That they had forfeited a Bond of 9000 pounds to him besides their Liberties and Priviledges which Bond or Obligation they had formerly made to the King as a Confirmation of their Obedience and after the King had declared what new offences they had Committed he discharged the Mayor two Sheriffs and the rest of the Officers of their respective Offices and sent the Mayor and the two Sheriffs to a certain place there to be kept in Custody as his Prisoners divesting the City of London of all her Honours and Priviledges insomuch that a Citizen or Free-man should have no more Prerogative than a Forreigner or Stranger He also appointed the Lord Baleridge to be Governour thereof to keep and see kept the Kings Laws and his Leige-people within the City of London in due order until such time as the King had otherwise provided for them after which a day was set them to answer the King and his Council to certain Interrogatorys which was on the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen and the place affixed for that purpose was VVindsor In the mean while through the Mediation of such as were well-willers to the City the Kings Indignation was somewhat mittigated and pacified towards them insomuch that at length he released the Mayor and Sheriffs from their Confinements sending them home to their respective houses setting over the City notwithstanding a new Keeper or Governour reserving all the Priviledges and Liberties in his own hands In the mean time the Citizens consulting what was best to be done they at last agreed to submit themselves and all their Goods to the Kings mercy when upon the Assumption of the blessed Virgin all the Wealthy Citizens came to the King and submitted themselves accordingly insomuch that he speak friendly to them and began to receive them into favour On the VVednesday ensuing the King was purposed to come to London and the Citizens in great numbers came out to meet him on Horse-back and such as could not procure Horses went on foot to welcome him which they performed with Shouts and joyful Acclamations and not only men but likewise women and Children came flocking about him When he came near the City the Bishop of London with all the Clergy and Religious Persons of all Degrees whatsoever went out to meet him so that in that Procession there were said to be above 500 Boys in Surplices moreover the Citizens trimed the out-side of their houses and Chambers in every street through which the King and Queen were to pass as for the Houses of the wealthier sort they were bravely garnished with Cloth of Gold Silver Velvet and other Rich and sumptuous Stuffs In Cheapside there was a Conduit out of which two Spouts ran with red and white Wines and upon the Conduit stood a little Boy Appareled like an Angel having a Golden Cup in his hand in which he presented Wine to the King and Queen as they passed by In the mean time several Citizens presented the King with a Crown of Gold of great value as likewise another to the Queen and a while after they presented her with a Tablet of Gold with the Story of St. Ann Ingraven in it the which she most greatfully accepted and the rather by reason her own name was Ann as saith our Historian As likewise to the King a Golden Tablet of the blessed Trinity to the value of 800 pounds such so great and wondeful Honours did the Citizens of London to the King and Queen as the like before had been never done to any King or Queen of this Realm and so going forwards they brought the King and Queen to Westminster-Hall where the King placing himself upon his Throne and all his Nobles standing about him one in the Kings behalf as his Speaker gave the Citizens thanks for the great Honour they had done him and the Princely Presents which they had bestowed upon him and then they being commanded every man to fall to his business and that in the next Parliament they should have their final Answer they departed with great joy And thus far this Author makes his Report of what happened upon the afore-mentioned occasion After this Reconciliation by the means and methods before recited the Citizens followed their Imployments peaceably having several Grants and smunities added to the former as also when King Richard was Deposed by Henry Duke of Lancaster Son to John of Gaunt the Citizens by siding with the Conqueror preserved their Charter and Liberties as likewise during his Reign who took the Rule of the Kingdom upon him by the Name of Henry the 4th After him succeeded his Son Henry the Fifth into whose favour the Citizens highly Ingratiated themselves dealing likewise faithfully with his Son Henry the Sixth till such time as Edward the Fourth became Conqueror at which time they neglected him as thinking it safest to sail with the Wind of Power During his Reign they continued peaceable having many of their former Charters and Grants confirmed though not without considerable summs of money on the parts of the City King Richard the Third being a Usurper was obliged to make the Citizens his Friends for the better support of his Dignity so that they lived quietly during his Reign as also during the Reign of King Henry the Seventh but in the Ninth year of Henry the Eighth these following Disturbances happened The City of London being greatly Infested with Strangers who notwithstanding the Priviledges and Charters granted did use all manner of Handicrafts and had such Licenses to vend their Manufactures that the Citizens were greatly Impoverished nor was that all for they being Imboldened by relying upon the favour of the Courtiers openly abused the Citizens not only with reproachful words but likewise by Stroaks and amongst the rest one Francis D'Bard a Lumbard causing a Citizens Wife to convey her Husbands Plate and other Goods to his house he there kept her and would by no means restore her although an Action was brought against him These and such like matters stirred up the Citizens Indignation against the Strangers but above all one John Lincoln a Broaker who having drawn up a Bill of Grievances with it he went to Dr. Standish and desired him to read it in his Pulpit at the Spittle he being to Preach there on the Munday in Easter-Week but he like a Wise Man and good Subject considering of what evil consequence it might prove refused it upon which Lincoln went to Dr. Bele who was to Preach there on the Tuesday and so prevailed with him that he openly read it the Contents being these The Substance of the Bill of Complaint Read by Dr. Bele at the SPITTLE TO all you the VVorshipful Lords and Masters of this City that will take Compassion on the poor People your Neighbours as also of the great and insufferable Hurts Losses and Hindrances whereof proceedeth the extream poverty to all the Kings Subjects that inhabit within this City and the Suburbs thereof for so it is that the
THE FORFEITURES OF Londons Charter Or an Impartial Account of the SEVERAL SEISURES OF THE City Charter Together with the Means and Methods that were used for the Recovery of the same with the Causes by which it came forfeited as likewise the Imprisonments Deposing and Fining the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs since the Reign of King Henry the Third to this present Year 1682. Being faithfully collected out of Antient and Modern Historys and now Seasonably Published for the satisfaction of the Inquisitive upon the late Arrest made upon the said Charter by Writ of Quo Warranto Printed for the Author and are to be Sold by Daniel Brown at the Black-Swan and Bible without Temple-Bar and Thomas Benskin in St. Brides-Church-Yard 1682. Since the Charter was granted to the Antient and Famous City of London by William the Conqueror Henry the Second and other Kings of this Realm we find several Inspections have been made into it and that at sundry times the Priviledges and Charter of the said City hath been taken away and suspended The Historical Relation of which as it is Recorded by the most Authentick of our English Writers Being now thought seasonable and useful is intended to be the Subject of this Treatise TO begin at the 50 year of the Reign of Henry the Third Anno Dom. 1265. Upon the Citizens taking part with the Earl of Leicester and the Barons against the King after the said Earl was Slain at the Battle of Eversham and the King again was restored to his Royal Dignities he began to call to mind how the Citizens had shut their Gates against him and succour'd his Enemies so that calling a Parliament at Westminster about the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in the year aforesaid all the Statutes that had been made by the Parliament the Barons had Assembled at Oxford were Repealed and also all such as had favoured the Barons and were as then either in Prison or abroad should be disinherited It was also ordain'd and passed the Assent of both Houses that many of the Wealthiest Citizens of London should be cast into Prison and the City should be deprived of the Liberties and Priviledges that had been formerly granted and confirmed to them as likewise that all the Chains and Posts should be pulled up and taken away thereby to leave the Streets fenceless c. This was no sooner Enacted but put in Execution for the chief Citizens were Arrested and committed to Ward within the Castle of Windsor till they should pay such Fines as were demanded which was 300 pounds a peice at least whereupon the Liberties of the City pursuant to the said Act were suspended and the Tower of London fortified with Outworks for its better Security as likewise such Posts and Chains as had been brought out of the City were placed about the Defences in nature of Barracado's not long after another Parliament was called at Westminster wherein a great number of such as had been aiding to the Barons had their Lands confiscated which Lands the King no sooner seized but he gave them to such as had faithfully served him in the Wars so that a considerable number as well of Citizens as others were obleiged to Compound with such as had the Donation bestowed upon them Upon these and such like proceedings of the King the Londoners thought it their safest way to submit to the Kings Mercy and after long attendance and at the incessant Intreaties of such Noble Persons at Court as they could make their Friends they obtained a Pardon though many of the Commoners refused to joyne with the Mayor and Aldermen and other Wealthy Citizens therein being rather inclined to stand it out and held several Debates about defending the City against the King but their Resolutions in that affair were by most of the wisest sort held as pernicious and dangerous to the Peace and Tranquility of the Nation The reason that induced them to such obstinacy as most conjecture was because the City at that time was Inhabited by sundry Nations who during the Intestine Broils had been admitted as Citizens to defend the same but in the end all those Debates and Consultations came to no effect for when every Man had spent his Verdict it was thought the safest way to submit to the Kings Pleasure and consent to what he should think fit upon which Submission and a Fine of 20000 Marks the King received them again into his Favour and ordered that such Lands Houses and other things as had been Confiscated and not disposed of should be restored again to the Owners After which he did not deliver them the possession or keeping of the City as formerly but placed Sir Othon as Custos or Guardian of the same who was also Constable of the Tower he likewise chose to be Bayliffs or as they are now called Sheriffs John Adrian and Walter Henery Citizens The King proceeded yet farther and compelled the most substantial amongst them to give their Sons as Pledges or Hostages thereby to prevent any Revolt for the future which Pledges or Hostages he caused to be kept in the Tower of London and maintained at the Cost of their Parents as likewise by advice of his Counsel he constituted a Captain in every County now called by the name of Lord Lieutenant to suppress any Rebellion that might arise upon the distast of the unruly multitude The King having all this while continued in the City the better to have an Eye upon and keep in awe such as upon the aforementioned occasions were ever now and then ready to make Insurrections and upon his departure ordained Sir John Lind and John Waldren Governours in his Absence by the Names of Seneschals or Stewards but such earnest Suits were made by the Londoners to obtain a free Pardon that in the end after the said Guardians or Governours had taken sufficient Security for the payment of the Fine of 20000 Marks the King granted them his Charter of Pardon under the Great Seal and sent it them wherein he freely remitted and pardoned all Trespasses and offences that had been committed by them during the War only the Lands Houses Goods and Persons which he had given to Prince Edward his Eldest Son were excepted This Charter of Pardon and Restauration of the Cities Liberties Priviledges and Immunities was dated at Northampton in the 50 Year of his Reign Anno Dom. 1266. upon which the Senescal was discharged and the Citizens chose then for Mayor William Fitz Richards and for Sheriffs Thomas de la Fourd and Gregory de Rocksledge and had the mannagement of the City intire as ever so that Trade began to flourish and the Companies began to Incorporate but this happiness lasted not long for in the 52 year of the said King Henry the Third Anno Dom. 1267. The King being absent in the Country the Earl of Gloucester taking great displeasure for that he might not have his Will as well for Banishing of Strangers as for Restitution to
be made unto such as had been disherited he began to raise new Tumults for having raised a great power in the Marches of Wales he came directly for London pretending at first as if he came to aid the King in his intended War with France upon which plausible pretence he obtained leave of the Mayor and Citizens to pass through the City into Southwark where he Encamped and shortly after Sir John de Evilli came and joyned him with about 2000 Horse and Foot upon which and some other Actions that had happened the Mayor caused the Bridge and Water-side to be guarded Day and Night with such Forces as could be raised and the Draw-bridge to be drawn up every Night but within a while the Earl used the Matter so that he was permitted to Lodge within the City with a considerable number of his men and getting into favour with such as bore most sway he by degrees got all his Army to Quarter there and having thus taken possession he got the Keys of all the Gates and set a Guard of his own men to Watch them upon which the Popes Legate who had fled to the Tower for safety came out and exhorted the Earl to desist his Rebellious Practises but in vain for the Earl not only commanded him to return from whence he came but likewise gave strict charge to such as kept the Guard on that side that no Provision should be permitted to be carried into the Tower notwithstand about 2000 persons were got into it resolving to defend it for the King till such time as he Arived with such Forces as he had gathered in Cambridge-shire and other places adjacent Upon the great abuses that were at that time used towards Strangers a considerable number of Jews with their Wives and Children got likewise into the Tower and had one quarter of at assigned them to defend which they did very Manfully so that many of the Londoners fearing new Insurrections might be occasioned by such proceedings went out of the City and carried with them the greatest part of their Substance and what they left behind them was seized by the Earls command who suffered his Men to spoil it at pleasure The greater part of the Commons of the City took part with the Earl which highly offended the King and the more for that they being as it were without Government tumultuously Assembled at Guild-hall and there chose for their Mayor Sir Richard de Colworth and for Bayliffs Robert de Linton and Roger Marshal discharging the Sheriffs of their Places Offices and Trusts contrary to the desires and endeavours of the more Moderate and Judicious part of the Citizens and carrying on their outrages yet farther they forc'd divers Aldermen and chief Citizens to Prison without Law or Process and having them in safe Custody went to their Houses where they not onely defaced them but took their Goods and spoyled them under a pretence of Sequestration as likewise all that had been Imprisoned within the City Prisons upon the Quarrel of the Barrons they set at Liberty Whilst these tumultuous Actions were at London the King lay at Cambridge with a considerable Army to hinder the Rovers that had fortified the Isle of Ely from making Incursions on that side notwithstanding they committed many outrages being emboldened so to do by reason of the London Tumults as well knowing they would oblige the King to draw off his Forces and such of them as were not intercepted by the Kings Forces frequently came to joyne with the Earl doing great Mischiefs by the way by whose assistance the Earl being much encouraged undertook to assail the Tower which held for the King in which was the Popes Legate and a great number of Armed men as is before recited upon the first News of which attempt the King dislodged his Army and Marched towards London but finding his Power too weak he was obliged to sell his Plate and Jewels to raise more Forces whereupon he sent Prince Edward and others into France and Scotland to raise them and again retired to Cambridge where he continued till the Prince came to him with an Army of 30000 Scots and French The King upon this Recruit leaving a sufficient power at Cambridge to defend those parts from the Rovers advanced with all diligence towards London resolving to give the Earl Battle if he durst leave the City to meet him sending a Herauld to give him notice of his intent When he was come to Windsor he there Encamped the better to inform himself how affairs stood in the City and how the people stood inclined not wanting many Loyal persons there to give him secret Intelligence what happened from time to time he had not long stayed at Windsor but his Army daily encreased which made Gloucester and his Party begin to doubt of the promised Success with which they had flattered themselves and thereupon were very desirous of Peace but the King would not hearken to their Proposals whereupon they appointed to give him Battle upon Houndslow-heath but the King coming thither with his whole Army at the day appointed found that they had altered their resolutions no person being there to oppose him after he had stayed some time and understood by his Scouts that no Army approached he set forwards towards London and wheeling about brought his whole Army to Stratford where he gave command they should Encamp In the mean while a Party of the Rebels that Quartered in Southwark went to Westminster where they dēstroyed the Church and much defaced the Abby then coming to the Kings Pallace and finding it disserted they broke open the Gates and plundered it breaking all the Windows and defacing the Images or Statues scarce forbearing to set it on Fire they likewise Robbed several other great Houses about London As the King lay thus Encamped at Stratford there came to him from beyond the Sea the Earls of Bullogne and St. Paul with 2000 Men at Armes also there Arived in the Thames a Fleet of great Ships with a considerable Supply of Gascoines which lay before the Tower waiting the Kings command to oppose whose Landing Gloucester drew Trenches and raised Bullworks but when no Man hoped for Peace by the mediation of the King of Almaigne the Lord Philip Basset and others the King consented to a Treaty wherein the Ordinance of Killingworth was in all points observed and in that Treaty of Peace the Londoners were comprehended and taken into favour upon condition that they forthwith payed 1000 Marks to the King of Almaigne for the Burning his House at Thisleworth and the Officers that had been displaced during the Tumults to be restored to their respective Trust and such as had been wrongfully Imprisoned to take their course at Common-Law against so many of the offendors as they could Learn were concerned therein In the 51 year of the Reign of Edward the third Anno Dom. 1377 the Duke of Lancaster using the Kings Authority directed Warrants to all the Lords and
Barrons Knights and Burgesses that 15 days after St. Hillary they should be present at London there to Assemble in Parliament to adjust matters appertaining to the Publick Wee l of the Kingdom to this Parliament came Richard of Burdaux Son to Edward the black Prince and Grand-Child to the King accompanyed with a great number of Knights and Gentlemen and was received by the Londoners after the best manner being presented with many Rich Gifts as likewise his Uncle the Duke of Lancaster seemed to Honour him above the rest placeing him in the Chair of State and advised him to demand that they would give the King two Tenths in one year or else of all the Merchandice that were sold in England for one year 12 pence of every pound of every fire-Fire-House one Penny and of every Knights Fee one Pound of Silver which demands the Duke earnestly Prosecuted saying they of necessity must grant one of these Points for that the Enemies had Proclaimed War and would suddainly Invade the Realm upon which the Parliament desired time to debate the matter when as the day appointed for delivering their Opinions was come one Mr. Hungerford was elected to deliver their Opinions who had been if at that time he was not the Dukes Steward though some were of Opinion that Sir Peter de la Moor was the fittest Man on that occasion but these latter being few in number they prevailed nothing Whilst these things were doing the Duke proceeded yet farther and demanded a Subsidy of the whole Clergy which so thoroughly netled the Bishops that they mightily opposed it but the Duke consulting with one Wicliffe who greaaly Inveighed against the Clergy he affirmed that it was lawful not only for the King but for Temporal Lords to take the Goods of Clergy-men towards their Subsistance if necessity required it the better to effect this by pleasing the Bishops he Treated with the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to call a Convocation which was accordingly done and William Wickam Bishop of Winchester who had been Banished several Miles from Court was by the Dukes order brought there to this Convocation it was ordained that the aforesaid Wicliffe should appear to answer for his spreading his Doctrine throughout the City and in other places as likewise giving his Opinion to the Duke in prejudice to the Clergy and that being Tryed and Convicted for the same he should undergo such Penaltys as that Assembly should think fit And on the 15 of February in the year aforesaid the Convocation being Assembled he was brought forth by the Dukes command and as he came he was greatly annimated by such of his followers as had embraced his Doctrine and Councelled neither to fear the Bishops nor the great concourse of People seeing not only the Duke but likewise all the Nobillity present were his Friends when he came into our Ladys Chapple in St. Pauls Church Henry Peircy chief Marshal of England willed him to sit down and in a manner compelled him so to do saying that he had much to answer and therefore ought to sit upon which the Bishops were highly offended the Bishop of London in the name of all the rest alledging that since he was come as a Criminal to answer before his ordinary to such things as should be objected against him he ought to shew more Respect and Reverence to the Convocation The Duke being present and hearing the words of the Bishop began sharply to reprehend him Swearing that he would pull down not only his Pride but that of all the Bishops in England and added that although he Trusted in his Parents they could profit him nothing to which the Bishop replyed that he neither Trusted in his Parents nor in the Life of any Man but in God only in whom he ought to trust This last answer so Inraged the Duke that he Whispring the Bishop softly told him he would rather draw him out of the Church by the Hair of the Head then suffer such things at his Hands The Londoners who were all this while waiting in Crouds without hearing how the Duke had threatned their Bishop gave a Loud Shout Swearing that they would rather loose their Lives then any violence should be offered to their Bishop in his own Church and that which heightened their Fury the more was that the Duke being President in Parliament where the day before it was requested in the Kings name that from that day forwards there should be no more Mayor of London but that a Captain should be appointed and that the Marshal of England as well in the City as in other places might Arrest such as offended with many other things which were mannifestly against the Libertys of the City The Morrow after the Londoners Assembled themselves to take Councel what they should do in such a strait they were like to fall into in case a Captain should be chosen they concluing their Liberties must be no longer continued especially if the Marshals Office extended it self within their Jurisdiction and farther they argued what might be done in Reperation of the affront or Injury put upon their Bishop and whilst they were debating these matters and differing in Opinions about coming to a conclusion what to do the Lord Fitz Walter and Sir Guidio Brian entered the City whether to know their minds or otherwise is uncertain but the unruly Multitude construing things in the worst Sense were hardly restrained from falling upon them nor had they escaped the Hands of the Multitude had not they Sworn they came not in the least to perjudice the City when having no soonor obtained belief and pacified the Rabble but the Lord Fitz Walter stood up and made an Oration the effects of which was that whereas he being by Antient Inheritance Standard Bearer to the City was to take Injuries offered to them as to himself and thereupon willed them to look to their Defence He had no sooner ended but they run to their Arms every one taking what came next to hand and in a great rage went to the Inn where the Marshal lay breaking open the Doors and searching all parts of the House where they imagined he might be but not finding him they brought out a Prisoner whom they found there in Fetters and set him at Liberty and then went to other places in Quest of the Marshal but found him not for that day he and the Duke Dined with one John of Ipre of which they were Ignorant but they supposed at least to have found them at the Savoy and thereupon many of them came with all expedition thither in the mean while one of the Dukes Servants advertized his Lord what had happened and advised him to Shift for his safety whereupon in a great Fright he left his Provision and Fled by Water to his Mannor at Kennington where finding the Princess and the Young Prince viz. Richard of Burdeaux Son to Edward the Black Prince he related what had happened and grievously complained against the Insolency of the