to run away withdraw or absent himself the Sheriff may arrest the Defendant by his Body or Goods as a Foreigner c. When a Debtor in the said City is bound by Obligation in a certain sum to be paid at a certain time to come the which Debtor was held sufficient at the time when he was bound and after is become Fugitive or not sufficient then if the Creditor come before the Mayor and Sheriffs of the said City making such a suggestion and hath with him six or four credible Freemen of the same City that will truly testifie that the Debtor will withdraw and Convey his Goods out of the City or that he is not sufficient to make Payment then the Mayor or one of the Sheriffs before whom the Suggestion is made useth to Arrest the Debtor although the Day contained within the Obligation be not yet come and to keep the same Debtor in Prison untill the Day of Payment be come or otherwise that he shall find Pledges to attend at the same Day and so to Arrest for House-hire before the Day if the Tenant be Fugitive If a Free-man of the City find his Debtor suddenly within the same City which Debter hath absented himself before or that he be Fugitive City-Law pag. 105. and the which Debtor will Escape away before that the Creditor can have an Officer the usage is in such Case that the Free-man himself with aid of his Neighbours without other Officer may Arrest his Debtor and carry him to the Office of one of the Sheriffs and there make his Suit as the Law requires A Brief Account of the Courts held in this Honourable City THe highest and most ancient Court in this famous City is that called the Hustings a Saxon Word Hus signifying a House and Sthing or Thing a Cause or Plea so that it is Domus Causarum a House of Causes or Pleas or Pleadings This Court preserves the Laws Rights Franchises and Customs of the City There be handled the the Intricatest Accounts and Pleas of the Crown and of the whole Kingdom It is of great Antiquity the Laws of Edward the Confessour much referring to it where may be read these words Debet enim in London quae caput est Regni Legum semper Curia Domini Regis singulis septimâ—nis die Lunae Hustingis sedere teneri c. That is The Court of our Lord the King ought to sit and be held every Week on Monday at the Hustings in London which City is the head of the Kingdom and Laws c. But now it is held on Tuesdays in the Guild-Hall of London before the Lord Mayor Sheriffs and Aldermen every Week All the Lands and Tenements Rents and Services within the City and Liberties are pleaded there in two Hustings one is called Husting de placito terrae Husting of Plea of Land the other de Communibus placitis of Common-Pleas It is held on Monday to Demand the Demandants and to award Non-suites to allow Essoynes and on Tuesday to award the Default and Plead For certain times no Hustings may be held by Custom of the City viz. Husting of Plea of Land ought to be held a Week by it self at the aforesaid days but the Inrollments and Titles of the said Hustings make mention of Monday only In Husting of Plea of Land are Pleaded Writs of Right Patents Directed to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London which Writs have this process by Custom of the City viz. The Tenant or Tenants shall first have three Summons at the Tenements Demanded at three Hustings of Plea of Land next ensuing after the Livery of the Writ and of the Hustings without Demanding the Tenements at any aforesaid And after the three Summons ended three Essoynes at three other Hustings of Plea of Land then next ensuing and at the next ensuing after the third Essoyne and the Tenants making Default Process shall be made against them by a Grand cape or petit cape after the appearance and other Process at the Common-Law And if the Tenants shall appear the Demandants shall Count against the Tenants in the Nature of what Writ they will except certain Writs which are Pleadable in Husting of Common-Pleas c. without making Protestation to see in the Nature of any Writ And the Tenants shall have the view and shall be Essoyned after the view as at the Common-law And the Tenant shall have an Essoyn after every appearance by Custom of the City And although that such a Writ be abated after the view by exception of Joynt-Tenancy or other exception Dilatory or other such Writ be â—evived the Tenants by the Custom of the City shall have the view in the second Writ Notwithstanding the view before had And if the parties plead to Judgment the Judgment shall be pronounced by the Recorder and six Aldermen at least were wont to be present at the giving of every such Judgment Every Beadle of the City by the advice of the Alderman of his Ward against every Hustings or Plea of Land shall Summon Twelve Men Freeholders being the best and most sufficient of his Ward to come to Guild-Hall for to pass in an Inquest if there be need for the rest of the Free-holders of the said Ward And if the parties plead and descend to an Inquest then shall the Inquest be taken of the People Inheritors having at the least Frank-Tenement of the same Ward where the Tenements are and other three Wards next to the place where the Tenements are so that four sufficient men of the same Ward where the Tenements are shall be sworn in the same Inquest if there be so many No Damages by Custom of the City are recoverable in any such Writ of Right Patent and the Inquest may pass the same day by such common Summons of the Beadle if the parties be at Issue and the Jurors come Otherwise Process shall be made to cause the Inquest to come at another Husting of Plea of Land ensuing by Precept of the Mayor directed to the Sheriffs who shall be Ministers by the Commandment of the Mayor to serve the Writs and to make Execution thereof notwithstanding that the Original Writ be directed to the Mayor and Sheriffs Joyntly And it is to be understood that as well the Tenants as the Demandants may make their Attorneys in such Pleas c. See City-Law p. 46. c. In the Hustings of Common-Pleas are Pleadable Writs called ex gravi querela for to have Execution of the Tenements out of the Testaments which are Inrolled in the Hastings Writs of Dower unde nihil habet Writs of Gavelkind and Custom and of Service Instead of a Cessavit Writs of Error of Judgments given before the Sheriffs Writs of Waste Writ de Partitione facienda between Co-partners Writs of quid Juris clamat and per quae â—ervitiâ— and others which Writs are close and directed to the Mayor and Sheriffs and also Replegiaries of things taken and of Distresses wrongfully taken are
And by Charter of Ed. 6. The Lord Mayor Recorder and Aldermen that are Justices of the Peace in London are to be Justices of the Peace in Southwark All Forfeited Recognizances about Ale-houses Inmates Bastard Children Appearance at Sessions of Goal-Delivery Fines and Issues of Jurors except Fines or Issues Royal c. Granted to the City by Charter of King Charles 1. Chart. 1. That no Aliens are to keep Houses in London nor be Brokers by Charter of E. 3 ch 5. That no Citizen shall wage Battel H. 1. H. 2. R. 1. ch 1. John ch 1. H. 3. ch 4. ch 9. No Stranger is to buy Goods before they be weighed by the King's Beam H. 3. ch 9. The Inhabitants of Black-Fryers to be exempted from Taxes and Fifteenths King James ch 2. By Letters Patents of King Henry the VIII Dated at Westminstor Jan. 13. In the 28 th Year of his Reign he did give and grant unto the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors the Keeping Ordering and Governing of the House and Hospital called Bethlehem situate without and near Bishops-gate and all Mannors Lands Tenements Possessions Revenues and Hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever lying and being belonging or appertaining unto the said Hospital or House called Bethlem and Made and Constituted by the same his Letters Patents these the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors Masters Keepers and Governours of the said House and Hospital called Bethlem and of the said Mannors Lands Tenements and other premisses belonging to the same House or Hospital to have hold and enjoy the said Custody Order and Government of the said House or Hospital called Bethlem c. for ever c. London is by King James Char. 3. stiled his Royal Chamber who not only confirmed the Charters of his Predecessors but did give grant and confirm unto the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of London and to their Successors the weighing of all Coals called Stone-Coals weighable Earth-Coals and all other Coals weighable of what kind soever in or at the said Port of London coming or brought up the said River of Thames in any Ship Boat or Barge or other Vessel whatsoever floating or being in any Port of the same Water of Thames and upon whatsoever Bank Shore or Wharf of the same Water of Thames from the Bridge of Stanes to London-Bridge and from thence to a place called Yendal or Yenland towards the Sea For which the Duties Payable to the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens c. is Eight pence for every Tunn none is to unlade Coals till the Mayor has Notice and of the quantity because the Mayor c. should be capable at any time when required to inform His Majesty c. what quantity of Coals of what sort soever from time to time is brought into the City c. and how the City and Adjacent places are supplied No Markets of Coals to be in any Boats Lighters or other Vessel whatsoever except in the Ship that first brought in the Coals no Forestalling Ingrossing Regrating upon pain of incurring such Pains and Punishments as the Law provides for contemners and neglecters of Royal Mandates By Charter of Ed. IV. ch 4. In consideration of 7000 l. c. was granted to the Mayor c. the Offices or Occupations of Packing all manner of Woollen Cloaths Sheep-Skins Calves-Skins Goat-Skins Vessels of Amber and all other Merchandizes whatsoever to be Packed Tunned Piped Barrelled or any wise to be included with the oversight of opening all manner of Customable Merchandizes arriving at the Port of Safety as well by Land as by Water within the Liberties and Franchises of the said City and Suburbs c. And alsâ— the Office of Carriage and Portage of all Woolâ— Sheep-Skins Tynn-Bails and other Merchandizes whatsoever which shall be carryed in London from the Water of Thames unto the Houses of Strangers and contrariwise from the said Houses to the same Water or of other Merchandizes which ought to be carryed being in any House for a time And also the Office c. of Garbling of all manner of Spices and other Merchandizes coming to the said City at any time which ought to be Garbled Also the Office of Gager Office of Wine-Drawers c. to be exercised by them or their Deputies The Office of Coroner to beat the Mayors c. disposal Severed them from the Office of Chief-Butler c. Witness the King at Westminster the 20 th of June Anno Regni 18. By Charter of E. III. ch 1. It is granted thus Whereas in the Great Charter of the Liberties of England it is contained that the City of London may have all their antient Liberties and Customs and the same Citizens at the time of the making of the Charter from the time of Saint Edward King and Confessor and William the Conqueror and of other our Progenitors had divers Liberties and Customes as well by the Charters of those our Progenitors as without Charter by Antient-Customs whereupon in divers the Circuits and other the Courts of our said Progenitors as well by Judgments as by Statutes were Invaded and some of them Adjudged We Will and Grant for us and our Heirs that they may have the Liberties according to the Form of the above-said Great Charter and that Impediments and Usurpations to them in that behalf made shall be revoked and Annulled c. That the Mayor be one of the Justices of Goal-Delivery of Newgate and to be Named in every Commission thereof to be made That the Citizens may have Infangtheft This is a Saxon word signifying a Liberty Granted to certain Lords of Mannors to Judge any Thief taken within their Fee And Outfang-theft that is a Liberty Granted to the Lord to try any Thief taken out of his Fee and Chattels of Felons of all those which shall be Adjudged before them within their Liberties c. Citizens may Devise Lands in London in Mortmain or otherwise Merchant Strangers to Sell Goods within Fourty Days and may not keep Houses but are to be with Hosts that is Lodgers The KING 's Marshall Steward or Clerk of the Market of the King's Houshold may not Sit within the City Liberties No Citizen is to be drawn to Plead without the Liberties of the City about any thing that happens within the Liberties thereof No Escheator may Exercise that Office in the City but the Mayor for the time being is to do it Citizens to be Taxed in Subsidies as other Commoners not as Citizens To be quit of all Tallages this word is derived from the French word Taille a piece cut out of the whole signifying the paying a part or share of a Mans substance by way of Tribute Tax or Toll and that the Liberty of the said City shall not be taken into the hands of us or our Heirs for any Personal Trespass or Judgment of any Minister of the said City Neither shall a keeper in the said
Re-built about the Reign of Henry the V. or Edward the IV. one of the Pophams was a great Builder there namely of one Fair Chappel on the South-side of the Quire as appeareth by his Arms there c. Here are divers Monuments There has been much money spent in Repairs upon this Church In it there is an Excellent Organ and a very good Ring of Bells It is in Farringdon-Ward-without XV. Anno 1552. The Citizens of London having purchased the void suppressed Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark in the Month of July began the Reparations thereof for Poor Impotent Lame and Diseased People so that in November next following the Sick and Poor People were taken in The Church of this Hospital remaineth as a Parish-Church for the Inhabitants thereabout by the Name of St. Thomas Southwark The Steeple was Repaired New Leaded and from the Ground to the Top Coated with a Beautiful Rough-Cast and Inriched with a very Fair Turret in the Year 1633. It is in Bridge-Ward-without XVI In Portsoken-Ward is the small Parish-Church called Trinity Minories there was first a Monastery of Nuns of the Order of Sancta-Clara called the Minories Founded by Edmond Earl of Lancaster Leicester and Derby Brother to Edward the I. Anno 1293. Which was Demolished in King Henry the Eighths Thirtieth Year Anno 1539. There were built Store-Houses for Armour and other Martial Habiliments with divers Work-Houses for that purpose and near it this Church for the Inhabitants who at several times Repaired and Beautified it In the Body of this Church is a Monument with this Inscription Vivere Cornices multos dicuntur in annos Cur vos Angusta conditione sumus We shall now proceed to the out Parishes in Middlesex and Surrey I. As to Christ's-Church we refer the Reader to another place where he shall have a fuller account than we can give here II. The Parish-Church of St. John at Hackney is an antient and handsom Church and kept in good Repair there are divers Monuments in it but our Discourse being Principally of the City of Londoâ— it cannot be expected that we should enlarge much more than the bare mention of generals having things much more Material that require our dispatch But the Fair Parish-Church of III. St. Giles in the Fields is a very Neat and well built Parish-Church in a handsom Church-Yard It was formerly an Hospital Founded by Queen Matilda Wife to King Henry the I. about the Year 1117. at which Prisoners convey'd from London to Tyburn to be Executed were presented with a great Bowl of Ale thereof to Drink at pleasure as to be their last Refreshing in this Life In this Church are several Monuments It began to be Raised a New Anno 1623 and was Finished in two Years and incompass'd with a Fair Brick-Wall in the Year 1631. To which there were many good and great Benefactors many of whom would be concealed This is a very large Parish and next to St. Giles Cripple-gate and Stepney is reputed to be the most Populous in England if not in Europe it being thought by such as have made an Estimate that it contains above 100000 Souls besides Strangers who are very Numerous IV. The Parish-Church called St. James Clerkenwell in the North-West Suburbs was formerly a Priory so called of Clark's Well adjoyning It is a handsom large Church with divers Antient and some Modern Monuments And it had sundry Benefactors William Hern a Master of Defence and Yeoman of the Guard 1580 gave Lands and Tenements to the Cloathworkers in London they to pay Yearly for ever fourteen pound to the Church-Wardens of Clerkenwel and fourteen pound to the Church-wardens of St. Sepulchres towards Reparation of those Churches and Relief of Poor Men. More he gave after the Death of one Man eight pound a Year for ever to the mending of High-Ways Thomas Sackford Esq one of the Masters of Requests gave to the Poor of that Parish forty shillings a Year for ever out of his Alms-House at Woodbridge in Suffolk where he is buried Henry Stoke Gardiner buried there gave twenty shillings a Year for ever towards Reparation of that Church The Priory was valued to dispend 262 l. 9. s. per annum and was surrendred 30 H. VIII and is now a Parish-Church It was Repaired after the fall of its Steeple which spoil'd a great part of the Church and finished Anno 1627. at the cost of 1400 l. V. The Parish-Church called St. Katharine-Tower because near the Tower of London On the East-side was an Hospital of St. Katharine Founded by Queen Matilda Wife to King Stephen There lye buryed besides many others in this Church the Countess of Huntington Countess of the March in her time 1429. John Holland Duke of Exeter and Earl of Huntington 1447 and his two Wives in a Fair Tomb Thomas Walsingham Esq and Thomas Ballard Esq by him 1465. This Church was Repaired and throughout Trimmed and Beautified Anno 1618. Inlarged with a Fair Gallery 1621. The Walls and out-side cloathed with a Beautiful Rough-Cast at the Charge of Sr. Julius Caesar Anno 1626. Mr. Stephen Scudamore Citizen and Vintner of London gave 20 s. per annum to be bestowed in Fuel amongst the Poor for ever Mr. John Boum Baker gave 5 l. per annum to be bestowed in Bread among the Poor for fourty Years VI. In the Church at Lambeth are very many Monuments which for brevity we pretermit VII The Arch-Deacon of London is always Parson of St. Leonard Shore-Ditch and the Cure is served by a Vicar There were divers Honorable Persons buried there and there were many Bountiful Benefactors to the Church and Poor John Fuller of Bishops-Hall Esq gave a Sum of Money for the Building of twelve Alms-Houses for twelve Poor Widdows of this Parish who receive fifty pound per annum of his Gift William Peak Esq gave two shillings a Week to be distributed in Bread for ever on Sundays Robert Brainforth Gentleman gave eight pound Yearly for ever to the Poor Thomas Russel Draper gave twelve pence Weekly for ever to be paid by the Drapers George Clark gave to the Poor one hundred Marks in Money c. VIII The Parish-Church of St. Magdalen Bermondsey was built by the Priors of Bermondsey near the Abby of Bermondsey which was surrendred to King Henry the VIII it was much enlarged Anno 1608 at the Charge of 860 l. so that it became and is a Fair Church IX The Church of St. Mary Istington And X. The Parish-Church of St. Mary Newington are Fair Parishes with some Monuments but being so Remote we pretermit them XI St. Mary White-Chappel is as it were a Chappel of Ease to Stepney-Parish and the Parson of Stepney hath the Gift of it 't is a handsom Church and in good Repair There are some few handsom Monuments in it XII The Parish-Church of St. Pauls in upper Shadwel was also lately made a Parish-Church the Parish being too Numerous for the Church of Stepney It is a handsom
Zeal of the King was as he said himself so astonished That he could not tell what to say But after some pause said That he thought at this present for some entrance to be had it were good to practise with the City of London because the Number of the Poor there are very great and the Citizens also very many and wise and he doubted not but they were also both pitiful and merciful as the Mayor and his Brethren and other the Worshipful of the said City And that if it would please the Kings Majesty to direct His Gracious Letters unto the Mayor of London willing him to call unto him such Assistants as he should think meet to consult of this matter for some Order to be taken therein he doubted not but good would follow thereon and he himself promised the King to be one himself that should earnestly travel therein The King forthwith not only Granted his Letter but made the Bishop tarry until the same was written and his Hand and Signet set thereto and commanded the Bishop not only to deliver the said Letter himself but also to signifie unto the Mayor that it was the Kings especial Request and express Commandment that the Mayor should therein travel and so soon as he might conveniently give him knowledge how far he had proceeded therein The Bishop was so joyous at the having this Letter that now he had occasion to travel in so good a matter wherein he was marvellous zealous that nothing could have more pleased and delighted him wherefore the same Night he came to the Lord Mayor of London who was then Sir Richard Dobbs Kt. and delivered the King's Letter and shewed his Message with effect The Lord Mayor not only joyfully received this Letter but with all speed agreed to set the matter forward for he also favoured it very much And the next day being Monday he desired the Bishop of London to dine with him and against that time the Mayor promised to send for such men as he thought meetest to talk of this matter and so he did He sent first for two Aldermen and six Commoners and afterwards more were appointed to the number of 24. In the end after sundry Meetings for by the means and good diligence of the Bishop it was well followed they agreed upon a Book that they had devised wherein first they considered on Nine special kinds and sorts of poor People and those they brought into these Three degrees 1. The Poor by Impotency 2. The Poor by Casualty 3. The Thriftless Poor 1. The Poor by Impotency are also divided into three kinds viz. 1. The Fatherless Poor Mans Child 2. The Aged Blind and Lame 3. The Diseased Person by Leprosie Dropsie c. 2. The Poor by Casualty are likewise of 3 kinds that is to say 1. The Wounded Soldier 2. The Decayed Housholder 3. The Visited with any grievous Disease 3. The Thriftless Poor are three kinds in like manner viz. 1. The Rioter that consumeth all 2. The Vagabond that will abide in no place 3. The Idle Person as Strumpets and others For these three sorts of Poor three several Houses were provided 1. For the Innocent and Fatherless which is the Beggars Child and is indeed the Seed and Breeder of Beggary they provided the House that was the late Gray-Fryers in London and called it by the Name of Christs-Hospital where poor Children are trained up in the knowledge of God and some virtuous Exercises to the overthrow of Beggary For the 2 Degree was provided the Hospitals of St. Thomas in Southwark and St. Bartholomew in West-Smithfield where are continually at least 200 Diseased Persons which are not only there lodged and Cured but also fed and nourished For the 3 Degree they provided Bridewell where the Vagabond and idle Strumpet is chastised and compelled to labour to the overthrow of the vicious life of Idleness They provided also for the honest decayed Housholder that he should be relieved at home at his House and in the Parish where he dwelt by a Weekly Relief and Pension And in like manner they provided for the Lazer or Leprous Person to keep him out of the City from Clapping of Dishes and Ringing of Bells to the great trouble of the Citizens and also to the dangerous Infection of many that they should be relieved at home at their Houses by several Pensions Now after this good Order taken to the Eternal Honour of this Noble City and the Citizens willing to further the same the Report thereof was made to the King And His Majesty for the Advancement thereof was not only willing to grant such as should be Overseers and Governors of the said Houses a Corporation and Authority for the Government of them but also required that he might be accounted as the Chief Founder and Patron thereof And for the furtherance of the said Work and continual maintenance of the same He of his meer Mercy and Goodness granted that whereas before certain Lands were given to the maintaining of the House of the Savoy founded by King Henry VII for the Lodging of Pilgrims and Strangers and that the same was now made but a Lodging for Loyterers Vagabonds and Strumpets that lay all day in the Fields and at night were harboured there the which was rather the maintenance of Beggary than any Relief to the Poor gave the same Lands being first surrendred by the Master and Fellows there which Lands were of the yearly value of 600 l. unto the City of London for the maintenance of the Foundation aforesaid And for a further Relief a Petition being made to the King's Majesty for a Licence to take in Mortmaine or otherwise without Licence Lands to a certain yearly value and a space left in the Patent for His MAJESTY to put in what Sum He pleased He looked on the void place called for Pen and Ink and with His own Royal Hand wrote this Sum 4000 Marks by the year which is 2666 l. 13 s. 4 d. and with the former 600 l. makes in all 3266 l. 13 s. 4 d. and then said in the hearing of his Council Lord I yield thee most hearty thanks that thou hast given me life thus long to finish this work to the Glory of thy Name After which Foundation established he lived not above two days whose life would have been wished equal to the Patriarchs if it had pleased God so to have prolonged it He dyed at Greenwich the 6th of July Anno 1553. He was in Body beautiful of a sweet Aspect and specially in his Eyes which seemed to have a starry liveliness and lustre in them For his pregnancy of Wit and Knowledge in all kinds of Learning Cardan who coming into England had often conference with him reporteth of him that he was extraordinary skilful in Languages and in the Politicks well seen in Philosophy and in Divinity and generally indeed a very Miracle of Art and Nature He would answer Ambassadors sometimes upon the sudden either in
French or Latin He knew the state of Foreign Princes perfectly and his own more He could call all Gentlemen of Account through his Kingdom by their Names And all this when he had scarce yet attained to the Age of Fifteen Years and dyed before Sixteen That from hence we may gather It is a sign of no long Life when the Faculties of the Mind are ripe so early His Pious and Religious Life was Remarkable as may be seen in the whole series of it and his Death was no less for the hour before he dyed he was over-heard to pray thus by himself O Lord God deliver me out of this miserable and wretched life O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy Chosen's sake if it be thy Will send me life and health that I may truly serve thee O Lord God save thy chosen People in England and defend this Realm from PAPISTRY and maintain thy true Religion that I and my People may praise thy Holy Name for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake So turning his Face and seeing some by him he said I thought you had not been so nigh Yes said Dr. Owen we heard you speak to your self Then said the King I was praying to God I am faint Lord have mercy upon me and receive my Spirit And in so saying his blessed Spirit departed to take possession of an heavenly Crown when he had enjoyed an earthly Crown six years five months and nine days He was buried the 9th of August in Henry the Seventh's Chappel at Westminster near the Body of the said King Henry the Seventh his Grandfather This small Digression I hope will not be unacceptable to all true Christians being in memorial of that Peerless and Never-enough Bewailed Prince but he was too good for the World and rests now in endless Happiness In the year 1552 began the Repairing of the Gray-Fryers House for the poor Fatherless Children and in the month of November the Children were taken in to the same to the Number of almost 400. On Christmas-day in the Afternoon while the Lord Mayor and Aldermen Rode to Pauls the Children of Christs-Hospital from St. Lawrence-lane end in Cheapside towards Pauls all in one Livery of Russet-Cotton Three hundred and forty in Number and at Easter next they were in Blue at the Spittle and so they have continued ever since but they were this Year at St. Sepulchres This indeed was a work of extraordinary Piety and in my judgment it is a very Comely Sight to see the Poor Boys when they Sup all together with what Decency Order and Neatness they are serv'd and Governed by the respective Persons in that Office how plentifully they are provided with good Dyet Washing Lodging and Learning to fit them for business which the City takes care to settle them in according to their respective Capacities and it is known that many of them came to be Men of Note Wealth and great Usefulness in their Countrey Christs-Hospital Bridewel and St. Thomas are Incorporated by the Names of the Mayor Commonalty and Commons of the City of London Governors of the Possessions Revenues and Goods of the Hospitals of Edward King of England the Sixth oâ— Christ Bridewel and St. Thomas the Apostleâ— c. St. Bartholomew-Hospital is Incorporated by thâ— Name of the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens 〈◊〉 the City of London Governors of the Hospital 〈◊〉 the Poor called Little Saint Bartholomews near to West-Smithfield of the Foundation of King Henry the Eighth In the Year 1533 the 10th of April Sir George Barnâ— being Mayor of this City was sent for to the Court at Wâ—itehall where the King gave him 〈◊〉 was said his House of Bridewel and 700 Marks of Land late belonging to Savoy Hospital and all the Bedding and other Furniture c. for Bridewel and St. Thomas in Southwark The Gift was confirmed by Charter dated June 26. following And in the Year 1555 Sir William Gerrard Lord 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 This Bridewel is now buâ—lt in a very curious and stately manner To reckon up the several Eminent and Bountiful Benefactors to these Hospitals would be endless they except some that would be concealed are to be found in the Records of those places to which the Reader is referred Only it being a very singular Example of Honesty Industry and Piety not to detract in the least from any Worthy and Bountiful Benefactor I will Remark one Richard Castel oâ— Castellâ—r Shoemaker dwelling in Westminster a Man of great labour and care in his Faculty with his own hands so that he was called the Cock of Westminster because both Winter and Summer he was at his Work before Four a Clock in the morning This Man thus honestly and painfully labouring for his Living God blessed and increased his Labours so â—bundantly that he purchased Lands and Tenements â—n Westminster to the yearly value of 44 l. And having no Child with the consent of his Wife who survived him and was a virtuous good Woman gave the same Lâ—â—ds wholly to Christs-Hospital aforesaid to the Relief of the Innocent and Fatherless Children and for the Succor of the Miserable Sore and Sick harboured in other Hospitals about London Sir William Chester Kt. and Alderman of London and John Calthrop Citizen and Draper of the same City at their own proper Costs and Charges â—â—ade the Brick-Walls and Way on the Back-side which leadeth from the said New Hospital unto the Hospital of St. Bartholomew and also covered and vaulted the Town-Ditch from Aldersgate to Newgate which before was very Noisom and Contagiouâ— to the said Hospital Sir Rowland Hill Lord Mayor in the 3d Year of this King besides many large and bountiful Charities on other things gave this Hospital 500 l. in his Life and 100 l. at his Death In the Year 1552 the Citizens of London having purchased the void suppressed Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark in the Month of July began the Reparations thereof for Poor Impotent Lame and Diseased People so that in November following the Sick and Lame were taken in II. Of all the Hospitals that ever were Founded in Christendom there is none can parallel that of Thomas Sutton Esq called Sutton's Hospital which will commend to all succeeding Posterity the duely deserved Praises of that truely Worthy and Never-to-be-forgotten Gentleman the Phoenix of Charity in our Times The Dissolved Charter-house by West-Smithfield belonging to the Right Honourable Thomas Earl of Suffolk after Lord Treasurer of England is sufficiently known to be a very large and goodly Mansion beautified with spacious Gardens Walks Orchards and other Pleasures Enriched with divers Dependencies of Lands and Tenements thereunto belonging and very aptly seated for wholesom Air and several other Commodities All which Commodiousness of Situation and largeness of Circuit gave occasion to this well minded Gentleman
the very greatest and most bountiful Gift that ever was given in England no Abbey at the first Foundation thereof excepted or therewith to be compared being the Gift of one man only He gave to the Poor in Barwick 100 Marks To the Poor of Stoke-Newington 10 l. To the Poor Fishermen of Ostend in Flanders 100 l. To the mending of the High-Ways between Islington and Newington in the County of Middlesex 40 Marks or 26 l. 13 s. 4 d. To the mending the High-Ways between Ashden and Walden called Walden-lane in Essex 100 l. To the mending the High-Ways between Great Lynton in the County of Cambridge and the said Town of Walden 60 l. 13 s. 4 d. Towards the mending of Horseth-lane 60 l. To the mending of the Bridges and ordinary High-Ways between South-Minster and Malden in Essex 100 l. To the Chamber of London 1000 l. to be Yearly lent to Ten young Merchants not having any great Stocks of their own and those Ten to be appointed by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City for the time being and the Dean of Pauls they are 〈◊〉 to pay any Interest for it nor any to enjoy it but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Poor People of Hadstock 20 l. To the Poor of Littlebury and Balsham 40 l. To the Parson and Church-Wardens of Balsham for the time being towards the buying a Bell to be hanged up in the Steeple to amend the Ring there 20 l. To the Poor of South-minster 20 l. To the Poor of little Halâ—enbury 20 l. To the Poor of Dunsby in the County of Lincoln 20. l. To the Poor Priâ—â—ers in the Prisons of Ludgate Newgate the two â—ompters in London the King 's Bench the 〈◊〉 2000 l. to be paid and divided among the same Prisoners by even and equal portions To the Master Fellows and Scholars of the Corporation of Jesus College in Cambridge 500 Marks To the Master Fellows and Scholars of the Corporation of Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge 500 l. To every one of his Feâ—ffees put in trust about his 〈◊〉 26 l. 13 s. 4 d. To the Poor of Beverly a 〈◊〉 in Cottingham To the Poor of Lincoln a Remainder of Years in the Rectory of Glentham in the County of Lincoln To Mr. Hutton Vicar of Littlebury 20 l. To the Poor of â—â—mps Castle 10 l. To the Poor of Elcomb 10. l. To Mr. Floud Parson of Newington 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. To the Poor of the Parish of Hacknâ—y 10 l. with several others c. And so much for Famous SVTTON and his Hospital which deserves an Eternal MEMORIAL III. The Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlem vulgarly called Bedlam was Founded by Simon Fitz-Mary one of the Sheriffs of London Anno 1246. He Founded it to have been a Priory of Câ—â—ons with Brethren and Sisters and King Edward the III. granted a Protection for the Brethren Militiae Beatae Mariae de Bethlem within the City of London in the Fourteenth of his Reign But it was 〈◊〉 an Hospital for Distracted People Stephenâ—â—â—â—â—nings Merchant-Taylor gave 40 l. towards 〈◊〉 chase of the Patronage by his Testament Anno 1523. The Mayor and Commonalty purchased it with all the Lands and Tenements thereunto belonging in the Year 1546. The same Year King Henry the VIII gave this Hospital unto the City The Church and Chappel thereof were taken down in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and Houses built there by the Governors of Christ's Hospital in London In this Place People that be Distracted of their Wits were received and kept at the Suit of their Friends but not without Charges to their bringers in This Place being old narrow and not very pleasant the City of London resolved to build a New Hospital which in April 1675 was begun and to the great Glory and Ornament of the City and the great benefit of the Poor Lunaticks was finished July 1676 in so Stately and Beautiful a manner that the whole World can hardly Parallel it It is of a great Length reaching from Moor-gate to the Little-Postern leading out of the North-East part of Moor-Fields into the City near the City Walls with a most Glorious Front towards those Delicate Walks of Moor-Fields the Architecture is very Regular Exquisite and Rich with a Stately Turret in the midst of a Curious Form and Fair green Courts part of which are Paved with broad Stone for walks Environ'd with a very hansom Brick-Wall there are two Stately Galleries reaching from one end to the other on the sides of which are the Lodgings of the Distracted People which are very neat and convenient they are carefully and very decently served with plenty of good wholsom Dyet and very well attended by Persons appointed to that purpose This Work cost above 18000 l. to which many Noble Citizens c. were Benefactors 〈◊〉 is indeed a Work very well becoming the Magâ—â—â—nce of this Renowned City who in all their undertakings and in all Publick Acts of Ornament to the City or Charity to the Poor have demonstrated themselves to be Peerless WESTMINSTER HALL THE ROYALL EXCHANGE CLARENDON HOVSE COVENT GARDEN There was of old an Hospital of St. Mary Rouncival by Charing-Cross but suppressed and turned to Tenements So much for the Hospitals SECT 4. Palaces and Houses of the Nobility WE will begin with the Royal Palaces as White-Hall where the Court is kept when the King is in the City In antient times Westminster-Palace was the habitation of the Kings of England from the time of Edward the Confessor which was by casual Fire burnt down in the time of Henry the VIII This was a very large and stately Palace and for the building in that Age incomparable In the Remains of which the High Court of Parliament Sits but more of that hereafter King Henry the VIII translated his Seat to a House not far of built by Cardinal Wolsey and is called White-Hall This Place formerly belonged to Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent by whom it was given to the Gray-Friers and of them bought by Walter Gray Archbishop of York and called York-place but Anno. 1529 the King took it from Wolsey and the Archbishop and named it White-Hall this King built there a Sumptuous Gallery and a very Beautiful Gate-House thwart the High-street to St. James's Park In this Gallery the Princes with their Nobility used to stand or sit to behold all Triumphant or Military Exercises To Describe all particularities relating to this Royall-Seat would be too tedious Take a few short Remarks There is a most Magnificent and Stately Banquetting-House built by King James And the Delicate Privy-Garden was lately enlarged towards the South with a Pond of an Oval form supplied with Water from Hide-Park where you may see the Water shot or forced up to a great height from the surface of the Pond and by its winding-fall delights the Eye and the Ear with its pretty murmur Although this Palace of White Hall makes not so Glorious a shew on the out-side as some other stately
to whom they will and of what Estate they will And may also Devise a New Rent to rise from their Tenements in manner as they like best And those which are Free-men of the said City may Devise their Tenements in Mortmain Infants within Age may not make a Devise nor can Women-Covert Devise their Tenements by License of their Husbands nor in other manner during the Coverture The Husband may not Devise his Tenements to his Wife for a higher Estate upon pain to lose the whole Neither may the Husband Devise the Tenements descended to his Wife nor the Tenements which the Husband and Wife have jointly purchased but if the Husband and the Wife have Tenements Joyntly to them and to the Heirs of the Husband the Husband may Devise the Reversion All Testaments by which any Tenements be Devised may be inrolled in the Hustings Court of Record at the suit of any which may take advantage by the same Testaments And the Testament which ought to be inrolled shall be brought before the Mayor and Aldermen in full Husting And there shall the said Testaments be Proclaimed by the Sergeant and the same also to be proved by two Discreet men well known the which shall be sworn and examined of all the Circumstances of the said Testaments and of his Seal and if the proof be found good and loyal and agreeable then shall the said Testament be inrolled in the same Hustings of Record and the Fee shall be paid for the Inrollment and no Testament Noncupative nor other Testaments may be inrolled of Record except that the Seal of the Testor be put to the same Testament But the Testaments that may be found good and loyal are effectual although they be not inrolled nor of Record The Testament within the said City ought by Custome of the same City to be adjudged effectual and Executory having Regard to the Testators Wills although that the Words of such Testaments be defective and not according to the Common-Law c. The Mayor and Aldermen that are for the time by Custom of the City shall have the Wardship and Marriages of all the Orphans of the said City after the Death of their Ancestors although the same Ancestors do hold to them and the City of any other Lord by what service soever The Mayor and Aldermen ought to inquire of all the Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels within the said City appertaining to such Orphans and safely keep them to the use and profit of such Orphans or otherwise commit the same Orphans together with their Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels to other their Friends by sufficient Surety found of Record in the Chamber of Guild-hall to maintain conveniently the said Orphans during their Non-age and their Lands and Tenements to repair and the said Goods and Chattels safely to keep and thereof to render a good and Loyal Accompt before the said Mayor and Aldermen to the profit of the same Infants when they shall come to their Age or when they shall be put to a Mystery or shall Marry by the Advice of the said Mayor and Aldermen And that in all Cases except that it be otherwise ordained and disposed for the same Orphans or for their Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels by express words contained in the Testaments of their Ancestors No such Orphans ought to be Marryed without the Consent of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen Where Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels within the said City are Devised to an Infant within age of one City or of the same City his Father living that such an Infant is no Orphan yet by usage of the said City the said Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels shall be in the Custody of the Mayor and Aldermen as well as of the Orphans to maintain and keep them to the use and profit of the same Infant Except that the Father of the Infant or some other of his Friends will find sufficient Surety of Record to maintain and keep the said Lands c. to the use and profit of the said Infant and thereof to render a good and loyal accompt c. The Magistrates and Officers of the said City ought to obey no Commandment nor no Seal but only the Commands and Immediate Seal of the King Nor ought any Officer of the King to make Seizure or any Execution within the said City nor the Liberties thereof by Land or by Water but only the Officers of the said City The Sheriffs of London may make Arrests and serve Executions in the River of Thames from the East-part of London-Bridge untill the Return and from the West-part of the said Bridge unto Stanes-Bridge The said Sheriffs ought to have Forfeitures of the Chattels of all kind of Fugitives and Fellons and of Deodands that is in Latine a thing forfeited to God as if a Horse kills his Keeper or a Cart run over a Man such are forfeited to the King to be distributed to the poor within the said City and the River of Thames in aid of their Farm viz. 300 l. per Annum which they pay yearly to the King If the Goods of a Free-man be Arrested or wrongfully detained to pay Toll c. elsewhere and witnessed by men of credit the Goods or Merchandize of the party detaining or of others of the same Village where the wrong was done if found within the City of London are to be Arrested by the City Officers to be detained in the Name of Withernam which word in the Common-Law is the taking or driving a Distress to a hold or out of the County where the Sheriff cannot come upon a Replevin to make Deliverance thereof to the party Distreined untill agreement be made with the said Freeman for damages sustained c. The Lord Mayor as was said before being chief Buttler on Coronation Days is to have a Golden Cup at the Coronation of every King as was given when his present Majesty was Crowned Baker's Chron. p. 748. Edit 1679. If a Woman that hath a Husband as a Woman Sole hire any House or Shop within the City she shall be charged to pay the Rent of the said House and Shop and shall be impleaded and pursued as a Sole Woman by way of Debt if need be notwithstanding that she was Marryed at the time of the Lease the Lessor not knowing thereof If a plaint of Trespass be made against a Man and his Wife for a Tresspass done by the Wife solely then the Wife shall answer sole without her Husband if the Husband come not and shall have Plea as a sole Woman and if she be attainted of Trespass she shall be condemned and Committed to Prison untill she hath made agreement If Plaint be made against a Freeman resident within the City or by the Law of the City hath a Summons because of the Franchise if the Plaintiff come to the Sheriff and bring with him six or four Freemen credible persons that will testifie that the Defendant is going