all the Silver and Gold brought in by Merchants Goldsmiths or others and pays them for it Then the master-Master-Worker who causes the Bullion to be melted delivers it to the Moneyers and when minted receives it again from them The Comptroller who is to see that all the Money be made according to the just Assize c. The Assay-Master weighs the Bullion and is to see that it be according to the Standard The Auditor passes all Accompts The Surveyor of the Melting is to see the Bullion cast out and not to be altered after it is delivered to the Melter There are several other inferior Officers c. As for the Money c. See the Present State of England p. 10. The first Gold that was Coined in the Tower was in the Reign of Edward III. and the Pieces were called Florences of the value of 6 s. 8 d. All great Sums before were used to be paid by the Weight as so many Pounds or Marks of Silver or Gold but not stampt Lesser Payments in Starlings probably because there was a Star stamped upon them and were called Pence nor can we read of them before the Reign of Henry II. In this Tower only is the Brake or Rack usually called The Duke of Exeter ' s Daughter because he was the first Inventer of it So much of the Tower of London Besides the Towers on the Bridge which have suffered by the Accidents of Fire Antiquaries speak of two Castles that were on the West-part of London one the Castle of Monfiquet built by a Baron of that Name that came over with the Conqueror but since demolished and the Black-Fryars risen out of the Ruines of it The second is Baynard's Castle by Paul's Wharf built by one Baynard who came hither likewise with the Conqueror who being Ennobled the Honour succeeded from Father to Son a long time till it came to Robert Fitz-water a brave and valiant Knight who falling into the displeasure of King John was banished and the Castle ruined but recovering his favor by a notable Combat he perform'd in France against an English Knight Fitz-water being on the French side he was re-invested in his Possessions and so repaired the Castle again He was made chief Bannerer or Banner-bearer of London what his Office was and the Solemnity about it is to be seen in Stowes Survey of London in the Chapter of Towers and Castles When thiâ— Honour fell from the Fitz-Waters or Baynard Castle is uncertain Henry VII repaired this Castle and Queen Mary was proclaimed there We reaâ— of a Tower that stood where Bridewell now stands and a Royal Palace where our Kings kept theâ— Courts and summon'd Parliaments A great parâ— of this on the West-side was given to the Bishop 〈◊〉 Salisbury and thence is derived the Name of Salisbury-Court The Eastern-part was waste till Hen. 〈◊〉 built a stately Palace there and call'd it Bridewelâ— where the Emperor Charles V. was most magnificently entertained Anno 1522. There was a Tower call'd the Royal Tower iâ— the Parish of St. Michael de Pater Noster wherâ— King Stephen kept his Court afterwards call'd Thâ— Queens Wardrobe There was another at Bucklerâ—bury called Serns Tower where King Edward II kept his Court and his Exchange of Money Barbican was likewise another Tower where thâ— City Centinels were wont to Watch but demolisheâ— by King Henry III. Anno 1227. after he was râ—â—conciled to the Barons Sect. 2. Of its Churches and Monuments THE Number of Parish-Churches besides Chapels within the Weekly Bills of Mortality is 132 twice more than any City in Christendom can shew The Cathedral of which is dedicated to the Apostle St. PAVL and the onely Cathedral of that Name in Europe It was founded by Aethelbert King of Kent Anno 610. under whom Segbert a Saxon Reigned in this Tract of Ground in a place where stood a Temple of Diana and afterwards did endow it with Lands and Privileges so did afterwards Athelstan Edgar and Eward the Confessor It was much enlarged by Erkenwald the Fourth Saxon Bishop thereof And being almost destroyed by Fire Anno 1078. Mauritius another of its Bishops began the Foundation of this magnificent Pile and went on about 20 years but the Quire and Tower were not finished till Anno 1221. As to other Casualties we refer you to the Chapter that treats of Fires As to its Dimensions the length of it according to Stow was 240 Taylors Yards or 720 Foot the Breadth 130 Foot the Heighth of the Steeple 520 Foot whereof the Stone Work was 260 and the Spire 260 Foot The Length of it according to others was 690 Foot that is 20 Foot more than St. Peters at Rome It stood upon so much Ground as contained above three Acres and an half Upon the Spire of Timber was a Bowl of Copper Gilt 9 Foot and 1 Inch in compass whereon stood the Cross 15 Foot and an half high and very near 6 Foot across made of Oak covered with Lead and another Cover of Copper over the Lead Above all stood the Eagle or Cock of Copper Gilt 4 Foot long and the Breadth of the Wings 3 Foot and an half It was built in Form of a Cross
Pedigrees and Coats of Arms. They were made a College or Corporation by Charter of King Richard the III. and by him had several Priviledges granted unto them as to be free from Subsidies Tolls and all troublesom Offices of the Kingdom Another Charter of Priviledges was granted unto the Society by King Edward the VI in the Third year of his Reign Of this Collegiate Society are three stiled Kings at Arms six called Heralds and four Pursuivants at Arms. The first and principal among the Kings at Arms is called Garter Instituted by King Henry the fifth whose Office as was said in the Section wherein the King's Court is treated of is to attend the Knights of the Garter at their Solemnities and to Marshal the Solemnities at the Funerals of the higher Nobility of England to advertise those that are chosen of their New Election to call on them to be Instalâ—ed at Windsor to cause their Arms to be hung up upon their Seats there to Carry the Garter to Kings and Princes beyond Seas for which purpose he was want to be joyn'd in Commission with some principal Peer of the Realm c. The next is Clarencieux so called from the Duke of Clarence to whom he first belonged For Lionel Third Son to Edward the Third Marrying the Daughter and Heir of the Earl of Vlster in Ireland had with her the honour of Clare in Thomond whereupon he was afterwards Created Duke of Clarence or the Territory about Clare which Dukedom Escheating to King Edward the Fourth by the Death of his Brother George Duke of Clarence he made this Herald who properly belonged to that Duke a King at Arms and named him Clarencieux in French and Clarentius in Latine His Office is to Marshal and dispose the Funerals of the Lower Nobility as Baronets Knights Esquires and Gentlemen on the South-side of Trent and therefore sometimes called Surroy or Southroy The Third King at Arms is Norroy or Northroy whose Office is to do the like on all the North-side of Trent These two are called Provincial Heralds England being divided by them into two Provinces These by Charter have power to visit Noblemens Families to set down their Pedigrees to distinguish their Arms to appoint men their Arms on Ensigns and with Garter to Direct the Heralds The Six Heralds antiently belonging properly to Dukes have been called Dukes at Arms and are thus called and Ranked 1. Windsor 2. Richmond 3. Chester 4. Somerset 5. York 6. Lancaster who now wait at Court attend Publick Solemnities Proclaim War and Peace c. Of these Heralds there are at present but Four who are named Rouge-Cross Rouge-Dragon Portcullice and Blew-mantle from such Badges heretofore worn by them as it is thought The Service of the whole College is used in Marshalling and ordering Coronations Marriages Christnings Funerals Interviews Feasts of Kings and Princes Cavalcades Shews Justs Tournaments Combats before the Constable and Marshal c. to take care of the Coats of Arms of the Genealogies of the Nobility and Gentry and whatsoever concerns Honour They all receive yearly Sallaries out of the Exchequer and are to be Gentlemen at least The Six Heralds are Expâ—esly made Esquires by the King when they are Created which is now done by the Earl-Marshal who hath a special Commission for every particular Creation which anciently was performed by the King himself For the Creating and Crowning Garter King at Arms there are provided a Sword and Book whereon to take a Solemn Oath then a Gilt Crown a Collar of SS's a Bowl of Wine which Bowl is the Fee of the New Created King also a Coat of Arms of Velvet richly Embroidered He is thus Created First he kneels down before the Earl-Marshal and laying his hand on the Book and Sword another King at Arms reads the Oath which being taken and the Book and Sword the Letters Patents of his Office are read during which the Earl-Marshal pours the Wine on his head giving him the Name of Garter then puts on him the Coat of Arms and Collar of SS's and the Crown on his head His Oath is To obey the Supream Head of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and then the Noble Knights of that Order in such things as appertain to his Office to inquire diligently what Notable or Noble Acts are performed by every Knight of the Order and certifie the same to the Register of the Order that he may Record it and to give Notice to the King and the Knights of the Order of the Death of any of that Society To have an exact knowledge of all the Nobility to instruct Heralds and Pursuivants in doubts concerning Arms and to eschew and avoid all persons of ill reputation to be more ready to excuse then to blame any Noble person unless called by Authority to Witness against them c. This Officer hath a Double Sallary that is twice as much as the other two Kings he hath Fees at Instalments yearly Wages given by the Knights of the Garter and their uppermost Garment when Installed c. The two Provincial Kings at Arms Clarencieux and Norroy are Created by Letters Patents a Book a Sword c. as Garter and with almost the same Ceremonies A Herald at Arms is Created with the like Ceremony but his Coat of Arms is to be Satin imbroidered richly with Gold he is brought in by two Heralds as a King at Arms is by two Kings at Arms. They take a Solemn Oath to be true to the King to be serviceable to Gentlemen to keep Secrets of Knights Esquires Ladies and Gentlewomen to assist distressed Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Widows and Virgins to avoid Taverns Dicing and Whore-Houses c. The Pursuivants at Arms are Created likewise by Letters Patents a Book a Bowl of Wine and a Coat of Arms of Damask and to be brought in as the Heralds before the Earl-Marshal or his Deputy to Swear Solemnly to be true to the King to be serviceable to all Christians to be Secret and Sober more ready to commend than to blame to be humble lowly c. This College felt the fury of the great Fire but is since very beautifully re-built by the Members and the bountiful contribution of Honourable Persons Here are always Officers waiting to satisfie Comers touching Descents Pedigrees Coats of Arms c. These Officers are the King 's Sworn Servants of which see the fourth Section of the third Chapter where we treated of the King 's Court. Inns of Courts The Colleges of Municipal or Common-Law-Professors and Students are Fourteen which may be not unfitly stiled an Vniversity where the Students of the Law and Practitioners thereof live not of common Stipends but by their Places or Practice or their own Proper Revenues or their Friend Exhibition for they are most commonly Gentlemen by Descent and it was the command of King James that none but such should be admitted because others may be prone to debase the honour of the Law and play tricks whereas the
all Stores belonging to Shipping to examine and audit Treasurers Victuallers and Score-keepers Accounts his Sallary is 500 l. yearly Surveyor of the Navy whose Office is Generally to know the state of all Stores and see the Wants supplyed to sind the Hulls Masts and Yards and estimate the Value of Repairs by Indenture to charge all Boat-swains and Carpenters of His Majesties Navy with what Stores they Receive and at the end of each Voyage to state and audit their Accounts his Sallary is 490 l. Clarks of the Acts whose Office is to Record all Orders Contracts Bills Warrants and other business transacted by the Principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy c. the Sallary of the Commissioners of the Navy is 500 l. yearly to each There are two Commissioners whose particular work is to be at Portsmouth and Chatham always in readiness to give Orders for the better Management of His Majesties Affairs in his Yards or Store-houses there Sallary to each is 350 l. Yearly Each of these Officers above-named have two Clarks and some of them more all paid by the Treasurer of the Navy all hold their places by Patent from the King and most of them during pleasure The King hath for his Navy Royal and Stores four great Yards or Store-houses viz. at Chatham Deptford Woolwich and Portsmouth where his Ships are Built Repaired and laid up after their Voyages In which yards are Employed Divers Officers whereof the six principal are Clerks of the Check Store-keeper Master Attendants two at Chatham Master-Shipwright Clark of the Control Clark of the Survey Note that the Charges of the Clarks and Instruments are included in the afore-mentioned Sallaries Besides these four Yards his Majesty hath divers Rope-Yards as at Chatham Woolwich and Portsmouth where are made all his Cables and Cordage for his Navy Also in time of Sea-War the King hath another Yard at Harwich where there is out of War time continued an Officer at the charge of 100 l. yearly The ordinary Charge of his Majesties Navy in times of Peace continuing in Harbour is so well regulated that it amounts to scarce 7000 l. Besides all Charges of Building of Ships c. or setting forth any Fleets which some years even in peaceable times amounts to 12 or 13000 l. more as may easily be conjectured by the Charges of Building and Rigging of Ships and of one Months expence at Sea Of the Post-Office THis Office is now kept in Lumbard-street formerly in Bishops-gate-street the Profits of it are by Act of Parliament settled on his Royal Highness the Duke of York But the King by Letters Patents under the great Seal of England constitutes the Post-Master-General From this General Office Letters and Packets are dispatched On Mondays To France Spain Italy Germany Flanders Sweedland Donmark Kent and the Downs On Tuesdays To Holland Germany Sweedland Denmark Ireland Scotland and all parts of England and Wales On Wednesdays To all parts of Kent and the Downs On Thursdays To France Spain Italy and all parts of England and Scotland On Frydays To Flanders Germany Italy Sweedland Denmark Holland Kent and the Downs On Saturdays All parts of England Wales Scotland and Ireland Letters are returned from all parts of England and Scotland certainly every Monday Wednesday and Friday from Wales every Monday and Fryday and from Kent and the Downs every day But from other parts more uncertainly in regard of the Sea A Letter containing a whole sheet of Paper is convey'd 80 Miles for 2 d. two sheets for 4 d. and an Ounce of Letters for 8 d. and so propoâ—tionably a Letter containing a sheet is conveyed above 80 Miles for 3 d. two sheets for 6 d. and every Ounce of Letters for 12 d. A sheet is conveyed to Dublin for 6 d. two for a shilling and an Ounce of Letters for 12 d. This Conveyance by Post is done in so short a time by night as well as by day that every 24 hours the Post goes 120 Miles and in five days an answer of a Letter may be had from a Place 300 Miles distant from the Writer Moreover if any Gentlemen desire to ride Post to any Principal Town of England Post-horses are always in readiness taking no Horse without the consent of his owner which in other Kings Reigns was not duly observed and only 3 d. is demanded for every English Mile and for every Stage to the Post-Boy 4 d. For conducting Besides this Excellent convenience of conveying Letters and Men on Horse-back there is of late such and admirable commodiousness both for Men and Women of better rank to travel from London and to almost all the Villages near this great City that the like hath not been known in the World and that is by Stage-Coaches wherein one may be transported to any place sheltred from foul Weather and foul ways free from endamaging ones Health or Body by hard jogging or over violent motion and this not only at a low price as about a shilling for every five Miles but with such velocity and speed as that the Posts in some Foreign Countries make not more Miles in a day for the Stage-Coaches called Flying-Coaches make forty or fifty Miles in a day as from London to Oxford or Cambridge and that in the space of twelve hours not counting the time for Dining setting forth not too early nor coming in too 〈◊〉 The several Rates that now are and have been taken for the Carriage of Letters Packquets and Parcels to or from any of His Majesties Dominions to or from any other parts or places beyond the Seas are as followeth that is to say s. d. MOrlaix St. Maloes Caen New-haven and places of like distance Carriage paid to Rouen Single 0 6 Double 1 0 Treble 1 6 Ounce 1 6 Hamburgh Colen Frankfort Carriage paid to Antwerp is Single 0 8 Double 1 4 Treble 2 0 Ounce 2 0 Venice Geneva Legorn Rome Naples Messina and all other parts of Italy by way of Venice Franct pro Mantua Single 0 9 Double 1 6 Treble 2 3 Ounce 2 8 Marseilles Smirna Constantinople Aleppo and all parts of Turky Carriage paid to Marselles Single 1 0 Double 2 0 3 4 Oun. 2 9 Ounce 2 8 And for Letters brought from the same places to England Single 0 8 Double 1 4 Treble 2 0 Ounce 2 0 The Carriage of Letters brought into England from Calice Diep Bulloign Abbeville Amiens St. Omers Montrel Single 0 4 Double 0 8 Treble 1 0 Ounce 1 0 Roven Single 0 6 Double 1 0 Treble 1 6 Ounce 1 6 Genoua Legorn Rome and other parts of Italy by way of Lyons Franct pro Lyons Single 1 0 Double 2 0 3 4 Ounce 2 9 Ounce 3 9 The Carriage of Letters Outwards To Bourdeaux Rochel Nants Orleans Bayon Tours and places of like distance Carriage paid to Paris Single 0 9 Double 1 6 Treble 2 3 Ounce 2 0 Letters brought from the same places into England Single 1 0 Double 2 0 3 4 Oun.