into his Register-Book kept for that purpose And farther to hear the Orders and Institutions ordained for the preservation of the said River to be openly and publickly read to the intent that they and every of them may the better perform the same upon pain of Six shillings eight-pence for every default so made And if any man whatsoever Fisher-man or other shall contemptuously or stubbornly resist the Water-Bailiff being Sub-Conservator under the Lord Major in the due performance and execution of his said Office he shall make such Fine or be imprisoned at the discretion of the Lord Major for the time being as unto his Lordship shall seem most fitting Articles to be inquired upon by the Jury for the River of Thames Eastward INprimis You shall faithfully and truly present without any respect all such persons Fishermen and others as do prophane the Lords Sabbath in their unlawful Fishings and going forth that day to their labour being to the high displeasure of Almighty God and availeth not to the furnishing of any Market And if any such Fisherman have gone forth to fish having been at home before Sunday at night Sundown you shall faithfully and truly present them 2. Item Trincker-men That no Trincke shall stand for Smelts till the One and twentieth day of October yearly and so to continue until Good-Friday following And to use no manner of Net for Smelts than full two inches in the fore-part inch and a half in the second part and in the third part which is the Hose or God inch and quarter wet and dry And the Hose not to exceed eleven foot in length and in compass sixty Meishes and not above And five Hoops placed a foot and a half asunder in the said God the last Hoop to be placed within two foot of the end of the God and each Hoop to be a foot and a half over every way upright within the Hoop and not otherwise 3. Item That no Trincke shall stand to Fish above Nine Tides in the week viz. three Tides against Wednesday three Tides against Friday and three Tides against Saturday Market and so likewise 3 Tides against Saints Eves other Fasting days and then to wash hale up go home with their said Nets and Boats every Saturday morning to their own Houses And in Lent time they may stand every day the Sabbath day excepted 4. Item That no Trincke shall stand in any Byrth more than is allowed him to stand but shall stand in all such several places and in such manner as hereafter followeth and in no other place That is to say He shall keep his Cooplement At Blackwal Ferry two one Breast or front and no more At Ley shelp two and no more At Woolwich shelp two and no more At Woolwich Town five and no more At Gallions nasse three and no more At Buzards-bush five and no more At the East and West end of Barkin shelp two at each place and no more At Dagnam shelp six and no more At the Carrick four and no more At Julian tree job three and no more At Dartford job three and no more At the Bight at Ereth nasse three and no more At Stoke-fleet nasse alias Stakes end five and no more At Avely hole five and no more At Purfleet five and no more At Grayes Thorock six and no more At the two Thoroughs three and no more And every Trincke to keep his true Cooplement and to stand no more in a Byrth 5. That no Trincke shall stand to fish for Whitings till the Ember-week before Michaelmas yearly and to come no higher then Purfleet and to have the Hose or Cod of his Net full inch and a half And upon Saturday Sun up to wash off his Net hale up and go home and not to return to his labour again till Monday morning day-light And so likewise shall every Fisherman do from London-Bridge Westward to Gravesend-Bridge in the East and not otherwise 6. Item That no Trinckerman or other Fisherman shall buy any Trincke or take to receive any Copy under the Seal of the Office of Majoralty until he be allowed and thought fit by the Lord Major of London or by his Substitute the Water-Bailiff for the time being with the general liking and consents of the said Company of Trincker-men and seventeen Trinks allowed and no more 7. Item That no Trincke shall stand to Fish before any breach mouth at the rising or sinking of any mother-fishes or in the time of Spawn or Brood of Fish and that every Trincke shall at all times and seasons take up and carry away his Anchor at the time of his leaving off from fishing and not leave his said Anchor behind him to keep his Byrth contrary to the ancient Order and Custom 8. Item That each Trincke shall every dark and foggy night hang forth out of his said Trinck-boat one Lanthorn with sufficient Candle light for the better and safer passage of Ships Boats and Vessels passing to and fro upon the said River And that every Trincke Cable be no more then twenty fathom long at the most or any Henbilt above twenty two fathom And likewise to have a Warpe of forty fathom to sheer off and give way if any Ship Crayer or other Vessel shall chance to drive upon them 9. Item That every Trincker-man shall one week before his going forth to Fish come up to the Chapel of Guildhal London and there appear before the Water-Baliff as well to receive leave and licence for their going forth as also to hear the Orders and Institutions ordained for the preservation of the said River to be there openly and publickly read to the end that they may the better observe and keep the said Orders and every thing therein contained 10. Item That no Hebber-man Hebber-man shall fish for Smelts before the twenty fourth day of August yearly and so to continue till Good-Friday And that no Hebber-man shall fish in any Haven Creek Breach or Issue with any Net of less Assize than three inches for Flounders from the Feast of Easter until the said twenty fourth day of August yearly And shall likewise appear before the Water-Bailiff of London at the Chapel of Guildhall there to receive leave and licence for their said going forth And that the Meish of their said Smelt-nets be full inch wet and dry and not otherwise 11. Item That every Hebber-man shall fish by the shore and pitch their Pole at half Ebb and shall have but forty fathom Rope allowed from the pitch of their Pole into the River and not to lie a floring or flatting for Smelts between two Anchors in the middest of the stream nor shall have any kind of weight of Lead Iron Stone Barrel Firkin Kilderkin Cask or with any Wherry or other Device Nor shall fish from Good-Friday till Bartholomewtide yearly betwixt London-Bridge and Graves-end with any Net under two inches except with a Wade-net for Bait only 12. Item That no Hebber-man shall
unless it be spoken to his said Brother or to other which in his Conscience or Discretion he shall think it to be for the Common weal of this City And that well and lawfully ye shall do all such things that to the Office of Attorney pertaineth to do as God you help The manner of entring Actions in this Court is different from the Sheriffs Court For you cannot enter an Action in this Court at either of the Compters but must go to one of the four Attorneys and enter your Action with him and if it be an Action of Debt it must be entered thus R. B. Defend ' versus G. W. Quer ' in pl'ito deb'ti super demand ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. If in Case In pl'ito transgr ' super cam ' dam ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. If in Trespass In pl'ito transgr ' dam ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. If for Account In pl'ito quod reddat ei computum super receptor ' diversor ' bon ' merchandiz ' ipsius Quer ' ad valenc ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. If for Covenants broken In pl'ito convention ' fract ' damn ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. If in Debt at the Chamberlains Suit J. F. Defend ' versus T. P. Mil ' Camerar ' Civitatis London Quer ' in pl'ito deb'ti super dem ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. If in Debt upon a Penal Statute R. G. Defend ' versus W. B. Qui tam pro Domino Rege quam pro seipso in hac parte sequitur in pl'ito deb'ti super dem ' leg'lis c. Pleg ' c. When your Action is thus entered by the Attorney or his Clerk you must not imploy any of the Sheriffs Officers to Arrest the Defendant but give your Action or a Note thereof to one of the Serjeants at Mace belonging to the Major and Aldermen There is six Serjeants belonging to this Court who are men of good Estates and do not belong to either of the Sheriffs Most of them attend daily at the Attorneys Offices and one of them is constantly attending at the Lord Majors House If you give any of them a Note of your Action he will Arrest the Defendant and in case such Defendant cannot find Bayl the Officer will carry him to one of the Compters that being the Prison as well for this Court as the Sheriffs Court which Imprisonment and the Cause thereof is constantly Recorded in a Publick Book called the Book of Impri by the Attorney that entred the Action But if the Party arrested find Bayl the eldest of the four Attorneys must take the same he being Clerk of the Bayl 's and in Case he shall take in sufficient Bayl and the Defendant do abscond the Plaintiff may after he hath a Judgment for his Debt or Damages compel the Clerk of the Bails to pay the same Debt or Damages by Petition to the Court of Aldermen or to Mr. Recorder An Action entered in this Court will remain in force for ever although no proceedings be had thereupon whereas an Action entered at either of the Compters dies and may be crossed after sixteen weeks And the Charge of entering an Action in this Court is but 4 d. besides the King's Duty An Action commenced in this Court may be brought to a Trial for 30 s. Charge and in fourteen days time whereas in the Sheriffs Court they require more time and much more money as those that have had occasion know by experience If there happen to be six weeks time between the putting in Bayl to an Action in this Court and the time of the Defendants Plea in such Case the Defendant cannot remove the same Action or Suit into any other Court Note That an Action commenced in this Court cannot be removed into the Sheriffs Court but an Action commenced in the Sheriffs Court may be removed into this Court either by the Plaintiff or Defendant at any time before a Jury is sworn to try the Cause The manner of removing such Action is set forth hereafter If any man that is not a Freeman of London keep any Shop inward or outward within the City or Liberty for the Sale of any Goods or Wares by Retail he forfeits 5 l. for every day and an Action of Debt lies against him for the same in this Court in the Name of the Chamberlain of London for the time being pursuant to an Act of Common Councel made in the-Majoralty of Sir Leonard Halliday Knight which Act is as followeth WHere by the ancient Charters Customs Franchises and Liberties of the City of London confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliament no person not being free of the City of London may or ought to sell or put to sale any Wares or Merchandizes within the said City or the Liberties of the same by Retail or keep any open or inward Shop or other inward place or room for shew sale or putting to sale of any wares or merchandizing or for use of any Art Trade or Occupation Mystery or Handicraft within the same And whereas also Edward sometime King of England of famous memory the third of that name by his Charter made and granted to the said City in the Fifteenth year of his Reign confirmed also by Parliament amongst other things granted That if any customs in the said City before that time obtained and used were in any part hard or defective or any thing in the same City newly arising where remedy before that time was not ordained should need amendment the Major and Aldermen of the said City and their Successors with the assent of the Commonalty of the same City might put and ordain thereunto fit remedy as often as that should seem expedient unto them So that such Ordinance should be profitable to the King for the profit of the Citizens and other his People repairing to the said City and agreeable to reason And whereas by force of the said Customs Franchises and Liberties and of the Charter last aforementioned confirmed as is afore specified by Parliament The Lord Major Aldermen and Commons of the said City did the twelfth day of October in the third year of the Reign of Edward sometime King of England the fourth as a thing thought fit and convenient for that time amongst other things agree and ordain that the Basket-makers Goldwire-drawers and other Forreigners contrary to the Liberty of the said City holding open Shops in divers places of the City and using Mysteries within the said City should not from thenceforth hold Shops within the Liberty of the City aforesaid But if they would hold any Shop or dwell in the same City they should dwell at Blanchappleton and there hold Shops so as they might have sufficient dwelling there And whereas the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons of the same City did afterwards the Sixteenth day of May in the Seventeenth year of the Reign of our late Sovereign Lord of famous
it often happens that one years service after seven years shall be expired may be very considerable to the Master A Freemans Widow may take a Maid Apprentice for seven years and Inroll her in like manner as a youth in case she be above fourteen years of age but if the Indenture shall be made for less then seven years it is naught and against the Custom of London and will not oblige the Apprentice If an Exchange-woman or Sempstriss that hath a Husband free of London take a Maid Apprentice such Apprentice must be bound to the Husband and not for less then seven years and may be Inrolled and made Free at the expiration of her term in case she continue so long unmarried If any Master refuse to make his Apprentice Free when the time mentioned in the Indentures is expired such Apprentice may if he have duly served force his Master to make him Fre◠by summoning him before the Court of Aldermen or before the Chamberlain of London for the time being This Court is also a Court of Equity or Chancery for any matters within London and the Liberties thereof and the Recorder for the time being usually sits as Judge or Chancellor to determine such matters The manner of exhibiting a Bill in this Court is thus First it must be drawn and signed by one of the four City Councel whose Fee for perusing and signing thereof is 6 s. 8 d. then it must be ingrossed and entered in Court and one of the Officers belonging to this Court must give the Defendant a Summons personally within the Liberties of London to answer such Bill otherwise he is not obliged to appear The charge of drawing the Bill is 4 d. for every Sheet accounting twelve Lines to a Sheet and 6 d. a Sheet for ingrossing thereof and for the entering it in Court 2 s. and for the Attorney's Fee 3 s. 4 d. If an Action shall be depending in this Court and the party Defendant cannot be relieved but in Equity in such case he may exhibit his Bill against the Plaintiff in the Action and the entring the Bill in Court is a good Injunction to stay the Plaintiffs proceedings at Law without any motion until the Plaintiff shall give in his Answer thereto And note that when the Bill is to be relieved against an Action at Law the Plaintiff in the Bill shall not be compell'd to give the Plaintiff at Law any Summons to make answer to the Bill but if Affidavit shall be made that the Plaintiff at Law was 100 miles from London at the time of the exhibiting the Bill then upon motion to the Court the Plaintiff at Law shall and may proceed to Trial notwithstanding the Bill but Judgment and Execution must stay till the Plaintiff at Law answer the Bill or the Court shall make an Order to the contrary If an Action at Law shall be commenced in the Sheriffs Court the Defendant must cause the Action to be removed into this Court before he can stay the Plaintiffs proceedings at Law by exhibiting a Bill as aforesaid and if the Plaintiff at Law answer the Bill the Plaintiff in Equity may in eight days after the Answer put in exceptions to the Answer but if the Answer shall be full and the Plaintiff in Equity cannot prove the matters in his Bill suggested the Plaintiff at Law shall recover all his Costs against the Plaintiff in Equity Note That where a Bill is exhibited and no Action at Law depending the Defendant hath 8 Court days given him to Answer the Bill after his Appearance and if he does not answer the Bill in that time the Plaintiff in Equity may have an Attachment against him for which the Fee is 2 s. 6 d. and the Officers Fee for serving thereof is also 2 s. 6 d. which Fees the Defendant must pay when he gives in his Answer After Answer the Plaintiff may reply generally or specially and may examine Witnesses in like manner as is done in the high Court of Chancery to prove the Equity of his Bill and within a Month after Replication may bring his Cause to a hearing The Town-clerk or his Deputy is appointed to examin all Witnesses on both sides and his Fee for swearing and examining every Witness is 2 s. 4 d. and for the Copies of the Depositions 4 d. per Sheet but for the Copies è contra his Fee is 8 d. per Sheet The Town-clerk's Fee for every Order for publication or hearing of any Cause is but 6 d. and for an Order at hearing but 1 s. but if the Decree be drawn up and inrollect his Fee is 10 d. per Sheet and for the Copy 4 d. per Sheet After a Decree made the Plaintiff must serve the Defendant with a Copy thereof personally and make Affidavit thereof before an Attachment will be granted against the Defendant That the Plaintiff may serve the Defendant with a Copy of the Decree in any place whatsoever Note although out of the Liberties of London A Bill may be removed out of this Court into the high Court of Chancery any time before publication is passed after which time the high Court of Chancery will not retain the Cause The manner of removing a Bill out of this Court is thus First the Defendant must file a Bill in the high Court of Chancery against the Plaintiff in this Court and then must at the Registers Office give Bond to prove the suggestions in his Bill within fourteen days and procure Certificate that his Bill is filed and security given as aforesaid and then Petition the Lord Chancellor for a Certiorary to remove the Bill out of this Court And when the Petition is answered by his Lordship the Clerk in Chancery will make the Certiorary which must be delivered to the Town-clerk and he will allow it for which his Fee is 2 s. and then the Attorney for the Defendant in this Court will certifie the Bill Answer and Proceeding into the high Court of Chancery for which his Fee is 10 d. per Sheet If exceptions shall be put in to an Answer in this Court and a Cause at Law depending between the Parties the Plaintiff in Equity must the next Court move for a day to argue those exceptions otherwise they are over-ruled in course If the Defendant in Equity demurr or plead to the Plaintiffs Bill he must the next Court after the Demurrer or Plea is entred move for an Order to argue such Demurrer or Plea otherwise the same will be over-ruled in course and the Defendant will be compelled to give an Answer When a Freeman's Apprentice is legally discharged from his Master his proper way to recover part of the Money which his Master received with him Apprentice is to exhibit a Bill in this Court against his Master but if the Apprentice hath served five years or near that time this Court will not relieve him in ordering any money to be returned unless there be very extraordinary cause A
decaying growing into poverty or insufficiency in Estate or Estates as aforesaid And lastly if the said S. D. c. or any of them do yearly appear before the Major and Aldermen of the City aforesaid for the time being in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the same City on Munday next after Midlent Sunday That then c. or else c. The Lord Major and Court of Aldermen do meet at Guildhall and sit in the Orphants Court there once in every year viz. on the Munday morning after Midlent Sunday purposely to hear the Names of all the Securities that stand bound for Orphants Portions called over and therefore that day is termed Call-day upon which day one of every of the Sureties ought to appear to give an account whether the other Securities are living and in good condition and whether the Orphants are living and married If none of the Security appear upon that day they forfeit their Recognizances and Bonds and the Clerk of the Orphants in such case must make out Process against the Security and force them to give the Accompt above required and pay the Charges of the Process The Security must take particular care that none of the Orphans marry or be put Apprentice with their consents without the leave of the Court of Aldermen first obtained for that purpose And as the Orphans come to be of the age of One and twenty years or shall be married with the consent of the Court of Aldermen they must take care to bring them to Guildhall with a person to prove the age of such Orphan and then the Orphan must acknowledge satisfaction for the Money due to him or her of the Testators Estate which must be done in the Court of Aldermen but one of Mr. Common Sergeant's Clerks must first draw up a Note to this or the like effect J. B. Parish-Clark and Register of All-hallows Lumberstreet London is come to prove unto this Honourable Court upon his Corporal Oath That R. B. one of the Sons and late Orphans of R. B. late Citizen and Mercer of London deceased is of the full Age of 21 years And the said R. B. the Son is come to acknowledge satisfaction to this Honourable Court for 500 l. growing due unto him for his own part and portion of the Goods Chattels Rights and Credits of the said R. B. his late Father deceased by the Laws and Customs of the City of London If a Freeman leaves Lands and Tenements to his Children the Executor must become bound with Sureties to accompt for the Rents and Profits of such Lands with Condition as followeth The Condition of a Bond to Accompt for Rents c. THe Condition of this Obligation is such That whereas A. W. Executor of the last Will and Testament of J. W. late Citizen and Skinner of London deceased is by order of the Court of Orphans holden before the Major and Aldermen of the City of London appointed to receive the Rents Issues and Profits of certain Lands Messuages and Tenements in the Parish of B. in the County of M. which are bequeathed to R. the Son and Orphan of the said J. W. in and by the last Will of the said J. W. when the said Orphan shall attain the Age of 21 years If therefore the said A. W. her Executors or Administrators do and shall from time to time and at all times hereafter until the said Orphan shall attain the Age of 21 years well and truly pay or cause to be paid the yearly Rent of 10 l. reserved in the Grants or Leases of the same Lands and Messuages according to the Covenants of the same Leases And also do until the said Orphan shall attain the aforesaid Age keep and maintain the said Messuages and every of them in good repair And do and shall convey assign and assure unto the said Orphan when he shall attain the full Age of 21 years the same Lands and Messuages and every of them discharged and freed from all Rent or Rents in the said Leases or Grants reserved and from all and all manner of Forfeitures and Rentries and well and sufficiently repaired and sustained And if the said A. W. her Executors or Administrators shall not do any act or acts thing or things whereby the said Orphan shall not enjoy the said Land and Messuages at the said Age of 21 years without incumbrances from her them or any of them That then c. or else c. WHen any Orphan is of full Age and shall acknowledge satisfaction in the Court of Aldermen for all Moneys due to him or her The same Court upon motion made by Mr. Common Sergeant doth constantly order That all Bonds entered into for the payment of such Orphans Portion shall be delivered up and cancelled and if the Security became bound by Recognizances the Clerk of the Orphans will cross and discharge such Recognizances for which his Fee is 2 s. upon each Recognizance The Chamber of London is accounted the safest and best Security in or about London for the Moneys paid therein to the use of the City or any Orphan is constantly repaid upon demand without any trouble And when Orphans come to Age or be married with the consent approbation of the Court of Aldermen they may receive their Portions if paid into the Chamber at an hours notice although the sum shall be Ten thousand pounds or more Mr. Chamberlain or his Clerks attending daily for that purpose The Interest or finding Money is constantly paid as it becomes due and the Court hath always taken great care that every Orphan shall receive his and her Portions out of the Chamber of London without paying any other or greater Fees then hath been anciently taken and if any Officer exact or take any other Fees the Parties will upon their application and evidence of the Fact to the Court of Aldermen have remedy and all just relief against the Offenders Mr. Common Sergeant keeps his Office in Guildhall-yard near St. Lawrence's Church and constantly attends to dispatch all persons that are concerned for Orphans and will not permit any Fees to be taken for any business to be done by virtue of his Office more then hath been paid time out of mind and if any of his Clerks exact any greater Fees he will upon complaint cause satisfaction to be given to the Party grieved The Widow of every Freeman if she shall be Executrix or Administratrix of her Husbands Estate ought by the Custom of London to exhibit a true Inventory of her Husbands Estate into this Court before she contract Marriage otherwise the Court of Aldermen may impose a reasonable Fine upon such Executrix or Administratrix to the use of the Orphans of such Freeman To prevent abuses that sometimes happen to Freemens Estates in prejudice of Orphans by Executrixes and Administratrixes not giving an Inventory in due time after the Testator's decease The Court of Aldermen have made an Order not to allow any finding Money or
Major and Sheriffs jointly Writs of Right are made as followeth in these words CAROLVS Secundus Dei gratia Angl ' Scotie Francie Hibernie Rex Fidei Defensor ' c. Majori Vicecomibus London salutem Precipimus vobis quod sine dil'one plenum rectum teneatis R. B. de septem Messuagiis cum pertinentiis in London que clamat tenere de nobis per liberum servitium unius denar ' per annum pro omni servitio que J. B. ei deforc ' Ne amplius inde clamore audiamus pro defectu recti Teste meipso apud Westmonasterium die Anno Regni nostri Tricesimosecundo Which Writs have this Process by Custom of the City viz. the Tenants shall have three Summons at three several Hustings and three Essoigns The Summons are after this manner Per Majorem Viâ— ' London PRecipimus vobis quod summon ' primo per bonos summonitor ' J. B. quod sit hic ad prox ' Hustingum London de pl'itis terre in Guihald ' Civitatis pred' tenend ' c. ad respondendum R. B. in pl'ito terre c. Et habeatis tunc ibidem nomina illorum per quos c. Et hoc preceptum c. Dat' apud Guihald ' Civitatis pred' die Anno c. After the Sheriff hath returned all the Summons three Essoigns are allowed and after that a View if desired The Essoign is recorded after this manner Pl'ita terre tent ' c. AD hunc Hustingum J. B. essoin ' est primo versus R. B. in pl'ito terre c. per Johannem Auncient ' Ric'um Custome secundum consuetud ' c. Election of Burgesses and other Officers IN this Court the Burgesses to serve for the City in Parliament must be Elected by the Livery-men of the respective Companies Upon every Michaelmas day it is the Custom to choose a Lord Major for the Year following and the useage is to put all those Gentlemen in nomination that are Aldermen under the Chair who have held the Office of Sheriff The Commons must choose two and retorn their Names to the Lord Major and Aldermen who elect which of the two they think most fit to hold the place and signifie their choice to the Commons And the Person so elected must be presented to the Lord Chancellor and afterwards must be sworn at Guildhall on St. Simon and Judes day and the day after at the Exchequer Upon Midsomer day the Livery-men of the respective Companies do choose Sheriffs But my Lord Major by his Prerogative may drink to any Citizen and nominate him to be one of the Sheriffs and the usage hath been for the Commons to confirm such Person and to elect another to serve with him And after the Sheriffs are elected the Commons choose two Auditors for the Chamber and Bridge-house Accompts a Chamberlain two Bridgmasters and four Ale-Conners Note That the Sheriffs are Judges of the Elections and do declare by Mr. Common Sergeant who are the Persons elected After the Sheriffs are so elected they take an Oath at Guildhall upon Michaelmas-Eve and the day after Michaelmas day must be presented to the Barons of the Exchequer and when they are sworn it is not in the power of the Commons to remove them at their pleasure The Chamberlain and Bridge-Masters after Election take the usual Oath before the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen THE COURT OF Common Councel THis Court is held in the Chamber of Guildhall before the Lord Major Aldermen and Common Councel-men of the City of London at such times as the Lord Major shall appoint and direct it being in his Lordships power to call and dismiss this Court at his pleasure Several Committees are Annually appointed and elected by this Court for the better and more speedy dispatch of the Cities Affairs who make report to this Court of their doings and proceedings as occasion requires viz. 1. A Committee of six Aldermen and twelve Commoners for letting and demising the Cities Lands and Tenements who usually meet every Wednesday in the Afternoon at Guildhall for that purpose 2. A Committee of four Aldermen and eight Commoners to let and dispose of the Lands and Tenements given by Sir Thomas Gresham who usually meet at Mercers-Hall at such times as the Lord Major for the time being directs and appoints It being the Custom to elect the Lord Major one of this Committee 3. This Court doth also Annually elect Commissioners for the Sewers and Pavements 4. This Court doth also Annually elect a a Governour Deputy-Governour and Assistants for management of the Cities Lands in Vlster in Ireland pursuant to the King's Charter which is as followeth viz. WE will also and by these presents for Vs our Heirs and Successors do grant constitute and ordain That the aforesaid Society of the Governor and Assistants of London of the New Plantation in Ulster within the Realm of Ireland for ever hereafter shall be yearly elected and appointed by the Major Aldermen and Commonalty of the said City of London at the first Common Councel to be holden in the same City of London next after the Feast of the Purification of the blessed Virgin Mary at which time the Deputy of the Governor and twelve of the same persons which have been Assistants for the Year precedent shall be removed from their Office and one other Deputy and twelve other Assistants shall be of new named supplied and appointed into the places of the same Deputy and Assistants so as aforesaid to be removed for the help of the Governor and Assistants not removed for One year next following And that at the end of that year then next following such former Assistants which continued in the same Office in that year then preceeding shall be then likewise removed and others shall be likewise of new named supplied elected and appointed into their places and so by an interchangeable course so that twelve of the same Assistants shall be and continue in their places during the tearm of Two Years And further We will ordain and constitute for Vs our Heirs and Successors That at a Common Councel in the aforesaid City of London next after the Feast of the Purification of the blessed Virgin Mary next after the date of these Presents the nomination and election of the aforesaid Governor Deputy and Assistants be shall be and shall be made in form aforesaid and so from thenceforth yearly from time to time for ever A Stranger born may be made Free of this City by Order of this Court and not otherwise The several Places of Common Sergeant Town-Clerk and Common Crier are in the Gift of this Court The Judges of the Sheriffs Courts have sometimes been elected by this Court and sometimes by the Court of Aldermen After the Death of John White late Clerk of the Court of Requests commonly called the Court of Conscience in London this Court did elect and choose Major Gunstone Clerk in his stead but Mr. White
Lawrence Pountney One hundred and twenty pounds St. Mary Aldermary and St. Thomas Apostles One hundred and fifty pounds St. Mary le Bow St. Pancras Soperlane and Alhallows Honylane Two hundred pounds St. Mildred Poultry and St. Mary Colechurch One hundred and seventy pounds St. Michael Woodstreet and St. Mary Staining One hundred pounds St. Mildred Breadstreet and St. Margaret Moses One hundred and thirty pounds St. Michael Queenhith and Trinity One hundred and sixty pounds St. Magdalen Old-Fishstreet and St. Gregory One hundred and twenty pounds St. Mary Somerset and St. Mary Mounthaw One hundred and ten pounds St. Nicholas Coleabby and St. Nicholas One hundred and thirty pounds St. Olave Jury and St. Martin Ironmonger-lane One hundred and twenty pounds St. Stephen Walbrook and St. Bennet Sheerhogg One hundred pounds St. Swithin and St. Mary Bothaw One hundred and forty pounds St. Vedast alias Fosters and St. Michael Quern One hundred and sixty pounds Which respective sums of money to be paid in lieu of Tithe within the said respective Parishes and assessed c. shall be and continue to be esteemed deemed and taken to all intents and purposes to be the respective certain Annual maintenance over and above Glebes and Perquisites Gifts and Bequests to the respective Parson Vicar and Curate of any Parish for the time being or to his or their respective Successors or to other persons for his or their use of the said respective Parsons Vicars and Curates who shall be legally Instituted Inducted and Admitted into the respective Parishes aforesaid In which Act there is a Provision in these words Provided always and be it Enacted That where any of the Parishes within the said City have since the late Fire by death or otherwise become vacant the surviving or remaining Incumbent of the other Parish thereto united or therewith consolidated shall have and enjoy and have like remedy to recover the Tithes hereby settled to be paid as if he had been actually Presented Admitted Instituted and Inducted into both the said Parishes since the Vnion and Consolidation thereof And be it Enacted c. That the Aldermen of such respective Ward or Wards within the said City wherein any of the said Parishes lye and his or their Deputy or Deputies and the Common Councel-men of such respective Parish wherein the maintenance aforesaid is respectively to be Assessed to be nominated by such respective Aldermen Deputy Common Councel-men and Church-wardens or any Five of them whereof the Alderman or his Deputy to be one shall at some convenient and seasonable time before the 20th day of May 1671. assemble c. and they or the major part of them so assembled shall proportionably assess upon all Houses Shops Warehouses and Cellars Wharfs Keys Cranes Waterhouses and Tofts of ground remaining unbuilt and all other Hereditaments whatsoever except Parsonage and Vicarage-Houses the whole respective sum by this Act appointed or so much of it as is more then what each Impropriator is by this Act enjoyned respectively to allow in the most equal way that the said Assessors according to the best of their Iudgments can make it which said Assessments shall be made and finished before the 24th of July then next And be it further Enacted c. That if any variance or doubt happen to arise about any sum so assessed as aforesaid or that any Parishioner or Parishioners or Owner or Owners of any House Shop Warehouse or Cellar Wharf Key Crane Waterhouse or other Hereditament within any of the said Parishes shall find himself or themselves aggrieved by the assessing of any sum or sums of money in manner and form aforesaid that then upon complaint by the party or parties aggrieved to the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen of the said City within Fourteen days after notice given to the party or parties assessed of such Assessment made the said Lord Major and Court of Aldermen summoning as well the party or parties aggrieved and the Aldermen and such others as made the said Assessment shall hear and determine the same in a summary way and the Iudgment by them given shall be Final and without Appeal Provided always and be it enacted That any Assessment or Rate to be made by virtue of this Act shall or may in all or any the Parishes aforesaid in like manner be received or altered or laid again within three months after the 24th day of June 1674. according to the aforesaid Rules and any such Assessment or state shall or may be again received or re-assessed within three months after the 24th day of June 1681. And that all and every such new Assessment and state shall be liable to the like Appeals as aforesaid and shall be collected levied and paid as any other Assessment or Rate mentioned in this Act may or ought to be And be it further Enacted c. That if any the Inhabitants in any respective Parish or Parishes as aforesaid shall or do refuse or neglect to pay to the respective Incumbents aforesaid of any of the said respective Parishes any sum or sums of money to him respectively payable or appointed to be paid by this Act or any part thereof contrary to the true intent and meaning of this Act being lawfully demanded at the House or Houses Wharf Key Crane Cellar or other Premisses whereout the same is payable that then it shall and may be lawful to and for the Lord Major of the City of London for the time being upon Oath to be made before him of such refusal or neglect to give and grant out Warrants for the Officer or Person appointed to collect the same with the Assistance of a Constable in the day time to Levy the same Tithes or Sums of Money so due and in arrear and unpaid by Distress and Sale of the Goods of the party or parties so refusing or neglecting to pay restoring to the Owner or Owners the Overplus of such Goods over and above the said Arrears of the said Moneys so due and unpaid and the reasonable Charges of making such Distress which he is to deduct out of the Moneys raised by sale of such Goods In pursuance of which Act the Lord Major upon Complaint to him made by any Minister against any Parishioner for refusing to pay the Rate assessed will cause such Parishioner to be summoned to appear before his Lordship and if he refuse to appear or to pay the money assessed on his House or Warehouse his Lordship will upon Oath made of the Demand thereof grant his Warrant to Distrein the Goods of such Offender which Warrant is usually as followeth The Form of a Warrant to Distrein for Tithes or Moneys Assessed and Rated to be paid in lieu of Tithes WHereas A. B. is the Parson and present Incumbent of the Parish of St. M. B. in London burnt by the late dreadful Fire and hath for One year at the Feast of the Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary last past and ever since been legally Instituted
Inducted and Admitted into the Parish aforesaid and hath for that time officiated and preached as Incumbent and Parson of the said Parish in a convenient place within the said Parish nominated and appointed by the Lord Bishop of London And whereas an Assessment of Ten shillings per Annum hath been duly made upon a certain House called or known by the Name or Sign of the Bull within the said Parish now and for two years last past inhabited by R. B. towards the raising of the Maintenance of the said A. B. the said present Incumbent of the said Parish according to a late Act of Parliament Intituled An Act for the better Settlement of the Maintenance of the Parsons Vicars and Curates in the Parishes of the City of London burnt up by the late dreadful Fire there And whereas I am informed that the sum of Ten shillings is due and payable to the said A. B. Incumbent and Parson of the said Parish for four quarters payment of the said Rate and Assessment at the Feast of the Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary last past before the date hereof And forasmuch as Oath hath been this day made before me Sir J. S. Lord Major of the City of London by C. W. he being the person appointed to collect the said Assessment that he hath lawfully demanded the said Ten shillings at the said House whereat the same is payable And that the said R. B. the said Inhabitant of the said House in the Parish aforesaid doth refuse and neglect to pay to the said A. B. the said present Incumbent of the said Parish the said sum of Ten shillings to him payable as aforesaid These are therefore in his Majesties Name streightly to Charge and Command you the said C. W. being the person appointed to collect the same with the Assistance of a Constable in the day time to levy the said sum of Ten shillings so due and in arrear and unpaid of the said Assessment on the House aforesaid by Distress and Sale of the Goods of the said R. B. restoring unto him the Overplus of such Goods over and above the said Ten shillings and the reasonable Charges of making the said Distress according to the said Act in such case made and provided And these are further in his Majesties Name streightly to Charge and Command all and every the Constables within this City and Liberties thereof to be aiding and assisting unto the said C. W. in the due execution hereof and this shall be your Warrant Dated c. To C. W. and all every or any of the Constables within the City of London and Liberties thereof The Lord Major for the time being may grant a Warrant under his Hand and Seal to examine and try Weights and Measures which is usually done in these words viz. Lond ' ss WHereas great Abuses are and have been committed in the City of London and Liberties thereof by using and keeping unlawful unsealed and unsized Weights and Measures which are found to be very false and deceitful and not warrantable by his Majesties Laws to be used in buying and selling And whereas many persons Inhabitants within this City and Liberties thereof as I have been informed do ordinarily use Weights called or known by the name of Venice Weights not allowed or appointed by the Laws of this Realm nor by any other lawful Authority and do usually buy by one Weight and sell by another These are to authorize and appoint you and either of you my lawful and sufficient Deputies at all and every time and times fit and convenient peaceably and quietly to enter into all Shops Houses Warehouses and other places whatsoever within this City Liberties thereof where any Beams Weights Measures Yards Ells Sacks for Charcoals and such like shall be suspected to be and there to try and search all manner of Beams Weights Sacks for Charcoal and Measures whatsoever whether they be true just sealed and sized as by the Laws and Statutes of this Land they ought to be and if you or either of you shall find any false Beams or any unlawful unsealed or unsized Weights Sacks or Measures That then you bring the same or cause the same to be brought to Guildhall there to remain until Order shall be taken for the defacing or otherwise disposing thereof and certifie me the Names and Sirnames and dwelling places of the Offenders to the end they may be dealt withal as to Iustice shall appertain and as the Law requireth And also if you or either of you do find any of the said Sacks of Charcoal that shall not be well and sufficiently filled that then you or either of you do cause the said Sacks to be set upright and filled out of the rest of the said Sacks according as is directed and appointed that so the people of this City may not be deceived therein And I do hereby require in his Majesties Name to Charge and Command all and every the people of this Nation resorting to and inhabiting in this City or Liberties thereof who have used or do use or shall have any cause to use Weights or Sacks for Charcoals or Measures that they do not in any wise hereafter use any but those that are or shall be just and true and that they do not in any wise from henceforth hinder or withstand my said Deputies or either of them in the due Execution of the Premisses And I do hereby require all Constables Serjeants at Mace and Beadles of the Ward and other Officers and Ministers whatsoever within the said City and Liberties thereof that they be aiding and assisting to my Deputies J. M. and G. M. Citizens and Weavers of London and either of them in the due and lawful Execution of the Premisses as they and every of them will answer the contrary if they shall fail or refuse to do that which shall be lawfully required of them in that behalf Dated c. To J. M. and G. M. and to either of them The Lord Major and Aldermen may if they please punish all Constables and others that shall neglect to Watch pursuant to an Act of Common Councel made in the Majoralty of Sir John Robinson Intituled An Act for the better ordering of the Night Watches within the City of London and Liberties thereof which followeth in these words WHereas by the ancient good and laudable Custom of the City of London all and every person and persons which do dwell occupy or inhabit in any House or Houses within the same City or the Liberties thereof as well such as are not free of the said City as other the Freemen of the same being persons able and fit to watch or to find an able and fit person to watch for him her or them or in his her or their stead ought by reason of their habitation occupation and dwelling to keep watch within the Ward wherein he she or they do occupy and inhabit for the preservation of the King's Peace and for
every Constable and Watchman may know the Night Time and Places where they are to watch And that the Constable on the day before his watch-night or the Beadle of that Ward do warn every man that is to watch with him accordingly or leave notice thereof in writing at the House of every such man And that the Inhabitants of every Ward do take notice hereof any pretence of priviledge usage or custom to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding And be it also further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any Constable shall make default in executing his Office or doing his Service in any of the Premisses hereby appointed or hereafter to be ordered or appointed as aforesaid without just and reasonable cause to be allowed of as is hereafter mentioned that then every such Constable shall forfeit and pay for every such default five pounds And that if any person appointed and warned to watch or to find an able and fit person to watch in his or her stead as aforesaid shall refuse or make default to watch or to find an able and fit person to watch in his or her stead as aforesaid that then every such person so refusing or making default to watch as aforesaid and not having just and reasonable cause for such his default as shall be allowed of by the Lord Major of the said City or the Alderman of that Ward for the time being shall forfeit and pay for every such default Twenty shillings And it is hereby farther Enacted That the Alderman Deputy and Common Councel-men of every Ward or the major part of them for the time being shall from time to time nominate and appoint two or more honest able men of the same Ward who shall be called Supervisors to take care and oversee that the Watches appointed in every Ward be from henceforth duly kept And that the Constables Beadle and Watchmen execute do and perform their duties and services therein or otherwise pay the forfeitures and payments herein before ordained for their defaults respectively and that the same Supervisors or one of them shall take notice of such of the said Inhabitants as absent themselves at any time from watching as aforesaid and likewise of such Constables and Beadle as shall at any time make default be remiss or negligent in performance of his or their Duties in the Premisses and shall likewise from time to time present the name of every sâ—ch Defaulter to the Lord Major of the said City for the time being or to the Alderman of the Ward where such Default shall be made that every such Defaulter may pay the forfeiture and payment imposed upon him or her as aforesaid And that the Beadle of every Ward or some trusty person for him shall in the presence of the Constable and one of the said Overseers if they or either of them can be present call over the Names of all those which shall be appointed to watch each night respectively in their course as aforesaid as well at the hours appointed for their meeting in the Evening as also at the time appointed for the breaking up of the watch in the morning and that they the Constable or Beadle or one of them or some other trusty person in their or either of their behalf in case the Supervisor shall be absent at any of the said times shall take a Note in writing of the Names and Sirnames of every of the Inhabitants then appointed to watch as shall be absent from their watch at any of the hours herein before appointed Evening or Morning and shall deliver the said Note the next day to the Supervisors or one of them And that the Constables Supervisors and Beadle of every the said Ward and every of them shall bring before the Lord Major of the said City for the time being or the Alderman of their Ward every Constable or other person making default in any of the Premisses respectively if such person making default will readily and voluntarily go along with him and every such Defaulter shall then presently pay to the Lord Major or Alderman aforesaid such forfeitures and payments as are herein before limited and appointed for them respectively to pay as aforesaid and that all Moneys so forfeited and paid as aforesaid shall be imployed to and for the relief of the poor of the said Ward as the Lord Major or Alderman of the Ward where such default shall be made shall think fit and appoint But if such Defaulter shall refuse to go with the said Constable Supervisor or Beadle before the said Lord Major or Alderman as aforesaid or going shall refuse or delay to pay the said forfeitures penalties or sums of Money respectively as aforesaid that then and in either of the said cases such Defaulter shall forfet and pay treble the aforesaid penalties or sums of Money All which forfeitures hereby forfeited shall respectively be recovered by Action of Debt Bill or Information in the name of the Chamberlain of this City for the time being in the Court holden before the Lord Major and Aldermen of the said City in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the same City to be prosecuted by the Beadle of the Ward wherein every of the said Offences aforementioned shall be committed or any other person or persons thereunto appointed by the said Lord Major or the Alderman of such Ward And after recovery thereof one Moiety of the same after all Charges deducted shall be to the said Beadle or other Prosecutors and the other Moiety to be imployed to the relief of the poor of the Ward wherein such Offence shall be committed as the Lord Major or Alderman of the same Ward shall direct and appoint In all which Suits to be brought by virtue of this Act the Chamberlain shall recover his ordinary Costs and Charges to be expended for the recovery of all such forfeitures against the Offenders And lastly be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Beadles of the several Wards of this City or any of them shall not hereafter take or have any allowance of Watchmen called Dead-pays for or in respect of their Nightly watching or for or in consideration of any other Service whatsoever but that the Inhabitants of every Ward shall amongst themselves raise some convenient sum of Money for a fit and competent Salary and Allowance to be made unto the said Beadles for their said Service Or if the said Inhabitants of all or any the said Wards cannot agree upon raising such Salary or Sum of Money then the same to be done by Authority of Common Councel by such way and means and in proportion to the Service and the Extent of each Ward as by the said Common Councel shall upon farther consideration be found just and reasonable The Lord Major doth Annually issue out his Precept to the Aldermen of every Ward to hold his Wardmote for the Election of Common Councel-men and other Officers The Tenor of which Precept is as followeth
born an Alien to be of the Common Councel nor to exercise or use any other Office within this City nor receive or accept any person into your watch privy or open but Englishmen born And if any Stranger born out of this Realm made Denizen by Letters Patents or any other after his course and lot be appointed to any watch that then ye command and compel him or them to find in his stead and place an Englishman to supply the same 19. And also that you cause an Abstract of the Assise appointed by Act of Parliament for Billets and other Fire-wood to be fair written in Parchment and to be fixed or hanged up in a Table in some fit and convenient place in the Parish within your Ward where the common people may best see the same 20. Streets Pain 40 s. And furthermore we charge and command you that you cause such provision to be had in your said Ward that all the Streets and Lanes within the same Ward be from time to time cleansed and clearly voided of Ordure Dung Mire Rubbish and other filthy things whatsoever be to the annoiance of the King's Majesties Subjects 21. Vagrants And also that at all times as you shall think necessary you do cause search to be made within your said ward for all vagrant Beggars suspicious and idle people and such as cannot shew how to live and such as shall be found within your said ward that you cause to be punished and dealt with according to the Laws and Statutes in such case ordained and provided 22. Jurymen And also we will and charge you the said Alderman that your self certifie and present before us at the said general Court to be holden the aforesaid Monday next after the Feast of the Epiphany all the names and sirnames truly written of such persons within your said ward as be able to pass in a Grand Iury by themselves And also all the names and sirnames truly written of such persons being and dwelling within your said ward as be able to pass in a Petty Iury by themselves that is to say Every Grand Iuryman to be worth in Goods an hundred Marks and every Petty Iuryman forty Marks according to an Act in that case ordained and provided And the same you shall indorse on the backside of your Indenture 23. Harlots Item for divers reasonable and urgent considerations us especially moving we streightly charge and command you on the King our Sovereign Lords behalf That you diligently provide and foresee that no manner of person or persons within your said ward what condition or degree soever he or they be of keeping any Tavern or Ale-house Ale-celsar or any other Victualling-house or place of common resort to eat or drink in within the same ward permit or suffer at any time hereafter any common woman of their bodies or Harlots to resort and come into their said House or other the places aforesaid to eat or drink or otherwise to be conversant or abide or thither to haunt or frequent upon pain of imprisonment as well of the Tenant and Keeper of every such House or Houses and all other the places afore remembred as of the common woman or Harlots 24. Also that you do give in charge to the Wardmote Inquest of your ward all the Articles delivered to you herewith and that you â—â—ticles have a special care of keeping the peace and good order during your Wardmote and if any offend herein you fine or punish him or them according to Law 25. And whereas the moneys received for the Fines of persons refusing to hold Ward Offices within your ward ought to be employed in the service and for the publick benefit of the whole ward and not of any particular Precinct or Parish within the wâ—rd These are therefore to require you to take care that all such Fines be from time to time disposed of accordingly for the benefit of the whole ward as you with the Deputy and Common Councel-men of your ward shall think most fitting and convenient And that no such Fines be received or employed in any particular Precinct or Parish Not failing hereof as ye tender the common weal of this City and advancement of good Iustice and as ye will answer for the contrary at your uttermost peril Dated at under the Seal-Office of Majoralty of the said City the day of December in the year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord CHARLES the Second by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. THE COURT OF CONSERVARY FOR THE River of Thames THis Court is held before the Lord Major at such times as he shall apappoint and direct within the respective Counties near adjacent to the Cities of London and Westminster The Water-Bayliff is my Lord Major's Deputy and ought to give notice to his Lordship of all Offences committed by any persons contrary to the Orders made for preservation of the brood and fry of Fish in the said River There have been several Orders made and devised for that purpose some of which Orders are as followeth viz. Orders devised and agreed upon by the Right Honourable Sir Robert Ducie Knight and Baronet Lord Major of the City of London and Conservator of the River of Thames and Waters of Medway for the preservation of the brood and fry of Fish within the West part of the said River as followeth FIrst That no man upon penalty and forfeiture of his Net and Ten pounds with imprisonment at the discretion of the Lord Major shall presume to shute any Draw-net or Coulter-net at any time of the year before Sun-rising nor after Sun-setting for that in the Night time unlawful Nets may be used and other abuses offered to the great hurt and annoyance of the said River of Thames and to shute in their several rooms well known 2. Item That no Fisher-man or other shall still lie or bend over any Net during the time of the Flood whereby both Salmons and other kinds of Fish may be hindred and kept back from swimming upwards to the benefit and profit of such Fisher-men as dwell in the west part of the said River upon the like pain and penalty 3. Item That no Fisher-man or other shall shute any Draw-net Cod-net or other Net or Engin whereby any Salmon-fish shall be taken after Holyrood day is past being the Fourteenth day of September because at that time they are out of season and remain here upon the River only to spawn and breed upon the like payment 4. Item That no Fisher-man or other shall fish with any Net or lay or hale any Wee l or use any other Net or Engine whatsoever from Sun-setting on Saturday at Night until Sun-rising upon Monday Morning no not during all the time of Lent as being a thing not only very hurtful to the said River but also a great abuse and profaning of the Lord's Sabbath upon the like payment 5. Item That no Fisher-man or other
work any higher for Whitings than Dartford Creck and to work with no manner of Net for Whitings of less Assize than full inch and half wet and dry Nor shall go forth to take any of the said Whitings yearly until they be lawfully licensed by the Water-Bailiff of London before whom they are severally to appear at the said Chapel of Guild-hall London one week before Gang-tide yearly Trawler-man 13. Item You shall present the names and sirnames of every Trawler unto the Lord Major of London or his Substitute the Water-Bailiff for the time being And that no Trawler shall fish above Holl Haven on the North-side and Porsing on the South-side till a fortnight after Michaelmas yearly and all the Summer to use no Net for Soals under two inches and a half in the Cod being two yards long and the rest of the Net to be three inches And no Trawler to work in Tilbury-hope after Michaelmas with any manner of Net under four inches for Plaice all the Net over And no Trawler to come upon any Trawl with any other Net at any time of the year 14. Item To present all such as have pitched set or erected any Riff-hedge or Half-nets upon stakes or otherwise within the full sea and low water being an Engine utterly to kill small fish and what Landmen they be upon Kentish shore or in any other place within the waters of Thames and Medway that do or have used the same 15. Item That no Trawler do stay abroad to fish after Whitsontide against Wednesday Market till Bartholomewtide yearly nor that no Trawler do fish in Tilbury-hope upon the Saturday after Sun rising but to wash off hale up and go home as all other Fishermen ought to do and according to the old and ancient Custom of the River of Thames and waters of Medway 16. Item That every Trawler upon the River Eastwards do yearly appear before the Water-Bailiff of London at the Chapel of Guildhall one week before their true times and seasons of going forth to fish then and there to receive leave and licence for their said goings forth and to hear the Orders and Institutions ordained for the preservation and government of the River of Thames to be there openly and publickly read to the end that they may the better observe and perform the same 17. Item That no Trawler that hath or doth use to Trawl to take Soals Chate Plaice or Thornback shall take or bring any such fish to any Market or to any Country Town to sell except they contain the assize as followeth That is to say every such Soal Chate Plaice and Thornback to contain in length seven Inches with the head and tail and not under 18. Item That no Dragger-man Dragger-man that hath or doth use to drag for Shrimps shall go forth to fish till the first day of November yearly and to continue till Good-Friday Nor shall use any such Drag at any time of the Year above Maggot Nasse on the Southside and Stakie-Brake Creek on the Northside and not otherwise And that every Dragger-man shall upon the first day of November yearly appear before the Water-Bailiff of London to receive leave and licence for going forth Shadders 19. Item That all manner of Fishermen whatsoever that use to take Shads in Shadding time shall observe and keep their true order of shooting a Droves length off from one another and to present what disorder is kept amongst them both in going forth upon Sundays or otherwise And that none of the said Shadders shall go forth to fish until they have received leave and licence of the Lord Major of London or his Substitute the Water-Bailiff for the time being their true time of going forth to be the week before Easter yearly and not before 20. Item That no Peter-man Peter-men whatsoever from London-Bridge in the West as far as the River of Medway in the East shall fleet for Flounders with any Rugge-net in the night time from Sun going down until day light the next morning betwixt Michaelmas and Christmas because in the night time they make great destruction of small Flounders and carry them away both unseen and unknown Nor that no Peter-man do fish with any Hagan or Smelt-net below London-Bridge at any time of the Year 21. Item That no Peter-man or other person whatsoever shall fish betwixt London-Bridge and Limehouse Nasse with any manner of Net to fleet beat or rugge at any time of the Year except for Shads only Nor that no Peter-man do rugge from London-Bridge to Blackwall and so Eastward from Michaelmas yearly till Whitsontide but only three Easts at high water and three casts at low water in an out and every Rugge-net is to contain two inches three quarters in the Meish wet and dry and every Bley-net two inches and a half throughout wet and dry 22. Item That no Fisherman or other person whatsoever shall lay down in the River of Thames Eastward any Smelt-leaps Smelt-leaps before St. Paul's day yearly and so to continue till Good-Friday next following and no longer Nor that no Fisherman or other person shall lay in the said River any more than only one wand of eighteen and no more and not to lay them down until they be lawfully licensed thereunto by the Lord Major or Water-Bailiff and none to use them but Fishermen and Housholders 23. Item That no Fisherman or other person shall lay in the said River of Thames any Eel-leaps Eel-leaps till fourteen days after Easter yearly and so to continue until Michaelmas next following Nor shall lay any more or greater quantity than only two dozen and no more Nor shall lay any of the said Eel-leaps until they be lawfully licensed thereunto as aforesaid and not otherwise 24. Item That no Fisherman or other person whatsoever shall use upon the River of Thames at any time of the Year any Spear called an Eel-spear Eel-spear or any other kind of Spear whatsoever for that they are great destroyers of young brood and other kind of Fish in great abundance and therefore altogether unlawful no man to use them upon pain of Imprisonment and further Fine at the discretion of the Lord Major 25. Item You shall further inquire Fore-stalling and true presentment make of all such persons as do use to go down the River to buy up either Fish Victuals or other Commodities before the same cometh to Billingsgate and other Keys being known and appointed places of sale vent and discharge thereof if you know any such you shall present who they be and how often they have so done 26. Item That no Fisherman or other person whatsoever Fish out of season shall work with any manner of Net or Engine whatsoever to take or kill any Dace or Roch from the Tenth of March till the Tenth of May yearly for that they do then shed their Spawn Nor that they take or kill any of the said Dace Roch or
come Greeting Whereas our beloved in Christian part the Major and Commonalty and Citizens of our City of London time out of memory of man have had exercised and ought and have accustomed to have and exercise the Office of Bailiff and Conservation of the Water of Thames to be exercised and occupied by the Major of the same City for the time being during the time of his Majoralty or by his sufficient Deputies in and upon and about the water of Thames That is to say From the Bridge of the Town of Stains in the County of Middlesex and towards the West unto London-Bridge and from thence to a certain place called Kendal otherwise Yenland otherwise Yenleet towards the Sea and East and in Medway and in the part of the City of London aforesaid and upon whatsoever Banck and upon every Shore and every Wharf of the same Water of Thames within the Limits and Bounds aforesaid And in upon and about all and every of them And also for all the time aforesaid have had and taken and ought and have accustomed to have and take to their own proper use by the Major of the aforesaid City for the time being during the time of his Majoralty or his sufficient Deputies all wages regards fees and profits appertaining and belonging to the same Office of Bailiff We therefore to the Intent that the said Major and Commonalty and Citizens may more securely freely and quietly use have exercise and enjoy the Office aforesaid and the fees wages regards and profits thereunto belonging to them and their Successors for ever of our especial Grace and certain knowledge and meer motion have granted and by these Presents for Vs our Heirs and Successors do grant to the foresaid Major and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors That they the aforesaid Major and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors may exercise and execute the aforesaid Office of Bailiff and Conservation of the Water of Thames by the Major of the said City for the time being during the time of his Majoralty or his sufficient Deputies from time to time for ever in upon or about the same water of Thames That is to say from the aforesaid Bridge of Stains in the County of Middlesex towards the West to the Bridge of London and from thence to a certain place called Yendall otherwise Yenland otherwise Yenleet towards the Sea and East and in Medway and in the Port of the City of London aforesaid and upon whatsoever Banck and whatsoever Shore and whatsoever Wharf of the same Water of Thames within the Limits and Bounds aforesaid in upon and about every one of the same and to have receive collect and enjoy all and singular wages regards fees and profits to the same Office of Bailiff pertaining and belonging to the proper use of the same Major and Commonalty and Citizens by the Major of the City aforesaid for the time being during the time of his Majoralty or by his sufficient Deputies without the hinderance of Vs our Heirs or Successors or any of our Officers Bailiffs or Ministers or of our Heirs or Successors or our Admiral of England or of our Successors or any others of our Subjects or of our Heirs or Successors whatsoever or of any grant by Vs our Heirs or Successors to be made to the contrary To have hold and enjoy the aforesaid Office and all and singular the Premisses with all and singular Wages Regards Fees Profits and Appurtenances whatsoever to the said Office belonging or appertaining to the aforesaid Major and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors for ever by the Major of the foresaid City for the time being during the time of his Majoralty or by his sufficient Deputies to be exercised and executed without any Accompt or any other thing to be rendred or made thereof to Vs our Heirs or Successors So as no other Bailiff or Conservator of the aforesaid Water shall be or shall in any wise intermeddle in the Premisses THE COURT OF REQUESTS Commonly called The Court of Conscience THE first beginning of this Court was in the Ninth Year of King Henry the Eighth by Act of Common Councel then made whereby it was ordained That the Major and Aldermen of the City of London should monthly assign and appoint two Aldermen and four Commoners to be Commissioners to sit in the same Court in Guildhall upon Wednesday and Saturday in every week there to hear examine and determine all Matters brought before them between party and party Citizens of London where the Debt did not exceed forty shillings which Act was to continue two years and no longer But being found beneficial for the relief of such poor Debtors as could not make present payment of their Debts and also to be a great ease and help to such poor persons as had small Debts owing to them and were not able to prosecute a Suit in Law for the same The said Act hath since been continued by divers other Acts of Common Councel and besides the two Aldermen monthly assigned the number of Commissioners was encreased from four to twelve and by that authority the same Court continued till the first Year of the Reign of King James And then divers malicious people slighting the Authority of the same Court and not regarding the expence how great soever if they might ruin their poor Debtors And being often animated thereunto by divers Attorneys and Sollicitors did frequently commence Suits for petty Debts and Causes against poor men Citizens of London in the High Courts at Westminster or elsewhere out of the said Court of Requests to avoid the Jurisdiction thereof and to barr the said Commissioners from staying such Suits and examining the said Causes and thereby caused such poor men many times to pay ten times as much Charges as the principal Debt did amount unto to the undoing such poor men their Wives and Children and also to the filling of the Prisons with the poor so sued For Remedy whereof and for the strengthning and establishing the said Court. An Act of Parliament was made in the third Year of the Reign of King James Intituled An Act for the recovering of small Debts and for the relieving of poor Debtors in London The Tenor of which Act is as followeth WHereas by virtue of divers Acts of Common Councel made within the City of London the Lord Major and Aldermen of the same City for the Relief of poor Debtors dwelling within the said City have accustomed monthly to assign two Aldermen and twelve discreet Commoners to be Commissioners and sit in the Court of Requests commonly called the Court of Conscience in the Guildhall of the same City there to hear and determine all matters of Debt not amounting to the sum of xlx to be brought before them And whereas at the Sessions of Parliament holden at Westminster the Nineteenth day of March in the first Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord the Kings Majesty that now is for the further
4 s. 10 d. for that purpose My Lord Major sits only upon Saturday to hear mark't Causes and if upon hearing both Parties it shall appear to his Lordship that the Plaintiff obtained a Verdict for more then his just Debt his Lordship may remit the Cause to Judgment for the just Debt only and give such time to pay the same as he shall think reasonable But his Lordship always orders the Defendant to give good Security to pay the Recovery at such times as his Lordship directs and to pay the Costs in fourteen days The Attorneys in the Majors Court always move for time although the Verdict was in the Sheriffs Court and his Fee for moving is 1 s. 8 d. The Plaintiff must pay for his Lordships Order and entering it 2 s. 10 d. Which Charges will be allowed to the Plaintiff upon taxing of Costs In these Courts may be tried Actions of Debt Case Trespass Accompt and Covenants broken as also Attachments and Sequestrations If either party shall have a Witness that cannot stay in London till the day of Trial his testimony may be taken in writing which will be allowed as good Evidence The method for examining such Witness is thus First his name and place of abode must be delivered in writing to the adverse Attorney and then he must be examined and sworn by the eldest Attorney in the Lord Majors Court whose Fee for the Examination and Copy is 3 s. 4 d. After the Examination the adverse Attorney may have a Copy thereof for which he must pay 2 s. The two eldest Clerks in these Courts for the time being are Attorneys of the Pye-powder Court held during the first three days of Bartholomew Fair for the examining and trying all Suits brought for petty Matters and Offences there committed contrary to the Proclamation hereafter mentioned The Lord Major and Aldermen do Annually cause a Proclamation to be made for the better regulating this Fair. The tenour whereof is as followeth The Proclamation made on Bartholomew Eve in the Afternoon at the great Gate going into the Cloth Fair. THe Right Honourable Sir R. C. Kt. Lord Major of the City of London and his Right Worshipful Brethren the Aldermen of the said City streightly charge and command on the behalf of our Sovereign Lord the King That all manner of persons of whatsoever estate degree or condition they be having recourse to this Fair keep the Peace of our said Sovereign Lord the King That no manner of Persons make any Congregation Conventicles or Affrays by the which the same Peace may be broken or disturbed upon pain of Imprisonment and Fine to be made after the discretion of the Lord Major and Aldermen Also that all manner of Sellers of Wine Ale or Beer sell by Measures ensealed as by Gallon Pottle Quart and Pint upon pain that will fall thereof And that no Person sell any Bread but if it keep the Assize and that it be good and wholsome for mans body upon pain that will fall thereof And that no manner of Cook Pyehalter nor Huckster sell nor put to sale any manner of Victual but it be good and wholsome for mans body upon pain that will fall thereof And that no manner of Person buy nor sell but with true Weights and Measures sealed according to the Statute in that behalf made upon pain that will fall thereof And that no manner of Person or Persons take upon him or them within this Fair to make any manner of Arrest Attachment Summons or Execution but if it be done by the Offâ—câ—rs of this City thereunto assigned upon pain that will fall thereof And that no Person or Persons whatsoever within the limits and bounds of this Fair presume to break the Lords Day in selling shewing or offering to sale or in buying or offering to buy any Commodities whatsoever or in sitting tippling or drinking in any Tavern Inn Alehouse Tippling-house or Cooks house or in doing any other thing that may tend to the breach thereof upon the pains and penalties contained in several Acts of Parliament which will be severely inflicted upon the breakers thereof And finally That what Persons soever find themselves grieved injured or wronged by any manner of Person in this Fair that they come with their Plaints before the Stewards in this Fair assigned to hear and determine Pleas and they will minister to all Parties Iustice according to the Laws of this Land and the Customs of this City THE CHAMBERLAINS COURT OR OFFICE THe Chamberlain of London keeps his Office in the Chamber of Guildhall and is entrusted with Orphans Moneys and the Cities Cash he is Annually elected and gives very good Security to the Court of Aldermen to pay and make good whatsoever Cash shall be delivered to him and once every year gives an Account to Auditors appointed and chosen for that purpose He is also entrusted with the Cities Leases and all Bonds and Securities taken by the Court of Aldermen for Orphans Moneys He attends at Guildhall usually every Forenoon to Inroll and turn over Apprentices and to make such Free as have duly served the full term of Seven years and have not married nor taken wages in that time Upon the admission of every Person into the Freedom of London Mr. Chamberlain causes them to take the following Oath The Oath of every Freeman of the City of London YE shall swear that ye shall be good and true to our Sovereign Lord King CHARLES and to the heirs of our said Soveraign Lord the King Obeysant and obedient ye shall be to the Mayor and Ministers of this City The Franchises and Customs thereof ye shall maintain and this City keep harmless in that that in you is Ye shall be contributary to all manner of charges within this City as Summons Watches Contributions Taxes Tallages Lot and Scot and to all other charges bearing your part as a Freeman ought to do Ye shall colour no foreign goods under or in your name whereby the King or this City might or may lose their Customs or advantages Ye shall know no Foreiner to buy or sell any Merchandize with any other Foreiner within this City or Franchise thereof but ye shall warn the Chamberlain thereof or some Minister of the Chamber Ye shall implead or sue no Freeman out of this City whilst ye may have Right and Law within the same City Ye shall take no Apprentice but if he be free-born that is to say no bond-mans son nor the child of any Alien and for no less term than for seven years without fraud or deceit and within the first year ye shall cause him to be enrolled or else pay such fine as shall be reasonably imposed upon you for omitting the same And after his terms end within convenient time being required ye shall make him free of this City if he have well and truly served you Ye shall also keep the Kings Peace in your own person Ye shall know no Gatherings Conventicles nor